tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37276931330302708222024-03-19T20:58:24.483-07:00Adventures in AlaskaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17388968681842839081noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3727693133030270822.post-66018353684559796512013-07-11T15:26:00.000-07:002013-07-11T15:35:59.181-07:00More from the randomness of Katie!I am really excited to share something with you guys! So this past week my roommate has been out of town, so in the evenings I have been a little bored! I find that a lot of my friends in Ketchikan are busy during the week nights (you know that whole job thing) and I haven't had much luck in finding someone to bug other than Lori (Who was away!!), and as many of you know, I don't do well if I don't have someone to talk to or a project to work on, SO...I decided to randomly start playing around with GarageBand. I use GarageBand a lot for school, but never really personal stuff, or just to mess around. I have been mildly obsessed with the song "Falling Slowly" from the movie <i>Once</i> lately, and I thought, what the heck, I'll try my own cover. It's rough guys...like pretty rough. I don't have any good recording equipment, but it's all me! The first crack at it, I played the piano parts, but later I got the idea to put it into Finale and the export the mp3 into GarageBand! I know that is basically cheating, but it sounded better! Anyway, even though it's pretty rough, I am still proud of it! I have never really done anything like this before so I figured I would share. Both voices on the recording are me. I recorded them one at a time, obviously. Because it's the same voice on both parts though, I think it takes away a bit from the beauty of the song. Oh well, I can't exactly change my voice so I will just have to deal with it! :) I hope you guys like it!<br />
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<object style="vertical-align: middle;" valign="middle" width="200" height="20"><param name="movie" value="http://static.boomp3.com/player2.swf"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="flashvars" value="id=k4io0v4u5jk&title=Falling+Slowly+Katie"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://static.boomp3.com/player2.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="false" width="200" height="20" wmode="transparent" flashvars="id=k4io0v4u5jk&title=Falling+Slowly+Katie"></embed></object><a href="http://boomp3.com/mp3/k4io0v4u5jk-falling-slowly-katie" target="_top">Falling Slowly Katie</a>
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Last weekend was opening weekend for "The Fish Pirates Daughter." It went really well and I am looking forward to our shows the next two weekends. To be honest, I am also looking forward to it being done. I have had an awesome time doing it, but it will be nice to have my weekends back. Especially so I can hang out with those people who have traditional 9-5 M-F jobs!!<br />
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All in all tours have been going pretty well, but it's been relatively slow. This week I haven't really had any which is a bummer, but I have been able to get a lot of busy work stuff done, so that has been nice. My apartment is clean! YAY! And I've been able to practice guitar a lot more this past week! It's been a little rainy this week, but I have still been able to enjoy being outside and have went on a few hikes. Yesterday it rained and rained all day, and then in the evening it cleared up. It was an incredibly beautiful night! I went out to the beach with Niki, Matt, and the kids, and had dinner with them. It still astounds me; I am still amazed by the beauty of this place. I feel like I have taken the same picture like 20 different times on 20 different occasions, but each time I see something that I didn't notice before, or I am still just as breathless as I was the first time I saw it. Pictures really do not do it justice, but I wish they did. I would love to share it with all of you!<br />
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Anyway, yesterday I was getting ready to meet up and play trumpet duets, and I got a text from my boss with the Hummers. It said "Envelope hanging up at shop for you next time through." I started to have a mini panic attack! Why is there an envelope for me? Did I do something wrong? Was there like an unknown evaluation and this is my results. I know that is like the worst response ever, but my gut instinct to anything like that is "What did I do wrong!?!?" Well, I knew I wasn't going to be able to concentrate until I knew what it was about so I drove up and got my envelope. I open it up and there is a letter: "Congratulations!! You are June's Employee of the Month!" AHHHH! Big sigh of relief! I'm not gonna like, I am pretty proud! I remember when Natalie was working in Pittsburgh and she got the "Wow" awards with her company at work, and I slightly mocked them. Well, I totally get it now, even if it's just my summer job, it felt really good to know that they appreciate me and to be recognized! Sorry Natalie for mocking your WOW awards! I love you! :)<br />
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Yesterday was a pretty great day, but it was a little sad too! One of my good friends, Chelsea has been the music teacher at Metlakatla for the past 3 years, but she got accepted into the grad program at WVU so she decided to head back east. I am so incredibly excited for her, but yesterday I had to say goodbye to her, her husband, and their adorable chocolate lab as they got onto the ferry to start their road trip back east. It was really sad!! I'm really going to miss them. I didn't get to see them a whole lot as they were on a different island, but they visited fairly often, and I always looked forward to that.<br />
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On a more positive note... I will be going out fishing soon! I still have no clue what I am doing, but I at least found some people here who are willing to teach me! :) Now we just need to get our schedules to align and I will be the Salmon Queen! Haha<br />
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Alright everyone, I know there was a whole lot more I wanted to update everyone on, but at the moment I can't think of it. I hope everyone had a great time at the Gaggini Reunion! I was really bummed that I missed it, but it just wasn't going to happen this year! I miss you all so very much.<br />
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Love always,<br />
Kate<br />
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P.S. Don't worry! I didn't forget about my pictures! :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Star Fish here are soooo cool! 6/28/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another sunny day in Ketchikan!! 7/1/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toly and I were looking for baby crabs on the 4th of July! 7/4/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want one!!! 7/4/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jelly Fish!! 7/4/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jelly Fish again!! 7/4/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting to go onstage! 7/5/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bear at Herring Cove! 7/7/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying goodbye to Miss Chelsea :( 7/9/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settler's Cove Water Fall 7/10/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a night at the beach! 7/10/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt kept getting in my picture!! 7/10/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settler's Cove Beach! 7/10/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settler's Cove Beach! 7/10/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settler's Cove Beach! 7/10/13 </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settler's Cove Beach! 7/10/13</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17388968681842839081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3727693133030270822.post-14223309864979759402013-06-27T01:21:00.003-07:002013-06-27T01:21:58.203-07:00Nothing has changed...But everything is different!So I woke up the other day and I felt good...REALLY really good. Better than I have felt in a really long time. To be honest, I have been in a little bit of a rut the last few months, and while nothing has changed, I find myself in the same situations that I have been in for the past few months, everything is different. I just feel so much more optimistic about things. Which, I'm not gonna like, is a pretty fantastic feeling!<br />
<br />
Just a quick update on things. The summer job is going really well. Every tour is almost like meeting a long lost friend. I know that sounds a little cliche, but by the end of spending 4 hours with these people in a car, albeit a very large car, but a car none the less, you kinda get attached. Especially when they are as wonderful as my guests have been. I have had people from all over, Cleveland, Florida, LA, and each has such an interesting story. The group I had earlier this week were cracking my up. It was a husband and a wife, and her 94 year old mother. They were truly wonderful people, who were just enjoying life. The poor husband very graciously took the brunt of all their jokes, and basically I was paid to drive them around, listen to their very comical conversations, and take them to get milkshakes! Yeah...life is pretty good!<br />
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This past week I have been preoccupied with a show I am currently doing. Each summer First City Players (the Ketchikan Theater Company) does this show called "The Fish Pirates Daughter" which has some aspects of Ketchikan's history in it, but is basically a slap happy musical melodrama about a citizen of Ketchikan who acts as a fish pirate to get money to send his/her daughter through finishing school. There is a whole lot more to it, but I don't really need to get into the specifics. Anyway, I was going to auditions, but then chickened out last minute. The one of my good friends mentioned that she was doing it, and we got to talking and I was really starting to second guess my decision. I knew they were still looking for "ladies of the line," I wasn't really sure what that meant, but I knew it was just chorus. Well the musical director, who happens to be a friend of mine, e-mailed me and said she had heard I was interested and asked if I would do it. I figured what the heck....Why not!? Do you know what a "lady of the line is!?!?" Let me tell you, it is NOT a simple chorus girl who stands in the background and sings pretty songs in fun costumes. Nope...if you are familiar with Ketchikan's history at all (which as a tour guide, I now am! :) Whoo) and one time, Ketchikan's biggest industry was Creekstreet, which was home to around 30 brothel houses. As a lady of the line, I am one of the ladies of those house. Let's put it this way...I am just a LITTLE out of my comfort zone!! Keep in mind this is a happy-go-lucky melodrama, so it's not really that big of a deal, but yes...I feel a little ridiculous!<br />
<br />
Because it hasn't been 9 months since my last post (I know! I know! I'm a little shocked too!) I really don't know what else to update you on! I guess I could tell you all that I bought a grill!! I am pretty excited about that, but it's not really all that interesting. But sure why not! HaHa... The other night I was trying to figure out what I wanted for dinner and the only things that sounded really good were, BBQ Chicken, Steak, Hot Dogs, or Hamburgers. I looked at Lori (My roommate) and I said...Let's go get a grill! That's pretty much the whole story, but we have been eating really well this week! :) <br />
<br />
Tomorrow I am going to get together with a friend of mine and we are going to rock out to some trumpet duets. I am pretty excited about this because I'm not a great sight reader, and this will be really good for my musicianship. I am also pretty nervous about this because Jeff (my friend) is a phenomenal trumpet player, who just graduated from Manhattan School of Music, and is going to kick my butt!! Oh well, it's all in good fun. Jeff and I are collaborating together to put on a classical recital at the end of the summer/beginning of fall. I am getting pretty excited about this. I've finally been getting back into the habit of doing some hardcore vocalizing and practice sessions, and it feels pretty amazing to be singing some legit classical stuff again. I've been trying to incorporate a variety of instruments and people for this recital. My one friend is an oboist and I think I have convinced her to play on one song while another friend, Chelsea (Jeff's girlfriend!) is going to dance (Hopefully!!!) I also have a duet planned and a few other ideas that I really hope pan out. <br />
<br />
Today I felt a little like my Grandma Gaggini. I sat down to start a puzzle, because I love puzzles, and I completely lost track of the time. Next think I knew it was like 5:30 and I had to make dinner and get ready for rehearsal. It's crazy where the day went! BUT I totally knocked that 1000 piece puzzle out in a day!!! In all fairness, I've done that puzzle at least 5 times, so it's getting to the point where I can look at a piece and know the general idea where it goes. <br />
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OH!!! Before I let you go....GUESS WHAT!?! I finally saw the Northern Lights!!!!!!!! They were very faint, and mostly just a white color, BUT I saw them. It kinda just looked like a sunset, except it was at a position in the sky where the sun would not set, AND it was 2am. It was pretty neat, and I was so excited. I am looking forward to seeing the lights a lot more this summer.<br />
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AND one more very exciting piece of information. The Pittsburgh Pirates have the best record in baseball right now, AND I walked into O'brien's Pub last night after rehearsal and the game was on TV...in Ketchikan!! I know, I know, we are playing Seattle, but still...the was incredibly exciting for me!! :) Let's Go Bucs!! <br />
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Ok. I should probably be going to bed. Thank you all for sticking with my through my random updates. I miss you all terribly. You should all take a note out of Trish & Jim and Dad & Judy's book and come visit me!! :)<br />
<br />
Love always,<br />
Kate<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settler's Cove 6/13/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settler's Cove 6/13/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settler's Cove 6/13/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settler's Cove 6/13/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slide Mountain 6/14/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my very bad attempt at trying to get a picture of the lights...Hey...it's only and iphone. But you can kind of see where the lights were in the middle of the picture behind the mountain. Use your imagination people!! There were there! 6/17/13</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harriet Hunt 6/19/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harriet Hunt 6/19/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking Connell Lake Trail with Lori- 6/21/13</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Connell Lake- 6/21/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking Connell Lake Trail with Lori and Edelweiss- 6/21/13</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-QDz2C73Fmy6ffsB8VKZ9pNmx58Q6KDkerb-Ak108tM0_k8KGMbLub0RXPdt3Ybzf_EXdNz7hfqv-ToxmpaFoUc0klzYBFrXn441Anil35XToxSK5fDYyqR-dIgdKy75Ul38LQ48sUqW/s1600/IMG_3804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-QDz2C73Fmy6ffsB8VKZ9pNmx58Q6KDkerb-Ak108tM0_k8KGMbLub0RXPdt3Ybzf_EXdNz7hfqv-ToxmpaFoUc0klzYBFrXn441Anil35XToxSK5fDYyqR-dIgdKy75Ul38LQ48sUqW/s320/IMG_3804.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ward Creek 6/23/13</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17388968681842839081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3727693133030270822.post-79048715484345959692013-06-13T02:46:00.001-07:002013-06-15T23:21:50.257-07:00Taking things one day at at time :)Hi Everyone!<br />
<br />
I've been sitting here trying to think of a fun or witty way to start this post, but it's 12:30AM and I've got nothing. This is probably going to be a pretty straight forward post, but hey! At least it's an update!<br />
<br />
To be honest, life right now is good...really really good! School ended on a pretty great note, I have been checking things off my "Alaska Bucket List," my summer job is going very well...and there's a whole lot more I'll delve into in a bit, but ... I'm homesick. I miss home a lot. I miss my friends, I miss my dad and sisters more than words, I haven't really had the opportunity to spend much quality time with the Kijowski's or Gaggini's in the past two years (with some exceptions, but you catch my drift), I really need to spend a day at PNC park, and I just want to sit around the campfire and watch the incredible Pennsylvania Stars. I love Alaska, and I can't express the gratitude I feel for everything I have gained in the 2 years I have been here, but sometimes living on and island is suffocating. I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but it's a very real struggle that I have been dealing with for a while now. I have also come to the realisation that I really miss my mom. Does that sound funny? That I just came to the realisation? I suppose I should rephrase that. I think about, and miss my mom on a daily basis, but I've gotten in the habit of not really talking about it. It makes me sad, it makes other people sad. It hurts that all my amazing friends here don't know my mom, that they never will. And to be honest, I am homesick. I am growing up, and I am facing new trails daily, and I just want to call up my mom, someone who knows me through and through, and has the years of wisdom to back up her words, and cry to her, talk to her, laugh with her...especially laugh with her. Gosh, I miss her laugh.<br />
<br />
Wow...that is really not how I expected this post to go, but I guess you can tell what has been on my mind! I am going to try to switch things up and go in a more positive direction!<br />
<br />
I
think the most exciting thing to report to everyone is that I have
successfully made it through my 2nd year of teaching, and honestly, in quite a few ways we went out with a bang! In years past the Tongass
School has ended their school year with a school talent show. I tried
that last year, and it went pretty well, but I wanted to do something
different to represent the music program. This year we had an end of
the year concert where each grade did a musical theater song, and the
6th graders introduced each act by doing skits inbetween. It went
REALLY well. I seriusly can't epxress how proud of my students I am.
They completely blew me away. I have had strangers come up to me in the
grocery store and tell me how well they thought the kids did. The day
after the concert I told one of my classes that we were going to have a
free day, and they asked me if they could perform their song again
instead of playing games or watching a movie. I was shocked. I can't
express how validating that feels.<br />
<br />
So on the weekends I
have been working my summer job as a guide for the Alaska Hummer Tours.
It has been gong really well, but have no fear, some of my quirky luck has followed me and my quirky personality!! The very first day, I get to the "Duck Barn" which is where the Hummers are parked, and I go out to check my Hummer. I was assigned to "Yellow" which I was pretty pumped about because well a.) it's a Hummer and b.) it's bright yellow. What's not to be excited about that!?!? So I get in, I have my check list ready, I turn the key...nothing...I turn the key again...nothing. Seriously!? A dead battery on my very first day!? I kinda wanted to scream...but I didn't! I called my boss, but the amazing guys I work with were already on it. One of the other Hummer drivers and one of the Duck Tour drivers were bringing out a battery thing (whatever that technical name is... I don't know) to charge me up. They (unlike me) remained calm, and fixed everything. They were pretty much my heros that day! But don't worry, this story gets SOOOO much better. So I was a little late getting to the docks to pick up my guests because of the battery thing and I was a little flustered! But I didn't really have time to calm down because as soon as I got to the docks my guests were unloading and ready to go! "Ok," I told myself, "Stay calm you can do this" We get loaded up, and away we go! Honestly, these were the most amazing and friendliest people I could ever ask for. It was a middle aged couple, and an older couple. They were upbeat, positive, friendly, and so entertaining. We start on our tour and everything is going great! Then I realize...Oh my goodness! I still have 2 hours with these people, and I am pretty much out of things to say!!.... ..... .... ... "And here is our Wal-Mart!!! No, it is not 24 hrs! Oh and here you will find the only Carwash on the island, but don't try to shampoo your carpets, because it is always out of order!" I wish I was joking right now, but that is literally what I was resorting to! So I had this brilliant idea! We are going to go on a little nature walk. This is a little awful, but I was thinking, ok they are a little older, this will take some time! So I head back the road toward the trail and there is a State Trooper flagging me down. I start to panic! Crap! If he is about to tell me I can't take them back this trail, I have no clue what I am going to do for the next 2 hours!!!! So I slow down, and roll down my window and the conversation went something like this:<br />
Trooper: Oh... You're doing a tour<br />
Me: I am, is there a problem officer<br />
Trooper: Well, are there any strong guys in there? I need some help lifting something<br />
Me: Well, they are my guests, I don't really feel comfortable asking. But I am a lot stronger than I look. What do you need help with, I would be happy to help.<br />
Trooper: Well, I have a deer here that was hit by a car. The homeless shelter is low on meat so we are going to take it there, and I have it loaded into a bag, but I can't get it into my SUV by myself<br />
Me: Ok <i>( hesitantly)</i> I can help with that (In my head I was thinking, don't be a wuss in front of your guests)<br />
Guest in the back: Can I help!? I want to help!? Can I help the Alaska State Trooper!? I can help!<br />
Me: Ok! Let's help the trooper!<br />
<br />
So...I pull the Hummer over, we all jump out, and the three of us load the deer into his SUV, he makes small talk about where we are going, thanks us profusely and then we all go on our merry way. But wait this gets better! So we go up the road, we go on our nature walk (That thankfully takes a nice chunk of time) and when we get back to the parking lot, our friend the trooper is waiting for us. He came back to thank us one more time, and gave us all Alaska Jr. Trooper pins and keychains. They were so excited, and to be honest, it was pretty cool! I'm just gonna throw this out there, but my guest totally had the best story to take back to their ship! :-D The next weekend went just as well, although I haven't encountered anymore dead deer...or dead batteries! They have let me drive the Yellow Hummer everytime, and let me tell you, we've bonded. I feel pretty awesome in that thing. I tend not to be an over aggressive drive, and that still holds true in my Hummer, but it's super bright, and you can see my coming for a mile away. I don't know, it's like an alternate personality comes out and I'm super confident when I'm driving that thing on tours. "Oh you want to see a crab, ok, I'll flip over this incredibly large rock and pick up a baby crab for you and act like it's no big deal even though I am secretly afraid of them...no big deal I got this!" Maybe I'm being slightly ridiculous, but I'm kinda ok with that! :)<br />
<br />
So this week is the first official week of summer, and the weather has been AMAZING. One of my very good friends is childless for a few weeks (her children are visiting their grandparents down south) So we have been trying to do a daily hike. On Monday we hiked Perseverance Trail. Now I know that this probably means nothing to a lot of you, but this is a trial I have wanted to do for a REALLY long time. I'm not the best hiker though. I really enjoy hiking, but I am slow and I know that. Also... I live in the mountains, which means the majority of the trails go up. You know, I'm not really a huge fan of just up. I was told this trail has a lot of steps (which I think is even harder than just up) and that it was long. Jenn talked me into trying it on Monday, and I'm not gonna lie, we were about .... 10 minutes in of constant "up" and I was thinking in my head, I don't know how I'm gonna break this to Jenn, but there is no way I am going to make it to this lake. Honestly,<br />
it wasn't that bad!!! The first bit was a lot of up, but they redid the trail a little bit ago and they took out all the steps. They added some switchbacks or maybe they have always been there, I don't know, but they weren't crazy steep switchbacks, they were gradual. The trail was long, but it wasn't the longest I have ever hiked, and when we finally got to the lake, I felt such a sense of accomplishment and it was one of the most breathtakingly gorgeous views I have ever seen. I'll post some pictures, but they just don't do it justice. I know a lot of Ketchikan people hike this trail without batting an eye, but for me it was a big deal, and I was pretty pumped. I have a ton of trails I want to work on this summer, and I am pretty excited I already get to check one off my list. I have some family coming later in the summer (Trish and Jim!!!) and I think we are going to tackle this trail again. <br />
<br />
Today I did an easy trail around Ward Lake, but it is one of my favorite trails, and it's so pretty there. I did it with Maggie who is an 8 year old, and one of my favorite people in Ketchikan. I know I have talked a lot about Matt and Nicole (Matt teaches with me at TSAS and is the Flyers fan... I don't get it either, but I try not to hold it agains him, and Nicole is his incredible wife) They are two of the most amazing people, and have become more than family to me. Maggie is their daughter, and she is pretty fabulous. They also have a pretty fantastic son, but he didn't go on the hike with us today. It's really interesting walking around the lake with an 8 year old. You notice things in a very different way, and seeing things like squirrels make the trip take on a whole new level of excitement. It was fun and honestly, it was just what I needed today. <br />
<br />
I know there is so much more that I want to share, but it is getting really late, and I have a doctors appointment in the morning. I sprained my ankle a few weeks back and it's not exactly healing the way I want it to (maybe the hike wasn't my smartest move, but oh so worth it) Anyway, I just want to get it checked out and make sure it's just a sprain and that there is not any long term damage. As always I will leave you with a few pictures at the end! Thanks for continuing to check in with me even though I am so awful about updating! I love and miss you all, more than I could possibly explain!<br />
<br />
Always,<br />
Kate<br />
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These first 5 are from an AMAZING sunset the other night</div>
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Totem Bight (6/10/13)</div>
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Totem Bight (6/10/13)</div>
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Totem Bight (6/10/13)</div>
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North Point Higgins (6/10/13)</div>
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North Point Higgins (6/10/13)</div>
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Lily pads on Perseverance Trail (6/10/13)</div>
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One of my first views of the lake (6/10/13)</div>
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LOOK....SUN!! (6/10/13)</div>
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The Lake (6/10/13)</div>
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(6/10/13)</div>
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Me and Jenn (6/10/13)</div>
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Relaxing by the lake! (6/10/13)</div>
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(6/10/13)</div>
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This happens a lot here. We don't have a lot of top soil so a lot of trees are uprooted by the wind. This is a pretty new one, but it will shortly become a nurse log, which means a lot of other trees and bushes will start to grow on top of it. It's pretty cool! :) (6/10/13)<br />
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I took a random drive up Brown Mountain the other night, and it was pretty incredible.<br />
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Brown Mountain (6/5/13)</div>
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Brown Mountain (6/5/13)</div>
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Me and Maggie at the lake! (6/12/13)</div>
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Today at Ward Lake (6/12/13)</div>
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See! I'm a Junior State Trooper! (5/19/13)</div>
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Team Katie!! (Myself and Katie - another TSAS Teacher) at Beach Day!! 5/20/13</div>
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Memorial day weekend at Ward Lake. There was a Thunderstorm (which is really rare) and an incredible double rainbow. The sky kept changing, but I thought the way the mountains were reflecting in the lake was pretty awesome! </div>
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Ward Lake - 5/27/13</div>
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Ward Lake - 5/27/13</div>
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Ward Lake - 5/27/13</div>
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Lori, Edelweiss, and myself at the 3/4 Beach Day</div>
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Buggy's Beach - 5/28/13</div>
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My xtratuffs <3</div>
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Buggy's Beach - 5/28/13</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17388968681842839081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3727693133030270822.post-70024871910032473492013-05-18T23:50:00.001-07:002013-05-19T00:29:08.495-07:00Better late than never, right?....Right!?Well Hello there!! Do you guys remember me!? I'm that kid that moved to Alaska and promised to keep everyone updated with her blog....I think I might have inadvertently lied....<br />
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Getting everyone updated from everything that has happened in my life since August would take way too long, so I am just going to type up a brief update now, and hopefully begin to keep you posted more about everything else.<br />
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This weekend has been a very busy weekend for me! Today I participated in the Ketchikan Rain Boot Race. In all actuality, it wasn't a race at all, just a walk, but it was called a race, and we beat the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most participants with 1976 participants! That's right people, I made the book...again! (I was in the World's Largest Orchestra! (: Whoo!) After the race I came home and have been frantically trying to cram as much facts about Ketchikan into my head as I can because tomorrow is my first day of work!!!!! Oh, maybe I should clue you in! I didn't quit my job as a teacher!!! But I did get a part time summer job. I am going to be giving personalized tours this summer in a Hummer. That's right, they gave this girl the keys to a Hummer! I am pretty excited about that job. I think I will meet a lot of wonderful people, and basically I get to drive people around and talk to them about Ketchikan for 4 hours, and show them the sights. You all know how much I love to talk! I am a little nervous about tomorrow though. I have been doing a lot of reading over the past few weeks, but I would love just a little more time to fully feel prepared. My head feels like it did the night before a Music History final...for all my music major friends out there, you should understand what I mean! I'm sure it will go well but I will keep you posted.<br />
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Things at school are starting to wind down which means things at school are CRAZY!!! We have three weeks left of school, which is just a bit insane to me. I am totally not complaining, but I don't know how I am going to accomplish all I need to accomplish in three weeks. My students are getting ready for their spring program, and it's something completely new for Tongass School. I am really excited about it, but I am starting to feel the pressure!<br />
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I recently moved into a new apartment. I am still living with the same roommate, Lori, but we moved across town. We liked our old apartment, but it was a summer rental, so we needed to be out by June 1st. Since we had both decided that we were going to be staying up here this summer and not traveling back to our home towns, we decided to move at the beginning of April (something our old landlord had okay-ed with us before we signed our lease). In Ketchikan, you can't find an apartment to rent from May - October because of all the tourist workers. We really love our new place. It is MUCH MUCH bigger, and has an awesome view. For the first time ever (living in Ketchikan) I do not live on Grant Street!! And I can't see the cruise ships from my window. I was super excited about the cruise ship thing. I don't know if I ever shared and Cruise ship stories with you, but I will elaborate now. Last summer I was repeatedly awoke to Dum-Dum-Dum "Attention, if you would like to participate in ______ please report to the ______deck. Thank you" Why yes, I would love to do that, and since it sounds like you are in my living room, I would assume you are talking to me, but wait...oh no...that is a cruise ship, with their very loud bells and intercom. I was also a huge fan of the *HOOOOOOONK* Which is a warning for all passengers to get back onto the boat before it leaves. Although, I must say, the best part of the cruise ships is when they are trying to dock on a very early very foggy morning. Do you know they will blow their fog horn every 10 minutes. Starting around 4:30 in the morning? In September? When you have to get up and be peppy and perky and happy for kindergartners? Well...I do! In all seriousness, it's not that big of a deal, but I was definitely looking forward to moving out of downtown. Now we live about the ferry station. So we get to listen to THEIR warning honk at all hours of the night1! :) Gotta love living on the ocean! Our apartment is great though, and we are hoping to stay here for a while!<br />
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Well, I have so much more I could talk about, but I should probably get to bed. I have a very early morning tomorrow! Wish me luck!<br />
<br />
Katie<br />
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PS I'll leave you with a few pictures, but if you're on facebook, you have probably already seen them!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaver Falls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carlanna Lake!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxaJQe-z-DxSUlZi6XdQox-gXdWw8kMaIq5bbQaVJS-8c0QgLWpsgqZKDRObq8Pw-B3M9NMTtHJx6z2q1sNIb68tT_oQxjLyhKfxcdKFZfhyphenhyphenzGYUCwAZwacwEWuzPO-345XipoThlMIhx/s1600/IMG_3271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxaJQe-z-DxSUlZi6XdQox-gXdWw8kMaIq5bbQaVJS-8c0QgLWpsgqZKDRObq8Pw-B3M9NMTtHJx6z2q1sNIb68tT_oQxjLyhKfxcdKFZfhyphenhyphenzGYUCwAZwacwEWuzPO-345XipoThlMIhx/s320/IMG_3271.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incredible view from Rainbird Trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ward Lake! <3</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbX17LSy62pn3SQWQ_NhVmWym0qSb7C9JxAMObhYkN2B0hV9gtzFutG6r2lHPPpC6vwttfqTw-AiLM1p6xlXiMP0J_LtkH3ROTNEHb9DIwBCza9G3xjwvkQQWyZCcpRk9uBsw7P9M_mdIM/s1600/IMG_2903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbX17LSy62pn3SQWQ_NhVmWym0qSb7C9JxAMObhYkN2B0hV9gtzFutG6r2lHPPpC6vwttfqTw-AiLM1p6xlXiMP0J_LtkH3ROTNEHb9DIwBCza9G3xjwvkQQWyZCcpRk9uBsw7P9M_mdIM/s320/IMG_2903.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carlanna Lake Trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carlanna Lake!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscDggXLfVZ6P_AXzIZODG74KUg05aeRJLtYHEKAqBjlOz97m4g-D0dBUESVZiCic7uSAznzVQKPoFlblNysW6MmNTpbQNnqcKrdpiLswB2iaJSQfAxTngacN9EwNi34ZHl__oyMtrGw7Y/s1600/IMG_3057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscDggXLfVZ6P_AXzIZODG74KUg05aeRJLtYHEKAqBjlOz97m4g-D0dBUESVZiCic7uSAznzVQKPoFlblNysW6MmNTpbQNnqcKrdpiLswB2iaJSQfAxTngacN9EwNi34ZHl__oyMtrGw7Y/s320/IMG_3057.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settlers Cove!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oiZt5yIKNtCUnA1TXg5kKf_Ai0W5W6AK7o-a5BlbWKH9J4LE0PFfOc6UJc_i2w5OHpKnhxa1fxfyT9D8ZgBLjAstHTgwmD0VVA8867tejGS1u_uhyphenhyphenX4t4zli80vjGHngfPJM6PDR0Rh5/s1600/IMG_2648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oiZt5yIKNtCUnA1TXg5kKf_Ai0W5W6AK7o-a5BlbWKH9J4LE0PFfOc6UJc_i2w5OHpKnhxa1fxfyT9D8ZgBLjAstHTgwmD0VVA8867tejGS1u_uhyphenhyphenX4t4zli80vjGHngfPJM6PDR0Rh5/s320/IMG_2648.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my old apartment!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my new apartment!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4KgejFGxeAk8cPqh7VV1pzu8b_JqnTnqA1rj-KWBylF38OBPz6l0uRDoeliHQ2orbr2e_SmD9_4TVPY0RkrIBaDJl3NLEJoa64wV4mP81k-8tjlf-_col-urjas6oYV9dyqkn9LwMrd7/s1600/IMG_3406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4KgejFGxeAk8cPqh7VV1pzu8b_JqnTnqA1rj-KWBylF38OBPz6l0uRDoeliHQ2orbr2e_SmD9_4TVPY0RkrIBaDJl3NLEJoa64wV4mP81k-8tjlf-_col-urjas6oYV9dyqkn9LwMrd7/s320/IMG_3406.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready for the Rain Boot Race!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6vy_n42616ylItccAbB-h6E4Je1dw-Ydy6MkcIQAGEAXqlZtsY0ACsrXcEcLpIJEXeNT_9eZDnyOAJUZLkpL40Ne0LPODDRseeXnMeO1SFWkC_kZc3BpWFvWf_dFlXSspe3LgNtk2GSX/s1600/IMG_3408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6vy_n42616ylItccAbB-h6E4Je1dw-Ydy6MkcIQAGEAXqlZtsY0ACsrXcEcLpIJEXeNT_9eZDnyOAJUZLkpL40Ne0LPODDRseeXnMeO1SFWkC_kZc3BpWFvWf_dFlXSspe3LgNtk2GSX/s320/IMG_3408.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Away we go!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT4yYHO5IJtfixYhYYgS_8W3jWoeWJzPL-aTFJzMmxOfLjpwFt7SdKDlBnEczvv4gwaqjs9hxTw3kzNsxBK63wyVTelyRmUKJbJT_HE3VLoLQODPYuiLRjq20lGxZ68EvSUwwaweFpMkq/s1600/IMG_3417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT4yYHO5IJtfixYhYYgS_8W3jWoeWJzPL-aTFJzMmxOfLjpwFt7SdKDlBnEczvv4gwaqjs9hxTw3kzNsxBK63wyVTelyRmUKJbJT_HE3VLoLQODPYuiLRjq20lGxZ68EvSUwwaweFpMkq/s320/IMG_3417.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soooo many people! 1976 to be exact! That's like 20% of our population!</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17388968681842839081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3727693133030270822.post-49419201125221137922012-08-23T21:23:00.003-07:002012-08-23T21:23:58.298-07:00Back in Alaska!<br />
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<span class="s1">Hello Old Friends!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">First of all, I should probably once again apologize for my horrible upkeep with this blog! That being said, it is a new year (school year anyway!), so hopefully I will do a little better this time around!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I have been back in Ketchikan for almost 3 weeks! And what a wonderful, busy, yet relaxing 3 weeks it has been. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Before I jump right into Ketchikan, I should probably talk a bit about my summer. As I’m sure most of you know, but some may not, I visited “the lower 48” for about 2 months this past summer. I flew into Pittsburgh right at the begging of June, and so began my crazy busy summer. The first thing I did was go to a Pirates game! Which they won, and it was an awesome way to kick off my summer. I visited with my dad as much as I could on the weekends and through out the week I worked and stayed with my Uncle Tom and Aunt Heather. It was a really wonderful experience being in Pittsburgh ( I was so close to PNC park!), and it was fantastic to be able to spend time with family. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I was only in Pennsylvania for about a week before I headed to St. Louis. Really the visit was all about me, but there was this side wedding thing going on, that I was kind of a part of, so I needed to make an appearance. HA! Of course I am just kidding! As I am sure you all know, Natalie got married this summer to her wonderful new husband Frank! They got married toward the end of June, and I got to be there for the week before the wedding to try to help out in any way possible. I of course am a little partial, but it was the nicest wedding and reception I had ever been to! It was very small, very family oriented, and very well put together. The wedding was remarkably homemade, and I am still astounded by all the things Natalie, Alexis, Frank, and all their friends and family were able to accomplish to make the day so beautiful. It was really wonderful to see everyone. Most of Mom and Dad’s siblings made it to St. Louis for the wedding, and those that did not were able to make it to the Pennsylvania reception that took place later in July. I got to see some of my Mom’s family that I had not seen in years(at both celebrations), and I also got to finally meet my new cousin, Alex who lives in California. I told Natalie that she picked a very convenient time in <i>my</i> life to get married, because I could conveniently fit family into my jam packed summer! If you would like to see some of the wedding pictures, <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/106147890623047317184/albums/5780041900982864529?authkey=CP3Qot7qubjF4gE" target="_blank">click here!</a> (these are not all my photos, Special thanks to friends of the bride and groom (Rebecca and Jen), my cousin Trish, Christine Olsen, and Scott Catllin Photography for the photos that I didn't take myself!)</span></div>
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<span class="s1">When I came back from St. Louis, I worked a bit more for Uncle Tom, and then took the train to Philadelphia for two weeks to continue my Orff Training. I took Level I last summer, so this year I continued with Level II. Most of my classmates from last year were there as well. It was really nice to visit and see everyone, but it was a really intense long two weeks! I learned so much, though, and I am really excited to apply it to my teaching. While I was out there, I got to spend time with my cousins, Allison and Dan, who live in Jersey. I can’t tell you how nice it was to see them and just relax! Truly a great trip! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">After my class in Philly, my PA summer was winding to an end. I managed to squeeze in a few more Pirates games, and a few more visits with people, but I flew out about a week and a half later, back to the beautiful state I now call home. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">When I got off the airplane and was taking the ferry to the Island, it was of course, raining, but I would expect nothing less from Ketchikan. I probably would have been disappointed if it <i>wasn’t</i> raining. With the help of some friends, I got my car, and moved all my stuff from my storage unit into my apartment and began unpacking. I was exhausted, but couldn’t sleep! I think I finally fell asleep at around 11pm AK or 3AM ET time. I slept EXTREMELY well! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The next day was the annual Ketchikan Blueberry Festival. What is a Blueberry Festival, you might be asking!? Well, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you about a month ago, but now I can. Think any kind of arts festival (your choice: Riverfest, Heritage Days, Folk Festival, etc...) but put it in a parking garage and surrounding parking lots, add a ton of local artist, sprinkle on some blueberries to any traditional fair food, add the ocean nearby and lots of mountains, and there you have it...The Blueberry Festival. It is only one day, but it was a lot of fun. Matt, A friend of mine who I teach with at Tongass School, is running for State Chair. He was doing some campaigning at the festival, so I went down to help and to spend sometime with him, and his wife and kids. Being away from home is hard sometimes, but when you meet people like this family...well, it makes it a lot easier. They have been truly wonderful to me, and I am so grateful!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I was still a little tired, but the next morning I had my first official Ketchikan visitors!! Ryan and Suzetta (We were in the same class at Karns City) flew up to spend the week with me. It was so awesome to get to show them around, and they had pretty nice weather for most of their visit..YAY! When they first arrived we just drove around the island and viewed some of the scenery, and then we went back to my apartment and relaxed a bit. We went to church later that night and visited with a few friends and then came back. We were all pretty tired at this point. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The next morning we got up to go hiking and spent most the day in the woods or on the beach. Later that night we had a campfire on the beach with most of my Ketchikan friends, Edelweiss and Brett; Matt, Niki, their children and a few of their friends; and then myself, Ryan and Suzetta. The weather was excellent and it was a lot of fun. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">We took a skiff out one day, which was an interesting experience, but all in all it was a fun adventure. I caught a small silver salmon, and I was REALLY hoping Ryan would take it off the hook for me, but he was on the other end of the boat dealing with something else at the time, so I had to do it. We didn’t have pliers or anything, but I faced my fear, and just grabbed the fish and tried to get the hook out of its mouth. I was so proud, but I couldn’t get the hook out! He was NOT cooperating and I really didn’t want to hurt him, but every time I started to get the hook, he would wiggle around! THEN HE THREW UP ON ME! Yeah, I was trying to be nice and gentle and then I see the tail of another fish in its mouth. I look at Ryan and Suzetta, and I was like... “What... is...<i>that</i>!?”, and then a whole fish flops out of it’s mouth!!!!! I was freaking out, because seriously, who would be expecting that! The fish took my hook! If he had a whole other fish in his stomach why would he take my hook! It was SO GROSS! I kept trying to get the hook out and I just kept saying “I can’t do this, I seriously can’t do this, this is disgusting” I am pretty sure all of Ketchikan could hear me. Looking back it was a good laugh, but man...that was NOT fun!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The rest of the week mostly consisted of hiking, fishing, and we did enjoy walking around and viewing the tourist shops, AND Ryan taught me how to change my oil on my Explorer. With the exception of my getting them to the ferry 2 minutes late, which caused them to be 2 minutes late to check their baggage (it is currently in my living room) It was a wonderful trip. I can’t thank them enough for coming to visit. It was so nice to have people here and just enjoy the island.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">After they left, the procrastination (for school) began! I finally went to see “The Dark Knight Rises”! My new roommate, and fellow teacher, Lori went with me. It was AWESOME, but I had to remind myself it was just a movie when Heinz Field was being blown up! Lori and I have been finding many reasons to avoid Tongass School. These include, unpacking and cleaning, napping, reading, napping, FINALLY setting up the internet (now I can blog!), napping, watching movies, napping, visiting with people, napping, hiking, and...napping! Have I mentioned that I have been napping!? I would <i>like</i> to credit this back to Uncle Tom and say I learned how to nap well from him, but I would be lying. He is able to limit his naps to 30 -45mins (It is a house rule!), I on the other hand, have not mastered that technique yet, and some of my naps are have been longer then a full nights sleep I get during the school year... On a more serious note, I have been slowly getting ready for school, but I have also been taking the time to enjoy some of the AMAZING weather we have been having, visiting with friends, and RELAXING! I am taking advantage of the relaxing time while I still have a chance, because next week...it will be gone for a while.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Before I sign off, let me leave you with one final story. The other night, I was making dinner, and I looked outside and there in my front yard, eating something was a black bear. Obviously I have seen a bear before, but it was just standing there, very casual. It was a bit crazy, but I got a few pictures! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">And on that note I think I’m going to sign off. Hope you all enjoyed this post, and I will try to be better about posting! To view my Alaskan Pictures <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/106147890623047317184/albums/5779942824410818481?authkey=CIaGna6Yn6Lp3AE" target="_blank">click here</a>, and I hope to see you all at Apple Butter! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Always,</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Katie</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17388968681842839081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3727693133030270822.post-65911765246145126532012-03-04T11:35:00.000-08:002012-03-04T11:35:13.216-08:00Waffles with Gram<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This morning I woke up and decided I wanted Ego Waffles for breakfast. As I was putting them on my plate and adding all the fix-ins I had a flashback to when I was staying with Gram, and how we used to eat Ego's in the morning. "Do you want syrup, Gram" "Oh, just a little....a little more than that!" It really made me smile, but also miss my family, both the ones who are no longer with me and the ones that I am horrible at staying in touch with, very much. I started to make a mental list of all the people I really needed to say "Hello!" and "I love you!" to, and I figured this would be much more productive. Especially because I haven't updated since October!! (opps!)<br />
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Things in Alaska are going, surprisingly well. I am very very happy here, and I am planning on staying here for at least another year. My principal and the APC (our own little school board) are trying diligently to find a way to give me full-time certified next year, and I really think it is going to work out! I have been looking and applying else where, not because I want to move, but I do want full time.<br />
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I love the Tongass School. I work with the most amazing, kindhearted people daily, and I really have a great relationship with my students. One of my students drew me a minion (from "Despicable Me" - one of my favorite movies) playing a trumpet! To quote Vector, "OH YEAH!" I also had two kids ask if they could eat lunch with me the other day. That really made me feel good, and you know, I really enjoyed myself. They are great kids, and they have such wonderful interesting things to say, that in the classroom, they don't normally get the opportunity to share with you. It was really nice to sit around, singing "Silly Songs with Larry" and just ... talking.<br />
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As many of you know, I went to St. Louis for Christmas to visit with Dad, Nat, and Lex. It was so wonderful. It was really nice to interact with people on a daily basis, and not have it be focused around work or some kind of obligation. It was so weird to be in a car for more than 10 minutes, to travel faster than 35mph, and to travel further than 30 miles. It was also incredible that when I got picked up from the airport in the late afternoon, early evening, the sun was still out! While I was there I got to sing at an open mic night, watch the Pens play on a regular basis (the girls have center ice), Socialized with a ton of different people, lost horribly at Mexican Rat Race (it's a card game, that I RARELY lose), also won a few times, got an iPhone(Whoo!), helped Natalie pick out her wedding dress(!!!!), received a visit from Justin from Youngstown, got mocked for my new 99901 zip code, Skyped with the Kijowski's, and spent some much needed quality time with friends and family. It was really wonderful, and I was not ready to leave; however, I did have to come home.<br />
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When I got home, I decided that I really needed to put in more of an effort to be social. It was one of my goals for this year. So far I am doing pretty well at it, though it is hard to be social when I am so busy! One of the biggest improvements I have made is to go to the rec center, pretty much every night after school, with one of the other teachers at my school. We decided that it was a healthier and cheaper way to socialize than going out to get something to eat after school. Sometimes, she literally has to drag me there (you all know how much I LOVE exercising), but it has really helped. I feel better, and I get so much more accomplished. <br />
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I am still staying very busy. In addition to Community Band, I did join Jazz band. Man, was that a kick to my self esteem! Jazz is...HARD! It's a completely different style than what I am used to, and I've never played jazz before. This is a huge shout out to Dr. Krummel, my trumpet professor. You were right! I totally should have practiced my scales and arpegios more! I should have listened to more Jazz, I should have played with the Jazz band, I should have....well, I could go on and on. Kids, listen to your professors, they know what they are talking about....*sigh* Darn it!<br />
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I also started helping out with a Girl Scout troop up here. It is kind of crazy to be singing all those songs, and participating in all those activities again. Today, I am going to one of our grocery stores to help sell cookies. I guess 15 years of scouting will do that to you. Ann, if you are reading this, expect a call, I have tons of questions for you. I can only remember bits and pieces of some of the stuff we used to do, and I need someone to fill in the blanks.<br />
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I guess I have been doing a lot of reminiscing lately. I think that is my brains way of saying "Katie, you are allowed to miss people, just do something about it!" I miss you, terribly. Even though I am horrible at staying in touch, I think of you all very often, and I hope everything in your life is going well. For those of you who do not know, I will be in the Western Pa area for June and July! I am coming home, and I am going to stay with my Aunt Heather and Uncle Tom in Pittsburgh. It's going to be a crazy few months with Natalie's wedding, summer classes, Pirates Games (Woot!) and trying to visit with everyone, but I am really looking forward to it. I can't wait to sit around a campfire and just...be. <br />
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Well, I suppose I should sign off and <i>try</i> to be productive on this sunny Sunday (that's right, it is sunny!!) Once again, I leave with with a huge apology, I will really try to be better at keeping people updated. I love you all!<br />
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Katie<br />
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P.S.<br />
A few pictures:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGttG5c0MbFxFrCgfb99INiWu9P-x-Hr5XKCTOxX_UKll9l9Bfe6fpNHADraqjGgiuyx2DWii5Lt7dHpUuMDJdzu-KU4q2Wgady5W3zLIXh3CQkZb78CVmpRm15r8VDSxCU_M4eLawzWcY/s1600/IMG_0509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGttG5c0MbFxFrCgfb99INiWu9P-x-Hr5XKCTOxX_UKll9l9Bfe6fpNHADraqjGgiuyx2DWii5Lt7dHpUuMDJdzu-KU4q2Wgady5W3zLIXh3CQkZb78CVmpRm15r8VDSxCU_M4eLawzWcY/s320/IMG_0509.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The waterfall! One of my favorite places to visit in Ketchikan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7E3e3_3jYFMuYhv6-QlcIZnuwIMLA-E7bIlU9w88Agl-rgJIyB5BcfS4tbfdUaTpAvpT7ajOqOs-MhkY6vuz4TtaimKtAcYANR_NPvmB4aIzfV-JJHNRHZdkks0sqftBXJ1Gkafvfo8x/s1600/IMG_0499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7E3e3_3jYFMuYhv6-QlcIZnuwIMLA-E7bIlU9w88Agl-rgJIyB5BcfS4tbfdUaTpAvpT7ajOqOs-MhkY6vuz4TtaimKtAcYANR_NPvmB4aIzfV-JJHNRHZdkks0sqftBXJ1Gkafvfo8x/s320/IMG_0499.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzzvM_dhbXA-4gJun2IWfLgh_DP1TPoxgiqC3hUqN0WMmo6nshX1KO9PR-Yc0N5JVrX48voDfxaVVuNtVxCzOhuPNzY5DmD98eaawgAtDV_7TYngHi9Qs3OK0hoiT5pVl8qcWTIhALqTz/s1600/IMG_4101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzzvM_dhbXA-4gJun2IWfLgh_DP1TPoxgiqC3hUqN0WMmo6nshX1KO9PR-Yc0N5JVrX48voDfxaVVuNtVxCzOhuPNzY5DmD98eaawgAtDV_7TYngHi9Qs3OK0hoiT5pVl8qcWTIhALqTz/s320/IMG_4101.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a Christmas gift I gave to one of the other teachers at TSAS. He is a Flyers fan, and thought it would be "funny" to send some students into band class wearing Flyers Jerseys. So I decorated his room with Pens logos, and a team roster. Merry Christmas, Matt!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm-aK3w3FyK4UwkLDmmdClDHQEXOs9l087NISc7IeeUVLT03H5aYMOPjlYCjpeJeIKOJ4qznEpw9NzvxLHSCpcUyuCi3nkeAbV7ZObqlllIkUPsIErurnCvLz7rfTFlgieXDvKEAqGwpm/s1600/IMG_0057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm-aK3w3FyK4UwkLDmmdClDHQEXOs9l087NISc7IeeUVLT03H5aYMOPjlYCjpeJeIKOJ4qznEpw9NzvxLHSCpcUyuCi3nkeAbV7ZObqlllIkUPsIErurnCvLz7rfTFlgieXDvKEAqGwpm/s320/IMG_0057.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's really hard to see, but there is an Eagle there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvFo6HMX6Chb6azPLxgIos30WQ2QIXopuDjsh7z7qn4bJjkKG6QQDZjKrp0v8JV0Zc4DsbhoHmE4gWH-qvuzGA8UByvU2Ypib5BTuZ-_9G_7ZLF6cJMr7rMNxYpVBw-TYKz9XObzQY9yn/s1600/IMG_0323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvFo6HMX6Chb6azPLxgIos30WQ2QIXopuDjsh7z7qn4bJjkKG6QQDZjKrp0v8JV0Zc4DsbhoHmE4gWH-qvuzGA8UByvU2Ypib5BTuZ-_9G_7ZLF6cJMr7rMNxYpVBw-TYKz9XObzQY9yn/s320/IMG_0323.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my road. It looked like this for about 2 weeks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQexEJFhARg9vW2lV-GKdQmRt5nHliAw3A5Rvr2Bys8D_yTNH-e78fja3HrdqkmH0661lRJBtwxbokkwoXvYSDl9gy5b7y5yuGmIK-X3zU5fheJwnz6-u0XTi5KH2SsmhpLZznfYFQZJJ-/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQexEJFhARg9vW2lV-GKdQmRt5nHliAw3A5Rvr2Bys8D_yTNH-e78fja3HrdqkmH0661lRJBtwxbokkwoXvYSDl9gy5b7y5yuGmIK-X3zU5fheJwnz6-u0XTi5KH2SsmhpLZznfYFQZJJ-/s320/IMG_0232.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from my school!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmgWNCun3VLxu8JO9GLGWSrlFoLKBfu1B0Sl-QFGGx42dxmsMQKMcVy9riJEabJEmR3rV4HODLsrDTuoTmlc2n0wGHE_c4sQwkZstNAemY5b9Sgi_ZQIOCs3eUpTPyGdA-DNk_HpXJ0lr/s1600/IMG_0228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmgWNCun3VLxu8JO9GLGWSrlFoLKBfu1B0Sl-QFGGx42dxmsMQKMcVy9riJEabJEmR3rV4HODLsrDTuoTmlc2n0wGHE_c4sQwkZstNAemY5b9Sgi_ZQIOCs3eUpTPyGdA-DNk_HpXJ0lr/s320/IMG_0228.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh no, Katie, It rarely snows here, and when it does, it doesn't stay cold enough to stay around....HA!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCiIZ2PpuudaBGnNXSOf8Kqduz0TwjYWCnn_y75Yksj0rOMaBf7F808emiTsQcRHmkN_GLm7og_B9SSwO_PS9DGMRsUVU7P-mFL1ccjAeWr7JtkJRLJ7B48buD3sgMsExOsHwvg2kYdM5/s1600/IMG_0215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCiIZ2PpuudaBGnNXSOf8Kqduz0TwjYWCnn_y75Yksj0rOMaBf7F808emiTsQcRHmkN_GLm7og_B9SSwO_PS9DGMRsUVU7P-mFL1ccjAeWr7JtkJRLJ7B48buD3sgMsExOsHwvg2kYdM5/s320/IMG_0215.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Christmas Amaryllis </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0ZrjRwKkjrjFPU1xjnYMHbC8sWTTzMPV70NGfxzwAGQ6lDRUtkl3KI2VyMRvaiM3UXfvM9_KPKyctNsW3ebNdfqFaQO-I_0MjZ7sBEB41HZ2cNX8t377nupkOI-7I9Zd9iUFFe5pRoc3/s1600/IMG_0113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0ZrjRwKkjrjFPU1xjnYMHbC8sWTTzMPV70NGfxzwAGQ6lDRUtkl3KI2VyMRvaiM3UXfvM9_KPKyctNsW3ebNdfqFaQO-I_0MjZ7sBEB41HZ2cNX8t377nupkOI-7I9Zd9iUFFe5pRoc3/s320/IMG_0113.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting with Dad in St. Louis!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXka6fsV2TTxTlkca_qNnYndGsRg9lMD03hJNz9NAheVZOlr_zgGuXPed-QVcf0cR4vurS6Ik1SWoAJcUMksKEzrmoeshd_wDAVBxi0eBr0PUZ1RKwh7d4QcBswH90Cax0Djhk9uRX191E/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXka6fsV2TTxTlkca_qNnYndGsRg9lMD03hJNz9NAheVZOlr_zgGuXPed-QVcf0cR4vurS6Ik1SWoAJcUMksKEzrmoeshd_wDAVBxi0eBr0PUZ1RKwh7d4QcBswH90Cax0Djhk9uRX191E/s320/IMG_0092.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of the tree!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xf-wmTVF74YsklhHdH6l5PxU7Ls5jQv1jdAtMe0hqVUFZOQeH4wbxdold17PLZILKkUDtlZ6cd3H0bwwF54ERto9mGSptnpYGbuP-s4pna0mjqUR0lyQUXHU9eRacY7KUdOjZ1gcISaB/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xf-wmTVF74YsklhHdH6l5PxU7Ls5jQv1jdAtMe0hqVUFZOQeH4wbxdold17PLZILKkUDtlZ6cd3H0bwwF54ERto9mGSptnpYGbuP-s4pna0mjqUR0lyQUXHU9eRacY7KUdOjZ1gcISaB/s320/IMG_0020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin came to see me!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZGmuKiJ4zTSbRO7NVXaXMygr-oYg256q6kIPzo0cuUHeQ4NXd_Dsm4_9Cjlr0wyMeTTrPQ-ld2V_xy-v5CiFUBgThiudpCmOKt2D2MFvZdWL1GE-Xnq2rkWyyktnv7o2S3hoiakd9Gqt/s1600/IMG_0239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZGmuKiJ4zTSbRO7NVXaXMygr-oYg256q6kIPzo0cuUHeQ4NXd_Dsm4_9Cjlr0wyMeTTrPQ-ld2V_xy-v5CiFUBgThiudpCmOKt2D2MFvZdWL1GE-Xnq2rkWyyktnv7o2S3hoiakd9Gqt/s320/IMG_0239.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deidra and I performed at the Monthly Grind!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are swans here!!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-Qa7eKiTqXQ4Ytuqlw7WSXBFHXyKjC9SbRYZkZBXUNI3-Ael0wEF7CnajNKL7KvY5s47VjoWIrI7qCLqgXPkJqCwbaFtgM7QJjLPKjwPh8CFUDbD_ikENZakn0Zp9Yuy9aOpyK4fShse/s1600/IMG_0237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-Qa7eKiTqXQ4Ytuqlw7WSXBFHXyKjC9SbRYZkZBXUNI3-Ael0wEF7CnajNKL7KvY5s47VjoWIrI7qCLqgXPkJqCwbaFtgM7QJjLPKjwPh8CFUDbD_ikENZakn0Zp9Yuy9aOpyK4fShse/s320/IMG_0237.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17388968681842839081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3727693133030270822.post-1308445402933382662011-10-11T22:29:00.000-07:002011-10-11T22:29:15.937-07:00Xtratufs!<a href="http://howtodoeverything.org/post/4037283638/how-to-pick-a-name-for-your-military-operation">XTRATUF</a><br />
<br />
This is something my cousin shared with me! (Thanks Matt!). This is a podcast that talks about moving to Alaska (Just listen to the last part of it.) As you can all see from my previous blog, I have a pair of Xtratuf's, but I can now say that my name is written in each one now! I will not be one of the Alaskans with 2 different size shoes. <br />
<br />
As for the salmon, I am still learning, but I am working on it. :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17388968681842839081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3727693133030270822.post-13628536514829498642011-10-09T14:17:00.000-07:002011-10-09T14:17:05.132-07:00Things I never learned in school<div class="p1"><span class="s1">Well Hello Everyone!! First of all, I would like to apologize for taking so long to update my blog! I have been meaning to update for a very long time, but I always get distracted. Sorry!!!</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">So things are going pretty well all in all. School started a month ago and last week I got my first official salary position big girl check! YAY! It was Friday (which is always a plus), and last Friday was a BEAUTIFUL day in Ketchikan. Last week we had major winds (NOAA was calling for winds up to 85mph, but I don't think it ever got that bad) so when I woke up in the morning I was afraid that it was going to be an ugly day, but the sun was shining and it was barely raining!</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">I am going to jump around a bit and explain my school. My school is a very different school in it's approach as well as its over all layout. The best way to picture my school is to think of a completely open HUGE room, and then divide sections with filing cabinets, student cubbies, and bookshelves. We have 7 classroom teachers (K-6), but the students are not divided by grade in the traditional way. There are two 5/6 teachers two 3/4 teachers and two 1/2 teachers. Each teacher has students from each grade in their homeroom classroom, but really they team teach the curriculum. At first I was a little worried about how this would work, but the teachers here are absolutely amazing, and while there will always be issues to having a school without walls or doors, there really aren't too many issues. The students are really learning how to be respectful and focused during the school day.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">That all being said, this kind of set up is not conducive to a music classroom at all!! To solve this issue, music classes are held in a little tiny hut right out side of the school. I call it my shack! It is cute little building, but there is a huge emphasis on the word little. The school has a beautiful set of Orff instruments (<a href="http://www.classicsforkids.com/teachers/training/orffinstruments.asp"><span class="s2">http://www.classicsforkids.com/teachers/training/orffinstruments.asp</span></a>), but the instruments take up half of my already very limited space. Thankfully, my principal is getting me shelving, so eventually they will have a functional home, but initially I was really stumped as to what to do. For right now, they are sitting in the main school in display cases, because we are not using them yet, but hopefully soon, I will get to bring them back!</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">And now it is time for the comic relief portion of this blog. Things I did not learn in college:</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">1.) Being a teacher is HARD!! You will ALWAYS be tired, even when you get enough sleep, and you are always playing catch up! Who though you could feel like you are failing a class when you are the teacher!</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">2.) "Because I said so" is the most empowering phrase...ever!</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">3.) Children do not understand what personal space is.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">4.) A child’s definition of an emergency, and my definition of an emergency are two very different things. For instance, I do not have a bathroom in my classroom, so for a child to use the restroom, they have to walk the whole way into the school by themselves to use the bathroom. So my rule is that they are not allowed to leave the room once they are there, they must use the bathroom before they come to my class. In short, they don’t! I typically just don’t let them go, but it is really hard to tell when there really is an emergency!! And once you let one child go to the bathroom, the whole room has to go to the bathroom! I swear they can smell my weakness! And how do you tell a child who has a tooth that is literally hanging out of their mouth that they aren’t allowed to go to the nurse. I can’t do that. A tooth=emergency. </span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“Miss Gaggini, this is an emergency!........My shoe is untied!” does NOT equal an emergency!</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">5.) I will NEVER look at playground equipment the same way again. Swings, slides, climbers, monkey bars!!!! AHHH I get a mini panic attack just thinking about all the way kids can hurt themselves, AND I am pretty sure they make it their mission to see how many times they can get me to make that panic stricken face!!</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">6.) Your last name will change. For instance I went from Miss G to Miss Genie to Miss Magical Genie Lady. I don’t see why it’s so hard to put a GA in front of Genie, but apparently it is. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">In all honesty, things are going very well, but I am overwhelmed with the amount of things that<br />
I just never realized could happen. Seriously, I am absolutely amazed by the amount of times I think "Did that really just happen...yes, yes it did. How can it not happen again," each day.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Knock on wood, but apparently the majority of people in Alaska are Steelers fans. I don't think this is actually true, but so far each game has been aired in Alaska!! I do have to be ready for the game by 9 am, but it works. I am able to get stuff done around the apartment and watch the game at the same time. For example, right now I am watching the Steelers kick the Tenesse Titan's butt while writing a blog, doing laundry, and working on some projects for this week!</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Being away from everyone has been hard, but I am so grateful for technology! Skype has been wonderful! I had a nice conversation with my the Texas Kijowski's (Minus Emily) last week, as well as my cousins Trish and Jim. Dad has totally mastered Skype, as well as ichat screen share, so we are still able to fight about who gets control of the mouse when we are 3000 miles apart. I actually think I get to talk to my sisters more now, than I did when I was living at home. It is so wonderful. To everyone who has called or e-mailed and I still have yet to get back to you...I am so sorry! That is on my to do list for this week. I finally feel like I am starting to get a grasp on my crazy schedule. The hardest part about being in Alaska is the time difference. I don't get done with school until 4 or 4:30, which is 8 or 8:30 ET, so my window of opportunity to talk to people is small. Especially since I have been trying to get involved in the community.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Did I mention that I have joined a lot of groups since I've arrived to Ketchikan. I joined Community Band which I love. It is so wonderful to be playing my trumpet again. I didn't realize how much I missed it. I might also join a jazz band. It's something I am REALLY interested in joining, but my schedule is already so full, so I am not sure yet. But I really think that it is something I could benefit from. I have never really done much jazz, and it is something on my bucket list. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">I am also the new director of the handbell choir at the Methodist Church. Initially I thought they were asking me to ring with them, which was was so excited about. I rang handbells in High School, and I really enjoyed it. Then they clarified that they have enough ringers, and they are looking for a director. I was a little bummed, and a little bit more mortified. I really and not that strong at conducting, and I wasn't sure if it was something I wanted to do. I am still not sure how comfortable I am, but I figured that this was a really great and safe opportunity for me to beef up my directing skills. The group is really wonderful, and I am really enjoying myself so far.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">In addition to handbells and community band, I joined the Core team of the LifeTeen program at Holy Name Parish. I am really excited about this. This is a wonderful program for Catholic Teens, and it is something I wish I would have had when I was a teenager. The team is wonderful, but I am still learning a lot about it. As a group we all go to the 5:30 evening mass on Sunday, and then stay for group after. I have to admit that I am not so much a fan of the Sunday evening thing. I really like starting my Sunday's off with Mass in the morning and then being productive the rest of the day, but at least now I get to watch most of the football games! </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">As of right now, that is all that I have joined, but it is keeping me pretty busy. There is a very small two letter word that I need to learn not only how to say, but how to say at the correct moment! "No" "No" "No" "No." But to be honest, everything has has a positive impact on my life, so I think I am ok. If I get to bogged down, I will have to cut something out, but I am hoping it doesn't come to that. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">I think I will end today with more pictures! Again I am so sorry this took so long to update, I will do better, I promise!! Love you all!</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Katie</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GXQN6yfs1XMrK7tmc5VNZiTEp8vAvHlUCDxB9p4wSSw_24QefcSWbGDAb7Sk-l8Je6zc5As2BaqhQD825rVRbiPC6CiIuecIZXeyVWUH5lXVMXzv5umaXnvGXOWtyGo_7CTm4IzbUCjJ/s1600/IMG_3774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GXQN6yfs1XMrK7tmc5VNZiTEp8vAvHlUCDxB9p4wSSw_24QefcSWbGDAb7Sk-l8Je6zc5As2BaqhQD825rVRbiPC6CiIuecIZXeyVWUH5lXVMXzv5umaXnvGXOWtyGo_7CTm4IzbUCjJ/s320/IMG_3774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_CnSFuvm_SrbA9tvH1caJJwsXAAm_MpmX4eP1H6AGbpm7ZK0XTY4pt7GIG5ktUY93jjZqoaUicwBrVSbOm-viQmPGfg4CAUuFDLHNIM36dqrCedKX4m7yaPqqRCywhHJSikCbnKXCzNp/s1600/IMG_3810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_CnSFuvm_SrbA9tvH1caJJwsXAAm_MpmX4eP1H6AGbpm7ZK0XTY4pt7GIG5ktUY93jjZqoaUicwBrVSbOm-viQmPGfg4CAUuFDLHNIM36dqrCedKX4m7yaPqqRCywhHJSikCbnKXCzNp/s320/IMG_3810.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUso65Ye0lGTGvR0BGPPMactacdblQLo-f_FAPbZofM7GZHIJiqWdFhiu9o56E59PtS1LET9bresD3tF4NhBuNTftaMR4tmTWKnyQ_wb-wtkx5Og6rrU79g0KJ_UUJsIU-T8dPBjJ8FnWG/s1600/IMG_3825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUso65Ye0lGTGvR0BGPPMactacdblQLo-f_FAPbZofM7GZHIJiqWdFhiu9o56E59PtS1LET9bresD3tF4NhBuNTftaMR4tmTWKnyQ_wb-wtkx5Og6rrU79g0KJ_UUJsIU-T8dPBjJ8FnWG/s320/IMG_3825.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hiking Dude Mountain!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1rim7iyLZpmMKb1dV11AlCHN6ZDJKc5aHuZROXt0CMdQ_ewCojf5MNk5RDYWtGzNXLCrXp0W2LWRC69pbfgdpbV5r8x9ZEUMOKn6QmApnimTdLCsgmcAnkBLRYQI8_ipiQpPfWwzYL87/s1600/IMG_3828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1rim7iyLZpmMKb1dV11AlCHN6ZDJKc5aHuZROXt0CMdQ_ewCojf5MNk5RDYWtGzNXLCrXp0W2LWRC69pbfgdpbV5r8x9ZEUMOKn6QmApnimTdLCsgmcAnkBLRYQI8_ipiQpPfWwzYL87/s320/IMG_3828.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZi_Y6V3l2vAYffbHZJdAACpkHYXUKSR6-pFMHgktD_qI0NvEefok-jP83SwH8MnuuOvzrPAt0NMJIa2_JR5ZSBKo5xOUp15pTp1NX5tfMFNvMRlQVpYHbaAQRzXiS7VUh_XF691O74BJ/s1600/IMG_3836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZi_Y6V3l2vAYffbHZJdAACpkHYXUKSR6-pFMHgktD_qI0NvEefok-jP83SwH8MnuuOvzrPAt0NMJIa2_JR5ZSBKo5xOUp15pTp1NX5tfMFNvMRlQVpYHbaAQRzXiS7VUh_XF691O74BJ/s320/IMG_3836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Outside our Apartment</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Gm5IOsht612KEUMKntP4s-6mOY54aDF68tgGXsDI8w1V9EECdjrwD66yQthkKaCQBPxP2vy9UHtds_QG7au69_XP4pe5ZdA4wG8ocMeDvJWCBmoKNj6gJqULfqO60RBnLCR0_H3tnTjL/s1600/IMG_3847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Gm5IOsht612KEUMKntP4s-6mOY54aDF68tgGXsDI8w1V9EECdjrwD66yQthkKaCQBPxP2vy9UHtds_QG7au69_XP4pe5ZdA4wG8ocMeDvJWCBmoKNj6gJqULfqO60RBnLCR0_H3tnTjL/s320/IMG_3847.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Hiking to Coast Guard Beach </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGQLJpegRFkiX5W1v9RsG9sH_e5uEOFFDNCYXEY3D_38jVCoT0wv1o-4AuZ4E_W1vgcQu3AICZoJY-5F84Ie_kay6uKDx6hCc1zw7BuyApArGKJj_mr_fMPIpghaNFiC-ehiKr71RWg-O/s1600/IMG_3851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGQLJpegRFkiX5W1v9RsG9sH_e5uEOFFDNCYXEY3D_38jVCoT0wv1o-4AuZ4E_W1vgcQu3AICZoJY-5F84Ie_kay6uKDx6hCc1zw7BuyApArGKJj_mr_fMPIpghaNFiC-ehiKr71RWg-O/s320/IMG_3851.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Coast Guard Beach</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaUgaP97PVO81WRlRxkui6VoV6C2dU4jfnT-YCHwuIVzHNdxiNx0mhNLFhieDMtZH2tD7uH4pAyFNzUfkM_YbQUly19PeGD1pJaIY6TniZl5Yq7Pm7GB8_jVKv7HYvOZ1hxKVhcYodDbo/s1600/IMG_3853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaUgaP97PVO81WRlRxkui6VoV6C2dU4jfnT-YCHwuIVzHNdxiNx0mhNLFhieDMtZH2tD7uH4pAyFNzUfkM_YbQUly19PeGD1pJaIY6TniZl5Yq7Pm7GB8_jVKv7HYvOZ1hxKVhcYodDbo/s320/IMG_3853.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktcWEciHDsU_FoNH5Ablf3K6ROau-iHhtsigLWYWxJh1gw5EcJEwwW69QyRkinQvXot7PvkPhO0XVaS-_s9uykqcdMt2oE-Ex0exA0iecubSdfnzzTUcvVD3PTobjv62lyPm95c5_-_Aw/s1600/IMG_3856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktcWEciHDsU_FoNH5Ablf3K6ROau-iHhtsigLWYWxJh1gw5EcJEwwW69QyRkinQvXot7PvkPhO0XVaS-_s9uykqcdMt2oE-Ex0exA0iecubSdfnzzTUcvVD3PTobjv62lyPm95c5_-_Aw/s320/IMG_3856.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunJh658mwKVt4GXCdW7CGog27pBm4Ik5RXIKPw3Ry-KNp73S3lzCb0iRwTy7zdnzlYt6L16sATsAmW9xlXW9D4POOIRF6PckR6-eMdDASWgzx3_lGoTZhJ-fEXmHSOC80yB374IJvdsbL/s1600/IMG_3858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunJh658mwKVt4GXCdW7CGog27pBm4Ik5RXIKPw3Ry-KNp73S3lzCb0iRwTy7zdnzlYt6L16sATsAmW9xlXW9D4POOIRF6PckR6-eMdDASWgzx3_lGoTZhJ-fEXmHSOC80yB374IJvdsbL/s320/IMG_3858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> More of Coast Guard Beach</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIG0pK1oTup7AGX53cIZEd1G-gsmU0S8XqkQdwNFI7ZmAfrqev4H2NHSccUToj93TCSFmdQ1q0VFuF_vqBUeAoRdftHATY4ogTxrRDOjFI42eGp1M-FZoxpbdRbT9hjKMbrd4wspI9pvM/s1600/IMG_3860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIG0pK1oTup7AGX53cIZEd1G-gsmU0S8XqkQdwNFI7ZmAfrqev4H2NHSccUToj93TCSFmdQ1q0VFuF_vqBUeAoRdftHATY4ogTxrRDOjFI42eGp1M-FZoxpbdRbT9hjKMbrd4wspI9pvM/s320/IMG_3860.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We found a friend!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5rnMtidbcNdtHR0fMqqQYJnjbmHN1UTSRvV5Qok2PS9K5IdHnINZ2N8gJbsgP6HTDSTXDa8n3EZf43893O7-5Al0_lhyZxdoalagHzxAPuHjIWblRLWrY2EcqnFUqFXj-nNrNMIV-q1y/s1600/IMG_3864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5rnMtidbcNdtHR0fMqqQYJnjbmHN1UTSRvV5Qok2PS9K5IdHnINZ2N8gJbsgP6HTDSTXDa8n3EZf43893O7-5Al0_lhyZxdoalagHzxAPuHjIWblRLWrY2EcqnFUqFXj-nNrNMIV-q1y/s320/IMG_3864.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMT9hZMtujYyH7JLY3GGYHzbhQdsAMwokpPlVcmwLmOAmDTyAupO-q3uM9xPFZqpPnmImkM-VVKK_-SeBV0whGLyOHhQGXAzVnZa8ZoZJXlqNuUTzrdO4KZU9PPqW9NSqmVtUsEhaIYfG6/s1600/IMG_3870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMT9hZMtujYyH7JLY3GGYHzbhQdsAMwokpPlVcmwLmOAmDTyAupO-q3uM9xPFZqpPnmImkM-VVKK_-SeBV0whGLyOHhQGXAzVnZa8ZoZJXlqNuUTzrdO4KZU9PPqW9NSqmVtUsEhaIYfG6/s320/IMG_3870.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And another friend! Don't worry, we threw him back in!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhor7t4eddUGm4FhzxpveJbrjkNI2eixCrX6SXTzDxnrPyh_pg4T95y9e8pUuWCBYyc9vNJmG5xJP_VGGM2cuN8NQLaFZQIhGJwuri6fzl75bRR50Cx7FWztt5l-qc_4rnLKTFBf2nDjYNf/s1600/IMG_3872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhor7t4eddUGm4FhzxpveJbrjkNI2eixCrX6SXTzDxnrPyh_pg4T95y9e8pUuWCBYyc9vNJmG5xJP_VGGM2cuN8NQLaFZQIhGJwuri6fzl75bRR50Cx7FWztt5l-qc_4rnLKTFBf2nDjYNf/s320/IMG_3872.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOh18LYbi-Y8RNVQzrWtNDqUE_GLnA2yHKzLbg3gJ9UI8dqCqjyztvAOR3YsTV4_7WIz0ravBLSVJgaaAdNcu4NLjcBwD_wfH2FK6sqrWHLaZwahbxzrTh7ZQ1gKl3lyF4zAaiH8dd0F0F/s1600/IMG_3855+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOh18LYbi-Y8RNVQzrWtNDqUE_GLnA2yHKzLbg3gJ9UI8dqCqjyztvAOR3YsTV4_7WIz0ravBLSVJgaaAdNcu4NLjcBwD_wfH2FK6sqrWHLaZwahbxzrTh7ZQ1gKl3lyF4zAaiH8dd0F0F/s320/IMG_3855+-+Version+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_wi6kxuo0ETgW6ATAQMNsqSqY7y59mpNFTTvKoo79Vq9JcF-9x9GJe00IYBY8qKXWhYxt2A79c_jI0R5Pmu_6219hEr49YVZ8gnxjUCwG510v7HU5GV7Ln3Klm1ZqEHtJNN2vVXnws5_/s1600/IMG_3882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_wi6kxuo0ETgW6ATAQMNsqSqY7y59mpNFTTvKoo79Vq9JcF-9x9GJe00IYBY8qKXWhYxt2A79c_jI0R5Pmu_6219hEr49YVZ8gnxjUCwG510v7HU5GV7Ln3Klm1ZqEHtJNN2vVXnws5_/s320/IMG_3882.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Hiking back up the trail.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMPpQ-hrs05t532597ZOuqzrd4g3t4aKnxrgAu4pgF45wuGTve33pCjnEfrK7DDm6TEcz3aS4eaxG6d9K2zCVjHfojbs0fhMRwt9d4oykT107ucO5_rebSXoXuYl6nBHTrK-V9zCtxweC/s1600/IMG_3897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMPpQ-hrs05t532597ZOuqzrd4g3t4aKnxrgAu4pgF45wuGTve33pCjnEfrK7DDm6TEcz3aS4eaxG6d9K2zCVjHfojbs0fhMRwt9d4oykT107ucO5_rebSXoXuYl6nBHTrK-V9zCtxweC/s320/IMG_3897.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifDb7Aw1NFVib0BYIwCJRX-nPgPIFl9QT8Dckvj3K5zH7IUwHa-yX3kViPTij54c4PDAFQeVMo-A-EUroVFwR3Yt7irfZWofJGeZtwlxd0CN-E3XG5FIm0eXPufSR1y3qexEr3lvFl5R-/s1600/IMG_3900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifDb7Aw1NFVib0BYIwCJRX-nPgPIFl9QT8Dckvj3K5zH7IUwHa-yX3kViPTij54c4PDAFQeVMo-A-EUroVFwR3Yt7irfZWofJGeZtwlxd0CN-E3XG5FIm0eXPufSR1y3qexEr3lvFl5R-/s320/IMG_3900.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The moon was so low and bright. The little lights below are the Airport runway lights</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutVB524kHxW0uc_spOy5UnZbPstJzEBHX2Ul2fZMJXUkx45tUViGsf_bdfixaX3AXYSX1kNLL_GaqL_OjBaZdDEg8w0ftQNJifnh2Kf51kC8OXN4BqN_4K3cYwGyIlM5j6jiYxIIzJsZM/s1600/IMG_3901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutVB524kHxW0uc_spOy5UnZbPstJzEBHX2Ul2fZMJXUkx45tUViGsf_bdfixaX3AXYSX1kNLL_GaqL_OjBaZdDEg8w0ftQNJifnh2Kf51kC8OXN4BqN_4K3cYwGyIlM5j6jiYxIIzJsZM/s320/IMG_3901.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFREhsgpL7QA5Br5rTOcyHGzLZGBKf601sZ3zvgITGSIx5qIgedrGuswVTCxKGj7GGkbwvAM_MHinpaR9x4GauL01MvEQJJKurPO24W4Nr257FlzbdsTmiTqzTlrFQNRHfKc4Xy5piNcH/s1600/IMG_3902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFREhsgpL7QA5Br5rTOcyHGzLZGBKf601sZ3zvgITGSIx5qIgedrGuswVTCxKGj7GGkbwvAM_MHinpaR9x4GauL01MvEQJJKurPO24W4Nr257FlzbdsTmiTqzTlrFQNRHfKc4Xy5piNcH/s320/IMG_3902.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My School! The little building on the left hand side is my room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewnnfHpmorIP3fD232qt8sui-JjnWncI2iOBbR0K1HZwXnjz24JF4QZem8qOS9hN9CdUp88VsQDeMzrWyg1hGvGlUzGidWOY-B2YAr2UHjvnNyiKckCaRYm27f_PiMz-EBzla8TXMneXN/s1600/IMG_3903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewnnfHpmorIP3fD232qt8sui-JjnWncI2iOBbR0K1HZwXnjz24JF4QZem8qOS9hN9CdUp88VsQDeMzrWyg1hGvGlUzGidWOY-B2YAr2UHjvnNyiKckCaRYm27f_PiMz-EBzla8TXMneXN/s320/IMG_3903.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcAdflTQF3CeCfSBf9dCfNT2K9PZCfNIZuWV1lHpPFjmlCDr-x9iwHdiCHSQF7VND64WdPP7dkx7mcOzEIxl713hMii0wRcyYEwoYYN5kDCb-PwT9VcQLSdpZL02jfMbkgZm2RTw9k7Dt/s1600/IMG_3904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcAdflTQF3CeCfSBf9dCfNT2K9PZCfNIZuWV1lHpPFjmlCDr-x9iwHdiCHSQF7VND64WdPP7dkx7mcOzEIxl713hMii0wRcyYEwoYYN5kDCb-PwT9VcQLSdpZL02jfMbkgZm2RTw9k7Dt/s320/IMG_3904.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My Shack!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjKmr3nakGtc6zgxyNkBKrG5RHZXVNh4dt5tMBZjaDMrmR7JDJqY_kbAh9cndvmPUwd6fAO8PLQ-Kxv_lBnauRuHZXIhOiR7132_7qTyVYq3uzx7IR5AbTxUPZJSB0zyoaNc-zzoK2fp3/s1600/IMG_3905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjKmr3nakGtc6zgxyNkBKrG5RHZXVNh4dt5tMBZjaDMrmR7JDJqY_kbAh9cndvmPUwd6fAO8PLQ-Kxv_lBnauRuHZXIhOiR7132_7qTyVYq3uzx7IR5AbTxUPZJSB0zyoaNc-zzoK2fp3/s320/IMG_3905.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The school is on stilts, and the playground is underneath the school.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2hiMyBkv4fPLmFlmLzTzMK0Ij9YWKwTVAAutbYbgRojfXR3iWX0x5fyqj8jLmZbnwb4x1Ugh2ZhSL9cRxn12miV63biUB32wcqdORyjdcVLUmZ8hJvBni0tdUu5RamJFE9BA5nuGPyOr/s1600/IMG_3906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2hiMyBkv4fPLmFlmLzTzMK0Ij9YWKwTVAAutbYbgRojfXR3iWX0x5fyqj8jLmZbnwb4x1Ugh2ZhSL9cRxn12miV63biUB32wcqdORyjdcVLUmZ8hJvBni0tdUu5RamJFE9BA5nuGPyOr/s320/IMG_3906.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1">Inside my room. It is starting to come together, but I still have a long way to go!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMaC8PSZRvrl5YSgKMbT5B4VwR7c_gwkNkrNv5QLRE9rQtg7iXAJV2gfgjeLYGCCwM7JXMY6g2BvY1vtnQwvpSJ7r55H0CBvFj3UL19prXWnGkWW148N83aNCBtn5eA6gZUuL9bQKGthq/s1600/IMG_3907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMaC8PSZRvrl5YSgKMbT5B4VwR7c_gwkNkrNv5QLRE9rQtg7iXAJV2gfgjeLYGCCwM7JXMY6g2BvY1vtnQwvpSJ7r55H0CBvFj3UL19prXWnGkWW148N83aNCBtn5eA6gZUuL9bQKGthq/s320/IMG_3907.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> An essential in Alaska! See Uncle Kevin, Practical, not fashionable! Just like I promised!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfcrUdDEztjPfG5-lmkwA2f42p7W2DWwNpvaWDu0R-K7mYSJgGehw31JLUCTDZ9wWAEZsgDb8ZKCdH6rtLz_Tq8w5Q1eb0u6ELDLrkQyZmpu7VDBSDNcVPyxtwv6syD6HNO0x6WC51pzl/s1600/aprt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfcrUdDEztjPfG5-lmkwA2f42p7W2DWwNpvaWDu0R-K7mYSJgGehw31JLUCTDZ9wWAEZsgDb8ZKCdH6rtLz_Tq8w5Q1eb0u6ELDLrkQyZmpu7VDBSDNcVPyxtwv6syD6HNO0x6WC51pzl/s320/aprt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1">The house on the left with the blue roof is our apartment, we are at the very bottom, so there are 2 levels above us. I stole this picture from Deidra's facebook.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17388968681842839081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3727693133030270822.post-65733361600989376332011-08-28T01:36:00.000-07:002011-10-29T14:45:43.003-07:00Just a few pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidteF4h3hK4Jb3iQqdfLWP5S3WzqdgF6RkQsZtT-ZLa4AbKsqaRCVQ6RAtJuGzSSBG1AX3md4Rl7AVGUrgsMwpkhVaghcXKGi-Hd8G687lynGlMjz0RBEINQ933mo9JOdE943gYMiCGA56/s1600/IMG_3574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidteF4h3hK4Jb3iQqdfLWP5S3WzqdgF6RkQsZtT-ZLa4AbKsqaRCVQ6RAtJuGzSSBG1AX3md4Rl7AVGUrgsMwpkhVaghcXKGi-Hd8G687lynGlMjz0RBEINQ933mo9JOdE943gYMiCGA56/s320/IMG_3574.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Me with my catch(es) of the day!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad teaching us how to fillet a fish!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWPxdZ5A3c2l6l60uCD_vRYdHvqFCHDwQY6BEirshzGw8boPrEU1wyIfSdsG0mI5ba-g6jNWWso0U3EZB5mrhZ6jvUrtsfEFghErRTSTvMClJMJDNPfbVfjFt5pIGliuED9oRZBHyPzhr/s1600/IMG_3590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWPxdZ5A3c2l6l60uCD_vRYdHvqFCHDwQY6BEirshzGw8boPrEU1wyIfSdsG0mI5ba-g6jNWWso0U3EZB5mrhZ6jvUrtsfEFghErRTSTvMClJMJDNPfbVfjFt5pIGliuED9oRZBHyPzhr/s320/IMG_3590.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Turn!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A seal!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-n1XyYgI3SxDYEPXp0l_S0Pg7sIRchmSSLHFwtOmltUawxBtSEh5cFGcI8NaaKnbEFDYpaChm8dBQDKv5LCY7_Bvg2V7js4Q1jh3M2T93Xji3IpjGlFb2BIT4ItzCu4c-Tmsy5-Z3hz0/s1600/IMG_3600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-n1XyYgI3SxDYEPXp0l_S0Pg7sIRchmSSLHFwtOmltUawxBtSEh5cFGcI8NaaKnbEFDYpaChm8dBQDKv5LCY7_Bvg2V7js4Q1jh3M2T93Xji3IpjGlFb2BIT4ItzCu4c-Tmsy5-Z3hz0/s320/IMG_3600.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my view when I walk out of my apartment</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totem Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creekstreet</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little guy did NOT look happy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTC_3I8z96JuHUng_N64rA7_9QLmJ9yTELqczmne06Xd_uNBwkFK1jbmk_KVYUz6NuZhY-MQV-VHv5Jqav2VAexJg1AFD9b4hUlCF2GYb_LxGss1m1R5XkpLUpXDy6heGuU8YnqrNWJc4a/s1600/IMG_3669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTC_3I8z96JuHUng_N64rA7_9QLmJ9yTELqczmne06Xd_uNBwkFK1jbmk_KVYUz6NuZhY-MQV-VHv5Jqav2VAexJg1AFD9b4hUlCF2GYb_LxGss1m1R5XkpLUpXDy6heGuU8YnqrNWJc4a/s320/IMG_3669.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not the best picture, but this is one of the first Eagles I've seen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwhGQcw0bAbOk-zsBIhr3E7HFYSyVIwMFhFGt_vyY0-o0Qzzxe827KRJj4NW0LWYppk8ra_osW2tymuK2genlD4dXIOva4b0UW5JEp-jX9Td48At4SlLkE_tCZQKrdePJz1-7Pkm0AsYP/s1600/IMG_3718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwhGQcw0bAbOk-zsBIhr3E7HFYSyVIwMFhFGt_vyY0-o0Qzzxe827KRJj4NW0LWYppk8ra_osW2tymuK2genlD4dXIOva4b0UW5JEp-jX9Td48At4SlLkE_tCZQKrdePJz1-7Pkm0AsYP/s320/IMG_3718.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't really see it, but the last few pictures are of the salmon trying to make over the waterfall. We had a huge storm and all the creeks are flooded. It's really sad, but it was also neat to see all the salmon jumping around.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_GuAbB1eU9Mop3S3Gz3kknGSFCN_Ye4n56jYacYmtQapndTxsVJS5OeSyLdZ0DT2tUvuBeThYWeqQsNQpKEZdX_ujsnyd2sq0vQetyba4mc7VC2AniEEkDUxpWAGOhMbAJXwdX8wGI9t/s1600/IMG_3752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_GuAbB1eU9Mop3S3Gz3kknGSFCN_Ye4n56jYacYmtQapndTxsVJS5OeSyLdZ0DT2tUvuBeThYWeqQsNQpKEZdX_ujsnyd2sq0vQetyba4mc7VC2AniEEkDUxpWAGOhMbAJXwdX8wGI9t/s320/IMG_3752.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A baby black bear!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ATeW_OTBisaR0dYnonnzwUUjVNnuSKYslBtQ5BvlnTcruyvCmsiDeq0fjGkf-J2cPcZrK8eMI1ltyEGJCFS_4R1Fx2_7ejAh6p3VF-CLTEBJRZuxZHr3SL1AiD51k89I_TsTIrL0zpJp/s1600/IMG_3764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ATeW_OTBisaR0dYnonnzwUUjVNnuSKYslBtQ5BvlnTcruyvCmsiDeq0fjGkf-J2cPcZrK8eMI1ltyEGJCFS_4R1Fx2_7ejAh6p3VF-CLTEBJRZuxZHr3SL1AiD51k89I_TsTIrL0zpJp/s320/IMG_3764.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I almost ran into this guy on my hike!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4hvugnDfLFbUxp1tneTVHwUUGoaU7eVPx7ZUwG0M1C-ViQf_IaQWuk6GwkKbB-3avipYlYhNaFJ1be75O_Chirg28F5uYp0USkAKAyWsFuEH4EU-C5ZM0bN0-RpJTyah5OT14Jzycob6/s1600/IMG_3767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4hvugnDfLFbUxp1tneTVHwUUGoaU7eVPx7ZUwG0M1C-ViQf_IaQWuk6GwkKbB-3avipYlYhNaFJ1be75O_Chirg28F5uYp0USkAKAyWsFuEH4EU-C5ZM0bN0-RpJTyah5OT14Jzycob6/s320/IMG_3767.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the trail near our apartment.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggC8-y5SPJgQ6cwWUkjIyF3jxnymOb5lK1xslLIsnDoD7VTJbeFKfSbJzq9mvIlD5-1gYjAcmtqLRKgroyV_vecV3kP-SDvI0xb5IkQjniqHGxbgiffa82bqrI1vQ3MihXj4hi2PeeoI3V/s1600/IMG_3769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggC8-y5SPJgQ6cwWUkjIyF3jxnymOb5lK1xslLIsnDoD7VTJbeFKfSbJzq9mvIlD5-1gYjAcmtqLRKgroyV_vecV3kP-SDvI0xb5IkQjniqHGxbgiffa82bqrI1vQ3MihXj4hi2PeeoI3V/s320/IMG_3769.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJ9ebYtsj9NiNupWAtAftLIBx5wfbvQseP3iVerusSkwPIBRzYyo_hp1S36uoHgOBSZIV9CiyNJG3hj7dDAmNq3bStvF_Ki4rk_fPR2t12BV-uJQeYFmhPNpKYfrcoz7v8S1ZuEXXIfMc/s1600/IMG_3770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJ9ebYtsj9NiNupWAtAftLIBx5wfbvQseP3iVerusSkwPIBRzYyo_hp1S36uoHgOBSZIV9CiyNJG3hj7dDAmNq3bStvF_Ki4rk_fPR2t12BV-uJQeYFmhPNpKYfrcoz7v8S1ZuEXXIfMc/s320/IMG_3770.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17388968681842839081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3727693133030270822.post-81696949330349974982011-08-28T01:07:00.000-07:002011-10-29T14:44:43.521-07:00Arriving in Alaska!Hello Everyone!<br />
<br />
I decided this might be the best way to keep everyone updated on the happenings of my life, though I can't guarantee how good I'll be at it.<br />
<br />
So as most of you know Dad and I arrived in Ketchikan on Thursday, August 11th, and it was hectic right from the get go! We rented a car and met up with my new roommate, Deidra, and headed to sign our new lease. On our way there Deidra pulled off (which really confused me because we were CLEARLY not at our realtors place) and was jumping and pointing at the ocean, telling us to get out of the car. So we did, and guess what we saw!? Whales, that's right! Whales! I hadn't even been on the island for 15 minutes and I got to see whales. They were bubble feeding, so I didn't get to see them jumping out of the water or anything, but it was REALLY cool. I don't have any pictures because I didn't have time to grab my camera, but that's ok, I doubt I would have got a shot anyway.<br />
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So after we signed our lease we went and got some dinner, and then headed back to the house where Deidra was house sitting for the summer. We technically couldn't move into our apartment until Monday, so we were going to be staying there for a few days. I was really really tired, even though it was only like 7pm in Alaska. Jet-lag combined with very little sleep made for a very exhausted Katie.<br />
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The next morning Dad and I set out on a mission...Find Katie a car! We drove around to the few dealerships on the island, and also looks at a car that an individual was selling. I ended up getting a 1999 Ford Explorer. This wasn't what I initially thought I wanted, but I really like it. As with any used car, there have been some issues, but I am sure I will get them all worked out.<br />
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So, like the responsible drivers we are, Dad and I went to get my car insurance sorted out as soon as we left the dealership. State Farm was wonderful and we got everything all set up and transferred, but it took a lot longer than I thought it would. When Dad and I left, I found that I had a nice surprise waiting at my new car. The wonderful city of Ketchikan decided to welcome me by giving me a parking ticket! I hadn't even owned the car for more than 2 hours and I already had a parking ticket. It was really just a misunderstanding (They ticketed me for expired plates, and they couldn't see the temporary plate in the back window because the one side had fallen off the window, It was still there! Just hard to see), but I was not very happy about it. We went to the police department and appealed the ticket, but I am still waiting to hear the outcome of that one.<br />
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That night, Deidra's company was having a party for all of its workers and their friends and family. The party was on a boat, and they took us around parts of the Island. It was a lot of fun, and the scenery was amazing. Again, I forgot my camera!! So I didn't get many pictures, but there are a few on my dad's iPhone!<br />
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Now, as I am sure most of you had gathered, Dad came with me, and as most of you also know, Dad loves to fish. I was really hoping he would get a chance to do some fishing while he was up here, but he assured me that fishing was the last thing on his mind. He wanted to get me a car, and get me moved in, and after that we would talk. Well on Saturday, I had a car; I wasn't moved in yet, but I was still unable to move in until Monday, so we decided to go fishing. Dad, Deidra and I rented a skiff and some poles and set out. Let's just say...that was a failed attempt. We had a really good time, and again the scenery was AWESOME, but we didn't catch any fish. We later found out that our poles were not set up properly, but there is still some debate about that, as we have heard several opinions on the order you are supposed to put things on. Flasher, then weight, then ...all the other stuff OR weight, then flasher, then all the other stuff? ( I clearly do not know all the fishing terminology!) Either way, we had a good time, but we really wanted to catch some fish.<br />
<br />
So we came off the skiff early, and went to talk to a local expert ( and a friend of Deidra's) He lent us some poles and told us to go down to the bridge where the river runs into the ocean at high tide, he promised we would see some salmon, and man oh man he was telling the truth!! We saw a ton of fish, but I did not have ANY luck at first. I kept tangling the line on my pole, and then I would get angry when Dad would fix it for me (How am I supposed to learn?) and he was getting angry that I kept tangling my line, and Deidra had to put up with us. Not that ANY of you know what that is like. It was a frustrating process, not to mention that the bridge was PACKED and it seemed like everyone was catching fish but us. Finally, Deidra hooked one, and we were so excited, but he ended up getting away. But we kept on trying! I ended up talking to a local guy (Fred), who was watching us all. He helped me out A LOT, and then decided that he couldn't watch anymore and went to get his own pole. I finally managed to hook a really nice fish, but he was not happy about it, and ended up tangling my line with about 3 others! He was not a happy camper and ended up breaking my line taking my jig head with him. Dad was having a lot of fun helping everyone bring their salmon in (we were the only people there who had a net!) So he told me I could take his pole. I finally got one, and this time he didn't get away. Shortly after I got another one, and we decided it was time to call it a day, because we had plans later that night.<br />
<br />
We went back to the house and Dad taught us both how to fillet a fish! OH YA! I totally touched a fish. Now for most of you, this isn't a big deal, but all of you Gaggini's know that this is the main reason I was never allowed to go to Canada for the fishing trip! (Dad's rules: 1.) You have to bait you own hook. 2.) You have to take your fish off the hook and fillet it. 3.) You have to spend the majority of your time fishing) I was so proud of myself, I felt like such an Alaskan!<br />
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We went to a surprise birthday party for a friend of Deidra's later that night, and met some wonderful people there. I really can't get over, or explain how amazingly nice everyone is here. We ended up having dinner with them the following night as well. They had put out some crab pots, and had a big crab dinner. Man, oh man, was it delicious!!<br />
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It was finally Monday and we were able to move into our apartment. We woke up early and got most of my stuff and some of Deidra's moved in. We were really fortunate to find an apartment in downtown (in walking distance of my school!) That was fully furnished with an all inclusive rent. The place is really cute, but it is small. The suitcases I brought with me take up most of the space in my room, so I am going to have to get pretty creative when all my other clothes and boxes make their way up here.<br />
<br />
We decided to take a fishing break at high tide, and headed back down to the bridge. This time it was just me and dad, but we hit the jackpot! We stayed there just under an hour and caught 7 fish! That is not including the ones we didn't keep or the ones I let get off my line! Dad caught the first one and it was the biggest, until the very last one I caught! :-D I do feel kind of bad though because Dad didn't get to do THAT much fishing. To get to the fish, you had to climb down the hill towards the ocean, there were a ton of rocks there, and Dad didn't really want me to crawl down there, PLUS I wasn't all that excited about having to get the fish of the hook. But every time he would crawl back up the hill and get the fish in the cooler, I would have another one hooked! "Daaaad, I got another one!" I was pretty proud of myself, I'm going to go ahead and call it skill, but really, if you all saw the massive amount of salmon here, you would know that it wasn't. Side note: Do you know you have to punch the fish after you take it off the hook!? Apparently it knocks them out, and makes the whole dying thing less painful, but man oh man, that seems so cruel to me!! I let Dad do all the punching. After we cleaned the fish, Dad was pretty tired, and so was I so we went back to the apartment and just hung out. Well, dad conked out, and I made another Wal-Mart run.<br />
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Then next morning was not as much fun. Tuesday morning was the day that Dad left and went back home to Pennsylvania. This was really hard, and the reality of the whole being 3000 miles away kinda set in when we said our good-bye. I miss him, and all my friends and family a lot. I know that this is where I am supposed to be in my life right now, and Ketchikan is a great fit for my life right now; I just wish Dad could have stayed with me. That sounds selfish I know, but I've kinda grown attached to having him around everyday this past year. I think I actually miss falling asleep to the TV blaring and the walls shaking from his snoring!! Maybe he can make me a recording.<br />
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Anyway, things calmed down for a bit after he left, but they picked back up again with school just around the corner. I will do another post about that some other time, as this one is already WAY too long.<br />
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Just to answer a few general question I have been getting:<br />
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School technically started for me last Wednesday, but my first day with students is this coming Wednesday! Wish me luck and say a little prayer for me.<br />
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For my new address is, send me a message on here or an e-mail!<br />
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No, I have not seen any Eskimos, and I am not going to! It doesn't get cold enough here. :)<br />
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I miss and love you all very much!<br />
KatieAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17388968681842839081noreply@blogger.com0