Thanksgiving Day Tragedy

On Thanksgiving day a man and a woman were snowmobiling to Brevig, which is 7 miles across the harbor, as the crow flies. The safe path is about 20 miles. On the shore close to Brevig there is a very fast horrid current that runs so fast that ice cant freeze deep enough to hold any or much of any weight. And you know how it goes, many of us are indestructible and just do it the easy way. The snowmobile broke through the ice. The man was able to be on top of the ice, he was able to grab the ladies hand, the ice broke, he was able to grab her again, the ice broke. That happened several times, then she didn't come back up. He was able to walk back here to Teller.
The Search and Rescue teams came from all over, many many villages. They came on their snowmobiles and had trailers attached. It was an incredible sight to see. How so many people worked together as one. As you see, I have attached some pictures of the team getting ready to go out.
The first night they had bushes stuck in the ice to show the trail, the second night they had found smaller limbs to show the trail. THE SAFE TRAIL. Of course, I ask a lot of questions.... The bushes and the trees are called Hansel and Gredal. They put reflective tape on them so they can find their way back in the dark.
The epicenter of the team was here at the school. Rescuers sleeping in classrooms. We were making food for them.
I STARTED ONLY ONE, YES, ONE FIRE !!!!!! I made pancakes, oatmeal, REINDEER STEW. Wanna see some reindeer meat?
Let me know, I will either post it or email it to you.
Here are pix of the rescuers.

I am waiting and waiting and waiting

This is one of many bus stops in Nome. I am not sure what bus it is for. I haven't seen any school busses. Public transportation are cabs. A ride in a cab is a flag 5.00 anywhere in town. Even from the airport to anywhere in town. People go to Airport Pizza first.
My neighbor Mandi asked me to go with her to Nome, WOO HOO!! She was taking her dog and a friends dog to get neutered.
We walked all over town. I mean walked and walked.
There are several of these bus stops and I am not sure why. Eventually I will find out. Cool aren't they?

Nome Gas Prices

I thought gas would be more expensive in Nome. Kind of surprising. I know someone sells here in Teller sells gas, but I have no idea where. There are some real vehicles here, pick up trucks only. The rest are either snow mobiles or four wheelers. Where we live sounds like a highway. Those machines are so darn loud and we live on a straight street. If you google map Teller, there are three streets, long streets. We live on the middle street. Seems to be popular. zoom zoom

Eskimo Cutie Pie

While in Nome, the cutest little girl came down the street with her Mama and Grandmama I couldn't resist and asked if I could take her picture. Her coat, in fact all their coats are home made. The fur trim on her hood is probably polar bear and the coat is lined with fur as well. If you look back at old pictures of the Eskimo dress you will see that not much has changed. Fur has always kept them warm and alive. Trust me, their coats are warmer than any man made coat we have. I have to share her with you.

I know you are jealous....

This is our very own warm and cuddly first Thanksgiving here in Alaska. Ron was very successful hunting and was able to provide our Pilgrim special low fat turkey. Our dinner included spaghetti sprinkled with some pinto beans, canned spinach. Our favorite dessert, jello cake. Oh my goodness, we are so fortunate and give thanks for our Pilgrim heritage.

MINI MUSH MUSH

MINI MUSH MUSH







THE BIG MINI MUSHER MASHER

MUSKOX fact: Ran with the dinosaurs .. for real

This is a Muskox. I just learned that it ran with the dinosaurs. The fur is very soft. So soft that if it walks over the blueberry patches, their long soft hair hangs up in the patches and is impossible to get them off or out. spit spew blah. However. I have heard from many sources that Muskox is very good eating.
I, personally, have not had the opportunity to eat it, and if, I mean if Muskox passes thru my lips over my tongue and down my throat, I will let you know the outcome.

ADAM 12, CODE 2

I want to share our emergency ambulance equipment with all my followers. I want you to have the comfort of knowing that we are on the cutting edge of technology. This assembly of four wheeler and trailer, softened by new snow for the comfort of the patient, then takes the trip to the airport if the weather cooperates. You know, if there aren't any drifts to close the road and if the airport tarmac is bulldozed, then OFF WE GO TO ANCHORAGE, Ambulance Airplane.
All this due to the innovative tv show Adam 12. Please feel free to google Adam 12. First ever medical show. If you compare that care to this care, we are spot on here in Teller, in the Bush, on the Spit. Enjoy.
I have to post one more picture that I neglected to take yesterday. I want to build your anticipation. It is a well thought out structure here for emergencies. It is too dark out now to take the picture. Enjoy.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHING

If you take Ron out of this picture, and imagine me there, that is what I looked like being the boss of you. Mrs. Kotay.

One morning I was asked to substitute teach! Wow, how cool is that!. I was anxious but didn't pass out. I put on the outfit I had that made me look better. Bright and early. Read the lesson plan for the day. (This teacher is going to be gone 3 days) I didn't read it closely enough. I figured out I was running them thru the whole weeks work. They were getting it done. But then what would I do then?
I backed up got on track.
The first day, went just fine.
The second day, went fine again. (One of the students asked Mr Kotay if I was as mean at home as I am at school. He said yes)
The third day. Well, that is another story. One of the students wasn't doing any work. He was chuckling, laughing and snickering at everything I said. I moved him away from his friends. It was still going on. So then I moved him to the front looking straight forward looking at the books. He still snickered. I sent him to the office. He sat there. I said in an escalated manner, go to t he office. He snickered again. I then said NOW!
He said, I will spit out my candy. I said ok. He hit the desk, then the door. I watched him go down the hall to be sure he made it to the office. He did. I went back into the room. Next thing... the principal and a local liaison was at my classroom door and beckoned me to the hall.
The principal and liaison called me to the hall, asked me to document the details.
As it turns out, the removal of that student wasn't thought thru...

STUDENT STORE, MANAGER w/KEYS !!

1. The student store. Selling potato chips, corn nuts, gatorade, mostly spicy foods. Two days a week, Mondays and Wednesdays I for a half hour after school. Sure, no problem. One of the students would help, which helped tremendously. Sure, no problem. Then magically the store was to be opened during school activities like basketball, volleyball etc. Ok, I can do it. I didn't know the price of anything, where anything was, etc. But it worked out ok. At least I thought it did.
The next "event" I had a lady come said she and another teacher will take over the store, they are on it, a team that is so efficient and unstoppable. And then asked me to go to the kitchen and make pizzas and nachos. Well, ok. Ron helped. We did that for a three days, a tournament
Once again, magically the after school gig just disappeared. I overheard one of the teachers telling one of the student that the store was going to be open Tuesdays and Thursdays just like last year.
At that point, I deducted that I was "gently removed from the junk food center".

Turned in my keys.

I began my own home business. Making white clothes white. The next two days I was crippled. Gave that up for lent.

FIRST AND LAST DAY OF MY OWN BUSINESS

FIRST SCHOOL DAY

The very first school day I was here, Ron got a call from the Principal asking me to come volunteer. I came in like a puppy jumping what can I do? Where can I do it? Who What Where When????? Just turn me loose!!! Indeed I was a cherished one and only gopher.

STATE TROOPER

Yesterday, 1-1-11, I am a mouse in the back of the library using the internet. I took a walk toward the office and who do I see.... STATE TROOPER ANN SEARS !!!!!! She is on History Channel show Alaska StateTrooper. I asked her if she was "the one' she said yes. Not being star struck, I asked her to wait... I ran back to the library and got my camera (imagine that). THEN I went to Mr. Kotay's room, stuck my head in.... I said in a direct authoritative way, Mr. Kotay, will you please come see me. He gets out of the room. I ran to the office, asked Lucy to take a picture of us!!!! Here is one of the three of us and one of just her and I.
Amazing things happen here in Teller, in the Bush, on the Spit.

Miss Lena Marie

Miss Lena Marie,
I cant thank you enough for keeping my bottom in gear, you doing so much for me. At the time it was a nightmare, no adventure to it. You are the one. I cant thank you enough for all you did. Here are some pictures to prove it.

RON !! NOME !! BREAKFAST !!

They say here in these parts that only about 4 men got rich out of the hundreds of thousands miners.


Yeah! NOME! Ron & Miss Jan with the Van picked me up, She took us to a good old fashioned heart stopping cafe and I ate biscuits and gravy and DIET COKE!! Woo Hoo, the best breakfast I ever had. Miss Jan was kind enough to bring Ron to Nome and pick me up. And they were kind enough to include a sweatshirt because I was wearing a short sleeved t shirt, thin knit pants and loafers, no socks. Not a smart Alaska fashion choice.
Then we piled in the famous Jan Van and began our tour.
Nome is different than I had pictured it in my head, So most of you must know that I am camera happy and took several hundred pictures. Here are some of Nome itself, then the journey. The most beautiful journey. My thanks to Miss Jan. The most patient person I have met. She let me take my time taking pictures, and let me tell you, that was patience.

Ron's Arrival in Teller Aug 4 2010

When Ron flew into Teller, the village in the Bush on the Spit, this is the first thing he saw out the window And he didn't get airsick. That in itself is amazing.

My Daily Bread

I made the plane. No food, no jacket. On every flight there was pretzels and I asked for a whole can of tomato juice. That was my complete diet until Anchorage. All food stands were closed or closing. I was lucky to get a chicken salad sandwich and a ham sandwich. They were the best sandwiches in the world.

First Hurdle

Lorna was nice enough to take me to the airport. She helped me cram the last of my, what I thought I needed in my suitcases. No time to eat anything, no time to stop and get a jacket... that was the plan. Lorna brought Hubert's truck. We threw all my suitcases in the back. got in the truck, turned the key and the alarm went off. We couldn't get it turned off. Threw everything in the Hyundai, and drove really fast. No time for food or jacket.