I have taken a break from my studies to share a couple of things: 1) The Antarctic Mystique blog is still in progress. Keep in mind that it’s a blog about an entire continent–a rather inaccessible, morbid and glacier-slammed continent at that.
What should you expect? The same balls-to-the-wall, ends-of-the-earth drama as my Artikos series. Which takes time.
Right now I would say I’m in the middle stages–conducting interviews and gathering data. I’m processing the data and collecting waivers to shield me from any possible litigation. I’m photo-shopping pictures. I’m also doing some other stuff.
Other things I’m doing: corroborating inflammatory claims. Claims like: “There is no ‘pole’ at the South Pole.” and: “Ernest Shackleton was a much nicer guy than Robert Falcon Scott, as evidenced in the layout of his Antarctic headquarters in an egalitarian fashion as opposed to Scott’s more hierarchical design.”
I’m asking hard-hitting questions: “Is it true that the Americans have not scored a single point against the Kiwis in the 25-year-old annual Antarctic rugby game?” “Is the Frosty Boy soft serve machine in the McMurdo cafeteria really that much better than other soft serve machines on more civilized continents?”
These are the sorts of questions I’m asking.
Also, I am in grad school. Remember??? Jeesh. I’m busy!
Okay, onto the second piece of news: 2) The Winter Olympics are over and I only watched two events. (Thank you Grace and Will for hooking me up.)
What was it like? Instead of Men on Skis there was just a bunch of Kids on Snowboards doing whirly twirlys and these weird jumpy thingies over giant nesting dolls. That’s when I decided that the magic of the 1988 Calgary Games that I’ve been trying to recapture for 26 years is gone…vaporized like snow in certain atmospheric conditions.
Let’s review the facts: Palm trees grow in Sochi, the cold war is over, and I don’t even recognize half of the events anymore.
Am I the only one that feels this way??? About the Olympics??? No, I’m am NOT.
Here’s a brief interview with the paragon of old-school Olympianism (and by “old school” I mean the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics), men’s downhill gold medalist and Swiss skier, Pirmin Zubriggen.
Spartan Holiday: Pirmin Zurbriggen, there seems to be a sort of romantic alpenglow around you that I haven’t noticed around today’s Olympic athletes. Why is that?
Pirmin Zubriggen: Well, I live in the Alps and the sun is now setting.
Spartan Holiday: That’s one explanation. But wouldn’t you say that the belle epoque of the Winter Olympics are over?
Zurbriggen: I wouldn’t say that. There are many, wonderful people…dedicated athletes…still competing..
(We lose Skype connection)
So there you have it. If Pirmin Zurbriggen, the Swiss deity on skis says the Olympics are ruined, you can hardly argue. But I do sort of wish I had a TV. And free time.
If you have free time, you should share your favorite Winter Olympics moments here. Wouldn’t it be fun to reminisce? Freely? With your abundance of time? I think it would.
spartanholiday 
Aahhh…the memories of you and the Calgary Olympics and your obsession with Zubriggen. I had almost forgotten that. But I can never forget your dramatic reenactment of the women’s figure skating final…..
Um, Gail? About your first picture… I’m pretty sure that sperm whales don’t live on land. You should look into that.
I question your and ABC’s use of Every Breath You Take which seems more like a classic stalker song than a competitive anthem.
Dear Spartanholiday,
As a favor to those of us with whale phobias, in the future if you are planning to use frightening pictures of said whales coming onto land or leaping from the water like a bat out of hell, could you please put a disclaimer at the top of the post?
Many thanks,
Afraid of Whales
1) You’re right Lynn. It is a stalker song and very insinuating. Maybe ABC found it funny.
2) Marla: I forgot about your whale thingy. I never thought of issuing trigger warnings for whale pictures but now I will.
3) Brian: I am not taking that bait.