cold calamities

There are two statements here that people use to insight patience in each other:

"It's a harsh continent."

&

"We're all here 'til February."

I share these with you because it exudes the general attitude of the town. It's another way of saying, "slow down, take your time, do it right, don't worry, we're all here together, catch you later," and so forth.

So, when I was jumping up and down the other day, trying to stay warm for a few minutes outside, and the metal zipper pull from my fleece got stuck in my mouth, I had to remind myself that it's a harsh continent, where getting a metal zipper-pull in your mouth is the equivalent of french kissing a frozen flag pole.

In other embarrassing news, that same day, only 5 minutes later, I was running up the hill to our office when a lava rock grabbed my boot and promptly threw me face forward, flat on the ground. Don't worry, I only sustained flesh wounds, and will likely only walk up that hill from now on.