Hi All--it's been a while since my last post. Summer school is kicking my butt! I'm teaching writing to a bunch of students who don't really want to be in summer school (that's an understatement!). It's great experience for me--I'm learning all sorts of new technology. The students on the other hand, are learning how to write essays--ha--I'd be pissed too! This is the best summer Alaska has experienced in years! I will say grading the essays is not real fun!
BEAR ALERT-Today as I drove home from school a bear crossed the 4 lane road in front of me. At first I thought is was a dog--wrong--bear--it's crazy like that here!
Speaking of home, I'm back at Bronwyn's house taking care of Lucy the dog. If you remember, I house sat here at Christmas. Bronwyn is in China teaching English until Aug. 1. Her home is so cute, and is in a wonderful location--very fun to be here. Best of all, she has a cleaning lady and a lawn service :)By the way, the fighter jets (Air Force base is here) practice over the house--very cool!
The weather here has turned lovely--high 60's low 70's and sunny, and no humidity to speak of! It usually is even nicer in the Valley--Wasilla--No, not yet--no sign of the Palin clan!
Larry and I are now proud owners of mountain bikes--YIKES! I think this means I can't fake it anymore--I really have to go outside and produce some sort of exercise. Speaking of Larry, he has a huge....garden at his house--raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb, potatoes, carrots, beans, peas, parsnips, brussel sprouts, etc. You get the picture. He also has a very pretty flower garden. I get to decorate with garden chachkies (sp? how do you spell this?)--you can only imagine--LOL!
I was/am missing the sun,fun and company in TC...but it's beautiful here too!
Miss you all-
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
What a Blast!
Katie and I have had a blast! We have been to Fairbanks and back, Seward and back, and all places in between!
Here's a quick run down of our road trips-
-On Saturday, May 23 we stopped by the Saturday Market in Anchorage before heading north. This is an outdoor market that sells everything from Native crafts to clothing to food--very cool! Then we headed to Wasilla for the night--we checked on Larry's house and watered plants--
We left Wasilla and headed towards Fairbanks-with a stop in Talkeetna. I had been to Talkeetna in the winter but wow, this town is darling in the summer! It was bustling with tourist and climbers-- a starting point for McKinley climbers. We hoped (or I did anyway)that perhaps Larry would be back form his climb--not so!
While walking around town we went into a shop and was talked into taking a flight around McKinley--it was AWESOME! After that we hightailed it to Fairbanks. Our hotel was on the Chena River--it was 85 degrees so we dined on the banks and watched the jet skiers, kayakers, and boaters pass by--who would have thought you were in Alaska!!
--We spent Monday, Memorial Day, driving back towards Denali National Park, with a stop a the Pipeline before leaving Fairbanks. It's a pretty cool site to see--
We stayed right outside the Park entrance at the Princess Lodge--same place Kathy, Jenny, Sue and I stayed. We decided not to do the bus trip but to drive in as far as we could--we did see McKinley, but not any animals--figures! Twice I been... and no animals!!
--On Tuesday we went back to Wasilla--hoping Larry was back--this was the projected return date--but nope--no Larry.
--Thursday back to Anchorage to get ready for our trip to Seward--a Kenai Fjord day cruise. We went with some friends of mine (teachers from Kansas)Cheryl and Frances. The weather was rainy in Anchorage but upon arriving in Seward (3 hour drive)the sun came out--yeah! Our cruise was wonderful--we saw puffins, goats, Fin whales, Orcas, sea otters--incredible!! On the ride back to Anchorage I finally heard from Larry--he was back and did summit McKinley!
Larry had quite the adventure--He made it to the "top of the world" on Memorial Day. But not before he spent 10 days at 17,000 feet waiting for the weather to break so they could summit. He said it was so cold that they pretty much stayed in their sleeping bags all day! 4 out of 9 made it all the way. Once they got back to base camp a snow storm almost kept them from flying out--they made it back without their gear--they had to wait a few more hours for their stuff!!
Katie and I headed to Wasilla to hear about the climb--driving into Larry's subdivision we spotted a bear in the middle of the road--Katie screamed like a girl--LOL! We stayed the weekend then headed out Monday morning--late--because we were held hostage by a moose cruising around the yard!! Who needs to leave home--we saw more wildlife in the backyard!!
Summer school starts on Friday with 3 days of training, and students beginning next Wednesday. Katie leaves on Saturday night--I will miss her--but I think she's ready to be home in TC with sandy beaches!! Although, we have had better weather here!! We did visit the university here...maybe???????????
Here's a quick run down of our road trips-
-On Saturday, May 23 we stopped by the Saturday Market in Anchorage before heading north. This is an outdoor market that sells everything from Native crafts to clothing to food--very cool! Then we headed to Wasilla for the night--we checked on Larry's house and watered plants--
We left Wasilla and headed towards Fairbanks-with a stop in Talkeetna. I had been to Talkeetna in the winter but wow, this town is darling in the summer! It was bustling with tourist and climbers-- a starting point for McKinley climbers. We hoped (or I did anyway)that perhaps Larry would be back form his climb--not so!
While walking around town we went into a shop and was talked into taking a flight around McKinley--it was AWESOME! After that we hightailed it to Fairbanks. Our hotel was on the Chena River--it was 85 degrees so we dined on the banks and watched the jet skiers, kayakers, and boaters pass by--who would have thought you were in Alaska!!
--We spent Monday, Memorial Day, driving back towards Denali National Park, with a stop a the Pipeline before leaving Fairbanks. It's a pretty cool site to see--
We stayed right outside the Park entrance at the Princess Lodge--same place Kathy, Jenny, Sue and I stayed. We decided not to do the bus trip but to drive in as far as we could--we did see McKinley, but not any animals--figures! Twice I been... and no animals!!
--On Tuesday we went back to Wasilla--hoping Larry was back--this was the projected return date--but nope--no Larry.
--Thursday back to Anchorage to get ready for our trip to Seward--a Kenai Fjord day cruise. We went with some friends of mine (teachers from Kansas)Cheryl and Frances. The weather was rainy in Anchorage but upon arriving in Seward (3 hour drive)the sun came out--yeah! Our cruise was wonderful--we saw puffins, goats, Fin whales, Orcas, sea otters--incredible!! On the ride back to Anchorage I finally heard from Larry--he was back and did summit McKinley!
Larry had quite the adventure--He made it to the "top of the world" on Memorial Day. But not before he spent 10 days at 17,000 feet waiting for the weather to break so they could summit. He said it was so cold that they pretty much stayed in their sleeping bags all day! 4 out of 9 made it all the way. Once they got back to base camp a snow storm almost kept them from flying out--they made it back without their gear--they had to wait a few more hours for their stuff!!
Katie and I headed to Wasilla to hear about the climb--driving into Larry's subdivision we spotted a bear in the middle of the road--Katie screamed like a girl--LOL! We stayed the weekend then headed out Monday morning--late--because we were held hostage by a moose cruising around the yard!! Who needs to leave home--we saw more wildlife in the backyard!!
Summer school starts on Friday with 3 days of training, and students beginning next Wednesday. Katie leaves on Saturday night--I will miss her--but I think she's ready to be home in TC with sandy beaches!! Although, we have had better weather here!! We did visit the university here...maybe???????????
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