The Little Things.....

My DVD player was slowly dying....from discs that started skipping to messages that most of my collection was unplayable....

and this weekend, my new one came! And I am back to being able to watch my movies! Yay!

This week has been very interesting. Some of which I can talk about but I really do leave off the politics of my teaching world, so I am not going to dwell on any of that stuff.

My M friends were sick most of this past week. So I wasn't spending much time with them. I stopped by Friday and was catching up, when there was a knock on the door. It was our friend K-Dawg, who was here to spend the weekend. So a K-Dawg weekend it turned out to be. We normally play games and last night, we busted out the karaoke games (Beatles and other songs) and I belted out "I Will Survive". We must have needed to let off some steam because we all got really silly. I was never very good at Guitar Hero/Rock Band and so I just stayed away from those games. Well, at M's house, you are handed a guitar and told "It's your turn." So I played, and I was pleased that I got better. K-Dawg was hogging the base. (Sigh....honestly!!)

Life is going well at school. The first grade class has been having a hard time. Their teacher never returned after Winter Break. I knew she was struggling but I was surprised she didn't come back. I had heard of that happening, but I had never actually seen it happen. The kids have been acting out and are obviously hurt. Their new teacher is handling things well, but it's hard. I'm by no means saying you have to stay where you are and be unhappy, but after seeing how much the little ones are hurting and feel abandoned, I don't think I'll ever be able to leave somewhere in the middle of the year. Well, life would have to be pretty horrible for me to do that.

But what's annoying to me might really be horrible to someone else. I know the water/power/sewer outages can be very frustrating. And they might not be over...but I my mom has sent me some dry shampoo, I have learned how to save water, and I am getting better about not getting upset if I can't shower twice a day. Once is fine and I'll live if it's been a day. I don't like it, but I'll be fine.

Yes, the kids can be challenging. Especially if you are new to teaching. Classroom management can be challenging to any new teacher. I remember it wasn't until my second year teaching that I read a book and attended an inservice that changed things for me. Ah, Robert MacKenzie....I am such a fan! Turns out my friend M read his book on parenting. Which would explain why we have similar styles with kids and discipline. I am by no means perfect and there's still tips and techniques that would benefit me, but I feel classroom management is one of my strengths. After five years of reading up on it and several seminars, I had better be good at it by now.

I have a theory about kids and behavior: If a child is having issues at home, he/she is going to test their teacher. They are going to push the rules to see if that teacher is who they say they are. They want/need that teacher to be strong and stand firm. The rest of the world may topsy turvy but their classroom is always consistent. They need their teacher to be calm, consistent, and fair. One child testing you can be exhausting. Add several children who are testing you and you have quite a school week ahead of you. What some teachers here don't seem to realize (or maybe they romanticize the lower 48) is that there's always a student who will test you. Or at least a student who will challenge you......and if you are lucky, there's only one. But some kids test you every now and then, just to make sure things are what they should be.

The thing to do is to not take it personally. To accept that life isn't going to be the "perfect" image you had: Rows of desks with students sitting nice and quietly, sitting in apt attention for your next perfectly thought up lesson. No, life is messy. As my friend once said: You can get what you want, but it won't always look like you thought it would.

Life certainly isn't looking like I thought it would. And I'm okay with that! I've got a huge puppy, two cats, great friends, a loving family, and I live out here in rural Alaska.....(India's re gifting me a birthday present....). My puppy has started sleeping on my bed, is almost house broken, and is always entertaining.....no, life doesn't look what I expected it too....but my goodness! Who could have expected all this????

35.......I'm 35

Wow, where have the years gone? Oh yeah, Disney Store, school, Admin Assistant, school, teaching, moving to rural Alaska......stuff like.

I celebrated my birthday a few weeks ago. My dear friend Michelle surprised me and my class with cupcakes and then my darling teacher friends surprised me with a birthday game night. Okay, I knew about the game night part, but not about the birthday part.....it was very fun!

Our friend K-Dawg came out and it was games, games, games! If you like board games, then living in Akiak can be quite fun!

My time has been spent teaching and spending time with my animals. I don't talk about my cats much, but life here in my tiny house is quite busy and always entertaining. Dakota's interaction with my cats is always amusing. The other night, Dakota laid his head down on the cat by mistake. Well, maybe he meant to do that......

Lola not quite having the right idea with the dog crate......

Dakota shredding his "toy box".....

Lola taking over my sweater bag.....

Daisy never seems to cause any trouble......

One of the reasons there's not a whole lot to write about is the cold. Sure, the lower 48 hasn't been having much of a winter, but Alaska sure has! It's been -30 to -60 wind chills here most of January. And you can go out in that kind of cold if you are bundled up, but really, why would you? It's not much fun walking around. So, I've been indoors a lot.

The weather has finally gotten warmer! Only 36 degrees outside right now. I didn't even need a hat or gloves when I took Dakota outside. Kids were outside playing, people were outside walking their dogs....finally! It was very nice!

I haven't gotten depressed this winter, or gotten the "winter blues". I think it has to do with having a puppy to take care of, but I also think it might have to do with my AeroGarden. The light is the full spectrum light that is supposed to be good for your moods. I have it in my living room and I suspect it's been helping.

Lately, I have been debating what direction I want to head in next. I'm content to stay in Akiak (if they renew my contract ~ if not, then I have to leave.....) but I wasn't sure for how long. A year? I gave myself  a goal of trying Alaska out for two years....

One thing for sure, I know that I am loving living in Alaska. I love living in snow. And I think Alaska is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. 

But, do I want to stay in rural Alaska? Or go to the road system? Life would be easier on the road system.....I'd be able to go shopping more. 

But..........I love so many things here. I really do love life in Akiak. I love the people here....and I think I am doing very well with my students and the other kids. I have fun with them and the majority of my interactions with the kids here have been positive. Besides, where else could my giant puppy fit in so nicely???

But all this thinking is kind of silly......at this point anyways.....contracts aren't out yet, so I may be thinking all this for nothing. If I don't get offered a contract, then I have to leave anyways. So time will tell.

My friend Michelle wrote a very good blog giving some advice about surviving your first year out here in the bush. Check out her blog in my link. If you keep scrolling, you'll see pics of me.....and Dakota. Some of the advice I contributed to.....as in "whoops".....ah well!!!

There and Back Again.....

Life is settling back to the normal routine after Dakota's and my holiday break.

I brought Dakota to California to meet my family and to meet my vet in Benicia. Dakota seemed to have a good time (despite his snippy snippy surgery), he got to play with puppies, cats, and my niece. He really got along with my brother's (Ethan) dog, Brock. Brock plays rough but Dakota could handle him. I had a wonderful time seeing my niece and my other family members (Hi Grandpa Joe!!).

Traveling with Dakota was not a joy. That wasn't his fault though, we had a nine hour layover in Seattle and that was not fun. After 22 hours of no sleep, I truly was Sleepless in Seattle. The way back was a bit easier, with not as long layovers. I was able to leave his kennel in the baggage area while I walked him. So that was nice.

I would like to say that I had a great trip visiting California, but I can't really say that. My aunt had passed away and my mother has had a very difficult time dealing with her sister's passing. I decided to spend my time with my mother and try to help her instead of spending time with my friends.

And that's when I discovered that I really don't have the calling to be a counselor or a therapist. I'm a teacher of small kids......and that's where I think I shall stay!

When I returned home, the drain pipes in my house froze. So I went 4 days without being able to use my water. That was VERY annoying. I'm lucky I have such great friends (the Millers) who let me use their shower during that time. And it was -30 degrees with a wind chill of -60 when I came back. It was so cold. It's hard to describe what that kind of cold feels like. But it made me want to swear, it was THAT cold.

I was not to have a very relaxing break it seemed.

But school started again and I found myself getting back into the normal routine. With one major difference, I am teaching math again. The 3rd - 12th grade will be starting a new reading program and so I took back the 2nd grade math. To be honest, I have missed teaching math.

And I was getting sick of people telling me I was teaching to my strength. I'm actually a good math teacher. I love teaching math! But I don't think people understood the reason I chose to teach two reading grades. I had made a joke. I wasn't enjoying the math program last year so I told the 3rd grade teacher I would take his reading if he took my math. Well, I got the hang of the math program when it was suggested that the switch could really happen. I thought it would be a good chance to work with my class from last year. So I said yes. It wasn't because I hated math at all.

I am glad to be back and glad to be back to my routine. Now it's just me teaching and living with my two cats, one large puppy, and me.

Speaking of that puppy.....he's 70 pounds now. My mother just kept saying "He's just so big." He's a HUGE puppy.....I really do forget...he's 6 months now.

He got in BIG trouble today. I don't have him on his leash much because he's really good about following directions. Well, today I took him out as I was taking out the trash and I heard gunfire. I couldn't tell exactly where it was coming from but it sounded close. Now, had I known it was my teacher's spouses shooting way across the river, and the sound was just carrying, I would not have gotten nervous. But I didn't so I called Dakota to come....."into the house"....which he darn well knows what that means....

It DID NOT mean to run to the Miller's house. Which is what he did. I ran to the house to grab his leash and I followed him. He had stopped at the end of the path to make sure I was following, then he took off the rest of the way. After falling several times in the deep snow, (I never use that path anymore - thank you very much Dakota!) I made it to the Miller house where he was at their door, scratching on it. I could still hear the gunfire but now I knew it was farther away than I first thought. YES! I went after my dog when I heard gunfire! Bad choice, I know. But I went off of my gut.

People have wondered how I was ever going to manage Dakota. Well, I have to maintain my alpha status. I am the boss. So I put him into a submissive position in the snow and told him "I'm alpha!" Then I wouldn't let him play or see any of the Miller kids. I walked him back on a short leash right next to me. Then I put him in the sub position again before we went into the house. It took a bit before he stopped sulking and wanted to play. But I wasn't violent or shouting at him. I was plenty mad though. In fact, it was -13 degrees and I didn't feel the cold one little bit....

But now he'll have to go out with a leash for a while. I figured he'd test me on that. The dog book I read said he would. He's out of his puppiness at 8 months old. I have two more months of him being a puppy before he hits adolescence. Then he will really start challenging me. I read that he's coming to the age where most dogs get sent to shelters and abandoned. He'll be really annoying for the next couple of years. Sigh, remind me of that on days like today, will you?

Today I had a discussion with my friend about the water here. Apparently, there are some not so good levels of arsenic and mag....something. Which is not good for you. I think I am going to invest in a water distiller. A distiller boils the water then collects the steam. It gets rid of any bacteria or harmful minerals. I use filtered water, but I guess some stuff still gets through. I'm wondering if that maybe the cause some of Dakota's tummy trouble. He's still on medicine to help that out, but I've seen no change.

My other recent discovery has been an electric blanket. Oh that makes bedtime so much nicer! Dakota gets his cold room (okay - I LOVE it cold too....I love the air around me being cold but me being snug under my blankets) and the cats and I cuddle up together. Lola will even snuggle with me under the blankets.

Dakota does not sleep with me. But he did try napping with me this morning. That was a first. I don't mind him wanting to sleep on the bed but he gets too hot.

So that brings my adventures up to date. Here are some pics of the last few weeks! Enjoy!

Dakota in Akiak before we left

Dakota's 9 hour layover in Seattle

Dakota enjoying grass in California

A worn-out "dirted up" puppy!

Kisses from my niece!

Sigh....it's good to be home again!

Welcome 2012!!!

Here's a video I made from pics of my sweet Dakota!!

Enjoy!

And All That Jazz....

So I haven't written in a while, and it's not for lack of anything interesting happening....

For one, I never made it to Anchorage. The planes weren't flying and the ice road is still to dangerous to attempt. Us being weathered in caused a lot of hate and discontent.....and I really wish I was exaggerating.  But I'm not. After we missed our afternoon flight, they tried to get us on the evening flight out of Bethel but there weren't enough seats for everyone. They went by seniority to arrange flights and I was one of the ones who got a seat on the later flight. The flight was soon booked up and not everyone was slated to still go. Some people took it as a personal insult that they didn't get a seat on the evening flight. As you know, we didn't make that flight either. But there was a lot of tension in the air.

The real reason I haven't posted is because there's stuff going on that I don't feel comfortable discussing on my blog. I've had to stand up for myself a couple of times already and I've chosen to steer clear of some people who are so negative, they make a night with the Grinch look like a good time.

It's really hard to be in such a small place and deal with this. You can't escape them. I try to keep to the positive and enjoy myself, I spend time with my friends and my puppy.....but once I put my guard down or I get upset about something, it all comes gushing at me.

Negativity spreads so easily. It's so quick to taint a conversation, or misread a look. Maybe it's a good thing that the holidays are coming up. I do need a break from some people. It seems like little digs at me (or not even digs ~ more like inconsiderate comments/actions) are bugging the crap out of me. I'll be feeling great and positive and the next thing I know, I'm complaining and spreading my own negative stuff.

Thank goodness I can keep that stuff away while I'm teaching! I am very good at enjoying my students and having fun with them.

Okay, enough with the crappy crap, there have been a few highlights:

*I was mildly electrocuted at work. I pushed a button on my SmartBoard and got zapped pretty good. It shorted out the button tray and left my arm feeling weird. I did lose some sensation in my finger, but I'm hoping that's not permanent.

*Dakota has started being more adventurous during our walks. He has expanded to the woods around our complex. I was starting to worry I'd have to drag him out somewhere and then he can pull me back. But he's becoming braver and braver.

*I think Dakota might be sick. He was sick all last night (tummy issues) and he threw up today. Thank goodness I'm taking him to a vet in Bethel on Wednesday already for his health certificate to fly to California. I hope the planes are flying.......it might be nothing....sigh

*My district announced a new reading program plan. It's only for grades 3-12 and requires coordinating with those grades. I was trying to see how I could implement it and still teach 2nd grade reading, and I just couldn't see how. So after I get back from winter break, I will be teaching math again and keeping my students all day. I'm kinda sad to not work with the 3rd graders everyday anymore, but I'm hoping to continue with some test taking techniques that I've started with them.

*My puppy is now the size of a large dog!! Here's a pic of him on my queen sized bed:

Dakota @ 4 1/2 months

Never Just One Thing.....

Well, my aunt passed away last Saturday. It was a long illness and I've hoped she's found peace. And to quote Forrest Gump: that's all I have to say about that.

The last two weeks has brought cold, cold, COLD temps to Akiak. Wind chills between -35 to -45 degrees.....the other day, I took Dakota out for a walk and it was -18. Dakota had a blast jumping and digging in the snow. I find as long as I am bundled up, I'm fine.

But I have to admit......one day, I woke up and it was cold. It was when the temps first dropped and I had no clue just how cold it was. I looked online and read -8 but feels like -28.....and I seriously contemplated calling in sick just to avoid the walk to school. I sucked it up and two days later, I got a stomach bug and had to stay home. That's what I get for making jokes like that.

This was my second Thanksgiving away from home. My aunt had just passed and I was sorry to not be there for my family. I ended up going to a work event, then I hung out at a friend's house playing cards. She let me bring Dakota and there were two other dogs there. Dakota wore himself out playing non-stop but he had fun. And so did I.

The next day, I went to the Millers for dinner. Then the group I had played cards with the night before came by (2 couples) and we all played UNO.....but we played pretty cut-throat and one round took forever.

I am very grateful that I can bring my puppy with me. He's getting so big. The housebreaking is coming along. This morning he woke me up to take him outside! Or he just wanted my attention....either way, it works.

Dakota has gotten so big! He's over 50 pounds but I'm not sure by how much. I got our plane tickets booked and we have a very long layover in Seattle but we will both be arriving in California on Christmas Eve. I hope everyone's ready for Dakota!! I am looking forward to introducing my family to Dakota, especially my niece India. He's a great puppy, and I really want to show him off. It's still hard to remember that he's just a baby and not not a dog yet, despite his size.

This next weekend, I have to go to Anchorage for a work retreat. Dakota will be staying with the Millers while I'm gone. It's my first time leaving him behind. I know he'll be fine, but I don't like the idea of leaving him. I am looking forward to shopping though, and going out to dinner. And maybe a movie.....yeah, that part's awesome!

I had wanted to scan a picture of my aunt and I when I was a baby, but I wasn't able to......so here's a pic of my Aunt Kim......

Kim E

As the Wind Raged....

This week, Alaska faced the worst storm in years. It hit on the coast and I heard they have to evacuate Nome. I'm sure people are curious about what happened in Akiak. Well, Akiak is pretty far inland.

So we just experienced some major wind. And since I'm from Benicia, where it's really windy, it wasn't anything exciting truthfully. The wind blew most of the snow away and it started to melt. True, we had some rain, but it really wasn't anything big.

We DID have a big snowstorm later in the week though. That brought a lot of snow & wind. Dakota loves being out in the snow, and I love snuggling under a warm blanket with my pets with the wind howling outside. Some of the bets naps I ever had were during a snow storm.

People thought it was weird that I had never been around snow when I agreed to move to Alaska. But I really do love living with snow. I enjoy it so much. I really love having a snow dog now too.

I think Dakota is over 50 pounds now. I can barely lift him. I let him go off his leash to play with some teacher dogs and he did really well. So far he knows: come, sit, high five (really shake), drop it, and speak. I've just started "lie down" and I'd love to teach "sing" (where he howls).

But this week, we start house breaking. To be honest, I'm a little unsure as to how to do this. He knows how to go outside but he still goes on his pads. And after the airport fiasco, I'm not trusting him to not go in people's houses.

School is going really well. I really love my students. They make me laugh and bring so much joy to my life. One day, we were reading from our leveled readers and there was a picture of a clown fish. One of my 3rd grade boys looks up at me and says, "Clown fish? They tell jokes?" And he was dead serious.....and it took all I had not to laugh!

There's a dark light ahead.....some of the issues I face out here teaching are being faced all over the United States. State testing is hitting teachers hard. I'll soon be judged on my student's test scores as to whether or not I'm a good teacher. And my students are so stinkin' smart, but most of them struggle with tests. Imagine taking a test that mention school buses, when most of the country has had to cut buses out of their budget.....then imagine teaching in a place with a dirt road and most of the rides are four-wheelers or snow mobiles. So of course, a test that mentions something you've never seen is quite appropriate, no?

I love teaching, I really do, but if I can't show the results the state wants, then I'm out of a job. Sure, I may bounce around from job to job until I can't find one or I start teaching in a place no one else will teach, but my future as an educator may be in jeopardy.

What other option will I have but to marry rich? ;)

So, I am seeing the writing on the wall. I need to tighten my skills and become the best teacher I can be.  I've been working on my classroom management skills for the last 6 years, and now my focus will be on various teaching methods.

My goal is to teach a fish to climb a tree. Cause essentially, that's what the tests are like.....how high a fish can climb a tree.....that's why you read about teachers in other states just throwing the fish up in the tree....i.e. changing test scores....what state was that? Alamba?

Anywhoo, I've been kinda withdrawn this past week. My aunt is in a coma right now and I've been mostly talking to my mom a lot. I've kinda taken a break from the internet. My new season of CSI came in and so I've been catching up with my one of my favorite shows. I don't know if I've ever mentioned it, but I don't have cable. It's by choice. My cable company pissed me off by offering a deal to my brother's house and my mother's house, but not to me.....they wanted me to pay $200 a month. That was four years ago. I don't miss TV. Last year, my roommate got cable and it was on constantly. Sure, I liked watching the oscars, but it wasn't worth it to me to get it again. So I just rent seasons and catch up.

But now to end on a lighter note: here's Dakota being a draft blocker at the Miller's. (Thanks Michelle for the pic! ~ Check out her blog on my page!!)

My snow dog finding the coldest spot in the house.