For all updating purposes

For your enjoyment (and mine, too, I suppose), I have compiled a fun list of facts/observations/accounts courtesy of the beloved Haines.
"Hit on Nat Day"
This, I was unaware of, is a Haines holiday. To my surprise, I learned that January 19 is recognized among most either rugged locals or awkward newbies-in-town as the day to hit on me while I'm minding my own business at the fine establishment, Mountain Market. Of course, this realization is received well by me, who woke up feeling nauseous and is just trying to make it through the day and just recently vented to Lori about how there are too many young adult MALES in Haines. No, I do not want to run, walk, or "hang out sometime" with you. If you wanna talk Jesus, great. But I doubt that's what you're looking for. I should just pass out a business card when I introduce myself to people that says, "Let's just be friends" or "I'll platonically hang out with you any day. Can I bring my boyfriend?" After third said-fellow-in-one-day(two the other day)proposed quality time, even my co-worker Sam decided, "That was even awkward for me." I'm friendly, guys. I'm a barista. It's in the job description.
In other Mountain Market news, I received my review yesterday. It was over two months late, but who's counting. Apparently I'm "doing great" and those things I'm not quite good at "will just come with time." I'm "really appreciated" and "a good worker." Well. Yay. :) This coming from Deborah who sometimes looks at me like why I'm still there is a mystery, but hey- I could just be seeing things and I'll just take her word for it. It's nicer.
I work with a woman names Nelle who is probably in her forties and precious. She was reminiscing yesterday to the 70's station that was going on the XM stereo. I will never again be able to hear The Carpenters without thinking of Nelle and her Catillion. She's so good-natured (very Haines) that she doesn't mind that we make fun of the fact she almost named her daughter Fanny ("As in 'pack,' Nelle? How would she ever get through customs with a name like that?') and just admits, "These things are always in the way" when she sticks her boob in mayo while preparing a turkey sandwich. What a doll.

"In other news..."
I've taken up knitting again. It's what they do here. Heh. We'll see. Let's just say that at least now I have something to do while I'm composing emails, as there is about a 45-second delay from when I type to when it actually shows up on the email.
I am now a Haines Burough Public Library volunteer. It's awesome, considering it's known as "the biggest small town library in the nation" (or something like that) in the Library Journal. I just love being there. I just started and am going there tonight, but now I have my very own library number (free of the normal $20 charge, which rocks) and am very excited.
Last Sunday, was quite the busy Sunday for me at Haines Presbyterian Church. I lead worship, performed in the choir, read the scripture, and helped with Sunday school. As I told the new guy in town (who comes into Mt. Market all the time and was one of said males who recognized January 19th), "you know it's a small church when you're up and down from the front so much." It was fun.
My bathroom is the warmest room in the house. I keep the door closed so it will stay that way. The rest of the house is set at about 53 degrees. Heating the whole place is too expensive, thus I am required to wear long underwear and a hat just to go from my room to the bathroom and not freeze.
I finally made the trek into town, backpack ready, to buy milk and bread the other night. I'd been avoiding it for a couple of weeks now, as I just wasn't interested in carrying a gallon of cold milk all the way home in 15-degree weather. Hence the backpack. Of course, when I arrived at Howser's at 7:03pm Sunday night, I was greeted with locked doors, as they close at 7pm on Sundays. Of course. I finally went there after work yesterday and bought a half-gallon of 1%, all they had. The whole town's out of milk. Again. I dare you to remember the last time you said that about anywhere else. :) Now having milk helps me maintain my all Top Ramen-all Cream of Wheat diet (the picture is me facing the dilema of having to clean TR/COW pots just to make more TR/COW).
There was an eagle sitting in the tree outside my dining room window the other day. It was comforting.
That's about all for me, folks. Exciting news from Haines, I tell ya.
I miss you all. It'd be funnier if you were here with me.

Everything snow

Back again!I have to tell you, the last few days spent in Haines have been interesting, good and bad, and very full. This picture was taken on the ferry up to Haines from Juneau on a GORGEOUS day- wonderful day to be on a boat. Believe it or not, many pictures like this one were taken but due to operator error, this one turned out the best. :)
In just one week, we have: gone sledding on snow shovels, gone back to youth group, made a fancy halibut dinner, gone sledding on actual sleds and nearly killed ourselves (it's okay mom- we laugh about it now), met a new friend Sam who I now work with at Mountain Market, made banana and chocolate chip pancakes (my dream REALIZED), gone snowshoeing out to camp, watched Indiana Jones, had a fun time at choir, driven out the highway on the pastor's whim on a BEAUTIFUL day to see eagles and swans, then only a few hours later driven out to Letnikof Cove on the pastor's whim to see a pod of killer whales super close up, finally changed out of snow clothes after three days, had wonderful homemade baked potato soup and played games. Whew. Granted, most of these happenings have been due to our friend Ben's visit- we don't normally pack in this much fun to one week, but who knows...maybe we do now because of ALL OF THE SNOW. This picture is from our banana-and-chocolate-chip pancake breakfast before snowshoweing, the there's a pic or Kenny walking into camp. Then there is Bromley Hall, covered in snow, which is just a little bit different than when we're there in the summer. Kenny, Lori, Ben, and I flipped around in the snow outside my house, so there's Kenny and I submerged just beyond my front porch, which is the norm as far as snow level goes. The last few pictures are from our drive out the highway to see eagles and swans...breathtaking.
I realize that this post hasn't really told you much about anything except some adventures, or really even elaborated on them, but I'm just getting back into this and I at least wanted to share some pictures with you. There are plenty more where that came from, trust me. I've been realizing that being here is full of picture opportunities...all the time...everyday...and i wish you were all here to see everything.
Beware: this post is full of fun, which is how I wanted to get back into the blogging swing of things, but there is some other stuff going on in the meantime up here in Haines that I will share soon. While Ben is here we've been trying to pack in the sights and we're avoiding reality at the same time, which isn't bad, but there's some music Kenny and I are going to have to face pretty soon.
I hope you like the pictures- I'll be hopefully making a Facebook album of them all soon- and I miss you all. Very much. No amount of snow or sledding can compete with you. :)

Get Out of Life Free card?

I feel like I have slightly retreated into this shell of my former self. Quite the statemtnt with which to begin a post, but why not just jump right in and be real? This is a safe space and we're all friends here. You can take it.
I'm supposed to be identifying to Alaska, immersed in and committed to Haines, adjusting to life up there. Being in Seattle is supposed to just be a nice visit, icing on the cake, not the refuge and protector due to its distance that it's turned into. It now contains all that is familiar and loving to me, so why return to someplace where a tornado ripped through any preconceived notions I moved there under? I like it here. I wanna stay here.
But Alaska is a mess. I was thankfully able to leave and take a break from that mess. However, that mess is on pause. It will still be there, if not intensified, when I return. Therefore, this is not the real Natalie standing before you in Seattle. She wishes it were, but it's not. Let's be honest- the real Natalie is sitting back up in Alaska, arms crossed and foot tapping, impatiently waiting for this faux Seattle Natalie to come back up and fix it. She's saying, "get real. You can't stay there. Don't get too attached- it'll just be harder to leave." Only, that's all I want to do- stay. Thus I am in limbo. And can't make any sudden movements.
I'm just tired. Thinking about it all makes me claustrophobic.
Oh and it's Christmas. You know that? I have to remind myself every day.
(Don't worry- it'll all work out. God doesn't exactly dissappoint.) ;)
Pray Pray Pray
Thanks

I solemnly swear...

...that I will be more diligent in updating my blog. Lately, my zeal has been quelched by certain circumstances, but I was told that I should even write the bad stuff. So I will. In the future.
I just wanted to let you know not to give up on me. I have not abandoned our dera blog. I have just been on a little hiatus for a few weeks and will get back on track. It's really very important to me that you check it and enjoy it and care what I'm up to. It means a lot.
Now I'm back in Sea-town and it's weird. Very, very weird. I'm bumping along, but if I really think about it, it's craziness. I almost feel like the past two and a half months never happened since I'm back to the same life I was leading in August before I left- sleeping in, no real agenda...but I guess that's okay. Lying low will do me good. It'll be nice to be a little annonymous for awhile. I can leave the house and not gear up and expect to know everyone I bump into everywhere I go. Ya know? I actually get to go the bank today and be done in just a few minutes, not 30 because I was chatting with the teller who goes to my church. :) We'll see.
I don't even know if anyone will check this now that they know I'm home and haven't been keeping up with it even while I was gone, let alone now that I'm home and am seeing people in person. But I thought I'd give it a shot.
Don't give up on me.
<3

The Weens of Hallows

Halloween in Haines...what a treat. (get it? Treat? haha just a little Haines humor)

Kenny and I were invited over to the St. Clair's for some pumpkin carving last Monday night, which was amazing since I can't remember having carved a pumpkin in MANY years. The St. Clair's are an awesome family, with the youngest of the three kids being Gabby who is seven, but is TINY with this hilariously husky voice and a surprisingly advanced vocabulary. They're just all great. Jackie carved Medusa into her pumpkin (very inspired), Casey/Kenny carved Bart Simpson into his pumkin, I carved Phillipe (he's French) into my pumpkin, and Gabby created the job of "replacer," where she would replace all the pieces we had carved out. Very helpful. Jean Claude was on the other side of Phillipe, but unfortunately never finished, but he seemed fine with it.


The Salvation Army in town put on a Harvest Party at the school and I did, in fact, bake a cake for the Cake Walk. I was then advised that I should want it to be The Cake that everyone would want. So I put a leaf on it. And peanut butter M&M's around it because they were all I had. And it was a lemon cake with lemon frosting. Delightful. :) At least it wasn't the last cake left, which was my biggest fear. At least I don't think it was... I was also asked to be a lion for the "Daniel in the Lion's Den" part of the evening, put on by the pastor's wife. It mainly involved sitting at the end of a long, dark tube wearing a lion's mane and mask with a CD player playing a roaring lion soundtrack while "Daniel" (a.k.a. Scotty Hansen) told the kids that "God closed the mouth of the lion and so I am safe." Some of the kids were terrified and the looks on their faces...especially this one little girl whose feathers from her boa were flying everywhere while she couldn't get out of there fast enough. I probably would have reacted the same way upon crawling in a dark tunnel and being met by a lion. Shoot.
Later on I was able to dress in 50's wear curtesy of RGC's costume closet (the poodle skirt) and my own Converse (not pictured). Here I am stuffing my face with a fantastic chocolate cupcake right before Kenny and I took Polly, our sole trick-or-treater, around town. Let's just say that little escapade involved a man with a weird accent and a chainsaw and an unexpected haunted house visit where Leche shielded herself from the horror by clutching little Polly. What an adventure. Oh- and I couldn't feel my legs or hands by the end of the evening since we were trick-or-treating IN ALASKA.
We topped the evening off by the most hilarious late-night viewing of "Spiderman 3" with Lori, High 5, Kenny and some cookie dough. It was amazing.
It was all good fun and in just a day or two, I shall update on a visit from Ms. Jamie Higbee (A SURPRISE) and some other pretty pictures. For now, I am spent.
Stay tuned...

Characters Welcome

There once was a man named Byrne. He is a large man with shoulder-length silver hair and a big grin who Leche meets at church last Sunday. Byrne enjoys puppets. Byrne strikes up conversation with Leche at Mountain Market one afternoon, which is nice, only to invite her over the next afternoon to continue the chat. Leche mentions Byrne to YeaYea, only to get an unexpected reaction and warning that Byrne likes to invite people over to his dimmly-lit and odd-looking house. Leche is advised to bring someone, so Leche makes High 5 go with her. Upon arriving at Byrne's, Leche and High 5 are welcomed with creepy French music and a huge mannequin in the corner. High 5 refuses to take off her coat. The two girls gaze about the room, noticing Byrne's 8,000 records and 3,000 CD's (they asked Byrne), with a complete library of books and movies taboot. After much chitchat, Leche agrees to try Byrne's Hibiscus flower tea with raw sugar, which actually tastes good- kinda like a melted fruit leather. Having visited for what they think is the appropriate amount of time to be considered "intentional," the girls make to leave, only to be faced with Byrne's excited realization that they have yet to talk about puppets!!! Well! Of course! How could they all have forgotten! Thus commences the showing of Byrne's video which documents his three month trip through Europe to visit all kinds of puppet theatres. Turns out the Czech Repubic is quite the hub for puppet entertainment! An hour QUICKLY flies by and Leche and High 5 must depart to go to dinner. Shame. That concludes their visit with Byrne, but not without High 5 committing to a future puppet show possibly involving Christ's crucifixion. Byrne would like them to visit again.

There once was a man named Jeff. Jeff considers himself an old friend of Natalie's, who has just begun her new job at the Mountain Market. Jeff has gone to the Mountain Market every morning for breakfast since he was sixteen. He is now an age Natalie can't even guess. Jeff asks Natalie's new co-worker, whom she has yet to really talk to, to say good things about him to her. Natalie pretends the handwashing sink needs special attention and that she doesn't actually hear this comment. The next day, Jeff chats with Natalie as she wipes down the tables and he is nice enough. Later, he is insulted that Natalie doesn't sit with him when she goes on her break. He proceeds to join her. Natalie leaves her book open as a signal to Jeff that she is not actually going to commit herself to this conversation, but she still wants to be "intentional." After all, people like Jeff are exactly the people in the community she knew she was going to get to know when she took the job at the Mountain Market, thus its appeal. Jeff asks Natalie questions and Natalie is polite, including an inquiry as to what she is doing even as she is still clutching her open book so she replies, "reading," but once Jeff finds out that Natalie knows Amy Junkin, who also used to work at Mountain Market, Jeff decides that, "ahh...so you're a good girl, too." Natalie says, "well, I guess I am." Jeff says that his bark is bigger than his bite. Natalie doesn't know quite what to say to this. Natalie is very excited when YeaYea comes to join her and Jeff leaves the table. Two days later, Natalie walks into Mountain Market just for a moment to see if the schedule is up. She notices Jeff is there, but she is wearing a hat so maybe he won't notice her. She chats with her new co-worker, is only there for a minute, and walks out quickly as Jeff is chatting at a table full of other men. She is halfway across the parking lot when she hears, "HEY!" She turns to see Jeff, saying he is hurt that she didn't say hi to him. The conversation unfortunately does not last, as Natalie says she is on her way to a meeting (partially true). They part.

The End.

Home, Sweet Home

'Bout time, I'd say. Isn't it pretty? Pretty soon it will be covered in snow and that'll be awesome. I would have taken pictures of the inside, but not only would that have taken me FOREVER to do and download, but now there's mystery and incentive for people to come and visit!
I would also like to direct your attention to this pretty picture.
It's Rainbow Glacier and a beautiful fall tree. I took it a few weeks ago, but due to picture complications, am only able to post it now. But it's worth it. I also took another pretty fall picture when we drove out to 33 Mile (as I reported a couple of posts ago) and thought I'd throw it in, too.Beautiful fall, yes, but now we're already into winter!! I will soon be taking pretty pictures of snow-covered mountains and snowy Haines. It's just kinda tough to capture, so you'll have to bear with me. :)

I'm employed!!! I know, I know- a house to live in AND a job. Overwhelming, but awesome. I'm going in today to see when I train and I would appreciate prayers for my nerves. For some reason I just get to anxious and intimidated about new jobs, especially when going into a coffee community of hardcore Alaskans. Also, we're putting on our very first Young Adults service this Thursday night. There has never been anything in Haines geared toward the young adult community, so we're kind of winging it. A glimpse into living in a small town- I heard nothing but comments for using the word "alas" incorrectly on the flyer I made and put all over town. EVERYONE was talking about it...I tried to remain lighthearted and unaffected, consoling myself with the fact that the over-70 crowd who were complaining about it weren't invited anyway. :) All of the young adults I've talked to and who have seen the poster didn't have a problem with it and are ready to come. Hooray for the "word travels fast" philosophy coming true! We'll see how Thursday looks!
I'm off to the Mountain Market (eek!)- I'll let you know how it goes.