New Year's Eve...and Day!

McMurdo is in the first time zone after the International Date Line. Know what that means? It means we will be the first in the world to hit midnight tonight! (New Zealand is in the same zone). My friend keeps saying that this year will be very good for all of us since we are ringing it in first. I can't agree more.

I will be celebrating tonight at Scott Base. I would stay here, but, as usual, McMurdo is not celebrating this holiday on the actual day. We are waiting until the weekend to pretend its New Year's, and I will have to work the holiday anyway. I have tomorrow off and I can't let the chance to celebrate first in the world slip through my fingers! Plus, it'll be a cool cultural experience to see if the Kiwis do New Year's differently than us.

This weekend at McMurdo is Icestock. It is exactly what the name implies: an all day festival of music. Like I said, us galley staff will be working, but we each get an hour off to check things out. There will be contests such as "Beautiful Beards," "Best Snow Suit," etc. I will be entering the "Beautiful Heads" competition for baldies only. I'm thinking that I will have an advantage being the only girl competing against a bunch of old men.

Speaking of which, I am still happy to be bald :)

I hope the New Year brings good things for all of you, and I can't wait to see you again next year!