Yesterday after an annoying bout of the ‘screaming-barfies’* I made a cup of tea at ARO to warm up my hands. By the time I made my tea my hands were warm again so I took my mug of tea to the roof to see the moon dog. It was a very short tea time on the roof because it only took a few minutes for the near boiling tea in a ceramic mug to chill to a temperature where getting my lips stuck to the mug was a definite possibility.
August is sometimes called “Angry August” because at this point we have been stuck in the station with each other for over six months and with sun coming back the end of winter is now in sight. August is also the time in the winter when we get our flight credit and can start planning our off ice traveling. This makes for people getting restless, feeling cooped up, and impatient with how much time we still have left. Two months sounds a lot shorter especially with the sun glow on the horizon. I’m a little sad to see the stars go and the sun come back. I have had a fantastic time this winter and I don’t really want it to end, I love it here. Although I could really use a nice crispy juicy apple and some cheese-its. Also some garlic stuffed olives. And fresh mozzarella cheese. The only other thing that bothers me is not having moved beyond a one mile radius from the station in an entire year (besides that little jaunt to McMurdo in January). I guess I will just have to make up for it next year!
In this picture you can see Saturn, Scorpio, Sagittarius and the Moon. The Milky Way runs across the top right corner but with the combined effect of twilight, clouds and moon we can't see it anymore. We might get one more chance to see it when the moon sets next week, we shall see.
*“Screaming-barfies” – An ice climbing term adopted by Polies to describe the feeling when your hands get so cold they are in some sort of state between numb and a burning hurt so bad that you want to scream. There is no lasting damage, this is not frost-nip, it’s just really freaking cold, your fingers get fumbley and hurt and they hurt even more as you warm them up, kind of like a worse version of the pins and needles you get when your foot falls asleep. I guess it’s your body punishing you for letting your hands get too cold while trying to use them.
Side note: I highly recommend reading "The Martian" by Andy Weir, it's a fun, quick read. I read it in one sitting. Try to imagine yourself 'stranded' here at the South Pole, the most Mars like place on earth while reading it, it definitely added to the experience.
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