Penguin

The day before I was to leave on R and Ra I heard a delicious rumor, a penguin had been sited. Setting out to see if it was true I headed down to hut point and passed people coming the opposite way. "Is it true?" I'd ask. "Is there a penguin there?" I was assured there was, and one woman took my arm in deep concern. "It is very worrisome," she said. "People are getting really close and I don't think it's a good thing." Not knowing what to say I nodded and kept moving on expecting to see people posing with the penguin, doing peace signs and bunny ears on it as their friends snapped away.

When I crested the hill, this is what I saw . . . .

The penguin is to the right a little above the last guy on the right

Unless people had been wading across the antarctic waters and scrambling onto the ice, there was no way to get "real close" to it.

upper right

Apparently the Adelie was molting, a painful process, and that was why it was was just standing still. I think it liked the attention and was working on it's modeling career hoping BBC would come back and do On the Ice II. It was wonderful to see it real, without the glass barrier or the Styrofoam snow environment. There was no Zoo feeling, no ice cream licking pointing children, annoying adults tapping the glass, no Hawaiian wearing, camera toting tourist. Just us. Those of us living here, with them, and simply marveling at their beauty, grace and connection with nature.

So now that can be crossed off the list of what to see here -- not that I had a list. Next up polar bears - hahaha

Back From R and R

I know I said I would post on my return but I'm exhausted. I know most everyone reads once a week, but I'm afraid its going to be another week before I get back into the routine and put anything up. What I can tell you, as a preview of posts to come is ~ I saw a penguin, the Ice Breaker is on the horizon, saw some amazing art, almost blacked out and am exhausted from it all. I'll post soon. Love to all.

Crazy Happy

Other's have told me I'm not crazy so I am free to stay. Sigh. Big Sigh. I'm not leaving and yet the idea has not sunk in. There must still be something that will send me home, I keep thinking. Something I haven't done, or did wrong. But no, I have passed sanely and physically and am now allowed to enjoy the unfoldings of winter at the bottom of the world.

I'M STAYING!

Now I know that there are those of you who I will be unable to see for a while. Those getting married, moving to wondrous new places, celebrating birthdays, births, whole new facets of life and you have extended a welcoming hand for me to join in. I want you to know that although I am unable to physically be there, I join you always in spirit and prayers. Know that I send you greatest wishes of happiness, moments of childish joy, heartfelt laughter and love. A lot will unfold around you and I will miss it, but I look forward to reliving it through your tellings, pictures, and wild hand gestures once we meet again. So please forgive me this moment of selfishness and know that I extend heartfelt apologies and plead for your understanding of my winter insanity.

So what next? Well a few last minute things before I forget. All mail and packages should you wish to send them, must be mailed no later than February 1st. They can take up to month to get here and should they arrive after the last plane, I'll not get it till August when the runway opens again. The last plane to leave here goes on February 25th and then there is no contact with the outside world.

In less than 36 hours I fly out for my R and R. A small break from the ice before I'm locked in till October. I'll be staying in New Zealand for a few days, staring at dogs, trees, and breathing in the fresh smells of dirt, humidity, even exhaust. Oh I'm giddy with excitement over it all, and yet feel so rushed. I'm not even packed, although I'm not taking much, what can I? It's 93 degrees where I'm going and all I have is wool sweaters and jackets.

I won't be back till Saturday so my postings may be a little late (going from night shift, to days, and then back to nights when I get back), I wanted to leave you with something to think on. I'm trying to make a list of things I could do over the winter to keep me busy. Have any suggestions, please pass along, but here is the list right now:

1. Learn to Juggle

2. Read the Harry Potter Series (I told someone I'd do this if I wintered. Well . . . . .)

3. Read my Bible from Genesis to Revelations (In under nine months)

4. Train to be a Dog Musher (More on this later)

5. Write one of novels that keep floating around in my head (This one is for you Mary)

6. ?

Suggestions so far have been, learn a language, learn to knit (need yearn to do this one), learn how to whistle eight different ways (I was shown some of them, but those professors are not staying to teach), learn to ride a unicycle (There is one here) Learn to play an instrument (I've tried three different times before, not sure how much luck I'll have here). Any other's let me know because I'll have some time on my hands and need to use it wisely.

Mom, Dad I know you're reading this right now, curled up on the couch possibly with the rain pattering in the background. Dad, you're noticing my spelling errors while wondering what to contribute to the list, Mom you're still not keen on my staying with no way off the "island" but relieved none the less because you'll know where I am for the next eight months. I won't be calling home this week so don't worry. Time has suddenly become a beast and dragged away what spare moments I had. I'm sorry, but I will report in soon upon my return be it blogging or calling. To those heading off to Australia, I wish you a wonderful adventure filled with new friends, beautiful places and dazzling moments of joy. Be safe and enjoy the journey God has blessed upon you. To dear friends who's plans I have now upset, I humbly lower my head and mumble my apologies. Know that good food, good company, and good celebrations together are always treasured and I look forward to them upon my return.

To all that have journeyed on this Adventure with me through letters, comments and emails, I want to express how thankful I am to you for your continued love, support and laughter. Without it this summer would not have been the same. I now offer to extend the Antarctica adventure just a little longer to experience this amazing continent in its full cycle. Should you wish to come along, I would be most appreciative of the company. From summer to fall, fall to winter, and lastly from winter to spring. Five months has now turned into twelve and who knows what that time will hold. I can confess that I look forward to it with both joy and trepidation, knowing that both danger and excitement lay encased in it. Who knew that 2011 would come fully contained in Ice and Snow? No return home till the end of the year, and I wonder what will unfold along the way.

This is not good bye. This is not even see you later. This is a warm up to the next adventure in my life and you know what? I feel truly blessed to be given more time here. So join me if you dare as I experience months of darkness, white blizzards of blindness, months of no fresh fruit or veggies, a year of powdered milk, and the Antarctic Frontier. Hoo Ra!

Psych Test ~ Crazy enough to Winter?

Me at the end of winter . . . . . . . . . . .heheheheheh

Am I Crazy? Wintering here in Antarctica? Well even with the motivation to do it, things were out of my control. First I had to pass additional physical requirements, dental, blood, X-ray's, and the constant questions of "why" and doubt filled "Are you sure?" I know I do things on a whim, that's how I ended up here for one, but winter holds so many answers for me that not too just seems foolish.

So with my mind made up and a clean bill of suitable health, I now had to face the hardest part . . . . myself. The psych test is a self examination that other's critique to see inside and determine your level of saneness. It is like looking into a mirror and talking to yourself, asking all the hard hitting questions that you spend most of your time avoiding, and then wonder if the audience watching from behind the two-way think you're crazy. Don't the crazy ones think they're not crazy?

When the psych team arrived, you could feel the tension from the possible winter overs as they heard the news. There is nothing like having someone else in control of your perception of sanity. The rumors were that the test was 700 questions, followed by a hard hitting rapid fire oral interview. We pressed and pumped previous test takers for sample questions and possible passing techniques all the while searching for hints that we ourselves were confident and normal. Were we really sane?

Still with sweaty palms and constant doubt, we filed into the large conference room and took a seat. Glancing at one another, we were already wondering if the seat we chose was part of the test. Had we just made our first fatal mistake in sitting down?

There were actually 689 questions combined with the 2 tests. Good old fill in the bubbles was a flash back to college and the one skill that still comes in handy today. Questions ranged from "do you love your father" to "do you think you are demon possessed?" Some questions made you laugh out loud, while other's had you covering up your answers.

We were called out during the testing time for our interview, where it turned into part job interview part police interrogation. With questions like do you drink, why do you want to winter, will you come back to the ice, have you ever killed anyone, done drugs or been fired from a job. The man behind the desk hardly looked up from his clip board as he propelled question after question at me. At times I was saying yes before he had even finished. When this happened he would glance up and I'd blush, ducking my head and refuse to look at him. The whole time you're wondering, does that make me insane, will that make me fail, why does he get to ask all the questions? With a wrap up of a few scribbled notes that you wish dearly to be able to see and a split second pause, you are released from the room and allowed to return to your bubbles as the next victim is called in.

One fellow test taker leaned over upon my return, commenting "That was fast." I looked at him and shrugged. Was that a good or bad I wondered? It did help that I didn't drink or do drugs so half the questions did not apply to me. Three hours later I broke free into the coldness outside, head aching, heart racing, palms slick with sweat and ran back to my dorm looking over my shoulder the whole time wondering if they were going to come take me away. Was I really crazy? Could A and B bubbles really determine that? I could only work and wait.

Surprise!!!

I've decided to winter.

I know, I know, you're remembering when I left, how I ranted and raved about how someone had to be crazy, insane even to want to do that. Well Surprise!!!! There are a few factors that go into this decision. Don't think that I've come upon this as a whim. I do understand that there will four months of complete darkness followed by additional months of limbo twilight and dusk. I do know that it will drop to -60 degrees and that white outs are a real threat during that time. I do understand that I will be isolated from the rest of the world with no out going flights and no mail or packages. But even still . . . .

I'll have lived a year in one of the coldest, harshest, driest, last white wildernesses in the world. I'll be exposed to the coldest of the cold and know what that truly means. I'll get to see the stars and the Boris Australis in one of the clearest skies on the planet. McMurdo will become a ghost town, with a population of 200 or so souls, and I'll be one of them haunting here. I'll be isolated, in darkness, unable to leave and that idea seems exotic in the extremes. Am I crazy? Perhaps, I have to take a psych test to determine that. Do I know what I'm getting myself into? I have an idea, but no one really knows as each year unfolds what life will hold.

So with this said, should I pass all the necessary precautions, I will be spending an additional eight months here on the ice and leaving in October. The decision is in God's hands, as they all are and so I pray and will wait to see what happens.

Volunteering not to run

The Marathon in January is the big run of the summer here at McMurdo. But since it is so far away from the beginning of the season, there are several smaller runs held to work up to it. The first is the Turkey Trot held during Thanksgiving, and the second is The Scott's Hut run or 10k. This was the race I volunteered for. Originally I was going to be a water girl, handing out life giving liquid to those in dire needs, but Linda suggested we be time takers. Okay, I agreed having no preference either way. Taking time actually takes three people, believe it or not. One to call out the runners number, one to read the time, and one to record. I was the recorder, praying that the pen I was using would not suddenly have the ink freeze. The day was bright and sunny, a little surprising considering the earlier drear, but still cold.

Runners waiting at the starting/finishing line

Go!!!

And they're off!

There were around 30 runners for this race, all varying ages and shapes, with the fastest time being 32 minutes and 45 seconds. Everyone made it back, a little sweatier, but all with smiles and high fives. I truly enjoyed the event and I would love to help with the marathon later on, but we'll see how that works out. Till then, happy running!

Ice Stock ~ New Year's Eve

Happy New Year!!!

Welcome 2011. A whole new year of adventures, excitement, mystery, mayhem, sorrow, sadness, joy and laughter. Love and memories await to unfold in the coming minutes, hours, days and months. What will it hold? What will I end up doing? I have a hint, but can't tell till I'm proven sane (heheheh). Don't worry I'll pass it along soon . . . .

To bring in the new year here at McMurdo, Icestock unfolded. Filled with music, laughter, bitter cold and warm jackets, the celebration featured numerous home based bands, singers and songs.

Everyone was in good cheer, wearing festive head bands wishing a Happy New to all, dancing the seconds down till 2011 arrived with the clicking of 12:01am. Take a look and see the fun for yourself.

Our summer weather left with the fading of 2010 leaving us with overcast skies, chilly winds and a numbness in the hands. I was told our two months of warm weather is highly unusual because there is normally only a week of it here. Wow, what a blessing a little sunshine and warmer weather has been. The ice continues to melt, but there is bitter chill today.

Happy New Year Family and Friends!

May God Bless you with the wonders of newness,

the joys of happiness, and the peace of thankfulness.

Hugs!