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Lie staring, thinking.May 19, 2008 at 10:17 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Dreams and imagination, Life in the snow, Observations in Antarctica | Leave a comment
5th February
My top bed cover went adrift, so wake up cold on the PO counter at three. Rick brings tea through just before nine. Lie staring, thinking. Commitment visits at ten. Tony has offered to take me on a jaunt to Palmer for two nights, but that's impossible. Shame. He buys a lot of books. Australis zip over for a last-ditch post dispatch. Rick, Roger and Tony share coffee and talk lots. Off they go. In theory, this is a Maintenance Day, but two other yachts will visit this afternoon, and the weather (windy, occasional snow flurries) is not conducive to external painting. Frustrating to not be able to relax. Can't type or ring home because the computer is in use (on and off) all day. Helen has liberated a new row of boxes by the time I reach Boatshed to bring up To + Fro greetings cards. It's peaceful in there sometimes. After unpacking, lunch is well due. Heat up risotto with a fresh squeeze of lemon juice. Via, with four French pax arrive after two – they've come from Tahiti (and Ushuaia) it's jolly talking French. Half an hour between them and Lady M arriving – only one passenger with her very own Expedition Leader! They bring over a bag of foody goodies. The crew of ten visit too, we are later invited to join them for dinner. EL leads Helen and I to her luxury cabin (with a mirrored ceiling and deep pile carpet) ohmigod it's bliss! Recline on the day bed and gossip while Helen showers. Then I hop into the cascading liquid warmth, tempted to lock the door and stay forever. The Crew Mess is lovely. We're on Second Sitting for curry. Meet Jim the Captain, Paul the Ice Pilot, and briefly the other stewardesses and other crew. Very comfortable and kind. They send us back to base with as much milk as they could spare (we were back on Nido rations) and three frozen portions of braised lamb shank – bless them. Quick tour of Bridge, then Helen and I get lost on the way back to the Marine Platform oops. Relaxed and weary, it's only half past eight! Rick reads, Helen knits and I put images on a CD for Pete. Rick says it's getting too cold to sleep next door, and that my intolerance to snoring is psychosomatic. Helen dispenses counselling session. I am grateful for the quiet.
Grey. Glassy calm. Snowing small wet drops.May 19, 2008 at 10:15 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress | Leave a comment
4th February
HAPPY Birthday Megan!
Adults with clumps of grey fluff in their beaks from pecking their chicks. Admonishing, chiding, exercising their wings. Rick is still in pyjamas when Shane radios from Shokalskiy – he says we're all up and ready. Helen keeps him focused on breakfast, shaving and into boat suit, cachet in the pocket with the right date (my contribution.) Finish nut/fruit/yogurt melange from yesterday. A real Postie from Dorset delivers our sack of letters form Stanley – more Archers for me, choc from London and Amsterdam ! Thank-you, thank-you! This ship is leaving some packages for another, and taking some of our waste away. Rick and Helen have cleared space for incoming deliveries from Endurance – Helen is supervising to avert utter chaos. Endurance radios, enquiring about local weather conditions and tide levels – visibility is very poor. I take one of the calls and am miffed to accidentally sign off with "Over and Out" Doh! Ah the dear familiar plum is out in the bay, hovering behind a large berg, waiting for Shokalskiy to depart. Two boats bring orange-suited matelots for their first walk ashore in a long while. Some familiar faces, but even those don't recognise the new haircut. I'm all skittery wondering if it will be possible to leave Helen coping with a shop full and Rick with unloading 65 boxes at the Boatshed – but there are several pairs of Able Seaman's hands to help, so after humping a few loads, I jump in a RIB and zoom over to the mother ship. Wave at the Bridge. Pleased to see Boson chief at the top of the ladder. Greeted by Dr Matthew who will escort me to the Medical Unit Bath – hurrah! Grabbed first for a quick interview by a crew who are recording for Radio 4 (a snippet on Leading Edge, 3rd April listen again at bbc.co.uk) – they are amused that I have come aboard to ablute. Then to meet Captain Bob, who seems impressed with the Iceberg Library postcards I present him with, and delighted to accommodate my request. So, to bathe – bubbles – a proper soak – moments of luxury. Quickly lather on lotion, dress, and head down to SRM, meeting Dave on the way – he had kept some paper I couldn't carry, and looked out some obsolete charts – very good. Happy to be in the Mess. Down a cider for old time's sake. Treated to anything I like from the NAAFI, but all I take are three Eat Natural bars and a packet of Dolly Mixture. Also keen to see Chart Room (journal pages diminishing) but Stationary Drawer gleans no crisp notebook – shame. Good to see Kelly Phots again, up on the Bridge. Boat operations have halted because ship is moving to a better anchorage. Relish the time here, but the last boat is going. Back via a rocky beach near the mouth of Peltier, to drop off BAS scientists collecting lichen. It's a novelty to see this wall of scree close up, having been part of the distant landscape all these months. Run up the path – Mikheev have just commenced their landing – straight behind counter of busy shop. Already the recently unloaded fluffy penguin cuddly toys are lined on every ledge and tucked into every cranny – they're lovely! Grateful to Helen for allowing such time out. Relaxed visitors wandering all over low tide rocks and out to Bill's where a leopard seal idles for the cameras. We take the chance to eat tea and cake with Monica, hiding in the Bunkroom, popping out occasionally – her staff have full control! Soon they leave. Helen is tired and hungry – I know because she repeatedly says so, instead of doing something about it. Down to Boatshed to sort newly arrived stock. Rick unpacks while I heft boxes into new workable scheme. Exciting to discover sets of mini magnets, plenty more membership leaflets and 'useful implements' – including a clock, a pink hammer and a retro whistling kettle. Rick rants about junk in an exhausted kind of way. I stay in shop, finding storage solutions and finish franking. Shoulder twingeing from shifting stuff this morning. Shut the door and practise yoga. My turn to cook, with the benefit of crucial ingredient, which Bernd so kindly secreted across – Arboreo Rice. Octopus and Tuna Risotto is well received. E-mail-wise, Phil has replied to query about the appropriate collective noun for penguins – officially a 'colony' but he thinks a 'paddle' could do… Open parcels, feel lucky. Write. Helen rubs Deep Heat onto sore shoulder. Rick very tired, snoring by ten. Now our propane supplies are topped up we are toasty as the wind whips up.
Keep waking up tired these days, though slept well.May 19, 2008 at 10:13 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Rachel Hazell | Leave a comment
3rd February
Just going down to the landing when zodiac zooms round to collect Rick – dang! Is nowhere private?! Get ourselves together. Helen's throat, tonsils and glands are very sore – should she succumb to penicillin? Molchanov's passengers are apparently unresponsive; the visit is slow and smooth. A small boy from Swansea is anxiously waiting to play with the penguins Afterwards feels like Sunday – want to curl up. Frank first then do so, for forty-five mins. Rick has commenced extending wooden handrail around deck. Helen helps saw. Drag my body up. Helen was on the way to restock. Two skuas are perched above a chick corpse, it's eyes pecked out. Misty damp cloud draws towards us. Discover two more boxes of info leaflets and a box of t-towels – believed we had run out of both! Bring up postcards and posters etc and unpack. Curry reheated for lunch. Washing up as Antarctic Dream pax appear (had heard hum of zodiacs as they landed at Jougla Point first.) Seventy pax. Maria Agnes' birthday. Good to see Julio with gifts of wine, jalapenos and unidentifiable black beans. Helen has had genius notion of bringing Tesco's Finest Christmas Cake up from the boatshed so we can have tea and cake on deck. Rick's safety rail is nearly complete and it is only snowing slightly. Watch Australis motor in. They radio hello, with plans to land tomorrow, but we expect three ships then, so now is better. Not much to frank. Half an hour later they are here, a jovial bunch, wanting group photos by the flagpole. Roger seems well and is considerate as ever. Mixture of punters; Dutch, Australian (inc. a weaver) and American, having a ball. Helen is painting white on the window frames and Rick is finishing rail, so I hold the fort, chatting away with Tony (one of those Antarctic sea dogs like Bob, who he knows, of course.) Persuaded me to cancel some stamps then and there which I Never do – clearly touched some kind of charm button. Another lady selects loads of items for her staff – she has asked the price in dollars, euros and pounds, then decides it's all too expensive and puts most back. Sigh. Thought my camera was fixed, but it won't hold a charge. One technical chap says it is shorting out, but could work if I just put the battery in when needed. Pooped. Rick has prepared enchiladas with remains of bolognaise. Ooh I'm full. Tinker and tweak t-shirts in the shop, hoping we don't need too much more stock. Tootle down for more plastic bags and pink fleeces, past Gentoo statues, beak tucked under one wing, on domes of rocks. Bedtime for them. Icebergs are glass ornaments scattered on chipped marble table top. Tired and wondering about tomorrow. Others are counting money into thousands, heat cranked up. Pass out on top of sleeping bag… a huge effort to get in.
A disturbed night of wind and engines.May 19, 2008 at 10:11 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Dreams and imagination, Life in the snow | Leave a comment
2nd February
Too hot. Wakefulness. At six thirty Endeavour is on the radio. Ten minutes later, we're ready for the breakfast boat. I savour melon, honey and yogurt in solitude, until Rick and Helen return from showers. Bernd and his wife join us – he has brought mended camera, it was just the battery, hurray and thank-you. I shower and drip dry in the sauna, catching the end of Rick's talk. Visit goes swimmingly. At the end we fly back aboard for lunch – time for a white-wine-spritzer with Marek first. And sit quiet, until David Stephens wanders by, admiring green slippers. Accompany him to lunch and we sit with curious Bostonians, amongst others, who educate me as to the British-ness of their accent. We talk of Gentoo success and the differences between matriarchal, matrilocal and matrilineal, all the while troughing down five varieties of salad and lamb shank, followed by DIY ice cream sundae. And a hot chocolate, which comes just as Rick tips the off – so a waiter pours it into mug and instructs me to take it with me; funny carrying it across the water. Ship steams off even as Matt drops us off at the landing site. Frank the mail with an irritable head (tut tut drinking at lunch time.) HMS Endurance has mailed – they'll be here on 4th, and yes, I can have a bath. Sit in the sun for a minute. Dog tired but can't miss these rays, and H bounces out when she realises. The Doctor on Endeavour has prescribed antibiotics – although she's on the mend already – it's hard to recover in cold damp surroundings when the pressure is on. Xplore (Steve and Annie) and their French/Belgian pax (who had all worked together on humanitarian aid in Afghanistan ,) turn up just as I contemplated lying down. They present Rick with an Antarctic Tartan scarf customised with Xplore's stamp. The guests write lots of postcards then all head off to Vernadsky. Sink into bed and doze for an hour, trying not to feel guilty as Rick paints the outside of the window by my head. Wish I was spread-eagled in my own bed at home, between linen sheets, half way through a good book…soon enough…soon enough. Arise, eat choc bix and fold the remainder of the second pack of maps. Rick suggests that it may be a good opportunity for a chick count – warm and dry. So take Rite in the Rain notebook and propeller pencil (thanks Phil) and walk softly amongst the colonies, counting the fluffy beanbag ones, avoiding affronting pecks. No corpses. Take photos as I go, parents and offspring in assorted poses. The moulting non-breeders look so abject and forlorn – quite hopeless. By the time I'm done, fingers are frozen. Curry is cooked. The red/orange/yellow ship that I took to be Argentinean Navy, is actually the Lawrence M Gould (American Research and Supply Vessel) out in the bay by the Neumayer Channel. Normally they rush past, but radio over; sorry to call so late but please could they visit? Rick has never heard of such a thing and puts them off til after dinner. Great curry and oily poppadums. Reluctant to wash up, so ready the shop. Thought they were landing at eight, Rick lights the Tilley and we wait, but it's nine before the first zodiac-ful leaves the ship. I stand on rock and watch the big orange jackets come. They are on their way home, having been out in the field; some dazed, others inquisitive. Chat to a few of them, and compare travel notes on South America with the ship's chef, until he's the last back on the boat. Rick is already in bed in the lounge, pining for an alternative to insomnia. Helen and I tease him. Lie and think and drift off.
Singing lightly in Thunder BayMay 19, 2008 at 10:07 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Life in the snow | Leave a comment
31st January
Hanseatic staff arriving in ten mins! Glorious morning. Two penguins down on the shore have started to moult; feathers a-flutter like leaves in Autumn. Because this process renders them un-waterproof, they won't go swimming (i.e. no food) for as long as it takes – poor them! Hide breakfast bowl behind mounds of post and the scales. Brusque start and too many Amex cards to turn down. Some sort of business person's charter, orgainised this year by Mr Morrison of eponymous mega construction company. Paul Rose (ex BAS) films Rick for BBC website – fantastic. And one visitor becomes a Life Friend of UKAHT wowee a fine day. Nice to see tall Arne, and another German fellow (who had worked on Bass Rock for a season and hence got into the British way of tea for every occasion.) Rick and Helen walk Dave Fletcher, EL on his penultimate trip, down to the landing to wave them all off at the end. I sink into a chair with my face to the sun. Wish I could record the sounds of these Gentoos – who are also revelling in the warmth – different tones of chicks and adults. A cacophony. Sit here for a while with Rick and tea. Hear voices from around the corner of hut; yachties from Vision who'd waited til the big ship had left. New Zealanders climbing, walking and having fun. And considerate of our busy-ness. They look round everywhere smiling, buy small bits + pieces and invite us over for coffee or whatever. We decline, anticipating an afternoon on our own at last, and send them off with a surplus crate of fruit. Frank a counter-full. Conditions are ripe for a glide in kindly loaned kayak. Rick is up for it. Helen, still recuperating, sees us off from low tide rocks by the boatshed. Rick manoeuvres so I don't get feet wet. Perfectly calm water, icy bits glistening and reflecting like diamonds, paddle dripping and churning. Happy to let Rick, in front, determine direction. We go around Bill's and out to Boogie Island . Find a low shelving step, hop out and circumnavigate, stopping at the engraving B W Larvik 1911. Limpet shells scattered as carelessly arranged beads, sparkling. Stone warm to sit upon, whaler's chains, rust stained surface, orange brown flakes. Two wooden posts, still there – no tide or wave in the last hundred years strong or high enough to move them. Paddle back and round, in by Jougla Point to examine the young shags on the nearside outcrops. They are flapping, brown wings growing darker. And on to Alice Creek , where Vision is moored, singing a Native American round (which Jo taught me at an event for Survival International, many moons ago) and then to inspect the information sign by the Scoresby rock (1928) that the others had noticed previously. We're in Thunder Bay now, where there's always a risk of calving – glide as close as we dare, swirling up glacial melt dust. Sing lightly and detect oddly oriented echoes. Radio Helen, all's well and we'll be home for lunch shortly. Slip back, climb out. Dine on salad, cheese and avocadoes again, yum, out on deck. Take tea and chocolate into shop for another franking session. The 'to-do' pile is reducing and mail sacks are bulging. I like the time to think – listening to the Gotan Project and grooving gently. Thought I'd adjusted the ink pad right, but it's fading already, maybe merely due to the quantity of usage. Having e-mailed for hours, Rick paints the facia board, up a ladder, while cold wind whips round his neck. Helen sleeps. Eventually, at seven, I stop, after sorting the latest boxful into order. Nip out for a pee. Baby penguins curled up, many collapsed flat on stomachs, feet splayed out, wings spread wide. Rick cooks steak and onions for dinner, with carrots and butternut squash. Helen has been counting income from the previous three visits – she had been too ill until now. Eat good-humouredly. Xplore radios their arrival. Viking has moored in the channel between Goudier and Jougla, and Vision is tucked into Steve's fav spot, but he manages to fit into Alice Creek as well. Cold damp air. Clear counter of mail. Bed down with hot water bottle as wind blows – the yachts are obviously expecting a rough night.
Franking and hankering.April 7, 2008 at 5:30 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Blogroll, Life in the snow, Rachel Hazell | Leave a comment
22nd January
Six thirty radio call from Endeavour. Rick assumed we wouldn't want to get up, but we're easily lured by the possibility of breakfast. Dressed up and down to landing site in ten mins. Help ourselves at buffet and meet Bernd, who lends me his (spacious) officer's cabin to shower in, while Helen uses the sauna. Up to the bridge, to see this blog on the office computer, until Rick retrieves me. Upbeat visit, despite yesterday's purchasing at Palmer Station. Bernd brings surreptitious supplies of risotto rice for me, and will try to fix camera in Ushuaia. Make him tea and he chats with Rick about German activity in the South Atlantic during the war. Oh dear Rick inadvertently ate my slice of Polar Pioneer carrot cake just now, forgetting that he'd eaten his last night with yogurt. I'm furious!
We had hoped to return to Endeavour for lunch, but Rick has offered to squeeze a visit for Boulard pax (five Czech) so there won't be time, and we don't know when Fram may be here. (In the event, she turns up after four…) Helen and I salivate over dreams of lettuce.
Finish the morning's franking, it's cold and wet. Rick is out of sorts. Take my salmon and avocado (home-grown by Manuel in Patagonia) through to shop, which is freezing, but I prefer to be alone. Wash up. Fram and several yachts radio. Leisurely visit with Fram passengers, considering it's such a large ship. Resort to sour chewy sweeties. Get through. Again they're heading up to Antarctic Sound straight off. Lovely Anya pops in to say goodbye. No desire to cook, or eat. Frank away. Helen cashes up, restocks, Rick carries boxes.
Finally finish franking. Stock up shelves, boxes, postcards. Read e- mails and send a couple. Hanker after privacy, so bundle up mail, clear counter and prepare shop bed. Take camera out because the blue, strangely illuminated bergs are quite something against the grey.
Brash moves in with the tide, rustling and crackling; an occasional tinkle. I'm getting rained on, and so is the camera. I'm missing the pocket IXUS a lot, fingers crossed it may be fixed by 2nd Feb. Must do a CD of photos for Mr Blog.
Sheathbills clutter regardless.April 7, 2008 at 5:28 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Dreams and imagination, Observations in Antarctica, Penguins | Leave a comment
21st January
Stormy. High winds. Patchy disturbed sleep. Stay mummified 'til nine thirty. The building creaks in the bigger gusts. I'm tempted to stay lying in the hope that my horizontal weight will help keep the roof on better. Arise eventually, bunkroom is the only habitable spot in this wind and wet. Heater on. Stick stamps on Nordnorge post. Helen braves the squall to restock – it's ferocious – go down to check she's ok and bring back a box. Fingers sting with cold. Takes ages to stamp everything. Rick's on the computer. Even with the heater on we're chilly in here. Ring Sarah's number, the funeral was this morning, she's not there. Type for an hour. Rick not feeling well, he's down in the dumps. Helen catches up on e-mails home. Polar Pioneer are here at three. Chef drops off lovely bread, yogurt and cookies. Chris (cheery bar-woman, our best return spender!) sad to say goodbye, this is her last visit – we present her with a cloth bag for her latest purchases. Start in on the franking. Skies have cleared. Soon the guys from Pelagic Australis visit; they're making a film for National Geographic. Helen has cooked aubergine bake whose smell in the oven wafts, through to the shop. While we wait – I frank and serve – Helen stocks up AGAIN, Rick eats popcorn, and helps with various things, changes batteries. Camera up nose, High Definition on unwashed face, it swings and pans over the franked ranks of mail on counter. Presenter buys and licks stamps. Bye bye, they'll be back tomorrow, and may lend us their kayak heh heh. Delicious, if slightly sloppier than anticipated, dinner, with drop of red. Gentle evening.
Type a little, stop at ten. A few minutes outside. Yachts in: Blizzard, Tamara, Pelagic Australis and Pen Duick VI. Rick realises that we all need sleep, big day ahead, so moves next door. Chatter about when Endeavour will be here and what they're up to at Palmer, but Helen's trying to sleep. Sheathbills clutter regardless.
Look After Your Feet!April 7, 2008 at 5:09 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Journey, Rachel Hazell, The Practicalities of Everyday Life Out Here | Leave a comment
15th January
There was a loud thud which shook the building at four thirty am. Rick up at six-thirty. We're not sure when Bremen are coming – they have two slots, starting at five-thirty, booked. Two large chunks of ice are beached on the on the landing site, how extraordinary. The others have indulged in fresh coffee and are sitting out on deck in the sunshine. Hear Bremen on the radio waves, broken, in the distance… something about 15:00 hours… So coffee turns into an extended foot soak session, using Helen's Tisserand oils, Spirit of Adventure's exfoliator and Ricks birthday Doc Hauschka Fitness Foot Balm. Our feet are like new; all plumped and cared for. The First Law of Port Lockroy is "Look after your feet!" (The second is "Look after your bum.") Helen points out how dull it might be living on this island if the penguins weren't here, despite their noise and smell.
On with jobs: Helen scrapes and sands window frames at side and front, Rick finishes bitumen in the middle and swaps batteries about.
The info packs are dwindling, so I collate a load more, happily humming along to i-Pod. Cold fingers in here, even though the sun is shining. Helen's getting grunmpy (ie. hungry) but won't stop for a tea break. Several items have accidentally dropped/fallen between deck slats and need to be rescues from the mirth of sheathbills. Rick does it chopstick style, Helen has constructed a hook with wire and ribbons of sellotape – technique depends on object lost. Watered-down curry soup for lunch. Helen stretches first, back aching. Rick nearly nods off, but Bremen will be here in half an hour. Helen nervy about getting post bagged up and setting counter straight. An immensely tedious visit, four hours, big gaps in between the four groups.
Doctor only has twenty pieces of philatelic mail today. We start to go bonkers, so Helen dons overalls, and paints windows and meets Mr. Delmonte – really! – who promises to send us a calendar with palm trees and fruit, to help keep us warm (in our imaginations, if nothing else.) Cold biting wind, fat chicks totter on the nests, many visitors stay outside to photograph the fluff. Even with just me behind the counter, there is still plenty of opportunity to browse through book (wonderful, published by SPRI) of Edward Seago's paintings, which triggers creative synapses, pleasing stimulus amidst the nondescript. Immediately afterwards, Rick fries up egg, beans and bacon, cooked and eaten in relay to ensure maximum hotness. Finish first, return to franking, mini-restock. Rick sweeps through, shop made ready. Very early night.
Helen is filmed tap dancing. Light-headed, I eat gratefully.April 7, 2008 at 5:07 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Dreams and imagination, Life in the snow, Observations in Antarctica, The Practicalities of Everyday Life Out Here | Leave a comment
14th January
Thank goodness Rick slept well and cosy on the lounge floor, whence he was banished. I'm up for tea duty (for a change!) Snowed in the night and it it snowing now. Rocks are wet and poopy. Discoverer leaves and Antarctic Dream's engine hum pre-empts the ship steaming into view. Chopped dried fruit today, and yummiest Palmer granola.
Plenty of time to wake up and prepare for the day. First pax at nine.
Sweep snow from ramp. Bundle post. Continue writing long letter. Big mixture of nationalities. One fellow sticks extra stamps on a load of First Day Covers, bound for Barcelona – hope they get there. Blizzard (yacht) are in. They have a film crew aboard – 'On The Water.' – from Melbourne. First they radio Antarctic Dream seeking permission for interviewing Capt and Julio. Straight away after, they visit Lockroy base, filming Rick while Helen restocks and I deal with crew. They interview me briefly too, the presenter insisting on some live franking instruction. Help H carry stuff up through the snow then she's filmed tap dancing! Quite funny, but we need to eat lunch before this afternoon's big ship visit. Munch on gifts left by yacht and ship. Boiled eggs too. Ian radios from Fram, they'll be here in half an hour, but will head straight off to Antarctic Sound instead of hanging around catering to our ablutions and stomachs – dang!
Utter blast – 243 pax in good and generous moods. Three hours of concentrating and smiling. At one point I grope under the counter to pull out Snack Box but never managed to dip into it. Gave Ian his wee chart book as he had provided the means to make it. Anya is an Angel in the shop – leaves depleted shelves tidier than ever, ah thank-you!
Stacks of mail delivered from the ship adding to that posted in our red box. Whack i-Pod on loud and frnak the lot. Helen heroically amassed five boxes of replacement stock while Rick starts the laborious thankless task of sweeping/scrubbing guano from the floors.
Oh AND he manages to cook up great fruity and not too hot curry.
Takes two hours to prepare shop for next onslaught. Light-headed. Eat gratefully. Wash up. Rick continues floor cleaning and Helen helps. I have no ounce of strength. When Rick took the buckets a windy gust forced him to run half way round the island and he didn't spill a single drop! Blizzard is tucked into Alice Creek waiting out the wind, which is rattling our foundations.
The Antarctica Dream has arrived.April 7, 2008 at 5:01 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Dreams and imagination | Leave a comment
13th January
*Happy Birthday Julia!!!
RIP dear Melanie.
Coo that fleece eye mask is good. Wake sometimes, but relaxed. Rick brings tea through just before eight, with news that Andrea are offering us a shower and lunch, starting at eleven-thirty, which is ten-thirty for us… so much for morning off eh. Restock quickly, as necessary. Three army guys, including Meiyon, arrive to help Rick dig out the mud (shit) from behind the old genny shed, to aid drainage.
Helen gets on with Post Mistressy things and even finishes remaining franking. Finally I sit down and type; one hour twenty mins = two and a half days… will I EVER catch up. Rick goes aboard Andrea and I give the labourers stale bread and waxen cheese sandwiches, which go down a treat with a can of Boddingtons. Helen brings out tea and biscuits for afters (including last of Palmer's decorated Christmas biscuits.) Sit and chew the fat until Rick reappears. Passengers won't be landing here for at least forty mins. Hands in the washing up bowl when we're alerted to pax in the shop and Sam's here to stamp passports. Run in and hop to it. A couple on Andrea were married at Jougla Point this morning. Helen and I, disenchanted, discuss outrageous gestures in order to catch people's attention; they are so quiet and unresponsive, do nothing and carry on selling stamps. I'm starting to hate people who rip open t-shirt and fleece packaging, then bring a wrapped one to the counter, leaving the other screwed up, unwrapped, in the wrong pigeonhole. Franking next batch when Rick comes through to say Kotick II will visit any minute. A boatful of cheery Brazilians and then one guy, Dick, from Discoverer, who's come for more postcards. He stays on to chat about expeditions and God children and buys a shopping bag for his mother. At last everybody's gone. Start typing – another yacht radios, is it too late to visit? er yes it is, there will be a chance tomorrow. Rick deals with e- mails. Fray Bentos, marrowfat peas and creamed mushrooms for tea.
Very good. Antarctic Dream have arrived – do we desire supper/shower/ drinks? No energy, so decline, think about watching a film but it's too late already. Rick declares that he's starting to enjoy this season. GO and put out stock which Helen has carried up. It's so cold (snowing) that we turn the heater on. I write to my friend B and listen to the others playing cribbage.
A chirpy lullaby of penguins.February 28, 2008 at 1:34 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Life in the snow, Penguins | Leave a comment
12th January
Particularly resonating snores lead to sleep deprived grumpiness. Take mint tea through to the shop, top up pots and piles to avoid being rude to anybody. Beau (from Spirit of Adventure) arrives at eight for Rick, who's still shaving. And so begins a stately SAGA visit, no rush, much patriotism and support. Delightful to see Tony Soper here – leap over counter to hug him. Ah what a lovely surprise. There is a massive stack of postcards to process, that have been written on the ship. So weary, can't answer the same old questions with the usual enthusiasm. Where do you come from? Where do you live? How long are you here for? No electricity?! No running water?! What scientific research are you doing? How long will this postcard take to get there? Where? Sadly unable to go aboard for lunch, as the landing won't finish 'til three, so we take it in turns to sneak off for a cheese sandwich. I sit in the sun for five minutes, just for the warmth of it, having peered out at the sun for hours, regardless of continuing persistent questions. We've started to sell out of things; calendars are long gone and grey fleece hats finished today. Brain hurts dividing and multiplying in various currencies, and defending our policy of pricing in dollars. The combination of poor night's sleep and dear Helen singing the same snatch of tune over and over again is simple torture. Start franking. Yachties want to come over in an hour – a Canadian boat (Traversay III.) Some of Discoverer lot hear there's a pause in our business and land too. I need to lie down and do. Rick and Helen went for a run, but H twisted ankle, so they sit on a rock and then count the penguin nests on Bill's Island (44.) By the time they're back, I'm up and franking again. We are picked up at seven pm by Spirit of Adventure, it's the last time they will call here this season (though many staff are transferring to Saga Ruby.) Need a shower (cheesy feet, fishy other bits) which is luxurious – the ship is full so it's in a storage cabin, but the light and towels are soft and everything is wonderful. Up to Yacht Club bar for drinks with Capt Frank and Ice Pilot Chris. Then down to the restaurant – table 50, in a corner, so we can be raucous. I take the full five courses – very delicious. Excellent red wine. Frank, full of cold, a great host. Funny chat. Go to the loo and sell a t-shirt en route (I'm displaying our wares.) Tony Soper passes over some letters and disappears – I can't find him later shame shame. I look forward to some quality time with Francois (Chris's wife) to discuss Antarctic Literature, a mutual fascination. Along and pleasurable repast. Leave at ten thirty with the last post. Remember to run up for the t-shirt, just. Anticipating a Sunday lie and slow morning, I retire to the PO counter and sleep content, with a chorus of penguins, a chirpy lullaby.
Crispy salads, fish and ice-cream. Men appear on rocks.February 28, 2008 at 1:32 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Dreams and imagination, Journey, Life in the snow | Leave a comment
11th January
Conscious at five. Rustling. Rick up at six, says National Geographic Endeavour are 'just coming in now' when actually they've swung off the Neumayer. It's grey and flat out. Another wee yacht in the back bay, oh it's Discoverer back again. So, over to Endeavour for breakfast – lovely. I wrote to EL Matt asking if I could make an appointment with the hairdresser. Sadly Vidal Babboon's sterling shearing effects have worn off. Only yesterday Helen was commenting on how 'bouffant' my style had become. So at nine am, while Rick is talking through his introduction Lim, from the Philippines, cuts my hair. She gave Rick a severe trim last time, so I'm nervous, especially when she turns electric clippers on the back. Lovely Lisa Trotter Lady refuses to let me pay for it. It's quite short; should last the season now. Make it back to base before first passengers and trade is brisk. Ah ha! We've been invited back for lunch as well, so catch last zodiac and zoom to dining room for crispy salads, fish and ice-cream. Zip up to bridge and say goodbye. Draughty neck all afternoon ha ha. Orlova steams in early, Rick radios a plea to go slow. Men appear on rocks as we're cashing up and franking – they're from the yacht Esprit d'Equipe. Have to work around them, talk French and stamp. Helen stocks up on garments with Rick. A few minutes in the bunk room, but spy a figure wandering blithely into Control Colony (because the fence/rope has fallen down.) Go out and yell, he returns, no harm done. Then Roger and Orlova are here, more inter-ship parcels to store, another artist-in-residence with his sketchbook, enjoying plethora of sights and subjects. Many fleece purchases, particularly Baby Blue. And some young travellers. A mighty care package from Palmer Station is delivered by Commitment – thanks Tony and son! – ah granola, I'm so happy. Lots of postcards sent, so I keep on top of the franking by setting to stamping straight away. Whiteing out with tiredness. Helen has cashed up and started in the boatshed by the time I'm done. Down to replenish fleeces; a new box is required, (the only one left in this particular size and colour-way,) and is, surprise surprise at the bottom of a stack, partially covered by sacks of concrete. To avoid further inflaming Helen's poor shoulder I shove stuff around myself, phew. The others bring up more boxes of books. Then, and only then, a wee relax aaaah. Shut eyes for an hour and think about fidelity. Helen and Rick head onto the rocks for beer and crisps. Come to when they arrive back to heat up soup, excited by sheathbill pecking hole in the tin and fluttering after as it rolled down the slope. Radio scheds. Eat my bowlful propped up in bed. Wash up. Read out Christmas bit of blog. Helen puts stats on computer and I send off updates. Outside the ice crackles and tinkles. Milky hues with some azure and grey. Sing and want to go higher, but bed is calling.
Email National Geographic Endeavour with haircut request.February 28, 2008 at 1:26 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Dreams and imagination, Rachel Hazell, The Practicalities of Everyday Life Out Here | Leave a comment
8th January
Throbbing engine announces Marco Polo's arrival – they've started landing their many passengers at Jougla Point, a few at a time – zodiacs zip. Windy cold and grey today (choose pee position carefully.) Rick's still in bed on counter when I take him tea. He's slept badly. Read four days worth of blog and send off. We think Hanse Explorer is a small yacht ship due this morning, and wait for her to come, but she never does. Keep busy with things that need doing, putting out all the caps, franking all the Marco Polo mail – a decent amount, hey hey, Rick brings me tea half way through, he's installed second lampshade (with parts from other historical bases) in the bunkroom, very smart. He and Helen have brewed coffee and eaten toast. We're all out of sync. Kotick visits at ten-thirty, I deal with them. Marco Polo delivers post. Helen goes to restock, but Rick's in the middle of waste management, so she has to stand and watch and occasionally pass him bits of string. Helen and Ri ck slurp on fruit salad for lunch, about two, while I wrote base diary. Marco Polo brought me mail from Ushuaia… I had worried that the arrangement through their Antarctic Tourist Office (set up by the lovely Roberto) had not worked; so an uplifting surprise. Lovely Christmas cards, a birthday Pooping Penguin from Plockton Miriam, Icelandic Voices from Pat law and a sweet Advent calendar from Heather, long letters from Sally and Ian, Susan and Jeremy. Precious. No word from Le Diamant, due at two, so I type for a while. Lots of aromatic nut roasting goes on. Discoverer's skipper, Andrew comes ashore with a few others to buy more postcards. Show them some of my papery work, as Connor had tried to explain what I do. After typing some more, my eyes start to fail and I feel sick. Migraine Alert. Scared enough to take pills and lie down immediately. Sleep for two hours. Kotick return with mail, and stay for a drink, accompanied by gramophone tunes. Although we have a chicken in the oven, we accept dinner with the French, bien sur. At seven, the radio signals Ioffe on the air; hilarious wee chat with Coz Katie, who's nearby and loving Antarctica – what a stuff up that we can't meet! Fail to contact Le Diamant. E-mail National Geographic Endeavour with haircut request. Skim read script of film, it's hard to visualise, but exactly what we had hoped for. At eight o'clock we join Kotick, on the Peltier side of Jougla Point, nestled in a good wee nook when the wind is right. Cosy, book-lined, effortless hospitality as only the French can achieve. Raisin cabbage hors d'oeuvre, beef and prune couscous, Fer Breton for afters. V. comfy, many twinkles in eyes. Lovely to boat home over still water. Risk snores, trusting to continued effect of migraine pills.
Empty day – bright sun, swimming, a quiet place to sleep inFebruary 28, 2008 at 1:20 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Dreams and imagination, Journey, Life in the snow, Observations in Antarctica | Leave a comment
7th January
Couldn't sleep through snoring, so tiptoed out with sheepskin, pillow and bag to try out the Post Office counter. Long and wide enough, but much lighter and closer to squawking penguins. Wake at three, cold, as top cover has fallen on the floor. Consider graciousness, patience and turning situations to win/win through the early hours. Because Fram is off this trip, we have an empty day. Sun is bright again. I hear Rick and Helen putter out onto deck with tea and breakfast. (Helen calls it ship's breakfast because we have so much lovely fruit.) Not really in the mood to eat, so frank whole counter's worth of post. And then carry up new pack of maps to fold. Rick comes in and we agree to take turns sleeping out. Restock bookshelves with the new boxes Rick brought up. So sunny that Helen continues roof painting in fetching (thinner) neo orange overalls. We go for a run, all in shorts around Goudier Island and then Bill's. Some rock clambering as the tide is not very low, then in circles. Helen's chest is hurting so she limbers and stretches instead. Rick and I decide to swim. He fetches towels while I run 'til the last minute to be warm enough. Keep running gear on, which reminds me of WildFitness in Kenya, only the temperature is a million degrees different! Swiftly in off long flat limpet covered rock, it's clear and icy. Breaststroke for at least fifty seconds before lungs seize up and Rick pulls me out. Jump around elated as Rick swims too. "Take note," he says "I'm really enjoying this!" We laugh. Sit on rocks in the sun, but breeze is picking up. Adorn ramp with wet stuff and savour cheese n'avocado for lunch. Rick's in shorts again. Increased wind sends us scuttling inside for tea. After washing up, I fold more maps while Rick takes down Christmas decorations and Helen frets about money – the last forty-eight hours have been so hectic what with yachts in between and too much hurry. At three pm six Discoverer chaps visit (the others are on Mo unt William, inc. friend Connor.) Learn about their various missions and expeditions. They need sixty-two postcards for sending thanks to sponsors and supporters. Send them off with a box of fruit. They've kindly invited us for dinner. Helen returns to roof. Rick snoozes. I belatedly write Base diary for the fourth and finish up in the shop. Relieved to hear from Jackie, best ex-neighbour – a long message assuring me that home is still standing and she's managing the mountain of post; oh thank-you THANK-YOU. Helen had been waiting on the roof for Rick to bring more paint, but he'd fallen asleep… she's cold, weary, and not too pleased. He goes on up and they finish the job, then go on a mission to find grey caps, even more exhausting. It takes over an hour, so our army-taxi-driver is at the door before we're ready. He was also delivering post – all 62 cards written! Discoverer is exactly the same kind of yacht as Xplore. There's only room for us because four chaps are on Mount William. They're delighted with the quality of our red wine gifts. Splendid thai green curry, ingeniously served in Barbie lunch boxes (lids keep food hot and er contained… black Dr.Who ones reserved for a different watch.) Eat, drink and make merry. Tales of great hospitality at Vernadsky, their sauna with steps leading directly into the icy sea. Rick tells of tricky unwelcome visitors… one menacing group with a dog. See a quick clip of orcas pursuing a penguin, who wisely hops into zodiac-full of delighted (if not so wise) tourists. By ten we're all yawning, so wish them (the British Army Antarctic Expedition) farewell, manage not to fall into MIB despite impeded flexibility of our orange and blue suits. As agreed, Rick carries bedding through to shop, but the counter is still covered with work paraphernalia, which Helen hastily sweeps off. A blissfully quiet room to fall asleep in, for the first time.
We're pretty much exactly half way through.February 28, 2008 at 1:16 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Dreams and imagination, Journey | Leave a comment
4th January
HAPPY BIRTHDAY special Ellen!!!
Can tell there's blue sky beyond those check curtains (red gingham, sweetly sewn by Jo.) Breakfast out on deck. Ring Ellen for birthday wishes and speak briefly with Saz too. Bremen, the model of German efficiency, here this morning, punctually. Fine weather brings smiles, and the Captain, wearing shorts. Start at seven thirty, finish at eleven thirty. A brimming crate of festive goodies appears. Philatelic Doctor reminds me to stamp his mail carefully, again. Helen is sniffing and has sore sinuses. It's warm in the shop, no need for long johns. Goodbye to big tall Gerhard who gives good hugs. Torture to be inside in this weather. The penguins are panting and standing up to air the chicks. Sit out on deck to write up base diary. Rick joins me with an early lunch, he's going up on the roof, taking advantage of the weather, but gets waylaid by e-mails. Just have to try for some baby chick photographs before anything else. Beguiled by the soft bags of skin, still egg-shaped, al l sleepy. Frank and re-stock. Helen eats cereal in bed, overcome with weariness. I don't mind. Love sitting in the sun for a snatched lunch. Antarctic Dream starts landing at three. Several Swiss, so enjoy speaking some French. We girls have both been eating too many sweets. Maria Agnes is sweet. Julio too busy to come ashore. Down to the boatshed for more fleeces, I lose the plot a bit, slashing up new boxes when there's already one open. Rick is on the roof, singing away to his i-Pod. Revel in the warmth. Tinker until shop ready to roll. Rick paints til late. Type for two hours, only five days worth. All eat separately – me early with salmon mayo. Should have exercised, but no motivation. Ioffe has replied – won't bend schedule so that Coz Katie can visit, because the managing company disagrees with visitor proximity to the penguins here. Rick washes floors. Earlyish night, although heavenly outside. Fourteen degrees in the bunkroom – the others complain of stuffiness. We're pretty much exactly half way through – these diary books are never going to last.
A barbecue in the snow. The night is sublime.February 28, 2008 at 1:12 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Dreams and imagination, Life in the snow | Leave a comment
3rd January
Ear plugs ineffectual. Helen has also been kept awake by similar noises from the lounge. Confusion with teabags, not peppermint, remedied. Ricky also responsible for carrying four cups through to the Ukrainians. Hurry outside for a wee before too many people are about (and out of sight from the Orlova too.) It snowed in the night; penguin and boot prints. Our guests have already had sardines for breakfast so refuse offers of pappy cereal. At eight o'clock, Rob (from Discoverer) brings zodiac round to collect Vernadsky-ites, at the same time as Vlad arrives from Orlova for Rick. We wave them off with a gentle suggestion to let us know if they plan to drop by again. They were no trouble! Half an hour flies by before fleece frenzy and much enthusiastic visiting. When that's over and we're re-stocked, cashed and franked, Helen makes perfect egg, bacon and tomato. The yacht Australis would like to squeeze in a landing, and so they do, with a couple of young stamp collector's to boot. (And two climbers on Jabat, Helen's envious.) I deal with the punters while Helen goes to the boatshed for those other goodies. I'm pooped. Snoozle for an hour. Usuhaia are due at four thirty and radio when entering the Peltier Channel. Students on Ice; promises to be a youthful, bouncy visit. Eighty-nine pax. Whoah indeed, LOTS of questions and purchases. Straight away after the film interview in old kitchen is wrapped up – no-one told us! – we leave on the last zodiac. Barbecue is in full swing. Berenice hands us a plate, shows us where the crew mess is, and hints that the best meat may be found at the source – the grill on deck. Hunks of meat, fresh nuggets of bread, salsa and guacamole. Rick has gone to shower and ends up dining with the kids, while we share a bottle of wine with the captain. Boisterous up-beat re-cap session led by Geoff. (Helen takes time out for a shower.) Rick and I answer questions including "Do penguins always smell?" and what degrees do we have?
Manage to locate the scribe of two unaddressed postcards and accumulate some final deliveries. Ian Tamblyn sings to an acoustic guitar. The kids whoop and clap as directed. We interrupt a lecture from a Russian astronaut (translated from Russian to Spanish) as we leave. Rick's been interviewed by a student of Antarctic tourism. Peppers and any other thing from the kitchen we might desire are pressed on us – my pockets are full of lemons. The night is sublime and Berenice drives slowly, our very own cruise, no rush. Only an agony of incredibleness. Rounding the corner, we divert towards Boogie Island (or Woogie, I can never be sure,) and notice some text engraved in the rock 'B.W. Larvik 1911' – Rick says he has never seen this before. Do we want to go ashore? Well yes of course, but we've got work to do. I have not seen the mailbox so full. I frank while Helen and Rick restock. Listen to Astrid Williamson from Shetland. Helen and I spend a moment outside.
Sit with Mike and Gavin and explain about paper icebergsJanuary 24, 2008 at 8:00 pm | Posted in Assistant Post Mistress, Book art, Dreams and imagination, Journey | Leave a comment
31st December
Disturbed night and then knocks on the door at six thirty am. Richard from Endeavour to collect us for breakfast and a shower. We knew they had changed clocks to Argentinean Summer Time but everybody stayed confused – no matter – swift roll out of bunk and into immersion suits, still wet from last night. Miserable, but warmer outside, precipitation continues. Rick nips off for a quick shower, Helen and I to the fresh fruit platter. Bernd joins us and fills us in on their trip to Marguerite Bay. Such a delight to have our friendly waiter serve mint tea in a pot. Up to lounge for Rick's talk (and to the library for a handful of Organic Earl Grey teabags.) Back to shore and the visit flies by, possibly cos we're not quite awake. Meet Tim's bro Jack and hang around with some of the staff. Enjoy hearing Bernd's Furthest Travelled Weetabix story and his penchant for Port Lockroy fridge magnets (they match his Smeg!) This is the end of Tim's contract as EL for this season – sad to say goodbye – he's provided respite and much generosity. I'll miss him. Good luck. Frank Endeavour's mail. Feels like lunchtime to me, although it's only eleven. Rick cooks me up crispy bacon and eggs, polished off with tea and mince pies. Pen a couple of thank-you letters as the post will leave here tomorrow. Two crew and three passengers from the yacht Xplore visit just after two. One man, Mike, buys a lot of Antarctic Tartan ties and fifty postcards. We happily agree to join forces for New Year celebrations. Marco Polo rep drops off hundreds of stamped postcards and buys more stamps. Frank them all, with Helen helping, saying "Can't we finish them tomorrow?" No!! Not sure what I was doing, but before I realise it, Helen has restocked. Marco Polo's expedition leader, Alan, pops across for a swift beer, with David (a keen supporter of the New Zealand branch of the Antarctic Heritage Trust, who is impressed with Base A.) Lots of group photos. Helen nips to beach for glacier i ce to pop in our G+Ts. Soon it's seven pm and Simon has come to collect us. Rough enough for immersion suits, though weather has calmed slightly. Xplore is a beautiful yacht, tucked right into Alice Creek, where rocks emerging through receding snow have a Charles Rennie Mackintosh look about them. Stand out on deck with Mike, sporting one of the newly acquired ties amongst his waterproofs. Cloud clears and light intensifies, but it remains a cool six degrees. Swap places with a couple of people inside and devour fabulous guacamole feverishly impolitely. Steve, the skipper, has a great tome of Antarctic Place Names and Their Origins, published by the USA govt. I'm sure there is a similar ancient two volume British version (belonging to the CPOSR?) on the bridge of Endurance. Convivial banter. Various sous-chefs dip in and out of galley. A wee tour of cabins and heads. Three passengers have plenty of space, must feel very different when she's a racing vessel. We toast New Year in the UK, four hours ahead. Huge thanks to Steve, Annie, Gavin, Mike and Simon for our final meal of 2007. A feast: Roast beef, tatties, carrots and steamed spinach. Ah my mouth waters to think of it. Helen is animated. Humorous jostling as to pros and cons of working with two women and repeated reminders that Rick chose US! Helen washes up and Simon dries – all so quickly tidied away and shipshape. This is a very neat and airy boat. Around 11pm decamp to our house. Interesting not getting tangled in immersion suit liner and not falling in. A damp chill lingers in our hut. Quickly light heater in the museum lounge, fire up Tilley lamp, stock up the bar and find adequate supply of glasses. Argue whether Runrig's 'Loch Lomand' or Auld Lang Syne should be played at the bells, with seven minutes to go. Annie does the count down and we all link arms except for Gavin, who is intent on taking (what will no doubt prove to be incriminating) photographs as the evening proceeds (fortun ately mostly of Simon, who is very funny.) We dance, with gramophonic interlude and try to persuade each other to swallow the more obscure liquids from our drinks cupboard. Helen manages to spill her cup by the music, so our i-Pods are in a puddle, oh Pickle! I sober up. Sit with Mike and Gavin and explain about paper icebergs. Gavin wonders if I should tout about a maquete of the walk-in iceberg I'd like to produce. Of course. General consensus that Helen is on a different trajectory to the rest of us tonight. Simon swaggers around with tinsel boa, Steve struts his stuff in orange wellies and Annie looks bored as we oldies frolic about. The only song she danced to was 'Sex Bomb' by Tom Jones, and I think she enjoyed herself. Towards two am I stamp their passports with Ist January 2008 hey hey. They layer up in waterproofs and lifejackets and disappear into the night. Tidy up as proficiently as able. Helen's still dancing. Rick and I are already in bed when she comes through surprised it's all over. Again the wind buffets and lurches and shakes the fabric of this hut. The night is pale dusk.
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EOAA addresses reports of discrimination, harassment, nepotism, sexual misconduct (including sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking and relationship violence) and related retaliation through:
- Investigation
- Informal problem-solving
- Consultation
- Education
As the Twin Cities campus Title IX office, EOAA responds to sexual misconduct concerns. University of Minnesota employees are required to report possible sexual misconduct that they learn about to their campus Title IX office. To learn more about this obligation or to make a report on the Twin Cities campus, please visit our Reporting page.

subset: commoncrawl


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**Note: Before you can add a network printer to your MacBook, you'll need to know the IP address of the printer you wish to add. Please contact the help desk prior to beginning this process to get this information.
Select System Preferences from the Apple menu.
Double-click on Print & Scan (Print & Fax).
In the Print & Scan (Print & Fax) window, click on the plus sign button.
Click on the IP tab in the Print Browser window.
- Set Protocol to HP Jetdirect - Socket.
- For Address, enter the IP address of the printer you want to add. Leave the Queue field blank. The Name and Location fields are for your reference to keep track of your printers and differentiate between multiple ones.
- For Print Using, do not select Generic Postscript Printer. OS X will try to locate an appropriate driver but if it cannot then It is recommended to download the correct driver from the manufacturer. Click on the name of the printer on the printer list to be taken to the manufacturer's driver download page.
Click Add. The printer will be added to your list of printers.
If you need further assistance contact help desk online, support.boiseschools.org email, [email protected], or call 208-854-6670.
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The ice waters down my whiskey as I sit on the patio.
I enjoy the musical clinks they make as I swirl the liquid.
The trickle of cold-fire douses my throat.
Though the ice never lasts long.
The condensation on the glass becomes my sweat.
I get up, again, and refill the drink with ice.
I glance down at the sausages in my yellowing kitchen.
They thaw in the sink.
Fatty, pink, glistening meat.
That will be blackened in the pan that is no longer non-stick.
The heat ruins all the beauty and reduces it to a puddle of salt.
I'll keep drinking my whiskey on the rocks.
Til the thawing is done.


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Editor's note: Julian Zelizer is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University and a New America fellow. He is the author of the forthcoming book, "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress and the Battle for the Great Society." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
(CNN) -- Eight years ago, the Democratic presidential candidates had the luxury of running against George W. Bush. Their main foreign-policy message was that they were different from the incumbent: They were against the war in Iraq; against the way Bush was conducting the war on terrorism; against his unilateral approach to world affairs.
In 2016, things will be different.
The candidates will have to be much more careful about distancing themselves from President Obama's policies. While they will be able to critique him and highlight how they would try do better, they will also face great pressure to outline their own visions for their future.
The task won't be easy, since the Democratic Party is not all on the same page. While philosophical fractures within the GOP are well-known -- among neo-isolationists like Sen. Rand Paul and hawkish conservatives like Sen. John McCain -- there are also deep divisions and tensions within the Democratic Party that candidates will have to sort out.
A number of foreign-policy agendas have taken shape among the Democrats, and all are likely to be part of the debate in the primary season.
There are the liberal internationalists, arguably the most dominant voice among Democrats. They include the President, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry, who believe that the United States must remain active overseas to maintain global order and protect American interests.
Liberal internationalists believe that it is essential to work through international institutions like NATO or the United Nations rather than to go it alone. They accept the need for military force, but also insist on the use of diplomacy and economic sanctions. Another pillar of liberal internationalism is that public sacrifice is needed when the nation goes to war, through higher taxes, volunteerism or, in earlier times, a draft.
There is also a strong anti-war faction that has been a central part of Democratic politics since the 1960s. For these Democrats, who are based primarily in the grass roots rather than among Washington elites, military force should be used only under the most extreme circumstances. They tend to distrust what elected and military officials say when justifying the use of force, always remembering the lies of Vietnam.
This world view posits that military force is very often a poor method for handling international problems and creates more problems than it is worth. This view rarely finds mainstream candidates, since these arguments play into conservative claims that Democrats are weak on defense. But occasionally their voice is heard.
In 2004, Gov. Howard Dean of Vermont made this argument about Iraq. Today, some wonder whether possible candidates like Gov. Martin O'Malley of Maryland, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont or Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts might position themselves that way.
Finally, there are the liberal hawks. This faction has been much less vocal since the negative fallout from President Bush's war in Iraq but still lurks in the party. Liberal hawks are more open than their colleagues to the use of military force, even unilaterally, and less concerned about national sacrifice.
The tradition was made famous by Washington Sen. Henry "Scoop" Jackson, who in the 1970s was among the most prominent "neo-conservatives." Today some observers see Democrats who could succeed Jackson like New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez. "So my friends on the left need to understand," he said, "that it is the world as it is, not as we wish it to be."
With the chaos overseas growing in cases such as Russian aggression and the rise of a so-called Islamic state, they could become more of a force once again in the campaign.
Candidates won't have to choose one side or another, since most politicians don't fit neatly into one category. But they will need to navigate carefully as they craft their message and figure out ways to develop a platform that can bring together as much of the party as possible.
Some possible candidates, such as Hillary Clinton and former Virginia Sen. James Webb, have an eclectic record that could enable them to appeal to multiple constituencies. The best candidates will be the one who can offer a coherent and powerful vision of what the United States and the world should be as we enter into this period.
Read CNNOpinion's new Flipboard magazine.
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Is DHEA right for you?
You read about using DHEA for infertility somewhere on the internet and you're wondering whether this might help you. There are multiple natural and drug options to treat infertility mentioned on the internet. The key is to know whether the particular treatment being espoused is right and appropriate for you. You are a unique individual and you have a specific reason why you are having difficulty conceiving. What worked for your best friend, cousin or sister-in-law will not necessarily be the best option for you, she has an entirely different genetic and hormonal makeup than you.
What is it?
DHEA is the short form for a hormone known as Dehydroepiandrosterone. It is a weak androgen (male-type hormone), but also a building block to produce testosterone and estrogen.
What does it do?
DHEA affects the lining of the blood vessels, reduces inflammation, improves insulin sensitivity, blood flow, cellular immunity, body composition, bone metabolism, sexual function, and physical strength and provides protection of the nervous system, improves cognitive function, and memory enhancement. Sounds awesome, doesn't it? BUT too little is a bad thing, AND so is too much.
How does it impact fertility?
Because DHEA is a building block for estrogen, it is intimately involved in the development of eggs (ovulation). So you need a certain amount of it for healthy egg development. DHEA levels decline as we age. The other function of the androgens in egg development is to act as moderators. Rather than having an egg only being influenced by estrogen and being popped out too quickly before it has time to fully mature, DHEA and testosterone put the brakes on (lightly) to slow the egg down and give it time to develop fully. However, too much DHEA (as is often the case in PCOS), can inhibit ovulation.
How do I know if DHEA would be helpful for me?
There is research showing that DHEA can help with ovulation, particularly in older women who are trying to conceive. The particular person that DHEA will help is someone whose DHEA is on the low side. How would you know this? Well, it starts with having a blood test done for DHEAs. Wouldn't the fertility clinic have done this? NO. I would estimate that only about 1 out of 20 women who are working with a fertility clinic have had their DHEAs level tested. You can't (nor can the fertility clinic) possibly know whether DHEA is right for you without this vital bit of information!
Why would my DHEAs be low?
DHEAs levels decline with age, so it may just be an age thing. But, half of your DHEA comes from your adrenal glands. What are they? Adrenal glands are your stress glands. They are what helps you to deal with stress, but for most of us, they are overworked and underpaid. They require copious amounts of vitamin C, B5, B6, magnesium, potassium and zinc. These vitamins and minerals get depleted, then your adrenals can't work properly and they can't support the ovaries in producing estrogen and therefore eggs.
Why would my DHEAs be high?
This happens in PCOS and is related to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is where your body is making insulin, but your body isn't responding to it well. Insulin promotes the excessive production of DHEA from the ovaries and the adrenal glands. Too much will inhibit ovulation. In addition to infertility, too much DHEA also causes several unwanted symptoms like acne, head hair loss, irregular periods and excessive body or facial hair growth.
What should I do?
Have your DHEAs blood level checked. It's one of many hormones that are often NOT checked by your family doctor OR fertility clinic, but healthy levels are vital to healthy fertility. In my patients, if it hasn't been done, I always order it along with all of those other hormones that haven't been checked, even at a fertility clinic.
Traish AM, Kang HP, Saad F, Guay AT. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)–a precursor steroid or an active hormone in human physiology. J Sex Med. 2011 Nov;8(11):2960-82; quiz 2983. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02523.x.
Malik N, Kriplani A, Agarwal N, Bhatla N, Kachhawa G, Yadav RK. Dehydroepiandrosterone as an adjunct to gonadotropins in infertile Indian women with premature ovarian aging: A pilot study. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2015 Jul-Sep;8(3):135-41. doi: 10.4103/0974-1208.165142.
Singh N, Zangmo R, Kumar S, Roy KK, Sharma JB, Malhotra N, Vanamail P. A prospective study on role of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on improving the ovarian reserve markers in infertile patients with poor ovarian reserve. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2013 Nov;29(11):989-92. doi: 10.3109/09513590.2013.824957. Epub 2013 Sep 4.
By Dr. Pamela Frank, BSc(Hons), ND


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This has been another momentous year for feminism and the legal profession in the UK. The last 12 months has been a time of both progress and regression for the feminist movement. Feminists have been working for decades to challenge gender injustice and inequality that[…]Read more
Author: Alice Gormley
The Apollo Project: Winners Announced
On Thursday, 7th December 2017, The Apollo Project hosted its annual 'Architects of Meritocracy' award ceremony at The Ivy, Covent Garden. Presented by The Apollo Project co-leads, Daniel Winterfeldt and Dee Sekar, and with a keynote address from our patron, Dame Catherine Fiona Woolf, DBE,[…]Read more
Women @ the Chancery Bar: Getting in and Getting On
Last month, the Chancery Bar Association invited female aspiring barristers to attend its 'Women @ The Chancery Bar' event, with the goal of encouraging talented women to shelve misconceptions and apply. We heard from a number of female juniors and silks on their positive experiences[…]Read more
School for Justice: Educating Survivors of Child Trafficking to Put Offenders Behind Bars
School for Justice was founded in April this year to truly liberate victims of child prostitution by providing them with a legal education to pursue justice for the crimes committed against them. The precedent-setting initiative was launched by Dutch anti-trafficking group, Free A Girl, and advertising agency J.[…]Read more
Inclusion, Momentum, and the Freedom to Marry Worldwide by Evan Wolfson
In Chile, as you read this, advocates are working to get the freedom to marry bill recently introduced by President Bachelet passed into law. Their core strategy: get couples and their family members to visit lawmakers, while sharing stories and videos with the public through[…]Read more


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A Day in the Life of a Burlesque Dancer
By Veronica Dudo
Performing over a dozen different routines (complete with props and costume changes), applying full makeup, styling hair, entertaining the audience and interacting with the crowd: It's just another night on the job for Amy Toliver. This is a day in the life of a burlesque dancer.
For many, it may sound like a dream come true, stepping onto a stage and into the spotlight, but the reality involves countless hours of rehearsals combined with intense workouts. As part of a 10-member cast, the Phoenix, Ariz., native says the key to a successful show is to enjoy your profession.
"Performing is just 100 percent fun for me," she says. "You forget about any stress that you have going on in your life, and you just live in the moment, and that's the great thing about my job."
Currently running at Bally's Casino in Atlantic City, iCandy Burlesque is a contemporary dance revue that features dancers, singers and aerialists. While infused with classic steps from the past, Toliver says that the show also has a contemporary vibe. "Burlesque was something that came about years ago and now we're kind of bringing it back," she says. "But this is a little bit more of a modern-day version, which has a little bit more sexiness to it but still kind of keeps the costume flavor, the pinup look -- which is very classy and very sexy at the same time. So it's definitely a hit right now -- it's huge!"
After the 10-dancer ensemble was formed, they needed to grasp the choreography quickly, recalls Toliver. "We literally met two weeks before the opening of the show and every day it was a 10-to-12-hourlong rehearsal."
During rehearsals, Toliver says, emotions ran high in the pressure-filled atmosphere. "Not only are we having to put together a huge show like this, and make it look polished and great by opening night, but a lot us have never danced together before, so we're having all of these different styles come together."
It takes a lot of teamwork, patience and hard work from Toliver and her fellow dancers to get everything ready for opening night. "We've learned in the matter of two weeks about 15 different numbers -- and we're talking about routines that are just all over the place in terms of variety. We're doing lifts with the guys, chair-dancing, aerials; we're covering many different types of choreography, so it's a lot."
But, she adds, "In the end it all comes together and looks phenomenal."
On show days, there's a more relaxed atmosphere, according to Toliver, who says the dancers partake in light rehearsals to make sure the routines are smooth. "Now that we've learned the bulk of the show, we have maintenance rehearsal. So anytime we get a number that's kind of messy and needs a little cleanup, then we'll meet for a couple of hours and we'll just focus on that routine and get it polished and looking good."
With an 8 p.m. call time, cast members show up to fix their hair and put on makeup. Toliver explains how they stay organized: "Our dressing room is fairly small, with 10 people in it, so when we meet we want to make sure that our costumes are lined up for show. Because the show changes every night, it's never the same show twice, so the costumes are totally changing and we want to make sure that we're totally prepared before the show starts so that takes some preparation."
After meeting and getting changed into their colorful costumes, it's show time. As audience members watch the cast sing and dance to popular music, Toliver says they have added their own unique moves. "Sometimes burlesque dancing can kind of get interpreted a sexy in a slow way, where as we put a little twist in on it and we made it very high-energy and fun."
The shows run every half-hour and run from 10 to 15 minutes. "In-between shows we have go-go dancing, so there's always something going on," Toliver explains.
Staying in shape is another important component when performing. "A few of us cast members actually get together every other day and do this really nice workout on the beach," she says. "We each take turns leading it, and on the off-days we run on the boardwalk."
Toliver says that she loves the excitement of her job and the opportunity to do something that she truly enjoys sharing. "For me, dance is a form of expression. I love performing. It's just that time where you can zone out and be who you are. There's just something about performing that I love."
Hearing and seeing the response from audience members every night, Toliver says that she is reminded why she works so hard to nail every step. "I just like to see people having as much fun as I have onstage, while watching the show."
Next:Burlesque Dancers: Don't Call Us Strippers!
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On 27 March 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling upon states not to recognize changes in status quo of Crimea region. 100 states voted in favor, 11 were against and 58 abstained. In terms of international law, Ukraine's continued sovereignty over Crimea is supported by the absolute majority of states, even though Crimea is now de facto annexed by the Russian Federation. In this post I want to make two points: one concerning the Russian scholarship on international law and the second on the history of Russia's treaty practice regarding Crimea.
The first point is that the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation goes against pretty much everything that has been written in Russia over the last twenty years (plus during the Soviet period) on the legality of the use of military force and the right or peoples to self-determination in international law in non-colonial contexts. Suffice it to say that the Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation, approved by President Putin on 12 February 2013, emphatically criticizes and condemns the use of military force outside the framework of the UN Charter.
My comment focuses on the Russian scholarship of international law because its most prominent representatives have until now argued that, in international law, the principle of state sovereignty clearly trumps the right of peoples to self-determination. (See e.g. I.I. Lukashuk, Mezhdunarodnoe pravo. Obshaya chast' (2001), 280, 300; V.I. Kuznetsov, B.R. Tuzmukhamedov (eds) Mezhdunarodnoe pravo, 2nd ed. (2007), 215; G.G. Shinkaretskaya, 'Polozhenie fakticheski sushestvuyushikh rezhimov (nepriznannykh gosudarstv)', in: A.G. Lisitsyn-Svetlanov (ed.) Novye vyzovy i mezhdunarodnoe pravo (2010), 168-172; A.Ya. Kapustin (ed.) Mezhdunarodnoe pravo (2008), 105; A.A. Kovalev, S.v. Chernichenko (eds) Mezhdunarodnoe pravo, 3rd ed. (2008), 58.)
These scholars are now in quite a difficult situation. If one applies the legal criteria that they have supported all along, one must characterize Russia's annexation of Crimea as illegal. The argument that the US violated international law against Iraq in 2003 is not relevant here. Besides the fact that the US did not annex Iraq, this violation does not in any way affect the sovereign rights of Ukraine vis-à-vis Russia.
In the Russian scholarship on international law there have been a number of discussions as to when exactly the Russian government recognized fully and unconditionally the transfer of all territorial rights to Ukraine regarding Crimea. In a monograph that examines legal aspects of the disintegration of the USSR, Petr P. Kremnev from Moscow State University comes to the conclusion that while one could debate about whether the 1997 Ukrainian-Russian treaty recognized the Ukrainian borders unequivocally, the border treaty of 2003 that was ratified by both Russia and Ukraine in 2004 decided the issue of borders, including Ukraine's sovereignty over Crimea, with finality. (P.P. Kremnev, Raspad SSSR: mezhdunarodno-pravovye problemy (2005), 68-91.)
It is obvious that notwithstanding its treaty commitments vis-à-vis Ukraine the Russian government now got 'second thoughts' regarding Crimea. It will be interesting to see whether and how the Russian scholarship reacts to this U-turn in the state's practice.
The second point that I want to make here is a historical one. Namely, for scholars interested in the history of international law, there is a certain déjà vu element in the story. In terms of its international legal obligations, Russia already made a U-turn regarding Crimea – in the 19th century. The case has been discussed in the earlier scholarship of international law because it concerned the issue when a state IS allowed to raise the principle of clausula rebus sic stantibus (fundamental change of circumstances; as exception to the rule that promises must be kept) in international treaty law. (W. E. Hall, A Treatise on International Law, 3rd ed. (1890), 353-6; W. Grewe, Epochen der Völkerrechtsgeschichte (1984), 605.)
The facts of the case were the following. In 1856 the Treaty of Paris ended the Crimean War (1853-1856) that imperial Russia lost. The treaty prohibited Russia from having its Black Sea fleet and declared the Black Sea neutral. However, seizing the opportunity when the Franco-German war broke out in 1870, Russia issued a circular declaring itself no longer bound by references to the Black Sea in the Treaty of Paris. Since the other participants of the Treaty of Paris protested, a common conference of the treaty partners was convened in which it was declared that:
"It is an essential principle of the law of nations that no power can liberate itself from the engagements of the treaty, nor modify the stipulations thereof, unless with the consent of the contracting powers by means of an amicable arrangement."
However, the English scholar W.E. Hall who commented on this case also noticed a troublesome aspect: while in 1870 Russia formally agreed to the principle that in international treaty law, the principle pacta sunt servanda trumped the principle of clausula rebus sic stantibus, it nevertheless, for reasons of Realpolitik, actually got to keep its navy in the Black Sea. (Hall, ibid., 356.)
Thus, it is now the second time in the history that the Russian government bypasses its own earlier treaty commitments and presents the international community with a fait accompli in Crimea. The step certainly contradicts the rhetorical self-image of the Russian government as expressed in the Concept of the Foreign Policy and other similar documents, essentially claiming that Russia is sort of a 'guardian' of international law and its foundational document, the UN Charter. Rather, it seems that Russia's guiding principle, at least in Crimea, has been: when facts and power relations in international relations change, our legal claims change too. Such an attitude towards the sanctity of international treaties and the principle of pacta sunt servanda cannot but worry other sovereign states in Russia's immediate neighborhood.
In the region, Russia's approach seems to be connected to what Dmitri Trenin, the director of the Carnegie Moscow Center has observed: "In the current stage, Russia recognizes all former Soviet republics as separate countries but does not yet perceive all of them as foreign countries." (D. Trenin, Post-imperium: evraziiskaya istoria (2012), 39.) It is clear that such a perception is a problem from the point of view of international law, in particular the principle of sovereign equality of states as enshrined in the UN Charter.


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Kam Mahdi
Kam Mahdi is an accomplished public company CEO with domestic and international experience in operations, P&L oversight, multi-channel product distributions, licensing, joint ventures, and marketing involving both start-ups and growth organizations. He has been the CEO of CETY since October of 2015, he's an entrepreneur at heart successfully building his own companies for the past 20 years. He's a passionate leader building visions into reality. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Probe Manufacturing an electronics design and manufacturing company from 1996 until December of 2005 and again from July 2009 until October of 2015. Mr. Mahdi's vision of creating a product development accelerator led to the acquisition of the General Electric Heat Recovery Solutions. He has been able to build a solid business in clean energy and making CETY a major player in the energy efficiency market. Mr. Mahdi has a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from California State University of Northridge.
John Bennett
Chief Financial Officer
John Bennett has been the Chief Financial Officer of CETY, a publicly traded company for over 10 years. He joined the company in 2005 and has held the positions of controller, Chief financial Officer and has served on the Board of Directors. He has over a 30 year background in finance, including as CFO of companies in the high growth technology and distribution industries that expanded exponentially. He has successfully directed compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Investor relations, financial planning, internal audit and external audit interface. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and received his Master of Science in Finance from the University of Colorado.
Jamie Burrows
Director of Operations
Jamie Burrows is a highly accomplished management professional with 30 years of experience in operations, team management, manufacturing, safety and regulatory compliance, and strategic planning. Results oriented,
decisive leader with proven success in implementing effective process improvements across a broad spectrum of industries. Jamie was the Operations Manager for GE Heat Recovery Solutions from March of 2013 until December of 2015 and CETY's Director of Operations from December of 2015 until present. He's responsible for managing all aspects of production operations with expertise in operations, service, product development, and manufacturing of elctro-mechanical and power generation products. His multi-faceted experience enabled him to support over 100 installations of CETY's world wide installations.


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Truworths rallies most in six years as clothing cash sales climb
Truworths International Ltd., the South African clothing retailer that's bought two children's wear chains in the past year, rose the most in six years after sales growth accelerated and cash purchases outpaced those using credit.
Revenue gained 19 percent in the 18 weeks through October, the Cape Town-based company said in a statement on Thursday. That compared with 4.7 percent growth in the same period last year. Cash sales rose by 25 percent, compared with a 17 percent gain in credit purchases.
"This is a big surprise," Alec Abraham, an equities analyst at Sasfin Securities in Johannesburg, said by phone. "In the past two years volume growth has been negative and now being positive, it's a big turnaround." Abraham had expected retail sales growth, excluding the Earthchild and Naartjie purchases, to be half of the 16 percent reported by the company.
The shares gained as much as 10 percent, the most since August 2009, and traded 9.7 percent higher at 105.83 rand as of 11:44 a.m. in Johannesburg, the highest since February 2013. The stock is up 37 percent this year, valuing the company at 45 billion rand ($3.2
Truworths bought Earthchild in Ma billion). The Foschini Group Ltd., which is also expanding its childrenswear offering in South Africa, gained as much as 5.2 percent after Truworths' trading update.
rch and the South African clothing-retail business of Naartjie a month later as it sought growth opportunities in a muted South African market. Unemployment of 25 percent, rising power costs and high fuel prices are putting pressure on shoppers to cut down on purchases.
– Bloomberg [Janice Kew]


text: Over several years, we'd worked closely and successfully with InSinkErator to build unprecedented consumer awareness for its kitchen accessories. Nevertheless, a huge opportunity to tap into the retro-fit marketplace remained. We created a lifestyle-focused consumer campaign – based around the launch of the new 3N1 instant hot water tap – to persuade consumers to upgrade their kitchens without breaking the bank. The multi-touchpoint campaign was led by a TV commercial encouraging consumers to 'fall in love' with the product. Overall, we have helped InSinkErator to double sales revenues over a five year period.


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Two self-confessed comic book fanatics are hoping to bring some of the biggest names in comics and science fiction film and television to Blackpool.
Paddy O'Hare, 37, and Luke Williams, 29, are the masterminds behind some of the biggest sci-fi conventions in the North West.
And after attending numerous other conventions all over the UK, the Cheshire-based pair have now picked Blackpool's Winter Gardens as the venue to host a major new event, showcasing all they love best in television and movie fantasy.
ComicCon 2015 is planned for September 12 next year.
The event will see the Winter Gardens decked out with spectacular props, including the classic Batmobile from the original Adam West Batman TV show, the Ecto 1 vehicle from Ghostbusters, James Bond's Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me and even the Weasleys' Ford Anglia from Harry Potter.
And while they have not confirmed who they are trying to get to appear, the pair are hoping to get stars of films, TV and the comic book world to come along to meet fans.
There will be a whole host of activities on the day including photo shoots, panels, autograph sessions and hundreds of stalls full of memorabilia to browse.
Paddy, a radio DJ, musician and film fanatic, has been collecting movie merchandise since he was a schoolboy.
Talking about the atmosphere of the Winter Gardens venue, he said: "You get the impression here that people really want this thing, there have been conventions here and there and they've not really gotten off the ground.
"Cons all kind of repeat a similar pattern, a massive room with a lot of tables and they can be very 'beige', it's like a factory.
"But what we figured with this spectacular venue is that it can be more like a journey or a show, it's about putting a bit more imagination and thought into it, and creating an interactive experience for fans."
Luke, an experienced events organiser, said: "For me, Blackpool represents my childhood, I used to visit here a lot, and Paddy did too. His dad is a singer and used to perform here for summer seasons and on the Pier.
"We feel like we want to give something back to the town that we remember so fondly and we will also be raising money for local charity Autism Initiatives Group, along with Make A Wish UK."
The two are confident that Blackpool ComicCon will not just be for the diehard fans and comic collectors, with plenty on offer for families and free tickets for under-eights.
And with the new train line opening up from London to Blackpool this month, they are to make the event a UK-wide attraction. Go to www.blackpoolcomiccon.com.


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I stand before twenty-two of my husband's button down, collared shirts this morning and am considering taking on a task I have long avoided. As a self-confessed domestically challenged diva I wholeheartedly embrace reality. But reality is, I love my man, and certainly want to be a blessing…maybe even do the thing I despise most. After toilet bowl scouring, spider killing, cooking, dusting, floor washing…oh hey, wait…the list is too long. Stay with me-back to ironing.
You could say, ironing and me go together like…oil and vinegar.
BUT, as one who believes old dogs can learn new tricks and miracles still happen, I will share with you this post about my domestically challenged life and how God is still working on me in this area, on the OTHER side of fifty.
Hope you enjoy this little re-post from 2014…and the invitation at the end.


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Sep 22, 2010
* (0:24) Game titles that are popular in Ireland, Israel, and Sweden. The consumption of local games versus those produced in America.
* (5:46) The ubiquity of English in entertainment and how that affects RPGs. Whether language can serve as a barrier to getting into the hobby. Titles published in other languages that English speakers may be missing out on.
* (14:02) How national culture impacts the types of games that people consume. The ways various nations are represented in roleplaying games that provide a speculative world based on the real one.
* (22:39) The nature of social and religious prejudice regarding tabletop roleplaying games. The presence or absence of gamer shame.
* (33:28) America as the default setting for roleplaying games. How other countries are portrayed in games and whether portraying them in better detail would help them gain traction abroad.
* (47:15) Drawing together our similarities as gamers, regardless of where we live.
Hosts: Chad, Dan, Itamar, Jenny, Shane
Itamar is a regular host of the Hamishakia podcast, which has a feed dedicated to their English language episodes.
Jenny is an artist with an online gallery of her work.
Shane is a host of The Adventuring Party podcast.


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