Sutset in Bethel

I was having a hard time turning of the lights and going to bed last night, at one point I saw it was 11:30 and I figured I might as well stay up and watch the sunset. It was totally worth it.




It was pink and blue and orange...pretty amazing to see. I couldn't get the perfect view because the ONE tree here in Bethel was blocking my view from the porch. I ventured out into the yard but was attacked my the giant, local mosquitoes. If it isn't raining you have to deal with these blood thirsty critters.

Today will be another slow work day for me. My colleagues are pouring over medical charts so there is little for me to do in the way of data checks/quality. I've been working on my programs for the end of the week, I need to remove all the dates (protocol states we can not take these back to Atlanta) and merge all the datasets. I've also just been documenting my programs, trying to think back to what we did over the last 10 days. So mostly busy work.

I left early yesterday and meandered home from the hospital. I walked about 5 miles yesterday and I'm hoping for at least that much today. I stopped off at the local art gallery, it was finally open. Not much in the way of native crafts, mostly photos. There were a couple of things that caught my eye, I may have to go back for something.

I stopped of at the Yukon Kuskokwim Wildlife Refuge yesterday, I was disappointed. It was one room filled with mostly dead, stuffed animals. The 'bookstore' was closed (it was a closet with some postcards) and there was nothing else to see. You need a plane to see most of the wildlife, there are birds around Bethel but little else.

Today I will try to check out the boat harbor, Moravian bookstore (for more local crafts) and the local cultural center (if it is open). Posted business hours seem to be more of a suggestion that a hard and fast rule around here. I assume it is because this is fishing season, most of the local still depend on fishing and hunting to supplement their diet. Most head out down the river to fish camps for up to a month at a time, to fish and process the food for the coming year. I guess when the weather is nice they have to take full advantage of it.

Well off to breakfast and getting my day started.

Please don’t take my sunshine away

Too late, the sun has left Bethel and the rain and wind have returned.

There really isn’t much to write about, I get up, try to go for a run, if the weather isn’t too bad, take a shower and head to the hospital for a ten hour day of work. The last two days it has been nice enough that we could walk home. The walk isn’t real enjoyable since I’m schlepping a lap top and all my other work stuff with me but it does kill some time.

We made an attempt at culture last night. The local ‘art gallery’ is on the way from the hospital to the B&B, I guess the nice weather made everyone want to play hooky so the gallery and Moravian bookstore next door were both closed.

Last night we stayed in and made dinner, we where going to watch “Brokeback Mountain” but the owner of the B&B has all the R-rated movies blocked…so it was Freaky Friday instead. I chose to head to my room to read and play on-line.

I’m beginning to get a little home sick, the weekend is over, my friends at home went to the pool, hashing, drinking in the Village, celebrated birthdays and I’ve been working and bored. I’m trying not to count down the days just yet but in less than 5 days I will be heading back to the ATL.

I will see you all very soon.

The Sun Only Shines on TV...in Bethel

Until today. Day 4 here in Bethel and I finally got to see the sun.



I'm finally adjusting to Bethel time...I woke up at 6 this morning, not my usual 4. I went out for a quick run, since we had to be at the hospital earlier than usual today. The first thing I noticed when I got outside was how quite it was...it wasn't raining and the wind wasn't blowing, I glanced off to the east and saw a sliver of sunlight. I had high hopes for the day. Of course everyday I think I'm going to walk past a window and see nothing but bright blue skies...today it happened!



My excitement was somewhat short lived when I realized, I was working and probably would be until well past 6, like everyday this week. Rumor had it that today's work was to be especially challenging. Crap, I was worried this would be my only chance to check things out and enjoy some reasonably good weather.



Well somehow, some way, the issue that caused so much distress on the last visit was resolved very quickly (and I get bonus points from co-workers, even though I don't know what I did to fix it). I started to do some Saturday work, hoping the good weather would remain and I could enjoy it tomorrow. Instead we got the go ahead to leave early today, by early we ONLY put in an eight hour day.

It was so nice out, around 60, sunny, just a touch of a breeze. We all agreed we should walk home. Bethel is small enough to walk pretty much everywhere. So we made a stop at the local 'Wal-mart type' store (I have to go back and pick up some winter gear, it was the only cheap thing there) for more provision for the house, then stopped by Demetre's for a dinner of pizza and salad and walked back to the White House. It was still early, only about 6:30 so we made a plan to take a walk down to the river.

On the way home from dinner we where attacked my mosquitoes, Shin wasn't prepared to go back out. Lucy and I were on our own.

The river was nice, it's been so long since I've been near water, we saw a water plane take off and you could smell the ocean (Bethel is only about 40 miles from the sea). We got rained on but it was a very pleasant adventure. I hope I can head back for more exploring tomorrow. I wish I could post some pictures.

It looks like the weather is going to hold through tomorrow and it looks like I am going to have a short day. I'm planning on checking out the local market and more exploring of the river and other off the road places.

It's after 9 and I still have 3 more hours of day light. I would really like to stay up once to see the sun 'set'.

Tomorrow I will tell you about the sticker shock at the grocery store.

Today in Bethel

Even though it is currently 45 degrees, rainy and windy, I'm heading outside for a bit. I'm beginning to get cabin fever. The sun is rising so maybe I can grab a few pictures before I start my day. I'm really wishing I had brought a hat.

Mush doggie...

I'm sitting here in my room listening to the pack of sled dogs outside, yes real live sled dogs. Each chained to a small shelter, sitting on a wooden pallet. I'm not a big fan of sled racing, there is a lot of controvery about how the dogs are treated, this is Alaska and this is what these dogs are bred for ... so I am keeping my feelings to myself. It is feeding time right now and they are all worked up. I wish I had remembered to bring the cable for my camera so you could see for yourself.

There are lots of dogs here, mostly roaming lose. There are no leash laws so the mutt just come and go as they please. Most don't seem to fond of people, they have all kept their distances so far. I'm hoping for a photo stroll, if/when the weather clears up a bit.

The weather has been miserable. Rainy, cold, overcast and now the wind has really picked up. I ran yesterday morning and I was able to walk home from dinner last night but otherwise, I've been inside or had to take a taxi. Fingers crossed for tomorrow, I got a tip on a nice trail that runs along the river.

Work has been brutal, the past two days have been 10+ hours, with just a small break for lunch. There is a cafeteria at the hospital, fair on a good day. Maybe tomorrow I can make it to the store for some extra rations. My co-workers and I stayed in this evening, we made tuna sandwiches and fruit salad. To be honest I wasn't feeling like going out tonight, the restaurants are pretty shabby and you can't get a drink, so I was happy to save most of my per deim for today.

Speaking of work, it seems to be going well. My co-workers seemed pleased with the rate and substance of the work I'm doing, along with being entertained with my pleasant personality ;-)
I can't imagine I will be this busy next week...with any luck I'll have some time off to go exploring and picture taking.

It is still early, only 8:15 but I'm still on Atlanta time, I'm going to try to stay up a little longer but I'm beat.

If I don't get completely frustrate with this painfully slow internet connection I'll write more tomorrow.

Night everyone!!!

I made it

Wow, after 18 hours I finally made it to Bethel. What a day, I arrived at the B&B just before I collapsed from exhaustion. I had high hopes when I got to Anchorage, the sky was clear and the temperature mild...no such luck in Bethel.



While the sun is 'shining' almost 20 hours a day here, I have yet to see it or the thermometer rise above 50. I woke this morning to the same drizzle that lulled me to sleep last night. It didn't stop me from going out on my first Alaskan jog. I headed out about 5:30 am, lets just say, Bethel in July is like Atlanta in January.

I've got to go to bed, it was another long day.

I'm off...

Well almost, it is 7:15 am my flight is in two and a half hours, I'm packed (I can't go over my list one more time), the house is ready and I'm just waiting on my taxi.

It's going to be a long day, I will land in Bethel around 8 pm local time, midnight here.

Last night I happened upon a show called "Tougher in Alaska" on A&E...makes me very glad I'm not going in the winter.

Boot Camp Update

So not only did I finish my 1st round of boot camp, I didn't miss a day in 4 weeks. I signed up for a second and a third month.

I won't be able to complete this month because of the trip but I will make up the two weeks I will miss in August.

I have to admit, the results are better than I had hope and I've surprised myself with what I've been able to do.

In the past 10 weeks I've lost about 10 pounds (7% of my body weight), more important, I've lost about 15% body fat, I swear I saw a bicep muscle the other day. I've noticed a big difference in my abs, one part of my body I've never been happy with, and I'm a lot stronger in my core than I was 10 weeks ago.

I'm going to miss boot camp while I'm gone. I intend to keep up with my workouts but I will never push myself as hard as I get pushed there. It is some of the best money I've ever spent.

At the end of the first month I went from being able to do 20 push up to almost 50!

Back but not for long

Today someone reminded me that I have a blog, who would have thought, right?

Crazy couple of months, between work, bootcamp, the boyfriend and having a little fun, there hasn't been much time to sit in front of the computer to write it all down.

I'm leaving in a few days for a big work trip. I'll be heading the Bethel, Alaska for 12 days. This trip has been in the works for quite awhile but it still snuck up on me. I'm staying in tonight and multi-tasking getting ready for the trip and making good use of a loaner lap top with a working CD drive.

Months ago, in a vain attempt to unclutter my house, I packed away all my CDs. I haven't listen to most of them since I got Sirus radio a couple of years ago. I wasn't quite ready to toss them all out though. So tonight I'm ripping CDs on to the lap top and then transferring them to my home computer, since the CD/DVD drive crapped out months ago.

I'm also trying to consolidate the many lists I've made for this trip. I have to pack more than I normally would for three reasons. 1) I will not have access to a washing machine for my entire trip, so I need enough clothes to last the trip. 2) Bethel is pretty remote, if I don't bring it, I probably can't buy it there and if I can it is going to be very expensive. 3) The weather is crazy so I need to bring tons of things I can layer.

On the bright side I get to finally use my big suitcase that I haven't used in 5 years and the fridge is going to get cleaned out.

I'm hoping to get most of my packing and the majority of my cleaning done tonight, so I can play and spend time with my friends this weekend. I'm not going to like being away from everyone for so long...I hope there is a big party for me when I return ;-)

I'm planning on updating this site while I'm gone in what I hope is not a useless attempt to stay in touch.

I wont have cell phone reception and I'll only be able to get online at night so be patient with me if I don't respone right away.