Well folks, looks like the Antarctic fun is coming to an end soon. McMurdo minimum security prison will be releasing these two inmates to the world on February 11th (assuming there is no weather issues or Erebus erupts or some other unforeseen natural event - which is always possible down here).
Our plans when we get off the ice involve a slow and gradual re-immersion into smell, color, noise, pollution, traffic, people, and spicy food. For this immersion to be successful, it is required that we spend at least a week on a quiet beach, standing ankle deep in green tropical water, sipping a mai-tai or related island cocktail, listening to some soft samba or island flavored rhythms, while staring blankly out to sea at nothing in particular for hours at a time. I have a feeling we will both be a little jumpy and leery of sudden, quick gestures and loud noises. Personally, I just hope I'm not afraid of the dark - I'm too old for a nightlight.
Where we will be spending this glorious, sensory massaging week is yet to be determined. There is a gorgeous national park called Abel Tasman on the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand that is the front runner currently. Secluded beaches, good ocean kayaking, and scenic hikes. There is a small chance we may just go for it all and head up to the South Pacific somewhere for a week, but that is dependent on $$$.
Because its been a while since we've updated the site (my apologies, I guess we just haven't been in a writing mood this month) I'll keep this short and start firing short entries over the next couple days to catch everyone up.
I'll start with the most recent updates on the B-15a business. Unlike our trusty news outlets, the iceberg is not threatening the lives here at McMurdo. Sure it may disrupt some penguin rookeries in the area, but I'm sure they'll adapt, just as they have for thousands of years. Life is funny that way.
Basically, the iceberg came to a screeching halt about 4.5km from the Drygalski Ice Tongue back on January 10th. Since then it has been vasilating between 5km and 7km and not doing much of anything. For all of you who are satellite image geeks, I present you this link to view the latest and greatest Quicktime movie of the iceberg:
http://www.markgwilson.com/penguinmemoirs/video/b15.mov (This is a large file - 2.2Mb).
Not much has been going on these past couple weeks. Karen is back on night shift for the month of January. She only has 3 nights left and then will be more than happy never to work nights again. I have gone out and pulled fish traps a couple times recently for one of the Science groups. I am also directing a short play that will be part of an evening of theater at the end of the month which will have 4 or 5 ten minute plays. It is a pretty hysterical play called 'Sure Thing'- about a guy trying to pick up a girl at a coffee house.
That's it for now. I'll update again shortly.
