26 January, 2000

Hello all,

I had a wonderful evening in the hut! It seems that several years ago,
a gentleman by the name of Jim "Thumper" Porter, built this hut as a
hobby while he wintered over here. It is quite popular here as there is
a sign up sheet that fills up quickly. Privacy is a premium and people
are eager to enjoy the hut and it's solitude. The hut is a small wooden
structure mounted on beams. It is about 2.5 meters in length, 1 meter
high and 1 meter wide.  It will sleep one or two people comfortably. It
is equipped with a cozy sleeping bag set on top of soft matting. Talk
about a room with a view. There are 3 windows along the sides of the
hut that provide wonderful views. Two window showcase the glacier and
the streaks of pastel pinks and greens cast upon it by the setting sun.
As I nestled into my sleeping bag I was almost giddy!  I was so
thrilled to be away and alone!  I watched brash ice move into the shore
and a leopard seal sleeping on a large bed of
ice.Helvetica After an hour
or so of reading by the midnight light, I drifted off to sleep.  I
would occasionally hear a distant boom and crash from the glacier as it
calved.

This morning I met with Rob Farrel,
Polly Penhale, and Rob Edwards to discuss my impressions and experience
at Palmer. Afterwards, I went out to Humble Island with Jim LoScalzo
and Polly Penhale.  We had a bit of trouble with our zodiac. We were
not going anywhere in a leaky boat! It seems that it was holding quite
a bit of water in the bottom.  After pulling the plugs it still didn't
seem to drain until we took it for a spin right out front.  Finally,
the water drained and we could get going.  Once at Humble, Jim went off
in hopes of photographing jousting elephant seals.  I sent up my
camera equipment to get a series of pictures for a virtual tour
panoramic of the penguin rookery.  Polly went ahead to meet with Bill
Fraser's group, Doug Quin and Steve Dunbar.  Doug was listening to the
petrel chicks hoping to record the changing sounds in their maturing
peeps. I am pretty sure I got a great series of pictures to create a
wonderful panorama of the island.

After lunch, the L.M. Gould arrived. Line pullers and greeters alike
hustled to the dock to help greet the ship.  ASA employees immediately
got busy unloading equipment and crates. Tonight friends and colleagues
caught up on old times.  It is a great time when the ship arrives.  We
were treated to wonderful bluegrass tunes by local musicians, Rob
Edwards, Will Silva, Steve Navarro, Dan Lubin, Ken  Dogget and Doug
Quin. It is worth noting that Steve's bass guitar is a homemade variety
made from scrap wood, metal and wire found on station.  A magic trick
was the absolute highlight for me.  Steve "ZZSteve" Navarro made things
levitate!  Anything, from cards, to tea bags, it was amazin!!!  I
snapped a couple of digital photos to prove it!  Steve burst my bubble
when he said, "It looks like I dropped it!"  Take it from me, the card
is floating in the air!  Funny stories to take home!  Steve also gave
me a wooden box he made a few days ago.  I was so touched.  It is made
of ash, oak, and green wood. "The Endurance was made of green wood, you
know," Steve said.  Such a thoughtful gesture. I continue to be amazed
by the wonderful people here.  Thank you again, Steve.

Until tommorrow!

-Mimi

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ZZ-Steve Navarro demonstrates his famous levitating card trick! Amazing!

A beautiful view of Arthur Harbor and the glacier as I drifted off to sleep.

Rob Edwards, Steve Navarro, Dan Lubin and Ken Dogget are entertaining us with bluegrass music! Not seen is Doug Quin on the guitar.

The station maintains this popular getaway hut.