I look at the clock.

“1:45am”

Not even close to the time that I need to be up.

I look outside my window.

The beating sun plays the illusion that the world is still alive, yet most people here are sound asleep.

The blackout blinds help. But bits of light still creep through.

I can’t imagine how animals here deal with this much sun. Blackout blinds are obvious not an option to these creatures. Perhaps the thick, dense forest creations a sufficient shield from the blistering sun. But who knows. I’m sure there’s a documentary out there somewhere that could explain everything and prevent me from this continued speculation. Maybe a quick Goggle search will place my mind at ease and then I can lay my head back to rest.

“How do animals sleep in the Yukon during the summer”

I quickly scan the text on my phone screen, and discover that animals actually don;t get much sleep in the summer months. Turns out, all of this sunshine and warmth creates the ultimate hunting scenario, so the animals make haste of this opportunity. They basically hunt as much as they can, store what food they can, and prepare for their very long winter. Interesting.

So i guess I was wrong with my initial thought. The world outside is NOT mostly asleep. It’s mostly alive. Yet, there is a large group of miners who are trying to convince themselves that it is bedtime. What strange creatures we humans are.

But then again, we did decide to place ourselves here in this situation. This situation where we fly out to a remote part of the world, and put ourselves to work ,so that we can increase our financial situation, and enjoy the finer offerings of this life on our “off” time.

Now that I think about it, maybe we are like these animals of the Yukon.

Similar to the animals, we seize the opportunity to gain. They hung food, and we collect money from a steady pay cheque. Only difference is, we are conscious of this decision, and can opt out anytime we feel like it. Unlike the animals, who have instinctively adapted over generations.

I wonder what would happen to an animal that was accustom to the normal cycle of a day, and placed here suddenly? I bet they’d get pretty confused. Would they still go to sleep at their regular time? Or expect a midnight walk to relieve themselves? Wake you up at the crack of dawn to be fed?

This is getting out of hand. I need to stop thinking so much and just get myself to fall back to sleep. But what’s the point.

I look at the clock.

“2:35am”

In another 2 hours it will be close to the time I would normally wake up.

Should I just turn on a movie and try and stay up the rest of the night?

Should I go to the gym and get an early start to my daily routine?

How much will this decision affect the rest of my week.

Fuck. Now I’m hungry.

I’m pretty sure there’s fresh pizza out in the cafeteria’s lunch fridge. Great. Now I’m definitely up.

Oh well. I’ve still got another 2 weeks to readjust my sleep cycle before I have to leave and head back South, where the days/nights are normal and I can reintegrate back into society.

Decision made.

Gym. Snack. Movie. And then before I know it, the rest of camp will be up, and I can start my actual day.

Hopefully tomorrow (or later tonight) I’ll be so tired, that’ll be forced to pass out by 7pm.

This is gonna work out just great.