Ice, White & Blue

Redhead Amok in Antarctica

I Am Healthy

Today, just for kicks, I went to the Doctor.

No, I'm not fetishizing whitecoats. But I had just asked Mama Ray(theon) to send me a copy of all the tests they did on my blood and my urine for my PQ (Physical Qualifications) for the Ice. I passed, I am PQed, as we say, but I don't know how to read the results. Obviously I was healthy if they let me back down there, but how healthy in the range of okay, am I?

I'm so healthy, my Doctor said, she wishes she had my blood test results. Good liver panel, kidney panel fine, great cholesterol, not anemic (really? But I'm a vegetarian!!), nice urine. Nothing icky happening at all. I don't have syphillis (they tested me for syphillis!!!!?!!!), I'm not HIV positive (I didn't need to be tested but I wanted to volunteer as part of the walking blood bank down there this season), I don't have Hepatitis B.

But, I might just possibly be drinking more water than normal folk do. This doesn't actually shock me. Water is my beverage of choice. Good water is the most thirst-quenching of liquids in the world. I was not always a water hog. Nope, once upon a time I was a gallon-a-day milk drinker. A habit quickly halted when I moved to Japan and the milk there was putrid tasting. I couldn't drink it.  My first sip of milk I spit out, thinking it had to be sour. It wasn't. Milk is not a commonly consumed beverage in Japan, so the milk that does get sold has to have a longer shelf-life than ours does. They pasteurize it at a higher temperature, which changes the flavour. I think they also feed their dairy cows differently.

In the early 60s, when my parents were living in Japan, the flavour of milk was even more egregious. The chickens and cows were fed what the Japanese had available, abundently available. This was during a time before the Japanese had become the economic kingpins of the East, as they became in the 80s, when they were much less modern and wealthy. So they fed their animals fish. Don't gag, up until recently we were feeding cattle their own offal from the slaughterhouses. Where do you think Mad Cow Disease came from?

If you feed a chicken or a cow fish, they will be fishy. So the entire time Mom & Dad were in Japan the eggs smelt & tasted of fish, the chicken tasted like fish and the milk tasted & stank of fish.

By the 80s I was much better off, but still I couldn't drink it. It tasted off to me. So I switched to juices. Orange juice, for the most part. I swigged down about a half gallon a day of juice, to supplement my 4 chocolate bar a day habit.

When I returned to North America I craved milk. I grabbed that half gallon in Mom's fridge and chugged it.

It tasted bad. Not off, but wrong somehow, dense & weird. So I didn't do much milk. But I did the cheese & yoghurt I'd been missing. Until several years later in college when I started up with the milk habit again. It was at that point I noticed the side effects of milk. When I drank it I got gas so badly I'd smoke myself out of my own bed each night. Took awhile to figure it out and give up milk for the sake of sleep. Quite possibly my system, having been milk-free for such a long time, decided that it was time I grew up and gave it up for good. I'm currently very lactose-intolerant, to the extent that I cannot do cheese or yoghurt either. And I weep for those losses.

My cat had also stopped sleeping under the covers with me.

So, back to juice. Until I started getting headaches. Then a friend pointed out to me that I should really be drinking water when I got thirsty. I protested. I hated the taste of water. It had to be flavoured somehow. I tried. I hated it. I drank it only under pressure, or for lack of anything better to drink.

The same friend suggested I remove all other possible liquid refreshments from my house, putting a large jug of filtered water in the fridge. It worked. I made the switch. I'd get so thirsty that the only thing I could find to drink was a tall glass of cool water. It took a few months, but soon my body was telling me Drink Water whenever I got thirsty, and I started thirsting for water, lusting for water. My thirst was only satisfied by water. Dr Pepper didn't cut it. Orange juice didn't cut it. Cranberry juice didn't do it.

I am now a water-drinker, almost exclusively.

And I pee clear. Even on the Ice, where staying hydrated is a full-time job.

I wonder why all the Reeses Pieces and Mike & Ikes and Pop Tarts and suppers of just egg noodles with butter & salt haven't shown up in my bloodwork. I feel a bit smug. I feel a bit guilty. I wonder when it's all going to go to pot.

posted by: coldwish at 20:59 | link | comments (3) |

Spidey Sense

So, the other night as I lay sleeping...

No, let's start it differently.

I live in a studio apartment on the second floor, and I have the habit on moist warm dark nights of opening my balcony door to get a breeze through my space. There is no screen on the door, so I risk light-lusting bugs flying in the door. But I am not a bug-hater, nor a bug-fearer. I don't like bugs in my food, nor bugs in my bed, and very few times have I not been able to fetch the curious moth bumping against my light shade and put it back outside unharmed. I handle bugs and spiders by hand all the time. I pick up stinging insects carefully on a piece of paper or in a cup and transport them back to a more friendly environment outdoors: hornets, bumble bees, domestic bees, wasps. All deserve to be put back outside.

Spiders, I'm less strict about, I don't mind their hanging around in their webs on my windows doing the job the screens fail to do of catching the mosquitos and flies I'd rather not live with. In fact, I love spiders, am fascinated by them and have peered closely into the webs and lives of many around the world. What a treat it was in Japan to have the larger spiders around me, where I could see so much more detail on their bodies. Of course, I was very respectful of these southern spiders, not knowing their poisons. I grew up a northern kid in Nova Scotia and Maine, and there are no poisonous spiders in the north, except the Brown Recluse.

I've never met a Brown Recluse and have my whole northern life gently transported misplaced spiders by hand to the outdoors, without any fear of being bitten. Gently done, they have no idea I am a potential threat. Or that I could squash them instantly. I love spiders. They fascinate me. If given the opportunity I will help them out by feeding them. I'll catch flies for them when the weather gets cold and they are clinging to their web in my bathroom window, patiently waiting for a next meal that may not come. They are indoors and do not feel the cold of winter. It is fascinating to watch a spider leap upon its wiggling prey and bite it into submission, wrapping it in ribbons of silver webbing as it struggles in its death throes.

So, I encourage spiders. Sometimes I have to encourage them to stay out of my bed.

I am a beneficial spider-loving human being. Give me a chance and we'll live happily side-by-side without any issues at all.

But I do have some limits:

Don't crawl across ME, unless you announce your presence first and I'm obviously an obstacle and I am curious enough to take the time you are climbing me to watch you closely.

Don't get in my food, unless it is clearly abandoned and that's where the flies are.

And don't bite me, you little fucker.

So, the other night as I lay sleeping, I got bit. Hard. I rolled over in the night and in a semi-aware state reached back around to fetch my covers. A spider who had broken cardinal rule number one was CRAWLING on me, and I grabbed her. Well, of course I did. She was on my shoulder on my covers travelling over the top of Mount Genevieve. I put the tip of my left index finger right on top of her and grabbed. She freaked & bit my finger. Hard. We're talking BITE not sting. And I woke up knowing the difference. I had my finger tip PINCHED by this beastie in my bed.

I jumped out of bed, flinging the covers off me and clenched my now throbbing & tingling hand to my chest. I knew I had been bitten, not stung, but by what? I couldn't see a mark but the place I had been bitten was like the center of a radiating bullseye of waves and I knew exactly where it was. I dunked my fingertip in isopropyl alcohol, in my sleep & pain befuddled state, believing that would clean the "wound". It ws throbbing & tingling pretty hard so I fetched out the ever handy bag of frozen peas and wrapped my finger in that.

And flung all my covers onto the floor, trying to dislodge whatever the hell had bitten me. Out flew a brown, short-legged spider that looked like one of those jumpers I'm not so enamoured of, because you can't predict where they'll go when they jump. More body than leg and about the size of a dime, looking less rattled than I did until it flew across the room with my shaking of the cover. I picked it up with a cup & tossed it outdoors.

Now, like I said, I was born a northern girl and all my life I have believed that there are no poisonous spiders in the north, except for the Brown Recluse. So I dismissed the possible threat and just said, what the hell, it'll hurt for a while but I'll go back to bed.

Hand wrapped in frozen peas and a towel to hold it in place I went back to bed and turned out the light. My hand throbbed, my finger hurt, but the cold definitely helped. I lay there sleepless & unable to think of anything but the pain & throbbing, as it seemed to move up my arm to my left elbow. Feeling horribly silly, I got back up and thought about calling 911 or going to the ER.

Thought about it some more. Called 911. They gave me the poison control number and I called them.

"All spiders are poisonous."

Not the most reassuring phrase to hear at 1:30am after being bit by a dime-sized fucker of a spider after a lifetime of solid belief in the innocence of northern spiders.

"You would not feel a Brown Recluse bite, so it isn't one of them."

I was doing the right thing, with the ice. I was told to monitor it, take a Tylenol, and if I had flu-like symptoms the next day to call my doctor. If I had Benadryl, take one. If my joints started aching, go to the ER.

Much reassured by the voice of calm on THEIR end of the phone, I swapped the now soggy peas for corn, wrapped my hand again in the towel, took a Tylenol and went back to bed. To sleep soundly all night until I woke in the morning to my alarm and a handful of soggy corn on my left hand.

I'm expecting to grow an extra set of legs, web-shooters and have Spidey Sense pretty soon now. All of which should serve me well in Antarctica, except for that shortage of bugs down there.

Because, y'know, I had such issues finding the right things to eat last season.

posted by: coldwish at 20:18 | link | comments |

Filling In The Lacunae With Links

• Big Dead Place: (http://www.bigdeadplace.com) is the best website out there to describe the unique culture on the Ice, which combines some of the worst aspects of big corporate control and strong-minded independent employees. When these two meet, there are bound to be fireworks. With a unique combination like this BDP will strike fear in your heart even as it cracks you up with its humour. It is a funny blog, and also VERY informative. If you want to go to the Ice you may think twice once you read it.

• Antarctic Sun (http://www.polar.org/antsun/index.htm): This is the Antarctic Newsletter, a place where you will find the latest science news with great photos and stories of the science and people on the Ice. Excellent for science coverage, with great detail. There are also comics and poetry and fun facts.

• One of the best personal blog resources is by Brien Barnett (http://www.brienbarnett.com/) a freelance journalist, currently doing dishes during the winter season at the South Pole. His blog has a great photo gallery, personal observations, and an often informative and whimsical collection of movie clips from down there.

• Another excellent personal blog, written with a younger audience in mind, is Keith Martin (http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Antarctica/McMurdo-Station/). He explains things clearly and well, and includes great photos. He is currently wintering at McMurdo Station, having spent last summer  in Antarctica too.

• This fellow has a good story if you can get past the gritting of your teeth over his regrettably conservative puffed-up political views: Vilmar (http://members.atlantic.net/~tavaresv/ANTARCTICA.htm). A bit of sifting through his story of his Ice travels and you’ll find interesting links to pages on Antarctic history and science.

• Elementary Penguin (http://www.elementarypenguin.com/?m=200409 ) is the website of Bill Jirsa who spent last summer in McMurdo as an IT guy in the computer lab. He has good photos and writes really well. I liked this guy & I like his website. He has a nice collection of links on his page if you are looking further.

• If you want to head down to the Ice yourself, or have questions you can’t find in your research, check out this online discussion forum Iceboard.org (http://www.iceboard.org/index.php) where they have categories for History, Science, Employment, and Life on the Ice. The people who frequent this board have years of experience and are very patient with those who post questions. Very helpful resource, good people.

• One of my favorite personal Ice Blogs is by an Aussie woman who spent last summer season at Davis Station, the Aussie base on the Antarctic Peninsula: Slush (http://nerdling.net/slushpile/). This blog is funny, well-written and insightful, with some good pictures. She describes some of the science being done on that side of the continent too.

• This blogger has spent several seasons down here at both the South Pole Station and currently is wintering at McMurdo Station: Frozen Dishes (http://frozendishes.motime.com/). He’s got some funny stories to tell.

• Phil Jacobsen was a D.A. (dining attendant/dishwasher) in McMurdo for over a year, possibly the hardest job on the Ice, and one of the least well-paid. People do it for the love and the need to get to the Ice. They are some of the most well-educated people down there and are certainly the hardest-working. He is a good writer, and a great fellow. (http://www.philjacobsen.com/)

• Another favourite of mine is the blog of Luke & Luci: Antarctica Blog (http://blogs.bootsnall.com/luke/). They have some great travel photos from all their trips, and you really should check out their mountain hut in the Italian mountains, pretty spectacular.Luke was in the Utilities dept last summer, and Luci was the greenhouse caretaker.  Both of them are totally cool people and will be back next summer season working in field camps. Lucky folks. I hope they can post from the field.

• If you want photos, here’s a great resource US Antarctic Program Photo Library (http://photolibrary.usap.gov/), elsewhere on this website, Raytheon Polar Services(http://www.polar.org/index.htm) you can find a lot of information on the kinds of jobs we have down here, the job fairs, and information for actual participants The National Science Foundation website on the USAP is here: http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=ANT, and can be a bit heavy on the science, but certainly helpful in pointing out the sheer scope of all the science they support down here.

• Alejandro Rubio (http://www.jasperridge.com/journal_0205.jsp) spent a season down in McMurdo several years ago. His blog is of interest because he is openly gay. There are quite a few out women on the Ice, but he is the only gay man I’ve heard mention of. I barely even heard rumours of gay men last season, it seems to be a bit more difficult for gay men to function in such an allegedly rugged & masculine environment where the heterosexuals are into extreme bed-hopping.

• Mike Poole runs Antarctic Memories (http://groups.msn.com/antarcticmemories) and is a bountiful source for the curious looking for photos and science and history of the Ice. He’s connected with Iceboard.org and does a fabulous job. It’s not the prettiest website, but it’s deep in resources. He has years of experience on the Ice and is ready & willing to pass it on and help people out who want to come down too.

• My roommate, Marsha Kendall (http://www.marshakendall.com/antarctica.htm), also has a blog with some info from her Antarctic experience, and pictures. She’ll be back next season and we plan to room together again. I am very happy to know that, it’ll make it a better season for me.

• Zondra Skertich (http://www.zondra.org/) is another McMurdo blogger, she works in Supply, with a few years under her belt. Her blog is more personal than scientific, but her pictures are worth checking out.

• Beth Bartel, Ice Blog (http://iceblog.puddingbowl.org/ is a beaker (scientist) who has been down to the Ice several years running, and keeps a good blog of her personal and scientific adventures, with pictures.

• Possibly the most photographically spectacular website is the following, with many of Norbert Wu’s Diving Under The Ice (http://scilib.ucsd.edu/sio/nsf/index.html) pictures. This site is mind boggling, and explains some of why so many people are so willing to help out the divers in their scientific efforts. Just to be next to a diver when you know s/he has seen sights like this is enough to make the heart beat faster.

• Sandwich Girl (http://www.sandwichgirl.com/) is another McMurdo blogger with a wicked sense of humour and a creative bent.

• Sarah Kaye (http://www.murkworks.net/~sarah/) spent several seasons down here too, and wrote about it quite amusingly. She started out at the South Pole then shifted over to McMurdo but headed back the next 2 seasons for the Pole and even wintered over. Her posts are in the form of letters home.

• Gillian Hadley (http://gillianhadley.blogspot.com/) is a beaker doing Weddell seal research out of McMurdo for several seasons, including last season, and her posts are quite fun. She has some great pictures.

• Bill Spindler (http://www.southpolestation.com/)blogs from the South Pole and is currently wintering over there. He has great pictures and a spectacular history collection of the Amundsen-Scott Station.

posted by: coldwish at 14:43 | link | comments |
between 2005

Ice Date August 22nd, 2005

Those are nice words: Ice Date. That means not only that I got a job for sure, but I am PQed (Physically Qualified) and I'm headed down to Mcmurdo for WINFLY!!!!

I'll be working in the Housing Department for the seaon, probably helping out with janitorial stuff from Winfly to Mainbody (in October when the station opens up again).

I'm thrilled to be going back, and a bit stunned that it's so damn soon. We've only just started with summer up here in Maine, and I have to pack myself backup into boxes & put myself back away in storage.

Hardly seems real, but real enough to make me hyperventilate.

I'm also Dream Packing again. Go figyuh!

I'll be rooming with AMrsha again, she made it back too. We are both excited about that. We neither of us wanted to break in a new roomie.

Yippeee!!!

My boss here at work now was very thankful I didn't hear the news while I was at work. We all know I would've been loud in a shrieking bellowing squeaking kind of way.

I'm spending some time getting my photos up onto Snapfish from last season, so people can see them without my having to drag my laptop to their house and breath down their necks as I explain them. I have not edited the photos in any way at all, the fuzzy ones and the bad ones are up there too.

posted by: coldwish at 14:52 | link | comments (5) |