Dear Alaska...

Dear Alaska,

You gave me the best summer a recent, lost, and unemployed grad could ever ask for. Not only did I adopt a new family, but a whole community. The community really got involved with our plans for Portland and everyone....and I mean everyone was interested in hearing about them. I got to wake up every morning and look at the most beautiful snowy mountains and feel the warmth of the town with a wave from someone as you walked down the street. I cannot thank you enough for the people I have met and what great souls they all were to me.

I got to take a the ferry, fly in a float plane, went commercial fishing, learned to cook, met AMAZING people, and be an honorary alaskan! I wouldn't trade this summer for the world. Now, with the thanks of miss Maya Holmes, I am moving to Portland to start my new adventure. We will be settling into our new place at the end of the month and I will be starting by BIG KID JOB as well. I cannot thank everyone who has supported me through this whole journey....including all my blog readers!! I had the most rewarding summer of my life and am happy to say Portland will be the next adventure. Here were some pictures of my last week in town...

As I like to say...this is not goodbye. It's see you later.

Sincerely,

Your biggest fan

Classic Lindsay

Shift drink madness

Always a fun time at Kito's

Bye Inga's!!

This is Midnight....an adult sized rocking horse

Last night in Alaska! 

Deck view!

Beachcomber

Left over alcohol anyone?

Staff deck party!

My Maya

How Dr. Seuss helped me make life decisions

“Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.”

Lately I've been using the "I'm young" excuse to just about anyone I talk to about moving to Portland. It's an excuse I've never used, but one I am very accustomed to at the moment. I know I am young, but with graduating college...I feel the pressure to suddenly become a "mature adult". I grew up faster than most, so it's mine time to be young. It's my time to not plan. It's my time. And Portland is something that can provide me that flexibility. Oh the places you'll go! As some of you may know, I have been collecting Dr. Seuss's series for a few years now and still have yet to get the full set. The reason is simple. Dr. Seuss helps me makes life decisions.

Silly you say? Naive you may think? Outrageous says the nonbeliever....well, you have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. Dr. Seuss has many books that seem child-like because of his rhythmic and tongue twister characteristics, but nobody really takes the time to really see what Dr. Seuss has to offer. Call me crazy or going overboard....but at least I make good decisions.

Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

You'll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut

If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good!

You are you. Now, it's that pleasant?

Step with care and great tact. And remember life's a big balancing act.

I think you get my point...but Dr. Seuss has helped me out. Laugh at my child-like enthusiasm, but everyone has someone to help guide them. For some it's God, for some it's their parents, others it's their peers. We all have our inspirations and this happens to be mine. And it's a good thing he is because you are looking at the new teacher at a child care facility in downtown Portland! I'll be starting at the end of this month and I am looking forward to my new adventure with miss Maya Holmes...my comrade, my partner in crime...my best friend. This is my last week in Alaska and I know I will be back, so goodbyes are out of the question. But I will sure miss this place.


You're on you're own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...

Maya help

Rainbow to wake up to!

Yes....I think I'm ready for you Bay Area

Nothing like it

Community

Community. A unified group of people living in an area. People with common interests. The sense of belonging and safety. Petersburg gives you that, plus more. It's crazy to think I have exactly two weeks left here, but after looking over my summer...I know I have a lot of memories to bring back. The community has really taken me under their wing, and I feel a little overwhelmed by the gesture. I found myself learning things like leaving notes when you leave, telling people about your day, and contributing to the town as much as you could. I grew up doing things on my own schedule on my own time, and the people around me were busy because we had to be. But when someone stops and asks you how YOU are....not just saying it for small talk, it has really made me kinda emotional. I'm such an independent go-getter, I don't stop and smell the roses. So thank you Petersburg....for making me stop.

Like I've said, I only have two weeks left and the packing madness will soon begin. The BEST part is that Maya will be coming down to the lower 48 with me! Why you ask? Because I have made the decision to move to Portland with Maya! Everything like a job...or a place to live is still in the works, but we are slowly figuring it all out. I don't want to sit back and see me living at home "saving money"....for WHAT? I would rather be poor and having a blast with my best friend in a new town than be at home with no social life. And home will always be there for me when I need it. I'm really excited and no official dates are set in stone for when the big move is happening, but if any of you folks know of housing or more importantly JOBS in the Portland area....let this educated girl know.

Until next week, folks...

Family dinner!

Beautiful Day in PSG!

Crab potting with Tor

Erin! The happiest person I know

Having my first fireball shot

My partner in crime

The best ladies out there

Yes, we have a moose in our bar 

WOLF DOG

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

A little late, I know. Excuse my lateness. It will never happen again, sir. Control freak.

So my week here was per usual, work. eat. sleep. repeat. But a night at the bar can change everything. I was with a fellow friend, Tor, and we were talking about fishing (REAL fishing, none of this one at a time, lets sit back and have a beer type of fishing) and it got me thinking. I have three weeks left here, I'm a sucker for taking chances, Clearly, and there was an opening on a weekend I happen to have off. My inner goddess is telling me to go. So, I took the bold step. I called up the skipper the next morning and asked to come along on their one day opening! And he said YES!! So less than a few hours later I end up on the boat with five guys with my book and ipod in hand, ready to see the world of commercial fishing. 

Let me begin to introduce the marvelous boat I was on, the Marathon. The skipper is Maya's uncle and her cousin, Allan, is one of the fisherman. Tor, who I mentioned earlier is also a fisherman on this boat. Now that I'm all done with introductions, let me move onto my 9 hour ride northwest of where we were. Basically, it was a road trip on an RV....but 10X better because you have Alaska out your window, not I-5. During the ride up to Chaik Bay (near Sitka) I listened to music and read a book. I hope people know what book I'm talking about, how embarrassing. I sat up with the skipper in the top deck most of the time, as it had a panoramic view of everything, including whales!! It took a few hours, but throughout my whole trip I saw at least 5-6 whales. Exhilarating. Guys called it a early night, and by 10 we were all out. Oh yes, I haven't mentioned the bunks. Excuse my less than descriptive image of this, but don't worry, there will be pictures. It's 4 bunks that are located at the bow of the boat, so they curve and have absolutely no room to move. I was placed on the top bunk, with three of the guys along with me. Not comfortable. 

The next morning I am woken by Tor shaking me, telling me they will this will be the best set of the day and I should get up if I want to see. Crap, I'm tired. I should have gone to bed when the guys did. I stumble out of bed and see Tor making everyone breakfast. What kind of universe did I just set foot in? I watch the skiff close in the net and the boys quickly get ready for the fish to arrive on deck. Don't worry, there will be video for all those who can't follow. That's everyone, Syd. The net is hooked on a skiff, and the seiner boat and skiff make a huge circle and after about 25 minutes meet back to make a full circle, finally closing in the fish. This repeats for as long as the skipper feels he can catch fish, or more specifically until the opening closes. This opening was from 7AM-7PM. Which is what we did. It was a sunny day so I moved around different parts of the boat all day, reading, listening to music, talking with everyone, and watching the guys repeat all this for 12 hours. Incredible. We come back with approximately 8,000 pounds of salmon and ride throughout the night back to PSG. Overall, it was an experience I do not know I'll ever have again. Truly once-in-a-lifetime type of adventure. 

So this is my reason for being late on my blog this weekend. Please forgive me. Oh no, I mean....

Please forgive me, sir. Control freak. 

Our bunks. Mine is top right!

Dining table

Kitchen

Hallway of boat

Wouldn't be a boat without one

Setting in the net

Deck view, skiff ready to launch

Beautiful

Here fishy fishy fishy...

Best reading spot ever?

Part of the circle from the net

View I had all day

Sparkling water

Skippers chair on the top deck

I could look at this all day. I did. 

Bye sun...

Camera shy, Mr. Whale?

Alaskan Sunset

My home for the past weekend

Fear of the unknown

Pixar gets me straight in the heart every. single. time. So as you may have guessed, I just came back from seeing Brave. Granted it wasn't the most original Pixar movie that they have such a reputation for producing, but with the curly red hair....how could I not like it? I suppose you can say I was attracted to this young woman's ability to trust her decisions and had the confidence to know who she is. According to Erkison's theory of development (Yes, PSY 432, I was actually listening) I'm dealing with identity issues! This whole graduating and becoming a real person? Getting a big kid job? I feel like college only taught me how to remember my SSN! Ugh, clearly this movie has sent me into a spiral of identity confusion....must be around here somewhere....

The fear of the unknown. Being afraid of new ideas. They are loaded with prejudices, not based upon anything in reality, but based on...if something is new, I reject it immediately because it's frightening to me. What they do instead is just stay with the familiar. You know, to me, the most beautiful things in all the universe, are the most mysterious.

Unfortunately, I cannot take credit for that statement, but seriously couldn't have said it better myself. I could have stayed home this summer, but instead I moved to Alaska. I had no idea what to expect when I came here, I only knew Maya. I moved 2,000 miles away from the familiar to be apart of the unknown. I only have 4 weeks left here and I'm not and will not take this opportunity for granted. Only I would take a Pixar movie to another level, I know, but this post-college thing is a lot harder than expected. I am proud of my accomplishment, I went to three colleges, went to summer school while having pneumonia, and still managed to graduate in a four year period. I embrace change, I enjoy change, I crave change. I wouldn't be sitting here in Alaska if it wasn't for change. 

If you had the chance to change your fate, would you?

Fishing License!

Petersburg Creek

Why hello pink salmon

I think he's mad, look at that eye 

Stoked for my catch!

So excited!!

Fishing further up the creek

Sexy ladies, as always