Hamming it up!

Click.

Smile daddy.

Hi Shawen, oh, Abby, I thought you were your dad, because you look just like him!

GO ABBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lunchtime walk

Oh Abby, you are so lovely. I love you.

Susie, Coral, and Grace - Native Alaskan skin sewers rolling out a gutskin parka.

First attempt at a "waterproof" stitch. Seal gut, deer sinew, and embroidery floss so we could learn the stitch. I will hopefully have seal and bear gut, with a touch of fish skin in a finished piece.

That is my happy face, and normally I am wearing it (I hope it appears that way), but I am not handling work stress so well at this exact moment (I started this post last week, and yep, the next two months are going to be tough). I am internalizing too much......I will have to see how well I manage, not necessarily the workload, but the stress of not humanly being able to complete it in the allotted time. It doesn't help that the medication I am on magnifies the physical side effects of stress (I shake, etc.). Of course, I also have to consider the Shawen factor and other life demands. It's all rolled in. It's not like my mind can really separate it all.

With that said, I will once again state my job rocks! I am soooo lucky. I get to do a lot and that is good. I am not pigeon-holed for sure! Today I was thankfully ordered to participate in a last minute gut skin sewing workshop (despite the fact that I only have this week to unload 10 units of collections for new drawer installation next week.) It was slave labor, let me tell ya! It was so awesome to sew gut with sinew. They are amazing materials - strong, durable, and even aesthetically pleasing. Gut is translucent, it almost glows. Sinew is 100 pound test for sure. I can't sew a on a button, but have learned the ancient and tried and true art of Alutiiq stitching (one of them anyway)!

This is mainly for my mental organization - here is what I have in the next two months:

Accreditation review (should be first, is darn near last);

getting new drawers for storage units (unload and re-shelve colls., and subsequent paperwork);

50% of my time is supposed to be K-1 (I guess I should write an entry about this, although you've probably read enough about it in the newspaper, newsletter, FB postings, etc.);

a week-long conservation assessment and workshop;

a paper conservator coming for several weeks (for which thank goodness to a very supportive co-worker's spouse we have housing, now I just have to find a place for this person to work that's not at the museum, which is a whole story in itself);

a conference in Anc;

working on transferring our bulky 100 cubic feet of fauna to a museum down south (involves a whole lot more than putting it on a barge);

researchers (some of whom make appointments and some of who show up unannounced twice in one day. I count general inquiries in here too. I have had three today, in addition to the latter researcher.);

accessioning contemporary purchases by yesterday;

TEN other projects that are on my list, but am ignoring for now (prioritizing, unfortunately, what is most important does not necessarily come before the urgent);

some miscellaneous tasks;

and regular colls. work, with about 75-100 collections ranging from 1 object to hundreds that need processing. Obviously not getting to much of that right now.

Click

I was walking around downtown snapping photos, and I passed by a man in all camouflage, holding a camera with a serious grip so he could support the 20 inch lens - I kid you not! Darn magazine nature photographer - I bet he did not take one photo of Kodiak town! He was all geared up for "the bush".

I have taken a new interest in photography. I stopped doing photography when spending ten hours in a darkroom became unfeasible and undesirable. I was not very smitten with digital photography, being a snobbish artist (arteest), only using it to capture Abby and fond memories. Recently I have discovered a particular joy in it. It is very disposable. You don't have the investment in each image, and there is not as much creativity as with film and development (Funny to find that both Patrick and I liked to selenium tone.) At least for now though, while the sun is in a good spot, I am clicking away.

I tend to take landscapes, e.g. the boats in the harbor, butam trying to focus on details, textures, and everyday scenes.

The museum had meetings the last few days about much needed expansion, and while I was quite bummed initially, I think some good definitely came out of them. At the public meeting, when the Director of the Baranov Museum openly came out and said how we were living up to high collection care standards (which she most definitely did not have to do!), that made may day! It was also great to learn how Elder's are shuffled around and that we do need a "living room" for the community.

I am not going to divulge the aspects I did not think went to well right now. I will need to think about wording carefully! I will say I am very happy with my position, which I often state on this blog. I hope my proclamations of success do not come off as gloating. Rather, when I speak positively about the museum, it's because I truly believe in our mission and the outstanding programs that have been developed over the past decade. I am proud to be an integral part of the organization.

I will also clarify that the rant from a post ago is most definitely not about my job! It is about another aspect of my life that was important to me, both personally and professionally. Although I have been criticized for bringing it back up, I have not - it comes up because of my profession! I feel like I have been wronged because of an ultimatum that is immature, unfair, and just way overboard.

Blinded and burned

The sun is so bright. Abby shields her delicate eyes, and I have a sunburn from sitting in front of the window playing with her all day! I walked outside today and it felt tropical for a minute. I think I have been here too long!

What may seem unimportant to some, may be important to others. This is not only a fact of life (hgmm, mm - clearing my throat), but a consideration when working with collections, such as photographs. What may seem like a bland and insignificant image, may be a treasure for someone else. For example, a photograph of the interior of a Kodiak home in the 1950s may show perhaps an icon corner, in which a researcher is interested. The above image, may mean nothing to you, but to me is depicts the yellowed grass of Kodiak I find so lovely, the bridge (the only bridge) in Kodiak I walk across quite often, and my workplace just in the corner.

Abby requested that we take a portrait.

Still no pictures of people. I saw a few shots of people I wanted to take, but I am too timid to ask"Can I take your photo?" I already feel like they are looking at me funny, walking around town in my silly looking fur hat (hey, it keeps my head warm, and Shawen likes it, because no guy would be interested in me in it!).

Tragedy

Christina Perri sings Bang Bang Bang (Live at Ocean Way Studios)

Mais oui!

This weekend I was busy putting back my house. The landlord had ripped up the carpet in one bedroom because of the fuel leak. All the stuff was moved, then back it, and then out again so the carpet could be laid - I have taken this annoyance as an opportunity to purge! I have rid myself of seven bags of stuff, mostly Abby and my clothes. I go up and down a size apparently, but have lost weight, so I don't need the grandest size, so those got purged, along with summer clothes I naively brought with me. Abby was pretty patient through all the mess and time spent away from giving attention to her. We played a little, but not as much for sure. Not even any playdoh time this weekend. It is not done, mais oui.

I did manage to watch two movies - The Way We Were with Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand on OWN, yes, Oprah's network! Yes, I did. And I started Le Divorce with Noami Watts and Kate Hudsen. So far so good. I wish I could be called MM.

"Those (American) girls are not like us.

We cannot teach them savoir-vivre, good manners.

They find it ridiculous.

They only trust their instinct, their feelings.

And where does that lead?

Uncontrolled emotions.

Desire."

A year and a half ago I would have said that was me! I must be more French now, because I cannot say I am the same.

And no pictures. I had to charge the battery, but did not have the charger. Then I forgot the camera, then I forgot the card for the camera...

What I've learned, part deux

I think there could be 1001 parts, but I'll stop eventually.

LIFE IS PRECIOUS.

Last week there was an article in the newspaper about an abortion doctor killing babies with scissors after they were born alive as part of late-term abortion. I couldn't read the article. It made me vomit a little in my mouth. I cannot have more children and would have gladly cared for one that was killed.

I once saw, but could never find again, a row of grave markers in Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum (an old hangout of mine) with the names of five or six girls - the entire family's children. Can you imagine giving birth to five healthy girls, ages 5, 7, 8, 12 and 15, all to die of influenza. I cannot wrap my mind around that kind of devastation.

Alutiiq photographs from the early-19th century sometimes show a deceased relative in his/her coffin - one I saw of a precious little girl about Abby's age. Many people who have lost a child or children. I cannot imagine that just because you have 5 children and loose 1 that the pain is any less than only having one and losing that one. To think of Abby's immortality is difficult.

When I was 15, I lost my first boyfriend. Although he had broken up with me, who could blame him, I was devastated. I won't go into detail, but I have lost several friends and a good deal of my family. Death has been challenging for me to come to terms with.

In Cincinnati, news stories of people being shot for a pizza, $1.00, or just nothing except to prove one's tough and ruthless nature are all too commonplace. To have such disregard for fellow man is a tragedy. To treat people cruelly, or even just to dismiss them because of your own shortcomings, is abhorrent.

I have learned to try to treat every creature (everything) with all the amount of patience, forgiveness, and courtesy I can afford. If I have a problem with someone, I am not going to just abandon the relationship, shut them out of what is just as rightfully theirs, and treat them with dismissive disdain, such as some horrid people I know. "Oh dear" indeed. (Part three I guess will be about loving all people....)

I am grateful for all that I have, which is a lot; I try to cherish each moment, for I am not going to get them back; and to respect others, even when they piss me off. Somehow living in a bubble so no can can hurt me sounds easier, but most likely I would just choke on the air.

What I've learned, part 1

I have been thinking about how I have changed, what I still need to do, and thought maybe if I wrote it down, it would help.

In my thinking and behavior, I have done about a 120 (at least I think I have. 180 degree turn around being sainthood.) I am no Saint, nor will I ever be ;), but I have made changes to me so that I can be a better person - friend, co-worker, mom, etc. Still have to work on the friend part, as I spend 99.999% at work or with Abby.

Anyway, I will start with being mom, as Abby is the most important and ebullient aspect of my existence. The 14 weeks of parenting classes are winding down. Just one more to go, and then once a month for a couple months. I have learned so much, and although I feel like not sharing it with you because I am the one who sat through the classes and you get the condensed version, which seems unfair, I will impart the gist of it all.

I have learned about positive reinforcement (Good job getting in your care seat quickly!);

Positive practice (making Abby say "May I please have playdoh?" rather than whine and yell);

Communicating feelings and requests in a positive manner, concisely and clearly; and also how to administer positive rewards or penalties (Abby please pick up your toys. 5 secs. Abby, I need you to pick up your toys. 5 secs. Abby, I feel frustrated because you are not cleaning up your mess. 5 secs. Abby, if you do not clean up your toys, I will take away your__/time out. Tantrum. Ignore. Tantrum over. Let's take a break, and be quite for one minute. Whining. I will start your 1 minute over. Whining. Increase to 2 minutes. Ok, you are ready to be quite. Time-out over. Toys up. Next, Abby_fill in blank__e.g. colors. Awesome, you did a fantastic job coloring that horse!)

Although this is supposed to be so Abby grows up happy and healthy, I feel like I am more considerate and well-behaved. Kids do learn from example.

There is more, but that's enough for now.

Smile

Snow melt

6 inches of snow, plus 2 + 2 + 1 +2 + 7 inches, minus sweeping off car times 7, shoveling stairs 6 times, divided by 2 white knuckle drives to daycare and grocery store, plus a taxi ride to daycare/work this morning = TOO MUCH SNOW!!! (for not having a 4 wheel drive truck)

Last night, I stopped by Safeway to pick up a prescription, and Abby just melted. Absolute full on melt down. I tried to soothe her by getting her chocolate and some super delicious non-Naval oranges they have right now (YUM!), but she just was crying and whining and hitting etc. etc. I was real patient. Sometimes I get very frustrated, to the point I am gritting my teeth, but I have been in general more patient lately, even dealing better with Shawen's recent constant rudeness. I was gentle with her, despite the fact that 30 people were staring at us (I think they were, I was keeping my head down!). We finally made it through the check out, right after she took off her hat and coat and threw it on the floor, and as we were heading out the door, a woman came up to me and said what a good mom I am. I said thank you, but kind of stood there dumbfounded, possibly with my jaw hanging open, because I just did not expect that. It made my night! Thank you kind lady!

Weekend fun

Sunday was a great day. We did not do the usual Church and swimming, and rather than explain why, I'll just tell you about our fantastic day.

First, Abby got to play with her friend from the daycare she is no longer going to. They have known each other for awhile, so Abby was invited over. They were so excited to see each other. They gave each other a HUGE hug. The provider admitted that her and the other little girl together are just combined trouble! She said they definitely should not hang out in high school!

I went and dealt with stupid stuff, and then squeezed in a quick ten minute visit to the beach. The sun, oh glorious sun!

I picked Abby up and had to take her to the playground to get her to leave. Oh sun, glorious sun!

After an interlude and lunch, I crashed out and slept. Fat and happy nap!

Then by the time I got up, Abby went down for a nap, so I took a walk to say goodbye to Mr. Sun.

Finally. we went to see Tangled. I was excited about the popcorn and candy, but best of all was the warm fuzzies. Abby sat in my lap and I enjoyed her smile, laughter, warmth, soft hair and skin, her smell, ok, bare with me, it was fuzzy warm snuggliness. I was not the only one with feelings. Shawen started to tear up at the end! He wondered if took his meds right, but chalked it up to the fact that the movie was really good. Hee hee.

Pictures later.

I'm a bitch, I'm a lover, I'm a child, I'm a mother, I'm a sinner, I'm a saint.
I do not feel ashamed.
I'm your hell, I'm your dream, I'm nothing in between.
You know you wouldn't want it any other way.

I despise this song, but the lyrics alone, I guess almost any woman would get!

Starring

Starring at the Alutiiq Museum

Leak

There is a fuel leak at my house, and I can't stay there. It's been going on for awhile, but no one could really figure out what was going on. At this point, as the entire house reeks. There is an obvious leak. The tank is probably leaking and running in over the slab. Anyway, I can't stay there. So where do I stay? With Shawen.

Shawen and I go up and down. There are good times, but we get to a point where we decide, you know, let's not do this anymore, and then something happens - I hurt my back, get sick for two months, etc. Is this a sign we are supposed to be together or a sick joke?

We love each other, but argue and miscommunicate too much. We have been getting along sooo much better this past year, but definitely not enough. I say it's him, he's says it's me. He says she says.... It's him. It's my blog, I can do that.

It seems like something is always going on, in one way or another. Fuel leak now, Abby got kicked out of daycare last week. Yep, for real. Her and another little girl where ganging up and causing havoc. The daycare provider blamed Abby. Abby can be challenging. Her behavior is sometimes extreme, but she is 3. She is just getting to know her emotions. I think her being ousted is more a reflection of the provider (I can think of another situation this applies to in regards to myself and being booted). This provider is better with 4+ years. Some providers are all about babies, babies, babies. Some providers only take kids older than 2. This one is really good for preschool age. Anyway, it meant a quick change to yet another daycare. She is back at a Spanish speaking one. Abby says the provider is nice and she definitely seems to have fun. The only problem is that once again there is NO structure. Hopefully when Shawen figures out his school schedule, we can get her into preschool environment again, if of course, his schedule allows for that. Long story...

Kind of feels like my brain is leaking out my ears!

My dreams last night were devastating.

I really want to cry.

I just don't understand what I did that could warrant such cruelty.

Sweet Revenge

I recently read Sweet Vengeance by Kat Martin. I grabbed it off the shelf of the Fisherman's church on Thanksgiving for 50 cents, just based on the title. I think is in the genre of Romance novels, or perhaps erotic, but I think I'll just call it chick porn. It has romance, betrayal, the lovers finally actually talking and realizing their misunderstanding, and oh yes, lots of graphic sex. I read this tawdry novel in four days.

New Year's resolution: Smile.

Sometimes simple is the hardest. Why have a resolution? Well, everyone could probably use some improvement. Why this one? Studies indicate smiling not only benefits you, but others as well. Other, more trivial resolutions, or goals, like buying a pair of expensive running shoes and spending countless hours away from my family to train for a marathon, seems abundantly selfish.

After a New Year's party. We got home and celebrated Pacific time new year with California, et al.

Abby with her tea set.