trying.

I am trying to change some physical aspects of my life and I'm so not the biggest fan. I don't think I'll ever be someone who likes to exercise. Let me sit and play video games and I'll go for hours. I can sit and crochet or knit very happily for hours. I can read for hours. Hours fly by when I'm doing beadwork. Five minutes running and all I can think is I want to stop running. It kinda sucks and yet I'm sitting here laughing at myself because of it regardless. Puh.

Trying to get a job here in Unalakleet for a year or more is kinda hard. So far it's not going that amazingly well. Or rather it's going okay but it's kinda slower that I'd prefer. In the meantime I'm doing beadwork to make some spare change and working Bingo (although not very often). I might even be filling in for Lonnie at the hangar for a week and a half or so.

I thought I was in the mood to write and I guess I'm not really. Go figure.

full court press

Ayaire is really pulling for me to move to southeast. I want to be in Alaska and am not sure how long I want to live in Unalakleet. The last time I lived in Anchorage it was an amazing and yet disastrous time in my life. I don't think it'd be the best environment for me. The road system would be fair nice, but Juneau has possibilities. I have Ayaire and I've met a ton of her friends, so I wouldn't be lonely. There's a master's program at the university where I could get my teaching degree. It would take a year and some summer classes. Not too shabby. My old music teacher is here and was singing praises about the program. There's also another factor but I don't care to mention that other than it's a factor. Huh. So there is potential, I just don't know what I'm doing or what I want to do. Or what I should do. I'm so freaking clueless right now. I'm not the biggest fan of it.

Anyways... I'm visiting Ayaire in Juneau right now and so far it's been a marvelous visit. My first day here, Thursday, was my favorite by far. Friday, was a good follow up with a book store, thrift store, and quality Ayaire time. Today I was able to catch up with Mr. Patrick Murphy, my music teacher from high school. It was freaking sweet to see him. Teacher's are such an incredible part of life and I'm so lucky to have them as friends in my life, from both high school and college. Tomorrow is brunch for Christina's birthday/Valentine's Day and a bunch of other things on Ayaire's itinerary (yes she has one for my visit, she's adorable).

We'll see what comes my way at home, job wise and such, and I'll probably consider southeast. I just wish I could see where I am/should be in 5 years from now and know what steps I need to take in order to get there. I'm slightly terrified and enthralled at the unknown.

balls.

Remind me when I unpack my storage unit to dispose of 5 things. Be it an octopus, a box of crap, a bag of clothes, a unit of shelves, SOMETHING!

Arrowhead Lace

Practicing a new stich in hat format. I got this stitch from my stitch a day calender. (Yes, I have one.) The yarn was from my dear, sweet Mom. I love how the colors blended with full rings that are thick and thin. It's harder to see the actual pattern in the picture but the lace holes angle up and then down. The pattern is done in sets of 10 stitches and then repeats. I used size 9 needles with 60 stitches. Hats are fun because they work up fast. It's nice working on big projects that take a long time and little projects that make you feel like you're accomplishing something.

Arrowhead

I think I need a job.

Or at least less time on my hands.

My fish have a new home.

They're getting picked up today. Kinda sad, but another thing checked off my list. And they're going to a good home. *sigh*

I've been working on an afghan for a few years (it's going very slowly) but it uses a technique for a haveing a reverse side. It's also twice as thick as normal knitting. So I thought I'd give it a try for a hat! I like it except I think the stitches are a little stretched out. I need to use a smaller sized needle with a more stitches. So I'll have to experiment with that. I hate having to rip though and I ripped out a hat last night. :( Such are the joys of knitting without a pattern. Anyways... here is the first experiment.

the grey side

the black side

The shelf of movies is finally all packed up. I think I'm going to break it down today and stick it in the porch. I really like the wooden shelves. I think I kind of want to save them. I'm going to get rid of the metal shelf though. That guy has traveled with me for years and it's kind of a piece of crap. It's definitely moving on. I had people pick up stuff yesterday and am having two others pick up stuff today. I feel so good everytime something leaves my presence. And even better than I know it's going to be used. Now just keep your fingers crossed that my place is subleased before February 1st. That'd be really great. Thanks.

Two thousand ten so far has been the hear from old friends and reconnect with people year. It started out with Chelsea and I giving Ryder and Annette a surprise visit. Ten years ago we did a time capsule with letters to each other when we were 15 and 16 years old. This was the year we scheduled to open it. Me being the weird, anal person that I am when it comes to this stuff, I brought it into Anchorage because Ryder, Chelsea, and I were all going to be there. Amazing. Chelsea and I were fairly nervous when we knocked on the door but after a few minutes we were comfortable and taking a hammer to the bottle. Some of the letters were read aloud and others were saved to be read alone. A few apologies were given and accepted and emails were given around. It was wonderful to see Ryder and to be at ease around him. Hopefully our friendship will be rekindled. I've missed that guy.

And a few days ago my old classmate Travis called and chatted with me for a good bit. He was with his kids, who sounded like they were having a blast. It's amazing how far so many of my classmates have come. So many of them have families or are starting families and have jobs and are growing up. One more year and we can plan a 10 year high school reunion. Creepy. At least I think so.

hoarder

I've decided I'm on the road to being a hoarder. If one person who moves at least once every year can fill a 2 bedroom house with stuff, then that individual has too much crap! I have been doing my best to get rid of stuff but it's kinda hard when you're a craft person who loves books, movies, and music. Craft supplies are just bulky in general and I am into more than one. This results in tubs of yarn, tubs of material, and boxes of beads. I have a whole shelf of crap. I don't want to give up any of those hobbies though.

I will not give into the digital age when it comes to books either. I love being able to hold a book and dog ear pages. I love the weight of a book in your hand or on your chest as you're falling asleep. The idea of a kindle or other digital book thingy just makes me sad. So it's hard getting rid of books, although I have managed to pass on a few and have given some to used book stores. Which is a tease really because being in a used book store stuffed full of potential and not being able to get anything new is just torture. I'm tempted to pick ten more books and give them up just so I can get some new ones. I think I just talked myself into it.

To downsize my DVD's, or at least the bulkyness of them I've moved them into booklets. So I still have them, they're just more compact. Sadly to say you can't really do that with VHS tapes. And I refuse to give up most of my VHS tapes but I've convinced myself to part with some. I suppose I don't really need Puff the Magic Dragon or Frosty the Snowman. I suppose.

Sweet nectar of life. Coffee I love you. It just has to be said.

Regardless of me thinking of all of this, I'm not moving very fast in the packing direction. 21 days. The 3 week countdown begins. Oh crap. I need to look into a ticket back north too.