Dancing in the Tundra

"Those who hear not the music think the dancers mad."
~Author Unknown

"Let's Go Dancing!" she exclaimed.
My friend Lisa called today to tell me all about the latest at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe school where I teach back in Wisconsin. She's a teacher there too. It is always so great to get to visit with friends back home. She also shared with me that she and her hubby had a super fun evening dancing the night away at a little place near our home there. What fun! I LOVE dancing, not gonna say I'm all that great at it but I love it! I took ball room dance lessons with a friend of mine many years ago and we even got all dressed up and went to a 'ball' complete with a live big band. It was a hoot! I don't get to spin around the dance floor all the often however so I appreciate those rare moments when I do. I was cheering for Lis and Kevin getting to dance the night away. So when we hung up Ani and I beebopped around the double wide to Willie Nelson's version of May the Circle Be Unbroken. Sometimes you should dance crazy even if it's all alone! I have to believe it is good for the soul:)








(In a singing sort of voice) "I Haaaaaaate Paperworrrrrrrrrk...Laaa Daaa Deeee Laaa Daaa Daaaaaa..." This is the lamenting ballad coming from the classroom of any semi-sane special education teacher. Yes, this little ditty is my call to action or maybe freedom. I find it (my paperwork) more tolerable if I sing this truth out to myself and whoever is within earshot then do a little pirouette across the floor between present levels of performance and goals and objectives. It just sorta helps me gain some perspective. Maybe it's my self diagnosed ADHD kicking in but I can't stare at page after page of joyous job securing paperwork without dancing around a little maybe like a boxer does before he gets in the ring. LOL it's reminding me of those commercials that were out not too long ago advertising, I think maybe healthy lifestyle or exercising or something, but it showed a guy in a doctor's waiting room starting to dance then the mean looking nurse started to tap her pencil to the beat and suddenly all the patients are dancing around the waiting room...you remember, yeah, it's like that.

Pastor Mark and Willie Nelson
I caught up on my home church back in Wisconsin today too via computer. Pastor Mark talked about loving God with all your heart and soul. Then to top it off Ani and I had our version of Praise and Worship with that Willie Nelson CD of hymns that my neighbors Larry and Barb sent me a few months back. What an uplifting combination! Maybe Willie will come to Hayward Wesleyan some day, who knows???;)

Days Like These
Sleepy Sundays, the snow was falling this morning. Sun peeking around the corners of clouds by early afternoon and by evening the clouds took back the sky and started sewing it to the ground so you couldn't tell where one quit and the other began. Ani and I just had a walk and now we are calling it a day. Gonna rest up for the new week. Hope you have a beautiful week too!

"...and a time to dance..." Ecclesiastes 3:4

Game On!

"This is Chris-in-the-Morning with the weather and time--24 hours later than it was yesterday and cold." Northern Exposure

Sorta Like The Pros 'Flying In' At 40 Below Well, Friday was a turbulent day, the weather tried to shut down our tournament as schools are not allowed to fly if the temperature hits -35 and we were hovering near -40 at noon on Friday in Quin. Poor Tim was acting administrator in Principal Eric's absence and had to make the close call on weather cancellation issues. Based on district rules, in the interest of student safety he was forced to call off the tournament. This caused one plane to turn back 5 minutes out of Bethel. Fortunately, by 2ish the weather turned and we were at a balmy -20. Tim made the executive call to un-cancel the tourney and bring the teams in again. Game on. One by one and after a few dozen trips to the runway and back to haul teams we had a genuine basketball tournament in full swing. Total we had 5 teams. The whole village came out to cheer, when we all pack into our little gym not only do the bleachers fill up but the wall is lined even up to 2 people thick:) I had the joyous job of gate keeper. If you ever wanna join us the admission fee is $2 for children and students, $3 for adults. Elders, toddlers and ASB (school board) Members get in Free.

The Grand Opening of Larry's Dairy
This is Larry. He truly is a jack of all trades. Larry is a one of our stellar high school teachers here in Quin. Three of his own kids currently go to school here as well. Larry is also one of our pastors at the Moravian Church in Quinhagak. And more recently, like as of Friday night recently, Larry made his debut as Quinhagak's newest version of Dairy Queen, appropriately renamed "Larry's Dairy". As you can see, it was a total hit, eager ice cream enthusiasts were lined up down the hall and around the corner willing to wait up to 30 minutes for a chance to purchase the creamy, cold treat. All proceeds are put back into the student council fund, which bought the fancy ice cream making machine in the first place. Great idea Larry! Quyana!

Roller Coasters??
My friend Kathy (yep the runner) was telling me about her chaperoning last week's b-ball game to Kwig. While boarding the plane with 1/2 of the team, (it takes a few planes to get everyone from here to wherever they are headed) she asked the pilot (who happened to be the 'cute' pilot) if he would do the 'roller coaster'. Now most of you out there are fondly, or maybe not so, recalling those childhood memories of handing over your ticket, buckling in,then screaming and laughing. Maybe holding your arms in the air as you listened to the crickety, clack of the tracks, carts chugging up to the next elevation only to suddenly drop, zoom and turn to chug vertical again...Well, up here in the bush we don't have luxury of heading to the closest county fair so we have reinvented our pilots as 'carnies' and some seem to embrace this role all too much. Kathy reported that upon her request for a "roller coaster". The 'cute' pilot grinned at her, a twinkle in his eye, and within 5 minutes of being airborne all passengers had a very intentional 'ride' of their lives. As miscellaneous bags, boots and jackets were flying about the cabin of the Navajo, Kathy ducked and rethought her request. "That was the wildest 'rollercoaster' I've ever experienced." During a bush plane roller coaster (yes, my cc team did request this when we traveled, no I did not entertain the idea) the pilot climbs vertical into the air then dives toward the tundra, this repeats 2 or 3 times until all riders confirm that they left their stomachs back at the first dive. And you were thinking amusement park, pshaw;)

No New Taxes!!! Oh, dread but for H&R Block why don't they come set up shop here?? I guess it's forcing me to face my fears. I would like to proclaim that this year for the first time in my life I am going to attempt to do my own taxes. This scares me. Irrational though it may be, I kinda think taxes are right up there with BEARS. Looking at it that way it would seem only fitting that I must come to terms with both fears up here. Weird. So I'm going to use Turbo Tax, everyone tells me it's easy and not to worry. I'm working up the courage to attack the situation in the next few weeks.

Danny Snares a Rabbit
Dennis (his teacher for the class in which he is learning to trap) helps him clean and dry it. He wanted Marsha (Dennis' wife and also one of our stellar teachers) to cook it up as rabbit soup! He claims he'll make a blanket if I'll buy it. He's gonna have to snare about 50 more. I'm sure he probably could.


Quinhagak Goes Green
The howling north wind is getting lassoed up here. They're now harnessing the blustery gusts. We have 3 new inhabitants as of last week. Windmills. Just past the beach road but before the cell phone tower. Easy to see looking toward the Bering. I like to pretend they are trees:) Pictures to come, when I get out that way again.

Shout Out To:
Donna back home at LCO and Jerilyn up here at home in Quin "Happy Birthdays" on the 9th! Celebrating YOU!

"When you've stuffed yourself, you refuse dessert (even ice cream????); when you're starved, you could eat a horse (or at least maybe a rabbit?)." Proverbs 27:7

Things That Make You Go...How?!

"How is seven degrees in Alaska colder than seven degrees anywhere else?"

- Dr. Joel Fleishmann, Northern Exposure

How Much More Winter?
This just in: A real shocker, brace yourself, the ground hog didn't even bother to roll over up here in Alaska.
Bare Minimum: 6 more weeks


How Much Fun Is This?!
So the girls stopped by after school today and managed to squish 5 of themselves into the closet in the spare bedroom which has coincidentally turned into 'their' bedroom.


How To Move to Alaska!
Come on up:)
http://www.ehow.com/how_4492800_move-to-alaska.html

How Alaska Got It's Name?
Take Your Pick
'Alaxsxaq' - Alutiiq word which means "the object toward which the sea throws itself"
'Alyeska' - an Aleut term which means "The Great Land"

How Did Alaska Get It's Flag?
The Alaska flag has a blue field with eight yellow stars. The seven smaller stars represent the Big Dipper; the large star represents the North Star, also called Polaris (representing Alaska's northern location).

How Come It's So Cold Again!?
Bundle up! North wind and blowing snow roamed back into the village day before yesterday while I was out on a run. The jaunt out was almost springlike but at our turn around point the headwind nearly bowled us over. I had to stop to inventory my poorly chosen running attire. What could I cover my face with??? I tugged the neck up over my head and pulled the ear band lower. It was almost scary how quickly that wind and cold air moved in.

How Do I Bake A Cake Without Eggs?
There have been no eggs at the store for some time now, and none expected to arrive anytime soon. Niki assures me, no worries, I can have some of her powdered eggs.



How Come Animosh Peed on My Carpet Tonight?
He has not had an accident for months. What is the deal?



How Exciting! Basketball Tourney This weekend in Quin! Rumor has it 8 schools will be arriving tomorrow! This is big deal around these parts:)

"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!" Proverbs 16:16

"Can We Visit?" They Sang.

"Children make you want to start life over."
~Muhammad Ali

"Not today." I explained to these 4 adorable faces, after they were rapping on the door.
"Well then, can we please have a freezee??" one bartered.
"It's cold out." I argued.
"No, it's not. We're sledding. We're warm." they countered.
"Okay." I folded.

Mr. Freezees: they're not just for summertime anymore...

"For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me." Matthew 18:2-5

To Jor or Not to Jor, That Isn't Even a Question

"I'm always doing things I can't do that's how I get to do them." Pablo Picasso

"Let's Go!!" After our run out past the Kanektok River, I clipped Animosh to his house (he went 9 miles running with me today) so he took a well deserved break while I jumped in on the ski joring extravaganza with Sherry and Steph. Sherry lent me Quin and Arolik, whoa definitely not my Ani. I was at their mercy. The two power houses (below) drug me half way across the dog lot while I was trying to get my skis on. Luckily DH was out walking her dog at that moment and graciously brought me the skis from where I had been torn away from them in the dust (snow) as I was being mushed away on my knees, then my side and finally my butt, against my will. From a seated position in order to anchor the eager, leaping, barking huskies I buckled on ye old faithful rock skis and began trying to stand up, of course before I could they were off, sprinting with all their might toward Sherry! She had Comet and Seekers (pictured top) and was already 1/4 mile down the snowgo trail. I somehow haphazardly righted myself getting enough balance to stand up on my already speed sliding skis. It was hilarious, picture a person barefoot water skiing behind a boat, spinning all around on their back and body. They do this intentionally, my acrobatic production was completely out of my control. Thankfully and miraculously I able to pull myself up and get going the same direction as the dogs at my own will. It was something to behold, we put on a great show for all the carpenters working on the new housing units. Meanwhile Steph and her two were waiting for Sherry and I to come flying by! There we were, all three of us and 6 dogs joring along on a very beautiful above zero day in Quinhagak. It was wonderful. I'm so thankful for my friends! What fun! I wish you were all here with us! Miss everyone so much. Happy Saturday Everyone. P.S. after all was said, done and thoroughly bruised, Sherry informed me that she wears knee pads when she jors: aha! I thought to myself as I looked down at my skinned up knee through the hole in my 'way too expensive' ski pants. Note to self: tricks of the trade.

Dennis and Tim had a successful hunting trip today! 2 Caribou:)

"The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you!" 1 Thessalonians 5:28

Friday Night in Quinhagak

"Now for the traffic report. Maggie O'Connell just drove down Main Street...too fast."

Chris In the Morning, Northern Exposure

Urban Ski Joring (Katie this is in honor of your Urban Dogsledding)

"Hike, hike! Let's go!" Steph and I cheered on our future mushing teams just like Sherry taught us, as we whooshed off onto the snowgo trail taking full advantage of our new fallen snow (not a lot but enough to ski on). We skied right out of teacher housing down the road, past the honey bucket dumpster (which I learned is called a 'hopper') past the washeteria, past the dumpsters out onto the tundra toward the mountains. So here are some shots of our trek.


I'm having a glass of milk right now and I realize I didn't put enough milk (the powdered kind) in the pitcher when I made it. That's right! The milk I drink comes straight outa the box, just add water. The stuff I made tonight? Less than skim, kinda milk flavored water.


Running to the middle of nowhere last night I inhaled the scenery, to my right hot pink sunset and to my left snow covered mountains. Then over the little hill okay its hardly a hill but when you get on the other side of it you can't see the village so it is elevated enough to lose the horizon behind it, hence for our purposes we will call it a hill... on my way back 'over the hill' I see my friend Kathy on her way out! We high five as we jog past each other sharing a moment of exhilaration, comradere, appreciating the joy of just getting out there and running for it. It's fun to be in good company of others who enjoy similar experiences,isn't it. Better yet, to encourage other, push each other along. It's like a marathon sometimes, we're all in pain but can't help smiling cause together we are finishing the race! What a great moment! We're doing it, we are really doing it.

What Dreams Say...Pauline one of our stellar teachers here, shared with me today that she had dreamed about scriptures last night. This jogged my memory about my dream last night; it wasn't nearly as profound as Pauline's. I drempt that I had "Sesame Street" tatooed on my foot? You think I've been working with little kids lately??????

I was fighting traffic on my way to work this morning, as Wasillie, our Village Police Officer more well known as 'Was' the VPO, cruised by in his truck. I waved, I couldn't see him but I knew it was him, recognized the truck, even in the darkness of the am. That was right before Justin zinged past me up on foot, he speed walks to work, I wander. Then the Hooten Clan, all 4 of them, loaded on their wheeler, the Clampets you might refer to them, flew by me. Then Principal Eric sped by on his wheeler with a few miscellaneous kids he picked up along the way. Kids are walking with parents and being hauled over on wheelers. The draw this dark morning is school. Like a magnet we all make our way to the big blue tin building at the north end of the village. This scene makes me chuckle I love working in the bush.




Brightest moon in 2010 appears tonight for anyone who's interested!

"Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;
grace me with your clear revelation.
I choose the true road to Somewhere,
I post your road signs at every curve and corner.
I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me;
God, don't let me down!
I'll run the course you lay out for me
if you'll just show me how." Psalm 119:30-32

Just Some Meandering Thoughts

"She gave me more than just a sweater vest that night. She gave me all this. Nothing. She gave me nothing. That's what I need. No phone book, no Game Boy, no pasta maker, TV Guide. Nowhere to go, nothing to do." Dr. Joel Fleishman, Northern Exposure

A friend of mine sent a package, I got it today...I thought it was from Mike but surprisingly so, it wasn't. It was from a friend who probably laughs to himself and shakes his head when he thinks of me here. At any rate, in the mail today he thoughtfully sent me...an electric blanket. Exactly what I didn't realize I needed. I confess Mum's voice immediately jumped into action echoing in the recesses of my mind (I really am working hard at only giving her a say once in a while, sorry Mum). "Electric blankets catch on fire!!! They're not safe." she'd warn us. Yes, the only 'electric blanket' we used in the Skime household was forbade to be plugged in. And a good thing too, eh? Hard to believe we all managed to survive the driving of the army jeep at 11, 9, and 7 years old, stampeding around on horses, hauling guns all over tarnation, jumping out of the barn, and flipping over 6 wheelers... whew, it's a darn good thing Mum woke up long enough to make sure the electric blanket wasn't plugged in. And this is where I should throw in the fact that Gram was evidently all the while, trying to burn the house down unknownst to us (but that's another story, for another time) my point is, you can see the futility of Mum's best intentions. Anyway I'm feeling like a rebel here and am plugging in my dangerous blanket as I type.

Speaking of Mum's best of intentions, she had been blocking my requests for Red Bull to my family members back home. She's real sneaky-like if you don't keep an eye on her;) The fam would be asking if I needed anything way up here in the cold tundra. My one little petition was always for just a simple smallish piece of civilization, "Yes," I would request, " Could you please send me Red Bull." But no one ever did. Come to find out, my cautious Mum was again 'saving' me from myself and kaboshing my 1 measly request. "It's bad for you!" she protested when she was called out on the carpet at Christmas. Yep, everyone present was nodding in agreement as to where the fault lay. "She wouldn't let us send it up," they apologized. It was a conspiracy headed up by none other than my electric-blanket-phobic-mum. She means well and I love her. So I got my own Red Bull.

I-Can-A-Rod, I-Will-A-Rod, I-Dit-A-Rod
So Steph and I went for a walk down to the beach this weekend with our pack o pups and decided it was a very good idea to become mushers. Stay tuned this could get really entertaining. Steph even spent the weekend researching where she will be purchasing her sled and equipment! Guess what of all the places in the world, she found the best price in Hayward, Wisconsin at Affordable Dogsleds! Imagine that! The dogs, as you can see from the very factual pictures were more than enthusiastic. Ani and I have a bit of work ahead of us as you can see, lol.Duct Tape is the best thing ever... it holds me together up here, my freezer stays shut cause of a sturdy piece of duct tape, my coffee pot keeps perculating because of duct tape, my floor has no hole anymore and my luggage is like new...thank God for duct tape:)

Getting From Here to There
I was perusing the local shopper after it arrived in my p.o. box the other day. Half way through admiring the two page spread of snow gos (snow machines) for sale by misc. businesses, I realized there were no ads for cars or trucks in this paper. All the major dealers of vehicles buying space in our weekly news tribune are those snow crossin' companies like: Arctic Cat, Ski Doo, Polaris and Honda...lol. Just made me chuckle, I forget how different the concept of transportation is here.

Extra Extra READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!! Principal Eric and family are featured in COUNTRY Magazine this February/March 2010 edition. Eric wrote the article about living in the Quinhagak, Alaskan Wilderness and Jim (our 5th grade teacher/resident photographer/ and Steph's hubby) took all the great pics. If you want to take at fun peek into someone else's Quinhagak, Alaska experience pick up the issue and find his article. I think it's called: A Family Day in Alaska or something like that, either way it's written by Eric Pederson, photos by Jim Barthelman. Enjoy!

Shout Out to Sinduk (sorry if I spelled that wrong)! Quyana for always delivering my yummy fresh produce that we get from Full Circle Farm every two weeks! It's like a christmas present when he knocks on my door and announces "special delivery" then hands me a box of fresh green food!!!! And Happy Birthday Bobbi Ann! Celebrating you today:)

"One day one of the local officials asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to deserve eternal life?"
Jesus said, "Why are you calling me good? No one is good—only God. You know the commandments, don't you?
No illicit sex, no killing, no stealing, no lying, honor your father and mother."
He said, "I've kept them all for as long as I can remember."
When Jesus heard that, he said, "Then there's only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me." This was the last thing the official expected to hear. He was very rich and became terribly sad. He was holding on tight to a lot of things and not about to let them go. Seeing his reaction, Jesus said, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who have it all to enter God's kingdom? I'd say it's easier to thread a camel through a needle's eye than get a rich person into God's kingdom."
"Then who has any chance at all?" the others asked.
"No chance at all," Jesus said, "if you think you can pull it off by yourself.
Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."
Peter tried to regain some initiative: "We left everything we owned and followed you, didn't we?"
"Yes," said Jesus, "and you won't regret it. No one who has sacrificed home, spouse, brothers and sisters, parents, children—whatever—will lose out. It will all come back multiplied many times over in your lifetime.
And then the bonus of eternal life!" Luke 18:24-34