STUDS!!!!!

...I'm talkin' bout the ones you put on tires--duh!!!! LOL! Men I meet--(yes, I've actually talked to a couple) keep talking about studs--you need studs on your tires Stephanie--well.................................................

Girdwood!!

I went to Girdwood yesterday--it was pouring rain south of Anchorage--bummer! Mt. Ayleska is there--a beautiful ski resort and Olympic training center. The town is real hippyish--so they say. Very cute--Ted Stevens lives over that way--his buddy built him a 1.5 million $ road--it's about a mile long--LOL!

I also went to Porter Glacier--very cool--most of it is melting--very fast :(
Both of these are about 45min. to hour away.

Even in the rain Alaska is amazingly beautiful!

Moose Sighting...OMG!

You should never talk on your cell phone while driving in Alaska...........because a huge moose might come out of video store driveway and decide to cross the road--in the middle of town!! Now I know why everyone drives really big trucks!!

Wheels!!

I got my car on Monday...it actually arrived...of course the price was higher than quoted--but they "gotcha"!!! The drive home from the "car yard" was a trip--people here drive like crazy maniacs...not exaggerating at all! Here i am in my little car and all of these "monster trucks"--yes much worse than TC...are speeding past me--SCARY!!

I get up on Tuesday--all happy to have my own wheels and there's 6-8 inches of snow...YIKES! It was sure a white knuckle ride to school!!!!

The roads here are crazy too--you'll be driving on a 2 lane road in the city and all of the sudden it turns into a freeway--with exit and entrance ramps???????? Go figure!! It's like some city planner said "let's put a exit ramp here" and threw a dart at a map!!

But, I am finding my way around town!! I do think I have the smallest car in Alaska though!!LOL!

I hope to get outside this weekend and see some wildlife other then drivers!!!

XOXO

Happy Turkey Day!

Hi All!
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

I will be spending T-Day with Jean Peltola's brother's family--what a nice invite!!

SC

1st Week in AK!

Damn, I wish Sarah Palin was VP...then I wouldn't have to watch her on the local news all night!!!
She is just everywhere...the Alaskans love her!! Who cares that she was a former weather girl here--that just qualifies her to run our country!! Ted Stevens walks on water too! He's older than dirt and a crook--but they just love him!

I'm keeping my mouth shut on the whole subject--at school that is--until I get my 1st paycheck!!

My first week at school went well--I had to be pretty hard-nosed in the classroom, but I figure I can loosen up later. My room is looking great--soon I will have some pictures to show you!

My team and I went to the Moosetooth for beer and pizza last night--Winsor (not Winston as I called her in an earlier post and to her face--duh) the science teacher, set it up. It was very fun! I actually made it home on the highway--found my way home from Midtown--that's huge!

Winsor is 25ish and teaches science, Holly is 27ish and teaches soc studies, Ryan is 23 and teaches math...see what I'm getting at...Stephanie is 48 and teaches....you get it...but, the Sped teacher, Beth is my age or older--so that's good--she and I have that "life experience" if you know what I mean--LOL!

Everyone here has been so kind with invitations to do things. Denise , who owns the B and B goes to a singles dance for 35 and older--she's a pushing me to go........NOT happening! She has also asked me to attend church with her--well....you know the answer to that one! She is very nice to try to include me. A math teacher from school (Cheryl) who moved here recently from Kansas asked me to join her and friends this weekend. So there is plenty to do--I just have to do it!!

My car should arrive in Anchorage Monday night--Yeah--I feel lost and homeless without it!

The sunset as amazing tonight--it's 4:51pm and I'm overlooking the Cook Inlet--go to your maps!!

Miss you all--

SC

It' Awesome!

I am loving this! Today I signed my contract--My car gets here on Monday night...things are good!

I started school on Monday--I pretty much just observed Jason (sub) with the students. After the students left I cleaned and organized the room. I was going to wait until Jason left or Thanksgiving break, but I couldn't stand it!! I was at school until 6:30 cleaning, rearranging and organizing!! Of course you were--you all are thinking!! :)

It looks awesome!! One student came in and said it looked like a REAL classroom! YES!!!!

I am teaching 4 classes--all Language Arts--my largest is 29, smallest 19 students. I have had to take a really firm hand--Jason was realllllly laid back...a big kid himself--the students love him!! So, I'm MEAN Mrs. Carey as usual!!

The staff is very helpful and very nice--we had a 7th gradeLA cirruculum meeting--the other LA teachers are kindred souls!! Loved it! Geeks all the way around!! We have our first staff meeting tomorrow--will keep you all posted!!

As soon as I can I will post the view from my classroom door--it's the Chugach Mts.--unbelievable!! I already have the students trained to come in and say "Mrs. Carey, have you seen the Mts. today?" so I don't forget to stop and smell the roses Alaskan style!!

I'm whooped--will write more later!!
Email me...I miss you all...and the news!!

XOXO

School Tomorrow!

After my background check on Friday (it was clean if you were wondering) I drove (myself) to my new school. I only got lost twice!! The school is huge--two levels with an indoor track. Outside my classroom door is an ice rink!! Everyone was very welcoming except the sub who is leaving--I felt a "little" bad for him. (he was cool) His name is Jason and he's Sarah Palin's age--I know this because he went to school with her and her sister--let's just say that he liked her sister better!
He's a native Alaskan--no Barb--not an Eskimo! He was born and raised here.

Winston is my teammate and neighbor--she's from Denver and is a whopping 25 years old! She teaches science and took me to dinner on Friday night. She's very nice and helpful as well. Winston brings her dog Herbie to school everyday--he sits in the car until lunch and then again until schools over! He's a very cute furball--mutt. Bear would have eaten the car!!

Well, the real-deal starts tomorrow--I'm sure am excited!! I have a week of lesson plans ready to go--Jason stays on until Wed. thank goodness!

I'll keep you all posted--by the way, my classroom is empty...I have a wish list if you would like to send me anything you have hanging around the house!!

Miss you all....

Grocery Shopping in Alaska!

I went to Safeway today--the grocery store...almost by myself!! I followed Andrew in my Rental car--the roads were icy--it's cold today!!! I drive like a grandma...he got coffee and read the paper while I shopped! He's very nice--I think he thinks I'm clueless about life!! Duhhhhhh...who else moves 3600 miles away to more winter!! Anyway, I bought just enough food for me for about a week-- bananas$1.00 a pound--you get the idea--it was $83.00--holy-moly!! But, if you had a Safeway card you would save $17 bucks-- you betcha I signed up for that!! Everyone kept staring at me in the store--I know they were thinking "where did she come from--Michigan?" Well...to make an uneventful story even more boring, I had to drive back to the B & B by myself--Andrew went to work. I made it back and got my groceries in before the wildlife got me!!

FYI--this morning, football was on at 8:00 AM!!

Spectacular!

Is all I can say about the view from where ever you are! I look out my windows fro the B & B and see a different view from each one--the Cook Inlet is fantastic...the Chugash Mts. are amazing...and way out in the distance is the Mat-Su Range that eventually leads to the Alaskan Range, truly spectacular!!

Andrew drove me out the Beluga Point today--towards Seward. The tide was out so I didn't see any whales---but I did see an Eagle. And when I got back to the B and B I saw a huge Magpie sittin' in a tree outside my window!

Folks up here say the moose are stupid--they tend to stand in the middle of the road and move for nothing--I haven't seen one yet! The bears should all be hibernating--hopefully! Although Andrew said he saw one in the driveway a couple of weeks ago---now I freak out going to my car--thanks for that Andrew!! LOL!

The sun is starting to set over the Cook Inlet--It is sooooooooo beautiful up here....

SC

Who does this??????

is what I asked myself when I woke up on Friday! I do--is how I answered!!!

Now, to answer your questions...yes, I know what your thinking!!

1. The B & B--Well......it's Alaskan! What that means is-- it's kinda like the UP on steroids!!!!

It's a big house 5 bedrooms-- 3 or 4 baths--I been afraid to explore too much!! It's clean and full of tacky knick-knacks...that was totally expected!!

2. Yes, I have met Andrew..he is very nice and has great stories! He came home shortly after I arrived and was very helpful. He took me to get my car Friday morning and showed me where Walmart was--the cheapest place in town!!

Andrew works (bartender) at The Captain Cook Hotel--owned by a former governor--GOP too! So all of the political stuff for Alaska take place there. What I'm leading up to is that he has waited on Sarah...yes, that Sarah--Palin numerous times!! Just last night there was a huge event for the 50th year of Statehood (yes, sadly but true, Alaska is younger than some of us) and Sarah was there in her full glory, wearing a red dress, hair to her shoulders...looking beautiful---according to Andrew!!!

Andrew has been very helpful--he grew up here and knows important stuff!!!!!!

3. Everything is outrageously expensive--at least a buck more for every day stuff!
Gas--$4.00 a gallon--but why Sarah???
Breakfast out--$8-$12 bucks

4. Denise--the owner of the B & B isn't back from her trip so I have not met her yet--she left me the key under a ceramic rabbit!

5. Most people love Sarah--sad but true...and I don't know why--yet!

more to follow...
SC

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles....

It should say---Autos, trains,and planes!!! My trip was long...but pretty uneventful. Christopher and I got to Kazoo Wed. night. The three of us had dinner and then "bonded" in the room. We were up early the next morning and drop Katie at her dorm, then proceeded to get lost on our way to the train station!! After Chris dropped me off--I cried!! And then began the hurry-up and wait thing!! The train was late....and slow--but the trip was relaxing! Once at Union Station, with all of my luggage (very heavy), I stumble and tripped my way to find a cart--I kind of looked like "Country Bumkin'" goes traveling!! No carts around...so after many choice swear words--I made it to the Canal St. entrance to wait for the shuttle. It was a sight--me, the Smokers and the Homeless--dare one to ask me for money--he did! My reply--I have to move to Alaska to make money--LOL!!!!

The shuttle arrived--no place for me...except the passenger side next to the driver!! Once we hurried to the Airport I got to wait in some more lines--what fun!

Finally it was time to board--I had the row to myself for the 6.5 hour flight. The full moon illuminated the Canadian Rockies -it was beautiful!!

I arrived in Anchorage at 10pm--thank goodness Jean Peltola's brother David, picked me up at the airport--I was tired and clueless!!

David drove me past my school--which his kids attended--small world--ah! Then on to the B & B....more to follow......

B and B

The link to the B and B I'm living in is below--
In case your wondering Andrew is also living at the B and B--
And Denise the owner lives there too--
What fun I'll have--kind of like that Newhart show--the one with the Inn!!

Email....

stephaniecarey60@gmail.com

Departure date is getting close...

Well.......the car is on the carrier to Seattle!
My last day of school was Friday--the students gave me a send off party--what fun!

Family and friends gave me a great send off both Friday and Saturday nights...I'm sort of partied out!!!

Bear is at Karen's --Katie and I dropped him off Saturday morning. Dawn and Ronnie helped me pack and get the cottage ready for winter--

So...reality is setting in--

SC

Look out Sarah.......

I could be the next Ambassador to Russia!!

The date of departure is getting closer--

My last day at TCAPS is Friday, November 7th. I leave for Kalamazoo (to see Katie) on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Then on Thursday, I hop on a train to Chicago, a shuttle to O'Hare, and a non-stop 6pm flight to Anchorage. I'll arrive in Anchorage at 10pm...it happens to be a full moon that night!!

I start school on the following Monday at Mears Middle School--Teaching 7th grade Language Arts--what fun!

Hopefully, I can keep up with this blog for those of you who care to know....

And if you don't care--don't read it! LOL

Here's to safe travels,

SC