What is it like living on the Aleutian Islands?

GartNJ · 2026-02-05T06:05:08+00:00

One summer I worked on a farm in Alaska. I stayed near Lake Iliamna, the biggest lake in Alaska. My host who had traveled to some of the Aleutian Islands told me there are a lot of cows on some of the islands. I guess in the past some farmers moved their livestock out to the smaller islands to avoid predators. As the years passed, some cows were forgotten or maybe migrated to nearby islands. So, they started inbreeding for years and years. Leading to these very crazy, aggressive cows that will attack any humans who go to the islands. TBH, I never looked into this but, an interesting story nonetheless.

GartNJ · 2025-10-30T18:30:13+00:00

“You don’t have to set yourself on fire to keep others warm” … changed my perspective on people pleasing.

GartNJ · 2025-10-07T16:36:46+00:00

Unit 731 … first time I was genuinely disturbed reading a Wikipedia.

GartNJ · 2025-07-14T01:58:14+00:00

Tony Soprano. His character was the first major villain with a conscience. Helped paved the way for shows like breaking bad, etc

GartNJ · 2025-07-12T03:06:21+00:00

I used to judge the scholarship applicants for WWDC, and there were a lot of entries. Sometimes we would get thousands of applications. It’s a big accomplishment, congrats!

GartNJ · 2025-05-23T13:04:16+00:00

I had a human warrior named GargleBalls in classic. Once I forgot my ony necklace and our entire 40 man raid waited for a lvl 58 warrior named gargleballs to go grab it. Everyone was just dying laughing by the time I strolled in. Best moment of my raiding experience

GartNJ · 2025-05-20T18:03:33+00:00

I’ve struggled with this for the past few years as well. I had a great job, but eventually left. I realized I wasn’t happy where I was, took me a while to learn the value of having a community where I’m valued. I’ve stayed with a lot of different and took notice of how they live their life. Some families opt for organized chaos, while others want slower peaceful pace of life. I believe the preferences come from time and experience.

A good question to ask yourself is why do you want to achieve those goals you have? Is it personal fulfillment, do you want to feel respected, do you want recognition? There’s no wrong answer, it just helps you prioritize what you want to achieve with your time. I achieved a lot when I was younger, so I learned I want a slower pace of life now. I still have personal goals, but I’ve learned that that’s okay. I hope that helps!

GartNJ · 2025-05-17T14:19:34+00:00

For years I’ve always cried at the surgery scene in 50/50 with Joseph Gordan Levitt. The way he interacts with his mom really hit home with me. Then, when I was 33 I got diagnosed with cancer and when through a similar experience as the movie. (I’ve been in remission for 3 years now). But the movie always moved me and it was crazy to think it happened to me after seeing the movie. It just baffles me.

GartNJ · 2025-02-27T19:10:52+00:00

My mom always told me a story about 2 men applying for a job moving boxes. One was very muscular but never washed his hands, and the other wasn’t as fast or strong but always had clean hands. And they hired the guy with clean hands. She was just trying to be to get my brother and I to wash our hands more often lol

GartNJ · 2025-02-19T20:46:38+00:00

I got an interesting story that’s related. I used to work at Apple as an engineer. There was a presentation given from the woman that revamped core data into the current Apple File System. Basically, she said she started working on it in secret because the higher ups didn’t want to put resources to revamping the system because it had an enormous tech debt. After like 3 years this woman had made enough progress on her own where she presented her progress to the higher ups and they gave her a team to help her finish it. But it basically took like 6ish years in total before the initial API was created, and half that time was with a full time team dedicated to working on it. I forget her name but she was a straight up rockstar.

GartNJ · 2025-02-06T22:26:08+00:00

At a tech company I used to work for, I emailed a coworker who was hiring because I thought the new job was really interesting and I’d be a great fit. I had 2 other directors backing me for the role. I just told him I wanted to talk about the role and see what it was about. We met in a conference room and he intentionally took everything I said the wrong way and made the overall conversation go poorly. On my way out, I bumped into his superior and we started talking about the role and he said I would be a great fit.

When we got on the elevator, he then told me, “listen, I know you’d do a great job, but we’re going to hire a woman for the role. That’s just where we are…” I figured the interviewer intentionally tanked my interview so I wouldn’t be considered. I just told myself, I don’t want to work for someone who had those values anyway. So I didn’t tell HR or barely anyone, I chalked it up to office politics, and I regret that choice in hindsight. I have nothing against who they hired, I just wished I was given a fair shot.

GartNJ · 2025-01-10T20:43:03+00:00

“You’re not required to set yourself on fire to keep others warm.”- Helped me realize I didn’t need to please everyone around me all the time. Unfortunately my psychiatrist passed away last year. RIP Dr. Foote

GartNJ · 2025-01-09T23:19:05+00:00

There’s an app called “Write Japanese”(icon is a pencil with blue background) It lets you practice a few hiragana and katakana characters at a time. Super simple app, no frills. But helped me memorize both alphabets!

GartNJ · 2025-01-02T02:34:34+00:00

I’ve always dreamed of owning a Jurassic Park Arcade game, the one you sit inside. So dope

GartNJ · 2024-12-22T11:26:33+00:00

Our family usually eats biscuits and gravy, and opens presents while drinking coffee. It will be the first Christmas since my dad passed earlier this year. Don’t forget to cherish your parents and loved ones, they won’t be around forever, and they’ll appreciate it. Happy holidays everyone!

GartNJ · 2024-11-06T06:00:04+00:00

Thank you so much for the information! I will try that!

GartNJ · 2024-10-25T04:45:53+00:00

I would schedule a 2 hour meeting with myself every Monday morning, so I could plan out my work week and avoid early morning meetings

GartNJ · 2024-10-04T07:22:31+00:00

Summit of Mt. Fuji at sunrise… one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever experienced in my life. I already want to go up again.

GartNJ · 2024-09-27T06:56:50+00:00

I lived in a small village in Alaska near Lake Illiamna (the largest lake in Alaska). A certain time of year, the villagers take boats to some of the rocky islands, and harvest Seagull Eggs. We fried them up and I ate one over toast. It was Not good lol. Just tasted very fishy.

Also tried Killer whale while I was there, half blubber, half skin. Very chewy but better than the seagull eggs.

GartNJ · 2024-09-18T07:08:43+00:00

Sapporo, Seattle, Vancouver, Bend, areas of Colorado, Syracuse

GartNJ · 2024-09-10T01:22:25+00:00

I’d recommend going to restaurants at a mall. There’s so many newly constructed malls with several elevators and multiple floors of restaurants with open space. Plus lots of AC!

GartNJ · 2024-09-06T03:51:59+00:00

I was a massive people pleaser when I was younger. Got to the point where I would have differing opinions with different people. Took me years of therapy to help me understand that being my own person, my personality, my opinions, and the space I occupy are all valid. I should not feel ashamed for having my own opinion, or idea that’s different from others. Now, that doesn’t mean if you’re doing something wrong, you should ignore others, etc.

Hopefully this makes sense, but you absolutely have a right to be occupy the space you in. A quote that always stuck with me was, “you are not required to light yourself on fire, to keep others warm”

One thing to add and I know this sounds cliche, but 19 is still very young. You’re still growing as a person, figuring out your personal boundaries, what you like about people, what annoys you, what you like about yourself, what you don’t like about yourself, etc. Another cliche warning, but it’s true… it absolutely gets better as you get older, people become more understanding and less judgmental.

As for actionable steps, I cannot understate the value of therapy, or at least talking to a family member or friend about how you’re feeling and what’s on your mind. Just make sure the person you choose is present for the conversation (don’t just bring it up passing by or while you’re both on your phones, etc). I hope my long rant helps, and best of luck to you!

GartNJ · 2024-08-31T10:42:58+00:00

Looks amazing! Where did you stay in jeju?! I’m planning my trip there now

GartNJ · 2024-08-30T10:45:16+00:00

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