So I know that it has been a really long time since I posted, but I'm here now. Let me tell you, I fall in love with Alaska more and more each day. Everyone knows the saying, "the grass is greener on the other side." I like to think that I am already on the other side. Because it's summer time now (yes, we completely skipped spring), all the grass is green, people are planting flowers and tending to their gardens, the trees are in full bloom, and the air smells wonderful (unless you live with two dogs like I do haha). My uncle and his fiancée have a huge hammock that they put in their backyard and I love to go and lay in it. The amount of times that I have almost fallen asleep in it are way too many to count. When we go camping down in Homer to go fishing, I intend to sleep in a hammock rather than the tent. I will fall asleep almost instantly if I sleep in a hammock. I have spent a lot of time outside during the last week or two. Whether it was laying in the hammock, helping Liz plant herbs, or just going out and doing running around, I have tried to be outside as much as possible. Yesterday, we had a barbecue for Memorial Day weekend. We put a bunch of chairs outside, invited a bunch of people over, and smoked a brisket. It was really really good. My uncle and I made macaroni salad and a coconut lime cheesecake the night before, and today, there is only a little bit of macaroni salad left. No more cheesecake. It was just that good. I did have to work that morning, which kind of sucked, but I got everything done, came home, took a nap, and then joined everyone for the barbecue. Speaking of work, it's going fairly well. One of the bakers that trained me has moved back home to Arizona and we hired a new girl. So far, she has been trained on the day baking stuff, but this week she is being trained on the morning baking stuff. I actually have an evaluation this Tuesday to see how all of my stuff is turning out and to see if I should get a raise. That would be really nice. When August 1 comes around, I have rent to pay down in Columbia. I need to make sure that I have the money to pay my rent. I have started looking at getting a second job but haven't settled on anything yet. I just want something like a part time administrative assistant. Something kind of low-key since my current job is a lot of manual labor and I'm consistently busy. We will see after Tuesday what I decide to do. Liz's birthday is next week so we are planning a surprise party for her. It is going to be unicorn themed, so lots of pastel colors and sweet food. I'm not sure if we are making her a unicorn cake or if we are just going to go to the grocery store and buy one. I think that her niece might be taking over all the party planning so I think I might just stay out of it and be surprised when the day comes. So because it is summer time, that means that my brother and one of our cousins will be flying up here shortly. It's an early graduation present from my uncle to fly each of the nieces/nephews up the summer before their senior year. I flew up here and spent a month and a half for my early graduation present. Now it is my brother's turn. He is flying up June 20, which I am super excited for. I haven't seen him in six months. We do talk everyday and have legitimate conversations, but I still haven't seen him face to face, so it will be nice. Our cousin, Brendan, is actually flying in this Saturday. None of us have actually met him. I think he lives in Arizona or Nevada or one of the surrounding states. I think we will all have a good time though, despite not actually knowing each other. We have lots of fun things planned for this summer (or at least I do) and I can't wait to share all my adventures! I will talk to y'all later.
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Wow wow wow wow wow. This has been an amazing experience. I recognize that this post is way later than what I usually post. It has just been a crazy last two weeks. Between exams and David coming to visit (woohoo), so much has been going on. As of yesterday, I am completely finished with my finals!!!!!! I think I passed (lol). All finals done. All papers are written. All exams taken. I can return my textbooks and throw away all the paper! It's very satisfying. Now I can focus on other stuff, like showing David around Fairbanks or painting. David flew in on May 1. I went and picked him up from the airport and we had sushi for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. He liked it. Unfortunately, I still had to work, so I left at midnight to go make some amazing cinnamon rolls. So far, we have eaten at the Cookie Jar (my place of work), the good sushi place, my favorite Thai place, and my favorite Italian place. We have spent a lot of time with family. David and my uncle play video games for hours on end while I sit on the couch and nap. About two days after he got here, I came home from work and my uncle told me that my face/neck looked weird. I thought it was just because I had gotten off work and still had like flour and sugar on my face. I was wrong. Turns out I was having an allergic reaction to something that spread from the left side of my face to the entirety of my neck and to the insides of both my arms. Most of it has cleared up, except for the part on my neck. Still somewhat itchy. I have no idea what it was or how I got it and there wasn't exactly much that I could do. I didn't go into anaphylactic shock or anything, but it was enough of a reaction to be uncomfortable. It hasn't stopped me from going out and doing stuff though. David and I have explored Fairbanks a little bit. Later on today we are going to drive out to the North Pole and go visit Santa Clause's house. Yes, that is a real thing. Yes, you must go if you are in Alaska. Tomorrow, I would like to take him to Chena Hot Springs and go hiking in the surrounding area. I haven't been to Chena Hot Springs, so this will be an adventure for both of us. Now, since David has been here and since I have been here, we have come to a startling conclusion. Keep in mind: we are both from the east coast. We like the beach and the heat and the sunshine. David and I have made the decision to move to Alaska after I graduate next year!!!!!! There is no humidity, it's a small community, and I have family up here that will help us move and get settled. I fell in love with Alaska a long time ago, but David now sees all the beauty that I see up here and has agreed that this would be the place he would like to move to. I am so excited. It's going to be a big move with a VERY long drive, but I think it will be amazing. I am so excited for what the future holds, and I cannot wait. That's enough rambling. I will post more throughout the summer. I'm not sure if it will be as frequent, but I will keep posting so everyone can see what the summers are like up here in addition to the winter. I will talk to y'all later!
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AuthorStudent at the University of South Carolina studying criminal justice, French, and psychology. Archives
August 2019
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