Not much to report today but I have changed the time I eat dinner at night to coincide with some friends who dine at 6:30 pm. The reason I did that was to participate in the lively discussion that always occurs among this group. Most evenings we will stay and talk until about 9:00 pm. The topics of discussion are wide ranging and opinions and beliefs vary considerably. The discussion is always mentally stimulating.

I had a discussion with one of my coworkers this morning. The interesting thing about this person is he is a contrarian on any subject you bring up and doesn’t entertain any other opinions other than his own. I’ve decided that trying to engage in a meaningful discussion is fruitless. It’s really kind of frustrating and not stimulating.

I find the difference between these two of interest in that even though the dinner group varies widely in their opinions and beliefs they are willing to listen to others opinions and beliefs while contrarians will only countenance their own beliefs. Maybe it’s easier for them to live that way because they never waste their time reasoning through others thoughts.

After dinner tonight (Tuesday) Steven and I went over to Crary Lab for a science presentation that turned out to be something completely unexpected. When we arrived a very old man (by my standards) was speaking to a standing room only audience. As it turned out he is a scientist/independent film maker named Bill Sladen. Bill has been coming to the Antarctic for seven decades having first come here in the late 1940’s and early 50’s as medical officer and biologist. He was the scientist behind the movie “Fly Away Home” about the migratory geese following an ultra light airplane. He showed one of his early movies “Penguin City” shot in the early seventies. The movie was made for CBS and was an hour long documentary about Adelie Penguins. The film was narrated by Charles Kuralt (of course I recognized his voice immediately). I t was amazing, funny, serious and thoroughly entertaining. I’m not sure of the association but he has something to do with a web site Penguinscience.com. I’m not sure if that’s the exact web site and I’m not on line right now to check it but I will. I’d really like to see if this movie is downloadable from that site because it is well worth seeing. My daughter, Heather, told me tonight that her daughter’s (my granddaughter) class is just beginning a study of Antarctica. I sent a bunch of pictures and an email so far describing life here.

Following the movie we went back to the dining hall for a travelogue that was being presented by two of our friends who have done extensive world traveling on a shoestring. I don’t know if you remember from a previous blog but Holly is one of the women planning a 16,000 mile bike trek from as far north is western Alaska as you can get to as far south in South America that roads go. They were traveling overland to Tibet on this trip. The pictures were amazing and the stories they told were engrossing. I am continually amazed by the vagabond lifestyle so many of these people lead. The one thing all their trips seem to have in common though is that they are all extremely well planned before they leave. I feel as though their lives are like a real life Epcot. Words escape me right now to express the feelings I have when watching these travelogues. I just wish again you could be here with me sharing this truly remarkable experience.

Well I got up this morning from breakfast and as I exited the dorm I was slapped in the face by a brisk cold wind. I was still committed to go see the crashed C-121 but things weren’t looking too good. I finally caught the huge Terra Bus (Ivan) and headed for Williams Field where I’d change modes of transportation and continue on the Pegasus Field where the C-121 is located. On the ground side of the transition tons of large (3”-4” diameter) rocks have been dumped on the road and graded (still pretty rough to drive over). On the ice side snow is normally used for the paving material but it’s been so warm that there is not a readily available supply of snow anymore. About 100 yards onto the ice I could see a wide area of water (about 40 feet) ahead on the road. The driver said “hold on this could be rough” and away we went. She kept her speed up so she wouldn’t get stuck in the hole. When we first hit the hole it wasn’t too bad I think we dropped down about a foot with a jolt. Then the other shoe dropped the front wheels dropped another 3 feet straight down (for a second I thought we were going through the ice!). We hit the bottom and I was thrown up out of the seat a good two feet. Thankfully I was in the front seat and had something to hold onto or I may have found myself on the floor. Then we hit a shallower place and bounced down hard on the seats. This series of bounces continued all the way across the water area. As we climbed out I felt as though I had been riding one of the mechanical bulls you see in movies. I took quick stock of my body parts and found nothing missing nor severely displaced. We continued on to the airfield but the wind was even stronger out here than it was in town. I reasoned at that point that a continued trip to the C-121 was probably not in my best interest today. Having made that decision I stayed on Ivan for the return trip. I’m happy to say the driver decided a slower approach to “the hole” was in order on the return trip. It turned out to be a good strategy as the ride back, while rough, was much better. The talk now is that if the weather stays warm and the transition continues to melt that workers at the airfield may need to be transported by helicopters from Mac town there. I may get a ride on a helicopter yet this year.
The Picture is Ivan the Terra Bus

Okay so you’re sitting at the bar just having a cool one and minding your own business. The conversation drifts around covering a myriad of topics when someone notices you have long hair. Suddenly someone says I’ll give you a hundred dollars if you let me shave your head! You say “now way” I like my hair. Then someone else chimes in and says I’ll kick in a hundred to sweeten the pot. You have a couple more drinks and pretty soon the money is looking good and the next thing you know you aren’t looking so good because you agree to the “haircut”. I can’t explain it and I’ve never seen it happen anywhere else in my life. Now mind you I don’t hang out in bars much so this may be common behavior. I can tell you that I know three men in my group of acquaintances here who, in the span of the last two weeks, now have short hair and more money in their pocket. Comments?

I went to a science lecture tonight presented by a biologist who studies soil. I will tell you going in I didn’t have high expectations and I was tired so I arranged with one of my table mates to kick me under the table if I started to nod off. Gladly this guy, talking about dirt and nematodes, keep us rapt for 45 minutes. I can’t share any of what he said; come on it was dirt and nematodes in the dry valley but it was thoroughly entertaining. This guy really missed his calling he should have been in show business. God bless biologists.

Besides being Italian night at the galley there is a murder mystery party (complete with costumes) I forgot about it or would have been right in the middle of the event. In addition tonight is the last big party of the year held at the helicopter hanger. I’m headed for that as soon as I finish this. Tomorrow there is a trip to an old crashed Navy Super Constellation, a golf driving contest, a Firefighter Expo and a science presentation in Crary lab about the dry valleys (no precipitation has fallen here in over 3000 years according to the scientists).
I can’t believe it but I’m scheduled to work tomorrow from 6:00 am until 6:00 pm so I will miss the driving contest. I must admit I’ve been waiting for that ever since they first advertised it back in November. Oh well!

Deni and two great friends Kim and Cyndy are enjoying a mid-winter weekend in Chicago. I’m sure it is colder there than here but I sure would like to be with them. Oh the sacrifices I make! (ha ha)

Sunday Morning: The Helo party was great. Good live band and food off the grill.