Coolest Night Ever?

Ok, so maybe that title is a bit dramatic, but this one will be at the top of the list for a very long time. So a few posts ago I put up my little tribute to one of my heros, Sir Ed. Tonight I got invited over to New Zealand's Scott Base, which, as I have mentioned before, is just over the hill from us here in McMurdo. The dinner was so that New Zealand's Minister of Foriegn Affairs, Rt. Hon. Winston Peters (pictured to the left) could present a plaque to be hung at Scott Base commemorating the incredible efforts on a project that I have actually worked on called ANDRILL. It was a total surprise to me that I got to go, but even with just a few minutes to get ready and go over there, this was a chance of chances!

So we got to Scott Base, met many of the ANZ and NSF higer ups, had some hors d'ouvrs (is that how you spell horse doovers?) and then heard from a few of the ANDRILL higher ups talk about the project. Then the Minister unveiled the plaque, everyone clapped and the announcement that dinner would be served immediately was made.

So during dinner, the head of Scott Base stands up and introduces some more people, and several of them gave short speeches about Sir Ed and what he meant to the program, NZ, and themselves. It was awesome! They also had pictures of Sir Ed from his last trip to the Ice just one year ago. I was secretly hoping that he'd make yet another surprise last visit to Antarctica this season and I could actually get to meet him, but that will forever remain a wish!

Regardless, it was an incredible night!

I took some pics so I'll post those as soon as I can, but all my stuff is packed as I leave for the South Pole in about 9.5 hours from now. So, I'll be out of contact for a day or so until I get settled in down there and the satellites come up. I hear they're up from about 4 am until about 8 am, so I'll be on delayed contact until I return to McMurdo, but I should still be able to to email back and forth.

Wish me luck!