2002-10-07 7:50 p.m.
IC #1: Letter from the Island
Dear TheBoy,
We're all settling in on the island and getting to know each other. Thanks again for getting me to go to Costco before my flight out. It never occured to me that SPF 48 sunblock might come in 20-gallon buckets. The judges thought at first that calling that my "one personal item" was pushing it, but once they saw my Irish/sysadminly pallor they understood and let me take it on the island.
Other than my bucket-o-sunblock and Matt's solar-powered karaoke machine, other Diary Survivors' personal items were much more portable.
Raw Voice hangs out on the beach, reading the book of poetry she brought and contemplating her next step in changing the world. She and Heather spend a lot of time talking quietly. Heather brought a picture of her horse Cracker because it reminds her of what's important in her life.
LoudWoman brought a well-thumbed copy of Peyton Place, and she's discreetly watching the other islanders for parallels.
Scud brought a sketchpad and pencils. (The picture he drew of Mount DS4 erupting, lava flows engulfing bits of jungle and his competitors' huts, was particularly well done.) Gingerbug brought a different kind of pencil -- an eyebrow pencil that doesn't melt in high heat, perfect for the tropics. Angeline never goes anywhere without her Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker, and the smell of it is setting off junk food cravings around the island. I'm surprised it doesn't melt from the heat, but if it can survive San Antonio, it can survive the Diary Survivor island.
Chrome Magnum Man has been surreptitiously stashing Twinkies all around the island. He thought we hadn't caught on until he lost his footing climbing a palm tree and got scraped up from the fall. AlternaMommy patched him up afterwards with her first aid kit. July, of course, caught it all on his camera. Chrome Magnum Man is going to have to shell out bigtime to keep the pictures of this little incident from turning up in July's diary.
It's half past Justin on Kinetix' N'Sync clock, so that means it's time for Diary Survivor Karaoke. Everyone s heading for the machine from their respective corners of the island, and Ms. M is busting out the tequila. (She didn't bring shot glasses, so we'll just have to drink it out of coconut shells. Bummer, huh?) This group overall (yours truly included, of course) is a rather odd pack of introverts, but when the karaoke and tequila come out, the "introvert" part recedes into the background and the "odd" takes center stage. Loudly and often off-key. AlternaMommy in particular really cuts loose with a mike in her hand. If only her kids could see her now...
Anyway, gotta run. Love to you and the kitty. See you in 12 weeks.
Magpie