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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!
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. 
