SUNDAY

OK, I know this is my 3rd post for the day.  BUT I hope you will get a couple good laughs out of this.... 

So I was walking to the school and I tripped over the snow.  I mean seriously... we have had like a foot of snow, and I now trip.  And it was not like a drift or I had to step over something I was just walking and tripped.  WOW, that  is just amazing to me.  And of course Kerri was there when I tripped, granted I didnt fall, but still I tripped and had to stumble to catch myself and Kerri says, "watch out for that white stuff, its kind of tricky".  It was just so hilarious, and for those of you who know the real me.  I am sure it got a laugh of picturing me walking and tripping over the snow....

OK, next....  please, make sure you are not in a public place to laugh at this...

I have lived in my apartment for over 2 and a half months now... And the bathroom, well yeah, thats a place I am in daily.  you know to use it, shower, use the sink... all that fun stuff.

Tonight when I was getting out of the shower, I noticed something with my mirror....

I just realized it was a cabinet.  I have never looked at it that closely before, or even tried to open it.  but i now know it opens and it is a cabinet.  WOW, who really lives somewhere this long and does not notice that they have a cabinet behind their mirror...

Well I am happy now, I have a place to store everything that is on my sink....  :)

I hope you enjoyed me sharing the funny things from my weekend.

Love ya

Recent Care Packages

WELL, Me moving up here has really opened my eyes to how much I am loved.  I have received so many great care packages, letters, cards, emails, and gifts, that I feel really special.  It is amazing how much we take for granted to have a walmart or even gas station right down the road to run and get something.  

Well here in Alaska and in the village I am, I do not have that privilege.  I have to depend on my pantry, refrigerator or friends to provide me with something I may not have.

But with the care packages I have received this month, I feel really prepared for anything.  I also have no reason to not cook and bake now.

Here are a few pics of what I have added to my pantry...

Aunt Vicky really stocked me up on food, baking things and candy.  she also thought about my students and sent some halloween gifts for them. which I know they will love.

She also knows that activities, entertainment and events are limited here, so she sent me a book to read and a couple movies to watch.  IT IS ALL GREAT, thank  you so much!!!

Aunt Sharon and Uncle Bob sent me a great care package from Indiana.  She included a lot of goodies for me.  A note, some halloween candy and a great guardian angel to hang in my house.  Thank you so much.  I love it all!!!
Dad and PJ also got another package to me.  It was full of great bake meals, and dinners.  thank you so much.  I had also asked them to send Zoey some treats.  Kerri and I share dinners quiet often, but Zoey gets left out. so I knew she would love some treats.  Her and Kerri wanted to say thank you DAD and PJ.  Oh yeah, PJ also included movies and my checks.... now I have not excuse to not pay my bills.... haha

It was great, and I am not going to go hungry any time soon.

All is well in Alaska. Hope you are all doing great too.

love ya, miss ha

Random thoughts from the weekend

Well, I had a pretty good weekend.  Saturday I had my ECE class, which is pretty basic... so I am able to get other things completed while I am sitting in class...  To help you understand this, let me describe my class.  I sit in my school library with the ECE teacher here at AKP.  We have our computers and a telephone.  We call a number and have a teleconference with our professor and the other 5 or 6 teachers who are also taking the class.  Our professor is at her house, talking on her phone.  So she does not see us, only hears us talk when we unmute our phone.  so when I say I am able to get some things completed while I am in class, I literally mean get some things completed.  Last class I did my grocery shopping, which also needs a little explaining.  

I grocery shop over the internet, which I LOVE, because I literally only get what is on my list.  I dont have to walk up and down the hallways looking for items and seeing other items that I buy.  I choice items, pick the brand I want and add it to my cart.  Then I check out, pay with my debit card, and the groceries arrive on the plane in 2 to 3 days.  If they are not cold or frozen items they arrive in the mail in 5-7 days.  It is great!!!  Something I would have never thought of if I was still in Illinois.

So anyway, back to my class...

I am also able to work on the homework that the teacher assigns, or do lesson plans for the follow week in my class.

this past class I was shopping for a swimming suit.  YES, I know I am in alaska, and you are thinking what they heck does she need a swimming suit for.   Well we have a pool at our school.  It is 4 feet deep and has two 25 meter lanes.  It is very nice for a good work out.  And I am going to Barrow in a couple weeks to get trained to be a life guard at our pool.  So since I will be seen by several people and students in my swim suit, I thought it was time to throw out the old and get a new.  

I actually had very good luck shopping online for a suit also.  I just hope it fits and looks have way decent when it arrives.... I will bare your eyes and not post of picture of that... no one really wants to see me in a swimsuit... thank goodness for shorts and t-shirts to wear over it... haha

so.... other than my class, I did a little swimming on Saturday, Kerri and I decided we should prolly train a little and see how well we can swim laps and long distances.  WOW three months without swimming is along time. I was a little rusty, but I was soon doing a couple labs in a row without a break.   JUST let me tell you, it was not as easy as I thought it would be...

Then after swimming just a quiet evening at home....

Sunday was cleaning day, laundry day, lazy day and movies... Then a quick swim and posting time on my blog.... YEY

I hope you all had a great weekend as well.  I know the weather in Illinois is finally turning into Fall weather.  I hope you are all enjoying it.  A couple friends of mine emailed me about a hot dog roast, I told her that was something I miss.  We cant really just sit outside and chat, or have a fire here.  It is a little too chilly for that....  but I guess we make up for it... some how...

It was -6 degrees most of the day today.  On Saturday the wind chill was -30.  Now that firetruckin cold........

I was tagged

I've Been Tagged

Tag...I'm it!!

Amber from My so called Wonderful Life tagged me. Thanks Sissy...

The rules go like this:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Write 6 random things about yourself.
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post(or as many as you want)
4. If you are tagged, do it and pass the tag along.
5. Enjoy


Here are some random facts about me.........

1. I have really grown and became more independent then I ever thought I would, in the past 2 and a half months (dont get me wrong, I still need my parents, sisters, and family).  I have also met and conquered several fears over the past few months. I mean seriously, I have moved to Alaska by myself.... who ever really thought I would.  I think deep down I and everyone at home, just making a big wish, and having a dream.  But I have accomplished this dream of mine.

2. I get scared about my future at times.  I am 24 almost 25 and still single.  My dream is to have kids, what will happen if I never find true love, that just scares me.  I have really thought about having kids without being married.   As bad as that is, I want kids, and I know one way or another that is possible, but finding true love for me may just not be possible.

3. I absolutely love it in Alaska, but I truly miss my family friends in Illinois.  I also have a huge secret that some people know, but not everyone, and it is killing me to keep it a secret from family and friends....

4. I am thinking I may return to Alaska next school year to teach.  Like I mentioned I truly love it up here, and I have a real home, and some friends.  Also the money is great.  And since I was kind of a wild college student I have debt to pay off, and if I could accomplish that in 2 years and return to Illinois with a good savings, that would be great.  But that is all up in the air, so only time will tell.  It is going to be something I will have to talk about with my family and consider for myself.  I dont like making hard decisions, so I wish I had someone to make this one for me....

5. I have went over 7 weeks without a drop of alcohol.  I think moving to Alaska when I did was the best thing for me and my liver.  I needed to get away from the atmosphere and hangouts I was in.  I also do not miss alcohol, or the parting.  It is nice to wake up every morning and remember what you did the night before, as well as not have a head ache or bad breath....  I know thats just totally random, but I am very proud of myself for that. It was something I was worried about.  When I was in IL and got sick, I had to go 30 days without drinking and I thought I was going to have a fit... but being up here I dont even miss it.

6. I am taking a life-guarding class in Barrow Alaska next month.  Now truly, how many people can say that.  To be at the top of the world, and taking a life-guarding class.  Also... I am no where near skinny, or look nice in a bathing suit, yet, I am going to be a lifeguard... wow... very interesting move for me.  we will see how it turns out.


There you go........some random facts about me!!

I agree with Amber, most of the blogs I look at have been tagged, so I am going to tag a friend of mine up here in Alaska.  Kerri, I take you, so Add this to Northwardbound and show us what you have to share....

Hope you all enjoyed this and I hope I didnt share to much....

Have fun!!!

Weekend

Well, its the weekend!  I am at school for an inservice, however, we dont have anything we must do.  So teachers are supposed to work on grades and lesson plans.  Well I have all but 2 progress reports done, and I dont have any lesson plans to do.  So I though I would add some pictures Kerri and I took this week.  I hope you enjoy them.

Miss ya, love ya

Kerri and Zoey found some really deep snow.  haha, it was really funny.
A picture of me by the moon rising.  Very awesome colors in the sky.  And yes, it was really cold and I just had on my sweatshirt... I guess I will learn sometime.  haha
The moon rising and the great pictures around the mountains.
On the other side of the village is the sun setting and the great colors on these mountains.  It was really cool.  you could see the sun setting on some mountains and the moon rising on the other mountains.

I just thought this was funny, summer street in Alaska with the snow covered mountains in the back ground.

Care packages and stuff...

So, I thought I would add some pictures of some recent care packages.  I just want to thank everyone at home for everything.  It make it so much easier to be way from home when I hear from people, talk to people, get emails and mail.  

I hope things in Illinois are going good.  i also hope you enjoy the pictures...

Books and school supplies from Uncle Joey, Candy and Brian.  How great, I will be able to use everything....  :)
Food, candy and chapstick from Mom.  I love it..   

Socks, candy, pictures, letters, signs, and gifts from Scott, Lisa, Kierstyn Aaron and Joanna.  thanks for the care package from NEWTON, it is GREAT!!!
My sign from Kierstyn, I love it!!!
My sign and letter from Aaron, it is great, I love it, even though he miss spelled my name, thats ok, it is still GREAT!!!

DWFOMY

JUST WANTED TO ADD A FEW FIRST FOR ME!!!!

First time away from my family

First time traveling across the US in a train

First time staying in a hotel by myself

First time in Washington

First time in Alaska

First time seeing the Arctic Ocean

First time on a bush plane

First time in the mountains

First time on the tundra

First time eating caribou

First time on a frozen lake

First time in really deep snow, and going for a walk

First time making a snow angel on a frozen lake

First time North of the Arctic

First time seeing the Northern Lights

Just thought I would share a few with you....

Love you all, miss you so much.....

PS. if you want to know what the title of this means, you will just have to wait...  haha, I am so evil.

pictures

So we walked to the lake again today.  It was quiet a work out.  with about a foot of snow in most spots, that had not tracks, it was kind of tough.  but it was worth it.  I was able to make a snow angel on the frozen lake.  I have some pictures to share.  The weather was nice.  About 12 degrees.  We really couldnt see the mountains, so much fog.  But I did get a few pictures.  I hope you like them.

Me making my snow angel.  Again, this was a work out.  The snow was so high it was hard to move it around with your legs and arms.  But it was fun.  I think I was laughing so hard, that I couldnt move my hands and legs at the same time.
Me trying to find a way to get out of my snow angel.  I was covered in snow.  I love it.  Just the thought of sitting where the lake water was less than a month ago is awesome.  I was more adventurous on the frozen lake today.
It is really hard to see, but this is my snow angel.  it was cute!!
I pic of what we could see of the mountains.  The snow is just amazing.  
Zoey found some friends on the walk home.  Two very very cute puppies came to meet us on the road.  they were so cute.  I wanted to bring one home...

OCTOBER

WOW, I cant believe its October already.  Here is Alaska we have about 8-10 inches of snow.  It has been snowing for about 2 days now.  It is so beautiful.  I do not have any current pictures of the snow, but I will try to get some soon.  

I am doing great here in Alaska.  I am also happy that I am getting feedback from people who are checking my blog.  That makes me get more motivated to update my blog.  Things are just amazing up here.  I love my job.   I am really getting organized and feeling comfortable in my position.  Which is such a nice feeling.  

Kerri and I have been hanging out a lot, so that is nice.  It really makes the evenings much nicer.  Last night we watched movies and ate popcorn.  Very nice.  We were supposed to go visit Kurt (the cop) but we just stayed in.  

I am not sure what the planes for tonight and tomorrow are, but I am sure I will find something to entertain myself...

I do have a couple pictures I have taken this week.  I will attach them, I hope you like them

Hope all is Well in Illinois.  I miss you all, and love you!

My second grader had his birthday this week.  It was nice there were only 2 out of 6 students there that day, so we just played music, had candy and played games for the last 15  min of class.

Here is my bulletin board I did for the beginning of the year, I will prolly change it soon, just not sure what I will put up.

Zoey, laying on the floor using Kerri's bag as a pillow.  Kerri and I were in my apartment watching movies, and Zoey got bored....

She is SOOOO cute....

Me dressed all warm for a walk to the lake.  YES, I know I dont have gloves on.  I did have gloves on, then I took them off to take pictures, and just didnt put them back on until I put my camera away.  It was a chilly night, but a beautiful night to walk to the lake.  My parka is very warm, and I have my new hunting socks on that Scott gave me.  Which are great, thanks Scott.  My new boots also, which are very warm.  YEY...

OK!!!  So the lake has froze over.  And from my memories I do not ever remember seeing or being on an entire lake frozen over.  We removed some of the snow to show the ice.  It was so amazing.  I was very impressed.  I didnt walk out very far, but I just thought it was amazing.  Zoey ran around on the lake, she had a blast, and slid on the ice several times.  Kerri did a snow angel on the ice, which was amazing.  

more photos

Well since I was kind of bored today, I went out and got some more pictures of the snowy mountains, they are just amazing.

I also wanted to let you know on Thursday, Anaktuvuk Pass was the coldest place in the Nation.  How cool is that... Literally cool, or cold.......  haha, just being funny there.  It was like 8 degrees with a wind chill of -4 I think.  It something like that.  

Today is is just beautiful.  Like 18 degrees and sunny, with no wind.  Kerri and I walked to the fire station, to say hi to the guys... no not really.  She was getting a tracking devise because she went out skiing.  I have some pictures of her, they are amazing.  I also got several pictures of the mountains and the village.

Then I came over to the school to get my salad out of the fridge and some cookie dough.  i am going to make chicken, pasta salad and salad to night for dinner if you want to join it will be around 6:00... So hope on a plane now, and you will only be a day or two late.  haha....

Sorry I am in a goofy mood today.  OH, speaking of goofy, me and my 2nd graders have a joke in our class, since I use the word goofy so much, that I am married to goofy, you know the disney character.. so news for you all, I got married while I was up here, to bad I have never met my  husband...  Just thought I would fill in you on that joke.

Hope everyone in Illinois is doing great, miss you all...

love ya...... enjoy the pictures

How amazing is that mountain?

Kerri and Zoey getting ready to take off for an afternoon ski.... Have fun guys...

My apartment building... and the beautiful mountain behind it.  :)

The mountain just past our school and the airport.  This is what I get to see outside my classroom window everyday, how amazing is that...

Random pictures and thoughts

So, we have had so much snow, it is amazing. Snowing all day and drifting a little bit. The planes were not able to land so volleyball is cancelled for tonight, and prolly for tomorrow as well. We also will not have mail today or the rest of the weekend. So Lisa, I will not get your package for awhile. I will let you know when I get it though. I really love the snow and really love it here. I almost always seem to be in a good mood around here. Which is just great. I have had some more pictures I hope you enjoy them. Miss everyone, love ya all...

Student working, Angie and Walter

Me and my students, Jada and Juno

My students laughing at me and the camera, Angie and Walter

A picture from Volleyball Practice.  Our team is very talented.  I hope they have a great season.

I will try to post more pictures soon. 

Have a great weekend!!  :)