First four thoughts about Alaska:

1. Alaska, you stole my money! When I went to get a cart for my luggage, I put three dollars in ($1 more than Seattle) and it kept asking for $1 more. Damn you! I finally had to go to another cart station and use my credit card.

2. Wow. It really is still light outside. And it's midnight. And the mountains look enormous.

3. But the cabbies are still from India.

4. Basement apartments suck. My room is dorm-size. But wait... basement means little or no light, which means closer to achieving total darkness, which means better sleep. Sleep! Now there's a foreign concept. Went to bed at 1:45 last night and got up this morning at 8:30. Help! Jet lag!

Okay, off to Walmart I go.