Getting into a routine

Everyday it snows. Now this is something I expected. Yet, the locals say it is unusual. They keep talking about it being spring and how warm it is. It was 7 degrees this AM! The services folks have been making us omelets for breakfast. It is interesting with powder eggs but it takes pretty good. I get my postcards mailed off. There is a post office here so what a cool postmark. I wonder if how long I will be home before they show up.

Yaktrax are the coolest invention ever. They are metal coils and they stretch across the bottom of your shoes. They give you traction in ice or snow. I have no idea why they are not more popular in Arkansas when it ices over. I have kept fairly good balance walking all over this town.

There were no meetings this morning. I joined up with 2 of my guys and we took off walking to find the art gallery in town. It is where several of the local artisans place their stuff to sell. I've heard about it and that it is expensive. A ride comes along and we are off. The gallery is modest size but the artwork is amazing. There are pieces of balleen that have animals carved into it. Balleen is the gum of a whale that filters the food for them to eat. There are earrings carved out of ivory or made of beads. There are small carvings of seals and different animals made of ivory or antler. There is even mammoth! Larger carvings are made out of whale vertebrae. There are slippers made of seal and beadwork. Last but not least are baskets woven of birch bark. It is all so exotic and beautiful. I could spend a lot of money here. The cheapest thing is the beaded earrings at 20 and it goes straight up from there. I ask myself, how often are you going to be in the Arctic Circle? I decide to walk away, think about it, and return tomorrow to purchase.

We return in time for the patients to start filtering in. The numbers are more manageable today. I play with the cutest Eskimo baby. The ANG public affairs guy wants to shoot some footage of me in action. The mother gives her approval and I get to play with him all over again. I think it will air on the Air Force news. I would love to get a copy of it. After clinic the PA guy is coming back to interview me.

People continue to be appreciative. Some of the kids are so excited to meet an Army girl. I nicely tell them I am an Air Force girl. Funny they didn't know that there were girls in the military period. We haven't come very far have we? Anyway, it excites them to talk to us and I get high fives.

I've learned that you can become infested with worms if you eat the fish and it is not cooked well. Had a patient come in complaining of just that. She even brought a stool sample. I was so excited I finished seeing her and ran down to the lab to see if I could see the worm. The tech dug all through the stuff and there was no worm to be found. Bummer.

I have found out that I am being pulled tomorrow to help with physicals at the local high school and junior high. A definite change of pace. I'll be working with my boss and a couple of others. There are snow machine races scheduled for this weekend. Thank goodness for entertainment since most stores close on the weekend. I've heard rumor that the locals will be performing a native dance for us on friday. I've got the camera ready.

The sun has come out this afternoon. It is so wonderful to see. Some folks actually wear shorts in this.