Well, I feel pretty settled into my new life. I'm getting my room the way I want it (besides being messy), I have friends down the hall, and I know the majority of what I'm doing at work. Selling stuff all day does get a little tedious, and I know I'm not the best salesperson in the world, because I don't want to push anyone into buying something they don't want or can't afford. What I really like is when I can help them find something they'll really love. And if they're on the fence, I send them down the street for a pint of my favorite microbrew, and tell them to come back to me. Sometimes they do, sometimes they dont, but either way, we both got a pleasant conversation out of it. And when it's slow, I at least like the co-workers I'm hanging out with.

I've been reading the writings of my illustrious clone in my down time- and been highly disturbed by the number of parallels between our books.... almost like we grew up together. Although I suspect that Val may be more of a romantic than I am.

Today is my day off, and I've run out of things to do. A hike is obvious enough, although I've done most of them by now... Sigh. Pity I'm writing this blog on a sleepy day. But I'd better wake up- tonight is the last trivia night at the Red Onion (bar, and ex-brothel), which is bound to be a rowdy, drunken event- oh yes, don't be fooled by the connotation of the phrase "trivia night". I'm swiftly learning that Skagwegians and seasonals will take any excuse to drink.

Right then, I'm gonna peace out. The only thing left to add is that several little birds have told me that the last company I worked for seems to be rotting from the inside and falling apart with increasing speed.

Aftermath

So here's the thing. My life is completely different now. I'm living in the center of Skagway, in a room above an empty store front, and I work a block away, selling jade and ivory to tourists. Fortunately, I love jade, and I know a bit about it, and I'm especially peppy on the subject of the Maori-design carvings. I even know what they mean (as I preen my feathers). A perk and a downside of the job is that we're not allowed to wear our own jewelry. We're required to model the merchandise. Oh yes, poor little me. Let me wipe the tears away.

How did I get here from my last entry? I will say only this- I have a very angry email to write to Alaska Excursions, and I'm beginning to feel that mushers as a group, with the exception of Karin, are arrogant fuckholes.

I moved into the hostel when my life came crashing down, and made friends with the owner, Nancy. She's an awesome person, and was really helpful to me and to some of the other girls coming through who were looking for work. She pointed us in the direction of Shirley and Glenn, who rented us our rooms and are equally cool people. I'm also a big fan of my employers so far. To be honest, I'm really missing building fires in the evening, and even more I miss the dogs and the outdoors. I'm not an indoor cat, by nature. It's hard being inside when the sun is out. But all in all, this is a better situation for me.

To everyone who propped me up this past week, you guys are amazing and I miss you! To everyone who beckoned me back to work for them- you don't even know how tempting it was! My bag would have been packed and my butt on a plane, if my bank account hadn't basically stranded me here! But my heart's down south, with you guys!

Less snafoo-age, more Tally-ho

Well, I finally built a successful fire last night, and slept for seven and a half whole hours before the cold woke me up! It was glorious. I'm feeling a lot more like my feet are underneath me since I've achieved heat, light, and cooking. Even better, there's a spot where I can find phone service, about half an hour or so's walk away from the camp. Without a tv to distract me in leisure moments, I'm thinking I might learn to sew or whittle.

Tomorrow we run the dogs for the first time, so my leisure time is about to dwindle dramatically. I spent most of today in town. Sampled the bakery, went to a rummage sale to find working pants without holes (my jeans were all massacred by (drumroll please) the foot-high turtle fence in Ecuador. Of all things), and took a walk out to a place called Smuggler's Cove, where I waded in the sea and climbed barefooted around on the cliffs and attained general merriment. I also have my first sunburn of the season, which I always kind of enjoy. I'm not a masochist, it's just... it's kinda cool- shut up! Anyway, sunburns remind me of Santa Martha, in Ecuador, and I get a little homesick for Tambillo.

My only real concern now is that I have a feeling I'll have to unlearn a lot of what I already know about handling. Everyone does things differently, after all. We'll see. I'll update as soon as I can. Looking forward to my first paycheck!!!