Package Mail Exchange!

To lift spirits and continue Pedro's legacy from last year, I organized a package mail exchange in July just after midwinter. As some people received mail on the medevac flight, it wasn't quite as exciting as last year, but with a little magic and a lot of generosity, karmic goodness and happiness did abound!



The packages pile up in my room!

Boxes galore!

Emily opens her box!

Ham, wine, glowsticks...can it get any better???

Josie picks up her box!

Zachary rifles through his loot!
With the exception of a few duds and some inappropriate pranks (this is McMurdo afterall) the package mail exchange was well received and appreicated by all!

Cake Break!

In celebration of a few birthdays and to shake break time up from its usuall sweetness, the MET hosted Cake break. Nom, nom, nom!

Food dries out quickly here, so we kept the cakes nice and moist in plastic bags!

Toppings of choice: M&Ms, sprinkles, Butterfinger and Orea crumbles!

Amanda is excited for cake break!

Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Frosting and Sprinkles.

Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting and Sprinkles.

SPOONS!

Jack's "I hate birthdays and theme parties" top hat
from last year made the rounds this year too.
Here, Jonathan sports it for his June birthday.

Then Shawn Brown gets a turn for his birthday!

Larry sports his Marie Antoinette hoodie in support of cake break!

Cake for one, cake for all!

Nom, nom, nom!

Cynthina likes cake break too!

Gone South

That's what happens in July; everything goes south. Hygiene lapses, spelling errors abound, narcolepsy sets in and people develop the ability to nap just about anywhere.

Todd snoozes.

Whoa Larry, what's up with that hair?

Toasted.

Sprawl...

Comfy couch!

VMF: 4th of July Celebration

Like the carnivals of ol', the 4th of July Celebration at the VMF was complete with a chili cook-off, homemade ice cream, funnel cakes, corn dogs and games!

The chili cook-of contestants! Wendy samples them all!

Miss Amanda and her homemade chili!

CORNDOGS!

Poobaca with his infamous "name that poo" carnival game and festive attire.

Oh yeah...a Vat-O'-Cheetos. Dive in for prizes!

Forget bacon, it's the year of the Cheeto.

Bill pays tribute to Izzy.

Cotton Candy making machine!

Todd tatts up the locals like Lan...

and Anna B!

Ang tags Cynthia with a tattoo!

Shawn Brown!

Travis and his trailer of games!

Desiree and Me! Yay USA!

Auction items! Antarctic-made bowls by Zach Pettway.

My sparkle hat!

Wine, chocolate, lights...

snacks, liquor and more!

The Captain Morgan Spiced Rum went for $750.00...not kidding!

A VMF clock made from old pisten bully parts!

Jenn!

Bill tries to pin a knife on King George's 3rd heart while MC looks on.
In lieu of cash prizes and such, all of the auction money raised was donated to Izzy and John to help with lost wages and expenses related to the medevac. When it really matters, communities can surprise you.

Freshies and Mail in the middle of Winter!

The upside of the medevac, besides our friend being able to get the medical attention needed in Christchurch, was the mail and freshies that came in on the flight!






There are a lot of things that could improve morale in McMurdo,
the awesomeness of fresh food is definitely one of them.

Emergency Medical Evacuation

Aside from freezing to death, having to be medically evacuated from the continent (medevac) is probably the greatest fear of every winterover.

As the NSF Station Manager put it, "A Medevac is not a decision we take lightly nor is it a decision that can be made without consensus of key parties in medical and in the operational aspect at the NSF HQ. They pose an inherent risk at any time of year and especially during the winter season and are only considered when there is potential loss of life or limb."

Fleet Operations (the department in charge of maintaining the roads and moving snow around with heavy equipment) was tasked with preparing the runway for the C-17 to land and did so in only five days. Between the runway coming together quickly and a blessing from the weather gods, on June 30th, we had a successful medevac.

(I Drive Photo by Jerry MacGregor)

(I Drive Photo by Jerry MacGregor)

(I Drive Photo by Jerry MacGregor)

(I Drive Photo by Jerry MacGregor)

(I Drive Photo by Jerry MacGregor)
More information can be found in this Air Force article covering the medevac flight.

For the privacy of my fellow winterover, I won't go into details regarding the illness. The medevac was successful and my fellow winterover is set to receive the medical attention in New Zealand and will hopefully be on the road to recovery soon.

Today, more than ever, I am grateful for my own health and safety.