Thanksgiving Dance

Last Night there was a dance at the community center following the feast. Here is our Postmaster dancing with her daughter. She was a very animated dancer. Fun to watch.


The Drummers. I think there may have been 3 generations of drummers. It seems like they are all male. The Drummer are made on an animal skin, possibly sheep pulled over a wooden frame.

The litter kids were the most active dancers while we were there. We did not know what time the dance started, but we went over there around 9 and no one was there. So we walked back over around 10 and things had already started. Ahsley and I brought Tristen, the principal's son. Ashley sat on the floor and was treated as a bean bag chair by many of the little kids who were climbing all over her. Many of the kids assumed that becuase I was sitting next to a young guy that he was my boyfriend. When I insisted that he was not, I was asked if he was my son. Okay I am not quite that old, Tristen is 24 (I think).

If David Lang were an Eskimo, this is what he would look like. (David is a teacher at my old school.)

Even the High School kids got up to dance. Some of them anyhow. They motioned for me to come up. I joined them for just one dance, I followed what they were doing. Just bend at the knees to the rhythm of the drums and move your arms like you are doing the back stroke. It seems like that is what you do if you are a girl. I think there may be more of an art to it. Someone said each dance tells a story. Not everyone dances to every song, maybe some stories and songs are specific to certain families.

Blueberries and Cherries?

I have never heard this expression before last night.

So last night we walked over to the principals house to borrow the truck to go aurora watching. Zoey ran off into the bushes, and we were trying to call her back as the truck drove away. Doh! Were they going out to the dump to look at the Northern lights. It was about -20 F with the windchill. There are too many lights in town to tell whether the Northern lights are out or not. So I continued on past the street lights and walked a little ways up into the tundra until I could see a faint green glowing arc in the sky. Yup there are out. A few minutes later the truck came back. He said he had seen a lady fall down drunk in the street so he went to the Police station to get her some help. The cop, yes we only have one cop, at least at a time, was not there. But he said the Lady who had fallen down was not in the street anymore, so she must have found some help. So he let us take the truck. As we neared the edge of town we saw the cop getting into his vehicle. So that is why Brian did not find him. Anyhow so we continue on the one road out of town. There are headlights in my rear view mirror. Is he following us? Yup, I kept driving. Then the red and blue lights came on. So I pulled over. I could not believe that I was being pulled over? What did I do wrong.

I rolled down the window. Tony walks up asking "Did you guys come to the station?" We explain how Brian was just there about the intoxicated lady. I feel the need to explain why we are taking a dead end road out of town. "We are just going out to the dump to look at the lights." He did not seem to care. I guess he just recognized the truck.

Small town, not much going on.

Oh well. So I guess they call the blue and red lights blueberries and cherries in Illinois.

Care packages

This week Zoey and I got care packages from someone we do not even know! Ashly's cousin set us each a box of goodies. Cheatos, Halloween Chocolate, caned soup and some instant dinner kits.

Ashley was very jealous. Well now I guess she know how I feel. It seems like she gets about two packages a week from her friends and family.

Oh and by the way if you are planning on sending a care package soon with anything perishable up here, send it soon or do not send it until January. I will be traveling for Christmas. I will leave here on Dec 19th. So if you are going to send something and it is not quite ready yet, wait until after Christmas.

I went to the museum and bought some nice t-shirts and sweatshirts for everyone that sent me a care package.

Tracks

Wolk Track in the Snow across Contact Creek

Wolf Track, Ski Pole for Scale

Ptarmigan tracks

Weasel Tracks (2 X 2)

More Ptarmigan tracks!

Send Chocolate!

Supplies are running low... need I say more?

Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Fruity Chocolate, Truffles in Chocolate, Halloween Chocolate, Christmas candy, Hershey's Chocolate, Lindt, Lindor, Champlain, Godiva, I don't care! Anything but white Chocolate. White Chocolate is not really Chocolate after all.

Please and Thank You!!

A knock at my door

The other day a student came to my door with a gun in his hand. I was not home so he knocked on my neighbors door asking if they knew where I was. If I was living or teaching anywhere else I might be freaked out by this. Robert was looking to sell me his .22 riffle he bought from a student who moved away. I am interested in having a .22 for rabbit and ptarmigan hunting. I saw him on the way over to the camp, the one dining establishment in town, he turned his snowmobile around after passing me to tell me he had already sold it to some one else. I guess he needed the cash to put gas in his snow machine. While gas prices have dropped almost every where else in the country, it is still around $9 a gallon here in the village. People up here are outraged. This is where much of the country's oil is produced and yet we have to pay some of the highest gas prices?!

Students also look at guns on the internet at school. If this was not a hunting community, I would have get upset about this and report them. But here hunting is a way of life. I can not react the same way up here as I would in other schools.

Who's affraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

I am?

The days are growing shorter and when I am out skiing on the weekends it is more dusk like as the sun is low in the sky. I know that wolf attacks on humans are unheard of. The caribou have been scarce around the village this winter and according the regional state biologist there is a large healthy wolf population up here. When I ski I skijor with Zoey she is tethered to a belt on my waist. Last week when we were out skiing down by the willow along the creek, we scared up some ptarmigan and I saw something dart though the bushes then cross the trail a head of us and climb the hill up to the tundra. It was dark gray. Canine like. Was it a fox? Was it a wolf? The animal stood high up on the hill watching us as we skied along. My heart was pounding, what if it was a wolf? I did not have my glasses on, they get all foggy and frosty when I ski so I just left them at home. I could see the dark outline of the animal against the snow but I could not make out the details. Zoey stopped to go to the bathroom and before we started up again she had walked circles around me. I was all bound up. Great we must look like wolf-bait, I thought. I had to un-hook her in order to untangle us. We went on until we came to the tracks of the animal that had crossed our path. The prints were as big as Zoey's feet. Could a fox have tracks that large? We continued skiing until we came to the ice where the river over flowed on the bank. Skiing on the ice I was slipping and sliding all over the place, once again feeling like wolf bait. I know that wolves do not attack people, but sometimes when I ski I am sure that I look like a wounded animal. At this point I decided to turn around. We stopped once again at the tracks were the animal had crossed our path. I looked at the prints again. The toes were dainty, but spayed out making the track look bigger. I have never seen fox tracks this big before, but I know the animal was running. I thought back to the wolf tracks I had seen across contact creek at the base of blueberry hill last week. They were big. Much bigger than Zoey's tracks. Finally I decided that the animal we saw was just a fox. It did not seem very wolf like to be hunting ptarmigan in willow and to run from a human with a dog. Would a wolf run from us? I am not really sure what a wolf would do if we came upon one. I have thought about carrying a fire arm to scare them off. I do not have a lot of experience with guns, but I think it may be time to learn. I asked some local folks here if a .22 riffle would scare off a wolf. I have been told a .22 would likely not kill a wolf unless I was a very good shot. Then I would have a wounded wolf on my hands. I do not really want to hurt or kill a wolf, I just want to scare it off. Any suggestions?

Pizza Night

We have been planning this for a long time and finally this week I was able to pull it off. I had planned for the students in my Home Economic class to host a Pizza night for their Families. This was supposed to be part of their Mid-term Exam. However between student absences for Conferences, and volley ball, and me traveling I had put it off.

The students learned to make pizza dough using the sponge method as described in the Tassaharah Bread Book. (Not sure if I spelled that right.) Then I taught them how to stretch the dough, and even how to throw the dough. They had fun with that. They were smart enough to put clean paper on the floor in case the dropped the dough.

We reserved the gym, which doubles as our caffiteria, and got permission to use the kitchen. Wow, those convection ovens cook fast!

Students invited thier families, parents, grandparents, cousins, siblings. We had a good turn out. I think most studnets had about 3 family members there. It was nice to see the students serving and intereacting with their families. There were lots of smile and nice comments.

The kids did a pretty good job pitching in to help set up tables, and clean up after. Also I want to thank Ashley who helped me the whole night. Karin the principals wife also came to help me in the kitchen. She was a big help because she has worked in there before.

Fairbanks... Barrow... Lifegaurd

This weekend the district flew us to Fairbanks and Barrow and back for lifeguard training. Thursday 5 teachers from the school, myself, the Giffords, Ashley and Colby left right after school. Here we are at the airport waiting for the plane. I kept asking myself, "Why did I bring so much Crap?"


Okay not all of the bags in this photo are mine... but I sure brought more than I needed.

The sun is setting around 4 pm as we fly into Fairbanks.

We all had dinner in Fairbanks at a little pub called Brewster's, nothing too exciting. But at least it was not smokey like many of the bars can be. The next day Ashley and I went to the Mall. The Bentley mall. We walked around for about 5 minutes before we came to the entrance to a Michael's. "Where is the rest of the mall?" I asked. I think there was fewer than 10 stores in the whole mall. I mean even Burlington has a bigger mall than this, two in fact! Oh well good thing I am not that into shopping. Next we head over to Jo Anne's fabric where I find out that I can not use a purchase order to any fabric for projects in my Home Ec class! What am I going to do? How are we going to sew?

Oh well, we have lunch at a place called food factory where they have my new favorite raspberry beer on tap. We are supposed to be spending the night in Barrow, so I forgo the beer and try out my new tea thermos instead.

After lunch Ashley and I head off to Campus in search of a Professor making movies about the tundra for students. We were unable to find him so we went to the museum. The University of Alaska in Fairbanks has a nice collection of artifacts on the native culture and history of Alaska.

Good thing we are not lost, it is about -15 degrees out! This hat I am wearing is very warm. I got several comments on my hat this weekend. I am not sure why it was so fascinating. What does Camo and rabbit fur not match the rest of my attire?



Totem outside of the Museum. Totems are more common among the South East Coastal people.

Polar bear and their favorite food. But if they can not find a seal they would not flinch at eating you!

Raven Rock.

After the Museum we headed over to Alaska Raw furs where they have a huge selection of furs. I am planning to make a beaver fur hat, which is said to be just about the warmest hat you can get. They go for around $250 but I bet I can make one for much less.

On the walls you can see Wolverine in the back with go for about $500 each, wolf pelts go for about the same. On the left are Lynx pelts. I am still not sure which species I will use for a ruff on the parka I am planning to make. Wolf is the most common, but Wolverine is a status symbol. Most people will also use a little beaver fur to give it a soft edge.

Okay, we need to hurry now. Off to the post office to mail out our packages, we also bought a new vacuum at walmart and need to get that off in the mail instead of bringing it on the plane. Ashley and I get back to the hotel about an hour before our flight leaves for Barrow. If we had left right away we would have made it... but we stayed and visited for a bit... then realized that Colby would need to get gas. For some reason he would not go to the closest gas station, but one about a mile down the road, then he can't get the gas tank open, the stupid lever will not pop the door. Then we miss the turn to go directly to the airport and drive another mile or two out of the way. So by the time we get to the airport... they will not let us check in

Oh darn, we missed out flight! But there just happens to be a Contra Dance in Fairbanks that very night. After rescheduling our flight and making arrangements for tomorrow, we head to Fred Meyer's where I buy myself a purple velvet dress to were to the dance. I had thrown my dance shoes in my bag on the off chance that we may miss the flight to Barrow due to weather...

The dance was good but the caller sounded like a middle school teacher trying to get the class to listen. There was a young crowd and some inexperienced dancers, but somehow we pulled it together and managed to have fun despite the frustrations of the caller. She made comments like..." Some people like to spin when they do-si-do, try not to let it confuse or annoy you." I think I must be one of those some people... I wonder if she found me annoying... Oh well. It was fun.

Saturday morning we had to get up at the crack of dawn... well actually a good deal before dawn considering the sun does not rise until 9 or 10 am. Tired and cranky we make it to the airport with plenty of time to eat over priced muffins and drink over priced coffee. There was no way I was missing this flight. We stopped in Dead Horse, where the airport for Prohudoe bay is. Workers for the oil field got on and off the plane here. We flew on a 737, only about half of the plane holds passengers, the other half of the plane is cargo. Although you can drive to Prohudoe bay, you can not drive to Barrow. There are no roads.

Sun rise around 9 am.

Sea Ice and Barrow lights.

So I am a lifeguard now. Okay, let me specify that I am a shallow water lifeguard only trained to work at my site. I can swim 50 meters without stopping, I can strap someone on to the back board in the water. I can walk in a pool while carrying a 10 lb brick.

Ashley in the Barrow Airport ready to go home.

I must have still had water in my ear after swimming. The flight home was hard on my ears. I think I may be developing an ear infection. I had a hard time hearing for several hours after we got off the plane. I hope this clears up and does not turn into an ear infection.

Starting off the week feeling sick is no fun! But maybe I am paying for a fun weekend. There is a chance I may be back in Barrow next weekend if I Chaperoned for the Volley Ball tournament.

Things are Growing

In September I drop a good chunk of change of this contraption called the AeroGrow Garden. Basically it is a hydroponic set up that is all automatic and self contained. You buy these little seed capsules and pop them into the tray, add water, fertilizer tablets, set a timer and away they go. A pump circulates the water to each of the seed packets. As the plants grow their roots are constantly being washed with the water and nutrients.

Here are my lettuce seeds after about 5 days.

And three weeks later... salad anyone?

Good thing I have 5 lbs of carrots and a case of Annie's Goddess dressing to go with it.

Snow blow away

At the begining of the week I was bosting of the perfect skiing conditions. We had a few windy days this week. I should not say that the snow blew away, so much as it has blown around, spliting and regrouping to form stiff ridges and soft valleys. This makes the skiing a little more difficult. The rocks that were covered by two feet of snow a week ago are exposed. The roads are hard packed and icy, but still have gravel expossed.

The end of Day light savings may put an end to my afterschool skiing anyways. The sun will set at 4:12 today, while there may be an hour of visable light after that, I don't know if that will really give me the time to get out. I guess this means no farting around afterschool. If I want to go skiing I have to just go! Too bad I have a student that missed school for a month and now wants me to stay after school to help her get caught up. Sigh. I guess I better go now while the sun is shinning. I think I will have just a little more than a month of sun now.

Send me you warm thoughts, and home baked goodies to keep me warm as I ski out on the tundra.

Pretty in Purple

We were really bored the other night. We refering to Ashley and myself and Zoey. It was cabbage night. The night before Halloween. We had eggs, but the only people we might want to egg live in the same building as us. Okay I could have collected all of the dog poop in the yard into a paper bag, lit it on fire on one of the other teacher's door steps, but I have never really been the kind of person that pulls pranks. So instead, we painted Zoey's toe nails purple. Of course she did not even pretend to put up a fight. Isn't she pretty?

I think Purple is one of Zoey's Favorite colors. Her colar is purple, her nails are purple and her new skijor harness is purple.

Here she is using her harness for a more pratical purpose. She is hauling 48 lbs of groceries that I had shipped to myself the last time I was in Fairbanks. The post office is less than 1/4 of a mile from where we live, but I really did not want to carry that box back myself. Besides I think it is good to give Zoey a job. She seems a little depressed latley. I need to do something so she has a feeling of self worth. I think hauling a load is just the thing.

I wanna be a life Guard...

Help help help... I wanna guard your life....

I can't remember the name of the band that sings this silly song, but that is all I can think of when I am getting ready for my life guard training.

Those of you that know me well may know that I grew up with a 4 foot deep above ground pool in my backyard. Because of this I never really learned how to swim. At least not well. Sure I like to go to the lake or the swimming hole at the river, jump in the water and splash around, but I have never really been a swimmer.

Last week, Brian my boss, comes into my classroom and asks me if I would like to spend two nights in a hotel in Fairbanks and go to a lifeguard training in Barrow. All I heard was hotel in Fairbanks paid for by the school district. Without much thought I said yes. Okay there are a few things you have to understand about where I live.

1. You can only get here by plane or Catrain when rivers are frozen, or apparently by dogsled. (The park ranger here told me that is how he first came to Anaktuvuk Pass.)

2. A round trip to ticket to Fairbanks is $360. You can carry 40 lbs with you then you have to pay $0.85 per pound after that. (Now they never really weigh you going out to Fairbanks, they Will ask you your weight point blank in front of everyone... and you better not lie because this could be a life or death matter.)

3. There is a hotel on Fairbanks called Sophie's Station that the district uses to put us up when we have to travel. The rooms are like an apartment that is bigger than my former house. They have a sitting room, kitchen with full stove, full fridge, sink and even dishes. There is a TV in the sitting room and one in the bedroom. WiFi. During the off season which is Mid September until Fairbanks thaws out, which I don't know when that is..., the rooms are only $75 a night. Most rooms also have 2 queen sized beds. This is where Ashley and I stayed when we were there for labor day weekend. Too bad the rooms were $180 a night then. We should have waited two weeks. Oh well now we know for next year.

4. My Village is Dry, I am not referring to the humidity or precipitation. Alcohol is not permitted in the village. You may not posses it, you may not bring it in, you may not be drunk. Homebrew is a felony. If you are caught bringing in Alcohol three times it is a felony. If we want to have an occasional drink, we need travel outside of the village. Yes it may be possible to bring in Alcohol and drink in our apartments without being caught, but it is not worth loosing my job.

5. Barrow is a town more than 10 times the size of Anaktuvk Pass, and it is Damp. That means you are allowed to bring in a small amount of alcohol and posses it. But you are NOT allowed to sell it.

So when Brian asked me if I wanted to travel I said YES.

Oh wait, here's a thought. Do you have to be able to swim to be a life guard?

Sort of. Well at first we were told that you had to be able to do the breast stroke and free style for 200 meters each.

Okay it is time to start training. Here is our pool:

The pool at our school is 4 feet deep, 2 lanes wide and 25 meters long. Luckily I am 5' 3" tall. So at anytime I can stand up in the pool.

Okay so last Saturday we go to the pool to see if we can swim, 400 meters. The answer is.....

Yes, but not without stopping. I think I could swim about 50 meters before I needed a break. I have never swam laps before and I did not realize what an intense workout swimming is. Swimming burns about 600 calories an hour.

I go back to Brian to tell him that I do not think I can swim 400 meters. He makes the travel plans anyways.

Moral dilemma: can I travel on the district's dime to go to a training and take a certification that I am not sure if I can pass.

I talk to Brian again. He insists that I go. Then he tells me that there are no requirements of being able to swim. Okay, a sigh of relief.

Ashley and I have been going to swim 5 of the last 7 days. It only takes about 20 to 25 minutes to get 16 laps in. It is a great work out and I am going to try to keep it up this winter so I can stay in shape... Maybe even leave here in better shape than I arrived!

So for Halloween I dress up as a life guard. Only in the Arctic.