7 more days tomorrow!

Come tomorrow it will be 7days til my return! Thank fuckin spiritual entity.
I am tired, sore and sick...inhaling toxic black mold in the walls.
I realize I have not kept up with posts...it has been a pain to get on the computer in front of people and spend some time blogging. My brain tends to be mush by the end of my shift...like I forgot to pull smoked salmon from the freezer for the buffet tomorrow..crap
So the fish we get to take home is not what we catch..new policy this year is everyone gets a random box of fish...most likely all coho as we have an excess of it. Coho is good salmon..I was just hoping to get some chinook for my grandma. We also have to pay for the shipping of our salmon to vancouver via the care of St. Jeans cannery...no idea what the cost is but dang that blows kinda.
Out of town staff and people going back to school are leaving tomorrow and monday. no such luck for me...boourns.
My back is looking forward to sleeping on a comfortable bed and watching kitchen nightmares UK on netflix....mahahah! yes I saw your email
ok time to die for the night.

7 more days tomorrow!

Come tomorrow it will be 7days til my return! Thank fuckin spiritual entity.
I am tired, sore and sick...inhaling toxic black mold in the walls.
I realize I have not kept up with posts...it has been a pain to get on the computer in front of people and spend some time blogging. My brain tends to be mush by the end of my shift...like I forgot to pull smoked salmon from the freezer for the buffet tomorrow..crap
So the fish we get to take home is not what we catch..new policy this year is everyone gets a random box of fish...most likely all coho as we have an excess of it. Coho is good salmon..I was just hoping to get some chinook for my grandma. We also have to pay for the shipping of our salmon to vancouver via the care of St. Jeans cannery...no idea what the cost is but dang that blows kinda.
Out of town staff and people going back to school are leaving tomorrow and monday. no such luck for me...boourns.
My back is looking forward to sleeping on a comfortable bed and watching kitchen nightmares UK on netflix....mahahah! yes I saw your email
ok time to die for the night.

Haida Gwaii day..hmm no idea

Ok quick post as I start work in 15 minutes
So alot has happened, one this keyboard is all jammed up...fuck ppl ....anyways
More people fired/laid off and I still have a room to myself for now. A fishing guide was let go last week, another cook left due to back injury which appeared to be suspect and out relief cook was laid off yesterday. So whats bad for me? no more days off. I will be working straight through until the day I come home. Yay...err boo.
I am also feeling sick right now, we had a couple days of sun and "warmth" which apparently has allowed some spores to take off according to a repeat worker. So I am congested in my head sinus and l;ungs..yes lungs...feels horrible. I have been hitting the buckleys since the end of my shift yesterday. I slept a good 10 hours yesterday too.
I think last wednesday will be my last fishing outting here now that I wont have time off. At least it was a good one, caught a 27 pound chinook, my biggest so far.
Best to be off the water until I am well again anyways.
Breakfast does not start until 6am now due to the timing of sunrise...means more time to get ready in the morning...but also means more people showign up all at once.
Well I should get going...seems everyone has started their countdown
til next time

Haida Gwaii day...ah I dunno less than a month til home

Ok it's been a long time since my last post. I apologize, work has been busy and has made a very tired zack.
So whta's new? I don't think I mentioned in my last post that my roommate was fired. What was the cause? possession of
contraband, a bottle of vodka, and being a drunken idiot. Now there were several instances leading up to this event, the way I saw it
was that it was only a matter of time. Let me explain his previous incidents. He showed up to work nd drunk once and was
banned from the staff bar for 2 weeks. first day back in the bar he gets wasted and cross checks the bartender with a pool cue
when they're trying to kick him out, banned again. Goes into someones room and takes their laptop and then leaves it in the staff cook shack,
gets wasted and throws food around in the cook shack and causes a ruckus around 4am..managers bedrooms are in the same building.
Banned from bar.
The final incident involves him getting wasted again. When I woek for work he ran into the room and proclaims I need vodka.
I am tired of his bs and say no I'm going to work, he then produces from his bunk a 26 ounce bottle of stoli vodka. He claims
a guest bought him the bottle after he gave him a tour...I don't believe it and I dont think many others do either.
He takes a slug and runs out the room, it's 12:30am and I know he works at 8am, I head to work. I mention his drinking to my co-worker and we canonly shake our heads.
Later on hear from a server they saw him running around with the bottle around 4am and the bottle almost empty.
This was also a change over day, so when my boss comes in he says to say bye to so and so because they fired him that morning.
What happened? Well he tried getting in bed with a fishing guide 2 rooms over, only in his boxers. He was thrown out, he thin went into
the next room and got into the bottom bunk. The top bunk resident yelled at him to get out but he argued back he can sleep
anywhere he wants. knocks the bottom bunks lap top and external hard drive on the floor. My boss finds him passed out in the bunk
after he is late for work, wakes him, finds the bottle and he is fired. Has to pack his things and is flown out that day.
He's flown to Masset, from there he has to find his own way home.
Shitty deal for him, felt kind of bad for him but it's his own fault and had his chances.
I was able to go fishing again this week on my day off, headed out at 6am for a morning of fishing. I went out with our night
time staff cook, fished from 6am to 11am. Its been coho crazy out there..so much coho salmon in the waters right now. Big Chinook
are out there but it's hard to catch them with so many coho in between, last week 2 chinook over 60 pounds were caught, massive
fish..upsetting they killed them. Big fish breed big fish or at least lay a huge number of eggs.
I no longer have my room to myself, temporary roommate staying while a manager is in vancouver visiting their family.
Less than a month to go til I fly home...today my chef came up to me and said " if I were to lay off someone would you be able to handle working the remaining
time without days off?" My answer is yes, I'm here and the job has to be done..I will work everyday if I have no choice.
It looks like someone is being laid off and I'm pretty sure its our hipster tournant chef who covers our days off.
Why? well because he is pretty much useless.I did the first 3 weeks without any days off but the difference is at the beginning
of the season I didn't feel tired, I definitely feel tired now. Back sore from my bed and looking forward to home.
My boss also asked me if I wanted to stay for rig down, basically another 5 days to clean and put things in storage until
next season. Ehh I basically said no...my job back home etc...I honestly am ready to go home and ready to see my family and friends.
So if that co-worker is laid off I will have a rough last run to the finish line..will be tiring..plus no more fishing lol.
I have an issue with my pay cheque too, the cash advance seems too high. It appears to be double what I should be charged.
For the two weeks that the cheque covers I know I had only 6 beers and I've obviously been charged double. Must talk to our on site
payroll person.
Well it's taken me almost 2 hours to write this, been dozing off and distracted by old no reservations episodes.
I will update again soon

chalupa files: Haida Gwaii day 47?

I know I haven't been posting as fequently as before...tired after work and my laundry blah blah.
But today is a post day. Getting tired up here...meaning the long hours are wearing me out, every day seems a little more difficult than before.
So I was really looking forward to having a beer tuesday night, but the bar was closed due to our bartender being ill. She has a kidney infection or something. So I was disappointed to say the least, drank coffee and watched tv in the evening after sleeping most of the afternoon after my shift.
Around 9:30 word is my chef will be the bartender for a few hours that night, yay, so come 10ish I am able to have a pint of okanagan springs pale ale by the camp fire. Rain started to kick in so I went inside, watched the gong show of people making asses of themselves and finished the night off with a second pint. I enjoy having beers with the boat mechanic and staff cook...they like to vent and I like to listen...I can relate. Both older than me by alot but good times nonetheless.
There was a rumour ablaze that there was going to be a staff fishing charter today at 10am. Last time I listened to a rumour I went to the dock only to be turned around.
Fortunately the rumour was true and 12 of us were on out on the Q, our transport boat. We fished from 11am and back at the lodge just after 5pm. IT was lots of fun, they had beers and smoked salmon for us, no beer for me as a moving boat makes me feel ill. We were all fishng with small spin cast rods for coho, jigging buzz bombs (a type of lure), catching these fish on these small rods were alot of fun, such a fight and lots of action. Took some video of a dock hand who hooked into a big fish...i stopped it once we realized the fish had taken his line into a kelp bed and snagged him up.
MY first fish of the day was a halibut and they tried to gaff it (stick with a sharp hook) and pull in the fish...but somehow stabbed its head and knocked it off into the water. Boo...so not only did we lose the halibut, but its probably dead at the bottom of the ocean with a hole in its head.
Rest of the day was coho after coho and one pink salmon. It was a slaughter fest.
Apparently the chinook salmon fishing dies down soon...boo was hoping to catch a Tyee up here (salmon over 30 pounds).

Definitely missing home right now...seems most people are. Everyone is talking about what they're going to do when they get home. Strangely enough going for sushi is on alot of peoples to do list lol.
well time to have some food and head to bed...must sleep

Yawn!

I am tired...must fight the sleep monster.
I slept straight through last night but I still feel exhausted. I feel like I have a cold or something, I'm all plugged up and stuffy. grr sucks...and of course I didn't brings meds for that.
So apparenlty yesterday was day 42 and our halfway point. So what did they do to mark this? They flew up like 10 dozen tim hortons doughnuts...its a weird way to celebrate imo but whatever...I ate half a doughnut and then remembered I dont like them very much. Some people gorged themselves...nasty.
We have a replacement AM staff cook now, someone who worked here last year apparently. So no more cooking breakfast for staff for me...yay!
Feeling toasted lately. I am looking forward to sleep tonight. Definitely feeling burnt out.
Had an adventure on the high seas yesterday...went to the dock with my co-worker to check our crab traps for the lodge kitchen. The dock manager tells us we need to help drive some boats back to the dock. brings 3 of us along, ther other 2 people have jumped in boats and are headed to the dock..the 3rd boat is now apparently staying out on the water...so the dock manager says we are headed out to give the boat we're in to some VIPS...btw the ocean is crazy rough with massive waves coming from all directions. We're in a big boat that has a bedand kitchenette inside and it's being tossed around out there. We are out there in rough water trying to hope from boat to boat in rough water and 100 foot deep water. Talk about sketchy. It was an adventure though riding back in a smaller boat..we also had to pick up someone on another boat who was feeling sick.
I'm giving up on this post..feel like Im dying right now

Haida Gwaii day 40? or something

I am tired!
I was up for 26 hours yesterday. I finished off my breakfast shift with the intention of taking a nap all afternoon so I could have a beer later on. I am stopped passing through the cook shack and asked by a dockhand if I wanted to go fishing...I say hmm I'm tired but ok...so 30 minutes later I'm down on the dock loading the staff boat. I should take a picture of the staff boat...it's a small tin can of a boat..I've seen much biggers boats on lakes. We head out and about half way out to the fishing grounds we realize we have forgotten our cannon ball weights for our downriggers...half way out equals a 20-25 minute boat ride lol. So yeh we decided to keep going and just use weighted rods...meaning big weight on our line without the help of another line to clip into.
Fishing was kind of slow, we missed a few bites...had a hard time setting the hook. We caught around 10 coho, realeased all, caught one small chinook, a rock fish and a dogfish (a small shark). At 9pm tonight they are having a bullhead derby off the boat dock...so my plan is to sleep and wake up for the derby and stay up until work starts. We have bull head back home in the fraser river and surrounding shore line. Known commonly as skulpin...is considered a garbage fish as it has no table value.
I want to go, memories of childhood lol.
Work it self still blows goat but I am surviving..only 6 more weeks apparently.
I cant wait to lie down and sleep in my bed.
There is a weather warning today for gale force winds at 35 miles per hour....rough seas are coming. The rain woke me this morning...was pouring out..has since stopped and we are having periods of misty rain.
well thats all for now
til next time

Ok so I have not been posting...been working long long days and I am burnt out. Will make a post later on today and what not
fun times

day 35??

Haida Gwaii day 35?
Well I am exhausted today..it was change over and the same routine, make an ass load of eggs bennies and poached eggs on potato hash. It was a rough day. I had everything
but I was just feeling dead on my feet. I slept maybe 4 hours last night. Why? Well during my shift my co-worker asked if I wanted to go fishing that day. I of course
said yes, people pay $5000 for 3 night trips to fish here, even though I was feeling tired and had lots to do. To make sure I could go I had to kick it into overdrive and bang out my prep. I then find out we would be fishing on a Grady White boat with a guide...ok so a grady white is top of the line boat, you could say its a luxury boat up here. A Grady is 24 feet long with nice comfy seats, big engine and a cover to keep you dry..also satellite radio...staff do not get to use these boats for fishing ever. So why did we? Well the owner paul was going to take the clients who were on the Grady out on his boat for the afternoon..so we were given a ride out to our tug boat the driftwood to swap boats. The driftwood has 7 guest rooms on board and is anchored in a cove on the fishing grounds. Paul took us out on his private boat which is all pimped out, has a cappucino machine, wine cooler and other crazy things in the cabin...it's like a rocket too, has two 300hp engines on the back. To compare the staff boat has a 70hp engine, the next size up is 90hp. the grady's have a single 275hp engine.
So it was an opportunity to go fish in a boat with a guide and in a boat that we'd never be allowed to step into again. The boat is wide and stable so rough water doesnt feel as rough. The dock master had one restriction for the guides to take us out, we had to go halibut fishing for the lodge. I have learned that halibut fishing is boring...you sit and jig (lifting the rod up and down) until a fish bites and pulls. We did catch 3 halibut though, small guys but still good. they don't really fight either, they just come up as dead weight.
After that we drove out way easy to a kelp bed..our guide, Raiden, fishing out a large piece of bull kelp and cut off the top and bottom. He said this was for the kelp bong. Guides usually have beer that guests leave behind and have stashes in their rooms because of it. So who was first? well me lol. He insisted stating it was my birthday only a few days ago...it was not gross..nothing nasty inside the kelp as its basically a sealed tube until it was sliced open. they took photos but none on my camera..I will find a way to get those photos to show. only had 3 beers so 3 of us did the kelp bong.
Took us out to a spot where he said was great for tips...he pulled a small rockfish out of the fish box and held it on the side of the boat and waved it in the air. next thing you see are two bald eagles flying towards the boat. Apparently these 2 same eagles sit in this tree everyday and are fed by fishermen. As the eagel comes by he tosses the fish into the air and the eagel grabs it with its talons. Pretty crazy to see.
We were not having any luck around this area and headed further east. New spot and only one other boat...we drop our lines and bang right away Im reeling in a coho...almost as soon as that one is in the other rod goes off and we have another coho on. As I have my bait twirling on the surface of the water as Im trying to hook it into the downrigger, a downrigger is a machine with its own cable and a lead cannonball weight that pulls your fishing line down deep and keeps it straight, I can see coho swimming after my bait snapping at it..unable to hook them though.
I finally get my bait down and not long after the rod gets pulled hard into the water. We tell my co-worker it's her turn, she has a big fish on...turns out to be a 22 pound chinook salmon. About 10 minutes after she lands hers I get my turn and pull in a 15 pound chinook. Was alot of fun..we decide to stay out until our other coworker catches a fish...another 30 minutes and he catches another decent sized chinook.
I did not puke...my co-worker did though at the very beginning lol. I took gravol and was drowsy lol but not sick. Wish I could ride in a boat like that always.
I remember my grandpa owned a similar style of boat when I was very young...but it eventually broke down and always getting it fixed was too expensive..we rented from
then on.
So Im going to try and post some pictures...yawning as I write this...going to skip dinner tonight and hit the bed early
g'night everyone

So yesterday was my birthday..worked my ass off and I was let go early to go on a staff fishing charter. So I was feeling stoked,
fishing on my birthday would be perfect. So I rush to my room and change and head to the dock only to find the fishing charter was just
a bad rumour that spread to several managers. Boourns no fishing for me, however it was probably for the best. Many boats with their guests
were coming in early that afternoon due to very rough seas...I'm talking 14 foot waves. I wouldn't have been able to handle that
myself. I would have definitely chummed the ocean.
The pastry chef made me a black forest cake for my birthday which was awesome. Nice to have a b-day cake so far from home, had a slice and left the rest in the
fridge for the scavengers to pick away at. The plan was to go on a hike at 3 with a co-worker, made it to my room at 1 after a shower and decided to watch some venture
bros...well I passed out lol..far as I know my co-worker passed out in their room too. No harm done.
Had dinner, relaxed by the tv room chatting with the baker and our on site handy man "sparky". I decided to head to our staff bar around 8:30...avoided the usual boozers
so I wouldnt have to do any shots lol. The sun was out so there was a fire on the beach, bought myself a beer and headed to the
log circle...spent the entire evening by the camp fire, it was great. I had a total of 3 beers and one horrible shooter
someone bought me. Called it a night around 1:30 and wandered off to check my emails...lots of facebook bday wishes this year
compared to last. Not a very exciting birthday but Im ok with that...feeling old.
anyways short post today, going to try and post some pictures

typing this up in my room and finding myself being grossed out by my roommates rank smelling clothing...ugh

Haida gwaii day 31?

July 11th, yesterday was one month of being here exactly. Seems longer but a month has passed.
It's been a few days since my last update so what's new? Well we had another person quit. A new cook flew up last monday
to take over as AM staff cook. Some weird ass whack job who was plastered with tattoos and was all sketchy and jumpy.
He would consistently bitch about working for 10 hours and no OT was bullshit...apparently he did not read the employee
contract..hence we are salary and on a daily wage.
So saturday morning he was bitching outside the cook shack and was going off saying he was gonna leave monday and forget
working here. And then something strange happened....he goes off freaking out yelling so people can hear him claiming he's having
a stroke and lays down on the table. Now he claims he must leave now to go to the hospital and go home to vancouver...
so he then gets up and packs his bags and walks to the dock and gets on our transport boat..no plane..if they actually felt
he was dying a float plane would have come along. So another one bites the dust and good riddance.
However, I am now cooking breakfast for the guides and staff as well as cooking for the lodge...yay more work for me.
It's my birthday tomorrow..whats the plan? Well work for one and then sleep lol. I want to avoid the staff bar as well btw,
the last thing I want is to be given a bunch of shots or whatever...I do not want to be hung over or drink til sick anywhere
other than at home. I do not posess a bed thats capable of recouperation here.
Depending on how stressful tomorrow goes I may or may not have A beer.
Today was package day as well and no packages for me.. oh wells. is all good.
My neighbour has his friend pick up $50 worth of junk food from town lol....all I bought in town was hot chocolate, licorice
and strepsils for my sore throat.
Not much to see in Masset...didn't take many photos either..is all good. Was nice to have phone signal and text and do other
phone things...I am a slave to technology..speaking of which my ipod has died. It gave me the white screen of death.
I went to plug it into the wall and I could here the hard drive crunching and then a white screen with a ipod icon with an
unhappy face pops up with a link to apple support shows up and then powers down. I think it has died...I have no idea how.
So it appears I need to buy a new ipod when I get home eventually. I'll have to power up my old pc as well and load all my music
onto it as well. grr sucks.
I do have my iphone with me...with limited music on it but it will have to do.
Sunday we ad a complete power outtage, our generator took a shit and died at 4:45am..no power anywhere on site..guests were
eating in the dark. No power also meant no water as we have electrical pumps to pump our water which we produce ourselves as
well. The outtage lasted until a little past 5:30am..they had to refire the generator which was insanely loud...like a big
diesel truck turning over in cold weather...pretty sure it woke the guests lol.
Well I continue to plug along and work my ass off..worked for 11 hours today...I usually pull 11 hours a day.
I do miss home alot..it seems alot of people are starting to count the days til they head home. Definitely not easy being
away and so cut off...well we have poor internet and 1 phone but it still sucks.
Looking forward to my own bed and pillow.
that's all for today..the frogs are gone and in their place are Ravens and more Ravens...crows on steroids and loud as hell.

I'm not sure what day it is

Well it's 1:13am before heading to work. Yesterday was hell...and I mean hell..my worst day since I've been here. Anything that could go wrong went wrong. Last day of "slaughter group" and they all ate like pigs, going up for seconds or more...eating everything...I found myself poaching eggs to order as I was running out. I had to make more hollandaise and in the panic I broke it and made a mess of trying to bring it back together. I looked like a dip shit. Makes me feel real good.
After my shift I just died in my room, I watched 4 episodes of the venture brothers and 2 naked chef episodes...yes I have all 3 seasons...I am a loser. I also did laundry again! gah I hate how dirty you uniforms can get here..oh and I have somehow lost my ankle brace. Been waiting on emails from my work in vancouver and they're taking their sweet time to do so.
I have a trail of strange bug bites on my thigh...they hurt.
Yeah just a little tired right now lol.
I appears the frog orgy has officially stopped...I havent heard them for a few nights now...perhaps frog sex season is over? I don't know. Alot more deer hanging out near my door...feasting on the dirty grass by the sewage pump.
Feelin sleepy..had a hard time getting to bed..pretty sure I didnt fall asleep until after 7:30pm.
Trying to get my sister to email me pictures of the garden at home...would like to see how its doing...Im missing out on the fresh veggies.
They sent the morning staff cook up to us in the lodge to wash dishes...and brought up some new guy named Beau...who is sketchy as hell and way too uppity...like he's on coke or something. I feel bad for the former cook...kicked out because bitchy servers complained they didnt like his food....well new guy's food hasnt been very good and it's been late every day. Alot of people think he won't make it...he's mre concerned with showing of his tattoos that cover everythign up to the sides of his neck than doing work.
ok Ive gone off track..its 1:30 and I need to run...work work work...woo woo
bye

yawn

It's much to early to cook. Feeling tired today...hard time sleeping last night.
The staff chef says its about now alot of people get the mid season blues..I think I know what she means.
Alot of people are more grumpy and frustrated looking. I know I am finding it hard to put on the smile when in the dining room in front of guests lately. I think most are feeling tired...tired and sore. Well Im tired and sore anyways lol.

I went to Disney Land on wednesday...that's what the old timers here call Masset. Made the trip into town for a few hours. Picked up some stuff for myself and for the staff cook. Strepsils, medicated cough drops. I also bought some hot chocolate...Im a child I know. Not the most exciting place to be thats for sure...lots of alcoholics on the street though. Was told by our driver its a big problem in town, lots of drugs and alcohol issues. A problem in most small towns it seems.

So thats all for now..need to work...
til next time

So I never continued my other post..that day was a shit show..slaughter fest...worked for 12 hours and was burnt out afterwards.
Today I was expecting o get slaughtered as well but it didnt happen. I guess they pigged out the night before on the buffet..who knows. I have tomorrow off so I dont care about tomorrow lol.
I have decided to make a day trip into masset....leave at 8am back around 2ish..the boat ride is over an hour long each way...I will take pictures of the coast line. Maybe we'll see some whales this time around.
Apparently a couple others are going..their reason being cigarettes or soemthing like that. ME? well there are no boats available for staff all week...so I would rather go to town than sit around at the lodge. Explore a little..hit up the FIELDS...ooo exciting lol. MY cell phone will work in Masset so there may be some texting or phone calls lol. Going to bring my charger with me incase I over do it lol.
I do need to buy some strepcils, medicated lozanges for the staff cook and myself...been having a sore throat lately. Must fight off any form of illness.
The weather is actually quite nice today, was sunny this morning and now a mix of sun and cloud. Well more cloud than sun.
I think Im going to take a nap ..need to stay up so I have a "normal" sleep tonight lol. Im going to be all messed up when I get home.
Well thats all for now kids. hopefully tomorrow I can post up some pictures of masset and my journey there.

Day 24

It's been almost a month...feels longer.
Today is going to be hell apparently...thats what everyone is saying. Big group coming up over 100 people and they've bought out the entire lodge.
Im headed into the trenches as we spreak...I will post an update this afternoon.
to be continued

Haida Gwaii day 22

Well I just woke up from an accidental nap. I went to put my laundry in the dryer and decided to wait for it...well 3 hours later here I am, just finished putting it away in my room. I had a dream I was back home actually, I was driving around Stanley Park...thats all I can remember. *yawn* gah really shouldn't have fallen asleep, the afternoon nap messes with my attempts to sleep at night...night time being 6pm lol.
My boss had asked me a few days ago if I knew anyone who would be available to work here and I had one response from a guy I used to work with at Joeys. He's been in the corporate restaurant world and his last stint was with the boathouse...he could definitely handle the pace here. But I was brutally honest with him regarding the living situation here and other things..No internet capable of gaming was a big turn off for him lol. Afterall is top 10 in Canada or is it North America for Star Craft 2 lol. Fishing held no appeal to him..as its not his thing either..ah well no worries.
WE are still on the look out for a cook to work the garde manger station (salad and cold appy station) ...fun fun.
I think I've lost some weight since I've been here...not alot but some...I can feel it. I have not done the hiking like I've planned...I'm always feeling toasted after work...but I've made my decision next week I am going to go for hikes after work...if the weather is really bad I'll just go to the gym...its basic but its not like I need all the fancy equipment. the have a treadmill...but Im pretty sure its one of those walk on only ones...it's super short..it's half the length of the one I have at home. One of the breakfast servers has already fallen off of it trying to run on it lol...I found it amusing. They have an elliptical(spelling?), universal gym weight thing, some free weights and a stationary bicycle.
LAst few nights have been very chilly...brr type of chilly. Im currently rocking the black sweat pants and staff shirt with black hoody...Ive noticed majority dress for comfort during their off time lol. So glad I bought a good pair of Merrels before I came up...my feet are thankful.
I have cuts on two of my fingers that just wont heal..they hurt and are tender..I think they're either from salmon teeth when I picked them up or from the hooks..they are tender. I can't believe I didnt bring any polysporine or something like that with me...I have lots of band-aids though.
It's raining again today, I took a 10 second video on my camera yesterday to show the weather but I dont think it does the real thing justice. I cant imagine braving the open ocean on days like that...I need to take a picture of the boats we use..honestly not much bigger than those aluminium boats for a lake...slightly wider but not much longer...takes a beating.
Well thats all for now...tired, time for some juice and tv til bed time.

Haida Gwaii day 21`

Change over day and I'm tired, not really going to post.
I was sent a package containing work shoes and a birthday card from my Grandma...makes me wish I was home.
Going to sleep

Haida Gwaii day 20

Fuck my ass what a day. 12.5 hours. My day came at a price is all i can say. New guy was not very helpful at getting prep done.
I give him a task to do and leave for 20 mins to find a recipe and I come back to find he has not completed the task and not
following my instructions. Claims I never gave him instructions. HE has no passion for his job and it shows he doesn't care
at all. I can deal with someone green but working with someone who just doesn't give a shit drives me bonkers.
On tuesday a customer requested oatmeal for wednesday morning, so I told Trevor what to do and how to make the oatmeal...yeah
he didn't know how to make oatmeal. So I find out this morning the customer sent it back and said he'd rather eat a bowl of Elmer's
glue than a bowl of his oatmeal. The server told me his oatmeal was a super think paste and yet still had uncooked oats in it.
She also told me he asked her how to cook an over easy egg. *smashes face into desk*

So last night when I saw him at dinner he said he had everything prepped blah blah..yeah not the case this morning...what a mess it
was. his pancake batter was fucked...It was like he spilled a tub of baking powder into the mix. IT puffed up hug on the flat top and
thne they deflated into this ugly bad textured pancakes. Sigh and my day started poorly too, I was setting up the induction burners for
the omelette station and as soon as I set down the burners onto the table it flipped on to its side and a stack of plates fell
and smashed all over the floor. Not cool! A guest this asked what the loud crash was early in the morning.

I pumped out breakfast on time and had the early morning omelette barrage as usual, tried to get some prep done. Had to let my quiche dough
set up in the fridge before I could roll it out so that set me behind a bit. tomorrow is the usual hamd and cheese and spinach
with shallots and chevre. I also started curing four coho salmon filets for gravlax. Im hoping it turns out ok lol.

Ok so enough of the nightmare. I went fishing yesterday with my boss and he invited along one of the office girls and this girl
who works on the tug boat. Rough seas...8 foot swells..meaning you would roll up on a wave 8 feet high. I felt like puking
but I was able to hold on. Left the dock around 1:30pm, 45 minute boat ride out to Clash rock and we start dropping our down
riggers. One running a green and silver spoon, the other a cut plug herring, within being down 5 minutes two coho on. But they
somehow cross both lines and cause a big mess. But they dont get off, we're able to pull them in by hand...the coho are fairly
small 10 pounds and under. We troll around a bit more and nothing, head further west to green point, our fishing boundry, set down
our lines and seconds after reaching our desired depth a double header. Two Chinook, the first is reeled in by one of the girls
quickly..fish is about 12-15 pounds. I get mine up to the side of the boat and then she takes off and goes for a long run.
Swims all around the boat and has me doing a big walk around. Puts up a good fight and then I finally land her. Almost 25 pounds.
We troll around some more and no action, just before we leave the rear rod gets a strike and my chef brings it in, another 20
plus pound chinook salmon. Called it a day and headed back in by 5pm. Saw a humpback breach the water on the drive home as well.
I have no pictures...it was raining and I wont ever take my camera out there again..too risky...I would likely damage my camera out there..
theres no where to store it and keep it dry..which sucks.
I broke by kone zone flasher by falling on my back pack..crunch..that was $50 well spent.
Ok I havent ate since 5:30pm last night and Im staring...Raisin Bran here I come! woo woo!!!

Haida Gwaii day 19
Well it's another day here but today I have the day off. hooray.
So after 18 days straight I now have a day off. So what is the plan for today? Well it looks like its going to be a lazy day today, there was the possibilty of fishing but
my ride out to the ocean is no where to be found. It's all good, it's raining pretty good and the harbour looks wavey...which means the open ocean will be at least double
the size in waves. I don't want to feed the fishes with my breakfast again.
So I have put my unfiforms into the laundry and had breakfast, honey nut cheerios to be exact. It appears Im having a package sent up to me in the next week or so. Insoles and
sleep aids or something like that. Really looking forward to those insoles lol, those darn birkies kill my feet.
I have my fingers crossed that I have prep set up for me when I go in tomorrow morning, really dont want to start from scratch all over lol.
Trying to decide what kind of quiche to make for this friday...hmm hmm hmm. I even pulled out my copy of Le Repertoire de la Cuisine to check out some classics...although
there is no quiche section there is eggs and the omelette garnishes are relatively the same.
Because I had today off I took a long afternoon nap yesterday and went to T&A's, the staff bar, and had a couple beers. I really needed a drink last friday but yesterday was
just as good. OK springs pale ale and some other howe sound beer was on tap, no bottles or cans which sucks as draught gives me a headache. So two beers were enough for
me, felt bloated lol.
Not many people at the bar last night either which was great lol, too many people make a grumpy zack. Was able to chat with some of the old timers of the lodge, was good.
I made it out of there before the servers made their way over...the stupid girls...annoying as hell. Was going to watch a movie but I was too tired, I was in bed by 2am at the latest.
IF there is no one to fish with by noonish I'll accept I wont be going lol...maybe on my next day off, altho I am considering doing a day trip to Masset. Yes we can go to
trips into Masset for the day..how exciting. I can use my cell there too lol, You shall all be texted to death...whenever I end up there lol.
My only reason to go into Masset is to try and fine a small fan for my room, to sit on the alarm clock ledge next to my head...it's a hot box in there I tell you!
I know for sure there's a home hardware and a fields....exciting.
Kind of nice to be up in the morning and not in the kitchen...it's nice and quiet. I might watch some tv today lol...maybe watch a movie on my lap top.
I've decided to aim to get my haircut around my birthday..thats about halfway into the season. The cost is $28 with hst included...plus I should probably tip the girl who
does it. I could go for a hair cut now honestly..it's already grown quite a bit...damn freak hair of mine.
NO frog orgy outside my room this morning...maybe they're tired. Instead the sounds of a half dozen ravens cawing over who knows woke me this morning.
Well my mind is going fuzzy so Im going to leave it here for now. We're looking for another cook and I've contacted some people to see if they're interested in coming up
to work for the rest of the summer. we shall see.
Til Next time

Haida Gwaii day 18?

I always put the question mark because Im not really sure what day it is lol.
I have just woken up from a 6 hour nap..I finally get a day off tomorrow but was dead tired after work and passed out.
I stepped on my co worker this morning climbing down from my bunk...he has decided he wants to sleep on the floor now apparently. I also learned he's 18...no wonder he acts childish. Meeting someone born in the 90's is depressing...reminds you how old you are lol.
One of the guides said they were just slaying fish out there today...really hope I can find someone to get on the water with tomorrow....would be nice.
My fear of the new guy not being able to handle tomorrows breakfast alone has caused me to prep everything for him...literally everything is done. All he has to do is cook and put it outside on time. Fingers crossed.
He had a rough day doing the baking today....I can understand as I wouldnt be able to do the baking myself...altho I could have done a bit of it like the scones and muffins. He just overworked the dough a bit too much and it came out like bread instead of a nice soft scone. Still only his first week, fingers crossed he stays....a day off per week is most desirable.
The frog orgy took full swing this afternoon as I tried to nap...croak croak and then an explosion of croaks. Apparently these are like little tiny frogs making all this noise too...I want to catch them and make them my minions of the night....HAHAHA.
*cough*
I've been feeling really gassy up here..I'm not sure if its all the salad I've been eating or what. I never eat salad more than twice a week at home and now I have it everyday for dinner and lunch...is this normal? Im serious lol.
Took another photo of a deer today with fuzzy horns...I still want to tackle them.
Since I am up I'm seeing people I havent seen since the first day here, I dont know them but I mean I recognize them etc..
Sending an email off to my boos back home to see if I can get time off for a trip. fingers crossed.
gah ok I should eat dinner before they wrap it all up for the night.
til tomorrow

Haida Gwaii day 16

Ok so no real post today as I am tired and the brain is barely working. While waiting for the laundry machine to free up yesterday I decided to lie down and rest....well I passed out until 4:30pm. I couldnt fall asleep that evening until sometime after 8:30pm.
Was able to do my laundry today instead...the last 3 hours have been a blast waiting for the clothes to wash and dry.


Oh I just saw a large black bear not even 15 minutes ago about 40 feet from my ghetto building...didn't have my camera on me so sorry no photos today. Maybe next time.

til next time

Haida Gwaii day 15
Oh wonderful day of this place of smelliness. They fixed the poop pump for now..but when the sun hits it it smells...so happy its only a few yeards from my door.
Busy day today with change over and all. COmpletely wiped for prep this morning, worked like a mad man to get it done.

Our new cook started today...comes off with being the dull knife in the drawer kind of person. You ask him a question and he doesn't have much of a response for it.
We asked if he was cooking before he came up, he answers "uh no I've been doing studies and I took a break, I haven't worked for about 6 months". Hmm ok...So did
you cook before that 6 months? His reply" Um I have cooked before" K... so where did you cook? "Uh in Calgary". That was the end of the conversation. It did not
leave me with a confident feeling. Less than 5 hours in he was complaining he has too work too hard...he was making sandwiches this morning and wrapping them down at
the dock for guests. Sandwiches are too tough for you? Damn dude I will take that job and laugh all day about it. Interesting to see how he does when he has to do a day
covering me, the cook shack and baking. I can see it being a bad day going in after him covering. BUT it is his first day and must give him the benefit of a doubt.
Perhaps he is rusty and will break out into super stardom...fingers crossed he does.
Apparently tomorrow he will be checking out what the baker does and then he will do the omelette and waffle station. Sweet...I can do prep and lots of it..huzzah!
Perhaps this mondays changed over will go smoothly for once...fingers crossed it does.

Oh I ripped a large hole in the side of my chef pants...caught myself on a loose screw and RRRRIP...so now I have one pair of pants to work in...fun.
IF anyone wants to send me some black chef pants feel free too lol.
Well thats all for today
til next time

oh those pics are my room mates leavings..couldnt get the photo of his giant pile of clothes to upload, will try later

QCL day 14

haida gwaii day 14...2 weeks
The hours in the day go by fast but it feels like you've been here for months. It's really weird..the day honestly just flies by but it feels like I've been here for at least a month now. I am officially here until August 31st at this point in time...if they can sell another fully booked trip til the labour day weekend then they may ask me to stay. But Im thinking of saying I need to head back before then due to work, we'll have to see how it goes.

Today was a rough one, everything was prepped and good to go...but last moment I somehow fucked my hollandaise and caused it to split. In the end after both the chef and hospitality manager played with it it was still fucked...more so actually lol.I was able to make it kind of work...was not happy with it though...wont happen again this monday I promise. I'm currently drinking tea to wake me up a bit....would like to be more awake for now..sleep will come soon enough. So it was hectic this morning..everything got out there but it was a frenzy for sure. I have nothing for tomorrow but thats ok I'll just have to be superman once again...a frantic life I live here.

So, the replacement cook arrived today...some guy named Trevor...he looks unsure but fingers crossed he stays for the season. So this means I could have a day off this coming week!yay! Day off to sleep...hopefully fish without puking over the side of the boat as well...I'll take gravol next time. We'll see...sleep sounds pretty good right now to be honest lol. He starts tomorrow morning with the sandwich girl to show him whats up...and then he needs to see how to do the baking..which sucks for him as he is not a baker...I couldn't do the bakers job.

I potentially will have tuesday off...oh please grant me that day off..14 in a row and I am feeling like ass. Just one day to rest my back and feet is all I ask. It's kinda sunny today for once...I guess it cant rain everyday...but usually there are constant periods of overcast cloud. So in celebration of the sun I am wearing shorts woohoo how fancy. There was a little deer hiding underneath the stairs at my mansion..tried to take a photo with my iphone but it was kinda dark...we'll see if it shows up. Im not sure what kind of deer these are but they're pretty runty...maybe they're just young...alot of them have small furry antlers..so just growing in for the summer now I guess...or do they always have antlers? Hmm I dont know...lets take up hunting this year.

Short post today...nothing much going on...waiting for a second load of laundry to dry and airing out the dank pit of hell known as my room. I enjoy smelling my room mates sweaty work out clothes..musky...I should really take a picture for you eager readers. Ok time to watch some venture bros. Go Team Venture! Yes I am slowly losing my sanity...if I ever possessed it in the first place
huzzah!

Haida Gwaii day 13

What a day today. Day two of no dish washer. Yesterday my dish was covering the night shift and today was his day off. So that made things alot of fun, running around looking after the buffet, making omelettes and waffles and washing dishes inbetween. Was running behind in my prep for change over so I worked until 1:30pm today...a good 11.5 hour shift. Needless to say I am feeling tired today. We were down a server today as well, she had some sort of reaction and her face has swollen up and can barely open eyes. She was taken by boat to the Massett hospital and is staying over night apparently according to her sister. For the third night in a row the same group of guys were in the bar to the bitter end, the bar tender made his last drop off of glasses at 3:30am...chances are they'll be there again tonight for one last go.
I may go in for 1am tonight and try and bang things out earlier...I am feeling paranoid about the change over.
I still have to do two platters of smoked salmon, a cheese platter and poach a million eggs. Hopefully my chef will have a chance to finish up my quiches tonight. I have blind baked my pastry shells and prepped my royale mixture, 1 yolk per 100mls of heavy cream. So all he has to do is prep some filling like ham and cheese or spinach and shallots and pop them in a low oven. Fingers crossed its all good when I go in tomorrow morning. New cook arrives tomorrow, fingers crossed they are capable and don't quit within the first week. I would like a day off afterall.
Thanks to working late I missed lunch....so I had some toast..mm toast. Feet are sore today, my insoles didnt last two weeks here, hoping my sister can send some up for me via the QCL head office in Richmond. Part of me wants to tackle a deer on the lawn...we should kill Bambi and serve it to the guests :)
Oh and I live in frog central, all day and night all I hear are frogs croaking. Sometimes they crank it right up...perhaps a frog orgy? I've no idea.
I'm currently listening to the new foo fighters album..stoked to see them in October..always put on a good live show. Yes I realize reading this is challenging, I ramble as I blog...I tend to forget my point and put in features as I think of them.
MY living situation constantly stinks of poop outside, the pump for our plumbing is broken so whenever someone fushes it pours out the top instead of pumping itself to the septic tank...lucky me.
OH! It's light out here until almost 11pm..wtf! I only know this because I woke up around 10:30ish due to noise outside. So gets dark around 11 and sun comes up around 4ish...woo.Been watching episodes of East Bound and Down season 1 on my lappy...forgot I downloaded it..lol funny.
err My mind has begun to fail me...I'll update again tomorrow

pics are of my other half of my mansion, the tv room, the shit pump and the boat dock

Haida Gwaii day 12?

So whats new today? Well getting breakfast out this morning was no problem..had everything prepped. My plan for today was to get ahead for fridays change over by getting a bunch of prep finished. Unfortunately my day did not go that way. Today is the night time dishwashers day off, so my daytime dish washer is working tonight. Myself and the baker were washing dishes, pots, etc...that slowed things down. Was left some duties by the night crew to finish up for them so they took up some more of my time...roasting off beef for sandwiches, trimming duck legs for confit, caramelizing onions and a few other pesky tasks. I was able to turn a case of yukon gold potatoes into hashbrowns before the morning rush came through. 5am come and a massive swarm of guests arrive to mow down the buffet and harrass me into making them omelettes and waffles.damn them all. 6am they have made their way through destroying my buffet and off I go into the kitchen to replenish the supply. From this time on it's difficult to get prep done, you start a task and then find yourself being called into the dining room to make and omelette or waffle for a guest. Big fake smile and over polite greetings for everyone. Back into the kitchen *grumble grumble* start new task, wash dishes, stretch out your back that's starting to tingle with pain. I'm finally able to break down the buffet at 8:30am, put away the induction burners and waffle iron, clear down the left over food and clean the line. Im able to prep my fruit platters for tomorrow, I start to wrap my omelette garnish mise and as I'm turning I knock it off my work table onto the floor. A confetti of peppers, ham, onion, mushrooms,tomatoes and so on covering the floor. LAst straw, I'm dead tired and decide to take a much deserved break after I clean the mess up off the floor. This being my first break so far...I've been working 10+ hour days without any form of a break for the past 12 days. The chef says to take breaks when I can but for the most part all I have in the kitchen is my dishwasher and the baker. Neither are trained cooks, I can't expect them to cook while I go sit down...so I just work. I prefer to just get it done and be left alone, I find I work best that way. I believe in team work as a line brigade, but I am a one man breakfast team...leave me alone and
let me do my thing....it would be a big help to have someone working along with me but this is how it is. Super zack, pumping out breakfast to feed hung over rich ass fishermen. Speaking of hung over, I learnt today that alcohol is not included in the trip pricing. This place is more expenisve than I thought...3 day trips start at $4100. Apparently there is a friend and family price, but you dont get to choose the days. If a trip is not fully booked they will sell the empty spot at a cheap price..cheap being around $1000..which is cheap compared to $4000. Still an expensive price for 3 days..maybe its the same price for the 4 day trips. Trips run friday to monday and monday to friday, threes and fours.

So what else is new? Well as I was walking back to my room after my shift I saw a float plane take off from our dock. Then my next door neighbour tells me he no longer has a roommate. His roommate, the staff bartender, was fired this morning after apparently getting very drunk the previous night and violent with a girl who shot him down. Thats all I know..either way it was bad enough for him to be fired and shipped out this afternoon. HAHA no staff bar until further notice.
My boss asked me if I wanted his boat reservation to take out another staff member this afternoon...but I still havent taken my boat licence exam. d'oh! I will once I have a chance to get familiar with the study guide. Would really like to catch a fish up here..but I have an entire summer to do that. I'm still trying to get used to sleeping by 6pm and waking up at 12:30am. Typing up this blog post is effort to be honest, my eyes feel heavy beyond belief until I lay down in bed of course and then Im wide awake.
Time to upload this from my flas drive onto my blog

Ok here are some pictures..hopefully it works
ok Only a few this time..as that took about 10 minutes to upload...Im working of an old IBM pc...joy...would be nice if my new lap top would work with the ancient router that have for us to use
that was my room, my building, my bunk and our resident deer

Haida Gwaii day 11

today has been a long day. due to a very busy change over day i was completely wiped out for prep.we use very few convenience products here so its all from scratch.
first thing at 1:45am im in the kitchen cutting potatoes into hashbrowns, making berry compote, mixing pancake/waffle batters, traying bacon and sausage, peeling and
slicing fruit for platters, omellete mise en place and a handful of other things. The baker is in at 12am slaving away each producing bread for the entire resort and
staff from scratch. We're talking loaves for sandwiches, baguettes, foccacia, cinnamon buns, humburger and hot dog buns, as well as any other speciality breads asked of him. He's kind of odd..but when you've spent your life baking throughout the night you'll probably be a bit of an odd ball.
This group right now likes to be on the water early, the bulk of them coming in shortly after 5am. i'm able to break down the buffet just after 8am and then do prep.
This most recent change over day went smoothly, I was prepped well ahead of time and everything went out on time. By the end of this summer I'll be able to make
quiche with my eyes closed and hands tied behind my back. So Im trying to keep ahead of the prep for the rest of the week, assuming this group finished breakfast early
again tomorrow I can make a massive batch of pate brisse. Ideally bake off my quiches and poach my eggs on thursday for the friday morning service...looking at about 260 eggs to poach off. tons of fun.
So new news, apparently there is a new tournant cook arriving this friday..some random person. What does this mean for me, days off before july! hopefully.
Originally they were asking someone who worked here last year to come up...well they dont wish to return..so now we have a new hire coming up. Hopefully they dont quit
after 2 days like our last tournant.
The tournant covers my day off, the bakers, staff cook and sandwich maker. hopefully they can help do some actual prep in the am with me. apparently last year the sandwich maker took care of the omelette and waffle station. but not this year...it would help immensely if they did. With someone out there I could do my prep and really be on top of things instead of running around like and idiot each morning.
I can see why some people like doing this each year. the scenery is beautiful and Im sure there is a nice socializing aspect at night, which I dont participate in because of my hours, I sleep at 5pm and wake up at 12:30 am for work. I think the promise of fishing is a lure to people as I cant see myself doing anywhere near to as much as I thought I would be able to. Maybe if I didnt work this graveyard type shifts I would be enjoying myself more.
The guy with the best and easiest job here is staff bartender. he works his own hours basically, opens the bar at 6:30pm and runs it til 2 or 3am and chills out. He doesnt have to worry about pleasing any guests or anything, he just has to serve booze to staff..its a slack job and he finds it hilarious.
Being a dock hadn wouldnt be so bad..theres lots to do, they clean and pack fish, clean boats, repair equipment..but they get left alone..straight forward. I think as per usual being a cook is one of the hardest jobs. Mind you the majority of the people coming here just have lots of cash and no palete. Some just get shit faced as its all inclusive.
I`ve been having my head nodding as I write this...feeling tired lol.
Apparently some canadian bilionaire holds a share in this place...something Maddix is his name. I dont know.
I cant type anymore...time to watch some tv..stupid satellite tv

Haida Gwaii Day 10?

HMM only 10 days, feels like its been weeks. The day goes by very fast but the sense of time spent here feels very long.
It's change over day...guests are leaving and new ones are arriving. Time to feed the lot...damn you eggs benny! What must I do this morning? poach over 240 eggs...make a cheese plate and smoked salmon platter. Im sure there must be more but for the immediate future that is what I need to do first. gah gah gah
Horrible sleep last night...the roommate was doing some sort of stretches in the room pulling on the bed, running in and out. was a rough sleep.
But its monday so today will be phone call day for me as well...I may be calling you people...well dad sister tatty lol
It would be nice to have a satellite cell phone right about now lol
Grr I got to the computer a bit late and have to cut this post short.
time for work
to be continued

Haida Gwaii day 9?

It is cold this morning.
Our sunshine yesterday lasted only a few hours and soon turned to rain....it doesnt pour here but light showers to rain.
Lots of frogs here...you can hear them all day and night. I forgot to mention our pet deer. Not really our pets but everyday you will find multiple deer chilling on the grass eating the lawn. They are not scared of the people at all, you can almost walk right up to them.
I can hear the drunk people outside coming back from the staff bar..I think some people must spend alot of what they earn in there...kinda pointless if you ask me.
Apparently it's $3.50 a beer...but Im pretty sure they only have 2 kinds to choose from on draught, no bottles/cans.
This new group of people pund back the food. Was running out yesterday morning...very glad there was someone in the kitchen to help run out new food as I was making 20 omelettes outside on the action station. Apparently the first night, welcome bbq buffet, the just tore through and the night crew was running out of food as well.
Today should be ok....need to bulk up my change over menu for these people. I can see them eating alot more than 2 eggs benny each.
yawn...off to work I go

Day 7? I think

So it's been exactly one week here at QCL and it feels like its been a month. I've had 4 other staff say to me "can you believe its only been a week? it feels like we've been here forever!" I know the feeling. And unfortunately with our chef tournant quitting on the second day I wont be receiving a day off anytime soon. More money but I'd rather have the day off to relax and allow my sore body to mend. I'd like to go fishing again but I have the fear of getting sea sick again....it's embarassing too.
Today was a rough one. I thought I was more prepared for this change over than the previous and I still found myself running around with my head cut off. The boss said "you're behind the 8-ball today aren't you bud" That bothers me alot. I feel like I'm doing a shitty job and not performing to the best of my ability. I actually can get very frustrated and angry in the kitchen, especially if things are not going my way. It's also a little frustrating to hear that last year during breakfast they had at least one more cooking working at the same time. Gah now it's the zack show all alone all the time.
Oh and it's day 7 of rain in a row as well lol. Im glad a packed warm clothing.
I definitely over packed...we have to wear staff clothing everywhere so really there is no need to have personal clothing other than to sleep in lol. Im rocking sweat pants a hoody and my QCL staff shirt lol....it's a reddish colour.
I washed my whites today...listened to my ipod as my clothes washed and dried. Brought my book, "How I learned to Cook", to the TV room with me with the intention of reading but instead watched tv...Gold Medal Plates on the Travel channel, featured the 2009 edition which was at the westin bayshore...was kind of entertaining actually.
Well sounds like dinner is served...thats all for today

Haida Gwaii day 6?

Hello it's day 6
Feeling tired after my 2 naps yesterday so I could watch the Canucks play for the cup which they lost. Sucks...but that's how it goes sometimes. I wonder if the city blew up into a riot afterwards ala 1994? Hope not..its a game.
Was informed yesterday that I won't be having a day off anytime soon due to a relief cook quitting on his second day. not cool...apparently there is someone coming to replace them at the beginning of july. Fingers crossed that person comes, I dont thnk I could do 3 months solid in a row.
Today will be a busy day, prep wise more so. Friday is a change over day, new guests arrive and old ones depart. Special menus for both and would like to do alot of the prep today. Doing stuff the day of is not my style and not what I was taught...better to be ahead a day. I'm hoping all goes to plan, we shall see.

There are not many mosquitoes here but instead these tiny tiny bugs called nociums...I think thats it...sounds like "no see'ems" hard to see but they bite and are itchy! my right hand has 8 bites right now.
I'm still having trouble sleeping..waking up every hour or so...very restless.
I definitely miss my bed, as uncomfortable my mattress was it's way better than my current.
As soon as my sleeping pattern works it self out I'll get on my hiking program..but fo now Im just too tired.
Missing everyone at home and working very hard here.
til tomorrow

Haida Gwaii day 4..well 5 technically

Today is shift number 4. It's not raining this morning for once.
Feeling very sleepy after staying up to watch that hockey game, boourns no stanley cup yet. Fingers crossed for wedsnesday....another tiring night I guess lol.
HAd a very restless sleep last night, lots of people making noise nearby.
MY lap top issues continue with the whole "default gateway not available" thing. it's the old router causing me issues and if you google that message it also appears to be a windows 7 issue...and its solutions involve downloading things...but I cant download when I cant get online :( Feeling lost with this situation. One of the managers here said he'd see what he can do for me..perhaps today if I see him. He'll be able to plug it into his connection in his room. Yes the managers all have internet and tv in their rooms...grr.
Still feeling down from time to time...but hopefully that will pass.
Yesterday was a frantic and busy today..I expect the same for today...we shall see.
off to work I go

Haida Gwaii day 2

So it's 1am, day 2 of my summer work camp experience. I'm still getting my legs at the new job. Yesterday was a rough day, new job and no one for support on the first day. I think I did more running around looking for things than cooking...so it wasnt very successful. The people were fed but it could have been alot smoother. I was able to get a good chunk of prep done yesterday so today should run smoother. Fingers crossed. I am dead tired though, Having a hard time getting proper sleep...not a fan of sleeping on the top bunk or my lumpy "mattress", definitely should have brought my own sheets.
I would really like to watch the game tonight but I need my sleep, this is going to be a tough one. It's sunday as well so I hope to make it phone call day too.
k, off to work I go
I miss everyone back home

Queen Charlotte Lodge

Well it's around 1am saturday morning and Im sitting in the "computer room" using an outdated ibm PC, I will bring my lap top with me next time and plug into the modem.
Today is my first actual day of work, starting at 2am and working until 2pm as far as I know. I haven't decided if I will go to sleep in the afternoon and wake up in the evening or if I will stay up all afternoon and sleep from 5pm on.
It's going to be a tough job, unloading the food orders yesterday was an event, lugging cases and cases of food up a flight of stairs by hand...ow my back. Not sure how many deliveries per week we get...I can't imagine it could be too many due to the costs.
Maybe later today I can post pics of my room...a small closet with a bunk bed, I'm stuck with the top bunk.
It is beautiful here, out in the wilderness and all, but it is wet right now.
With all these happenings Im sure I'm going to shed a few pounds, which is a good thing imo. Not sure where these hiking trails are they spoke of...I'll have to explore.
They issued us 2 staff shirts one short sleeve one long sleeve, a qcl hat and a qcl north face jacket. We are supposed to wear QCL branded clothing in front of guests at all times. So if we want to go fish we have to pass the guest housing and have to wear the QCL clothing...why bring all my rain gear then? grr we shall see. I totally could have brought one change of clothes. Oh we do not get to keep jacket btw.
Well just a short post for now, off to work and to organize my stuff.
I miss Tatty and want a hug.
I'm not sure when my day off will be...but that will be phone call day to people
check back soon