Today was a good day. A day of feasting, you might say. A day of surprises for sure. After many fiber-free days the Gods have smiled upon us and sent an unexpected gift: apples and oranges. They must have heard Erin’s offer of $10 for an apple and mercifully granted her one for free! They even heard her desperate pleas for jelly and provided a jar of strawberry jam at dinner. Joyful cries of “Ration the Jelly!” were hear throughout the barge. And there was much rejoicing.
Just when we thought nothing could improve this day, the dead duck arrived. It was a little sad to see this beautiful Teal lying lifeless in Andy Bunn’s hands… until we imagined sinking our teeth into its rich steaming flesh. Apparently the gift of two packs of American cigarettes to a boatful of Russian army men was responsible for this unexpected largess – which also included the gift of a fish. We will eat well for at least…well, with Brian around, about 50 seconds.
A final moment of beauty came in the form of two bars of chocolate supplied by the sublime Bill Sobczak. Could life get any better?
Today we would like to reflect upon the importance of the small joys that make our lives beautiful. To those of you reading this in the ‘States, please take a moment to savor your jelly, or honey, or delicious fresh fruit.
You may worry that this entry is influenced by our long hours spent mixing chemicals in the lab (seriously, all day – but don’t worry, they finally let us out). But with this fortification we are prepared for whatever escapades tomorrow brings (we have high hopes they will involve field work).
Still sniffing orange peels,
Erin & Moira
PS Don’t worry we really do have delicious food here, we just get excited about special treats. And might have inhaled too many fumes…
Comments(2)-
-
Hugh says
July 11, 2009 at 8:44 amSounds like quite a feast! Enjoy the freshies. Judging from your picture, I think that duck might be a female scaup, not a teal though. Just a hunch. Say hi to Chris L., the guy holding the camera, for me. – Hugh
Monique Kantor says
July 13, 2009 at 5:26 amErin, Moira, and all: Thrilled to hear of your fiber, fish, and foul feast (not to mention the food-of-the-gods: chocolate)! Although it’s good to hear that Brian’s appetite is intact, I’d like to offer, as his mom, my apologies to the Team–he comes by it honestly, with a metabolism profile somewhat akin to that of a hummingbird. OK, I’m no biological scientist, but the image of the bird with its body’s super-motor just popped into my mind and seemed like a good metaphor. The condition seems to run in the family’s genes and manifests itself most fully on adventurous treks, such as those into the Siberian Arctic. Here’s hoping you ALL continue to eat well!