The day started painfully early for everyone (but me) around 4:30 am to help support the Italians. It has become clear that there will be no EVAs between the hours of 10 and 4 due to the oppressive heat. Unfortunately, their compressor failed and everyone came back and went to bed. Everyone re-awoke around 8:30 only to find out that the van full of camera crews was fast approaching. Don brought them by (along with our much-needed water) and then the fun began.

The media crews included local news from ABC-Houston, Telemundo, and a Swiss documentarian. Irene, which is spelled "H-A-M," was right out there getting interviewed. The crews drifted inside and joined us for our daily briefing.

I never realized how close the cameras come in order to get cool shots. There was one three inches from my face for a moment and then next to my coffee mug for a few minutes (I have no idea why; but then, I'm a scientist...). It's a little strange. You also have to keep in mind to talk to and look at someone, rather than at the camera. But the camera is always there.

After the briefing, Chip and I commenced washing some much needed dishes with our freshly replenished water supply, and then I started lunch. The various camera crews wandered around conducting individual interviews, which for me was during lunch preparations. Lunch was the oddest part because all but one of our visitors refused to join us and instead taped us (gotta chew with that mouth closed!) and interviewed us about the importance of crew together time and food diversity. I wish I had known so I wouldn't have cooked so much, but leftovers have their own redeeming qualities.

The afternoon moved forward with a meeting and brainstorming session about emergency air supplies. Santa Claus donated 10 WWI style gas masks to the Hab that are intended to simulate the full face air supplying emergency respirators on the ISS, as well as lovely little American flag pins from the Houston Embroidery Co. After this we commenced with preparations for the evening EVA, which was an extension upon the previous day's attempt to gather walking velocity and distance data, but this time for the full two hours. EVA participants were Alex, Marcus, and Irene. Prepping was quite hectic as we had three crew members departing rather than two, along with the camera crew taping us from only a few inches away (it's really odd, I promise, not like your dad at Christmas whatsoever). They stepped into the airlock and off they went, with the media trotting on behind for a while until they turned around and retrieved their minivan.

The EVA duration goal of two hours was achieved by two out of three astronauts, which ain't bad. Unless you are really on Mars, of course. The returning heroes had their gear torn off and were handed ice-cold Gatorade. The media bailed for the day and promised to return on the morrow to film the legendary Fabio in his tiger suit.

We began to go inside when a shiny red Mustang drives up. Out come our SUNY students that will be here testing EVA tools for three days, one day early! We barely get them set up in the attic, when another visitor shows up: the elusive Melissa Battler! She gave us a lovely presentation on local geology and gathered some things for her upcoming FMARS trip to the other Mars station in the northern reaches of Canada for four months this summer. Now THAT is dedication! Needless to say, we don't feel very isolated. It is now time for bed (yeah, like THAT ever happens) because we have another 5:00 am day tomorrow with an EVA, our new visitors, all the media, and the incipient Martian holiday weekend invasion.