Skuas, Seals, Ships and Stuff.

This posting is likely going to be a little random as it covers a few different days and events.

So, in chronological order the skuas get to come first. As I've mentioned, they are scavenger birds and eat anything they can get their evil little claws on. People food is probably the thing that those living in McMurdo eat most. These pictures of the skua perched on top of the food waste bin outside the galley is a perfect example. They are wicked little stalkers that swoop in from behind and steal your edibles. Don't so much love em'!

From here we move on to a photo that I took the end of December while I was walking along the Hut Point Ridge trail. I had received a report of penguin sightings at Hut Point so I headed down. No penguin to be seen. I'm still hopeful! The sea ice has broken up near the shore some creating these melt pools. It was a gorgeous evening around ten o'clock and the bright blue of the water was really cool. The temperature was pretty warm and the sunlight was really pretty. I think if you look closely you can see the Icebreaker far off in the distance in the upper left corner and a big fat seal lying on the ice on the far side of the pool. Ice slugs...

Next are a couple of pictures of Diane and I one night walking back from burger bar at Gallagher's. We decided to stop by the McMurdo sign on the way home so we could see what was going on with the Russian icebreaker. There they were making circles out in the ice. At this point they've been in all the way and back and forth in the channel breaking up the ice. I think they have a broken propeller now and so are limited on the amount of breaking they can do. It's unfortunate that the channel hasn't cleared out at all and is just full of broken ice now. The supply ship and fuel tanker may not be able to get all the way in to town the way the channel is. We'll have to see!

Then we have the night that was meant to be a simple toast of champagne and fresh berries with our friend Marty. Unbeknown to us it would end up being a late night of partying with some of the congressmen that were here in town for a few days with Senator McCain and the congressional delegation. The best thing about having d/v's (distinguished visitors) in town was that the food was delicious! Anyhow, we hung out being lazy in my room for a while till we worked up the energy to head to the Crevasse. Had we known that "important" people would be there we'd have work clothes other than the jammie-esque kind we had on. The two Congressmen that showed up were Mr. Costa from California and Mr. Gingrey from Georgia. They were too funny just chatting and socializing like the rest of us and even learning to thumb wrestle. After a perfectly placed comment about chasing and interns they made a quick departure. It was great! Here also is a picture of our friend Jawn with Senator McCain at the reception that was held earlier that evening in the galley. You could only request an invitation if you were from one of the states that was represented and then they would pick and choose who was allowed to come. No worries for us. We heard that the party was a little slow even though there were free drinks. We had more fun at our party. And I still get to know that I could have easily stolen Senator McCain's Frosty Boy at dinner a night or two prior! I should have only because really, who can say they stole the Senator's ice cream?! ;-)