(Season 1): Another Sighting!

Okay, I confess, this time didn't have quite the same impact as my first penguin sighting (especially since they're the same ones) but I was able to get some much better pictures on my second attempt. Apparently it's the molting season and these four guys (or gals but who can tell... or cares for that matter) have been holed up at the same spot (mile marker 10) for a month now. When comparing my first set of photos to these, you can definitely tell that they have become the star attraction around here (look at all of the footprints).

I have also included a couple of random pictures that some friends down here sent me. One is from the famous "Happy Camper" incident of 2009 (I was smiling but I assure you that I was not happy), while the others are from a trip to the ice caves. As you can see, the weather for the ice caves was less than favorable (shocking) but I still refused to wear "big red" (our standard issue parkas) regardless. It's difficult for me to express my hate for these jackets in the form of words but I'll try... they're stupid! They're big, heavy, clumsy, uncomfortable, the zippers snag constantly, the hood falls back when you want it to stay up and falls over your face when you don't, and they smell (at least mine does... through no fault of my own mind you). I could go on and on but I'll spare all of you for now (truthfully I just ran out of negatives). Needless to say, the sight of me standing stubbornly in the wind and snow, shivering uncontrollably with fists clenched in defiance, was pretty amusing to some people on the trip (you know who you are).

As the season steadily comes to a close, the sun is dipping lower into the sky, resulting in some pretty spectacular scenery. This just serves as a reminder that, when the times comes, it will be nice to see stars again. Twenty four hours of sunlight is great and all, but a person can only take so much before they get sick of it (actually it makes you feel like an alcoholic when you leave the bar and it's broad daylight, but I digress).

Just in case you haven't noticed by my increased level of... ahem... "sassiness" (I promise never to use that word again), I'm geared up and ready to head home. Don't worry though, I haven't "lost it" as most would assume, whatever "it" I had was gone long before I came to Antarctica.

Note 1: I gave in and put on big red (eventually).
Note 2: What the documentaries don't tell you is that penguins shit... and they shit well.

(Season 1): A New Year

2010 has officially begun and all I can say is "It's off to a good start!" I would first like to thank friends & family (I miss all of you) for sending me boxes of junk food for x-mas... they didn't last long but they were much appreciated nonetheless. I may not have had a stocking this time but, as you can see, I managed.

As I said, this year is starting off fairly well so far. A small storm moved in for a couple of days, dumping a nice blanket of snow around town. This was great because it seemed to liven things up a little but, but bad because you had to spend the majority of your time at work dodging, ducking, dipping, diving, and uh... dodging (advice: 12 hour snowball fights make you sore). This was enjoyable enough but, to top it off, some little guys in tuxedos decided to pay a small visit to the airfield (or at least the snow road to it). That's right people, I finally had my chance to see some penguins around here (free-range ones too). I must say, emperors are quite a bit bigger in person than I expected... I even have a video of them surfing around but that will have to wait until I get home (technical difficulties).

I'd like to finish out this post with a little news, I was finally given my redeployment date and it looks like I should be out of here on the 20th of February (basically the last flight out). It should be pretty fun to see the population dwindle around here over the coming month.