a hike

Laura and I went up Green Mountain today, near Boulder. As soon as we started, I could tell I was going to get a workout. I haven't hiked in awhile, and we gained quite a bit of altitude over the course of the next two hours!

The weather was a gorgeous 70F+ degrees and the only clouds in the sky were the ones behind us. We made the top as an accomplishment for the day and then wandered back down to clean up in time for a housewarming party for an Antarctic friend of Laura's. It was fun to hang out in the backyard for a cookout.

All that outdoorsy stuff means I'm pretty tired though! Ready to begin a new week in the morning!

environmental stewardship

There is a lot of "green" information out there in reaction to the climate change issues and limited natural resources on earth. Regardless of how you feel about the issues facing our "green consciousness," most people will agree that we should be stewards of the world we live in. I don't put much stock in the "carbon neutral" concept; that we can "buy" our way to neutralizing carbon emissions. Paying someone money is just another way of attempting to legitimize an overuse of non-renewable materials. Planting trees is great, but they should be doing that themselves, not paying someone else to "allow" excessiveness.

I've compiled a list of 10 easy things you can do to begin making a mark. It might look small on a single household level, but it doesn't have to be embraced by many to begin making a difference. Feel free to post your own ideas as comments below:

one. Bring your own mug when you go out for coffee or ask for a "for here" cup if you're staying awhile. Carry your own silverware in the car so you don't have to get plastic ware for take-away foods. Only take as many napkins as you think you will use. Rather than purchasing case upon case of water bottles, buy one or two reusable bottles (and a purifier if you're concerned about water quality) to keep on hand.

two. Be conscious of how much packaging you are purchasing with your products. When available, select brands with recyclable, or minimal packaging.

three. Recycle everything you can find a receptacle for. Sometimes this means driving to a recycling center.

four. Purchase cleaning products, soaps, and health care products that are biodegradable.

five. Turn off lights when you are not using them (this is a hard one for me).

six. Walk, run, or ride bike to the grocery store, post office, bank, work, and so on. Or, combine trips. It's good for you and will save some money.

seven. Bring your own bags when you go shopping.

eight. Be creative and reuse products for a different purpose. Example: bottles (fine oils or liquor bottles) can make attractive decorations in your home, or become an interesting vase. Use styrofoam packing peanuts to create your own bean bag. I'm sure you have some great ideas to add to this point!

nine. catch your favorite magazine online rather than purchasing a hard copy.

ten. use rail, carpools, or buses for transportation.

If you're feeling real audacious look into alternative lifestyle choices for your home: solar panels, wind power, rainwater collection system for laundry, shower, and toilet water.

bouldering

Laura lets me tag along with her on her Monday and Wednesday lunch date with the bouldering gym. My arms, hands, and fingers usually feel like rubber when I leave, but one day I'll have the strength to actually think about the skill and technique behind sticking to a wall with my fingers and toes. So far, I have deduced that there is a reason insects and spiders have more than four appendages; it's to grab onto more of those holds at once! Three points of contact is a general safety rule of rock climbing. I could use two or four more. Some of our bouldering buddies can actually propel themselves through the air to catch the next hand hold!

Despite the sore muscles, bouldering is a lot of fun and Laura's coworkers who we go with are Antarctic folks, like us, so we all have a little bit in common!

Yesterday, my friend, who we affectionately referred to as "red-haired" David my first season on The Ice, came down and spent part of the afternoon with me. After more than a year, we had a fun time catching up and telling stories from our travels.

Laura and I also checked out Jing, an modern Chinese inspired, Asian cuisine restaurant. She was told to check out the bathroom at this place and we weren't disappointed when we discovered the doors to each toilet change from clear to frosted glass when the door is locked. The ladies room was quite trendy and chic. The food was good, too. We split a strawberry tofu salad and some crusted shrimp and prawns with white and brown rice.

after the rain comes...

Lest you think it's been snowing since my last post, I should inform you that we have had some nice days here in Denver. Today, it started rather cloudy and glum, but after the rainbow, came a touch of sun before dusk.

I am applying for plenty of jobs and have a couple of little nibbles on the resume, but no chomps big enough to indicate how you might vote on my little survey question to the left yet.

Laura has taken me out with her friends downtown and bouldering at the local rock climbing gym. My forearms and fingers feel a bit noodle-like, but that is a fun activity! We have met up with Matt a couple of times for dinner now and had a fellow Calvin grad and Antarctic acquaintance, Brandon over for supper as well. My college friends, Mae & Derek came up from Colorado Springs for pizza and the R.E.I. Sale. And, today, my Antarctic friend, Lucas and I caught up for the first time since The Ice for coffee and a walk. Talking over coffee is our activity and it felt great to debrief after this past season down south!

I have my unemployment ups and downs, but like the promise behind a rainbow, I hope that I am part of a bigger, much more complex plan that will turn out beautifully; trusting that God is in the details as well as the big picture.

white may day

Since leaving The Ice, I've been flip-flopping between climates in every place I go: Australia was hot, Washington State was temperate, Ontario was snowy and cold to hopeful and springlike, Louisville was setting record highs, Chicago was moderate to chilly, Denver was warm enough to spend some time at the pool yesterday, but for some reason I just can't seem to shake the Antarctic weather.

I woke up to a little snow spattering that has turned into a couple inches on the rooftops, trees and the poor little flower buds that dared to put out their fragile blossoms during April. Who was wishing for a white May Day?

radio in antarctica

NPR came down to Antarctica while I was there this past summer. In Air Services we accommodated these guys as they made some trips back and forth to a few different places on the continent and to Christchurch. Their work has been put together at this website. There is a lot of great information and links to other Antarctic stories at the bottom of the article.

I highly recommend this video about the South Pole and McMurdo Station (4 min) and this radio broadcast (15 minutes) from the South Pole. I like it because I recognized places and faces. You might like it for the perspective it gives you on a place few people get to visit.

off to denver

The next leg of my little cross-country one-way ticket sent me to Denver. Jen brought me to O'Hare and I promptly found out that my flight was delayed by over an hour; meaning at 12 midnight landing in Denver. However, I did manage to squeak a free upgrade out of the deal and enjoyed my warm nuts and chocolate chip cookie in first class.

Laura was there to pick me up from the airport after I walked around baggage claim three times to figure out where my luggage was. I never listen to which carousel I'm supposed to be at; a bad habit that I should have fixed by now.

Laura also had some strawberry pie for a 1am bedtime snack when we got to her apartment. She's such a thoughtful sister! Matt had us over last night for turkey soup. It was great to catch up with them both for supper. The soup was good, too. Matt is finishing some classes in Denver before heading up to Alaska for another summer on the boats and Laura is working a contract for the company that holds the United States Antarctic Program contract right now.

My plane ticket ends here, so I'll be sticking around the area for a bit while continuing the job search. I have a few friends in the area who I hope to see while I'm around as well.

full

I am full. Full of food, full of family, and full of good friends. I realized on my flight into Chicago at sunrise, that even though I don't have a job and place to be, I am blessed with friends who I love enough to fly around the country and see while I have some time off.

I stayed with my friends, Dan and Emily. They have a delightful daughter, Morgan, who learned how to pump her legs on the swing while I was there. Emily also made some fantastic cakes. Her cooking is always excellent! And, I listened to Dan explain his home brewing system. It's quite a fascinating process.

We all made our way over to the Dave & Mary's house for Mary's fantastic hamburgers on the grill. They are like a second family to me and I had a great time catching up with them and watching their family grow with new babies!

At church on Sunday morning, I saw lots of familiar faces. All the kids looked about twice as tall as they were two years ago and I was surprised how many people have kept up with my life through this blog!

On Sunday night, I stayed with Phil, Jen, and Ashley. My friends have beautiful children, and Ashley is no exception (despite how the photo looks. I caught her about to cry). I have a feeling those cute cheeks and big eyes will give dad some problems in a few years, though!

Monday morning, Shari had me over for waffles; which are one of my favorite breakfast foods. And, in the afternoon, Brandi and I went out to appease my pallet with some Starbucks coffee.

Chicago was a great stop. I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to, but I'll be back again. The food was great; especially the Chicago pizza from Rosatti's AND Giordano's!

leaving kentucky

My time in Louisville is over and I had a great time living a few days-in-the-lives of my dear friends! I realized I didn’t get many pictures of the new parents or myself. But, you can see, by this picture of Rajko, there was a brand new photographic face in the house!

I am glad I got to see my friends be new parents. It’s part of life that I may endeavor to experience at some point, but the opportunity to live vicariously through Erin and Ryan was nice; and then I could fly from Louisville, leaving the diaper changes and early morning feedings behind. I was able to see his smile develop over the few days I stayed with the family. On our walk last evening, he was showing his dimple to his daddy with a humongous grin across his face!

I flew to Chicago this morning; early. Thanks to Ryan for making a 5am trip to the airport, and Emily for coming to pick me up on the O’Hare end of things!

Walking through the airport today, I found some strange wooden painted sweaters in various colors and designs hung all over the Louisville airport. I was kindly informed that they were not sweaters, but jockey jerseys and that the Kentucky Derby was on its’ way in a week. The people of Louisville are quite kind and helpful; particularly in the airport, but the city (granted I only visited a few stores and the airport) is the least-“green” place I’ve been in the last few years. I hope they catch on to the environmental track soon.

yet another yarn

This year in Antarctica, I had about 35 balls yarn of sent down to work on various projects for my friends back home. Many of them never made it through the production process. But, I did finish a few items. The most involved was this baby blanket for my friends, Erin and Ryan, as they were expecting their first child in March.

I finished all the squares in Antarctica, and began connecting them all together, but ran out of time in the busy end of season activities in McMurdo. So, I finally finished the project a few weeks ago in Canada and sent it to them a few weeks late for the arrival of their baby boy!

Yesterday I flew into Louisville, Kentucky to visit these fine friends and see the little precious new life. And, I saw that they received their colorful blanket. So, for all those who watched my progress, here is the final product!