Day 50- November 29th

Day 50- November 29^th

Sea lice, that are related but much, much bigger than wood louse



These fish are being studied constantly because of the antifreeze they have for blood. Literally the same stuff we put in vehicle's radiators to keep them from freezing up.



Skull of a carnivorous Leopard Seal. They eat Penguins.





Weddell Seal Skull. Most of these seals die because there front teeth are too worn down to chew through the ice to make their breathing holes, so they end up drowning.

After work this morning I went on a tour of Crary Lab where all the Beekers (scientists) work. The facility is very nice. We were allowed to play in a touch tank of Antarctic water creatures. Boy that water is COLD!!  I talked to some fish who seemed more interested in me and the possibility of me having food for them, than I was of them.







Received my first haircut down here with Ildy , a sweet Hungarian woman. She did a pretty nice job.



Today was a momentous day when my horrible roommates moved out. Not exactly sure what prompted the move, and I certainly do not care, but a move was made for a happier, less ghetto room. They moved into the room next door, where unfortunately, their loud mouths carry, but it was a room of similar ages and lifestyle choices. Tressa and Ellen took to making the room more private for everyone. It was great. We will undoubtedly get another roommate soon, but I highly doubt she will be as bad as the two that just left.

Went up to the post office to mail off 2 boxes of stuff I will not be needing, instead of dragging everywhere in case I travel around when I get off the ice. I was pleasantly surprised to find a letter from Mom came, and a box from drugstore.com with more EmergenC. I only had 2 packets left. WHEW that was close. There was also a box from Jerry wherein he sent me flowers. I LOVE THIS MAN!! No matter where I am, he will send me flowers to brighten my day and remind me just how much I adore him.

They were white, blue and purple silk hydrangeas with my circus vase and marbles to hold them up. They sit on a little table stand in the office that used to be called the ‘guard mail desk” but is now the ‘hydrangea desk’.

It was a great day!!



Day 48- November 27

Day 48- November 27

Thanksgiving Dinner

So I was at the dining room a little early. They had a long table from 2 tables already setup. I added a third, but as more of our group showed up, we had to setup a fourth.

Dinner was delicious, even though we hadn’t had a C17 in a week, so freshies were not part of the meal. We all brought wine to share and it was a nice time.

A few of us stayed in the dining room all night drinking wine and sharing conversation.

I have to work tonight, so it’s off to bed for me.

Day 46- November 25th and Day 47- November 26th

Day 46- November 25^th

Today was Thanksgiving at home and the start of town’s Holiday weekend. It’s Friday, so I’m off until Sunday night. I called Mom and Dad’s to wish them and Jerry and Aunti Di and Unkie G a Happy Thanksgiving. Jerry had left for home already so I called him there too.

Us Air Services gals decided to meet at the coffee shop that evening. Christen came with Kevin and Jamie brought Matt, whom I hadn’t met yet. We all enjoyed some great conversation over bottles of wine and cups of Kahlua coffee. We hung out there until midrats and Christen and I went for our “lunch”.

Day 47- November 26^th

After midrats, Christen and I played Scrabble. We talked about the 5k Turkey Trot race that was happening later in the morning. She had volunteered to give pre and post race sports massages. I had been contemplating staying up later in the day to volunteer to be a photographer of the event. Knowing she was participating convinced me to do so also.  So I signed up and met with the other volunteers at the Chapel.

I asked Mike the coordinator if I could take the hill above Scott Base. It was the halfway turn around point, but also had amazing view of Discovery Mountain that I wanted to make as a backdrop for the runners.

I stayed up until 1230p editing and putting them on the Idrive for everyone to copy. My Thanksgiving dinner was at midnight, so I needed to get some sleep because I wanted to get in the dining room early enough to save enough table space/chairs for ATOs Thanksgiving dinner

Day 40- November 19th

Day 40- November 19^th

Today was the first truly beautiful day.  32 degrees and very little wind. I was able to leave Big Red behind and wear just my fleece.

We had not 1 but 2 Medical Evacuations. 1 was for a gal who had her leg pinned and crushed by a Weddell seal she was studying.

Weddell Seals are not tiny, graceful seals. They are giant, huge, cumbersome ice slugs that can weigh a ton.

Hand turkeys were also on the list of assignments and things to do during our shift. It’s traditionally mandatory that everyone represent and make one. The funniest thing was written by my boss Pete, on the flight board.

“I’m sorry…we can’t support your medevac… we’re busy making hand turkeys.”

Of course he was joking, but it was used to relieve some tension from a few stressful situations that happened during the day.

My hand turkey of course could not be a run of the mill normal hand turkey. Mine must be different, be attention seeking, be creatively original. Be a – PEACOCK. That’s right. I painstakingly colored my turkey to look like a peacock. I called it a Peakey or turcocky. Everyone likes it.

Day 38- November 17th

 Day 38- November 17^th

I’m overtired and feel a cold coming on. I start hitting the juice hard with EmergenC and VirX. I took off work a little early and took a nap. I think I’m keeping it at bay.

Everything was melting and muddy ugly. Roads as bad as Alaska’s North Slope roads. A mini snowstorm dropped some minimal snow for a couple hours. I guess it doesn’t really snow here- it just white out blizzards and blows. Everyone commented on how pretty the falling snow was. I only liked it because it was covering the filthy snow.

Day 36- November 15th

Day 36- November 15^th



See that blue line in the background? That's the line where regular frozen sea ice meets up with the permanent Ross Ice Shelf.  The bigger blue mounds right in back of the buildings, are pressure ridges. More about them later.



I went to Scott Base after work in the morning to shop in there store.  Scott Base is considered New Zealand territory and is painted bright kiwi green.

 It was another beautiful day. Mt Erebus was in full view. This was the first time I had seen her in all her splendor. Erebus is next to Mt Terror. Both named after 2 of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ships. Erebus is the furthest south active volcano.



Mt Erebus from Scott Base

Mt Terror with Scott Base in the foreground from Sea Ice runway road



Ellen must have talked to the girls about yesterday’s complete and utter disregard for a daysleeping roommate. The absolute racket that was them getting ready to go cross country skiing was second only to a playground full of preschoolers being chased by a monster with a fully operational chainsaw. Needless to say, they were quiet as church mouse today and I slept very well. She did mention to them that on my nights off, I take everything I might need with me out of the room so as not to disturb them while they slept.

I get the feeling the void will not be pierced.

Blue Man is in Antarctica.....