posted November 26, 2007 12:30 AM         

OK-

I am on break, again. 2 months of freedom, all paid for, killing time waiting for work to start again.
I really can't handle not working.
I need routine. I get more done with my life when I am simultaneously working 12 hours a day.

Most people would probably dig my lifestyle. I work in a national park, no TV, no cell phones, wild critters running around, majestic mountain majesty yadda yadda.

Its pretty cool, most of the time. As long as you can roll with absolute separation from the ENTIRE WORLD and a social circle that never evolves from the high school mentality, hey, this rocks.

Iphone? What's that? Sprint? Que?
Britney Spears has kids? NO WAY....
And, wow, how did Dennis Kucinich get such a hot wife?

Sorry, I digress...

Right now, I am living in the lowest population density in the continental USA.
Really.

There are 6 people living in 2.2 million acres. I have no TV, no radio, nothing.

What I DO have is 6 botttles of bourbon.
And I am really, really bored.

And I am trying to quit smoking.
I also have a "friend" staying with me... the guy I have known for 10 years, whom I have recently decided I am 100% NOT in love with anymore.
Imagine that. It only took almost 11 years to figure out that this guy is not "THE ONE."

And now I am stuck here, with him, for the next two weeks...

Anyone here see "The Shining?"

thanks be for LindaLand archives...

... and a fast broadband connection...

posted November 26, 2007 12:48 AM         

I love reading your posts
Yeah, I agree with you, being off that long would drive me crazy! I do better under pressure, as well.

The Shinning is a great film. It was written by Stephen king! Actually I just finish watching 1408 also written by Stephen King... the movie is with John Cusack; it's a good film, it has been out on video for a few months now!

posted November 27, 2007 08:22 PM         

Do you take a lot of hikes?

posted November 28, 2007 12:04 AM         

Would you mind if I asked a few curious questions?

How do you get your supplies and groceries in such isolation? How do you dispose of waste?

Did you know that you can have phone calls over the internet now? It is called Voice over IP (VoIP). You can download a service called "Skype" onto your computer, and use a pair of earphones as a microphone and use the speaker on your computer to hear other end.

Did you also know that you could download movies onto your computer? I haven't tried it, but I think Netflix offers this service. Sounds super cool since you have a broadband connection.

And, did you know there are thousands of online radio stations on the internet? The BBC for example has lots of radio shows.

posted November 28, 2007 11:21 AM         

BR- I am not a park ranger. I work for the concessions company that runs the food and lodging operations in quite a few national parks. No, its not as glamorous as being a park ranger...but from what I have heard from rangers, their most frequent job duty is answering the question:

"Where is the nearest bathroom?"

My pay is less, (WAY less) I am not a federal employee, and I basically have no rights (if I get caught speeding, its a federal crime- I live on federal land.)

Yet, its still rather fun.

Aphrodite!! great questions!!!

This is my fourth winter, but previously I worked at a location that is 5 miles from the entrance of the park. Thus, I could go to town (150 miles away) when I felt like it.

Now, I am in the Interior, and during winter the only access is by a snowcoach (think bus on tank tracks.) I run the food operation, and part of this is an Employee Dining Room. So, besides feeding guests, I am in charge of the ordering and prep of 3 meals a day for all the departments on location.

Think its hard to satisfy picky family members at dinnertime? Try 300+ people of all ages and nationalities. One summer I almost got punched by a bunch of Albanians and Turks because dinner was ham....

Our food is ordered out days in advance because it has to come from the nearest Sysco hub, which is about 5 hours away BEFORE it gets to the park and has to be snowcoached in.

I am not sure how the dumpster thing works in the winter, down here in the interior...I know that the NPS is in charge of it, and during the summer they have regular garbage trucks just like the real world.

No cars can do over the road travel in the interior. I am trying to stock up on stuff before the roads are impassible, and if it snows a lot in the next ten days I have to get my car out- NPS is no longer plowing the roads.

All of the employee mail gets forwarded to a PO box in the closest town (which is about 50 miles from my location) and the snowcoach drivers who bring in guests from there will bring it to our Personnel office.

Luckily, I don't have many bills. I don't really know how well this is going to work out. As I said, this is my first winter "snowbound." I took a different position because its more money and I get my own apartment. I am very tired of living in a dorm room.

I listen to NPR as often as I can!!! And I am thinking about getting Netflix and (gasp!) satellite television. I haven't had television in about 7 years.

ANYWAYS....

I expect my internet connection will greatly slow once there are more than 5 people here. However, I imagine I will spending much time on line. The sun goes down at about 4 pm.

Sorry so long....