A friend of mine Wayne and his wife Kristy recently opened “Jammin Wings”. It’s a Sports Bar and Jamaican influenced restaurant in Brooklyn Center. Wayne is from Jamaica and has some recipes he is using to give the Jamaican influence. Me and Vicki stopped by for dinner a couple of nights back. Wayne recognizing me as we entered came over immediately and greeted us at the door. I introduced him to Vicki and he in return introduced us to his wife Kristy, who is lovely and just as outgoing as Wayne.
As you know me and Vicki travel to Jamaica quite often and enjoy the kindness and gratitude of the people. Wayne is from a small village on the North Coast. The type of people we enjoy meeting and spending time with when we go. Not the Hustlers in the tourist areas. Well instantly Vicki was glad I dragged her out on a cold night as Wayne and Kristy immediately made us feel welcome. Hearing his accent brings back warm memories. Ask him about his brother and the chicken inspections and watch him light up. We chatted with Wayne for awhile as he explained his plans for their new endeavor. Place has had an up and down history and most recently was more of a Hip Hop nightclub. They are aiming for a different crowd and plan to have some Reggae artists performing when they get more settled and work out some logistics. They have a lot of hard work ahead and enthusiasm, I wish them the best.
We ordered some Jerk and Jerk Mango wings which were quite tasty and tender. Next time we are going to try the Jamaican Jerk pizza with sun dried mango and pineapple, and ordering wings for take home.
Congratulations to Wayne and Kristy. If in the mood for some good tasting wings and can’t make the trip to Jamaica, stop in and tell Wayne hi from me and Vicki. They are at 2950 Freeway Blvd in Brooklyn Center attached to the Country Inn. The location used to be the former Oak City Bar, and before that TGI Fridays. It is North of 694 off the Shingle Creek exit.
Very Irie and Soon Go!!
Adventures with Vicki and Dale 
Change
Theres that word again. Change……
Well I have got more Change coming. My time in the Arctic Cicle has come to an end, today, Friday December 20, 2013. The experience and people has been very enriching. I will definetely miss the people, scope of work and the Arctic environment. As this week has progressed, I have become melancoly at the idea of this adventure coming to aclose. As each day has passed, I was trying to find how to make it work? In the end it was not feasable. When all was said and done I was actually making less money and working more. Hard to believe but true.
I was exploring many job opportunities when I took the job. Reason being, the division I worked for at MMC, was leaderless and the commitment to go on was not apparent. After accepting the position in Alaska, they did finanlly hire someone to run and grow the Controls Division. Having already accepted the Alaska offer, and excited about a new adventure, I moved on. Change…. Move forward to today and MMC’s Controls Division is busier then they have been in years with the new leadership. The environment and culture has changed for the better and I have the opportunity to go back and be part of something I love doing and hopefully grow.
My last Hitch in Alaska brought me out to some facilities located on islands in the Arctic
From Endicott Platform looking East at 1pm.
This was taken from Endicott Facility on Endeavor Island with Liberty Island out in the distance. Endicott is the name of the bay the islands are in. We access these by natural and man made causeways. Endicott is where most all Polar Bears are seen. Summer it is surrounded by all blue Arctic and which is now frozen over. Bears have left the area for the winter in search of seal. They will return next Spring, when the ice goes out. Heres the view looking North towards the vast frozen Arctic.
Looking out at Arctic
This is a closer view of Endicott Facility from outside at 10am
Insides look a lot like this and more. Not as many stairs and lots more ship ladders. And Noisy.
Me in the truck from where I took above picture while parked next to the facility
Heres a shot I took on back on November 24th from the Camp parking lot as Sun was setting for last time in 2013
Heres another shot of the mid-afternoon I took back in early November
Well I would elaborate some more but I am catching bus for Deadhorse Airport in an hour and have to reluctantly say my goodbyes.
Hello Home!! One Sleep to go!!