Get Low

Both of my parents had recommended "Get Low"-- the new film with Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, and Bill Murray. Doesn't it sound like some kind of hip-hop term? So, then I hear it's about a guy who has a funeral party while he's alive. And I think that means it's going to be like the "Bucket List" or something... a comedy. HA! I kept waiting for it to get funny. Hmmm... long wait. This was a good film, but it wasn't AT ALL a comedy. Everyone liked it, but, you know, it wasn't funny.

Trickles Trump Talkeetna

Last night, John and I drove up to Talkeetna.

Mina and Dodd had been up in Denali--They took the train up there from Anchorage--and took the Park Connection bus to Talkeetna. They had the day to explore Talkeetna, which didn't take a day to explore ;0

We met up there around 9:15pm. We had dinner at Latitude 62 Cafe, which sounds glamorous, but looked more like an Alaskan version of a country western bar. John and I had soup.

We all turned in for the night at Denali Fireside Cabins and Suites. The picture shows our cabin... it was very nice, though the beds weren't at all comfortable.

We had breakfast at the historic Talkeetna Roadhouse. It was family style dining, which means you sit at any table with available chairs. The first people at our table were very nice, but then the next people (because you're all at different stages of ordering and eating) were super yuppies and irritating in that setting. The food was tasty and it was definitely different. (As a side story, I'd originally booked us into their cabins... BEFORE I realized that there weren't bathrooms in the cabins... one had an outhouse and the other you had to go outside to get to the bathroom. Um... no.)

Anyway, then we headed back to Anchorage. We'd originally wanted to go to the State Fair, but it was raining.

We had a barbecue and bonfire with John's old coworkers in Palmer at 3pm. So we headed back there and had a lovely time, besides getting very wet and then heading home.

A nice time all together. Tomorrow is John's parent's last day here in Alaska, so hopefully it will stop raining.

BOOKS!!!

My project on donorschoose.org is fully funded... WOO HOO!! The books have been ordered and will be shipped soon. Yay! Thanks so much to Mom and Kerry and Jim and Deb and to the three kind strangers who made it possible for my kids to have great books!

John and Work

So far so good on the clerk front. John doesn't feel like he totally has a handle on the expectations yet, but found (and corrected) a previous clerk's error. Seems like he's off to the right start :)

Plague-y Badness

I was feeling lots better this morning, but started feeling super cruddy again by midday. What's up with that? It's supposed to be an upward tick... isn't it? Now we're like a troop of little plague monkeys. I'm coughing and blowing my nose. My kids are blowing their nose; 2 even went home sick. Good thing it's not the actual plague ;)

Anyway, I'm sorry I haven't written much... it's been busy though relatively mundane.

Aside from being sick, I really don't have any irks about which to complain.

EXCEPT, this morning we had a staff meeting... that's NOT the irk. This is the irk, and ALWAYS is... at 8:24am the guest presenter turned to our principal and said, "I have 6 minutes, right?" --and then proceeded to take 12 more minutes!!!!!!!!!!! Uck!! I mean, it's okay if you want to take that long, just don't act like you're not going to do that. I remember one time being taught that, when you say "finally" or "lastly," you have 2 minutes before people stop listening all together. Hmmm... good rule.

Exit Glacier

Yesterday we went to Exit Glacier. You hike up there and are able to get quite close.

Particularly interesting is the retreat of Exit Glacier. This article details it and the picture of the sign shows it. They were able to use tree dating to figure out where the glacier was prior to 1950... if you can't see the dates, you get the idea... the rings show it's retreat since the late 1800s/early 1900s. Glaciers also slide, so it's an interesting dynamic of both sliding and retreating.

Lots of Rest and Gus, Gus

Well, I woke up this morning feeling a bit better, but not well. Stayed home from school today and slept, and slept, and slept. I'm not great, but feel much better... and at least capable of teaching tomorrow.

Many of you know about the rescued kittens from the spring. Someone dumped a box of kittens at Sine School. The kittens had their nursing mother with them. They needed a home until they were weaned. Mina and Dodd allowed Belle, Figuero, Sebastian, Eve, and Gus, Gus to live with them, along with mama cat--Cleo. (Yep, it was a Disney theme.) Mina was able to find a good home for all of the kittens, but kept Gus, Gus and Cleo. Here are some "grown up" pics of the critters... Gus, Gus with Cleo; Gus, Gus with Allie the dog--look at that tail!; Gus, Gus with Jimmy. On the left is their kitten picture.

Sick

We also went to Exit Glacier, but I've got a nasty cold... so, I'm done with posting for now. I'll post those pictures later. Hope you all are well!

Around Seward

Kenai Fjords National Park is closest to the town of Seward. This is also where many cruise ships dock. Here are a few pictures from around there, including the one in front of the "love" sign. John wanted to take this photograph... apparently he loves us... go figure ;)

Kenai Fjords Tour

Mina, Dodd, John, and I went to Seward to visit the Kenai Fjords National Park. We took an 8 and a half hour tour, which included a stop for dinner at Fox Island. Unfortunately, it was rainy and overcast. Aside from that we were able to see lots of wildlife. My favorite were the Dall's Porpoises. We also saw Aialik Glacier. It calved a ton, which was AWESOME... like pieces of ice the size of a house falling into the water. Too cool!

Bear Rules Part 2

I know I covered the basic rules for bears before... but I think this just about covers it. This is a picture of a sign at Exit Glacier National Park. No joke.

No Thanks

So, there's this movie about a guy whose twin brother was a scientist, but then the brother dies and so the guy, whose an ex-marine, links up with this blue giant who has some of his brother's DNA and on a foreign planet he tries to save a clan of people with hunters and then he falls in love with a blue person and rides a dragon... GASP... long sentence ;)

Ok, really? That sounds TERRIBLE!!! This seems like the most ridiculous film ever. Like a Saturday morning cartoon that's canceled after 2 weeks. No thanks; I'll pass.

BUT, it's actually great!-- because, if you didn't catch the plot, it's Avatar. I had no desire to see the movie when it was released. I mean, blue giants and war???? No. However, it was re-released on IMAX 3D and we saw it tonight.

John and his parents, Mina and Dodd, had all seen it before. I hadn't. And, only John had seen it in 3D. We all went and really enjoyed it. It's so immersive. During the scene with the ashes, I actually swatted away a few ashes before I hopped back to reality... no ashes in the theater. Very, very good. Glad I took a "No Thank You helping".

Remembering David Fees

My Aunt Tricia put together this wonderful video remembering my Uncle David.

I met him, but was quite young when he passed away. My mom said he loved me and loved seeing me.

I never realized Uncle David's birthday was so close to my own. What a special connection.

I have always admired him for pursuing his education through his Master's degree even knowing his life was short. That zest for life has always been something that I cherish about Uncle David.

Aunt Tricia, thank you for putting together this beautiful, if super tear-jerking (or really pouring) video.

Little Britches

Yesterday, "Mary" came over to me with Disney's Jungle Book.

"Miss Fees," Mary asked. "How do you pronounce this word?" She points out the part where Baloo calls Mowgli "Little Britches".

I told Mary how to pronounce it and that it referred to pants.

Mary's eyes got big and she said, "But Miss Fees, isn't that a really bad word?"

I'm thinking... pants? a bad word? OH... no, I clarified that the word was close, but different ;)

Hooray

The other 4th grade teacher and I got the following email tonight... I'm such a praise monger. It's always nice to feel like you are doing well :) Wanted to share! I'm very proud of the kids and excited for the year ahead.

Your kids are wonderful in our cafeteria!!! Your high expectations are
paying off--I'm a firm believer that kids will work to achieve goals. I
have seen many of your kids receiving the Pride awards and turning them in.
Thanks for buying in to the program....and for recognizing success. Fourth
grade is a great place to be for kids!!!!!

Kristina