Friday, November 2, 2007

Ah, the sweet, sultry sound...

... of zombies eating people in the background.

My hubby is watching a horror movie as I type.

I am soooooooo very tired. I'm looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, but I think my light is a tiny tea candle sitting in a very playful breeze.

My job was an absolute nightmare yesterday. I know we all talk about wanting to scream with frustration, throw our hands up in the air, and kiss it all goodbye, dodging the door before it hits us in our proverbial arse on the way out.

There were several moments when I was so overwhelmed, I couldn't focus to save my life. It was a total sensory meltdown as I have never experienced before. I am so amazed I didn't lose it and start sobbing all over the keyboard.

People warn you. They try to tell you what to expect so that you'll be ready for it. But sometimes, you just aren't.

I feel bad for asking lots of questions. Apparently, I didn't ask enough. On top of that, I had to take my car to the shop and squeeze in a huge shopping trip to Office Depot to get the supplies for the store.

I've learned things about Alaska in that time, things that no one thinks to mention because that's just the way it is there.

1) There's no such thing as overnight mail. The quickest mail will get anywhere to the lower 48 is two days.

2)We are an hour behind California, which means we are farther behind all the other stores across the lower 48, including the main hub in the midwest. So when someone says they need something done by noon, they mean by 9 or 10 am for us.

3)Everything is farther away from everything else here. A trip to Office Depot in California means a few blocks down the road. Or even a short jaunt next door (damn you, Rocklin). For us, everything that isn't Walmart, Fred Meyer, and a collection of small businesses is an hour's drive away. And that's when the traffic is good.

4)Speaking of traffic, here I thought we were getting away from congestion and irritated drivers. Lordy, drivers here are worse than anywhere else I've been. And the traffic getting into Anchorage is five times worse than Sacramento. Especially when it starts snowing and accidents start happening. J (a coworker) and I were stuck in a traffic jam that took us three hours to get through.

It's hard working with people in other states. At least they are all polite and helpful, but sometimes they give you lectures that are really a waste of air because there ain't shit you can do about what they want. I'm in Alaska, dude. You talk to the postman and make him wave his sparkly wand to get the paperwork to you in one day.

November and there's still not a lot of snow on the ground. There were snow flurries today, but everything melted before night fell.

I know this post makes it sound like Alaska's a real drag, but it's not. Really, if it weren't for the job, I wouldn't notice these things half as much as I do now.

I'm hooked on the karaoke bar, but I can't go because Logan and I have one car and I'm not going to force him to go with me. He'll only want to go if other people from work do, and right now no one else wants to. Sigh. Once we get another vehicle, I'm going alone. Maybe I'll turn it into a night job or something.

Dream a little dream, twirl in a circle, and flop on the bed. Sleep is bliss. Good night, y'all. Kisses!

3 comments:

Miss Mel said...

So you never answered your riddle: "When I got to Wasilla all I saw was..."


I MISS EWE!!

Hannah Padilla said...

Hi,
I've been eagerly following your blog for about 2 months now. My husband and I are planning on moving to Anchorage (from so. cal.) next Spring. I enjoy reading about what I have to look forward too, and what challenges lay ahead. Post again soon, Ok?

Sparklecat said...

Hey, Hannah! Just peeked at your profile and saw that you could help me and Logan buy a house. That's so cool! One of the reasons we moved here is because home prices are insane in California. Thanks for your nice post!

Look guys, I have a following! Maybe I'll be a rapid underground success in this town!