A big event!

It's a big deal when the dentist comes around.  In and out of school all week.  The kids have appointments for cleanings and fillings (if they need them) and they are only here for a week, so we make it work.  It's pretty fun and an exciting time for some.  A little buzz in the school about clean teeth and the ominous threat of cavities for those who haven't been the best brushers.  Fluoride applications and the like seem to to be the talk of the town, or my little part of it anyhow!

Just before Spring break, it happened.  Not only was it Dentist week, but I had a student lose a tooth!  It was pretty fun I must say.  I'm a secondary teacher.  Most times, if a student looses a tooth where I'm teaching, it was from a fight.  That doesn't happen very often thank goodness, but it's exciting!   

Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle.  She worked for several minutes just trying to get that darn thing out.  It was so cute, she was so determined to have it out by the time the dentist was at the school that day.  My phone call to the dentist earlier that morning allowed her to bring a special tooth box for our little wiggler to keep her tooth in once it was out.  Then talks of the tooth fairy, where she was to put it ensued and it was a great treat to have an elementary student for awhile.  So many experiences have been mine this year teaching here, I will never forget them!  It was even better coming home from Spring break and seeing both front teeth missing!

The day before..

Did the village know I was leaving?  It sure put on a show.  Frost and fire it seemed like.  A wonderful sunrise as I look past the school staircase.  It's those wonderful pictures that make you feel like you could watch this every day.  (even though they don't happen every day)  Did the village want to make sure I remembered what I was leaving behind, to make sure I'd return?  Well, I was coming back like it or not, I had a return ticket in hand (well, on the web - common, it's 2011!) and I'd be back soon enough.

Almost all packed and ready to go, there are other things to attend to in the village.  Shooting practice was arranged before I wasn't all packed.  I was close and I knew that I'd have all night.  (Lord knows sleeping probably wasn't on the agenda anyhow!)  Excitement has the funny ability to keep you up when you know something good is coming!

So, a student of mine took me out shooting.  We took his gun and mine, headed out to hand out some punishment on an old metal chair and experience a little time at the gravel pit.  That poor chair.  It seems to have been a target for many a shooter.  So many holes already, I just had to add a few of my own.I must say, that M1A has quite the accuracy!  It looks pretty bad-A too!

I had to make sure I got a picture too, maybe it's just a "show everyone what I've done" or maybe it's because I'll never own a gun like this but it was fun.  I know I don't play the shooting games or go out hunting for animals to kill, however it was fun to shoot!

After the beautiful sunrise and the shooting, packing was in order.  I had already gotten the frozen container pre-packed and then back in the freezer so it was basically a dump and run in the morning.  My clothes were almost dry and ready for folding.  I had to sleep on my pillows but they were the last thing to go in.  Making sure that everything was there, I headed for bed, ready to be ready to go whenever Mr. Pen-Air showed up for me the next morning.  I had a lot to do first thing but where was I going? 

Home.

The bear....

was alive at one point in time....now it just hangs on a wall and has for awhile.

Ladies and Gentleman, I introduce to you, the Egegik Bear's gymnasium.

Yep, a good day for me I would say, some great bear photos...

I'll keep you in touch if I get some live bear photos or videos.  For now though, still waiting to see the first live one!

WOU Day

Each day brings with it new things to add to the list. One that has been forgotten and put on the back burner is the trip over to WOU for Eric. He's going back into school so that he can finish up his degree. This is a big reason why it's easy for me to go to Alaska for a few years. We know he's got a few of them to go and that I can be busy there while he is busy here and then we'll be able to decide what to do from there on out.

Today is a visit day for him. We are going to see an advisor to figure out just what he needs to accomplish and in what order and how long we can expect these things to take him. 1:45 today should be a very informative time. I think we are going to head over a bit early in hopes of catching a nice lunch at the ever infamous Yang's!

Aside from that, not much is on the list today. I think it will be a good day to come home and work on the guest room for Colby and pack a little bit. Knowing what I can wear for the next few days will help in getting everything else clean and ready for Alaska suitcases and bags. One more box just might go in the mail. We'll have to see about that because the boots I bought in Boise are awful big and will take up a lot of space. Good thing they aren't so heavy, maybe they'll go in the bag with the gun and heavy ammo. Only time will tell.

For now though, a trip to WOU and some packing and cleaning will expend the time for this day. So long, I have much to do!

9 days and counting.............