Locust

They arrived as a swarm, devouring everything in sight and disrupting the tranquil harmony that was life on the Harsh Continent. They are NAVCHAPS. Navy cargo handling personel that arrived a few days ago to help with supply vessel off load. But since they arrived several days prior to vessel, they have had little to do but clog up the entire station with their idleness and ignorance.

Now, it would be differant mind you if this was October or even November, when so many of us were new and willing to accomodate each others weirdness. But then we settled into our routine of "normalacy" and life went swimmingly. Now these FNG's come in and gum up the works.

Do I sound annoyed? I suppose so, like some crusty old timer who is grumpy that the newbies took his lunch table. But, well, they did damn it! There is a delicatly constructed social order on station, and the day they arrived it was throw into upheaval. Us townies were all shaken and walking around with shocked expressions, mumbling to one another and ourselves trying to find the old order in all the chaos. It isn't just the total number of people on station right now, though that is considerable, with all the NAVCHAPS, Coasties, Air National Guard, Tanker crewman, transient Polies on R&R, arriving winter over personel, and the regulars. It is more the fact that this sudden influx is of people unfamiliar with the routine. So it is nigh on impossible to get computer time, they swarm the lounges and watch tv all day, and they take over the galley. But it is ok, vessel comes in a few hours and they'll be put to work proper, and then they'll be gone. A few deep breaths... Alright, I'm ok now.

In answer to the question, no the folks leaning over the rail in the earlier picture aren't sea sick, they are watching for whales and penguins. After a big blow the other night, nearly all the brash ice cleared out and there is open water off of Hut Point. I went to a BBQ last night and we could see whales spouting in the sound.