"The Great One"

It's been a very long time since my last post. I've accumulated so many stories - important, minor, dramatic, mundane, happy, sad, and downright repetitive. Every once in awhile I'll sit down to write and share pieces of my Alaskan Great Perhaps with anyone who might read this only to find that what I have to say isn't the big adventures you might want or I expect of myself. My stories often involve events that are still in progress that maybe shouldn't be shared quite yet. However, I can tell you about my three-day mini holiday this past Saturday-Monday.

With three days scheduled off from work, this was supposed to be our big train adventure to Talkeetna. Two nights in a hotel with three of my really close friends, horseback riding, zip lining, and any other shenanigans we could find, but the universe rarely cooperates with mortal plans. Not one of us ended up going and only one was ready that morning. Whoops. My first reaction when I finally woke up was to make it up to my first and one of my closest friends here (she was the most excited for the trip) so we went to breakfast for lunch at Totem (the cafe across the street from our housing). We both walked away with food babies and plans for the rest of the day. She had scheduled a flight tour for herself later in the afternoon, and with a few adjustments, I was going too. A flight tour involves airplanes and, depending on the company, flying around Denali aka Mt. McKinley. Sometimes it's just flying around the area which would be cool as well, but ours was pure magic.

Words truly seem inadequate when trying to describe what I saw, and felt, and experienced. Watching as the rivers, ponds, lakes, hills, and mountains begin to disappear beneath patchy clouds. Feeling like you're exploring a different world as the clouds solidify into a floor of white, leaving all thoughts of land behind. You soar past bulbous rain clouds the same white as the others, but rising in a column, stories higher. The skies stay like this for awhile longer, yet you are never bored with the seemingly endless sea of clouds. In the distance a shape forms. A rather large rock at first glance. It's impressive, certainly, but as you near and the clouds dissipate some, you can appreciate what a behemoth Denali is. 21-something thousand feet high, the "Great One" easily dwarves the 14'ers surrounding him. Circling and dipping between the different sights, your guide points out the glaciers, the tallest wall on earth the "Haversham Wall", four of the major peaks, and yet throughout the descriptions your eyes constantly return to Denali. Spines peak around it sporadically above the white floor like an ice dragon's back. As the pilot glides around the peak one last time, passenger's cameras snap away, desperately trying to capture a sight they'll hold most vividly in their hearts.

 My intentions were to finish the rest of the weekend's stories, but I seem to have run out of words. I'll leave you with a few pictures from Monday and bid you adieu =)

Being Grateful

    One can be where or they are or desire to be someplace else, and sometimes both. So often we get caught up in what we'd rather be doing instead of allowing ourselves the energy to absorb exactly where we are at any given moment. It's not always easy especially if there are changes happening back home that you have no control over. But that's just it... there's nothing you can do. Send gifts, make phone calls, write letters, but live your life to your fullest potential. Find something in your everyday life that you can control. Clean, eat better, go for a walk, write, draw, read, work overtime, get lost on the interwebs, and those are just my escapes. I have very little patience for people who complain about there being nothing to do especially when out on a big adventure such as Alaska. Yeah, there aren't malls or many food options, but make do with what you have access to. Complaining in earnest for a few days is understandable, but excuse after excuse gets old quick. Find a solution, an alternative, a compromise, something. But never ever blame your woes on a lack of things to do, be honest and know your eyes just need to open a little wider. Beauty and adventure are everywhere when one has a grateful heart.

    Understand I struggle immensely with control issues and being grateful is a new development for me. Just over a year ago, if someone told me I had no control over a situation it's likely I'd have a meltdown of some sort. Often I'd completely shutdown if what I wanted didn't happen exactly when and how I pictured it should. So, basically I was a brat. Every now and again there are still meltdowns and tantrums that I'm not proud of, but I move past them much faster than I used to. I've learned to find something else I can change and most of the time my behavior is the easiest to adjust. That is also more beneficial in the long run, because with practice, the more calm, clear-headed reactions become habit. 

Being appreciative isn't always easy, but learning to love where you are is the greatest gift you'll ever receive.

Day 7 and 8: Reign of the Mighty Mouse

    When I've lived with people prior to renting my little place, it never worked out. There were squabbles, kerfuffles, and large degrees of separation. I'd never spend any time in my room or house, or my music would be all I could tolerate when I did. And now, after living on my own for over a year, I'm not the only one residing at home. After last night, things feel like they're snowballing. But I won't list my shortcomings or current dilemmas because the funny stories, positive developments, and highlights deserve the limelight.

    So here we go!

Day 7 and 8: Reign of the Mighty Mouse

    Thanks to MTV,  since middle school people hear my name and there is always one comedian who asks, "Tila Tequila?!". No guys, not her. Not even close. But I'm protesting to a brick wall (or three) at that point. And that's where I started with my acting supervisor. Over the walkie-talkie he'd radio, "Matt to Teela Tequila.". I'd fuss, but that only made it worse, so I ran with it and yesterday earned a new, Teela-approved nickname: Mighty Mouse. Here's why:

   I think I bungee-d 5-7 very full trash bags on there by myself and transported them from one end of the property to the dumpsters on the other side (the area where I work is fairly large). Not a single one fell off. Yeah, I'm pretty mighty. No big deal. I showed the picture to my supervisor and earned my newest moniker (even comes with its own theme song!).

    In case you were wondering, yeah, that space buggy is a blast to drive. She's not mine to zip around in if I'm busy with my supervisor, but errands and night shift? This baby's mine! Maxine's (Matt, my supervisor's choice not mine) normal top speed is about 16 because the Higher-Ups disengaged the high gear (max at 35mph) which was probably a wise idea. But I managed to max the buggy out at 20mph going downhill. I felt like a champ. Never disregard the small victories in life.

    

    Part of my job includes helping the guests whether it be pointing them in the right direction or giving them a ride, and always with a smile and bright attitude. Last night, I was going down the hill at one point to find my supervisor (his walkie was tuned to the wrong channel so he couldn't hear me or the front desk's requests) and saw a woman was walking with a much younger man (her son, maybe?). She was relying on him pretty heavily for support going down the steepest hill on the property. Looked like awfully slow going and she was shaking really badly (an age thing?) so I offered them a ride. Unfortunately there was only one seat, but the man had no problem walking. What a lovely lady! Her name was Maria, she was from Florida, and was pleasant and grateful for the ride. Another story: A woman called over my coworker and I (a different one than mentioned in the other post) and asked us if we had to take Friendliness Classes because everyone she has met or interacted with on their entire cruise has been helpful, cheerful, and accommodating. That was neat to hear! I suggested she travel with us again since it was such a good experience. Yeah, I'm a good employee. Interacting with the guests is one of my favorite aspects of my job. Chatting with them, pointing them in the right direction, and making sure they see a bright and happy face. Sometimes a "Hello!" is all a person needs to turn around their day.

    My supervisor (Matt) recommended me to our manager to be posted semi-full time at the Main Lodge monitoring their bathrooms and trash bins. Sounds simple, but there are busloads of people ebbing and flowing through there constantly which means that it needs constant attention. The thought kind of bummed me out because I wouldn't be riding (or more importantly, driving!) around as much, but then they explained why: My supervisor described me to our manager as a spitfire, great with the guests, bubbly, and energetic. A great representative for Princess. Man, my ego inflated quite a bit. Truthfully though, I give this job my all and I'm astounded how fast it's paying off.

 My first tip! Ran around singing 

"I got a dollar! I got a dollar! I got a dollar hey hey hey hey!" 

from Little Rascals for awhile.

My good friend Clarissa and I after work Thursday:

My work uniform. Only Public Area Attendants besides supervisors get walkies and keys!

View from the walkway at the resort:

And a short video of me driving the golf cart:

    

That concludes tonight's entry.  Quitting early so I can catch the shuttle on time tomorrow. Night all! 

Day 6: Short Thoughts on a Long Day

    So far I've experienced earthquakes (a 5.5 my first morning in AK), giant mosquitoes, and weather that simply cannot make up its mind. But there's also wide open spaces while being surrounded by mountains, lakes, fairly mild weather (albeit indecisive), great people, and a sense of peace. The activities provided by my employer and within my immediate area includes: hiking, kayaking, flightseeing, dog sled running, the train tour, glacier landing, whitewater rafting, and ATV tours. It would be incredibly overwhelming if I hadn't made a friend as fast as I did. Now Alaska feels like a home, like I've been here for ages.
    In my last post I mentioned that time had stopped. And while, yes, I tend to exaggerate, this is completely honest. The sun is up about twenty hours per day at this point, but instead of not being able to sleep my body just rests when it's bedtime and gets up when it's time to get the day started. Wake up, get ready, eat breakfast, catch the shuttle, work, clock out, catch the shuttle home, change clothes, dinner, and whatever until bedtime. The days blend together and such freedom I've never experienced. For the first time in my life, even the sun's usual rising and setting has little influence over what I can and cannot do.
    When one envisions working, especially when it isn't the job of your dreams, it's difficult for freedom to be a synonym for work. At least for me. However, all this daylight gives me the time (plus some extra energy) to cram a few more activities into my day. Certainly something I'll miss when I move back down south.
   
    Topic switch! There are people here from all over the U.S.A. and the world. I've met people from Alaska, Utah, Arizona, Florida, Washington, Oregon, Delaware, California, Idaho, Jamaica, Bulgaria, and Thailand and those are just the places I can remember! It's incredible how diverse the workforce is. Everyone I have met so far has been nice, and for the most part the people I work with are amusing (a few who are even attractive *and* funny!).

    I will leave this post at that for tonight. My bed is calling my name and I am possibly working a double shift tomorrow! So goodnight and thank you to those patient enough to read my documented thoughts =)

Day 5: My Adventures So Far

    So, it's 12:25am Alaska time, 3:25am Central Time and I'm still awake... Best time to start a blog, right? I've tried this whole concept a few times before, but this is the first time I have something worth sharing. My journey started 5 weeks ago yesterday and everything has been a whirlwind since then. Nothing slowed or paused until I arrived in Healy: now time has stopped.
    My flight was a blur. Between leaving my mom, grandma Cathy, and Bill at the security gates and getting on the bus in Healy, I experienced the worst bout of homesickness on record, was adopted by an Alaskan couple on the flight from Denver to Anchorage, found out the hard way my phone doesn't work in AK, and lost my wallet (cash, drivers license, debit card, and tribal id).  Alone, scared, and exhausted, I wanted to leave immediately. I didn't care that this was the adventure I've been craving or that I was finally doing something amazing, I was terrified. But every now and again I believe in guardian angels and the power of good people. The shuttle driver from the airport to my hotel took pity and drove me for free, my family and friend Katie called and emailed everywhere possible to help fix the situation, and my shuttle driver from Anchorage to Healy gave me a few bucks to make sure I was able to eat lunch. It's incredible how much of a difference a full stomach makes on a person's panic response!
     While the bus wound through surreal tundra landscapes and mountains taller than the skies, I had 8ish hours to relax and wait anxiously to reach where I'd be spending my next 19 weeks. If I wasn't sleeping, I was absorbing the landscape through the dusty bus window. If you asked someone to describe Alaska, it's likely they'll use one word: big. Colorado looks small, and the Rockies look like hills in comparison. The world stops here and you certainly needn't look elsewhere for everything you need. Clean air, not too many people, 60's/70's in the summer, mountains to explore, adventures to be had, and hiking boots to be worn. I'm in love, possibly even considering moving here after next year instead of Washington
   
A lot has happened and I'm not sure what all to share, so here's some work details and friends information:

Work: Had orientation on my first day then cleaned rooms which isn't the job I was hired for, but that's where I was needed. During orientation I learned that I'm still narcoleptic during presentations... Oops. Second day was working my actual job, well training anyways. Drove a golf cart for the first time! That was uber exciting. My job is a lot of cleaning bathrooms, picking up trash, and learning patience/teamwork. I want to make this job work. I want to work my butt off. I need to be good. Daycare was the best thing to happen to me in regards to work and work ethics. It taught me I am truly capable of whatever I set my mind to and that, yes, I can be good at something. Scrubbing toilets isn't glamorous, neither is cleaning up after tourists, but it's something and if I'm good enough there are promotions and benefits. For once I want to be good and do well for someone else. My one official coworker (so far and besides my supervisor) is proving to be a challenge. She's younger but extremely condescending despite having only been here a week longer than I have. I've been incredibly independent the last almost two years and now I'm tied to a team member I struggle to be patient with. This will be interesting, but it's nothing but optimism and problem solving right now. Keeping the peace is my main priority, pride be damned. Also! I got a Star sticker. The supervisors are in charge of passing them out to their employees who go above and beyond their workload on the job and then the names are entered in for prize drawings. Our whole team got one, but I was still very proud. I'm striving for a silver bar (you can get prizes and such) and then the gold bar (less than 25% of all employees receive these), also maybe an Employee of the Month. So strange having high aspirations at a job!

Friends: My first friend here, first day and all, is Mormon. Just like home! It's neat being able to connect over a religion that's not even my own, but my understanding is in-depth enough that I can relate and also educate people who might be too nervous or embarrassed to ask someone of that faith. Her (Clarissa) and I have become pretty close which is so nice, doesn't leave me with much time to be homesick. We went on a hike Monday with a few friends, two from Cali and four from Thailand. Learned some Thai (yoong = mosquito, ped = duck), took some high-quality selfies, and fell even more madly in love with Alaska. My roommates are really cool (so far), we seem to click and went out walking after dinner. I think this will be a summer that'll never be forgotten.

    Yeah, I'm homesick, but I finally have a home worth missing and that I am immensely grateful for. I'm safe, enjoy my work, enjoy the people I'm surrounded by, love the scenery I get to live in, there are three meals a day, a warm bed, my own bathtub, a golf cart to drive around, people to miss me, people to meet. Ya know, good things.

And it is now 1;27am.

My dears, I think I've found my Great Perhaps.