I had forgotten that you’re allowed to smoke in bars in North Carolina. Actually, that’s a lie. I was blissfully aware the whole time I was in Alaska that you are not allowed to smoke in the bars, or within a certain number of yards of public buildings. It’s lovely. What I had forgotten is what happens when you’re a non-smoker in a bar in North Carolina. How you go home not just smelling like beer, but cigarette smoke as well.

Last night I went to dinner and then out for drinks with Jason. He and I have known each other since before we could talk. Anyway, we went out cause we haven’t had a chance to catch up since I’ve been home. We talked about everything from ACC basketball (oh man what a wonderful ending to that UNC/BC game) to wedding disasters to relationships and back again. It was great, especially since he heads back to grad school at VT on Wednesday.

So Mexican food, followed by drinks at our favorite bar downtown. For the first hour or so we sat outside on their patio, but Jason got cold (dude, it was like 50…at the coldest) so we headed in and grabbed stools. At this point we were seated between two smokers. Now, I have nothing against smokers themselves…I think the morality police need to leave these people the hell alone. It’s just that I went home last night smelling awful (I personally don’t like the smell of cig. smoke) and with burning eyes.

My solution? No smoking in bars. And if you’re a smoker and you don’t like it, I say…tough. If the smokers in Anchorage can deal with going out in -15 degree weather, you can handle a balmy 45. You’re the minority at this point and you know our country’s wonderful track record when it comes to respecting the rights of minorities. Look, I don’t want you to not be able to smoke, I just think it should be done outdoors, where I don’t have to inhale. If you really feel isolated because you’re the only person out on the patio, drag your friends out with you. Bars who really worry about losing business can provide patios with those wonderful space heaters for the wimps in the bunch, as well as pipe their music out of doors so they don’t feel like they’re missing anything.

Look, you know how important it is for you to be able to choose to smoke? Well, I want to be able to go somewhere and choose not to. It’s as simple as that.

I just got home from taking the GRE and let me just say…I am the shit. *ahem*

I did well. Well enough to easily get me into three of the schools I’m applying to and make me competitive at my golden school. I’m stoked.

And now I’m gonna have a beer cause I think I’ve earned it.

Last night I welcomed in the beginning of 2009. This year I will turn 24, my younger sister will graduate college, five of my friends will get married, one will have a baby, and my grandfather will celebrate his 90th year.

I rang in 2008 in Alaska. This year I was home with family and friends. Next year? Who knows. I’ve thought about heading up to New York and spending the night with several thousand of my closest friends. I certainly wouldn’t be cold, I’ve got the gear. Who knows. I’m actually enjoying the idea that I’m not sure where I’ll be in a year. Hopefully in grad school somewhere or with a great job. (And by great job, I mean one that pays.)

I’ve been thinking about resolutions. Things I would like to accomplish in the next year. There are a few big ones, a couple small and a few that are completely random. They involve running, travel, school, boys and tattoos. It’s gonna be a good year.

You know, this look suspiciously like a post. But it couldn’t be. Because I haven’t posted in like, oh say, a month. I’ve been pretty forcefully ignoring my blogging duties. I’m good like that.

In any case, I’m back. With a vengeance. And one hell of an update. One quick thing before I start. I’ve been not only horrible about writing, but horrible about reading as well. So in the next few days I’ll have to get caught up. I’ll get there though. Have faith.

So, my life since I’ve been home…

I’ve been looking for a job which has been sort of a crap chute. I’ve sent in a ton of resumes and cover letters which, let me tell you, I hate writing and…nothing. But I suppose that’s to be expected. The rest of the country is unemployed, why shouldn’t I go with the trend? I keep telling myself that the reason I haven’t gotten any calls is because everything has ground to a screeching halt because of the holiday. The key is to just stay firmly in denial, and everything will be fine.

I’m still running and my bike finally came in the mail. So I just have to pop it back together and get out on the trails. Speaking of trails, the rents and I went hiking today and found a six foot snake in a tree. No lie.

Yeah, came across this at eye level out hiking. Well actually, mom and I walked right past it and dad came up behind and said “ooo, look at the snake.” Quite a nasty surprise. Harmless though. And according to my dad, “Snakes in trees beat bears in the woods.” Much more bad ass than Alaska. Yeah, bad ass and seventy degrees in December. Bah.

Personal updates…apparently it’s hear from the ex-boyfriends month. I’ve heard from two of them I haven’t talked to in…years in the past few weeks. They want to hang out. I…I have no idea. So I’m just putting off really dealing with it until I’m through with the GRE next week. Speaking of which, I take the GRE next Saturday. I’m not terribly worried actually. It’s kind of nice. I figured I would have panicked by now. We’ll see how I’m feeling Friday night.

I cut five inches of my hair off. It’s short now and I love it.

My grandfather and his wife were here for five or so days for Christmas. It was wonderful to get to see them. I’ve missed my family so much.

The holiday was great. Sister and I got tickets to see Anthony Bourdain. I love him. The rents got us orchestra seats for Christmas. They’re amazing. I’m so stoked.

New Year’s Eve is coming up and with it my parents’ annual giant bash. I have friends coming and I think we’re doing dinner before. There will be much partying.

Okay, so that’s it for now. That’s my life since I’ve been home. Right now I’m sitting in the living room with my family watching Mamma Mia and relaxing. Tomorrow I restart applying for jobs and health insurance. Ah, to be home.

Home safe. Very tired. Oh stories. Will update when I recover.

This will very likely be my last post from Alaska. Since I don’t have Internet at home and today is my last day at work you will probably not hear from me until I am safely back in North Carolina. I’m set to get back early Sunday evening, but since I’m traveling the weekend after Thanksgiving who knows what that will turn into.

Today at work I’m transferring files, emailing contacts and cleaning out my office. I have accumulated so much crap…it’s really quite incredible. They’re doing some kind of going away pot-luck around lunch and then my boss and I are sneaking out for a celebratory, Yay for no longer working for the company! beer. I’ll then hand in my keys and my ID badge and leave this building, possibly for good.

I must say, I’m proud of the work I’ve done this past year. I’ve accomplished all the project goals I laid out and I’ve developed a sustainable outreach plan for the new library that will allow them to fully meet the needs of the community they’re getting ready to move into. I’ve worked hard to give the library something they can truly benefit from after I’m gone.

This experience has changed me. I am not the person I was when I moved up here a year ago. I am more confident, more mature and more self sufficient. I am still goofy, loud and fun loving, but being here has centered me in a way college never did. It has adjusted my priorities, given me direction and given me the chance to prove to myself that I can do absolutely anything that I set my mind to and do it well. It is with sure feet that I step from this to the next experience in my life.

Of course this journey would not have been the same without this blog and I appreciate everyone who has read and commented since I began. I have thought a lot about whether I would continue bloging after leaving Alaska and, for now at least, I plan to keep writing. I will be applying to schools, re-adjusting to life in the lower-48 and re-establishing my place in a world that I haven’t been a part of for a year. To say I’ll need an outlet would be an understatement.

For now I leave you with Happy Thanksgiving wishes and hopes that if you are traveling you travel safe. Have a wonderful holiday and I’ll be back in about four thousand miles.

I have plane tickets! *dances about*

Thanks to a phone call to Texas this morning all of my nervous, anxious, abnormally stressed energy is now focused on Tuesday, November 25.

I should back up.

Right now I’m editing and putting the finishing touches on the project report that details what I’ve been doing for the past year. It showcases all the work I have done and lays out a proposal for sustainability of the project. It’s actually something of which I am reasonably proud. I’ve worked hard this year and seeing all that work consolidated and analyzed in once place is sort of heady. The report is already almost 80 pages long and that’s after I edited it down. It was nearly 110. Luckily when I get the chance to edit my work several times I can get rid of a ton of the superfluous bullshit that I learned to add in college to fill paper length requirements.

I have spent weeks tallying survey results, taking percentages and getting frustrated with excel. I have spent an equal amount of time writing. This project report, along with a presentation will be turned in to my supervisor on Tuesday at noon. The presentation will be a cakewalk. I don’t mind public speaking. It’s just getting everything done, edited, re-edited, formatted, bound and oh right, signing that contract with the devil in blood so that things go off without a hitch takes time. It’s also stressful.

In the mean time I am packing up my life so I can move  back across the country next week. Someone told me moving is high on the list of most stressful experiences or something like that. I believe it. It was much easier moving here cause I could leave thing at my parents’ house. Now? Everything must be either packed and shipped, stuffed in my suitcase or sold, donated or trashed. At the same time I am having to live in my apartment so there is a ton of crap I can’t get rid of until right before I leave.

This brings me to today. Today is 10 days before I am scheduled to leave…at least in theory. Because I came in today and guess what was not in my inbox…that’s right! My travel itinerary and plane tickets. Nothing, nada. So I called Texas. Texas is where The Company employs the workers that take care of this crap apparently. Texas told me I can expect tickets and an itinerary in my inbox on Tuesday, because they aren’t actually booking my tickets until Monday night.

I will repeat that because I know some of you are having the same confused brain hemorrhage that I was. The Company is waiting until Monday night to book tickets for the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Flying one-way from Alaska to North Carolina costs an absurd amountof money as it is. The same flight, just a few days after a major holiday, booked less than a week in advance? They are going to be paying out the nose to fly me home. Thumbs up to you Company. You are officially really, really dumb.

So we return to the fact that thanks to the continued failure and willful idiocy of The Company I have now focused all of my being on next Tuesday. If I don’t drop dead from exhaustion at 1pm on Tuesday it will be a miracle.

In theory I have 11 days left in Alaska. Of course, The Company still hasn’t made or informed me of my travel arrangements. *sigh* (What? I’m not bitter…) ANYWAY, anyone who would like a postcard from the Great White North speak now or forever hold your peace. If you are interested, shoot me an email with your name and address included and I will send a postcard your way before I leave.

I thought I was managing my stress well until I walked into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I have hives. On my forehead. *sigh* Trés cute.