#livinginthemiddle

[circle-of-trees]

Sun spots on the apartment floor

An array of wine glasses from the night before

Downstairs neighbor plays his hits

Upstairs neighbor calls it quits.

[wanderingsoulwv]

2 whole months

Well, we have lived here in McGrath 2 months. We are still enjoying the simple and calming life here, although the lack of convenience is starting to aggravate me. We are in the middle of Christmas shopping and wondering if stuff is going to get here in time. Also, ordering items and it taking weeks to get to us is hard for planning purposes. I went for a walk the other day and stopped looking at the river. it was so nice. You could close your eyes and here the sound of the ice on the river hitting each other. I could almost pretend I was beside the slurpee machine in a 7-eleven. I didn’t stand looking at the river for too long because in a town of less than 300 people, you do not want to be labeled “The crazy one.’’ My house still is not completely set up the way I would like. Most of my pictures are up, but I need my rugs and storage containers. I need my organization stuff, I need my stuff from Amazon I ordered 2 weeks ago. I find I need things and have to struggle until it arrives because it is not as easy as just going to the store. The couch in my garage is gone, so at least I can organize that and get my car in the garage where it needs to be. It is starting to get cold...like real cold. The cold that seeps down into your bones that you just can’t seem to shake. My diet is going ok... for 4 days I had no sweets or junk food. Last night I had a slice of pumpkin pie- more on that in a minute- and it was so good that I almost went on a cookie binge. I kept my control though and just left the living room.

Ok, so the reason I had a pumpkin pie in the first place is this. I have to call a store and give them a long long grocery list, then they shop it for me, put it in boxes, and then ship it to me. So, after messing up a few times I made sure to be very specific about what I wanted. So I tel them I want a pie pumpkin, Philadelphia cream cheese, and Go Kids yogurt....my order came in and I received a pumpkin pie, store brand cream cheese, and Go-gurt. Now, I can normally keep a level head. For instance last month with I ordered turnips and got radishes I shook my head and am still having a good laugh over that. However, this time I was not happy. I give specific brands for a reason and was just given whatever. I didn’t even get a phone call like I normally do. I can’t wait to see what of my dry goods got messed up. And I know, some people are like it is just cream cheese...but it’s not. It is more about the lack of control I have here. How little control I have. How I give specifics and can’t seem to get them. So now, I am having to change my Thanksgiving menu and have a fridge full of sugar filled yogurt and nasty cream cheese. 

So, two months into our journey here and I can still say overall I am still ok with living here. I will be starting my new job soon, and maybe can gain some control over my life. Until then I will just take it one day at a time and enjoy the slower way of life, living in the Bush of Alaska.

*M*

[wanderingsoulwv]

Snow in the mountain

[wanderingsoulwv]

Already a month

They say time flies when you're having fun, well it also seems time flies when you're having a peaceful break. I cannot believe we've been living in McGrath for a month already. This past week was a busy one. We bought a four wheeler to help keep the car in good condition. Then the next day our vehicle finally showed up. So that was exciting. We drove outside of town just because we could. I also applied for a job and had a phone interview that went well. I had no plans of working once we got here, but it would give me something to do and a little extra money so I can buy things I want. It will also allow me to purchase things for my Scentsy business. So we will see what happens. Our internet box came today so with any luck our internet will be hooked up this afternoon. We are slowly getting things from our old life closed. Paying and closing accounts in Stafford. It's a good feeling, paying stuff off. Hopefully we will adjust soon to the new expenses and not incure too much debt while we're here, otherwise this would be for nothing. Our house is almost set up. Just have to finish having pictures on the walls and we will be done. Finally!!!

[wanderingsoulwv]

Bush emergency

Sept 27-Last night was our first Bush emergency. Greenleigh woke up around 11 and was on fire. Her fever was 105.7 and she was bright red. So we immediately stripped her down and put her in a lukewarm bath while we gave her Tylenol. Her fever only came down to 104.5 but it was coming down. I stayed in her room with her for the night knowing she nor I would get much rest. As I lay beside her, keeping a cool rag on her forhead, I watched her sleep be restless. She was constantly moving and her breathing was erratic. She would wake up every 20 minutes or so and cry out. I felt so bad for her. But nothing could have prepared me for what happened next. She woke up crying and everything seemed norm, but then I noticed her arm was twitching and all of a sudden she started convulsing and screaming. Her mouth was open and unmoving, but she was screaming and her eyes were doing this weird movement. It was absolutely terrifyingly. As a parent it really is one of the worst feelings ever, when something is wrong and there is absolutely nothing you can do except wait it out. I held her loosely and kept saying over and over, "It's ok baby, it's ok. You're going to be ok." I said this over and over again while she screamed not knowing what was happening. Meanwhile I called out to Steven telling him to call the 911 line. To call T or M or someone anyone that could help us. It was horrible and something I will never forget although I wish I could. I've never been around someone who is having a seizure, and I hope I never have to again. It went on for what seemed like an eternity, but was only about a minute. After she stopped it was like magic. Her fever was suddenly gone, and while she was drenched in sweat, she was alert and acting like nothing had happened. Except for her being tired it was as if nothing was wrong. I am sharing this with you to help not only myself, but to keep an accurate log of my life here. Now here is where the fun begins. Life in the Bush is a bit different. There are no ambulances, no hospitals, no doctors on call waiting to jump in the middle of the night. We have a medical clinic that serves for everything. We have a Physicians Assistant, a few Registered Nurses, and some Health Aids. The PA and the RNs take turns being on call for the night in case of an emergency. Something like this or worse. And how the 911 lines works is you call it and leave a message and wait for a call back. Whoever is the on call person is the one waiting at night to jump up and answer emergencies. This was completely new to us. Had we been in Stafford I would have ran her to the closest ER, but life in the Bush is different. This being our first time and needing help Steven runs to our neighbors T and M for the protocol at 2 in the morning. We make the call and wait for a callback. We discuss with the RN what has happened. She informs us we can bring her in now or wait until later in the day. We decide to go ahead and take her in. So we take her in and the nurse goes down the list of checks. Everything looks good except her throat is a little red, but that could be sinus drainage from her runny nose. But tells us what to look for and everything. So we go home and she decides she wants to watch Frozen in bed because she's scared to go to sleep. I am hoping she will fall asleep but she doesn't. Not until the movie is over and it's around 5 a.m. but her temp is back to normal, so we fall asleep and everything seems ok. We wake up at 8 and I can feel the heat radiating off of her again. I scramble for a thermometer and discover its back up to 104.8 again....so I immediately give her some Motrin and have Steven call the nurse again. She's going to need to be seen. Well, shortly after she throws up her Motrin and the small sip of water she took. So I'm thinking it's Strep throat again. We take her in again and she does the check again. Only this time she sees her tonsils are inflamed but the test is negative. So, we will have to wait and see. So am keeping an eye on her. Giving her lots of fluids and rest. She still seems scared to fall asleep, but I can relate to that. It is almost time for another round of meds. Hopefully it won't spike again. Hopefully it will break. Hopefully she will feel better soon. But there you have it. We have survived our first Bush emergency.....Hopefully we won't have another....

[wanderingsoulwv]

Snow....

Sept 21- so it snowed last night. It was big huge flakes. I was not expecting that. It's only September and it's already snowing. Winter is coming and I am not prepared. We are still waiting on food to arrive, our stuff isn't here yet, nor is our car and it's already snowing. Ahhhh!!!! It will, however, be ok. We will make it I am sure if this. I'm sitting around my house, wearing my nice warm wool socks and my long underwear and I am content for the moment. We are out of toilet paper and are having to use tissues. Hopefully our household goods come soon or we will be forced to use socks....just kidding. We won't go there yet, but we are loathe to walk the mile to the store and back in the cold. It wouldn't be so bad except for the Bean. She takes three steps then cries I can't walk and we end up having to carry her. I am not carrying my child along with groceries for a mile. I am also not listening to her scream for a mile either. Life is different here. You have to an accordingly. I am still learning but I know I will catch on. Until then I will continue to enjoy the silence. The quiet. The slower way of life.

[wanderingsoulwv]

First week

Sept. 18, 2015- I survived my first week here in McGrath! Steven hunted 2 days this week. We went to the store 4 times. I placed a 1000 dollar food order. And Greenleigh made some new friends. It has been chilly here but I know that colder weather is on the way. They keep calling for light snow but as of yet, nothing. I changed our address to Winterfell Rd. This done for shipping purposes. I have watched the same 5 movies on repeat for 7 days. Our stuff should arrive next week and hopefully our car soon after. Today we went for a boat ride on the river and all I can say is brrrrrrrr. It was very chilly but nice to see McGrath from the water. We also got to see the old site of the town, before it got flooded by the river. I am trying to make the most out of living in the Bush. I miss my friends and family as well as warmer weather, but I'm excited at the new possibilities of this type of life. It will be challenging but looking back I can feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment if I can actually do this!

[livinginthemiddleofthenoise-blog]

VIVER NO MEIO DO BARULHO/LIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NOISE

Come check out my upcoming show at Head On Photo Festival as one of their featured artists.

Viver no Meio do Barulho (Living in the Middle of the Noise) is a documentary project based in Rio de Janeiro. In 2006, Nicola Dracoulis photographed nine young people across four favelas in Rio de Janeiro. Seven years on, she has reconnected with those same people to discover what their lives are like now. 

Come to gaffa creative precinct for the opening on the 29th May 6-8pm

Exhibition showing 29th May - 8th June 2014

gaffa creative precinct 281 Clarence Street, Sydney, 2000

https://headon.com.au/event/viver-no-meio-do-barulho-living-middle-noise