Christmas on Barrow Island

Well, I made it back for a second rotation to the infamous Barrow Island. It's December here and you would never think it. It is ranging from 80 degrees in the morning to a blistering 100 degress during the day with no sign of relief anywhere. As many of you may know, I am having to spend a lonley christmas on the other side of the world on this island. Many people have left and there are only going to be a few hundred people here compared to the few thousand that work here yearly. Well that didn't stop good ole family from sending Christmas to me. I have been at the island for a few weeks now since returning and finally recieved a welcomed site package the other day. Contents included a Christmas tree, candy, requested clothes (cotton shirts, shorts, etc.) and a 2 stockings. Well mom said I would get a laugh when i saw it and I DID. The Christmas tree is a bare branch Charlie Brown tree. It came with one ornament and it was more than enough to make me smile and keep the spirit of Christmas in the air. The morning I set it up, word got out and people I have never met (around 90% of the people in the 100 person office) stopped by within the hour to come see the infamous bare Christmas tree that was just set up. Since then someone has managed to put a little tensil on, along with suggestions of light. I decided no on the lights and told everyone who laughed and snickered that it was more than they had and it may me happy. Along with the snickers was a hint of jealousy and I truly knew how blessed I was to have that little tree sitting with me at my office to keep me company on the lonely Christmas season.

I am so thankful to my family and Rachel who have done all they can to send stuff and keep me positive in my first Christmas away from my loved ones. So with this blog I would also like to remind you what truly is important this holiday season.... It's not presents or food or work.... What truly is important is spending that valuable time with your loved ones and thanking God for his many blessings. Thank you Jesus.... for I am thankful for all that I am blessed with. The snickers have died down, the laughs have gone away... people are leaving and few of us are left behind to work.... but in the background sits my little tree on top of a file cabinet which represents more than a 40ft pine lit up with all the lights in the world could ever represent. That little tree and that little stocking and the candy that sits there that everyone munches on while they visits, Keeps the spirit of the holiday seasons alive and a little reminder of what truly is important this special holiday season. AND FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ARE WONDERING.... I am not holding my breath for snow on Barrow Island haha MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

My New Drinking Friend

Well the tennis court wore us out once again. the usual time for tennis is 7:30 at night with refreshments coming afterwards at the near by Wet Mess. the usual for me, 2 Coops and 2 Blondes (2 different kinds of australian beer). We sat down and like always the bandicoots are in full swing with the sun fading away over the water. They usually join us at the outdoor tables at the Wet Mess scurrying around for the next dropped peanut. Well tonight, it finally dawned on me, I let one get really close. The bandicoots kinda hop like a kangroo, and are alot more cleanier than rats. they have a short cute tail and a long cute nose. They get close to you and dont bother us. It finally dawned on me, I like my little friends. This certain bandicoot stayed close and hungout with us all night picking up our bits of peanuts that didnt quite make it to our mouths. The little guys dont say much but just scurry around and hangout. After you watch them for a while, the world around you just drowns out and you sit there, amazed about what they are doing, just wondering what they are thinking. It gives you a little peace after a long day and I just sit there to enjoy the simple things of life. So now my afternoons are filled with hard core tennis while the loud drinkers settle back in to there rooms and then we move into the outdoor tables and have a beer, along side our new friends. Like hunting in the swift fall breeze in an alabama oak watching the squirels, some days just end better sipping on a beer watching the bandicoots on barrow island.

Trucks and Big Brother

Well the first monthly report came back and I didnt have any points against me. Each one of our trucks has a cental brain which reports back to a central system. It records braking, speeding, acceleration, sharp turns, idleing, driving without seatbelts, total mileage driven on a single crank up... so basically everything that you can do un-safely in a truck can be recorded. You have to apply for a small computer key which once approved is assigned to you (this logs and links the truck to the user), and it is the only way a truck will crank. Hence the way they know everything you're doing. Every month a report comes out with points you're docked if you dont follow the rules. The rules are very strict and hard to get used to but you get used to it eventually. An in-cab alarm sounds on certain things like speeding so it helps with following the rules and is very sensitive and annoying so most chances you will follow rules. I have driven about 50kms on the island so far with no point deductions. Too many and your priviledges may be revoked or worst... termination from island so I intend to stay to the rules.

Seafood Night

Last Night was a first for me. I had Indian Spiced chili sauce Mussels, Un-Cut Green Beans, Sweet Potato mash, Swordfish, Garlic peeled shrimp over rice, and Australian Bugs. These bugs were to explained as very expensive and they only come from Queensland, Australia. They are really like mini mud lobsters. They are between a crawfish and a lobster and are very tasty. The mussels were also different but very tasty. The tails on the bugs were in a sauce with veggies and you cracked the shells and pulled out a lobster-looking meat which was very good. This meal was one of our special nights I guess because they threw all the good stuff at us at once so of course I indulged in it all. This is only the second time we have had swordfish, first time I know of the bugs, and first time for mussels.

The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization prefers the name flathead lobster, while the official Australian name is Bay lobster.[2][3] In Australia, it is more widely known as the Moreton Bay bug after Moreton Bay, a location in Queensland.[3]

Just so happened they had seafood night I decided to take pictures. This is a whole shrimp bar in the mess hall

Desert and fruit bar in mess hall available every night. Selection changes every night.

Wet Mess. This was right after work but at night it is packed with workers getting their 4 mid strength beers on.

Another picture of wet mess at Construction Camp. Has Big Flat Screens and out door speakers. There is an inside part with a couple of pool tables but mostly people drink out here. There is approximatly 40 big trash bins for aluminum cans and they fill up every night to give you an idea of how much this island drinks at 2.20$ AUS apeice.

Our little store that's in a small room attached to the foyer to the entrance to the mess hall. It has all your essential bath stuff, cokes, candy, small stuff, etc.

Desert bar and random cold bar.

My meal of the night. Chilli Sauce (indian) Mussels, Fresh Long Green beans, Sweet potato Mash, Garlic Shrimp Peeled over Rice, Bug tails (Moreton Bay bug, AKA Australian flat lobster, AKA, Bay bugs is what they call them).



Ice bcream bin in mess hall. Usually has about 15 to 20 different flavors every night and all day



the only hot bar for the mess hall that I use

Pre Packed meal selection. I took this photo at night so nothing in there but in the morning they usually have last nights leftovers packed in plastic bins as pre-made meals. Usually not too bad if you liked last night's dinner.

fruit bin in lunch crib



condiments in lunch crib



cold selection in lunch crib

Hot bar in mess hall. Usually a large selection with many different cultures directed to.

Lunch Crib which is located in a room attached to Mess Hall so that when you are done with breakfast you can go and make your lunch.

International Calling... Is it safe?

So last night, the unavoidable finally happened, I called Rachel before bed to say my usual goodnight. Early in the night she tried to call me back and we were having communcation problems so finally I got a connection. At this point she has been at work for an hour or so, and I knew she would be busy but I really just expected to leave a voice mail. Suddenly, She anwsered (or so I thought), and I said, "hello, Hello", and with no response I stayed on the line waiting for her. I could hear a lot of commotion in the background and usually she will answer and then when she finishes up with her convo will talk to me for a few seconds. Well I did like normal and waited patiently, 60 seconds in to the phone call, I HEARD IT, "YOUR DOING GREAT-Nurse, (SCREAMING)-giving birth, KEEP PUSHING!!!!-nurse, (SCREAMING AHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!)-giving birth, KEEP GOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAD ENOUGH HAHA. It hit me like a stack of bricks. I just heard a real live birth going slowly and painfully and so I quickly hung up. I layed there in the dark reviewing what I just heard and I just couldnt get my mind to understand it was ok. I wasnt ok, I just heard a live birth, (NORMAL TO RACHEL, NOT NORMAL TO ME), I have never heard someone giving birth before and I smiled because I knew that lady was lucky that she had rachel to take care of her and her baby. Rachel called me back shortly to explain what had happen and to make sure I was ok just like I was a father who passed out. So, rachel forgot to put her phone on silent so the nurse anwsered it right in the middle of delivery to make it stop ringing and she forgot the part about hanging up. So, I ask, Is international calling safe? My advice, when calling overseas to your girlfriend who is a busy OBGYN who averages 7 babies a day at work, BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!! And this first will be just as big as the many others I have had while on BWI!!!!!!!!!!!

Bearded Homeless Man

Today I looked in the mirror. It was me all right but what did I look like. A HOMELESS MAN. When I came out here I opted out of bringing a beard trimmer due to the fact I had limited space and was planning on shaving every other day. About 4 weeks ago, I realized how long my hair had really gotten, NO BARBERS ON THIS ISLAND, and decided maybe I needed to grow a beard so that I didn't look like a clean shaven hippie with long hair. When I embarked on this plan I didn't really think my beard would have grown at this pace. Well I try to keep the bottom clean but no matter what I do my face has grown like it has fertilizer on it. I dismissed this for a couple of weeks until today. My hair is getting long and my beard is now just getting annoying. I look like a homeless man and feel like one. Every man knows you can not take a razor to a beard without first trimming it down short. Therefore I am stuck with the homeless man look. Every once in a while I get a look of disgust from others but then i look at some of the others in the same boat and we acknowledge in silence this is the path we chose. There aren't many things to do on this island and it is getting hot here. But you know what? I have to be prepared when I land in COLD NO-SHAVE NOVEMBER in ALABAMA. So far all those who think I am not participating this year, You ARE WRONG. I am, and not only am I going to do it, I have a month jump start. I look forward to getting home and cleaning up for me and Rachel to take some nice pictures but till then I will keep the camo homeless man look because the deer seem to like it. Nothing like being an outdoor man. So good luck to all that embark on the no-shave November. Throw away those beard trimmers and clippers and just imagine youre on BWI.

Sharks!!

I have experienced a few first on Barrow Island since my last post. One of those latest is SHARKS! Last Sunday while most were off half of the day, me and a co-worker Ryan took our project controls truck for a drive to go and get it washed. The truck is a new Toyota 4 door truck with a utility bed 4WD. they call them Utes our here and all of them have radios installed on them for you have to announce a light vehicle entering certain roads. More on trucks later. We adventured up to the north side of the island where Ryan was going to show me the beach and the main MOF. Material Offload Facility. This place has a few huge cranes for offloading TEUs (Transport equipment Units, basically 20ft conex boxes with a bunch of stuff in them for the site). well beside that is one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in a little cove with Rock cliffs on both sides of it. The beach is only about 200 yards wide and is a small beach tucked in the cove but still beautiful with the water crystal blue. Ryan said the tides were down so we probably wouldn't see anything. Just then I spotted a 8 ft dark object in about 3 ft of water. I said is that a SHARK and he said no way. The big ones don't come in that shallow. Then the fin came out and it started getting more shallow, (about 30 yards off shore). Then in front of it we spotted 2 more sharks about 5ft long in the real shallow part about 2ft deep about 20 yards of shore. It was neat and nice to take in Australia's beauty for all that it is. Then it was back to reality and we rushed back to the truck to go get it washed. The truck is covered from top to bottom in red dust which everything is out here but we are still required to wash each bright white truck. We managed to get it looking descent as we used our time well in our 1 hour slot in the wash bay. The wash bay is basically a concrete loading bay that you back in that has a high pressure water sprayer that we use an eye shield with safety glasses on. Safety first of course. Then it was back to the office taking the seal roads( dirt roads with a thin layer of coating with rocks on top) to keep the truck clean of course so the boss could be proud when he saw it the next morning. Well that's the sharks and the truck story.

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The Moon

The moon is bright and clear out here at BWI but one morning it was extra special. About a week ago, I saw the moon in a whole new way. I was up early as usual trying to get ready, talk to Rachel, eat breakfast, talk to Rachel, pack lunch, talk to Rachel, walk to bus for morning work, and call Rachel for last time. Well then it happened. I approached the bus and with no obstructing objects blocking my view, there appeared the moon. Not like ever before did it look and feel so close. It seemed so close I could make out every detail about the moon. It was closer than I have ever seen it before and then I immediately thought of Rachel. I was wondering if she could see it too. You see in the movies and the classic love story of 2 people looking at the moon wondering what the other is doing and I'll be dang if it was true. Unlike the old movies we have international cell phones and skype and email. I called Rachel and shared my love and feelings for her as I watched the moon and she immediately responded back,"I DID THE SAME THING". She was looking at the same moon. She was watching it at the same time with the same feelings and for the first time on BWI me and Rachel felt like we were right beside each other sharing the same moon at the same moment no longer wondering but sharing an instant feeling between us. This actually happened a few days in a row and each morning when the moon was in just the right spot we both looked at it as if we were staring in to each others eyes. A gaze only true lovers can experience and that is what looking at the moon from the 2 different sides of the world feels like. Until next time... Tales from Gregg's down under adventure continues....

Pouch Mail

Well it finally happened, the first pouch mail through Houston has reached BWI. My sister wins first prize for sending her sweet and caring Halloween card via pouch mail. For all those reading, I can be reached at

Paul Gregg Garner BWI SO1-1.129
P.O. Box 4522
C646-AUBI
Houston, Tx 77210-4522

THIS ADDRESS IS LETTERS ONLY, NO DVDS, NO PACKAGES, NONE OF THAT STUFF ONLY CARDS AND LETTERS
So anyway it takes about 2.5 weeks to get here but it can happen. For package information talk to mom or dad because they both have successfully sent a package. I was sitting at my desk when it arrived and was so happy to be called for mail. I opened it to find a long hand written note on the card which meant a lot to me. this Snail Mail is old fashioned but it definitely makes a day go much better. Thanks again to all for the support while I have been on BWI.

First Package

After intensely waiting, my first package arrived to Barrow Island from the other side of the world in the short time of 7 days. This is far from the estimate which was given to me of 2-4 weeks. SO NOW WE KNOW with the "small" price of $160, UPS can get your package to me in a week. Mom and Dad had a small competition with US Postal and Pouch Mail, and UPS won by a mile. The price may seem high but the joy it filled me with as worth every penny. After much anticipation and tracking down the package once it got to the island, it was delivered to me at work. Inside I found my much needed Log of Skoal (6 CANS TO BE EXACT) which was good since I was on my last can. Following that goody was 3 shirts (1 Under Armor, 2 BAMA), 3 hats, and much needed pictures. The pictures were hung immediately with my ever growing collection in my office. Rachel wanted to send me a package but I have a feeling she was putting things in there she put a lot of time into and didn't want them to get lost or damaged during transit. So this first package represented a lot. It represented that a package with the right price could, A. GET HERE, B. Arrive in a timely manner, and C. I'M NOT FORGOTTEN. I expect the other things to get here, and each one will only help my tour over here in Australia. While spending 8 weeks on an isolated island in the same environment is grueling and repetitive, packages and Skype have kept me sane and kept me feeling loved. I just wanted to extend a special thanks to everyone for the emails, phone calls, skype time (ODD HOURS DUE TO 13 HOURS TIME DIFFERENCE), packages and soon to come snail mail. It truly has kept me going and breaks up the long weeks and days. My room back at camp feels a little more like alabama with the new gifts and is healing the wounds of home sickness. I look forward to the call of "PAUL GARNER, 'MAIL'!"... I am stocked on SKOAL and will be home soon so no packages will be needed for a few weeks ( I WILL BE COMING HOME ON NOV 4) but the next rotation brings up a whole new chapter in the book of BARROW ISLAND. SO till then....

Aerial views of the job site

My New Office

The same bus picks us up from camp and we travel the same route everyday. The same driver and the same passengers. We take our dark ride at 5:15AM every morning traveling along the coast. As we ride, I sit peacfully fully alert to the vivid orange glow coming from all the ships and the jetty bouncing off the water as we near our destination.
5:30Am We pull up to the Super Office which is a 2 story green building. This building is comprised of appoximately 40 modular units with external stair wells on each side of the building. Not the best looking building but pretty standard on the island. The color is a dark green which is quickly turning to red. The coast facing windows all have cyclone Metal Screens but it doesnt matter they all are quickly building their usual red film. The island is like the rest of the outback covered in rich red dirt which covers everything.
5:35AM Our bus drops us off on the coast side right by the stairs next to the bathroom. The Bathroom is located in a separate Module building right outside our office on the coast side. All bathrooms are like this on the island execpt at CAMP. I head up stairs and as I enter I stop at the Crib. The Crib (BREAKROOM) is a 25'x15' room which includes a coffee machine, 2 double door clear glass standing 6ft tall Commercial Fridges. 2 Boxes of nonstop cookies which I have to pass on all day like much of the island. A drink machine with 4 spouts (water, 3 different types of some AUSTRAILAN KOOL AID MIXES, Usually one of them is diet) a commercial microwave, a commercial clearglass sliding door oven, a hot water dispenser, and a sink. This is pretty standard in office Cribs. There is one upstairs and one exactly the same downstairs.
Well after dropping off lunch in the fridge I make my way to my office. The Wall opposite of the coast consists of Enclosed offices for the PICs (People in Charge). I walk past them and find my way to my chair. My office is on the wall side with a window view of the project going on right outside our office. I have partitions on 2 sides and the wall to my back is the side of an enclosed office. I sit with one other person (Another Planner, Nice Filipino guy I can hardly understand and who is tired of seeing pictures of Rachel and Deer) at our 2 corners in this large Space. Along the full wall we have 4 huge cabinets that are 5 feet tall for plans and a huge whiteboard on the wall above that. My corner desk consists of a standard Dell computer with 2 17-in monitors so that I can read my schedules. To my left I have pictures of family, Savana, and Rachel along with random certificates and my Diploma. To my right I have schedules and other various important boring stuff I need to look at a quick glance. I have a nice office phone but was unable to convince them I needed international calling. Probably a good thing because I'd probably talk to rachel the whole time.
7:00AM well as usual, Im capping off my emails by now and wondering what my day will consist of.
7:15AM I ease out onto the stairs and take in the sunrise over the water and jetty. The orange glow slowly disappears as the sun rises and I take in the fresh salty air that fills the world around me. This is one thing I dont think I will ever stop appreciating out here. Something about the ocean filled with big ships right outside my office is my favorite part about this island.
7:30AM By this time I usually wonder down stairs to the exact same layout to find my bosses and talk about he usual stuff. FOOTBALL, HUNTING, ME RUNNING OUT OF SKOAL, WHEN WE GETTING OFF THE ISLAND, the usual.
9:00AM There is no standard day out here so some days consist of meetings and some dont. I usually view contractors schedule and do reports on them. I put finishing touches on my KJV (kellog joint venture) schedules and that usually takes me to lunch time.
12AM Nothing snazzy happens as usual and I find the little lunch that I packed for myself. I spend this time eating at my desk and cruising the net for useless forums and news so that I keepup with the world. Sometime around 3Pm after about my 5th dip of the day I start wrapping up whatever paperwork found its way onto my desk. Im usually exhausted because my day starts @ 230AM and starting ot feel the exhaustion. I mindlessly drift away and await for my chariot at 5PM sharp.
445PM Sure enough I got through another day and I ease down stairs to find the same people I arrived with. We wait on the same bus that drops us off and I find myself kicking pebbles with mindless conversation about the day to others.
5PM RIght on time, I step on to the bus and say AFTERNOON MATE to the same driver who takes us to and from everyday. I take my seat and take in ALL AUSTRALIA OFFERS. we head down the Coast with the sun drifting away at our back.
ANOTHER DAY IS DONE HERE ON BARROW ISLAND.

Perentie Lizard!

 I saw my first Perentie today. Not sure if thats how you spell it but basically it is a huge lizard that can grow up to 9feet long. The one I saw today was about 5 feet long. HUGE!!!!!! It ran out on Ron (my boss) when he went to the bathroom hahaha. He nearly wet his pants is what he said. HAHA so I had to go take a look. It found some shade under a pipe rack right by the steps of the bathrooom. The bathroom at the terminal tanks office is about as big as a small trailer and it sits by itself in the brush with a walkway to it. So critters go to it all the time apparently. The Lizard looks a lot like the kimodo dragons. They look very prehistoric and very mean looking. They are awesome and a little scary. It would hurt to get bit so I was careful but awesome. Reminder IM ON AN ISLAND IN AUSTRALIA.

Kangaroo Rats

A miniature rat kangaroo was on the walkway and I almost stepped on it. These little rug rats size wise are between a small cat and a rat. They look like big rats but way better looking with a nice soft brown coat but rather than running they hop low to ground very quickly. Neat little guys actually.

This is an example of the kangaroo rat thing!

A Day in the Life

My Alarm wakes me up at 2:30 AM SHARP, and I'm very displeased when it goes off, but I know another day must begin. Every day is a new day here, meaning you don't know what is going to happen, you don't know what you are going to see, you don't know who you going to meet. So I hit snooze of course because if anyone knows me, It's like trying to get a bear out of hibernation when trying to wake me. 2:45AM My alarms (have about 3 of them) start going off. I have no choice by this time due to the fact I have to get out of bed to reach them. So the day begins and I get ready to go workout. 3:00AM The camp is asleep as I make my walk down to the gym. The gym is about a 150 meter walk straight down the sidewalk from my room. Very Convenient. 3:45AM Leaving the gym, I feel very tired and weak but very much alive. I know I have accomplished something today so I feel motivated to go on stronger and I know my day will go better than if I hadn't gone to the gym. 4AM I found myself getting out of the shower and trying to get ready for the day to come. By this time the Calls, SKYPE, And OOVOO are alive with calls from loved ones. Thank you everyone for understanding I must talk to Rachel the most due to the fact I'm pretty sure this has been harder on her than anyone. 4:45AM I'm ready now, dressed in my Daily Uniform (All Navy Cargo Pants, Bi Color long sleeve button up of Bright Yellow and Navy fully equipped with my stitched on Name) and having to say good bye to the loved ones for I MUST EAT NOW. 4:50 I head down to Mess which is located next to gym so another walk up the path. In Mess, I find the usual fried eggs with yoke still not broke with a mix of scrambled eggs. I add a couple pieces of Australian bacon (definitely not American but Pork never the less) and find me an empty seat in front of the TV to watch the usual rugby game replay from night before. 5AM I eat quickly in time to exit Mess and enter the CRIB. The Crib is a Room full of Premade meals and cold bars full of usual lunch meats, veggies, fruit, muffins, and breads. I usually find something I can recognize and pack it into one of the thousands of discard able Plastic Containers stacked up. Yes RACHEL I eat about 2 lbs of watermelon a day. ITS great due to the fact its fresh and readily available. 5:10AM its time to walk back down path, past my room, and about another 100 M's to my Bus. 5:15AM The driver announces the daily "buckle your seat belt" and we are off. The bus is A Brand NEW charter bus that is very spacious and comfortable. the bus is usually half full so  I always get a seat to my self.

5:15AM we arrive at our offices which is across the island. Its exactly the same route and same 15min ride everyday but the project changes daily so never a dull ride. We get off to be received by the orange glow from the island and the 2km long jetty that shoots out into the ocean. Its like walking out on to an Oil Rig with the breeze blowing and that Ocean fill. 5:30 AM I walk out of the office and down to the kitchen to fill up my water jug and while doing so I take in the Sunrise that wakes up the island.

ITS AMAZING!!! 6:30AM time for daily stretches. Our current office is comprised of about 4 trailers not connected and we pile out. Our stretch group contains about 8 people and we go through stretching lead by someone for the day. Mainly led by a lady who I think looks forward to it more than anything. 6:45 we finish up discussing our usual (Football, Dinner, Family, workouts, etc...) The day really gets cranked up by now. 12:00PM Work hits a grinding stop for it is lunch time. This time is used for eating, Internet browsing, and writing as I do now. 12:30PM the lunch dies down and the office goes quiet as People usually tend to their emails and the office almost takes a nap itself to let food digest.

4:45PM Well the day has gone good, The usual breaks were taken, Casually walking outside to take in the scenery. One view comprised of the most Deserted Outback Landscape you have ever seen. With the landscape only broken up due to construction and a couple of roads. Far from us you can see the Heavy machinery stirring up dust and Moving the heavy loads brought in on the big ships. Once you turn around you see these big ships waiting to come in. The Ocean is Alive with big ships and big machinery working on the Jetty. 5:00PM Well enough about that, Bus is here right on time like always. We get on the same bus and take the 15 min ride home. The Ride is usually quiet while everyone gazes upon the new construction that went on through the day. 5:15PM Arrive safely back at camp. We pile off with the other buses and it looks like school (everyone with same Uniforms) is out and headed home. Im tired by now and hurry back to my room.

5:30PM Im ready to hit the gym ( sometimes Im to tired and just lay down) and get my cardio in. 6:15PM Im really tired Now after my cardio (Elliptical and 2000M rowing machine workout) and head next door to the Mess. 6:45PM I'm stuffed. Yes I did the bad thing and gorged on the well cooked many option buffet style dinner. The desert bar is huge. The Ice Cream bin has about 20 different flavors. Yes very hard to turn down day in and day out. 7PM Well back in my room to wake up Rachel. She's just as hard to get out of bed. The Internet is packed with people using it so a phone call is usually suffices. 7:30PM I've said good night to Rachel and whoever else I could get through to and its time to fall asleep to the ESPN2 Updates. 8Pm I'm fast asleep. The thoughts that Im on an island off the coast to Australia are so surreal and make me happy before I go to sleep. I say my final Prayers and Now I'm fully OUT! GOOD NIGHT!!!

I hope this helps all that is wondering what a day on Barrow Island Is like. I hope to get pictures soon and fill in the big gaps about my day (work, island, facilities, etc...)

The fat kid inside me

My first visit to the gym was good. I broke in the old back and got it moving. You don't realize how bad you're out of shape till you get there. But i got a plan so I think I can get back in shape. You have to do something or you will just eat the whole time. The food is great and there is an endless amount of it hahaha. NOT KIDDING. ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET ALL DAY!!!! CRazzzZZYYY. Not good for the fat kid inside me. Luckily they dont serve all foods that I love from back home. Most stuff is the Australian form or flavor and it takes a little adjustment in taste buds. I'm trying to convince myself it's awful and quit eating so much. It's helping a little. I had 2 full plates of broccoli last night haha. and 2 pieces of chicken. Pretty good I thought.

It's a bit cool and breezy this morning. A little chilly. But mornings are great over here. A swift breeze, and you can just feel the island as the sun comes up over the horizon breaking across the ocean and onto the jette. It's amazing.  We also do morning stretches every morning at 6:30am for about 15 mins. Everyone does it. It really does help morale and gets the blood flowing. I almost laughed the first time but we all take it serious and it really helps.

Skype me!

I hope to be blogging every other Sunday on my half day. Internet doesnt work so well back at camp so if you want to SKYPE me the best time is before I get to work, so 3 am here would be 2 pm for all of you back in bama. Every day I will be on OOVOO and SKYPE between 3 am and 4 am. Contact Rachel or mom if you have trouble getting either setup or working. Skype has been working better here. Also I cannot have my phone on me at anytime while at work so I will only be available to use it after work. If it is an emergency though use it or email. I do keep it on and silent in my pack during the day so I do check it perodically but email is better. Please contact rachel for my number if you do not have it. Also I havent quite figured out the reliabilty of the mail system just yet so dont send anything just yet. When I know more details I'll forward them on.

Barrow Island

I arrived on Barrow Island in a twin Prop 48 passenger tin can onto a grass airfield. That was a 3 and half hour experience in itself. It was very neat, and felt like I was in an Indian Jones adventure. The views from there are amazing. To describe Barrow Island is like being in the Bahamas. The views are amazing, the water very blue, it's winter here so the weather is near perfect at the day topping out at 70 degrees and the cold getting down to about 60. Once you get out of the view of the muddy bahama beaches you are in the middle of the outback with no trees reaching over 2 meters and those are sparce. The land here is full of red dust and it covers everything. Red barron land is all the place is with shrubs and weeds everywhere. I LOVE IT haha. My temporary office is kinda on a hill and I have a view of the the 2km jette with big ships coming in and the beach. I REALLY LOVE IT. We get to work at night and by the time you get setttled in I watch a sunrise of the beach and drink coffee every morning with a slight breeze in my face. The Site comes alive with tops of cranes moving off in the distance. I'm in a dream enviroment. I really enjoy my managment and co-employees. They all have favorite football teams and some use to hunt. I think I bring a youthful new spirit to the group. I'm the youngest here but treated as an equal already. I think because I came in with a respect and not the usual young guy like so many of my generation that they have accepted me much more quickly. I havent quite got work to do yet but I know it will pickup quickly. I'm very excited to get in and show them what I got. I am officially "Planner Permanent Buildings/Gen Services" so I feel that I can do this job very well. The days are long but each have their points and keep me coming back for more. I am learning the island and enjoy every new door I open. I have been very well taken care of so far. I was placed in the newest camp rooms and have great accomodations.

I also will be placed in a brand new office in a brand new building this upcoming sat. so I will offically be there for the rest of my term while on BWI (barrow island). Im pumped. but back to the camp. The wet mess allows me offically 4 beers a day that you cannot store. I do have a mini fridge in my room. I also have a 30" flat screen which I am one of a few who have ESPN 2 baby!!!!!!!!!

 

I watch it every morning. I watched Gameday before I went to sleep and catch the games before I go to work. It's awesome. Also I have a desk and many shelves and cabinets for my things. I have a spacious bathrooom with hot water and walk-in glass stand-up shower. Also very nice.

The lighting is very cool here too because it's all LED bulbs and at night the place sounds and feels like an oil rig with the orange glow of the high pressure sodium lighting. Generaters run everything here so the smooth exhaust is a relaxing sound haha. They have huge conex box style Cats running everything and smaller 100KWs running individual offices like hour. We make our own water with huge Osmosis Plants.  Everything is brought onto the island and everything leaves the island (including our personal waste). We recycle everything and have to seperate all our trash. The food is amazing here, so I will soon need to get a plan together or I'll be 250lbs when I get back. You can take as much food from the Crib as you want. Also I meant to tell you Rachel, I eat approx. 5lbs of watermelon a day. Its all fresh and served daily with all the other fruits. They have plastic contariners and fridges everywhere so I take a lot with me for the day. You pack your lunch everyday but it's pre-made cartons of anything you can imagine plus everything else. Lasagna, Sandwiches, SUbs, muffins, fruits, etc. etc.. anything. Everyone here is real nice even the laborers. They are from everywhere but everyone speaks some kind of english. Its great. Everyone here explains their sports to me and I tell them about american stuff so I'm getting very cultured over here. There are countless amounts of procedures here due to the animals and environment so I will just tell about them as time goes. Well this is not even close to the amount of stuff I can tell you so I will save some for tomorrow. I miss you all greatly and Cant wait to share my picts (I'll post them here soon) and stories. I love you all. Please feel free to write me back because I very much enjoy anwsering questions via email and corresponding this way. More the better.

Driving in Australia

So after settling in my new environment, I have been scheduled for many training sessions. One of them as of yesterday was defensive driving. Well with the usual NO WORRIES from the locals I didn't think nothing of it till I was told I had to drive about 20 km! So indeed with video to prove I went 4 wheel driving in with a left handed 5 speed while driving on the left side of the road with no training other than a good luck from my instructor. I also saw my first kangaroo, about a family of 6 hopping like whitetails through the pine trees much like at home in alabama. No I didn't get pictures. Sorry. But on the way back I had to drive on the freeway. Crazy! Perth has been full of surprises so far and everyday is an adventure of a lifetime while learning the local culture. I'm also finally bringing a real southern America view to Westwrn austraila for they have been duped by tv over here. I am now learning how this blog works and hope to be posting more often.

Bon Voyage!

Before leaving for Australia my family hosted an Australian themed going-away party for me.  Mom cooked Australian food (meat pies, smashed potatoes, lemon chicken, sausages, etc) there were Australian decorations. I appreciated the love and support. I will miss everyone!