Heading Even Farther South

It is hard to believe that I've been here nearly a month now.  Again, I am ready to go home.  As interesting as this place is, it is a bit too long to be away from home.  However, even if my manager said I could go home tomorrow, I can't turn back from the South Pole being this close.  Besides there's work for me to do and too late to get someone else to do it.  Two weeks and I'm home.

Before any flight north, south, or otherwise off station, you have to turn in your bags the night before so they can be weighed and palletized for the journey.  This ritual is known as Bag Drag.  I'm sure that it is intended to have the dual meaning.  Mine is at 7pm tonight, so I need to go back to my room and pack.  Also, before I can checkout on the way to New Zealand, my room has to be inspected.  I'm going to clean it now so I don't have to worry about it on the way back.  My remaining schedule is as follows (dates are in NZ time):

1 Feb - Fly to the South Pole
2-6 Feb - Work
7 Feb  - Fly back to McMurdo
8 Feb - Fly back to Christchurch, NZ
9-10 Feb - Days Off
11-12 Feb - Work in Christchurch Office
13 Feb - Fly back to Denver

Unless the weather delays us, my next post will be from the South Pole!  At the Pole, Internet access is only 12 hours per day, so I'm not sure how it will work out in Denver time yet, but I think it will be from about 0130 to 1330 MST.  If any of you want a post card from the South Pole, email me your mailing address.  They may be blank depending upon how many requests I get and how much time I have.