Friday Funnies

"Good night Shelton."
"Good night T'aim..."
"Shelton... it's a lot of fun traveling with you."
"It's fun traveling with you, T'aim."
"Good night."
"Hey T'aim... are we really getting up at 6:00?"
"Yeah, unless you want to join a prayer group."
"Oh... no. Well, good night then."
"Good night Shelton."

Laying there in the dark, eyes open, I realize this mattress on the floor is the first one I've slept on since Nelson, two weeks ago. Huh?... funny.

What a modest day it promised to be this morning. I drank my coffee and ate my toast as Shelton and I loaded up our packs in Karamea. Edith walked us to Highway-67 at the edge of the small town. The two of us planned to hitch roughly 200km South to Greymouth, then 100km East, into the mountains of Arthur's Pass. Edith decided to spend another night in Karamea... resting, painting, and writing... she'd join us in Arthur's Pass tomorrow.

It turns out to be the toughest day of hitchhiking yet, but maybe, also, the best. Shelton and I never make it to Arthur's Pass. What characters today...

Mark... 40 something dairy farmer... tall, calloused hands, and a pockmarked face. Has us over for tea before driving like a maniac 100km South to Westport.

Bob... 50 something diesel mechanic... shaggy blond hair, kind eyes, and a gentle stoop. Worked in Australia and Vanuatu for 20 years before returning to his tiny hometown of Charleston. Buys an ice cream at a cornershop before driving us 20km to Charleston.

Amy.. 6-years-old... clings to her dad's [Bob's] leg and steals shy glances at the strange Americans. Half-aboriginal, with light brown skin, huge brown eyes, and pigtails of kinky blond hair. Eats said ice cream, smiles sheepishly, then giggles and hides when we return the smile.

Julie... 30 something ex-pat from Wales... spunky, stylish and worldly... fell in love with NZ during her travels and decided to stay... that was two years ago. She likes us... chats constantly, and decides to stop off at Putakaiki to show us the famous Pancake Rocks.

Shelton and I thumb for an hour each time to earn our three rides. In Greymouth, after banking, emailing, and buying groceries for 4 days backpacking, we are shocked when we see that it's already 6pm. By 8pm, after an amazing fiery sunset, Greymouth is dark and the two of us are invisible to the cars whizzing by.

Unexpectedly stuck in Greymouth for the night, we discuss our options... tent in the park across the way? Hike back to towncenter and try to find a hostel? Tent in the backyard of the church just up the street? We decide to check out the church.

"I wonder if anyone's in?" I ponder aloud. Trying the front door for kicks, I'm surprised when it opens to a cavernous dark space. There is something slightly erie about a huge empty church. I lead the way in, gingerly calling out, "Anyone home?" Shelton laughs at me, but there's a hint of nervousness in her laugh. I try again, this time a little louder. Shelton groans uncomfortably, "mmm... T'aim, isn't this bad? I mean, aren't we breaking and entering or something?"

"Entering, yes, but we haven't broken a thing." I say this more to reassure myself. No replies and the two of us are wandering through the building. Unable to find light switches, the contents of most rooms escape us. "We should get out of here... it's kinda scary," says Shelton.

"Well, I saw some phone numbers on the front door... why don't we find a phone in here and give 'em a call?" Not a bad idea, I think to myself.
"What are you gonna say?"
"Well, it's a church... they help folks right? I'll tell 'em the front door was open, they'll be happy to know that at least, and maybe... maybe... yeah, here... I'll ask if we can crash on the floor in this daycare room."
"mmm... this is nice carpet," says Shelton as she tests the carpet with her foot.

We find no phones after wandering through the kitchen, common areas, day care and sanctuary. "Well, maybe we should just tent in the park," says Shelton.

"Okay, let's look at the park... see how safe it seems, and maybe we'll see a pay phone out there. Shelton... if you'll remember 7-6-8, I'll remember the 7-0-8-5 part of the number."

So... the park looks really sketchy, and there are no pay phones in sight. I suggest we post a note on the church door, alerting people entering that there are a couple of well intentioned backpackers asleep in the day care. Shelton looks at me like I'm speaking Klingon. She notices the video store, where earlier I bummed a piece of cardboard for an "Arthur's Pass" sign, still has its lights on. "How About we ask the video store guy what he thinks?"

"Uh... okay, but you're doing the asking," I reply. The poor video store clerk is vacuuming as we walce through the front door. "Hi again!" I say as we enter. Shelton asks and the man shrugs. She looks at me as if to say 'now what?' I look back as if to say 'not a clue.'

After a second, I think aloud, "We have the phone number for the clergy. Maybe... can we use your phone?" The clerk agrees, almost eagerly... probably curious to see how this is going to turn out. One ring and a friendly, elderly voice answers...

"Hello... sorry to trouble you at this hour," I say. "I'm Tim, an American backpacker. My friend and I were trying to hitch a ride to Arthur's Pass in front of your church tonight and... well... it got dark and now we're stuck in Greymouth."

"Ahhh... uh-huh, uh-huh... I see... ahhh..." is all I hear from the other end. I look at Shelton, my free hand upturned, and I continue, "well... we noticed that your church door was unlocked, and... I'm sorry, this is odd, but... would you be okay if we laid out our sleeping bags on the floor and slept in there for the night?" I think to myself... 'wow... that sounded really ridiculous.'

The elderly man says... "Sure thing lad. I'll drag out a couple of mattresses and see you in a minute." Before I can say anything back, he says, "Okay then? I'll be there in a second... [click]" I look at Shelton with bewildered eyes.

"Well?" she asks.
"He's bringing us mattresses..." I chuckle.
"Shut up!" she says and shoves my shoulder. "We should, we should get him some chocolate or something..." she rambles on. "Do you think he likes chocolate? Maybe ice cream? Do clergy men eat ice cream?"
"Sure they do," I laugh. "Lets get him some of each."

I buy a Cadbury Creme Egg and Shelton bursts, "I'm gonna get him a Memphis Meltdown! (her favorite ice cream bar - incidentally, she's also from Memphis) What kind should I get?" There are many kinds... caramel, toffee, double chocolate... "I'm gonna get him this one... 'Big Nuts'! Ha!"

At this point even the video store clerk is cracking up. My hand shakes with laughter as I pay the man. We run out the store, our sandals splashing in puddles as we race to the church. The lights are already on within, and as we sprint up the steps, Robin opens the door for us. He's small, spectacled, and totally bald except for the short white hair just above his ears. He has bright eyes and a red button nose... smiling kindly he welcomes us in.

"We brought you ice cream and chocolate!" Shelton exclaims proudly.
"Oh... oh dear... well, thank you," Robin replies.
"Do you eat ice cream?"
"Of course!" he smiles.

Robin shows us a quiet back room where we throw our mattresses on the floor. As he's leaving, he spins around, and says, "Oh, I almost forgot. I need you two to do something for me." Eh? we wonder. "Today is March 7th... do you know what that means?" he continues. We haven't a clue. "Well, it's a very important day in New Zealand... it's the census day. Every single person in New Zealand who is alive on March 7th must have a census form filled out, and that includes you two."

A few minutes later, he returns with two forms and two envelope. He says good night, and leaves us for the evening. We fill out our forms, Shelton makes a tomato, hummus, pita sandwich, and I get some hot water for my cowboy coffee.

I'm doing some reading when Shelton steps away. A few minutes later, I hear piano music streaming out of the cavernous sanctuary. I find Shelton swaying slowly at the piano bench, her hands dancing along the keys. I approach slowly, but when she hears me, she stops immediately and spins around as though she were caught doing something wrong.

"You're really good," I say... she really is.
"Nooo... I'm not. I can't play in front of people."
"Oh... sorry. I didn't know... I'll leave you alone then."

She's such a funny gal... I want to tell her it's okay to be graceful sometimes... it doesn't make you any less tough and free-spirited. I walk back toward the door. As I'm walking away, Shelton begins to play again, and I duck in between some pews near the exit. Laying on the floor with my eyes closed, I listen to Shelton play unfamiliar classical pieces. I can imagine her hands dancing along the keys again. She stumbles on a note occasionally, but it's obvious she loves to play. Funny that I never knew.

Laying there, I almost let out a laugh as I think of where I am at this very moment.

The Still Life in Rongo

A night of R&R at Rongo Backpackers in Karamea, NZ. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Daily Vocab

today's words are...

Trail Magic - found objects (candy bars, bottles of water, fuel, tent stakes) on the trail.
Trail Fairy - those wonderful people leaving behind the trail magic.

Heaphy Track: 82km (51miles) over the Tasman Mountains to the Tasman Sea

The morning after we got back from our little kayak adventure, Edith Shelton and I set off on the Heaphy Track making our way to the West Coast. Four days, each one a distinctly different experience...

Day 1: 17km (~10.5miles) A gradual ascent to Perry Saddle through lush beach forest. (pic. Edith admires the trailside moss)
Day 2: 27.5km (16.7miles) Beautiful Day of tramping through rolling hills of high grassy plains and small stands of stunted beach trees. Saw the sunset on the mouth of the Heaphy River some 20km away (pics. Gouland Downs and sunset on the Tasman Sea).

Day 3: 21.5km (~13.3mi) Gradual descent to the mouth of the Heaphy River. Limestone cliffs, swing bridges, nikau palms and the slowly moving Heaphy River. (pics. Heaphy River Valley and sunset at river mouth)

Day 4: 16.5km (~10.2mi) Hiked South along the Tasman Sea. The thundering surf ever present (pic. me beach hiking)

That Fresh Feeling

Having hiked 41 of 51 miles, three tired and happy trampers huddle around their dinners cooking on backpacking stoves...

me - "I put on fresh boxers when I got to camp [after 3 days tramping] and it felt sooo good."

edith - "mmm... I did that last night."

shelton - "Today's my first day wearing underwear at all. And all day I kept looking for a place to take 'em off."

me - "You've been hiking commando all this time?"

shelton - "I hate wearing underwear... I hiked the whole AT without underwear."

me - "Dear God!"

edith - "Shelton... they broke the mold after you didn't they?"

Escaping Takaka

My original "plan" had me staying in Takaka for two nights. Well... the brilliant weather, a free porch to sleep on, a house full of crazy kids, and beaches within walking distance kept me here three extra nights.

Today I pried myself away. Three hitches later - thanks to an old man in his pickup, an ex-pat Scottish carpenter, and a generous German named Martin - I make it some 60km to the Heaphy Track trail head.

Abel Tasman Part II

(PIC: 7 Happy kids enjoying our own private beach for the afternoon.)

Seven of us galley kids (bakers - Doug & Allison, cooks - Keith, Shelton & Edith, DA's - John & myself) pile into rental kayaks and get a view of the Abel Tasman Nat'l Park from the ocean.

Five hours of paddling gets us to Mosquito Bay (nice name)... a campground only accessible by sea. Sitting on the sand, around our campstoves, we sip beer and wine while resting our weary sunburnt shoulders. Perfect.

The Mussel Inn

(photo courtesy of my man Chipotle)

It doesn't happen often, but you know those moments when you feel like you're in a scene from some old favorite movie? That was last night at the Mussel Inn. Tucked away in a little tree grove halfway between the Golden Bay hamlets of Takaka and Collingwood, this roadside pub could easily be missed if you weren't looking for it.

As night settles in around us, the soft din of long awaited conversations can be heard from all corners of the large front patio. Familiar faces from the ICE keep streaming into the bustling bar... sporting fresh tans and loose summer clothing, everyone seems caught up in the richness of the moment.

Pints of beer slosh back and forth as animated hands tell stories around the campfire. Toofless Sean takes the stage within the bar, and those that can, cram inside to watch one of our own captivate the unknowing locals. The rest of us nestle around the campfire and enjoy the melodies filtering out the open windows.

After the show, the patio's thinned a bit, and I'm enjoying a chat with Bija as the clouds above let loose a light rain. The warm mist barely dampens the t-shirt on my back and I can't help but let out an easy laugh.

Nirvana on Abel Tasman

The first of many tramps I hope to do, the Abel Tasman Coastal Track turns out to be - quite possibly - the most beautiful 4 days of my life. Roughly 53km along the NW coast of the South Island, I don't even know how to summarize my sprawling journal entries.

I'll go with this... Top 10 Highlights from Abel Tasman!

1). DA Johny... so funny, dry and easy-going. Couldn't have asked for a better hiking buddy. (PIC: start of Day-2 at Anchorage Bay)

2). 4 consecutive beautiful sunny days. I hiked the entire track in my sandals... sweet! (PICS: Day-1 approaching Stillwell Bay, lunch at Stillwell Bay, Johny points the way to Anchorage Bay)




3). On Day 2, stumbling into Shelton (one of my favorite people from the ICE) eating lunch on a beach at Bark Bay. The three of us hiked together the rest of the way. (PIC: Start of Day-3 at Onetahuti Beach)

4). Beach camping... the prettiest campsites I've ever seen... (PIC: my tent at Totaranui Beach)

5). Having 2 frosty pints of beer with my lunch of colby cheese, pepperoni sticks and dried peaches on Day 3. We walked our smelly backpacking selves into the fancy Awaroa Lodge which was just off the trail.

6). Learning that the guide book was right... the 4th day is indeed the best day. (PIC: descending toward Wainui Bay on Day-4... can you find Shelton?)

7). Tidal Crossings... I've never walked through tidal flats. (PIC: Johny in Torrent Bay Tidal Crossing)

8). Turquoise water always within sight. (PIC: Day-2 from the trail)

9). Exploring a small gave with our headlamps on Onetahuti Beach. Unknowingly discovering glow worms!

10). Easy hitchhiking to Takaka... 20km from the end of the trail. Pizza and beer tasting so good. (PIC: tired and happy at Wainui Car Park)

You can click on the pictures for a larger view, or click HERE to see more pictures from our hike.

John & Betsy... 440km from Christchurch to Nelson

Guest Writer: Ole' Betsy

This lil' feller here... the one with the tattoo... he asked me to write a spot about me last day. And a fine last day it was, though I was sad to see off my bloke John. John and me, we've traveled the South Island for a good 2 weeks now. What a calamitous last day.

It's half past 10:00 this morn' when John comes strolling up with this motley crew... a tall skinny one, Jeff, I think... the lil' tattooed one I was speaking of... and a smaller beady-eyed one, Eric, I think. I'm parked on the street and as the boys approach I'm getting written up by a parking officer. A nice guy, this officer, but why the need for a $400 ticket? No "registration" or "warrant of fitness", he says... well, what'd you expect from a rusty '85 Mazda Capella. Besides... another officer wrote me up for $400 just last night. What's the point? Ole' John's leaving in 2 weeks anyhow... he isn't gonna pay no $800. Shoot, John only paid $400NZ for me anyway.

We drop off the beady-eyed one at the YMCA and shove off, headin' North to Kaikoura. The lil' tattooed one is bouncing up and down in the back seat shaking the tall feller and John by the shoulder... he's blabbering 'bout finally getting out of town or somethin'.

We're some 100km out of Christchurch, maybe halfway to Kaikoura when a highway patrol car, one of those that's all stealthy and looks like a regular car, pulls me over. "No registration or warrant of fitness" the lady officer says. John shows her we already got $800 in tickets, so she lets me off with just a stern warning. Three times in less than a day? What are the chances?

The boys tape a receipt in the windshield so that it looks like we have the proper registration and such, at least from afar, and the rest of the drive is quite uneventful. The tall feller plays some Johny Cash, which I'm quite fond of, and we wind along the 2-lane highway.

In Kaikoura, John drives me over to a beach park that has some seal colony. The boys disappear for nearly 3 hours. They come strolling back over, blabbering about how they went for some beautiful hike. "Cows grazing, lavender fields, sweeping views and seal colonies!" they boast. (PICS) Whatever... I just sat here and baked in the sun the whole while.


The boys decide to cook their meals right there in the parking lot... so at least I has some company again. That's me on the left there. We hear about free beach camping 5km North of town, so off we go. In hind sight, I should've seen those tickets as a bad sign. Wouldn't you know it... as we drive over these railroad tracks to the camp ground, me exhaust system is ripped right out from under me. You should've seen the mess... 3m of exhaust pipe and muffler jutting out the side. The lil' tattooed feller... he had to tie up the pipe just so I could be pushed off the railroad tracks.

Well, at least I got the boys to a beautiful camping spot... a fine sunset behind me as well. John looks sad, and I hear them other two boys try to cheer him up. I can hear them on the beach, drinking beers as the stars come out. So that's pretty much it. The boys decide to worry about me in the mornin'... what a day.

...

John, Jeff and I (all DA's from the ICE) wake up the next morning to the sun rising over the Pacific. We break down our campsite and hike the 100 yards back to our broken down ride. Betsy looks worse in the day light. We manage to bend the exhaust pipe back behind the rear wheels and up on the trailer hitch, but there's still a section scrapping the ground. If there's any hoe of getting this car to town we have to bend the scrapping section off the ground. John jacks up the rearend and Jeff places some rocks under the low hanging section of pipe. John lowers the jack, but it is evident that weight of the car alone isn't enough to bend the pipe. I suggest we all climb on the bumper and jump up-and-down. That does the trick, and we're able to roll into town. What a sight we are... Reeking of exhaust and scrapping the pavement at every bump.


The mechanic says she's not worth fixing, but we're able to sell her to a man next door for $50. John seems at peace with how things turned out for Betsy. Jeff is hitching back South to Christchurch, where he's catching a flight to Samoa tomorrow. John and I are hitching North to Nelson, so we say our farewells.

Hitching in New Zealand, as it turns out, is the best way to get around. Free rides and personal encounters with interesting locals and travelers. Our first hitch takes us only 15 minutes of waiting. Kevin takes us 125km North to Blenheim in his delivery truck. Kind and talkative, he tells us of the local geography between puffs on his cigarette. in Blenheim we wait nearly an hour before Adam, a young guy working for the forestry department, picks us up in his van. He takes us 25km to Renwick, where we wait only another 20 minutes before we're picked up again. An English family on a month long vacation stops their rental van for us. With our longish hair, they mistook us for a couple of girls... how funny. Can't remember mom and dad's names, but 11-year-old Jack and 8-year-old Harry were a blast. Their backseat horseplaying reminds me of road trips with my Starving Artist Brother... how we used to torment our parents.

The 100km ride flies by. In Nelson, John and I settle into Bumble's Backpackers, then head out in search of some beers and dinner. What a great start to my New Zealand travels.

Life

It's all around me. Stepping off the plane at Christchurch, I'm nearly knocked over by the warm moist air, sweet with the scent of fresh cut grass. Every breath tests my lung capacity.

Later that night, walking the streets to the pub & eatery, I can't help but stare at the unfamiliar faces. So strange to be anonymous once more. Flashing lights, cars, children, dogs, trees - bushes - and grass!

Sipping draft beer on the patio, crowded around a small table, we take turns looking up at the night sky... mesmerized. Bermie suggests we take a moonlit walk through the nearby botanical gardens. Eight of us, pints of beer in hand, wander the lush botanic gardens in a dreamlike state. We reach up and touch low hanging branches...

In the rose garden, I slip out of my sandals and feel the soft grass under my bare feet.

Travel Plans... Ahhh Yaaa!

This is me, loving life...

- 2 months in New Zealand... mostly on the South Island. Cramming in as much tramping (backpacking) as my time and aging body (yes, it's happening already) will permit.

- About 6 weeks in SE Asia... thinking Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. No definite itinerary... it's better that way, right?

- 5/30 to 6/4 in Hawaii in route to Seattle.

- 6/5 back in Seatown... great coffee, micro-brews, the Olympics, the Cascades, and my great friends! 8 months will have flown by.

What About Next Season?

It's a question that floated around McMurdo Station like the inescapable smell of fuel, volcanic dust, and food cooking in the galley. Who's coming back next season? 99% of people answer... "Maybe. I don't know. We'll see after traveling." I've pretty much given the same answer for the last month...

"Yes, hopefully, but my chances aren't great. I'm applying for only 4 positions, and they are all pretty reachy. Everybody applies for these jobs. I'm only applying for jobs that'll get me outside away from station, or will teach me something new."

Which jobs? you may ask.

Well, they are...

1. Fuels Operator or "Fuelie"... handles all distribution and management of fuel. Refuels planes, building tanks, and field camp tanks.

2. Meteorological Technician or "MET Tech"... works at field camps (3 to 40 people). Trained as the camp weather-person; works as a general hand otherwise.

3. Carpentry or "Carp"... with my experience, likely only applying for a GA (general assistant) or "helper" positions. Does general carpentry work around station and occasionally at field camps.

4. Instrument Technician or "IT"... position is at the smallest USAP station - Palmer Station, on the Chilean side of the Antarctic Continent. Entails ordering, maintenance, trouble shooting, calibration and issuing of analytical instruments used by researchers.

Like I said... reachy at best. But, might as well aim high, right? If I get any of the jobs, next season will be my second and final season on the ICE... for a while anyway.

Sneak Previews! - Final Antarctic Posts.

So there's no good excuse for 1.5 months with no updates. I suppose I could blame it on a combination of things... slow connection speed, preoccupation on the ICE, 60hr work weeks, too many interesting people to spend my limited time with... but, those are all pretty weak excuses. I suppose, ultimately, I'd planned on plugging in my laptop when I reached New Zealand and throwing up a bunch of posts. Well... that won't be happening either. I just learned my little laptop is a little under the weather - spyware (I think) or a virus (God, I hope not) somehow climbed into my system. Either way, I'll have to wait until I return to Seattle before I can fix whatever ails my computer. Until then, the following posts, and the pictures that go along with them, will lie dormant on the C:drive...

NYC010105: Remembering the best New Year's Eve... Cooler Than He Knows Brother & Me unleashed on NYC.

Galley Runners: My DA Homeboys (Ed & Gavin) run the Antarctic Marathon. Ed's first... how cool is that?

ICE Rugby: McMurdo Station (USA) vs. Scott Base (New Zealand). A showdown that might make it into the Guinness Book for the "Southern Most International Rugby Match". My first rugby match, and I'm hooked. NZ wins 5-0... the closest match ever!

Outdoor Work Detail: Remember when Morgan Freeman, in The Shawshank Redemption, states "And wouldn't you know it? Me and some boys I know were amongst the names called... And May is one fine month to work outdoors." He's talking of the "special work detail," when the prisoners get to tar the roof of a new building. Morgan continues... "We could've been tarring the roof of one of our own houses. We were the lords of all creation." Well, for 2 weeks in January, me and another DA were picked to work outside for the FEMC (Facilities Engineering Maintenance Construction) department. Back breaking labor - spades, pick-axes, and rock-bars in hand, we chopped, smashed, and shoveled frozen rock & earth for 10hrs a day. Our hands and backs ached... but January was one fine moth to work outdoors, and I couldn't help but think of Morgan Freeman's words.

Fresh Perspectives From Castle Rock: Hiking with a new friend from Montana. Remembering without photos. Tandem sledding on Big Red. SE Asia - stop the dreaming and commit... in 3 days!

Ship Offload: The annual arrival of ice breakers, the cargo vessel, and fuel tanker. What an ordeal.

Castle Rock Camping: Having made it through the entire season without participating in the Snow Camping Course ("Happy Camper"), I decided to have my own rogue camping trip. I sneak out of town at 10PM, set up my tent at the base of Castle Rock, make some hot chocolate, and enjoy an evening of solitude outdoors.

So, I'm going off of memory here... the actual posts, already written on my laptop, promise to be far more interesting... check back in June!

New Year’s Revelations

I stole this from Miss MyLastName - my spiritual guide into the world of technology…

10 Random Things About Me
1. After getting a haircut, I must immediately take a shower. I have crazy itchy hair… no kidding, back when BC ex-girlfriend gave me haircuts (money saver) one of my cut hairs gave her a splinter.
2. The first thing I do when I wake up, even before getting out of bed, is pop my back. Ahhh.
3. My middle name is Isamu - my Japanese Grandfather’s name. Mom tells me it means courage.
4. I’m the only one I know who can control the focus of their eyes, purposefully blurring them. No one can ever tell. No cross-eyed action or anything. It’s kind of like being able to wiggle your ears or flare your nostrils (I can also do those), and came in handy as self-conscious kid watching horror films with his friends.
5. I’m a terrible speller, but still a pretty decent Scrabble player.
6. I think all feet, by nature, are ugly. The ugliest part of the human body in fact. It’s probably because I have bunions and flat feet.
7. I love to have my hands rubbed.
8. July 14, 2005 was the hardest night of my life.
9. I’m violently ticklish.
10. I was THE sickly kid… allergies, inhalers, asthma attacks… all that. Skinny as a rail (think orange on a toothpick).

9 Places I Have Visited
1. Japan
2. Samoa
3. Fiji
4. Cook Islands
5. Thailand
6. Antarctica
7. Texas (zoiks!)
8. New Zealand (very, very, soon!)
9. Ummm… Canada? (this is sad… must fix this situation soon)

8 Things I Will Do Before I Die
1. (Re)learn Japanese.
2. The PCT.
3. Raise a family.
4. Bicycle Ireland.
5. Post-Graduate Studies (whatever that may entail).
6. Work abroad (Antarctica doesn’t count… it’s not even a country).
7. The NYC marathon.
8. Learn to sing (well enough for the kiddies anyway).

7 Ways to Win My Heart
1. Be kind,
2. And genuine,
3. And secure enough to be silly.
4. Inspire me,
5. Surprise me,
6. And Push me.
7. Enjoy your life.

6 Things I Believe In
1. Freedom of Choice.
2. My brothers.
3. True love.
4. Myself.
5. Eye contact.
6. That I have a purpose.

5 Things That Scare Me
1. Scary movies (don’t laugh… they still do).
2. My predisposition to alcoholism.
3. Paralysis (I’ve always dreamt it would happen).
4. Rejection.
5. Not finding my purpose.

4 Things I Love About My Bedroom*
*seeing as I now share a windowless dorm room with 3 smelly dudes in Antarctica, I’ll try for “4 Things I Loved About My Bedroom in Seattle”.
1. Non-white walls (blue to be exact).
2. My bed. (Splurged on my first non-twin bed after landing a “real” job)
3. Adjacent bedroom belonged to Pre-school Teacher Roommate.
4. The South-facing window.

3 Things I Do Everyday
1. Let out a “Ts’ahhhhh…” after my first sip of coffee in the morning.
2. Whistle.
3. Check the sky to see if there will be a sunset.

2 Things I’m Trying Not to Do Right Now
1. Give into the sandman. Much work to do online tonight.
2. Feel disappointed with this past New Year’s celebration.

1 Person I Want to See Right Now
1. So tough. Just one? Gotta go with Cooler-Than-He-Knows brother. Tell me a story bud.

Come on readers... pick a catagory and share. All I want for Christmas are some new comments.

Pan-o-rama

Castle Rock & Mt. Erebus (click the pics to enlarge)...

I finally updated the pictures on my Flickr page. Click HERE.

Monday Funnies by Gary Larson

Two for the slow...

Two for holiday family gatherings...

Two for my fellow DA's...

my simplified pleasures...

I just devoured the most amazing turkey sandwich. It. Was. Life. Altering.

- Whole Wheat Bread (toasted, of course)
- Hummus (made from scratch… on both faces… yay-ya!)
- Turkey
- Provolone
- Sliced Roma Tomatoes (freshies!)
- Red Onion (Freshies!!)
- Green Leafy Lettuce (FRESHIES!!!!)

Last night McMurdo Station received its first plane load of fresh produce in 3 weeks. I never thought I would crave fresh fruits and veggies sooo much. Frightening.

After lunch I made a second sandwich, debated cramming it into my overstuffed belly, then wrapped it up for an afternoon snack.

Monday Funnies...

some wintry laughs courtesy of one mrs. weed…

The Crud

Ahhh… da’ crud, da’ CRUD!

Here I am… it’s my one day off for the week and I’m saddled with the crud. ‘The crud’ being McMurdo jargon for the flu/cold that plagues everyone at some point during the season. It spreads like wildfire in the close quarters.

Despite washing my hands obsessively, until they are raw and cracking, I’m feeling the affects of the crud… achy muscles, chest and sinus congestion, the works…

Grudgingly, I’ve decided to allow my body some rest. Danza, a good buddy of mine, and Miss Joy, my favorite Thursday playmate, are out on the Armitage Loop, running and skate-skiing, respectively. Me, I’m planning on laundry, vacuuming, napping, reading, emailing and blogging.

HA… I said blogging.