Thu 22 Dec 2005
Wow. We are not very good at this blog thing this year. I’ll try to make up for it with a few this week.
Well, the holiday season is upon us and as some of you may be asking “Where ever will Karen and I go to do our Christmas shopping?” Where else than what I like to call ‘The McMurdo Mall’.
We have a small store in one of our main buildings that I would compare to any mall in the US, just on a much smaller scale, and with less need for parking. I love the store. I do. I have no idea why. Maybe because the store is tiny, yet I always see something new. Or maybe its the stimulation the store provides. Let me explain. In the real world, we are constantly bombarded by stimulation in the form of other people, traffic, billboards, commercials, restaurants, lawnmowers, etc. Here, we live in a fairly lack luster world of white and brown with not much in the way of different sounds and even less in the way of smells. I think the store provides some of this much needed stimulus. Or, I just like the store because that’s where I can buy my beer. (more…)
Time brings about the advancement of entire societies, the growth and decline of cultures, dramatic changes in architecture, alterations in landscape, and the progression of multiple generations. Time affects the entire world in this manner. The entire world, that is, except Antarctica. I have never felt such a feeling of complete timelessness as I did when on October 8th, 2005, I once again found myself sitting in the McMurdo Station galley. Over the past seven months, Karen and I had traveled to three continents, six countries, dozens of cities, had been exposed to distinctive cultures, landscapes, and foods, and even did a tour in the States catching up with friends and family. Once I sat down in the galley, however, it all vanished and it was as if I had never left McMurdo last February. Nothing had changed. Seriously. Nothing. Not for about 50 years since the Navy arrived. 
On Monday the 10th of October, I started my new job as a Hazardous Waste Technician. This past month I have learned how to drive a forklift called a Pickle. It is a very old military type vehicle that is big and green and carries the name ‘Justin Case’. He is quite cute and has been very nice to me so far. I have learned how to properly move pallets of drums, move tri-walls and also put drums of hazardous waste into milvans (shipping containers). Pretty much my job is to prepare for the ultimate arrival of the ship at the end of the season. All of the milvans that we fill will be placed onto the ship and taken to California for disposal. I have also been able to get to know the town very well since everyday we pick up haz waste from each department. 
As October 4th quickly approached, Mark and I said goodbye to all of our awesome friends and family and once again departed the states for a long journey to Antarctica. This time around was full of excitement, like last year, but we knew what lied ahead. Landing in Christchurch, New Zealand was like returning to a place that has somewhat become a home. No matter where we have gone this past year Christchurch has some how or some way been a hub for a short visit and departing point. As soon as we landed, we were rushed to get our ECW gear and then had to be ready to tackle an 8 hour orientation the following day. Safety, this season, has become top priority for Raytheon since there has been quite a few reported injuries all ready. In order to stress their concern we had a safety briefing including a test which we had to pass in order to get on the plane the next day. No worries, test was a piece of cake 
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