27 April 2008 Meeting the Governor on a Commercial Flight

While delayed in the New Orleans Airport, I reflect back to my airport surprise when leaving Fairbanks after the PolarTREC Orientation in March. I look around and wonder if I will see the Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal milling about and waiting to catch a flight. Doubtful since most Governors travel via private aircraft at least around their own state. Governor Jindal cruises Louisiana in a three million dollar state police helicopter. This is not the case for Alaska’s Governor Sarah Palin.

There were several of us PolarTRECers waiting in the Fairbanks, AK airport to catch our planes home. We were chatting about all we had learned when Kristen Timm, ARCUS administrator said " Look, there is the Hottest Governor in the United States” as she has been publicly deemed by media and fans.

Of course I had to check out the "Hottest Governor in the US” and quickly turned to see her pregnant (she has since had her baby) with bags and daughter in tote. Then it struck me as odd. Why is the Governor of Alaska in the airport and preparing to get onto my commercial flight?

I questioned PolarTRECer Craig Kasemodel an Alaskan resident. He let me know that Governor Palin sold the corporate jet after securing her official Governor position.

Governor Pallin said she would sell the jet because it was impractical and that the Alaska state inventory would be relieved of this dept. The jet was sold on EBay to Larry Reynolds for 2.1 million dollars.

**Not only is Governor Palin "Hot”, but she is also very kind. **

I approached the Governor and told her a little bit about PolarTREC and why I was in Alaska. She told me that she knew of the program and then introduced me to her adorable daughter Piper. We chatted about Florida and Barrow, Alaska and flying commercial. She said she really enjoys and prefers flying with people who either live in or are visiting Alaska. She even flies coach! She was kind enough to take several photos with me.

I invited Governor Sarah Palin to come visit me on my expedition to Barrow in June. She said she would love to and that I should drop her an email, which I will do.

It was my pleasure to meet such a wonderful person who represents the state of Alaska so well. Governor Palin maybe known to many as "HOT” but as far as I am concerned she is super "COOL” too!

Hmmm, I think I will invite my Florida State Governor Charlie Crist to come too, there is always room for another cool governor in our United States of America.

Wouldn’t it be fun to get a "Hot” governor from Alaska and "Cool” governor from Florida to visit our research expedition this summer?