p
s
)n. pl. Gyp·sies also Gip·sies.
1. gypsy One inclined to a nomadic, unconventional way of life. 2. A person who moves from place to place as required for employment
Kodiak, Alaska
We moved to Kodiak because Andy got offered a job, I guess that takes care of the second part of the definition.
A typical day in Kodiak for me is easily described as nomadic, unconventional way of life. So, that takes care of the first part. Everyday is filled with one, or many, of 10 part time jobs, there's probably more, but it's hard to keep track of them all.
On this particular lovely day in Kodiak... I'm not being sarcastic! There's light, if any wind at all, the snow-laden peaks are aglow with the brilliance of a late morning sunrise and I have just sat down at the Kodiak Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center information desk. I've been volunteering here since the first hours of our arrival back in May. Sometimes I'm at the desk, other times I'm running the FUN (Families Understanding Nature) program, and when I'm lucky I take to the field by boat or plane. I've learned so much about this Island through this experience, I recommend everyone volunteering for their local natural resource agency. No, they didn't make me say that, I've genuinely enjoy working here, and wouldn't be writing about if I didn't.
This morning Andy and I woke up in a little cabin in the woods overlooking the water on all sides. We let the dogs out for their morning business - No we didn't get dogs! We are actually house sitting. When the need arises we house sit and dog sit. It's nice because different parts of town have different vibes. This place makes us feel like we're on vacation, we're partial to having a cosy fire when it's cold outside.
So it's before noon, and I've already taken care of two jobs. I did bicycle to the bead shop first though to get some ironing in. It's not technically work, but that does bring up the bead shop, Stringbeadz. I help Dana out, the owner, when she travels or gets real busy, it's a trade for material, which is better than getting paid if you ask me. And of course next door is a quilt shop called Just Jane's, thus the ironing. I'm working on a quilt. This will be my fourth quilt since I met Dana and Jane back in September. Currently I'm also working for material at Just Jane's as she is inventorying everything. I'll bike there next to do just that. Between the inventorying, I'll also work on my quilt and some custom jewelry orders I took earlier this week. So this last paragraph described three more facets of my gypsiness.
Of course when all that is done, 7pm will roll around and it's time to bowl. I'm also in the Women's Bowling League. I'm not just bowling three games tonight, but I'm also the League's Sargent of Arms. That's right, I take care of security as needed. I'm hearing the laughter now...
And that my friends takes care of Friday!
Tomorrow I'm helping out with a running clinic at the Coast Guard Base. Zoya, a local physical therapist, is doing gait analysis and has asked me to help. This is actually part of a health fair so I look forward to the venue and working with Zoya. I normally teach yoga on Saturday mornings at A Balanced Approach, Zoya's studio, but due to a nasty fall on ice last week, I"m taking a couple weeks off. I think I'm talking about jobs six and seven, but I've already lost track.
I'm also gearing up for my College Beginning Yoga Class, which starts up next week. I'm an Adjunct Instructor at Kodiak College. I'm pretty excited because I've accumulated 3 credits from teaching last semester, so I'm taking a wooden bow building class this semester! My other extracurricular endeavors are learning the violin, and hopefully glass art.
I might get a breather on Sunday, but then Monday will roll around and there are the boys upstairs to watch, otherwise known as babysitting, then back to the refuge for work on Envirothon. It's a high school competition that focuses on natural resources. Check it out here: http://www.envirothon.org/ The Kodiak Wildlife Refuge is hosting the Alaska State Competition this year, so I've volunteered my time gearing up for it.
And of course, my number one job on the Island is taking care of Andy! He does get fresh baked bread every week for his sandwiches, and no, we do not have a bread maker :)
And while I'm going about business on the ground, Andy is in the air making sure folks around the island get their mail, fuel, and groceries by air. Or else he's doing a medivac, getting folks into town to catch a flight off island, or any number of other transport needs. He's an everyday hero in my mind, because his services are so crucial to this island's well-being.
We may not be on the "move" as most of you know us to be, but we are gypsies by heart and are constantly on the go about Kodiak.
Kodiak Gypsies
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| Us on top of Piller Mtn, with downtown Kodiak below. Late summer photo, it's a little browner and snowier right now:) |
Kodiak, Alaska
We moved to Kodiak because Andy got offered a job, I guess that takes care of the second part of the definition.
A typical day in Kodiak for me is easily described as nomadic, unconventional way of life. So, that takes care of the first part. Everyday is filled with one, or many, of 10 part time jobs, there's probably more, but it's hard to keep track of them all.
On this particular lovely day in Kodiak... I'm not being sarcastic! There's light, if any wind at all, the snow-laden peaks are aglow with the brilliance of a late morning sunrise and I have just sat down at the Kodiak Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center information desk. I've been volunteering here since the first hours of our arrival back in May. Sometimes I'm at the desk, other times I'm running the FUN (Families Understanding Nature) program, and when I'm lucky I take to the field by boat or plane. I've learned so much about this Island through this experience, I recommend everyone volunteering for their local natural resource agency. No, they didn't make me say that, I've genuinely enjoy working here, and wouldn't be writing about if I didn't.
This morning Andy and I woke up in a little cabin in the woods overlooking the water on all sides. We let the dogs out for their morning business - No we didn't get dogs! We are actually house sitting. When the need arises we house sit and dog sit. It's nice because different parts of town have different vibes. This place makes us feel like we're on vacation, we're partial to having a cosy fire when it's cold outside.
So it's before noon, and I've already taken care of two jobs. I did bicycle to the bead shop first though to get some ironing in. It's not technically work, but that does bring up the bead shop, Stringbeadz. I help Dana out, the owner, when she travels or gets real busy, it's a trade for material, which is better than getting paid if you ask me. And of course next door is a quilt shop called Just Jane's, thus the ironing. I'm working on a quilt. This will be my fourth quilt since I met Dana and Jane back in September. Currently I'm also working for material at Just Jane's as she is inventorying everything. I'll bike there next to do just that. Between the inventorying, I'll also work on my quilt and some custom jewelry orders I took earlier this week. So this last paragraph described three more facets of my gypsiness.
Of course when all that is done, 7pm will roll around and it's time to bowl. I'm also in the Women's Bowling League. I'm not just bowling three games tonight, but I'm also the League's Sargent of Arms. That's right, I take care of security as needed. I'm hearing the laughter now...
And that my friends takes care of Friday!
Tomorrow I'm helping out with a running clinic at the Coast Guard Base. Zoya, a local physical therapist, is doing gait analysis and has asked me to help. This is actually part of a health fair so I look forward to the venue and working with Zoya. I normally teach yoga on Saturday mornings at A Balanced Approach, Zoya's studio, but due to a nasty fall on ice last week, I"m taking a couple weeks off. I think I'm talking about jobs six and seven, but I've already lost track.
I'm also gearing up for my College Beginning Yoga Class, which starts up next week. I'm an Adjunct Instructor at Kodiak College. I'm pretty excited because I've accumulated 3 credits from teaching last semester, so I'm taking a wooden bow building class this semester! My other extracurricular endeavors are learning the violin, and hopefully glass art.
I might get a breather on Sunday, but then Monday will roll around and there are the boys upstairs to watch, otherwise known as babysitting, then back to the refuge for work on Envirothon. It's a high school competition that focuses on natural resources. Check it out here: http://www.envirothon.org/ The Kodiak Wildlife Refuge is hosting the Alaska State Competition this year, so I've volunteered my time gearing up for it.
And of course, my number one job on the Island is taking care of Andy! He does get fresh baked bread every week for his sandwiches, and no, we do not have a bread maker :)
And while I'm going about business on the ground, Andy is in the air making sure folks around the island get their mail, fuel, and groceries by air. Or else he's doing a medivac, getting folks into town to catch a flight off island, or any number of other transport needs. He's an everyday hero in my mind, because his services are so crucial to this island's well-being.
We may not be on the "move" as most of you know us to be, but we are gypsies by heart and are constantly on the go about Kodiak.
Kodiak Gypsies
