Life is Good

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

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

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

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??

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.

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!

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