Happy 2015 From Antarctica!

2015 came into this part of the world 22 hours before it did in Arizona. I was working. It was an uneventful evening however I did get a kiss at midnight from one of the firefighters! Actually I think I won by default as he said he wasn't going to kiss any of the guys at midnight! Of course the next day he proceeded to tell everyone that he, "Kissed Russo at Midnight". See what I have to put up with! I guess boys will be boys!

Our big New Years party, IceStock, was held on January 2nd this year. Even though it wasn't on New Year's Eve it was still a lot of fun. There were 17 bands and it went from 3:30PM to 1:00AM. There was a chili cook-off (the fire department took 3rd place) and the cooks grilled hot dogs and elk sausages! I went out there at 4:30 to see the fire department band, Skuacide and then I went inside until about 9:30 when the fire chief's band played. Below are some pictures from Ice Stock.

The next day, after brunch, was the annual softball tournament. The Fire Department took 2nd place and they said that I should've been the coach! Anyone who ever played softball with me knows that I cannot keep my mouth shut-especially when an umpire makes the wrong call. That would've been the case that day. He should have called Infield Fly Rule and he didn't. The ball dropped and 2 runs scored. I started hollering and that got some members of our team asking the ump about it and he ended up making the right call and sending the runners back to their bases. Our guys said they were happy I was there and that I saved a couple of runs for them. Hahahaha!! The fans in the stands were the real game though. They would heckle everyone and it was really funny. And if they didn't like a call they would throw all their empty beer cans at the backstop! It was crazy! And one of our guys hit the ball literally out of the park and next thing I knew some guy had stripped down to his skivvies' and was running around on the field! Like I said, it was crazy! Here's some pictures from the softball tourney! Happy 2015 from Antarctica!

                                                             Skuacide At IceStock

              The Heckling Beer Can Throwing Fans In The Stands at the Softball Tourney
                                           

The 2nd Place Fire Department Team!

I Got Mail

This evening has been a great night! It started with dinner. We had salad! Now most people would be like, "Big deal. Salad." But it is a big deal! It was a wonderful salad! It had spring greens, blue cheese, cucumbers, pepperoncinis, tomatoes, red onions and tossed in oil and vinegar! Yum! It's been awhile since we've had any fresh food mainly because the weather has been so bad that we couldn't get anything. Then I found out I had mail! Glorious mail from home! It wasn't any of the boxes I'm waiting for but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth! It was a card, several cards from my sister and her family (thank you Lisa!) and a book ("A Higher Call") from Greg! Awesome! Hey, that's BIG News!! Then when I got to work I actually got a call! It was for an ice machine that smelled like smoke in one of the bars. Oh yeah, I think the Fire Department needs to check that out! Hey it's exciting! It was my second call of the season! Then another C-17 came in so I had to make my announcements on all channels- "Attention all stations, attention all stations, this is the Firehouse with an uncontrolled aircraft arrival announcement. The C-17, Ice 15 has arrived Pegasus Airfield. This aircraft will be departing after completion of ground servicing. Please contact the Firehouse on Channel 5 for all intended movements on Pegasus Runway." Yep I am ATC Ground Control! SO MUCH FUN!

I got to do a short hike out to Hut Point on Thursday. Here's some pictures.

                                                                        Vince's Cross

                                                                      Mt. Discovery

                                          View towards Arrival Heights from Vince's Cross

It's Like "Groundhog Day"!

No joke. Almost everyday has been Condition II on station meaning, "Condition II: Winds 48 to 55 knots, wind chill - 75 to -100 degrees F, or visibility 100 feet to 1/ 4th mile. Restricted pedestrian traffic only between buildings is allowed. Vehicular travel is allowed in radio equipped, enclosed vehicles only, and check out is required." It also means that no one should or would want to go hiking, skiing, etc. because the weather is terrible. It also means no flights. No flights means no mail. No mail means I have to go to the store to buy shampoo and conditioner because I mailed a lot of those items to myself because I was concerned about my luggage weight.

But it could be worse. It could be Condition 1 in town. It should have been called that a few times but I've been told that Station Management does not like to do that because then no one would be able to work. So my boss likes to call it Condition 1.5 when it really should be Condition 1. Here is the definition of "Condition I: Winds over 55 knots, wind chill lower than -100 degrees F, or visibility less than 100 feet. Severe weather is in progress. All personnel must remain in buildings or the nearest shelter." It is Condition 1 everywhere else - Scott Base (which is 3k's away), the Road to Scott Base, Pegasus Airfield, Williams Field Skiway, T-Site, Arrival Heights (It's a "science" area, I think it's some secret squirrel military place!) and LDB (where they launch the Long Duration Balloons). So really, nothing is going on here - no flights and no science. I'm at work so at least I've got somewhere and something, albeit scarce, to do.

Enjoy the "Con 1.5" photos!

 

It's a Blustery Day for Football!

I am on Day 2 of my 3 day weekend. It is Monday so it must be football! Yes, Monday because we are a day ahead of everyone in CONUS (Continental United States). All night last night I heard the wind blowing hard and whistling thru my window. It is not really cold, it is currently -2 with the wind chill at -26 degrees. That wind is brutal! I broke out my Big Red today. Here are some pictures from today:

I watched the Cardinals/Broncos game and was really disappointed. But it was still great to watch football! And what made it even better was that it was a game that didn't have the Cowboys in it! Now I'm getting ready to watch Sunday Night Football.

And if football isn't enough to make it a fantastic day, we had McRibs for lunch!! YAY!!

An Extra Day in Christchurch!

My room in CHC.

My flights were long but thankfully uneventful. I had an 11 hour layover in Sydney and tried to get into the Qantas Lounge but the evil lady at the door wouldn't let me in! She was just plain nasty. I was with 2 other "ice people" so we went to the Air New Zealand lounge and the Kiwis being the friendly people they are, allowed us to spend our hours in their lounge! Once inside we had the run of their buffet, drinks (including beer, wine and hard liquor) and best of all, the showers! I'm not gonna lie that was one of the best showers I've ever had! And I really needed one! It's always bad when one can smell oneself! Lol!

I arrived in Christchurch at 0030 Sunday morning 9/28 and had to be at the CDC ( Clothing Distribution Center) at 0900. Oh and there was a time change-Spring Ahead. By the time I got checked into my hotel it was 0130 and with the time change it was 0230. Ugh! But I woke up in time after a short but satisfying sleep and got my gear and attended orientation. We were done at 1500. I met the new doctor, Jane, and we went to dinner. Went to bed at 1930. I know, such a party animal!

We were supposed to be on the C-17 this morning and 15 minutes after I got out of the shower I received a call from the desk that we were on a 24 hour delay. That means I'm going into the city center today and playing tourist! I'll post some pics later! Woot woot!

My new Big Red!