Visit to Alaska

I'm waiting to hear back about the job at the coffee shop in Homer. But I decided today that even if I don't get the job I will still go visit. I'm very excited! I'm also taking a trip to NYC for a week at the beginning of June. It doesn't appear that I'll have any down time here, before that point, either. So much to do, with work, and by the end of each day I'm exhausted and run down. Time for vacation!

ALASKA!!!!!

A couple days ago I received a phone call from a guy in Homer, AK, asking if I could move up there and work for him this summer. I had to turn it down because I am in the middle of the Census job, and he wanted me there by the first of June! I did talk to my supervisor, though, and she told me she thought they could find someone to cover as Crew Leader for me, so I am planning on calling him back today and seeing if he would still want me if I came by the middle of June. He owns a coffee shop up there, and I would absolutely love it! Imagine, being in Alaska during the warmer months, having a job that pays pretty well, and having plenty of time to enjoy fishing, boating, and all the other outdoor stuff available there! I do hope it works out, but it is definitely short notice.
No more incidents this week with work, which is a relief. I'm slowly finding my way around the area, getting to know more roads, as I drive them so much. :)
This week I've actually had a chance to get to know a few people in the area, at the Johnsonville FD, and have spent a couple evenings chatting and reminiscing with them. Stories of my grandfather, and life in general. It's amazing how NOT thinking about work can ease the stress so much. Time slips away so quickly.
So now I'm off to enjoy the sunshine. I have a book, plenty of water, and a camping chair, so all I need to find is a place to settle in. Yesterday another heat wave began, with temps in the upper 70's to mid 80's all this week. Ahhh...much better than rain!

"Fire! Fire! Fire!" And Other Random Occurances

I was in the park on Friday doing Census paperwork when my phone rang. It was one of my enumerators. She sounded slightly panicked, telling me that she was "in the middle of nowhere" at a house where an alarm was going off and an automated voice saying "Fire! Fire! Fire" but she couldn't see any fire or smoke, and what should she do? I called a fire fighter I knew and he said to call 911. Because we reported it, I had to go out there, since I was her crew leader. 911 sent Johnsonville FD, so two engines, the chief, and a bunch of their guys showed up. Funny thing was, by the time they got there, the alarm had shut itself off. They were as confused as we were, but checked the house anyway. No fire, no people, so no one knows why the alarm went off. Since we had to wait until the NY Trooper arrived, I chatted with the firemen to pass the time. The chief offered to help out however he could, and said we could use their fire department parking lot to meet at if we wanted. After an hour and a half out there, I headed back to town, only to get a call from another enumerator asking what to do, because she had just been bitten by a dog. So I headed back out to the country to meet her, take stock of the situation, and get her to the hospital for treatment. The dog punctured several points behind her knee, and bruised the area pretty good. She can now bend her leg again slightly, and is back to work. Poor gal!
I don't think the office knows what to make of my crew, with these two incidents and the one the previous week with automatic weapon fire. Apparently no one else has had any difficulties. Gotta love it! Can't wait to see what comes next!

Hassles of Being a Crew Leader (otherwise known as a CL)

I can't believe it is already the middle of May! Unfortunately, the heat didn't last, and we've been back to cold, cold, cold weather, with rain, clouds, and overall dreariness.

My life has not slowed down in the slightest, and if anything, seems crazier. I began with 17 people on my crew for the Census, laid off three, had one quit, am 'not-quite-firing' three more today, and just had three more new ones added yesterday. My entire crew has problems I have to resolve for them each day, and I have to meet individually with each one in their job area each day. So I am constantly on the go. Back and forth between W Hoosick, Petersburg, Hoosick Falls, Johnsonville, White Creek, and everywhere in between. I'm seeing all sorts of roads that aren't even on the map! If I wasn't always in such a hurry I'd thoroughly enjoy every moment. Right now, it's off to work again.

Summer Weather

The heat has begun, and with it, the mugginess that is AWFUL! The last two days were in the upper 80's and it was so sticky and humid that as soon as you walk out the door you are drenched with sweat. I had a busy day, but it was difficult to keep going with it like that.
After church I went over to visit a friend at the armory, and then back to the local high school to see a drama performance that some of my 'little sisters' from church were in. They did a wonderful job. As soon as that was over I went to work meeting with my crew members, which took the rest of the evening. By that point I wanted to relax, so I went for a walk around town.
The officers on duty were driving around bored, trying to stay cool since the AC at the PD wasn't working. So they kept driving by, stopping to chat. There were a couple skateboarders out who were annoying me, so the officers drove by them real slow repeatedly until they moved in another direction. As I was finishing my walk, one of the officers pulled into the parking lot beside me, followed by the other one. Still bored, so we spent the next half hour or so talking (I was between both cars with their AC turned up, so I managed to stay pretty cool myself. :)
It was a long day, but I'd rather have heat than cold, I think.