JDHS - First Day

Steven attend his first day at JDHS today. He seems to have enjoyed it. JDHS runs on a block schedule so today he had English, Biology, PE and Alegabra. Tomorrow he will have all of his classes which will include Guitar and American History.
He came home with papers to sign, classroom expectations and his Bio class takes walking field trips that he needed a permission slip signed for. Uncle Bob and I are excited about that, hoping that Steven will be able to help us identify plants and trees while out on our hikes.
He said that he hasn't made it to his locker yet, but hopefully today. He did get his student id, he is now a Crimson Bear. I will attach a link to JDHS on this site that you all may check out his new school.
He's happy and feels good about his classes and being here this summer he already knows some of his classmates and has co-workers in class. Which I would have to imagine feels good to not be in a sea of complete strangers.
Good start Steven - we are all so proud of you! Aunt Molly and Uncle Bob

A meeting with the counselor

This afternoon we meet with Steven's counselor at JDHS. She took time with Steven and presented his options to him. She worked with him to set up a class schedule and his first day school is tomorrow. He has the following classes this semester:
American History
PE
Algebra
English Composition (I think that's the name of it, I don't have my notes here at school).
Guitar
Biology
Tonight we went and picked up school supplies. They were pretty wiped-out, I didn't even find what I needed - but Steven found some things to get him started and we will pick up whatever else he needs as we go. He picked up a backpack for himself that I must say is pretty sharp. He was pretty giddy tonight getting his supplies around and packing his bag. He was talking a mile a minute and smiling, he even said that it would be the first time in his life he was excited about homework! I am not sure if he will sleep much or not, but it is pretty neat to see him so excited. I am saying prayers for him that he has an awesome first day and that the momentum cares into the following two years of serious work for him. We all believe that he has the ability to be successful - Aunt Molly

Steven's Alaskan Adventure Continues

There have been many decisions made over the past week, wow - it's only been a couple of weeks - about Steven's future. He has been contemplating it for a bit longer, but for Uncle Bob and I it's been a couple of weeks. It's been agreed that Steven will continue to live in Juneau with Uncle Bob and I and attend Juneau-Douglas High School. We are in the process of completing his registration. It will be a different life for all of us, but we have laid the ground work and are just going to focus on one semester at a time. Aunt Molly

Blue Mussel Cabin

This was a perfect hike out to the cabin. It's fairly short and not much elevation so when you get to the cabin you're not exhausted. Uncle Bob and Steven spent lots of time fishing and before bed played some dice. Aunt Molly made it here "job" to read "The Time Travelers' Wife". It was a wonderful overnight hike. Aunt Molly

Eagle Glacier Cabin

This was a bit of a tough trail - but we made it and the view was worth the effort. We only stayed for one night - the next morning we planned to hike the trail to Eagle Glacier thinking it would be a "walk in the woods". Foolish us, why we didn't read the trail book before we left, who knows. When we started to climb rock Aunt Molly "wimped out". Whatever, I wasn't prepared for that. We also have 5 miles to hike out that day, so we headed back to the cabin. The hike out came with a little treat - "a very big, very big bear" - as Bob kept repeating. We made lots of noise and I am sure that Steven thought we were nuts, but those things can bite your face of (that would be the article in the paper that I read the day before we did this hike)! We made it back, tired, but safe. Aunt Molly

Petterson Lake Cabin

Skate Day

Steven was finally able to replace the board that he broke just a few days after arriving here. He told us that today was Skate Day and he really wanted to get out and skate. Uncle Bob took him over to the skate park and he and I and Rosco ended up napping for the afternoon. Tomorrow we may get out for a hike. Aunt Molly

Rosco and Steven

Rosco is staying with us. He is getting lots of love from all of us. Aunt Molly

Porcupines do climb trees

Windfall Lake

Today we hiked out to Windfall Lake. Uncle Bob and Steven took the canoe out and Steven caught a few fish. They brought back two which Uncle Bob cooked up and we had for a little snack. We hope to be able to rent the cabin so they can go out for a full day instead of just a couple of hours. Aunt Molly

Typin' on Aunt Molly's Netbook

It's so cute! Aunt Molly

Fishin' with Uncle Bob

Steven and Uncle Bob saw a whale today while out fishing. Can you see it in the second picture? Aunt Molly

A hike at the Glacier

June 10th

We have been so busy working that we haven't done any blogging. Life is not always exciting in Alaska, but always an adventure! We will cathch up soon. Aunt Molly

First Day on the Job

Steven started his job today at the Red Dog. Next week he will start at the movie theater. In between all that we will hike, camp and travel to some other parts of Southeast. It will be a busy, busy summer. Aunt Molly

Rainforest Trail

On this Sunny Sunday after taking Steven over to the Red Dog to see where he will work, starting tomorrow, we went out for a little hike on the Rainforest Trail. It was a nice hike. We had a little snack, a little campfire (which took a long while to get started) and then hiked out to come home from dinner. It was such a beautiful day. We think that Steven might have brought the sunny weather with him from FL. Aunt Molly

Oh Sunny Sunday

Steven doesn't know how lucky he is, we (Uncle Bob & Aunt Molly) just woke up to a beautiful, hot, sunny day! We can't wait for him to wake and see it - Aunt Molly

Steven's first night in Alaska

I arrived at the the airport in time to see Steven's flight turning in for it's landing and touch down. It was pretty cool. I will see how the pictures came out and post them tomorrow. I cried a little when I gave him a hug, can't help it. He got to see where Bob works and then we went out to the glacier. A little sight-seeing. We stopped at Fred's on the way home and I told Steven that he was stuck with me for dinner so he had better pick something out while at the store. It is sad, but the truth, so he picked out some chicken and mac & cheese and I micro-ed it when we got home! Good eats. Now we are just winding down from a long day for all of us. Aunt Molly

Tracking the flight

I just woke up and thought that I would check in on Steven's progress to Alaska. He appears to be somewhere over Nebraska. About half way to his first destination. Aunt Molly

Just checked again and he should be landing in Seattle in 26 minutes! Aunt Molly

The nephew has landed, repeat, the nephew has landed - in Seattle @ 11:07 am. Aunt Molly

He's back in the air heading from Seattle to Ketchikan. We booked him on the "milk run" (which means he lands in Ketchikan and then in Sitka before he gets to Juneau) it actually does get him here quicker. Plus he gets the joy of landing in the Southeast. Reverse Thrust, reverse thrust!!! Aunt Molly

AAt 5:23 Steven landed in Ketchikan. He is now on Alaskan soil. I don't imagine that he will leave the plan they will only be there 30 or 40 minutes. He's in Alaska - making me a little teary-eyed! Aunt Molly

Shouldn't belong now. I am heading to the airport, Steven has departed Sitka Alaska. Aunt Molly

He is here and eating some dinner. Aunt Molly

The ticket has been purchased

That's right, we just purchased Steven's ticket to AK. He will be here on May 30th!!! Aunt Molly

The background . . .

It all started with a conversation that Denise and I were having about Steven having a hard time finding a job. Lets face it, we all know about the economy and that many people are loosing their jobs. So what used to be considered jobs "just for teenagers" are being applied for by all. I told her that there are always jobs here in the summer. There just aren't enough people to fill all the positions. Many business bring people in for the summer and pay for their housing just to have the man power. And so it began . . .
The plan is for Steven to fly here on May 30th and stay til sometime in October when the tourist season ends. He will work at the Red Dog Gift Shop and if he so chooses could work at the theater or look for another job on his own.
Bob and I are both hoping that he will enjoy himself while he is here. We would hate for him to get here and not have fun. But there is lots to see and we plan to show him as much as we can.
I wanted to start this blog so we could use it as a record of his visit and thanks to Yvonne, have it printed at the end and we will both have an album about his trip to Alaska. I plan to set him up as an author also so we will all be able to share his adventure with you. Aunt Molly