Alright everyone... so I am like the worst blogger ever. When I was a kid I would start diaries and journals, write a few times and never go back to them again. This is just like that except the whole world knows now! :) Oh well... please forgive me. I will endeavor to be better. However, the reality is that 5 months from now I might be referencing this specific entry. Sigh.
So what has happened over the past few months? Lots. I will attempt to go back and add some spice to the pathetically outdated blog. Basically I'm going to look back over all of my photo graphs and attempt to remember what happened! :)
Thank you all for your unending support, love, and care packages. Living in bush Alaska has taught me many things. The most important... my family and friends rock. The toilet paper, crystal light, and Skyline chili are much appreciated.
Love you all!
P.S. When I spell checked this entry there were no misspelled words. SHOCKING!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
My version of Walmart
As stated in a previous post the grocery store is a place that you will have to take a second mortgage out on your home, car, and boat in order to be able to afford groceries for a week. My boss told me before I came “leave the clothes and bring the food”. As you have seen in a previous post my pantry is well stocked. Many of you have not believed me when I have quoted the prices of items here. Well my friends I offer the photographic evidence as exhibit A to prove the ungodly cost of food here. It is okay to feel outraged and saddened by how this company can take advantage of the people here. I still do. The one thing that absolutely cracked me up is that you can buy White Castle out here. I may be living thousands of miles away and paying more for food than I use to for my house payment but I can still get White Castle. It is what brings us together! Dog food and TP are about the same price. Don't worry Dayla has a good stock of dog food. And yes if you would like to make a donation of toilet paper I will gladly and graciously accept. I like the Charmin in the red package.
56 Diapers $22.99
This is a beef roast that is 12.49 pound Roast for $50.96 (on sale... and no I'm not kidding.)
0
1 Pound of Peaches $4.39 (but they were all mushy and one was even moldy)
White Caste for $6.83 ( but they were on sale)
Secret Deoterant $8.15
Regular Size Pantene Shampoo $9.85
36 Rolls of TP for $46.95
34 pounds of Puppy Chow $44.55
(So you can wipe your tooshie or feed your poochie for about the same price)
12 Paper Towel Roles $25.98
2 Bars of Soap $5.55
56 Diapers $22.99
8.8 Pounds of Dog food $15.55
Can of Chicken $5.55
12 Pack of Sprite $9.19
1 Pound of Folgers Coffee $18.25
Small Box (4.37 pounds) of Tide $15.55
Box of Rice Krispies for $8.15
Lays Potato Chips $8.99
This is a beef roast that is 12.49 pound Roast for $50.96 (on sale... and no I'm not kidding.)
One Tube of Toothpaste $8.69
The AC
As stated in a previous post the grocery store is a place that you will have to take a second mortgage out on your home, car, and boat in order to be able to afford groceries for a week. My boss told me before I came “leave the clothes and bring the food”. As you have seen in a previous post my pantry is well stocked. Many of you have not believed me when I have quoted the prices of items here. Well my friends I offer the photographic evidence as exhibit A to prove the ungodly cost of food here. It is okay to feel outraged and saddened by how this company can take advantage of the people here. I still do. The one thing that absolutely cracked me up is that you can buy White Castle out here. I may be living thousands of miles away and paying more for food than I use to for my house payment but I can still get White Castle. It is what brings us together! And yes if you would like to make a donation of toilet paper I will gladly and graciously accept. I like the Charmin in the red package.
Monday, June 29, 2009
A tour of Sand Point
Many of you have asked to see what my town looks like… well here it is!
Sand Point Clinic is where is spend my work days. It is a beautiful building. It houses both the medical and behavioral health staff. The clinic is our emergency room, urgent care, primary care, pharmacy, dental clinic, eye clinic, and behavioral health clinic all under one roof. We have about 19 full time employees. That is everyone from our Nurse Practictioner, to Community Health Aide, Behavioral Health Therapists (that’s what I do), IT and Billing departments. You wouldn’t think that it would be so busy but when you are the only option for the entire town… yeah we are busy.
That building way up there is the Sand Point School. It has grades pre-K through 12th. It’s a nice school and has everything you could possibly need. Including an indoor swimming pool that children from across the borough (our version of a county) come to swim in. The school also had a public library that is not just for the school children but also for everyone in the community.
Crab pots sit on the side of the road when not is use. I initially thought “wow someone could just steal them”. Then someone reminded me that they weigh about 900 pounds each. Yeah they aren’t worried about them getting stolen! These pots are down near the beach.
The Harbor Café is a lovely place to grab a meal. Think Denny’s but everything (or just about) is deep fried. It is sooooooo good. I try to eat there about once a week. It’s a great way to stay in touch with everyone on the island because that is where everyone goes. They also have free wireless internet and a great strawberry milkshake. (even if the milkshake costs $4.)
Not the greatest picture but this is the Trident Seafood Corporation Canary. This is where the fish the fisherman catch go from swimming to frozen or canned. I haven’t been inside yet but I’m hoping to real soon. Trident also provides the gasoline for the island which is REALLY nice. I filled up the today for only $42.75 for 14.5 gallons. Not to shabby when you think that many other bush towns in Alaska are paying $8-10 a gallon. And no I’m not kidding.
Sand Point Baptist Chapel is the only protestant gig in town. There is a Russian Orthodox church but the priest recently left. It is a beautiful church that overlooks the straight. We have, on average, about 10-15 people a week. There have been fewer now that fishing season opened and they say that we have that many during the winter as well.
Alaska Commercial – the grocery store. Or as I like to think of it the place that will cost you your first born child in order to buy a week worth of groceries. More on this later.
Well I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of what Sand Point has to offer!
Sand Point Clinic is where is spend my work days. It is a beautiful building. It houses both the medical and behavioral health staff. The clinic is our emergency room, urgent care, primary care, pharmacy, dental clinic, eye clinic, and behavioral health clinic all under one roof. We have about 19 full time employees. That is everyone from our Nurse Practictioner, to Community Health Aide, Behavioral Health Therapists (that’s what I do), IT and Billing departments. You wouldn’t think that it would be so busy but when you are the only option for the entire town… yeah we are busy.
That building way up there is the Sand Point School. It has grades pre-K through 12th. It’s a nice school and has everything you could possibly need. Including an indoor swimming pool that children from across the borough (our version of a county) come to swim in. The school also had a public library that is not just for the school children but also for everyone in the community.
Crab pots sit on the side of the road when not is use. I initially thought “wow someone could just steal them”. Then someone reminded me that they weigh about 900 pounds each. Yeah they aren’t worried about them getting stolen! These pots are down near the beach.
The Harbor Café is a lovely place to grab a meal. Think Denny’s but everything (or just about) is deep fried. It is sooooooo good. I try to eat there about once a week. It’s a great way to stay in touch with everyone on the island because that is where everyone goes. They also have free wireless internet and a great strawberry milkshake. (even if the milkshake costs $4.)
Not the greatest picture but this is the Trident Seafood Corporation Canary. This is where the fish the fisherman catch go from swimming to frozen or canned. I haven’t been inside yet but I’m hoping to real soon. Trident also provides the gasoline for the island which is REALLY nice. I filled up the today for only $42.75 for 14.5 gallons. Not to shabby when you think that many other bush towns in Alaska are paying $8-10 a gallon. And no I’m not kidding.
Sand Point Baptist Chapel is the only protestant gig in town. There is a Russian Orthodox church but the priest recently left. It is a beautiful church that overlooks the straight. We have, on average, about 10-15 people a week. There have been fewer now that fishing season opened and they say that we have that many during the winter as well.
Alaska Commercial – the grocery store. Or as I like to think of it the place that will cost you your first born child in order to buy a week worth of groceries. More on this later.
Well I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of what Sand Point has to offer!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Abbreviated History Lesson... there will be a test!
Here is some information about the Aleutian Islands. Enjoy!
* When discovered by Bering in 1741 the native inhabitants of the Aleutian Islands estimated to have numbered from 20,000 to 25,000, more than the aboriginal Indian population of the Ohio valley, or of Florida, New York State or New England.
* The Japanese occupied Attu and Kiska during WW II.
* The Aleutian islands are at the same latitude as England, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Northern France and Germany.
*Bogoslof Island which is out near Unalaska (Dutch Harbor) is actually the top of a submerged volcano that has a height of about 5,000 feet. It rose from the sea around 1796 following an eruption.
* The area was no explored until the 18th century and so many maps of the area were incorrect due to lack of information.
* The Russian Emperor Peter the Great sent several naval expeditions to determine whether or not Asia and North America were connected. On his first journey July 14, 1728, Fleet Captain Vitus Bering was instructed to map out the area. He was unable to successfully do this on his first expedition. His second journey started June 4, 1741 and it was described as “the most gigantic geographic enterprise undertaken by any government at the time.
* Two ship set out – one found the a small Island off Prince of Wales Island in southeast Alaska.
* The Shumagin Islands were named after Nikita Shumagin who was apart of the Bering expedition. They put to shore in order to hopefully help Shumagin health to improve. When he died the island was named after him and later the island group took on the name.
* Bering died of scurvy from bad water that was taken aboard ship during the ships time in the Shumagin Islands.
* When Bering’s crew returned to Russia the brought back a considerable amount of furs. This news traveled quickly and many traders sought to bring in some of this wealth. With the Russian rulers so far away the Aleut people were at the mercy of these unyielding traders. They were murdered by the thousands, cruelly exploited and in the end reduced to virtual slavery. By the end of the 18th century the population numbered as little as 2,000.
* English navigator James Cook explored much of northern Alaska including the Alaska Peninsula, Bristol Bay, Norton Sound and up to the Arctic coast.
* On the maps Cook used to guide him the mainland of Alaska was depicted as a great Island.
* The first detailed map of the Aleutian was made between 1790-1792.
* Alaska was purchased by the United States in 1867.
* On June 3, 1942 the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor and occupied Attu and Kiska on the western end of the Aleutian Island chain.
* In May of 1943 American troops landed on Attu and after 3 weeks of bitter fighting the Japanese forces were wiped out. In August of that year the troops landed on Kiska but met no resistance as the Japanese forces escaped under cover of fog.
* Much of the information regarding how the Aleut people lived came from James Cooks expedition. They found that the people lived in large communal type homes that looked similar to caves. They were made with packed earth and supported by either driftwood or whale bone. The house was entered through a small opening in the roof by manes of notched logs that are similar to ladders.
I'm sure I will find out more information at time goes on. Hope you have enjoyed this brief history lesson!
* When discovered by Bering in 1741 the native inhabitants of the Aleutian Islands estimated to have numbered from 20,000 to 25,000, more than the aboriginal Indian population of the Ohio valley, or of Florida, New York State or New England.
* The Japanese occupied Attu and Kiska during WW II.
* The Aleutian islands are at the same latitude as England, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Northern France and Germany.
*Bogoslof Island which is out near Unalaska (Dutch Harbor) is actually the top of a submerged volcano that has a height of about 5,000 feet. It rose from the sea around 1796 following an eruption.
* The area was no explored until the 18th century and so many maps of the area were incorrect due to lack of information.
* The Russian Emperor Peter the Great sent several naval expeditions to determine whether or not Asia and North America were connected. On his first journey July 14, 1728, Fleet Captain Vitus Bering was instructed to map out the area. He was unable to successfully do this on his first expedition. His second journey started June 4, 1741 and it was described as “the most gigantic geographic enterprise undertaken by any government at the time.
* Two ship set out – one found the a small Island off Prince of Wales Island in southeast Alaska.
* The Shumagin Islands were named after Nikita Shumagin who was apart of the Bering expedition. They put to shore in order to hopefully help Shumagin health to improve. When he died the island was named after him and later the island group took on the name.
* Bering died of scurvy from bad water that was taken aboard ship during the ships time in the Shumagin Islands.
* When Bering’s crew returned to Russia the brought back a considerable amount of furs. This news traveled quickly and many traders sought to bring in some of this wealth. With the Russian rulers so far away the Aleut people were at the mercy of these unyielding traders. They were murdered by the thousands, cruelly exploited and in the end reduced to virtual slavery. By the end of the 18th century the population numbered as little as 2,000.
* English navigator James Cook explored much of northern Alaska including the Alaska Peninsula, Bristol Bay, Norton Sound and up to the Arctic coast.
* On the maps Cook used to guide him the mainland of Alaska was depicted as a great Island.
* The first detailed map of the Aleutian was made between 1790-1792.
* Alaska was purchased by the United States in 1867.
* On June 3, 1942 the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor and occupied Attu and Kiska on the western end of the Aleutian Island chain.
* In May of 1943 American troops landed on Attu and after 3 weeks of bitter fighting the Japanese forces were wiped out. In August of that year the troops landed on Kiska but met no resistance as the Japanese forces escaped under cover of fog.
* Much of the information regarding how the Aleut people lived came from James Cooks expedition. They found that the people lived in large communal type homes that looked similar to caves. They were made with packed earth and supported by either driftwood or whale bone. The house was entered through a small opening in the roof by manes of notched logs that are similar to ladders.
I'm sure I will find out more information at time goes on. Hope you have enjoyed this brief history lesson!
Monday, May 25, 2009
First few days in Sand Point, AK
After I spent about 20 minutes in Cold Bay, AK I then bared the plane and came to Sand Point. The planes still fly by sight so the sky has to be fairly clear for the planes to land. After I got off the plane I met my new boss David and his wife Ina. David then board the plane to head out of town for a week to a training. Ina showed me around town. Sand Point is beautiful! It is surrounded by other islands and the Alaska Peninsula so there is something to look at besides just open water. Sand Point has one paved road that starts at the airport and circles around and stops about halfway through town. There are several other roads to branch off the main road. I live off of one of these. Word has it that at one point it was paved. Sadly it currently is not and is mostly potholes. Which makes an interesting drive as you swerve to miss them. It's kind of like car slalom. They have recently built a new harbor that they are hoping will bring bigger ships into port. We have three restaurants that are opened most of the year and then another one that opens during the summer. The Harbor Cafe is similar to a, well, cafe! It overlooks the harbor and has a beautiful view. The Aleutian Chinese Restaurant is open most of the year and is actually pretty good. For a reasonable price one
can find a filling meal at the Trident Seafood Company galley. Every Monday night they serve either a steak or prime rib all you can eat dinner will all the fixing for only $11. Finally there is Bozo's which is similar to the cafe but is only open in the summer. We have a good sized grocery store that is VERY expensive (more on that later), a hardware store and then Toys Plus, which is a toy store, small grocery and where you can get the cheapest cigarettes in town. And that sums up the town of Sand Point, AK.
can find a filling meal at the Trident Seafood Company galley. Every Monday night they serve either a steak or prime rib all you can eat dinner will all the fixing for only $11. Finally there is Bozo's which is similar to the cafe but is only open in the summer. We have a good sized grocery store that is VERY expensive (more on that later), a hardware store and then Toys Plus, which is a toy store, small grocery and where you can get the cheapest cigarettes in town. And that sums up the town of Sand Point, AK. History lesson delayed
I really wanted to provide everyone with a solid history of this area. However, we all know how reliable the internet can be. So that end I have decided to get some books from our local, all be it small, library and find the information that way. Once the research has been completed I will educate all of you about this area.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Penair
There is one company that files to Sand Point Alaska and that is Penair... and they can charge however much they want. Part of what I will be doing in Sand Point is working with client's who have substance abuse problems. I was wondering how do people get all those drugs to Sand Point. I mean I know they have a harbor but still. Well my question was answered. You don't have to go through security when you fly Penair. That's right... no TSA to frisk you. They also let me keep Dayla with me until just before I had to board the flight. You just sit in the big waiting room and they call your flight. Interestingly enough one of the people I saw earlier that week was also at the post office during the whole tampon fiasco. Anyway I had to stop over in Cold Bay before I headed into Sand Point. 
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Anchorage
A lot of people have asked what Anchorage is like. Frankly it is just like every other American city. I guess to the people who live there the prices are really expensive but I found them similar to prices in Cody, maybe a little more expensive. I'll be honest though, I didn't get to do much exploring. I was very busy while in Anchorage. I had to go to several days of training and tours of facilities. I also had to buy supplies. Yup, that's right, supplies. The people I had talked to in Sand Point STRONGLY urged me to buy food before I head out. One person even said "leave the clothes and bring the food". So on my "off" time I was shopping for food. This was far more complicated that I expected. I usually shop for about 1 week at a time. Although my mother will disagree because I frequently have expired food in my pantry. Not anymore!!!! At one point I panicked. It was Monday, I was leaving on Friday and I had bought nothing. So what does a person in panic mode do... she buys everything she sees. Not so bright. I ended up taking about half of it back. (the people at Costco were not very pleased with me).
There are only two way to get your purchases to the bush... mail or freighter. There are two ways to accomplish the shipping. You do it yourself or you do what is called a bush order. You go to Costco, Walmart or Fred Meyer and you buy your stuff, pay them a fee and they package and send your things. I did this with the stuff I bought at Walmart (as it was A LOT of stuff) but not for the Costco and Fred Meyer stuff. I chose to mail this stuff myself seeing as I had NO idea how to do the freighter part. The post office in Anchorage is open until midnight so you can bring your packages there. The post office has subsidized mail for bush communities in Alaska. You can ship a 70 pound package for about $20 but only if you do it in state. Problem was I didn't have a scale. So I packed up boxes and took them to the post office hoping they would be 70 pound. Nope not even close. My lightest one was 85 pound.
I should back up here and explain some of the things I purchased that needed to be shipped. I purchased at just Costco and Fred Meyer 50 pounds of bread flour, 30 pounds of sugar, 25 pounds of regular flour, 25 packages of Jello tapioca pudding, 10 cans of chicken, 8 84 count boxes of tampons, and 3 12 count packages of 32oz each cartons of shelf stable milk. (This is milk in a carton that can sit on your shelf for like 2 years and surprisingly enough actually tastes like real milk. I was truly shocked). So I was standing in line at the post office, on tax day, trying to mail these over weight packages. A very nice man helped me lift the very heavy containers (which are those big plastic bins. I now have like 10 of them and I have NO idea what I'm going to use them for!) up onto the tiny post office scale. Yup overweight... so I bought a box and the nice guy and I started to unload the bin. Which bin do you think it was that was overweight... yup you guessed right the one with the 8 boxes of tampon! At that moment I could have been mortified but instead I just thought... oh well I won't see these people again! I could hear the grumblings of the other people in line and the cursing my insanity for doing this on tax day. So I turned around and to the 20 people in line I said "I"m sorry everyone but I'm moving to the bush and I need to mail the stuff out". Immediately people started saying things like "do you have more thing to bring in?" "how can I help you" and "I have some extra tape if you need it". Yeah I like Alaska. People are really nice here.
In the end I shipped 10 bins and all arrived in mostly good shape. A box of milk (sounds weird to type) exploded and ruined my crasins (you know dried cranberrys). I was pretty bummed but that was it. I will always think of Anchorage as the place to get food. I'm sure it has many other great qualities and things to do and see. But to me it's just one big supermarket just waiting to take all of my money.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Getting to Seattle
So I said I would start with the beginning of the trip! I pulled out of Cody, WY about 10:23 am to head to Seattle. I made really good time and the trip was beautiful western Montana. Dayla did really well throughout the whole trip. I think she was really bored but at times she looked out the window at the scenery as it pasted by. I was so glad to finally be out of Montana. It was such a huge state! Idaho was a short drive as I only went through the top of the state. I made it into Washington in good time and decided to take a break for the night. I was getting tired and while I really wanted to make Seattle in one day, I decided it wasn't worth being exhausted when I got to Seattle. I'm glad I stopped as the drive through Washington was beautiful. I think I saw Mt. Reiner but I'm really not sure. But I did see some other really amazing mountains.
I made got the Motel 8 and they told me that I had to check out by noon the next day. This was no so great as I was not going to have my car by this point and would have no place to go with my 5 bags, dog crate and dog. So I called my friend LaChelle. Her parents live outside of Seattle in a town I can say but certainly can not spell. Anyway, LaChelle's mom Renee came to the rescue and I do mean RESCUE!!! She helped me get to Coastal Transportation, which is the only shipping company that directly ships to the Aleutian Islands. We got SO lost in downtown Seattle. At one point the lady from Coastal Transportation was giving me turn by turn instructions. This place was impossible to find. I was so thankful to find the place I almost cried. We then went through the process of boxing up the stuff in my car. The car was packed with stuff because I didn't know how long it was going to take for the rest of my belongings to get to Sand Point. Trust me when I say nothing else would have fit in the car. Then the guy from Coastal Transportation inspected the car, made sure it only had 1/4 a tank of gas (it's some shipping regulation) and then took possession of the car. At that point I did get a little misty eyed. The whole moving to Alaska thing became VERY real at that moment. I knew that I was moving but when you see your car being driven away you realize that you really are moving to a place you have never seen to work with people you have never met.
Renee then took me back to the hotel and then came back again the next day to pick me up. She took me to lunch (which I tried to pay for but she stole the check) and we walked Dayla around the park. We then went back to her house for about an hour so I could mend my jeans. At some point in all of the moving hoopla my jean pocket got caught on something a ripped a HUGE hole. So I sat in the sunshine and mended my pants (yes I was wearing other pants... no need to worry). Then we headed to the airport. I seriously have no idea how I would have managed to get everything into the airport plus Dayla without Renee's help. But everything went really smoothly and before I knew it Dayla was heading off and I was getting in line at security. Renee gave me a big hug and sent me on my way. I bored the plane and headed to Alaska!
I made got the Motel 8 and they told me that I had to check out by noon the next day. This was no so great as I was not going to have my car by this point and would have no place to go with my 5 bags, dog crate and dog. So I called my friend LaChelle. Her parents live outside of Seattle in a town I can say but certainly can not spell. Anyway, LaChelle's mom Renee came to the rescue and I do mean RESCUE!!! She helped me get to Coastal Transportation, which is the only shipping company that directly ships to the Aleutian Islands. We got SO lost in downtown Seattle. At one point the lady from Coastal Transportation was giving me turn by turn instructions. This place was impossible to find. I was so thankful to find the place I almost cried. We then went through the process of boxing up the stuff in my car. The car was packed with stuff because I didn't know how long it was going to take for the rest of my belongings to get to Sand Point. Trust me when I say nothing else would have fit in the car. Then the guy from Coastal Transportation inspected the car, made sure it only had 1/4 a tank of gas (it's some shipping regulation) and then took possession of the car. At that point I did get a little misty eyed. The whole moving to Alaska thing became VERY real at that moment. I knew that I was moving but when you see your car being driven away you realize that you really are moving to a place you have never seen to work with people you have never met.
Renee then took me back to the hotel and then came back again the next day to pick me up. She took me to lunch (which I tried to pay for but she stole the check) and we walked Dayla around the park. We then went back to her house for about an hour so I could mend my jeans. At some point in all of the moving hoopla my jean pocket got caught on something a ripped a HUGE hole. So I sat in the sunshine and mended my pants (yes I was wearing other pants... no need to worry). Then we headed to the airport. I seriously have no idea how I would have managed to get everything into the airport plus Dayla without Renee's help. But everything went really smoothly and before I knew it Dayla was heading off and I was getting in line at security. Renee gave me a big hug and sent me on my way. I bored the plane and headed to Alaska!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
First Blog
Hi Everyone!
I decided to break down and write a blog about my time here in Sand Point, Alaska. That way everyone can keep up with what I am doing, see pictures and stay in contact. Hopefully you will enjoy it and we can stay somewhat connected.
*tami
I decided to break down and write a blog about my time here in Sand Point, Alaska. That way everyone can keep up with what I am doing, see pictures and stay in contact. Hopefully you will enjoy it and we can stay somewhat connected.
*tami
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