What I miss

I have been here three months now and was asked what I miss. So I came up with a list.


I miss:

- my wife, Andee, her loving ways, cheerful smile, and upbeat attitude.
- my son Cary to skateboard up the street to La Cantina for a lunch of tacos and cervezas and to watch dumb movies with.
- my daughter Jocelyn and her laugh. Jocelyn meeting me on the beach for a run. Seeing Jocelyn ahead of me on her bike.
- the ocean for a sunrise paddle to the pier or an early morning surf session.
- sitting in the lineup and seeing Cary and Jocelyn to my sides, getting waves while hooting for each other.
-running on the beach
-seeing grass, plants, flowers, trees and their smells.
-mowing the lawn.
-bugs, lizards, snakes and other critters
-our three dogs, petting them, walking them, Tobi jumping on my lap, Snugz snarling at me, and Yaki yawning with the sound of the Wookie from Star Wars. 
-seeing children playing.
-seeing my neighbor Chris working outside then walking over there to snag a beer and see his latest project.
-Chris stopping by and seeing all three dogs jump around.
-walking a dog to the crossover before the sunrise to check out the surf.
-getting excited with an incoming swell and running back to the house for my board.
-sitting in the lineup with all my surfing neighbors: Roger, Bill, Craig, Tom, Keith, Jason, Rob, Gary, John, Dave, Dan, Alan and sharing waves.
-talking story in the lineup, missing a wave and not caring as there are more coming.
-watching neighbor Dave kite-surf  and talking with his wife Michaelyn (Mike) on the beach.
-talking with the neighbors while on the dune crossover.
-drinking beer on the crossover.
-sitting on my surfboard and seeing Andee with a camera trying to take a picture of me.
-riding my bike to my favorite Port Canaveral Restaurants Rusty's, Fish Lips, and Grills and sitting at the bar for wings and beer.
-sitting outside at Mainly Lobster in Cocoa Beach for grilled fish.
-Dos Equis Amber day at Cantina dos Amigos in Satellite Beach. 
-the sun, heat, and humidity.
-after several hours in the water seeing Andee on the beach with a sandwich and something cool to drink.
-fresh fruit and vegetables.
-making fresh fruit smoothies.
-cruising up or down the coast on my fishing boat.
-sitting on my boat a few miles off the coast with two fishing lines in the water and enjoying a sandwich and beer, not caring if I catch anything.
-dinners with Bruce, Judy, and Chris.
-warm sand between my toes.
-seeing a rocket launch.
-riding a bike.
-hearing ships' toots and whistles from Port Canaveral.
-after spending the day biking coming home and Andee making me a fruit smoothie and snack while I clean up.
-my tan as I am so pale now.
-bikinis on the beach.
-listening to the surf break on the beach as I go to bed.
-thinking straight as my mind often goes blank now. I heard that this affects most winter-overs.
-seeing a jet's contrail in the sky.
-going out the door with just shorts, flip-flops, and t-shirt. 
-my huge shower at home.
-Andee's baking. Coming in the house and smelling fresh brownies with nuts, banana nut bread or 7-layer cookies.
-the barbeque and cooking. 
-watching the sun and moon rise over the ocean.
-my fireplace.
-watching dolphins jump around me as I am sitting on my surfboard.


I'm sure this list isn't complete but it's not like I am in prison here. The beauty and mystic of Antarctica is supreme and I feel very privileged to be working here. It's simply a different phase of my life - an escape from reality and into the unknown.

Contemplating the enormity of it all. This is how a penguin stands. Scientists equate a penguin's intelligence to chickens.

Speaking of penguins...it's a penguin kind of day.

 Current Conditions at 14:02 on 5/18/12

Temperature: -26.6°C (-16°F) 

Wind Chill: -43.0°C (-45°F) 

Wind Speed: 22kts (25mph)