i just got back from snowmobile training. we didn't ride long, but boy was it fun! my only complaint is the full face shield didn't work so well for me. either it or my glasses were fogged up, so i kept it open, and wasn't wearing anything over my face. so next time, i think i'll elect for the open face helmet with tinted goggles and my ski mask:)
so i've not blogged anything because i've only been online since yesterday, and with the work computers. i got my laptop back just now from the IT folks who checked it and authorize it for LAN connectivity. i just realized how hard it must have been for them, since my boot menu defaulted to windows 7 (which requires my external harddrive), and XP had the touchpad turned off hah..
so it looks like VoIP ain't gonna work but that's okay. i can dial out free now. i changed my google voice number to denver, where the satellite downlink is. so i can dial it directly, and call out from there for free. my google voice number SHOULD show up on caller id, but as yet it's been showing unknown. probably because it's a new number. that number is (720) 984-2576 if you want to leave text messages or voicemails that i can check when i am online.
so is it cold?? heck yeah, 10 to 14 below with windchills in the -20s, but they dress you warm so only problems are hands, and when it's windy or you're driving a snowmobile -- the face. funny, i've been wearing my normal sneakers and socks and nooo problems there yet. snowmobile instructor asked if my feet were okay. everyone else that's been here has hiking boots for around town. i thought about bringing my navy boots, but f- it. if i'm not walking on ice, i'm good :)
anyway, it's 4:22pm, gonna smoke, and get ready to get outta here.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
That was some flying
It's 4:41 Monday here in New Zealand. Almost noon on Sunday back home. I guess I'm not use to to time change yet. Actually, I'm just boring and went to bed early... heh.
7deg Celsius ain't as bad as it sounds. Went walking with just my inner jacket on, got to the first intersection and turned around. It was raining. I guess it does that a lot here.
I bought a pack of cigarettes at the hotel bar. =\ I got NZ$50 from airport ATM (Visa is more fair than the exchange booths, silly people). I paid just under 72cents per new zealand dollar. so the NZ$10.50 I spent on cigarettes was still a bit expensive, huh? :P
ok, I'm just bored in NZ, this post serves no purpose. Its totally not Antarctica related, but this is--
OMG I LEFT MY IPOD USB CABLE AT HOME how the f will i charge my ipod and play it?? Bet they cost $40 at a mall. I'm too poor. $10 bus fare to get there and back i bet. oh well!
7deg Celsius ain't as bad as it sounds. Went walking with just my inner jacket on, got to the first intersection and turned around. It was raining. I guess it does that a lot here.
I bought a pack of cigarettes at the hotel bar. =\ I got NZ$50 from airport ATM (Visa is more fair than the exchange booths, silly people). I paid just under 72cents per new zealand dollar. so the NZ$10.50 I spent on cigarettes was still a bit expensive, huh? :P
ok, I'm just bored in NZ, this post serves no purpose. Its totally not Antarctica related, but this is--
OMG I LEFT MY IPOD USB CABLE AT HOME how the f will i charge my ipod and play it?? Bet they cost $40 at a mall. I'm too poor. $10 bus fare to get there and back i bet. oh well!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Itinerary
Tomorrow I'll board at 12:36pm in Charleston on a 2h14m flight to Chicago (ick!).
I'll be there about an hour, and head to Los Angles, CA at 3pm on a 4h31m flight.
Then, four hours later, I'll leave to Auckland, NZ. This flight will take 12h55m.
I'll arrive at Auckland at 6:25am on October 4th. Woo that's some time travel.
Then it's just a skip on over to Christchurch at 7:25am for 1h20m and I'll be chillaxin there for a couple nights.
Definitely a lot of flying. The round-trip ticket was purchased yesterday for nearly $2400. :)
I'll be there about an hour, and head to Los Angles, CA at 3pm on a 4h31m flight.
Then, four hours later, I'll leave to Auckland, NZ. This flight will take 12h55m.
I'll arrive at Auckland at 6:25am on October 4th. Woo that's some time travel.
Then it's just a skip on over to Christchurch at 7:25am for 1h20m and I'll be chillaxin there for a couple nights.
Definitely a lot of flying. The round-trip ticket was purchased yesterday for nearly $2400. :)
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Trip set to start Friday
So if all goes well, I will be leaving Friday for Antarctica. I don't yet have the time of the flight, nor anything packed, but I know what's going, and it shouldn't be to painful. I hope to find a digital camera to bring, of course.
I will be travelling with my netbook. Charleston Airport to LAX to Auckland, New Zealand to Christchurch, NZ. I should spend two nights in Christchurch. I will get issued my cold weather gear there. They're about 17 hours ahead of the Eastern USA. We'll use their timezone on the ice. After all this I should end up at McMurdo Station, on Ross Island in New Zealand's claim of Antarctica on October 5th.
I will have regular access to internet and telephone, via satellite, which terminates either in Denver or Washington state. I guess I'll find out which when I get there. They suggest calling cards, but of course I will be using Google Voice :)
Below is a very good map I found of the region. It's not legible without viewing full size though, sorry. McMurdo station is a little over 800 miles from the South Pole, and much warmer ;) It may look like the two stations there are in the water, or on the ice shelve, but they're actually firmly on real land -- Ross Island. As far as I know, it's connected year round to the mainland though by ice.
I will be travelling with my netbook. Charleston Airport to LAX to Auckland, New Zealand to Christchurch, NZ. I should spend two nights in Christchurch. I will get issued my cold weather gear there. They're about 17 hours ahead of the Eastern USA. We'll use their timezone on the ice. After all this I should end up at McMurdo Station, on Ross Island in New Zealand's claim of Antarctica on October 5th.
I will have regular access to internet and telephone, via satellite, which terminates either in Denver or Washington state. I guess I'll find out which when I get there. They suggest calling cards, but of course I will be using Google Voice :)
Below is a very good map I found of the region. It's not legible without viewing full size though, sorry. McMurdo station is a little over 800 miles from the South Pole, and much warmer ;) It may look like the two stations there are in the water, or on the ice shelve, but they're actually firmly on real land -- Ross Island. As far as I know, it's connected year round to the mainland though by ice.
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