walk around

The house I'm living in until December.

View of downtown from the library.

My neighbor's house.

Another view from the library.

Sarah's old place.

Write Now

S T A M P

HOLTKAMP

read about the candidates

and write in

"a-l-l-i-s-o-n h-o-l-t-k-a-m-p"

on October 6th

note:

I don't think I will win this time,

but I'm certainly geared up for the next election!

Speakeasy

Remember when I mentioned that the Madams of the Red Onion were performing, and I was a bit worried it wouldn't be very good? Well, I was so wrong. The show featuring songs from the 20s and 30s was a huge success. Already planning next year's UFO show from the 1940s. I am so lucky to be surrounded by gorgeous and talented women.

d'you know?

Juneau living is glorious. Perseverance Theatre set me up in a little apartment by downtown. I share the place with my dear friend, Margeaux, who is also in the play with me. We live high up on a hill on the corner of a narrow street and "city stairs." The stairs are considered a city street, but the terrain is too steep and treacherous to build an actual road.

Rehearsals for Leading Ladies are exactly what I needed and the play is going to be more funny that I could have even imagined. I can't wait for more rehearsals.

onwards

The last ship of the 2009 season left Skagway last night at 9pm. It is a tradition to go down to the dock and "moon the last ship." Not everyone actually moons the ship, but everyone screams and chases the ship all the way to the end of the pier waving and flailing.

The cruisers love it too! They sang "Na na na, hey hey hey-Goodbye" and chanted "Skagway! Skagway." We were all smiles.

And now it is time to pack for Juneau. I'm planning on coming back home to Skagway at least once a week. I think I'm just going to pack all my comfy warm clothes and ALL my knitting and yarn. I wish sometimes that I could have more time to relax in this little town, but I'm excited to experience "the big city."

Better get to packing...

now scoot

Just a few of the many I will miss when the season officially ends...tomorrow.

no ships days

and breathe out...awwww.
Such a glorious couple of days, and even one more to go! We had no ships in town yesterday, which meant no work for anyone no way no how. I slept most of the day. I woke up. Ate. Then took a nap. Then made cookies.
I woke up early this morning and went on an old fashioned Skagway touristy type adventure. Seventeen of my friends and I took over a train car, and headed up to Fraser. Fraser is the spot on the map where you will find Canadian customs.

We hopped off the train, and into kayaks for us to paddle around beautiful Lake Bernard.

Now here's where it gets interesting...
I get into my little two man kayak with my good friend, Matty. Everyone around me is stoked, and can't wait to get into the water. I ON THE OTHER HAND FREAK OUT. Yeah. I had a bit of an anxiety attack, and only made it out a bit in the water before I demanded we turn around. SO I spent an hour and a half waiting for the group to get back. But I had a good time. I looked a people magazine and drank apple cider in the sun. I got a gnarly sun burn on my face, and when the group returned, no one made me feel bad about my fears.

We rolled out of Fraser after the paddle, and up to the Yukon Suspension Bridge. They hosted an amazing BBQ for us, and I felt like a lucky lucky girl surrounded by friends and nature.

Still exhaling an relaxing...
Tomorrow we have even another day with no ships. It is our year end employee party, and I will be spending the day reminiscing and thinking of fun games to play at the party honoring my amazing coworkers.
Monday brings a ship.
Tuesday brings two.
Thursday brings three.
AND THEN WE ARE THROUGH!!!

Sigh of relief.

Two Weeks

The last ship of the 2009 season will be sailing out of town in just under two weeks, and I don't know if I'm ready to be done.

This season has flown by, and I am going to miss the glorious sunshine and perfect friends. People are already starting to leave town, and the girls and I are putting the finishing touches on a 1920s musical revue performance for next Wednesday. It's tricky putting up a full show while working nearly ten hours a day, but we all seem up for the challenge. Harmonies may be shaky, but it's the effort that counts.

Just days after we perform, we close up the Red Onion-and most people scatter for the winter. I, on the other hand, have chosen to stay. I'm slowly moving into my lil cabin in town, and I'm in love with my new pink kitchenaid mixer, thrift store plates, and full size fridge. Not to mention the huge bathroom and washer & dryer. Oh, and Oscar loves it too.

I am still persuing my write-in campaign for city assembly, but hit a bit of a snag when I got cast in a play at Perseverance Theatre in Juneau. I leave for Juneau just two weeks from tomorrow, and I am over the moon. It's been four years since I've been in a real play. I'll be playing "Meg" in Leading Ladies. I'll be in Juneau during the week and Skagway on the weekends. The show runs from November 6-December 6 (so book your plane tickets now, as I've heard Alaska is just gorgeous in early winter. hehe).

Yeah, so I'll be in Juneau for the municipal election on October 6th, but hey, I'm not going to give up. Write in HOLTKAMP for City Assembly.

Here's to an awesome last two weeks. Sleep is so soon...

Declaration

Vote for ME!

I am running a write-in campaign for the 3-year Skagway Borough Assembly seat (which is pretty much the same as the City Council).

Yep. You heard me correctly.

I am sticking up for the small business owner and Skagway's beautiful environment.

Giving our little town a fresh persepective.

So, STAMP HOLTKAMP on October 6th.

My Best Friend's Wedding

Nine days away from Skagway, and I am feeling truly refreshed. I visited the fam in Utah for two days, and I haven't felt that happy in a long time. From the moment I arrived I was swimming in family joy. Taking just two days to visit, can really make one feel like a STAR. All my loves were around me the whole time. I could do whatever I wanted, and my family kept me company the whole time. I cheered Gravy and Jen at the finish line as they completed a half marathon side by side. I cuddled and giggled with my nephew, Will, while he happily forked a pancake with a face on it. I mentioned to my mom that we see a double feature at the movie theatre (as spending an afternoon at the movies is one of my most favorite things to do in the whole world!), and I was so pleasantly surprised to find that it was to be a family event! It was true bliss to sit with the fam through 500 days of Summer and Julie & Julia. Long chats on the couch while watching the babes run around was priceless, and listening to Uncle Jim's lighthearted hostility made my heart burst. I was sad to leave.

I left the family party for the Meredith party. I left Utah for Orange County, California. For six days I supported and soothed my best friend as she planned her wedding. The days were filled with freeways, pedicures, tears, sunshine, in-laws, and extreme details. I was her maid of honor-which simply involves keeping the bride calm in every way possible. It could have been horribly stressful, but luckily at the end was a beautiful wedding and some wonderful new friends.

[the bachelorette party]

[the official wedding moment]

[the groom]

[the bridesmaids]

[handmade cake toppers]

[the schmidts]

Congratulations, my Meredith.

You and Aaron are absolutely perfect.

Eat it Up

Oscar loves Alaska.

Where the Heart Is

I'm in love with Alaska again. Even with ex-boyfriends, inconveniences, and expensive lifestyle-I still find it irresistible. So . . . . . .

I'm staying here this winter.

Tehehe.

I'm pretty sure I'll be in Juneau, but I have been fantasizing about nesting in a quaint little home of my own, and wondering if that home is here in Skagway. Wish me luck and happy home hunting-

like some place with washer and dryer, and a fenced in yard. mmmmmmmmm. feels good to dream.

My summer in Skagway has been especially dreamy. Dreamy because the weather has been endlessly gorgeous. Dreamy because the staff at the Red Onion is pretty much perfect-not one loon in the bunch. Dreamy because I am loving my job more and more, and I am so happy I decided to stick with it. Dreamy because the season is officially half over, and I can start imagining sunny long vacations and free time. And dreamy because some crazy stuff has already gone down in this crazy silly town.

Just about a month ago, we had a group of 25 Santas visit Skagway, and they showed up to the Red Onion with their wives for a private tour of the Brothel Museum. We kept yelling "Merry Christmas" and the bar sang "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." We even made the front page of the Skagway News. It was a truly hilarious hour with the St. Nicks, but we are faced with some weirdos everyday, and the Santas almost blended into the daily grind. UNTIL we discovered that some people weren't very happy about Santa visiting a building that was once a brothel.
My proudest moment this summer (which also made the front page of the paper, but has yet to get posted online), was the Red Onion float in the 4th of July Parade. The theme of the parade was "Fifty and Fabulous" in honor of Alaska becoming a state 50 years ago. One of my madams, Johanna, had the brilliant idea to have Marilyn Monroe jump out of a cake dedicated to Alaska. All the madams would flank the cake, dressed in little poodle skirts. The twist is that Marilyn Monroe would be Marilyn MANroe, and boy oh boy-this boy made a fabulous Marilyn.
Do I even need to mention that we one the grand prize? Well, we did.

Nap Then Bed

I am oddly inspired to update my blog after a glorious five hour nap after a ten our day at The Red Onion. Although I still feel pitifully exhausted, it's that exhaustion that I crave every year. I love the feeling of a long hard day at work, and then sleeping like I've never slept in my life. So with my odd inspiration and laziness when it comes to focusing on transitions while I write, I will do the ever popular bulleted blog.

~The season has been running for a couple of weeks now, and tomorrow we have our first four ship day. I am so glad it's going to pick up this week.

~The girls at work are, as always, rock stars. They make me look so good. I worry sometimes that they are too good, and I will be put out of a job. They anticipate my every move, offer to help wherever they can, and make my days off feel like I'm a hundred miles away. Plus, they are my best friends up here.

~I hesitate to mention the weather, but it has been incredible. I know it is still very early on, and there are still over four months left, but we deserve this sunshine. Everyone is giddy, and grateful, and giving. We all smile at each other, and I even let myself frantically wave at strangers. Now, that sunshine is still fickle. I will wake up to rain and wind, but it doesn't stick around. Sunshine has been making an appearance everyday, and I'm not complainin'.

~I have decided to put my athletic abilities to the test. Or better yet, develop some athletic ability. I have joined my company's softball team. For those of you that really know me, you are probably laughing out loud. But it's true. I think I need to branch out, and trust me-I can run the bases. Still working on hitting, catching, and throwing, but I'm inspired by the movie Rudy. Ya know, the movie about the guy with no athletic ability who became the practice punching bag on the Notre Dame football team and finally played the last game and made a play? Yeah. I think that'll be me. Hopefully everyone will chant "Alli! Alli! Alli!"

~I haven't completed any knitting projects since I've been here. I think it's because that sunshine calls my name, and hanging out inside just isn't an option. The sun is up until almost 11pm, and will rise around 3:30-so everyone is out and about until all hours of the night. I have some creative goals, though, and I hope that work will just settle into a lovely little pattern, so I can focus my attention elsewhere.

~I am officially a City of Skagway Marriage Commissioner for the 2009 calendar year. We have had many inquiries about weddings at the Red Onion, so we decided that I may as well get certified to perform them. IN FACT last Wednesday, I performed my first wedding! I looked up some vows, threw in a couple of brothel jokes, got a lil teary and made two people husband and wife. It caught me by surprise how much I enjoyed it.

~The first ship to arrive in town in mid April, was a world cruise. It came to Skagway before our season started, but so far, they have been my favorite bunch-only because they were followed by pirates while they were near Somalia! They just shrugged it off like "of course they would be followed by pirates. It's what you would expect from the culture." HA! So, I felt like my silly brothel stories were no match to a neato pirate stalking story.

I hope to update my blog on a tad more of a regular basis. The ships are full of odd ducks, and those crazy tourists' stories should be shared. Now off to sleep again.

The Lazy Pressure of Skagway

I arrived in Skagway, Alaska two weeks ago, and it seems that I am already sucked into the little bubble. I have relaxed into the ease and comfort and simplicity of the town. Unfortunately, I have fallen into feeling like I am a million miles away from the real world. This is not unusual when I first get to Skagway-every single year this happens to me. I apologize to my five blog readers for not updating sooner, but just writing this gets me inspired to create again. Get out of my little predictable culture shock and begin new endeavors again.

SO WITH THAT SAID
here are the highlights of last couple of weeks

-rolled into Skagway after a treachorous ice-covered highway cracked out on Diet Coke and gum
-opened the door to the house I was going to share, and was immediately dissappointed
-decided to suck it up, and take a shower so I could go out and see all my old pals
-walked into the ONE restaurant, and was overwhelmed with the excitement of my friends, and was comforted by all the familiar faces
-started work the next day, and realized I should have worn thermal underwear and a down coat
-purchased some wool tights, a fuzzy fleece jacket, and fancy metal water bottle
-felt the crunch to get the museum clean for the familiarization tour-but they cancelled at the last minute, because planes couldn't fly out of Juneau
-decided after a week of living in my new place, that I couldn't stay there-so I moved into a big room in a big house on the hill by the town with the most amazing view
-have a bit more of a threat of wolves and bears up here, but the dogs are pretty loud, so hopefully they keep the wildlife far away
-got a little sad on April 4th, when I couldn't be there for my dad's 60th birthday
-realized this is just the first of many exciting events I will miss out on this summer

({[HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!]})

*phew

Well, now that I have caught you up just a bit, I feel good and refreshed that I can finally cross "blog" of my to-do list.

Right now, my dear friend, Josh is cooking me a deliciously spicy Thai dinner. It is still cold here, so a little spice will feel nice. Later tonight, we are going to a fundraiser at the Pizza Station to hear Wild Bill (the oldest, and only, one man country band in town). And yes, Dad, "Wild Bill" is everything you might imagine.

Frozen in Alberta

After two days of fine weather, I woke up this morning in Grande Prairie, Alberta. I wanted to take Oscar out first thing this morning, but he didn't want to go outside because of this -- I have reserved my hotel room for one more night, so I am hoping to pull out of here tomorrow morning. Hopefully the Alaska highway will be clear.

sing a little sunshine song

Hollywood snuck into my wee heart, and I was pretty sad to leave. I moved there convinced this was a toxic cesspool, and I left with so much love for this little village I can barely stand it. If you ever move to a new place, and get scared and want to give up and move home-DON'T. Wait for it. You will fall in love with where you are. Give it time. Become a part of your community. No matter where you are. I am so glad that I didn't let the hardships of moving to a new place alone get to me. I left Hollywood 100 times happier then I was when I moved there, and I was barely there five months. I could have stayed much longer, and I hope that I come back. But the best thing I have learned is to love where I am, because I am always me.


I left Hollywood one week ago, and tomorrow I make the long drive north to Skagway, Alaska. I have never driven such a long distance (40 hours! 2400 miles!), and I am a little nervous. But my ipod is full of novels, comedy, and pop music, and Katy Perry is making my life very fun lately.

My layover in Salt Lake City has been so lovely and comfortable. My sisters and I threw my dad a surprise Cuban themed birthday party last night, and I think he loved it. He has always been a bit obsessed with Latin America, and lately Cuba has his focus. He is determined to visit Cuba this year, and he's got the right connections, so I think he'll actually do it! The sun shone all week long, but now it is cold and snowing, getting me ready for cold, COLD Skagway

So....now I'm off to Alaska again. AGAIN. I can't believe it. I can't believe I will be there in just four days! I will definitely blog about my journey when I arrive, and please hope and pray for my and Oscar's safe arrival to town.

Au revoir!

Out There

Check out the new boy!
I knit this hat back in December, and I couldn't be happier to know that my work lives on!!

81st Annual Academy Awards

I live just two blocks from the Kodak Theatre, so I was determined this year to take advantage of all the Oscar festivities. For two weeks leading up to the Oscars maintenance crews and security worked around the clock setting up bleachers, carpet, flowers, tents, and curtains transforming Hollywood Blvd into glamour central. It is so fascinating watching TV, and knowing that the stars are literally just walking along the street, and there just happens to be carpet on the street. The Kodak Theatre is part of a massive mall, but they closed the entire mall for the whole day and also shut down the entire block.

Since this was the "Oscars" it should obviously be my doggy, Oscar's day too.

He got the Oscar for Best Dog

This is the corner of Cherokee and Hollywood right by my building, and apparently this limo got a little bit lost. It slowly backed up, and probably took at least fifteen minutes to get around the neighborhood to the Kodak.

You can see the red tent at the end of the block.
This is the only press we agreed to.
Security was tight, so we were half a block away as the stars arrived. These guys were committed to catching a glimpse of the action.

But this was our view. We could hear the occasional cheers and could only guess who was arriving. Kate? Brad? Mickey?

We continued to stroll along the street and stopped in front of the Pig and Whistle just in time to see that Heath Ledger won for Best Supporting Actor. This was my favorite moment of the night because an Elvis impersonator was playing the ukulele during the acceptance speech, and a Joker impersonator was telling him to "shut the 'F' up." It was perfect timing.

Even though the stars were already inside, the hubbub continued outside.

No autographs please!

state

I am beginning a new knitting commission for a friend (I can't reveal it because she is gifting it to her boyfriend), and I decided to try a new yarn store. Normally I would try to buy yarn wholesale or from Knit Picks, but I felt like exploring the city a little bit. I drove about twenty minutes north to Eagle Rock to a quaint little family owned yarn shop that I had read about on Yahoo. It boasted fantastic reviews, and I was anxious to caress some perfect fibers and curl up in an armchair while thumbing through some pattern books. I love listening to yarn store sales people and frequently eavesdrop on the knitting circles' conversations. And I couldn't wait to get my hands on some decorative needles. I followed the directions perfectly and pulled up in front of the store -

CLOSED!

Completely cleaned out!

Empty.

I was pitifully disappointed. I came home, hopped on the net, and looked up their website. They stated that they were hoping to still have yarns available and would slowly revamp their website once they get over their sadness over the store closing.

No more knitting classes. No more community circles. No more pattern displays.

This news set me into a panic. I am hoping to own my own business one day. Hopefully one day soon. I am exploring different areas, expecting them to fuel whatever services I decide to provide. This blatant closure of this yarn store and the rest of America rapidly losing their jobs sent me into a tailspin.

SO for those of you who care-

I have been spending my time reevaluating my decision to permanently leave Alaska. This was going to be my last summer in Skagway, Alaska working as the Head Madam aka Tour Guide Manager at the Red Onion Saloon. But with the state of the world right now, I think it is unwise to walk away. I wanted to explore different paths, but now I wonder if I should stick with what I have and see where that takes me. I mean, I know I don't think I want to live in Skagway for the rest of my life because it doesn't offer me everything I want. But it does offer me the one thing I want the most right now - a wonderful job that I love more than any other job I've ever had.

I don't know if I feel this way only because I don't have a job right now, but I know that I don't want to be someone who is looking for random retail jobs. I want some stability. If these means continuing to thrive in Skagway and perhaps going to graduate school in the meantime, so be it. I just want to have some peace of mind.

Hollywood Hike

Perfect day for a hike.

Not too hot.

Not too cold.Mitch and I drove about one mile to get to the trail head for the Hollyridge Trail.

I had downloaded directions for navigating the trail to the Hollywood sign, but they were not helpful.

I think I was so giggly over Oscar's enthusiasm for the horses (I believe he thought they were big dogs), that we got lost.

So we turned around, found our way, and then turned left instead of right. We thought we would get right to the sign, but were suddenly blocked by a deep ravine and were lost again.

We turned around again, and followed the old Mulholland Highway up to the top of the ridge.

But we really wanted to "see" the sign without the hideous chain link in the way.

We were not fazed by the sign, or at least I wasn't.

Oscar found a skinny way to slip into some trespassing. So we sucked in and snuck in.

And there we were!

Mitch is standing precariously on a ridge, and we were tempted to hike all the way down to that big Holtkamp "H", but it looked too steep for my wimpy legs.

So we slipped back through the fence (like good lil citizens) and enjoyed the view.

We hiked as far as we could go, and we could see all of Los Angeles.

We can sure dirty up mean, but we clean up nice!

and..

for your entertainment-

genuine Hollywood entertainment!!