Quotes of the Day

I am sitting here at my computer typing in the last of the attendance as my students are wrapping up the last 15 minutes of their day. They are just chatting with each other whilst working on a critical thinking assignment.

I was laughing so hard inside, I had to record some of their random statements.

Ms. Phillips, what year were you born in? 1990 what?

Can we ask your mother?

How about 1970- she must be like 46 or something!

Are you an elder?

C'mon, Ms. Phillips, at the end of the year, you'll tell us, right?

What kind of lotion are you wearing- you look younger.

Me: I am not sharing with you my age... compliments will get you nowhere. Keep working on your assignment.

A few moments later.

Student A: I am the way I am...not loose, not tight, just right.

Student B: You are a moose.

Student C: FOOTLOOSE!

All students: NAAAAHHHHH.

Student: Ms. Phillips (followed by a whistle).

Me: Did you just whistle at me? Cue evil eye.

Student: Uh, nooooo?

And b/c I have 6th graders- a fart follows the confused look.

A few moments later....

Student Z: You want to come to my magic clubhouse, you'll need the magic word.

Student imitates a moose.

Students: Holy Cow, what word is that?

I was so tired today, but these last few moments really did wake me up...they are so random sometimes.

My Alaskan Backyard...

is the size of Montana.

I have really enjoyed those moments outside when I get to just stare at the stars in the sky or watch the sun go down. It really is pretty out here once things start to warm up.

Learn something new everyday

Yesterday for our Art Class I had my students work on a project called Create Something from Nothing. And when I announced this to my class, I heard a student ponder out loud I don't think that's possible. Gotcha thinking kid!

So anyways- I gave them a few materials to work with ( paper cup, plastic glove, etc) and they needed to put together a picture of the tundra.

While they were working on their pieces I heard, I need more snow! MORE SNOW!!!

I asked why and his response was I have to hide the snow go- they will see it, they will see it!!

Ok dokey! After he asked properly I gave him more paper towels and then asked him what he was doing- his picture was of him hunting ptarmigan, using his snow go to get to the nesting area. Before he goes hunting, he covers the snow go with snow so the birds won't sense their presence- huh...

And when that conversation was done, another student rushed up to me with his glove that had blood stains all over it. Guess he was the hunting buddy:)

Today we have Saturday school, with parent conferences and who knows what else....so hard to pull off another new week when there is only one day to rest. Wish this was me today, with nothing to do but enjoy the day:

Forget Diamonds!

Chocolate is a girl's best friend!

Thanks to my Aunt Jennifer for supplying me with a birthday/Easter stash of chocolate:)

And for a dog...gotta be the bones! Thanks to my parents for sending up a few more- perhaps my shoes will get a breather from being under attack in the evenings.

Tired is the word of the day.

One of the articles that I came across recently while reading up on doggie care had a list of commandments for the Dog's 10 Commandments.

The first one mentioned?

1. Thou shalt always let the dog out when you get out of bed, even if it is 2:00 a.m. and you just want a potty break. If you just go back to bed, I will assume you forgot and I will scream until you relent.

Oh. My. Goodness.
I don't think I ever want to experience a night like last night ever again. He was up talking for an hour- both times @ 1 a.m. and 2a.m. - and don't get me wrong, it's fun to hear him speak- but not when sleep is on my menu.

Not only that- but the snow gos were going all night. So it'll be interesting to see how this day goes, and the rest of the week for that matter- as we all have Saturday school again. The only good thing that will come from these upcoming days are the parent conferences that I will have with the parents of those that have made tremendous progress behavior wise. Well, that and three half days!

So that is what is going on in my little part of the world- not much else other than job seeking. Things seem to be moving:)

Staying lighter later.

9:30 p.m.

I really enjoy this change...it feels like there are more hours in the day to get things accomplished.

My Weekends...

look a little different now that I have a dog.

I clean the apt. more often.

I get out more and run.... after him, when he is running...after a sled, a snow go, or just about anything that moves. ( I have video, but it takes foreeeevvvvvvveeeeerrrrrr to load!)

I experience the quiet of the mornings and the evenings..and all b/c of this guy:





















My favorite thing about this dog other than his happy go lucky attitude is his bushy tail.












He brings a smile to my face though and helps me relax after working in what I like to call the Finale- the last quarter of the school year.

Those moments

when someone catches you off guard and says "thank you" are just the best, aren't they?

So the scoop is:

I recommended, for the Student of the Month award, a student that I thought in the beginning of the school year would be my biggest female challenge. She could stop you dead in your tracks with a glare like no other. She could dig her heels in and make you want to pull your hair out while waiting for her to move on an assignment. She could hang out in the bathroom for three hours at a time until she felt like coming back in the classroom.

She is bigger than me, sometimes louder than me, and let me be honest- not even my toughest male student will walk near her if something sets her off.

YET- somehow over the period of two months there has been a breakthrough! I have seen her on time, attempting to work harder on her math, and never battle me when I need her to do something over again- well, a huff, and a stomp- but nothing like the "let's throw everything off the desks b/c I ain't doing the work attitude!" She has turned into someone different- a little more approachable. So when I made her student of the month, I was pleasantly surprised when her father called me and said "thank you" over the phone many times. Now I wasn't the only person in her life to see this through- I asked him for help and he was willing to so what he could to help. The hardest part of the phone call though was when he said, " So I heard that you are not coming back. That is not good. You need to come back."

Oh my. I was quick to share that I want to see more of this beautiful state and that she will have a great teacher next year ( let's hope:) It is always hard to break ties- but it always feels good to get that thank you!

Good surprises and not so good surprises.

Good surprise- an addition has been made to my bracelet family today. One of the teacher's aides has brought another smile to my face with this beautiful piece. It is my favorite and I am so grateful for her skills simply b/c I opted out of Camai - the festival that will take place in Bethel this weekend. There one can pick up some amazing cultural pieces- but I am quite happy with the ones wrapped around my wrist.

Not only that but great teachers took care of Bogart last weekend and since I have been gone twice in the last couple of weeks- I am looking forward to hanging out w/ him and catching up on work and applications. It is also my hope that with the help of another teacher in a close village- I will be able to make a quick visit over there and check it out- we shall see! That kind of trip is a little more doable as I can take the dog with me....the trip to Bethel even in this kind of weather is worth it, but I am kind of happy to not have to worry about sleeping on the floor.

Not so happy surprise- the DO sent over the Superintendent to check up on the school- this happens every year as one of three top dogs make their rounds within the village schools. I was "ready" in that my class was somewhat cleaned and my students were "somewhat" behaving- it's just that I am always apprehensive about what someone thinks when they walk into my classroom, esp. when one of my students decides to start yet another fight whilst on a bathroom break- good times! So that being said- everyday is a roller coaster of surprises- I do hope and pray that tomorrow goes a tad bit better.

Every single time...

I look online for the weather forecast, I am always saying aloud, "What??!!!"

That is b/c I am hoping for warmer weather and if I don't type in Bethel, AK...I get Bethel, CT.

And Bethel, CT has the weather I am dreaming of:

Weather for Bethel, CT

74°F | °C

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Scattered Clouds

Wind: SW at 12 mph

Humidity: 52%

72°

54°

70°

52°

81°

54°

72°

50°

Whereas Bethel, AK- not so much :

Weather for Bethel, AK

-16°F | °C

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Mostly Cloudy

Wind: NW at 10 mph

Humidity: 79%

-4°

-18°

1°

-13°

3°

0°

25°

18°

A safe return!

Coming back to Nunap from my short trip in Juneau felt good. Good in that I feel like I can work through the next 8 ish weeks and do it in a way that helps the year end well -I hope.
Good in that I was able to see a happy dog.








Good in that I got to open some more of my birthday gifts!










Good in that this is a short week for me.

Juneau taught me a lesson or two.

Lesson # 1:  Slow down,  travel w/ no expectations, find beauty in everything, and you will be amazingly surprised.

Like spotting goats on a mountain side.

Or a small church located at the end of a short foot trail before hitting the water.

 

Lesson #2: Embrace the outdoors- being surrounded by Alaska's majestic mountains really helped me relax in that I was reminded of the "bigger" picture so to speak.

Lesson #3: Take the stairs. I realized after trying to walk on the lake for 1/2 mile that I was a little out of shape- my legs were killing me with all of the stabilizing that I had to do so as to not fall.

Lesson #4:Time to reflect with no distractions is always beneficial.

Lesson #5: Take time for love. There were many dogs about in Juneau and I was reminded of Bogart everytime I saw a large dog or a curious animal. They are allowed in stores, bars, the post office--just about anywhere and it brought a smile to my face when I thought about heading back and seeing my Bogey.

Meet Humphrey...happy to "meet" us from a distance.

Lesson #6: Traveling & visiting with friends- always a good thing.

Every man can transform the world...

 from one of monotony and drabness to one of excitement and adventure.
Irving Wallace



Excitement all around b/c it's my birthday and I like to rock it for my birthday- last year Paris, the year Juneau. In order to make this happen, a few things needed to happen:
- Dog taken care of- Check. Rachel, Caitlin & Nate's place is well, the place to be. I am grateful for their willingness to house my Bogey until I return. This is no small feat...his crate is the size of Montana and so is he. But I know that he loves to be in the presence of others and this is perfect for him.
-Birthday presents from friends & family- Check. Love the gifts---thanks to all:)

-Flight out-Check. The flight was on weather hold for an hour. I should've known better b/c this is always the case, but c'est la vie. Once Yute arrived, we loaded onto the place, and off we went. It was an exciting ride simply b/c the visibility was not so great and our pilot was given notice that a caravan was coming in and we were supposed to locate it and fall in line behind it. Doable if one can see it...which led to some incredibly sharp turns in the plane where I actually was looking directly face down at the ground below until the plane popped out of the clouds and we could follow it in. Once we landed, our bush pilot was quite pleased with his landing, as was I! Nothing like a little bit of a roller coaster ride to start one's journey, right?
-Second flight out- Check. After finding my P.I.C. -Amanda, we got on the Alaska Airlines flight out and I was soon surrounded by a handful of Yute pilots which made the flight in a rather fun one simply b/c the stories they were sharing with me were quite funny. Plus, it always helps to get the phone number from one if something ever goes wrong- just saying.
-Meet up with Mrs. Darby- Check. This girl was a breath of fresh air. It was a great time of laughter, good coffee, a great night's sleep, time w/ baby and more laughter .

Record snowfall. 

Flight out to Juneau...Check!

Cordova 

Mountain o'snow.

Flight into Juneau.

Looking forward to posting more pics of this beautiful place!