Down Time

So I have a bit of down time. Not a ton, but just a bit. What do I mean by that? I mean my classes are over and I have about a month before my next two or three classes begin. So, what am I doing with this little bit of extra time?

I’m reading.

I mean, come on. If you know me, you know I’m reading when I have free time. Some of the books I’m reading you guys know about. Some you don’t. I’m gonna take this week to update the ole reading list and reviews a bit. 

I love Hampton Sides’ books. On Desperate Ground could be my favorite non-fiction book. It doens’t hurt that I’m a Korean War buff. But this one, is intriguing too. 

I don’t know about you, but the last thing in the world I would ever want to do is go on an arctic expedition in the 1880’s. Hell I don’t want to go on an arctic expedition now, with Patagonia and fleece and rubber and water proof down sleeping bags and all of the other accoutrements. Can you imagine the suck fest that it would be in the 1880’s?

Would I have tried it as a kiddo? In the Army? Sure, maybe. But it would suck. 

Now, imagine your little ship that all 33 of you are living in gets stuck in the ice prematurely.  Imagine you’re stuck on an ice flow for 2 years in that little ship. You’re eating rancid salted meats, getting lead poisoning from the tin cans of tomatoes, ice blindness, eating the occasional seal or polar bear, and mostly being cold as cold can be for 2 years in the arctic. 

Then just as your ship floats free, it gets crushed and you have to abandon ship and trudge across the frozen ice for hundreds and hundreds of miles, all the while pulling the life boats across the ice flows like those in the picture, just in case you suddenly find the ocean. Can you imagine the hell? 

Well, you don’t have to imagine much if you read this book. Like all of Hampton Sides’ books, it’s excellent. Love it. Need more of it!