Getting ready (again)

I'm getting ready for my 16th field season in Antarctica. I have been preparing for the trip (aka shopping for coffee and anything else I might want) to make sure I don't have a mad rush of things to do right at the end. Some of my friends are already in McMurdo and others will be headed south in the next few weeks. I have a bit longer as I am not scheduled to leave Columbus until Nov 6 and optimistically will arrive in Antarctica on the 10th. That's if everything goes smoothly, which it might. I get to vote in the presidential election in person this year!
We have three students on our LTER team from OSU who have not been to McMurdo or the dry valleys before, so there is a general excitement in the office. It should be another great season.