January 7, 2000

The Laurence M. Gould clears an iceberg off Gamage Point.

• January 7, 2000 (Time: 10:00pm--EST). The City Radio, Wake Up and Smell the Moon, with hosts Ed and CG. A live telephone/Internet interview from Palmer Station.

Line handlers (Left to Right), Bob Farrell, Steve Dunbar, and Dan "Sparky" Weisblatt.

A storm bearing snow, sleet and rain passed through the area today. Boating operations were at a bare minimum. Icebergs seemed to float between water and sky in a flat light that reduced visibility to less than a mile. The barometer plummeted and the wind changed directions several times during the course of the morning.

The Laurence M. Gould returned to Palmer Station today with resupply and a number of science personnel, a high school teacher, as well as several media visitors. Most of the Station were on hand to help off-load fresh vegetables and other sundries from the ship. Seven people from Palmer will rotate out on Sunday, joining colleagues on the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) cruise to conduct ship-based research for the next three weeks in the waters off the Western Antarctic Peninsula. They spent the afternoon cleaning out their rooms and laboratories and getting their science equipment and materials ready for the cruise. The cruise forms a complementary avenue of research to that undertaken in the closer proximity to shore from Palmer. Several different projects will be engaged aboard the Gould.

Last night, we staged the 3rd Annual Palmer Station Variety Show. Many hands were on deck for an evening of music, dance, satire, general hilarity and bedlam. The event was coordinated by Donna Patterson and Tracy Shaw and hosted by Master of Ceremonies, Rob Edwards, who also sat in on banjo for a few numbers including that bluegrass favorite, "Mountain Dew." The rest of the audience joined in on spoons and various kitchen gadgets.

The 3rd Annual Palmer Station Variety Show

Swing moves by Ross Hein and Tracy Shaw were one of the evening's highlights.

Ross and Tracy walk the floor...

...and alley-oop!

Elissa "Missy" Mills serves aperitifs between acts while Norm "Wild Man" Lavoie takes a breather.

Pete Duley (left) and Andy Sutton (right) enjoy an outing in the country.

Dan "Flea" Lubin jams on the bass.