1. Danny is currently mowing the lawn around the hotel, and it's his first time. I don't think Gregg really told him what to do, cause he is kind of just wandering around in circles with the mower, not going in any kind of pattern :). It's kind of entertaining.
2. Jess and I did another 12 hour bus ride through the park. We didn't see very many animals this time, but we could see Mt. McKinley in all her glory for the whole way into the park. The clouds moved in on the way out, but we were just happy to see her at all. We saw a couple bears, but none as close as last time, and like 10 caribou. Their antlers are getting huge! On the way out we passed James and the housekeepers in one of our shuttles (anyone can drive the first 15 miles into the park, but only the park buses and tours go past there.) He was taking them in so they could see the park, since they don't get days off. It was kind of funny.
3. The day after our long bus tour Jess and I went back and took the free bus to Savage River (mile 15 on the park road) and hiked around. There is this big outcropping of rock that we climbed up to, but when we got there she didn't want to climb it. I was so surprised! But I guess not everyone is like our family and see's a rock and needs to climb it.
4. The problem with working front desk is I can't ever go into the park without seeing someone that's staying at our hotel. The first couple of times I didn't know what was happening (they recognized me, but I've seen a lot of people this summer) but now I just figure if someone recognizes me they are staying at the hotel. It's not bad, but it does kind of feel like I can never get away from my job.
5. Favorite quote of the week, "Ashley? You have that thing that will make my pencil sharper? What is it called?" :) It's fun working with the Bulgarians.
6. The other night at Jessie's we were talking about the northern lights and how we watch them. Sarah has a second story room at the Homestead (the gigantic housing for Princess tours) and she takes out her window and sits on the ledge. I either just stand outside and look up or climb the banister to the top of the bathroom trailer and watch from up there. But Jessie wins. In her words, "I think the best place to watch the northern lights will be in my hot tub!" The rest of us just wish she and Keith had come up with this hot tub idea earlier in the season . . .
7. I ran out of bread before our trip into the park, and wanted to bring a sandwich so I decided to just get some in Healy since there wouldn't be a Fairbanks run in time. The cheapest loaf of bread was $8.19. Yep, I will be glad to get back to normal prices.
8. An Australian guest's reaction to a 40 mph wind day, "Holy Maholy! Your wind is a tad bit crazy!"
9. This morning I got a call on the after hours phone at 7:20 from people complaining that the office wasn't open yet. So I called Miles (no answer) and then went and knocked on his door. He yelled "Who is it?" groggily, and when I told him he asked "Am I sleeping?" I didn't quite know how to respond to that one, so I just asked him if he was planning on going to work. That had a better effect of getting him over his hangover. I heard him leave 10 minutes later, so he was only an hour and a half late for work. It made me feel better about the one time I was 5 minutes late :).
10. I met this guy that teaches at a college in Northern California that came up here with his friend that works at an asylum. They are just wandering around Alaska, living off of Snickers and going wherever people recommend. They took the free bus to Savage River in the park because they were out of money, and wanted to use their last tank of gas before flying out to go to a little hot springs by Anchorage. You meet all sorts up here.
11. Jess is leaving on Wednesday. Sad day :(.
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