I am going to write in this more for all my readers

So, I spend a lot of time on the computer at work, and I used to have a lot of email, but now that the election is almost over I don't have that much email so I can write stupid stuff in this blog! Though, this is a public venue so if you want all the juicy drama drama you'll have to write me an email. Haha, I have no juicy drama.

If you've been reading this regularly, which you haven't, but whatever, it may sound like all I do here is go to parties. No. I also go to bars. Tonight is a Halloween party though, which according to Antarctic mythology is one's LAST CHANCE to find a mate for the season. This may be true, since everyone I know has already made out with everyone I know several times. However, I think it is not true, because I am a lady, and I am pretty sure that if you are a lady in Antarctica you can find a mate any time that you choose, should any person come up that one would want to start this kind of relationship with, which seems a little bit unlikely.

Hmm. I feel like I ought to have more Antarctican things to talk about, but all I really do all day these days is read NYT/FiveThirtyEight/Wonkette and even HuffPo (I have a guilty love for HuffPo). CAN WE JUST HAVE AN ELECTION ALREADY? please?

Halloween at McMurdo

It is Halloween in Antarctica, in all technicality, since it is Oct. 31. However, in Antarctica, all holidays fall on Saturday. It does not matter if the holiday actually took place on Tuesday. We do not celebrate until Saturday. This is because we have only one day off per week and it is Sunday. Therefore, everyone today is plotting about their tomorrow costumes (and maybe going to the haunted house that the waste barn people built). I am coughing a lot because yesterday I decided it was a good idea to smoke a billion cigarettes. This was mistaken. Unfortunately, my mind seems to think that every time I have a drink. I cough a lot.

This is fun you know this is fun

You can reach me at work any of the following days between 11 AM-11 PM California time: Nov. 4-6, 10-12, 16-18, 22-24, 28-30. I am usually at lunch from 3-4 PM your time and dinner from 9-10 PM. If there is something important happening at work I may have to hang up on you/put you on hold. This happens rarely.

Also, if you want to send me a text message to my pager (always keeping in mind that I am on New Zealand time) you can send an email to 642@pg.mcmurdo.usap.gov.

So much fun!

I suck at updates

I really suck. Well, I spend two hours a day almost on the computer answering my email, so then I want to go do something rather than write in a blog. Like right now. I'm off to go dancing, later kids.

in new news

Coming soon: call Alisa at work! I am dispatch, so I receive all the incoming calls from the states, and they have some number you can call that is a Denver area code that rings in my office. This number I will give to you, and you can call me in Antarctica for the price of Denver.

Off to yoga in the chapel! Antarctica is surprisingly like Burning Man sometimes.

Strange sociological experiment

I wish some sociologist would come down here and study the communities of people living and working on the bases in Antarctica. It would be hilarious.

Anyway, I went to a big party last night? The bars in Antarctica are exactly like the bars anywhere else, except they're open all hours, you always have to come outside to blinding light, and people will hit on you even if you're wearing no makeup and a flannel shirt. This is the pickup line I got from a guy on kitchen staff last night: "Hey, my friend over there wants to know: what is your favorite flavor of jello? Because we'll make it."  This is day two. I imagine these lines only get better.

In other news, I went to Scott's hut today, which was build by Capt. Scott's expedition crew in 1902. You can still see the cans of cocoa sitting on the shelves in there, and there is a carved up sea lion that looks like its been petrified just outside the hut. 

I also went to the scientific lecture today--they spoke about one of the research projects going on here. They are doing seismic research on Antarctica's sediment, trying to look at the last time the earth's temperature rose dramatically. Did you know Antarctica used to have forests? Yes sir, and it could happen again at this rate.

Also today I was hazed by the firehouse--they tied several of us newbies up with rope and wouldn't let us leave until we untied ourselves. Got to love the firehouse. Day two of training tomorrow.

love from the south,

alisa

Antarctica

I am in Antarctica. I have slept very little. Tonight we have a big party at the bar with a DJ? WTF?

New Zealand

My room in New Zealand has five different light settings. I can live in a "Passionate Red" room or a "Cool Green" room or right now I have opted for purple. This is literally the coolest thing that has happened since I last wrote a blog post. 

Spent the last 36 hours in transit--all of our flights were delayed. We were delayed long enough in Sydney that we got to take pictures of ourselves in front of the opera house, so now I can brag about how I've been to Australia. Clearly.

Today we are issued our gear for heading down there, and I think I am buying some duty-free whiskey.

Forward! Flight to Antarctica possibly tomorrow

Training

Today we had an all day training that started at the unnecessarily ungodly hour of 7 AM. 

We watched videos from the 80s about how harassment is bad and I giggled/slept. Everyone had bad haircuts, and gossiped all the time at work. I hope our real workplace is like that.

Our first Raytheon presenter was an old Navy man who spent the first ten minutes reading his resume in detail. Seriously who does that.

On our lunch break everyone was clearly sizing each other up, in that new crowd of people way. I have already figured out that in Antarctican circles, the more badass you are, the more popular. I sat down next to a guy and the first thing he asked me was, "Do you have any tatoos?" I am trying to hide how lame I actually am from these people for as long as possible. I may need to covertly get a tattoo in New Zealand. Which p.s. leaving for there tomorrow!

Leaving in two days

My flight to New Zealand is in two days, and I am suddenly nervous. Nervous nervous nervous. Hi kids! I'm going to Antarctica! For real! Real soon! 

Ok. This might turn into a very stupid blog.