My domestic zoo!

 For those of you who may not have known, I am house/pet sitting for Kyle and Cerise while they are in Mexico. It actually helps me out quite a lot as well since I am waiting to take posession of my condo on April 17th. Anyway, the pets and I did a little photo shoot tonight and these are the results!!

Rocko sniffing around Willis. Willis likes to hang out under the black blanket on his bed

Willis and his pet chicken

Willis' domain

Pinot and Leo cuddling

Willis getting his 'love battery' charged up!

Willis and I self portrait. I think all Willis had in mind was licking the ketchup off of my mouth from my smokey dinner!
(Oops, these are the things you don't notice when you're by yourself, until you take a picture!!)

Rocko ready for a pee

Rocko and Willis 'post' pee

Pinot. He sure has some wild eyes!

King Leo on his futon comforter

What' chu talkin' about Willis??!!

Rocko loves fetching this rubber ring

Huhhhhhhhhhh?

Pinot looks on but rarely partakes in the shinanagans that Rocko and Willis create!



STARS

 

Ken finally discovering our snag with the CSAS System. The CSAS is basically the auto flight system for the aircraft to help assist the pilot with flight. It malfunctioned at the helipad at the Foothills Hospital and we limped it home with the circuit breaker pulled for the CSAS System. Ken is one of our contract engineers and he spends his time off working in Afghanistan for another helicopter company making big $$. But...you do get shot at?!

One of our shiny BK 117 Helicopters on the dolly. This is our duty machine ready for a call out.

Corporate jet getting some maintenance done to it. Our shop/office space is the open door below the staircase in the back (the last door that is open along the wall). We whell our toolboxes in here when we're not working on the aircraft.

Another corporate jet. Lots of money around here!

Back view of the BK through the clam shell doors showing the medical installation.



Kimmer looking scared and overwhelmed with the new machine!



The helicopter lands on these platforms and is always quickly moveable from the tugs for a quick dispatch when they get a call out. 

The Honeywell LTS 101 750B-1 engine. This is our training aid cutaway for the engine course.

Just giving some perspective to the size of the turbine engine. This litle gem puts out 750SHP and the helicopter is twin engine!

Some LPU's (line replaceable units) that can be replaced on this engine. There is an FCU (fuel control unit which contains the fuel pump), a Governor for engine overspeed protection, an oil pump assembly, and an actuator for the Air Flow Modulation System (which prevents compressor stalls in the engine at low power settings)



The engine course has been fantastic! The instructor is an American gentleman named Bob who has been involved with this particular engine from it infancy 30+ years ago. He's extremely knowledgable and really makes us learn how this engine works along with the troubles that accompany it. They've had a lot of growing pains over the years with this engine, but it is quite reliable today, and continues to improve. We're (STARS) fortunate to have this course taught  'in-house' from such a knowledgable field technician. There is still a lot for me to learn from experience, as well as my engineer co-workers, but that will come with time. Just trying not to be too overwhelmed!!  

Kite Skiing on the Spray Lakes

Chad helping Sean launch the Training Kite

Sean playing with the Training Kite

Chad getting the 9 meter Kite ready

Chad throwing some snow on the kite for weight

Sean on his skis with the Training Kite

Chad walking over to help Sean launch the Training Kite

Chad enjoying a free ride courtesy of the wind!

Chad slowing down to switch direction

Sean getting a handle on the 4 meter Kite

Kimmer learning to manage the wind with the 9 meter Kite

Bringing the Kite to neutral to switch direction

Sean, Chad, and Kimmer

Kimmer and Chad

Rod catching some air!

Rod coming down for a landing

Rod showing his skills on his 12 meter Kite



Wheeler Hut Maintenance

Had a nice trip in to the Wheeler hut this past week to help my friend Sylvain with some hut maintenance. It ended up being mainly a work trip (which was more or less anticipated) and a lot less of a ski trip. We moved A LOT of snow to retrieve some buried firewood that was needed to replenish the wood pile so that the hut users would get through the winter. Plus we had a moral obligation to bring down some massive snow mushrooms that were threatening the wood shed and one side of the outhouse. Anyway.... a few beers were drank and many a game of crib was played by Silly and I, and also a couple of games of collaboration rummy, a new game we coined by playing the rules from a few different rummy games. We did manage to get out for a few turns on the Thursday before packing out our sleds full of garbage and gear, so that was nice. All in all a fun little adventure :)



The Wheeler Hut half buried from this years snow fall!

Brad and Earl moving out full latrine's. This was an oversight that occurred by not
 pumping out the outhouse this fall while the hut facilities were still, road accessible

Darren and Earl loading the latrine's to take them to the staging area for pump out

This was a half smile. It was difficult to put on a full smile
with the amount of snow that was left to be shoveled!

Earl down in the pit splitting wood.

Sylvain having a look at the chimney set up for
some maintenance that will have to be done

Brad driving the wedge into these monster rounds
of wood that were bucked this fall

Sylvain doing some creative climbing to summit
the outhouse to do some snow sawing

Sylavain taking a breather and assessing the situation

Earl and Silly sawing off the snow mushroom

The collapsed snow mushroom decommissioned the latrine temporarily

The rescued firewood and latrine storage area

Main kitchen area

Back entrance and gear drying room

Silly putting new brick liners in the main fireplace

View out the front door of the hut

The original fireplace from 1946

Main kitchen with stairs leading up to the loft and sleeping area