Tours in Juneau

Just getting back into the swing of things at MGT. Looking forward to starting another season of providing tours of the Mendenhall Glacier, Whale Watching tours, Helicopter tours, Trolley tours and many others. Hoping for good weather and wishing summer was already here.
Take a look at the updated site: www.mightygreattrips.com

Sporadic

I wasn't kidding when I said this would be a sporadic account of my journeys. The latest update is that I am finishing my Biology degree at Lyon College. No, you haven't ever heard of Lyon, but I assure you it is rigorous. With one semester standing between me and the open road, I'm wondering what to do with my life. My ideas include teaching high school biology at a rural school in Alaska or Arkansas, becoming a ranch hand in Montana, trying to get my old job at Bear Body Works (the best auto body shop in Juneau) back, or simply becoming a gypsy. Varied paths.

In the mean time, I snagged a job with a cruise vessel. Not a Cruise Ship. I am very careful to make this distinction (albeit in my own mind) when the subject comes up. The words Cruise Ship invoke a vision of luxury accommodations, environmental rape, and Helga the chamber maid folding your washcloths into cute little rabbits. The M/V Sundance is a 70 foot working boat that was converted into a small chartered cruise vessel. She has four state rooms and from what I can tell, the best crew to work such a beaut. Passengers are picked up in Juneau or Ketchikan, and then escorted through the cool deep waters of the Inside Passage. Stops are made at ghost towns, glaciers, for fishing or wildlife viewing, and at settlements along the coast. I will be happily working away, doing a little cooking, deck-handing, or guiding, but mostly telling our guests about the flora and fauna surrounding them. Seeing the look of rapture on someone's face when they see their first Orca up close or help pull a shrimp pot containing the evening's dinner is irreplaceable. There is a soothing of the soul that comes with such experiences that cannot be replicated any other place on earth.

Invariably people give me astounded looks and ask "HOW did you manage to find a job like that?" So, before you start to raise your eyebrows... When I fist landed in Juneau I knew one person. A week later I met the couple that became my first roommates in Alaska, Jason and Naomi Hooley. A friendship formed between us that hasn't been dampened by my return to Arkansas a year and a half ago. About a month into my spring semester at Lyon, I got a facebook message from Naomi. She said that her cousin, a relative she truly liked, was looking for a deck hand. I scoured sundancealaska.com and immediately wrote Wayne a letter detailing my fishing experience, biology education, and love of AK. Within a short time he had replied that he would keep in touch about the position. A month and a half later, my face appeared on the website with a semi-corny bio that I wrote under duress. I count my self extremely fortunate to have stumbled upon another such opportunity.

I endeavor to update the blog over the summer chronicling the adventures of the Sundance. Also, be on the look out for pictures from the Bahamas. At the end of May I will be taking a college related trip (aboard the Bahama Star) to the islands before I head for colder water.

Ha ha

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Blessed

Friends,

Sometimes my heart just overflows with God's goodness. This might sound ridiculous, but last night I just couldn't stop crying because I was SO happy. Through the years I have gone through some really rough times, but He has always been there for me. When I was down in the darkness, I had the promise that "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." When my family was harmed, I found comfort in Micah 7:8--"Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me." God has been so faithful to me. It is amazing to look back on my life and see where God's hand has guided me so clearly.

Right now, I have a steady job, when many others are not employed. I have three nice rooms with comfortable beds and heat in three different houses, when others don't have even a roof. I have thick clothing that almost seems to be overkill in the comparative warmth of AR, when others don't have a coat. I have the opportunity to be in the college of my choice, in a town so near my family. I have enough money to eat well and to put gas in the tank of my car. These are all blessings that we may each take for granted. In light of the New Year, and the simple fact that this should be a part of my life every day, all year long, I will lend a hand when I see a need, offer a hand even though someone might not realize they could use the help. I will listen more than I speak, and when I do speak, my words will be words of encouragement and love. I will take food to those that are hungry in their stomach, or in their soul. I will do my best to love those around me and care for them in a way that reflects Christ, knowing that I will fall short, I thank God for his infinite mercy and numerous second chances.

You hear this every where, and it is true--Life is short. Take the time to hug the people you love, and do something for them that is difficult for you. Take the time to wash the dishes for someone even though you have errands to run. Ask a man you love (father, grandfather, husband) if there is a project he needs help with, even though you will spend three times as long listening to hunting stories, or learning exactly what kind of bolt is needed for the simple job. Make these little sacrifices for someone, it is such a small thing that will enrich the lives around you exponentially.

I am so thankful for all of you. God bless you.

Believe it or not, I actually did write a second entry in December. It was all about Christmas, and how blue haired old ladies run you down with their shopping carts in Wal-Mart. The computer promptly ate my brilliant post. Anyhow, sorry there haven't been any updates.

Christmas was very nice. It seems like the older I get there more places I'm supposed to be on Christmas day. Even with all the running around, it was wonderful to spend time with my family. My work party (for Tractor Supply Co.) was even really cool. My close friend Catherine got to come with me, and we had a ball. Usually I only see her once or twice a year, so it was nice to catch up.

New Years was pretty uneventful. I stayed with Willow and James, Josh's children all day, then promptly got sick to my stomach at 5:30pm. I went to sleep and missed all the funny hats and fireworks. Oh well. At least I wasn't in the emergency room, like New Year's Eve last year when my roommate Natalie broke her tail bone. I did call her and remind her of that evening though. :)

My college classes start on the 13th! I'm so excited to be getting back into school. I'm really looking forward to most of my classes. My schedule includes Histology, Earth Systems Interactions, Intro to Visual Arts, and New Testament. Not so excited about the New Testament class, but I'll manage to sit through it. The plan is to continue to work while I'm in school. My boss at TSC is really great, so things should work out well.

That is all the news for now...

Pre-Birthday Surprise

So, I'm kinda seeing this guy, Josh.
Josh really went out of his way to make my birthday this year special. He had been going on for three weeks about how I was supposed to come to his house after I got off work on the 6th. When I showed up, he had cooked me dinner. How nice.
The real surprise was when he pulled three pounds of king crab out of the freezer--overnighted from Anchorage. I just about bawled! When I had calmed down enought to be coherent, he asked what I had thought my surprise was. Earlier in the week I had written down my guess on a pice of paper--Alaskan Amber. He said, "Oh, like this?" and pulled one out of the fridge! I was absolutely astounded. It was a terrific surprise. We both ate king crab until we were sick, bringing back very fond memories of Alaska, and commercial fishing.
I am so thankful that, even though I won't be able to make it to Juneau for a few more months, I had some of Alaska brought to me. What a wonderful birthday surprise!!!

Tractor Supply Co.

The job that I mentioned landing in my last blog is at Tractor Supply Company (TSC). That is the actual name of the store, it isn't a co-op, which is a little confusing if you haven't ever seen a TSC. Our official uniform is a red vest over a t-shirt, jeans, and usually some kind of boot.
The boot phenomenon is a really good excuse to wear my cowboy boots, which didn't get much action in Juneau. I wore them tonight, actually and my feet feel great. It is kind of funny what shoes I prefer. My Merrels are more suited to a day walking around a city or every day ware; my Keens rate about as well as the Merrels, but have hiking insoles in them, so they aren't really the best choice either. (You all know my fascination with shoes, so you will just have to forgive the pair by pair comparison of my closet.) The beautiful sneaks that have never been worn outside of Pavitt's would be destroyed by the dust. All my other shoes are just not suitable (either XtraTuffs or high heels.) This all to say that my men's Justin cowboy work boots with the techno crepe, slip resistant sole are the best for working at a semi-cowboy store. How fitting.
If you have never visited a TSC, I highly recommend it. They carry around 40,000 items. Things range from dog treats/food/toys, to air compressors, hardware, paint, house decor, clothing, footwear, bird seed, fencing, llama food, chicken wire, plumbing, heating, truck, trailer, welding, power tools, electric and gas engines, equine, junk food, stuffed animals/toys, and last but not least tractor stuff. It is a pretty darn fun place to work. I get to say things on the intercom like "Load-out on the side lot for two bundles of T-posts, a red six food tube gate, and a pallet of rolled oats." (repeat) It makes me sound very official, except for tonight. Have you ever tried to say "Whole Oat Horse Feed" three times fast, over the intercom? It came out some thing like Whorl-ort-ors-eed. Nice.
For my second most embarrassing moment of the day.... This may only happen Down South, but sometimes people answer their phones, "Mule Barn, this is Jack." (You know, like a play-off of jack ass.) Anyhow, I thought my assistant manager was calling my check stand from her office because I caught the phone ringing just as I came in from an errand outside. Since she has a pretty good sense of humor, I cleverly answered, "Mule Barn, this is Jack." The customer on the other end of the line didn't even miss a beat. He asked what time we were open to and told me me thanks without even snickering--completely proving that I was, in fact, a jack ass.

PS It snowed here yesterday. Little fine ice pellets. It took hours for the ground to cool down enough for a fine dusting of the stuff to stick around until about 10 this morning. Next time it happens I'll take pictures. Until then, all you people in Alaska just envision what it would look like if you sprinkled a bag of flour in your front yard, and enjoy shoveling the real stuff. :)