have an ICE day

Monday, December 11, 2006

The Past Week

The weeks are still flying by. A friend of mine asked if I'm counting down the days til we leave or if I'm just not ready to go at all or if I'm taking it day by day. I would definitely have to say that I'm taking it day by day, but that's usually how I take everything. Most days here are really great, but don't think it's all peaches and cream down here all the time. There are days when I dread going to work (just like everyone does at some point or another), and there are days when I just don't want to do anything after work but go home and put on my PJ's and hop into bed. I didn't have very many of those moments this past week at all.

This week did bring back some friendly faces I've missed around town. Richard, Anne, and Sylvestre arrived back on station after spending 7 weeks in a field camp. Some friends and I had just walked into Building 155, and what do we see? Richard with about three times as much hair (or as he says looking like he's trying to stick his face out of a red, curly bathmat). I ran right up and gave him a big hug around his waist, even after he warned me that he hadn't showered in 7 weeks. My dance partner is back... but only for a limited time. We'll be seeing them off again this week, but this time it's for good. Hopefully Richard will be back in Brooklyn if I pass through NYC on my way home in April (see you at JFK, Mr. Barrios?)

On Saturday nights, we are allowed to consume wine or beer with dinner in the Galley, so Helen and I decided to take advantage of that. We had dinner with a random crowd, as Saturday night's usually attract. Richard joined us, and after dinner him and I took the Piston Bully out for a spin before he had to park it for the night. We dropped off the survival gear they had brought with them for the day and picked up a few more bottles of beer for the gathering in our dorm lounge. Around 9:30 or 10pm, we headed over to Gallagher's for some live music. Helen and I tore it up since nobody else would, and after all of the live music ended and the dance floor cleared Richard and I boogied our booties off. These are just a couple of photos Susan managed to snap throughout the night.

Me, Richard, and Helen