No–for Cecil.
I was wondering if I’d get lambasted for saying I was ‘fairly neutral’ about the trip and of course I did. Yes, I am excited to go, it’s just quite a ways away and I have other things to be excited about in the mean time. I enjoy traveling, but it’s not my be all and end all.
I do have a digital camera, a nice 4 megapixel canon one and I plan on taking as many photos as possible. I may even invest in a 2nd CF card since I wont have a laptop to upload them to. Once I’m back stateside I will gladly post them on a website for all to see.
Exatris: I’ll keep my eyes open for meteorites, that’d be a helluva find.
MacSpon: Thank you for the advice. Layers it will be. And of course, like for any cold climate, lots of fresh warm socks.
Filmore: I actually had a chance to see the Shakelton exhibit at the Field Muesem (I think) a few years back and remembered thinking just how amazing that really was. I’ll bring a copy of the book to read at night; That would be quite an appropriate thing to fall asleep to.
Mrunlucky: I do realize I’m quite lucky to be offered this trip and that many others would kill for the chance to go. Although I’m not head over heals for it just yet, I do realize a great opportunity when I see one and I’ll certainly make the best of it. And I’ve driven through Iowa, many times. Thanks but no thanks.
UPDATE:
I’m sitting here at the hotel in Ushuaia (Seems the internet is EVERYwhere nowadays) and I wanted to give this thread a bump since I’ll be departing tomorrow for Antarctica.
I’ve got my camera and I’m ready to take a ton of pictures. I’ll be sure to post them promptly after my return. Any special requests??
Stand next to a polar bear!Awesome picture, dude. 
Some shots of the Aurora Australis would be good. Have a great time.
Take lots of photos…my guess is that it will look like Chicago in January, but still will be interested in seeing them.
Oh, and should you run into any scientific teams down there, ask about the melting and try to get some first hand information about signs of/or lack of signs of global warming.
Hate to disappoint you, dude, but there ain’t no **Polar Bears ** in Antarctica. And, just for the record, there ain’t no Penguins in the Northern Hemisphere.
Unless someone has installed 802.11b on some friendly ice shelf there is little chance of you reading this before you come back, but I just have to say you are going on one of the coolest trips ever and I hope you do have a chance to see the Southern Lights and many large iceburgs.
I envy you. I’d go to Antarctica even in the winter.
And that has to be the understatement of the year.
Incorrect, there are penguins in zoos in America.
If you get a chance to read this whilst there, you really need to have your picture taken with something truly Antartican and a SDMB sign.
I really envy you and this experience.
Have an awesome, awesome time!
Hey, if CMiller gets all the way to the South Pole, do you suppose he’ll get to see the Anti-Santa Claus?
Galapagos penguins are regularly found north of the equator (albeit, only a few miles north).
I would love to do the North Pole expedition they offer. I don’t know where I’d come up with that kind of money, though.
And the New England Aquarium taught me that… “I can walk like a penguin.”
So, how was the trip?
Have any pictures you can post?
I hope he didn’t fall into a crevasse.
I have a photo of my dad standing next to a polar bear skeleton. He was stationed in Greenland at the time.
(I think)
Why on Earth would they station a polar bear skeleton in Greenland?