Highlights of the Week

Our apartment in Teacher Housing

Life in Kotzebue has finally begun to normalize. This post is a recording of the week's highlights, including changes in staffing at our jobs that will free us both up to spend more quality time together. The new landline phone will help us connect with our friends in the lower 48 better. And also some furniture -- including a dining table, four chairs, and a tv -- was gifted or loaned to us.

During the week I learned of some good websites and catalog companies that ship groceries and household items to Alaska. The most exciting discovery was Fred Meyer Alaska. They offer a large selection of natural foods and regular groceries at really reasonable prices. While searching their site, I recalled deadlines at Oregon Coast magazine when Rosemary and I would take a few minutes to walk over to the Florence Fred Meyer to pick up natural food staples and treats for the office. I miss my work buddies at the magazine.

Rick talks with Tryson about sales

The packaging store hit a good stride late in the week when a new assistant manager was hired and a new stock of alcohol arrived. Rick has been helping out there in the evenings sometimes when it's been super busy. He's lost some weight schlepping around the cases of beer and looks good.

The store is expecting a huge barge shipment soon. In the meantime, their inventory is quickly evaporating. Sales are booming. Hopefully this shipment will last through the winter. With three of the large employers handing out paychecks on Friday, alcohol flew off the shelves and the lines were out the door most of the day.

More than 500 permits have been issued, close to the 600 total projected. A customer must purchase a permit in order to buy alcohol at the store. There has been no noticeable increase in the number of alcohol-related crimes. However much bootleg alcohol has been ceased. I pray the money saved by those who are purchasing alcohol at the store is being spent to buy more food for their families.

And finally, yesterday Rick watched the Oregon Ducks beat the University of Tennessee on a tv in our apartment. Yes, we can watch Ducks football games on tv up here! Go Ducks! During the commercials the usual flipping to other stations occurred. Rick was stoked.