Date night v.3 Give up.


 Current conditions:  Con 3, Temp -8F (-29F with wind chill), partly cloudy.  Population: 298
Good news first:  we made it out to Scott Base for date night.  The short drive was captivating-sparkling really.  We looked over new waves of pressure ridges forming on the sea ice below us while Mt. Erebus, glimmered in the distance with a tiny puff of smoke swirling from the top.

The volcano, Mt. Erebus as seen from Scott Base.  Note the puff of smoke at the top.

 The medical team had been invited by their medic to dinner.  Currently, Scott Base has about 30 people in residence who all share cooking responsibilities.  Tonight was burger night.

The base itself is as nice inside as it looks outside--a far cry from the ugly, threadbare appearance of everything at McMurdo.  The buildings are arranged so that every window in living quarters looks out over the sea ice.  The rooms are cozy and comfortable with lots of nice little amenities including bowls of trail mix and nuts, lots of teas and GASP an espresso machine open 24/7.
Living room and dining area (with espresso machine) at Scott base.  

We chatted for a while and had a drink at their well-stocked bar, watching New Zealand news on the tube.  Then we headed in to dine.  Although I am a "vegetarian", the veggie burgers looked kind of toxic so I broke my vows and grabbed a beef burger.  And wouldn't you know it, one fourth of the way through the burger, my OTHER, good, veneer--the one put in by the dentist in June--fell out.  Well, that was a conversation stopper! I shoved it back in, pretending nothing happened and kept my mouth shut the rest of the evening.  I didn't eat another bite, even the first ice cream I had seen in a month, and waited for a ride home.  

Scott Base in the sunset

Dean drove the van back to McMurdo. Everyone else stayed to party at the lovely Kiwi bar.  Even to a toothless hag, the ride home was beautiful. Although I did foray out in the blustery cold to take pictures (maybe I'll lose my fingers from frostbite AND my teeth), for the entire time in the van, I harangued Dean about my appearance.  Really, it's hard enough getting old without having to also deal with ugly teeth.  Finally, after politely listening to my angst and my plans to escape to New Zealand, Dean turned to me and said in his quiet, sweet voice, "Julie, I'm a guy.  I don't look at your teeth, I look at your breasts.  And they look great!".   I guess that made me feel better?

 Dean and I tried to put the veneer back on but it didn't adhere well (we don't have the skills to clean it up properly).  Instead, today, Dean made me another composite tooth. Not great looking but serviceable enough that I think I won't need to run off to Christchurch.  Dean, may not be "an artiste' (as he would say) but he is simply the best guy ever.

Twilight, Mt. Erebus (left) and Mt. Terror (right)

Comments

Anonymous said…
Love this story, one for the ages!
September 26, 2019 at 8:49 PM
Upi said…
Thats a great one! I wonder if its the cold thats making the veneers come off. Dean's comment is just perfect!
September 27, 2019 at 8:49 PM
JP said…
Yes, cold does make the veneers come off. It's a known problem. It was just unknown to me.
September 27, 2019 at 9:13 PM
Christina said…
I could hear Dean's voice when he said that!! LOL.
September 30, 2019 at 8:54 PM
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