Life is good

Yeah, I'm an organ donor. What?

Sorry Friends, it's been a long time... 20 days or something. Any who, a lot has happened in the month of February. Highlights include me not getting a Drivers License in Craig and then finally obtaining one in Ketchikan last Friday. Rest assured that the people who work in the DMV on the island are equally as worthless as they are in the rest of the country. I could go on, but I wont.

I found a Wilderness First Responder course being offered over my spring break in Juneau. This is good and bad. Good: I need WFR certification to guide for Spirit Walker this summer. Good also because my district is allowing me to use my professional development money to pay for the class and travel (over $1,000 value) and my Principal is giving me an additional four days off from school because the class spills over into the next work week. Bad, only because I was suppose to being going to Hawaii with Shane and Beth. Yeah, a real a-hole move on my part, luckily they are like the most kind and understanding people I know and didn't make me feel bad about completely bailing on plans that were my idea to begin with. THANKS!!

Last thing, I was offered a job with Spirit Walker leading kayak trips this summer. So yeah, that is happening. Stephen, the owner, said that I would be done by August 18th so I am really hoping to be able to come home for at least a week before school starts up again in September.

Yeah, I'm blessed.

I still don't have a contract for next year. Please continue to send positive employment thoughts my way. At this point, I would be really sad if I was assigned to any school other than Thorne Bay. I am thoroughly enjoying teaching here.

Okay, well I have 7 classes to plan for.

WAIT, it's my BIRTHDAY on Thursday...okay, that's it.

new mailing address

Last day teaching in Coffman Cove :(

Satellite radio update: I ordered a new Sirius Radio online through Amazon about two and half weeks ago. I just received an email informing me that the radio has been sent back to Amazon because it sat in the Ketchikan post office for too long. See, we’ve had total crap for weather for the last three weeks so we’ve only had one or two mail planes, so, while mail can easily get to Ketchikan it can be very difficult to get it to the island. Which for record, is EXACTLY why I wanted to take care of this while I was home…so I wouldn’t have to depend on the postal service. While in ANC this weekend, I’m going to attempt to return my old XM radio. So help me God, if I have any issues…….there will be hell to pay. I’m ready to put this saga behind me. Wish me luck.

New mailing address:

PO BOX 19298

Thorne Bay, AK 99919

LOVES

Don't drink the Water

The ocean can freeze?

Tuesday (the day after I arrived), Thorne Bay was put on a BOIL WATER advisory because there is a massive leak in our water system. No worries, the city is supplementing the loss water with untreated lake water. I literally cannot see through the water coming out of the facet. It’s kind of disgusting, but apparently totally potable if you boil it for two minutes. So…I’m still living in bush Alaska.

I was at the post office when somebody asked the city manager if she knew when the problem would be fixed. She looked at them and said, “Problem…problem? Can you still flush your toilet, can you still take a shower? Then I don’t think we have a problem yet.” At this point I knew I had been living in AK for too long, because I had to give it to her, she was right. All the while everyone in TNB was bitching about not being able to drink out of the water fountain, I was just so grateful to have running water in my bathroom again. As far as the water leak goes, they don’t know where it’s leaking so it’s anybody's guess.

I'm staying in ANC tonight....I think it's bubble bath time.

It's true

this picture needs no explanation

Wow. I’ve been really busy….ridiculously busy if you will. The only reason I have time to write this post is because I’m traveling from Hollis to Ketchikan in hopes of getting to Anchorage and then down to Kenai by tomorrow morning for a conference. Oh the life of Alaskan teacher. Where do I begin?

So yes, I moved to Thorne Bay. I am now a proud full-time teacher, which is pretty great. I’m currently teaching a 3-5^th grade reading, math and spelling group in the morning and 6^th grade Language Arts, Middle School Health, and the real kicker, Entrepreneurship in afternoon to high schoolers. I am busy, to say the least, but I am SO happy to be out of Coffman Cove and in the great city Thorne Bay. Here’s why (in order of greatness):

1. Thorne Bay School has a Principal and a secretary, which mean, I DON’T HAVE to play either one of those roles. HIP HIP HOORAY!!! I hate, hate (HATED), HATED being Lead Teacher and everything that entails. I am so HAPPY to be focused on TEACHING.

2. My living situation has improved by approximately 1000%. Not only is there running water, but the apartment has heat, Internet, cable, cellphone reception, AND my rent is cheaper. I WIN.

3. Thorne Bay Market (aka Alaskan & Proud = awesome grocery store): a grocery store in town. What!?!

I still think that it’s GD ridiculous that I was asked to move and take on a whole new course load over night but it makes me feel a lot more secure about next year. Our district lost a bunch of money from timber sales this year which means that we are looking at cutting at least 4 fulltime teachers. I was def scarred for my job and didn’t think that fulltime employment would even be an option. There are still no guarantees but I feel better about the future.