Byron the Constructicon!

So it doesn't take a genius to figure out that I err toward the creative side of things. My upbringing of constructing fantastic LEGO cars and racing them down the stairs, countless hours and even more dollars spent on constructing elaborate Warhammer figurines and painting models. But I'll have to respectfully say that I've outdone myself this year with the creation of my Decepticon Transformer Haloween costume! I know that I had said that my next post would cover the daily operations at the GAW Lab, but I figured that it being Haloween, a post was way overdue, and my fondness of all things nerdy (umm actually labs sound pretty geeky too), I figured I'd give a spook-tacularly brief update.

First things first, yes I did in fact construct a transformer costume, and yes it did win me 1st prize in the haloween costume contest (good for 75$ at Ye Olde Trading Post). I tried to make my entrance into the Arctic Club (aka the bar) as inconspicuous as possible, however, when you're wearing a costume which is over 6 feet by 4 feet, you tend to draw a bit of attention. Even moreso when your costume is a kick-ass decepticon!

As cool as I look as a robot, the serious applause and admiration came once I busted out my transformation (mind you, being a 2-day project I was only good for 1 transform....I was low on energon cubes!)

Needless to say, it was not the most mobile of costumes. In fact I spent about 12 hours building this pain in the ass costume only to transform once and take it off a mere 20 minutes later!

Those of you more versed in the Transformers universe will realize that my costume is in fact, not a Constructicon, however, seeing as this week this costume was just one building project in addition to a portion of the stage I'm building for the Olympic Torch Relay in Alert happening Nov 8-9, as well as constructing a winterization cover for the Dual Optical Absorption Spectrometer (DOAS) telescope at the lab (about which you'll learn more in my next post), I figured I deserved the Constructicon title.

Other news, various television stations, including CTV have shown interest in Alert for the upcoming Olympic Torch Relay, with a successful telephone interview already being performed, and another unsuccessful live Satellite feed being (unsuccessful in the sense that Roel (my neighbour) was prepped for an interview, and shut down internet connections throughout the station to save bandwidth, only to be cut from the show due to a lack of time). The consensus is that more news coverage is definitely to follow.

Aside from that, the population is slowly dwindling as temporary staff is leaving and only the hard core darkness full-timers remain. Speaking of which, it is now officially the dark season, a little more difficult to deal with than the light season. Driving to the lab has become a much more accident prone task (not that I drive often, as I am more than comfortable having Graham, my co-op student track-truck it up daily). While I'm on that topic, Graham and I received a welcome present over boxtop, a nearly $100,000 Ford F-250 (after shipping), a brown truck which I named Brown Betty, after what I think is a line to a Kings of Leon song, but I may be mistaken.

Anyway, within a few minutes of getting that truck from Maintainance, the steering fluid line blew open on me, draining all of our fluid and leaving me with no option other than driving straight or stopping. Had this been a one time occurence I might not have even mentioned it to the powers that be in Toronto. However, after another blown line just after we arrived at the old Transmitter site before the lab, cause for concern was definitely there.

On the upside, it appears as though the truck is working fine now as we've been driving for a couple weeks without incident. Not only that, but we have been able to pick up radio stations on clear days from Germany, the Netherlands, Japan and Barrow Alaska (as far as we can tell). It's quite an amazing feeling to pick up an AM radio station playing the Beatles while in Alert!

Sidenotes: Amazing Race Alert was held earlier this month, with Team Myriam and Byron taking a disappointing 4th place of 7 teams.

Later this month the Alert Sports Challenge took place, with an even more disappointing outcome for myself. Not being able to hit a 3-point shot when you play as much basketball as I do is more than a little sad.

Also this month (possibly late September) was Canadian Idol Alert, with the fan favourite but not necessarily most talented vocalist, Olivier Beaudry, taking the crown.

Other than that it has been business as usual in Alert. Steak wednesdays and junkfood Fridays.

I will continue to anxiously await Rockband from the family back home as they take advantage of Canada Post's free shipping to military postings!

The next post will be a long one so brace for impact!



Byron
"use the matrix to light our darkest hour"

Boxtop 4-1-1

So I've been desperately trying to come up with a new post over the last little while, but without really trying. Translation, looking for that one event or one trip where enough happens or I get enough cool pictures that the post can pretty much write itself with little to no original thought. Being in somewhat of a drought, excursion-wise, and busy being the only person working at the GAW lab these days, I figured I'd see what I could get by with for now.

So for all you non Alertians out there every 6 months or so a massive operation occurs here known as Box-top where outside personnel are recruited to aid in the provision of the station with all the essentials like crates of beer, potato chips and toilet paper. This year, Environment Canada has had an exceptionally large amount of crates coming in, 69 to be exact, the majority of which are components in preparation of the installation of a new tower at the GAW Lab.

Needless to say for the last couple weeks it has been more than a little hectic, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the extra company on the station (especially when it comes to their bar patronnage). That is all about to wind down and things about to go back to normal (well as normal as they get in Alert) once boxtop officially comes to a close and the visiting crews depart come Friday morning.

With that inevidably comes more work for myself and all present at the GAW Lab however, as we convince members of Transport to haul crates up to the lab.

On that note, I seem to have exhausted the mental capacity to continue any further in this post so I will post it as is.

Next on the chopping block I hope to provide a better idea of what exactly goes on at the GAW Lab and a look into the now snow-filled workplace.


Byron
the smartest lemming on the block...of ice