5 Minutes or More...

Wow--the sun has been shining for days now!  The sun rises at 8:16 and sets at 6:09--the days are getting longer.  It's amazing we get 5 minutes or more of daylight everyday!  Denali was out in her full glory this weekend--I got a peek on Sunday!  The mountains always amaze me and they look different every day depending on the weather!

Last Friday we took our students to the Performing Arts Center in downtown Anchorage to see Soul Street--a breaking dancing troupe.  Boy, I haven't been on a bus in a long time...let alone with 7th graders!!  I managed to get back at a few of them by threatening to sit with them on the bus.  I also danced--yes, the white girl, Elaine style, at the performance--all in all it was a good, embarrass your students, kind of trip!!  Oh--we only lost one student--Eddie Munster (seriously, this kid is a dead ringer for Eddie)--but damn--he found us before we got away! 

Wild Life!

No not me....well...I forgot to mention all of the creatures I saw on my trip--eagles (of course), Dall sheep, moose and sea otters!!  Very cool!

It's snowing today--we need it!!  I did ski last week--it was great!  The days are getting much longer..........

Weekend in Homer!

Wow--what a beautiful place.  Homer is at the end of the road (literally) on the Kenai Peninsula.  It took us about 5 hours to get there--we left after school on Friday.  The drive was spectacular--so many lakes, rivers and mountains--incredible!  The Kenai River is a big fishing (salmon) area, while Homer is known for halibut fishing (you should all be impressed I know my fishing areas). There are also many hiking trials.  On Saturday we woke up to a gorgeous day--the weather was about 40 and sunny.  At ten am everyday the eagles get fed, there were hundreds and they were not afraid of anything--it was way cool!!  But what I really wanted to do was to sit out on the spit (beach) with a beer!!  I could live in Homer--it would give me my "water" fix!  

On Sunday it started to rain so we headed back towards Anchorage to Girdwood, and stayed at Mt. Alyeska--nice.  No skiing for me though--not a place for beginners!!!  We left about noon on Monday (no school-- holiday-- you gotta love it here) and on the way home saw some Dall Sheep--just hangin' out on the rocks.

My plan is to travel when I can... so much to see! 

The first picture I added is of the mud flats in the Cook Inlet as you come into Anchorage from Seward--in the winter the ice builds up--it always looks different and is way cool! 

Another Year in Alaska!!

It looks like I get to stay at Mears another year!!  I'm so excited!!  I had my post observation meeting with my principal and it went wonderful--I couldn't have asked for anything better!!!  This school is just perfect for me--I'm even getting fond--(choke, choke) of 7th graders!  

I'm hoping to teach summer school this year to gain even more experience.  

So plan your trips to Alaska, I'll be here for (at least) another year!

Pictures!

I've finally been able to post some new pictures thanks to Mary--she helped me figure it out! Some of the pictures are from a month or so ago, but at least you can see what I have been talking about!!
The weather has been sunny--but cold. We did get some nice, fresh snow last week--it just makes everything prettier--as if that's possible!

School is going really well--I just love it! The 7th graders are finally getting the hang of my teaching style or I'm getting use to them :)
Progress reports went out last week and for the most part it looks as if the little darlings are learning--whether they like it or not--damn it!!

We had a staff vs 8th grade girls basketball game last Friday--Wow, was I ever impressed by the girls--they played like high-schoolers. I teach a study skills class 7th hour--it's a mix of both 7th and 8th graders the mix of students is a hoot--they all try to get away with doing nothing--not so in my class!! Last week they told me I was their favorite teacher--I'm thinking --wow--I'm so strict--now I think I better go observe the teachers "meaner" than me so I can improve--LOL!

The volcano is still a rumbling....................

I Moved this Weekend!

Hi All,

I move to another B & B--but I can stay here for as long a I would like!!  It's a great house close to where I was--I'm closer to the Cook Inlet with great views of the volcano!  It's an awesome subdivision with beautiful homes and good walking roads!  Mary is the owner--she's about my age and single--she's very cool--we get along great!!  Jackie, also lives with us part time.  She's a nurse and comes in from Hope ( a real small village) to work 3 days a week.  She has a son and husband in Hope.  She also brings her very large Golden named Rusty--he's a typical Golden--a bugger, but very sweet!  Mary has a Border Collie mix name Lucas--he's awesome.  This place feels like home--I'm glad to be here!!  The house also has a hot tub, treadmill, and two fireplaces, decks, sunroom and a great yard--really nice!

Here's the website to my new place:  www.jarvihomestay.com

I also changed my address to a P O Box--

PO Box 111473

Anchorage, AK 995 11-1473

I'm still having a blast!!

Write me!!

Still waiting....

for the volcano to blow!!  I went to ACE on Friday and bought a tarp and some bungie cords to cover my car--some people say to cover--some say don't worry about it!  Never a dull moment in AK.  By the way--all the face masks are sold out all over town!!