Life in the cove is hard, no doubt about it. This past week I've been working 16 hour days, way too many hours, and admit I'm tired. Sometimes it is worth it, and sometimes it isn't. Our housekeeper quit so I'm picking up the slack. More hours but no raise in pay....sigh!
Along with the extreme hours, there is an element of isolation, boredom and alone-ness. Elfin Cove is a tiny hamlet with not much to do. Most people here drink mass amounts of alcohol as a way to get by. unfortunately, that isn't for me. So how do I pass what little time I have to myself?
Mostly, I collapse after a very long work day. Sometimes I take a walk back to the waterfalls, but most often, I crawl into bed and read. My Netflix account is back up and running, so I'm getting a few videos a week, but there is no television, or much else to do.
I'm the only woman working with about 10 guys. I sort of feel like "Henny Penny" for those of you old enough to remember that story. It is about a chicken who wants to bake some bread, but first she has to plant the wheat, then water it, then harvest it, then grind it, then make the bread. She continuously asks for help from the other farm animals, but they all have excuses as to why they can't help Henny Penny make her bread. However, once the bread is baked and comes out of the oven, all the animals line up to eat a piece of fresh baked yummy-ness. Naturally, Henny Penny did all the work, but everyone wanted to partake in the prize.
It is kind of like that here....I cook all the meals single handedly, often set the table, clear the table, do the dishes (okay, in all fairness, my boss helps with dishes most of the time), I make and set-up all the Happy Hour food, serve the meals, clean up, vacuum the lodge, mop the floors, bake the bread, make the desserts, do the laundry, empty the trash, run to the store, go to the post office, etc. You get the picture, and yet all the guys show up every night to be fed. It has become a "Henny Penny" syndrome.
I don't get much help. I'm tired, cranky, and am being taken advantage of, so I won't go on...the negativity is getting me down.
On the upside...I'm heading into Juneau for a few days and have a break for almost a week. By mid July we are non-stop until the first week of September...no days off for over a month. Something to look forward to!
I promise to be more positive next time.
Bon Voyage and Bon Appetit!
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