4-1-2012

Kids like to play right outside our front door.  I like to think it’s because they want to hang out close to me.  But Monica says it’s because there is a basketball court about 20 feet from our front door.  During the winter the snow is high enough for them to reach the rim and hang off of it.  They will also knock on our door and ask, “Can we visit?”  But their definition and my definition of visit are different.  Their definition of visit is a verb: to actively ask for candy, pop, or cake: to actively ask when I obtained every personal item in the house.  Every. Single. Piece.  It almost becomes an interrogation. 

My definition of visit is also a verb: to quietly sit and listen to me tell about my brave battles fought in the Navy and my heroic efforts on the sports fields. Every. Single. Story.  It almost becomes a lecture.

But yesterday morning we had an unexpected visitor at our door.  It was a census worker.  And her visit was much like the kids’ visits, only she didn’t ask for anything to eat.  A lot of questions were asked.  Mostly by Monica and I.  Our first question was, “Are you lost?”  Our next question was, “Are you sure?”  Our third question was, “Seriously, are you lost?”  She convinced us she was at the correct house and began to ask the standard questions.  Although I’m not sure if “Would you please put some pants on?” is a standard question, but hey, she had the good sense to ask. 

If the government sends someone out here to get information, I guess they’re serious.  After the census worker left, Monica and I were talking about what that job would be like.  She told us (during our question session) she was from SE Alaska, which is about 1,200 miles away from here.  Not only is she far from home, she’s traipsing out here in villages all on her own.  She told us about difficulties in getting transportation in the villages.  Also getting from village to village is very dependant on the weather.  Since there are no hotels out in these villages, she gets stuck staying at schools out here.  She was scheduled to leave yesterday afternoon on a plane.  The weather is clear, so I’m confidant that she made it out.  It’s still cold, we’re still below zero at night, but it’s been clear and beautiful today.

Last night we almost had a disaster at our home.   While cleaning out our coffee pot, we accidently got the electronic controller wet.  When that happens, it stops working.  Coffee is one of the most important things in my life.  I get up at 5am every weekday morning.  I do this so I have enough time to drink two big mugs of coffee before going to work.  Some people get up early to exercise. I get up early so I have enough time to drink coffee.   So, without the coffeepot working, I would have no reason to get out of bed.  Since going to the local Wal-Mart is out of the question, we would have to wait for Amazon to ship us a replacement.  Luckily, after it dried out it worked again.  Disaster averted.  This did force me to order a new one for a back-up.  I am not going to live through that terror again.

We’re heading up river today for some groceries.  It’s more for the ride, but we’ll get some groceries since we’re going to be there anyways.  Not a cloud in the sky so Monica should get some good pictures.  Hopefully there won’t be any kids out front playing, forcing me to drive them away with a few new stories.  Maybe they want to hear about the time I…

3-24-2012

Our new parking lot in town.

Spring arrived and greeted us with a -23 degree knee to the groin.  Well, not a knee, but a huge chunk of snow; covered in ice, frozen again, and then shaped like a knee.  Either way we’re not enjoying warm temperatures like others are bragging about on the Facebook.  The good news is that we are seeing our old friend lots more.  He awakens at about 8:30 and I don’t know when he goes to bed because it’s after I’m in bed.  I probably won’t see a sunset until I get down south because it’s still light at 10pm and I’m in bed by then.

We had parent/teacher conferences last week, so on Thursday, we made moose-meat chili up at the school for dinner.  It turned out pretty good and most of the staff helped themselves to a bowl or two.  Monica still has some troubles eating the moose meat.  I guess she sees visions of Bullwinkle when she eats.  I don’t have a vision, but I can hear his voice in my head singing songs.  But I eaten rabbit before and never thought about rabbits.  Or when I eat Peeps, I don’t visualize baby chickens.  Although I did find a feather in a Peep once.  Weird.

One reason I didn’t blog last weekend was because we had company.  We don’t get company often, so it was a big deal.  What with the wearing pants thing and all.  Our village had its Potlatch last weekend, sharing with our neighboring village Scammon Bay.  Scammon Bay is about 50 miles down the coast from us, so it is a bit of a trip on snowmachines.  Our guests were the family of one of the teachers from Scammon Bay, who is married to a local man. They are involved with their village’s Eskimo Dance.  The Potlatch includes dancing, honoring members who have passed away, and sharing the past year’s bounty. We had a nice visit with our guests and they said they would stay with us next year too.  We did feed them well.

Eskimo Dance

Sharing things from my past with my students is always fun for me and for them.  They enjoy hearing about all the dumb things I’ve done in the past.  They particularly like the part where they can point their fingers at me and laugh loudly.  I think they can get carried away with that.  The other day I was explaining about corporal punishment and how it was carried out when I was a kid.  They all agreed that it’s best that we don’t do that anymore.  Some more than others I’m sure.  When I explained that if we said something inappropriate, we would get our mouths washed out with soap.  I said, “It tastes terrible.”  Oops.  The room got quiet and they all looked at me.  Then one asked, “Did you have your mouth washed out with soap?”  I couldn’t think fast enough.  We all knew the answer.  So I said, “I don’t want to answer that right now.”  This is when I saw all sorts of fingers pointed at me.  I heard several accusations that by not answering the question, it proves that I indeed did have my mouth washed out with soap at school.    Ironically, they did this with no fear of corporal punishment.  I did use the opportunity to introduce the reading strategy of inference. 

We have 8 weeks until we head south for the summer.  Monica and I are going to spend a few days in Vegas before heading to Oklahoma.  I think I’ll forgo any wagering down there after watching my NCAA bracket this March.  But I can say with certainty that I will watch a sunset when I get down there.  Maybe even a sunrise too.

3-11-2012

I know I’ve written about this before, but traveling in and out of here usually involves involuntary changes to the itinerary.  Since part of our travel includes four-seat Cessnas, the weather dictates our plans.  Plus, we have to travel through villages with no accommodations, so if we are stuck there, we’re SOL. This past summer, we were stranded in Emmonak, which is just 20 miles from our village.  We were lucky and caught a ride on a boat down the Yukon River.  I use the work lucky loosely, because that was the most painful 20-mile ride of my life. 

On our way back from Wenatchee this week, Monica and I were marooned in Anchorage for a day because of the weather.  I do not consider this unlucky, but I did miss a day of work.   I don’t like missing school.  While I was in Anchorage, I kept looking at the clock and thinking about the class schedule, knowing what the kids were doing at that time.  Even though I was away, my mind was there.  I even hollered at Monica to spit her gum out.  She didn’t. 

When I headed south for Wenatchee last week, I left a day ahead of Monica so I traveled alone.  Observing people at the airport did not build confidence in how we humans are progressing.  While waiting in the airport, I was amazed at how we have become slaves to our electronic devices.  At times I would look up from my Kindle, iPod, or laptop and shake my head with incredulity at how everyone was in their own little bubble, oblivious to the non-digital world around them.  Nerds. 

I’m not a very good people watcher.  I start out just watching, noticing each person’s peculiarity: winter boots, shabby haircut, and a scraggly beard.  And that was just me.  After an hour or two, my mind begins to wander.  I began to wonder, if push came to shove, which people could I take down in a fight?  I never know when I may have to jump into action and take someone down.  After looking at the passengers around me, I hoped I wouldn’t be called upon.  Well, if I could kick the oxygen bottle away from that old man with emphysema (and a ponytail), I could take him down.  But I doubt he could be a threat to anyone.

Anyway, we made it back to Nunam without having to punch an old man.  It was good to be back home.  We left sunny and 60 degrees in Wenatchee for sunny and -20 here. School keeps chugging along.  Last week was our spring break.  It was a three- day break, but it was three days longer than last year’s.  It was nice to be able to recharge a little before our yearly tests next month.  Hopefully the kids feel the same way. 

Even though traveling in and out of here can be problematic (and expensive), it sure is worth the effort.  We have two more months left of school.  The kids are anticipating the weather warming up (maybe) and they sure are enjoying the longer daylight.  They ask almost daily when summer break will be and I am able to give them an exact answer.  It’s nice that we’re all on the same page about something.  Plus, I’m way ahead in my fantasy Iditarod league, so it’s all good.  

2-26-2012

When February ends, we will have been in winter for 5 months.  Not the calendar winter of course, but the winter where it’s cold, dark, and cold.  In addition to that, it’s cold.  The good news is that the darkness is receding.  The bad news is that it’s still cold and stormy. 

Yesterday, my class had our monthly Saturday Funday.  We ate hotdogs, played computer games and yelled loudly in the gym.  Man, those kids can yell.  And for no reason that I could tell. They were playing a game of basketball/yelling.  At least they had fun.  Monica baked cookies for them in addition to the hotdogs.  We kinda throw nutrition to the wind on our Saturday Fundays.  Next month we’ll just set out a bowl of sugar cubes and gum.

Outside our front door.

Our middle school basketball team traveled upriver to Marshall for a basketball tournament.  They were able to arrive on time Friday, but couldn’t make it back on Saturday due to a storm.  The way the storm is going, they might have to stay in Marshall until Monday.  It’s about zero degrees right now and snowing sideways, so visibility is about 500 ft.  I do not envy the coach and chaperone who are stuck in a school with three other teams for two extra days.  The kids will enjoy spending the weekend hanging out at the gym.  The adults probably have a different perspective of the enjoy ability of the weekend. 

Our spring break starts Wednesday of this week.  Larry’s memorial service will be held Friday.  We’re only going to be down for 5 days, but we’ll have a lot to do.  It will be a bittersweet few days and I’m glad we’ll be there. 

One of the things we will do when we are near stores is to stock up on a few supplies.  With only a few months left until we leave for the summer, we don’t have to bring that much back with us.  We’ll be going down with empty luggage and will check our bags on the plane for the trip back.   Alaska Airlines offers two, free checked luggage for Alaska residents while flying into and out of Alaska.  This will be much cheaper than trying to mail them up and wait for 2-3 weeks for them to get here.  We’ll load up on some non-perishable items like soap, shampoo, and Breathe Right Strips.  The commercial says they help with snoring, but Monica says I don’t need any more help.  I’m not sure if they stop me from snoring, but those bruises on my back in the shape of Monica’s fists have disappeared, so I’ll keep using them.

Twelve more weeks mean that we are starting to make our summer plans.  We are going to spend most of the summer in Oklahoma.  We will make a trip or two to see family elsewhere, but we haven’t filled in the calendar yet.  One thing I do know is that we are going straight to Vegas from here in May.  We’ll see two distinct extremes in a matter of hours.  The Yukon will still be frozen when we fly to the desert of Nevada.  The only thing cold I want to feel there is the drink in my hand.

2-18-2012

Tuesday evening we got the call we had been fearing: Larry, my stepdad, had passed away after a ten-year long battle with cancer.  The last few months had been rough on him.  The news was not unexpected, but it was dreaded.  I wrote a few weeks ago about him and what he meant to me.  Selfishly, it’s going to be tough not having him around.  Even though I didn’t talk with him on a daily basis, the fact he was there to provide me advice was comforting.  I’ve grown accustomed over the years to refer to my folks with just one name, like they’re one entity: MomandLarry.  It will be strange calling just Mom.

Being away from family is one of the unfortunate circumstances we face by living up here.  We knew that by moving up here, we were sacrificing the ability to leave at a moment’s notice.  Even knowing that, it really doesn’t lessen the guilt of not being there.  I kind of liken us moving up here to what the settlers had to go through when they moved out west.  They left family behind, knowing they would never see them again.  Of course, we are able to communicate daily via phone or Internet with our families.  And, we don’t have to worry about our wagon train being attacked by surly bandits looking for a quick score.  Or coming down with cholera.  But we love gravy and we do have problems from time to time with running water and sewer. So, in our own little way, we are a bit like settlers.  

Our usable daylight has been increasing dramatically.  We are gaining over 6 minutes a day. More daylight means more time to be out riding on the tundra, including visiting the store in Emmonak.  It has been nice having eggs in the refrigerator.  And toilet paper in the bathroom.  And paying $9 a bag for chips.  It’s also warmed up, so it isn’t so painful outside.  I’m able to make the ½ mile walk to school without bundling up like Ralphie’s little brother in ‘A Christmas Story’.  At least I don’t have to wear long johns for now.   

Monica and I will be traveling to Waterville for Larry’s funeral on the 2^nd of March.  We will only stay for 5 days, but I’m glad we’ll be able to be there.  For 32 years I’ve looked to Larry for his approval and asked for his advice.  Now I’ll have to grow up and figure things out for myself.  But, I think I’ll keep his number in my phone just in case.

2-12-2012

A colleague shared with me last week that we had reached our 100^th day of school.  I didn’t realize this day held any significance.  He obviously did since he repeated himself, this time with more excitement.  I think he was hoping that I would join him in his joy.   Instead, all he got was a blank stare.  All this meant to me was that we still have 80 days left.  Now, if he had notified me that we had 2 days left till summer break, he might have gotten a kiss.  I don’t think he was hoping for a kiss, but he seemed a little disappointed that I didn’t share his joy.  I get that a lot.

Last week also began Monica’s first week as preschool teacher.  She has 5 students who were excited, scared, and curious to begin school for the first time.  A couple of them had older siblings, so they had been coached on what to expect. Monica really enjoyed meeting the kids and starting their routines for the rest of the year.  Her classroom is across the hall from mine, so I peeked in her window to see how everything was going.  It looked like she had been doing this for a long time.  I guess her years of telling me what to do and how to do it are serving her well with preschoolers.  Her first day started at my 100^th day.  This doesn’t seem too fair.

Foxes vs Mustangs.

We also hosted an elementary basketball tournament this week.   Marshall and Alakanuk came to play with us.  Since the teams eat and sleep at the school, we were able to get several games in.  We played four games Thursday afternoon/ evening and another three more Friday morning.  The visiting teams usually don’t get a lot of sleep, so there were some tired kids when they flew out Friday afternoon.  We had a shortage of refs so I put on the striped shirt and did one game.  I had been a referee in my prior life, so I kind of knew what I was doing.  Luckily, there were a few people in the stands that would shout our helpful hints as to how I was suppose to do it.  The worst part was since I was not prepared to ref, I was not dressed for the part.  They did have the shirt, so I didn’t have to wear my flannel.  But, I was still running up and down the court in my Levis and long johns.  I can recommend strongly not wearing long johns while running on a basketball court.

The weather has warmed up to the positive side of zero.  That means we can get out on the snowmobile more often when we get the time.  I took a trip up to Emmonak last weekend with others to do some grocery shopping.  It was sunny and about 25, making it a beautiful day for a ride.  This weekend was filled with a very informational workshop on making digital movies in our classrooms.  This was done with video teleconferencing at the school.  We had five schools from our district participate and I think we all learned quite a bit.

Proof that there is learning in my classroom.

This week I also was offered my contract for next school year.  They offer them early up here because of the difficulty they can have finding teachers to teach out in the bush.  And to get them to stay.  I will sign it and return for next year.  Monica and I truly enjoy being out here.  Now that she has a job doing what she wants to do, it makes it pretty easy for us to stay here.  We have a great school and great students and I don’t think they’re done teaching us yet.

Well, here’s to the next 80 days going as smoothly as the first 100.  Some days it can seem like it’s all been in a row.  I’m looking forward to head south at the end of the month to see Larry and Mom for 5 days.  I know for sure I’m going to have a beer and a cheeseburger.  Maybe more than once.  Maybe more than once at the same time.  I have two hands after all.  

2-4-2012

Larry and Mom sitting on the poop tube.

Larry Utzinger turned 70 last week.  Larry has been married to my mother since I was 13 years old.  He was the one who would wake me up before the sunrise to go duck hunting.  He introduced my brothers and me to Chinese food.  He taught me how to use my elbows when blocking out much larger players.  He also was the only person to tell me not to listen to everyone else and follow my dream to play college basketball.  I made the team and vividly remember seeing him sitting in the stands when we played in Lacy, WA.  We lost, but that was ok.  He pointed out what I did right and gave me advice on how I could improve.

Larry last summer at my brother's house in Chelan, WA.

Larry gave me some great advice during a moment in my life when I thought I had ruined it.  That moment happened while I was a senior in high school.  It involved: me, empty beer cans, parents coming home unexpectedly, being suspended from the football team, and cancelling homecoming.  Larry was the school’s superintendent.  Monday morning I was called into his office to face the consequences for my actions.  Larry, the principal, and my football coach were waiting to chat with me.  The coach was very upset because the rest of the season had to be cancelled.  (We had a small school and a small number of players on the team.)  I remember exactly how upset he was because he made a comment about how he wished I was 18 so he could legally kick my ass.  I didn’t think it was appropriate to speak, so I didn’t point out that I was in fact 18.  I just made sure I kept a desk or one of the school’s administrators between him and I. 

Larry, Mom, Monica, and me.

After the others left the office, Larry asked me to stay behind.  When it was just the two of us, I braced myself for a stern lecture about responsibilities and acting grown up.  Instead, I received the most important advice I’ve ever been given.  He said, “Don’t sweat it.”  Huh?  He said that I wasn’t the first person ever to do that and I won’t be the last.  He explained that we all make mistakes, even big ones, but we have to keep living our lives.  He explained that while it seemed big at the moment, people would forget about it.   He told me not to worry about what other people wanted me to do and to live my own life.  For good and sometimes bad, I’ve lived my life that way and have no regrets.  Lots of great experiences but no regrets. 

Larry also was the man who, in addition to giving me a bowl cut, accidently shaved one of my eyebrows off.  I was in the 8^th grade.  It took me a while to notice it, mainly because of how hideous the bowl cut was.  When I saw it I was horrified.  When I confronted him about it he just shrugged and said I was lucky both weren’t missing.  For the next few weeks I learned a little bit about how to use an eyebrow pencil.  Oddly enough, I also learned which color blush goes with my eyes.  (Burnt rosebud)

 Larry and Mom came up here to our place in Aug for a look at isolation. He told me he had always wanted to teach up here and needed to see what it looked like.   They looked for two weeks and then went home.  I am glad he was able to come up here and spend some time with us.  He was able to see what it is like out in the bush and I was able to get some more advice about being a teacher. It was a great reminder not to sweat the small stuff.  Happy birthday Larry, I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.