fish in the tote, cash in the pocket

I've been pretty consumed by the tourists lately, whew. As many have probably observed, heard, or smelt, I am working at the Fresh Fish Company. My job is to wake up by 8 am so that I can check my email for the daily "list" of boats. I arrive at the Fisherman's Quay and enter the wet, fishy flaps of my workplace, sign in, put on plastic gloves and an apron and begin putting pieces of fish into bags. -Until someone radios in, "Fresh Fish, this is the [insert boat name]."

Then I tear off my apron and gloves, grab some totes and head down to the dock. There, I await boats captained by old men and filled with tourists to bump into the wooden docks and begin offloading. I approach them and begin, "Who has fish that they would like processed today?" A few of them usually raise a hand, and I hand them paper work and they begin filling it out. They ask me numerous questions, and heckle me about the process and fees.

"Yes, we fillet them... And put them into 1-2 person servings... And vaccuum pack them... And freeze them. And yes, you get YOUR fish back."

After they fill out my paperwork, all they can think about are their dear ol' salmon. They want a hundred pictures with the fish, so they throw all of their stuff in my arms, and have me snap pictures. They crinkle their noses and mouths as the salmon slime drips from their hands onto their perfect white shoes, and crisp, light blue jeans. But its ok, its part of the Alaskan experience, and besides, they can always go back to the ship and change.

After the fish are in the tote, and the paperwork is done, it is my job to pull the totes up the dock with a "hand-truck." Ali and I strive to make it an entire day where we do NOT spill a fish while going up the ramp.

My favorite tourist story this season was when I was attempting to help a woman off of a boat as I reached a hand out. She began to grab it, and then become angry!
"You're doing it wrong!"
"Umm... Ok?" I said, and just grabbed a little tighter.
"No! Grab my elbow."
"Umm... Ok?" I said again as I reached further up her arm.
"Uggh, no. You need to grab my elbow and properly support it so I do not fall. You always grab a person by the elbow when you help them up out of something. -Whether its a bed, or a chair, or whatever."
"Alright maam. Thanks for the advice," I said, hoping she was finished lecturing me.
"I'm a nurse. I know these kinds of things," she finished.

Yeah, see if I ever offer a lending hand again...

My tourist story of the day...
A Spanish man named Tito Tarabillo from Texas with pants pulled half way up his body. And his daughter who got gobs of fish blood on her pants.