Stalkers

As I was walking back to work one afternoon after lunch, I came to the main intersection in town and stopped by the stop sign. The IT-28 loader was backing out of 120, and I didn't like the idea of being flattened.

And so I waited, the loader backed up the hill and then stopped. The driver, very slowly, intently and eerily gave me the "I see you" hand signal. I signaled back that I saw him and crossed the road. But man, the way he gave that signal stayed with me.

Actually the driver turned out to be my coworker Gareth, who was intentionally being creepy, and so I've taken to calling him my stalker. So he left me this lovely present on my desk:


Awesome. And Joseph has taken to stalking me too. Not only did Joseph do just about the same thing in the loader on another day, but also lapped me in the intersection while driving the loader. Crazy boys.





I guess the moral of the story here is, there's always someone watching, and in this case, I'm glad it was the food monkey boys instead of aliens.

Last Flight Out

Having spent the entire Summer season in Antarctica before my first Winter, when it came time for that last plane to leave, I wasn't sure what to expect. As you may recall, I was somewhat expecting a profound sense of isolation. As it turned out, it was one of the most interesting, stable and community involved times of my life.

It is interesting to note the difference in my expectations for this Winter. Like most winterovers, I was somewhat relieved to be settling in with the final crew. I am more than ready to wrap a security blanket of darkness and solidity around my shoulders and hunker down into my own little winter world.

Still, this Winter holds it's own possibilities, mysteries and new experiences. And that is definitely something worth toasting.

At 13:30, the Winter crew gathers at the Chalet
to sip some bubbly and wave goodbye to the
final flight out of McMurdo for the next six months.

The NSF Station Representative gives the toast.

Shandra pours and hands out the champagne.

Fellow winterovers, awaiting a visual of the plane.

Justin and Jen sippin' on the bubbly.

Jenn - nervous? excited? or just practicing her penguin puff up?

Clay, whose smile tells us he's quite happy that some people aren't wintering.

Janette. Doesn't she make carhartts look so ski-lodge-chique?

Ahhh yes, me with my Wookie gloves (Beaver)
that Bamma leaves me for the winter.
Nothing goes so well with champagne than Wookie.

Kris rocks the Jackie-O glasses.

Kelli with those sassy safety
glasses that we all know and love.

"Oh really," Larry seems to say.

No wonder Shandra volunteered to pour!

Cathy, Ryan and Brooks looking chill.

Sean and DJ clad in brown are mellow dudes about the town.

Todd, Jonathan and A-Con.

Zachary wonders exactly what he might be getting into
while Larry stands by amused by it all.

Troy and Amanda are about to lose it...already!

Cara got a heads-up fashion tip on proper
"Last Flight" attire from the aliens last night.

Karen, Keri and Kris are excited for summer people to leave!

Poo-Baca is already off his rocker.

Bye Bye plane!

Larry takes a moment to reflect and raises a glass to Winter!

And now...we're in the capable hands of these folks.

Welcome to Winter.