On Monday Tim stumbled upon a 2007 Can-Am 4-wheeler for sell on Craig's List. We'd been contemplating getting a 2-seater snow go for the past few months. (Snow go is what snow machines or snowmobiles are called here in the village.) However, since we spent money on laser surgery this summer, we decided we should hold off. However, a few weeks ago, Tim's 4-wheeler overheated and needs quite a lot of work. So when Tim found this 4-wheeler on Craig's List we decided to look into it. It is a 2-seater and since it is a Can-Am you have the option to buy tracks for it. That means in the winter you can replace the wheels with tracks and use it as a snow go. Hours later we had agreed to buy it. I must admit that Tim is not the only one anxiously awaiting it's arrival. It's pretty fun buying a new (well new to us) ATV. Within 24 hours, we already had a good offer on Tim's broken 4-wheeler as well. Not bad. We have to wait for the machine to get shipped from Anchorage, but we should have it within a week or two.
I have been trying to make it to cross country practice at least half the time. I want the exercise, the company, and I think it's a good opportunity to form a good relationship with the kids. This week our cross country coach has to go to Dillingham for some training. I offered to be his substitute coach while he was gone. Wednesday and Thursday I ran with the kids. None of the high school kids showed up for practice, so it was just me and 5 middle schoolers. It was a lot of work to keep them going the whole time. They all wanted to stop and walk, pick berries, or wander off into the tundra. I had to keep telling them, hold your pace until we get to this pole. Keep up with me until we get to the stop sign. Don't give up. Let's do this lap without walking, etc, etc, etc. Although not all of them completed their entire run, I did survive practice and thankfully their official coach did return.
This weekend the student council wanted to host a basketball tournament. Mike Tozzo, the MS and HS special ed teacher, and myself, are the advisors. We were a bit nervous about putting on a tournament with such a short planning period. Especially since everyone here is just used to playing it by ear. We managed to put it on though. I was lucky and Mike agreed to let me solely worry about concessions and he had to worry about the games. I think I got the better end of the deal. I spent the last couple of evenings sitting in the hot concessions room, boiling hot dogs, and fetching soda. It went fairly well though. There was no blood or fights and I think we actually made some money. Now, we're just going to have to have a chat with all the students on student council who didn't show up. We had one student show up one of the nights.
I have been trying to make it to cross country practice at least half the time. I want the exercise, the company, and I think it's a good opportunity to form a good relationship with the kids. This week our cross country coach has to go to Dillingham for some training. I offered to be his substitute coach while he was gone. Wednesday and Thursday I ran with the kids. None of the high school kids showed up for practice, so it was just me and 5 middle schoolers. It was a lot of work to keep them going the whole time. They all wanted to stop and walk, pick berries, or wander off into the tundra. I had to keep telling them, hold your pace until we get to this pole. Keep up with me until we get to the stop sign. Don't give up. Let's do this lap without walking, etc, etc, etc. Although not all of them completed their entire run, I did survive practice and thankfully their official coach did return.
This weekend the student council wanted to host a basketball tournament. Mike Tozzo, the MS and HS special ed teacher, and myself, are the advisors. We were a bit nervous about putting on a tournament with such a short planning period. Especially since everyone here is just used to playing it by ear. We managed to put it on though. I was lucky and Mike agreed to let me solely worry about concessions and he had to worry about the games. I think I got the better end of the deal. I spent the last couple of evenings sitting in the hot concessions room, boiling hot dogs, and fetching soda. It went fairly well though. There was no blood or fights and I think we actually made some money. Now, we're just going to have to have a chat with all the students on student council who didn't show up. We had one student show up one of the nights.
