In The Brighton Public Library

Here I sit, trying to upload video files to my hateful MLP program for my certification program. The file is a small one, but I have been rebuffed in trying to upload it twice now. Something tells me that it may be too big and that I may have to burn it on a DVD and submit it by mail. What a tremendous pain in the ass...something is slightly screwy here anyway, as I can't access my district email account directly either...Of course, if my troglodyte parents would just install internet at their house, I wouldn't be running all over the county trying to find wi-fi...bitch, bitch, bitch...

I have been in the Greater Detroit metroplex for a couple of days now. I had a lovely drive to the airport yesterday that illustrated in beautiful detail the inadequacy of civilization against the vagaries of nature. There was less than an inch of snow that actually fell in the area, but traffic was hopelessly snarled. A one-hour drive to the airport became doubled in length. The roads by my parents' house were covered with ice. The local government authorities have declared poverty and have announced that the roads will remain unsalted for the remainder of the winter. Of course, this being the Motor City (a soon-to-be-antiquated label), there are absolutely no alternate means of travel. The automobile is still the undisputed king here. Far-flung suburbs, only cars for travel, and untreated icy roads: we have the precise demonstration of the term SNAFU. What a god-awful mess.

On the fun side, I am getting to see most of the members of my family on this trip, and that seems to be a good thing on the whole. I guess that maybe it was ok to make the trip after all, although it is still proving to be pretty pricey. As much of the tribe as lives in the area and is not working at the time is scheduled to gather at one of my sisters' house tomorrow night. For this evening, I have dinner with another of my sisters scheduled in the football Mecca of Ann Arbor. Of course, I hear that Mecca is not now what it once was...

I am currently scheduled to pick up the GF at the airport Thursday night and travel back to Cadillac, but there is some more inclement weather predicted for that time. Perhaps we will spend another night in this area. It's not exactly like living in hell...time to return to my appointed duties. I will try to take some educational and illustrative pictures in the next couple of days and post them here...

Family...

Chris and the lunch spread...

Above: Thea; Buddha and Tammy

Above: Addy and Diego. Below: Alexis tries on my hat.

A Quick Thought...

I was just reading this blog from the beginning. I have done that before, but not for a while. The thing that really strikes me is that I am actually in the mood to go back. I don't do it for a couple of weeks, but I want to get back to my classroom, and to my kids. I am really excited about going back..

Visiting...

We went with our friend Ann to see Avatar last night at the theatre. It is nearly three hours long, but it did not seem to drag on. It is mostly what I would call a popcorn movie, which means that it is mostly entertaining, but not necessarily great cinematic art. I enjoyed it well enough.

The grandkids came to visit this afternoon, which meant fun and hugs. Nice. I have some photos that I will upload later of the little munchkins. After that, I went to the gym for a spinning class. I really would like to get a bike up to the school, but I got a $600 hospital bill for Christmas, which kind of eats up my spin bike budget. I will just have to train hard on the elliptical trainer, and maybe climb some bleachers or something.

Now it is time for a quick nap, so that we can go to a 40th birthday party for a friend of ours tonight. It is very busy here catching up with everyone that wants to see us. We leave tomorrow to go see my parents, and to take Chelsea to the airport so that she can go see her cousin in Mississippi. I may end up having to go back to school to relax...

Happy New Year!!

The past few days have been hectic, what with visiting and shopping and going out to dinner with friends. On the first day of the new decade (I guess), I finally have stopped running and have become stationary for the first time since we left Napaskiak.

My friends and family have had all kinds of questions about the year and school and my life in Alaska. I hope that I have been able to give reasonable and informative answers. Of course, some of the questions are ones that are still unanswered, because much can still happen in the second half of the year. I have been taking the time to rest and recuperate, and now it is time to start looking forward to work that I need to get done before I return, and to start thinking about what I will do when I do return. Lots to think about.

Tomorrow will bring a return to holiday business-the kids and grandkids are coming for lunch, and we are going to a spin class in the afternoon and a birthday party in the evening. On Sunday, I plan on heading to the Detroit area to see my parents and siblings. The timing of that trip will depend on the snowstorm that has started, and that may bring one to two feet of snow by tomorrow night. I will go south eventually, but it might be a little later than planned if the snow is really bad. I notice that the Bethel area had no snow the last that I looked on the Anchorage Daily News. We generally get more snow here, but no snow in Alaska is a tough concept to adjust to.

For now, I am going to enjoy the two remaining weeks of vacation that I have available, and catch up with a few more friends and loved ones. I love my new life in the village, but I also love Northern Michigan. I think that I am very lucky in that respect.

Even More Pix!!

At my sister's house, with lots of dogs...and one cat..

What I did with my law degree...

More Pix!

The very nice lady that just happened to hit me with her car last summer. A chance encounter while we were out shopping. Of course, I was the one that turned out in front of her car. She was very happy to see that I had no lasting damage from my own foolishness.

The Clam Lake Canal-run this on a snowmachine-now, that is waterskipping!

Kevin and birthday cake...