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February 9, 2010
The Resurrection Trail plans I had didn't go through because of the snow. Luckily, Jon's buddy told him about the Kasilof Ice Races at Decanter Inn. Apparently they're every winter Saturday at noon, but this is the first one I've ever been to.
It was awesome! I love watching vehicles get beat up, flipped, and stuck. They had everything - cars, side-by-sides (again, imagine golf carts. Better yet, see Jon's white Rzr in the pictures!), dirt bikes, and quads - racing on an ice track. The berms were high enough to get the cars high-centered. They also provided a nice little ramp for Jon whenever his Rzr went off the track. We had my whole family out there to cheer him on... even though he only raced against one other guy. Jon's friend ended up flipping his quad over and going off the track. The dirt bikers wiped out at least four or five times. All in all, it's definitely a great way to spend the weekend. If you end up going out to these, though, be sure to pack a lunch (the Inn doesn't serve food) and have $10 handy to park near the track. If not, be prepared to sit in the Inn, raid the vending machine, and have a beer or two while you watch!
February 5, 2010
The ice sculptures in town look amazing! This year they're even set up to advertise for the businesses that bought them (past sculptures were random and sometimes unrecognizable because no one knew what the theme was). Better go look at them soon - with the warm week we've had, they won't last long! The Eskimo sculpture at the Soldotna Visitor's Center also has a face cut-out that could make for some great pictures.
Now that the semester is in full swing, the constant stress is starting to take its toll again. This isn't good, considering I've a compulsive diet (with eating habits worse than the cravings of a pregnant woman) and little extra time. To cope, I've been hitting the gym. I found time by cutting out some of my sleep. This means being at the gym by 6 am, but with my weight fluctuating and the low cost of a student gym membership, I couldn't afford to not go. After all, a new and bigger tush would require new and bigger clothing. Best of all, this has actually helped me focus in class. I'm a little tired after a hard workout, but I'm more thankful that I can finally sit down. Even if it is just to study.
February 2, 2010
As could only be suspected, I went snowmachining over the weekend. Even with the adjustments and new handlebars (that are actually decent for my height), I can not do 'wheelies'. This could be due to my lack of recklessness... one of those weird, seemingly female traits. Guys just don't have the same sense of self-preservation. Driving like a grandma saved me from sinking my sled in Lost Lake, tipping over, and trying pain-inducing tricks. Jon's brother didn't fare so well. With all that pent-up testosterone driving him (his sled was out of commission for 2 weeks while Jon fixed it), he accidentally rode over a 30' drop-off. I almost had the same fate about 2 minutes prior to it... but my 'grandma' senses kicked in just in time. He survived with a few less handlebar controls and a hurt knee.
Even though it was 35 above at Lost Lake, the roads were extremely icy. On the way to the Summit Cafe a dually slid into our lane to give us a scare get us sliding. At the cafe we watched a car rollover while we ate our pie. After the flares were ignited, people were sliding around even more (they'd come around the blind corner going 70 or so, then slam on their brakes when they spotted the flares).
Just a reminder - drive safe out there! All of that chaos even had Jon driving like a grandpa.
January 29, 2010
It's the weekend!
I'm extremely thankful - I need some time to sleep in. My New Year's Resolution of going to the gym 4-5 times a week has, so far, been pretty successful. The only down side is having to be out the door by 6 am and fully armed with a lunch, books, and change of clothes.
There will undoubtedly be more studying and snowmachining this weekend. Still not too sure how much of either, but both are necessary! Jon is still adding the finishing touches to his rebuilt sled. I've got to give him props - he's done a great job. Above are some pics of his new chassis (and Allie, looking neglected). If you can't get out for a ride, the Peninsula Winter Games are going on in town this weekend to keep you occupied (and away from your studies).
Coming this weekend:
Friday: Mayor Carey is lighting the Peninsula Winter Games' cauldron at the Borough Building (5:30 pm). A Midsummer Night's Dream is being performed at the Triumvirate Theatre (in the mall by Safeway, 7 pm, also on Saturday).
Saturday: The kid's Monopoly tourney (10 am, must have already RSVP'd) and Carnival is at the Sports Center (11-4 pm, kids are free but adults are $5). The Food Bank is having a kid's ice cream social and a tour (1-3 pm). FIREWORKS are at the Sports Center, too (6:30 pm)!
Monday: Middle and high school students can start attending Youth Court training at the old Kenai courthouse (6-7:30 pm).
January 28, 2010
After Jon broke his snowmachine, his brother had to one-up him. It was a new 2009 Summit. The sled-breaking is either contagious or some sort of family thing... Now Jon has spent the last week or two fixing sleds non-stop.
Whilst he's been busy, I've been planning out his V-day present! That's right - I actually get this stuff taken care of AHEAD of time! I've rented a couple of cabins on Resurrection Trail for us and some friends. We went up the trail on Saturday to preview the snow - it was slow, but still a blast. There were tons of hikers on the main trail for some reason, so we couldn't get up to a decent speed until we hit the mountains. Everyone took turns showing off while my dad videotaped. Amazingly enough, no one had to be towed out! And Jon pulled off the best stunt ever: a complete 180. His sled went straight up in the air, he spun it around, and then he buried it nose-down into the snow (the center picture is part of the aftermath).
I found out I still can't do wheelies. I went behind a hill (where I thought no one could see me) and tried to pop some. Little did I know, my dad was taping me... watching the video was just sad. It looked like I was trying to hop or stretch and bring the sled up with me. I don't think it ever even came off the ground. BUT that's why I have an awesome boyfriend - he's going to 'fix' me up for wheelies. I'm excited - and if it works out, I'll have some fun pictures to post here soon!
January 19, 2010
Well, Jon's sled is already put back together and he's begging to go sledding. Not a good thing, considering I wanted to get some extra studying in this weekend. But, if the snow calls... then maybe I'll have to take a day off from those plans. Although I really should study...
Any time I get near a computer (to do homework), I end up getting distracted. It's as if the procrastinator in me is overriding common sense. It's the same thing with weekends. I've the best of intentions, but then fun wins and things like studying are overlooked. Lately I've been playing Farmville (I just discovered it over the winter break). But I've also found a few more interesting sites...
For the artist: Susan Mullally - These are photographs and short stories to go with her collection: What I Keep. It's about people and their most treasured items through tough times.
For the parent and kid-at-heart: Curious Pages - This reviews odd, old (one was from 1845) children's books. And brings up the point that parents should always review what their child is reading (Search the page for The GashlyCrumb Tinies or Struwwelpeter - Shock-Headed Peter, for some scary and creepy kids books. They would never allow these in public schools!).
For laughs: The Sleep Talking Man - Vulgarities run throughout this site. This is a collection of one man's nightly tales. All recorded by his amazing wife (I don't think I could put up with someone yelling 'Badgertastic' in their sleep).
January 19, 2010
Snowmachining… one of the greatest distractions when school is in session. Jon and I went to Lost Lake, up the Snug Harbor trail. As a ‘noob’, I’m not as seasoned in the necessities of ‘leaning’ with my sled as I turn. Not more than 15 minutes into the ride I ended upside down on my head, and so did my sled (see the picture on the right). It hurt pretty bad, and to make matters worse my sled landed in a creek. But we just had to keep going, thanks to Jon’s whining.
Jon is a pro compared to me, which is why he loves to show off. About 20 minutes after meeting the creek bed, I watched him race up and down a hill on the other side of V-Max hill. I got the camera out and told him to do it again…
Well, about $2500 later and a call to Craigslist, Jon was at work putting his old engine in a new chassis (the snowmachine ‘body’). When he came down the hill, he picked up too much speed and lost control. He bailed and his sled found a nice little spruce tree. It’s base was 6” across… his sled took it right out and dragged it down the mountain . He lucked out and was able to start his machine afterward, but all the plastics on it were beat up. We’re probably done snowmachining for a few days… It’s a good thing I’ve got school to be occupied with – I don’t think I can afford much more sledding!
January 13, 2010
It's only been the first week of school and I already feel like I'm two weeks behind! The amount of reading involved is, to say the least, overwhelming... I think there's about 250 pages (literally) that I have yet to finish. This is where I start reminding myself that the payoff should be worth it (assuming I can survive this crazy semester).
Aside from schooling, the Kenai Peninsula still has a few fun things to offer. Sherlock Holmes is still in theaters and is definitely worth the money. Jon liked the movie and I loved it (like every other female out there, I'm also a huge fan of Mr. Downey). Otherwise, Caribou Hills just opened up High Country (the Wildlife Refuge), so snowmachining is on my to-do list. I didn't ride my machine (the yellow and black one in the picture) much during break, so more time in easy territory would be great. This trip should be even better than normal because the boyfriend and my relatives are going. Translation: Someone will always be available to get my machine 'unstuck'!
Well, I'll see you back in school next week, hopefully with my sled still intact. 'Til then, it's time to go hit the books...
January 11, 2010
What a wonderful vacation!
It was just enough time to completely forget about any and all school-related issues. Now it's back to the grindstone. I'm not sure if I'm ready for all of this yet, as I just realized that I'm taking all of the five classes that are considered difficult for my curriculum right now. And they're the last ones I need in order to graduate this semester.
Things are bound to go crazy and get stressful.
As always, I have the best of intentions to start out with. I would like to study every day for at least a few hours and then at least an entire day on the weekends... maybe even work ahead! However, such ideas of grandeur usually only last about a month. If I added all that 'study' time in with the little extras of life (work, the 30 minutes it takes to drive to KPC, and the gym) - I technically do not have time to do things like sleep. I realized that this morning when the concept of an alarm seemed to skip my mind. Going all Rambo, I quickly found and 'killed' whatever was making that horrible sound. And woke up an hour late for the gym...
Well, it's back to those books. I suggest you do the same... welcome back!!!
December 11, 2009
Finals are finished! Done! Finito!!!
It was a pretty tough semester, and it's over. Now I'll have three weeks to recuperate by snowmachining and working. I'm pretty sure I passed all of my classes - hopefully everyone else did too! It feels great to have the stress of testing off my shoulders - and to know that the chances of actually failing (which, in my mind, is getting a 'C' or worse) are nil. An even better payoff? Jon's going to fix my snowmachine throttle so we can go to Snug Harbor on Saturday! Great - because just driving it for an easy 20 minutes kills my hand. The kid I bought it from 'modded' it out with a 'racing' throttle. Translation: Giving it what should be a little gas is really giving it full gas. As such, there's no 'slow'.
Well, here's wishing everyone a happy holiday season and a wonderful new year! Be sure to get some play time in and all of the stress of testing out of your system. Take that significant other out on a date! If you don't have one, text your study group or lab partner and meet up. It's time for celebrating!
December 8, 2009
Now that the holidays are really here, it's great to know that all of my shopping is finished! And to know that everything I ordered should (in theory) be getting here before Christmas. Even better - now I can really focus on finishing up with finals.
Finals this time have, surprisingly, exceeded the normal stress levels for myself and my classmates. We are now finishing up the hardest semester of our Instrumentation degrees. Not only are the classes more difficult, but it seems like everyone is taking 18 or 19 credits (roughly 5 classes, and that's not including the labs!) in order to graduate on time. Needless to say, everyone seems excited that we'll finally have some downtime... I may not know everything I should for finals, but I know exactly what I'm doing with the first few days of my freedom. There will be lots of snowmachining, sleeping in, and a date-night with Jon. If he's nice I might even buy! Just kidding -- of course I'll buy. He deserves it. He's had to put up with me and all of the stress I bring home from school. A real trouper. So, a word of the wise to all of you who are romantically involved with someone - do the same! Good luck with finals everyone!!! -- And just remember: You can always retake it.
December 4, 2009
The Christmas tree is up!
We went 'hunting' for the tree the other night. Not sure where to look (actually, just not sure where it was legal to cut), we went to Jon's property. The perfect tree was only 5 feet from his driveway - buried in 3 feet of snow. Jon manned up, thank goodness, and trudged through the snow while I stayed in the truck to keep Allie company. This is the first actual tree I've had in my place since living with my parents!
So we had to buy decorations. And we had to go all plastic - thanks to Allie's fondness for EVERYTHING shaped like a ball. Good thing the tree is only 4 feet tall - AND it's still better than a Charlie Brown tree. Now it's time to focus on finals...
December 3, 2009
Black Friday shopping isn't that great in a small town.
Luckily, I didn't have much shopping to do thanks to eBay and the internet! When I finally woke up, it was 10 a.m. and my family had been out and about since 5. I coaxed Jon out the door, and we hit up the few stores we could think of. Sears didn't have much, but he did get a great deal on a tool kit (normally $350, down to $150). We also hit up Home Depot, Trustworthy, AIH, Sweeney's, and (of course) Fred Meyer. I love Trustworthy - they had tons of great stocking stuffers. Everyone this year is now getting Little Hotties hand warmers, foot warmers, and pocket knives in with their present.
When we finally made it into Fred Meyers, it was crazy. There was just an incredible amount of people crammed into that store... and we didn't even have that much to buy! To make things worse, I didn't bring my phone (it was still lost at that point), so I couldn't ditch Jon to buy him presents. Instead, I shooed him into the next aisle if I found something for him and then hid it in the bottom of the cart. We only found a few items, but nothing we'd picked was on sale. It was time to go home. Then the intercom came on. Apparently, the sale was over and everyone needed to get in line if they wanted to make the sale deadline. Talk about timing.
We were so exhausted afterwards that we missed Kenai's parade and fireworks. But, we survived Black Friday.
Coming this week:
Soldotna's tree lighting ceremony, complete with Santa and hay rides, is at the Fire Station on Wednesday (5:30-7 p.m.). Then on Thursday (10-6 p.m.) and Friday (10-3 p.m.) is the CPH Bazaar in the Denali Room.
November 30, 2009
I love finally having leftovers. It was a little difficult getting them home, though. We had driven over in the Rzr (a side-by-side ATV), which was quite a task considering Jon had brought his pies and a movie while I had Allie (the not-so-little puppy) and a meat platter to balance. I was thoroughly disappointed - I'd been hoping to test out my snowmachine and ride it around during the school break. Definitely not enough snow for that. Instead, we pulled it into my dad's garage and gave it a thorough going over. I bought it used (one of the downs of being in school), and the guy before me had decided to mod everything on his own. Most of the stuff he did was still functional, just... not necessarily right. Example: The oil cap had lost the rubber seal inside, so it wouldn't seal tight. He 'fixed' it by putting a plastic bag over the opening and then tightening the cap on. If that sounds a little odd, you should see the handlebars. Maybe I'll take a picture later..
Overall, Thanksgiving was great. Everyone had a good time. Dinner started at 4 p.m., but some of the family wasn't able to show up until 7 because of work. Needless to stay, everyone stayed up late before the big shopping event on Friday. I was supposed to get a wake-up call, but forgot to tell everyone I'd lost my phone... typical! I slept in past 5 a.m. (I missed out on the pushing and shoving at the store? Oh darn...) and got some wonderfully needed sleep. I hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving too! I'm pretty lucky to be located near most of my family while going to school - I can't imagine having a quiet Thanksgiving.
November 24, 2009
I had the best of intentions last weekend.
Because our Thanksgiving break is coming up, I planned on getting all of my homework caught up - and even getting ahead so I could relax. Then we got the Xbox 360 working.
What a wonderful time waster. We're die-hard Halo fans (an online shooter game), and we aren't usually too terrible at playing it. Completely amazed that we got it working, we updated everything and downloaded new maps. Then Jon and I called my little sister and her boyfriend over and played for awhile (probably 4 or 5 hours), until Jon fell asleep. We called another friend over to take his place. Well, around 2 a.m. Chelsea had fallen asleep and Jon woke up so they traded the controller. There was a hamburger breakfast at 4. By 6:30 (in the morning) we were all asleep.
I woke up first and it was only 10, so I ran into town and picked up some munchies for breakfast. Then, once everyone was awake, we started playing again. We finished up around 4 p.m., but I guess the practice was pretty good. Chelsea needed it - by the end of it all, she had actually started to get points for our team! And it was great stress relief before having to study for finals. This week, though, I really will have to study! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break, everyone!
Coming up this week:
On Friday is Kenai's Parade of Lights - I'm not sure what time it is, but I'd guess around 6 p.m. or later. Afterwards is the SOAR Family Event (at Granite Point Court, by the Kenai Airport), where they'll have food and drinks available before the fireworks start. See you there!
November 20, 2009
We just got a crockpot.
Normally I wouldn't be excited about something like this, but I've been coming home a little early every other day to swing by the drive-through and do a little extra studying at home. Cooking (or the attempt of) takes at least a two hours for me, so it's not even an option. And it doesn't usually taste as good as it should (the picture on the left tasted TERRIBLE, and stayed that funky gray color. Jon actually 'made' this, and he's a great cook so it should have been palatable).
When I bought the slow cooker, I only had a half hour before my next class. I plugged it in, then threw a football-shaped (and sized) chunk of frozen chicken breasts in with some water and a few cut up potatoes. I decided this would be a tester, because the meat looked dry and freezer-burnt. Normally I would've just tossed it out.
Well, it came out edible. Even more amazing - it came out tasting good and I didn't have to do anything. So we ran it again the next day with a chunk of roast beef and a few veggies. Apparently that tasted good too (I'm not a beef fan, but Chelsea and Jon said they both liked it). Overall conclusion: Slow-cookers are amazing. Especially when its the holiday season and school is wrapping up! Our next attempt at making food will involve turkey and ham, and if all goes well we'll bring ham to our Thanksgiving dinner.
Coming this weekend:
Not much going on this weekend! There are a few good movies coming out (Jon doesn't know it yet, but he's taking me to the new vampire one in return for the aforementioned home-cooked meals), and Triumvirate Theater is putting on "Annie" at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Nikiski High School.
November 17, 2009
The Sohi craft fair was pretty cool this year. They had the normal knitting/crochet stuff, but also a little selection of dip samples (with chips), a crystals booth, and even a fur booth. The hats at the fur booth were amazing, although a little crazy (they were basically whole animals - WITH tails, made into hats) and very pricey (~$300). We stayed just long enough for Chelsea to try them all on.
Last night I could have sworn I heard mewing outside. Peeking out the window, I saw a cat sitting on our bench. It was kind of funny - he looked like the cat we had last spring (which ran away, ironically, the day he was to be neutered). The previous night had dropped to 10 below, so we decided to let him in - after all, no one wants to wake up to a frozen cat on the porch.
It was Jack. The same cat that ran away in May. He still had the spiked collar on.
He was fine eating Allie's food, and after some milk he curled up on my lap like he'd never been gone. Then Jon 'introduced' him to Allie. I came out of the battle with a little less blood and a lot more scratches. Needless to say, he found his way outside. It's so weird! He's probably still under the house, which is a little creepy. And according to Jon, I missed out on the dead offering he left on the porch. What to do, what to do...
Coming this week:
Today, stay away from the coffee and sugar until after donating blood at for Sohi (I think they have a donation station set up somewhere in Sohi for the day; otherwise, call 260-5672 and donate in the name of SoHi). Remember - don't pass out or else the blood has to be thrown out, and bring a designated driver in case you get light-headed afterward!
On Thursday there's an Intro to Photoshop presentation at 9 a.m. at the Kenai Library. Please register by calling 283-4378 (it's free). The Peninsula Job Center is having another Resume Workshop, from 1-2 p.m. To attend, you'll need to call 283-2900 and reserve a seat (this is free, too). This is a great time because the holiday season will be opening up more temporary jobs for us college students.
Don't forget - Thanksgiving is just around the corner. If you have extra goodies, be sure to donate! There are several food drives around the community and at the elementary schools right now.
November 13, 2009
Xmas is near!
Now that we FINALLY have some snow on the ground, I'm thinking about the holidays. And getting my shopping list started. As a college student (a.k.a. 'poor'), I take forever to shop around before buying. I've been trying to figure out what to get the parents and sister - it'll either be something extremely useful or something that's just really cool. Lately I've had an affinity for checking out the 'personalized' gift sites. Here are some of my current favorites, although there are no definite winners yet:
M&M's with sayings AND pictures - but they only come in plain chocolate (mymms.com) ~ $40
make-a-shake, build-a-bar, and mix-a-trail mix for the health nuts; see the nutritional info as you build, also personalize the wrapper (youbars.com) ~ $35
Jones sodas with a saying AND pictures - you can even pick to use some of their juices (myjones.com) ~ $30
a personalized Batman towel - yes, it's for little kids and has a built-in Batman mask - yes, I did consider getting it for the boyfriend ~ $68
wine with a personalized label - you pick the wine out and create a label - pretty sure they ship to AK (personalwine.com) ~ $35 to $300, depending on selected wines
If you find something for you and yours, be sure to order soon! These sites are starting to get a lot of orders, and shipping to Alaska always takes forever.
November 10, 2009
Registration came and went.
It's nice to be able to register for classes from my house... at midnight. I, of course, ended up falling asleep. Naturally, my alarm didn't go off. So at 4 a.m. I woke up and had a few moments of terror. Most of the classes I needed were almost full - one (necessary) class was. As such, my graduation date has been moved back a year (rather than next spring, as planned). That's the pits.
For all those in the same boat - be sure to get on the wait lists. Sometimes if there's enough people on the wait list another section can be opened.
To combat stress from this and having two important tests on Monday, I swapped gym equipment with my mom. I've been wanting a treadmill, and I know she hasn't been using hers (or going to the gym. Yes, mom, I know you've been slacking. You should go in the mornings with me!!). I know she enjoys the elliptical - and my days of multitasking on mine are over (I always kicked more butt on Halo when I was on the elliptical). Jon was ecstatic... and I couldn't figure out why until we got the treadmill setup at our house. I have to admit, it's pretty funny to watch a dog on a treadmill. Dog bones have amazing motivational powers.
November 6, 2009
It's already November? Where is our snow???
I remember trick-or-treating and always getting asked what we were supposed to be. No one could identify your character under the winter jacket and galoshes. That obviously wasn't a problem this year. It's a little pointless to have bought a snowmachine when there's no snow - or at least, not enough to go riding on. As such, Jon's been taking me out in his latest and greatest toy, the Razer. We went to Caribou Hills about two weeks ago with my aunts and uncles. It's weird to think that they a had fires there a few years ago. Everything was green, but there were still a few charcoaled trees standing. We had a blast driving around and got to go explore some of the main trails - prepping for the snowmachine season. It was cold enough not to have bugs, but the mud hadn't frozen yet. And of course, we found plenty of mud. We were stuck (okay, Jon didn't get stuck - everyone else did!) for at least an hour. Still, with as much fun as we had, I'd rather have snow.
Coming this weekend:
Friday: CHEMISTRY ONLINE LAB INTENSIVES are at KPC 12-6 (I'll see you there!). The Martin Family Fundraiser at the Grace Brethren Church is having an auction at 6 p.m. (you can donate auction items up until 6 p.m.). The Nikiski Senior Center (and the Soldotna Senior Center) is having a bake sale and bazaar 10-4 p.m. today. HEA's Energy Conservation Fair is at the Challenger learning center at the same time (it will go through Saturday) and is having workshops on state rebates for improving your home.
Saturday: 5-8 p.m. is the Mountain View El. Fall Carnival, with lots to do for the family - it's open to the public and earnings go towards field trips. Most games there will cost $0.50-$1.00. The Soldotna Senior Center is having their bake sale/bazaar/open art show from 10-4 p.m. (I know I post a lot of these, but I loved the last bake sale I went to! The cookies didn't survive the drive home with Jon and I.)
November 3, 2009
I hope everyone had a great Halloween!
We certainly did... We went to check out the Kenai Visitor's Center pumpkin. I thought it'd be a lot bigger than it was - it weighed 319 lbs, so I imagined it being about as tall as I am. It was only about two feet tall.
As Jon and I were leaving, we were told to go pick out a free pumpkin. I thought they'd have mini pumpkins set out, but they had normal 10-lb. pumpkins instead! Ours was donated to my sister's Halloween party. It was a family even and surprisingly fun - all the relatives showed up and we had a little bonfire with hamburgers (and, of course, LOTS of candy).
Coming up this week: The Food Bank is holding several classes on holiday nutrition and fitness. The first one is Tuesday at 2:30. On Wednesday is a workshop for interviews at the Peninsula Job Center. It starts at 1 and you need to register in advance by calling 283-2900. Wednesday is also Financial Aid Night at the Sports Center - be there at 6 p.m.! Thursday there's a resume workshop at the Peninsula Job Center at 1 p.m - again, you need to call in advance and register (283-2900). Lots of great opportunities are out there this week, so be sure to take advantage of them if you're not busy studying!
October 30, 2009
Happy Halloween!
This will be my second year of not trick-or-treating (my little cousin thinks he's 'too old' now, so I won't be going), but I'll still be dressing up! No idea what I'll be yet or exactly what our plans are, but I'll think of something. Allie, as you can see, already has her costume picked out.
Looks like the second set of tests are coming up here! I know for all of us Process and Instrumentation Technology folk we will be having ALL of our tests within these next two weeks (it seems like I just said that last week). Also, as a reminder, the online chemistry labs will be held here at KPC next Friday and Saturday. Better be there (or else you'll fail). Here's what's going on in the community that's family-friendly and sugar-loaded for the weekend - perfect for destressing:
Coming this weekend:
Friday: 10-4 p.m. Joy Falls will be carving a giant 300 lb. pumpkin at the Kenai Visitors Center. 6-8 p.m is the Community Harvest Festival for elementary kids at the Kenai New Life Church (I think that's the correct name; it's across from the Challenger Learning Center).
Saturday: 11-4 p.m. Kenai Visitors Center is displaying their giant, carved pumpkin and giving away free smaller ones. 2-5 p.m. is the Kenai Elk Lodge free Halloween carnival with a costume contest at 4:15 for the kids. 6-8 p.m. at the Grace Lutheran Church is their version of an Oktoberfest that's kid-friendly with a German village theme, bratwurst, and polka (they mentioned that they don't want any 'wicked' costumes, so please keep your kids appropriate!).
Trunk or Treats: Looks like there will be two this year! 5-7 p.m at the Kenai Christian Church (they'll have hot dogs as well as macaroni and cheese) and 5-8 p.m. at the North Cohoe gravel pit. This once being monitored by the Kasilof Fire Department, with hot chocolate and marshmallows (better directions: North Cohoe Road at the Firewise Slash Pit/Gravel Pit).
October 27, 2009
If you haven't started looking at those class schedules, do it soon! Registration for the spring semester opens up at 12:01 a.m. next Monday morn. You'll be able to tell who did or didn't get their required classes by all of the bright eyes and bushy tails (or the lack thereof).
Hope everyone had a good weekend - I know I did! I got a ride down to Seward with my parents. We got some food, checked out the harbor, and I drove back in my new(er) car.
It has an autostart. I'm completely stoked about getting snow now. We've actually had snow at least three times in the past two weeks, all around four in the morning (Allie's "I-need-to-find-a-tree-NOW" time). My dad reminded me this would be a good time to get the tires changed over (onto steel studs; if you've got aluminum studs like me you might wait until there's some snow on the ground first). The mom also reminded me to get my "emergency snow gear" together in case I make an Anchorage trip... so now I've got a hat in my car. Maybe when we actually get snow that stays I'll throw some gloves in too...
October 22, 2009
Jon got it in his head that spruce hen was better than steak (from the guys at his work). So of course we had to go hunting last weekend before he left.
I've never been much of a hunter. Animals are cute and cuddly, so why would I want to eat them (it's different with chicken and bacon - they come from the store... I don't have to think into it any more than that)? That being said, I've never gone hunting and never 'caught' anything. The handful of times I have caught fish, I've been lucky enough to magically find them as fillets the next day (thanks dad!).
So I got to hold Allie's leash. It was a good trade-off, because I got some extra sleep in.
Jon got his bird on the first shot. Allie didn't take any notice until I put her right in front of the dead hen. She went crazy.
It wasn't that great. Probably due to the psychology of the matter. The bird was still warm when Jon cleaned it, which freaked me out (he told me all about it while cooking). It still looked like a bird the couple of times I peeked outside to watch him clean... so Allie may have found my portion in her dish (while Jon wasn't looking).
Coming up this weekend:
Friday: Sports swap at the KCHS cafeteria (4-7:30 p.m., also Saturday from 9-2 p.m.). From now until the 30th you can also sign up to be a mentor for the Kenai Middle School (they'll be doing background checks; it'll require 30-40 minutes, once a day per week beginning in May). E-mail mmanuel@kpbsd.k12.ak.us for more info.
Saturday: There's a lot going on! Nikiski North Star Elementary is having their fall carnival (2-5 p.m.). The Soldotna Sports Center is holding the Chamber of Commerce's pie and dessert auction (5 p.m., you need to buy tickets at the door to get in). The Redoubt Homemakers are having their home-made goods and treats sale at the Nikiski Fire Station #1 (9-5 p.m.).
October 20, 2009
One of the nice things about being in college is the ease in which you can find a roommate. I've always rented apartments with other people. I've been through the good, the bad, and the downright weird in terms of roommates. Right now, the boyfriend and I are renting a cabin from my parents. It works out great - we split the utilities, take turns getting groceries, and even do some of the necessary chores (like the dishes. The next place I rent will DEFINITELY have a dishwasher - and I don't mean Jon).
I can't imagine renting an apartment alone. The quiet might be nice for studying, but it's nice to come home and know that there's someone to hang out with (sure, Allie's great company, but she's getting sassy). That, and we split the utilities. Last year our monthly gas bill (our heat bill) hit $300! It may not sound too terrible, but that's my half of the rent right there. That'd be pretty painful to be hit with alone - especially when you're on a strict college budget.
I got to thinking about all of this because I miss Jon. It's only been three days since he left for Texas. He finishes training there on Friday, but it's still weird to come home to just a puppy.
It also sucks to know that there's just me to clean up after her...
Coming this week:
Tuesday and Wednesday, from 5 until 9 p.m., there will be a winter gear swap at the little log cabin by Sterling Elementary. This is great if you (or the kiddos) grew up a little over the summer.
Friday at 7 p.m. the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Building will have a presentation on rock gardens and alpine plants (I know my mom will be interested in this).
Friday and Saturday night there will be a dinner to support the Kenai Library. It's $100 per ticket, which gets you dinner for two and a chance (of 16 in 300) to get your money back - and a little extra. Call the library for tickets!
October 16, 2009
The good thing about midterms? They give you an idea of what your finals will look like and a clue to what your overall grade in the class could be. The best part about midterms? They're done!!!
Regardless of how I did on these past few tests, it feels great just to know they're finished. The stress of skipping the gym, 4 a.m. study halls, being over-caffeinated, and staying up past my bedtime (again, to study) is now gone. The odd hours came in handy for Allie, though. She must've picked up on my stress and started a little eating disorder (she figured out how to raid our trash). This of course changed her bathroom habits, and in one night alone I was up cleaning 3 (yes, THREE) messes. Between 1 and 2 in the morning. Definitely not fun - especially since she sometimes gets to sleep on the bed. Yes, puppies are cute. But they leave such terrible things behind...
Which brings up another great thing about the end of midterms - now that they're finished, I have enough time to give Allie a bath and clean up the house (I am, sadly, completely ecstatic about this). Yep - getting back into the normal school routine with normal sleeping hours sounds wonderful right now.
Coming up this weekend:
A book signing and slideshow for A Long Trek Home (based on a trip from Seattle to the Aleutian Islands) is at the Kenai Library, 6 p.m. this Friday.
On Saturday is a Christmas craft fair at the Kenai Senior Center (10-5 p.m.), and SoHi is having a Health Fair with blood draws/testing (remember to fast if possible; no caffeine!) from 9-2p.m.
If you're looking for to do some volunteering, AARP is looking for local tax aides. They'll provide some study material in preparation for helping out between February and April. This could be a great opportunity for any business or computer-based students to build their resume! Contact janwatson2000@yahoo.com for more info.
October 13, 2009
Well, it's still midterm season. And - if you have noticed - everyone is getting sick. Legitimately so! The boyfriend is sick at my house, my little sister is sick with something else at my parent's house, the boyfriend's buddy has strep throat... and people everywhere are coughing. As I was running into the store for vitamin C supplements and Theraflu (not for me, mind you), the radio announced that 76 kids have already died from the swine flu. That freaked me out a little. Once inside the store, everyone was hacking up a storm. I could just imagine all the little germs floating around the store baskets, carts, boxes, fruit, veggies... yeah. Needless to say, I stocked up. I now have enough hand sanitizer and vitamin C supplements to prevent illness in this household until...March.
I know midterm season has everyone desperate to attend class. I saw one kid coughing up a storm - not covering his mouth - and pretty much aiming his germ spray at EVERY single table in the room (LITERALLY). And he had to, naturally, sit in the middle of the class so that he could get everyone who sat next to him sick.
I only mention this as a heads up. The school has those disinfecting wipes sitting around classrooms for a reason. If you're not sick, use them. And if you're already sick, you'll be doing yourself and everyone else a favor cleaning up after yourself. Or by skipping a lecture or two (you can always copy the notes from a friend later). Take a break, study up on your own, and drown your sorrow in some OJ (and chicken noodle soup).
October 8, 2009
Now that midterms are officially here...
It’s time for everyone to start studying! Study groups are the best - as long as everyone can stay focused. There's always that one kid, though. You know - the one that whines a lot, is convinced they're always right, and has the attention span of a goldfish. Well, if you think they're intending on being at the study group - go prepared for the mental abuse. And bring candy or something sugary so they'll keep somewhat quiet. I only mention this because I know it works on me.
With several large projects due and tests coming up next week for the Process Tech. and Instrumentation folk, I doubt anyone will have an eventful weekend. I'm prepared for the worst.... which in my case, would involve waking up at 4 every morning until some of my larger projects are finished (or just until they're due... hopefully they'll be finished on time!). Yes, I've been slacking a little. But I'm also a new mom (ha - I just got a puppy, but I *feel* like a mom. Kudos to you real moms out there attending school!), have a boyfriend sick with a cold, and have been out of town for the past few weekends.
With so much going on, its been getting more difficult to find motivation to keep up. So I've been going through the class syllabi. They'll tell you just how well you do (or don't) need to perform on upcoming tests in order to keep a decent GPA. Or in my case, they'll tell you mapping out Big Blue is worth 10% of your grade (that's right, all you PRT 230 people! Big Blue by itself is 10%; the next set of labs is only worth an additional 5%. Scary, huh?). Good luck keeping up! Just two more weeks (or so) until all the midterms are done and it's back to the same old homework routine. And the occasional fun-filled weekend.
October 6, 2009
Getting older loses its fun once you're considered an adult. Suddenly, the latest Barbie set isn't so cool and Hot Wheels are just something you feed to your younger siblings. Things that are sparkly and completely frivolous are looked at as oddities that take up large areas in small rented spaces... while things that are of common, everyday use are welcomed. Needless to say, I've gotten pretty accustomed to the endless supply of candles and lotions that come with birthdays. So when my boyfriend urged me to go look in his truck, I was expecting something useful. He'd ditched me for an hour at the mall to go birthday present hunting. Prepped and ready, I opened the door knowing it would be snowmachine parts. Which parts, or where exactly they went to on the sled, I had no idea. But I knew I needed to act surprised...
I found a puppy.
Previously known as Indigo, her name is now Allie. Jon picked her up from the Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue adoption station in Petco. According to her background papers (she actually came with a basic dog owner's manual, a personality profile filled out by her foster parents, and vaccination/microchip records), she's from Aniak and is considered a 'village husky' (whatever that means...). While we already have our differences - she prefers the carpet, while I think she should be using a newspaper - we get along great. Especially because she's soft. And cuddly. And perfect for warming up the bed when it's getting cold outside.
October 1, 2009
Kenai's Library recently hosted a webinar (web-based seminar) on resume writing. Barbara Safani, author of Happy About My Resume, was the main speaker and had some great tips. So... I took notes. I figured this might be good information to post, seeing as how we're all in college to get degrees... and thus get jobs.
Stay focused: You're trying to tell others why you are good at what you do. Basically, you're marketing yourself.
Contact info: Include a professional e-mail address (ie. john_doe@whatever.com instead of ilikepizza@whatever.com This tip reminded me of my sister!) and be sure the contact phone number has an appropriate message recorded.
Don't use 'objectives'. Instead, make a professional headline for the type of work you do (ie. Financial Services. In college to get a job in this category? Use 'Career Focus: Financial Services'). Under this can be a list of core competencies or a summary of job-related accomplishments.
Keywords: Check the job posting for suggested keywords or required abilities to include in your resume. Apparently many companies have a computer scan resumes for specific keywords before they accept them for human review.
College Students: Include your GPA if it's above 3.5 (for engineering and other technical focuses, include it if above 3.2). Make a separate section for applicable classes (ie. Areas of Knowledge: [short list of applicable classes]). Only discuss school achievements, internships, hobbies, and volunteer work if it is applicable to the job you are applying for.
If you returned to school for a career change, put your new educational experience first on the resume, and your past work experience after it.
Put your graduation dates down, even if you are worried about an age bias (rather than keep them guessing at how old you are, this helps to establish a trusting relationship with the resume's readers).
When describing previous jobs, don't make a task list. Write a short paragraph.
Length: 1-2 pages. Try to fill the full page (1.25 pages looks 'unfinished').
September 29, 2009
One of the nicer things about KPC is the schedule. We've got enough time off for summer's fishing and camping, then just enough time to do a little snowmachining around the holidays. The only unpleasant aspect about the timing is that it doesn't coincide with everyone else's school schedules. Slowly, out-of-state friends are trickling back... just in time for my quarterly testing!
My friend Tina came visiting last weekend from Seattle, and we were able to grab a few friends from Anchorage to hang out. Apparently if you have enough people, anything's fun. We ended up playing pool, listening to the worst karaoke singers ever, and wasted a lot of quarters on a lot of arcade games. If you're of age, going to the 406 is perfect for this stuff. If not, there's the billiards hall over by Katina's restaurant. At either place, you're bound to get a pool table - without having to put quarters down (which, as Tina found out last time, means you're playing the winner for temporary 'ownership' of the table. So remember to NEVER take someone else's quarters off from a table, because they definitely did not leave them there for you to keep...).
As much fun as slacking off is, I still had to play catch up with homework and studying. Testing season hurts when you're taking several classes - I have homework due in all of them and still have 3 tests next week. Sounds like my gym time is going to have to suffer...
Good luck to all of you and your testing!
September 25, 2009
Honesty is the best policy... today's theme.
One of the nice things about a small town is that the folks in it still abide by small-town rules. Someone bumped my truck today. The note on my windshield told me so. After reading it, I checked out the damage and honestly wouldn't have known it was a 'new' bump - it seemed to match all the old ones. So of course I wasn't upset and there was nothing to be settled. If I had a newer vehicle, then maybe something would have had to be worked out. Back to the point - the person who bumped me cared enough to leave personal info behind and try to right the wrong. After living in a city, you really notice and appreciate this sort of thing. My car had been doored (bad enough to get me wondering who I'd ticked off) 3 or 4 times in UAA's parking lot and there was NEVER any apology or note left behind.
And once I got home, someone had opened my mail. The envelope had a little note written on it: "Sorry I opened. Put in wrong box and didn't look before opening." This was a better example of honesty, though, because my unused checks were in the envelope (all there and untouched). If local vendors would check IDs more often this wouldn't even have been an issue. And again, I have to think back to if I were in Anchorage... where one of my old roommates ended up a little deeper in debt after he had a checkbook stolen (by a 'friend'!).
Just another perk of being in a small town.
Coming up this weekend: Today (friday) at 6:30 p.m. is a healthcare discussion in the KPC commons (it's a potluck - bring some food!).
There's also a garage sale held by TOPS at Katina's Restaurant (next to Sharp's Billiards in Kenai). AND today is the last chance to check out auction items for the borough.
Saturday at 10 a.m. the borough auction starts. At 2 p.m. the Kenai Library is having a 60th anniversary party - bring the kiddos because there will be cake!
September 21, 2009
Geocaching: A "treasure"-hunting game that requires a GPS.
Well, the geocaching event wasn't as great as it sounded. Apparently this was more of a children's event, or so we gathered by the couple of cars loaded with kids. Yes, I normally would have gone in regardless, but my partner was already embarassed. Heading out for our own geocaching event, we went for coordinates by North Star Elementary I had printed off earlier.
We failed. Miserably. I found a new feature on his GPS (he's had it for 3 years and STILL doesn't know how to use it?) that should have made things easier, but instead we ended up driving in circles for 20 minutes. We never found the treasure box. But that may be partially due to a lack of enthusiasm on my part... it seems that there are things like spiders that live in trees and fireweed and like to climb on my jacket. Also, some of the local wildlife wasn't too friendly - and could run faster than I. Thus, the pictures of its rear. Apparently they don't like chocolate cupcakes, either, so don't waste yours by enticing it like I did.
All of this excitement leads me to wonder what 'normal' students do with their weekends. I know my sister and her beau usually end up doing dinner and a movie, and that's about it. Me and mine usually end up doing something outdoorsy (then when I get cold or bored, I use the homework excuse - it works wonders). Maybe we'll get a little entertainment in Anchorage this weekend...last I heard, we were stocking up on parts. This trip may have something to do with breaking Rhinos and fixing snowmachines.
Coming up this week: Saturday at 10 a.m. is the borough's public auction! I've never been to one, but I'm sure it's amusing. The public 'inspection' will be friday from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m., on East Park Avenue (behind the borough building).
Wednesday is the last day to register for a resume workshop offered by the Kenai library. The workshop is to take place 9/30 from 8:45 to 10 a.m. This should be a great opportunity for us KPC students - we're all going to school in order to get jobsl! Call the library for more info.
September 18, 2009
Another week down - just 11 more to go! Yeah!!!
I finished up both of my tests and feel surprisingly confident. Either they were easier than expected, or I was just too prepared (OR I failed. But let's stick with the positive thinking). Even managed being the first one out of the computer test - which technically makes me a geek, considering there were some so-called gurus in there...
That's okay. I made up for the geekiness last weekend with some mudding (see pics from previous post). Oddly enough, Graycliffs (by Captain Cook park) was packed with hunters and their stealthy new wheelers. None of us knew it was a popular hunting area. Unfortunately for the game-bound, we were only there for mud. And to be loud and break things. I'm sure the hunting was great when we left...we were flushing all sorts of animals out of the brush by just racing along the trails. There were a couple of moose calves, a baby black bear, and tons of spruce hens.
Over the years, I've found that boys like to break things. Sometimes I think it's a goal. So, when we go 'mudding' we're actually going out to see how many times we can get stuck until something breaks. This was a very eventful trip: we had two flat tires (from the SAME tire), both vehicles overheating to the point of nearly losing antifreeze, and both vehicles running on fumes for the last 3 or 4 miles (apparently guys don't like to carry extra cargo, like gas jugs). I'm amazed out how well tire plugs work - and how big tire holes can get when you decide to go at high speeds over sharp rocks. It took about 9 plugs in order to get to the parking lot.
This weekend should be nice and slow. After being hungry (like gas jugs, food just takes up cargo space), frozen, soaked by rain, drenched with mud, and stuck in the same gross clothing for 10 hours (Literally.), I'm feelin' it.
September 15, 2009
Good morning, KPC! I'm your new student blogger, Krystin.
Over the next year I'll be providing you with random thoughts and updates in relation to KPC, the great outdoors, and life. Hopefully these thoughts won't be too quarrelsome, but if they ARE... well, deal with it. Or send me an e-mail! I'll actually be checking my student e-mail (iskhh1@uaa.alaska.edu) this year, and will be open to receiving any comments, questions, or concerns. If it's interesting, I may blog about it. If you're lucky, I might even reply! ...Just kidding (I *will* reply). But enough about you, since you probably don't know me. I'll introduce myself.
Born and raised in Soldotna, I've been at KPC for the last year or so and am currently working on getting an Associates in Industrial Process Instrumentation. And then in Process Technology. And then Computer Electronics. If any of you remember me from my 'past life' in high school or UAA (I was there for two years) - yes, this IS quite a change! Soldotna High School was a wonderful experience and I graduated in 2005. UAA was a nice way to break into the 'real world', but work and life priorities quickly overtook my school priorities. This led to a burnout. After a break, my dad randomly suggested attending a Process Technology orientation at KPC. The orientation left me intrigued and more than a little curious... I couldn't help myself. I enrolled.
After enrolling at KPC (and surviving the first semester) I found that learning could still be fun (and challenging, yes, but mostly fun).
So here I am. I work a little, I study a little more, and I play - but only on the weekends. Play time is limited due to school... and due to concern for my own sanity, as weekends tend to be rough. Like last weekend... which I'll discuss in more detail on friday (with pics!).
Coming up this week: Testing begins! I have two tests, and am already nervous. So study up and check ahead to make sure you don't have any tests catching you off guard.
Tuesday at 7 p.m. there is a sustainable building talk here at KPC (it will be in the commons, last I heard). Some of the information may apply to residential buildings, so it may be beneficial to those soon-to-be (or those already there) homeowners.
Saturday at 10 a.m. there is a Geocache Contest at the Nikiski Rec. Center. I'm a closet geek, and as such am planning on going. This is a Bring Your Own GPS event, and if you've never heard of a geocache, then visit www.geocaching.com. In this small community, it's one of the few free sources of entertainment available!
Also, UAA graduation applications were due yesterday (9/14), but KPC applications aren't due until November. If you're a KPC student, you're still safe and probably freaked out over nothing... I know I did!
It's only been the first week of school and I already feel like I'm two weeks behind! The amount of reading involved is, to say the least, overwhelming... I think there's about 250 pages (literally) that I have yet to finish. This is where I start reminding myself that the payoff should be worth it (assuming I can survive this crazy semester). 
It was just enough time to completely forget about any and all school-related issues. Now it's back to the grindstone. I'm not sure if I'm ready for all of this yet, as I just realized that I'm taking all of the five classes that are considered difficult for my curriculum right now. And they're the last ones I need in order to graduate this semester. 
The Christmas tree is up! 
The Sohi craft fair was pretty cool this year. They had the normal knitting/crochet stuff, but also a little selection of dip samples (with chips), a crystals booth, and even a fur booth. The hats at the fur booth were amazing, although a little crazy (they were basically whole animals - WITH tails, made into hats) and very pricey (~$300). We stayed just long enough for Chelsea to try them all on. 
I remember trick-or-treating and always getting asked what we were supposed to be. No one could identify your character under the winter jacket and galoshes. That obviously wasn't a problem this year. It's a little pointless to have bought a snowmachine when there's no snow - or at least, not enough to go riding on. As such, Jon's been taking me out in his latest and greatest toy, the Razer. We went to Caribou Hills about two weeks ago with my aunts and uncles. It's weird to think that they a had fires there a few years ago. Everything was green, but there were still a few charcoaled trees standing. We had a blast driving around and got to go explore some of the main trails - prepping for the snowmachine season. It was cold enough not to have bugs, but the mud hadn't frozen yet. And of course, we found plenty of mud. We were stuck (okay, Jon didn't get stuck - everyone else did!) for at least an hour. Still, with as much fun as we had, I'd rather have snow.
Happy Halloween! 
![Yes, we're incredibly dorky. But it makes us [almost] photogenic. A collage of our summer.](f2009blogimg/blog11.jpg)
One of the nice things about a small town is that the folks in it still abide by small-town rules. Someone bumped my truck today. The note on my windshield told me so. After reading it, I checked out the damage and honestly wouldn't have known it was a 'new' bump - it seemed to match all the old ones. So of course I wasn't upset and there was nothing to be settled. If I had a newer vehicle, then maybe something would have had to be worked out. Back to the point - the person who bumped me cared enough to leave personal info behind and try to right the wrong. After living in a city, you really notice and appreciate this sort of thing. My car had been doored (bad enough to get me wondering who I'd ticked off) 3 or 4 times in UAA's parking lot and there was NEVER any apology or note left behind. 
Well, the geocaching event wasn't as great as it sounded. Apparently this was more of a children's event, or so we gathered by the couple of cars loaded with kids. Yes, I normally would have gone in regardless, but my partner was already embarassed. Heading out for our own geocaching event, we went for coordinates by North Star Elementary I had printed off earlier. 
