Raspberry! There's only one man who would dare give me the raspberry: Lone Star!

 That last post was terrible. But I'm going to leave it as a testament of how much garbage can fill a page at one time. I should have put "Chocolate Rain" to stream in the background. Good god. 

Well I knew it wouldn't be long before I forgot about this thing and it just disappeared on the net somewhere, only to be replaced by some overpriced dating community or adult megastore. I'm here on the ice now, have been for about a week now. I'll just do a little recap of the past two weeks to fill the gaps. 

Sept 30th-Oct 2nd

Upon arriving in Denver, I was once again greeted by a fanatic shuttle driver hell bent on getting us to the hotel in whatever fashion he saw fit. This included finagling his way through rush hour traffic at breakneck speeds, while holding a conversation on the phone and in the rear view mirror to his patrons who were to busy soiling themselves to hold anything but the "oh shit" bar. This just so happens to be second experience with this shuttle company and must say it's amazing our company would choose men of such high caliber to ensure safe passage to the hotel. Simply amazing. 

Training started the next day and commenced with all the excitement one could ask for. It was good to see Capt. Paul (McMurdo's A-Shift Captain) and chat with him about our season. The training also reminded me I have a severe case of Alzheimers when it comes to remembering people's names. Even one's I had met last season were all pretty much wiped clean. You can only call people "bro" or "hey you" before they realize your an imbecile. But nonetheless everyone was great, which always fascinates me how some many great people are grouped together for this program. 

After training we all boarded our buses, luggage in tow and went off to DIA (Denver International). For some reason the trip was one of the most fantastically fortunate trips I could have ever experienced.By this I mean every flight I was on, I got upgraded to first class. This usually wouldn't matter on a short flight but when your going 13 hrs to New Zealand your just about brought to your knees in tearful goodness at how much easier it is. The seats were fully adjustable with massage and full recline sleeping position. Far to nice for my comforts and not something I will get use to experiencing. 

Oct 4th- Oct 6th

It's sort of weird to think that you actually miss a day entirely and it pretty much doesn't exist for you. And thats what Oct 3rd was for me. A couple of buddies from last season actually came down 2 months apart but their flights just so happened to have their b-days fall into this mysterious time lapse. Curious. 

Christchurch, NZ 

One of the most perfect spots to be right before you go down to Antarctica. It provides everything one would want from a tourist town, but still retain a tucked away feel to it. I stayed at the "Y" (YMCA) this time and was pleased considering I payed half what I payed the last time I was there for a better room. No crime scene tape blocking  your way in. That gets annoying. I had a great time hanging out with the crew and was glad I could offer some assistance in regards to where to go or what to see. The days flew by and soon enough I found myself back at the CDC (Clothing Distribution Center) to get weighed in for the flight. It's about 0530 and nobody gives a damn about anything. 

The rest is pretty much filler if you ask me. I realize I'm telling you everything besides my bowel movements which I was saving for a later date. I will call it quits here for my own sake and enjoy a day of sleeping in thanks to our new shift change sundays. Sweet.

Well I seemed to think that I might have been in the clear for a while, but sure enough charlie snuck through the wire and had their way with me. By this I mean my tooth was once again giving me alot of good reasons to get dentures. The worse part is I entered the office in the around noon to announce my teeth were great only to meet the cheers of numerous ladies in the office, who were undoubtely glad to be rid of me. So there I was defeated, a shell of a man trudging my ass into the arena once more. As fate would have it I choose my seat, find an estrogen free magazine to read, and am greeted to Air Supply's "I'm all out of love" filling the airwaves. I sink further in the pleather chair and bask in the irony. The dentist doesn't even acknowledge me anymore, he just yells down the hallways for me to find my way to him. It's all just a blur for me in those chair's anymore.
I sit back get novacained, open wide, bite down, get drilled, etc.. . Please sir may I have another? I leave feeling much like this song makes me feel. Numb, Violated, Intrigued, and a little hungry. Just can't wait to get to the ice.

The day started off alright I suppose. All that moving I discussed was completed the night before with the help of some good friends, strawberry cake, and Halo 3. But after the smoke and cleared me and Liz kicked back and watched "The Fountain" on our make shift sleeping quarters . It served it's purpose well enough I suppose. The movie was pretty good though. It helped being a huge supporter of Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, because I still stand strong that every teenager should watch that movie to get that swift kick in the teeth they need about drug use and finally seeing a decent wayans brother role doesn't hurt either.

We therefore had to wake up at 0700 to get the remaining junk packed. After a couple of runs and confined space training in my storage unit we were done. Saying goodbye to our first apartment together was actually a little harder than I expected. A quick paraphrase; "Well apartment we had some good times. Sure you had a dirty ass rat problem and a couple ant colonies in your midst, but you held true. Hope the next pack of gypsies or miscreants that reside here find you just as inviting. ~XOXOXO Your former tenants."

And of course just as I'm about to leave my landlord comes up and forgets about our conversation from the day before. Where we discussed my situation to "Alaska or Antarctica same thing" . After freeing myself from his dynamic intellect I began my trip home with liz in tow.

I drive for about 3 1/2 hrs straight through some of the most god awful texas countryside afforded to me only to be a couple minutes early to a dentist appointment. Quick back story; I have been to the dentist about 3 times now for an incessant tooth hellbent on pushing me in front of a bus. This being the 4th visit I began to wonder if I should just cut my losses. For about an hour and half I had the best of kenny g lulling me to sleep, while the doctor practiced experimental dentistry maneuvers on my grill. Jump into my nightmare the water is warm I assure you. Finally after the torture was done I was free to leave and drool elsewhere besides their office. 

Long story short I think my mouth is better now...... but we'll see what tommorrow brings when I have to start using this thing the dentist called a toothbrush.

Well seeing as this is my first entry to live journal, I should probably say something deep and powerful to the possibly two people who might ever read this. Hi Gam Gam and Pa! Anyways today was a lazy day filled with terrible Mediterranean food and the realization my entire apartment needs to be packed up in the next 2 days. Let me stifle my excitement.

In other news a moment of silence for Fernando Jimenez Gonzalez of Redwood City who just today fell forward into a vat of sulfuric acid and perished. Couldn't have been Ovaltine or some nice soft serve. oh no this guy gets sulfuric acid . Isn't that what the joker fell in to? Well that about wraps up my first and maybe only entry onto this thing.

To be continued....