22 June 2008 Day of Rest

*Qué onda guero? Qué onda Jose?

See the vegetable man In the vegetable van With a horn that's honking Like a mariachi band In the middle of the street People gather around…

…Til the rooster crows

…. Qué onda guero? Qué onda guero? Qué onda guero? Qué onda guero?        Thanks Beck*

What’s Up? I am sure that is what you are wondering about now. In fact I am pleased to have some fans out there. Someone actually inquired about yesterday’s journal entry. Thank you for that and I will tell you "What’s Going On”.

I had such a wonderful day yesterday at the Nalukatuk Festival that I decided to make a pod cast/ video for my journal. Hours later… well I guess you know it wasn’t finished. I will finish it today.

Friday was a good day for learning. It was our first day of real data collecting work in the fields. The data collecting shift is called a diurnal. It's a long 24 hour shift and these hours will be split between Paulo and Jose. I will fill in where I can. The problem for me was that to carry that big chamber and machine was way more than my body wanted to handle. I did carry it for about 15 minutes from the south site passed the central to the north with Jose cheering me along all the way (thanks for that, Jose). It was rough for me.

I did okay once I was on the boardwalk where our plots are located. The Li Cor machine, chamber and I bonded. I measured rates of C02 and photosynthesis.

Jose and I worked and learned together under Paulo’s watchful eye. We collected data on 15 plots with light (open to sunlight) and dark (shaded by a black cloth) measurements in record time. Only the record time was a longer time than average. We have 4 hours to finish and with our learning curve it took us about 4.5 hours. No Biggie – we learned.

I didn’t take any photos, (I know right? – me not take photos?) I was trying to stay focused.

The shifts are split into 6, 4 hour segments, Paulo took the first one, we took the second, Paulo took the next 2 and Jose took the last 2 which were from 12 midnight until 8am. He was a real trooper. It  must be great  to be so fit and 21 year old. Paulo and Jose worked super hard that day and will do this **2x’ a week **until late August when they leave.

Yesterday was the Nalukatuk **it is a whaling festival. The day was absolutely spectacular. **VIDEO under construction! – WILL COME SOON!

Kimberly Miller, Palm Beach Post Reporter left this morning after a breakfast at Pepe’s. It was wonderful having an entourage! She finished one story, a video and many blogs. They can be viewed at www.palmbeachpost.com - search her name and Barrow. The story was on the front page of yesterday’s Palm Beach Post. Great story KIM. I have already heard from many in Palm Beach County about the story! The video rocks too!

It was sad to see her go. Now I am here with Paulo and Jose and we will be working full time!

Today, although a day of rest for some is a day of work for me. Paulo taught me how to use the Uni- Spec. That will be my job while they are doing diurnals. I will explain that machine and test later. I am also busy uploading photos, working on pod casts and journals today. My computer, the vortex, has me under it’s clutches once again!

Bird of the Day

Thanks for reading from the Top of the World – wishing you all restful Sunday!