Tuesday, 04 May 2010

Monday, 03 May 2010

Thursday, 08 April 2010

Tuesday, 16 March 2010

  • Final Update - Financial February

    Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's the middle of March.  And yes, I know I never managed to actually update how we were doing on our financial February goals.  But, better late than never right?  So here's the final update:

    1.  Evaluate all our retirement accounts and redistribute investments as necessary.  Definitely did not get to this.  We'll add it to the summer project list.
    2. Ditto for our savings account - set up targeted savings accounts for specific goals.  We're doing this a little bit already but I'd like us to be even more specific.  Finished!  Amounts determined and automatic transfers in place.  I love automation! 
    3. Clear our file cabinet of all 2009 paperwork and file in a safe place.  Mostly done.  The paperwork is all sorted through and the file cabinet is clear of 2009 paperwork.  Sadly, the 2009 papers are in a pile on the couch, waiting to be filed in a box to go into storage upstairs.  Once I get my act going, that should take about 10 minutes to finish.
    4. Make a will.  Basically finished.  We're waiting to fill in a couple details and are planning to actually print and sign it in a few months.  Nik did all the heavy lifting on this one!
    5. File our taxes.  Finished (state and federal) and refunds received!  Again, this one was all Nik!

    So, all in all, we didn't do too bad for Financial February.  (It did help, however, that we had a week and a half off due to snow in the middle!)

Sunday, 14 March 2010

Monday, 01 March 2010

Saturday, 27 February 2010

  • Happy Birthday to you!
    Happy Birthday to you!
    Happy Birthday dear sister!
    Happy Birthday to you!



    **Slight side note:  You know you live in Alaska when...you go flying for a day, come back, go to get in your dad's car and you realize: the rifle has been sitting out in plain view all day long.  Rach and I just had to document it!

Monday, 22 February 2010

  • "Miss! Why did you do it? Why?"

    Just one of the varied reactions that I got today.  Others included:
    "Miss!  I like it!"
    "You look good."
    "Beautiful!"
    I have very nice students!

    And what were they commenting on?

     Just the transformation from this:


    To this:
     



    (With a ponytail soon to be on its way to Locks of Love.)

    And let me tell you - I feel strange.  My hair has been long, or longish for probably 8 years.  I'm still getting used to having short hair.  I asked my hairdresser to only cut off 10 inches, which is the minimum allowed by Locks of Love.  And she did that.  But then, somehow, by the time I had a hair style, she had cut off quite a few more inches.  And now I have short hair!  It is fun and the response from friends and students has generally been complimentary.  Most importantly, I like it and Nik likes it so we're good on all fronts!

    One of my students (who really isn't the brightest of the bunch) asked me today, "Did you get a hair cut?" I answered, "No."  And he said, "OK," evidently believing me and going back to his opening drill.  I had to tell him, "I'm joking!"  


Wednesday, 17 February 2010

  • Work? What's that?

    Poor me.  I actually had to put on respectable clothes, make my lunch, and work for four and a half whole hours today.  I am exhausted!  Work is hard work!

    We finally went back to school today.  The date on my bulletin board in my elementary classroom said February 4th.  That's right - it had been 13 days since I was last there.  My teasing comment of "See you in two weeks!" almost came true!  They canceled school yesterday and then today through Friday, we're going in 2 hours late.  So we'll work three days but only actually put in 2 days worth of hours.  (The sidewalks are still impassable and many of the roads very narrow.  So they don't want kids waiting for the bus or walking to school in the dark.  Hence, 2 hours delayed opening.)

    At this point, we've definitely way exceeded the number of allocated snow days.  So we're waiting to find out what's going to happen with the schedule.  The state schools superintendent said that she's going to request that the State Board of Education forgive some of the missed days.  After all, the entire state was under a state of emergency.  It's not like we stayed home for the fun of it! 

    So we may lose some of spring break and/or we may have to work a few extra days at the end of the summer. 

    Here's hoping for no more storms or snow days this year! 

Friday, 12 February 2010

  • Random news

    1.  Yes, it did finally stop snowing.  Yes, they are calling for another storm on President's Day but it's supposed to be small, thankfully.  And yes, maybe we'll finally go back to school on Tuesday.

    2. The official total for snow fall in February? 49.2 inches (as in, a little over 4 feet).  The average February snowfall? 6.4 inches.  Check out this cool graphic for all the stats. 

    3. The score after playing 1 round of Skipbo, 5 rounds of Backgammon, and 1 round of Rummikub?
    Laura: 6  Nik: 2
    (Before last night I was ahead 6 to zero but he managed to beat me two games in a row in Backgammon last night.)  This is particularly unusual because I very rarely win when we play games.  Our theory is that the Alaskan weather is favoring the Alaskan.  And last night, it had stopped snowing and I lost.  So our theory might be right!

    4. Our friends are having a party tonight and we are THRILLED to get to go somewhere, and do something that doesn't involve only our house and each other.  Nik and I love each other very much but it's nice to have interaction with other people too, you know?!

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