Home for Awhile

Last Thursday I flew from Anchorage to Seattle to San Francisco, took a train to San Jose then a bus to Santa Cruz. I had a great time in Santa Cruz hanging out, I went with Ross and his friends to Panther Beach which was really cool. I got a ride home from Vanessa on Saturday, showed her around Paso and had a lovely time. Since then I've just been hanging out at home, enjoying the weather and peacefulness but wishing I was working. All in time.

Coming Home!?!?!?!?

The new news is that because my contractor does not have a boat for me (or 10 others) and it doesn't look like they will have a boat for another 2 weeks, they are flying me home to wait around. So I'm coming back to warm weather for about 2 weeks. California spring break, heres I come!!
I'm annoyed with them because I want to start working and making mad dough but I'd rather wait around in California than Anchorage. It's strange and unexpected, but I'll be seeing all you guys within the next couple of days.

Still Alive - Anchorage

I've been in Anchorage for the past three days just waiting to be deployed in Kodiak or elsewhere. I experienced today an old feeling which I had almost forgot: boredom. While Anchorage is beautiful there's not a whole lot to do this time of year. It's too dangerous to hike I'm told, and I've got no means really of getting out into the wild.
It was beautiful today however, I took some pictures, read a bit, breathed the air and felt happy to be alive.

In Anchorage

So, I made it into Anchorage two nights ago. We've been staying in a hotel here because the bunkhouse is full of observers. It's been very nice here. It was 40 degrees yesterday, not cold at all even for a Californian like me. However, in Anchorage it was -20 just last week so it can change a lot in a short period of time. The sun rises at 10 and goes down at 6 so there's not much daylight at all. Yesterday I bought the rest of gear I will need, rubber boots, raingear, etc. then we filled out paperwork and I signed my contract. There's no turning back now. We also got paid our first paycheck for training. I hadn't gotten a paycheck in so long I almost forgot how good it feels. Also we added it up and released we had a lot of money left to spend on food and still be reimbursed, so we went out for a night on the town. I had a Alaskan Red King Crab dinner, and it was amazing. Best meal I've had in awhile. Today we have another meeting and then we actually have a day off on Sunday before we go to Kodiak on Monday. I've been lazy with the camera sorry for that, but I will try to take some pictures of Anchorage today. 

Seattle Goodbye

So we just found out that we will be flying out to Anchorage tomorrow night. Basically right after we finish our last day of training we'll go straight to the airport. It's pretty ridiculous but I guess that's the nature of the job.

I also found out that I'll be based out of Kodiak from the start which means I'll be working on smaller boats, likely pot-fishing for Pacific Cod. Most of my training class will be on giant trawler catcher processors fishing for Pollock but me and the other trainees from my contractor won't i guess. The quality of the smaller boats are generally not as nice as the bigger ones (it varies a lot of course) and they probably aren't as safe or seasickness friendly, but I'll get to be in a port a lot more and have 4-5 day trips instead of 2-3 month trips so I'm happy with it.

The schedule we are on is crazy though, I'll be in Anchorage by tomorrow night and Kodiak by Saturday. I could possibly be out on my first boat by Saturday night. It's incredibly stressful and exciting at the same time!

Still Alive - Seattle

So, I have not updated in a while. Job training has completely ruled my life for the past week and left we with no free time. Basically I get up at 7 in the morn, take the bus to class, get home at 7 in the eve, eat dinner, take a shower, do homework and then fall asleep. I've had class the past two saturdays too. Finally had a day off today, but spent most of it doing homework and studying fish identification for the test tomorrow. I'm feeling kinda like a robot. I am doing really well though and I will be done in 4 days though. I'm really looking forward to finally getting on up to Alaska. 

I've also got to meet quite a few interesting people from all over the country, different ages, backgrounds, and such. That has been quite fun and I'm making some good friends, hopefully I'll run into them in port.

Happy New Year

2009 is going to be a good year, I can just feel it.