Captain's Ledger 9-30-11 ~ 10-2-11

For those of you who didn't read the first installment of my memoirs, you're terrible, terrible people. How do you fix that? Click on these pretty blue letters.

Captain's Ledger Friday, 9-30-11

91 days til I turn 19

Another late morning, 5:50 in the A.M. Used coconut milk and water mixture (30%/70%) for a pleasant and sweet liquid in my cereal. Was very similar to almond milk. Left ~6:30 to rescue 2 ATVs from the Bog. The mates and I broke several tow straps last night attempting to pull them out. Today [we] met with success retrieving them. We also made a "bridge" to cross a pretty terrible area near the highway. Returned to camp, boiled hot dogs and made cheesy chili. Conked out for a good half hour, munchitized, then proceeded to be half awake while hiding from the midday sun. Had to change the gas drum. We managed to thread the rotary pump into the top AND fix the handle so it now revolves smoothly. Also today we all ferried out super sacks filled with sally sacks which we shall use to bag those wonderful brine shrimp eggs. After the hauling of bags and crates was finished, the bosun took me and my first mate (Maurice Benally) on a scouting mission at sea. Upon reaching the briny deep, the bosun began pointing out indicators of our microscopic harvest. First mate and I found a tennis ball and a child's baseball bat. Bosun scavenged a 5-gallon ashtray.  

   I worked on my grave, need a good rain to get deepen it. 

Saturday, 10-1-11

Found STEVE

Yet another late start. Up and going ~7 A.M. Around 9, bosun showed the crew the basics of harvesting brine shrimp. Harvest officially started at noon. Prepared hot dogs for dinner.

Sunday, 10-2-11

Sunday the 2nd revealed there is no day of rest here. Full days will begin soon. Up at 3 A.M. on the beach by 4 A.M. and harvesting at first light. Today I whipped up gourmet teriyaki chicken, molded (shaped?) sculptured rice. <-- The crew greatly appreciated my efforts. Apparently it was discussed and decided to make me the official camp chef. This morning one man defected. <--- As soon as we began departing for work he spoke to the bosun, who promptly deported him. Around 9 at night, bosun retrieved a large man from the highway. The man had quite the tale of woe. He had come from another camp (Antenna?) where all was chaos. Food and supplies would be shipped and arrive (sometimes not) and a feeding frenzy would ensue. Henry, as he was called (fondly my Big Friendly Giant), had been working the past two full days on a few cups of milk.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Captain's Ledger 9-30-2011

Today, I begin spreading the elaborate chronicles of my adventures in......

BRINE SHRIMPING!!!

While the concept of bagging up thousands of pounds of these tiny eggs (which seem to be a mix betwixt sand and mud) is a bit mind boggling, it happens. Care to learn more? Call me or hang out with me. Or you could just read the blog....

Captain's Ledger

Entry date: Friday 9-30-2011

I, Captain Kirk Bourne Phillips, am keeping this ledger to record my memoirs and adventures abroad whilst brine shrimping.

       Wednesday the 28th was orientation. Orientation consisted of two hours of PowerPoint presentations and four hours of ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) training. The ATV training pushed my patience to the brink of disaster. Training aside, we traveled around 2.5 hours to reach our destination of MAIN CAMP. At MAIN CAMP, all but three of us fresh harvesters were assigned to several different camps. I was among the triad of lost souls. After yet another two hours of waiting, we were assigned to our respective camps. I was sent, along with one other man (Maurice Benally, a Navajo) to CAMP MORTON. MORTON was the most remote of the camps and because the sun was setting, we were unable to make the long ride out to what would become my home. Bunked in MAIN CAMP kitchen trailer.

    

 

     Thursday the 29th was a day that started late for me, about 5:45 A.M.  Left Morton around 7:30 A.M.  Arrived at mile marker 93 on I-80 Westbound sometime later, at which time I began unloading foodstuffs we had brought with. Walked with the Bosun (Bill, my supervisor who happened to be on federal parole for robbing a bank) around 1 mile to acquire ATVs  stashed in our smuggler's cove. Returned to highway, loaded ATV trailers with belongings and food, then made my first trip to my new home.I cooked the first meal in the camp, lunch. Chicken stewed in tomatoes and orange juice with a side of mixed vegetables. Reset of day spent organizing Kitchen tent (and carpentry for storage shelves). Managed to leave while dinner (chicken fritters and mixed vegetables) was being prepared. Dug my grave.

God be with you

1. God be with you till we meet again,
   By His counsels guide, uphold you,
   With His sheep securely fold you,
   God be with you till we meet again.
   • Refrain:
     Till we meet, till we meet,
     Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
     Till we meet, till we meet,
     God be with you till we meet again.
2. God be with you till we meet again,
   ’Neath His wings securely hide you,
   Daily manna still provide you,
   God be with you till we meet again.
3. God be with you till we meet again,
   When life’s perils thick confound you,
   Put His arms unfailing round you,
   God be with you till we meet again.
4. God be with you till we meet again,
   Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
   Smite death’s threat’ning wave before you,
   God be with you till we meet again.

 Aloha oe, aloha oe, 
ikeona ona noho ikalipo
One fond embrace,
ahoe'ea a,
Until we meet again.  Aloha oe, aloha oe,              I miss you so much. My heart has a big sad face :'(
ikeona ona noho ikalipo
A smiling face
ahoe'ea a,
Until we meet again.




 Right now, I am crying. I cry tears of joy for knowing so many beautiful people that I get to leave behind. You all make me so happy, and I hope that we can be even better friends when I find my way home again. Don't be too annoyed if my name pops up on your phone on Sundays and assorted nights... because I am sure I'm going to miss you all so much. 

Aren't hugs simply amazing? With one hug you can say, oh-my-goodness-I-don't-want-to-let-you-go-you-should-talk-to-me-when-you-can-and-you-have-to-come-back-to-me-or-I'll-cry-a-lot-be-safe-while-you're-gone-or-I-will-kill-you. And I've been getting such wonderful hugs these past days. And these wonderful hugs will last me several months. 

 

All of you have to survive these months without me. I'm taking my Zombie Survival Guide with me so I'm set. Though if there IS an outbreak of Solanum, I'm sure I'll make it, but I worry about all of you people dear to my....BRAAAAIIINNNSSSS!! Weirdness aside, you are awesome sauce incarnate. If I had to decide between a lifetime supply of Nagiri and you, I'd choose you (Pikachu).

"It's like bubble wrap in my mouth!" - Bourne Phillips (Eating Tobiko Nagiri [flying fish eggs on rice and wrapped in seaweed])

"How do you get groin pains in your calves?" - Hamish Sharik (I meant growing pains)

"BE A MAN!" - Bourne Phillips (my secret to beating guys in bowling)

                     I LOVE YOU!!!!

You should text me... or call me... or just love me... a lot. I will have limited time to respond and may not even have cell service for the majority of several months. I will try and catch up on calls and such come Sundays and every other Friday.

801-787-7398

P.S. If you are feeling lonely and want to hear a big, manly voice, my voicemail should satisfy you. Not to mention you'll probably smile and be incredulous that I can talk that low....

The Beginning

Well I have must needs of giving into the temptation that is making a blog post about the new year. First I'll recap Christmas break. Work....work...work.... I had quite the opportunity to cover for a coworker who left for the holidays. I got 9 nice 6-8 hour days of working mornings and with my parents. Wake up at 5:30 AM, head into the work, cut 6 sheets of fresh made Focaccia, and make some pretty fruit displays. Then come around 7 I get to work on Novatek, which is a recurring catering order we have. After all that's done and other catering orders are satisfied I'm helping with the breakfast rush. So much fun!
Anywho.. besides work I lounged around the house not doing much or spending some wonderful time with a certain friend XD    But in all honesty... Christmas rushed in on me too fast. I spent too much time Wednesday and Thursday rushing around attempting to find acceptable gifts for friends and family.          Shortly after Christmas I had the joy of having a birthday. I received the inevitable flood of wall posts on Facebook from adoring fans who rarely speak to me any day but have no trouble wishing me happy birthday. Sometimes I kinda wish those people would manage to say hello, you know? But I graciously replied to each and everyone. I must be a saint of the latter days.... I must apologize for the poor pun but it is late after all. On my birthday I had the distinct pleasure to hang around Provo with Sarah Jakins. We played Little Big Planet at her house (which I must say I have distinctly enjoyed playing) and then proceeded to go to the International Buffet where I introduced her to mussels, crab legs, sushi, eel sauce, and clams. It was really delicious!! The worst part about it is that we went to Cafe Rio half an hour later with my family and some family friends. Needless to say I was extremely content and semi-comatose from the copious amounts of food which I put down. After Second Dinner, my family, and Sarah and I returned to our house and there my parents decided to inflict the most devastating of tortures on me.... they brought out.... THE "TAPE"!!! The "Tape", as it is called, is a collection of home video clips of my life from about -1 month to about 72 months. I sat there in horror as Sarah saw my birth and weighing at 7 pound 7.8 ounces. She saw me as a small child running around in circles chasing dogs, eating ashes, speaking with my speech impediments. It was a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. I think the entire video lasted two hours. Too long.
         The day after my birthday is New Year's Eve and it was also a blast! I did little throughout the day and had the good fortune of not having to go in to work that day. I later showered and went to the dance and "happened" to run into Sarah there. Along with Michael Peterson and Jaron Harris. Jaron and I got the wonderful idea that we should slick our hair back to be more 50s. We didn't think it through too well because we ended up using gel... and it looked really weird. Luckily my hair doesn't take gel very well and it returned to a semi-normal state after some ridiculous dancing and whipping my hair back and forth Willow Smith style.  The night was very fun!! Now on this New Year's Day... I've done a lot of thinking. I really need to get back into shape, practice my hoop dancing, and get my life back into shape. So for once in my life, I am doing New Year's resolutions. Pretty strange stuff. Well here I am, up at 1:51 AM January the Second updating anyone that cares to read this on my life. Pretty fun. I must apologize for the poor writing of this one post, I am hoping you will forgive me. If not.... eat rocks and smell funny!!