More Stories from the Antarctic

I got to talk to Gina the other night and we spoke for over an hour. I don't think I have been on the phone that long since middle school! It takes Gina forever to get a hold of me because I either am in the bathroom, think she is a telemarketer, or am too lazy to get up and grab my phone. Then she leaves me a message. Then I say "$(%*! I missed her call AGAIN." I immediately get on Facebook and tell her to call me back. This almost always works. What would I do without that technology?

They are down to around 200-225 people (I think) and they are working six, ten hour days. Whoa. This summer they worked five, eleven hour days: one half day: and then had 1.5 days off. I guess there is not much else to do down there so you might as well work.

With less people she was able to move into her own room AND it has a window!!! She is really moving up in the world. She did admit that if she left Antarctica she could go pretty much anywhere and have her own room with a window. With a window she is growing a garden. This cracks me up. I told her she only has about another month because then the sun will go away and it won't grow. Direct quote from Gina, "It's gotta grow while the growing is good. " And she sprayed her curtains with dirt perfume so that it smells like the outside. LOL. Here is what a garden in Antarctica looks like:

Onion, carrot and radish tops in a pan of water.

Her star grower. Look at that baby!

She went to the bar the other night with $80 and came home with $120! Apparently one of her firefighter friends bet her $100 she couldn't fireman carry him. He obviously doesn't know Gina that well. One: she is crazy strong. Two: as soon as you bet her or tell her she can't do it, she will even if it kills her.

She was wondering if she could get away with not doing her taxes since she is at the end of the world. I told her I wouldn't chance it. The IRS knows all.

Her and two friends celebrated national margerita day with margeritas in sugar shakers. They even had fresh avacodos or "freshies" for guacomole.

I loved talking to her on the phone. It was fun. Big hugs Sister.