Good morning avid readers. The attempt to upload pics the other day went horribly wrong. It seems my patience pills were not nearly strong enough to overcome the frustration that is intermittent net access. Oh well thank goodness for text!

Today there is ice on the puddles. Not significant ice mind you but ice none the less. Yesterday's low was -1.0.

Lots has happened since I last posted.

On 24 Jul a 737 landed here (no really) carrying 40 or so scientists, important Environment Canada people, politicians and members of the press. They were here for the grand openings of PEARL (Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Lab) and of the new operations and quarters building at the weather station. A chaotic day was had by all but it looked like it went well from my vantage point under the weather office desk. I did end up on TV attempting to release an ozone sonde attached to a raven balloon (I'm the one in the red shirt running with a styrafoam box). The 10 knot winds made for good tv. I managed not to trip and the sonde went upwards so I call it a success. For those concerned: yes, I will be buying a round for having the bad taste to get on the news.

The current CANDAC (Canadian Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Change) operator, Keith, has a frisbee golf course all set up out behind the weather station. It's a blast! All the fun of golf except you play with a frisbee.

Between 7 Aug and 15 Aug it rained 30.8 mm. This is a significant amount for the area and has successfully turned our landing strip into a sqiushy mess. The staff change over scheduled for the 13th was delayed until the 15th because of the weather, all part of the fun of northern travel. We finally got the outgoing staff away and the incoming staff here plus one scientist headed up to PEARL with her new instrument.

Pics of all that plus a couple of hikes and a few rounds of frisbee golf to follow if we get properly connected. Otherwise, I will attempt to write more.. maybe.. hehehe.