My Transient Room

I received good news when I arrived that I will be able
to move into the room that Lynn and I have resided in
for many years. However, our friend Ben is still in the
room and until he leaves, I'm stuck in a "Transient" room
in Building 155. It has it's pluses since I can go to the
Galley any time I want to get tea. Plus, since I came in
on the first flight, I'm the only one in the room with four
other empty beds. but it's negatives far outweigh the
positives. It's truly depressing as there are no windows
and if I'm here much longer, there will be many more people
sharing the room with me. Adding in the fact that the
rooms in B-155 don't have their own bathroom and you have
to walk down the hall to use the facilities...not a pretty
picture.

Who Are We?

These are a few demographics about the folks that
are living at McMurdo this winter:

34 Women
91 Men

41 Live in Dorm 155
43 Live in Dorm 208
41 Live in Dorm 209

39.13 Average age for Women
39.87 Average age for Men
39.68 Total Average


We’re From Four Countries:
USA
New Zealand
Canada
Belize

Americans are from 32 Different States
26 From Colorado
9 From California
7 From Alaska

Of the 34 Women, 31 different names are represented:
2 Angela
2 Elizabeth
2 Lisa

Of the 91 Men, 61 different names are represented:
7 William
5 David
4 Robert

Look Who's Back

Just when you think that winter is settling into
McMurdo, a visitor from the summer cruised into our
turning basin last night. The Nathanial B. Palmer
diverted from it's planned route and made course for
McMurdo when one of the folks aboard suffered a
non-life-threatening injury. However, it was determined
that it was beneficial to the patient to set heading for
the small Medical facilities here, as opposed to making
way for Lyttelton New Zealand, which at the time was
about a 12 day journey. The patient was brought into
town last night via helicopter and berthed in Dorm 155
(where I was enlisted to make up their room and bed
before they arrived). After examination last night
and follow up this morning, the patient was transported
by Haaglund over the ice to the waiting Natty B where
they then boarded. At 0905 the Nathanial B. Palmer
radioed it's intention to leave the turning basin and
immediately headed north to Lyttelton.

It was interesting to see a ship in the McMurdo vicinity
this late in the season. It hasn't happened since the
fuel tanker MV Richard G. Matthiesen visited the area
in 2003 during the over-ice fuel transfer of that year.
What was fun to see was the twinkling lights of the Natty
B. as she sat in the basin. Since most ships visit during
the 24/7 daylight summer season, their running lights are
never a factor during their visits. Although it was fun
to see, let's hope that this is the last visit from a
vessel to the McMurdo area for the next few months.