Currently Existing in Snow Globe

So it is a Tuesday night in Alaska and it has been snowing all day long! And to be honest, it is the most glorious thing to happen here in the last few weeks! Literally, people have been praying for snow! Which is not a concept I fully understood until moving here...

The weather was actually really beautiful today. It was a cool 20 degrees and the snow just seemed to float down. Just like a snow globe! I was not the biggest fan of snow before moving up here...living in Indiana and Nebraska made me cringe on the days when the snow would melt and become all black and just plain gross. But in Fairbanks, it has yet to get like that and maybe I am living in some crazy winter fantasy wonderland; but regardless I am going to soak it all up because right now I am loving it!

I think also I may be riding the adrenaline from this long Thanksgiving weekend...I have never enjoyed a break so much! It was wonderful to Skype with my family on Thanksgiving morning. They were eating pie after finishing lunch and I was having a morning cup of tea, which was a little weird at first but so good to see all their faces and hear all their news. (Pause for short sister bragging announcement) Rachel made varsity basketball!! WOOT WOOT! And Megan is now playing for a club volleyball team! I can't wait to see them in action over Christmas! Later that day I was invited over to a coworker's house for Thanksgiving Dinner...Jamie and Dave to be more precise! They are too good to me and it was so much fun having dinner and hanging out with some great people! They have really given me a home away from home up here, which I greatly appreciate and am grateful for

Of course, I attempted to participate in Black Friday shopping this year...although the stores are considerably more limited up here in the Last Frontier, they still manage to have some great deals! I also noticed that my priorities changed a little bit from last year. Instead of new fashion boots, I found a great deal on hiking boots. Instead of those cute jeans, I found a pair of snowpants for over 50% off and some awesome wool socks! I did still have a big breakfast after shopping and watched Christmas movies and literally just "vegged out" the rest of the day...which as we all know is what the Friday after Thanksgiving is really for! Well that and football! And I am apologizing now because I was a terrible Husker and didn't watch the game! Though I will say that I called my mom while it was on and heard my dad's frustration all the way in Alaska :)   Good thing we came out with a win!

Saturday and Sunday also pretty much consisted of lounging and eating and napping. I think I was on the verge of actual hibernation at one point...a wonderful, long weekend bubble that I truly did not want to leave! So now I am just trying to keep this happy, unburst bubble (or snow globe or whatever it is that I'm in) feeling going for the next two weeks until I come home for Christmas! I know it is going to go by so fast!

And with all this snow, you never know, we might just end up having a SNOW DAY!! No matter what, you should always hold out hope for a snow day :)

Recapping is So Hard To Do

So my trip to Chicago was amazing!! I am so thankful that I got to spend time with friends, celebrate the marriage of two truly awesome people, and hang out with my mom!!

This was my first wedding as a bridesmaid and it was a whole new experience...had so much fun with the girls getting ready and taking pictures. But I think the best part was watching Casey walk toward Rodney at the beginning of the ceremony...yeah it's cheesy but I remember thinking that it really was a journey that brought them to this point in their lives. They have been together for so long and gone through so much together...I felt lucky that they let me be a part of one small piece of that journey!

Ok, sorry I think I am done with all the cheesy stuff! The reception was great...tons of food and drinks, and even more dancing! It was a blast to just cut loose and dance with friends! Too bad they don't have more dance parties in Fairbanks!

After the wedding, on Saturday, I met up with my mom. I can't begin to describe how great it was to see her in person and just catch up on everything that is happening with our family, my sisters, and just life in Nebraska! Of course, we watched the Husker game Saturday night...with loud cheering!! Yeah Go Huskers!! They are looking pretty impressive this year with an 8-1 record so far! I hope they can keep it up!

Well being in the Lower 48 and especially Chicago, I wanted to take advantage of some things that we don't have up in Fairbanks! Like...Target!!! Yes, Kristen, it was very similar to your Hy-vee shopping sprees in that I just wanted to go up and down every aisle for the hell of it! I was so excited I had Mom take a picture as proof  :)

I also made sure that we got Giordano's pizza! Seriously, one of the best pizzas I have ever had and it tasted that much better having not had it in so long!

So that was my weekend in Chicago...a much needed catch-up time with family and friends! So good to see them all!! AND...when I got back to Fairbanks, guess what was waiting for me?! That's right, the annual Halloween care package from The Garbe Clan!! Pretty awesome timing on that one! I must say that I will never get too old for a care package from my mom! Always brightens my day!                                                                                              

So like I have said I have gotten a pretty great routine down now as far as work, gym, school assignments go. I like living out of town where you can see the stars every night (and sometimes the Aurora) and it's pretty quiet. Except for the occasional gun shots, which is also kind of becoming routine...I have not quite decided if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

Chloe and Connor seems to have warmed up to me too over the last month or so...Connor will even snuggle with me sometimes for movie night! And when I say movie night, I really mean several episodes of Criminal Minds on Netflix LOL  I am pretty hooked on that show right now!

The last picture is on the Parks Highway (this is the highway that runs south to Anchorage for those non-Alaskan readers) and it was about 5:45 pm. Yes, the shorter daylight hours have already hit. I think its right around 9 ish hours of daylight right now and I am sure it will become shorter here soon. Anyway, I was on the Parks and the mountains were just gorgeous with the reflecting sunset and everything was frosted from the recent snow. I am still amazed every day by how beautiful and untouched everything is up here! It truly is one of the most beautiful places on earth! I just wish my camera could do it justice for you all!

Chi-town Bound!

    One of the 14 bears we spotted!                                             This is my bear selfie! #awesomeness                                                                                 

Another bear picture, none compare to Laura's pics though

And the Mountain was out! So beautiful...I am a pretty lucky girl

So I had to post at least a couple of pictures from our awesome Road Lottery trip through Denali...it really is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to! My pictures do not do it justice, but Laura's are stunning! I will have to order some to share with the fam! The past few weeks have been busy as usual: keeping up with cases and reports for work, assignments for grad school, staying in touch with family and friends, and trying to fit a social life in there somewhere! 

Like the other night, I went out to dinner and a movie with some awesome girls from work!! I had yet to go to the movie theater in town and I guess it is one of the only attractions in Fairbanks because it was incredibly packed!!

My next big adventure is my first trip back to the Lower 48 for Casey and Rodney's wedding!! I can not wait to celebrate with these two and see everyone!! Yes, the flight is long and overnight flying is kind of a pain...but I am so stoked for a fun weekend with friends, I'm sure the adrenaline and excitement will just push me through! (or at least some espresso will) Oh yeah, and my mom will be coming to Chicago to see me too! Friends and family...what more could a crazy, Alaska-transplant girl ask for!





So excited for these two awesome people!
           #HappilyEverVician

I'm Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Already!!! Yes, we had/are still having the first serious snow this morning. We had dustings here and there throughout September, but today we have inches of snow!! Kristen would be SNOW jealous right now! Ok, sorry I couldn't resist the pun

                                                   The view from my kitchen window

I seriously can't believe it! I was hoping for a bit more Fall before Winter hit. But everyone told me that Fall is extremely short here and I now believe! It was probably a good three weeks there and now gone...In other news, I haven't had a lot of time to sit down and post until now. I will try and put up pictures from the last few weeks in another post so hopefully you all won't have to scroll too much!

Let's start with the Road Lottery! Every Fall the Denali National Park opens the entire road up to personal vehicles to drive! You have to apply in May and your name can be drawn for one of three days in September. Well anyway, Jamie (the wonderful woman I work with that took me to Summit) won the road lottery for Sunday, September 14th and she invited me to join! WOW! It was an amazing experience. Usually, you have to take a bus into the park after mile 30 (or something like that) and can only stop if your bus driver decides to stop. Well not on the road lottery!! We got to stop whenever we wanted, take pictures, look around, pick berries, take more pictures!! We got up close and personal with some bears...it was incredible! We were probably 20 feet away from one, though safely in the car in case it decided to come our way. We saw 14 bears that day...and not to brag or anything, but I am now considered somewhat of an expert bear spotter ;)

That weekend was also the first night I spent in a tent. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be...the sleeping bags they have now are designed to withstand -20 degrees or colder and have pull strings to seal you in like a mummy! Kind of puts my small Disney Pocahontas sleeping bag to shame! It was so fun, sitting around a campfire though, roasting marshmallows and making s'mores. Took me back to when we would all pile in the camper to Mahoney with Grandpa and Grandma, play our crazy Camp Luther games, and roast marshmallows! Cousins, this is a shoutout to you that we need to plan another one of those weekends again soon!

Apart from the 14 bears, we saw a couple of bull moose, some caribou, dall sheep, and some other smaller animals...but Jamie has the whole list. It was so beautiful that day too! The Mountain was out (which is what people say when they can clearly see Mt. McKinley), It is gorgeous! I have been told that only about 30% of people have seen the mountain when they come to the park and usually they can only see part of it! That day we could see everything and it almost looks unreal, like someone photoshopped it.

Work is good and has been keeping me busy...lots of cases both new and those up for review. I participated in Childfind again which was once again overwhelming but fun experience working with those 3 and 4 year olds. I had a lot of firsts this month...participated in several SST meetings on my own, giving new assessments, and explained scores in an Evaluation and IEP meeting to parents. I also had the opportunity to give my first in-service presentation at the classified employee in-service day on Monday. I was definitely nervous for that as the longest presentation I had ever given in class was probably 25 minutes and this was supposed to be an hour. Hilary, my supervisor, is awesome and presented with me...even took a picture as proof I survived! Though that would be true if I didn't come down with strep throat the day after! :(  

I can never really catch a break when it comes to getting sick...it happens once every Fall and then again every Spring. I have considered putting myself in a plastic bubble for maybe two or three weeks during these times to prevent this, but the logistics of  being in a bubble for that long are too much for me to handle. Plus, I saw that movie with John Travolta and...hmmm I'd rather not!

Hope all is well with everyone down in the Lower 48! I will work on getting more pictures up soon!

The Path Less Traveled is The One You Want to Take

This Labor Day weekend, I got the chance to travel to Summit which is about 3 hours from Fairbanks, south on the Richardson Hwy. I went up with Jamie, a friend from work, and her husband Dave to their cabin. It was absolutely beautiful and such an adventure!! We went riding on trails with ATVs...trails that I would never think to ride! First, they were so sweet and decked me out in all this Alaska gear, with hip-waders and all...
                                                                               





The trail we went down on Sunday was to Fish Lake...there was a great blueberry patch along the way that we definitely revisited to pick blueberries! Jamie sent me home with a huge ziploc bag! The trail, at least to me, was crazy...several parts of the trail were submerged in water and so muddy! It was amazing to me how the machines could still run through all that muck! It was so fun to drive it though...experiencing the backcountry of Alaska!

                                                                                                                                                                   
   I only got stuck twice!



                                                 

On Monday, we went on another trail that ran along the Alaskan Pipeline...and this time Dave's parents and brother came with us as well! They are very cool! Suzanne even took a picture with me by this early 1900s cabin along the Old Valdez Trail...a small piece of Alaska history that I am learning more about every day!

                                                                                                         
We then made it to the "Top of the World"...a higher spot just off the pipeline that has the most amazing views! The pictures below are from almost every direction...one of the ranges is called the Rainbow Mountains ( and no they are not just off of Gumdrop Pass) but I do now know where Crayola got the idea for Purple Mountain Majesty.















                                                                                                         
                     




Truly an amazing weekend! I am looking forward to my next visit! Maybe even for Arctic Man in the spring...which I have been told is an event that most Alaskans look forward to all year! Though those who live on Summit may not be as excited as their beautiful home is invaded by thousands every April! If you want a look at the Arctic Man event, watch the show Alaskan State Troopers. I can't remember exactly which episode it is, I think the first or second of season two, but it will give you just a glimpse of what it is like!

Jack Frost Visits Early

Yep! That's right...Meanwhile in Alaska, it is August 30th and we had a frost last night! I have evidence below for those skeptics out there...

Thankfully it was a Saturday so I was in no rush to scrape the windows 

But not to worry, the stores up here also do Labor Day Sales and I was able to get a bunch of winter gear for the upcoming cold that I am sure is just around the corner. My biggest purchase was definitely the GORE-TEX jacket...which my engineering father swears by and was so pumped when he heard that he further nicknamed us "the GORE-TEX VORTEX" :) 

My winter gear splurge (Note the GORE-TEX tag in the corner)

Anyway, all is good here. I am getting into a nice routine. I have had the chance to observe a variety of different classrooms in elementary schools and high schools. There are already some interesting cases and even some school-wide supports that I will be working on. Loving the chance to broaden my scope on the school setting. 

Special shot out to my wonderful Uncle Brian and lovely Aunt Connie for sending me my first piece of mail at my new address (sadly all the rest has been bills or junk mail) Thanks so much! The card was definitely a day-brightener! 

Thanks again Aunt Connie and Uncle Brian! 

Finally, many of you have probably already seen my ice bucket challenge but I wanted to repost it here to keep with all my Alaskan adventures and this is definitely a fun little video. I also want it noted that my supervisor, Hilary, is the one who is dumping the bucket of ice water on my head and she was all too willing to do it!! (I think a new "welcoming the intern" ritual is in the making) Props and kudos to Laura for her excellent videographer skills!

                                   

...Bug Dope is a Thriving Market

Dope is freely passed around up here! And no, just to clarify, it is not the leafy variety...but rather bug spray. Though apparently up here in the Last Frontier if someone says they had to run to the store for more dope or ask you if you have any dope on you, they are referring to bug spray! Do not be alarmed family and friends (especially parentals), everything is on the up and up! I was very glad I was informed of this though by some kind work friends, because I may or may not have gotten myself into some trouble with the locals...

Anyway, I feel like I am "integrating into the culture" well! I had my first up close and personal encounter with the wildlife the other day and to be honest I really thought I was dreaming! Woke up to moose legs outside of my window and that definitely got me up and moving that morning! She (from what I have been told) was very young and more docile than I would have thought. Though again it was early AM here and she probably was looking for coffee just like I was!

I have also visited the local farmers market...which is wonderful and encouraged me even further to join a gym ASAP as I love to sample all the foods there! So yes, I feel like I accomplished a lot in my first full week...farmer market, gym, started work at two of my placement schools, and today participated in testing for the Childfind program downtown! Which was a very long (Advil was a necessity) but otherwise fun and rewarding process! I know my mother has always told me of how amazing children's minds can be, but I am still fascinated every day by how their brains work and the ways they process/interpret information! For example, in one section of the test, I have to give the student (3 to 4 years of age) clues and they tell me what the clues are describing...well the answer was STAR but I got answers like moon, meteor, and fireworks. All of which fit the clues! I also had a little guy answer to what is this letter? The answer was "A" and he said yeah like Captain America! (That was one was just for you Kristen, I think I saw your future child in this kid because he also said two other kids were being sassy towards each other) 

Wanted to leave you with a sunset picture from the other night as well!! The pictures can't do it justice, but here is an attempt!