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...
Sunday, September 12, 2010
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!!!!!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Spring Time in Alaska???????
May 1st--Snow! Not what I particularly enjoy on the 1st of May! It was only a brief shower, but enough to remind you of winter!
On the other hand, Farmer Larry is diligently preparing the garden for planting. He has started many of the veggies from seeds, inside this year, and it looks like a greenhouse around here. As you may remember, the moose love our garden and it looks as though they might have a wider variety to eat this year--NOT! Maybe I'll have them for dinner--look out!
School is out May 20th this year. I have two classes to take the next week to keep my Alaska certificate. They are on Alaska history and culture--should be very interesting!
I am teaching summer school again this year--it will be reading this time. I start June 3rd with training, students on the 8th, and finish up July 9th--short and sweet! Then it's off to TC for a couple of weeks! I can't wait to see the Bay again!
Next year I get to move up! I will be teaching 8th grade Language Arts--sounds like another challenge...
Last weekend Larry and I met up with some friends from a small village northwest of Bethel--Chevak. Rebeka is a Teacher in the village with a population of about 1,000. Her husband, Jim, is the chief of police and the city manager--ha! She teaches the native language--Chupik, to second graders in an immersion program. This is a dying Eskimo language. They both tried to talk me into moving and teaching high school there--they promised to take me seal hunting and teach me how to cook it--I'm thinking...maybe in a couple of years! Larry's buddy Joe is also in the picture, we are headed to Valdez with him Memorial Weekend to camp and Halibut fish--hummmmmmmmmmmm! The drive I am told, is stunning...
That same day we headed south to Beluga Point. We didn't see any Belugas, but we did see some Dall sheep on the mountains. It was a beautiful sunny day. In the picture where I am on the rock, you see across the inlet to the Kenai National Refuge and the tiny village of Hope, where my friend Jacquie lives.
On the way home we stopped in downtown Anchorage for the first reindeer hot dog of the year--yum!
On the other hand, Farmer Larry is diligently preparing the garden for planting. He has started many of the veggies from seeds, inside this year, and it looks like a greenhouse around here. As you may remember, the moose love our garden and it looks as though they might have a wider variety to eat this year--NOT! Maybe I'll have them for dinner--look out!
School is out May 20th this year. I have two classes to take the next week to keep my Alaska certificate. They are on Alaska history and culture--should be very interesting!
I am teaching summer school again this year--it will be reading this time. I start June 3rd with training, students on the 8th, and finish up July 9th--short and sweet! Then it's off to TC for a couple of weeks! I can't wait to see the Bay again!
Next year I get to move up! I will be teaching 8th grade Language Arts--sounds like another challenge...
Last weekend Larry and I met up with some friends from a small village northwest of Bethel--Chevak. Rebeka is a Teacher in the village with a population of about 1,000. Her husband, Jim, is the chief of police and the city manager--ha! She teaches the native language--Chupik, to second graders in an immersion program. This is a dying Eskimo language. They both tried to talk me into moving and teaching high school there--they promised to take me seal hunting and teach me how to cook it--I'm thinking...maybe in a couple of years! Larry's buddy Joe is also in the picture, we are headed to Valdez with him Memorial Weekend to camp and Halibut fish--hummmmmmmmmmmm! The drive I am told, is stunning...
That same day we headed south to Beluga Point. We didn't see any Belugas, but we did see some Dall sheep on the mountains. It was a beautiful sunny day. In the picture where I am on the rock, you see across the inlet to the Kenai National Refuge and the tiny village of Hope, where my friend Jacquie lives.
On the way home we stopped in downtown Anchorage for the first reindeer hot dog of the year--yum!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
April in Alaska
We still have snow...but...it has been in the 40's so it is beginning to melt--yeah! Larry is planting seeds inside to get ready for the garden--the moose are hungry! Ha, not this year they won't! You know what I'm talking about...
Spring school conferences were a couple of weeks ago--all went well! Boy, am I glad that's over! My students said their favorite class was social studies...I'm still laughing! We have state testing next week, and then...it's almost over, May 20th is the last day of school--34 more days!
Friday Larry took me on a bar tour in Wasilla--can I just tell you it was an experience not to be forgotten...I had to post a picture to prove it!
Spring school conferences were a couple of weeks ago--all went well! Boy, am I glad that's over! My students said their favorite class was social studies...I'm still laughing! We have state testing next week, and then...it's almost over, May 20th is the last day of school--34 more days!
Friday Larry took me on a bar tour in Wasilla--can I just tell you it was an experience not to be forgotten...I had to post a picture to prove it!
Happy Spring!
It's been a while since I have written--busy, busy! I had a wonderful Florida visit--The trip there and back was not the best, and the cold and backache-- I could have done with out...but all in all I'm glad I went!
Seriously, this was my first visit to the "lower 48" as they say up here. I was sooooo ready to go...it has been a long, very long winter. The darkness really got to me this year! Anyway, my flight was to leave at 8AM on Friday. Friday was a teacher work day--report cards and such...so, I worked like a dog to be ready to leave on Friday--nothing was going to get in my way!!!! As we drove to Anchorage the wind was a whippin"--we get 45-80 mph winds that just barrel through the Valley. I was somewhat worried, but I never hear of canceled flights. Larry dropped me at the airport, I boarded the flight on time...and then we sat on the runway for about an hour. The plane was de-iced about 4 times--there was a few flurries--nothing big. We were finally told that the airport was going to close...BUMMER! The pilot came on and said the winds were too much--they were waiting for two flights to land and then we could see if we could make it over the mountains--then all would be good! Well, I was thinking--I'm out of here no matter what...I need sun and family! Finally, we were able to take off--well the entire flight was spring breakers--you should have heard the cheers!!!! But they didn't last real long--it was by far the scariest flight I have ever been on. The wind bounced us around like a roller coaster--my stomach was in my throat-yikes! We all kind of did that nervous laugh--you know the one you do when you don't want to cry?? The captain announced that we only had ten minutes or so and the flight would smooth out. He was right, and the 5 1/2 hours to Chicago was smooth sailing!
That's right--it's a 6 hour trip to Chicago--then I caught a flight to Ft. Lauderdale--3 more hours! I was so happy to see Kathy... so we could drive 2 more hours!
Once I was there it was great--they all kept saying how cold it was.........
Katie was just finishing up her spring break so we were able to spend 3 days together--very nice!
Art and Lesley's had a Greek dinner for us--how fun! George and Betty (Lesley's mom and dad) and Chuck and Eileen (Ronnie's parents) joined us too. It was a typical Kranites event: loud, good food and wonderful conversation!!
I was also able to see friends from TC--Michelle, Ron and Deb, and Deb's mom. And a friend from years past, the old Halberd neighborhood, Linda Libby. How fun it was to catch up with Linda, it's been about 15 or so years since we have seen one another. And since this year marks the eve of our 50th birthday, it was great to see that neither of us has aged!! Ha ha!
One thing I really wanted to do was eat at The Stage Deli--Chris and I had waited tables at The Stage in West Bloomfield--same owners. Jenny, Michelle, Jamie and I went but it wasn't the same :( The company was good though!
I had been a bit nervous to leave Alaska--a part of me worried that I would not want to go back...but I was ready!
My flight home was just as exciting-- I sat for 3 hours in Lauderdale waiting to leave! First our plane was late, then the plane could not land because of storms, then the plane went to Miami to refuel, then it couldn't take off from Miami because the storm was now there...you get the idea! Finally, I was back on my way to Chicago...landed with 45 minutes to catch the Alaska flight. It was good to be home!
I can't wait until summer when I get to do all over again--this time TC!
Seriously, this was my first visit to the "lower 48" as they say up here. I was sooooo ready to go...it has been a long, very long winter. The darkness really got to me this year! Anyway, my flight was to leave at 8AM on Friday. Friday was a teacher work day--report cards and such...so, I worked like a dog to be ready to leave on Friday--nothing was going to get in my way!!!! As we drove to Anchorage the wind was a whippin"--we get 45-80 mph winds that just barrel through the Valley. I was somewhat worried, but I never hear of canceled flights. Larry dropped me at the airport, I boarded the flight on time...and then we sat on the runway for about an hour. The plane was de-iced about 4 times--there was a few flurries--nothing big. We were finally told that the airport was going to close...BUMMER! The pilot came on and said the winds were too much--they were waiting for two flights to land and then we could see if we could make it over the mountains--then all would be good! Well, I was thinking--I'm out of here no matter what...I need sun and family! Finally, we were able to take off--well the entire flight was spring breakers--you should have heard the cheers!!!! But they didn't last real long--it was by far the scariest flight I have ever been on. The wind bounced us around like a roller coaster--my stomach was in my throat-yikes! We all kind of did that nervous laugh--you know the one you do when you don't want to cry?? The captain announced that we only had ten minutes or so and the flight would smooth out. He was right, and the 5 1/2 hours to Chicago was smooth sailing!
That's right--it's a 6 hour trip to Chicago--then I caught a flight to Ft. Lauderdale--3 more hours! I was so happy to see Kathy... so we could drive 2 more hours!
Once I was there it was great--they all kept saying how cold it was.........
Katie was just finishing up her spring break so we were able to spend 3 days together--very nice!
Art and Lesley's had a Greek dinner for us--how fun! George and Betty (Lesley's mom and dad) and Chuck and Eileen (Ronnie's parents) joined us too. It was a typical Kranites event: loud, good food and wonderful conversation!!
I was also able to see friends from TC--Michelle, Ron and Deb, and Deb's mom. And a friend from years past, the old Halberd neighborhood, Linda Libby. How fun it was to catch up with Linda, it's been about 15 or so years since we have seen one another. And since this year marks the eve of our 50th birthday, it was great to see that neither of us has aged!! Ha ha!
One thing I really wanted to do was eat at The Stage Deli--Chris and I had waited tables at The Stage in West Bloomfield--same owners. Jenny, Michelle, Jamie and I went but it wasn't the same :( The company was good though!
I had been a bit nervous to leave Alaska--a part of me worried that I would not want to go back...but I was ready!
My flight home was just as exciting-- I sat for 3 hours in Lauderdale waiting to leave! First our plane was late, then the plane could not land because of storms, then the plane went to Miami to refuel, then it couldn't take off from Miami because the storm was now there...you get the idea! Finally, I was back on my way to Chicago...landed with 45 minutes to catch the Alaska flight. It was good to be home!
I can't wait until summer when I get to do all over again--this time TC!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Another Three Day Weekend-Thanks George and Abe!
Check out the slide show of Denali! It was 36 degrees and crystal clear with beautiful sunshine. This view is about 1 1/2 hours towards Fairbanks from the house (north--lol).
March 5th I head to Naples to visit the family--Katie will be there the week before--we overlap for a weekend--can't wait for fun and warmth!! I think my body will go into shock when I step off the plane in Florida...or maybe Florida will go into shock looking at my very white body!
March 5th I head to Naples to visit the family--Katie will be there the week before--we overlap for a weekend--can't wait for fun and warmth!! I think my body will go into shock when I step off the plane in Florida...or maybe Florida will go into shock looking at my very white body!
Monday, January 18, 2010
January 2010
It's that fabulous time of year that all Alaskans look forward to--PDF filing! PDF is the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend--and this year, I get to file for the first time! We file sometime between January and March, and voila, $$ in October! Well, money for nothing...ha! I think its a ploy to keep people here through the dark, dark, did I mention dark winter! Well it has worked for me so far...I'm still Way Up North!!
Katie and I had a groovy time catching all of the Anchorage merriment during her visit. We rang in the New Year along with her 20th birthday...no more teenagers for me. Unless of course, you count the 60 or so I have the privilege of teaching this year! Have I mentioned what awesome writers I have in class? Well if not--I can assure you, they are good...they also love to share their writing which is extremely enjoyable to all.
Katie helped me at school for three days--that was fun--LOL--she tends to forget how she acted in 7th grade--LOL!
I actually am going to leave this Great State for spring break--fun, sun, and siblings--I can hardly wait. My bathing suit and short have not seen the light of day since I left Michigan...okay, I did wear shorts about five times last summer--it was that warm! But seriously, its not the weather you have to worry about, but the bugs. They grow'em BIG up here--forget the mosquitoes (it's the state bird you know), you should see the size of the dragon flies! I thought it was a flock of hummingbirds coming at me --no kidding they are that ginormous!
We are gaining more and more daylight everyday...Yippee!
Katie and I had a groovy time catching all of the Anchorage merriment during her visit. We rang in the New Year along with her 20th birthday...no more teenagers for me. Unless of course, you count the 60 or so I have the privilege of teaching this year! Have I mentioned what awesome writers I have in class? Well if not--I can assure you, they are good...they also love to share their writing which is extremely enjoyable to all.
Katie helped me at school for three days--that was fun--LOL--she tends to forget how she acted in 7th grade--LOL!
I actually am going to leave this Great State for spring break--fun, sun, and siblings--I can hardly wait. My bathing suit and short have not seen the light of day since I left Michigan...okay, I did wear shorts about five times last summer--it was that warm! But seriously, its not the weather you have to worry about, but the bugs. They grow'em BIG up here--forget the mosquitoes (it's the state bird you know), you should see the size of the dragon flies! I thought it was a flock of hummingbirds coming at me --no kidding they are that ginormous!
We are gaining more and more daylight everyday...Yippee!
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