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sathorSo this is pretty much the first blog entry I get to write down while in Cordova. I've had lots of issues since getting here...but I want to cover just about everything.
On the first day I dropped in at the airport which is about six miles from town. It was a full-sized jet on a light load...there were probably only 20-30 people or so on board. Service was fine...I actually decided not to get any liquor on any of the flights, although from Seattle to Anchorage I slept through the offer (and I would've in that case...I was ready to drink a bit.)
When I got here I road in Pete's overstuffed extended van. He basically lives out of it. He's incredibly intelligent, has a PhD in wildlife conservation I believe. He knows essentially every bird, mammal, reptile and fish you can think of, and hundreds more you can't. He probably has a bit of an eidetic memory...and I've always felt I have a bit of one myself. Belle, my aunt, and him are divorced now...he's a Mickelson and he looks just like my uncle Jan, his brother...however far more talkative. Actually all the Cordovans are very talkative...I feel a bit lacking in that regard but that's okay...Belle said something good about that actually "I think people who don't talk a lot have a lot of wisdom, and when they do say something it's meaningful. It also means you aren't full of shit all the time."
The house is equally messy and somewhat dilapidated, however it's comforting and starting to feel like home now. I was worried the first day here that I wasn't going to be able to stand it for long...but things are getting better. Getting a job will help quite a bit. But I feel more and more acclimated every day.
Last night, around 11:00pm I went to the liquor store - they are open until midnight AK time...and they are not state regulated like in Pennsylvania. A 750ml bottle of Captain Morgan was $25 and a can of Mt. Dew was $1...this is not terrible but still somewhat more pricey than back home. Morgan goes for about 20-21 after tax there. The cashier, Rachel, wasn't busy and came outside after I bought my things...and had a little chat with me. I spared her a smoke and we got to talking...she's from Oklahoma and just here for the summer too, and is also working for the state at the Ferry dock. $9/h at the liquor store is her base pay...very good for a seasonal temp service job...PA would pay more like $8. She was very nice, educated (Bachelor's in Business Administration) and is considering going to Law School and getting into regulation. But here's the amazing part.
I said, "I'm a philosophy major, so law is right up my alley in that respect, however I don't have a lot of respect for laws in general." She said, "That's why I want to get into regulation" Somehow this lead to a conversation on marijuana...and I started talking about how Alaskans can legally grow up to 5 plants in the privacy of their home. Well, I then say, "I like smoking it but I haven't found anyone with it or who likes to yet." She hands me a cellophane with about a bowl full of REALLY good smelling stuff and says, "Here, this was a tip earlier..." I smirked and said, "Are you going to bust me? Because if you are I'll give it back..." and she just laughed. She was rather pretty, african american...a bit of an inner city accent...and I pretty much started talking that way as well. After all I learned inner city from my cousins and it's always stuck with me. Oddly enough, I think I may very well have the tendency to act like the people around me more than I realize...my appearance is usually quite different, but I pick up on their mannerisms and accents and immediately switch into that "mode." If I'm talking to intellectuals I go into an intellectual "mode" if I'm talking to ruralites I get into that "mode." And if i want to be assertive or dominating I will switch to intellectual mode as well...and stop using any accent at all.
So I fell into some marijuana anyway...but I can't smoke it because I may get urine tested by the native village who might hire me for this trail crew business. However I have a decent amount of alcohol left...I only had a few drinks last night...so I'll be good for awhile.
I went subsistence fishing yesterday with my uncle Pete, too. We caught two giant 35lb King salmon in our net and a smaller Red salmon and a brook trout. One of the salmon's stomachs was chocked full of tape worms...Pete had never seen anything like it - and it was the one that was pretty lethargic. We almost lost that one when picking the net and bringing it into the boat...he flopped out of the hand net and we circled out again...only to find the same cork was sunk and the same King was stuck in the net again. After pete bled him by cutting the gills I got a picture of him laying on ice...with a 3 liter bottle of sprite next to him for size reference. I will have the pictures up in a photobucket slideshow eventually...maybe tonight if I have the time and energy to do so. We also caught two sea otters, the cutest fucking sea creatures I've ever seen. We didn't "catch" them exactly...they got stuck in our nets...this was a first for Pete as well, so just for some food for thought, I think God wants me to experience a whole lot while I'm out of Tidioute. Like i've said before, the universe has this tendency to smile at me once I'm out. My nose is pretty sun burned now unfortunately, but it doesn't hurt. Hoping it clears up in a few days. My face seems to be healing pretty well but it's incredibly dry. My scalp is having some issues but isn't as bad as it has been in the past...and I think in a week or two it may take care of itself...especially with the salty air and just being in a different house for an extended period of time.
Mike made about $1,000 on his first 12 hour opener. After fuel, both before and after the outing, probably only about $700...but that's fine. He's in debt right now but expects to be out and way into profit by the end of the season. The openers will get lengthier and lengthier, and happen more often the further into the season it gets. I rode on his boat today as well...I love it. Honestly, between that and being on Pete's skiff...I want to join the Navy. I can't help it. I feel drawn to the water and being on a boat...I feel such a draw to it, I can't help it. I feel like I'm never going to meet a woman anyway...so what difference does it make if I'm constantly not on leave...
I miss my home studio a lot, though. There's no keyboard or piano here. Belle didn't show me the digital piano they have in her Church so I really don't want to go over there and mess with the breaker box without having been shown it. But when she gets back in a little over a week, I'm going to try and make sure that she shows me...I'd like to get back into doing it an hour or two every day...even if it doesn't sound as good as my setup. At the least I have an old acoustic guitar I can use to my hearts content...so I've been getting some play time in there anyway.
Going back to the universe smiling, besides the contact with Rachel at the liquor store when I was by myself, people haven't been really that interested in me or what I'm doing here. This is rather troublesome...I feel pretty excluded in general, and I feel like people just don't get me...everyone listens to bluegrass around here. I wore my NIN shirt to a cafe today and I think it may have had something to do with the way a few of Mike's friends dealt with me. This one girl was pulling some sexual innuendo with Mike, although I think she was taken by one of his friends sitting next to her...she was way too pretty for me to have a shot. Considering graduate school in English. She wants to teach in South America. Good for her I suppose...interestingly enough though, I'm finding more and more of these educated people doing shit jobs for relatively shit pay...and it's sorta funny to me. Everyone thinks that this education shit matters and it doesn't...Nepotism is the law of the land. This is why our world is governed in such a fucked up fashion, this is why so many businesses are run in a fucked up fashion. Instead of using the best people for the job, you use someone who you are already familiar with. That's called fucking stupidity, you fucking idiots. If I was a manager I'd never hire someone I knew unless I really knew they were the best for the job. Otherwise, you look for someone who has the right attitude, work ethic...intelligence, learning ability...adaptability...
I've mentioned this already but everyone here talks A LOT. And I really haven't had much time to just take a break from all the social activity and outings...I really need some down time. The drinks last night helped, and I even walked the dog Rip who loves me to death for about an hour, with NIN blaring out of my headphones hung around my neck. But I feel that even though lots of people come here from all over, no one like me has...but I also feel like I was meant to come here for that very reason.
I will not absorb their cultural dress or stereotypes...however I do want these people to understand me before I leave. I really don't think they've come across someone like myself before.
That's it for now...if I think of more, I will write another entry.
I'm also keeping a bit of a handwritten journal.
On the first day I dropped in at the airport which is about six miles from town. It was a full-sized jet on a light load...there were probably only 20-30 people or so on board. Service was fine...I actually decided not to get any liquor on any of the flights, although from Seattle to Anchorage I slept through the offer (and I would've in that case...I was ready to drink a bit.)
When I got here I road in Pete's overstuffed extended van. He basically lives out of it. He's incredibly intelligent, has a PhD in wildlife conservation I believe. He knows essentially every bird, mammal, reptile and fish you can think of, and hundreds more you can't. He probably has a bit of an eidetic memory...and I've always felt I have a bit of one myself. Belle, my aunt, and him are divorced now...he's a Mickelson and he looks just like my uncle Jan, his brother...however far more talkative. Actually all the Cordovans are very talkative...I feel a bit lacking in that regard but that's okay...Belle said something good about that actually "I think people who don't talk a lot have a lot of wisdom, and when they do say something it's meaningful. It also means you aren't full of shit all the time."
The house is equally messy and somewhat dilapidated, however it's comforting and starting to feel like home now. I was worried the first day here that I wasn't going to be able to stand it for long...but things are getting better. Getting a job will help quite a bit. But I feel more and more acclimated every day.
Last night, around 11:00pm I went to the liquor store - they are open until midnight AK time...and they are not state regulated like in Pennsylvania. A 750ml bottle of Captain Morgan was $25 and a can of Mt. Dew was $1...this is not terrible but still somewhat more pricey than back home. Morgan goes for about 20-21 after tax there. The cashier, Rachel, wasn't busy and came outside after I bought my things...and had a little chat with me. I spared her a smoke and we got to talking...she's from Oklahoma and just here for the summer too, and is also working for the state at the Ferry dock. $9/h at the liquor store is her base pay...very good for a seasonal temp service job...PA would pay more like $8. She was very nice, educated (Bachelor's in Business Administration) and is considering going to Law School and getting into regulation. But here's the amazing part.
I said, "I'm a philosophy major, so law is right up my alley in that respect, however I don't have a lot of respect for laws in general." She said, "That's why I want to get into regulation" Somehow this lead to a conversation on marijuana...and I started talking about how Alaskans can legally grow up to 5 plants in the privacy of their home. Well, I then say, "I like smoking it but I haven't found anyone with it or who likes to yet." She hands me a cellophane with about a bowl full of REALLY good smelling stuff and says, "Here, this was a tip earlier..." I smirked and said, "Are you going to bust me? Because if you are I'll give it back..." and she just laughed. She was rather pretty, african american...a bit of an inner city accent...and I pretty much started talking that way as well. After all I learned inner city from my cousins and it's always stuck with me. Oddly enough, I think I may very well have the tendency to act like the people around me more than I realize...my appearance is usually quite different, but I pick up on their mannerisms and accents and immediately switch into that "mode." If I'm talking to intellectuals I go into an intellectual "mode" if I'm talking to ruralites I get into that "mode." And if i want to be assertive or dominating I will switch to intellectual mode as well...and stop using any accent at all.
So I fell into some marijuana anyway...but I can't smoke it because I may get urine tested by the native village who might hire me for this trail crew business. However I have a decent amount of alcohol left...I only had a few drinks last night...so I'll be good for awhile.
I went subsistence fishing yesterday with my uncle Pete, too. We caught two giant 35lb King salmon in our net and a smaller Red salmon and a brook trout. One of the salmon's stomachs was chocked full of tape worms...Pete had never seen anything like it - and it was the one that was pretty lethargic. We almost lost that one when picking the net and bringing it into the boat...he flopped out of the hand net and we circled out again...only to find the same cork was sunk and the same King was stuck in the net again. After pete bled him by cutting the gills I got a picture of him laying on ice...with a 3 liter bottle of sprite next to him for size reference. I will have the pictures up in a photobucket slideshow eventually...maybe tonight if I have the time and energy to do so. We also caught two sea otters, the cutest fucking sea creatures I've ever seen. We didn't "catch" them exactly...they got stuck in our nets...this was a first for Pete as well, so just for some food for thought, I think God wants me to experience a whole lot while I'm out of Tidioute. Like i've said before, the universe has this tendency to smile at me once I'm out. My nose is pretty sun burned now unfortunately, but it doesn't hurt. Hoping it clears up in a few days. My face seems to be healing pretty well but it's incredibly dry. My scalp is having some issues but isn't as bad as it has been in the past...and I think in a week or two it may take care of itself...especially with the salty air and just being in a different house for an extended period of time.
Mike made about $1,000 on his first 12 hour opener. After fuel, both before and after the outing, probably only about $700...but that's fine. He's in debt right now but expects to be out and way into profit by the end of the season. The openers will get lengthier and lengthier, and happen more often the further into the season it gets. I rode on his boat today as well...I love it. Honestly, between that and being on Pete's skiff...I want to join the Navy. I can't help it. I feel drawn to the water and being on a boat...I feel such a draw to it, I can't help it. I feel like I'm never going to meet a woman anyway...so what difference does it make if I'm constantly not on leave...
I miss my home studio a lot, though. There's no keyboard or piano here. Belle didn't show me the digital piano they have in her Church so I really don't want to go over there and mess with the breaker box without having been shown it. But when she gets back in a little over a week, I'm going to try and make sure that she shows me...I'd like to get back into doing it an hour or two every day...even if it doesn't sound as good as my setup. At the least I have an old acoustic guitar I can use to my hearts content...so I've been getting some play time in there anyway.
Going back to the universe smiling, besides the contact with Rachel at the liquor store when I was by myself, people haven't been really that interested in me or what I'm doing here. This is rather troublesome...I feel pretty excluded in general, and I feel like people just don't get me...everyone listens to bluegrass around here. I wore my NIN shirt to a cafe today and I think it may have had something to do with the way a few of Mike's friends dealt with me. This one girl was pulling some sexual innuendo with Mike, although I think she was taken by one of his friends sitting next to her...she was way too pretty for me to have a shot. Considering graduate school in English. She wants to teach in South America. Good for her I suppose...interestingly enough though, I'm finding more and more of these educated people doing shit jobs for relatively shit pay...and it's sorta funny to me. Everyone thinks that this education shit matters and it doesn't...Nepotism is the law of the land. This is why our world is governed in such a fucked up fashion, this is why so many businesses are run in a fucked up fashion. Instead of using the best people for the job, you use someone who you are already familiar with. That's called fucking stupidity, you fucking idiots. If I was a manager I'd never hire someone I knew unless I really knew they were the best for the job. Otherwise, you look for someone who has the right attitude, work ethic...intelligence, learning ability...adaptability...
I've mentioned this already but everyone here talks A LOT. And I really haven't had much time to just take a break from all the social activity and outings...I really need some down time. The drinks last night helped, and I even walked the dog Rip who loves me to death for about an hour, with NIN blaring out of my headphones hung around my neck. But I feel that even though lots of people come here from all over, no one like me has...but I also feel like I was meant to come here for that very reason.
I will not absorb their cultural dress or stereotypes...however I do want these people to understand me before I leave. I really don't think they've come across someone like myself before.
That's it for now...if I think of more, I will write another entry.
I'm also keeping a bit of a handwritten journal.
