I actually managed to get a few hours of sleep in last night. (Doesn’t everyone wake up at 4 AM to shower and get ready for the day?)

Luckily I checked the webcam – it’s been snowing - and I noticed during yesterday’s storm, the camera was blown to a new view.  (rats) The small mountain in the center is Observation Hill – aka “Ob Hill” to the locals. Explorers would climb this to watch for any saving ships that may go by.  NOTHING goes by. This year I plan to climb it.  Hopefully someone will get up there to point the camera back down to the sea ice and view of McMurdo.   (Someone remind me in a week – and I’ll DRIVE the person up and assist with those changes!)

Yesterday, I tried to make a quick call to the airline we use to fly on – to make sure I would be getting CREDIT for the miles.  ( yes, 14, 779 miles of credit!) That quick call ended up being 30 minutes of chatter with the customer service rep.  When I called the credit card company to notify them of some ‘out of town’ usage, we talked for almost an HOUR!

Today I head to Denver for 2 days of orientation and the drilling of SAFETY-SAFETY-SAFETY.  On day 2, a large bus will come to orientation and take us to the airport – for our flight to LA.  Then it’s the 12 hour flight to Auckland, NZ.  Board another plane to Christchurch, NZ – and after checking in for the Extreme Cold Weather (ECW) gear – we can have a night of rest – before boarding that final 5 hour flight to McMurdo!  Internet usage will be sporadic from now until I’m settled at McMurdo. (5 days)

Feel free to ask questions!  I’ll do my best to answer, or find someone who can.

Posted September 30, 2008 Comments(0)

Hurrah!
The departure date has finally arrived. I woke up at 3:30 this morning – in anticipation of enjoying my final day in Kansas. It will be SPRING of 2009 when I see my little home town again. (Mind boggling!!!)

I am excited to report that a special delivery will be occurring. (NO, I’m not going to be a grandma – yet.) This year I will be hand delivering a resume for another person from Abilene! She has been talking to me about all the details, and decided to go for it!!

** ** Additions to the Antarctica page: A click-on-link to view a webcam over McMurdo! I sat for a long time staring at the image (which is updated about every 10 minutes). You should be able to see a “white road” leading off to the left on the sea ice. That is the “short cut road” to Pegasus Airfield, and I will be driving on it in less than a week! I will also drive up to the location of that webcam. This year I will stand there looking down over McMurdo – and envision you looking with me. (but for YOU to get the REAL effect – stand in a walk-in freezer for at least 45 min. and THEN view the photo. )

Hello to Abilene McKinley 2nd and 3rd graders; and Junction City’s Freshman FSA Team C Science class – who will be following me this year. EVERYONE is welcome and encouraged to send questions!

Mailing reminder: When mailing things to McMurdo – we have an APO address (email me for it). If you place items in a cushioned mailer – it will take approximately 2 weeks to arrive. If you place items in a BOX it will take closer to 2 months. Also remember it has to pass customs – so a customs form will be required from your local post office!

….I better go check that I have my passport – ONE MORE TIME

Let the journey begin!!!

Posted September 29, 2008 Comments(0)

The Denver office was a little busy this year – making lots of last minute changes; dealing with computer glitches;  and airline hassles. My “Travel Helper” told me not to panic until today, so when I called in to let her know it was my day – she laughed and said it had just been completed!  (big WHEW!) 

Last year I had to drive to Wichita to DEPART.  (Then flew to DALLAS and back to Denver) This year I get to depart from SALINA with a straight shot to Denver!!  At the airport – I will be picked up via a shuttle (and there will be other “ICE PEOPLE” arriving at the same time. This is where we first start the bonding process.  Employees are all dropped at various hotels.  Once the deployment begins- they literally run close to a thousand people through as quickly as possible.  As one group finishes the 2 day orientation – the next group of workers is arriving and filling up the hotels again. It really is an amazing feat – and I would NOT want that job!

So now I am doing my final packing.  (and repacking) and pacing….. and I’m READY!!!

Posted September 22, 2008 Comments(0)

Now I begin my final preparataions for heading down to the ice. Again I stress DOWN. South Pole. Antarctica!!! I’m HEADING TO ANTARCTICA – - – AGAIN!!!

My suitcase is out. Although the items in it will be stored in ChristChurch, New Zealand – awaiting my return OFF “the ice” and adventures along the route home . I will have a small book-bag size backpack to carry all items needed for the 4 – 5 days it takes to travel down. This bag must make it through all carry on container sizes; not have more than the alloted 3oz. bottles of liquids. (shampoo-etc. – and all liquids including lip gloss – must fit in the tiny zippered plastic bag!

In the earlier shipped boxes – during my CALM – COOL – COLLECTED time, I packed all items needed for the 5 months. Now – during my OMG, I’M ABOUT TO HEAD TO ANTARCTICA time, I am frantically trying to pack extra, you know – - in case I run out of something!

I ran across this quote to share:

“Travel, like war, has a way of unveiling the truth about a man. For it is only when we choose to exist outside of our comfort zone, when we uproot ourselves from all that we know and place ourselves in situations that are completely foreign to our experience, that we get to see who it is that we really are.” -Adam Cayton – Holland.

…..
I’m off to see who I am!

Posted September 20, 2008 Comments(1)