Into the Wild.

Hi All!

So, I have never been much of a blogger.  I have set up a few over the years but never did more than two posts and certainly never sent it to anyone.  However, I figured when one is about to embark on something as crazy I am, a blog is necessary.

Two weeks ago I quit my job as the Director of Modern and Contemporary Art at a fine art auction house in Chicago and traded it in for 6 months as a Steward (basically food prep and light janitorial duties... I know - INSANE!) in Antarctica working for the National Science Foundation at McMurdo Station*.  

I bet all of you who know me are thinking,  "She is not much of a granola (except for that slight phase in high school, but that was more about Phish than anything else) or much of an outdoorsman."   I'm not.  Other than my stint as an Indian Princess (go Tribe Gucci!)  I have no outdoorsman skills.    But I am excited to learn.  And hey, who knows, maybe they will be in dire need of a hand sewn indian leather vests with decorative marker coloring, or training on how to order a port-a-potty to a remote campsite**, in which case  - I got us covered.  

The truth is I was ready for something new in my career and in life but wasn't sure what.  I figured this would be the perfect 6 month break to figure out what I want to do.   The adventure is just a bonus.  The blog will help me document my journey (plus it cuts down on the amount of time I will need to spend emailing everyone).

So there you have it.   I will be updating as much as I can and hopefully posting tons of pictures and videos of penguins! (for you Jenny!***), as well as pictures of my ridiculous outfits (that's where Big Red comes in, its the name they have for the government issued Parka), the station, and basically day to day life in Antarctica.   On the 19th of August I deploy (their word, not mine) to Christchurch, New Zealand.  I will spend a few days there for orientation and then on the 23rd I will take a military cargo flight to Antarctica.  

I am going for the very end of the winter through their summer and then leave at the beginning of the fall (in February).   It will be light most of the day while I am there, however I am hoping at the beginning it will still be dark so I can see a night like this:

I am so excited for the adventure!  And maybe a tad bit nervous after seeing this:

I hope you all follow me here through my journey.  If there is anything you want me to picture or shoot video of, or write about let me know.  Wish me luck!

xo

S

Footnotes:
* If any of you all want to send me care packages, letters, etc, let me know and I will email you the address.  It is actually cheap to ship because it is considered military mail.   But it will take a few weeks to get there, so keep that in mind.  Oh, and Pawela, don't send me booze.  Already checked.  It's against the law.

** True story.   Happened.  What can I say?  We were brats.

*** Whit, I am grouping you in that.  You too Chris.