Mail....

Just in time....I was starting to run low on catfood....and while this would be good news to Qunguk, who would be then feasting on salmon, I was glad to not have the hassle of needing to cook it for him. I picked up two of my boxes at the post office; with what is inside (cat litter and food) that was about what I could carry....and then the next day I needed to go back with my main mode of transport (my sled) to get the rest.
When not racing around like a mad man....this is what he looks like.
I have been busy typing papers this week.....finishing up my class, which I got an A in. I still have a little bit to redo though, as it will help me for my next class also. This is Qunguks's main contribution to the cause....when he isn't trying to walk across my keyboard.

He has also been helping me with the mail....what a help! I have never seen a cat get so much enjoyment out of paper before.
I really like his two racing stipes he has down his back.....they fit his personality, too!

Elim Hill at Sunset

I was taking care of Sadie yesterday, as Mark went caribou hunting, and she needed to get out for a walk, so I put my long list of things to do on hold, to do something I have been wanting to do this week anyways....hike Elim hill to see the sunset. It was a clear, great day to do it! So, I hiked up to the airport to the base of the hill. It was -2 yesterday, but even just going to the airport, I realized that I had overdressed, and I needed to take my mittens off.
Just entering the woods, I realized that nobody had really been on this trail since it snowed, so I was hiking in snow up to my knees. This was going to be a harder hike than I had planned...
I also soon discovered that I could not find the trail, which is easily visible in the fall....so I started trail blazing my way up.
Hiking uphill in deeper snow is more tiring than I had planned....I stopped to take a rest and enjoy the view.
A full moon! This was turning out to be a better hike than I had planned!

I love my beaver hat....but lesson re-learned....bring a thinner hat with for hiking in....the beaver hat can go in the backpack until I get to the top and am in the wind again!




Well, I never did make it to the top, the going was much slower than I had planned, and I have realized that I will need to start out earlier to make sunset.....and it might be a good idea to bring a headlamp in case it gets dark for the way back. I made it about 2/3- 3/4 of the way up before turning around....I felt like I was wimping out a little bit, but I was EXHAUSTED! And I could really feel the hike in my legs all evening. Even going downhill in snow to your knees can be a lot more tiring than normal. I will make it up there though! And the hike was beautiful, even if I didn't reach my destination.

Canoe full of ice!

On the morning before I left, I drove Ben over to Latsch. He had heard that his canoe was full of ice, and was weighing too much for the dock....he thought it wouldn't stick, so we could just tip it over. We really had no idea how MUCH ice was in there! There was no way we were going to lift this thing- and the ice was not about to come out easily! Luckily there was an ice chipper and an ax nearby, so we had at it! Eventually, with yet another person, we were barely able to tip the sucker over, after getting about 1/3 of the ice out of it. Now it will wait for a sunny warmer day to start melting out! We were a bit tired by the time we were done!
I think the lesson was definitely learned here!


Celebrating New Years with Christopher and friends!!


Do I look Alaskan white or what?!!!

Visiting with Aidan and Alaina

I had a lot of fun seeing my niece and nephew over break! They have really changed since I last saw them. Aidan is talking like crazy, and can actually hold intelligible conversation. Alaina has about doubled in size. Katie was telling me how quiet she was, and that she didn't talk much...but the next day she learned how to scream! I guess that is the end of that! Ha ha ha! She quite enjoyed making high pitched shrieks! =)
I thought this was cute....Aidan and Wayne, both on their laptops...
Alaina is full of these beautiful smiles!



Playing at Great-Grandma's house. Aidan is now playing with the bucket of toys that I used to play with when I was little!!



I hope if I ever have kids they are at least half as adorable as these two!

Boring Airport Saga

With Floyd, Joe, and Rhonda

Well, I headed out of Nome on Saturday the 20th in the evening, and was supposed to be catching the 1 am fight out of Anchorage "directly" to Minnesota. Even when I heard that Seattle weather was bad, I wasn't worried, because I didn't think it would affect me...until I started looking at my gate and flight number and it said Seattle. We watched more and more planes get delayed, and then canceled- and then mine was too. Even though I had a "direct" flight- that only meant that I didn't have to get off my plane- we were still supposed to stop in Seattle and pick up more passengers....even though that hadn't been listed on the itinerary when I got the ticket. I ended up going to a house, friends of Kim, who I got my Partner ticket with, and spent some time researching flights that were still scheduled to go. We got a call about 4:30 in the morning from some friends that were waiting on a delayed flight, that another plane was going out, so we hurried to the airport and got on standby. lots of people made it on that flight, and we would have been the next ones, but we just missed the cut-off. So instead, we spent the whole day running back and forth to different gates trying to get on. Finally at night, we got someone to separate our partner tickets so that we could go separate ways, and then I ran into Floyd, who was heading to the Millenium Hotel to meet up with Joe and Rhonda- so I tagged along and got a room with him. On Monday I tried to get on standby, but they wouldn't even let people through the gates to get on standby at that point. Floyd came with me to keep me company, but Seattle was past maximum capacity, so they were no longer letting anyone fly there unless they had a confirmed flight out. We also heard that Seattle aiport was out of food and the nearby hotels were full. I went back to the Millenium, where we enjoyed a few drinks in the hotel bar and met up with Joe and Rhonda......Rhonda bought me a Chrismtas present of shorts and a tank to wear in the hot-tub, so we tried that out that night also. We got a call from another teacher who had said she might join up with us, who had met someone who needed a place to stay, so Kira from Unalakleet joined us that night also.
The next day I went to the airport with Joe, Floyd and Rhonda, who had tickets to fly out then, but they still said standby wasn't even an option. so after they left, I went back to the hotel where Kira still was and we got a room together. The next day was Christmas Eve. Kira's friend Pam, a counselor up north took us to the airport to see if we could get on one last time, but again, no luck. So, we went out to eat for a good meal at a Mongolian Barbeque place, went shopping at a few places, and then went to a bed and breakfast place where Pam was staying and visited for awhile. It was nice to have people to spend Chrismtas Eve with, and we had a good time. Kira had a late night flight, so I went with her to the North Terminal to wait, and then when she went through security, I got a ride over to the South Terminal and went through the gates for my 6 am flight....and found a nice corner to sleep in. I did get out on my 6 am flight then, spent two hours in Seattle and then got out to MN....so I got home about 6pm on Christmas Day. As a side note....I usually do pack a few extra pairs of socks and underwear in my carryon when I travel....and this time I was really glad I did! However, after wearing the same clothes for about a week....I still felt pretty darn dirty!!! I sure was glad to get home though- and I still got to see Aidan and Alaina before they left!
Going out Tuesday evening with Kira and John (another BSSD employee)- looking at the lights around Anchorage, and then out to the Peanut Farm for some beer and junk food! Hmmm....Dad said to go out for a nice meal, but I can get crab anytime I want now, and other expensive foods at restaurants. However, beer and greasy foods are a bit of a novelty, and company always makes things better. So, for the same price....



We over-extended our stay at the Millenium a bit, enjoying their nice lobby with a fire, free internet, and lots of Alaskan animals all over. The Christmas tree kind of reminded us that it was Christmas, too. There was also an expresso shop about ten feet from us.....I drank a LOT of coffee while I was stuck!
At the Anchorage Airport. I like how they designed the airport to have huge windows facing the mountains.
Christmas Day it wasn't looking nearly so crazy anymore!
I wanted a close-up picture of the musk ox's horns.....but apparently it wasn't the right lighting. Also....apparently you get yelled at for jumping over the barrier.

Driving around Anchorage Christmas Eve.


Christmas moose...

To Nome!

On the 19th I headed to Nome- one day before I was to get on a plane and head back to Minnesota (or so I thought). Sometimes the weather in the bush can be bad, and I wanted to make sure I got my first flight out of Nome....I also had some Christmas presents to deliver in Nome, and wanted to visit with friends from other villages who were coming through. I delivered my presents and saw a lot of Gary's family, then made it back to airport pizza....I missed the live music, but was still able to hang out with people a little bit- and then we went back to Heidi's (who wasn't even home but was letting a bunch of us stay there). There were a few beers left, so we finished those off, and John played us some music. The next morning we went out for breakfast, and then I was still able to visit a few more people before heading to the airport.