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Aug. 4th, 2004 05:50 pmIn Resolute.
Doing laundry.
Weather's fine.
Doing laundry.
Weather's fine.
Aug. 4th, 2004
turning around [Tuesday's]
Aug. 4th, 2004 07:05 pm[posted a day late, from Resolute]
Today [Tuesday], a dozen people -- half the camp -- left on two flights out. I 've spent more time continuously around my sister Vicky than at any time since we were teenagers. That's been an unexpected benefit of this season -- I've gotten to get to know her better *as an adult* rather than still carrying around those teenage impressions. My appreciation and respect for her has increased.
After the router shut down, people here relaxed... no more frantic last-minute attempts to schedule travel or mail colleagues. People hung out in the kitchen rather than online ;-).
The weather improved... it was actually sunny and warmed to 45F or so for most of the afternoon. It's funny... living outdoors, the weather is a preoccupation, a matter of daily importance. Back in California, I rarely bother checking forecasts. Having used the net connection heavily at times, I helped Steve and Keith bring down the dish before lunch.
After lunch, I went out to the northwest for five more gravity stations. The Hamilton-Sundstrand guys hadn't been on a traverse, and were flying out at 5pm, so I took them out and around with me... first station um, happened to be near the Mars Society hab. Convenient for also surveying if they'd left the grounds a mess, or left unsecured tarps or items that might blow away (for which we might get blamed instead of them).
One thing I really like about surveys... especially alone, as I was Sunday for a couple of hours... is the quiet. Quiet emptiness... no life, just bare rocks, sky and silence. It can be terribly beautiful or subtly overwhelming.
By the end of this afternoon's traverse, it was back to freezing temperatures and snow, which hurts when it whips through one's helmet at 20mph or so...
I'm going to get one more gravity station near camp, then conclude my survey work here for this season. I'm due to leave Wednesday afternoon, weather cooperating.
Time to start packing...
( Tuesday photos )
Today [Tuesday], a dozen people -- half the camp -- left on two flights out. I 've spent more time continuously around my sister Vicky than at any time since we were teenagers. That's been an unexpected benefit of this season -- I've gotten to get to know her better *as an adult* rather than still carrying around those teenage impressions. My appreciation and respect for her has increased.
After the router shut down, people here relaxed... no more frantic last-minute attempts to schedule travel or mail colleagues. People hung out in the kitchen rather than online ;-).
The weather improved... it was actually sunny and warmed to 45F or so for most of the afternoon. It's funny... living outdoors, the weather is a preoccupation, a matter of daily importance. Back in California, I rarely bother checking forecasts. Having used the net connection heavily at times, I helped Steve and Keith bring down the dish before lunch.
After lunch, I went out to the northwest for five more gravity stations. The Hamilton-Sundstrand guys hadn't been on a traverse, and were flying out at 5pm, so I took them out and around with me... first station um, happened to be near the Mars Society hab. Convenient for also surveying if they'd left the grounds a mess, or left unsecured tarps or items that might blow away (for which we might get blamed instead of them).
One thing I really like about surveys... especially alone, as I was Sunday for a couple of hours... is the quiet. Quiet emptiness... no life, just bare rocks, sky and silence. It can be terribly beautiful or subtly overwhelming.
By the end of this afternoon's traverse, it was back to freezing temperatures and snow, which hurts when it whips through one's helmet at 20mph or so...
I'm going to get one more gravity station near camp, then conclude my survey work here for this season. I'm due to leave Wednesday afternoon, weather cooperating.
Time to start packing...
( Tuesday photos )
Resolute is so... busy
Aug. 4th, 2004 07:28 pmRe-entry shock, not unexpected. This place seems so much larger and busier and... fast-moving than it did two weeks ago. Edmonton will probably seem overwhelming tomorrow.
I'm used to empty horizons and quiet... the rooms indoors are far too warm, I have my window wide open. Inuit kids are playing outside in a large rocky puddle.
But... last night, it was freezing, pouring rain and 33F. I resorted at times to standing in front of the kitchen heater and watching steam rise from my wet outer layers.
Right now, a hot tub seems like an incredible luxury. When I get home, I'm going to find one somewhere... WW, Kiva, somewhere. And just soak in warmth and buoyancy and relax...
Dryer's stopped, time to get my laundry.
(expletive) there's *no hot water* ... that's what I get for holding off while everyone else rushed to the showers. (growl)
I'm used to empty horizons and quiet... the rooms indoors are far too warm, I have my window wide open. Inuit kids are playing outside in a large rocky puddle.
But... last night, it was freezing, pouring rain and 33F. I resorted at times to standing in front of the kitchen heater and watching steam rise from my wet outer layers.
Right now, a hot tub seems like an incredible luxury. When I get home, I'm going to find one somewhere... WW, Kiva, somewhere. And just soak in warmth and buoyancy and relax...
Dryer's stopped, time to get my laundry.
(expletive) there's *no hot water* ... that's what I get for holding off while everyone else rushed to the showers. (growl)