Less Than 100 DAYS!!!

Hey Everyone,

First I want to apologize for falling off the blog world for a little while.  My computer bit the dust and the loaner I have I can not use on dial up -  so that only leaves me with internet during the school day - which means no time for blogging.  I hope to get back into the wonderful blog world more once I get my new computer...

ANYWAY it is now less than 100 days until I return to Illinois for the summer.  I am in major need of family and friends in my life.  I can not wait to get home and see everyone.  I know things will not be any calmer while I am home, because I am jumping right into my job with Upward Bound, but I am just ready to be home around everyone.  

I miss my family (which includes friends) dearly.  I love love love it now that Kierstyn has email.  We stay in touch almost daily.  It is so weird to email her about "life"  she is growing up so fast.  I really feel like I am able to catch up on all the junior high gossip and life with her though.  

I am planning a trip to holiday world with Kierstyn and Aaron this summer.  Of course that was their choice of a place to go.  I said I would take them anywhere (within reason) they wanted to go... and they chose Holiday World.  It works for me, I am sure it will be fun.  

Other than that I just plan to see everyone as much as I can and get in some good swim time and get a good tan.  Soak up all the sun I can!!!

I am sure I will post more countdowns as the time comes closer.  

hope Life in IL is great for everyone.  Things here are good.  I am good, just tired and worn out, but I am sure I will get caught up with everything soon.  

We have been getting more snow.  But the temperatures have been nice.  The days are getting longer, which helps with everything!  School is going well.  The conference in Anchorage was very nice.  I learned a lot and brought back lots from presenters.  I hope to be able to teach some of it next week...

Well I better get to school work now.  

Lots of Love from Alaska.  :)

Even More pictures!!!!

Here are some pictures from a basketball game here at AKP!!  The pictures do not show the irony from village basketball to lower 48 basketball, but I still thought I would share the photos...  enjoy

Our Senior boy... yes, the only senior boy... shooting...

The crowed after the game is over.  The teams shake hands and the crowd heads for the door...

More pictures

The sun.. yes it is back, and so great!!!!
Kerri with her beaver hat on.  Yes, this is a hat made from beaver fur... Kerri made it herself.. it was a tough project, and luckily our vacuum picks up beaver hair from the carpet.  One night Kerri decided to pluck her beaver in my house...  I am so glad her hat is finished.  I just cant help but laugh when I see her with her at on.  She is soooo cute.  

After she finished her at, one evening she came over and asked me for cotton balls, so she could make beaver balls.... and they say live in Alaska is boring... NOT WITH KERR AND HER BEAVER!!!!
the snow, we went for a walk the other day, and the snow has drifted so high on the 12 foot snow fence.  Pretty call shot of all the snow...  I LOVE IT!!!
I picture of town from the road leading back from the lake.  We had a very good walk.
ME ME ME, and Zoey.  it was pretty chilly when we walked.  I had on my snow pants and parka.  My face was a little cold, but not too bad.  It was a nice walk!!!  And of course Zoey loved it!!!

PICTURES

OK, let me first start off by saying, I have no idea why my last post - posted 2 times.  Thats dial up internet for you.  haha

Here are the pictures I promised you, I hope you enjoy them.  Some are pretty FUNNY!!!!

This is Kerri trying to bribe Zoey to get on the Kitchen chair.  I am sitting on the couch laughing, because I knew it would not work.

Ideally she wanted too...
Get Zoey on the chair to pick her up and put her on the scale to weigh her...  But....  

Zoey being around 80 lbs it was a little much for Kerri...  so....

I had to try it... We were still unsuccessful... Doesn't Zoey look so happy.  She is such a good dog.... but

My weekend thoughts.... and Monday

Weekend/Monday thoughts....

Well, I had a pretty regular weekend here in Alaska.  Friday night I went to the basketball games, which was pretty cool.  Our teams, both boys and girls are very good players.  We have a good season record.  They won 4 out of 4 games this weekend!!! (Pictures to come later) 

 

Irony of the ball games - compared to games at home...

The basketball teams are made up from 7th-12th graders.  We do have a boys and girls team so that is good.

The opposing team flies in on a plane, and spend Friday night in our school classrooms. 

Before the game starts we say the Pledge of Allegiance, and the opposing team shakes the hands of the Elders at the game.

The referees of the game are parents or siblings of people in town and on the team.

Our school serves the opposing team and our players dinner before the Friday night game, and breakfast Saturday mornings before the game!

 

- That is about all I can think of right now... but its still pretty ironic being at a game up here....

 

Saturday - We (Kerri and I) baked bread... ok well Kerri baked bread... LOL

We also attempted to go to the eskimo dance practice... but we were told practice was at 7:30ish... We left the community hall at 9pm and they still had not started to practice.  So we came home and chilled at the apartment.  Kerri worked on her Beaver hat and I watched a movie and made some picture collages.  

(pictures to come later)

 

Sunday - Attempted taxes on turbo tax, but not yet done.  we have forced housing up here in the village and somewhere on our taxes we are supposed to get an extra deduction for that...  Again, Sunday was pretty uneventful...  we did go for a walk to the lake.  (pictures to come later)  Then went to school to do some school work.  I want to get all finished up before I leave for Anchorage on Friday!

 

Monday - Well another Monday at school - FUN TIMES!!!  still working on finishing up paperwork - before I leave in 4 days!!

After school I called the IRS - to get information on the forced housing on my taxes - as mentioned above... after being on hold and on the phone for over 50 minutes I still found out nothing!!!!!  So we will see when the supervisor calls back to let me know what to do.... we will see if that happens.  While I was on the phone Kerri decided she would like to weight Zoey... it was so funny . (Pictures to come later)

 

Hope you enjoyed reading my blah blah blah about my weekend... I will post pictures at school Tuesday... I just dont have the patience to wait on pictures to download with dial up internet...

 Lots of love from Alaska!!

Weekend/Monday thoughts....

Well, I had a pretty regular weekend here in Alaska.  Friday night I went to the basketball games, which was pretty cool.  Our teams, both boys and girls are very good players.  We have a good season record.  They won 4 out of 4 games this weekend!!! (Pictures to come later) 

 

Irony of the ball games - compared to games at home...

The basketball teams are made up from 7th-12th graders.  We do have a boys and girls team so that is good.

The opposing team flies in on a plane, and spend Friday night in our school classrooms. 

Before the game starts we say the Pledge of Allegiance, and the opposing team shakes the hands of the Elders at the game.

The referees of the game are parents or siblings of people in town and on the team.

Our school serves the opposing team and our players dinner before the Friday night game, and breakfast Saturday mornings before the game!

 

- That is about all I can think of right now... but its still pretty ironic being at a game up here....

 

Saturday - We (Kerri and I) baked bread... ok well Kerri baked bread... LOL

We also attempted to go to the eskimo dance practice... but we were told practice was at 7:30ish... We left the community hall at 9pm and they still had not started to practice.  So we came home and chilled at the apartment.  Kerri worked on her Beaver hat and I watched a movie and made some picture collages.  

(pictures to come later)

 

Sunday - Attempted taxes on turbo tax, but not yet done.  we have forced housing up here in the village and somewhere on our taxes we are supposed to get an extra deduction for that...  Again, Sunday was pretty uneventful...  we did go for a walk to the lake.  (pictures to come later)  Then went to school to do some school work.  I want to get all finished up before I leave for Anchorage on Friday!

 

Monday - Well another Monday at school - FUN TIMES!!!  still working on finishing up paperwork - before I leave in 4 days!!

After school I called the IRS - to get information on the forced housing on my taxes - as mentioned above... after being on hold and on the phone for over 50 minutes I still found out nothing!!!!!  So we will see when the supervisor calls back to let me know what to do.... we will see if that happens.  While I was on the phone Kerri decided she would like to weight Zoey... it was so funny . (Pictures to come later)

 

Hope you enjoyed reading my blah blah blah about my weekend... I will post pictures at school Tuesday... I just dont have the patience to wait on pictures to download with dial up internet...

 Lots of love from Alaska!!

Upward Bound

Hey everyone,

So, I got great news yesterday...  I received the instructor job I applied for with Upward Bound at OCC this summer.  I am so excited.  I have to be back and ready to start work on the 4th of June.  so I am going to have a tight crunch to end school here, travel home, get situated and start my new position.  

I will only work for 6 weeks, and I have Fridays off.  What else could a person ask for??

It will be so great to work with the group of kids in Upward Bound again.  I just feel so great to work with them and let them know that only 7-8 years ago I sat where they are sitting now.  I was in Upward Bound, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  And now I have finished college and I am living my dream in Alaska.  It is so wonderful.

I hope I can have my role model hat on for them, and lead them in the correct direction.  For those of you that dont know Upward Bound it is a college prep program for high school students.  It is a wonderful program and allows great opportunities for students. 

Lots of Love from Alaska

TAG!!! Sarah Got Me!!!!

TAG x4

1. Go to where you store your digital photo folders & open the 4th folder.
2. Go to the 4th picture and post it.
3. Explain the picture.
4. Tag an additional 4 people.

HERE YOU GO!!!!

This is a picture of my apartment in Alaska the day I moved in.  so it was the beginning of August.  Very bare, it looks much more homey now...

I tag...

Amber McReaken at My So Called Wonderful Life

Kerri at Northward Bound

Cheryl at The Colwell Family

Karlie at Wouldnt you like to know

SLEEP!!!!!

For some very odd reason... I can not sleep lately.  I love love love to sleep, but lately, I just cant fall asleep.  I toss and turn, and get so mad because I cant fall asleep.  I try playing a dvd, try having complete darkness and quiet, try some music..... nothing seems to be working.  I miss sleep.....  it is now after midnight, I have showered, drank warm water, and took some medicine and I am awake and on the computer...

To top it all off I have had a headache for 3 days....  grrrr  

I am sure it has to do with the lack of sleep, and the crazy piles of paperwork I have to do... but geee, I just wish it would go away.

Other than that, things are good... the SUN is back in AKP!!!  How awesome is that.  We have not had sun since the beginning of December!!!  so its great to have it back.  

I never really thought what it would be like to go a couple months without any sun shine... it was very strange.

  Then when it came back Tuesday afternoon, it was an amazing feeling.  We were all happy to see it shinning in the classroom.  :)

I have several things to blog about, so keep visiting my blog for updates... but for now, I just wanted to vent about my sleep problems and my headache.  I know I know, everyone has problems, but I dont talk to many people socially, so I dont get a chance to vent...  Sorry it has to be to my blogger friends out there...

Have a wonderful Thursday in IL....

lots of love from Alaska  :)

PS, now that I found out how easy it is to add images from the internet to my blog...  I am so excited... sorry for the overload of images.  I am a slow learner.