Frozen Dishes : life after the ice
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Our bowling season ended last night with a 16 pin defeat. We had beaten this team once before, but last night we were all a bit off and they had a good game. A bummer for sure, but we had a fun season with no regrets. We are going to miss the pre-game harassment of the other team quite a bit. We definitely excelled at that. It's going to be a bit weird not bowling anymore, but I think we will be able to move on just fine. There is going to be a film festival towards the end of the winter. I'm helping some people out Sunday with their movie. It's going to be hip hop video. Should prove entertaining. I've got a few ideas for one of my own as well.
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Just got back from a quick cruise through our outside cargo lines. The worst items that blew over a few large stacks of bondstrand. Looks to be twenty feet long pieces. Those will be a pain in the ass to reorganize. Currently we only have one loader to work with as our other one is still in the shop getting some new tires. This morning after breakfast a friend came over and we started to watch "Killing Zoe". It was cut short by the let up in the weather. It's not very far along, but I'm digging it thus far.
Crud. That didn't last long. It's just about 9:30 and I've been back at work since 9. A welcome early mellow morning, but once one thinks the whole day is free and it turns out to be false that seems like little reward. I found a spare pair of long johns as my laundry had not yet dried. The wind has calmed down and it's not too chilly out. I have a fair amount of snow on the inside of my window at home and the cab of our work truck is also apparently far from air tight.
Today is Antarctica's equivalent to a snow day. We've been getting a lot of snow lately and last night the wind started to blow hard. It woke me up a few times. Then when my alarm went off I looked out my window to the pole across the street and was overjoyed to see the three lights perched atop it lit up red. That means condition one has been called. I quickly turned on the boob tube and the weather channel told me it was indeed a condition one. When that happens nobody is suppposed to go outside unless you are following the rope lines to building 155 to get some food. Building 155 houses the galley, computer lab, television station, various offices and berthing as well. I live here, so I rolled out of bed threw on some flip flops and put my laundry in on my way to breakfast. So for now we are unable to go to work, boo hoo. If the weather lifts then we will be called in. Hopefully that won't happen. Seeing as how I won't have any long underwear to wear, I'd have to wait until my clothes were done anyway. Tonight the Kiwi base is hosting a polar plunge party. That is when they cut a hole in the ice and naked people attach a rope to themselves and jump in. The naked part is optional, but once you get out and make the dash to the changing hut you don't really want clothes freezing to you. The rope is not optional and is a safety measure in case someone gets trapped under the ice. I've only heard of that happening once in the past, before the rope started to get used. That person ended up getting out fine, but obviously was shaken up a bit. I've done the plunge in the past and I'm not sure I'll be doing it tonight or not. I opted to pass on the first plunge this season and after this one there be one more chance.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
The other day I watched "The Legend of Bagger Vance" and then caught a few rounds of the US Open. Makes me anxious to hit the links. There are some good tracks in Christchurch, so I'll be playing a round or two in a few months. My game is usually pretty ugly after being down here for so long, but it's still a good time. One of the recreation girls recently talked me and a buddy into hosting a booth at the 4th of July party next weekend. We are dressing up as clowns and running the dart balloon toss booth. Someone offered to make Jell-O shots for us to hand out as well. We will be a popular stop I'm guessing. During my first winter in '99 I dressed up as a clown for the first time ever at this very same party. So, back to my clown roots.
My date went well. We ended up heading to the coffee house to play some cribbage. A good chance to chat. Not sure if there are many sparks coming from her direction, but we had fun together. We are slated to meet up again later this week. So perhaps the flames of romance will spark up then. If anything I do enjoy her company and do look forward to seeing her again. As a bonus that night I won 2 of the three games we played. Which is pretty amazing as she has beaten me easily in the past. I know some people out there are thinking I should've let her win, but I just can't do that. My grandma taught me never to throw games. When I was just a wee lad she would not let me purposely win any games, claiming I had to earn victories thus learning how to win. She still doesn't let me win gin when we play and usually beats me pretty handily. This past weekend we celebrated the mid point of the winter. Officially it is tomorrow, but we took the weekend to have the big feast and party. The galley cooked a fabulous fancy meal and there was dancing afterwards. A fun night and some folks really got dressed up. It's always funny to see people in nice clothes once you are used to only seeing them in Carharts or other work type clothes. Some people really clean up nicely. Last night I finally walked away from the card table with a profit. I cleared a cool $30. Far from breaking even overall, but it was nice to win the night. Last week I broke even, so perhaps the cards are coming my way at last. Tonight the improv group is getting together for our first practice. Should be fun and the group seems excited about it. Tomorrow night marks our first bowling playoff game. We haven't faced this team yet, but our team has had a better average throughout the season. Of course during playoffs all that goes out the window. Should be a good time as the other team is full of hooligans that are already giving us a hard time. Naturally we will be paying their offices a visit to post propaganda either tonight or tomorrow at lunch time.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Today was a banner day, one of my best thus far this winter. For starters I saw some decent auroras. I must admit the south pole has somewhat spoiled me on auroras. But, these were pretty good for this neck of the woods. And truthfully any aurora is worth laying eyes on. These were green and spread over most of the horizon. I was just getting back in the truck after checking them out and on the radio was the live reading of the Jackson trial verdict. That's the second big trial I've heard the outcome whilst doing something antarctic related. I heard the OJ verdict while I was coming back from settling some post ice travel visa business. But, the highlight of my day came early this morning. I've had my eye on a certain gal for a while now. She's a girl I've spent a few past seasons with here and we are friends. A super cool, smart and beautiful girl. Lately I've been getting what I thought were some positive vibes from her. I figured I should go ahead and see if she is really giving me the eye or not. A lot of people here tend to keep their relationships on the down low, because it is such a small community. So, I wasn't really sure if she was single. That only served to make me more nervous than I would usually be asking a girl out. But, I told myslef today had to be the day I asked her out. She said yes, which was fabulous. Of course down here there aren't a whole lot of dating options, but I'm sure we can figure something out. I've got a few ideas. Tonight is my radio show and I don't have a clue as to what to play. Well, besides "Smooth Criminal" naturally.
Went to poker night last night. Went away $15 lighter. I guess I'm a better card player at the south pole. Next Wednesday marks mid winter. This season is flying by. Plenty of talk about post ice travel popping up these days. Some folks are leaving in August, so they are quite close to freedom now. I'm undecided to where I'll travel at the moment. I'll for sure go to Australia to visit my friend. And I've been wanting to see Africa, so this might be a good time to do that. I've got time to sort it out. Lately I've been getting back to my roots in the galley via volunteering. We've got a few injured workers in there, so they've been soliciting help from the community. It's been good to be back and good that it is only for a few hours a night. Plus, I only do the dishes, no ice cream machine or other chores. Windy day today, so we are finding inside work.
Friday, June 10, 2005
Bowled a 121 last night. Felt good not to have another bad game. Playoffs should be fun. I'll be taking it easy tonight as last night was a long one. We bowled the late game, so we weren't done until 10. Then of course the team must meet at the bar to celebrate. Well, we meet up there when we lose too. It's bowling you've got to drink. Hopefully I'll be able to find a good movie in the store today. I pretty much konw what is in there, but I'm always hoping to find a hidden gem. Yesterday at break I ate a Butterfinger with peanut butter on it. It was delicious.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Boozy bingo was fun. A pretty mellow crowd actually. One guy got a bit lippy, but soon after Boozy put him in his place he was less lippy. Four other clowns came out to support Boozy as well. It always helps to have a partner up there to keep the game moving along. A grand night with even some clown smooching to end it. Some ladies just can't resist a clown. Last weekend there was an underground Russian art party and that was really fun. People were encouraged to create something for the evening. I made a short commercial for some vanilla vodka I had brewed up. I used my co-workers in the short film and it turned out well. Then I showed the Honey Bear flick, because a lot of folks here had not seen it yet. It was a two day weekend and I got some nice rest. Tonight we bowl our last regular season match. Then the playoffs start in a few weeks. I feel a good one coming on tonight. At the very least I have to beat my score of 95 last week. It was by far one of my worst games ever and very frustrating. I was low bowler of both teams. We managed to scrape a win out by 18 pins, but it was ugly mainly due to me. We don't know the other team all that well, so we are hoping they will be fun to bowl with. We put up a few signs, but not too much. Seeing as how we don't know how they will react to that type of shenanigans. One week I put some signs in a guy's slippers I stumbled upon in his office and he was upset later that night at the alley. Apparently he really likes those slippers. Played bingo last night, but did not win anything. Never really came all that close either. It's always fun to harrass the rest of the bingo crowd though.
