Issue No. 2

Good morning from the Togiak Library! I successfully opened the library and its gate twenty minutes ago, have answered one phone call, and have yet to greet a patron. One thing that I forgot to mention in my previous issue about the library is that they also have thirty new iPads available for use. This is very helpful to the student body because they are issued iPads for use in school as well. Although they have to leave it behind when they leave for the day, they can come to the library and use the same applications and read the same text as the ones they're responsible for at school. Neat-o!
I still can't decide my absolute favorite thing about the library here. Its a toss up between having my own set of keys, the fact that the books are not checked out electronically, but with a card catalog system (library cards are not issued, you simply sign the card from the dust jacket complying to bring it back in two weeks), or that you have to take your shoes off at the door. Its probably that you have to take your shoes off at the door. Makes for a cozy visit. Not to mention, it keeps all of the mud out and therefore eliminates mopping. I do wish that there was a mini-fridge for my leftover shepherds pie that I brought for lunch. In a month or two I'll be able to keep my lunch cold outside.
Last nights fishing expedition was a success! Kyle and I caught rides to the beach with our neighbors. I rode with Monte, a retired DEA agent. I sat behind him with bug spray tucked in my coat, his coffee mug in my right hand, and his shot gun across my lap. There were nine of us in all. I finally got to see the dead walrus that washed up on shore sometime last week! I wish I had gotten to see it whole; some locals carried off its head and fins for the ivory, which they later use to carve jewelry and other items out of. A walrus head alone can weigh up to 300 pounds! It was a massive stump of remains- no pictures because it was dark.
I'm new to the world of net fishing, and I may not have all of my facts straight. From what I understand, they set the nets up at low tide and harvest them at high tide. A couple of guys equipped with waiters walked out into the water, chest deep, to the net and hauled out about twelve fish. They carried the fish up to the shore where we all started in on filleting, our head lamps our only source of light by this point. Tote lids were laid on the racks of the quads and used as cutting boards. I helped Monte, washing the fillets in the ocean and putting them in gallon ziplocks. One of the guys was filleting a fish and found a big ol' sack of eggs inside. I really wish that I could have captured what happened next on film! I tried one of the eggs raw! I sucked it right off of the sac. It was very yolky. I bet I could scramble them.
Once all of the fish were filleted, everyone packed up their gear and headed home. We left our house at 11 and were home by midnight- incredible! Everyone helped, including the guy on bear watch (seriously), and we were done in no time. On the ride back "up the hill" we saw a dead brown bear cub on the trail. Just a tiny little guy, way smaller than the walrus. A dead cub more than likely means a mother bear is wandering around somewhere, too. With fall quickly approaching we were advised to be extra careful and watchful for bear as they will be looking for food and preparing for the winter ahead.
Tonight, weather permitting, there will be a bonfire on the beach with all of the teachers. At noon today, Dale is going back to harvest more fish out of the net to cook up at the bonfire. They season the fish, wrap them in tinfoil, and toss them into the fire to cook.
Until next time!