Okay so today was a genuinely good day and I want to actually write it down before I forget the little details, because I always forget the little details. It was slow at work this morning, the usual golf cart traffic and a couple of families asking me where the glass bottom boat leaves from (it's the same dock it's always been at, I promise), so around 2 I finally got a break and went down to sit by the water for a bit.

There was this guy sitting a little ways down from me, clearly a tourist, kind of quiet, looked like he'd been baking in the sun a little too long honestly. We ended up talking for like an hour, maybe more. He's from Stockton, up near where I used to have family, and he's leaving in a few days to head back. I told him about JournalNook and he seemed surprised I actually still use this thing in 2011, ha. Gave him my page. Hope he actually reads this and doesn't just say he will. He seemed nice. Anyway. Good day.

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Ferry was packed today, first real wave of summer crowds. My legs are killing me from being on them all shift. On the bright side my manager finally fixed the schedule so I'm not closing AND opening back to back anymore, which, small victories.

Kept thinking about that guy from the beach the other day, hope he made it back to Stockton okay and the drive wasn't too brutal. Sent him a message on here, no idea if he checks it much. Made myself dinner instead of buying something for once, just pasta, nothing crazy, but it felt like an accomplishment after the week I've had. Going to bed early. Tomorrow's another early one.

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Middle of summer rush and I am running on iced coffee and whatever's left in the tip jar for snacks. Not complaining though, I actually love this time of year, the island gets so loud and colorful and everyone's in a good mood because they're on vacation, so it kind of rubs off on you even if you technically live here and this is just, you know, Tuesday.

Took my lunch break down by the pier and drew for a little bit, first time in weeks I actually had the energy to. Nothing good, just some boats and the shoreline, but it felt nice to sit still. My friend from the mainland still hasn't written back on here, but he did say he doesn't check things like this often, so I'm not worried about it. Just hope he's doing alright.

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It's so quiet here now that the summer crowd's gone. I actually really love the island this time of year, it feels like it belongs to just the locals again, but I'll admit it gets a little lonely by October. Found my Stockton friend's page again and left him a comment, told him he should come back out here for Halloween sometime since it's dead quiet and I know he said he's not a big partying guy either. Would be nice to actually hang out for real instead of just typing back and forth.

Working on carving a pumpkin for the front step even though barely anyone trick-or-treats out here. Doing it anyway. Some things you just do for yourself.

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Been forever since I posted, sorry to absolutely nobody who's reading this. Life's just been the same routine, work, sleep, repeat, with the occasional good sunset thrown in to remind me why I stay. Turned 22 back in January and didn't really do much for it, just had a couple friends over and we grilled on the back patio.

Still hear from my Stockton friend every once in a while, he's not much of a talker but I don't mind, some people just aren't. Island's been pretty normal lately. Hoping for a good tourist season this year, tips have been rough this winter.

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Something's wrong down by the ferry landing and nobody will tell us what. I walked down there after my shift because a couple of the guys from the harbor were saying there were boats out that didn't look like the usual Coast Guard boats, and sure enough there's this whole set up now, lights, generators, guys in gear I don't recognize. They wouldn't let me get close, just told me to go home and stay off the water tonight.

Nobody's answering their phones on the mainland side either. My neighbor said her sister who works at the harbor office got sent home early and wouldn't say why, just kept saying to keep the doors locked. I don't know. The island already feels weird when it empties out, but this is different, this is actually unsettling. Going to try calling my friend in Stockton tomorrow, see if any of this is even making the news over there or if it's just us.

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