Feeling Festive

Sigh...I'll blame it on overwrought emotions, but really I think part of me wanted to get way too drunk.  I went through the motions of eating some breakfast, but you're really stacking the deck against yourself when you wake up at 7am to start celebrating xmas the way this town does best.  I joined a friend for coffee with Bailey's and a room picnic before heading to our department's pre-party "toast."  This conjures the image of a group of classy people clinking champagne glasses, right?  To be fair, there was champagne.  There was also a keg of IPA, and, you know, paper cups are small, so you should fill yours many, many times.  Our revelry only increased when we had to move tables aside and arrange some dunnage for last-minute South Pole cargo to be delivered via forklift.

The main event this weekend is the town xmas party.  They clear out the vehicles and clean the oil and hydraulic fluid from the maintenance garages.  Santa and his sleigh are available for photos (you lap-sitting is strongly encouraged), there's bad dance music, and everyone's devoted to partying.

Suffice to say, I bruised my knees bowing before the toilet, then slept a long long time.  Everything is ok now, and I was able to enjoy my lobster tail and mashed potatoes and chocolate truffles today.  Also suffice to say, many people expressed heartfelt appreciation of each other, including myself and particular friends of mine.  So the dessert and hugs made it a great holiday.

late-night light

-Oh geez, I almost forgot: it was also Solstice Silent Dance Party!  Except because of xmas, we changed everyone's day off, so no one came.  But I had my own private celebration, and let the raw and life-affirming energy of Green Day channel itself through my limbs and out into the Antarctic midnight sun.