Nutcracker evening

We had a really, super lazy day today. I slept until past noon...it was great. Then we just lounged around reading and enjoying the 75 degree temps in the backyard. I cooked up a couple Alaskan salmon recipes for my cousin, then we went to see the Nutcracker.
The performance was at Bass Hall in downtown Fort Worth. The building itself was gorgeous inside and out.
I think Avery described the ballet the best. He said, "It was...nice." And it was...nice. The dancing was beautiful and the costumes were really nice, but it was really slow. Too slow for our tastes. We like things upbeat and exciting. The ballet was nice, but it just wasnt our thing. Well, you live and you learn. We're just not ballet people. It was fun to get all dressed up and go out on the town though.
After the show, we walked around the downtown area for a little bit and stopped off at the coffee shop in Barnes and Noble for a hot chocolate and something sweet.
Christmas Eve already? How does it go so fast? MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Christmas Capital of Texas

We drove up to Grapevine, Texas today. It claims to be the Christmas Capital of Texas. We walked around and saw the lights. They had a light show downtown. Then we went to a fancy hotel and walked around and saw more christmassy stuff, then we ate at a fancy, smancy restaurant and spent WAY too much on dinner. But it was good.

First stop?

7-11 for a slurpee, of course! Duh.

We got in to Dallas a little early, which was nice. But then I had to find a new rental car agency because the one that I had made reservations with said that I wasnt allowed to leave the state, that's was not nice. Found our way to the highway easily, which was nice. Completely STAND STILL traffic, not nice. Got off the highway and took another route which took us right past the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, that was nice. Had to drive through all the lights of the regular city street to get to my cousins house, that was not nice. Stopped and got a slurpee, that was nice. Finally got to see my cousin for the first time in years, which is nice. Havent had a shower for over 24 hours, not nice. Ran to Target to get some supplies, that was nice. Got lost on the way home, not nice at all. Went to Cracker Barrel with my cousin for dinner, that was nice. Finally got a shower, that was nice. Stayed up way to late talking, that was nice.

Chili's too!

You know you are a teacher in bush alaska if you can randomly get a gathering of more than 10 teachers (and other Bethelites) to eat, drink, and be merry at the Chili's in the anchorage airport. Getting out of town is a joy to us all!

40 degrees in less than 24 hours

The temperature right now is 21 above. That's pretty much 40 degrees warmer than it was just 18 hours ago and it's supposed to get even warmer yet. It's so weird that it can change temps so quickly. We are leaving for the airport in a few minutes. The flight from Anchorage to Bethel is in the air on its way here, so that's a good sign that we'll make it outta here. Although it doesnt guarantee it...many planes have gotten all the way here and had to turn around and go back to Anchorage because they couldnt land when they got here. And it has started snowing pretty steadily now. Little snow pellets, instead of flakes.

I'm soooooooooooo ready to go!

Merry Christmas!

Go figure

It's been deathly cold for several days in a row now. The kind of cold that is dangerous if you go out for any extended period of time without the correct gear to protect you. When it is cold like that, the sky is always clear and sunny. There's no snow. And all of the flights make it out of town.

Overnight, the temperature has risen 20 degrees from -18 to 2 above. It snowed just a bit and it is scheduled to snow more...alot more! In fact, we have a blizzard watch now and the forecast says that tonight visibility will be reduced to a quarter mile. Just in time for our flight out of here. I've never gotten stuck because of weather before, but everybody that I know has at some point or another. I guess it's my turn. The odds are against me. I hope it doesnt happen. We are scheduled to be on the 8:40 jet outta here. Please, please, please...let our plane make it! But safely. The 60 degrees temp of texas are calling me.

	Blizzard Watch
Statement as of 9:00 AM AKST on December 19, 2009 ... Blizzard watch remains in effect from 6 PM akst this evening through Sunday afternoon... A blizzard watch remains in effect from 6 PM akst this evening through Sunday afternoon. An intensifying low pressure system currently approaching the central Aleutians will move north across the eastern Bering Sea during the evening through the overnight hours tonight. Strong southerly flow will bring copious amounts of moisture to the region... resulting in snow... heavy at times... falling across the region. Additionally... southeast winds will increase across the region to 25 to 40 mph beginning early this evening. This will result in blowing snow possibly reducing visibilities to one quarter mile or less at times through Sunday morning. Temperatures will warm significantly to near freezing by late Sunday morning... and visibilities should improve by early afternoon... ending the blizzard threat. Precautionary/preparedness actions... A blizzard watch means there is a potential for falling and/or blowing snow with strong winds and extremely poor visibilities. This can lead to white-out conditions and make travel very dangerous.

Almost ready to go!

We are leaving for Texas tomorrow (yay!). It comes so quickly. I have done absolutely no packing, but there are alot of other things that I have gotten done....

DONE
lesson plans written through mid January
assignments copied, supplies gathered for labs after break
Christmas cookies baked and given out (i did another 8 dozen or so last night)
the truck has a new battery...it wouldnt start again yesterday so I broke down and took care of this issue...How much is a battery in overpriced Alaska, you ask? $215
Snowmachine is running again, BUT...it has no battery now....the battery is...MISSING...arrggg!
All the gifts are bought and shipped out
Christmas cards shipped out
Address on netflix changed so I can get my movies in Texas
Tickets to the nutcracker purchased
Maintenance guy at apt contacted
Averys gift bought
shopping list created (ongoing)
appt for haircut in texas made
Avery picked out a couple books for reading over break
Plastic on windows to keep house warm and elect. bill low while we're gone
Bills paid
phone calls made
January rent paid
Cash withdrawn


STILL NEEDS DONE
laundry
packing
cleaning house
finish grading one more assignment
enter grades so that I can come back completely caught up
gift for secret santa gift exchange still has not come in the mail
post office run
personal grooming...paint toenails, facial...have to look my best amongst the civilized people of the world :)
I still need to pick out some books for me
clean out refrigerator

I'm sure there is more than this that I'm not thinking of, but I'm so ready to go! even if I'm not quite ready yet. It's -11 here and 59 in texas right now. its scheduled to be around 60 when we get there on Sunday. And sunny!

Texas, here i come...

It is FREEZING outside. Right now it is -10 degrees with a crazy strong wind that it bringing it down to -35 with windchill. Below is the forecast for the next few days here in Bethel. Basically, it is going to be freezing cold for the rest of the week and then warm up (to above zero) after I leave for Texas.

Updated: 5:00 am AKST on December 16, 2009
Wind Chill Advisory now in effect until 3 PM akst Thursday... Strong wind this morning through tonight along the coast...
	Now Strong wind this morning through tonight along the coast... the coast is reporting strong north wind 35 to 45 mph with gusts to near 50 mph at Cape Romanzof this hour. Expect wind chills to 50 below across the Delta and along the coast with northerly wind gusting to near 35 mph at Bethel...also expect areas of blowing snow on the coast.
	Today Partly cloudy...except mostly cloudy along the coast. Isolated snow showers along the coast. Areas of blowing snow along the coast. Highs zero to 10 below. Northwest wind 20 to 35 mph...except 30 to 45 mph along the coast. Wind chills 35 below to 50 below.
	Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Isolated snow showers along the coast. Lows zero to 20 below...warmest along the coast. Northwest wind 20 to 35 mph...except 30 to 45 mph along the coast. Wind chills 35 below to 50 below.
	Thursday Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow...mainly along the coast. Highs zero to 15 below...warmest along the coast. Northwest wind 15 to 30 mph...except 25 to 35 mph along the coast. Wind chills 30 below to 45 below through mid afternoon becoming 25 below to 35 below.
	Thursday Night Cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers. Lows 10 below to 20 below...warmest along the coast. Northwest wind 10 to 25 mph...strongest along the coast.
	Friday Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow. Highs 5 below to 15 below. North wind 15 mph.
	Friday Night Mostly cloudy. Lows 10 below to 20 below.
	Saturday and Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs zero to 10 below. Lows 10 below to 20 below.

Texas, on the other hand, is schedules for a high of 50 today. 50 ABOVE! Sounds wonderful. It would be great if it got up to 70 or so while I was there, but I will take 50 and love it! Here the forecast for Texas for the next week or so. Sounds much more pleasant, dontcha think?

Forecast for Tarrant

Updated: 9:46 am CST on December 16, 2009
	Rest of Today Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. North winds around 5 mph.
	Tonight Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. East winds around 5 mph.
	Thursday Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. East winds around 5 mph.
	Thursday Night Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s. Southeast winds around 5 mph shifting to the southwest.
	Friday Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph becoming north 10 to 15 mph by noon.
	Friday Night through Saturday Night Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. Highs in the mid 50s.
	Sunday and Sunday Night Mostly clear. Highs in the upper 50s. Lows in the mid 30s.
	Monday Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s.
	Monday Night and Tuesday Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s. Highs around 50.

It is COLD!

	Wind Chill Advisory
Statement as of 4:48 AM AKST on December 15, 2009 ... Wind Chill Advisory in effect from 3 am to 9 am akst Wednesday... The National Weather Service in Anchorage has issued a Wind Chill Advisory... which is in effect from 3 am to 9 am akst Wednesday. Cold temperatures and north wind will bring 25 below to 40 below wind chills to the Kuskokwim Delta after midnight tonight. These wind chills will persist into the morning hours Wednesday before temperatures begin to warm. Precautionary/preparedness actions... A Wind Chill Advisory means that very cold air and strong winds will combine to generate low wind chills. This will result in frostbite and lead to hypothermia if precautions are not taken.

On the way...

If you have a package coming from me, it is on its way. The diversity of destinations always amazes me...Ohio, Indian, Nevada, North Carolina. All of the packages destined for Texas and Oklahoma will just travel with me in my suitcase. I love having friends all over the place. It makes life so interesting!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!