Back in Alaska!

Hello folks!

I have had an extraordinarily crazy mixture of insane busyness and lovely laziness since the last time I posted here in the beginning of December.  Last semester wound down quite nicely to finals week.  I worked like crazy, with papers and exams crammed all into an insane few weeks, and managed to get great grades all around for a 3.79 GPA (stupid NRM class ruining my perfect GPA).  In the midst of all that busyness, I was told that I could have a spot in the Cutler Apartments on campus if I wanted it, which I immediately grabbed onto.  The only problem with it was they told me in the middle of finals and I have to move all my things on the VERY last day I was in Alaska (I bless my darling friend Becky for the use of her car....lugging all my junk across campus up a hill was not going to go well without her).  I just managed to move all my stuff, clean my old dorm, check out, and dash off to the airport for my trip home!  It was such an exciting day for me, I don't think I slept for 48 hours or some such.

Home.  It was so absolutely awesome.  After being on a plane or in an airport for 18 hours, I was met by Artur, Kelly, and Papa.  There was much hugging and crying (at least on my part).  And Mama being the wonderful person she is had a home cooked breakfast ready and waiting for me as soon as I got home.  I was SO starved for good food, and she knew what would precisely make my belly happiest :)  I was completely spoiled the whole time I was home with awesome food and much love.  The following month I had at home flew by, as time tends to do when one is enjoying herself immensely.  I alternated my days with supreme laziness at home with my loved ones or going out on adventures with Artur (sometimes even both in one day!).  The holidays at home were of course wonderful, and I was ever so stoked to be able to see a bunch of my family.  Heather and Avery even came for the last two weeks I had at home.  I had such fun with the both of them :D

As all great things are wont to do, my time at home ended.  January 19th I flew back to Alaska, leaving behind 80F temps for -40F temps.  I felt EVERY single degree of that 120 degree difference.  I think I was the only person in Alaska with a sunburn (30 mile bike trip with Artur to the beach before I left, I was a lobster).  Luckily, the temperatures warmed a bit and I once more grew used to my environment.  And Artur?  My new jacket is so freakin awesome fantastic.  I wear it every day and its perfect!

Anywho, my new semester is started.  I've 12 units, maybe 15.  I've rearranged my schedule at least three times since I got back to campus, trying to make everything work.  My favorite classes this semester are my Ornithology class and lab, as well as Practices and Techniques of Wildlife Management.  The professors for both are absolutely amazing men, and the course materials are right up my alley.  I get to learn how to shoot a bear in the safest way possible, general gun/rifle safety, and field training!  What could be better :D  My other classes consist  of Political Economics, World Literature, and maybe Environmental Law (still trying to get in to that class).

As if I wasn't busy enough with those classes already, I have two jobs on campus (thankfully easy to get to).  I am once more working for the Dean's Office in the Library, office assistant to two lovely ladies.  I either get to muck about with old books or do general office work, both of which work great for me. My other job is to assist in the ornithology lab at the Museum of the North.  Already we've had a Duck Wing Party!  Last Friday I helped get a multitude of ducks prepped and cut up, as we needed heads, feet, and wings saved with a few tissues samples.  Here we are below, with a before and during picture:

A bit gruesome perhaps...but tons of fun

Now comes the virtual tour of the apartment, as requested by a few of you readers.  The apartments are located right in the middle of upper campus, which is great since I'm not too far from any of my classes.

My desk upstairs in my room

Bed next to desk, I love my quilt Grandma Lita

Bathroom

More bathroom

Stairs to lower floor

Kitchen!

Living room

Mudroom

Front of my apartment

My "street" to the left

And to the right

Thats my bedroom window

View from the front door

The path to classes

Woo, it's a parking lot!

We have stairs, but never use them as they tend to be encrusted with ice, hence the snow pathways

Back side of the apartment 

View from my porch

Kitchen!  I love this room!

My favorite part of the kitchen, I can finally cook!

My knitting supply drawer...it's a foot deep and two long and crammed full

My other craft drawer

My view as I'm sitting here now writing this

My other view if I look to the right of my desk

And that's the apartment!  You can catch your breath now, I know that was an exciting, action packed photo tour adventure!  I believe that if you click on the pictures, you will view it larger to see all that lovely detail :P   Anywho, I am very happy to be in the apartments.  My roommates are all friendly and nice people and we get along fine (yay for no crazies!)  I am so happy to have a fridge and stove and microwave.  No more cafeteria food!

My next few weeks are going to consist of school and work, nothing more.  Sometime in February I am planning on heading to Denali with Becky and Margaret for a snowshoeing adventure, which I'm sure will be epic.  The weather has been ever so nice, we've even had positive tempertaures!  Yesterday was a whopping 13F, positive.  I didn't need a beanie or scarf or gloves or undershirt, I was so excited.  I'm told the weather will flipflop with a vengeance, going from these pleasant positives to -40 and back, so one never really knows what to expect, and snowmelt is not expected for months yet, however much like spring it may feel for now.  

I'm off to get me a belly full of spaghetti (I made enough two days ago to feed 12 people, I love leftovers!) and a cup o tea.  TTFN.