So as some of you might know I have left the great polar desert of a continent of Antarctica and put my trip to and thru Europe on hold. I had the opportunity to get something that I have been wanting for a long time, this time for real. I had the opportunity to get my ARFF certification. For those that do not know ARFF stands for Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting, an “Aero plane Saver” instead of a “Baby Saver” like the structural firefighters are. The reason I said this time is because I had a chance to get it back in August of 2009 but due to a rivalry of sorts between certifying agencies, I could not. So it put me in a unique situation in the firefighting field. I had the experience of ARFF work but not he certification. Normally to get the experience you need to have to certification. It is the typical evolution of schooling; get the degree to get the job to get the experience, well I managed to foul that all up and do it backwards.
Now the job I was hoping for was supposed to be bringing me to the wonderful and exciting, ancient and mysterious, elegant yet war torn country of Afghanistan. However, due to an alignment of the stars I ended up getting an job offer for working in Spain instead. So I am in the process of getting all my medical requirements done so that I can send them to my future employer so I can go to Spain. It should be fun. The job is on an military base in the Andalucía region of Spain.
Look for my next post about ARFF training. I have a video that I am working on from the 90+ minutes of film I took during our live burns. Sorry no picture this time
Stay Frost
-C
30 October 2010
16 August 2010
Name Change!
Hello All my faithful readers,
If you haven't noticed I changed my blog's name. It is the same title just rearranged into something more fluid. I hope it doesn't mess anyone up. I also put in a little synopsis of what I am attempting to accomplish with this blog. Well I hope this helps.
Stay Frosty
-C
If you haven't noticed I changed my blog's name. It is the same title just rearranged into something more fluid. I hope it doesn't mess anyone up. I also put in a little synopsis of what I am attempting to accomplish with this blog. Well I hope this helps.
Stay Frosty
-C
Winter Fly In a.k.a. Winfly is officially “open”!
Well here I sit after 2 oranges, 2 cherry tomatoes, 1 BaF carrot, 1 apple, 1 mini banana and 1 bowl of Orange Chocolate Chip ice cream plus a 16 ounce can of Red Bull and my stomach is feeling “awesome”. I just got back from the airfield after the 1st of 7 flights, 4 of which are NVG or Night Vision Goggle flights. The flight was supposed to come in on Friday but after a 24 hour mechanical delay, followed by a 19 “weather” delay it finally left this Sunday just after 1pm Christchurch time. On the flight were 7 fellow firefighters that were gracious enough to bring 1) a shopping bag with cherry tomatoes, grapes, oranges and mini bananas 2) big as f*** (BaF) carrots 3) apples and 4) a BIG bag-o Nuts. Oh how gracious my fellow firefighters are. While we received this group of returning firefighter we, more importantly I, lost 2 firefighters (Scott and Peter) of which I am glad to call my friends. They both went home due to family problems which is extremely unfortunate.
We begin the airfield shift by waiting outside of town about ½ mile as to not cause to much exhaust induced fog over the runway and apron since the C-17 pilots are landing using their night vision goggles. As I sit there, in the driver’s seat of Red 3, a 2005 Ford F-550 4x4 with an ARFF package on the body, I am explaining to my fellow firefighter, whose is ironically named Corey as well, what our specific role and response will be if something should arise. (See Corey and Peter along with Grant arrived on the truly last flight of Mainbody on the 5th of March 2010. The last few weeks for them have been a learning curve to get up to speed on the workings of the ARFF vehicles and procedures. Peter however was just lucky to get pictures since he already knew that he was going home on the 1st flight.) Now with the procedure and response explained I showed him how to use the wonderful joystick that controls the front turret. The turret can spray both firefighting foam and dry chemical extinguishment agent. It is pretty slick if I may say so myself, which I may since it is my blog. It reminds me of the movie character named Jar Jar Binks from Star Wars episodes 1, 2 & 3. With his 2 protruding google-ly eyes and long snout it looks just like the turret on the front of our rig. We sit outside of town until the planes calls 100 miles from airfield. That way we have enough time incase something is going to happen to get set up and still we are not there long enough to cause to much fog over the airfield. Then when the plane got to 25 miles or so the pilots asked to have the airfield runway lights shut off. Now this was absolutely amazing was to have the airfield completely light free and then have the C-17 swoop in like a “bat out of hell” and land with just enough background light to illuminate it. After the plane lands it has to turn around and taxi down to the apron, where we are staging and where it will get off loaded, in a slow stalking … no lurking pace. Just as the plane becomes visible in the dark of Antarctic night “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns-N-Roses comes on the speaker of my Ipod. I, we actually-we the 2 Corey’s-, believe this is completely fitting since it is a winter “jungle” here after the plane stop flying.
Once the plane is down and beginning to offload we are able to get out and greet our new McMurdoians as well as the few Scott Baseians that come off of the flight. They all come off with the same look, or what I would assume is the same look, that I had when I got here on the 26th of August 2009 or a mere 355 days ago for whose who weren’t counting. They are, for the most part, here until February when they will be replaced by winter over’s, like myself, who will bear the cold dark hard winter. The lucky few will experience a whole year down here consecutively like I have. This will truly give them an appreciation of the new blood, the infusion of happiness, of giddy, of eagerness to get the job down, just like me.
About the picture:
This is a picture of me getting my Antarctic Service Medal with my Winter Over bar. It is fairly significant, to me at least. I know I am blurry but what can you say, it is hard to get an accurate view of my swaggah!
Stay frosty
-C
We begin the airfield shift by waiting outside of town about ½ mile as to not cause to much exhaust induced fog over the runway and apron since the C-17 pilots are landing using their night vision goggles. As I sit there, in the driver’s seat of Red 3, a 2005 Ford F-550 4x4 with an ARFF package on the body, I am explaining to my fellow firefighter, whose is ironically named Corey as well, what our specific role and response will be if something should arise. (See Corey and Peter along with Grant arrived on the truly last flight of Mainbody on the 5th of March 2010. The last few weeks for them have been a learning curve to get up to speed on the workings of the ARFF vehicles and procedures. Peter however was just lucky to get pictures since he already knew that he was going home on the 1st flight.) Now with the procedure and response explained I showed him how to use the wonderful joystick that controls the front turret. The turret can spray both firefighting foam and dry chemical extinguishment agent. It is pretty slick if I may say so myself, which I may since it is my blog. It reminds me of the movie character named Jar Jar Binks from Star Wars episodes 1, 2 & 3. With his 2 protruding google-ly eyes and long snout it looks just like the turret on the front of our rig. We sit outside of town until the planes calls 100 miles from airfield. That way we have enough time incase something is going to happen to get set up and still we are not there long enough to cause to much fog over the airfield. Then when the plane got to 25 miles or so the pilots asked to have the airfield runway lights shut off. Now this was absolutely amazing was to have the airfield completely light free and then have the C-17 swoop in like a “bat out of hell” and land with just enough background light to illuminate it. After the plane lands it has to turn around and taxi down to the apron, where we are staging and where it will get off loaded, in a slow stalking … no lurking pace. Just as the plane becomes visible in the dark of Antarctic night “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns-N-Roses comes on the speaker of my Ipod. I, we actually-we the 2 Corey’s-, believe this is completely fitting since it is a winter “jungle” here after the plane stop flying.
Once the plane is down and beginning to offload we are able to get out and greet our new McMurdoians as well as the few Scott Baseians that come off of the flight. They all come off with the same look, or what I would assume is the same look, that I had when I got here on the 26th of August 2009 or a mere 355 days ago for whose who weren’t counting. They are, for the most part, here until February when they will be replaced by winter over’s, like myself, who will bear the cold dark hard winter. The lucky few will experience a whole year down here consecutively like I have. This will truly give them an appreciation of the new blood, the infusion of happiness, of giddy, of eagerness to get the job down, just like me.
About the picture:
This is a picture of me getting my Antarctic Service Medal with my Winter Over bar. It is fairly significant, to me at least. I know I am blurry but what can you say, it is hard to get an accurate view of my swaggah!
Stay frosty
-C
03 August 2010
Under the Pale Moon Light
As I sit here up on the road to Crater Hill I look out onto the miles of ice that is McMurdo Sound, into the desolate black that is the forefront of Antarctica, and I see water! Profound I know, but the water I see is the water of Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, Boston Harbor (also called Cape Cod Bay or the “North Side” when on Cape Cod) and the Atlantic Ocean (or the “South Side” when on Cape Cod) all rolled up into 1 big frozen ice block waiting to be explored. It reminds me of a simpler time when I could relate the moon to a perspective.
I see the bright, brilliantly clear, off-white moon shining down on the calm, clear, picturesque (if I had my camera that is) day and it brings me back to Philmont, where I went hiking multiple times as a Boy Scout and eventually as an Eagle Scout. I am imagining myself back on top of Mt. Castilla (I think at least but could be Costilla, Castillo, Costillo or some variation similar to that) as the star-filled sky and the full moon begin to illuminate my walking path down off the mountain. See, we (the scout group and I) had hiked up from our campsite, about a mile away, when it was sunshine and happy times. Then after dinner and some good conversation, we sat there talking, and getting to know each other, counting shooting stars, satellites, planets (when there were 9) and constellations before having to head back down. However, there on top of the mountain, I realized that there is something more to the sky than just the stars, satellites, planets and constellations. It brings me to realize that, looking up into the sky I have found an awakening feeling in myself. It feels liberating knowing that I am the only person in my immediate family, and even extended family for that matter, to look at the stars -- these stars to be specific -- from this specific vantage point. I mean anyone can look at the stars but there will be no one in my family that will even be in the same section of the country to look at these particular stars. In fact, I know this now but I assumed it then, that I would be the only one in my family to even be in this part of New Mexico, on these Sangre De Cristo Mountains in the Northeast corner of New Mexico on an early August night. Some of my friends will and have experienced them as I do and they will be able to understand my feelings, but most will not. The most that they can compare this to would be sitting on a beach. I know I make it sound humble saying “a beach” since Cape Cod really does have a phenomenal collection of beaches but it still puts it into perspective. But seriously, the best they can do is under a full moon with a slight breeze looking up at the stars but never the same ones, never from the same angle, never being this isolated from the world where there are no house lights for miles or sounds other than primal. The only thing that they will ever see that compares to this would be the same moon just at a different time, different orbit, a different phase, a just plain different personality.
When I look up at this moon and onto the ice, which is the ocean of McMurdo Sound, I am again back to this same feeling. Of knowing that I am going to be the only person in my family that gets to see the moon from this vantage point, and as humble as everyone knows me to be, I am content with having these few singular memories that are all my own. Hopefully, someday I will be able to share them with my family, but maybe this time I am the teacher instead of the student.
About the picture:
This photo was taken near what we call derelict junction or DJ for short. DJ is the “bus stop” in McMurdo where you where you get dropped off after getting here for the 1st time in the season and where you wait for the shuttle to bring you to the airfield or to Scott Base. It looks back onto building 155 on the right in the blue and up into the “business district” of town with Crater Hill just being visible in the far background. There is a road, on what would be the right of the picture, and that is where you can see the crystal clear skies, ocean, and off-colored moon when it is visible.
Stay Frosty
-C
I see the bright, brilliantly clear, off-white moon shining down on the calm, clear, picturesque (if I had my camera that is) day and it brings me back to Philmont, where I went hiking multiple times as a Boy Scout and eventually as an Eagle Scout. I am imagining myself back on top of Mt. Castilla (I think at least but could be Costilla, Castillo, Costillo or some variation similar to that) as the star-filled sky and the full moon begin to illuminate my walking path down off the mountain. See, we (the scout group and I) had hiked up from our campsite, about a mile away, when it was sunshine and happy times. Then after dinner and some good conversation, we sat there talking, and getting to know each other, counting shooting stars, satellites, planets (when there were 9) and constellations before having to head back down. However, there on top of the mountain, I realized that there is something more to the sky than just the stars, satellites, planets and constellations. It brings me to realize that, looking up into the sky I have found an awakening feeling in myself. It feels liberating knowing that I am the only person in my immediate family, and even extended family for that matter, to look at the stars -- these stars to be specific -- from this specific vantage point. I mean anyone can look at the stars but there will be no one in my family that will even be in the same section of the country to look at these particular stars. In fact, I know this now but I assumed it then, that I would be the only one in my family to even be in this part of New Mexico, on these Sangre De Cristo Mountains in the Northeast corner of New Mexico on an early August night. Some of my friends will and have experienced them as I do and they will be able to understand my feelings, but most will not. The most that they can compare this to would be sitting on a beach. I know I make it sound humble saying “a beach” since Cape Cod really does have a phenomenal collection of beaches but it still puts it into perspective. But seriously, the best they can do is under a full moon with a slight breeze looking up at the stars but never the same ones, never from the same angle, never being this isolated from the world where there are no house lights for miles or sounds other than primal. The only thing that they will ever see that compares to this would be the same moon just at a different time, different orbit, a different phase, a just plain different personality.
When I look up at this moon and onto the ice, which is the ocean of McMurdo Sound, I am again back to this same feeling. Of knowing that I am going to be the only person in my family that gets to see the moon from this vantage point, and as humble as everyone knows me to be, I am content with having these few singular memories that are all my own. Hopefully, someday I will be able to share them with my family, but maybe this time I am the teacher instead of the student.
About the picture:
This photo was taken near what we call derelict junction or DJ for short. DJ is the “bus stop” in McMurdo where you where you get dropped off after getting here for the 1st time in the season and where you wait for the shuttle to bring you to the airfield or to Scott Base. It looks back onto building 155 on the right in the blue and up into the “business district” of town with Crater Hill just being visible in the far background. There is a road, on what would be the right of the picture, and that is where you can see the crystal clear skies, ocean, and off-colored moon when it is visible.
Stay Frosty
-C
21 July 2010
Haz-Mat Slide
Hello All,
Well I know it has been a little bit since I have posted but I have been pretty busy here. The sun isn't up yet but we have twillight around noon time everyday and it is getting longer and longer. Last weekend, the 17th and 18th of July 2010, McMurdo os the host of the International 48 Hour Sub-Antarctic Film Festival. This is for all the station that are below 60 degrees south latitude. Basically all the stations that are in the Sub-Antarctic area have been invited to film and submit movies. The movies are supposed to be filmed with in the 48 hours and then submitted here to McMurdo and then judged and the winners are announced next week on the 24th of July. The neat thing this year is that the 5 items that have to be in the movie weren't actually picked by McMurdo like normal. They were picked by other stations. The year 2008 was the first year that McMurdo invited the Sub-Antarctic stations, since it was a tradition between Scott Base, South Pole and McMurdo since 2000 or so. Apparently the 1st year there were 5 international movies and last year 18 so I can only imagine how many this year. I will keep you informed once I get to view them.
Anyways the video below are the "bloopers" from the video that I filmed and starred in. We actually filmed this before the film festival started to see if we could do some of the things that we wanted to do. This video is 2.5 minutes long and the one we submitted for the film festival is 4.5 minutes. I think it is funny since it was fun to film. So take a look and tell me what you think.
Stay Frosty
-C
Well I know it has been a little bit since I have posted but I have been pretty busy here. The sun isn't up yet but we have twillight around noon time everyday and it is getting longer and longer. Last weekend, the 17th and 18th of July 2010, McMurdo os the host of the International 48 Hour Sub-Antarctic Film Festival. This is for all the station that are below 60 degrees south latitude. Basically all the stations that are in the Sub-Antarctic area have been invited to film and submit movies. The movies are supposed to be filmed with in the 48 hours and then submitted here to McMurdo and then judged and the winners are announced next week on the 24th of July. The neat thing this year is that the 5 items that have to be in the movie weren't actually picked by McMurdo like normal. They were picked by other stations. The year 2008 was the first year that McMurdo invited the Sub-Antarctic stations, since it was a tradition between Scott Base, South Pole and McMurdo since 2000 or so. Apparently the 1st year there were 5 international movies and last year 18 so I can only imagine how many this year. I will keep you informed once I get to view them.
Anyways the video below are the "bloopers" from the video that I filmed and starred in. We actually filmed this before the film festival started to see if we could do some of the things that we wanted to do. This video is 2.5 minutes long and the one we submitted for the film festival is 4.5 minutes. I think it is funny since it was fun to film. So take a look and tell me what you think.
Stay Frosty
-C
19 June 2010
Another Sleepless Night
So we have all seen the movie “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray. It is wicked funny and never thought I would be living it but it seems, to some point at least, that I have been introduced to that feeling. Since the sun has gone down completely I have not been sleeping well. And by well I mean 3-4 hours a night 5 days a week and some nights I just don’t sleep at all. I go into work and I “running on empty” but my body is so used to this that is just keeps me going. I have tried to help but going to the gym, not eating 2 hours before I want to go to bed, stayed away from being in bed except when I want to sleep but nothing seems to be helping me so far. So I figure if I am doing all this and I am still not sleeping why not try and do all the bad stuff and see if it helps. So the long nights up watching TV, the eating before bed time and the all night partying actually helped.
Who would have thought that all the stuff that I was told over the years growing up actually helped me get some sleep. So I was a rock star at staying up until the wee hours of the morning, according to the clock at least since there is no sun coming up, and it actually help… until about 3 weeks ago. It now seems that my body wants it to go back to the “good old days” of chi-axing and going to bed early. So I figured that I would quit the booze for a bit and that helped but then my birthday came up and my liver hated me, for stopping and then going all out one night. And tada! I am back to sleeping normally again. But now 3 weeks after I am back to not sleeping again. So what am I supposed to do?
To heck if I know but I do know that I am going to keep having fun and if my body wants a break than it will figure out how to get some sleep in.
What is that sound?
A Zombie! Fire!!!!!!!!
Yes we do hunt zombies down here!
Stay Frosty
-C
Who would have thought that all the stuff that I was told over the years growing up actually helped me get some sleep. So I was a rock star at staying up until the wee hours of the morning, according to the clock at least since there is no sun coming up, and it actually help… until about 3 weeks ago. It now seems that my body wants it to go back to the “good old days” of chi-axing and going to bed early. So I figured that I would quit the booze for a bit and that helped but then my birthday came up and my liver hated me, for stopping and then going all out one night. And tada! I am back to sleeping normally again. But now 3 weeks after I am back to not sleeping again. So what am I supposed to do?
To heck if I know but I do know that I am going to keep having fun and if my body wants a break than it will figure out how to get some sleep in.
What is that sound?
A Zombie! Fire!!!!!!!!
Yes we do hunt zombies down here!
Stay Frosty
-C
Traveling
Well tonight seems to be a productive night since this will be my 3rd blog post of the month, check that night.
Well as you can see from the list of places, under my profile picture to the right, that I would like to visit a fairly decent amount of places. It has finally come time to begin planning my vacation. It is sad that the more time that goes by the more people that can’t travel. The traveling group started out with myself, Rob Weidman, Rob Gancarz and Jeremy Hirschhorn. Then Natasha Shields joined the group and then right after that Rob G. dropped out of the group followed shortly by Jeremy. Rob and Jeremy were both supposed to winter down here in McMurdo but they got the call from back in the U.S.A. for a full time job or at least the possibility of one. No hard feels because if I had gotten that call I would have bounced as well, so that left Rob W. Natasha and myself, a solid group if I must say so myself. But now Rob W is going to jam as well, and yes it is for a fulltime job or the possibility of one at least, as well, so that leaved Natasha and myself (moooo-haha-haha my plan is finally coming together).
So the plan is, as of right now… in my head… while I am typing this blog, is to fly to London, since I am ticketed to there, and go from there. We are thinking Stonehenge then off to Paris and Euro Disney, that is right bitches be jealous, then up to the coast and see the D-day beaches before training it to Barcelona. While on the way to or from Barcelona hit up Andorra (one of the five smallest countries in the world-SCotW- that are in Europe) and Monaco (#2 SCoft)then off to Italy. Italy is the place that I would like to see the most so we are going to be hitting up Venice, the sinking city, San Marco (SCotW #3), Florence, Rome and then Pompeii before heading to Greece for a leisure island hoping life style. Then from Greece to Istanbul, Turkey where I will attempt to get my 4th possibly 5th and Natasha’s 7th and last, continent since the city resides in both Eastern Europe and Western Asia, or so says Wikipedia. Then from there fly to Prague, Czech Republic and then train it Germany where we will hit Berlin, Munich and Dusseldorf (spelling I know) before making our way back to London via Liechtenstein (#4 SCotW).
As of right now I am flying from Auckland New Zealand on the 23rd of October and landing in London on the 25th of October. We are planning, as of right now, to be leaving London the 15th of December so that I can have an awesome story to tell the family at the Walsh Family Christmas Party and general booze fest on the 18th of December 2010 in Braintree, Ma. So if your plans will take you to any where in Europe during that time frame, or you always wanted to travel but had nobody to go with drop me a line or telephony call and we can make this happen.
Yea we live life on the edge down here! Thanks Scotty
Stay Frosty
-C
Well as you can see from the list of places, under my profile picture to the right, that I would like to visit a fairly decent amount of places. It has finally come time to begin planning my vacation. It is sad that the more time that goes by the more people that can’t travel. The traveling group started out with myself, Rob Weidman, Rob Gancarz and Jeremy Hirschhorn. Then Natasha Shields joined the group and then right after that Rob G. dropped out of the group followed shortly by Jeremy. Rob and Jeremy were both supposed to winter down here in McMurdo but they got the call from back in the U.S.A. for a full time job or at least the possibility of one. No hard feels because if I had gotten that call I would have bounced as well, so that left Rob W. Natasha and myself, a solid group if I must say so myself. But now Rob W is going to jam as well, and yes it is for a fulltime job or the possibility of one at least, as well, so that leaved Natasha and myself (moooo-haha-haha my plan is finally coming together).
So the plan is, as of right now… in my head… while I am typing this blog, is to fly to London, since I am ticketed to there, and go from there. We are thinking Stonehenge then off to Paris and Euro Disney, that is right bitches be jealous, then up to the coast and see the D-day beaches before training it to Barcelona. While on the way to or from Barcelona hit up Andorra (one of the five smallest countries in the world-SCotW- that are in Europe) and Monaco (#2 SCoft)then off to Italy. Italy is the place that I would like to see the most so we are going to be hitting up Venice, the sinking city, San Marco (SCotW #3), Florence, Rome and then Pompeii before heading to Greece for a leisure island hoping life style. Then from Greece to Istanbul, Turkey where I will attempt to get my 4th possibly 5th and Natasha’s 7th and last, continent since the city resides in both Eastern Europe and Western Asia, or so says Wikipedia. Then from there fly to Prague, Czech Republic and then train it Germany where we will hit Berlin, Munich and Dusseldorf (spelling I know) before making our way back to London via Liechtenstein (#4 SCotW).
As of right now I am flying from Auckland New Zealand on the 23rd of October and landing in London on the 25th of October. We are planning, as of right now, to be leaving London the 15th of December so that I can have an awesome story to tell the family at the Walsh Family Christmas Party and general booze fest on the 18th of December 2010 in Braintree, Ma. So if your plans will take you to any where in Europe during that time frame, or you always wanted to travel but had nobody to go with drop me a line or telephony call and we can make this happen.
Yea we live life on the edge down here! Thanks Scotty
Stay Frosty
-C
Life during training, winfly and at the south pole in video
Hello All,
Here is a video that was put up on the wonderful world of Youtube. com by Phil McCully. I am the firefighter in the pink stocking hat also known as the dusty rose hat. And yes that is me "John Wayneing" the CO2 extinguisher at the 3:55 mark.
Thanks again Phil from Philfirerescue.blogspot.com for the video and stay low while in the academy
Stay Frosty
-C
Here is a video that was put up on the wonderful world of Youtube. com by Phil McCully. I am the firefighter in the pink stocking hat also known as the dusty rose hat. And yes that is me "John Wayneing" the CO2 extinguisher at the 3:55 mark.
Thanks again Phil from Philfirerescue.blogspot.com for the video and stay low while in the academy
Stay Frosty
-C
Burger Bar
So I sit here in the computer kiosk reading other people’s blogs about being down here in the wonderful world of Antarctica and I realize that some of the most basic things that I enjoy down here people will never know the feeling of excitement and joy that they bring me.
So I will try to explain the simple things that bring me joy. For today’s installment I choose to write about Burger Bar. A very simple name for a very simple event but the joy and fulfillment that it brings me, and most people on station for that matter, is endless. You see everyday down here events rotate around a meal time, even more now during the winter than they do during the summer. The meals are breakfast from 06h00 to 08h00, then lunch 11h00 to 13h00 and then dinner 17h00 to 19h00. All of the meals with the exception of breakfast have an early and late meal. This by no way means that people are assigned a meal time but you see the same people at early lunch (a.k.a. 1st) 11h30 to 12h15 and then at early dinner 17h30 to 18h15 and the same for late (a.k.a. 2nd) lunch and dinner. Being that I work for a 24 hour department means that our schedule transverses all time frames and status quo as to which seating that we sit for. Some times, if I am covering dispatch, I will go to late dinner but I will usually go to early lunch, when I am working. It is funny, to me at least, that I added “when I am working” to the last sentence because when I am not working it seems that I don’t have a set time, which is nice but also means that I am usually eating alone. Eating alone is not a big deal for me especially since I am usually eating at 13h00 or 13h30 instead of the standard 11h00 to 13h00 time frame. But I always seem to eat 1st dinner with only one exception, Burger Bar. That is because Burger Bar is the coveted one dinner during the week that is cooked after you order it, isn’t under heat light or in ice baths, or that is tough to the touch since it has been cooked for a while.
Now I am be no means saying that the food down here is bad or that the cooks aren’t anything short of spectacular but what I am saying is that it is nice to actually go and order your food and get it the way you want it, with very few exceptions. Today was a burger bar night, if you can’t already tell. I had not realized that tonight was a BB night (Burger Bar for short, duh!) until I got a phone call asking to borrow my DVD player so they could watch the football game (in America we call it Soccer). I was so stunned to learn that it was BB tonight that I immediately jumped for joy because I know that I was going to have some fresh cooked, notice how I didn’t say fresh killed, food not even knowing what kind of toppings were to be had or even who was cooking. This joyous occasion only happens; I say it like it is rare, once a week but the day rotates so it could be 10 days in between BB. On those weeks the natives really get restless and that is when the lines and waits are long. But overall the selection of food is really good. Last BB, excluding tonight, it was “Big Kahuna Burgers.” It was burgers topped with fresh, as fresh as you can get with the last flight being 3 months ago, pineapple and real bacon. Tonight was sauce night; BBQ, Hot sauce, mild sauce, sweet chili sauce, ranch and bleu cheese, so that you could top your wings, fries, or tots with. Two BB ago it was hot dog and patty melt night and I do have to say that I had the best hot dog sandwich in my life that night, thanks Carl!
Stay Frosty
-C
P.S.-- Dear Google Images thank you for the picture of the cheeseburger as I would imagine it would look like if I was in a place that was warm. Picture taken from http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/IMG_0314_2.jpg and hopefully that will be enough credit to not get me in trouble
So I will try to explain the simple things that bring me joy. For today’s installment I choose to write about Burger Bar. A very simple name for a very simple event but the joy and fulfillment that it brings me, and most people on station for that matter, is endless. You see everyday down here events rotate around a meal time, even more now during the winter than they do during the summer. The meals are breakfast from 06h00 to 08h00, then lunch 11h00 to 13h00 and then dinner 17h00 to 19h00. All of the meals with the exception of breakfast have an early and late meal. This by no way means that people are assigned a meal time but you see the same people at early lunch (a.k.a. 1st) 11h30 to 12h15 and then at early dinner 17h30 to 18h15 and the same for late (a.k.a. 2nd) lunch and dinner. Being that I work for a 24 hour department means that our schedule transverses all time frames and status quo as to which seating that we sit for. Some times, if I am covering dispatch, I will go to late dinner but I will usually go to early lunch, when I am working. It is funny, to me at least, that I added “when I am working” to the last sentence because when I am not working it seems that I don’t have a set time, which is nice but also means that I am usually eating alone. Eating alone is not a big deal for me especially since I am usually eating at 13h00 or 13h30 instead of the standard 11h00 to 13h00 time frame. But I always seem to eat 1st dinner with only one exception, Burger Bar. That is because Burger Bar is the coveted one dinner during the week that is cooked after you order it, isn’t under heat light or in ice baths, or that is tough to the touch since it has been cooked for a while.
Now I am be no means saying that the food down here is bad or that the cooks aren’t anything short of spectacular but what I am saying is that it is nice to actually go and order your food and get it the way you want it, with very few exceptions. Today was a burger bar night, if you can’t already tell. I had not realized that tonight was a BB night (Burger Bar for short, duh!) until I got a phone call asking to borrow my DVD player so they could watch the football game (in America we call it Soccer). I was so stunned to learn that it was BB tonight that I immediately jumped for joy because I know that I was going to have some fresh cooked, notice how I didn’t say fresh killed, food not even knowing what kind of toppings were to be had or even who was cooking. This joyous occasion only happens; I say it like it is rare, once a week but the day rotates so it could be 10 days in between BB. On those weeks the natives really get restless and that is when the lines and waits are long. But overall the selection of food is really good. Last BB, excluding tonight, it was “Big Kahuna Burgers.” It was burgers topped with fresh, as fresh as you can get with the last flight being 3 months ago, pineapple and real bacon. Tonight was sauce night; BBQ, Hot sauce, mild sauce, sweet chili sauce, ranch and bleu cheese, so that you could top your wings, fries, or tots with. Two BB ago it was hot dog and patty melt night and I do have to say that I had the best hot dog sandwich in my life that night, thanks Carl!
Stay Frosty
-C
P.S.-- Dear Google Images thank you for the picture of the cheeseburger as I would imagine it would look like if I was in a place that was warm. Picture taken from http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/IMG_0314_2.jpg and hopefully that will be enough credit to not get me in trouble
26 May 2010
Benefits of being here during the winter
Well hello all. I am back in my room right now, on one of my (many) days off. Having every other day down here is the benefit of being a firefighter. Normally back home we would work a schedule at over 3,4 or 5 days we would work 1 and then have either 2, 3 or the next 4 days off, this is all due to working 24 hours a day. Down here we do not have that “luxury” but we still have some benefits. Case in point, today (and Monday for that matter), I had the benefit of going into the hot tub for 2 hours. Normally we can only reserve it for an hour at a time but if you go in groups then each person can get an hour to themselves which means longer for everyone.
Anyways, as I am walking to the Firehouse, which is 20 feet from the hot tub, I see people walking around town either going to or from a work assignment and I am thankful for having my schedule. I am dressed in my “big red” with a t-shirt and a pair of jeans on along with my sneakers and a bag around my shoulders to carry my towel and my beverages for the hot tub. I go into the firehouse and see the people working in the bay to overhaul our heating system. Of course I say hi to them all and they ask why I am back since it is my day off, they know this since they begin work at 730am and I leave work about 815am after we have our shift change meeting and “bs” with everyone. I say with a snicker “I’m ‘rubber ducking it’ today.” They all give that “I wish I was you right now” look since they know the rubber duck, yes just like when you were a kid and played with one in the tub, is attached to the hot tub key ring as to not lose the key in the snow.
I also take advantage of working at the firehouse and go to my bunk room to change into my swim shorts / workout short and with just my t-shirt, sneakers and workout shorts on I briskly jog over the 20 feet to the hot tub where I relax with some beverages, music and non-work related conversation. Since for the most part the Firehouse and the Power Plant operators are the only ones that don’t work “town schedule” (Monday to Saturday 730am to 530pm) the hot tub is relatively free most days before 6pm. This is nice since it gets chemically treated in the morning about 7 am or maybe the night before if it isn’t in use before the wonderful UT foreman racks out for the evening. So it is usually nice and clean and germ free, an added benefit.
Lately we have been getting more people to join us in the hot tub either before or after our scheduled times. It is nice to have people from different work centers come and join so we don’t talk about the same topics. The conversations inevitably turn into “war stories”, “triumphs” or work bitching. Which is all well and good but they have their place, which is not in the hot tub since it is relaxing time.
Everyone once in an while someone will knock on the door to see who is in there since they can hear the music on the outside. The conversation usually goes like “Hey what up? Not much ‘just chilling, relaxing and acting all cool. You know shooting some b-ball outside of the school.’ How long you going to be here? Until 4 or so (or 5 or 6 which ever is correct). Cool mind if I join? Not at all come on back and join.” Then there is the inevitable meeting / passing / random person coming up in the galley / hallway / computer kiosk that asks if we are “tubing” it this morning / afternoon. Which the answer is usually yes or maybe an inquisitive you want to? But either way it is nice to be here and have some things that are different or specifically saved for winter. It gives the 198 winter-overs, the biggest in 3 years, something to be elitists about. Apparently this year it is going to be a big winfly season with 200 more scientist and grantees coming down. So the hot tub and all the extra amenities will all disappear, a week early this year, as to not give the impression that we have "luxuries" that they don't have during the summer. Where as winfly is usually the influx of trades people to help; open the dorms and buildings, get the vehicles up and running, and compile all the gear that is going to get used during the summer. But this year is it the 260ish winfly people like normal plus 200+ scientist and grantees. (FYI grantees are the unpaid scientist / videographers / photographers / random people in general that get sponsored by their respective universities and the NSF to come down and work on experiments.)
Hope you enjoyed.
From a nice calm and surprisingly warm (+7 degrees Fahrenheit) Wednesday
Stay Frosty!
-C
Anyways, as I am walking to the Firehouse, which is 20 feet from the hot tub, I see people walking around town either going to or from a work assignment and I am thankful for having my schedule. I am dressed in my “big red” with a t-shirt and a pair of jeans on along with my sneakers and a bag around my shoulders to carry my towel and my beverages for the hot tub. I go into the firehouse and see the people working in the bay to overhaul our heating system. Of course I say hi to them all and they ask why I am back since it is my day off, they know this since they begin work at 730am and I leave work about 815am after we have our shift change meeting and “bs” with everyone. I say with a snicker “I’m ‘rubber ducking it’ today.” They all give that “I wish I was you right now” look since they know the rubber duck, yes just like when you were a kid and played with one in the tub, is attached to the hot tub key ring as to not lose the key in the snow.
I also take advantage of working at the firehouse and go to my bunk room to change into my swim shorts / workout short and with just my t-shirt, sneakers and workout shorts on I briskly jog over the 20 feet to the hot tub where I relax with some beverages, music and non-work related conversation. Since for the most part the Firehouse and the Power Plant operators are the only ones that don’t work “town schedule” (Monday to Saturday 730am to 530pm) the hot tub is relatively free most days before 6pm. This is nice since it gets chemically treated in the morning about 7 am or maybe the night before if it isn’t in use before the wonderful UT foreman racks out for the evening. So it is usually nice and clean and germ free, an added benefit.
Lately we have been getting more people to join us in the hot tub either before or after our scheduled times. It is nice to have people from different work centers come and join so we don’t talk about the same topics. The conversations inevitably turn into “war stories”, “triumphs” or work bitching. Which is all well and good but they have their place, which is not in the hot tub since it is relaxing time.
Everyone once in an while someone will knock on the door to see who is in there since they can hear the music on the outside. The conversation usually goes like “Hey what up? Not much ‘just chilling, relaxing and acting all cool. You know shooting some b-ball outside of the school.’ How long you going to be here? Until 4 or so (or 5 or 6 which ever is correct). Cool mind if I join? Not at all come on back and join.” Then there is the inevitable meeting / passing / random person coming up in the galley / hallway / computer kiosk that asks if we are “tubing” it this morning / afternoon. Which the answer is usually yes or maybe an inquisitive you want to? But either way it is nice to be here and have some things that are different or specifically saved for winter. It gives the 198 winter-overs, the biggest in 3 years, something to be elitists about. Apparently this year it is going to be a big winfly season with 200 more scientist and grantees coming down. So the hot tub and all the extra amenities will all disappear, a week early this year, as to not give the impression that we have "luxuries" that they don't have during the summer. Where as winfly is usually the influx of trades people to help; open the dorms and buildings, get the vehicles up and running, and compile all the gear that is going to get used during the summer. But this year is it the 260ish winfly people like normal plus 200+ scientist and grantees. (FYI grantees are the unpaid scientist / videographers / photographers / random people in general that get sponsored by their respective universities and the NSF to come down and work on experiments.)
About these pictures:
So right down the road, literally, is Scott Base which is considered “foreign soil” since it is under the control of New Zealand. They are the ones that maintain the wind turbines (picture #2) that help to offset the power used by both bases. Apparently McMurdo’s power plant helps to power Scott Base. So when the wind is whipping, read above about 10 knots, it gives enough power to completely supply Scott Base and help offset McMurdo’s own power consumption. This is a good thing since we aren’t using diesel / JP-8 (jet fuel) / AN-8 (winterized {Antarctic} JP-8) to power the town which is a normally what is used to make electricity and water. Heat is comes from the diesel thru boilers or thru the waste heat loop around town that comes from the cooling of the 2 generators. So anyways about the sign, currently there are 14 bodies (13 plus a really short person hence a 13 ½) that reside at Scott Base during the winter. This picture was taken the same day that we did fire watch stand by for them so they could take there winter-over picture up at the wind turbines. It is A-shift, my shift, minus Virginia. It was here “Kelly Day.”
Hope you enjoyed.From a nice calm and surprisingly warm (+7 degrees Fahrenheit) Wednesday
Stay Frosty!
-C
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