Hillbillies

For the past week, the NK dogs and I have been giving tours at the Juneau branch of Alaska Excursions on Douglas Island. Running on solid ground has definitely rejuvenated the dogs, and their energy is infectious; however, I think we’re all ready to wrap up the season. During the tours, sixteen dogs pull a cart twice around a ½ mile loop. Since dog camp is located in the thick rainforest of Tongass National Park, the guests don’t seem to realize that we repeat the same loop, but the dogs sure do. Within one tour slot, we can cycle as many as 48 guests through the many demonstrations and stations involved in the tour. The tour often bears a strange resemblance to herding cattle.

Currently, I’m living right in dog camp in a little four-wall canvas tent complete with a small, square-bellied wood stove. The tent is imprinted with a smell of must and wet harness (it was used to dry harnesses before I moved in). Though it is outfitted with a wooden floor and base siding, the tent still mysteriously leaks from some unknown crack and all my gear needs to be in totes or lifted off the ground. A broken green bucket, bicycle helmet, lines of black pipe, and a fire pit filled with nails, cans, and beer bottles are littered in my front “lawn”. Combine that with the crooked stove pipe and missing porch tarp and even hillbillies would be embarrassed to call my little tent their home. What I can say for the little structure is that it sure does heat up when I get the stove going. And, I am proud to have made the place somewhat comfortable with a small carpet, table, real bed, and makeshift dresser. Living the dream. It’s a good thing I love dogs and the outdoors.

Yesterday, I explained my living situation to my dad, and he came up with a great idea to make my next million. A TLC special series: Life Swap. My cousin, Catie, is currently living a successful life in Mountain Brook, Alabama working as the recruiting coordinator for a law firm. Now imagine, Catie living in my humble abode, scooping dog poop, and wearing the same pair of Carhartts for days at time. Perhaps even better, imagine me living in the South, showering once a day, entertaining business folk, and dressing….dare I say…stylishly? And I must note, I only brought two sets of street clothes with me to Alaska, a point most of my friends noticed surprisingly quickly and find incredibly funny. Anyway, if anyone knows a producer, shoot this idea by them. Catie doesn’t know it yet, but we’re going to be stars.

Ok, back to real life. Last Friday, my good friend Chrissy arranged for John, Brian, and me to board the Sea Princess cruise ship and watch Libby Riddles Iditarod performance. Libby Riddles is the first woman to have won the Iditarod in 1985, and she now makes her money giving talks on Princess cruise ships and selling her books. One of the most popular is the children book, Danger the Dog Yard Cat. Before we watched her performance, we were treated to the all you can eat buffet, which I must say was a highlight. It was German night, so meat and schnitzels filled every station. DE-lish. After my third round of desserts, we somehow managed to navigate through the layers and corridors of the ship to the lecture hall. Libby did a phenomenal job and was incredibly inspirational. I have to watch myself or I’ll end up buying a kennel and signing over my life to dog sledding.