Time flies when you’re having Fun!

Greetings and Salutations to you all!

I apologize most profusely for not posting a blog more recently, but things have been incredibly busy down here at McMurdo!  We’ve gotten a whole bunch of new people with the flights come freshies and more packages!  I actually recieved three packages this week but they were inadvertently placed in a closet and I wasn’t told about them until this morning.  Two of them were ones that I packed for myself (thanks Debbie for shipping them!) and one was from my parents.  These were in addition to the two that I received last week – THANKS GRANDMA and MOM AND DAD! 

So let’s see, what has been going on…  I’ve been down to Hut Point only once since my last post.  I took my roommate Renae down there since she hadn’t been yet.  I made the mistake of not wearing enough layers and underestimated the sheer force of the wind and managed to get windburn on my legs through 2 pairs of pants.  Not a good thing.  Thankfully I got my package with lotion the next day.  There was only 1 seal out which was kind of a bummer since she hadn’t gotten to see any yet, but it was still exciting for her.

Let’s see, what else.  Oh!  I, along with 3 of my firefighters, got to go down and watch Lindsey, one of the weather forecasters, launch one of the weather balloons.  We had to go through the waste water treatment plant (which smells a bit like 341 in certain areas) and then out onto Sausage Point *Sausage Point is called Sausage Point because many moons ago, a large amount of cargo containing sausage was unearthed.  So, without much fanfare, Rick took the balloon and let it go.  It floated away, looking like a giant jellyfish in the sky.

Speaking of skies, as I’m now transitioning to night shift, I’ve tried to stay up late.  I can say that the skies are orange around 3am and then fade into a shade of indigo, but it’s no longer completely black at night.

Thursday night I went to Scott Base with Rick.  The main purpose of this visit was to enjoy Glenlivet.  I have no shame in saying this.  We have no Scotch at McMurdo.  This saddens me.  So we went for scotch and to socialize with the Kiwi’s.  Then came back and went to the coffeehouse where I probably played the best game of dominos that I’ve ever played.  Then we went on to have deep conversations.  I love the conversations down here.  It’s so nice to have so many different viewpoints on things. 

I’ve seen several mirages lately – also known as Fata Morgana.  To my brother – Yes, the mountains that were in those pictures listed as mirages were, in fact, mirages.  It’s amazing.  I will post pictures tomorrow night when I’m actually using my computer. 

So things are still going well.  I will have more time to write tomorrow night since I will be back at work.  Love to you all!

Tori