Happy Birthday To Me!

July 20-

i claim this kitchen for GSUSA

Being completely cut off from everyone you know and love on your birthday may not sound like a good idea. But for me this was the perfect place to be! Since it is my birthday and no one can say no to me I hung the Girl Scout flag across the kitchen claiming the kitchen as scout territory. Apparently no cook/ Starvation Reduction Manager has ever brought a flag. (Eddie Izzard fans should know you can’t own a place unless your flag is there.)

Spread the Word Kiwanis of Devon Island is having a Pancake breakfast

After breakfast I'm forbidden from cleaning.

I use an Iridium phone to call home!  It’s great to talk to Greg and Willy and Claire--- I miss them so much. I miss young Greg too! These phone are powerful enough to reach anywhere in the world. They are currently our main way of communicating with the outside world and with Pascal. I feel like some sort of old sci fi movie star standing in a desert like place with this over a pound brick of a phone to me ear always making sure the antenna is pointing up. Sara has also set up HAM radio and UHF radios. She enjoys talking to people all over the world on the HAM radio.

I grab a short distance radio and head out for the “airport”. This is my first walk alone since arriving. For safety reasons we are only allowed to walk within line-of-sight of the camp and we must carry a radio if not at camp, or tent city.  The quiet and beauty are overwhelming. I honestly feel like crying but it would get in the way of exploring. I’m an Arctic explorer. I’m directly supporting people who may make it possible for men to do longer term explorations of the moon and maybe someday Mars!  That’s a pretty fantastic way to spend a birthday.

I saw several of these in front of houses in Resolute this one is protecting the airport

I come back (to reality and the kitchen) and make peanut butter fudge.

After lunch I take another long break including a nap. It’s starting to cool down and get cloudy.

Dinner—Gnocchi from instant potatoes, pineapple glazed Ham, salad and veggies.  It’s a big hit!

At our evening meeting we learn that Pascal has made amazing progress and is less than 12 miles away. He hopes to be in camp by midnight. This puts everyone at ease.  Sometime Thursday Jody Shapiro the documentary maker will be leaving camp. From my point of view this is important because some more/different food will come in.

 John has fixed the incinerator. Mark is “over joyed’ to have to spend the entire day tomorrow burning trash.

The robotic arm can pick up a rock!

Rob and Anna-Lisa got great samples today. Each year they compare the variety and amount of plant life in various locations on the island.

There are mosquitoes! They are a recent arrival to the Arctic. According to Ben the Urban Legend says that some scientist brought them up about 10 years ago and after doing experiments on their reaction to the Arctic let them go assuming the would die over the winter.

The temp is dropping and the clouds are getting heavy. Everyone says to prepare for a cold wet day! Well it’s about time.

I grab a shower before the rain!  But I’m in the shower house all ready to step in when I realize that I forgot to change the valve in the kitchen that allows the water from the heater to go to the shower. So I get a short cold shower but hey I’m in the arctic was expecting comfort. 

Everyone is still up working—fearing that the rain tomorrow will decrease their productivity. I have been sent to my room to relax and enjoy the evening.  Several people brought movies for the lap tops I may grab one or just go back to Sherlock Holmes.