I'm Here!! Arrived yesterday after a flight on a C-17! I got to sit up front with the pilots and talk with them and take photos!! It was so cool! Speaking of cool...it is COLD!! But all of my cold weather gear (and I'm wearing most of it) is keeping me warm. I got to talking with one of the Air Force crew members yesterday and he was a reservist from Washington State. I gave him my card and a MFD (sorry my PD friends!) keychain and he gave me 2 challenge coins! Turns out in his real life he was a firefighter and his folks live in Mesa! Small world! I miss you guys! E-mail me!!

ECW Gear

Got my Extreme Cold Weather gear today and will be taking a 5 hour flight to the ice at 0700 tomorrow morning. Got my flu shot too. Have made friends with quite a few people including a young guy from Tempe! His name is Jason (I think) but I told him I was going to call him "Tempe" from now on! Here's some pics of me in my parka and bunny boots! And more quake e pics and other pics from around town!

Pics of Christchurch

Here's a few shots outside my hotel. My hotel is the Ibis and it is the only thing open around here in the downtown. Very sad.

In Christchurch!!

Wow! What a grueling day! The flights were long but they really could have been a lot worse. I actually got to sleep on the flight from LAX to Melbourne. I am staying on the 5th floor in downtown Christchurch and the hotel is right on the edge of all the damage from the earthquake 2 years ago. I took pics. The lady who met us at the airport said they have been getting quite a few aftershocks...not thrilled seeing where my room is! I got to see the C17 and the Antarctic Service Center when we landed and that was pretty cool! Orientation is tomorrow and I'll get all of my cold weather gear! Gotta get a shower, food and sleep! Miss all of you!!

Boring LAX

LAX. Tired already oh, and cold too!  I know about 20 more hours and 100 degrees colder. WTF! What a boring, sterile international terminal! I have seen a few people that will be going to the ice with me - I could tell cuz I saw their luggage tags.

On my way!

At Sky Harbor Airport waiting for my adventure to begin. It was really hard saying goodbye to L2 and the animals. Look at my puffy eyes! Good thing is I have an isle seat all the way thru to New Zealand!

Last Day At Work

Just finished my last day at work. Thanks go out to my brother (from another mother), Greg, Dave, Sheri, Cari, Lynn and Darin for my last "real" Mexican food for 5 months! The exciting thing is will be that I will get to go back when this thing in Antarctica is done in March!

I leave Friday evening 9/28 for LA. Then it is off to Australia with a "rest stop" in Christchurch, New Zealand for a couple of days and then....Brrrrrrrr!!! This time next week I will be living and working at McMurdo Station!