Random Ramblings

The Easter crew (above and below). We got together for Easter brunch. We have a nice little group of people who like to get together for some festivities every now and then. It is really nice to have that group of people to gather with. We had a really fun time, but there are always things to do on a spring day in Alaska. So, a couple people trickled off to go skijoring with the dogs, a couple of others went off to visit another friend, a couple other decided on some Wii time, and Avery and I headed home for a day of lazy indulgence. Being without transportation, we were kind of stuck in/around the house once we got home. These last few days would have been perfect for snowmachine riding. Easter morning, we woke up to -11 degrees, but by afternoon it is up to 10 or so above and nice and sun shiny. Today was pretty much the same story. I would have loved to go out for a ride or even just over to the post office to check my mail. I havent checked my mail for over a week. I miss my Northern Exposure episodes. I'm sure there are a couple of them in my mailbox right now. Well, anyway...the snow machine is KA-PUT. It blew a piston and the shop teacher at school said that the whole engine will need rebuilt. There is not enough time left in the school year to fix it and he is retiring this year, so it will be up to next year's shop teacher as to whether or not the shop kids will do it next year.

My truck has gotten alot of new parts and is still running exactly as crappy as it was before. it got new spark plugs, new coil wires, a new O2 sensor, and an oil change and filter. The guy who worked on it said he has no idea what is wrong with it if those things didnt fix it. So I have an appt to get it over to the shop in town (that charges $160 per hour for labor), but I couldnt even get it to start today. I am soooooooo frustrated by the whole thing. I ended up having to walk home today. SUCKS.

My April book for my birthday list is The Watchmen. It is a graphic novel (comic book meets fiction novel) that was recently been made into a film and has been pretty popular lately. This book was written back in 1986 and 87. It is something of a comic book legend. Like THE comic book of comic books. I have to admit that it was pretty good. Very different than anything I'm used to reading. In fact, I originally bought it for Avery because he was so hyped up about going to see the movie this summer. Then, the more that I looked into it, the more I found that this book/movie is really not appropriate for a him. However, I know that he will go see the movie this summer and there is nothing that I can do about that. It has VERY adult themes of violence, sexuality, politics, war, and morality. I thought it would be better to read it and have some conversations with him about some of the topics in an environment that I can control before he goes and sees the movie. I dont know, though.

Speaking of Avery...here's a random pic of him and Taboo. He rearranged his room a couple days ago and I like it so much better like this. I wish we would have done it like this to begin with. He is doing real good in school and is enthusiastic about Boy Scouts. He is loving NYO (even though he didnt want to do it and I made him try it) and is an alternate for traveling to Dillingham this weekend.
It looks as though we are losing about 12 staff members next year and several others are changing positions within the building. It is crazy to think of all the change that having that many new people doing new things will bring. I am hoping that we will be able to get a lot of really great teachers to fill the positions to replace a few of the ones that are REALLY ready (past due, if you know what I mean) for retirement. It will be weird for me to be (kind of) one of the more senior staff members, although we are not losing anyone from the science department, so I am still the newbie there.

I have absolutely NO motivation to work on my college class. I really should be doing that right now, but just couldnt bring myself to do it. I looked through it a bit last night and know what I need to do for the next lesson, but I have no desire to do it. What I do know is this...once I finished with this class, I am not taking any more classes for as long as professionally possible. I would love to be able to focus on using what I've learned IN my classroom, not continuing to learn MORE stuff when I havent even had the chance to use the last think I learned yet.

This is the boardwalk over the tundra that we walked on the other day. Walking around Bethel lends itself a different perspective than driving or riding a snowmachine. it is kind of interesting to see the city from a new angle.
My friend from Vegas, Niomi, and I are planning a road trip from Vegas over to LA and then up the coast of California this summer. I AM SO EXCITED. Hollywood, the Golden Gate bridge, Redwood National Park, giant Sequioas, beaches, beaches, beaches, and more beaches....here we come! Anyone have any travel tips or must sees?

Lisa...Hello are you out there? are you still coming to Vegas this summer? Call me!!!

ok...time for bed. Good night....or good morning(depending on what time zone you're in and when you might read this).