PENGUINS! (and more)

These penguins are hanging out at the 'Halfway House' which is the midpoint of where our fuels lines run betwwn town and the airfield. They still haven't finished molting, which seems odd since the winter is coming!

We had an amazing storm recently and because of that the sea ice has retreated further back into Winter Quarters Bay than anyone can remember in recent history. the ice is breaking up so much that it is encroaching the halfway house and threatening the road to the Pegasus White Ice Runway. From here you can see the Halfway House in the background.

This is the Skua; very big seagulls that will steal food out of your hands or wherever you may be hiding it on your person. I think they know about the Antarctic treaty because they wont ever move out of the way and will sit in the middle of the road.

It's pretty here

Our first sunset! 2/20/11 1:51 am

first week

my first week on the ice was a little overwhelming, but in a grand and fun way!

i got introduced to my new job (general assistant in the vehicle maintenance facility aka the heavy shop). the other GA that i work with, chris, is pretty cool and was very patient when showing me how to do everything. the mechanics we all cordial, which threw me off because i was expecting to get hazed. i think it helped a bit that i know two of the mechanics and a supply person... oh and the fact that i am full of awesome!

anywho, only after a couple of days it was new years eve and i attended a hut 10 party that my friend from black island threw. the food was a*maz*ing! i stuffed my face, drank a little wine and then went to Icestock to hear some good old antarctic music. I ran into everybody i knew, danced, drank my face off and then....

well i dont remember the rest, but apparently i had fun and thats what matters. not the puking for 4 hours part. nope, not at all. ;-)



i also went for a hike with sheryl and brenda on the ob hill loop. it was rather windy and i hadnt yet acclimated, so it was a bit nipply, but rather fun and we got to see some seals. of course, right when we got back to town i realized i hadnt attended an outdoor safety lecture and therefore my hike was illegal! oops!