52 Lists: List Your Curret & Future Goals & Dreams

I was trying to update my blog Monday through Friday. Realistically that's just not going to happen in my life right now. I had a 9 hour tribal council meeting yesterday. I haven't gone out on the trap line in almost three weeks to the day.

Update: I had the opportunity to go out on the trap line today and it was seized, with both hands, in a death grip.

Back to what I had in my head for my original post.

It had been far too long since I had been out on the trap line. My head gets cleared out there. My heart fills up when I'm out in the country. Clearly I'm not prioritizing some things in my life. I've taken on a lot more at work recently and it's taking its toll. My hope is that the worse part is over and the climb will become less steep. While I'm still working on balancing out my life I think I'm letting go of trying to blog Monday through Friday. New goal: blog on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Consistently. I already feel better about things. Lookit that. A goal and I haven't even gotten to my list.

Yesterday's list. Moorea is such an inspiring and beautiful person. I hope that someone feels that way about me, whether its a stranger from afar or a friend right up close. Beautiful dream. My list started in the direction of self improvement goals and then went towards outward goals. Funny how that worked. I'm loving this project. Let's be honest, it's helping me write some consistent posts. I needed help there.

Sad Trapper, Happy Bunny Hunter

This winter has been brutal on trappers here in Unalakleet. We've been battling lack of snow, an unstable and really rough frozen river, winds gusting to 50 mph and 30 below weather. As soon as we get the line up and running some type of abominable weather takes it down again.

Last year we had 4 to 6 weeks of weather that ranged from -20 to -40 without a break. Even that was better than this because we had snow and were able to get around. Granted it wasn't the best trapping season but it was a slight improvement over this year. I think another factor in me longing for last year was time. I was working as the Environmental Specialist for my tribe, work considerably slowed down over the winter time and I was able to take off from work at 2 and 3 p.m. to go and run the trap line with my partner. This year I'm working as the Interim General Manager and Environmental Specialist and it's really just sucking all my time and all the life out of me. I don't even reliably get off work at 5 pm. Wahhh. Whine. Whine. Whine.

I'm not out on the line as much as I'd like but I'm still doing my share of skinning. It's kind of a weird thing to like doing but I'm a natural at it and it feels good to do something that comes so naturally. I am proud of the fact that I can skin a hide so clean it doesn't even need to be scraped.

This is a fox that we got today in a snare that I set. I didn't get to pull him out but I was able to skin him during my lunch break.

Bahaha.. My trapping partner looks sleepy.

I was down and out with some sort of plague from Wednesday through Friday last week. I finally started feeling human on Saturday, so I was able to check the snare set we have up the road. There were fox tracks but he sneakily avoided our snares. Rude. While I was cruising to check the traps I spotted two bunnies. They were delicious.

I've really got my bunny cooking down. I always use my crock pot because it gets them just super duper tender. I brined them in salt water over night for flava and to draw the blood out of the meat. Then I put them in my crock pot layered with onions. I mixed a can of chicken stock, a can of cream of celery soup, a can of water, a can of mushrooms (with the juice) and a can of diced tomatoes all together and poured it over the bunny. I cooked it on high all night and most of the morning until I was able to pick up a bone and have the meat just fell off. Oh! And I seasoned it with garlic powder, lawry's season salt, oregano, and basil. I didn't feel like gravy so I grabbed some noodles and tossed 'em in to soak up the broth and made it into a delicious hot dish instead of a soup. Yum. I ate two bowls after being out in the cold and it was perfect.

Red XIII (and Vincent Valentine)

In high school I was in love with Red XIII. I so wanted him to be my furry companion to cuddle and play with. Okay, so he was a bad ass battle cat-like creature but a girl can dream of having a pet like him. His non-testing science subject name is Nanaki. Regardless of what you call him, he's awesome.

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I can't find the link for this image! :( If you find it let me know.

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Oh yeah, I kind of also had a crush on this guy. Vincent Valentine. Okay so I was a weird kid. But I turned into a weird adult, so it's all good right?

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52 Lists: List the things you should be proud of

I struggled with writing this list. I guess I would rather think of comforting and happy things rather than try to write out what I feel pride in. I don't feel entirely certain and confident about my list. I am proud of who I am, but I feel more comfortable wearing it on my heart sleeve. However, a resolution is a resolution and here is my list

This list is about me. Now lets look at other things that I'm proud of. I'm proud of my brother. I'm proud of my rough and tough nephews and my little sweet niece. I'm proud of who they are becoming and their hearts. I'm infinitely proud of my mom, who has the most gentle spirit. She always thinks of others, defends her children, and gives freely. I'm proud of my friends. They have overcome drug addiction, abuse, marital problems, divorce, stage fright, alcohol addiction, weight loss, weight gain, loans, education, you name it and they've overcome it all the while supporting me and loving me during my bright days and my dark days.

Meeting outfit

This is how I roll when I'm in Washington, D.C. for meetings. Under armour, jeans, and a cardigan. I loved my hotel room. It was spacious, clean, the bed was super duper comfy and fluffy, and I had a pretty decent view. The area was great. Restaurants and bars were a short walk away and so was the transit system.

I landed on a Sunday and ventured out to a pizza place for dinner. The staff was super friendly and I was having a grand old time when I received some pretty devastating news. They went above and beyond and embraced me as a stranger in a strange city across an entire continent from my home. To this day it still warms my heart when I think of that restaurant. (The Arlington location)

Flying sideways

Eshagee (means scary in Inupiaq). I was on this plane yesterday. We flew in sideways pretty much just until we touched down. The flight circled two or three times and then pilots must have decided to go for it. We came in from the ocean heading towards across the river and then they turned the engines up on full and started turning. It was a toe curling, breath holding experience. We flew in sideways until we were over the Era building and then straightened out in time to touch down. I'm really happy to be home but I really don't want to experience that landing again. Ever.

Landing video 
taken by Scott Dickens

Run away! run away!

I'm running away to Anchorage for the weekend! Goodbye Unalakleet, see you on Sunday.

Photo taken by Bobby Evans