October 22

I had to wake at 12 noon (the middle of my nights sleep) to take care of business at the post office, which is closed during my waking hours. The mid-sleep errand led to me sleeping in for a couple extra hours. Learned at work that one of the night janitors quit and was scheduled to be on the next plane outta here. The official word is that her mother is deathly ill, but I think she just doesn't like insomnia and didn't expect Antarctica to be cold.

I talked a fellow janitor into offering a Spanish word of the day. Today's words are "soy amable."

To answer some questions from emails: I applied for this job via the internet. I did a phone interview and that was about it. I had to get a doctor and dentist to say I would be okay to go to Antarctica. There are no indigenous people to this land. I work with several grandmothers and many more folks with adult children my age. The things on the ice in the sunset picture are loaded cargo pallets. I will take a picture of the nasty seal carcass next time I'm out that way. I have no desire to play in the rugby game as there are lots and lots of big, strong men in these parts.