Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween

It's been a never ending amount of chaos it seems. Work has kept me crazy busy which is fine but it leaves me exhausted. I still have boxes to unpack among other things. I've been shooting fairly regularly. I'm getting pretty good. I've had more and more bull's eyes, both with my .44 and my 12 gauge. Anthony has challenged me to shoot at 50 yards with the shotgun. I'm doing pretty well. Yesterday I hit a bull's eye. I'm getting better. One of the guys at the gun range (Eric) is pretty good looking. What can I say.

I've been in my house about a month and in that time I've replaced the garbage disposal, the washer and dryer, and the dishwasher. Not really the cheapest things to replace but clean dishes and clean clothes are important. I've enjoyed my fireplace a lot.
I see a lot of Bryan and Anthony. I'm not complaining. They come over to do laundry, cook on the grill, and just hang out. I appreciate them keeping me company. I can't complain.
This morning I sewed pants and a hat for Bryan for his papa smurf costume. I also gave Anthony a mohawk. It's been a fun adventure. Bryan asked me if he can come over Wednesday to hem some pants. At least it's Wednesday and not Thursday. I have a meeting on Thursday.
This last week I had parent teacher conferences on Wednesday and Thursday. It made for long days. I survived and I saw about 100 parents. Not too bad.
In other news, life has been kinda weird but this isn't really the place for that. If you wanna know more or can give some good advice give me a call.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Happy October

I finally have internet in my house. The fall here has been pretty nice so far. I definitely missed the fall colors when I lived in Southeast. I'm slowly but surely getting unpacked. Friday we replaced the garbage disposal. Anthony put his finger through the trap under the sink, which was rusting out. Of course then we had to replace that too. Friday night I did a load of laundry to find that my dryer had seen better days. Saturday I went to Sears to look at a new one. I ended up buying a new washer and a new dryer. Now all I need is a new dishwasher and I know all my appliances will work well.
It's been interesting unpacking. I can't find the hardware to my futon. Angry face. That means I can't find one of my allen wrenches either. I ordered new futon hardware. I'm a little annoyed that it cost $20 for shipping. It's not like Alaska is a foreign country. Why does shipping have to be so much. Just put the stuff in a priority mail envelope. Oh well.
My parents got me a grill (and a table saw) for my birthday (which is in a couple days). So Saturday Anthony and I grilled steaks. Amazing!!
I have about 15 boxes still in my living room that need to be unpacked. Several of them though I think can go in the garage, because they are empty canning jars.
I believe that Anthony and Bryan are going with me somewhere for my birthday. I have no idea where we are going. I have birthday coupons to several places. I don't know what time Bryan gets off of work and Anthony gets off at 7pm. So we'll see what happens. I'd spend a quiet evening at home, but I was told I wasn't allowed to.
Anywho, it's that wonderful time where I finish getting ready for work.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

I think I'm crazy

This week has been a little crazy. It seems that my run of one more thing with the bank finally ended (Wednesday). Then I was scheduled to close on Thursday. The bank was having telecommunication issues. Lame. Finally Friday I closed on my house. It seemed like that took forever. We closed a week late and it was a frustrating experience leading up to closing. I've been moving in this weekend. It took us a large part of yesterday and several hours today to get everything moved to the house. Now it's time to unpack. Yuck!! Why do I own so much stuff?
I've debating if I want a roommate. I'm not sure yet. I figure after I get settled I'll have a better handle on it. It's so weird having my own room (let alone my own house) after sleeping on a couch for months. I don't know what to do with myself. I currently don't have tv or internet in my house, but I'll get there (eventually). My tv and blueray player are still at Bryan and Anthony's apartment. It will be there for a little bit. I figure I can always go watch tv there and borrow their internet. Now I just need to finish unpacking, grocery shop, buy curtains, and get settled, on top of working my full time job. Joy. It'll be great.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Apparenlty I'm bad at keeping up at this

Happy Sunday Morning!!

Sorry it's been so long since I updated this. Here is the run down.

August 12th was the first day of inservice. The 18th was the first day with students. It's been a wild ride. I teach 5 periods of band. 3 of those are beginning band. There are times that it is less stressful than my last job. Probably a lot of times. It's been fun. There are times it is very trying but we are getting through it. Overall I'm enjoying it a lot.

I'm buying a house. That has been an insane process. I was supposed to sign on Thursday but there was some last thing that the bank needed, which seems to be the norm. Now it looks like I'm signing tomorrow. That means it gets recorded on Tuesday and I can officially move in. I'm excited. It will be great. I'm excited to be in my own place and paint and all the other things that go with it. It's an 1100 square foot house. 3 bedrooms, 2 bath.

I've done some work on both of the boys cars. We done spark plugs and wires on Anthony and Bryan's cars. I'm a little banged up and scraped up but that comes with the territory. I really have missed working on cars.

Life is good. I wish I had more exciting adventures but life has been a little stressful between the house and everything else. I can't complain though it's all looking good.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Where did the summer go

The bull moose I was calling.
My classroom.


Seriously where did the summer go. Registration is this week for school and teacher inservice starts next week. I have new teacher orientation (for 8 hours) on the 11th and then inservice the 12th through the 17th. First day with kids is the 18th. My schedule right now looks like I have 3 periods of beginning band, team time, prep, advanced band, and intermediate band. It should be fun. I need to finish up my project, finish organizing my classroom, and find a place to live. I should probably pick out band music too.
I'm still looking for a place to live. I've toyed with the idea of buying a house. I even got prequalified for a home loan. At times I think I'm a little nuts. Oh well.
Let's see what else is going on. Bryan got his car back from the mechanic. There are a few more things that need to be done to his car, like the suspension but the car works and that's what counts. He and I have both been driven a little crazy recently but I think that's what happens when you have 3 people in a 2 bedroom apartment. It's a long story and it's not really worth getting into.
I've spent some time in my classroom and that's been good. The other night I decided I hadn't been out moose watching in a while so I went and did that. I've started calling moose too. Anthony was too happy when the moose started walking towards the car. It wasn't so bad when it was a cow but he wasn't too happy with the idea when it was a full grown bull moose. It was hilarious. I'll admit, it's never a dull moment in my life. I wonder if I can call bear too. I doubt that I'm going to try it. I haven't seen any bear since I've been in town but I don't go looking for them either.
Last weekend I went and saw Everclear in concert. It was fun.
That might be all that I can think of right now. Well besides that all of Bryan's coworkers seem to have some opinion about the fact that he and I should be together. I just laugh. I find it funny that they all tell him. I stopped in to his work last night and one of the other customers teased him about me. I about died laughing. I find the whole thing amusing. A few of his coworkers want to hang out with me because they think I'm a good fit for him. It makes no sense to me but whatever. I'm just going to enjoy chuckling over the whole thing. I find it particularly funny that if I show up they all feel the need to tell him his girlfriend is there. Oh the things that amuse me.
Well I'm sure that's it.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

This is sad....

....It's been a month since the last time I posted.
Here's the recap..(in no particular order)
I drove the Alcan Highway. It was amazing, some of the road was in terrible condition but the scenery was fantastic. On the drive I saw 1 moose, 3 bear, 4 buffalo, 1 caribou, 1 deer, 2 sheep, 6 elk,....and a partridge in a pear tree. Just kidding about the partridge. I would say the best part of the drive is from Fort Nelson, BC to Whitehorse, YT. I met some really friendly people. I was in awe of the beauty of everything. That drive should be on everyone's bucket list, seriously I mean it. On that drive I also drove on the scariest bridge I've ever been on and remembered that I dislike driving down steep, curvy downgrades behind people that ride their brakes. I made it back to Anchorage in one piece and I was ready to be back in Alaska.
Recently I drove down to Seward, which is about 130 miles from Anchorage, just for the heck of it. I got to Seward, filled the tank, and drove back. Another beautiful drive but sadly I didn't have my camera. I was very annoyed with myself that I didn't take it but I guess that just means I'm going to have to drive it again.
Going backwards a little to between the Alcan and the Seward highway excursions. I've hiked up Flat top mountain to the 2nd saddle, which isn't all the way to the top but there is always next time. I've walked from Pluto to Neptune and back on the Coastal trail. On that trail we saw a Bull Moose several feet from the trail, thankfully enjoying whatever he was eating and ignoring us. I've seen more than a dozen moose in a span of 3 days, including the smallest calf I've ever seen. Anthony figures that it was about 2-3 weeks old. It was so cute. That reminds me Anthony and I were at Village Inn the other day for lunch and a moose and her two calves walked right past the restaurant. It never ceases to amaze me when we see moose. Megan came up for the 4th and we went hiking up Flat top but the wind was gusting so bad that we only hiked Blueberry trail. It was still a 2 mile hike.
I bought a gun. I bought a Smith & Wesson .44 magnum revolver. I went shooting the other day with Anthony. I know, I know that's big gun. I've always wanted a gun and honestly I've always wanted a S&W .357 magnum double action revolver. I went to several guns stores and looked at lots of guns. I discussed what I was going to do with a gun and they recommended a .44. I'll admit it is a little much for home defense (or self defense) but it's a good size against bear. I have no intention on ever having to defend myself against a bear, but who really does plan on it. I can tell you one thing, that gun kicks like a mule. I wasn't sure what to expect the first time I fired it. It's really fun to shoot though. The same day I bought my gun, the gun store was selling a 12 gauge shot gun for $140 so....I also bought the shotgun. What can I say.
Other than all my outdoorsy adventures, I signed my contract with the Anchorage School District. I've been less than successful on finding a place to live, so I'm still sleeping on the couch at Bryan and Anthony's apartment. I've spent time in my classroom. I got a Costco membership. I've been to the restaurant supply store. And....I've spent time on my homework. I have also be the household taxi cab. While I was visiting Tasha in Wrangell (and catching the smallest halibut) Bryan's car broke down. The transmission is toast. So, it's a good thing I've got my car. I have to say running two guys to and from work and trying to get things done in my own life is exhausting. There are days that it's hard to get anything done for myself because of the shifts they work.
As of right now my life as I know it....Living out of a suitcase in a closet, sleeping on an uncomfortable futon in the living room, being exhausted all the time, but enjoying Anchorage.
I even got a box out of my storage unit yesterday because I wanted something of mine. I grabbed the box of spices. I know that sounds weird and it's an odd security blanket but it works.
Well I'm off to be the taxi driver and go to church.

Friday, June 18, 2010

On the road...still

Good Morning Fort Nelson.

I left Edmonton yesterday morning and drove through a lot of area that was kinda the middle of nowhere. After about 700 miles I made it into Fort Nelson. It's not a big town and it in the Northern Rockies. Today will be a day of mostly driving in the mountains. The plan is to drive the 600 miles to Whitehorse and stop there for the night. 600 miles is the shortest amount of driving I have done on this trip. I have to drive through the Northern Rockies, so it will be lots of mountains today. Yesterday I drove down several steep grades and over one of the scariest bridges ever. It's a metal bridge so you don't get the same kind of traction you do on a regular bridge. It didn't help that I also was going up an incline. I could feel the car fish tail around a little bit...not a fun feeling. Well I made it through and then I saw a moose on the side of the road doing moosey things. I would've stopped to take a picture but there wasn't really anywhere and it was hard to get a good shot. Oh well. Today and part of tomorrow I will have no cell phone reception, doesn't that sound exciting. I'm ready to be back in Alaska. I'm enjoying my road trip but after 2400 miles I'm ready to be home. I have about 1300 miles left to go. Time to eat breakfast and hit the road.