Success!!!
Well almost.
Our project manager, Stacy, and one of our ingenious engineers, Bob, came to my rescue last night! (Yes, my team is fantastic!)
Going through my gigantic pile of stuff to be shipped to Antarctica, they told me to get rid of my "wind-proof" pants, cotton undershirts, and short socks. Wind-proof pants will only make me sweat, cotton will make me freeze, and short socks, even if warm, will not be enough. They added a fancy dress for Thanksgiving, a fun shirt for getting dressed up (when am I going to do that?), and gym clothes so I could work-out (That would be nice, but when?).
So here's my almost complete pile of stuff that will be heading down to Antarctica in about 1 month.
My pile of stuff to be shipped to Antarctica
As you can see, I've got two pairs of really warm boots, along with slippers for the dorms, and crocs for the showers. I have 7 pairs of pants which include everything from long-johns to fleece-lined jeans and 7 tops which include silk underwear, heavy fleece, and everything inbetween. Over all of these layers, I can wear a fleece jacket and a vest. I also have 7 pairs of synthetic underwear, a bunch of long, wool socks, work-out shirts to use as bras, and a pair of comfortable, fleece PJs. With 4 hats to choose from, I'll stay warm and stylish especially with my baclava and a neck gaiter. I've got a fun pair of arm wamers to liven up the lab and a couple of fun shirts to keep us awake when we're working late at night. All the extras include toiletries for extra-dry conditions, a waterproof journal, some books, and treats and toys for the team.
I'm still missing a few odds and ends, but I'm feeling better.
To paint a complete picture for you all, we'll actually be wearing more than just what I'm bringing. We get ECW gear!
Is Tina in there? No, it's just her Extreme Cold Weather gear.
Yes, that stands for Extreme Cold Weather gear! On our way down to Antarctica, we'll be stopping at the Clothing Distribution Center in Christchurch, New Zealand to pick up our red windproof, waterproof jackets, thick overalls, heavy bunny boots, huge gloves, googles, and many more layers.
How many layers will it take to stay warm when the wind is blowing at 48 knots and the wind chill is down to -75 degrees F?
There she is! Tina modeling the ECW gear!
I'll find out and when I do, will I be smiling like I am in foggy Santa Cruz?