HOT, RUNNING, WATER

RUNNING HOT WATER – YIPEEE!!!
Never thought I would be so excited to do dishes in my life! That’s right my house has been upgraded, it only took over three years but finally it happened. Still no shower and no sewage but I can deal with that. Remember school is only 100 yards away, so that’s closer then the restroom at your job for some of you, plus I am at school a large part of everyday.
If you remember last year my water supply was two large 30 plus gallon trash cans in my bath tub and I had to scoop the water out of them. To do dishes, clean or whatever I had to scoop the water heat it on the stove and then use it before it cooled down. So doing dishes was a process. You would be surprised how easily you get side tracked if you have to wait for water to boil before doing dishes (10-15min for my big pots to heat up). Well you can now just turn on the tap and in about 15 sec we have hot water filling our dish pan.
And with two people living here now we create way more dishes, it is surprising. We both have noticed, last year we each could go a week without really doing dishes, this year about a day. Some of it might have to do with having Rachel, the new teacher, over a lot also, don’t know.
We also seem to create way more sewage. I am having to go to the lagoon twice a week to dump the honey bucket. Last year, I went once a week because I would rather carry it then use the wheelbarrow. Alecia would go to the lagoon every two or three weeks. But I think that has to do with us being home more. Last year as new teachers both of us were at school way more.
Okay that’s the latest – Pictures and information about all the construction to come this weekend.

A New School Year

We made it back to Kongiganak and school has started. Actually Lacy and I have been back for over three weeks. And Kong is the happening place. There are a number of “construction” projects underway or getting underway, a new water tower, expansion on the run way, shoring up the river bank with gravel (big time) a barge landing dock, and of course the new school. I need to get out and take some pictures. Hopefully this week some time weater pending.

School has been back in session for two weeks we are getting ready to start week three. Second year is way easier. I have the math program pretty roughly laid out from last year, just have to make adjustments and add to it. I am currently working on laying it out for a couple of our younger grades.

I have four hours of math this year with about three different classes/levels per hour. I have everything from 4th grade math to second semester Alegbra going on in my classroom. But the students and I are getting into the grove, and slowly they are learning to wait their turn. Our new 6th graders have been a good influence on the older students and I have seen a significant increase in the number of students who do their homework. Okay so any increase over zero from last year is a big increase. I am also teaching HS Alaskan Studies – the whole class is totally online so very nice. And of course I have Jr. High PE.





I think Lacy is happy to be back in the village. She has taken up residency in her old spot, the corner of the couch and she doesn’t move much. She does like running on the tundra, but hates having to take a sponge bath afterwards. We are waiting for the freeze and then we won't be living with a smelly dog.

Lacy and I also have a roommate for the first half of the school year. That wild and crazy BRATT – Ms. Alecia Pike decided literally at the last minute to come back just until Christmas.


Due to all the construction going on, Daryl (our Site-Admin) had rented out the extra house, thinking we wouldn’t need it. (Yeah, in a village there are not hotels or houses to rent thus visitors usually sleep in the school in a classroom – but not going to work with long term construction projects – more on the construction housing to come) So we agreed to be roomies – since my house is technically a two bedroom house. So the workout room is no more – the bike is in the living room and we go to the school gym to lift weights and “workout”. So anyways Alecia arrived on Friday, school started on Monday. So far it has been good. It’s taking a little getting use to on my part, I haven’t had a roommate since my junior year in collage, and we all know that was a long time ago. But all in all it has been good having Alecia back. Her and Lacy are still fighting for the title of Biggest BRATT. Lacy is pulling ahead.

Okay let me get this posted and maybe I’ll head to bed and relax a little this evening.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation!

What didn’t I do is a better question. As most of you are aware I spent my first week of vacation here in the village trying to get my classroom organized, spent a little time on our book shed and the math stuff. Then I spent a couple of days in Anchorage with Alecia and her friend Patty. We had a great time, went down to Seward, went to the Anchorage Zoo, not the biggest or the best zoo ever but the bears were very entertaining.



Then Lacy and I spent a week at the University in Anchorage in a History class. Yep her in Alaska it’s cool for your dog to go to class and sleep under your desk. And yes everyone spoiled Lacy, petting her and telling her how good she is. Know one there new about Lacys love of destroying stuffed animals and making what we call bunny guts.

Next stop Michigan. Of course we left Anchorage a beautiful 65 degree’s and hit the Midwest at 90 degrees a shock to my system and Lacy’s. First stop Bev’s house to steal some shorts. Second stop The Dog Beach in Muskegon. Lacy and I spent quite a few days at the dog beach. Mornings are Lacy’s favorite times, before everyone and their dog gets there.

Then about July 3rd Lacy, Pam and I headed out to the east coast for vacation. We went out through Canada along the St. Lawrence Seaway. Stopped a couple of times to do the tourist thing, went to an old fort, stopped at a lock trying to catch a boat going through etc. Then we headed towards Maine and white water rafting with Alecia. That was AWESOME. Next day, Pam, Alecia, and I headed to the coast of Maine and went sea kayaking with Patty and then to a real Lobster Feast thing. Every Cool!!! Next day had to stop LL Bean Outlet, but didn’t stay to long. To hot in the car for Lacy and we were headed for Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls was great. We hit it on Pam’s Birthday so of course I treated her to a ride on Maid of the Mist. Check-out our lovely pictures, you get just a little bit wet. We did the most of the tourist thing. Did not do the jetboat through the whirlpool or the cable car ride over it, maybe next time. Then back to Canada to see the Erora Gorge that was very cool, a great day just hiking around this small little town. Lacy and I even found a trail to take us down to the river and we hiked up the river a little way. Then back to good old GR for a day.



Lacy and I then headed down to Indiana to see a high school friend of mine that I probably hadn’t seen since high school. Lacy wasn’t so thrilled to be on the road again. She was a little on the grumpy side. It was a great visit for me.

I made it down to Ohio to see Ruthie twice – Awesome new fitness center!!! On my first trip down I took my brand new road bike. I think I had ridden it a whole two or three miles. I decided to ride it around the lake (26 miles) Stupid, Stupid idea. It should have taken me less then two hours it took three. First off I really hadn’t done any serious riding since being back in the lower 48, second the new seat was a piece of metal with leather stretched over it. I bought a new bike seat the minute I got back to GR.

Lets see the what else – as I said earlier spent a number of days at the dog beach played a little golf, not as much as I would have liked but still was able to get a few rounds in with Syma, Dave and Pam. I also went camping in Manistee one weekend with Pam and Lacy. We took our bikes and Pam’s Kayaks that was a great weekend. I spent a couple days visiting with my cousin Ann and her daughters we had a great time building cucumber boats one day and kayaking another.

The close of my summer included a Tubing trip up with my friends Beth and Brock and Brocks family. It was a beautiful day perfect for tubing. What a way to spend my last weekend in Michigan. Lacy and I flew back to Anchorage Thursday, August 7th spent a few days there and then headed to Bethel and then back to the village.

So as you can see it was a busy summer, but full of fun and exciting adventures. My internet is being a little slow to add pictures to my blog so check them all out on my flickr account.

The Morning After

Well, it is the morning after Graduation and Prom And everything went well. I should be in bed sleeping but hey I have been since 7am did the dishes and packed some of my winter stuff away. Had to keep a few winter things out since it is still snowing – Yes I said snowing! I can’t believe I said it but Wednesday or Thursday morning I woke up and looked out the window and the words out of my mouth were something like – Jimmeny Cricket it fricken snowed!! I can’t believe I was actually mad at seeing snow but I guess even I have a limit on snow. It was just a good dusting and was all melted by 10am.

We do still have some snow piles – 10 feet of snow is slow to melt at 30-40degrees. But for the rest of it, it is gone. The boardwalks are clear and dry which is nice for walking.

The year is winding down – I have been a little bored and thus have gotten a little organized – Actually I was told to clean a closet by someone named Ruth and I informed her that my closets where probably more organized then hers and she didn’t believe me so here is the proof. I truly walked in from school picked up the camera and took the pictures. I really think I need to reconsider this no TV thing – It is not healthy to have your closets this organized (note even the shirts are sorted according to color – UUGH!!

Good Evening All – Well it is about 9:15pm and the sun is shinning bright. We, Alecia, Lacy and I just walked to the store. The soda supply is running a little low, I was hoping to purchase a Root Beer, but had to get a Diet Coke instead. Normally not much of a problem but when I got home and cracked it open I realized the time and so now I probably won’t get to sleep any time soon. Oh well, I’ll be about as awake as my students in the morning. They of course are all running around half the night even though curfew is at 9pm. I think the dude in charge of the siren forgets – it didn’t go off until 9:45pm last night and it hasn’t gone off yet tonight. So here I sit enjoying my Diet Coke and thinking about who I can send annoying e-mails to this evening.

The count down has begun. 8 more days of classes for the students, one graduation and prom, and one teacher work day to go. Actually I am going to hang-out here in the village for about another week and then I have a class in Anchorage June 1-6. Then finally I will fly to Chicago and then 59 days of sun and fun begin before I have to start heading back.

I think Lacy is looking forward to some time on the beach although she would like to bring her couch with her. She has become very attached to it, incase you haven’t checked out the pictures on flicker here’s one of her in her typical position.

Alecia' Birthday

Okay you are not going to believe what we did this evening – Remember who is writing, how long I have been in the Alaskan Bush and now make sure you go the bathroom before you read any farther (Please go the bathroom) swallow that soda – GO TO THE BATHROOM!!!!

Alecia and I took a test and failed – It was on the internet – I think I have been in the Alaskan Bush way to long. Have no idea why we even were on this website – Alecia and her stupid questions (Beth it is your fault if I could have called and asked the question we never would have done a web search for the answer). Are you ready … the test was:
“The Conception Quiz” That’s right I failed the quiz on how to get pregnant. Here are my results:
You answered 5 items out of 10 correctly.
Your score is 50%. Be sure to take lots of questions to your doctor/midwife appointments.
Alecia is now taking an “Are You Pregnant” Quiz – Question are you having food cravings? They obviously haven’t lived in the Alaskan Bush – we have food cravings all the time not like we can do anything about them – Haven’t seen a banana in over a month. Next question: Have you out grown your clothes – Again we have sat on our A$$ for the past 5 months because it is too cold to do anything but run to and from the school so of course we have out grown our clothes. Next question: Have you had a positive pregnancy test lately? Well, if we could buy one in Kongiganak might do it just for kicks. Critical question they never asked – Have you had sex lately? My answer - with WHO??? I have been in Kongiganak for 5 month’s.

Well that has been our exciting Friday night. Maybe I should think about getting a TV next year. Maybe the internet is not such a good idea.

Hope you have a great week. I can’t wait to see everyone, only 10 more days of school and then 10 weeks of sun and fun.

Spring???

Happy Spring – I guess it is spring, I have been told that it is spring time by those of you living in the lower 48, we had a “spring-break” at school, the calendar says it should be spring, there are only 14 teaching days left in the school year, but it sure doesn’t seem like spring outside. It has warmed up – current temperature is 54 degrees and it does only get down into the 20 at night but there were snow flurries yesterday and we still have quite a bit of snow on the ground. It is difficult to get out and do things right now – not enough snow to ski, but the board walks are still covered with snow and/or water in places so walking isn’t that easy either.
Spring Fever, Cabin Fever, Homesick whatever you want to call it has set in good and hard and I am counting the days until school is out. The last day is Friday, May 24th and most of the teachers are heading out on the late afternoon flight. Me, I am hanging out here for a few extra days. I want to get some things in my room organized for next year and I am taking a class in Anchorage June 1-6.
Update since my last blog a month and half ago (sorry). I did have a “Spring-Break” a five day weekend. Actually my friend Pam came up and visited for a week here in the village and then we went to Anchorage. While she was here she helped me paint most of my house and helped make it more like a home rather then just a shelter from the weather. We used colored paint on the walls to help hide the defects and nail heads. We hung coordinated valances and black-out blinds (they match my comforter and re-organized my spare room so that I can now use it to work-out in.


In Anchorage, Pam learned first hand what it is like to live in the bush and spent the first day back in civilization helping me purchase, pack and mail my 9 weeks worth of supplies back to the village. Then we took of for a little exploration – we went out to a glacier and spent a couple of hours out there – check out the pictures on my flicker account. I spent the next day down hill skiing and Pam went cross country skiing at the local ski resort – (Bogus Basin in Idaho is better). It was so nice to see mountains and trees.



Well, that would be about it – things continue on out here in Kongiganak – days are defiantly longer – The sun is up before 6:30am and it is still light out at about 11pm – thus the black-out blinds are becoming a necessity. I hope to be back outside (in the lower 48) around the 7th or 8th of June, the only plans that I have for the summer are to head to Maine and to go White Water Rafting with Alecia (hopefully I don’t end up with a paddle across the back of my head). Golf, Hanging at the Beach and Biking are on the to-do list. Oh yeah rumor has it Bev is also making a to-do list for me, not sure what it entails but probably not a lot of things I really would look forward to doing.
Counting the days.

The TRUTH – (according to Lacy)

The TRUTH – (according to Lacy)
It is COLD here in Alazona and what is this crap. The only good thing is I do have my one couch next to the heater – THANK GOD!! I barely want to go outside to use the restroom and Megan keeps trying to make me go skiing – is she nuts. I have finally figured out that if I just sit and stare at her when I have had enough she will turn around and take me back to the couch – I went a whole 200 yards one day. Boy was she mad. Another time after about 15 minutes I just turned around and headed home without her. I need to figure out how to get into the house without her (opposable thumbs would be good). She often makes me go with her to the store and Post Office. The Post Office isn’t so bad because I go in with her and the big store has a large artic entrance were I can sit but when we go to the little store I just head home as soon as she goes inside.
I have made a few aquatints here in the village but boy do those village dogs make a lot of noise with all of their barking. Justices is pretty cool I just have to keep reminding her who is boss in my house – she slobbers on ALL the balls when she comes over (she is almost a dumb as Fargo.)
Well that’s about it – dog treats and stuffed toys (with squeakers) would be appreciated.

Update

I have been informed that I haven’t updated my blog in a while so I thought I would get to it. (I will also up load pictures to flickr today) Spring has arrived here in Kongiganak, Alaska. The temperature has been in the 20 the past week and even got up to 40 yesterday.
Last night Lacy and I went out last night to take some pictures of the sun set. The sunsets have been beautiful the past week or so. With the warmer temperatures Lacy and I have gotten a little skiing in. For a couple of weeks it was just to cold to anything more then go out to pee (according to Lacy).
Basketball has been the big activity since Christmas. Our school played host to 1 Jr High tournament and 2 high school tournaments. (Due to the travel involved typically three or more teams play at one school each weekend – and they play Friday night, and Saturday morning/afternoon, unlike the Friday night game most of you are use to). Our High School Boys did make it to districts and should have done well but they didn’t and should be on their way home today. We had hoped to watch their games over the Polycom (video conferencing) but unfortunately due to a couple of schools getting weathered out (bad winds or poor visibility – thus plans can’t fly) they moved the games up and they where played during the time we were in class thus we were unable to watch.
Not much else exciting happening here – My friend Pam arrives in three days, weather permitting, (standard for any and all travel). She is staying here in the village with me for about a week and then we will head in to Anchorage for an extended weekend. While she is here in the village she has the task of helping me paint my house. I may even put her to work helping some of my students with their math. She thinks she is going to take daily walks with Lacy – I wish her good luck. It is 10am and Lacy is still in bed, I have been up for almost two hours. Lacy is very LAZY (note the pictures).
So that’s the update – hope everyone is doing well and enjoyed their winter.

These are a couple of pictures standing on the river – notice how the river has pushed the ice up – and there are cracks on the ice because the water is still flowing bellow – but yes it is safe. In Bethel they drive trucks and everything on the river.
*can't upload pictures at this time will have to try later.

Teacher Almost Dies

Is what the headlines should read if we had a paper here in Kongiganak. I am sorry I don't have pictures or video, so you'll just have to use your imagination. Last night I made the fatal mistake of going out with three of my students on one of their four wheelers and letting them drive. It was after dark when Maggie, Jayleen and Julia came knocking on my door offering to take me for a ride on Maggie's four wheeler. Of course I accepted. Julia took the "front" seat, sitting backwards facing the driver and Jayleen and I sat on the back. I found out later that the front is a better place to sit - your less likely to fall off. I was literary hanging on with my finger tips at times. Maggie's average speed was probably about 25-30 and she went for every bump there was. My butt is very sore today from all the bouncing and so are my biceps from hanging on so tight. At least a dozen times in the 20minutes I was out with them I was seriously concerned about flying of the back of the four wheeler and was hoping not to injure anything seriously (snow is soft when you land right?). Wait until I grade their test today!!!

Almost went skiing

Well I almost went out cross country skiing today, but Lacy had other plans. Incase you haven't been paying attention the temperture has not gotten above -5 in the past two weeks so the outside activities have been limited to peeing for Lacy. We did make the trip to the lagoon on Sunday to dump the honeybucket but that's it. So today after school the sun was shinning and even though it was still a negative 12degrees I thought we could go for a quick trip. Lacy went as far as the school and said "THAT'S IT!!! I AM DONE AND I AM GOING HOME TO MY COUCH. OPEN THE DOOR NOW!!!!" So basically it took me longer to get dress then I it did to ski to the school and back. My SLED DOG is a wussss. And that's all I have to say about todays trip.

These are pictures of the river from last Wednesday - It looks beautiful but it about -12.



This is a picture of the frost on my railing from a couple of weeks ago when we had freezing fog (this is one days worth of frost) The freezing fog lasted for a week no plans for 6 days thus no mail and no Site Administrator (he was stuck in Bethel all week.



Finally this is a picture of them delivering a new couch to one of the teachers - yep they had to remove the side of her house.

Happy Feburary

Okay so I couldn't come up with a better title - Once again our temperture has dropped. Todays high I beleive was -14 with a low of -27. It is Sunday and although it looked beuatiful outside it was a day to enjoy from inside. So I spent most of the day watching the first season of Will & Grace. I did go empty my Honey Bucket (a weekly chore (rain, shine or below zero tempertures) and I walked with Alecia to the new housing because a villager was giving away Carrabo meet. Lacy chose to stay on the couch didn't even question it. In the afternoon she thought she might enjoy playing ball so I put on her coat and took her out - Yeah that last about four throws and then she took the ball home. Guess that was enough for her. She is back on the couch and not likely to move until I drag her out to go potty for the night.

Plane didn't fly all last week - Our Site-Adminstrator was suppose to come back last Sunday from meetings and he spent the week - until Friday morning in Bethel. No mail nothing for us here in the village.

If you haven't checked out my Flickr account in the past couple of weeks do so I have added some photo's. I have a few more to add in the next week or so.

Well that's about it for know - I'll try and keep everyone posted.

Stuck

I am sitting in the village of Tuntutuliak (or Tunt) and will be spending the night. Little plans don't fly with high winds. I came as the cheperone for our High School Boys Basketball team Friday afternoon. And due to high winds we were not able to go home as planned - although the weather forcast for tommorow does look to be in our favor. We will wait and see. At least the boys are all well behaived and since I am the only female I have a classroom and a bathroom all to myself. I will however miss girls night at my house. That's sports in the Alaskan bush.

-15 vs 15 degrees

We are experancing wave a heat wave!! It is 7am and the current outside temperture is 29 degrees (it droped from 30 15min ago). Yesterday it was about 10-15 outside and so Lacy and I went for half hour ski/run after I got home from school yesterday. It was a great time - we had somewere around 6 inches of new snow (hard to tell because it blows so bad) and it was warm enough that Lacy went naked (no coat or booties). It looks like we had more snow last night so we might be able to go out again tonight.

Anyways I thougt I would give you an example of the difference in temperture. As you all know I don't have running water so I shower in the evenings at the school thus my hair is always wet when I come home. On Sunday night when it was around -15 my hair froze solid (the hair sticking out from under my hat) before I even got to the bottom of the 8-10 steps of the school. Last night when it was 15 I made it all the way home without my hair freezing. Just thought I would give you some perspective.

Well, I guess I better get ready for school that means I need to wake Lacy up and make her go out and go potty (She is worse then some of my students at waking up in the morning)

Have a good one!

SOME CORRECTIONS!!

If you read the last blog you will notice that Lacy has woken up. Not that she has gotten off the couch much. We did go cross country skiing yesterday - I tried out my new skies and Lacy wore her new coat and booties (thanks to Beth) and real sled dogs do wear coats and booties - duh Lacy were do you think yours came from (they came from a real sled dog kennel). Real sled dogs sleep outside and love the snow and cold.

Actually I think Lacy enjoyed our adventure yesterday - she was able to run and run and run if you click on the second picture you will see her flying through the air in a dead run through a snow drift. We were only out for about an hour at -15/-20 that was plenty long.

School started Friday and things went well - a significant number of students were absent but for the most part we got down to work in all of my classes. Well I am heading off to school to deside what we are doing in class next week.

CC Skiing

HELP!! I am being held against my will I thought I was moving to Arizona and somehow I ended up in Alaska and it is cold, very cold (dogs aren't suppose to wear coats and booties). And I have been dragged outside to so Megan can put these long stick on her feet and walk around in all that cold white stuff. Were is the sand and sun? The only good thing about this place is that I have my own couch.

Merry Christmas

Well really I guess it should be - It's a new year!!!

I think I touched base with most of you during our Holiday vacation. If we didn't I am sorry and you will just have to e-mail me. My computer is up and running again THANKS SO MUCH to David. So hopefully I will update my blog a little more often. I didn't take many pictures while in Michigan but I did have a great time - besides seeing everyone I also was able to go Skajoring a couple of times. That was fun. Well, it was fun with Pam's two huskies Willow and Coffee. Not with Lacy. Coffee and Willow love to run and PULL. Lacy prefers the couch or riding in the car. (Yes that's right the picture below is of Lacy facing the car and me trying to head down the trail.)





My vacation started out with a bang (a good bang!) - I was able to get out of the village (always an issue in the winter) and was even able to take an earlier flight to Anchorage from Bethel. MaryJane was also able to get on the earlier flight and since she keeps her truck in Anchorage she drove me all over the place and showed me how to do groceries the "cheap way". But the of two best things were: first MJ, another lady and myself pushed a young man (late 20) out of a ditch, only in Alaska were the men are men and women win the Iditord, would that happen. And then the coolest thing: Driving on a main road (4 lanes) come to an intersection with another main road (4 lanes) High School on the corner and what's in the front yard munching on the bushes - A Mama Moose and her Baby - SO COOL!!!



Anyways, Lacy did make the trip back with me and I am sure that when she wakes up she will be adding her own two cents to the Blog, but for now it is all I can do to get her to get off the couch to go out and go the bathroom. She is not sure about this cold weather thing.



Okay school starts tomorrow so I better stop playing around and try and get to sleep even though my schedule is totally messed up again.