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!!

I'm Settling In

I am finally settling in to the "Routine" that is McMurdo Station. I am working my first shift at the Firehouse and yes, it's Graves! I will be on this shift for a few weeks and then go to days for a few weeks and then finish my time on the ice back on Graves. My flight down on the C-17 was great! That plane is one amazing machine!

Everything here on station is pretty much the same as when I left it almost 18 months ago. We got 6 inches of snow the other day and now it it cold - it is currently -2 degrees and a wind-chill of -22. I actually wore my Big Red for the first time since arriving on the ice. Here are some pictures from my flight and my first few days here.

 On board the C-17

                                          Our C-17 on the Pegasus White Ice Runway

                                         A view of the Coffee House after the snow storm!

My Day as a Tourist!

I spent the day touring Christchurch, NZ as our ice flight had a 24 hour delay. I traveled with 2 firefighters and the new base doctor. We hopped a bus and went to the city center. When I got there I was pleasantly surprised by the new life there! The last time I was there all I saw was the devastation from the earthquakes that occurred in September 2010 and February 2011. This time the area had vibrance and life! Don't get me wrong there were still plenty of buildings that were still injured but there were also many new buildings and construction abounded! We spent some time down there and then hopped another bus to go to New Brighton Beach! It was so nice to see the ocean again! The boys told me it was the Pacific. 

The Church of Christchurch 

Me at New Brighton Beach 

New Brighton Beach Pier

Our Bird for tomorrow-the C-17 

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!

Round 2 It's Like Deja Vu All Over Again!

Hi Everyone! Please join me here as I get ready to embark on my second journey down to the bottom of the world! I am leaving today and will hopefully arrive at McMurdo Station in about 4 days. I will be there until March 2015 and will be working as a Fire Department Dispatcher. MTF soon! 🐧