That Sun - It Means Another Day

School is like this. I go, I see, I conquer. Only, not really. Just a side note, I am taking a one-credit grad course, a book talk, for which I read a portion of this book every week, respond to it using the 3 essential questions (I love essential questioning), and then respond to someone else's response. It's actually a pretty sweet deal - 60 bucks a credit, not to mention the amazing collaboration that happens between teachers across the district. Anyway, we are reading a great book called Results Now (hyperlink) by Mike Schmoker, and all he's been saying has been on my mind quite a bit lately, and all the other teachers have been saying, and all the things I've read before in college, and it's fantastic. I'm so in to this learning thing.

Another really cool thing goes like this: I started a class blog. You may check it out if you like. I suggest going here: http://unalakleet.bssd.org/kariskoett/ (hyperlink) - then click on the side under categories where it says "Beowulf." My professor, Dr. Mark, commented on all my kids' blogs, just because he rocks. Anyway, that was kind of a big deal.

But you want to hear about my adventures. I know. So this was a big day. MONDAY February 11. Kim, this cool person who works in the District Office, I don't even know how we got onto this, but we're Skyping about something education related (I'm sure), and then she's like, hey, btw, want to go for a ride? I'm like, heck freakin' yes!! For a ride, she means, on her snow machine (snow mobile, for the lower 48ers). So we make the plans, and we ride up river to a nice little ski spot, and it was so sweet!! I tell you what. Let me tell you.

It was very sad because Carrie was sick that day and could not join us - and it was so beautiful out, but she doesn't need to be reminded of that. Anyway, I went to the post office (where is my mail this week????) and took her some homemade cheesy bread (the best bread I've ever made, thank you very much) before I headed out, and tried not to gloat. I was stoked out of my mind.

Kim has a little one seater machine, so it was a little smushed, but totally worth the ride. I bundled up in all my warm clothes... this is what I wore: fleece pants, a spandex tank top (not cotton), an athletic shirt, a pair of lighter wind pants, a wind jacket, my big snow pants, a fleece jacket, my parka, a gator mask, my beaver hat, and orange tinted goggles. And then I had my ski gear. For shoes, I wore my ski boots. More on those later.



She picked me up around 4:50 with her dog, we loaded up, and headed upriver. I kept my eye on the sled, which carried her dog and the skis. Snowmachining on back, not being the driver (because I don't know how to drive one, and I've never been on one...) takes some getting used to. I like to be the driver. Anyway, we get to the spot and basically strip off a whole layer of clothes. I took off my parka and big snow pants, left only with my regular necky and hat (shown below) - I think it was somewhere around -5 or -10? Not bad for skiing. It was beautiful out. I've been skiing just outside of town, and most of that is ice and slush... But out there where we were, there was actually powder, real snow, and it was the best skiing yet.



At the beginning we ran into a dog team, so that was a little hassle, but I took the time to take a photo anyway. You can barely see them up there, Kim and Aipuq (her Malamut dog, pronounced eye-puck, Yupik for "companion") and the dog sled team. Anyway, Kim is a wicked fast skier, and I'm not all that quick, so we split up, with the intentions of starting and ending together, but... we never really talked about the timing, ever, soooo... Whatever, right? We just skied.

And skied.

And skied.

I stopped a few times to get some shots of the beautiful surroundings. So quiet, so still, there is nothing out there.



Except for me, of course. I was plenty warm, don't worry. Skiing is hard work. And we were out for about an hour and fifteen minutes. It was the best skiing I've ever done.



This is the trail I took. Most of it was pretty powdery, but there were spots where it was pretty icy, which was a little frustrating to ski on. Most of the time I was just following Kim's tracks, although there is only one trail out there, so it's kind of hard to get lost... I skied out to the road. It was so hard and icy there, I wasn't sure which way she had gone, or how long we were meant to be out there, so I decided to turn back. It was getting dusky, so I figured it would be better that way anyway.



After a while, on my way back, Aipuq joined me. I thought Kim was going to pass me long before this, but I hadn't seen her. It was strange... he came up with me, and just kind of hung out with me while I skied, actually waited for me in spots, but there was no Kim. I thought it was strange that he was staying kind of close to me, but had left her... there were moments when I wondered if she was alright, if I should turn back to find her, but I figured she was probably fine, and that if she wasn't at the snowmachine already, then I'd go back. So I kept skiing along, was nearly back to our spot, and whew, there was Kim, just behind me. Strange that we ended at the exact same time. She went much farther than I did, of course, but we never talked about time or anything, but it was impecable. So we chatted about how sweet it was, got re-dressed, loaded up, and headed home. When we left, it was -15 degrees.

Well, I've mentioned my blisters before. I did put bandaids on before I left. But it wasn't enough. I must tell you, it was painful. So if you don't like graphic, you can stop now, because I'm totally showing pictures of them. Yeah, they exploded - so gross!! I took my feet out gently, pulled down my socks, and this is what I found...





Holy giant blisters, batman, right?!? Fortunately I was going to Jake and Janelle's that evening anyway, and they gave me some mole skin, which for whatever reason doesn't seem to stick to my skin very well... so it always comes off way too soon. Anyway, it was rough walking all the way down town with those things on my feet... but it is TOTALLY worth it!!!

One day later shots of the blisters...





And this is my cool dog. :)



Also, a major event this week, I took my first sick day. I was trying to go the whole year, but alas, my eating habits and sensitive tummy got the best of me, and I was unwell on Thursday night and Friday. I tried to go to school on Friday, but I realized when I got there that it took me 5 minutes (as opposed to 30 seconds) to get my winter gear off because I couldn't move that maybe I really didn't feel well, and maybe the naeseousness wouldn't just go away. So I wrote some lesson plans last minute, told my principal the bad news, went through an eval with the asst. principal, and went back to bed. I tried to convince myself to suck it up, but after laying back down in my warm bed, I found myself immobile. So I slept. And I am feeling better, but still not in a mood for eating much. Don't worry, though, I'm fine. I watched a lot of movies. Some good ones to consider seeing include:

-This is England
-North Country
-Harry and the Hendersons
-The Incredibles

Don't forget to check the video link on the post below. Hope all is well with you. Start a blog so I can keep up. :)