31 July, 2002

Yesterday it took a long time to talk with each member of the science service team, take their pictures, and post my journal and photos. Today, I’m taking a bit of a break to tell you a little about a “typical” day for me here on board the USCGC Healy in the Arctic Ocean. Having said that, I must admit that there is really no such thing as a typical day. Any one day might be similar to a day from a week or two ago, but no two days back to back are ever alike. Before coming on board, I thought I would have twelve hour shifts, seven days/week. If you read yesterday’s journal, you’ll realize that the science service team does have those hours. They are on from midnight to noon or vice versa, with two people on seven to seven for an overlap. There are 14 different projects going on during the cruise, and 38 science personnel to carry out those projects. Remember too that eight of those are on the science service team. That leaves only 30 people, not enough to go around to split the work into two shifts. As a result, everyone is on when it is his/her turn to collect or process samples. That could be at any hour of the day or night, and the scheduled times change frequently due to ice conditions, currents, and helicopter operations. That’s part of the reason we never see everyone at any one meal during the day. There’s always someone trying to catch up on sleep.

My daily routine always includes some time spent on the benthic work with Jackie’s team, taking water for oxygen-18 from the CTD casts, and time on my journals. I find that I never seem to get the journals posted in a timely manner. Some nights I work into the morning hours and sleep through until lunch or after. On other days, like today, I had my journal finished last night with the exception of two pictures. I got a “normal” night’s sleep but went to work on our core samples as soon as I woke up. Once again, it was late into the day when the journal from the previous day was posted. In addition, I have been printing out and posting a copy of the daily journal and photos for the crew and anyone else who doesn’t get to read it on line. For some reason, this whole process always takes me at least two-three hours. Even though it takes time on a daily basis, I’m so glad I’m doing it. It forces me to take the time to reflect on my experience, and it has given me a wonderful opportunity to meet and talk with some of the many interesting people on board. In addition, it’s a great feeling to get e-mails from people who are reading my journals!

What are some of the other things I do on a daily basis? Sometimes I get to the gym on board to ride the stationary bike in an effort to work off some of the calories from the great meals we get. When we’re at deep stations that take a long time, I usually manage three meals a day. When we’re at shallower depths, our work comes closer together and I often miss a meal as I try to catch sleep in between. Even on the days that I don’t get to the ship’s gym, I get a cardiovascular workout climbing the stairs between my room and the science lab several times each day. I’m on the fourth deck, and the science lab is on the first deck (the mess deck). In between are 62 steep stairs. The crew goes up and down with ease, but I often find myself stopping to catch my breath part way up. Just to give you an idea of the size of the ship, there is one level above me (the bridge) and two levels below the mess deck! When I go to the gym or the laundry, it’s 79 steps back up!

For the scientists on board, this is their job and they work hard at it! They will spend long months after the cruise analyzing their data, but while they are here they don’t have any time to spare. Many of them have been doing oceanography work for years, and they clearly enjoy the time they are at sea. Watching Jackie’s face light up when we get four great core samples is enough to convince me she loves what she is doing. It’s definitely not your typical nine to five job but, for these scientists, it is their life.

At each station, one of my jobs is to work with Jackie to do the Haps core or van Veen grabs or both. Every time I'm out on deck with the mud I wear my mustang suit. It's always easy to find mine on the rack. Can you tell why? Thanks to Jackie G. and Ari Balsom for helping me to display my suit and one worn by the people who only sample water.

I have been provided with all my cold weather gear by a company called VECO. I'll have to give it all back when I'm done. Do you think they will want these gloves back?

These are some of the stairs I climb several times a day between my room on the 4th level and the science lab on the 1st level (the mess deck). Keep in mind that there are two levels below the mess level and one above me!