The endless questions...from others

I love that others are interested in my journey that lie ahead. I enjoy the happy look in their face when I tell them I got another teaching job and I especially enjoy watching them process when I tell them it's in Alaska.

The round of questioning begins and for every person that asks how I've been and I tell them what's about to happen, I get to answer the same basic questions. I know it's new and different for every person but it begins to get pretty repetitive for me. I feel like I might be unfair to some people in answering questions as I might forget what people I've told what answers to. Maybe I should make up some business cards to hand out with this blog site on them so they can follow along? Just pass them out.

I continue to get emails with new information on what I should bring, timelines, etc. and try to balance getting ready for Alaska with finishing my Masters program. Thank goodness the latter is almost done! I worry that once that is done, Alaska will become all consuming and I might forget to have a little fun this summer.

66 days...

Weird dreams

So I've waited an hour and a half so I know I'm awake. I feel like this might become a regular thing more often than I wish it would be. I have found myself getting up early in the morning because I'm having some weird Alaska related dreams. Either that or my mind begins to race because there was a moment of alertness during the sleep cycle. Either reason, I don't think I'm too impressed at seeing 4:30am on a regular basis.

Today was a weird dream. It was set in the high school that I went to school in but I was a teacher there. I had to go and teach a class that didn't start until 2:30 but I got there early. There was a student there at 2:00 who was supposed to teach me for a half an hour about how to wear moccasins correctly. Now, I'm not sure where this all came from, but it was there. The girl was an Alaskan Native looking girl and I'm not sure what the thigh high moccasins were going to do for me or what purpose they served at that moment but I was learning about them. I woke up all confused and then my mind started racing again with things that are on it that have to be done in pretty short order.

I've started a post-it wall on a door in our house. Yes, the computer's calendar works very well too but it's on the computer. The post-it wall is visible all the time! Plus, there is some satisfaction of ripping one of them off of there when it is done! Completed this week are the physical required for the school district, a few more assignments for school, playing with my friends new puppy, talking to the bank about the creep who stole my debit card number and went to Bangladesh with it, opening a new checking account with a bank that is also in Alaska and catching up on laundry. I've also worked on the yard outside a bit but the rain has kept me away from that for the most part.

Today some family comes into town, I take 3 of my fur children to get shots so that the husband won't have to worry about it while I'm away and I'll be completing some more homework and more laundry. I have the first few things set aside for Alaska shipping/packing that I know I definitely want to take, I wonder how big the pile is going to get....

69 days to go.

Katmai Lodge

This is the lodge we are to stay in during our inservice time. It looks more like a vacation to me! How did I get so lucky?! This just makes me even more excited. Oh and believe me, I will have many pictures of my own to post come August!

*Thanks to Kathy for the picture!

So much information...

Information pours into my district email account. Paperwork to fill out, forms to mail back and reminders to get your Alaska teaching license started. All the forms are filled out with the exception of a little bit of info. They will be mailed by the end of this week, way sooner than needed and my passport should be here shortly. While it's not an absolute necessity I found that many of the boats up there won't let you on even if you are going from US to US because you travel through international waters. Plus, just think, if a tsunami comes I want to be able to get on any flight I can and go wherever, even if it's not the US. Let other's have that chance. I can fly to a cool foreign country instead!

In the paperwork was some more information about what to bring, what to ship and when I can start shipping things to my new place. July 1 the first box will go out, well maybe July 5th because not much will happen until then anyhow due to the holiday. Maybe all my stuff will get there before me and I won't have to worry about it. That way I can just pack my gun(s) and then buy a cooler for my perishables for the nice small plane rides to my new home.

I'm still excited but I must say that some nights I wake up thinking of things that I come to the computer and type up so I don't forget. My swinging door in the house has become a message center for things I don't want to forget as my brain begins to fill up. I hope that when school is over this term much of the brain space taken by those deadlines will open up for Alaska space. For now, the post-its and taped up graduation reminders and odd notes will just have to suffice.

75 Days and counting....

Let the countdown begin...

August 5th my life will change. I will board a plane bound for Alaska and my new life as an educator with the Lake and Peninsula School District. As I think about the time I have left before I leave my husband and home behind, there is so much to accomplish to ensure that all will be well until I can return at the Christmas Break.

I hope that you will enjoy reading about my trials, tribulations, adventures and learning opportunities as I prepare for living a new way of life.

81 days.....