Nov17

300 club.

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Membership to one of the most exclusive clubs in the world takes place around a short red and white striped pole in Antarctica. Only those who endure an atmospheric difference of 300 degrees Fahrenheit are granted entry.

To join the elite 300 Club, residents at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, where on winter days the outside temperature dips below -100 degrees, must bare it all. It’s an odd tradition, one that comes with a high risk of frostbite in rather sensitive, traditionally clothed areas.

To join the exclusive group, the scientists must first spend time in the station’s 200-degree sauna. Once they’re fully cooked, they dash outside (at a brisk walk, because running is dangerous) wearing nothing but shoes and an optional neck gaiter to circle the ceremonial South Pole marker, which is hundreds of feet from the station. They then get back into the steamy sauna, which helps thaw their outsides while a bit of alcohol warms them up inside. Those who complete the challenge even earn a commemorative patch.

Though the thought of a naked scientist racing across the ice in dangerously cold temperatures to circle a pole may seem simply absurd, it’s actually a beloved ritual. The temperature only gets low enough a handful of days each year, giving the wacky tradition an almost ceremonial feel. Participants are usually cheered on by bystanders who use flashlights to guide them to the pole during the perpetual winter blackness.

The marker isn’t even the true location of the South Pole. Antarctica is blanketed by massive chunks of moving ice sheets that move about 30 feet each year. The ice’s inability to sit still makes pinpointing the world’s most southern spot with permanent precision impossible.

Finding and marking the accurate geographic South Pole is an annual (fully clothed) New Year’s Day tradition for those staying at the station. Every year since 1959, South Pole residents erect a new temporary marker at the spot and retire the old one into a display case inside the station. The ceremonial South Pole remains where it is, flanked by the flags, awaiting the next group of winter scientists hoping to join one of the world’s weirdest clubs.

—

“we take to the breeze, we go as we please.” 

― E.B. White

 

—

story credits: Atlas obscura, kerry wolf

photo credits:  martin wolf – national science foundation,

craig knott – national science foundation, alan light

Nov16

in praise of ironing.

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Poetry is pure white.
It emerges from water covered with drops,
is wrinkled, all in a heap.
It has to be spread out, the skin of this planet,
has to be ironed out, the sea’s whiteness;
and the hands keep moving, moving,
the holy surfaces are smoothed out,
and that is how things are accomplished.
Every day, hands are creating the world,
fire is married to steel,
and canvas, linen, and cotton come back
from the skirmishings of the laundries,
and out of light a dove is born –
pure innocence returns out of the swirl.

 

—

–in praise of ironing by Pablo Neruda, translated by Alastair Reid

Nov15

next to normal.

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Diana Turner sings her heart out

—

as the name would imply

this was not your ordinary theater performance

a story told in song

next to normal

is a tale that will touch your every emotion

when a family lets you into their living room and their lives

as they try to navigate their way

through the relentless storms that mental illness can bring

with a story and score that won a pulitzer and numerous Tony awards

I was not be able to turn my eyes or ears away from what was in front of me

with larger than life heartbreaking voices

pouring out their souls

on a tiny stage in this tiny 32-seat theater.

 it was a very potent cocktail.

 

 

—

“make them laugh, make them cry, and back to laughter.

what do people go to the theatre for?

an emotional exercise.

I am a servant of the people.

I have never forgotten that.”

-mary pickford 

—

credits: slipstream theater initiative, barbie weisserman, music theater international

Nov14

that’s going to leave a mark.

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“a child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark.”

– Chinese Proverb

Nov13

winter is coming.

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and on the earliest school snow day

that I can remember

I feel lucky to have shared

a special celebratory breakfast

with a couple of my grandies.

—

“winter is coming.”

-George R. R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

Nov12

determination.

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that moment when you understand

that a little thing like a snowstorm 

won’t stop you from getting where you need to go.

 

—

 

“determination gives you the resolve to keep going

in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you.”

-denis waitley

Nov11

for the veterans.

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Your silent tents of green

We deck with fragrant flowers

Yours has the suffering been,

The memory shall be ours.

-henry wadsworth longfellow

(from decoration day)

 

—

He has a way with words and reminds us

that while our soldiers may have suffered and paid the ultimate price,

it is our duty to remember them.

 credit: elkmoundwildflowers.com

 

Nov10

a little kindness.

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in our after-school art club

the children painted kindness stones

and hid them in the garden

for other children to find


knowing it would make them smile

when they discovered these secret stones

 hoping they would do the same for others

passing on their surprise and joy

upon finding a bit of kindness

left just to make them happy

and then hiding them again

for others to discover.

 

—

“a little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.”

-john ruskin

Nov9

a phoenix rises.

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sit down with a cup of something and read this book from cover to cover.

 

 

—

“In the end, what matters is this: I survived.” 

–Gail Honeyman, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine 

 

 

 

—

photo credit: Harper Collins

thank you dk

Nov8

my summer of the beatles, chains, and lots of gum.

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way back in the day (1964)

I was six and 3/4, not yet seven

my sister and best friend and i

spent much of our entire summer

‘working’ for free for our friend’s teenage sister

who had plans to go to see the beatles

at olympia arena

when they landed in detroit.

we were recruited by her

to spend our time creating

‘the world’s longest gum wrapper chain’

that she planned to present with her fan club

to the beatles at the concert.

she funded our gum and provided us each with a cigar box

and we sat in the yard for hours upon hours

just talking and laughing

and listening to music on her transistor radio

and creating the chain

until we’d get called home.

we never questioned the project

as were we caught up

in the whirlwind of her excitement

 when the time came

she went to the show and presented the chain

 later regaling us with the stories and craziness of the concert

and suddenly it was over

our summer of working for free had ended

and I looked forward to my own concerts ahead

wondering who I could recruit to make my paper chains.

—

 

The Beatles

“It was like hearing the future.”

–Tom Hanks

“They blew the walls down for everybody else.”

–Barack Obama

“We’ve never seen anything like this before, ever. Never. Not even for kings and queens.”

–Unnamed airport official

how to make a gum wrapper chain:

what you’ll need:

  • Gum Wrappers: You’ll need a ton of these. We made our dress using paper wrappers, but you can use foil too. The process is the same!
  • Patience: You’ll also need a lot of this.

1. Fold It in Half

Take a single wrapper and fold it longways, or hot-dog style. Do this three times. Try to fold the jagged edge inside because it can get in the way when making the chains.

2. Fold It Through the Middle

Fold the wrapper in half the other way, right through the middle. It should make a “V” shape. Next, fold the sides into the middle, making a little “v.” This little guy will be one link on your chain.

3.. Repeat

Before you proceed, you’ll have to repeat these steps to make another chain link. Once you have two, you’re ready to connect them!

4. Connect the Pieces

Just take the two ends of one and push it through the two holes in the other. This is why you’ll want your gum wrappers to be folded neatly—if the jagged ends stick out, it can get difficult to see what you’re doing or where to push the wrappers through and connect them. Keep it neat!

5. Keep Going

Keep on going forever and ever this same way. Eventually, you’ll have a long and fairly sturdy chain!

 

credits: ‘The Beatles’ Patrick Julian – Beyond Olympia Stadium, Pinterest, felt magnet