Thoughts from Barrow

I looked up the weather really quickly and the official temperature here right now is -6 degrees and with the wind chil it is -20. I also like to look at the sunrise and set times and it is listed at 11:59 am to rise and 12:01 pm to set, even though that must be just to be some numbers there. I will see for myself tomorrow. The sun is just supposed to peak over the horizon briefly.

Other than the cold, I am excited to be here once again. The picture above shows an actual signpost outside the airport with the mileage to select cities around the world. We are going to the Inupiat Heritage Center tomorrow morning. It is a cultural museum that looks pretty big. We saw it right across the street from the AC Grocery.

We play Kotzebue tomorrow evening after our JV games. We have beaten them three times this year so I feel good about that game. Tomorrow morning about 11 am then (knock on wood) we should play Barrow. This is a double elimination tournament and the final two teams get to go to State in Anchorage. If we are lucky enough, that's next week. Details can be found at this website: http://www.asaa.org/volleyball/ Nome will play in the 1-2-3A Tournament as we are in the Far North Conference. Teams from this conference get one berth to State on even years and two berths to State on odd years (although this is probably going to change really soon--the other coaches from around the state call it unfair, rightfully so if you ask me, that our conference gets two berths for three teams when the Borealis Conference of 15 teams gets only three berths and the Southeast Conference of 9 teams gets two berths).

Now I am lying on the floor in Barrow's In-School Suspension room. I didn't bring the airbed this time because Amy really needs to sleep on it at home. Otherwise, she was lying on one of those bop chairs to sleep. We are finally getting real beds soon though. The girls are getting bunk beds for Christmas and we are getting a real mattress. My stipend for coaching volleyball kicks in this month and we can afford the extra expenditure. I have a pillow with me at least. I am going to have to invest in a real nice sleeping bag for next year.

Yes, there is going to be a next year. Last week when I had that...ahem...altercation...with the player I thought this may not be worth it. But it is. I have learned a LOT this year. I have a file on my computer called "Next Year" that lists all sorts of things to do differently and to fix. It will only get better. It's like my first year of teaching was--I expected all of the boys and girls to sit and soak up knowledge. I really did; I expected a class full of MEs sitting there, waiting to learn, without any real behavioral issues. Boy, was I stupid. I have to be tighter on things like absences from practice and tardies. I have to clearly type up all rules and expectations and give everything in writing. I have also learned how I want my practices to run better, more cohesive and more like a unit. This was my learning year.

I am going to go read a few of the comic books that I brought (old Justice League ones) and get some shuteye.