Jackie Palm

A Time for Sharing

2011-08-03T00:20:00.002-08:00

It has been right around two years since I last posted onto my blog. I'm actually pretty sure that no one ever reads it and that's perfectly alright. There have been times I've been tempted to write but reconsidered when I couldn't find a purpose behind it. I figured that I may as well just keep my own personal journal (which is kept up on VERY rarely, just FYI) and leave my blog alone. Lately, though, I've been feeling like I really do want to write on my blog. It's for people to know what new and exciting things are happening in my life, right? If so, then I have been completely dropping the ball because I have failed to mention the coolest and most exciting thing of all. This post is to bring it to light. Be forewarned... It will very likely be long!

I grew up in probably one of the best families I could ever ask for... I was so lucky to have parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles that loved me and my brother & sister so much! In the summer time we worked at the beach site that my grandparents own and in the winter time we home schooled, went snow machining, trapping, ice fishing, ice skating, down hill skiing in Alyeska, and just had a grand 'ol time! Somehow, through all of that fun stuff my parents - and extended family, too - instilled in us this idea of being "good." I may not have always been good but I remember thinking that it was better to be good than to be bad. The funny thing is that I don't actually remember my dad ever saying no... especially when I was in high school. In fact, all I remember him saying was "I don't think that's a good idea, Jacks..." And somehow I was trained to take that as a "No." It wasn't, though! I could have gone ahead with whatever I was planning to do - in this case it was driving to Alyeska with a bunch of friends only a few months after I got my driver's license - but he really, honestly did not think it was a good idea! In this particular case he ended up driving us to Alyeska the next morning and we were just as happy if not happier because now we all could sleep on the way!

I remember riding horses in Sterling with a friend when we were somewhere around 7-9. I have no idea what we talked about but I remember it having something to do with religion and primarily Christianity. Again, I don't remember what we talked about but when I got home I had a big talk with Dad about it. Dad grew up in a Christian home but it wasn't a choice he had ever made for himself. He wasn't anti, though, either! How Dad approached the subject was from all angles. He explained all sorts of different answers depending on the viewpoint of the religion.

I would certainly not say that I grew up in an atheistic home. We didn't go to church but when there was a question as to how we should live, it was to put your neighbor above yourself, be loving and kind, don't speak a harsh word, etc. etc. etc.... The idea of God was something that we talked about and I personally knew that I could never be an atheist but I wasn't so sure what I thought of all the different religions and the church-going and everything else.

As far as my claims that I could never be an atheist, well... I seriously could and cannot look at the stars for any length of time and say, "There's nothing greater than us..." I'd look up into the beautiful, dark but star filled sky on a cold winter night and would be so much in awe that I - yes I! - seriously would seem to forget that it was freezing outside and just ponder on what could possibly be so big that can encompass the entire universe.... I thought, "I know that space has to end somewhere... like a big box.. Yeah, space is inside this really big box! ............. wait... but what's outside the box?!?" It was and is completely unfathomable!!

In 4th grade I went to public school for the first time. It was there that I really had my first taste of - how or what do you call this? Haha, the real world, maybe? It wasn't so much 4th grade, but more 5th & 6th grade that I remember the religious pressure being put on me. Like I said, I didn't go to church with my family but when friends would invite me I always went. I had some pretty interesting experiences... Besides the fun youth events, though, I have to admit that I didn't really like them. The things I couldn't stand were questions like "Are you saved?" and when I said, "I don't know.." answers that were variations of, "Well, you know you're going to Hell, right?" .... I cannot tell you how angry comments like that made me.

One of the things I remember thinking about as I would lay in bed at night was that I was a good person. If God was going to punish me for being a good person when there were other people that claimed to be all buddy-buddy with him while all the while doing bad things, this god couldn't possible reject me... I thought he'd be proud; that he'd accept me with open arms.... I was actually rather convinced of this.

I can't remember how old I was but I remember the play Heaven's Gates & Hell's Flames coming into town. I think it was performed at Kenai High School. It was one of the most frightening things I had ever seen and we actually left a little ways into it. The scene I remember went something like this:

Two cars are driving down the road. In both cars there is a father and a son. In car A the dad and son are coming back from a fishing trip. They're talking and having a great time. They seem like wonderful people! Everything that is said implies this... In car B there is another father/son combination. The father is clearly a Christian based on his lines and his son tells him through casual conversation that he had accepted Christ the previous Sunday. This son's dad was ecstatic! ... Somewhere after all of this information was established the two cars collide, killing all four. Though I can't remember the stagecraft of it all, I remember very clearly an angel appearing to take the father and son from car B to Heaven and though the other father and son were confused and convinced they were going to Heaven, before they knew it the Devil appeared on stage and with terrifying background music and screams from the pair, he dragged them below stage to Hell.. He then proceeded to run around the first rows of seats in the auditorium causing screams to erupt everywhere...

It was at that point that my mom took us and we left. I hated that play. It angered me significantly.

When I got into high school, the hypocrisy I saw in the young "Christians" honestly made me pretty mad. By this point I was pretty sick of being told that I was going to Hell. I started to think, "Well, OK, God! If this is what it means to be a Christian - to be like these guys?- then I'm sorry.. I want nothing to do with it..." I also was pretty smug that people were surprised when they found out I wasn't a Christian. I very often heard, "Jackie, you're the most christian, non-christian I have ever met." I thought to myself, "Darn tootin!"

To say that I had a very rough junior year would be putting it mildly. It's amazing how people can change when they somehow make this odd transition between something like a kid to a very young adult. Opinions about alcohol & even drugs changed dramatically. Without getting into the nitty gritty details, it was a pretty lousy year where nothing at all made sense. I was only 16 and felt like it was something I felt like I needed to deal with on my own. I never talked to my parents.

Mid-way through my junior year things hit what felt like rock bottom. I walked out of my room one night and my dad asked me if I was Ok... Holding in tears and a breakdown I honestly said, "No..." and left the house. I came back a few hours later. My dad was still in the living room. He knew I was hurting but also gave me my space to come to him... I did. That night I told Dad everything that was going on.. He was so receptive. He just listened and when the time came he responded. First, he hugged me and he loved me... Second, he comforted me and told me he was proud of me and finally he started to give me a little direction. Days later he would say something very vague in reference to one of those suggestions which would lead to me having to tell him everything all over again... He suggestions almost always worked and if they didn't he had counter options.

Junior year did end at some point. Then came senior year. By that point I was done. I wasn't literally done with high school but mentally I had had enough. I was not at all interested in being social with the friends I had once had. Long story, short, though, a friendship with my very first friend as a kid was re-kindled and over that year blossomed into something absolutely wonderful! We were together all the time. Her name is Cam/Camerin, by the way.

Camerin invited me to play volleyball with her family and her friends. It was such a large group and consisted mostly of very large families and myself! Everyone was so incredibly friendly! Cam invited me to church. At first I respectfully declined. Over time I started to tell her that I would come if I woke up... Over the next three years it upgraded to "Text me, and if I wake up, I'll go..." to "Call me when you get to the church... If I wake up, I'll go..." to "Yeah, I'll set my alarm.. see you there!"

Church was where the people I enjoyed the most were.

Camerin's family knew very well not to pressure me. Her mom, Gretchen, in particular knew this the best. There were times when I would bring something up and she would discuss it openly and enthusiastically (sometimes striking a nerve or two ) but it was always my choice to start it up.

I liked the sermons I heard at church. I thought they were very good as far as getting direction to live a "good" life.. It circled back to how I was brought up... putting your neighbor above yourself, and so on. I didn't think that anything bad was there. The songs always struck nerves... sometimes I wanted really badly to believe what I was singing but it wasn't something I could or would force and so that was that.

In the spring of 2007 I went down to Florida and got into yachting. I was a deckhand on my first yacht with an absolutely incredible crew! I made such great friends there! On weekends I got to tag along for all the beach trips, barbecues and whatever else were were gonna do. Traveling became very exciting! Unfortunately I didn't get to stick around on that yacht because the owner was incredibly stingy and refused to hire me. I got to accompany the boat on an Atlantic crossing from Fort Lauderdale to Palma de Mallorca, Spain. When we arrived there I had to say my good byes and continue to try and find another job. And I did.

10 days after arriving in Spain I flew back to West Palm, Florida and got on my second yacht. The owners this boat were absolutely incredible. I can't say the same for the crew... and you have no idea how badly I wish I could :( Working on that boat was one of the most trying experiences I have ever had. I worked with two young and attractive guys as well as the captain and his wife, the chef. I was supposed to be a Stewardess. To put it simply, I hated my job. I was cooped up inside all day long ironing sheets, brushing the suede walls, making & re-making beds, decorating the dinner table, learning how to serve the owners wine without spilling it as well as setting and serving the different portions of the meal in the proper form... UGH. And that wasn't the worst. On a much more serious note I worked with a very immoral crew. I would have liked to go out with the guys when they left the boat but I realized that A. They wouldn't want me to and B. I would cramp their style because all they wanted was to find girls. I can't and won't describe the conversations that were had at the crew table during lunch and dinner times. It was disgusting.

After about a month on this boat, one night I called Dad crying. Umm, he was completely unsympathetic and so I said good night and called someone else instead. I ended up calling Cam's mom, Gretchen. She seriously pretended like I wasn't crying for about 20 minutes. Finally she said, "Jacks, you don't sound so good..." I explained everything to her and she told me stories and encouraged me. At the end of the conversation she added, "Jacks, I know this makes you uncomfortable but would you mind if I prayed for you?" I told her that I would actually really like that.. When I got into my own bed I even prayed myself... I don't remember what I prayed for.

The next day I woke up and things were brighter. All of a sudden it dawned on me that I didn't have to spend my hour lunch sitting at the table listening to the crude discussions. I grabbed my book, went into the pilot house and read instead. That weekend I got off the boat and walked 30 miles around the two towns I was in between Saturday and Sunday. The next week I hopped off every evening, going to a coffee shop to read and talk on the phone. I even took the bus to Providence a time or two just for long drive to read, the change of scenery and once to watch a film at the I-MAX theater.

One weekend I decided that I wanted to go camping. I decided this at the end of a work day. I knew there was an REI in or around Providence. My plan was to get there, buy a sleeping back, rent a bike and take off... somewhere. (haha) Well, it just so happened that the bus that would be turning around after it dropped me off in front of REI was the last bus leaving that part of town that night. I thought, "Welp! It'll work out!" I went to the store, bought a bag and found out they didn't rent bikes. It also occurred to me at that moment that, "hmm.. I'm pretty sure buses don't actually drive into the woods for campers like me... interesting.." I remembered seeing a hotel up the road and so I walked in that direction. On the side of the road was a section of woods. I thought, "Oo! That's free! And seriously, what are the chances that anything would happen to me?? ....... Darnit. Dad would kill me." And so I continued on to the hotel. It was expensive and I had a smoking room.

The next day I woke up and decided I was going to go back to Providence and check out the Brown campus. I would have to be back on the boat that evening for work in the morning and so I was gonna fit in what I could.

Brown was cool. It was three weeks before the beginning of the 1st term and so there weren't of ton of people there yet. I walked around until I was sufficiently bored and then decided that I would find a nice coffee shop with comfy chairs so that I could sit and kill 7 hours reading. I couldn't believe it. I walked into every coffee shop and the only one I could find with comfy chairs was Starbucks. And it was packed!

I initially sat down at a table near to the front door. I think I did that to be a little less conspicuous as I was getting the lay of the land. All the comfy chairs were taken. I sighed but got up anyways to go order a drink. When I got my drink, I turned around and right in front of me was an empty comfy chair alongside a coffee table. Facing the same direction on the other side of the table was another chair. This one had a guy in it who appeared to be studying. I walked over and asked the guy if anyone was sitting in the empty chair. He said no. I asked if he would mind if I sat there. He said he wouldn't mind at all and so I sat down and settled in.

I honestly can't help myself... I'm a people watcher. I had never been in a Starbucks quite so large. People were everywhere! Unfortunately, though, I was not at all impressed with what I was hearing. Every conversation I heard was almost as bad as the ones I was trying to escape on the boat! I was so upset. I remember looking up and internally yelling my thoughts, "Am I seriously so alone?? Am I the only person here that any sense of morality? I hate this!!"

I sat there super upset for a while.. When I was able to calm myself a bit I opened up my book and read. I read for a couple hours and then stopped. The guy was still sitting in the chair alongside mine - still studying. I people watched some more and then got into my book for another couple of hours. When I got bored again I attempted to people watch again. This time I looked a little more closely at the guy next to me. Finally, it occurred to me. "Wait a second," I thought. "School doesn't start for another three weeks... What is this guy studying??" I looked and upon closer inspection I realized that this guy was doing his own personal bible study. He was reading his bible, taking notes, and just studying hard..

It was then that it really hit me... "I'm not alone.." I was so overcome. I remember looking up and again, in my head saying, "OK, God! You win! (internal laughing..) OK. Alright! I accept you! I get it... OK, fine!" I looked back down and then glanced at the guy... then I looked back up and thought, "OK, God... I don't want to talk to this guy, but if you want me to, I will.. but I really don't want to... so... yeah.." I'm not kidding when I say that within 5 minutes the guy had packed up his stuff and left without a word.

Coming home was wild. I remember telling Cam, "I don't know what this means... What do I have to do different? I already try to be a good person, so what does it mean to be a Christian?"

You know, I don't really know the answer to that question, but I do know that I have changed so much in the last three years. I am by no means perfect. I get angry, I over react, I'm lazy, I'm all sorts of things that make me completely unworthy... but just like when I was a junior in high school and finally went to my dad for help, I want God. I want to listen to Him and I want to know Him more.. My dad is so amazing! He is the most loving man! But God is so much more. It's not something that makes sense unless you've accepted Him, but for me, when I did... my life changed.

A New Adventure for Jackie - It's called "Not Moving"

2009-09-01T12:14:00.002-08:00

Today is the first of a new month... September. I came home a year ago on the 5th from my yachting venture. I can't believe that a whole year has nearly passed! Wow!

I will have been working at KSRM for 11 months by the end of my employment. My last day is September 15th and my feelings on the matter are now mixed. I am very happy with my decision to leave, but am also going to miss aspects of my job.

I absolutely love the Production in my job. Creating ads is a blast. Sometimes getting to work with the sales representative to form a great idea for an ad is so fulfilling! Sometimes, we'll have someone record an ad but you have to walk them through it - reading one line at a time until each line is read in a manner that, haha, IIII think sounds good :) Let's just say that for a 30 second ad, I once recorded someone for 25 minutes. I then had to piece together this 30 second ad by finding the good sentences from the 25 minutes of recording. The client I have in mind was really worried when she left because sh wasn't sure how it would sound. When I called her with the completed ad she was so happy! That, my dear friends is a very good feeling :)

Really, when it comes down to it, I really just LOVE the production. I'm not a fan at all of 6am, though I have discovered I'm pretty darn good at pretending I am. I always find it humerous when I'm texting Cam during my morning show letting her know how incredibly tired and miserable I am and then a split-second later I get on the air "Wow! What a beautiful day! I am so glad to be hanging out with you this morning..." Oh my... it's silly.

Well, my last day is on the 15th. I have a few options for when I leave - options that include:

moving/not moving,
renting/not renting,
working/not working for a couple of months.

I have pretty much made of my mind for the first option. This is odd because it's the first time between Cam and I where she wants to leave, and I - Me - Jackie Palm - want to stay put.

It's so expensive to move! Plus, boy is it a hassle! I am so ready for stability. This year, I think that I may decide to decrease how aggressive I am with my loan payments to provide myself with a little more peace of mind. My friend Alexis who was living here in Kenai for the summer was telling me about a studio apartment in Old Town Kenai for only $400/month. It's conveniently located, small so I don't have to keep up on a large amount of space, and though not exactly inexpensive, not ridiculously over-priced, either. Plus, it doesn't smell.

Hmmm.. Maybe I've already made up my mind for the renting as well. I have house-sitting gigs up until Thanksgiving. I think I will try and rent one of those lovely studio apartments when that time comes around, or perhaps wait until January.

I am currently looking for new job prospects. The office where Cam works is looking for a receptionist/secretary. That is the type of position I am looking for and will therefore apply. I'm trying to fix my resume so that I look good for an office position. Haha, actually, with no training, that's probably the position that comes the most naturally to me. I love computers. I love answering the phone... and believe it or not I LOVE organizing. I may not like organizing my own stuff, but when it comes to paperwork, oohhhhh boy!

I'm taking a Microsoft Access course right now. I'm only a week and a half in but I LOVE it. A few years ago I would not have enjoyed it but right now, I'm thrilled. "Let's see how many tables I can create!" "What relationships can I make between these tables??" It is a blast!

It's super funny because maybe I should have known I would like this type of thing when I was little. I never really liked school, but I always LOVED getting new pencils... and pens... and paper!! Such excitement! Haha.. I love it.

Of course, we'll see if I like doing it in a work setting. I think I will. I'm looking forward to my new adventure of staying put :) This'll be a neat, new experience :)

Take Everything in Stride

2009-05-21T21:37:00.002-08:00

It's nearly the end of May. I've been here since September 5th, so let's see - that's going on nine months in only a couple of weeks. To be honest, it hasn't felt that long.

I've been working at the radio station now for seven, going on eight, months. It's been a blast. Listener responses have gone from A. Who is this girl, and why is she in Radio? to B. Jackie, I hear you on the radio.... to C. Jackie, I listen to you every morning on the radio, and finally, to D (which is wild) "I'm your secret admirer..." silence... "Oh don't worry, I'm not a stalker..." -- Actual conversation with a caller this morning.. humorous, and yet still odd, haha... now that I think of it... I really wish I recorded it.. Would've made an excellent show liner.. Darn! Haha!

Starting last Saturday, I became the late night host on the FUSE, 106.9 FM.. It's the rock station in our group. Everyone knows it's me, even though I use a fake name. It's very hard to disguise my voice but I do deepen it.. almost sultry, but not, haha. It's kind of fun because it's like I'm on stage again, acting a part. People wonder why I change my name when it's obvious I'm Jackie. Nobody seems to understand that the part I play on the FUSE is not the personality I want the real me to come across as. Sure, I like the music, but yeah... I think at least my family understands, and that's what's important.

Also new, I've been promoted to Production Manager and to PSA Director. Fancy titles but it's not that much cooler. A bit of a pay rise is included so of course that's welcomed. Currently, it comes with a couple more hours of work each day which I could do without but am convinced that once I get things organized and in order, I will at least be able to shorten my days from 10-11 hours to 8-9. That would be ideal. Truly though, it's exciting. It gives me a bit more power.. a say in things. It gives me the chance to get things in such an orderly way that when the next person comes into the station they'll be able to go "Oh, that's how this is done..." and go from there without anyone needing saying a word. You know me... something new, it's exciting, so I just gotta keep it that way.. everchanging and evolving to something better and better... contstantly improving. Haha, hey, it's good to have a goal, right??

The summer sun is a blessing and problem all wrapped into one. It is so much easier to wake up at the un-Godly hour of 4:30 when it is already bright outside. It is also, however, so much more difficult getting to bed at a respectable hour to wake up at the un-Godly hour! Oophta! When I started working at the station I kept saying "This going to bed at 10 business is absolutely ridiculous!" Well! I still do, but now I mean to say that 8 o' clock is pushing it! Haha, my friends all have to put up with me on Friday night being barely there, and on Sunday having to leave around six. They're getting used to it now, and don't give me such a hard time. I'm just finding that in order for me to be NOT cranky consistently, I need sleep... and not sporadic. Haha... it's an interesting change..

**Note: Now Erik.. don't get too excited! Haha! When I get the chance to go to bed at midnight and wake up at 8, I take it! Which is still so odd! Because I do that on Friday nights/Saturday mornings! Gahh! It's like I'm growing up or something!... to accept 8 hours when I could get 11 or 12?? Who does that but respectable people?? .. :-) Craziness..

Tina and Erik have been home now since Sunday, but I have yet to see them! I talked to them on the phone a couple days ago and it seems they are the busiest people I know for having just got here. Wow. They never fail to impress me. My plan/hope is to be able to get started working with Erik at the site starting next week after I get out of my day-job. I'm not ready to put any hard-plans down yet cause I still need to talk to Erik about what needs to get done and such, but tentatively next week I start my real job. Radio is now. Fishing is forever.

This Saturday I was hoping that Chris might do the Skyline Traverse with me. It's 1.5 miles up Skyline and then 9.5 miles across the ridges of mountains at 3500 ft all the way to Fuller Lakes and then you come down the the parking lot there. Chris is the only person I really trust doing it with, honestly because... I don't know. When he looks at a map and says we need to go this way, I will say, OK and not fret. If I were to go with any of my guy friends, I am convinced I would constantly doubt... They're just gonna have to prove themselves. Until then, Chris is number 1 in my book.

Chris is, however going to do Juneau lakes on Saturday; mountain biking with some guy he met at work. I have a couple of buddies that are camping at Fuller Lakes on Friday night and spending the day on Saturday. At first I thought I might camp as well but I chose not to for various reasons. Instead, my tentative plan is to climb Skyline Saturday morning, maybe enjoy a peaceful packed lunch on top, and just chill, enjoying the scenery, then fall down Skyline as gracefully as possible... drive over to Fuller Lakes, hike up to meet the guys, eat some of their fish and then go home. Haha, I think I'll be sore on Sunday..

Haha, to make matters worse, the church I'm attending is doing their first hike of the summer on Sunday to Russian River Falls. Hmmm.. A nice warm-down from the other two. Let's be honest, here... Skyline's going to kick my butt.... Feel those thighs burning? I can! And I'm laying in bed! Ohhh dear... ;)

Besides work, fishing season fastly approaching, and the plan to do some hikes this summer, I don't know what my plans are! :) I'm sure I'll have all the free time in the world.. haha or not. But I can't imagine spending it any other way.

I'm glad I'm here. I'm proud of myself for the progress I have made on my loans, and am pleased with my work at the radio station. I think I've made healthy lifestyle choices for myself but know that I still have a lot more to learn. I've enjoyed the steps I've taken so far. Sometimes they've been a little rough, but I've learned a lot about myself along the way. Life is good.

Love you guys TONS and will see most of you in only a month or so. Woof :)

Jacks

By Request.... :-)

2009-03-16T06:45:00.003-08:00

I didn't realize that it has been nearly four months since I last wrote. The fact that six months have passed since I've returned from my yachting is mind-boggling, really. It's odd because the "season" is starting again down in Florida so I've been getting emails from agencies asking if I'm interested in this position or that. A captain I once interviewed with actually called and asked me if I was interested in a deckhand position on his yacht--of which I turned down, obviously being that I am definitely still here in Kenai.

Connie has been most gracious and has told me that I can stay with her whenever I need but for the past 3 months I have been able to consistently house-sit at various places. It has been extremely convenient that my big boss decided to go to Hawaii for 2 1/2 months and left me in his place, RIGHT behind the radio station. It takes 2 shakes of a lamb's tail to get to work... Not bad, not bad at all..

Unfortunately, John get's back on Wednesday, so I have to have all of my stuff out by tomorrow. I have a place in Sterling now with a dog named Chino. She's really sweet (lab/australian shepherd mix) and extremely high energy, go figure :-) The place in Sterling is nice but I've been spoiled for the last 6 months with a very small commute. Now I'm back to 30 minutes until the 23rd. I'm still working on April.. Not sure where I'm going to be just yet.

I've been enjoying myself pretty thoroughly since the beginning of the new year. We have no benefits here at the radio station but really... we kinda do. We get a free membership at the Fitness Place in Soldotna. For about a month and half I was going daily, which was really great and then I got sick and coughed every single time I exerted any energy at all which took me out of the working out for 2 weeks and then I guess I never got back in..

All is well, however because I'm still having a blast cooking healthy meals (within my budget of course, haha!) and have picked up dancing and an amazing and fun hobby. It's swing, and it's amazingly wonderful. We've got some guys that are completely into learning and I've got a ton of music from Bob Bird now so we order Instructional DVDs online and so far we've learned quite a bit! I'm really looking forward to this summer when we'll be able to have outdoor dance-offs/BB-Qs!

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I go out north to go swimming with some from the Baeten family. I go hiking/skiing with Ben on occasion and Brian is now teaching me to play the guitar. The Baeten family is quite large so I will understand if you cannot remember all of the names but... here we go. We're all really interested in learning more dance and Phil Morin has given us the go ahead to go to use the green room at Nikiski High to practice while he's there with his dance troupe. So Brian, Bethany, Brandon, Brianna and I will be going to work on our mad skills :-)

After we dance/swim I typically go over to their place, have dinner and we either dance some more or play some music. It's a lot of fun. Yesterday at the Bogards we had 3 guitars going and goodness, there's some real talent around! I played my one mastered song :-) hehe and then just harmonized with Brian, Adam and Ben. It was a blast for suresies. My instructor told me that I have to have my other song memorized by Thursday, so I'm gonna have to work on that this week..

I've realized that I am very much a "Yes-man." I know I know how to say no but I don't do it very often. I need to learn to prioritize my responsibilities and also to not over-extend myself because really, when I do that to myself, it typically affects other people when I find out that I can't really do what I said I could... and then I get super frustrated with myself. So, working on that... Anyhoodle.

I was just hired in Kenai at the Legislative Information Office as a Reserve for teleconferencing and such. It'll only be on some evenings and some weekends. It works out well with my radio work schedule--not so much with my playing schedule, however. I figure that every little extra bit of money I make, though I can put straight into my loans so I can skidaddle outta here even sooner! Right now I'm on a 3-year plan with loans and then a 2-year plan on top of that to get some money in the bank before I head out. As long as I keep doing what I'm doing, I'll be set and I can only see one thing that might interfere with my plans, but I don't see that happening anytime soon, so I think I'm good... and I think that was a run-on sentence? hehe

If I was talking to you, I guarantee you that I would go into great detail on each and every aspect of my life haha and that's probably why you are all pretty thankful that you can get the basic run-down right here:-) You want more info? haha doubtful.. call me :-) I get off work around 3.

One more thing I find necessary to mention is this... On Saturday I was hanging out at my friend Jake's house when some other girls came in--all sisters. I had a blast talking to Maggie about country music and all sorts of stuff while Jake and her younger sister, Molly were downloading music to Molly's ipod because apparently she had some trip to Italy she was going on.. For some reason no dots were connected at first. Finally by the end of the night, it clicked! "Wait! You're leaving for Italy?? " "Yes" "For choir??" "Yeah!" "Ohhhh my goooshhh!! You're gonna see my cousin, Maya Chay!!" "Oh yeah! She's your cousin?? Yeah, and I think her younger sister is coming, too... uhh.. Fr-uhhh" "Freya!! Yeah, they're both giong! Oh my goodness, I cannot believe you're going to see my cousin's in just 3 days!"

I honestly felt like I was gonna cry.. It was like you guys were so close... but not! I almost walked up to Molly and gave her a biggg huge hug to pass on to you guys but realizedI didn't know Molly at all, haha. I really did almost cry, though! I miss you guys SOOOO much and I cannot WAIT for you guys to come home.

That's all for me right now. Eventually I may post some more photos, mostly from Wam-bam the Cam Cam :-) Alyeska and dancing and such:-) Love you guys, Woof

Jacks

Q 100 the Point

2008-11-24T19:22:00.002-09:00

I am now the morning show host on KWHQ 100.1 FM here in Kenai. I'm living with Connie and doing very well. I sleep upstairs but am not here very often. I spend most of my time at work and puppy sitting Chris and Molly's little Sourdough, an adorable little black labrador. It's a pretty fantastic life right now. I'm making just enough to pay all my bills with a little left over to live. I'm currently looking forward to going hiking though I'm not sure how soon I'll be able to go. Soon enough I s'pose.

Thanksgiving is in such a short time and it is so odd not to have the Chays here. I know, who am I to talk? I've been gone for two Thanksgivings now but now that I'm home I figure we should all be here! Alas, we are not. Thanksgiving will still be a good time, though. Chris, Molly and Connie will be coming out for dinner as usual and we have all been invited out to the Bogards to spend the second half of our evening. It should be fun!

I'm loving my job at the radio station. I am on the air from 6-10 am and usually stay at work until 2:30 or 3 during which time I will either record ads, edit music or do whatever they tell me to, really. Sometimes I stay till 4 or 5 but I even enjoy that just because I really do like my job. I get to wear normal clothes which is such a relief! I was really not wanting to wear a polo shirt with the business name on it. I am trying to convince Matt into purchasing coats for the station...and maybe even sweatshirts! That would just be fantastic! I love sweatshirts and coats!

Since I live in town now I so rarely go out north. I go out every weekend to see Mom and Dad, Cam and her family and to go to church. I do get to see Chris and Molly during the week since I pick up Sourdough, so that's good. I basically live for the weekend which is really nice. I keep myself busy during the week and am able to completely relax on the weekends. It's fantastic, and the way it should be.

I'm considering picking up a very part-time job in the early evenings. Since I usually get off work around 3--4 at the latest-- I may work at the Haircutters as a receptionist from 4:30 to 7:30 in the evenings. That really would work out fine just because I don't go to bed until 9 or later. I'm just not sure if I really want to fill in my time. I really do enjoy puppysitting Sourdough and am looking forward to getting a gym membership here shortly. I guess we'll see how everything works out. It always does.

Anyways, I guess that's all I have for now.. I'm missing you all that are not here and am anxious to get my bag packed once again for travel. I am happy where I'm at currently. Love you guys so much!

Woof,

Jacks

Life is Good

2008-09-21T02:56:00.003-08:00

Hello! My goodness, I cannot believe that it has nearly been a month since I have written last. My apologies. I'm back in Alaska now. Unfortunately the boat I was working on was not the boat for me. It is sad but it's for the better that I left. So here I am in Alaska wondering what I am going to do next. I've got a "Plan A" but am still working on a "Plan B".

Plan A: Work as a dispatcher with the Kenai Police Department with an excellent pay-check either living at home or perhaps in town depending on rent.
Pros: Excellent Pay, get out from under debt in roughly 2 years, fun and exciting job, I have the appropriate certifications and am a not-so-bad typist
Cons: Fun and exciting can turn into stressful and depresssing (hopefully not), 3-month trial period that I don't have to get through just on my opinion but on their's as well so let's hope it's not toooo stressful, REALLY HIGH turn-over rate...

I have an interview on the 29th so we'll see how it all goes! As for Plan B, Arizona and dude ranch? AZ and waitress? OR and waitress? WA and waitress? I don't know but it has to be more than $10/hr to be able to make substantial payments on my loan while still buying food to eat and the roof over my head. I have a sleeping bag so all I need is a floor and a pillow. So, yeah, Plan B is in the makings...

Haha the way I see it I will go wherever the wind takes me... as long as I can take care of my obligations. It would be nice, though if I just knew what I wanted to do. Well that's not entirely true. I want to travel. That, I know for a fact. There is so much that I want to do before I'm 30 but I can't start yet. Not yet.. Well I guess technically I already started but that only skimmed the surface. There is so much to see! Haha, ohhh woe is me. I sure make it sound like life is pretty rough, don't I? Not so much. Life is good.

Since I've been home I have ridden the horses daily. I have to find a break in the rain and a few times I was caught in it but I have been having a lot of fun. I got through half of the coral the other day cleaning up Snort and Bint's little dumplings (NOT FOR EATING) but still have some more to do. I'm always so hesitant riding Snort. Yes, I have a pretty good understanding of riding now and catching and what might be going on in their heads but where I'm lost is in their limits. Snort is what? 25 now? I know she's old but how old? I know she has to slow down, but by how much? I know she shouldn't ride as far but how far is far? I know she has poor hooves but how poor are they and how much should I baby them? I just don't know these things! All I know is that Snort is more responsive to me now than she ever has been. I don't mind riding Bint but every ride is a training session which can get a little old. She's not bad, though. Bint is definitley better when Snort is along but not bad; better than she was.

I have a lot to learn about my horses. I really hate how old Snort is. She is such a good horse and I am enjoying her so much but... I don't know.. I just don't know her limitations and I really wish she was 5 and had only one or two versus however many she has now ( I have no clue!) I just don't want to hurt the poor girl.

Anyways, I am off. I will write again once I find out if I get this job or not. In the meantime, if any of you know of any great jobs in your area, feel free to let me know! I would really appreciate it!

chays:

I wish you were here or I was there or we were somewhere else but that I could just see you! I was trying to catch up on your blogs tonight but I didn't make it through to the most recent. That's what I get for taking so long to check up on them!

Thank you so much for getting me in touch with Debbie and Dan in Providence! They were so wonderful!

Freya! You mentioned the orange juice. I can't believe I forgot to mention that in MY blog! Ohhhhh I LOVED THE ORANGE JUICE!!! I went to this Juice Bar and the bartender kept trying to get me to put vodka in my juice and I thought...and said, actually, "why would I ruin this with vodka?? Yuk!!!" Ohhhh it was so good. It's filling, though! Which was frustrating because I wanted to drink it allllll day. Oooo it was delicious. I have a juicer and I just might go and buy some oranges tomorrow to do my own squeezing! I know it won't be the same as what you're having now, but mmmmmm, it'll be close!

Love you all so much and miss all of you that I do not have the pleasure of seeing often.

Woof,

Jacks

All for REI

2008-08-23T05:43:00.002-08:00

Have you ever loved something so much that you just end up hating it? Goodness, I despise REI. Every time I go into that place I just want to buy everything! I am sure that I will go camping in the near future and I could go rock climbing tomorrow! Ohh no, that is not the case though. Walking into REI makes me think of all the things I could be doing in the outdoors. Someday... yes, someday I will be doing those things.

Yesterday was Friday. We worked until around 4 and then I started doing some research for camping in or near Newport. First I needed a sleeping bag that I can travel with. There was an REI in Cranston so I then had to find the right bus. After searching endlessly on the internet I eventually decided to just go to the bus station and find out which bus I needed to take then. After showering and cleaning up I didn't get off of the boat until after 5.

At the bus station I found that the bus I would've preferred left before I got there and it would not be running anymore that night. I walked inside and talked to the customer service guy who told me to take route 60 until the very last stop. I said, "Ok, thanks!" and ran out the door to get on the bus as it was waiting. I had no idea where the bus was going.

I climbed on the bus, took my seat and removed my Rhode Island and rt 60 map from my bag. I was going to Providence, I thought. I asked the woman behind me but she only spoke Spanish. The two men sitting in front of me turned around in their seats and told me exactly where we were going and how I should continue on to Cranston. They were very nice.

I arrived in Downtown Providence around 6:45 and the two men told me I should get on Rt 22. I stood there for about half an hour before the bus arrived and told me they were not going to Garden City. "Great!" I thought. There was a whole wall of bus routes in the station and I had no idea which one was for me. By chance a woman inside (strange woman) said that Rt 13 would definitely go to Garden City. I walked outside and waited for another 20 minutes. By this time it is dark.

I rode on the bus for about 15 minutes on the freeway before I hopped off in this huge shopping place called Garden City. I found an outdoor store but it was not REI and greatly overpriced. Nice, though. They pointed me in the right direction to REI. At REI I found the bag I wanted and talked to the man who was helping me about camping places. I soon discovered that it would be very difficult to get to the places I wanted to go as unfortunately, busses do not go into the woods.

There were no more busses leaving out of Garden City by the time I left REI (9:00) so I walked to the Day's Inn I saw on my way in. So here I sit in Cranston wondering what I should do today and tonight for that matter. I have a sleeping bag so I might just go into the woods.. haha probably not. I do have to worry about safety a bit, especially being by myself. I don't have a buddy to use the buddy system with but I don't want to completely stop what I want to do. I just need to figure something out.

I think I'm going to go into Providence today and walk around. Maybe I'll find a hostel or something. Otherwise I'll have to go back to Newport and sleep on the boat. I bought a 7day bus pass so I can ride it as much as I like. So that's good. Anyways! I have to check out here in a few minutes so I had better get a move on. Love you all and miss you. Woof,

Jacks

My coffee shop

2008-08-21T17:38:00.003-08:00

I have been in Newport for some time now. We are going to be here still until the end of the month. My evenings have been spent here at a coffee shop called Empire a short walk away from the boat. I like it here a lot. I simply sit and read or spend some time on the internet searching for who-knows-what.

After the guests left the crew had a few days off. I spent the weekend walking all around Newport and into Middletown. The cliff walk was fantastic in my opinion only I wish there weren't so many other people. Over the weekend I walked 30 miles. Not bad, I think. Last weekend I went to Boston to meet with Mike and Anne and of course Isabella.

I was hoping to go camping and hiking this weekend but I have to get a small portable sleeping bag and we can't make a trip to REI until next week to pick up some jackets for the boat. Next weekend then will be when I do that. I have to find something else to fill this weekend but I just don't know. I've walked all around Newport and really don't feel like spending the money on a train ticket to Providence or Boston as it will be $70 round trip. I'd rather do something free and fun. I guess I might end up walking again just because I do enjoy it and like I said, the cliff walk was really nice.

I have so many things that I would like to do in between now and when I'm 30. There are so many plans to put into play! There's Colorado and the mountains, Arizona and the Grand Canyon rapids, backpacking through Europe, living for at least a year in a city with a friend, a long roadtrip with Mom and our dogs (when I have one!), living in the deep south for a while, paying off school loans so that I CAN do all of those things lifted above...

I think that those things will happen but maybe not all at once. I like to think they will anyways. My sleeping routine is all messed up. All of a sudden I am in bed in between 9 and 10 every night and up before 8. I know that is still sleeping in to Erik but for me that is pretty good.

I've been working outside since Monday. It has been great; so great that I don't want to go back inside. I have some thinking to do and some discussing with Laz. The weather has been very nice. Today sunny with no wind. Just great, I tell you.

I am very tired. I am not quite sure why but I cannot keep myself from yawning and my eyes are watering. Oh and look, it's only 10 till 10. Something is dreadfully wrong with me;-) I love you all so very much. Write again soon... Well, within the month that is. The internet is still out on the boat! Highly inconvenient! Woof you guys. Love you

Jacks

Busy Busy

2008-08-04T17:26:00.002-08:00

We've had the owners on board for 5 days now and their guests for only 3 but goodness, it's tiring! I have to be up by 6:30 and then it's go go go. Mr. Guest is ALWAYS up at the same time as me and I have to get the coffee brewed before he has a chance to walk into the galley. When Dawn and I are frantic to set up for breakfast the last thing we want is to try and keep a polite forced conversation.

I love the owners. Mrs. Owner is sooo nice. She's an interior designer and has really cool huge fancy real shells and big candles for decorating. I know, bad english, but seriously, wonderful decorations. The day seems to go straight from breakfast to lunch to dinner. It's amazing how quickly the day goes by but at the end it feels like it has been so long. You know... kind of like fishing.

We're going to Martha's Vineyard tomorrow and the Nantucket after that. The guests leave... soon. Sooner than planned I think if the owners have anything to do with it. The crew is really great and I love the owners. Everything is wonderfully good. Of course, sometimes I have off moments but most of the time I am so thrilled to be doing this. This morning I woke up to set up the breakfast buffet and it was such a beautiful morning! It was Kevin's birthday so we had a great homemade pizza and cake.

I'm actually pretty good at my job. I've got a lot of room to improve for sure but every day is a bit better. I'm sorry but this blog is going to be a short one. I'm really tired and tomorrow's another early morning. Early for me anyhow. Not quite my normal routine as you know. Love ya tons and miss you!

Who woulda thunk it that Jackie could clean??

2008-07-20T10:18:00.002-08:00

WOW.

I think I might actually enjoy stew work. It's a little intense with the timing when guests are on board but I like being put under pressure like that. Dawn and I have 10 days to get me where I can set, serve and clear the table while doing laundry, making beds in the morning and turning them down in the afternoon and evening. All the while I have to make sure that the guests glasses are always full and know how to make a cocktail. Keenan managed a bar for four years so I'll have a little help in that department.

The walls on the boat are covered in suede. They're really nice. I like it a lot better than plain wooden walls. I have to walk around with a duster looking thing and wipe it down towards the ground all the time because if you touch it you leave a mark. I'm also going to have leather and stainless to polish. Tomorrow's going to be a big day. Funny, that's what I said yesterday, too.

We're on our way up the coast now. We left Palm Beach yesterday morning with the hope of getting to Newport in four days. Now we're looking at the possibility of running into a storm that could potentially turn into a hurricane. Sounds like a load of fun, huh? That's where the boredom turns into straight fear!

Anyways, not much going on but cleaning beds and heads and all of that sort. I'm working on cleaning. Next step: Color coordination. Odds aren't looking good. :-)

Woof you guys. Love you.

Jacks

A New Boat. A New Home.

2008-07-18T07:24:00.002-08:00

After a mere two hours of sleep I woke up, took a shower and headed out the door to make my way to the airport. Dave and Debbie helped to carry my bags down to the bus stop which was very kind as it was five in the morning. I said my goodbyes and ended up having to hail a taxi to take me and my bags to the Palma Airport.

I have decided that I thoroughly dislike the airports of Palma and Madrid. They don't tell you what gate you are at until it is time to board and instead of as in the states where they board the back of the plane first they basically say, "Well, it's time to board! Everybody board!" It was like herding cattle through a very small gate. Everyone was pushing and shoving and the most annoying bit was that they kept cutting in line!

The flight from Madrid to Miami was a little over eight hours. I didn't mind it one bit. It was amazing to me that after it had taken me nearly a month to cross the Atlantic ocean that it was now only taking eight hours. I finished reading the Order of the Phoenix and decided to listen to Craig's Growing Up True. I ended up falling asleep for about two hours which was really nice.

Laz and Dawn picked me up in Miami after a very eventful time at the baggage collection. I've never noticed how funny that scene is. The people waiting for their bags were like the seagulls on Finding Nemo, "Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine!!" They can't possibly wait 10 seconds to move around the mass of people in front of their bag but instead have to shove their way through. It was all very funny! I just stood back and watched until finally my bags showed up. Needless to say I was happy to get in the truck and leave the whole ordeal behind.

Stampede is a beautiful boat. The wife is an interior decorator and a really good one at that. The couches are so comfy. I'm relaxing on them right now. The two guys on board are Keenan and Kevin. Both of them are very nice and by the looks of it a lot of fun. We went out to dinner and by the end of the night I was just pooped!

I'm sharing a cabin with Kevin and he inspires me, haha. I'm very thankful because he has used not even a third of the drawers! And in the bathroom there are five cupboards and he only used two!! He barely brought anything! That's why he inspires me... I want to have barely anything, too! I'm working on it. I'm getting better and better every time I move.

I actually just stopped writing my blog and was talking to Kevin and he was telling me how amazing this boat really is. The owners are really active and adventurous. I was looking through pictures and saw Mr. holding a huge rainbow in Alaska. The captain and wife team that used to be on this boat were here for 18 years before they finally decided to retire. Kevin and Keenan love the owners and vice versa. After everything that Kevin just told me about the boat and the owners I am very excited about the prospect of being on this boat for a very long time. That doesn't mean for sure that I will! I can't count my chickens before they hatch but the idea of it is a good one!

So far I'm just really impressed. In the past month I have gone from Florida to Bermuda to Portugal to Spain, back to Florida and tomorrow we're leaving for Newport. How many people get to do that without paying massive amounts of cash!? I'm excited.

I can't believe I missed Brooke!

2008-07-11T14:05:00.003-08:00

I can't believe that finally, the one year I am not there at home for fishing, Brooke shows up! This is ridiculous! I wish I would've been there! If you still see him, tell him I say hello and that I am sorry I missed him. I'm glad that you had a good first day... slow, but good. I heard reports from all different angles today and it was great! Please keep it up because I really do wish I was there. Please Please Please.

I'm taking the job with Laz for sure on Stampede. I talked through some of the rough spots tonight with him and they're looking better. I'm on a 3 month trial and if all goes well and I want to stay, then I will but if not it will be the beginning of a new season and I'll be able to find another job. Anyhoodle. I miss you all so much! Dan and Jody, it was actually in the 90s today(after 5 pm!!) and Chris!! I remembered how to do the conversion from Celsius to Fahrenheit today! I thought I forgot and then I talked myself through it and figured it out! Aren't you proud of me? Good! Me too. Thanks for the pity pride. You know I appreciate it:-) Ok. Nighty night! Love,

Jacks

Fishing

2008-07-10T13:03:00.002-08:00

Today was your first day! I can't believe that I'm not there. It was stiflingly hot today. Oophta it was hot. It was definitely too hot to be spending time outside but with no AC in the house it was bad all around.

Back to fishing, I would love it if someone would email me telling me how today went and if you're extended or not and all that jazz. Missing you especially today. Woof,

Jacks

Stampede

2008-07-09T02:08:00.004-08:00

Well Jody, You officially know more than I do! Haha, thanks for the info! It is actually more along the lines of 116'. It's got a blue hull which is lovely for me but a huge pain when I actually start having to clean it. They show marks like none other. It's kind of like getting a black truck. But I love the blue hulls. I think they're beautiful.

Laz and I have been corresponding and he has let me know that it will be a deck/stew position with about 50/50 duties. I'll be on a 3 month trial period where it'll be more 25deck/75stew. I'm a little nervous just because I have not taken any silver service courses and have never been involved with such fine dining. Apparently the wife is really into it, too. Unfortunately no classes are offered for the course until September and if they are, then I've already missed the first couple of days. So, I'm going in a little blind but if I survive the first 3 months I've got a job.

I'll be leaving here on the 17th. That leaves me another 8 days to enjoy Palma. I've got a few things I'd like to do. Finding my camera is among those things. Anyways, that's the update. I'm off to enjoy the day. Adios amigos!

P.S. I cut my hair really short. I like it a lot. K Love you Bye!

Woof,
Jacks

Bermuda to Azores to Palma

2008-07-04T10:19:00.002-08:00

Hello! It’s July! Can you believe it? I can’t. Fishing is about to start and I’m not going to be there! Friends and family are home from school and I don’t get to see them either! This is one wacky summer. Currently, as I write this blog I am about 20 miles south of Portugal heading towards the Straight of Gibraltar. By the time you read it, however, I will be in Palma de Mallorca attempting to get a job there. I also may fly back to the states to get a job there! You never know with yachting. Yachting is nice that way because I can blame the spur of the moment change of plans on that. Someone not knowing me may think that I really have my head on my shoulders. They don’t have to know that I don’t need yachting to make my decisions sporadic. Let’s keep that between you and me, shall we?

I will have you know that I tried to post a blog when I was in the Azores but the Internet was so lousy that it kicked me off right before I was finished. So now you will have to hear about it through word of mouth. I’m sure that’ll be more entertaining anyhow.

Since we left the Azores we have had some rough waters. Wind has been blowing at around 30 knots with swells 10-12 feet. They’ve been hitting us head-on which hasn’t been too great for anyone that gets seasick. I was feeling it the first rough day. I thought for sure I was going to spew and all that kept going through my mind was that I still had to stay on the boat for another 6-7 days. The idea of that was a scary one. There’s no sidewalk where you can say “Ok, I’m done. Let me out here.” I would’ve had to stick it through and the way I was feeling, it wasn’t looking good. I ate some bread, however and took some Dramamine— with a couple rolls of bread – which turned everything around. That stuff knocked me out for a good two hours or so but when I woke up I felt much better. Now, even though we’re still getting some reasonably sized swells, I feel better than I did when it was calmer than calm. Whoever made up that pill is one smart cookie.

Movies are the main type of entertainment on the boat. We have nearly gone through the whole book that Pete bought and have decided that he needs a female to go with him from now on because there are far too many shoot ‘em up films. I go to bed with dreams of drug busts, guns going off and bombs exploding which turns out to be my drawers flying open with an alarming crash due to a swell that nearly throws me out of my bed. It’s pretty intense!

Writing continued on a later day:

I am at my last stop. We are here in Palma de Mallorca. Revelation leaves on Monday after they fuel and I hop off tomorrow night (Saturday.) Lots of fun. I’m actually looking forward to it to some degree. I'll be here in Palma until further notice.

I’m going to cut my hair. It’s official. I’m not sure when but it will be so much easier to deal with. It’s a pain right now. My plan is for it to look like Meg Ryan in French Kiss if you’ve seen it. If you haven't, you'll see in pictures I suppose.

I'm really looking forward to seeing pictures of Pip in her new outfits. I hope someone will take them for me. I've taken TONS of pictures especially after I gather all the ones from the rest of the crew. Pete got some really neat ones of dolphins on the bow. Super cool. I'll look into posting them all somewhere online. I'll figure something out. I'm off for now. Until later, folks. Miss you! Love you!!

Jacks

Five days later: Bermuda

2008-06-14T04:38:00.004-08:00

We got here yesterday. It was a long trip. I know that 5 days doesn't sound that long, and it's not! Fair enough.. But when you're on a boat with absolutely nothing around you, you can get bored pretty fast. I was golden the first day. Spent that glorious 12 hours on the sun deck snappin pictures and just walking around. I wasn't given a watch for the first go so I was basically a free-rider. I helped Beck in the kitchen a bit. Help in the kitchen consisted of me standing in the corner asking her why she would use certain spices or how you can tell if the shrimp is fully cooked or or or... Lots of questions in the kitchen.

Beck is an AMAZING cook. I can't tell you in words how good it is. I've had food here that I've never had before. I actually am starting to ...not like... but tolerate tomatoes to a greater extent. I might even like the cherry ones in a salad. I wouldn't say that I'm to the point where I'll eat them casually though. Beck's food is always healthy, flavorful and pretty too! Don't worry. You'll experience it because by golly, I'm going to learn to cook Just Like Her! I'm her buckaroo, I wanna be like you. (It's a country song by Rodney Atkins... it's cute)

We're going to be here in Bermuda until at least Tuesday. Last time I saw Cap'n Uncle Pete he was going to check the forecast so that could departure could change. We won't know until we know. The next bit of ocean traveling will be eight days from Bermuda to the Azores. I'm looking forward to finally getting to the Med. I really hope to go see Katy in Paris but that depends on a few variables.

My Verizon phone was suspended just so you all know. It will be suspended for 3 months and then for another 3 months after that. If I am not back in the US in 6 months time, therefore, my phone will be shut off for good and my 928 number will no longer belong to me. I was given a tri-band phone and will be buying a sim card once I get to Barcelona. I don't expect to be making many, if any international calls with that card since it'll be pretty expensive. But, that will be my number once I have it if I need to be reached.

Well folks, I'm off and away. Love you bunches of oats and hope to hear from you soon. Love you all. Woof,

Jacks

Or Not

2008-05-28T19:53:00.002-08:00

Sacajawea is out. There is a story behind this but it is best if it is told elsewhere. Tina has heard the story and I'm SURE she won't mind sharing the information... would you Tina? :-) Shanks!

I went out to dinner with Revelation II tonight as it was the 1st mate's birthday. They are crossing on Sunday and as long as they still intend on paying me, so will I!! I'm still leaving the door open for other job possibilites between now and then, however.

Something you should all know about yachting, is that you never know with yachting. One day you may have a job, and the next you're on a flight back to the originating port for one reason or another. Things change overnight. It happens so often that the phrase "That's yachting" is used quite frequently. I'm random enough as it is but that is why I don't post every day to let you all know what's going on.

Working on a yacht is not like any land based job. On land, your home life and work life are kept separate. One can be bad without messing up the other. On boats, however, home is work and work is home. The people with whom you work are the same people you eat with, sleep with and spend all your extra time with. I know it may seem like I am being too picky about choosing a job but it is so important that you know you can live and work with your crew. If not, you're really looking at a very uncomfortable season. A season isn't just a month, either.. it's 4-6 months. Yes, I could take a job like that; where everyone is fighting or just bickering all the time, or I could wait a little bit longer to find the right job where my skills, talents and personality truly do compliment those of the rest of the crew.

That last bit there "...skills...crew." is my objective on my CV. Yeah, I'm in the industry for the money, but more than that I'm here for the experience. All of this explanation is just so that you can better understand my decision process for taking a job. The crew is the most important thing on a boat. You have to have a good crew. I just can't say that enough.

So! Being that I was not feeling a connection with Sacajawea, here I am.. doing the crossing to the Mediterranean on Sunday (weather permitting) or Monday (if not Sunday.) :-) Can't complain too much, can I?

Jody, you're so much fun cause you always go elsewhere to find out a little more about whatever I tell you about. :-) You've always done that. I like it. It means you're thinking of me and that feels really nice.. warm and fuzzy.. like a teddy bear:-)

To all of you, it's amazing to have the support you've given me. To have your support means so much. I don't know how many people read my blog, but it really means a lot to me that you do. I'm all alone down here and though I love it and there's no where else I'd rather be, half of my heart is at home in Alaska, as it will be no matter where I go from here on out. You guys are amazing and I want you to know it. I love you and miss you and will post again soon. Woof you guys,

Jacks

Sacajawea

2008-05-27T17:43:00.003-08:00

A new name for you to remember. Well, for now anyways. I'm not working on Revelation II anymore! I know, I'm sad, too. I wish that I was on that crew. I just got to the point where I was able to joke around back to them. I'm really bummed that's there's no position for me, but you know, that's life. Pete's a rat, though! Haha he was kind of upset that I was leaving to go work on another boat. His friend that was going to be going on the crossing as the official "7th Crew"---long story short--- may have turned himself blind by gouging his eye. Strangely enough, I think he's still considering doing the crossing with the crew. I kind of doubt he will. Pete told me yesterday---this is where the rat comes in--- that if his buddy doesn't go then he'll be able to pay me to do the crossing and then buy me a ticket home.

Ugh! My decision was so simple before he said that. I was moving to go and work on Sacajawea as a day worker and then maybe move into the permanent deckhand position for a season in the Bahamas. Even if I didn't have that job though, I knew that I wasn't financially stable enough to live in Antibes with only 1500 Euros if that! I wasn't planning on going as much as I hated that. Now I have so much more to consider.

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You'll have to forgive me, folks. If I talk to you on the phone you will probably hear what I've written in the blog. Perk of being able to type as fast as I think. I get it all out on here but then forget that I already told you cause it hasn't actually come out of my mouth. Not to mention that I don't hardly know who reads my blogs. I mean, I didn't mean for this note to be this long. I think I have a problem. Hmmm.. I hear the first step is admittance.

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I worked on Sacajawea today for the first time. I cleaned a tender all day. There's no feedback so I don't know how I did. There was another day worker there. I knew more.. Yes! I was happy because I was able to tell him which products to use and what are some of the absolute no-no's on the deck. I have a tendency to work a little slower than I'm supposed to, I think. I'm so focused on making it look brand spankin' new. I dunno though. I always forget to ask them how thorough they want me to be. I think I did a nice job on the tender. It has two outboard 250 HP Yamaha engines. Isn't that NUTS?! Like I know right? Haha... and if I get the job (Shhhhhhhhh) I get to drive it! (hehehehehe) Ooo the fun we'll have have!

I have not been offered the job yet, and I won't say that I'm expecting to be offered the job but it is a possibility. I will not accept the job, however until I meet the 1st mate. He hasn't arrived yet. If I'm going to be working with this guy for 4-6 months, I need to know that we can work together. I know this one 1st mate... if I were to work with him for an extended amount of time, I would go insane... the high school foot ball player that never grew up.. arrogant and cocky.. whiny.. drive me batty! Ooophta, nuh uh. So! We'll see. And besides, I haven't even been offered the job yet. By the by, cause I know someone will ask:-) if I get the job it'll be a season in the Bahamas. So yes... we'll see.

Alrighty folks. I'm off to bed now. Goodness I'm an early-to-bedder now! It's only 10:15! and I don't get picked up until 8. I will get at least 8 1/2 - 9 hours of sleep. And yet, I will still be so tired tomorrow. Well okey-dokey. I love you guys. I miss you. I wish I were going to be home this summer. Hearing that Cam, Beau, Ben, Jed and Rick were going to Bishop Creek to set up a volleyball really made me sad because this is the best time to be home. Here, in the summer it just gets miserably hot and uncomfortable. I dunno.. There's just something different about being in Alaska in the summer. It's so... homey. It's a comfortable feeling. Nothing can ever take that feeling away. I can't wait to experience it again. I miss home! (but I'm not near ready to jump on the next flight home.. nuh uhh no way) LOVE YOU I HAVE TO GO! The all-caps was for me, haha. GOOD NIGHT! Woof,

Jacks

Open Water Diving

2008-05-18T18:44:00.002-08:00

I am officially an Open Water Diver! Today I went to a wreck and then to a reef. I was 10 feet away from a Nerf Shark but didn't see it cause some other divers got too curious and too close and it swam deeper under the rock before I got there. It was so much fun. I had a little bit of trouble when I was at the surface. I freaked myself out just because everyone knows that I'm kind of afraid of the water and with the salt, the water hitting my face and the very slight current, I really had to work at keeping myself calm. I had to remember that I did have my mask on and my regulator in my mouth and that wonderful blue button that blows up my BCD. It was alright though:) My right ear had a little trouble equalizing on the way down for the first dive. I'm a really good breather (I use very little air) but on my first dive today I used so much more air than usual just cause I was in a mild way hyperventilating. I had to grab the descent line and just focus for a second to calm myself and then clear my ear and slowly work my way down. Once I got to the bottom and we did our two skills, we had the other 20 minutes just to search the bottom. Saw lots of pretty fish. There was one that would've been an excellent best-friend-Amber theme: brown, green and a two shades of blue.. gorgeous. My buddy and I saw a couple of blow fish which are really super camouflaged so that was neat too. Now I have to go through my clothes to get rid of some so that I can fit my fins, booties, and mask in my bag without it squishing too much. Sorry for no paragraphs. I'm not thinking about it at all. I'm just typing what I think, as I think. I'm watching the Country Music Awards. Nobody listens to country here but one of my roommates does so with two of us wanting to watch it, haha, we cleared the living room! Haha, I don't know why people don't like country! Ridiculous! It's only the best! Well folks, I have to work in the morning so I will chat later. Love you all! Woof,

Jacks

A New Home

2008-05-15T19:33:00.002-08:00

I know what you're thinking: Jackie got a job! Not yet folks. I switched locations. I am now living at Neptune Crew House. They're $20 cheaper each week and in my opinion, already easier to deal with. I spent FIVE HOURS at the diving school today. We started at six and only just finished at eleven. It was bad news bear. It's not so bad though cause I'm really looking forward to our dives on Saturday and Sunday. Sat we're going to a lake and Sunday to the big 'ol blue.

There's not too much different going on besides the diving and the change of location. Still waiting on the owner of the boat to make up his full mind on Laz's boat and then I have to decide if I want to go do the crossing with Revelation II by Wednesday/maybe Tuesday. I just might do it. I feel differently about it each day depending on my mood I guess.

I really wish I hadn't come back to the house this late because I have no idea who is staying in my room with me.. no clue where the washer and dryer are, which I need desperately, or what the morning routine is like here. I think we only have one bathroom. As far as I can see it's a co-ed house. The guys live in one room and the girls in another. It's perfectly doable. I already miss one or two of the guys at Mary's.. no, I take that back.. just one.. The other fun ones left either for the Med or to California. So now there's just one super cool guy.

I'm not a huge fan of abrupt change I've realized. Just like I need a 3-minute warning before we're going to hang up the phone, I need/want time to adjust to the idea of something new happening. I just decided I was moving here today, had to rush home from work (walking took an hour : S ) and just threw all of my dirty clothes into my duffle and came here, had to immediately call a cab to take me to the class cause I only had 8 minutes to get there to be on time.. I got there right at 6. It was just too much happening all at once. I calmed down once I sat for a minute but now I want to go back to Mary's and say bye to people cause I had absolutely no time to do it! I'll go see them tomorrow I s'pose. Being that it's the weekend and I can breathe! Ooophta!

I wrote a blog the other day.. Tuesday I think, but when I previewed it and pressed back, it all went away. It was long and in great detail as to what job opportunities were looking like so when it deleted, there was no way I was writing it all again. Now I can't even remember what details I wrote.

I cleaned an oil tank today!! I got so dirty! It was AWEsome! I had oil smeared on my legs, my arms, my clothes, some under my chin and my nose!! It was so cool.

Anyways folks.. I will now have to venture into my room where I will climb into bed not knowing who I will see or what I will face in the morning. Good day to you all. I will update soon, I promise. Love you soooooo much. Woof,

Jacks

Basically, I have no idea what's going on

2008-05-04T01:05:00.002-08:00

To put it simply, well, I just did. I've got no clue as to what the scoop is. I'm taking everything day by day which is the only way to do things in the yachting world... or so I hear, but am starting to take it as a matter of fact. I don't very often have a lot to say so to keep you all on your toes I'll probably start posting only once a week unless something crazy exciting happens. I have a few possibilities coming up but don't know how they all rate in comparison to each other so we'll see how things go. I'm not stressed at all. I'm at ease with the whole situation. Day-work covers rent easily and the rest is going into the bank for the time being for a just in case situation (France or.. need to get out of France, haha) I am confident without a doubt that I will get a job. I just don't know when or where yet. Right now I want to go anywhere and everywhere but the east coast. Don't ask me why, it's just a gut thing. That's not where I want to be at this moment in time. I'm feeling the Med. It's just a matter of.. well, a lot of things. We'll see! It is very late so no paragraph forming for me. My CV looks great but it changes weekly if not daily. I'm fortunate to be working on a boat that is constantly giving me tips on how to enhance my CV or questions to ask in an interview. I could not be happier than I am while working with Revelation II and it will be hard to see them leave on the 13th if I don't go with them. All is well here. I'm starting to feel more and more how strange it will be not being home for fishing this summer and parts of me want to fish for the heck of it and just do the winter seasons, but I'm thinking that I'll do a couple full years until my feet are thoroughly soaked with sea water before I take a breather (haha, fishing is all of a sudden a breather? Shocker!) Ok, well I'm off to bed, but I'm healthy, happy and loving Florida. Love you guys. Woof,

Jacks

Oh yeah, and Erik!

2008-04-29T19:25:00.002-08:00

I thought I'd tell you, Erik that they are successfully getting me dirty on these boats. My shirts have dirt and grease stains all over them! No tractors or three-wheelers to carry stuff anymore! Not as of yet, anyways. Love you! Woof,

Jacks

Old Opportunity New Again

2008-04-29T19:15:00.002-08:00

I think I may be coming down with a cold. I didn't have the second day of my class today cause there were too many people in the class so instead I went to check in with a couple of the agencies again. After that I just came back here and worked on my CV all day. I'm so tired and my throat is just kinda thick is all. I've been sitting out back with the rest of the guys since around five though. I find them to be more enjoyable company than the girls sometimes.

I was just told that I was girly. I don't like that at all. I'm not girly just cause I like my puppy(Pip.. no new puppy here), am I? Haha, well maybe I am. Goodness, though! Girly? I am not girly, am I? How very rude to call me a girly girl! Not ok!

Laz called me today. On Saturday we thought that the owner wasn't going to buy the boat and that the job was gone but when Laz called he said that the owner just put a deposit down on the boat so it looks good. If he buys the boat then I have a job. If not, I go to Antibes and find a job there. I'll get a job no matter, it's just a matter of where and when is all. I'm not too concerned about it though.

I don't have all too much to say. I felt like typing for a bit but I just don't know what to tell you. I'm listening to my nighty-night music to relax before I go climb into my bed and cuddle up with my pillows.. yayy. You know me and how well I could ramble on about nothing but for your sake I won't. I'll find somebody else to babble on to. Love you all. Woof.

Jacks

Pictures.. Yaay

2008-04-26T23:02:00.004-08:00

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Blogspot didn't let me upload as many pictures as I would've liked but I'll try to add more after these ones finally load. There are a few pictures of the yacht I've been working on. The sign, thank goodness, on the back has been changed now and looks much snazzier.

For starters, however!, I want you to notice that diet coke up there! Do you realize that it's a "coke light?" How weird is that? Haha, it came from somewhere else. I had to put the pretzels next to it so you knew it was from the airplane:-)

The picture of the boat there's Pete on the far left and Jody, Ben's girlfriend and chief stewardess. I like her a lot. The third picture is of the two tenders with their covers on. Both of those covers used to be yellow and now, as you can see they are NOT! yayy again!

I rode on the water taxi the 2nd day I was here to just have some fun and see where all the marinas were. It was fun because that is how I found out that the next picture is Lucille Ball's old place(the one with the white roof!) The last one there is of one of the apartment complexes right next to the Hall of Fame Marina where I'm working. You don't even want to know how much it costs to live there. WAYY too much for anyone in their right mind to even consider it! And well, the last picture is from today. Dad wanted me to post a picture of what I look like right now so here I am!

I'm super tired tonight after spending a day on the beach in the sun and going to a BBQ tonight with the crew from Revelation. I'm off to bed. Until later! Love you all lots. Woof,

Jacks

Short Update

2008-04-21T17:22:00.002-08:00

Not too much has changed. I'm really tired today because I went to dinner with a friend I made here at the crew house last night and ended up watching the Deadliest Catch till later. I'm super-psyched because my roommate came back! Her name is Kelly. I thought she was leaving forever but she came back from the charter and is my roommate once more! Oooh yayy.

Still working with the Revelation but am going to take next weekend off because I want to have some fun in Florida a little bit. I'm taking a class next Monday and Tuesday to get certified internationally to drive a tender. Ben tried to get me a job on a friend of his yachts going to the Med and then eventually to Australia but unfortunately, though they liked me when we went to chat, they can't hire an American because of insurance. Apparently Americans sue more than any other country. Right after the U.S. is Australia. ''

So anyhoodle, I'll be working with the Revelation for the rest of this week and then the class the first two days of the next week, and then I'm looking for new day-work/!job! Ho-kay. I'm going to bed now but I love you all oh so very much and I am so glad I am not experiencing break-up right now. Goodness me... Love you all. Woof

Jacks

A Day at Sea

2008-04-18T18:01:00.002-08:00

Today was my first day at sea. We went.. umm, let's see... approximately 100 meters away from the dock. It was very exciting let me tell you. I was the roaming fender. I stood on the bridge deck holding a sausage fender making sure that the boat didn't hit anything. After we drove clear of those obstacles I ran down onto the bow to help Ben throw out the bow and spring line to the fuel station/boat. We then sat there "at sea" from 9:30am until 5:00 tonight while a grand total of just under 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel filled up our tanks. It was loads of fun! Serious!

I can't really remember what I did today to be quite honest. It was great, though. My muscles are just barely starting to return to what they should be at the very least. Man I've really let that slide, haha. The muscle that's the most sore is the one right under the bend of my right elbow on my upper forearm. That's the muscle, apparently, that is used to do those tiny little circles when polishing or cleaning in general. Haha.

So here's the story on the Revelation. The captain that was on it is now leaving. Pete is there to take his place but the boat is so old and mostly unkept that it has a lot of idiosyncrasies to learn. The old Capt. is Laz. Laz is staying on board until the engineer shows up on the 10th of May. From there he's trying to find another job. He's English, by the way. I've been working on the Revelation for 3 days now and going on into the weekend. Laz told me this morning that he wanted to take a few of my CVs so that he could pass them out and keep one himself. I thought that was great so I let him take however many he wanted tonight. He then asked me if I was willing to fly somewhere to get a job. I said yeah, of course. He then said, "Well I'm looking for a job too and mostly in Europe but when I get a job I'd love to take you with me to work on deck." Hahaha, yes! He said that he will never hire another American. He said that he would definitely hire an Alaskan!

I've discovered that in my case, it is best to be upfront with the captains. I now, knowing full well that the consequences may be not getting the job, will tell them that I am a rookie and that I really don't know very much at all concerning yachts but that with a little direction I will do just fine. If they say no, that won't work... well then that's not a job I want anyways. I keep thanking Ben and Pete for teaching me as much as they have. Ben said to me, "Even the best captain in the world started out knowing nothing. It's only right that we teach you this stuff." They're great. They explain everything to me.

I am loving it here so much. I've been here a week but it feels like it's been longer. In a good way, though. I am more confident now that this is where I want to be than I ever was before. I cannot imagine myself doing anything different for the time being and by golly, I'm going to the Med. I'll be there within 2 months, guaranteed! Pete's going to give me a recommendation and send me on to his agent and then with Laz gunning for me as well and the day-work I hope to be doing on the Itasca, for which I may be counting my chickens before they hatch, but still....I think I'm doing dog-gone alright!

I'm taking my camera with me tomorrow..haha unless I forget again. I'll take pictures! It'll be fun. I'm going to go have a ham and cheese sandwich now. Cheers mates!

Love you all. Woof,

Jacks

Sun Burns Are Like Places You Haven't Checked Off Your List Yet

2008-04-17T17:36:00.002-08:00

Ben, the guy I've been working with said the other day that every time you check off a place you've been wanting to go, a new place joins the list. That's what sun burns are like. Every day when you put lotion on you think of where you got burned the day before and each day you discover a new place that needs to be covered. I'm constantly shocked.

I absolutely love working with crew I'm working with. I have only been there 2 days and have learned so much. I'm still no where near being competent on my own but with a little direction I do alright. Today Ben had me cleaning the little powerboat on board. So, for many hours I polished the stainless steel that had oxidation occur on it so it still looks ruddy after it's been done. So lame, but, with the help of my ipod tomorrow it'll be much better. I didn't mind it at all though. I drank a lot of water today and felt more at home on the yacht which is really upsetting because it won't be the yacht I'll be on. Ugh.. I'm so sad.

I'm going to work with Pete and Ben for the rest of this week and weekend along with all of next week. After that Captain Pete said he would write me a recommendation and send me to talk to his agent so that she can place me where I need to be. There's a yacht called Itaska(I think) that's going to the Med next month and they told me on Monday that they were going to be looking for a deck. So once I'm done with the Revelation I will move on over there and see if I can do day work with them which may turn into a permanent position. That's the hope anyways. We'll see. You never know.

I talked to Ben after work over the very hypothetical of me not getting a job within the month or month and a half. So, if I don't get a job going over to the Med I will go over to Antibes, France to find a job. Ben expects that I'll be able to find a job though, so that's good.

Anyhoodle, Pete and Ben are picking me up an hour earlier than usual tomorrow cause it's a busy day so I'm off to bed. Love you all. Woof,

Jacks

P.S. That picture is the Revelation. It used to be the Savvy. G-night!

An Official Yachtie

2008-04-16T16:23:00.002-08:00

I never knew that not writing for one day would have caused such an uproar! Well, perhaps I did, but I had to think things through before I laid it all out on the table.

I had my interview in Miami yesterday for which the captain picked me up here at the crewhouse. We had to drive to the airport to pick up a freelancer (temporary hire) that was dropping of her rental car and then we headed to Miami. When I was done with the interview, I had an awful lot to think about but I think I have finally made up my mind and for good reason.

The 130' yacht just lost its last captain. The old captain took his crew with him leaving a new captain to fill his shoes and with him a whole new crew. When I was there there were only three permanent members of the crew and three freelancers. The relationship between the crew was rough, to say the least. There seemed to be a lot of tension that the captain was not really picking up on. Don't get me wrong. He was very nice and offered quite a bit but the crew is what makes the yacht a good or bad one and I realized today how very important that is.

Today I worked as a day-worker for the yacht Revelation. She is captained by an Australian man named Pete. Today I worked with the Boson, Ben--who is also from Australia--, to empty out storage lockers and then for a good portion of the day I made brown tenders look pearly white. I had a fantastic day with the crew. They're going to the Med on the 10th of May after the engineer and chef shows up. Ben taught me a lot and was very willing to take the time to explain things.

I absolutely loved the crew I worked with today. As of right now, though, they are not hiring because the owner doesn't want to spend any more money. I think I made an impression, though. The captain thought he might want me to recruit one guy from the crewhouse to help out tomorrow but Ben said no and that we would be just fine. So they've got work lined up for me today and the rest of the week and then starting again on Monday. I worked 11.5 hours today at 15/hr!

You are probably wondering what the captain that interviewed me offered me to make it a difficult decision as to whether or not to accept. I'm saying this later to keep it all in line and make sense. I would've been the only deckhand on board and he wanted me to move up into the navigational role and be the deckhand/mate. That's all fine and dandy but I am a rookie and as the only deckhand, I would have to figure everything out on my own because I know full well that the captain isn't going to want to come down to show me every little thing each time I have a problem. I don't want to learn that way. It would be really stressful for me and I don't think it would be worth it in the end. I would very much rather get a job as the lowliest deckhand so that I can watch and learn as I go knowing full well that if I miss something, someone is watching my back cause, haha, well they'll need to.

My experience today was a great one. One of the awesome things about it was that when they picked me up and brought me to the yacht, we all went down to the crew quarters, had coffee and tea and discussed what was happening today. At lunch (at noon) we did the same thing. *Side note: Boy was it an excellent spread!!* At the end of the day (would've been 5 but we ran into some difficulties which pushed us to 7) we sat down and rested and had a drink of our preference. I may be thinking a little off but does that sound familiar to anyone? Anyone at all? Morning coffee, lunch always at noon, and... deck/porch-time? You can understand why I felt so comfortable!

The captain dropped me off this evening and as he was leaving I mentioned that if ever the owner changed his mind and that they might want another crewmember, I hoped he'd think of me. He said he would.

So that's my day, folks. I only just now realized how tired I am. I may hit the hay early this evening around 9:30 or 10. Love you all. Woof,

Jacks

I have an Interview!! In MIAMI

2008-04-14T16:16:00.002-08:00

I have an interview tomorrow in Miami!!!!! Here's the website to check out the yacht:

http://www.motoryachtsojourn.com/main/main3.html

It's 130' and it would be for a deckhand position!! AAAAaaaak!:D I'm so excited! Captain Steve will pick me up here in the morning around 9 or 9:30 to bring me to Miami to check out the boat and then tomorrow evening send me back on some sort of train or something. I am way super psyched oh my goodness gracious! I'll take pictures! Love you all! Woof,

Jacks!

I Hear Red is the New Tan

2008-04-14T15:24:00.002-08:00

Hello hello hello,

What a day what a day. I could not fall asleep for the longest time last night. Tossed and turned for at least 2 hours after already going to bed late. I think I got a very rough 4 hours... very rough. I went into three agencies today to get set up. Didn't take long at crewnetwork since that's where I was already dealing in SD. I have to get official interviews tomorrow morning with the other two. I have some day-work opportunities for tomorrow but I can't do both the agency work and day-work in the same day. My plan for tomorrow is to finish the quick interviews and then pass out more CVs at the marinas. I passed out 13 today.

One of the guys here, Bernie, calls the dockwalk the walk of shame. I think I agree. I mean, it wasn't bad, but, well... Some of the people were super nice and said that even if they didn't have a position available they would pass it on to someone who might while others just looked at me funny. Oh well. Not too bad for a first day.

I messed up today. I didn't bring water with me on my long walk and I definitely felt it by the end of the day. I think (can't be too positive but I think!) that I may have had a little bit of heat exhaustion. I ended up calling a cab to take me home. Big d0-doo. I must follow my dear friend Cam's advice and drink mucho mucho mas aqua. I do not know how Erik and Ty go without their water. But Erik, I can tough my way through it! I can! I didn't today, but I can!

Tomorrow's dock-walking will be a little easier since I now have a bike that I'm able to ride. No matter how comfortable chacos are, 10 miles tends to wear on your feet. The bike helps a ton.

Today I took the water taxi. It was really neat because not only did it bring me to a couple of marinas that I needed to get to, but the guy taking my money told us about all of the million-dollar mansions we passed. I say Lucille Ball's old place and the owner of the Dolphins and quite a few more. It was really cool. The canopy also blocked the sun a bit so that was really nice as well.

Lessons of the day:
1) Drink more water!!!
2)Wear an inch of sunblock on my shoulders!!
3)Call the numbers on the bulletin board in the crewhouse because they are very useful!

Anyhoodle, that's it for now I s'pose. For Jod and any others that may not be aware, I believe you can enter your name by selecting the OpenID bubble right after the word verification. Love you all. Woof,

Jacks

Night Before the Race

2008-04-13T17:52:00.002-08:00

Day two is now over. Woke up late today (go figure) but I think I forgot to set my alarm.. actually turn it on. It was ok though because there is nothing to do on Sundays in the yachting world. Richard picked me up at noon and drove me around for an hour or so just showing me where the marinas were. I quickly discovered I had to buy a map so I went to Walgreens and did that. After Richard dropped me off I set out walking, knowing full well there was no way I was going to make it through the entire loop again. I ended up just going a little way and exploring one marina just walking the docks.

I was wearing normal hot weather garb so I didn't try to talk to anybody on board the yachts because I was not wearing the appropriate clothing. I ended up talking to a few people though and actually got a tour of one 63 footer. It was small but pretty neat. The engine room was much cleaner than I had expected and I saw a bilge tank for the first time. Crew quarters in that yacht were definitely cozy but not at all bad in my opinion. The captain of that yacht, Kevin, said that he would give me a call for day-work and that they will be going on a 3-day charter on Thursday and that he will see if he can get me on-board. That would obviously be short-term. I don't think I want to stay here in Florida.

Florida is great. I'm loving the weather. Dad was definitely right. He's heard it that when people come here it's hard to up and leave and I can see why that is. But, after learning the cost to rent an apartment ($1-3000 +) a month, I think I have a better understanding!

I ended up coming back to the house a little earlier than originally planned but made use of it by going for a run around this loop. I go about 5 blocks, turn and do another 5 blocks... and that each direction. So, adding it all up it looks right around 20 blocks. I have absolutely no idea how long that is but it was good enough. I'm not trying to run a marathon or anything :-)

I am so sorry! I was going to take my camera with me while I went walking earlier but left without it. I didn't realize until I was far enough away I was definitely not turning back. It was a nice walk though. The sun hit me for sure and my shoulders are a little red. A little more sunblock tomorrow me thinks.

I think that's all I have to say for now. I'm hitting the hay now and am going to the agencies in the morning. I won't be able to get day-work tomorrow because I'll be starting too late after I check in with the agencies but Tuesday will be different. Love you all. Woof,

Jacks

Hot and Humid

2008-04-12T15:18:00.002-08:00

I'm here in Fort Lauderdale! I'm staying here at the crewhouse. There's a heated pool. Keyword: heated. What's with that? We're in Florida people!! It's 80 degrees at 7 o'clock at night!

The flight was not a bad one but not a great one either. It's mostly awkward just because of the 4 hour time difference. For me it's still 3 in the afternoon. I had a nice talk with an older couple from San Francisco on the flight from Houston to Ft. Lauderdale. She was a County emergency planner and he was a mechanic of some sort. They're going on a 7-day cruise all around Cuba without actually going to Cuba. They were nice and made the last flight a fast one.

Mary picked me up from the airport. I know that caravans get a bad rep but I actually like them. Very comfy. The girls that are staying here went to the mall today so I haven't met them yet. One's from Canada but I don't know where the other's from. I've met, I think five guys that are back here. Only one of them has an accent I'm used to, haha. One is from Hungary, another from South Africa, Europe... and The others I haven't asked. They all have accents but for the one because of course, I have no accent:) They also all smoke I've just realized. Each and every one of them. Hmmm.

The brother of one of the guys here already has a job on a yacht and they're looking for a stewardess. I'm going to email him my resume (calling them CVs now, apparently) which he will then pass on to the chief stewardess.

Richard, the guy Robyn (Agency connection in San Diego) talked to about showing me around is going to hopefully do just that tomorrow. He said he would call me a bit later. According to the guys here there's nothing I can do on the weekend. "Monday=Funday" Richard is at a crew party tonight so.. Anyways. I don't like the smell of smoke.

I have to be careful because I don't think you're going to want to read a super long post every time! I doubt they will be as long when I've become comfortable. I tend to slow down at that point. But I have to say a little more!

Camerin was asking me how I could possibly not be nervous. It's crazy because I'm forcing myself not to be. Every time I get a nervous feeling I do my best to knock it out of me because I need to be confident. People are drawn to confidence so that's the image I need to exude. It's really hard though because when I'm with a strange group of people I just want to hide because I don't want to.. well I'm just comfortable. But I'm working on it! Right now I'm sitting by the pool while the guys are all talking about going to some party. So, Wambam.. that should answer your question.

CAM! That song "Doo doo doo looking out my back door" is playing. Thinking of you!:)

Love you all. Update soon. Woof

Jacks

Picture Test

2008-04-01T16:09:00.002-08:00

I was just wanting to figure out how the picture added. Who better to steal pictures from than Chris? Never disappointed.

Short Update

2008-02-29T18:53:00.002-09:00

I talked to my agent two days ago and the projected date she gave me for leaving is a month from now. So I'm still working at Safeway but I believe my last day will be the 16th. My computer has been down for the count since I've been home. I haven't been able to get online this entire time using my own computer and that has been very difficult for me. But after figuring out the bug, I've got it fixed. That's the long story, short. Ooo, maybe I am getting better at paraphrasing! ...It's a constant battle :S Anyways, that's the scoop for now.

Our little brat of a yorkie is still as cute as can be. She's a little dog with a very large personality which I guess is very common for that type. We love her though and she's a whole 3.7 lbs now! Big step for her. She's gained a pound and a half since I brought her home! Impressive, huh?

Hope all is well with everyone. Ta-Ta!

Still in Alaska

2008-02-11T19:17:00.001-09:00

Well, not much to say but my bog feels really empty so I thought I should write something just to cheer it up. I will be able to post pictures and even videos, hopefully, onto this blog so that wherever I am and whatever I am doing, you will know. I'm not on my computer right now so I have no pictures to post but if you choose to subscribe to my blog, you will always know when I have something to say. Talk to you all later!