Northern Life Continues

One thing I have found for sure, during my time living in the north, is that nearly everyone has a dog, or two, or three, or more. Even in the Yukon. And here in Fort Res, there are plenty. Not too many small dogs, but perhaps they come out in the summer. Most of what I've seen are german shepards, huskies, and bear dogs. They like to bark, but thankfully are usually quiet at night. My neighbor has two german shepards. Most are outdoor dogs, having a doghouse that they sleep in at night. I often see them sleeping out on the snow, seemingly comfortable. They are tethered on, and don't seem to get away much. One of them went totally nuts the other day when the owner went off on skidoo. He was terribly upset, whining and howling for him, heh heh.

People are very friendly towards me, and will say hello if close enough, and wave if not, even from their cars. Now what they may think or say about me when I am not there could be entirely different. Whatever it may be, I haven't been made to feel unwelcome.

It's different getting used to living in "town" again. Things are busy here in this small town. For the first several days I kept getting up to see who was here. Only there was no one. It was car doors and trailer doors slamming at my neighbors, not mine. I had gotten used to rural life in the woods, where I heard very little. Now the snowmobiles are always on the go, there are trucks and the occasional car up and down the street I live on, even though there are only about 8 houses on it. I think we may be a thoroughfare to the two dead end streets behind me. They end at the edge of the school yard. Anytime I go out, I always pass another car, and see people out walking to somewhere. These folks are outgoing and busy people!

I had someone ask me for a ride the other day just as I got out of my car to pump gas. Since the town is so small, I thought maybe he was looking for a ride out of town, not knowing me, he might have thought I must be from away. So I pumped off my gas, and then offered him the ride, taking him to his cousin's place several streets over. It was a little chilly, and he wasn't quite dressed for it, so I didn't mind. Turns out he was from away, back in town for his uncle's funeral. It was noon, and already he smelled strongly of alcohol. I wouldn't have guessed otherwise though as he was not staggering, or slurring. He may have only had just one drink, but it smelled very strong...

Shopping day tomorrow in Hay River again. I don't really need to go since I will be in YK (what they call Yellowknife) next week, but I may go just to have a better look around and see if I can find the restaurant a gal from training recommended there. I am due for a nice meal out! The last time I was there, I ate at The Boardroom, and the food was less than stellar...chicken balls were undercooked (doughy), the rice tasted burnt. The wontons were pretty good, as was the Palace Chicken, but seriously, who can screw up chicken balls? They are usually pretty good wherever you go. And the burnt tasting rice, that usually means they haven't cleaned the grill in a while...ick.

I can get used to this temperature...it is only -9C tonight, and rising! We had -20 a couple of nights this week, but no biggie. It has been warming up through the day. No wind or snow, so pleasant enough. I'm still wearing skirts for those who know how much I wear them. Someone was telling me about a quilted skirt like snowpants that they saw at a store in YK...I may have to check it out! I'm not cold though, and do occasionally wear pants, but not often to work. I haven't had to do much shovelling either, and someone plows the driveway whenever it builds up a bit.

I have noticed a lot of traffic around my trailer...we get our septic tanks pumped out regularly, water delivery 3 days a week, oil delivery whenever, garbage pick up twice a week, and of course, the plow. Keeps the cats interested I reckon, as they go from window to window to see who is here next!

I spoke with the woman who won the Christmas lights decor contest. It was the same one I personally thought was the best too. Good for her, she won $500. She was telling me all about how she made the decor all herself, and had to go in the woods to cut some trees. I was impressed! Her house does look very nice. She thought I was one of the judges...I told her, so did I. And then I told her that I would have voted for hers anyhow, if I had been!

So the last work week of the year is wrapped up now...go enjoy yourselves!

Christmas Happenings

Well, I never did get to formally judge the lights...not sure what happened but no one came to pick me up. A bit of an annoyance, but I moved on...went out myself and did my own judging. There were three clear contenders, but I did feel that one was best of all. The one posted here is my neighbor, who was working at it right up until the deadline.

We played board games on Christmas Eve, until someone got called out. Christmas dinner was the next day, and went very well, and we all stuffed ourselves! We farmed out most of the leftovers to the bachelor rcmp members, where it certainly won't go astray. They made fast work of the dishes in thanks for the feast...we were tickled to see this!

On Saturday afternoon, L. and I went for a walk on the lake again. It was a dull day, and hard to see. The wind was raw, but not bitter, for the temp was not that low. There is a beach here in Fort Res, complete with beach rules and a lifeguard stand!

Let The Judging Begin

I have been asked to be one of the judges for the House Christmas Decorating Contest tonight. We are to begin at 5pm and I am excited! I was at the store last night and one of the gals I chat with regularly there mentioned that they were still looking for judges, so I offered myself up and they accepted. I know they have had issues with nepotism here, as they often do in small communities, so they are happy when someone from away participates in this way. I can be pretty impartial, considering I don't know many people, and am not related to anyone! The neighbors have been busy and I think the competition is fierce this year. My next door neighbor has been at it all day today, and he had a bunch up already. I think he was working on designing a tree out of wire and lights when I last looked out. The guy on the corner has several different areas decorated, with The Peanuts gang, a Nativity scene, Santa in several places, and a projector casting a Christmas greeting on his shed!

I am excited about the process. I have heard that one of the other judges is an RCMP, so that will be interesting. I wonder if there is set criteria for judging. We're to travel around town in a van, and they said that last year they didn't get out of the van, but I want to get out and experience the lights, and hear the music, which I don't think can be properly done from a van...we shall see!

The fella down the street was so proud of his work and told me that he created everything himself. Meanwhile his buddy helping him was standing right there, lol. I don't know what the prize is, but it must be good!

ps. the photo is not from here...just in case you were wondering...

Winter Solstice In The North

Today is the shortest day of the year. Sunset was at just a few minutes later, at 3:04pm. These were taken at 3:00pm, just moments before sunset. The blue hued one was taken at 2:21pm. Funny how much the sky can change in mere minutes...I think the sunset here is just stunning and can't seem to get enough!

Inside Trailer Life

Well, since I didn't have the excuse that there was too much furniture in the way, I actually had to finish unpacking, put up my photos and clear the piles all over the house. There are still some minor shifting of stuff to do such as the pile of Christmas present in the corner of the living room, and the unfinished knitting/crochet projects scattered throughout as well, but I am done for the night...finito. The projects are nearing completion and will be mailed tomorrow (I'm optimistic...)

One of the photos is of my hold-up button aka panic button. Handy to have, but I hope the police are quick to respond if I really get to the point where I feel I need to press a panic button...it is in my bedroom, so until the police show up, I always have my trusty hardwood baseball bat...the larger version of what is in my car.

Life In Fort Res

Sure, you're probably tired of sunsets by now...too bad...I am not. So here is another.

I managed to get some folks together to lug off the extra furniture from the trailer...thank goodness. What a damn mess it was getting to be at my home...too much furniture and I couldn't get around, had to go rooting through boxes because I couldn't finish unpacking. I don't know if I mentioned just what there was to haul out, but here is a list of what furniture was already in the trailer when I moved in, and anyone who has been to my house knows what I had to bring with me...

• 6 dressers
• 4 dining chairs
• 1 large dining table
• 2 end tables, 1 coffee table
• 1 double bed
• two lamps
• one tv stand
• one 25inch tv
• a sofa
• a loveseat
• a chair
• 4 nightstands
• bedding
• dishes
• 2 coolers
• a laundry basket
• garbage cans

So yeah, lots of stuff knocking around, cluttering up the trailer in addition to all of my own stuff. I decided to keep a few things - the tv, bed, one dresser, one nightstand, the two coolers, and the two lamps. Oh, and the table. It will make a smashing sewing table for cutting stuff out...

In other Res news...I found myself a walking partner. The only other gal in this building, way on the other side, in a separate part is an avid walker, walking after work each day, and every weekend, for about an hour. I don't know that I will get out there every day, but I sure will try to get out as often as I am able. Yahoo! She even goes out onto the lake, which is what I will enjoy. When I lived in Grand Bruit, I went walking all the time, usually with one of the other ladies in town, and I loved it, as did most of the women in town. The ponds were an awesome place to walk, being so flat, and as long as there was a little snow on it, it wasn't slippery.

I had a little visitor to the building earlier this afternoon. A young fella was peering in the window while I was out in the hall reading the bulletin boards (they are BIG on those here and filled with notices) so I asked him what he wanted. He didn't really say, but I asked him if he needed to use the phone or bathroom, and let him know that all the other offices were closed. So he came in and used the bathroom, then thanked me for letting him in to do that. He was about 12 years old, and it was really nice to hear a thank-you from a young fella at a time when they are going through puberty and are often rude or ignore you. Awww...

Everyone is interested in whether or not I am staying here for Christmas and seem concerned that I will be staying in the trailer alone...nice that they are thinking about me but part of me can't help but wonder why it would worry someone if I was alone...what has happened in the past...I know there is a history here and I am dying to know it, but don't want to seem too intrusive and ask the wrong person what the scoop is. And when I say everyone, I mean just about anyone who speaks to me asks me the same questions, lol. The gal at the post office, the couple who loaded the furniture today, my new walking partner, the nurses, the gal at the store, etc. I think it is great that they want to get to know me...but I am still cautious about what information I provide.

So now it is time to get off my duff and clean up the mess in the trailer now that I can finish unpacking...

Christmas Shopping Online

Last night, credit card in hand, I did some online Christmas shopping. I found a Family Guy game for A. at eBay so have bought that and it is on its way today to her. Then I came went to Mercer's Marine and bought snowshoes for me!!! The ones I chose do not have their own image, but they are the second from the right - modified bear paw. On the wise advice from my father, I chose them because they will be easier to walk in, easier to store than the larger ones, and will still give me good support on the snow. My plan is to head out onto the Great Slave Lake when I get them for some regular walking, and get a real work out. I went a couple of winters ago after not having gone for years, and just loved it! I had borrowed a pair from the neighbors, and that's actually what I'm doing in my profile pic to the side of this post. More later on those exploits...

I may do some more shopping tonight...got interrupted (gladly so) by the phone and ended up going over to the nurses residence for a few hours to hang out...better than being alone on my birthday!

Christmas Plans!

I just got a lovely call from the nurses at the health centre - singing Happy Birthday to me! It was great, and out of that we began chatting about Christmas and what to do. Turns out there is a small group of nurses here for the holiday, and two of them are vegetarians (read no turkey) but one nurse was really interested in having poultry of any sort, and they invited me into the fold, so I offered up my bird...I bought a turkey on Saturday (for a reasonable price, actually...much to my shock) so I will have to get it out later this week to thaw.

So there you go, we are gathering for Christmas at the Health Centre. The 3 RCMP are also invited, but have not heard if they will be coming as well. The others will take care of the vegetables, so I am responsible only for the turkey - yayyyyy!!! I will probably have to make some of Susan's fudge too...anyone who has had this fudge will know how sinfully delicious it is!

Ah...now I feel better...nothing lonlier than spending Christmas day alone! I had kind of figured we might all do something together, so this is just great!

Northern Exploits

Of course, wherever I find myself, there is always a story, a happening, some foolish thing to gab about...yesterday was no different. I have a box of tissues in my car that I keep right next to my storage compartment between the seats. It's been there for months now, no issues. Covers up one of my drink holders but the other is open and how many drinks do I need in the car at once...

Yesterday I managed to get a tissue stuck in my seat belt clip. The part that you clip your seat belt into. Yup...the tissues from the box made their way across the top part of my seat belt clip, and not looking when I put it in, I just jammed it closed. Well, I tried to. I've had all kinds of things get in the way of the seat belt clip, but usually it's a flowy shirt, a scarf, or my jacket. Yesterday was a tissue. Normally I can just haul things out and away we go, the seat belt clips in. But we're talking about me here. The tissue got that fucking jammed into the damn clip that I rooted for about 30 minutes yesterday to get it out. I tried paper clips, tweezers, pens, whatever I could get my hands on, but of course, it was jammed to tight in there, nothing would fit properly.

Finally I got pissed off and fed up and was just going to go home when I figured I would go bother our friendly neighborhood RCMP member instead...after all, if I am caught without my seatbelt on (which would be the case here) I might get a ticket. I've gotten lazy about using it here in town, because I go such short distances, but on that highway...I want something snapping me in when I roll my car off into the ditch, or meet a big ass truck on the highway...

So I headed over to the detachment and knocked on the door. I have already met the members of course, being such a small area with only 3 posted here, including the Corporal. The one I had the most contact with answered the door and I explained that I had a simple, but frustrating problem and could he help...of course he did...he is such a nice guy! So out came the leatherman tool, the pliers, and finally, the piece that got the damn tissue out of the seatbelt clip - a letter opener...

Thanks mr policeman...now I feel safe in my car again.

40 Years Ago Today

my mother pushed my big giant head out into the world. I can hardly believe it myself. There is temptation to stay at home today, calling in sick and vegetating on the sofa in denial of my 40 year mark...however I have decided to embrace the day and head into the empty office building where I shall sit all day. And in the absence of any clients or investigations, I may even do some related reading instead of my usual research for my groups. After all, it is a big day...

Christmas Time Waster

Here is a simple little game to waste some time over Christmas...just remember NOT to hit Santa or you lose!

Sunset in Fort Resolution

Out On The Town

Was out on the town today, and snapped some photos of the various buildings in Fort Resolution...hover with your mouse and it should say what it is.

Going To Town Day

Yesterday was payday for GNWT employees, so of course, today was shopping day and many head to Hay River to shop. The highway is 155kms from here to there, and there is nothing inbetween. No stores, gas stations, bait shops, junkyard or anything. Two rest stops (a single outhouse at each) and that was IT. So no big deal, what's an hour and a half. Turned out that the drive wasn't too bad, but not very scenic as the landscape doesn't change much, and little elevation.

Hay River was bustling and I bumped into some locals from Fort Res who came over and said hello, introducing their family members. That was nice. I was buying a Christmas tree at True Value Hardware...yes, BUYING a tree...I usually either cut one or buy fresh cut somewhere, but this year, when I got to North Mart, they had just 4-5 left, and they looked pretty picked over, and totally not worth the $45.99 they were asking for each. Small, scrawny, and not very green. So I bought a 3.5 foot artificial tree, and put it on my end table. The cats were duly entertained, and Via has sprawled underneath it already. Santa has even been by...bumped into him in Hay River...

The prices in Hay River nearly made me choke though...yikes...there goes my northern allowance for sure...paying the difference. Many of my friends and family have been asking how much things are up here, as am I, and so here are a few typical prices for Hay River and Fort Resolution...and compare to what you pay:

• red glace cherries, 500 ml. $11.99
• Ocean Spray white grape juice, $6.19
• canned mushrooms $1.49
• large jar of miracle whip $8.99
• Palmolive, large bottle (normally about $2 at Walmart) $6.79!!!
• large bag of Lays potato chips 270g $4.95 at the corner store here and $3.99 in Hay River
• onions, 3 lb bag $2.99
• 4 litre jug of milk $5.19 ($7.19 here in town)
• one small container Philedelphia cream cheese spread $4.95
• one bag of frozen corn, Green Giant $4.25
• 4 litre jug of water $2.99
• one jug of windsheild washer fluid $6.00 here in town
• 6-pack of Coor's Light $12.95 plus deposits - 15-pack box was $30.25...I won't be drinking much anyway...just on my birthday in 3 days! 40 has really snuck up on me...

So I spent a lot of money today, but am fully stocked for the next few weeks or more. I'm glad I brought lots with me from Whitehorse too, as prices are quite high, even more so than in Yellowknife. I was able to get most of what I went for, although I skipped several things because I just couldn't pay that much for it...will wail until I am in Edmonton to buy some things...hope to go in February or March for a few days.

Now the tree is decorated, and I am settled in on the sofa watching "The Sound of Music" on satellite...now there's a classic Christmas time movie...

Christmas At The Office

Hard to have a Christmas party with just my tiny office, and only two employees here, but we were invited to the building Christmas party. My office space is rented from the local Band, and many others share office space here, including Income Support, Probation, Community Council, Territorial Services, etc. So yesterday we all gathered in the Band Council chambers for a big party. It was potluck and everyone brought something for the feast, as well as one unisex gift to exchange. There were games to be played (pin the hat on Santa, match the riddles with the visual clues, and collect the stockings - if you said Christmas, you lost yours) and a draw for a HUGE stocking of stuff. The food was excellent, though not as traditional as I would have expected. Someone did bring moose roast, but there was no fish, bear, bison, bannock, etc that I might have expected. I brought a Figgy Duff, and managed to fool a few people (completely by accident) who spooned my brown sugar sauce onto their turkey and vegetables as gravy...

While I was very aware of being one of about 5 white people in a group of 40, I was never made to feel like an outsider. The people here are very warm and friendly, and I was chatted up and made to feel very welcome at the party. We all laughed and played throughout the games and meal. What a treat! We even had Santa arrive to hand out the presents...but I did not sit upon his knee. Instead, when he disrobed (to jeans and a t-shirt), we swapped military brat stories as he too grew up on military bases across Canada. My gift was an Obus Forme pump-up lumbar support, which is GREAT for my aching back.

Today is our departmental Christmas party, for Health and Social Services, however I shall be the only social worker there. The rest will be Home Support workers, Nurses, and of course, the Community Coordinator that I work with. We have a gift exchange there as well, and with nowhere to really shop for this kind of stuff here, I had to get creative. The gift I'm bringing is a little Christmas box with a ball of yarn, a set of 4 needles, my mitten pattern, and a pair of completed mitts. I also chucked in a tiny book about relaxation. I wonder what Santa will bring me today...

On another note, I have been busy this week, unpacking and settling into the trailer. I will have internet at home after work today, so will be able to get back to regular posting and get some photos of the town up this weekend. It is a cute little town, untouched by commercial tourism (which is GREAT), and the lake and horizon at sunrise/sunset is just amazing.

Unpacking Ordeals

The movers arrived yesterday and unloaded in pretty good time. Then I went looking for the bolts for my shelving unit. Anyone who has been in my home at one time or another (in one province/territory or another) has seen some version of this unit. It is a bunch of shelves that I bought from Ikea many years ago, and if I use all pieces, can stretch across one whole wall. I store most of my things on them such as books, knicknacks, movies, blue glass, whatever. When the dumbasses at Matco were packing me in Whitehorse, I saw one of them with a bag of bolts for the shelves I wasn't currently using and told him to keep that out, as I wanted to put the rest of the bolts in there once the remaining shelves came down. That proved to be too difficult of an instruction for the young 18 year old who was packing for the very first time. Before I knew it, he had stuffed the bag into a box and couldn't remember which one. Ok, FINE. I will make sure to keep the rest of them out and put them in my set-up box. That was the last time I saw the last of the bolts. I have been through every box and short of unpacking and stacking everything around me, I CANNOT FIND THOSE FUCKING BOLTS. I found the orignial bag, with just enough for one fourth of the shelving...that's it. I have been looking for about 4 hours now...if I could get that fucker in front of me now, he would have bolts where his eyes used to be. I can't unpack anything in the living room until I put together these shelves, so I have a big damn mess in my living room, with stuff scattered everywhere.

Finally I had to give up looking for the fucking bolts and go do something else, so I chose to go and stack more boxes outside. Not wanting the cold to seep into my trailer, I shut the door behind me. Locked. FUCK! So there I was in my pyjamas, slippers (bare feet) and a t-shirt full of holes. Thankfully I pulled on my green corduroy jacket (thin) and a pair of mini-gloves. But I was still locked out, and my landlady is in the air somewhere, on her way back from Yellowknife, so she can't help me. I tried to break in, but could do nothing about that.

So then I shuffled in my pyjamas and slippers to the neighbors. The ones to the right didn't look to be at home, so I tried the ones to the left. No one home. Next door to them - someone home but no one wants to answer. So I tried the next door to them - got an answer, turns out I had met one of the ladies before already. They let me use the phone to call the Health Centre to see if they at least had a key to the office, and then maybe I could get a key to the trailer in the key cabinet(landlady is also community coordinator that works here with me). So I get a ride graciously from one of the neighbors there to pick up a key at the health centre. That was interesting. I get into her car and there is a shotgun on the front seat, and a box of bullets on the dash. Hmmm...what to think...and of course I can't help but ask, as I can't get my seatbelt on until I move the gun. It's a 303, I recognize the bullets. The woman tells me that she hunts and traps, so carries her gun with her. She also tells me that she is the best shot in town for a woman. Nice. Welcome to northern rural life.

We go to the office, and the key doesn't work. Dammit. So we drive to the Senior's Centre as a gal there has apparently been speaking to the landlady/community coordinator this morning and might know when she is coming back.

I get to the Senior's centre and that gal isn't there, but due back soon. And she happens to have a key to the office. Great, I'll wait for her there with the ladies preparing the Senior's lunch. They also informed me that the landlady/CC will be back shortly as she is to attend the Senior's lunch. Great. Finally the first gal comes in and takes me to the office, her key gets me in. I check the key cabinet and grab a key marked trailer, and we head back to try it out. Doesn't work. I decide to try the back door, climbing over snowbanks and slogging through snow in my still bare foot slippered feet. Nope, doesn't fit, and now I can't feel my feet, they are full of snow and ice. Get back into the van with J. the gal with a key to the office. She takes me back to the office and I decide to wait there for landlady/CC. As I am getting into the office, I have a walk-in client. Great. I am in my pyjamas, barefoot in slippers, no bra, a ripped t-shirt, and my green corduroy jacket. At least I brushed my hair today...

So here I sit, waiting for the CC to come back so I can get a key to my trailer and get back in to look for those fucking bolts. I can't help but think this whole ordeal could have been avoided if the damn movers had done as I asked and left the bolts out!!! Stupid Matco.

And then yesterday, I inadvertently left the office unlocked, but had set the alarm. I did post a sign on the door, stating when I would be out and when I would return, but someone ignored it and opened the door anyhow, tripping the alarm. While I was back at the trailer, dealing with the movers, an RCMP showed up to ask me for the code so they can shut the alarm off and lock the office. I asked the cop who had called him to let him know the alarm was tripped, thinking the alarm company called him...he informed me that he had about 20 calls from people in the building...sheesh...what a friggin ordeal...

Aboriginal Code of Ethics

1. Each morning upon rising, and each evening before sleeping, give thanks for the life within you, and for all life. For the good things the Creator has given you and others, and for the opportunity to grow a little more each day. Consider your thoughts and actions of the past day and seek for the courage and strength to be a better person. Seek for the things that will benefit everyone.
2. Respect. Respect means “to feel or show honor or esteem for someone or something; to consider the well being of, or to treat someone or something with deference or courtesy”. Showing respect is a basic law of life.
   Ø Treat ever person, from the tiniest child to the oldest Elder, with respect at all times.
   Ø Special Respect should be given to Elders, parents, teachers, and community leaders.
   Ø No person should be made to feel “put down” by you’; avoid hurting other hearts, as you would avoid a deadly poison.
   Ø Touch nothing that belongs to someone else (especially sacred objects) without permission, or an understanding between you.
   Ø Respect the privacy of every person; never intrude on a person’s quiet moments or personal space.
   Ø Never interrupt people who are conversing.
   Ø Speak in a soft voice, especially when you are in the presence of Elders, strangers, or others to whom special respect is due.
   Ø Do not speak (unless invited to do so) at gatherings where Elders are present (except to ask what is expected of you, should you be in doubt).
   Ø Never speak of others in a negative way, whether they are present or not.
   Ø Treat the earth and all of her aspects as your mother. Show deep respect for the mineral world, the plant world, and the animal world. Do nothing to pollute our mother. Rise up with wisdom to defend her.
   Ø Show deep respect for the beliefs and religions of others.
   Ø Listen with courtesy to what others say, even if you feel that what they are saying is worthless. Listen with your heart.
3. Respect the wisdom of the people in council. Once you give an idea to a council or meeting, it no longer belongs to you. It belongs to the people. Respect demands that you listen intently to the ideas of others in council and that you do not insist that your ideas prevail. Indeed, you should freely support the ideas of others if they are true and good, even if those ideas are quite different from the ones you have contributed. The clash of ideas brings forth the spark of truth. Once a council has decided something in unity, respect demands that no one speak secretly against what has been decided. If the council has made an error, that error will become apparent to everyone in its own time.
4. Be truthful at all times and under all conditions.
5. Always treat your guests with honor and consideration. Give your best food, your best blankets, the best part of your home, and your best service to guests.
6. The hurt of one is the hurt of all; the honor of one is the honor of all.
7. Receive strangers and outsiders with a loving heart and as members of the human family.
8. All the races and tribes in the world are like the different colored flowers of one meadow. All are beautiful. As children of the Creator, they must be respected.
9. To serve others, to be of some use to family, community and the nation of the world, is one of the main purposes for which human beings have been created. Do not fill yourself with your own affairs and forget your most important task. True happiness comes only to those who dedicate their lives to the service of others.
10. Observe moderation and balance in all things.

we received this as a handout at our mandatory training. I rather like this code...what do you think?

Trailer Trash Moves In

That's it, I've become trailer trash once again. Haven't lived in a trailer since about 1976, but here I am again, living in a trailer. I took some photos today, but without furniture, they are just walls and windows...not much to look at. The movers come about 11am tomorrow morning, so once I get unpacked, things will look much better and I'll get some photos.

The trailer is nice enough. A little run down, and some tears in the wallboard, but other than that, perfectly acceptable. Three bedrooms, with a HUGE closet in the master bedroom. Awesome. And I can see sunrise and sunset out my bedroom window. The kitchen is roomy, and I can put my table in there. The living room is spacious enough that I think I can set up my whole shelving unit against one wall. There is a dish already there, Expressvu, wouldn't you know it...I have a Starchoice receiver...so must sell that bugger off. I don't know who owns the receiver that is there, but I think it might belong to the gov, so I can just set up my own account. I have to sort out the phone...have to get either the landlord or the other social worker to cancel her service before they can activate mine. Sigh...

I will be able to get wireless satellite internet here, which is cool. I will hook it to my router so I can be wireless in my trailer, and will have to figure out how to secure my network, to keep someone from camping out. The gal who sets it up here was telling me all about some others that have been doing that in town...I have to wait for payday though as its quite expensive to set up - $270 (150 of which is a deposit on the modem).

The felines have settled right in and Stormy loves racing down the hallway that most trailers (older ones) seem to have. The porch is big and roomy with a storage room off that where the water tank is (I have to get water delivery again, but thankfully it can be regular and is included in my rent along with heat and electricity).

I'm not looking forward to the chaos and mess the movers will bring tomorrow but my goal is to have it all unpacked and sorted out by the weekend. Then I shall be heading to Hay River for shopping. Now I have to take my trailer trash ass back to the trailer...

I Could Never Be A Rock Star

I am OVER motel life. Hotel life would kill me first. Let’s recap on the past month of accommodation. I last slept in my own bed on the night of November 8th.

1. 9th,10th and 11th – slept on an air mattress in my cabin (Hot Springs)
2. 12th – slept at my friend J.’s house (Whitehorse)
3. 13th – 20th – slept at the Casa Nova Suites (Yellowknife)
4. 21st – 23rd – slept at Henderson’s B & B (Yellowknife)
5. 24th – 28th – slept at the Super 8 (Yellowknife)
6. 29th – Dec 2nd – slept at my friend J.’s house (Whitehorse)
7. 3rd – slept at the Bluebell Inn (Fort Nelson)
8. 4th – present – Unnamed Motel (Fort Resolution)
   

And now I could be facing the prospect of being moved to the local B & B because they have double booked my room here. Sigh. I just want to move into the trailer already and stop moving. I want my own bed. Whine…

I am thankful to have a roof over my head, but all this shuffling around is wearing me out. I REALLY don’t want to pack up again for just a couple of days in yet another spot, then pack up AGAIN to move into the trailer. I am tired of packing up.

Once I get settled, I don’t know if I have it in me to hit the road a few weeks later for Christmas holidays. I was planning on heading south to Edmonton to visit and do some shopping. More hotels, more strange beds, more disruption. Sigh. Stay the hell put, I think.

On a positive note...I have just dragged my laptop into work and find that I can pick up someone's wireless net here, maybe belonging to the Band Office, I'm not sure. All I know is I can finally connect with my own puter again...yayyyyy!!!

Moonlit Drive

After the feast tonight, I went for a moonlit drive just out of town. Since there is nowhere to really drive “to” that’s still occupied within 150 kms, I just drove a short ways down the highway and turned around and came back again. But first I parked and opened up the sunroof, and turned off the engine. The stars were amazing just out of town, and the northern lights, though not as bright tonight, were like broad strokes of faded grey paint. Perhaps once the moon goes down, they might be brighter. I think I shall have to make a regular habit of this. There I sat, in the silent night sky, watching this amazing light show. I might have been alone, but the sky was wonderful just the same. I’m really lucky.

Making Acquaintances

Well, tonight was a feast in honour of the new staff in town, and along with the new teachers and nurses (who didn’t attend for some odd reason); I was introduced to the town. (and they applauded! imagine that!) There was about 80-90 folks that came, so about a fifth of the town, which is not bad but could have been better. Apparently it was a big bingo night tonight, so simply the wrong night, lol. The students had put together some graham cracker villages and we were asked to vote on the best one. I picked number 3! Best use of candies :-)

The food was good, and I am beginning to feel somewhat better with my own recovery from an upper respiratory infection. I filled my plate and was able to finish most of it. I was wondering what they would choose to cook, perhaps something traditional, but it was the usual fare for the most part – roast beef (yummy it was!), ham, turkey, potato salad, coleslaw, pasta salad, spaghetti with meat sauce, and shepard’s pie. No desserts though, just mandarin oranges. That was different from things back east where any given supper would see heaps of pies, cakes and trifles. Had I been in my own house with all my cooking stuff, I could have whipped up some things in short order. There is always the next feast though! I met the principal and his wife, (vice principal of course) who seem nice enough, although the VP seems to have a bit of a negative outlook on the community…might be that first impressions are wrong, so I’ll keep an open mind.

The school is beautiful and immaculate. It is fairly new, and a wonderful modern design. The gym has one wall that is all glass, facing into the hallway/entranceway, so anyone can see into the gym at any given time. As well, the school is divided into upper and lower grades, and each has a skylight over a kind of mini-staging area, carpeted seating of some sort. I’ll go for the dime tour another day with the principal so I can see into the classrooms and library. The school is very First Nations themed, including Chipewyan translations on each classroom and office door. Cool. Did I mention that the street signs are also all in Chipewyan as well? I’ll try to get a photo for another time.

The people are quite friendly so far, though you can tell that some are keeping their distance. I would be more social if I wasn’t hacking and coughing over everyone, so have tried to contain my germs somewhat. I did chat up with a few locals tonight though, and look forward to meeting everyone.

I spent more time at work today, most of the day, and began sorting out my office. It sure will be nice to get my own office stuff once the movers arrive, and then it will feel like home. It turns out that the other social worker is not returning and will remain back east to care for her family while her father hopefully recovers (though he is very ill). So it is just me, and in trying to see the silver lining – I have found somewhere to live. The gov apparently does offer housing and because the other gal arrived first, she got it. I had thought she rented it from a local, but it is a government trailer, so I will be able to move in once her things are moved out. She wasn’t here when her belongings arrived by movers, so it is simply a matter of shuffling the boxes and things out to a storage shed, then I will call my fellas in Hay River to deliver my stuff. I can hardly wait! With any luck, I might be settled into my own place by next weekend. Nice. I may even have a phone and internet. I think there is satellite there already, so that’s great. I get the feeling everyone is using Bell Express Vu, so I might have to unload my Star Choice receiver somewhere first.

All in all, the week hasn’t been too bad. The temperature has risen nearly 30 degrees in the last 24 hours. It was –25C yesterday and tonight it is 4C. That’s PLUS FOUR. WTF? I am GLAD of it though, and even walked to the school tonight for the feast. I may even go out for a walk later tonight, once the snowmobilers slow down a bit…until next time…

Motel Life

This is a shot of the "motel" I am staying in. There are four units. We apparently share the heating and air ventilation system as I could smell someone's cooking very strongly last night...greasy fried something. Likely the two young fellas at the end, as it smelled similar to that when I first met them.

The Great Slave Lake

The sun setting over the Great Slave Lake. And then this morning I snapped a couple of photos of the awakening dawn..