Boondoggle

Sometimes if you're really really good, and lucky, and have the day off or it is dead at work, and there's a space available you can jump on a Pisten Bully (seldom), snowmobile (very seldom), or helicopter (extremely seldom) and go join whoever is going wherever out in the field to do whatever. Below are some pics of dive-tending a few miles off-base.

First in Clowns

Oh, the things we do to entertain ourselves... like running a 5k race. In Antarctica. In a clown suit.

This is not just the makings of a twisted joke; it's what actually went down Thanksgiving Saturday. Over a hundred people gathered to race the annual 5k Turkey Trot here at McMurdo. It was cold and windy, but that didn't stop us.

The winner was a Kiwi named Trotter (no joke) from the New Zealand base just over the way. I was proud to come in First in Clowns. I also gained the title of Last in Clowns. I was a happy clown, I was a sad clown...