countdown to my lower 48 return: 10 days

Time just keeps going faster and faster up here.
It's not stopping.
It feels like I just got here last week or so.
Days melted into days...and then months...and in less than 2 weeks is my last day of work followed by my next day departure from Anchorage back to Pittsburgh.
I really should have brought a laptop with internet connection because i havent had the time to do this blog justice. Too many old folks and coworkers swarming the only internet terminal at most hours, and my only time to reach it is either on my days off (non-existent once again) or if i have a late work shift the next day (which will be happening more often before i leave, hold that thought). But I still havent done everything I had hoped to do before I left Alaska.

I have, however, been keeping myself busy every single day and have done some pretty crazy/amazing things.

Whitewater rafting down Sixmile Creek?? Yes. A whole big group of coworkers and managers arranged this trip and of course barely anyone has had any prior rafting experience. And according to all the research i've done, this is of course the most dangerous area in Alaska to raft...class 5 (the highest possible class) meaning we actually had to pass a survival swim test to make sure we wouldnt die as soon as someone fell out of the raft (everyone made bets on who would fall out first and i wasnt voted at all, haha). And to sum it up as efficiently as possible, we were given drysuits, helmets and lifejackets because of how ridiculously intense the trip would be. 40 degree water. When I jumped in and fought against the current to make it to the other side of the bank, I seriously had to tell myself to BREATHE IN BREATHE OUT because the shock of the cold shut my automatic sense of breathing. I paddled like hell and didnt stop until rocks scraped my jacket (3 ft deep). At that point, I figured the trip would be horrible and i would die. But i didnt! Our courageous vessel (me, Foley, Steve, Casi, Erika, Allie, Scotty the guide) didnt even tip throughout the entire trip. But I did get to watch my roommate's raft tip and everyone went flying into the rapids (very funny despite the moderate danger, i'm evil). But when Tiana and Bornheim came riding past on the guide rescue boat, i knew everything would turn out fine. Then our awesome boat paddled backwards so we could collect all the paddles, missing people, etc that washed down the river. We were that intense. But yeah, some of the rapids that we went through had ridiculous names like the Pearly Gates, George Foreman, the Anvil, and Let's Make a Deal (the final asskicking rapid). After we fared every canyon flawlessly, our guide told us to hop out and float the rest of the way. As ridiculous as it was, it was one of my favorite parts. Well, until my hands were so frozen they hurt. And when Allie and I smacked our ass on shallow rocks. And when i could barely walk until all the feeling came back to me. Afterwards we all had a survival party at a bar in Hope, Alaska...beer and fish and chips is great survival celebration food.

Mission...SUCCESS.

Thats been my craziest, death-defying activity besides surviving 50-60 hour work weeks. So far, Peter (server) and Ryan (line cook) have left and more of my friends are to follow. Casi (hostess)'s last day is Tuesday and Emily (busser/server)'s is friday? I'm not sure, but due to employees leaving so soon...the rest of us are picking up the slack.
Due to circumstances, I have been partially promoted.
What am i doing now?
I will be the new hostess with the mostest (according to Emily).
Yes, I said hostess...long story but thats the official title we use at the restaurant (especially in the mocking of Ryan Yohe by various smartasses).
I am now taking several hostess shifts and instead of working 7-3 (or 7-11 and 5-1130) i now work 2-10! Late wakeups!!!! YESSSSSSSS. Hence why i am online at 215am and work tomorrow my first night hostess shift.
I even went up to HR and found a new work shirt in celebration of my new position.
I'm actually scared about this because Casi has been the pro all summer and no one else can make it as smoothly as she has...but i'm willing to give it a shot.
Pissing off customers and coworkers will be my destiny, but hey someone's got to do it.
Wish me luck!

Oh yeah, and I helped out with the husky show again! Lorraine finally remembers my damn name, which is a plus. $15 for less than 2 hours of work, hell yes. And playing with huskies!!! And she gave me a free shirt for helping out. Boo. Yah.

Tonite I stopped to look up at the night sky after work and the stars are actually out!
I wish i could take a picture of them because it is such a rare occurrence during this time to see the stars EVER. I tried. We'll see if it comes out nicely. But the NORTHERN LIGHTS WILL BE COMING OUT SOON and I will get a picture of them. So help me God.

I really wish you could have seen the sky tonite.
Alaska is such a beautiful place rain, shine, or the darkness which finally happens as the summer is ending.

In fact, today was the first sighting of "termination dust" on the mountains.
"termination dust" is snow, meaning the summer...TERMINATED!
Thats what the locals say, apparently.
But for the last few weeks, it really has felt like summer has come to an end.
RAIN.
CLOUDS.
NO SUNSHINE.
Yesterday was the first sunshine i have seen in almost 2 weeks. When it peaked out of the clouds around 10am, the entire dining room broke out in applause. Ridiculous and funny and sad at the same time. Now its back to constant rain and clouds...except for right now.

time for this hostess to get some shuteye because i can actually get 8 hours of sleep tonite!!! This rarely happens except for days off.

Just remember.
I'll be home in my sweet time.

taking it day by day,
-yohe