Chillin'

Things are still crazy around here. I spent the morning disposing of things: broken TV and microwave to the county recycling center; books returned to the library; clothing returned to the store.

WineGuy is home for yet another day. I'm pleased he's taking it easy, but he's always looking for things for me to do: stuff to fix, errands to run, "projects" to complete. The only time I've had to myself was in, ahem, the bathroom. He goes back to work tomorrow. We had a small row over that, but he's adamant to return to work. Nevertheless, his partners changed the call schedule around so he would not have to take call this weekend. At least they're being sensible.

I should be rehearsing my music for an upcoming concert. Instead I spent some time reading one of my Blogs Of Note, Antarctica. Glass artist, David Ruth, won an Antarctic Artists and Writers Grant from the National Science Foundation. The award came from the Office of Polar Programs and "provides opportunities for scholars in the humanities (painting, photography, writing, history, and other liberal arts) to work in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. These visitors will be able to make observations at U.S. Antarctic Program stations and research camps and in wilderness areas. The purpose is to enable serious writings and the arts that increase understanding of the Antarctic and help document America's antarctic heritage." National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs.

David Ruth traveled to Palmer Station on the peninsula of Antarctica to examine the geology of ice in its many forms. The abstract states "His research in Antarctica will allow him to gain an understanding of how best to duplicate and synthesize the look of Antarctic ice in cast glass. ... Ruth's project, Antarctic Ice: Sculpture in Cast Glass, will focus on Antarctic ice and how it can be imitated, resulting in a large-scale sculptures that will give public viewers a more realistic sense of the scale and texture of Antarctic ice formations, typically only seen in photographs. The artist's work will allow viewers the opportunity to experience large ice-like formations first hand."

The Antarctica blog is filled with fascinating pictures of the prisitine ice caps at the bottom of the world. Ruth's photographs make the ice seem organic. Ice textures differ depending on source or origin. The varying light of the polar summer makes the ice sculptures take on different forms. The artist is even trying to re-create some of these amazing sculptures in a permanent medium.

Ruth provides his reader with astute commentary on his surroundings. There are even a few pictures of the requisite penguins – hard to resist after seeing "Happy Feet" last week – and some black-and-white dolphins. His travelogue is also a wonderful read. I even recommended this blog to Wild Thing's teacher. The class is studying polar regions right now and will read the blog daily with the teacher.

OK, I'm feeling better now. I still need to rehearse my music because I have rehearsal tonight. Guess I'll have to clean my desk tomorrow.