Plain and simple: I'm in Texas on vacation.
Oh I could tell you what it was like to eat dinner at a Jewish restaurant in Krakow with four and a half German women (Bettina is only half a Germ. Her father is from Utah and her Mother is from the Father Land). Or delight you with stories of what it was like to meet someone who I'd never met, but reads my stories and invited me to stay with her simply because of philjacobsen.com. Brie lives in Munich prounced "Munchen" if you're German. I'm obviously not German, because calling Munich "Munchen" is like calling those Wizard of Oz midgets "Munich-kins"--it just makes no sense.
Things happened at Aushwitz and stuff happened at Berkenau. Stuff I really don't care to share, but if you were there, then you saw it, too. And I went to Paris, merde.
The best part about having this website is it allows me to stay in touch with friends and family when I'm working in Antarctica, but, since I'm on vacation I'm visiting these friends and family as I speak, type and write. And, if I wrote about everything that has been happening on my vacation, then I'd have little else to talk about besides the weather as I get to see these people for the first time in nearly a year.
What if a magician kept pulling the same rabbit out of the hat--over and over again--and then told you about his trick involving a Rabbit and a Hat. This is how I feel about writing right now. In a way it would be like when I did my favorite coin trick for my friend Karen's son, Benjamin. He said, "Big deal. I've seen David Blaine do that trick on TV."
I'm not saying I'm a one trick-Antarctic Pony, but when I can't even entertain an eight year old, I figure I better keep the Ace Stories up my sleeve for the time being.
However, I do have a couple of updates. When I was in Germany I received an email from the bosses to be below the 60 degree line of Lattitude. They said there are serious cutbacks this year with the Antarctic progam (nearly 50%), but/yet/and/their brains-must-be-frozen they've invited me back to return for another Winter season. Because of these cutbacks a lot of my friends (about 50%) won't be returning for the Winter 2007. I accepted the job and (if I pass all of my physicals and psychological exams) will be returning to Antarctica at the end of January. Needless to say, I'm chilled with excitement.
One of the main hurdles I have to pass with my physical is in my mouth. Over the Winter of 2006 I bit into one too many lollipops and chipped a tooth. Lucky for me my sister is my dentist and she is installing a gold tooth (bling. bling.) where my rotted tooth used to be. Unlucky for her, I don't have insurance. So, if you live near Austin, Texas go to Advanced Smiles Dental--it's where I struck gold.
On Sunday, I'm driving to Utah where I'll spend Christmas. And, it's also where I'm hoping my Winter Goal of beating my friend Smed in ping-pong becomes a reality. When I go for that Gold, I'll keep you posted.
Posted by phil at November 30, 2006 07:04 PMI do understand the rabbit and the hat thing, but you must realize that not EVERYone who reads your blog is about to see or has just seen you for the first time in nearly a year (or a lifetime!). Don't forget about the Dick-in-Darlingtons, the Desert Turtles, the Scottish Bobs and the silent legions of other readers who (many thanks to my own evangelizing) have finally discovered The Gospel of Phil. By all means, do enjoy your well-deserved vacation, but don't let your life (and your writings) be dictated by a clueless 8-year-old punk!
Posted by: Brie on December 1, 2006 01:11 AMAre those the same Carhartts that you wore on the ice? Seriously man, buy some new pants. You should check out Eric's myspace profile. He has a precious photo of him and Mickey Mouse that screams a joke from the felt that I won't even bother to say here. Good luck with the PQ.
Posted by: Benjamin on December 1, 2006 03:17 AMHey Phil,
Just got an email from Amy telling me she made it to McMudd'O and I thought to myself...hey I wonder if Phil has his website. SO I googled you. Taada...there you are. Anyways, I don't have time to read what you have been up to the past....well however long it has been since we talked last but I will try and puruse your site over the next week or so. I'm at sea right now. I'll be back in Mississippi at Christmas. Just broke up with my girlfriend last week so I have all that drama going on. Being on a ship kind of makes it suck worse. Especially since she's gone all email psycho ex on me. This is becoming a long post. Probably to long so I'll say bye now. write me when you can. Later,
Joe Tegeder
Please tell me that Ben Bonnet is also up for another tour on the ice...working twice as hard now for half as much (on average overall)
All this time I thought he was a 60+ something from what you wrote, turns out he is one hot dude in one cold world.
Maybe those Raytheon powers that be, think your worst punishment is another winter tour....
Love ya Phil, but not as much as I love the four seasons and the day/night routine in the Northern Hemisphere - and maybe, just maybe, I or Dicksmith will catch ya on the flip-flop before you go back to the Great White South
Guess I better go find that C-17 cap you give me. See you at McMurdo in Feb.
Great to hear you'll be back on the ice!
Today at 2:45 the OM students open the package sent to us by ISS Expedition 13 astronaut Jeff Williams. Guess what is in the package? Hint, it has traveled over 73,978,320 miles in the last 6 months getting to Darlington, WI.
Going to make a fine addition to the collection and will be right beside some other terrific "Role" models for me and my students.
What a day!
Posted by: Dick in Darlington on December 2, 2006 05:53 AMYes, Molly, there is a Santa Claus and that Santa Claus has decided to give me another tour of duty in the winter of McMurdo. I am writing the powers that be right now to make sure that Phil is available to do each and every food pull with me. You flatter me way too much. You make me blush.
Posted by: Benjamin on December 3, 2006 03:11 AMWow, I guess you're happy that the cows came home, right? Please remember not to point that bling at the camera, we might go blind.
Posted by: Desert Turtle on December 3, 2006 04:42 PMJust show that 8-year-old some of your Phil-lusions. I'm sure that will impress him, especially if you start him on fire with your intro. Keep writing for me, Phil. Some people you can't visit with until you are right back here on the ice. Can't wait to see ya again!
Posted by: Katie on December 7, 2006 12:51 AMwow your sisters dentist office is full goregous girls!
sure beats my wheezy hundred yr old dentist
Waiting until the big-long-pointy-horned cows came home, eh? Read an interesting article in New Scientist about Vostok and the under ice lakes then I wondered about you. Kids have been asking about you. Its International Polar Year in 2007, we have to have our mascot!
Have you read "Life on the Ice: No One Goes to Antarctica Alone" by Roff Martin Smith?
I never really believed you were leaving Antarctica for GOOD. When you get back and settled in, remember those of us who didn't get to hear of your adventures firsthand. And enjoy the rest of your vacation!
Posted by: Miss Cellania on December 13, 2006 11:20 AMHey Phil
looking forward to reading about the outcome of that ping-pong game. we're in christchurch unwinding from our four months on the ice and thinking of you and all the things you told us about leaving antarctica.... i'm very sorry we won't cross paths again before you head back that way... unless... when will you be back in cheech en route to back down? i'm in NZ for quite a while yet...
richard the "sound man"
Just back from The Tce. In Utah with Cary. Give us a shout to meet for an ice cold beverage.
Posted by: Rich on December 18, 2006 04:06 PMHello phil, could you pass my email address along to maria crossland. I worked with her in mcm back in 94 - 96. thanks. verne.
Posted by: verne pomraning on December 20, 2006 01:17 PMPhil, my dog
drop me an email as all I have is your usap mail address and I'm assuming that isn't making it. reach out to me on donflan (at) yahoo (hotdiggetydot) com.
Rich the sound man with the crusty frosty boy facial hair
Funny thing about that chipped tooth.
See, I seem to remember a certain person telling a certain maintenance specialist that he chipped his tooth on, of all things, an Altoid that was given to him by that same maintenance specialist.
Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who won't be going back this winter. Due to the cutbacks, my dear wife couldn't go to McMurdo for the winter, even though Uncle Ray desparately wanted me for the PM shop. As I would desire to spend more of my marriage with my wife than without, I had to decline the offer. Besides, if I was overworked last year, I don't see things getting any better with half a maintenance crew. Especially for what Uncle Ray pays.
The good news, however, is that I'll be returning to my engineering studies again in a few days. Have fun, and I'll be reading the exploits of Phil of the vastly understaffed Winter crew of 2007 soon.
-Fox Rogers
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