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Monday, February 14th, 2005
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10:54 pm - Valentine's Day!
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Well hello hello! It's been a rediculously outrageous amount of time since I've done this and I'm not even sure that anyone will still be checking here for updates, but here goes anyways! It's Valentine's Day here in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado, my new home. I've finally gotten back into the groove of being a college student and I'm having a great time doing it. I'll be turning the big 22 in exactly two weeks, and I'm having luke warm feelings about it, I'm feeling a little old, but I guess it's inevitable! This weekend I'm planning on hitting the town with a vengance because it's a friends birthday, we are going to just get absolutely retarted! The following weekend I'll be celebrating my birthday, and the weekend after that it's Vegas time! I'm headed to Vegas on March 4, and going to party like a porn star baby! It's my first time to Vegas, I'm a bit afraid that it will take me a week to recover! :D I just finished up some homework and bout to chill, lay back and watch some TV, but I thought I'd let the world know what I'm up to. Well I'm gonna bounce, but I'll be posting more info later!
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| Tuesday, April 20th, 2004
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8:00 pm - It's Been a Long Time
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I know, I know it's about damn time! Sorry it's been so long since I've written in this thing, and especially sorry to those faithfull viewers (you know who you are). Alot has gone on since I've been back. I've taken multiple trips to Phoenix, Alamagordo, Rangely, and Denver all in less than two full months. It's alot of traveling, but I'm also really enjoying it. I don't have a job right now because no employer in thier right mind is going to hire someone who needs as much time off as I do. I recently got back from Denver where I went to the Raytheon Polar Services Job Fair to see some of my old ice friends. It was really great to see them again, made me feel almost at home. I stayed with my friend Erin and had a great time. On Saturday I spent all day at the job fair chatting with old friends and applying for jobs for next season, later that night Erin and I went to a few bars in downtown Denver which was really sweet. Sunday we went to Elitch Gardens, rode two rides and pretty much stood in line the rest of the day, but I still had a blast. Sunday night was the best time I think I've actually had since I left the ice, we went to the Grizzly Rose and country danced all night. All in all it was the perfect vacation, but it also had a purpose which justifies the previous. I needed the vacation time in lue of the recent events that took place. It was a pretty damn rough week last week and I really needed a pick-me-up. I'm not going to air out my dirty laundry but those of you closest to me know exactly what I'm talking about. To make things even brighter I got a free Rockies ticket and a free Elitch Gardens ticket for whenever I want, ain't that something! :) I had a presentation in Rangely a few weeks ago and it actually went really well, I also had alot of fun up there, partying mostly! :D Right now I'm getting ready for another presentation/conference/convention in Denver in May for the new interns and to also meet with the Raytheon board about the program and it's flaws. I'm very excited to go back to Denver and meet up with a few more ice friends that I didn't get the chance to see this weekend. Right after I return from Denver I'll be traveling with my parents to Tennessee to visit my uncle, which I'm also looking forward to. And in the middle of the summer I'm heading to Mexico with my best friends for a weekend of totall dibotchary! I've pretty much decided that if I don't get the job on the ice this next season I'm going to get out of Cortez one way or another, so I'll probably move somewhere, possibly Phoenix or Denver. We'll see I guess, I'm just really hoping I get to go back down to the ice this next season. Anyways I'm going to sign off for now, but I'll try and write back soon.
SHOUT OUTS:
CLINT-You know I love you Kid and I'm going to try and make up there as soon as I can so we can spend some time together!
NEW KID-Hey Punk! Hope your partying for the both of us, although I'd probably do a better job! haha Love/Miss you!
KYLE-Hey daddy! Look I finally wrote!! I'll probably talk to you soon because you'll probably get off early! haha j/k! Love you sweety!
MISTY-Hey Ass!! So I hear you were in town today and didn't even call me! Well give me a call later! I love you cuz!
LACEY-Hey girly, I'll give you a call later this week to go to a movie or go play pool at the Brewery or something, k! Love ya!
CRAIGY POO-I love you boy, your my lil brother! I'm so proud of you and I'm happy for you. P.S. thanks for planning around me!
ICIES:You all know who you are, if I didn't see you this weekend I hope to see you when I go back up to Denver in May, but I miss ya'll and hope your having fun doing whatever it is you do until it's time to go back! ;) Hope to see you back on the ice this season!
current mood:  cheerful
current music: Redneck Woman-Gretchen Wilson
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| Friday, March 19th, 2004
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12:42 am - Somewhere in the Inbetween
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Well I've been home now for a while and the not having a job thing is really starting to get to me. Everyone else has things to do and I'm just sitting here because right now is my quiet time. However I will be traveling alot this summer and taking three online classes that don't really promise to be easy so I'm very conflicted about the whole situation. Kyle, and Craigy Poo are both suppose to be comming home this weekend and I'm so excited! I can't wait for all of us to be together again! I just hope that we can all get along without anyone fighting, but I have a feeling that that isn't going to happen. I was going through some of my stuff that is packed away in boxes today and came across a journal that I was keeping before I left for the ice. I was absolutley pathetic when it came to Kris, I was reading some letters and entries that I'd had written for or about him and I was so ashamed at how blind I was. I'm only glad that I had my friends to help me realize what an asshole he really was. Tonight I went over to my friend Candace's house, where she wanted me to meet her husbands friend from Florida that just moved here. Well I really hate being set up to see if I like anyone and I didn't find myself attracted to him at all. I'd like to have someone to hold right now, but I'm not sure if I want a relationship. Actually I'm pretty sure that I don't want a relationship because it's too much of an obligation, but then again it would be so great to have someone there to warm the lonley nights, and not physically. I've been there and done the whole physical thing and I'm just not looking for that anymore. Wow, I'm really rambling on aren't I. Owell thats what journals are for right? Maybe I'm just confused because right now I don't do anything but sit here and think about it all. Maybe I need to stop thinking! :) I should probably be spending my time working on my project and resume, but I'm a procrastinator at heart so I don't imagine I'll be doing that, but I have the best intentions of it. Well I'm having three different conversations right now so I think I'm going to sign off, but I'll write again soon, and hopefully with a little more faith and maybe even some answers to my questions! :)
SHOUT OUTS:
Misty-I love you girl and I'm so happy for you!
Craigy Poo-I know that you don't ever read this but I want to tell you I'm glad your comming and I love you!
Kyle-Don't worry, your a great guy and I'm sure Krista will realize how great you are! Love you Punk and can't wait to see you this weekend!
Clint-Don't worry son, things happen for a reason, I want you to know that I love you no matter what and I'm always here for you! See you in April!
current mood:  confused
current music: Until The Day I Die-Story of the Year
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| Tuesday, March 2nd, 2004
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10:53 am - There's No Place Like Home
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Well I've been home now for just over a week and it feels really good to be back here. I just turned 21, but here in Cortez there isn't many places to celebrate that, however I did fine on my birthday. It's kinda nice being in a small town because everyone cares about each other, and are very kind. I went into a bar called the Hollywood, which holds many childhood memories for me, and had a couple drinks, and the entire bar sang me happy birthday, many of whom I remember from when I was ten years old! I'm headed to Phoenix this weekend to see one of my best friends and I'm really excited because I really, really missed him and it really stinks that he's not here with me now. It will be really good to see him. Then the following weekend I'm heading up to Albequerque to see my other very good friend Craigy Poo (he'd probably kill me if he knew I announced his nickname!) which will be very fun because no matter whats going on this kid can always make me laugh. I'm trying to work on my project but I find myself a bit distracted by the fact that I still haven't recieved some personal items that I mailed back to myself from the ice total bulox, I hope it gets here soon. I also lost my mom's digital camera in the rental car in New Zealand so right now I'm trying to track that down because it had some really great pictures on it that I want to use in my presentations. I'm starting to get a little bored and scared about money right now because with everything going on from here til July I really don't know if I can get a job being gone as much as I will be. I know I probably won't be bored because I'm going to try and take three classes online this summer all hard ones and I'll need to devote most of my time to that with the exception of everything else I have going on, but money really scares me. I'm hoping maybe that I can get a part time job somewhere, but we'll see. I'm going to try not to stress about it right now, I'm still counting on my bonus check. I have a feeling that this summer is going to be a good one, as compared to last summer I don't think it could be worse! ;) I'm excited to not see snow for a while, I've seen enough of it recentely, and I'm going back for more hopefully! Anyways, to everyone that has been waiting on me to come home, I love you guys and can't wait to see all of you!! I haven't done these in a while!
Shout Outs:
Misty-Were going to have a blast going to see Kyle and Craigy Poo, I'm so glad I'm home, I missed you jigga!
Kyle-I can't wait to see you this weekend punk!! I love you!
Craigy Poo-I know your never checking this but I wanted to shout out that I love you too and can't wait to see you!
Clint-Clintimus I can't wait to come up to Junction and see you, we are going to go get ripped up!! Love/Miss you!
New Kid-You'd better get your little punk ass down to Junction when I come up there, I really can't wait to see my little Pimp!! Love/Miss You!!
Lucy-Hey girly, I can't wait til you come home this summer, start up the ole MLB Monday tradition again! Ya!! Can't wait to see you!!
Ice People-Yes you all know who you are! I had a great time this season and can't wait to see those of you returning for next season, it's going to be a blast! Thanks for the memories!!
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| Thursday, February 19th, 2004
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6:25 pm - Headin' Home!
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Well I've just gotten back from a road trip around west coast, down to the south, and back up the east coast of the South Island in New Zealand. My friend Susan and I found a rental car for $50 a day, and our other friends Rianna and Sean jumped in with us to split costs and we headed out on our mini adventure. We started out at about 12pm on the 15th of Feb. and headed over to Greymouth on the west coast and whitnessed a natural spectacle called the Pancake Rocks, rocks that had been erroded from waves of the Pacific Ocean to form the shape of stacked pancakes. It was incredible, along with viewing the west coast in general. We found a place right on the beach and made camp, I slept in the car while the rest slept out in tents, as I didn't bring any camping gear with me. The next day we headed down the coast, our intention was to reach a place called Queenstown, but had to stop in a place called Wanaka. Wanaka was beautiful, we made camp just outside of it, then the next day went to Puzzle World and did the Great Maze. It was wicked fun and took almost two hours to figure out. After that we broke camp and headed to Queenstown. We found a great site in Queenstown, made camp then headed out to check out the city. We went to a great Irish Pub called Pog Mahones, ate and had a couple beers. After checking out a few of the shops we went back to camp to get dressed and went out on the town to a place called Dux de Lux, and had quite a few beers. After which we stopped in on a couple other clubs and settled back at Pog Mahones. Queenstown wasn't as impressive as it's reputation had said. We left Susan in Queenstown, so she could continue her backpacking trip from there, then headed down to Milford Sound. Milford Sound was spectacular! No words could give it's beauty justice. It started to storm so we decided to leave and head out to find a camp site near Dunedin (the second largest city in the South Island). We made camp about 15km outside of Dunedin and settled for the night. The following morning we drove into Dunedin to check it out a bit, but ended up getting there before anything opened. Our next destination was back to Christchurch. I could give more detail of my trip and the sights I saw, but words just can't describe. Rianna said it best "The scenery just don't quite!!" It's truly beautiful in every sense of the word, and all I can do is hope that my pictures give it half the justice it deserves. Well I've got to go now, I'm going out then leaving tomorrow. See you Soone!!
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| Monday, February 9th, 2004
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6:40 pm - Chillin' in Chch!!
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Well I've been here in Christchurch for about three days now walking around and taking in the sights. I went to Sumner beach yesterday and got to rub my feet in the sand for the first time in I don't even know how long. I also got the opportunity to pet a dog, trust me, I'll never take that for granted again!! :) I also took care of my tickets today and finalized them, I'm scheduled to leave here on the 20th of this month and I'm assuming that I'll arrive on the 20th back in the states since I'm crossing the international date line once again. I miss being on the ice, but it's so nice to not have to worry about going back into work, it's also nice to be able to decide when I want to hang out with anyone and when I want to have Brittany time. I'm staying at Charlie B's a backpackers hostel (something I've never done before) and at first I didn't know if I was cut out for it's style, but now I'm finding more and more that I really like it. Nearly everyone here is my age, it's got a beautiful courtyard in the back, a spacious t.v. lounge near my room, and a kitchen to make your own food, oh and an internet kiosk. What more do you need really. I was thinking about taking a day trip out to Akoura in the next couple of days, just a leisurely trip to take in some different scenery. I just caught a flyer saying that I can rent a car for $19 a day, which sounds great, although I'm not sure if I'm ready to drive on the "wrong side of the road" yet, that and the drivers here are crazy! The roads are all very narrow, almost as if there isn't room for all of the houses and stores here. Well I'm going to go call my friend Ricky and see if he wants to hang out tonight, then I'll probably head over to Bailies to welcome in the next flight of "ice people" as we are commonly refered to. 'Til the next time! Cheers!
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| Saturday, February 7th, 2004
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4:58 pm - Back in Christchurch!
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Well, I'm back in Christchurch and eager to start my vacation. I'm short on finances so I plan on taking it easy on spending and backpacking to the places I'd like to see. Today was a day for me to sort out where I'm going to be staying, what I'd like to do with my two weeks, and where I'd like to go. I got a little lost in the Visitors Center today and ended up with about 15-20 different pamplets on places I'd like to go and things I'd like to do. We'll just have to wait and see if my finances get me to them. I was so taken back when I stepped of the plane last night to see actual stars, the moon, and smell the humid air of New Zealand. It's great to be back!! Last night and tonight I'm staying at the YMCA, however $45 a night for a week is a bit much for my budget right now, so I've decided to make arrangements to stay at Charlie B's (a backpackers hostile). I'll be staying in a 4 person dorm room, something I've never really done before, but I know I'll enjoy meeting fellow travelers. Tomorrow I'm hoping to go horse back riding about 15 minutes outside of CHC, it should be just the relaxing ride I need. I'm anxious to see all that I can while I'm here but I'm also anxious to get home and see my family and friends, all in good time. I went to the Botanic Gardens today and let me tell what a beautiful thing it is to see plant life again, in full blossom!! Well I'm going to go grab a bite to eat and head over to Bailey's to meet up with Schuey, Jacob, and Jean. I'll write again soon! Hope all is well, and to all my friends (new and old) I miss you and love you!!
Cheers,
Brittany
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| Sunday, January 18th, 2004
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5:05 pm - Getting close to leaving the Ice!
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Happy New Year!! Wow it's been a while!! It's really easy to lose track of time here. Well it's steadily approahing time to leave and I'm getting a bit excited! I'm excited to not have to work all the time, it's vacation time!! I'm also anxious to get home and see my family and friends. However I am really, really going to miss this place. It's by far one of the most life changing experiences that I've ever had, and I'm only 20! As far as traveling goes, we are spending two weeks in Christchurch, then off to Hawaii for ten days in order to celebrate my 21st birthday in Waikiki!! I would like to travel alot more, but I just can't afford to this year. However next year I'm letting loose and going every where I can. I have exactly two weeks and three days until I leave and I'm not quite sure I'm ready. I hate saying goodbye, even though half of these people I'll probably never see again. I must say @ times it's been very challenging, being in this living situation, not ever really being able to escape let alone have the time for it. I saw two killer whales the other night and it was the epidemy of being in Antarctica for me! I've met so many amazing people here that I really want to keep in touch with. Well I'm going to take a tour of the Nathaniel B. Palmer ship at 3pm today so I'd better go for now, but I will write again soon. To all my friends and family, I miss you and love you sooo much, and I'll be home soon!!! :)
current mood:  accomplished
current music: Oh Baby-Cameron
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| Monday, January 5th, 2004
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5:18 pm
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Well, it's been a little while since my last entry, things have been a little crazy with the holidays. But now it's a New Year, welcom 2004, and it's time to start thinking about what I'm going to do when I leave this wonderful place. I have met so many great people and had so many great times here that it's going to be very hard to say goodbye. I'm in the process of designing a power point presentation about my time here, with tons of pictures! It's just been very difficult to try and explain through journal entries and photos, it just doesn't give this extreme place justice. I went out with the other interns last Sunday and layed down next to a big, fat seal while it was sleeping, things like that are just too amazing to try and explain. Yesterday all the interns climbed Ob Hill, and as we got about two thirds of the way to the top this low cloud, fog if you will just engulfed the lower half of the mountain, it was absolutely breath taking. However it's been difficult to find the energy to do things like this all the time, when you work as much as we do here, you find yourself very tired and just wanted to relax before you have to turn around and go back to work. I don't mean to come off as sounding overly confident, but you have to be a pretty extrodinary person to get along down here. It's hard, but the benefits are well worth it. I'm sure I've changed since I've come down here, alot of things seem a bit different in my eyes now, but I'm wondering what everybody who knew me before are going to say. I wonder how much I've changed, and if they'll feel it's for the better or worse. Work is work, but I'm having fun, getting out and just hanging out. I miss all of you at home, you know who you are. I love you guys, without your support I would have nothing.
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| Saturday, December 20th, 2003
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4:27 pm - Merry Christmas!
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Well, it's been a while since I've written last, but my schedule has been pretty hectic lately. I just finished my online class a few days ago which is a huge relief. I got out to the sea ice a little over a week ago and got to play with radar. I went out in a Piston Bully, which looks like a mini tank. I went out there with a girl on the Glacier Project to read radar that detects how deep the ice goes before it turns into water. We also found the Brine Layer, which is a segment of ice into which a little bit of sea water has penetrated. We also had a big balloon launch here last Wednesday, the balloon was the size of 2 football fields, and I'm assuming it's to measure the ozone layer, or something atmospheric like that. It's starting to feel a little more like Christmas now, however I really, really miss my friends and family @ this point. Today and tomorrow are my Christmas because I have to work when the rest of the community has theirs. We had a Galley Christmas party last Sunday in one of the distinguished visitor houses. Great food, of course, great wine, and the best company anyone could ask for. I've realized that my department is one big crazy family, I wouldn't trade any of them. We have way too much fun together and we all love each other. Looking back now, there isn't any other job I would rather have had my first season here. Well I've blabbed on long enough, so I'm going to go enjoy my Christmas now. Merry Christmas to me!! Happy Holidays to all of you out there!! To all of my friends and family, I'm really missing you all right now, but I love you and there isn't a moment when your not in my thoughts.
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| Sunday, November 30th, 2003
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4:27 pm - Happy Holidays
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Today is the day after Thanksgiving, I survived working my first holiday and it was actually really fun. Today I’m a little homesick, for pretty much the first time since I’ve been here. People are on a whole different level here, they all realize how incredibly lucky they are to be on this pristine continent, but there’s something in me that aches a little for home. Although I’m not nearly ready to go home, the comforts of it seem to be lingering in my heart today. Today I imagine myself at home, jumping in my car and driving somewhere to meet my friends or go on a road trip. I’m not feeling very good today, and on top of that I’m pretty grumpy, all while at the point where I’m about to cry. I knew it was going to hit me some day, and I’m just a little slower at it than everyone else. I am homesick and I do really miss my friends and family back at home, I would almost do anything to have them here with me, even for one day so I could hug them and tell them how much I love them and have missed them. I’m sorry that my entry for today is a little depressing, but keep in mind that this is all about me being able to convey all my thoughts and feelings. Besides nobody said that you had to be sad when you’re homesick. I’m not sad by any means, but I have that silent whisper of nostalgia calling my name. I suppose it’s normal to be homesick during the holidays so I’m going to write it off for now. I’m suppose to go to work tomorrow morning at 6am, but I’m coughing and achy so I don’t know how well that’s going to go, but I’m pretty sure I have to go until at least 8am when Medical opens because I can’t really go home without a doctor calling to confirm that I am in fact sick. Tonight is ‘Burger Bar’, where they have hamburgers and curly fries, just like at home so I’m pretty excited about that! Ya! J In general things are going well here, the weather is pretty bad today, it’s a Condition 2, where Condition 1 is where you can’t see two feet in front of you and Condition 3 is very good weather. I’m still having a blast here, I went to the bar last night and hung out with a lot of the people I work with “galley workers” and every one else at the bar gathered a collection of money to buy all the “galley workers” free drinks, it was a really awesome gesture. During each of the three seatings for Thanksgiving yesterday they brought the entire kitchen staff out and everybody eating gave us a standing ovation, at that moment I was very proud to be a DA, I felt very appreciated. So my boss made all of us “galley workers” take shots of Yager with him, yuck!!!! So as you can tell by my story I got extremely drunk last night. I’ve built up a hell of a tolerance here, to where 6 drinks is a bit of light drinking, that doesn’t even get me a buzz anymore. Owell, if it weren’t for the nightlife here nobody would make it through the workweek. Well kiddies that’s all I have for now, but I’ll write again soon. To all of my family and friends, especially now during the holiday season, I love you very much and miss you. You are all my inspiration and I only hope that I can represent what you’ve all taught me. Take a minute right now to just imagine that I’m there with you now, feel the comfort of the hug I would give you. I love you guys!! Happy Thanksgiving!
Brittany
current mood:  crappy
current music: Fall into Me-Emerson Drive
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| Sunday, November 16th, 2003
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11:51 pm - Amazing
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Well it's November 16th right now, and I've been here for a month and a day now. Yah me!! :) No it really is fun down here, today I got up early did some homework, went to the fire house for an expo and became an official Super Hero!! dadadaaaaa! :) Then I came back, ate some dinner, climbed Obb Hill, then chilled and watched a movie. All in all it was a pretty productive day, keeping in mind that it's my one day off! :) It's back to the grind again tomorrow for another six days, but owell it's completely worth it. I went to Happy Camper school a couple weekends ago which was a blast!! We built snow walls, carved them out of the snow with saws, and built a hollowed out cave of snow, and pitched a couple tents. I learned alot and along with my fellow interns we had really great time! :) I'll be posting some great pics on yahoo really soon so ya'll can laugh and see what it's like down here, although no explanation can truley give it justice. When I was sitting on Obb Hill tonight looking around me I still can't believe I'm here. I could see everything from there, when you live, eat and work in the same building like I do it's really easy to just disregard the fact that you in ANTARCTICA! I'm really glad I got out today and did something. Well I'm going to head up to bed tomorrow, working the ole 11am-9pm then possibly going out after that! Well I miss everyone and I hope you are all doing well, email me at brittany.sparks@usap.gov if you want to chat! :) Love and best wishes! :)
Brittany
current mood: excited
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| Tuesday, November 4th, 2003
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9:49 am - Not Enough Hours in the Day!
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Well I’ve been here in Antarctica now for a little over two weeks and it really doesn’t seem that long at all. I’m getting into a routine here now, however it seems as if the days all run together and I can hardly keep track of them. This really is just a wonderful place and very easy to get hooked on. I never realized how hard it was to get here in the first place, but there are thousands of people biting at the ankles just to be a DA(dinning hall attendant) or GA(General Assistant) here. Being a DA that’s about as low on the food chain as you can get here, but all the people I work with have at least a Bachelors degree in something, and many have Masters degrees. It amazes me that they would do anything just to be here, and I was lucky enough to get here through an internship. Sometimes I forget where I am and I have to stop and take a good look around me and have pride in myself for getting here. It’s like no other place on Earth and all the people here are at a higher level (in my opinion) of intelligence simply because they were smart enough to come here, however there is an insanity factor in there as well! j/k I really want to come back next year with a better job, which I’m pretty sure I’ll get offered. People here are just absolutely amazing, everyone volunteers to go work somewhere else on their day off, or their free nights. The bars, gear issue, dive tenders, the library, almost everything is based off of a volunteer basis. I’m thinking about volunteering at many different departments on my days off in the coming months, that way I’ll have experience and will have met the supervisors in the departments, plus I will be doing my part to keep the community going. This last Sunday all the interns and myself headed out to Cape Evans, where Scott’s hut is located. I was soooo incredible, it seemed as if nothing had tarnished that everything was left in its place. There was a dead penguin on a table in the hut, and it hadn’t decayed in the least bit, since 1917!! We also made our way up the hill to pay our respects to the three men who died on the expedition and sat in the sun lounging for a while. We also went and had a little fun with the ice cracks, and ice fishing. The only negative thing about being here is lack of spare time at all, they keep you so busy here you feel like your constantly spinning in circles, there just aren’t enough hours in the day (even though it’s daylight all the time). I’m also starting the paperwork to stay in Christchurch, NZ to work for the “winter” then come back here in the “summer”, I’m applying for a work visa and beginning to look for a job and a place to stay. Although I do miss everyone I left at home, I feel like I have to take this opportunity for me, it’s really changed my life thus far and I can’t wait to see what it will bring in the future. Well I’ve blabbed on long enough for this entry and in closing I just want to thank all the people who got me here, you all know who you are, you’ll never know how much it means to me to have your help and support.
Sincerely,
Brittany L. Sparks
current mood: accomplished
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| Wednesday, October 22nd, 2003
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9:42 am - The Ice Safe and Sound!
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Today will be my 4th day of work down here in Antarctica. It's a crap job, but I get to see everyone and meet new people everyday, also it keeps me busy and running around so the time goes by faster. Hopefully we're voting on Thursday to switch shifts every week. One week will be 11am-9pm and the next week will be 6am-4pm. It's hella long hours but we have breaks and different tasks so it breaks the monotony. Something I've heard of that sounds very interesting is Dive Tending. This is a volunteer excersise in which the 'dive tender' would accompany a diver to the sea ice to aide him/her in getting in and out of the water, while in the process the 'dive tender' would get to go out to the sea ice, learn some potentially very important information and get the chance to see wildlife! This Sunday Erin and I are going to take a tour of Curry Lab and the aquarium, then possibly hook up with a scientist to begin our projects. Today is Jacobs birthday so we are going to help him celebrate this evening, like any good friend would do. :) Also, the interns are having a meeting tonight @ 6:30pm with the HR crew, Erin and I have also invited our Supervisors to attend to give them a heads up on the program and what all it entails. I'm hoping we will receive our cameras tonight as well. The dorms look very much like college dorms, we don't have a TV yet but we are working on it. I keep hearing that everyone is suppose to get depressed during their first week here, however mine is flying by and I couldn't be happier! :) Although I guess it could be because I have comforts of home, friends that I'm very comfortable with (Erin and Jacob). So far my online teacher has been very nice and willing to work with me, which is great. At this point I'm going to start looking into getting a job in New Zealand and staying until August. The only thing holding me back right now is that my best friend is having a baby soon and if I stayed I would miss out on the first 8-9 months of William Jr.'s life, which I don't want to do. On the other hand, I'm never going to get the chance to be in New Zealand basically for free again! The plane tickets were $1800 and that was probably at a discounted price!! As it stands right now my tickets are open ended until August so why not take advantage right! I guess we'll just see what happens! (I love saying that!!) Right now I'm going to focus on all the fun I'm having and going to be having here on the ice! Well I'm going to try and download some pics from my camera, however there is only one comp. with a USB Port, so I don't know how well thats going to go.
Shout Out:
To all my friends and family, don't freak out yet and email me if you have questions and concerns, I want to know what you think! I'm trying to get pics out to you as soon as I can but it's very hard to get a computer, let alone the only one with a USB Port. I miss you all, love you, and I'm always thinking of you!! :)
current mood:  crazy
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9:42 am - The Ice Safe and Sound!
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Today will be my 4th day of work down here in Antarctica. It's a crap job, but I get to see everyone and meet new people everyday, also it keeps me busy and running around so the time goes by faster. Hopefully we're voting on Thursday to switch shifts every week. One week will be 11am-9pm and the next week will be 6am-4pm. It's hella long hours but we have breaks and different tasks so it breaks the monotony. Something I've heard of that sounds very interesting is Dive Tending. This is a volunteer excersise in which the 'dive tender' would accompany a diver to the sea ice to aide him/her in getting in and out of the water, while in the process the 'dive tender' would get to go out to the sea ice, learn some potentially very important information and get the chance to see wildlife! This Sunday Erin and I are going to take a tour of Curry Lab and the aquarium, then possibly hook up with a scientist to begin our projects. Today is Jacobs birthday so we are going to help him celebrate this evening, like any good friend would do. :) Also, the interns are having a meeting tonight @ 6:30pm with the HR crew, Erin and I have also invited our Supervisors to attend to give them a heads up on the program and what all it entails. I'm hoping we will receive our cameras tonight as well. The dorms look very much like college dorms, we don't have a TV yet but we are working on it. I keep hearing that everyone is suppose to get depressed during their first week here, however mine is flying by and I couldn't be happier! :) Although I guess it could be because I have comforts of home, friends that I'm very comfortable with (Erin and Jacob). So far my online teacher has been very nice and willing to work with me, which is great. At this point I'm going to start looking into getting a job in New Zealand and staying until August. The only thing holding me back right now is that my best friend is having a baby soon and if I stayed I would miss out on the first 8-9 months of William Jr.'s life, which I don't want to do. On the other hand, I'm never going to get the chance to be in New Zealand basically for free again! The plane tickets were $1800 and that was probably at a discounted price!! As it stands right now my tickets are open ended until August so why not take advantage right! I guess we'll just see what happens! (I love saying that!!) Right now I'm going to focus on all the fun I'm having and going to be having here on the ice! Well I'm going to try and download some pics from my camera, however there is only one comp. with a USB Port, so I don't know how well thats going to go.
Shout Out:
To all my friends and family, don't freak out yet and email me if you have questions and concerns, I want to know what you think! I'm trying to get pics out to you as soon as I can but it's very hard to get a computer, let alone the only one with a USB Port. I miss you all, love you, and I'm always thinking of you!! :)
current mood: crazy
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| Wednesday, October 15th, 2003
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12:50 pm - Delays!
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Well it's about 1:00pm Oct. 15th New Zealand time. Erin and I were suppose to fly out yesterday and today but that didn't happen. :( As of now we are suppose to be leaving tomorrow, however we haven't recieved a fax saying either way so it's still up in the air!! I'm excited to get on with it, but I'm really starting to love it here in Christchurch. It's so beautiful, it's lush and green, all the plants are so alive and colorful. i really never imagined it would be this amazing. You can snowboard and surf in the same day! It's absolutley insane! The flights here were so boring and uncomfortable but I would do it all over again just to spend a few days here. If you stop and listen you hear the sound of birds constantly, it's so abnormal because it's almost as if you were in the jungle?? Sometimes I'm not even sure I'm in a different country because they speak English here and there are McDonalds for crying out loud!!! :) It's very funny when we hear the locals comment US on OUR accents!! We had orientation Sunday where we learned quite a bit about whats going to happen when we do finally fly out. We were also issued our ice gear. This meant trying everything on to make sure it was going to be comfortable when we got to the ice. I'm just now realizing what an amazing opportunity this is for me. I am so glad that I jumped @ this when I did because it's definatley something I will never forget. The food down here is definatley a trip, it's very English/European orientated, very good though I might add. I sometimes feel like we're walking around with a big spotlight shining down on us, that everyone here can identify us as 'Americans' with out so much as a second glance. It's wicked weird. Luckily we've met a couple guys who were nice enough to take time out of their schedules to be our personal tour guides, which has been really amazing. I miss all my family and friends @ home, I just wish they were here to enjoy paradise with me. Today is the second day that the weather has cooperated and been very, very beautiful. The past days were very dreary, or dodgy as they say here, and rainy. Well that's enough babbling for one day, however I will be writing again soon! :)
I don't really have much time for Shout Outs anymore, I just want to send out warm wishes for all my friends and family!! I love you guys, and miss you (you all know who you are).
current mood: excited
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| Saturday, October 11th, 2003
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4:12 pm - Finally in New Zealand!
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Well after about 15 hours of traveling by air I'm finally in Christchurch, New Zealand. It's strikingly beautiful and I can't wait to continue on to Antarctica. I lost a day in travel, but I will make it up on the way home! :) I have orientation tomorrow, where I get to ask all of the Raytheon head guys alot of stupid questions! :) I'm really looking forward to meeting all the diverse people signed up for this adventure. I've already met a few and I'm sure that this is going to be a positive journey. To everyone back at home, I miss you, I love you and I'm always thinking of you!! :) I'll write later when I have more time, as for now I have to be a tourist ;)
current mood:  anxious
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| Sunday, October 5th, 2003
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10:32 pm - Some last moments
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Well it's Sunday night and I spent all day watching football with my papa, then I went and hung out with my cousin Misty, my friends Kyle, Lacey, and Amanda. I said goodbye to Misty and Kyle tonight, we left it as a good goodbye, one where all of us were smiling. I'm really going to miss them, knowing that I won't be able to just go see them whenever I want to kills me. I was going to go see Clint, best friend, before I left but he would also like to have the memory of us smiling together rather than crying. I can say as I blame them all, smiles are a good note to end on. I have to around tomorrow also and say goodbye to a few more friends, which is going to be hard, but I know they'll all be there for me anytime. It really hasn't hit me yet but I know it will once I'm on the road, or in the air for that matter! It's been a great summer and I won't forget any of it, but it's time to embark on my great adventure and I'm ready. I haven't even started packing yet, and truthfully have no idea what to pack at that, I'm sure I'll wait until Tuesday night because I tend to procrastinate. I just want to say to all my friends that I love you and I'll be thinking about you (while I'm freezing my butt off!) and to have fun (even though I know it won't be as great without me! hahaha j/k). I'll keep you all posted on how everything is going and I hope that you'll all do the same! :) You've all inspired me, kept me sane, and you'll always have a strong place in my heart. Each and everyone of you is unique and enrich a part of my life, stay the way you are, at least until I get back!! :) I'll miss you all terribly, but I'll see you when I get back so don't get all mushy on me! j/k Well I've got a very long day ahead of me tomorrow so I'm gonna go watch some tv and probably doze off. I'll write again as soon as I get time seeing as I've a very busy girl, but I'm sure it will be soon. "I'd rather regret the things I've done, than the things I haven't"
SHOUT OUTS!! (this is gonna be a long one!)
CLINT- Hey handsome! I love you and I'll miss you so much, but just remember the 'good ole days' and keep that wonderful smile on your face!!
MISTY- What up Jigga!! I'm so very proud of how much you've grown this summer and I'm thankful we got to spend the time together that we did this summer, I love you and miss ya.
KYLE- Stay amazing, your one of my best friends and I'll love you always. I'll bring you back a bottle of Antarctica water!! I miss ya already, but I'll see you when I get back!
LACEY- Have fun in high school, stay strong and smart. Take care of Craigy Poo for me and give him my love. I'm so thankful that we got the chance to get to know each other, your a wonderful young lady and I have high hopes for you! Love ya/miss ya.
LUCY- Don't forget MLB Mondays and when I come up to the east coast we're gonna rock that place!! Be strong (you know what I mean) and don't come away from an experience with the regret of not doing something! Love ya/miss ya!
NEW KID- Spartan Pride!! Represent at good ole CNCC for me punk, we had some great drunken times and I'll miss you! love ya!
BAD- No matter how you change your still always Bad to me, your a great kid, and I love ya and miss ya!
CANDACE- No matter where I go and what I do you'll always be family to me, I can't wait to come back and see little William (hope he's just like you! haha) and you. I love you girlie and I will miss you.
BRIANNA- Hey chica! You've been there for me through hard times, congradulations on marrying the man of your dreams, and I hope you two have many happy moments. I love you and will miss you.
current mood: grateful
current music: The Rememdy-Jason Mraz
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| Friday, October 3rd, 2003
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9:59 pm - 5 days!!....
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Well, tomorrow is my last day of work, and my friend Kyle is comming down with his gf so I'm excited and a bit skeptical to meet her. However so far she kind of reminds me of me in a sense that she's really nice from what I know of her. I'm getting them a room tommorrow at the hotel, I feel good because I'm doing something nice for my friend. I talked to best friend Clinton Milner tonight online because my other best friend Erin was SUPPOSE to call but never did. I sometimes wonder if I've lived up to my motto in life, although I say I do, ther are two people that I think I regret not being with. Now that life is moving so fast I wish so much that it would slow down and that everything could stay the same. But now I realize that can't be, in order to hold on to one or more memories you have to really live it up and realize that it's not going to last forever. Try everything, even if it doesn't work out at least you know you tried. I wish I would have taken my own advice. I don't want to watch my life pass me by and make the biggest mistake of my life because I did so. In 5 days I leave the continent and all that I can think about is all the people I want to see before I go. I haven't even started packing and it's less than a week away. I'm going to miss so many people, I can only hope that I will be as good a friend as all my friends have been to me. When I sit and think about it, I've been truley blessed with all the friends I've had. I don't know why it's so hard for me to write in my journal these days, maybe it's because everything I want to express is so profound that I'm afraid to share it? It's so hard for me not to be forgiving and nice, but in a certain instance I must be. Well thats enough rambling for tonight, I'll probably write Sunday night! :D
current mood:  blah
current music: I Promise You-N'sync
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| Sunday, September 28th, 2003
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11:05 pm - Yesterday
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I almost wish that I could go back to a certain period in time, when I didn't know what was going to happen. Why do we miss so much of yesterday? For some reason, I'm extremely emotional tonight, so bear with me. It's finally setting in that I'm going to be across the world from most (not all) of the people I care most about in the world, and that scares me. I'm so bad at keeping in touch with friends, I'm afraid that I'll screw up and lose some of the best friends I've ever had. I guess whats meant to be will be, but I don't want to lose them. I guess I should cowgirl up and face the fast lane! I always talk about how I'm ready for change, however I never said that it didn't suck at the same time. Time draws yet closer for me to embark on my adventure and I'm excited, but nervous and scared at the same time. I guess thats the way it's suppose to be though. Well I have to get up early to call my friend tomorrow morning, so I'll write tomorrow.
SHOUT OUTS!!
LUCY-Bite the bullet hun!! I have faith in you, love you girl and miss ya!!
DEVIN- Hey Ma, Whats up...We gonna get it on tonight!! Still thinkin of you and our crazy nights!! love ya/miss ya!
CLINT-Clintimus, so I haven't talked to you in forever so I'm gonna call you tomorrow or the day after! Love you and I miss you!
CANDACE-I love you girl, William is going to be the blessing you've been longing for in your life, and I will always be here for you!
current mood: drunk
current music: I can't read you-Daniel Beddingfield
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