Cheers Palmer Station Antarctica

"No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth."  ~Robert Southey

Good day my friends. How are you? I hope that this finds you all very well, full of smiles and enjoying this life. As I sit in the computer lab, the wind is strong at 59 knots. Snowing. and dark. It is indeed winter. We had a lovely scare this morning. The main generator was leaking so they shut it down and brought up the emergency generator and that started smoking and  the tiniest of fires broke out. It was indeed a very hectic, stressful morning. But after about 1.5 hours, everything was under control, we where let out of our muster place and returned to what needed to be done. We do have so many capable people here on station. What a way to break in the winter team. 
The last week or so has been a blur really. The summer folks came in, turn over started full speed, two different fishing trips out on the LMG (big orange ship) the NBP (other big orange ship) stopped by station at the end of their 2 month cruise and at one point we had about 100 people on station in the bar and lounge. What a night that was. :) Familiar faces and smiles all around. I was kicked out of the kitchen yesterday, Keith, the winter Chef, is going to do a great job taking care of folks. He just got off a year at the South Pole. So this kind of mild weather is nothing for him. So I have spent my last couple of days cleaning station, packing up the final things and just hanging out. That hanging out part sounds real good unless you are only one of two folks that get kicked out of their jobs, then after the first hour of so you feel a bit guilty, everyone is working so hard and you are not.. Oh well, just one more afternoon. My plans thus far is to get to Chile, fly fish, Miami, Mexico and then on over to Europe. I'm not sure how long I will be in Europe, but plan on being there awhile. Then on home to Portland. I am very excited about spending some time down at the beach house with my new nephew :) Don't know what is next for me, but that is whats so fun.. I can take the next year off.!
Thank you all for coming along with me in the crazy adventure I have had these past 8 months in Antarctica. I so loved hearing from y'all and hope to continue to hear how life is going and what is new. And also hope to see many of you through out the summer.
Take care and please keep in touch.
big hugs to you all,
Stacie

a few new pics up on flickr. I will send out a flickr update when I upload some from my return journey.. Cheers.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8448893@N05/

Winter Light

Hello!

I hope that this letter finds you all happy, suntanned, relaxed and dry (you East Coasters you). I am assuming a good chunk of you have had a little spring break. If not, then at least a little taste of spring so your can make it through the now grey, wet, cold windy weather. We have hit early winter weather here. In the past two days, we have seen 1.5 feet of fluffy white snow, winds of 56knots, pouring down rain (all the snow gone) then once again the fluffy white stuff. We need to set up a time lapse. Golly! I have to say I am very thankful that I am no longer out in my tent. I have been roommate free for almost 2 weeks now. It's been delightful. Not much has really been going on here at Palmer, which is very nice. With the darkness and weather all we want to do is curl up next to the fire and read and nap. We are still doing science though. The diver group from University of Alabama is here until mid-June so they are going out everyday and collecting samples and checking experiments. They don't need nice weather 40 feet below the surface. We are also lucky enough to help weigh and measure the Giant Peteral Chicks. They are HUGE fluff balls now. Some are getting their feathers and are really angry about getting picked up, measured and weighed. We did receive some news about our departure. A part on the LMG (big orange ship) trolling crane broke. The Science group that is coming down next and staying for a month,  troll for fish on their way down here, hold them and then study them here at Station. So they need that crane. They have been working to get a replacement sent down to Punta Arenas, but of course coming across lots of hurdles. Government ship, inspectors, flight weight (one part is over 1,000 lbs) Easter Weekend, earthquake roads and on and on. So the word is, be prepared for up to 14 days delay. This is our second delay for this season. We would be leaving tomorrow originally but it got pushed back to the 24th of April, now we might be adding on another 14 days. But I am hopeful the part will get down here quickly and installed and they will be on their way. :) 

We did celebrate Mustache Day 2010, April 1. It was a riot. I've posted some photo's on flickr. A couple of the girls, well more than half, there are only 5 of us now, joined in. I scared myself a bit I must say. I do suppose we all have a little of the opposite sex in us.. mine had NO problem coming out to play. Friday we did a Seder/Easter combo dinner. We actually did a short version of a Seder (30 min). It was quiet fun. Do-Jo and I made home made Matzoh bread and Matzoh balls, brisket, hard boiled eggs and some ham. :) And today, Mr. Dave Ensworth BBQ'd the best prime rib I have ever had. He is a MASTER with the grill. We have this wonderful huge cast iron grill someone made out of an old tank. It can fit a whole pig on it. He spent 6 hours lovingly grilling this prime rib. And to quote my friend Zee...." It's like eating really really good bacon" :) 

Well that's all for now my friends. I hope you all had a great Holiday weekend

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8448893@N05/

"Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality."beatrix potter