The sun finally set yesterday, dipping briefly below the horizon for a few minutes, before dawning bright and new just after midnight. As nights go, it wasn't much to speak of, but we celebrated it anyway. It has been a long day. Our last sunrise was in late April, in Resolute. It was -30 degC, the world was white, and we were just setting off on our great adventure. Now it's a balmy 7 degrees, the landscape is Mars red, and we're nervously contemplating reintegration into society. Will we smell funny? Hopefully not, after copious showers in Res. Will we flinch at social contact? Mmm, maybe. Will we remember to behave ourselves? Will we want to? I'll admit that I spent precious air miles on an upgrade for my flight to LA, to reduce the odds of being stuck next to a crying baby or some other challenging neighbor. Still, I'm not too worried - a salad bar, a hot tub, and a glass of wine, and I'll be right as rain.
15 comments:
Before you are truly right as rain, you'll need to get the hamachi at Nobu. And before that, you'll want a pear martini with honey gelee. After the hamachi, I would recommend the ell and avocado roll. Then think about tempura shrimp in a spicy butter sauce with an intriguing glass of a moscato/guwurstraminer blend.
Then you'll be right as rain.
I would have PRESCRIBED upgrading your flight to LA. I mean, after the last several months, you've totally earned some first class treatment.
You'll hear this again and again from me; this blog should continue. It will be interesting to follow the hab relationships after you all move on. What's next for the group of you, you know?
Anyhoo, good to get the latest and see that wonderful sunrise.
Kristin: We're hitting a place called Kiriko in LA, which came highly recommended on chowhound. I think that might put me to rights.
Lora: But what would I write about, back in Hawaii?? That said, I have a STONKIN' sabbatical plan for next year, so maybe it'll be resurrected then.
As far as the group goes, Mel and Simon will be going to graduate school in London, Ontario; Ryan's returning to his PhD in Boulder; Matt's going back to his PhD at the Canadian Space Agency; James is going back to his job in Austin; and Kathy's going back to work/study in San Diego.
Before all that, though, Mel and her boyfriend are coming out to Hawaii to help renovate my house. Kathy might also be coming out for Hallowe'en. Yay!
Any good ideas for Hallowe'en costume themes? I'm thinking of keeping it simple and going with "zombies". That way it's gruesome enough for the occasion, but people can still provide social commentary by zombifying celebrities etc. Thoughts?
Well if the muse hits you I hope you keep blogging. This blog has been awesome in what I've learned and observed, and how we all interact and comment. What a hoot.
And see? I didn't know you have a sabbatical coming up...that sounds intriguing enough right there!
Have a good night...
Sabbatical year:
- June: BC to see family, then a cruise to Alaska, justified by a permafrost conference in Fairbanks.
- July: Montreal, to visit the Canadian Space Agency and, completely coincidentally, the Montreal Comedy Festival.
- August: Naples and Strasbourg, for the International Space University.
- September: the Marathon du Medoc, a conference in Edinburgh, then Moscow.
- Sept - Nov: Moscow, to be a researcher (not a participant, thank you everyone for the suggestion) on the
MARS-500 experiment.
- December: Trans-Mongolian to Beijing, then to New Zealand, staging ground for...
- Jan - Feb: Antarctica.
OK, the Antarctica bit is pure fantasy at this point. Also, I'd like to work in the Galapagos and Africa somewhere in there, so that I can hit all the continents. Still, it's a good plan.
Do you think Leia would like to come along this time?
The rumor I hear is that you are not going to be able to pick Leia ouf of a line up in September. World travel might be right up her alley.
Oh, and Halloween is a theme.
Leia is going to secede from the union.
I did the Trans Siberian to Beijing in December and suggest -- strongly suggest -- that you manipulate the dates to do it in summer. After all that time in the Artic, you are hearty and brave, no doubt. But it was an Arctic *summer*.
I think Leia is going to give you a leash for Christmas.
Hallowe'en may well be a theme, but if you don't give people specifics, you end up with a bunch of sexy witches.
Sarah, I hear you about winter in Siberia. However, I don't think I'll be able to shift the schedule. If you had to choose between doing the Trans-Mongolian in winter and not doing it at all, what would you do?
Note to self: Burn sexy witch costume.
How about a sexy zombie?
Sooo, who hates a sexy witch? A smokin hot magical chick in fishnets who rides around on a flying phallus? Anyone? Anyone?
You know what I love? Salt and Vinegar Almonds. That's what I love.
Kristin, if the sexy witch costume includes a flying phallus, I'll give it a pass.
Tim, anyone who can make "BRAAAAAIINS!!!" sound like a come-on is welcome at my parties.
I am reminded of the time someone thought they were Mayor MacCheese...
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