Status: Task Force Fast and Furious

Oh it was a week of early mornings for your Task Force. We get up at seven, yeah, and we go to work at eight. We got no time for livin’; yes, we’re working all the time. Always in such a rush to get things going…

First on the docket: nation, it was an important week for Canada. Our beloved homeland turned 142 (but we don’t think she looks a day past 100…she ages well). Canada Day means one thing to us here on the Task Force: free swag. We basically gave it away - you didn’t even need a coupon. Having prepared 500 coniferous trees (which were perhaps Douglas Fir – our resident botanist was away so we’re only 99.999% sure) the day before, we loaded up our little red wagon and handed them out to the citizens of Gotham City (aka Burlington). You can thank us later for fixing global warming. Also, Al Gore, we’re prepared to sign releases to be in your next film.

Moving right along to the important part of the day: how good we looked. Let us paint you a little picture: red foam visors, maple leaf tattoos on our faces, Canada Day t-shirts and for some of us (Natalie), carefully manicured Canada Day nails. Want pictures? Well we want more than one follower and more than zero comments. Deal or no deal?

Next on the docket: the Burlington Butt Stop. But first, a word from our sponsors at the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure:
“The Waterfront Trail has been an instrumental part of Lake Ontario’s regeneration. Along it you will find a 900 km celebration of nature and culture - where peaceful countryside, small towns and big cities are linked in bringing Lake Ontario to this province's residents and visitors, alike. Enjoy it for a day or make it a summer-long adventure. The Waterfront Trail will let you discover the Lake Ontario waterfront...and what it can mean to you” (Waterfront Trail, 2009).

For those of you poor unfortunate souls who are asking yourselves “what is this Burlington Butt Stop?” and “can my butt stop there?” let us enlighten you. Every year for thousands of years (or the past two years), enthusiastic cyclists of all ages and athletic abilities cycle from Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Quebec border. It is an eight day trip which highlights beautiful countryside, gorgeous lake views and, as if that isn’t enough incentive, Burlington travel counselors in mustard yellow t-shirts. Alyssa also danced. Natalie may or may not have gotten video evidence. Enough said. Although…does this blog support video clips? Back on topic, the riders get to stop in Burlington on the second day of their quest for water, coffee, fruit and loud and obnoxious cheering. Ergo, the Butt Stop à la Burlington.

Set up for this morning’s Butt Stop was more rigourous than usual festival set-up…not that it mattered because we’re all so ripped. With the help of Captain Kirk and Carla, the Waterfront’s Aquawoman, your Task Force set up two tents, four tables, twenty-something balloons, two unnecessarily heavy wooden signs and an entire sound system (for which Alyssa’s computer science skills were useless – in her defense, nothing was in binary). We lugged it all out of the Burlington Events van under the direction of temporary Assistant-to-the-Regional-Manager, Kat.

Moment of the Week: Kat was handed the keys to the Burlington Events van, which was more like the size of a boat, and will henceforth be known as the Star Ship Enterprise. She also successfully backed it up and didn’t hit anyone!

Phone Call of the Week: “Hi Alyssa, it’s Kat. Listen, can I pick you up in the Events van tomorrow?” “Do you even have to ask?”

In case you were wondering, the van has since been returned. We’re actually a tad depressed now.

Till next time, stay classy Burlington.
-K&A