I'm sitting in my hostel in Anchorage - it's a nice little spot. Qupqugiaq Inn - I have no idea how to say it. Anyway, it's like a dorm, which is interesting. Fine with me. I'm just here for a night, then I'm off in the morning to Fairbanks (about a 6 hour drive, depending on the condition of the roads).
I picked my skis up this afternoon at the REI store, which is conveniently located only a few blocks from where my hostel is. I'll be up for a little while longer, however, though I'd like to go to bed. My luggage is still not here, and it won't arrive in Anchorage until between 9 & 9:30, so I just have to go to the airport and pick it up in baggage claim, which is pretty sweet.
Anyway, I will be posting a summary of last week's grand events in Indianapolis in the next week or so. It may be combined with my week here in Anchorage/Fairbanks. I'm not really sure when I'll get another chance to get online to do all of this. But it should be a great next few days.
NOTICE: Please check the brand new blog of Kelli Elizabeth. The link to her site is the first on my list of "people of note" in the right column. And enjoy. :)
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Significant Events, such as the Birth of Puppies
Last weekend was very eventful. Where do I begin?
Friday was probably the most eventful of these past few days. *Here is how it went:
*If you are queezy and weak in the stomach, and you do not want the detailed story of the puppy birthing process, please feel free to skip over the next few paragraphs (story is separated by lines) and move on to the abridged version which will be less detailed, i.e. less greusome. Otherwise, read on, and enjoy the narrative.
_____________________________
The Greusome Tale of the Dead Puppies
Except it is no tale. It is true to life, as true as you are sitting there reading this account of how the puppies came and went.
It was a calm evening, or well, it began that way. I was at Jake & Janelle's for an evening of easy and relaxing companionship. Adrianna, Dan, and I had gone to the big sale at the AC, at which I bought a puzzle (a new attempt at my ongoing search and journey to find a hobby of my own). We went on to the Snyder household where Janelle and I began working diligently on the 500 piece project. It still sits there, waiting to be put together, for just as we were concentrated into the work which we had endeavored to complete that very night, the phone rang. We thought nothing of it - although I always notice how strange the song sounds that the Snyders have programmed to be their ringer. I think it's a children's folk song... I always forget what it is until I hear it again. Anyway, the phone rang.
Adrianna and Dan had left early that night. When they returned to the 14-plex, our beloved turquoise apartment building, they found my loving black dog, Starr, in a state of distress. This is what they recounted to Jake, and then to me, over the telephone, "You're dog is in labor. She's bleeding, I think. Yeah, there's definitely blood. Just wanted to let you know." Immediately I freaked out. I made Jake rush me home in the truck. I left everything I had brought, including the undone puzzle, and a puzzled Janelle, and I halfway prepared to be in the out of doors. As soon as we pulled up in front of the building, I jumped out and rushed inside where A & D had already brought Starr inside the hallway by way of a large cardboard box. She was very much herself for a few moments, excited to see me, too energetic to stay inside the box. We kept her inside, however, to save ourselves from what could end up being a nasty clean-up job.
Eventually we took her inside my apartment where I added to her box 2 old shirts, a bath towel, and a nasty pillow case. I also cut an opening in the box for her to have easy in and out access. We thought it a joyous event, so to enjoy the show properly we made popcorn and brought cameras and put on a movie. Clearly, this was our first time witnessing a dog give birth. Pictures were taken, videos were made, popcorn was eaten, jokes were said. But nothing could prepare us for what was to come.
Starr was restless. She needed to walk. She needed to pee. I took her outside a few times to let her do so. The third time I took her outside I decided to let her walk it out on the long chain and just stand inside and wait for her because it was friggin cold. As I was chaining her up, I heard a familiar voice call out to me, "Hey!" It was none other than Carrie on her walk home. Upon noticing me, she walked over smiling and asked what was going on.
"My dog is in labor."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah... crazy, huh?"
"She is pretty huge. Guess it's better now than when you're on break."
"For sure. I'm glad it's now."
"I'm so glad I'm not you right now."
"Thanks."
"What - what is that?" She pointed to a spot on the ground at which Starr was excessively interested.
"Oh, it's probably just poop." I had lost all hope that the puppies would be coming out before 2 a.m.
"No, I think it's a puppy."
"What??"
And so, as we got closer, we found that it was indeed a puppy. During our small talk, my dog had given birth. Carrie gently carried it inside with Starr following, leaking birthy watery stuff in the hallway of the apartmenet building (not my carpet, thank goodness). We put both mother and pup into the box where Starr proceeded to clean up the baby and do her mother dog thing. She's an experienced mother, so I was glad to let her do everything on her own. But as we watched the puppy lie there motionless, we began to feel the worst was true.
"I think..."
"Is it..."
"I think it's dead."
"Do you feel a heartbeat?"
"No. Yes... wait, no."
"It's dead."
"Odd."
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"It's a little girl."
"What do I do with it?"
"Um, you could put it in the dump? Orr... the dump?"
"The dump."
Moments after we took from Starr her first puppy, we realized that she had in fact had a second pup. While watching her vigorously clean the small dog, we noticed her chewing on something. Suddenly Dan jerked back on the couch with a green-ish about-to-vomit expression on his face. Starr was eating her puppy.*
A & D looked sick to their stomachs. The event had just become less fun and more disturbing than anything we had ever seen in our short lives. Carrie said little, thinking it was just natural (which, as my note will tell you, it is). I found it funny - another moment of inappropriate laughter by Karis Koett, thank you very much - and began to laugh.
Eventually, after nothing was happening for quite some time, Carrie went home, and A & D left (after the movie had ended). I was left to deal with the dog and her pups alone. I wasn't worried. Soon, I fell asleep on the couch, watching and waiting. Once when I awoke in the middle of the night I found a strange stain on the floor that would not clean. It may have been the place she birthed a 3rd puppy and ate it, as well. I moved her bed into my room and slept the rest of the night there.
The next morning there were two more dead puppies in her bed. And on Sunday morning I found the 5th (possibly 6th) dead puppy in her cardboard box bed. The following reasons for these stillborn puppies have been proposed:
1. There was a mis-match in the compatability of mother and father dogs which caused the puppies to be sick inside of Starr, and her body forced them out.
2. There were too many puppies for her body to handle (she normally only has 3 - she is a small dog) and her body forced them out.
3. The puppies were born 2 weeks early, and none of them were ready to be out, and so they died immediately.
My belief is that it is a mix of numbers 2 and 3. There were too many, so her body forced them out, but it was too early, and so they died.
*The two reasons a mother dog might eat her puppy: 1) The puppy is sick and/or deformed anyway, so, as a part of natural selection, the mother will eat the puppy to save it from suffering. OR 2) The puppy is sick and contagious, so to save the rest of the litter from getting sick from the one puppy, the mother will eat that one sick puppy. Because of the stench of the puppy that was eaten, I tend to think the reasons that she ate it were of the nature of the second reason.
This is the end of the gross version of the dead puppy story.
___________________________
For those of you who chose to skip over the gross story, this is basically what happened:
All the puppies were born sick or dead. None of them survived puppy-birth. The end.
Starr has been very tired, but she is moving towards becoming herself again. Although she is still quite attached to me and insists on being close to me whenever possible, she is beginning to show signs of her old hyper-active self. What I have noticed most is that she is not eating or drinking much, she sleeps a lot more, and she is not waiting by the door for me the way she used to. Instead, she does not greet me until I have already come inside. Her sadness is still there, but she will soon be fine, I think.
Saturday was actually quite a busy day. There was a craft fair in the morning at which I finally got a real laundry hamper. I had been using a cardboard box. I'm very happy with my update. Adrianna and I went to go see a sled dog race, but we did not know where it was, and we decided not to walk out into nothing to look for it. This was good, because on the way back home I realized that I needed to pee really badly. A little later a bunch of people joined together for a cookie exchange. I had made gingerbread cookies at Patty's house on Wednesday. It took like, 5 hours, seriously. This is why I do not bake. Although the results are quite yummy, it is not a hobby I am likely to pick up just because of the prep time and the long-term effects on my body, i.e. 10 pounds per cookie. Anyway, there were tons of yummy treats. Here are some for you:
I spent the rest of the day at Carrie's trying to work on crafty things - we both have projects that needed to get done. She was working on her beautiful mosaic (sp?). And yes, that is actually a ghost behind the table there.
And I was trying to work on my Christmas cards, but somehow I kept losing focus and motivation. So some people might be getting a Christmas card in July or something, just because I am determined to finish what I start, because I need to. It just might be late. Anyway, crossword puzzles, good company, and a fantastic movie are also good things, right?
At the end of the day, I mostly like to play with my Eskimo yo-yo, which I am becoming quite good at. Aren't they cute? Little seal skin mukluks. :)
It has been getting significantly colder here. Last night it was near -20 degrees, and this morning it was around -25. My kids told me today that windchill was at -43. The sun has been out, though, so I have been trying to walk. I need to suck it up and walk to the post office no matter what. I don't think everyone feels the same way.
Norton Sound is frozen. It's beautiful. But as I read in this fantastic book, "The Cruelest Miles" (a book about the diptheria epademic in Nome which led to the creation of the Iditarod), I learned that the Sound is not really safe when it's frozen, though some have crossed it by dogsled, which is a gigantic risk. It's really fascinating. I recommend it highly if you want to learn more about the area. :)
Well, I am hugely ready for break, along with the entirety of the school. I can barely stay on task myself, let alone keep THEM on task. I'm just ready for a change. Again. (Stick with it, Karis...)
Good night.
Friday was probably the most eventful of these past few days. *Here is how it went:
*If you are queezy and weak in the stomach, and you do not want the detailed story of the puppy birthing process, please feel free to skip over the next few paragraphs (story is separated by lines) and move on to the abridged version which will be less detailed, i.e. less greusome. Otherwise, read on, and enjoy the narrative.
_____________________________
The Greusome Tale of the Dead Puppies
Except it is no tale. It is true to life, as true as you are sitting there reading this account of how the puppies came and went.
It was a calm evening, or well, it began that way. I was at Jake & Janelle's for an evening of easy and relaxing companionship. Adrianna, Dan, and I had gone to the big sale at the AC, at which I bought a puzzle (a new attempt at my ongoing search and journey to find a hobby of my own). We went on to the Snyder household where Janelle and I began working diligently on the 500 piece project. It still sits there, waiting to be put together, for just as we were concentrated into the work which we had endeavored to complete that very night, the phone rang. We thought nothing of it - although I always notice how strange the song sounds that the Snyders have programmed to be their ringer. I think it's a children's folk song... I always forget what it is until I hear it again. Anyway, the phone rang.
Adrianna and Dan had left early that night. When they returned to the 14-plex, our beloved turquoise apartment building, they found my loving black dog, Starr, in a state of distress. This is what they recounted to Jake, and then to me, over the telephone, "You're dog is in labor. She's bleeding, I think. Yeah, there's definitely blood. Just wanted to let you know." Immediately I freaked out. I made Jake rush me home in the truck. I left everything I had brought, including the undone puzzle, and a puzzled Janelle, and I halfway prepared to be in the out of doors. As soon as we pulled up in front of the building, I jumped out and rushed inside where A & D had already brought Starr inside the hallway by way of a large cardboard box. She was very much herself for a few moments, excited to see me, too energetic to stay inside the box. We kept her inside, however, to save ourselves from what could end up being a nasty clean-up job.
Eventually we took her inside my apartment where I added to her box 2 old shirts, a bath towel, and a nasty pillow case. I also cut an opening in the box for her to have easy in and out access. We thought it a joyous event, so to enjoy the show properly we made popcorn and brought cameras and put on a movie. Clearly, this was our first time witnessing a dog give birth. Pictures were taken, videos were made, popcorn was eaten, jokes were said. But nothing could prepare us for what was to come.
Starr was restless. She needed to walk. She needed to pee. I took her outside a few times to let her do so. The third time I took her outside I decided to let her walk it out on the long chain and just stand inside and wait for her because it was friggin cold. As I was chaining her up, I heard a familiar voice call out to me, "Hey!" It was none other than Carrie on her walk home. Upon noticing me, she walked over smiling and asked what was going on.
"My dog is in labor."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah... crazy, huh?"
"She is pretty huge. Guess it's better now than when you're on break."
"For sure. I'm glad it's now."
"I'm so glad I'm not you right now."
"Thanks."
"What - what is that?" She pointed to a spot on the ground at which Starr was excessively interested.
"Oh, it's probably just poop." I had lost all hope that the puppies would be coming out before 2 a.m.
"No, I think it's a puppy."
"What??"
And so, as we got closer, we found that it was indeed a puppy. During our small talk, my dog had given birth. Carrie gently carried it inside with Starr following, leaking birthy watery stuff in the hallway of the apartmenet building (not my carpet, thank goodness). We put both mother and pup into the box where Starr proceeded to clean up the baby and do her mother dog thing. She's an experienced mother, so I was glad to let her do everything on her own. But as we watched the puppy lie there motionless, we began to feel the worst was true.
"I think..."
"Is it..."
"I think it's dead."
"Do you feel a heartbeat?"
"No. Yes... wait, no."
"It's dead."
"Odd."
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"It's a little girl."
"What do I do with it?"
"Um, you could put it in the dump? Orr... the dump?"
"The dump."
Moments after we took from Starr her first puppy, we realized that she had in fact had a second pup. While watching her vigorously clean the small dog, we noticed her chewing on something. Suddenly Dan jerked back on the couch with a green-ish about-to-vomit expression on his face. Starr was eating her puppy.*
A & D looked sick to their stomachs. The event had just become less fun and more disturbing than anything we had ever seen in our short lives. Carrie said little, thinking it was just natural (which, as my note will tell you, it is). I found it funny - another moment of inappropriate laughter by Karis Koett, thank you very much - and began to laugh.
Eventually, after nothing was happening for quite some time, Carrie went home, and A & D left (after the movie had ended). I was left to deal with the dog and her pups alone. I wasn't worried. Soon, I fell asleep on the couch, watching and waiting. Once when I awoke in the middle of the night I found a strange stain on the floor that would not clean. It may have been the place she birthed a 3rd puppy and ate it, as well. I moved her bed into my room and slept the rest of the night there.
The next morning there were two more dead puppies in her bed. And on Sunday morning I found the 5th (possibly 6th) dead puppy in her cardboard box bed. The following reasons for these stillborn puppies have been proposed:
1. There was a mis-match in the compatability of mother and father dogs which caused the puppies to be sick inside of Starr, and her body forced them out.
2. There were too many puppies for her body to handle (she normally only has 3 - she is a small dog) and her body forced them out.
3. The puppies were born 2 weeks early, and none of them were ready to be out, and so they died immediately.
My belief is that it is a mix of numbers 2 and 3. There were too many, so her body forced them out, but it was too early, and so they died.
*The two reasons a mother dog might eat her puppy: 1) The puppy is sick and/or deformed anyway, so, as a part of natural selection, the mother will eat the puppy to save it from suffering. OR 2) The puppy is sick and contagious, so to save the rest of the litter from getting sick from the one puppy, the mother will eat that one sick puppy. Because of the stench of the puppy that was eaten, I tend to think the reasons that she ate it were of the nature of the second reason.
This is the end of the gross version of the dead puppy story.
___________________________
For those of you who chose to skip over the gross story, this is basically what happened:
All the puppies were born sick or dead. None of them survived puppy-birth. The end.
Starr has been very tired, but she is moving towards becoming herself again. Although she is still quite attached to me and insists on being close to me whenever possible, she is beginning to show signs of her old hyper-active self. What I have noticed most is that she is not eating or drinking much, she sleeps a lot more, and she is not waiting by the door for me the way she used to. Instead, she does not greet me until I have already come inside. Her sadness is still there, but she will soon be fine, I think.
Saturday was actually quite a busy day. There was a craft fair in the morning at which I finally got a real laundry hamper. I had been using a cardboard box. I'm very happy with my update. Adrianna and I went to go see a sled dog race, but we did not know where it was, and we decided not to walk out into nothing to look for it. This was good, because on the way back home I realized that I needed to pee really badly. A little later a bunch of people joined together for a cookie exchange. I had made gingerbread cookies at Patty's house on Wednesday. It took like, 5 hours, seriously. This is why I do not bake. Although the results are quite yummy, it is not a hobby I am likely to pick up just because of the prep time and the long-term effects on my body, i.e. 10 pounds per cookie. Anyway, there were tons of yummy treats. Here are some for you:
I spent the rest of the day at Carrie's trying to work on crafty things - we both have projects that needed to get done. She was working on her beautiful mosaic (sp?). And yes, that is actually a ghost behind the table there.
And I was trying to work on my Christmas cards, but somehow I kept losing focus and motivation. So some people might be getting a Christmas card in July or something, just because I am determined to finish what I start, because I need to. It just might be late. Anyway, crossword puzzles, good company, and a fantastic movie are also good things, right?
At the end of the day, I mostly like to play with my Eskimo yo-yo, which I am becoming quite good at. Aren't they cute? Little seal skin mukluks. :)
It has been getting significantly colder here. Last night it was near -20 degrees, and this morning it was around -25. My kids told me today that windchill was at -43. The sun has been out, though, so I have been trying to walk. I need to suck it up and walk to the post office no matter what. I don't think everyone feels the same way.
Norton Sound is frozen. It's beautiful. But as I read in this fantastic book, "The Cruelest Miles" (a book about the diptheria epademic in Nome which led to the creation of the Iditarod), I learned that the Sound is not really safe when it's frozen, though some have crossed it by dogsled, which is a gigantic risk. It's really fascinating. I recommend it highly if you want to learn more about the area. :)
Well, I am hugely ready for break, along with the entirety of the school. I can barely stay on task myself, let alone keep THEM on task. I'm just ready for a change. Again. (Stick with it, Karis...)
Good night.
Monday, December 10, 2007
A Season for Firsts
This weekend I decided to try a 3-day body cleanse fast, just because I've never done it before, wanted to try it to see. Not so bad. I started eating ice cream too soon after the fast, however, which is unfortunate. It's a sad, sad addiction that unfortunately I will never be over. Oh well. Anyway, it was quite an experience, the fast - very telling, really. The last supper was Thursday (including crackers and hummus, cheese and crackers, and carrot sticks and dip, and water). Only water on Friday (Day 1), and then orange juice and water on the last 2 days. I ended up eating a couple hours before the 5 o'clock 3-day mark, just because I could not concentrate on my work on Sunday while I was trying to plan for school. So I had rice and veggies, and I felt completely energized, unbelievably so. So now I am feeling how careful I have to be about what I eat and what it does to my body. The ice cream, however, that will just be something my body has to deal with.
Anyway, other grand events this weekend included the glorious tundra. It was nice out, so we 4-wheelered it out of town for a little walk in the hills.
I must have had my camera on some sort of bizarre setting, because the background looks like a sort of realistic wall paper that we were just posing in front of for a photo shoot. But really, that background is for real.
You may also notice that we are dressed somewhat like a winter in the lower 48. That's how nice it was. :) Without the wind, it's pretty great weather here.
And yes, by the time we were out there, around 4ish, it was dusk. The sun is rising around 11:00am and is setting somewhere around 4:00. However, the sunrises and sunsets are quite long, so although it seems to most of the world to be a very short day (which, I guess it is), it isn't that bad, really. There is still sunlight, if it isn't cloudy, and you can't beat an Alaskan sunrise. The best part - I'm actually awake for it, and I don't have to get up early to see it. :)
The coolest thing that I've done recently, among other firsts, is learn how to do the Eskimo Yo-Yo. So cool!!! Someday I'll have my own, and I can show you how neat it is.
Well frankly, it was a really lazy weekend. And I mean really lazy. It's been pointed out to me that I need a hobby. So I am now on a hunt for something to fill my time. These are the things I already do: violin (inconsistently), read, blog, I will be skiing starting in January, lesson planning, cook, and go to work. There hasn't been much to write about lately - I've been thinking of doing my own self-directed research paper to try to submit to a literary journal of some kind, just to start getting my name out there. But that would be WAY nerdy. Maybe I should start making myself enjoy scrapbooking. Or something. Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Another view of Unalakleet from up the hills - this is sunset-eque-ish time, in the spirit of suffixes (Janelle). :)
Anyway, other grand events this weekend included the glorious tundra. It was nice out, so we 4-wheelered it out of town for a little walk in the hills.
I must have had my camera on some sort of bizarre setting, because the background looks like a sort of realistic wall paper that we were just posing in front of for a photo shoot. But really, that background is for real.
You may also notice that we are dressed somewhat like a winter in the lower 48. That's how nice it was. :) Without the wind, it's pretty great weather here.
And yes, by the time we were out there, around 4ish, it was dusk. The sun is rising around 11:00am and is setting somewhere around 4:00. However, the sunrises and sunsets are quite long, so although it seems to most of the world to be a very short day (which, I guess it is), it isn't that bad, really. There is still sunlight, if it isn't cloudy, and you can't beat an Alaskan sunrise. The best part - I'm actually awake for it, and I don't have to get up early to see it. :)
The coolest thing that I've done recently, among other firsts, is learn how to do the Eskimo Yo-Yo. So cool!!! Someday I'll have my own, and I can show you how neat it is.
Well frankly, it was a really lazy weekend. And I mean really lazy. It's been pointed out to me that I need a hobby. So I am now on a hunt for something to fill my time. These are the things I already do: violin (inconsistently), read, blog, I will be skiing starting in January, lesson planning, cook, and go to work. There hasn't been much to write about lately - I've been thinking of doing my own self-directed research paper to try to submit to a literary journal of some kind, just to start getting my name out there. But that would be WAY nerdy. Maybe I should start making myself enjoy scrapbooking. Or something. Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Another view of Unalakleet from up the hills - this is sunset-eque-ish time, in the spirit of suffixes (Janelle). :)
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Daily Adventures
It's too bad I can't take pictures of the wind - it's really something to see. I'll try to get a video sometime of the daily (or not so daily...) adventure we take down to the post office. Oh, the things we do for mail, and to get outside for a walk. It's all worth it. It's becoming a daily routine now: before I leave the house in the morning for my 5 minute walking commute to school, I put on the whole winter gear. First, the poofy snow pants over my regular pants (under which are some long johns). Then, the scarf (currently I am using my own homemade one - it may change next week, as I have about 7 scarves) wrapped twice around my face. Over top of my regular clothes goes my big blue Canada Goose "parka" (not a real Native parka, unfortunately). Zip that up, and then put on my amazing beaver hat, tied over my scarf to keep both hat and scarf in place. Next come the snow boots, snow pants zipped down over them. Then I put on my hood over my hat and string it up so it doesn't blow off my head. Gloves last, tucked under my coat sleeves for optimum warmth. Then I walk to school, or rather, skate slash get blown to school, and take it all off again. It sounds worse than it is. It's really not that bad at all - I don't mind it so much. :)
Not a whole lot to say about how things are. They are how they are, which is just grand, as always. I enjoy the company of good people. I get as much work done as I possibly can pull myself to do. We are watching the movie "A Raisin in the Sun" in class. It's an old movie - they really need to re-make it, especially with all the other re-makes they are doing. Ach so. Mostly I have been feeling like I am constantly rebuilding the wheel. There has got to be more out there for me. But I've also had a lot of energy during the day lately, which is great.
Walking to and from school is more of a chore these days with the wind and the cold being as it is. I guess I should let the secret out. I'm going to be a grandma. That's right, my dog is pregnant - really pregnant. Poor girl is about to pop. I thought that she was due during Christmas break, while I'll be gone, during which time she'll be living outside in a dog house. Currently I am chaining her outside so she can get used to the life of a chain dog in the cold. Loose dogs don't work any more - $20 fine if they catch her, or they could just shoot her. With people starting their dog sled training around the village, nobody wants a crazy little black dog chasing the team. So anyway, she's getting chain trained. Need to get her doghouse ready, and need to make her a bed in case she decides to give birth before she's an outside dog, which is very, very possible.
She is a cuddle bug, and we are very happy together. I think I'll keep her. :) I should warn you ahead of time, however, just so all of you non-villagers are prepared. I do plan on getting rid of the puppies, unless someone here really wants a small dog (which I doubt). By "get rid of," I do mean "dispose of." Now, just hang on, animal rights activists of the world. I am on your side. One, I don't necessarily have the extra money to mail puppies off to the pound in Anchorage. Two, the odds of one of those puppies getting adopted are fairly slim, and frankly, I'd rather not commit a dog to a life in a cage. And three, I don't have the time or energy to properly care for puppies. Don't worry, the proper way to do the whole thing is to get rid of all but one puppy immediately (so I don't break the momma dog, i.e. Starr, in this case), and after about 8 weeks when the puppy is ready to be weaned, I will get rid of that one, village style, unless someone wants to adopt it. I understand your reservations, and your anger, and your shock, but really, it's all for the best. There are TONS of dogs in this village - we don't need any more. This way really is humane. I promise.
More to come.
Not a whole lot to say about how things are. They are how they are, which is just grand, as always. I enjoy the company of good people. I get as much work done as I possibly can pull myself to do. We are watching the movie "A Raisin in the Sun" in class. It's an old movie - they really need to re-make it, especially with all the other re-makes they are doing. Ach so. Mostly I have been feeling like I am constantly rebuilding the wheel. There has got to be more out there for me. But I've also had a lot of energy during the day lately, which is great.
Walking to and from school is more of a chore these days with the wind and the cold being as it is. I guess I should let the secret out. I'm going to be a grandma. That's right, my dog is pregnant - really pregnant. Poor girl is about to pop. I thought that she was due during Christmas break, while I'll be gone, during which time she'll be living outside in a dog house. Currently I am chaining her outside so she can get used to the life of a chain dog in the cold. Loose dogs don't work any more - $20 fine if they catch her, or they could just shoot her. With people starting their dog sled training around the village, nobody wants a crazy little black dog chasing the team. So anyway, she's getting chain trained. Need to get her doghouse ready, and need to make her a bed in case she decides to give birth before she's an outside dog, which is very, very possible.
She is a cuddle bug, and we are very happy together. I think I'll keep her. :) I should warn you ahead of time, however, just so all of you non-villagers are prepared. I do plan on getting rid of the puppies, unless someone here really wants a small dog (which I doubt). By "get rid of," I do mean "dispose of." Now, just hang on, animal rights activists of the world. I am on your side. One, I don't necessarily have the extra money to mail puppies off to the pound in Anchorage. Two, the odds of one of those puppies getting adopted are fairly slim, and frankly, I'd rather not commit a dog to a life in a cage. And three, I don't have the time or energy to properly care for puppies. Don't worry, the proper way to do the whole thing is to get rid of all but one puppy immediately (so I don't break the momma dog, i.e. Starr, in this case), and after about 8 weeks when the puppy is ready to be weaned, I will get rid of that one, village style, unless someone wants to adopt it. I understand your reservations, and your anger, and your shock, but really, it's all for the best. There are TONS of dogs in this village - we don't need any more. This way really is humane. I promise.
More to come.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Thanksgiving Break
Last week was only a three-day instructional week because of Thanksgiving break - which was a heaven-sent 4-day weekend. :) Who knew that 4 days could last so long? So much went on, so much time passed very slowly (gracefully, and wonderfully dragging the time), it was fantastic.
Monday was Adrianna's 22nd birthday. She and Dan were in Anchorage for the weekend (Friday to Monday) meeting her mom. They came back just in time for the recital at the school, at which the Unalakleet Community Quartet (Me on 1st violin, Sierra on 2nd violin, Teresa on viola, and Janelle on cello) gave our debut performance (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J.S. Bach), along with all the high school students (band, orchestra, and choir). It was pretty sweet. I was shaking, literally, out of nervousness. It's been a while since I've performed, but I guess we did alright. There's footage somewhere, but I haven't seen video or picture. (P.S. I got my new music in the mail!!) Afterwards we sang and ate in honor of Adrianna. Happy Birthday, A. :)
On Tuesday evening the seniors presented their work from the senior trip we took at the end of October. They were in groups based on what levels of Life Skills and Career Skills they are in, then presented via power point how they met particular standards. The AEC (the community school board, basically), who funded the trip, parents, and other community members were there to listen. It was a short and overall great way to wrap up the trip. I don't have pictures from that, either...
Wednesday was a tad heavenly, knowing that it was the last day before break. Somehow we all ended up at Jake and Janelle's (that happens sometimes) for dinner, and then I fell asleep in a comfy chair and napped for an hour. I must've been sleepy, because apparently Jake was playing Wii all the while. Anyway. Much of my thoughts were taken by planning for a certain 2 week vacation that will arrive in a short 4 weeks. It will be a good time, I think. But really, I need to focus my attention on all the great things that are going on right now. For example:
Thanksgiving Day:
Dan, Adrianna, and I all joined with Jake, Janelle, and Daniel to make a huge Thanksgiving feast. Dan smelled weird, so he had to sit apart from the group.
This is the meal on the table. You can't even see all of the food we had. Part of that is because Dan just couldn't wait to get his hands on that turkey there. Seriously, let us at least give thanks before we dive in. Jeez.
This is a nice picture of the scrumptious deviled eggs that I made. That's right, I made them, all by myself - my very own recipe that I made up myself. (I divided them evenly among the egg-eaters, just like family tradition calls for.) What's that? I'm a genius in the kitchen? I know. I also made the mashed potatoes, which I at least thought tasted good. And I made steamed carrots, because I love them, but no one really ate, and the corn on the cob was only half gone. But I think that's more because we had a TON of food. Or maybe some people just don't eat vegetables.
This is Adrianna and I and Ojo the puppy looking very cute and very full at our sudo-family holiday. It was enjoyable, and I really am thankful for all the good people here. :)
I am also VERY thankful that my "got seal oil?" hoodie got here!! Austen, one of my students, delivered it to me at Jake and Janelle's on Thursday. :) I was so excited!! Pretty sweet, huh?
Black Friday (no, I did not go shopping):
Friday was a wicked lazy day... I read a lot, cleaned my house, rearranged furniture, put up more pictures and decorations (about time, eh?), and even walked out a bit since it was so nice outside. That's right, heat wave in Unalakleet - it got up into the 30s this weekend! It felt great. I put a lighter coat on, didn't have to wear long-johns, and it wasn't even windy. I felt sad that I did not have skis, but I was just glad to be outside.
Friday we had a book club meeting - we just read "A Thousand Splendid Suns" (Khaled Hosseini - author of "The Kite Runner"), so we talked about that quite a bit. It was a fantastic book, by the way. Kind of depressing, I don't want to read it again, but it's good to have that perspective in there with all the other things I know and want to know.
Friday evening was the community auction. The Sewing Circle is a group of people, all women, I think, who make beautiful homemade things (quilts, beaver hats, *kusbuks, knitted and fur gloves, *mukluks, and other beautiful things) and then auction it off at this grand community event. Some businesses will also donate items to be auctioned off, as well. All of the proceeds go directly back into the community, so they use it to help single mothers, children, elders, that sort of thing. They rake it a lot of dough, as you can imagine, but the things that you get from it are pretty fabulous. I got some fish strips (king salmon) and some homemade blueberry jam (blueberries from the tundra), a pair of portable speakers (very helpful for Saturday's event...), a nice pair of thick knitted gloves, and my favorite item of the evening is my very first beaver hat!!!!
*(A "kusbuk" is a shirt made and worn by natives in this region. "Mukluks" are like booties.)
It's okay, you can make fun of me when I wear it, because I do look a little silly (Kamorin has already promised me that much), but this thing will keep my head nice a toasty during the long cold winter. It's all beaver skin and fur on the outside, and it's lined with fleece on the inside where my head is. For now I'm folding up the ear parts and tying it on top of my head, so I look even cooler, but when it gets wicked cold I'll wear them down. It's pretty great, and I love it, and I fought tooth and nail for it, but I got it. :)
H.B.A. Saturday:
Saturday was not quite as lazy as Friday. I spent a lot of time cleaning and cooking and preparing. I hosted a birthday party in honor of Adrianna, since Monday night wasn't a good day to do a late-night sort of thing. Happy Birthday, Adrianna (H.B.A.)!!!!
Lots of people came, so I had to make sure it was clean, gather refreshments, arrange the party music, etc. etc. etc. I have so many pictures!! It was super fun. :) We had tons of food. The beverage of choice was in the cooler (literally, the punch slash Jungle Juice slash Hairy Buffalo slash newly-named Hairy Muscox - Alaska style - was mixed in the cooler), which sat on top of my washing machine, which is conveniently located in my kitchen slash dining room. Adrianna, Dan, and I helped make our own fruit punch, complete with slices of real fruit mixed in to add the perfect flavor.
In honor of just coming out of college recently, we wanted the theme to be as laid back and informal as possible. This is where the idea of the punch in the cooler on top of the washing machine comes in, as well as the neat cake decorating. There wasn't enough icing to write a whole word, so in honor of BSSD's love for acronyms we just wrote "H.B.A." on her cake in small red letters. They got a little skewed in the cutting process. We also wore college t-shirts, at lots of chip and dip and veggie and dip right out of the bowl, and of course, there were small children. What's a party without cute kids? Jack is the big guy there. He's super sweet, super energetic, and, as it were, he loves playing tag in small apartments with older boys. Sweet. The little one is Carter. He did not play tag.
We had a pretty rockin' good time. Some people left early (party poopers), and then some people stayed a little bit later than most. That's when the real fun happened. Break out the deck of cards, folks, we're playing Kings!
Adrianna, me, and Deb - aren't we adorable? Fun people make fun parties.
We also had little photo shoots in between, so we'll be posting lots of those shots. Pretty much, this is the cutest picture of Deb and I, and it may have to be printed and framed.
Damon and Heidi having a good time...
Dan and Adrianna being excited...
And the picture perfect four...
Now it's back to work. Four more weeks of non-stop school until Christmas break. It's always a learning process, so I'm sure there will be lots of good things happening. :)
Life is grand. Let's not get into it any more than that.
Monday was Adrianna's 22nd birthday. She and Dan were in Anchorage for the weekend (Friday to Monday) meeting her mom. They came back just in time for the recital at the school, at which the Unalakleet Community Quartet (Me on 1st violin, Sierra on 2nd violin, Teresa on viola, and Janelle on cello) gave our debut performance (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J.S. Bach), along with all the high school students (band, orchestra, and choir). It was pretty sweet. I was shaking, literally, out of nervousness. It's been a while since I've performed, but I guess we did alright. There's footage somewhere, but I haven't seen video or picture. (P.S. I got my new music in the mail!!) Afterwards we sang and ate in honor of Adrianna. Happy Birthday, A. :)
On Tuesday evening the seniors presented their work from the senior trip we took at the end of October. They were in groups based on what levels of Life Skills and Career Skills they are in, then presented via power point how they met particular standards. The AEC (the community school board, basically), who funded the trip, parents, and other community members were there to listen. It was a short and overall great way to wrap up the trip. I don't have pictures from that, either...
Wednesday was a tad heavenly, knowing that it was the last day before break. Somehow we all ended up at Jake and Janelle's (that happens sometimes) for dinner, and then I fell asleep in a comfy chair and napped for an hour. I must've been sleepy, because apparently Jake was playing Wii all the while. Anyway. Much of my thoughts were taken by planning for a certain 2 week vacation that will arrive in a short 4 weeks. It will be a good time, I think. But really, I need to focus my attention on all the great things that are going on right now. For example:
Thanksgiving Day:
Dan, Adrianna, and I all joined with Jake, Janelle, and Daniel to make a huge Thanksgiving feast. Dan smelled weird, so he had to sit apart from the group.
This is the meal on the table. You can't even see all of the food we had. Part of that is because Dan just couldn't wait to get his hands on that turkey there. Seriously, let us at least give thanks before we dive in. Jeez.
This is a nice picture of the scrumptious deviled eggs that I made. That's right, I made them, all by myself - my very own recipe that I made up myself. (I divided them evenly among the egg-eaters, just like family tradition calls for.) What's that? I'm a genius in the kitchen? I know. I also made the mashed potatoes, which I at least thought tasted good. And I made steamed carrots, because I love them, but no one really ate, and the corn on the cob was only half gone. But I think that's more because we had a TON of food. Or maybe some people just don't eat vegetables.
This is Adrianna and I and Ojo the puppy looking very cute and very full at our sudo-family holiday. It was enjoyable, and I really am thankful for all the good people here. :)
I am also VERY thankful that my "got seal oil?" hoodie got here!! Austen, one of my students, delivered it to me at Jake and Janelle's on Thursday. :) I was so excited!! Pretty sweet, huh?
Black Friday (no, I did not go shopping):
Friday was a wicked lazy day... I read a lot, cleaned my house, rearranged furniture, put up more pictures and decorations (about time, eh?), and even walked out a bit since it was so nice outside. That's right, heat wave in Unalakleet - it got up into the 30s this weekend! It felt great. I put a lighter coat on, didn't have to wear long-johns, and it wasn't even windy. I felt sad that I did not have skis, but I was just glad to be outside.
Friday we had a book club meeting - we just read "A Thousand Splendid Suns" (Khaled Hosseini - author of "The Kite Runner"), so we talked about that quite a bit. It was a fantastic book, by the way. Kind of depressing, I don't want to read it again, but it's good to have that perspective in there with all the other things I know and want to know.
Friday evening was the community auction. The Sewing Circle is a group of people, all women, I think, who make beautiful homemade things (quilts, beaver hats, *kusbuks, knitted and fur gloves, *mukluks, and other beautiful things) and then auction it off at this grand community event. Some businesses will also donate items to be auctioned off, as well. All of the proceeds go directly back into the community, so they use it to help single mothers, children, elders, that sort of thing. They rake it a lot of dough, as you can imagine, but the things that you get from it are pretty fabulous. I got some fish strips (king salmon) and some homemade blueberry jam (blueberries from the tundra), a pair of portable speakers (very helpful for Saturday's event...), a nice pair of thick knitted gloves, and my favorite item of the evening is my very first beaver hat!!!!
*(A "kusbuk" is a shirt made and worn by natives in this region. "Mukluks" are like booties.)
It's okay, you can make fun of me when I wear it, because I do look a little silly (Kamorin has already promised me that much), but this thing will keep my head nice a toasty during the long cold winter. It's all beaver skin and fur on the outside, and it's lined with fleece on the inside where my head is. For now I'm folding up the ear parts and tying it on top of my head, so I look even cooler, but when it gets wicked cold I'll wear them down. It's pretty great, and I love it, and I fought tooth and nail for it, but I got it. :)
H.B.A. Saturday:
Saturday was not quite as lazy as Friday. I spent a lot of time cleaning and cooking and preparing. I hosted a birthday party in honor of Adrianna, since Monday night wasn't a good day to do a late-night sort of thing. Happy Birthday, Adrianna (H.B.A.)!!!!
Lots of people came, so I had to make sure it was clean, gather refreshments, arrange the party music, etc. etc. etc. I have so many pictures!! It was super fun. :) We had tons of food. The beverage of choice was in the cooler (literally, the punch slash Jungle Juice slash Hairy Buffalo slash newly-named Hairy Muscox - Alaska style - was mixed in the cooler), which sat on top of my washing machine, which is conveniently located in my kitchen slash dining room. Adrianna, Dan, and I helped make our own fruit punch, complete with slices of real fruit mixed in to add the perfect flavor.
In honor of just coming out of college recently, we wanted the theme to be as laid back and informal as possible. This is where the idea of the punch in the cooler on top of the washing machine comes in, as well as the neat cake decorating. There wasn't enough icing to write a whole word, so in honor of BSSD's love for acronyms we just wrote "H.B.A." on her cake in small red letters. They got a little skewed in the cutting process. We also wore college t-shirts, at lots of chip and dip and veggie and dip right out of the bowl, and of course, there were small children. What's a party without cute kids? Jack is the big guy there. He's super sweet, super energetic, and, as it were, he loves playing tag in small apartments with older boys. Sweet. The little one is Carter. He did not play tag.
We had a pretty rockin' good time. Some people left early (party poopers), and then some people stayed a little bit later than most. That's when the real fun happened. Break out the deck of cards, folks, we're playing Kings!
Adrianna, me, and Deb - aren't we adorable? Fun people make fun parties.
We also had little photo shoots in between, so we'll be posting lots of those shots. Pretty much, this is the cutest picture of Deb and I, and it may have to be printed and framed.
Damon and Heidi having a good time...
Dan and Adrianna being excited...
And the picture perfect four...
Now it's back to work. Four more weeks of non-stop school until Christmas break. It's always a learning process, so I'm sure there will be lots of good things happening. :)
Life is grand. Let's not get into it any more than that.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
never a dull moment
Last week, the week after I got back from Anchorage, brought to Unalakleet the annual Elementary/Junior High wrestling and cheerleading tournament, all at the very same time. How do they do this, you may ask? Well, I tell you what, it isn't calmly. In fact, it's what many like to call organized chaos, though many times in between matches we wondered where the organized part came in.
Anyway, it was actually pretty cool. You know you live in a small town when you get so excited about an elementary or middle school wrestling match that you lose your voice. Don't worry, this didn't happen to me. Actually, it did. But UNK took first place in the Junior High Unlimited weight class for wrestling - it was a pretty sweet match.
The gym was hot and stuffy from all the bodies, and it smelled of sweat and breath. The crowd went wild with each match, and among other various pieces of advice from the stands, one was sure to always here, "Squeeze!" (keep pushing until the other guy is pinned) or "Get on your knees!" or "Roll over!" or, my personal favorite, "Shoot!!" (which means, basically, take the other kid down, preferably, go for the legs). I also liked to throw in a few of my own, such as "Bite 'em!" But that's illegal, I'm pretty sure.
It was pretty crazy, trying to teach while wrestling matches and cheerleading shows were going on all day. Seriously, all day long. And there were kids here from all over the district. Where did they sleep, you ask? Good question. The girls slept in classrooms. All of the boys slept in the gym. Ew. Anyway, classrooms were packed with luggage. It was pretty sweet. But the kids in my room were pretty great. Koyuk can stay in my room every year. :)
(Some boys on our team getting their game face on...)
I actually enjoyed watching all the matches and such, so it wasn't bad. I didn't teach a whole lot... We'll get something out of it, I'm sure. :) Other great things that happened this past week and a half include the following:
1. Adrianna and I tried our first aguduk, or Eskimo ice cream. It's made with berries and seal oil. I didn't like it so much... but some of the kids told me this was made differently and that I need to try a better kind. This video is pretty hilarious, though. (But I hate the sound of my voice in it... you can totally turn the volume down if you want. The looks on our faces are quite enough.)
2. We also tried other native foods - including muktuk (whale fat), herring eggs (literally), and dried fish (which we've had before, and I love it). The muktuk was gray, which means it's a young balooga whale. Basically, it's a layer of skin, then layers of fat. Mmm. Actually, I liked it pretty well.
3. Pep band played at the tournament finals. Jake and Janelle organized it - it was pretty sweet. We played Star Spangled Banner and the Hey! song. I was on clarinet, Janelle was on tuba? or some weird big brass instrument (sorry...?), Adrianna played trumpet, Dan and Damon both played saxaphone, Tara played flute, Matt played drums, Jonathan played bass guitar, and Jake played the trombone. We actually sounded pretty good, considering. We'll be playing more during basketball season.
4. I finally baked the cake for Carrie's birthday that I promised her. It was pretty tasty!!
5. Somewhere in all that time, there was also a very cute baby Carter who likes to smile. It wasn't so much an event, but he's too friggin' cute to not include. :)
This is me being very teacher-y in my classroom. Pretty much, this is the wench face I make all day to my kids... just kidding. And yes, despite the occassional setback, besides the minor things about which I complain (probably daily... I'm working on that), and other than during the first two hours that I am awake in the morning, I really do love my job. :)
This is also fun. Looks like it's about midnight outside, right? It's pretty sweet that this picture was taken at like, 7:00pm. We're all bundled in our parkas and warm things to go for a walk down by the river, or the mouth of the river rather. Parts of the river are frozen, but the ocean isn't quite solid yet. I really want to go ice fishing. Anyway, I'm trying to spend a lot of time outside so I can get used to the dark. I really need a headlamp so I can go into the tundra past 4pm. ;)
Sunday, November 4, 2007
anchorage trip: volume II
I just got a load of pictures from Anchorage. Some are amazing. Some are hilarious. Some might even surprise you.
Events from the trip include:
My first live moose sighting!!! It was through a window on the 2nd floor, and it's a baby moose, but you know, whatever, a moose is a moose! I was pretty stoked.
The bald eagles on the way down to Seward - I saw 2 or 3 different ones. Neato.
Look in front of the mountain. There's a little line right where the snow begins - it's an eagle.
The stuffed bear in the mall... we are way scarier, clearly.
The water from the glacier made the river turquoise. It looks like it's super sweet to drink, but it's deceiving. You really can't drink it. It's dirty.
Driving with 8 high school students was mostly fine, even cool, until we heard the dreaded words, "Open the window!!" Yeah, just about every half hour.
Truth be told, the kids were great, lots of fun, and I was overall impressed with how everything went. They're pretty great. :)
And of course the amazing mountains on the way made for some great pictures. It was a little cloudy, but that's alright. It was still frankin' amazing.
Events from the trip include:
My first live moose sighting!!! It was through a window on the 2nd floor, and it's a baby moose, but you know, whatever, a moose is a moose! I was pretty stoked.
The bald eagles on the way down to Seward - I saw 2 or 3 different ones. Neato.
Look in front of the mountain. There's a little line right where the snow begins - it's an eagle.
The stuffed bear in the mall... we are way scarier, clearly.
The water from the glacier made the river turquoise. It looks like it's super sweet to drink, but it's deceiving. You really can't drink it. It's dirty.
Driving with 8 high school students was mostly fine, even cool, until we heard the dreaded words, "Open the window!!" Yeah, just about every half hour.
Truth be told, the kids were great, lots of fun, and I was overall impressed with how everything went. They're pretty great. :)
And of course the amazing mountains on the way made for some great pictures. It was a little cloudy, but that's alright. It was still frankin' amazing.
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