From: Perales, Richard (Chico)
Sent: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 07:28:26 +1300
Subject: Spanish Word of the Day 12/22/01

Cheers on another clear and warm day from McTown, Antarctica where the ambient temperature this morning is already at the freezing point of fresh water and fog is rolling in on the sea ice. It's that time of year when flight cancellations begin to happen because of fog as much as because of weather or mechanical problems. And we all know how common those can be. Show me a season when there weren't as many fixed-aircraft flight cancellations because of mechanical problems as have you toes and fingers and I'll show you Santa with his reindeers on your roof. Some poor souls are still trying to get home for Christmas. Patience, perseverance, and luck go a long way here. Unlike spiked eggnog and fresh food. Three more days before Christmas and the work for science research continues. Santa should be proud…or worried about us. Rest and relaxation does wonders for the body and the soul. The longest day in the Southern Hemisphere, the summer solstice, was yesterday. It's all downhill now so put your goggles, throw away your ski poles, and go for the gusto. The high temperature in Mctown yesterday was a boiling +07C/+45F. It's getting ridiculously hot here. No you have to sleep with your window open, no blankets, no clothes on, and maybe put ice on you or else you feel like you're in the jungles of the Congo. The forecast for today is for more of the same. If you want to make some extra money here set up a lemonade and/or ice-cream stand outside. The temperature at South Pole Station where the average winter temperature on the continent averages -60F, the ambient temperature there is at also at a sizzling-for-there -24C/-12F with the wind-chill at -34C/-30F in clear visibility. Well the Long Duration Balloon went up yesterday after a few delays because of wind conditions and is now up, up and away, circling the continent and taking data so that all the wise men will be wiser. It's like that here. There is so much knowledge from so many people they should rename this place Egg Head City. The way the heat is cooking everything outside, it would probably scramble a few eggs along the way. The Spanish word of the day is:

"Casa." Which means: "Home."
That says it all.

The Spanish word of the day is what Ernest Shakelton said after failing to be the first human to reach the South Pole by 100 km:

"Mejor un burro vivo que un leon muerto." Which means: He watched over them and took care of them and made sure they would get home alive.

"Better a live donkey than a dead lion." Spoken like a true wise man. Shakelton's reputation preceded him so he had men who would walk through fire for him. The history of the Heroic Age is filled with tales of courageous endeavors that him and his men went through on a daily basis that you have to wonder where reality ends and madness begins. Shackelton was like a father to his men during his many polar explorations. Some things never change. Like dads.. Dads are like that. Many times they don't say much but say a lot by what they do. You know they love you because they have a twinkle in their eyes when you shine and tear when you suffer. Shakelton did the incredible and the impossible when his ship the Endurance was trapped in the pack ice and was destroyed by it soon after. He never failed to believe they would make it. Most dads are like that. If they saw what you see down here they would sigh and grow a hundred feet with pride and admiration because of you. Many times dads are in the background watching and hearing you tell everyone all the fascinating and amazing stories from here and from where you started. Sure you mght be here because you can't function anywhere else. But deep down you know it doesn't matter because no matter how crazy this place makes you, you can still come home to your parents house. And your dad will be there smiling. This Christmas remember your dad. Have a great day. Chico.over.