What Are The Tremain’s Up To Now?

My favorite things about Wednesday’s in Kotzebue is my Full Circle Farm delivery. Full Circle is an organic produce delivery I get weekly. In honesty, I have to say the produce is pretty impressive, and the quality has been outstanding.

This is the second week I have gotten the delivery. Each Wednesday between 3-6pm you pick up your box at a local church. All boxes are sorted and tagged with your name. They come packed with a variety of at least ten different fruit and vegetables.

Yesterday’s box had: tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, peaches, pluots, potatoes, cucumber, chard, radishes, beets, corn, apples and limes.

Last week I had: lettuce, celery, potatoes, peaches, nectarines, pluots, carrots, parsley, and other yummies.

The peaches were the best I have ever had, seriously.

Since it’s just Molly and I for now we have the get the small box. Once my hungry boys get here we’ll evaluate and possibly start getting the medium box. The small box is still a generous helping of fruits and veggies!

Last night I also went to a potluck for the tribal pre-school here. I had a great time and Molly and I got to eat a bunch of traditional food. Gotta love it when the locals cook! Molly loved the eskimo ice cream!

In other WONDERFUL news, the gods of household goods have come through. It sounds like our stuff comes in tomorrow and will be delivered to our house Monday. That is when the real work begins. I have the added joy of unloading it all! If you think that sounds like a work out, you’re right!  

I now know why people in Kotzebue are so darn nice… they are begging for social interaction. OK, maybe not, but, I was.

Imagine my suprise when I was sitting at work today and I get a call. Technically we are closed today, but I was in doing paperwork. So, It’s a nice person that introduces himself as being from the USCGC Spar. That is a buoy tender out of Kodiak. They say they have been out for three weeks and ask if they can come watch football. Although we do have TV’s at work we don’t have cable. I on the other hand picked up my cable box for home *hoping* that the barge will magically appear with our household goods. -It still hasn’t.

Anyway…. they call me a little later, they are in town. I pick them up, bring them over, they carry a tv over from next door and it was football time. Molly loved her new playmates. So, I end up having five unknown houseguests over. They even bought their own seating… since I still don’t have anything. It was fun.

Here are a couple of pictures from around town this weekend. It was very foggy!

While out walking Saturday I came to the conclusion that it must have been very foggy the day that the lines were painted on the streets. That or someone was a little hungover?!?!

This is the A/C. It’s my version of rural Safeway. Other than my coveted weekly produce delivery this is what gets me through… and in case you were wondering. Today I paid $10.55 for a gallon of milk.

Finally, one last picture of our girl. Sorry GCI, Yes, she was standing on your box. -Won’t let it happen again.

Today my brother and his wife welcomed a little boy! Bay was born this afternoon, 5 days overdue. According to my mom he is beautiful, with dark hair and a cute little nose.

Congratulations Jeremy and Diana! I’m so proud of you both. Way to do it without drugs!

Last night there was a Coast Guard helicopter crash in Hawaii. Three people have been confirmed dead and one is missing. The swimmer on board was a good friend of Ron’s. A nice guy with a wife and family, as I am sure they all are. Please keep the families in your prayers.

Here is a link: CG Helo Crash

Molly has been a Kotzebue resident a whole 6 days and today we got to experience medical care. Our little girl has an ear infection. Her first one. By this age Hank had probably had dozens, so I am hoping that we are not headed down the same path with her - tubes.

Everyone in town has been so wonderful and welcoming. Just walking down the street I have been offered rides, received waves and smiles. I really like the small town feel and friendly environment. Also… If you love Britney Spears, you would love Kotzebue. Here car seats are overrated, I guess with a max speed of 25 MPH (only on a couple of roads) your kids are safe. I have been driving much slower than that watching for little ones close to the road.

My new laptop is wonderful and It’s nice to be back up and running! I just got internet service today. Yippee! So far I can’t complain about anything here other than for wanting my household goods. I packed a bunch of diapers and need them. A pack that would cost me $21 at Safeway is $68 here! Hopefully my things will be in next week!

I will have to tell you that the sunsets here are absolutely beautiful. This photo is totally a point and shoot from my front steps, but I think that you get the idea. The colors were even better in person. I can’t wait ’till Ron gets here with his camera skills!

For those of you that have been checking in… I am alive and well.

After being in Sitka (for not long enough) I made the journey to Anchorage for a week of training. While in Anchorage my laptop died and according to some computer specialists, was unrecoverable. Training went great and it was nice to put faces with names.

Saturday we left for Kotzebue, where we now are. It sounds like our household goods will arrive later this week. Currently we don’t have much more than clothing, an air mattress, and some food. It will be nice to have our things. Everyone we’ve met has been extremely helpful, friendly, and wonderful.

Maybe pictures next time!

Yesterday the goal was to leave our house at 9:30, get coffee, and head to Portland. We succeeded in all of those things. Even did them ON TIME! We arrived at PDX at 11:30am and got my baggage checked and got to the gate. Ron and Hank got passes to accompany me through security so we could spend a little extra time together. About 15 minutes before I was supposed to board (12:45-ish) we said our tearful goodbye’s and they headed on their way. Not more than 2 minutes later I was informed that my flight had been cancelled for mechanical issues. I was re-booked on a 4pm flight to Seattle. There was no way I would make my connections and get into Sitka at 6:30pm as planned, so it was onto the 11pm flight. Our 4pm flight ended up cancelled for mechanical reasons as well (bad day at Horizon Air) but eventually we made it to Seattle on a 5:30 flight. We got out of Seattle on time, and changed planes in Juneau without incident.

We are now visiting friends and family in Sitka until Sunday night. Then we will head to Anchorage.

It was painfully hard to leave my boys and friends in Astoria. It’s great to know I’ll be home to visit them in a few weeks…. but to be without them until then hurts.

As one friend said, “it’s a long vacation.” I like that…

Hank completed one week of conditioning camp and now we are onto week 2. He is doing great and having a great time.

Today is registration at the middle school. Hank is not going to go to Star (former school) this year. The middle school used to allow Star students to play on their football team but this year changes were made. Hank would not be allowed to play as a Star student, so he will be transferring back to public school. I am not completely heart broken over the decision. Since enrollment at Star is down, they are combining the 7th and 8th grade class, which meant a class of 24 kids. I had no heart ache about paying the tuition when he was in a class of 14 students, but at some point the benefits of public vs. private school have to be analyzed.

Ron and I are looking forward to taking him to register. Kids sure grow up fast!

Molly and I leave for Alaska on Thursday. It’s hard, but I am at the point where I actually have to pack. I cried when the moving van showed up, and now the thought of packing is heart-wrenching. The idea of leaving my boys is crushing me. I am happy to report that I will be attending a conference in San Diego in the end of September. My new employer has arranged my travel through Portland so Molly and I can come home twice, the weekends before and after the conference. I’ll leave Molly with daddy while I fly south to get educated in the sun. They (my new employer) has been so wonderful to me in every way imaginable. They are even trying to find me another conference in October or November - which would mean another trip for Molly and I too see our boys.

Tonight was the first night of conditioning camp for Hank. It’s been a while since he did as much running as he did today. To add to the joy of camp, it was nice and warm outside… Astoria was boasting a afternoon temp in the low 70’s!

Next Monday is registration at the middle school. Hank will get his new schedule and assignment of classes. School starts on September 3rd. I can’t believe he is a 7th grader!