Dear Journal,

Day 1

When I woke up this morning, I was advised to underdress rather than to overdress. I was told this was because if I dressed to heavy, I would perspire and that would result in being very cold or even in frostbite. I put on my over-sized shoes and my protective goggles and left. My partners and I walked a short distance from Palmer Station to a place where many penguins and elephant seals "hung out". My partner and friend, Robin Ross, caught a penguin and held it still while I measured the length of its body, beak, etc..., hoping to figure out if it was a male or female. We also observed the elephant seals who usually just lay on the beach and rest. They defend their territory. These animals get up on their hind legs and bite and claw each other. The temperature was below zero with winds which made it a usual day in Antarctica. My lips and face have already become chapped from the cold and dry wind. We retired at about six o'clock this evening. My partners and I got ready for dinner and met in the kitchen where our cook had prepared a great meal of soup and chicken. Then we all went to our own rooms to get some sleep for our long day tomorrow. Well, I guess I should get some sleep, too.