The boot

I've been at Pole now going on 8 days... I was staying in the main station close to the medical clinic just in case I got sick again. It was really convenient - warm building and work was only a 15 second walk away. Since I've been off the drugs since Saturday, the doctor thinks I'm doing ok. I've been given the boot and just moved back into my Jamesway tent. I missed my little space.

So that means, no more doc! Yahoo! I don't have to check in with him anymore...

This is us

James - South Pole executive chef.

The galley day crew (L to R) - Will, Stephanie, Carol, Leah, James, Michelle, Joel and Francie.

The bakers - Jake and I.

The midrats dining attendant - Nicole with husband, Chris.

The midrats sous chef - Laura (on left in black) and Eustacia (right) during Thanksgiving.

Charlie, our grocery guy.

The galley.

It's a hot day at the Pole

Yup, it is... just checked the temperature outside and it's -15F with windchill -34F. The temperature is suppose to steadily rise and may reach 0F or even 5F during December or January!

So far, the night shift has gone alright. Doing pretty good although I haven't had to run downstairs yet or go to the dome to get stuff in storage. That will eventually come along as I get to feeling even better. Couple of my co-workers offered to take me to the dome just to check it out (and to keep them company). From what I hear it's kinda scary inside. I've seen some pics of inside the dome but of course it's always different when you experience stuff on your own.

In the meantime, James (the executive chef) is still trying to organize a few of the kitchen crew their Thanksgiving holiday time off. The midrats sous, Laura, still needs to take her day so he asked if I would be willing to make the meal. Wouldn't that be awesome? So when ever she decides to take her day off, I'll be cooking dinner for about 65 people... I'm kinda excited about that. I already have menu ideas going through my head.

The going is alright

I started back to work last Thursday...just a few hours at night - no longer than 4 (as prescribed by the doc). It was a little slow going just because I felt so out of breath and tired quickly. I did put my 4 hrs in Thursday pushing myself to do that last hour... And Friday worked out. I didn't have to push myself but I was quite exhausted only after those few hours. I ran out of the diamox and nifedipine on Saturday so I'm drug free and breathing on my own - no oxygen assistance... kinda nervous about it but so far, I'm alright.

Jake (my baker buddy) and I had both Saturday and Sunday off - our Thanksgiving holiday. So it gave me lots of time to recover and hangout with a few of my co-workers. We all celebrated Thanksgiving on Saturday so most of the crew could have a two day weekend. The galley had 3 seatings breaking the 242 population down into smaller groups in order to feed us all. We had a great meal prepared by all the chefs and volunteers...wine included.

Tonight, I'm scheduled to work my full shift. 8pm-6am. I'll have to let you know how that goes... but everyone is still asking how I am and to take it easy, take lots of breaks and just don't over do it. I've been feeling good this morning. I'd been napping throughout my weekend since I do have the "crud" and I woke up feeling a lot better.

To those who don't know what the crud is...well, I just figured it out too. I'm a bright one, I tell ya! It's the common cold. It's strange. I'd heard that terminology before - "Alabama crud," "Bosnian crud", "Hungary crud", "Kuwaiti crud," "Afganistan crud," "Iraqi crud" and even "New Jersey crud" but I just thought people were weird. Now I'm enlightened with just a bit more brilliance defined all by the "Polie crud."

Home

So these are some pics of "Home"...

From above:

Windchill -52.7F/

Temperature -35.9F
(nice day)

Windchill -128F/

Temperature

-80F
(cold day)

Our big freezer - warehouse size.

Little freezer on 2nd floor, close to the galley.

Mission accomplished

As the evil horror Chucky doll says... "I'm baaaaack!"

Wow, so I'm back at Pole and I'm so excited to be here! My boss James, met me out at the flight line and welcomed me back with a warm hug. It has been so exciting to see everyone... seems like I haven't seen them forever when 16 days has passed. All my co-workers and friends are all excited welcoming me back like a long lost relative giving me hugs and well wishes. I sure did miss this place and everyone here. Thanks y'all.

Weather's great

The weather is clear and sunny, the plane is on schedule. Countdown... 45 minutes.

Shush, it's a conspiracy

The South Pole flight was delayed due to the weather visability here at McMurdo. It was snowing outside - it's not redirected from another location or whatnot. The weather is actually warm enough to snow.

My flight was suppose to leave at 730am but kept getting postponed. So I'd been checking on the flight every hour throughout the day. It was finally confirmed at 545pm that the flight is indeed cancelled.

Flight services called and said they'd try again at 645am Tuesday.

Let's try that again...

Isn't life grand when you get what you want? Actually, it's a bit early to say. Maybe I should just wait and write when I'm actually at Pole with my feet in the snow. Wait a second, the McMurdo hospital is closed on Sundays - that's tomorrow. I think I'll be okay and tell y'all the news.

Well, as you know my fav doctor took off today for home. I was wanting her to stay until I left but that's more for my own selfish purposes... it's rare finding a doctor I really like.

I went for my doctor check up with the civilian doctor in charge. After grilling me on my nightshift he asked if Monday was good for me. Wait, let me think about that and pencil it in just in case it doesn't fit in my schedule. Of course, Monday would be outrageously fantastic! Was he joking or what?!

So I'm flying to the Pole on Monday, the hospital is closed on Sunday's so there's no hexing me now! It's good because for a while there I thought I'd be at McMurdo for the entire 4 months and was debating on a request to return home for a State-side job... someplace warm - Texas, Florida, California... but for now it's Pole or bust.

Bummer!

Well, I think I just spoke too soon and indeed jinxed myself. I'm missing out on that Polie plane in the morning. I went in for my doctor visit this morning and I guess the headaches, dizziness, etc aren't suppose to be that bad. I received a new drug - well the same one but in a lower dose and am suppose to work my shift tonight to see how I do then report back to the doctor.

Maybe one day I'll return to the Pole. Wishful thinking... it'll happen and hopefully soon - soon meaning a day or two. I'm getting quite impatient.

Almost there

People are starting to think I'm a normal fixture here at McMurdo... people keep coming up to me asking if I'm ever going to return Pole-side. So of course, I have to tell them the fantastic news... tomorrow morning. Yahoo!

Things are going quite well. I'm working in the McMurdo kitchen although the drugs I'm now taking are causing dizziness, massive headache and light-headedness... side effects, of course. But it should soon be over. In a way, I wish I could speed up time so I can pass all this medical stuff and just start working again in the Pole kitchen as a normal person... patience. I guess my friends are right - that's really not my strong point.

By the way, I'm really glad there is a library and internet available. It helps pass the time.

My ears heard those magic words!

You know, for someone that doesn't like military doctors, I just happen to love mine - Major Cheryl Lowry. Course, she's an Air Force doctor so maybe that makes all the difference... Army vs. Air Force, oh-oh better not start that up just yet.

But I heard the words I have been waiting to hear all week. "You can return to Pole." Yes, finally! So I've been working a shift called mid rats (midnight rations) in the bake shop here at McMurdo... the civilian and Air Force doctor both wanted to keep my mid-rat schedule so it won't screw my sleeping schedule all up when and if I got to return Pole-side.

It seems like there were so many hoops to jump - rest and don't exercise, rest more - sleeping is good for you, exercise, don't exercise, exercise, return to work for a few hours, return to work for a full shift, walk around the clinic with an oxidation reader, go on the treadmill with the reader... well, that's all coming to an end. Whew! It was getting a bit confusing.

My plane leaves on Saturday morning. Now don't jinx me, I told my doctor since it just happens to be snowing out and she was talking about bad weather (I was actually thinking it was too cold to snow so it just might be flakes flying in the air re-distributed from some other location. Perhaps it really was snowing, I'm not sure since happy South Pole thoughts were occupying my head). And luckily enough I just wanted to beat her to the plane... she arrived to McMurdo the same day I was medevac'd here and now she's already leaving - her deployment is complete. She returns to San Antonio, Saturday afternoon. I really didn't want a new docotor anyway...

Texas... I sure do miss Texas. On a side note, when I grow up and stop the seasonal traveling jobs, I still want to move to Austin and settle. It's one of my most favorite places in the world besides San Francisco. But that means I have to grow up - get a real job or at least a permanent one that lasts longer than 6 months... and that just might take a while since boredom sets in very quickly and the travel bug is still very much alive in my veins.

So I'm put back on a drug called Diamox, which helps regulate the oxygen and expel carbon dioxide in your body. It's the same stuff I had before but this time they gave me a 6 day supply versus a 3 day supply. And also another drug called Nifedipine which lowers high blood pressure and relaxes the blood vessels so my heart won't have to pump so hard and helps supply blood and oxygen to the heart which helps reduce chest pain just in case the HAPE shows up again at Pole.

I'm ready to go thanks to the awesome medical staff at both Pole and McMurdo! Yahoo!!!

9 Nov 06 - Thurs

Still at McMurdo restricted to bed rest. I'm feeling alot better but still tired although I have a bad case of insomnia. I've been taking some sleeping tablets just to get some sleep and that's been helping alot. I get a little dizzy/ light headed and winded with just alittle bit of walking so I'm just taking it easy...

I'm not sure when I'll be able to get back to work or to the Pole. I'm on the manifest to fly out this Saturday but it hasn't yet been cleared with the doctor. I think I'll be missing out on that plane ride.

Thanks for all the support emails and comments...

Did you say Viagra???

Our own personal flight nurse, Kari.











Steph and I sucking in oxygen on our medevac to McMurdo.

Well, looks like I didn't adjust too well to the altitude at Pole. I was taking this drug diamox but after it ran out that's when I got altitude sickness - high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE - yes there's even an acronym for it!) Good thing I went to see the doc on my day off vs. waiting a day like I had originally planned. Had I waited a day I might have passed out and died in my sleep, perhaps. I guess the grim reaper came close to the door. I was in really bad shape.

So after work on Sunday my co-worker Jake and I walked to the Pole for pics. Afterward, I wanted to be discrete and sneak into the hospital to see the doctor but no one was there. I didn't know he was on-call and had to page him... I just didn't want to feel the fool if I had a case of a bad cold which I really thought I had. Well, no doc so I waited around for brunch, ate and debated about sleeping in the main bldg lounge where it's nice and warm or walk home and sleep in my freezing tent. Hmmm, should have been a no-brainer but it was a big debate that took quite a few hours to decide. I ended up returning to my tent with a plan to sleep all day and night since it was my day off.

I woke up gasping for air, I just couldn't breathe. It took me 2 hrs to get dressed - put my shirt on, take a long breather break, pants - long breather break, etc... For a moment I thought I was just out of shape but knew something was wrong when I couldn't catch my breath, was wheezing and coughing up mauve colored mucous, vomiting and all the yuck stuff so I headed on over to the main building to see the doctor.

I saw my boss and told him I was going to stop by the clinic but again no one was there so he paged the doctor and well, that's when I found out I had altitude sickness. My oxygen level was at 69%. They took x-rays and gave me some drugs and yes, viagra was one of them - it relaxes your muscles and increases blood flow so it helps get the oxygen going in your body.

I spent the night in the hospital hooked up to saline and oxygen. Then got medevac'd to McMurdo the following day. Just got released this morning and pretty much have been sleeping since then. 3 days of hospitalization, saline and oxygen and so much attention from medical staff, co-workers and friends! Whew! I feel like a celebrity! People I don't even know have been coming up to me asking if I'm alright... I'm a bit embarrassed by all the attention! Been sleeping most of the day, am still recovering and am very tired. I do feel much better - the wheezing has gone down alot and I can breathe so much easier at sea level. I'm still restricted to bed rest but when I feel better the plan is to get me to work in the McMurdo kitchen for a few days then fly me back to the Pole. Hopefully, it won't happen again. Good thing I'm taking part of the research program that is studying high altitude sickness...what a great guinea pig I am!

One of my co-workers is here with me. She had the same thing but caught it a day sooner than me so she's in much better shape. The Pole doctor was debating whether to medevac her or not but since he had the power to yeah or nay, he sent her too. (I really like that doctor - Dr. Will. I think Silva is his last name.) So Steph and I are in the same boat. We're roommies too here at McMurdo so we can check up on each other. I have to return for a dr checkup in the morning. My lungs are almost clear of fluid - I'm barely wheezing now. So I'm much much better and my oxygen level is at 98%. I'm hoping to get back to the Pole by Sat or Mon but of course, there's a civilian doctor here that has the final recommendation.

With the weather at the pole -47F and the weather here is 9F, it feels so tropical! The warm weather is so nice! But I like the work atmosphere of the Pole better. 220 people at Pole vs. 1100 people at McMurdo. I'd rather bake for the smaller population - you have more freedom to experiment and make better food!

Anyway, I ate my first meal since Sunday brunch and am doing okay now. I will probably be here at McMurdo for the rest of the week.

5 Nov 06

Went out for a little walk and was quite winded! I did grab some pics though of the geographical South Pole marker and the decorative (barber shop style) South Pole marker. The temperature is currently -45.8F. And of course, i got a pic of me all frosted up!




A pic of my room - I'm standing in the doorway by the opposite wall. That's my bed and dresser.


These flags are of all the countries that have scientists working in Antarctica and part of the research program.

This is the geographical South Pole sign the marker is right in front of it.

This is me all bundled up.
Me at the South Pole marker - the decorative one. It gets moved about 30 feet annually since we are on an ice shelf that slides over the land mass underneath.

1 Nov 06

These are the Transantarctic mountains we flew over traveling South from McMurdo to the South Pole.




It’s amazing to think that a year ago I was living in San Francisco and getting ready to start an adventure in the Virgin Islands. Now, I’m at the bottom of the world – literally! We arrived around 1230pm and the weather and cold wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I was thinking super freezing so I put on 3 layers of thermal underclothing as well as 2 jackets and wind pants. It was cold on the plane but by the time we got off the plane and was walking to our living quarters, it was so hot! Course I did have to stop and catch a breather for a few minutes but I really thought it would be worse. I guess with the barometric pressure the elevation was around 10,000 ft. The actual elevation is 9,130 ft or something like that but the barometric pressure is what makes it feel like it is higher.

So I live in what they call summer camp. They are jamesway tents – kind of like thick canvas and they insolate it with snow to retain the heat. I live in a small 6’X8’ room. They weren’t joking when they said it was small. My twin bed is almost a foot short of touching both walls. If you put stuff on the floor, expect it to freeze. So most of my stuff is hanging on screws on the walls. The walls dividing everyone’s rooms are plywood which is super thin! It’s true; I can hear my neighbor turning the pages of the book he’s reading. The bathrooms are across the way in a different building so hopefully, I won’t have to go in the middle of the night! They actually give you a #10 can to utilize when that happens – I don’t know if anyone took any since the pile was still quite large. All the things I thought people were joking about are actually true – frozen floors and pee cans.

The new station is extremely nice. I’m tempted to come back next summer and winter over just to stay in the nice building! And it’s warm in there. Good thing I brought my sleeping bag. I’ll definitely be sleeping in my long johns and wool socks!

A co-worker of mine from Wyoming came here for 3 summers. She and another co-worker suggested I take my own snow boots and they recommended these shoes called Steger mukluks. I had never heard of them before but I’m so glad I got them! They are so comfortable. The only thing is that I tried them on with 2 pair of cotton socks so they don’t fit with wool sock at all. Anyway, they are extremely warm even with just 1 pair of cotton socks on. Thanks Mary Kathryn and Emma!

I’m partaking of a high altitude sickness research program sponsored by the Mayo clinic in Minnesota. They did some tests on me at McMurdo – breathing and took some blood. I checked in with them today and have to fill out some paperwork everyday for the next week on how I’m doing and if the diomox is working…some people chose ginko and some didn’t want any drugs. Anyway, the research is to find out why it happens. So this Friday I’m to go in and give more blood.

3 Nov 06

summercamp - Jamesway 8 - where I live in 1 of 12 rooms








New station - not yet complete but inhabitable. The 2nd floor is where I work in the kitchen. It also has the hospital, dining area, computer lab, upstairs gym, etc. The wings coming out at you are where some of the rooms are. You can see the 2nd floor stairs is our kitchen freezer.

Old station almost covered wtih snow

Here's some pics of Amundsen-Scott South Pole station.