13 January 2008

Bandits & 27 BELOW zero

So, I may have told you about the snow-machine bandits that are hiding out & then trapping people outside of Bethel. They beat them up, may rob them, etc. It's happening again. There were 2 incidents that I've heard about so far. Both, times it's at night & multiple machines against one, hiding at the lake near the bluffs. One guy was coming from Bethel & all of the sudden several machine's lights come up & they start chasing him, punching him from the sides. In another incident one machine followed them, then another, then one came from the front., etc. They wear helmets so you can't make out faces or races. They have to know people are carrying guns now to secure themselves. I hope the idiots are caught or given a good one-two, not killed, but you know, something to make them stop & think for once. Those to recent events sounded like acts of violence rather than robberies.

Also, it's been freaking in the 20's below zero! It was down to -27.6 today; that's almost 60 degrees below freezing! I'm So glad the wind isn't blowing or it would hurt. Otherwise, it isn't bad, except for when I breathe my lungs kind of feel like they're freezing & my sinuses cramp. Weird, I know. Everything outside is encased in these beautiful crystals.... all the wires, bushes, railings, snow-machines, boardwalk, some parts of walls... It's kind of like winter fairy land.

Ok, our 1st day back at school is tomorrow, so I'm going to finish some lesson plans. G'nite.

* * Go to MySpace or facebook for photos. MySpace has more. * *

Winter break... Happy 2008!

I just made it to Anchorage w/ only 7-1/2 hours in the air, going back 4 time zones, but still. This has been the most efficient that my flights have been Ever. I'm using Expedia again fo' shoa. I'm going to try to stay the night w/ someone in ANC. I don't have my flight back to Bethel booked yet. Isn't that bad!? I did check the website & flight look pretty wide open, though. I think I'll leave tomorrow mid-day & grocery shop in BET tomorrow & get to Nunap in the afternoon.

At this point, I'm still planning on staying in the same village again next year. Although, I don't think I've ever been in the same place, same house & job, for 4 years in a row. The thought of this makes me antsy. But, if I want to make it to 8 years & then get a retirement benefit, even if I move back to the lower 48, it needs to happen. All this said, nothing is set in stone.

This holiday has been too much of what I need. It's opened Pandora's box & made me realize to the extreme all the things I'm missing out on. But, like Pandora's box hope remains to assuage my wanderlust. I guess it's not that bad, given it's taken 5 years of living in AK to get me to this point. My friend's kids & sister are growing up (some in Jr. High). Eating whole, fresh, healthy foods made me feel alive again. It's so hard waiting for my love! Flirting is so invigorating & actually what is still keeping me going; there are still magical connections out there. I have such great friends & you guys are all too spread out! That gives me the excuse to travel to see you though. :-p Don't get me wrong, once I go back to the village I'll be just fine. I don't miss some of this stuff when I'm there b/c I stay busy, my kids are enlightening & challenging, I'll be able to get outside more this semester... let's face it, Alaska is wonderful. I also have a Sydney trip this summer to look forward to & I'm Craving a backpacking trip & CO is always on the back of my mind. I'll just continue to listen to my heartbreak music... plus some new CD's that I bought this break. :-)

Please keep checking out the Hollywood Red link on MySpace; they're putting up new photos all the time, some videos, & they've been recording some. So, you might be able to listen to some of the new stuff before I get back onto here. I'm Really going to try to be better about posting on the http://careyalaska.blogspot.com site. Before that, I'm going to get some more photos up from this break. I forgot my camera when I went to see Hollywood Red on new year's eve. That was just as well b/c I could just zone into the experience. They rocked it & didn't let up for Hours & I only remember them taking one break. Amazing!! John also took some videos & photos that he's going to send me at some point.

So far Facebook is working (no firewall *fingers crossed*). I have found a tunnel around/through the MySpace firewall. I was able to check messages today, but I don't know if I can respond... I'm going to try that tomorrow.

Vonnegut quote

Side note: Vonnegut was a genius! I love his whimsical writing; cyclically he brings together alien abductions, a man with profound bad luck, humor, & tragedies of war.


Here's a quote that I just like:
"But you're right: each clump of symbols is a brief, urgent message--describing a situation, a scene. We Tralfamadorians read them all at once, not one after the other. There isn't any particular relationship between all the messages, except that the author has chosen them carefully, so that, when seen all at once, they produce an image of life that is beautiful and surprising and deep. There is no beginning, no middle, no end, no suspense, no moral, no causes, no effects. What we love in our books are the depths of many marvelous moments seen all at one time." (Slaughter-house-five, 88)

Sometimes I feel like I'm reading life like a Tralfamadorian reads books. If only I would allow myself to be abducted. ;-p

04 January 2008

"What pin-up are you?"




You Are Betty Grable



The ultimate girl next door

You're the perfect girl for most guys

Pretty yet approachable. Beautiful yet real.