The 9th-to-last Day

Today's big events:

I'm listening to my roomies talk about the SNAFU that was breakfast this morning. Breakfast is at 8; I showed up at 8:10 and got cereal. A lot of people were miffed that we ran out of food so fast. 2 minutes ago: J to D: "Breakfast was all f*ed up this morning" D: "Who was on it?" J:"Tweedledee and Tweedledum" Glad I'm not the only one who thinks that.

I was having a seriously psychedelic dream when the alarm went off this morning. I was supposedly at church, but people were looking and acting like they were on the Magical Mystery Tour, and Michael Jackson was there (the normal version). It was supposed to be a newer, more marketable St. John's.

Called Grandma this morning and told her I was going to Asia. The connection was so bad, I couldn't really hear anything she said. I do know she said there are a lot of people there who aren't too good. Not a surprising reaction.

Called the IRS to get my resident certificate that enables me to not pay taxes in Korea. It costs $35 and takes 45 days. (Better than the other way around, I suppose) I thought I was done with the money. And I'm supposed to have it in hand when I get there.

Manned the store for HOR to return their gear after backpacking for 18 days. Man, that place was ripe!

I was supposed to meet the SYSCO truck when it arrived this afternoon. With their usual knack for screwing up an iron ball, they showed up early this time, at the moment I finally sat down with my lunch.

Was supposed to meet with Seth for my mid-summer eval today, but never had the time. SSQ returned this afternoon, and took forever to deissue their stuff.

Another double dinner tonight. These are universally hated by staff.

Since SSQ is leaving for the mountains tomorrow, instead of the usual full-day layover in basecamp, they packed their rations tonight, and J & I are the BCP gurus. So after working a full day, we keep going from 7:30 to 9, helping 13 hyped-up kids pack mountain food. I got to give the spiel with Seth and 2 of Deer Hill's most senior field staff listening. Beforehand, I was waiting for the group in the BCP, slumped on the floor, and finally, as they started to come in, there was a thunderclap and the lights went out. The leaders brought in some camp lanterns, and we carried on. It actually made it more fun; I had not been feeling like doing this. The lights came back on just as we finished up.

D & some of the field staff went rafting in Durango today, and just returned drunk as skunks. One of the field staff was an intern in the spring, and persists in staying in the Homestead whenever he's in basecamp. Because we need another person in this shack. Apparently, he fell facefirst on a rock, and his forehead looks it. D is actually playing the role of caretaker...it's rather sweet.

No time to do what I wanted tonight, but I'm going to at least try to get a walk in. Left my headlamp in the tent, again, so I'll have to carry my Maglite around the "block", again. The moon is heading back to a phase where it's light enough, but it's been particularly overcast & stormy this week. Lots of rain at night, instead of in the afternoon when it belongs. Seth just got a new watch with a bunch of geek features, like a barometer, which he doesn't have calibrated, and which everyone has fun digging him about.

One more day 'til the weekend! My weekend matches everyone else's this time.