Saturday, November 24, 2012
Still in Alaska!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
It's been a long time...
since I have blogged! I will try to update what has been happening. Is anyone still reading this?
Well, I'm still here in Alaska, and still loving it! I just finished my third year teaching and it was the best one yet! I had awesome students...and saw so much growth in both them and me! I am going to try to recap what's been going on since the beginning of the year--I had some Excellent Adventures!
January brought the dark and cold! My roommate Erika and I tried to fiend off the winter blahs by cross-country skiing quite a bit...even in below zero weather--our eyelashes froze! It was very fun once we prodded each other to get out!
February is kind of a cool month here in Alaska...we begin to get more daylight. By the end of the month I can actually see the mountains on the way to and from school! I also joined a "bootcamp" and began working out--hardcore--three times a week!
March was a great month--Spring Break (yeah...it's really winter)and Christopher came up for a visit. It was the Fur Rendezvous Festival and the start of the Iditarod. The weather was great 35 and sunny the entire time he was here. We ran with the reindeer ( a hoot of a race), saw the ceremonial start of the Iditarod in Anchorage, and then went to the Restart in Willow--it was great fun! What a party atmosphere, the race start on a lake and people are lined up along the route--drinking beers and cooking out it's great fun. Larry also drove us up north of Willow to see the Northern Lights--what a spectacular show mother nature put on. It was the first time that both Chris and I experience this magnificent event. We had a wonderful visit! About a week later, I was invited to head north of Talkeetna on a ski train adventure--what a party! We rode about four hours with the most spectacular views...it was 40 degrees and sunny...BEAUTIFUL! We unloaded the train and skied for a couple of hours, then boarded the train and headed towards Anchorage. Well,like I said what a party, the food, drinks, polka car, friends...way too much! :)
April is testing month here in Alaska--all of our students do their mandated NCLB state testing--joy! I continued bootcamp through April, but as the snow melted is was more inviting to head outdoors!
May bring the mommas and baby moose, bears, longer days and the end of the school year...always an adventure! Jean Peltola from TC is back up for a few months--it's so nice to have someone for home here. We did lunch in Talkeetna last Saturday...one of my favorite places.
June--well, I'm teaching summer school again--writing. Teaching 7th and 8th grade students (most boys) to write is always an adventure--ha ha! They are pretty receptive--mostly because I bribe them with candy. We finish up June 30th and then Larry and I head for a way cool adventure up the Dawson Highway to Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay--waaaaay upnorth! This is the Ice Road Trucker road--we should see plenty of wildlife--no, not the truckers--caribou herds, grizzly, musk ox, mosquitoes...
And in mid-July back to TC...can't wait to see my family and friends--I miss you guys!
Check out these links about our trip north!!!
http://milepost.com/highway_info/dalton_highway
http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/recreation/dalton_hwy/dalton_recreate.html
Well, I'm still here in Alaska, and still loving it! I just finished my third year teaching and it was the best one yet! I had awesome students...and saw so much growth in both them and me! I am going to try to recap what's been going on since the beginning of the year--I had some Excellent Adventures!
January brought the dark and cold! My roommate Erika and I tried to fiend off the winter blahs by cross-country skiing quite a bit...even in below zero weather--our eyelashes froze! It was very fun once we prodded each other to get out!
February is kind of a cool month here in Alaska...we begin to get more daylight. By the end of the month I can actually see the mountains on the way to and from school! I also joined a "bootcamp" and began working out--hardcore--three times a week!
March was a great month--Spring Break (yeah...it's really winter)and Christopher came up for a visit. It was the Fur Rendezvous Festival and the start of the Iditarod. The weather was great 35 and sunny the entire time he was here. We ran with the reindeer ( a hoot of a race), saw the ceremonial start of the Iditarod in Anchorage, and then went to the Restart in Willow--it was great fun! What a party atmosphere, the race start on a lake and people are lined up along the route--drinking beers and cooking out it's great fun. Larry also drove us up north of Willow to see the Northern Lights--what a spectacular show mother nature put on. It was the first time that both Chris and I experience this magnificent event. We had a wonderful visit! About a week later, I was invited to head north of Talkeetna on a ski train adventure--what a party! We rode about four hours with the most spectacular views...it was 40 degrees and sunny...BEAUTIFUL! We unloaded the train and skied for a couple of hours, then boarded the train and headed towards Anchorage. Well,like I said what a party, the food, drinks, polka car, friends...way too much! :)
April is testing month here in Alaska--all of our students do their mandated NCLB state testing--joy! I continued bootcamp through April, but as the snow melted is was more inviting to head outdoors!
May bring the mommas and baby moose, bears, longer days and the end of the school year...always an adventure! Jean Peltola from TC is back up for a few months--it's so nice to have someone for home here. We did lunch in Talkeetna last Saturday...one of my favorite places.
June--well, I'm teaching summer school again--writing. Teaching 7th and 8th grade students (most boys) to write is always an adventure--ha ha! They are pretty receptive--mostly because I bribe them with candy. We finish up June 30th and then Larry and I head for a way cool adventure up the Dawson Highway to Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay--waaaaay upnorth! This is the Ice Road Trucker road--we should see plenty of wildlife--no, not the truckers--caribou herds, grizzly, musk ox, mosquitoes...
And in mid-July back to TC...can't wait to see my family and friends--I miss you guys!
Check out these links about our trip north!!!
http://milepost.com/highway_info/dalton_highway
http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/recreation/dalton_hwy/dalton_recreate.html
Sunday, January 30, 2011
January 2011
January has gone by soooo fast--that's a good thing! We are now on the upswing with daylight...almost 7 hours and 30 minutes! It sure does make a difference! We haven't had much snow--and for the most part January has been cold. It sure is beautiful though-cold temps equal sunny, clear skies!
I have been cross-country skiing quite a bit. There are so many great trails here, it's hard to choose.
School is going great, I have the nicest students...who would have thought I could say nice when describing 8th graders. Conferences come up in February...then Spring Break! It will be summer before I know it!
Christopher will be here for SB--it's also the Iditarod, hopefully we can see some of the race. He doesn't know this yet, but I plan to get him outside and exploring during his visit! I'll have to take him to Girdwood and Mt. Alyeska.
I can't believe I have been here over two years...time sure does fly by!
I have been cross-country skiing quite a bit. There are so many great trails here, it's hard to choose.
School is going great, I have the nicest students...who would have thought I could say nice when describing 8th graders. Conferences come up in February...then Spring Break! It will be summer before I know it!
Christopher will be here for SB--it's also the Iditarod, hopefully we can see some of the race. He doesn't know this yet, but I plan to get him outside and exploring during his visit! I'll have to take him to Girdwood and Mt. Alyeska.
I can't believe I have been here over two years...time sure does fly by!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
New School Year!
It has been so long since I have written! I will recap the summer in abbreviated form:
-Summer school was a wonderful experience. I taught reading and only had 15, 13, and 6 students in my classes. We all had fun...well I did any how!
-I traveled to Michigan for three weeks. What a longggggggg flight. Family, friends...it was a blast. A bit overwhelming for the first time home. Surprisingly enough I was ready to return to Alaska.
The new school year started August 12 for teachers, students arrived a week later. I moved to 8th grade and just teach Language Arts. I love it! I do have a few students from last year which is great, they know the drill! I have wonderful students--who at least, appear to be learning!!!! They just finished writing a narrative story, so I now have 105 papers to grade--and it's sunny out :(
Speaking of sunny, it rained for a record amount of days here--33 days in a row. I was ready to build an ark! Warning: DO NOT visit Alaska in August!
Once the rain subsided, I dusted off my bike and have been enjoying my surroundings on
two wheels, what fun! I can actually ride up hills now instead of walking my bike! Last weekend I rode along the Cooke Inlet and spotted a bear up on the mountains. On the drive home we saw a pod of Beluga whales...very cool!
The slide show I posted is from my ride yesterday around Eklutna Lake. It was fabulous--65 degrees and sunny! We didn't see much wildlife except the ptarmigan that flew out in front of me and almost smashed into my face, scaring the bejeepers out me. I have a picture of him after the fact sitting in the tree.
Almost two years and I am still loving it here. Time flies when you are have fun...
-Summer school was a wonderful experience. I taught reading and only had 15, 13, and 6 students in my classes. We all had fun...well I did any how!
-I traveled to Michigan for three weeks. What a longggggggg flight. Family, friends...it was a blast. A bit overwhelming for the first time home. Surprisingly enough I was ready to return to Alaska.
The new school year started August 12 for teachers, students arrived a week later. I moved to 8th grade and just teach Language Arts. I love it! I do have a few students from last year which is great, they know the drill! I have wonderful students--who at least, appear to be learning!!!! They just finished writing a narrative story, so I now have 105 papers to grade--and it's sunny out :(
Speaking of sunny, it rained for a record amount of days here--33 days in a row. I was ready to build an ark! Warning: DO NOT visit Alaska in August!
Once the rain subsided, I dusted off my bike and have been enjoying my surroundings on
two wheels, what fun! I can actually ride up hills now instead of walking my bike! Last weekend I rode along the Cooke Inlet and spotted a bear up on the mountains. On the drive home we saw a pod of Beluga whales...very cool!
The slide show I posted is from my ride yesterday around Eklutna Lake. It was fabulous--65 degrees and sunny! We didn't see much wildlife except the ptarmigan that flew out in front of me and almost smashed into my face, scaring the bejeepers out me. I have a picture of him after the fact sitting in the tree.
Almost two years and I am still loving it here. Time flies when you are have fun...
Black Cloud!
Just a quick little story to share with you--I thought is was pretty funny (telling?). First, I went for another bike ride yesterday around Eklutna Lake--check out my pictures on Facebook or my blog--this could be my favorite place in Alaska! The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky--unbelievable beautiful out--65 degrees. The best day all summer--wait, it's fall! But that's not the good part--as I drove towards Wasilla to check on Larry's house (yes, he is still hunting in the wilds of AK-crazy) there was this very large, you could almost say huge black cloud just sitting directly over Wasilla--no where else, just Wasilla. Well, I thought to myself, hummmm...forest fire? No, I turned on the radio....hummmmm....oh ....Sarah must be home!!! He he he!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Summer is here!
Check out the new pictures I just posted--the larger ones are from Larry's Nikon--it takes much better pictures than mine.
Marilou and Ernie stopped in Anchorage to catch their flight after cruising the inside passage. It was nice to see faces from home, as short as the visit was!
I am in the throws of teaching summer school. This summer I am teaching reading to 6-7th graders. I have 3 classes with only 15, 12, and 8 students in each class--it's great! I am loving the small groups and the curriculum-my students are awesome too!
Before summer school started I took two classes (6 credits), both are required to teach in Alaska. I just finished the papers and projects for both--3 weeks ahead of schedule--go figure! Boy, am I glad to be done with that! After the classes I had training for summer school...another 1 credit for completing a reflection paper on my summer school experience. Only 5 more and I move up the pay scale--Yippee!
I will be ready for summer vacation starting July 9th. Joanie comes up for about 9 days and we hope to visit Seward and Homer--Homer is my favorite place in Alaska...so far! Then we both leave for TC on July 16--but we don't really get there until the 17th--in the afternoon! Chris and Kate better have an Oberon and a Bubba burger waiting for me! And if I'm making a list...cherries, wine, walleye, fresh veggies...
Marilou and Ernie stopped in Anchorage to catch their flight after cruising the inside passage. It was nice to see faces from home, as short as the visit was!
I am in the throws of teaching summer school. This summer I am teaching reading to 6-7th graders. I have 3 classes with only 15, 12, and 8 students in each class--it's great! I am loving the small groups and the curriculum-my students are awesome too!
Before summer school started I took two classes (6 credits), both are required to teach in Alaska. I just finished the papers and projects for both--3 weeks ahead of schedule--go figure! Boy, am I glad to be done with that! After the classes I had training for summer school...another 1 credit for completing a reflection paper on my summer school experience. Only 5 more and I move up the pay scale--Yippee!
I will be ready for summer vacation starting July 9th. Joanie comes up for about 9 days and we hope to visit Seward and Homer--Homer is my favorite place in Alaska...so far! Then we both leave for TC on July 16--but we don't really get there until the 17th--in the afternoon! Chris and Kate better have an Oberon and a Bubba burger waiting for me! And if I'm making a list...cherries, wine, walleye, fresh veggies...
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
BELIEVE IT OR NOT-Camping and Fishing in Valdez
BEER-PLENTY
BOOZE-BAD NEWS
BB GUNS-WE PLAYED PIG (LIKE BASKETBALL)
BONFIRES-WARMTH AT NIGHT
BOATS--EVERYWHERE
BOYS-LARRY, JOE, BYRON ELI, AND ERIC
BEARS-BLACK
BEAUTIFUL WEATHER- 75+
BAIT-ONE OF THE BOYS CAUGHT AN OCTOPUS
BOUNTIFUL CATCH--HALIBUT (200LBS FOR 6 OF US)
BATHROOMS-NOPE,DOES A BEAR S^#T IN THE WOODS?
BARHOPPING-RATHER BEEN SHOPPING!
BAD LANGUAGE-YEP--LOTS OF IT!
BAD STORIES--ONLY TOLD BY ME!
YOU BETCHA--AN EXPERIENCE I WILL NEVER FORGET!!!!!
BOOZE-BAD NEWS
BB GUNS-WE PLAYED PIG (LIKE BASKETBALL)
BONFIRES-WARMTH AT NIGHT
BOATS--EVERYWHERE
BOYS-LARRY, JOE, BYRON ELI, AND ERIC
BEARS-BLACK
BEAUTIFUL WEATHER- 75+
BAIT-ONE OF THE BOYS CAUGHT AN OCTOPUS
BOUNTIFUL CATCH--HALIBUT (200LBS FOR 6 OF US)
BATHROOMS-NOPE,DOES A BEAR S^#T IN THE WOODS?
BARHOPPING-RATHER BEEN SHOPPING!
BAD LANGUAGE-YEP--LOTS OF IT!
BAD STORIES--ONLY TOLD BY ME!
YOU BETCHA--AN EXPERIENCE I WILL NEVER FORGET!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
.jpg)
