Early Memorial Day BBQ

Friday night we decided to go on a picnic. We headed out towards the Chena Hot Springs in the Willy's and found a little turn off that looked like no one had driven down for a while...it was a good thing we were in the Willy's because it was a tight fit and there were lots of branches scratching against the Jeep. The little road led straight to the bank of the river. We had made a few kabobs and marinaded some chicken, and it was super tasty.

Alaska is so beautiful! It is fun to have the sun up all the time. After we were there for a while we saw this beaver, named Clyde...he was having lots of fun swimming and waddling on shore.

My Weekend

I went to my new job a few times last week and I am not convinced that it is the right place for me. Only because the boss woman is crazy, and I am really worried that either it will be a scheduling nightmare...that she will not get the dates and times correct and I'll spend all my time finding coverage, or covering the shifts anyways or just leaving all my co-workers hanging, and I don't like any of those option. Or she is just crazy, maybe on Meth (seriously!) and I'll get screwed out of money or something terrible will happen. So I'm going a couple more times...then I guess I'll see what I want to do....but I am keeping my options open.

I planted some flowers, now I need to get a jug to haul water just for my plants. I am excited about growing something...especially here in Alaska the flowers grow like crazy because it is light all the time.

I'll have more updates tomorrow...I just forgot the camera to upload pictures.

Morning Star Ranch

I got a Job today...I think.

I went to turn in this application and the receptionist was kind of weird...probably because I said I was seasonal. (For those who don't know, I work with people with disabilities and currently have a position waiting for me in Anchorage.) They didn't have any positions available, but I left my application anyway. When I turned to walk out I heard a woman kinda whisper..."follow me down the hall" then turned to talk to the receptionist in a normal tone.

It was kind of weird and I wasn't sure she was even talking to me. But I hesitated and waited for her to finish her conversation. Once we walked down the hall way a bit she looks back to make sure we are out of ear range or sight of the receptionist and continues to whisper "so you're looking for a job huh?"
It was like she was selling drugs or something...Then she says

"I'm looking for summer employees, but I'm with a different agency...let me get your name and number"

She seemed like the type of woman who has a millions things going on and they are so busy and scatter brained they barely remember what they were saying two seconds ago. Anyways, she told me where the group would be meeting, gave me directions, and told me when to meet her there. I wasn't sure if I was going to meet them to interview or just pick up an application, maybe just do a meet and greet. I didn't know but I didn't have any other options so

I showed up today and after waiting for a few minutes at her side she finally asked if I was in a hurry, I told I had all afternoon. She then said
"okay great! Then you are on the clock, go mingle with everyone."

ummm... Okay?

Before I could get another word in she was busy doing something else.

So I wandered over to the crowd of employees and clients and start talking to one of the employees...

Then I realized, I don't know the name of this "Agency" I don't know how much I am getting "paid"...I don't know if this woman is going to work with my schedule or if I am what they need...none of that.
So I started talking to one of the other employees then finally confessed. "I don't really know what is going on. What is the name of this group or agency?"

But luckily things turned out great. The program is an agriculture/recreational based program, so they have a farm a little ways out of town they do horse back riding, farm chores ect. They also do all sorts of activities in the community, and every Friday they go to the Chena Lake...for a BBQ.
I also get paid only $1 less than my other job.
She is super flexible...and willing to work with my random schedule.
So folks,
I got a summer job!

House Warming Gift

This morning I was outside reading my book on our porch while I was waiting for Jed to come home. Our neighbor (I think our outhouse neighbor) stops his truck in front of our cabin and hops out to introduce himself. A gentlemen in probably his late 40's who introduced himself as 'Bud'...and he looked just like someone named "Bud".

So he asks where we come from and chats for a minute then he says

"He I picked up some benches at the Transfersite this morning...you want one?"

The transfersite is like the dump...I've never been there, but people just drop off junk, and you can pick up whatever you want.

Some call it the "Mall".

I think I'd call it dumpster diving.

Well he didn't really take my "no, thank you" for an answer. Then when he pulled it out of the bed of his truck. I really tried hard not to laugh...he didn't mention it only had TWO legs! But he was so excited about them and it made me laugh. He said we could prop it up with some wood or take it camping or whatever.

It's my first house warming gift!

When Jed got home he had the most confused look on his face when he saw a bus bench with only two legs. I could tell that he was wondering how I found something like that and Why in the world would I bring it home...
We both laughed every time we looked at it...but then we started brain storming what we could do with it! I think it might be our new couch...or the back seat to Jed's jeep Willys, either way I think it has made it's home with us!

While he is sleeping

On Friday Jed and I rode our bikes to campus then all around town. (National Ride Your Bike to Work Day) We stopped at this little 'Falafal' place, it is just a little shack and it is ALWAYs busy. There are always people waiting in line. We had no idea what a Falafal was...but it was delicious. It's some middle eastern food. There are like meatballs...only made out of chickpeas...then stuffed in a pita with hummus, and I think some type of yogurt, jalapenos and all sorts of stuff. Later that evening Jed took me on a date for Thai food. It was a diverse food day.

So today is Sunday...Jed made it partly through Sacrament meeting before he started dozing off...I don't blame him. He works 12 hour graveyards. I took him home after Sacrament meeting and went back to catch the rest of church. I ended up sitting in the foyer and met a two really fun sisters in the ward.

Courtney asked what do I do while Jed is sleeping. hmm...Good question! Sunday's are the worse days, because first it is Jed's first shift of the week. Second he is a super light sleeper...and third we live in a studio style cabin. Sunday's I haven't quite figured out what to do. I really only have to worry about Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Jed works 4 days starting Sat., and Wednesday he just stays up...or just takes a short nap. SO...I have occupied my time by doing errands and staying on Campus...catching up on my blog reading.

BUT,
Tomorrow I am going to find a job.
Which is good because I am already really bored, and I no longer have my Statistics class because I didn't meet UAF's prerequisites. So that opens up a whole lot of time.
But Sundays are still long and boring.

Adjusting--and Q&A

I'm slowly adjusting to living in my waterless cabin. I've used the sink to give myself a little sponge bath. I'm becoming all domestic I sewed some curtains for our two small windows...so our neighbors can't see our flat screen TV. We also purchased a little BBQ-er to help cut down on the amount of dishes. Jed was super manly he put the tiny thing together with his drill...


Things are going well...not too much to report in our crazy Alaskan adventures. But the day is not over.

Oh and to answer questions about some comments left on previous blogs...

To Joanne, and to satisfy Nicole...There are plenty of normal rental units in all of Alaska. However it is not uncommon to have "Dry Cabins" in Fairbanks. You don't see dry cabins in Anchorage, but Anchorage is not really part of Alaska anyways... they are way ahead of times there. Fairbanks has normals rental units yes, but they are twice as much money. We got our little cabin for half the cost and we like saving money. Alaska is awesome it has everything you need, well except an Olive Garden...we have plenty of stores and shopping. It's really nice, a little cold in the winter but overall it feels like any other place.

To Cali, my husband and I have lived here for a year...he has lived here for several years now. He works on tourist passenger trains all year, but in the summer his company relocates him to Fairbanks, where he is THE mechanic for Royal Celebrity tours. I go to school at University of Alaska Anchorage. But this summer I am taking some classes at University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Thank you all for reading my blog.

Gray Water & Black Water

I know many of you are wondering how I am surviving without running water. So I thought I would show you how easy it is. Jed and I were discussing how our society has only had running water for a short time in comparison to how long world civilization has lived without it. Many countries still don't have running water...it is interesting how spoiled we are. How many of us even think twice about this when we turn on a facet? We live in an amazing time!

Jed and I may not have running water, but we have electricity, an electric stove, a refrigerator, and I can go to the store and buy ice cream and canned goods. I don't need to worry about our crops growing nor depending on Jed's hunting skills.

AND,

just to avoid any confusion,

we are not super green, we are not really tree-huggers (well we kind of are) but we use tons of paper/plastic plates and utensils...and I swear I am blind or I learned from my dad that I can't see without every light turned on in the place. We have our big flat screen and blu-ray player, laptops (3 of them) our cell-phones...so basically the only thing we've eliminated is running water

...but check out this set up!

I have a sink...the blue jug of water is just like running water with the little facet thingy. I have the tea kettle always handy and can throw it on the stove for warm water. If I boil some water in the morning or evening it stays pretty warm for a while. So we can wash hands, faces, dishes etc. The set up is awesome...it drains into this little bucket. That water is called 'gray water'. Then I just take the bucket outside and throw it in the bushes/trees. If we were real hippies/tree huggers we would try to filter and re-use that water...umm, no thank you.

We don't have a wood burning stove. We have what is called a Toyo stove, that is a name brand of the stove. It burns diesel fuel...well a modified diesel fuel that keeps it from gelling up in the cold....the tank runs into the cabin to this nice little heater...just another modern convenience! But what about 'Black water' you ask?
That is where the outhouse comes into to play...
We are so lucky we have a duplex outhouse, shared with our neighbors! It's two outhouses built together...two doors, two seats, one big hole! I can only imagine what it will be like when I run into them for the first time at the outhouse...very weird!

This outhouse is really gross...

What am I saying? All outhouses are really gross! But this one has a smell. My mission today is to see if we can clean it up.

I don't mind it right now... I think it would be awful in -40 degree weather. Luckily I won't see that anytime soon.