I feel like I always mention how I’m not a fan of change, but I’ve given myself a lifestyle centered on change. I was reminded of that once again the night before last as I slept in a much-loved place: Waylon’s kennel at Pack Forest. After staying with a good two-legged friend in northern Seattle for a week and a half**, it was time to venture south to visit last…
Okay, so I know I should really be looking for wildlife field jobs or Fairbanks town jobs to apply for now, but I needed to take a break from that to celebrate last Saturday. What event took place last Saturday? How could you not know?! The Great War happened, and green prevailed. Here are some clues: From a Detroit News article… “The Wolverines were embarrassed, overwhelmed at times, and Devin…
Oh goodness. Sports just may be the death of me. Some people might expect I’ll die because my field camp has flooded and we can’t get away, my plane to nowhere has crashed, a bear has ravaged camp, or I’ve hit the speed of sound while cruising down some hill on my bike. Actually, those thoughts have never come to mind. I’m quite at home being away from everywhere, and…
I haven’t quite been myself since I’ve been back in civilization. Other than the road trip with Teri where we talked about anything and everything, posed for some photos, saw a black bear, ate blueberries and almonds, and listened to the same CD over and over… I haven’t been very social. There’s not a great way to say this, but people who know me should understand I don’t mean to…
In my opinion, here’s why health care is screwed up. A man (true, he sounds nice enough on the phone) in this building (on Broadway, NY, NY) is dealing with my Jones Act (Coast Guard version of workman’s comp.) case that started on this boat (on the Chena River, Fairbanks, AK). For the record, crying over spilled coffee is 100% acceptable. I didn’t cry, but I easily could have. I’m…
I realize I haven’t posted anything about my fieldwork on the YK Delta yet, but I have a tale to tell about my time back in Fairbanks. I’ve been finishing up the summer by working on the Riverboat Discovery again. Having familiar faces to work with has been nice, but fieldwork definitely has helped me become worse at making small talk. When I was in the field, I was either…
The alpha hobbit. That’s practically the best nickname ever. Sorry this has to be a quick entry, but life has been busy since the end of my Conservation K-9 work in Alberta. Since I never wanted to say goodbye to the dogs (ever), I stuck around the kennel at Pack Forest for another 10 days to help out and work with the dogs. I also needed my sleepovers with Dozer…
What do you mean I have to say goodbye to this face? And this face? And this one? Pardon me, but this sucks! Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved dogs. I was about 2 years old when my family got our first Shetland Sheepdog. Pixie and I were always best buds. Although she was a family dog, we were the closest – maybe because I was the closest to…
Coffee: it’s life-giving juice for so many Americans and people worldwide, but I just don’t get it. As far as I remember, I can honestly say that “never have I ever” consumed a cup of coffee. I probably fall into the 5% of the 18 year old+ American public who can make that statement. Even without coffee, I’ve managed to live a happy, productive 24 years. Am I crazy? Nah,…
As a resident of Alaska, it can sometimes be easy to forget how few people have the chance to see the Northern Lights. Some of my best college memories come from 1AM phone calls from Teri at the other end screeching, “Go outside! The Lights are dancing!!!” Other times our intramural broomball game would end at 12:00AM and rather than heading to bed like responsible students, we’d bundle up in…