It has been a little bit of delay in getting a new post up on the blog. I wish I had some incredible story. I don't. I have yet to make a penny off these postings, so I have just the desire to share our experiences as my motivation. I am thinking about writing a letter to try and get Stash Tea to sponsor my time in writing this. "When I sit down to write sarcastic, often meaningless, mildly comedic anecdotes to family and friends, I like to enjoy a nice hot cup of Stash Premium Sushi Bar Mild Green Tea." Until that day arrives, however, you are just getting these as they come.
Cassidy and Isabel never got off the island. The plane was cancelled due to weather and I got over my deep seeded fear of actually having to take care of myself for four days. We are all heading into Anchorage next Thursday while I have an in-service for school. Should be a lot of fun. I am sure it will consist of talking about shopping, followed by shopping, and then conclude with lengthy discussions on what was purchased while shopping. I am really looking forward to it. If any woman deserves to have a spree and go crazy with the credit cards, it is my wife. It's not every woman that is willing to go, quite literally, to the end of civilization with her husband.
We had no school on Tuesday. Well, let me rephrase that; we had a school. It is basically in the same spot it has always been. We just had no power to the school and, therefore, told the students to stay home. They took it well, I think. After the initial shock and pleas of "Please, Mr. Bauer! We need to be educated today!" they found the beauty of taking a day off and enjoying not having heat or light for about eight hours. Today we did a preemptive cancellation. I have been in a blizzard before and I thought I understood what the term 'White-out' meant. It is comparable to being in love. Everyone thinks they are in love until they see the person that they ACTUALLY love. I thought I saw a white out until I met Adak. Truly the real deal. I am looking out of the living room window, which normally provides a glimpse into the neighbors living room window about fifty feet away. Today, however, it is as though I am looking into a giant glass of milk. Snowing with sustainable 70 mph winds. If any of you are planning a vacation to the Western Aleutian Islands, I strongly recommend you arrive between April and September.
There is big news!!!! Cassidy received her espresso maker and grinder that she got as a birthday gift. Prior to this machine showing up I drank coffee. Occasionally putting cream in. Now...well...I am married to a barista that makes espresso's, latte's, mochaccino's, and cappuccino's as if there is a line of people waiting for them. I haven't slept in three weeks. I do recommend the Amaretto flavored latte, though. She is extremely happy to have her new appliance and I never tire of seeing her happy. I stay awake now, in what seems to be a permanent caffeine induced state of awareness, thinking about how happy Cassidy is with her birthday present.
A happy wife is a happy life, right?
In other big news I got a new job. For those keeping track at home, this is job #3.
I teach full time, work at the airport on Thursdays and Sundays (weather permitting) and now, I AM AN OFFICIAL BARTENDER AT THE ADAK SPORTS BAR AND GRILL! I have officially crossed off #2 on the list of jobs I want to have before I am too old to work. (#1 is a hockey referee. Might have some problems getting to that one. The new #2 is a commercial fisherman, which may come to fruition this Summer, we'll see).
The tips aren't bad, actually, and the patrons seem very appreciative of my services. Not a bad gig, really.
So, we are just hanging out and enjoying life. Ann, the Physical Therapist that is out here to consult with a couple of students, came over for dinner last night. Great lady. Great visit. I am sure she will be back. Especially since her flight has been cancelled and she is stuck here until at least Sunday. It is truly a conflict for Cassidy and I because we want her to be able to leave and get home to her husband, but we also truly enjoy visiting and getting what we like to call "an outside perspective" of Adak. It is just our little way of gauging whether or not we are losing it out here.
Until Next Week.......
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Back in action
OK! Had a minor setback with the blog and let me just say that if anyone is offended by anything that I have ever written on this blog, I truly apologize. Unless you were never intended to read this in the first place. In that case, I could really care less and I think you should get a life instead of reading about people that don't want you to be reading this to begin with. We don't read your letters home.
I find it ironic that people that I see routinely will not take the time to say "hello" or "How are you?" but will take the time to search, find, print and distribute what I have written in this blog as if it is something so scandalous that it requires secret meetings and a phone tree activated.
Anyway, had a little trouble with the blog. This explains the password and, on a serious note, everything in here is meant to be a humorous depiction of our lives out here on a remote island in the North Pacific. To interpret this as anything else is, in my opinion, ridiculous.
So, despite people being offended and the debacle around here, we still enjoy our life on Adak and are appreciative of the community that we are part of.
Cassidy is heading into Anchorage tomorrow and taking Isabel with her. FOUR days without any assistance here!! Who is going to explain to me all the questions that I rely on Cassidy to answer. "How do I attach a file to this email again?" and "Where is my other shoe?" and "How many cups of soap do I put in the washing machine?" I have jumped out of helicopters into the North Atlantic and have literally saved lives. Somewhere between then and my marriage to the most amazing woman on earth, I have become a bumbling idiot that needs constant supervision. I am actually terrified of what will happen without her here!
Speaking of terrified...Cassidy and Isabel went for a drive and a walk around Clam Lagoon. This really is nothing unique; it was a beautiful day and they were just enjoying being out. What is unique is the phone message I received when I got out of a meeting. Let me tell you what Cassidy ACTUALLY SAID first; "Honey we went to clam lagoon and got the car stuck in the sand. We are walking on the beach and I thought it would be O.K."
Harmless, right? With the 47 foot range that our cell phones get on Adak, this is what I heard; "Honey, (static)agoon(static)stuck (static)beach(static) not (static) O.K!"
within about twelve seconds I had taken my superintendent's suburban and arrived at Clam Lagoon to find our suburban, Beatrice, stuck in the sand and no wife or daughter. About an hour, a mild stroke, angina, and a severe case of laryngitis later, I found my beautiful family on the road next to town. Isabel and Cassidy had walked the several miles along the beach all the way back to town. A student and her father, along with another student were at Clam lagoon and walked the entire shoreline following their footsteps in search for Cassidy and Isabel. I cannot thank all three of them enough and it speaks volumes for what kind of community we live in.
When I say beach, well. It is a beach for a while. It then quickly turns into cliffs and rocks. Needless to say, Isabel slept well that night. She really is a trooper!
All is right with the world now and our house is filled with laughter. The beatles were right; Love is, in fact, all you need!
I find it ironic that people that I see routinely will not take the time to say "hello" or "How are you?" but will take the time to search, find, print and distribute what I have written in this blog as if it is something so scandalous that it requires secret meetings and a phone tree activated.
Anyway, had a little trouble with the blog. This explains the password and, on a serious note, everything in here is meant to be a humorous depiction of our lives out here on a remote island in the North Pacific. To interpret this as anything else is, in my opinion, ridiculous.
So, despite people being offended and the debacle around here, we still enjoy our life on Adak and are appreciative of the community that we are part of.
Cassidy is heading into Anchorage tomorrow and taking Isabel with her. FOUR days without any assistance here!! Who is going to explain to me all the questions that I rely on Cassidy to answer. "How do I attach a file to this email again?" and "Where is my other shoe?" and "How many cups of soap do I put in the washing machine?" I have jumped out of helicopters into the North Atlantic and have literally saved lives. Somewhere between then and my marriage to the most amazing woman on earth, I have become a bumbling idiot that needs constant supervision. I am actually terrified of what will happen without her here!
Speaking of terrified...Cassidy and Isabel went for a drive and a walk around Clam Lagoon. This really is nothing unique; it was a beautiful day and they were just enjoying being out. What is unique is the phone message I received when I got out of a meeting. Let me tell you what Cassidy ACTUALLY SAID first; "Honey we went to clam lagoon and got the car stuck in the sand. We are walking on the beach and I thought it would be O.K."
Harmless, right? With the 47 foot range that our cell phones get on Adak, this is what I heard; "Honey, (static)agoon(static)stuck (static)beach(static) not (static) O.K!"
within about twelve seconds I had taken my superintendent's suburban and arrived at Clam Lagoon to find our suburban, Beatrice, stuck in the sand and no wife or daughter. About an hour, a mild stroke, angina, and a severe case of laryngitis later, I found my beautiful family on the road next to town. Isabel and Cassidy had walked the several miles along the beach all the way back to town. A student and her father, along with another student were at Clam lagoon and walked the entire shoreline following their footsteps in search for Cassidy and Isabel. I cannot thank all three of them enough and it speaks volumes for what kind of community we live in.
When I say beach, well. It is a beach for a while. It then quickly turns into cliffs and rocks. Needless to say, Isabel slept well that night. She really is a trooper!
All is right with the world now and our house is filled with laughter. The beatles were right; Love is, in fact, all you need!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Welcome friends and family
Thank you for taking the time to log into our blog! Sorry for the new settings but I am sure Tims next posting will provide more info as to why. He always has a much better spin on it all so we'll wait for him : )
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Gas problems, a crazy cat, Glee, and God-Boy
It has been a fairly eventful week for the island of Adak, but a fairly uneventful week for us at the Jones House. The big news on the island is that over 143,000 gallons (that's One Hundred and Forty THOUSAND gallons) were spilled while filling a fuel tank here on the island. It actually wasn't spilled in the traditional sense, it was just the classic case of overfilling the tank. I am guessing this is why you are not allowed to walk away from the pump while filling your car. You know, you might accidentally spill one or two hundred thousand gallons of fuel. So, the coast guard (I always wondered what those guys did?) was out here as well as every environmental agency that you can imagine. Our population grew by about fifty per cent!
Other big Adak news is that the fish plant is due to open very soon. This is a major event that many people have been anticipating for a long time. Apparently there was quite a bit of litigation going on between the previous owners and everyone that the previous owners had ever met. Something weird about having to pay employees and the fisherman made a lot of people very upset, so...the fish plant has been out of commission for quite a while. I grew up on an island that had a "fish plant" (My mother actually worked there one or two summers, God Bless her) and we called it a cannery. It seems every time I use the word "cannery" I am subtely corrected with the term "Fish Plant." I have learned that it is very important to focus on proper nomenclature when dealing with citizens of Adak.
In our exciting lives, it is just back to life as usual (or back to life unusual, to be more accurate). Cassidy and I have been getting up very early to enjoy coffee and talk each day before that child of ours (that has become some hybrid of auctioneer meets Chatty Cathy) gets up and starts bombarding us with questions like "Why do you drink coffee" and "Where does coffee come from" and "Why is Cha Cha orange?" and "Mommy? why is Mommy crying?"
Isabel really has taken off in the curiosity department. It would be nice, however, if she didn't ask three additional questions in the time it takes to respond quickly to the first. As we are explaining what sea otters are, she is asking us what happened to the wrapping paper that her Christmas gifts came in. It truly is remarkable.
Isabel has been taking on more responsibilities around the house. To her credit, for the most part, she does her chores well. An additional duty that she has taken over is the saying of grace before dinner. Although we have tried to instill the basic christian beliefs in our daughter, we feel we have just painted a picture of a super hero that she is anxiously awaiting a full-length animated cartoon to come out. The other night at dinner this was what, to the best of my recollection, was said by our little princess, "Dear God, Thank you for Jesus and all the nice things he does. God-Boy is great and he loves us and loves our friends. Thanks you God-Boy! Amen."
Now, neither Cassidy or myself went to any formal seminary, nor do we claim to be an authority of any type in the fields of Christianity (or any organized or disorganized religion, for that matter). BUT, neither of us could ever remember a "God-Boy" from Sunday schol classes.(there was an Odd-Boy, though)
This particular meal included freshly baked bread by our Isabel. This came about because my wife decided it would be a good idea to make home-made pasta (why wouldn't she, right?). Isabel LOVES helping Cassidy in the kitchen and, since she is four, occassionally the cuteness takes a back seat to being in the way. Cassidy remedied this situation by asking Isabel if she wanted to make her "Own Bread." Isabel, of course, jumped at the chance. So Cassidy quickly gave Isabel a bowl of water and some all-purpose flour. Nothing more, nothing less. When it came time to finish and clean up for dinner, Isabel was ready for her "Bread" to go into the oven. As parents do, we told Isabel that she would have to wait because it takes too long to cook in the oven. Without missing a beat, Isabel said, "I know!" with a huge smile on her face and opened the microwave door. SO...Cassidy and I are seeing Isabel look about as proud as she possible can while she is microwaving her flour and water so we can have bread for dinner. Isabel was nice enough to cut us some big pieces that we could eat with our soup (the soup was delicious, by the way). I bit into that "bread" and smiled as I ate the entire piece and told Isabel what a great job she did. Cassidy, while pretending to eat hers looked at my plate and around my table setting. "What did you do with it?" she asked.
"I ate it!" I replied.
The look of disbelief, compounded by the look of fear that she, too, would have to rise to the occasion (pun intended) was priceless. The bread, well, it wasn't easy to stomach it. But I guess that's part of parenthood, right?
Our geriatric cat, Cha Cha is about as stable as Courtney Love at a Phish concert. This cat doesn't even actually meow anymore. The only way I can describe the sound that this cat makes with accuracy is if someone with a deep voice with marshmallows in their mouth screamed honk at the same pace of the beeping noise a garbage truck makes while in reverse. Only louder. It really is a unique sound that I have never heard replicated. The beauty of this cat is that he decides to unleash this with no cause for alarm. Arbitrarily, he just goes into a marshmallow, deep voice, honking fit. Only louder! This usually occurs somewhere between the hours of 11:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M. True joy.
We have seriously cut down our television viewing. Without cable it is actually quite easy. Cassidy has taken a liking to a show called Glee. For those of you who know what I am talking about and enjoy it, please disregard the rest of this paragraph. For those of you that know what I am talking about and dislike the program, Or have know idea what I am talking about, read on. The only reason this show is called "Glee" is because "A sad attempt at comedy, constantly interrupted by horrible renditions of songs that you once thought were actually tolerable, wrapped up in a horrible story line with annoying characters" wouldn't sound good at the Emmy's. Good Lord, this show makes me wish "Cop Rock" was still on the air. But Cassidy loves it, so, I have to do what any self-respecting man that loves his wife dearly would do; refuse to watch it and think of a show that I like that will annoy her just as much (if that's even possible).
Other big Adak news is that the fish plant is due to open very soon. This is a major event that many people have been anticipating for a long time. Apparently there was quite a bit of litigation going on between the previous owners and everyone that the previous owners had ever met. Something weird about having to pay employees and the fisherman made a lot of people very upset, so...the fish plant has been out of commission for quite a while. I grew up on an island that had a "fish plant" (My mother actually worked there one or two summers, God Bless her) and we called it a cannery. It seems every time I use the word "cannery" I am subtely corrected with the term "Fish Plant." I have learned that it is very important to focus on proper nomenclature when dealing with citizens of Adak.
In our exciting lives, it is just back to life as usual (or back to life unusual, to be more accurate). Cassidy and I have been getting up very early to enjoy coffee and talk each day before that child of ours (that has become some hybrid of auctioneer meets Chatty Cathy) gets up and starts bombarding us with questions like "Why do you drink coffee" and "Where does coffee come from" and "Why is Cha Cha orange?" and "Mommy? why is Mommy crying?"
Isabel really has taken off in the curiosity department. It would be nice, however, if she didn't ask three additional questions in the time it takes to respond quickly to the first. As we are explaining what sea otters are, she is asking us what happened to the wrapping paper that her Christmas gifts came in. It truly is remarkable.
Isabel has been taking on more responsibilities around the house. To her credit, for the most part, she does her chores well. An additional duty that she has taken over is the saying of grace before dinner. Although we have tried to instill the basic christian beliefs in our daughter, we feel we have just painted a picture of a super hero that she is anxiously awaiting a full-length animated cartoon to come out. The other night at dinner this was what, to the best of my recollection, was said by our little princess, "Dear God, Thank you for Jesus and all the nice things he does. God-Boy is great and he loves us and loves our friends. Thanks you God-Boy! Amen."
Now, neither Cassidy or myself went to any formal seminary, nor do we claim to be an authority of any type in the fields of Christianity (or any organized or disorganized religion, for that matter). BUT, neither of us could ever remember a "God-Boy" from Sunday schol classes.(there was an Odd-Boy, though)
This particular meal included freshly baked bread by our Isabel. This came about because my wife decided it would be a good idea to make home-made pasta (why wouldn't she, right?). Isabel LOVES helping Cassidy in the kitchen and, since she is four, occassionally the cuteness takes a back seat to being in the way. Cassidy remedied this situation by asking Isabel if she wanted to make her "Own Bread." Isabel, of course, jumped at the chance. So Cassidy quickly gave Isabel a bowl of water and some all-purpose flour. Nothing more, nothing less. When it came time to finish and clean up for dinner, Isabel was ready for her "Bread" to go into the oven. As parents do, we told Isabel that she would have to wait because it takes too long to cook in the oven. Without missing a beat, Isabel said, "I know!" with a huge smile on her face and opened the microwave door. SO...Cassidy and I are seeing Isabel look about as proud as she possible can while she is microwaving her flour and water so we can have bread for dinner. Isabel was nice enough to cut us some big pieces that we could eat with our soup (the soup was delicious, by the way). I bit into that "bread" and smiled as I ate the entire piece and told Isabel what a great job she did. Cassidy, while pretending to eat hers looked at my plate and around my table setting. "What did you do with it?" she asked.
"I ate it!" I replied.
The look of disbelief, compounded by the look of fear that she, too, would have to rise to the occasion (pun intended) was priceless. The bread, well, it wasn't easy to stomach it. But I guess that's part of parenthood, right?
Our geriatric cat, Cha Cha is about as stable as Courtney Love at a Phish concert. This cat doesn't even actually meow anymore. The only way I can describe the sound that this cat makes with accuracy is if someone with a deep voice with marshmallows in their mouth screamed honk at the same pace of the beeping noise a garbage truck makes while in reverse. Only louder. It really is a unique sound that I have never heard replicated. The beauty of this cat is that he decides to unleash this with no cause for alarm. Arbitrarily, he just goes into a marshmallow, deep voice, honking fit. Only louder! This usually occurs somewhere between the hours of 11:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M. True joy.
We have seriously cut down our television viewing. Without cable it is actually quite easy. Cassidy has taken a liking to a show called Glee. For those of you who know what I am talking about and enjoy it, please disregard the rest of this paragraph. For those of you that know what I am talking about and dislike the program, Or have know idea what I am talking about, read on. The only reason this show is called "Glee" is because "A sad attempt at comedy, constantly interrupted by horrible renditions of songs that you once thought were actually tolerable, wrapped up in a horrible story line with annoying characters" wouldn't sound good at the Emmy's. Good Lord, this show makes me wish "Cop Rock" was still on the air. But Cassidy loves it, so, I have to do what any self-respecting man that loves his wife dearly would do; refuse to watch it and think of a show that I like that will annoy her just as much (if that's even possible).
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Big City, Buffalo stories, Friends, and a whole lot of shopping
After the FAA figured out how to land a plane on a one mile runway, we were able to leave the metropolis that is Adak for a getaway. It was a bit discouraging to have payed for a Bed and Breakfast and not be able to get off of the island right after Christmas, but thanks to the Carr family, our accommodations were outstanding! The aforementioned b&b (I know it is supposed to be capitalized, but I just don't deem this particular establishment worthy of upper case letters) was happy to inform us of their no refund cancellation policy. After a phone call from Cassidy in which I swear I overheard the words "wall-to-wall counseling" they modified the policy to include 50%. Ya, that's right, She is a fierce and determined woman.
We had a great time in Anchorage and as mentioned, the Carr family is AMAZING! Kristin and Ross Carr and their two amazing daughters, Gena and Whitney. Let me give you a breakdown of the family. Ross: Wonderful Father, Outdoorsman and can and has successfully built everything from a house to a computer (no joke). Kristin: Incredible Mother, brilliant, educator, and about as nutty as a 20 lb. Christmas fruitcake (in the coolest, most amazing way). Gena: Brilliant college freshman that always has a smile on her face. I not so secretly hope that Isabel turns out a lot like Gena. Whitney: whitney is a fourteen year-old that shot a buffalo while we were in town. Incredibly smart young lady and will shoot anyone that says otherwise from 350 yards.
I know Kristin through her brother, Tony, one of my oldest friends from my childhood that probably knows me the best (and still accepts me, which is saying somthing). There are moments in my youth that I actually developed a profound fear of how much Kristin was going to make fun of me. I actually believed for a short while that Kristin sat home all day and thought of new ways to humiliate me (in her defense, I actually thought EVERYONE did that for a period of my life). I only mention this because that fear was resurrected and compounded when the realization came to me that Cassidy and Kristin would be in the same room...with...me...in the...same...room. I found a happy place and blacked out during the first few runds of the all too fun game called "Let's relive humiliating events in Tim's life." Things like "Remember when you wore a Tutu to the eighth grade talent show?" and "He looked like a new born foal with his skinny legs and knobby knees" were overheard. It was great. My wife couldn't see my tears of pain and anguish through her tears of laughter. It was great.
Isabel was, of course, a hit with everyone (save for Whitney, perhaps). I fear that we are no longer welcome to enter several homes and establishments in Anchorage if we are "sans Isabel."
Cassidy shopped the etire time we were there and filled her quota for the quarter. It really is remarkable how fast she had the layout of several shopping centers as well as road systems committed to memory.
We did meet up with several other friends while in the big city. First was the Lewis Family and, as always, a great time. Walking into the Lewis house is like walking into Ward and June Cleaver's house. That is, if Ward was a cop. brewed his own beer and June worked and raised seven kids and didn't take any shit from anyone. Other than that, it is pretty much the same. Mitch entertained us with stories of general public stupidity that he gets paid (whatever it is, it isn't enough if you ask me) to deal with on a daily basis. Jeanne is about as genuine a human being that you will ever find. I don't think that anything that has ever come out of that woman's mouth was not one hundred and fifty per cent sincere. Oh! They have seven kids! So, you know, that makes things easy. I have met all but one and it amazes me how incredible and unique each of them are. I have trouble sometimes with Isabel. It's One kid and she is FOUR.
Next stop was the Tsunami warning center to visit Cindi. We met Cindi out here on Adak while she was out here for work and did presentations for the classroom and the community. That place is Amazing and while we were there, an earthquake occurred in Eureka, CA. I don't want to be insensitive or downplay anyone that has been adversely affected by a natural disaster, but when you are sitting in a room that looks like some sort of NASA control center and alarms start going off and monitors with world maps start flashing and graphics are jumping off the screen, well...it is pretty damn cool. Cindi is about the most laid back person I have ever met. She makes Frank Zappa look like Bill O'Reilly. She is extremely good at her job and has more knowledge than anyone should about what I like to call "Earth Stuff" (I apologize to all my earth science teachers throughout my childhood). Isabel had a great time and even got to create a miniature tsunami in a tsunami tank which she is very proud of (pictures will probably be posted).
After leaving the center, we met Erv and his wonderful wife for pizza in Eagle River. I believe I mentioned Erv in previous posts and how we were both in Pararescue, but one of us has a lot more distinguished career in it than the other (hint: it's the shorter of the two). Although I can't compare anything I have done in my life with Erv without some hyperbole going on, I did find one thing we have in common; We both probably don't deserve as wonderful wives as we have. It is always nice and inspirational to see couples that are past the newlywed stage that are still obviously in love with each other. Hell, to be honest, it's nice to see couples that are past the newlywed stage that still talk to each other. Erv has definitely found a diamond in the rough and it was great meeting his wife, Derri.
We made it back to Adak with seven checked bags, three carry-ons and 412 pounds of freight. I mention the freight because one of the perks I get for throwing luggage at the airport twice a week is a freight allowance. Theoretically this is a good thing. In reality, you have to ignore everything you know about common sense. I am allowed 250 lbs. (focus, it's a word problem here) of freight per quarter to be shipped to Adak at no expense to me. Now, a reasonable person would say, "Hey, if we go over the 250 lbs., we will just have to pay the difference. NO! Alaska Airlines can put a 25 ton hunk of metal in the air for sustained flight, but they refuse to tackle the complicated math of subtracting 250 from 412 (it's 162, by the way. It wasn't really a quiz). If you thought Cassidy was pissed at the b&b lady, you should have seen her face when we found out that we had to pay the entire shipment. I just want everyone to know that if I should seem to disappear and with no explanation, you can be certain of two things: 1)I really pissed my wife off and 2) I most certainly deserved it. Hell hath no fury....
We had a great time in Anchorage and as mentioned, the Carr family is AMAZING! Kristin and Ross Carr and their two amazing daughters, Gena and Whitney. Let me give you a breakdown of the family. Ross: Wonderful Father, Outdoorsman and can and has successfully built everything from a house to a computer (no joke). Kristin: Incredible Mother, brilliant, educator, and about as nutty as a 20 lb. Christmas fruitcake (in the coolest, most amazing way). Gena: Brilliant college freshman that always has a smile on her face. I not so secretly hope that Isabel turns out a lot like Gena. Whitney: whitney is a fourteen year-old that shot a buffalo while we were in town. Incredibly smart young lady and will shoot anyone that says otherwise from 350 yards.
I know Kristin through her brother, Tony, one of my oldest friends from my childhood that probably knows me the best (and still accepts me, which is saying somthing). There are moments in my youth that I actually developed a profound fear of how much Kristin was going to make fun of me. I actually believed for a short while that Kristin sat home all day and thought of new ways to humiliate me (in her defense, I actually thought EVERYONE did that for a period of my life). I only mention this because that fear was resurrected and compounded when the realization came to me that Cassidy and Kristin would be in the same room...with...me...in the...same...room. I found a happy place and blacked out during the first few runds of the all too fun game called "Let's relive humiliating events in Tim's life." Things like "Remember when you wore a Tutu to the eighth grade talent show?" and "He looked like a new born foal with his skinny legs and knobby knees" were overheard. It was great. My wife couldn't see my tears of pain and anguish through her tears of laughter. It was great.
Isabel was, of course, a hit with everyone (save for Whitney, perhaps). I fear that we are no longer welcome to enter several homes and establishments in Anchorage if we are "sans Isabel."
Cassidy shopped the etire time we were there and filled her quota for the quarter. It really is remarkable how fast she had the layout of several shopping centers as well as road systems committed to memory.
We did meet up with several other friends while in the big city. First was the Lewis Family and, as always, a great time. Walking into the Lewis house is like walking into Ward and June Cleaver's house. That is, if Ward was a cop. brewed his own beer and June worked and raised seven kids and didn't take any shit from anyone. Other than that, it is pretty much the same. Mitch entertained us with stories of general public stupidity that he gets paid (whatever it is, it isn't enough if you ask me) to deal with on a daily basis. Jeanne is about as genuine a human being that you will ever find. I don't think that anything that has ever come out of that woman's mouth was not one hundred and fifty per cent sincere. Oh! They have seven kids! So, you know, that makes things easy. I have met all but one and it amazes me how incredible and unique each of them are. I have trouble sometimes with Isabel. It's One kid and she is FOUR.
Next stop was the Tsunami warning center to visit Cindi. We met Cindi out here on Adak while she was out here for work and did presentations for the classroom and the community. That place is Amazing and while we were there, an earthquake occurred in Eureka, CA. I don't want to be insensitive or downplay anyone that has been adversely affected by a natural disaster, but when you are sitting in a room that looks like some sort of NASA control center and alarms start going off and monitors with world maps start flashing and graphics are jumping off the screen, well...it is pretty damn cool. Cindi is about the most laid back person I have ever met. She makes Frank Zappa look like Bill O'Reilly. She is extremely good at her job and has more knowledge than anyone should about what I like to call "Earth Stuff" (I apologize to all my earth science teachers throughout my childhood). Isabel had a great time and even got to create a miniature tsunami in a tsunami tank which she is very proud of (pictures will probably be posted).
After leaving the center, we met Erv and his wonderful wife for pizza in Eagle River. I believe I mentioned Erv in previous posts and how we were both in Pararescue, but one of us has a lot more distinguished career in it than the other (hint: it's the shorter of the two). Although I can't compare anything I have done in my life with Erv without some hyperbole going on, I did find one thing we have in common; We both probably don't deserve as wonderful wives as we have. It is always nice and inspirational to see couples that are past the newlywed stage that are still obviously in love with each other. Hell, to be honest, it's nice to see couples that are past the newlywed stage that still talk to each other. Erv has definitely found a diamond in the rough and it was great meeting his wife, Derri.
We made it back to Adak with seven checked bags, three carry-ons and 412 pounds of freight. I mention the freight because one of the perks I get for throwing luggage at the airport twice a week is a freight allowance. Theoretically this is a good thing. In reality, you have to ignore everything you know about common sense. I am allowed 250 lbs. (focus, it's a word problem here) of freight per quarter to be shipped to Adak at no expense to me. Now, a reasonable person would say, "Hey, if we go over the 250 lbs., we will just have to pay the difference. NO! Alaska Airlines can put a 25 ton hunk of metal in the air for sustained flight, but they refuse to tackle the complicated math of subtracting 250 from 412 (it's 162, by the way. It wasn't really a quiz). If you thought Cassidy was pissed at the b&b lady, you should have seen her face when we found out that we had to pay the entire shipment. I just want everyone to know that if I should seem to disappear and with no explanation, you can be certain of two things: 1)I really pissed my wife off and 2) I most certainly deserved it. Hell hath no fury....
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Christmas, Vacation, Airport bike ride, stuck in Adak
So, Christmas came and went. It was enjoyable as always and I say it again; there is no greater pleasure in this world than witnessing pure and innocent joy of a child. Isabel came downstairs and quickly checked to see if Santa had eaten the the cookies and Egg Nog she left out (ya, Santa went for the Egg Nog this year. Still follows the basic traditional structure, right?). The generosity of family and friends kept Isabel busy for a while opening presents. We discussed how we weren't going to spoil Isabel this year and only get one present for her in addition to stocking stuffers. We discussed this at length and weighed the pros and cons of seriously limiting the number of presents that she receives from Mommy and Daddy and Santa. It was decided. ONE present from us. So, after Isabel opened the fifth or sixth present from us, we acknowledged that we have failed and justified each and every gift as "educational" and "Something she can use for years to come" which blanketed our shame for the most part.
The gift of discussion is, of course, her bicycle. To say it is pink is a gross understatement. It looks like Pepto Bismol is doing some sort of cross marketing with children's bicycles. And in case she wasn't pink enough, we topped her off with a bright pink helmet. We immediately walked down to the only pavement that was not covered with snow; the airport. Isabel is slowly getting the hang of riding her bike and although we had images in our heads of her refusing to let go of the bike and calling her back from the end of the runway, she was more entertained with running away from her bike and playing on the taxiway.
Christmas was, by all means, a success. Our 32" Christmas tree still looks plastic and bright and Isabel decided that she was going to give away some books to some other kids for Christmas and that has made us happy (although she made it clear that she is not going to give away the stuff she really likes).
With Christmas break upon us, we are scheduled to go into the big city of Anchorage today. It is with a heavy heart and a great sense of Karma that I announce we are not making it into Anchorage today. The plane was cancelled. It has been cancelled in the past due to extreme weather which is completely understandable. Today, however, the plane is not cancelled due to extreme weather. It is cancelled due to the airline not KNOWING the weather. The weather system that is used to report the weather is broken. In this event, the back up plan is to call the highly qualified weather reporter on the island. It just so happens that the man that can fix the weather station and the man that reports the weather were actually scheduled to return on the plane today. I truly hope that the question of "So how is the plane evr going to land on Adak again?" has popped into your head, because it was my initial response also. We will see what happens, I guess. So I am stuck on an island with an incredibly beautiful woman and an adorable little girl that keeps me smiling. I can't think of a better way to spend Christmas break, actually!
The gift of discussion is, of course, her bicycle. To say it is pink is a gross understatement. It looks like Pepto Bismol is doing some sort of cross marketing with children's bicycles. And in case she wasn't pink enough, we topped her off with a bright pink helmet. We immediately walked down to the only pavement that was not covered with snow; the airport. Isabel is slowly getting the hang of riding her bike and although we had images in our heads of her refusing to let go of the bike and calling her back from the end of the runway, she was more entertained with running away from her bike and playing on the taxiway.
Christmas was, by all means, a success. Our 32" Christmas tree still looks plastic and bright and Isabel decided that she was going to give away some books to some other kids for Christmas and that has made us happy (although she made it clear that she is not going to give away the stuff she really likes).
With Christmas break upon us, we are scheduled to go into the big city of Anchorage today. It is with a heavy heart and a great sense of Karma that I announce we are not making it into Anchorage today. The plane was cancelled. It has been cancelled in the past due to extreme weather which is completely understandable. Today, however, the plane is not cancelled due to extreme weather. It is cancelled due to the airline not KNOWING the weather. The weather system that is used to report the weather is broken. In this event, the back up plan is to call the highly qualified weather reporter on the island. It just so happens that the man that can fix the weather station and the man that reports the weather were actually scheduled to return on the plane today. I truly hope that the question of "So how is the plane evr going to land on Adak again?" has popped into your head, because it was my initial response also. We will see what happens, I guess. So I am stuck on an island with an incredibly beautiful woman and an adorable little girl that keeps me smiling. I can't think of a better way to spend Christmas break, actually!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Christmas Party, School Play, and A new dish
I know that the rat problem has been at the top of your list of concerns over the past week and we appreciate your thoughts. I am happy to announce that the rodent in question last week was disposed of in the typical fashion. Yes, we did what every household that has had to deal with a rat problem would do; throw it out on the yard and watch the symbol of our nation come swooping down and carry it off to wherever it is that Bald Eagles eat rats. Since then the trap has been empty, the cats have been at ease, and Cassidy and I can try to kick this caffeine addiction we have developed by staying up listening to every sound we hear with absolute terror.
In our newly relaxed state, we did manage to make it to the town Christmas party. It was a Christmas party in the sense that people were there and it was certainly around Christmas, but it seemed more like one of those seminar meals you get roped into in an attempt to buy a time share. Basically 100 people sitting in silence eating the side dish that they themselves brought in a not so subtle attempt to avoid the potluck walk of shame. Santa showed up and gave out gifts to the children. It is actually a great program that the VFW of Alaska does by sending out three gifts for every child on the island. Isabel could not believe it when her name was called to go and see Santa on the sled. She got a Barbie and the requisite barbie clothes (God knows she can't be seen wearing the same outfit twice. Especially now with all the crap those Bratz Dolls have been talking lately), and the Aristocrats DVD (because after seeing it 178 times through Netflix, you just have to own it!). She was adorable and I am certain pictures will be posted. In addition to her Santa gifts, my students have taken a liking to Isabel and have given her several gifts. These gifts range from a Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz to a slightly used (and slightly stained) extremely large purple pegasus that comes with its very own distinctive smell of Pall Mall 100's. Take a wild guess at which of these gifts she won't let go of.
So tonight was the all too entertaining school play. Although it concludes what amounts to tens of hours of my time, it is just the beginning of years of therapy and what I am sure will resemble a grand mal seizure every time I hear the words "children" and "play" anywhere in the same sentence. It is going to make going to the park with Isabel an absolute hell. To put it in perspective, imagine giving twenty children costumes, props, and music. Now try to get them to calm down. The ten "older" kids lack any sign of motivation or enthusiasm. The ten younger children, however,......the only way I can describe these children is with a question (if that makes any sense at all); have you ever seen the movie Gremlins? OK! NOT the cute ones!!! The ones that were fed after midnight (or whatever weird rules they had)!!
Cassidy has done her best to get me through this trying time. She is always the supportive one. Even when I want to try stupis stuff. Yesterday, for example, I wanted to go Ptarmigan hunting. For those of you that don't know, Ptarmigan is a bird very much like a grouse or pheasant. Only dumber. After going out with my friend Ti yesterday, I came home with five of these birds. If I could stop my story here just for a little friendly advice....Whenever you move to a new location and try to experience things that have been foreign to you, ASK THE LOCALS!!! I say this because Ti said I should wait to breast out the birds and he would show me "later". I waited long enough to go in the kitchen and grab a knife. I removed each breast of meat with the precision of a surgeon. It was beautiful. It also took me an hour (keep in mind these birds weigh about a pound). When I was on the last one, our neighbor Rhonda and her friend Elaine came over to the garage. I was all smiles and proud as could be with my plate of eight clean breasts of meat that sat on the table. She said with all sincerity, "want me to show you how to do that?" In about, oh, Id say four seconds she had just ripped the entire chest out of the bird. Little known fact; it is a lot easier WITHOUT the feathers. I stood there as humble as could be and explained that I just wasted the better part of an hour pretending I was doing some sort of poultry transplant. They giggled a little and my wife laughed a lot (she always seems to show up at the right time to do that).
Cassidy took some of the meat and used a simple pan-fry recipe. There was nothing simple about the taste, though. DELICIOUS! Cassidy breaded them up or something and had some sort of sauce (I should be a food critic, right?) that tasted so good! I think I will be hunting those little fellers again!
So, just to recap:
1)Our fear of rats has been replaced by a fear that our daughter will get emphasema by way of second hand stuffed pegasus smoke.
2)When given the choice between ritual suicide and organizing a school play, take a lot of time to decide if you have done enough good in your life to be completely satisfied.
3)It seems that no matter what animal is brought into the house (save for the rat), Cassidy can find a way to make an unbelievable meal out of it!
Merry Christmas, Everyone! Thanks for reading!
In our newly relaxed state, we did manage to make it to the town Christmas party. It was a Christmas party in the sense that people were there and it was certainly around Christmas, but it seemed more like one of those seminar meals you get roped into in an attempt to buy a time share. Basically 100 people sitting in silence eating the side dish that they themselves brought in a not so subtle attempt to avoid the potluck walk of shame. Santa showed up and gave out gifts to the children. It is actually a great program that the VFW of Alaska does by sending out three gifts for every child on the island. Isabel could not believe it when her name was called to go and see Santa on the sled. She got a Barbie and the requisite barbie clothes (God knows she can't be seen wearing the same outfit twice. Especially now with all the crap those Bratz Dolls have been talking lately), and the Aristocrats DVD (because after seeing it 178 times through Netflix, you just have to own it!). She was adorable and I am certain pictures will be posted. In addition to her Santa gifts, my students have taken a liking to Isabel and have given her several gifts. These gifts range from a Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz to a slightly used (and slightly stained) extremely large purple pegasus that comes with its very own distinctive smell of Pall Mall 100's. Take a wild guess at which of these gifts she won't let go of.
So tonight was the all too entertaining school play. Although it concludes what amounts to tens of hours of my time, it is just the beginning of years of therapy and what I am sure will resemble a grand mal seizure every time I hear the words "children" and "play" anywhere in the same sentence. It is going to make going to the park with Isabel an absolute hell. To put it in perspective, imagine giving twenty children costumes, props, and music. Now try to get them to calm down. The ten "older" kids lack any sign of motivation or enthusiasm. The ten younger children, however,......the only way I can describe these children is with a question (if that makes any sense at all); have you ever seen the movie Gremlins? OK! NOT the cute ones!!! The ones that were fed after midnight (or whatever weird rules they had)!!
Cassidy has done her best to get me through this trying time. She is always the supportive one. Even when I want to try stupis stuff. Yesterday, for example, I wanted to go Ptarmigan hunting. For those of you that don't know, Ptarmigan is a bird very much like a grouse or pheasant. Only dumber. After going out with my friend Ti yesterday, I came home with five of these birds. If I could stop my story here just for a little friendly advice....Whenever you move to a new location and try to experience things that have been foreign to you, ASK THE LOCALS!!! I say this because Ti said I should wait to breast out the birds and he would show me "later". I waited long enough to go in the kitchen and grab a knife. I removed each breast of meat with the precision of a surgeon. It was beautiful. It also took me an hour (keep in mind these birds weigh about a pound). When I was on the last one, our neighbor Rhonda and her friend Elaine came over to the garage. I was all smiles and proud as could be with my plate of eight clean breasts of meat that sat on the table. She said with all sincerity, "want me to show you how to do that?" In about, oh, Id say four seconds she had just ripped the entire chest out of the bird. Little known fact; it is a lot easier WITHOUT the feathers. I stood there as humble as could be and explained that I just wasted the better part of an hour pretending I was doing some sort of poultry transplant. They giggled a little and my wife laughed a lot (she always seems to show up at the right time to do that).
Cassidy took some of the meat and used a simple pan-fry recipe. There was nothing simple about the taste, though. DELICIOUS! Cassidy breaded them up or something and had some sort of sauce (I should be a food critic, right?) that tasted so good! I think I will be hunting those little fellers again!
So, just to recap:
1)Our fear of rats has been replaced by a fear that our daughter will get emphasema by way of second hand stuffed pegasus smoke.
2)When given the choice between ritual suicide and organizing a school play, take a lot of time to decide if you have done enough good in your life to be completely satisfied.
3)It seems that no matter what animal is brought into the house (save for the rat), Cassidy can find a way to make an unbelievable meal out of it!
Merry Christmas, Everyone! Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Rodents, Guitar, Work, and Curls
So...a lot has happened since our last post and I am sure we will get to it. However, our thoughts right now are still consumed with the idea of at least one (possibly more) rodents living within the walls of our house. Traps have been set and there have been no official sightings, but we at the Jones house are on the defense equivalent of DEFCON 4. Neither of us having had to deal with this issue before are, well...nervous. I have been assured that they are "more afraid of us than we are of them" (yaddi...yaddi...yadda...) but that is the same thing they say about bears and sharks. You only have to spend an hour on Animal Planet to realize that the bears and sharks...not that afraid. At this point, I am certain that if we have to leave the island prematurely, this will be the cause. Musophobia; We have it.
In an attempt to deal with the insomnia that comes with Musophobia I have begun to teach myself how to play guitar. I am on step two of my program and can, without pause or hesitation, identify all components of a guitar and properly hold a pick (that was the intro and step 1) I smoked through that lesson...my free internet tutorial doesn't speak, but if it did, I like to think he would have said something like, "Mr. Clapton? Is that you?" For the next week I am simply learning finger placement and how to play scales. It is entertaining for me and Cassidy does her best to be supportive. She is very supportive, actually, but the problem is that while I am making noise come out of the wooden box on my lap, she is trying to read. I, of course, have to ask her if my scale sounds good every seventeen seconds. She has read the same six sentences eighty-four times. God Bless her!
Cassidy is in her second complete week of work. She is doing an incredible job and truly enjoys working with Logan. I love seeing her at work and we both think it is great for Isabel to be with Rachel and her daughter, Sienna during that time.
Isabel is becoming quite the little reader. She amazes us every day and we are the ones that think the sun already rises and sets on her adorable little head. She can read and write simple words and well on her way. She loves playing with numbers and letters. We are very excited to see where she will be in September when she starts school. I know, I know, EVERY parent thinks that their kid is the smartest kid in the world and I am here to say that we feel sorry for those parents because ours really is.
Isabel went to bed tonight with curlers in her hair that she has been asking about for weeks. Cassidy put them in and we are probably (who am I kidding? DEFINITELY) more excited to see what her hair looks like than Isabel is. Pictures will assuredly follow.
I think it should be mentioned that Cassidy has become what a like to call a "Kitchen Magician" and shows no signs of slowing her magic. Key Lime Pie to die for. Home made EVERYTHING. Tonight she made Spiced Chicken with Barley that was simply amazing. I don't know who the hell Barley is, but apparently he was in there helping. Thanks, Barls!
Until Next week, let us know if you are reading this, will ya?
In an attempt to deal with the insomnia that comes with Musophobia I have begun to teach myself how to play guitar. I am on step two of my program and can, without pause or hesitation, identify all components of a guitar and properly hold a pick (that was the intro and step 1) I smoked through that lesson...my free internet tutorial doesn't speak, but if it did, I like to think he would have said something like, "Mr. Clapton? Is that you?" For the next week I am simply learning finger placement and how to play scales. It is entertaining for me and Cassidy does her best to be supportive. She is very supportive, actually, but the problem is that while I am making noise come out of the wooden box on my lap, she is trying to read. I, of course, have to ask her if my scale sounds good every seventeen seconds. She has read the same six sentences eighty-four times. God Bless her!
Cassidy is in her second complete week of work. She is doing an incredible job and truly enjoys working with Logan. I love seeing her at work and we both think it is great for Isabel to be with Rachel and her daughter, Sienna during that time.
Isabel is becoming quite the little reader. She amazes us every day and we are the ones that think the sun already rises and sets on her adorable little head. She can read and write simple words and well on her way. She loves playing with numbers and letters. We are very excited to see where she will be in September when she starts school. I know, I know, EVERY parent thinks that their kid is the smartest kid in the world and I am here to say that we feel sorry for those parents because ours really is.
Isabel went to bed tonight with curlers in her hair that she has been asking about for weeks. Cassidy put them in and we are probably (who am I kidding? DEFINITELY) more excited to see what her hair looks like than Isabel is. Pictures will assuredly follow.
I think it should be mentioned that Cassidy has become what a like to call a "Kitchen Magician" and shows no signs of slowing her magic. Key Lime Pie to die for. Home made EVERYTHING. Tonight she made Spiced Chicken with Barley that was simply amazing. I don't know who the hell Barley is, but apparently he was in there helping. Thanks, Barls!
Until Next week, let us know if you are reading this, will ya?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
