There Was Snow Inside the Van Too

Scratch... Scratch... Scratch...

Howdy. Today finds me in “The Litter Box.” This is the name previous residents gave the dilapidated trailer house in which I’ll be sleeping while I’m here in Juneau, Alaska. I’ll post some pictures, but it feels like a cross between a hunting shack and a frat house with its décor of randomly placed fishing reels, FHM pinups, and holes shaped like drunken fists punched in the ceiling. In case you were wondering, the official beer sponsor of Super Bowl XXXIX was Coors Light. The giant banner in the living room told me.

I don’t think the temperature has risen above 12 deg. F. during the three days since I arrived in Juneau. Even the locals are saying that it’s been a long time since it was this cold here. A warning just cut into TBS’ airing of “JAWS” to inform us that a winter storm is on the way which could dump one to two feet of snow on Juneau in the next 24 hours.

It’s been incredibly clear though, and over the last couple days I’ve gotten to fly to several of the towns and villages my new employer services. Flying over the icy green bays and canals, in between snowy mountains, forested islands, and aquamarine glaciers is magical. It’s like seeing the world like I did as a little kid. Everything is so big and colorful and full of mystery.

I have so much to learn in the next couple weeks, including lots of radio frequencies, the ins and outs of the Chelton Synthetic Vision EFIS system the names of all those breathtaking mountains, islands, and glaciers. I’m sure it’ll be worth it though. This place is incredible.

From A Couple Weeks Ago....

Howdy. Today is Thursday, March 2, 2006. I awoke today to the sound of the mid-day siren at the Palmyra Volunteer Fire Department. My delayed return to consciousness might have been of some concern if I were still employed by [my former employer]. That not being the case, I elected to stay in bed until I was bored enough to get up and take a shower.

On the topic of my departure from [my former employer], suffice it to say that I learned entire new categories of dishonesty and volumes about how not to run a business during my six months working there. Knowing that peoples’ safety was on the line, I became supremely uncomfortable touting the benefits of their consulting services. I don’t regret coming out here though. Philly’s a great city. My biggest mistake was living in New Jersey.

In any case, I’ll only be here for a few more days. I’m catching a flight to Kansas City on Monday. I’ll be there until March 15, when I’ll be catching a flight to Juneau, Alaska. This summer, I’ll be flying Archers and Cherokee 6’s around Southeast Alaska for a VFR Charter operator based in Juneau. While I couldn’t be more excited about my new gig, it really sucks to again find myself in the position of leaving people whose generous welcome far exceeded anything I could ever repay.

Lightness wins again.

Alaska Airlines 737 Gets De-Iced at Juneau.

Litter Box Decor

The Living Room at the Litter Box (note drunken fist holes in ceiling...)

Litter Box at the Litter Box

Kitchen at the Litter Box

My New Room

Layover in Sitka, Alaska