Splash

Just a few shots from our family ATV outing last Sunday. As you can imagine Oliver and Nick needed a hot bath and some hot chocolate when we got back to our place. It was only about 3 degrees so those splashes made for a chilly ride home.

Izzy

I write today with sad news for our family. One of our fur daughters, Izzy, is missing. My suspicion is that she fell out of our screenless bedroom window which is her favorite lounging spot. We're not exactly sure when it happened but we have heard she was seen outside our house on Monday night. I know for sure she was here Sunday but since it's not unusual for the cats to hide for days, we didn't realise she was gone till their food was practically untouched for two nights in a row. Another sign should have been how friendly her sister Zazu was over those first days. She's normally very standoff-ish but she'd been coming out to cuddle and meowing through the night which she never does. I'm sure in her own way she was trying to tell us that her twin was gone.

Izzy is the one on the right.

We've put out the word around town and have offered a $50 reward if someone can bring her home to us but so far no luck. I had hoped that someone had found her and taken her in but it since we haven't heard anything I can only assume that this isn't the case. She is a friendly cat but I don't know that she would go to a stranger especially if she's scared. We have a bowl of food out and I plan to do a late night walk about tonight to see if she's living up to her feline nature and hanging out after dark.

If I'm honest with myself I will admit that my hopes are probably futile. I would imagine she's met with a bad end at the hand of a dog or perhaps one of the eagle size ravens that live here. I will also say that I prefer that to the idea of her freezing to death out there. The temperature is falling and chilly is a favorable description of how it feels out there.

I hope she comes home soon, or at least we find out that she's really gone. Closure either way would be a comfort. I have a little hole in my heart where she should be and I'm devastated she's gone.

Akuluk

After three years in the north we have accumulated quite a collection of Inuit art. The one thing that was missing was a print of some kind. Cape Dorset (where we lived before Pang) is the 'print capital' of the north and their annual print sale is world renowned. I've been to the sale and although there were quite a few pieces I would have loved to buy, the cost was just more than I was willing to pay. I'm not someone who buys art as an investment. If I like it and the price is right, I'll buy it. Even if there is no real value in it. I never found something that fit all my criteria so my search continued here.

Last time I was down at the Uqqurmiut Center for the Arts and Crafts I found what I was looking for. It's called Akuluk. An etching done my Andrew Qappik.

Even though I'll admit I've seen pieces that I like more than this one, when I saw it, it spoke to me for two reasons. One: Akuluk is a Inuit term of endearment that we use every day in our house. Two: The woman is wearing in amautiq. Being able to carry my babies in this traditional way will always be my favorite thing about living here.

I'm very happy that I finally have my 'wall art' to complete my collection. I really hope that means we're done buying because I suspect our collection already exceeds what we'll have room to display in our future home.

Where were you?

My grandparents remember where they were the day JFK was assassinated. My mom would say for her it's the day John Lennon was killed. I will always remember where I was on September 11, 2001. 

I was living in Edmonton at the time, working for Air Canada. The morning rush had just ended and the check-in line was empty. One of my colleagues came by with a paper that he'd printed out from one of those on-line news sites that said a plane had hit the World Trade Center. Because the paper had a random heading of 'Novelty Sports' at the top I dismissed it as a bad joke. Over the next little while, people coming up to my counter were talking about it so my thoughts went from it being a joke to thoughts that it was probably a small Cessna that had ran horribly off course.

It was only when curiosity got the best of me and I went to the lounge to check out the TV did I realise what had actually happened. At that point the air space hadn't been closed and our flight to Denver was going soon so I was asked to go to the gate and help rebook people. Many our our passengers were were connecting in Denver going on to New York. The US boarding lounge had a television and I watched as the second tower was hit.  The rest of the morning was somewhat of a blurr as everyone in the airport was trying to soak in as much information about what happened as the TV could tell us. The one thing that stands out in my mind is the woman who was frantically dialing her cell phone while I worked on her file, trying to get in touch with family in New York. I could see the panic in her eyes when all she heard was a busy signal on the other end. It was a horrible feeling not knowing what to say. Knowing there was nothing you could do for her. Being thankful you were not in her place. After that I had a strong desire to call my mom, just to touch base and shed a few tears. Finding an available pay phone in the airport wasn't an easy task. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who needed to hear the voice of someone they loved.

We ended up with five planes in Edmonton when they shut down the air space and many of my co-workers stayed to help get everyone sorted out. I chose to head home and sit in front of my TV for hours and watch the towers fall over, and over, and over again. Looking back, I wish I had stayed to greet and help the passengers but in the moment I didn't think I could handle it. That was a very selfish choice and will go down as one of my greatest regrets.

Like the rest of the world, tomorrow I will remember.... remember the people who died in the towers and at The Pentagon, the first responders who risked their lives and the people on flight 93. May they never be forgotten.

And so it begins...

I woke up to this today.

I snowed last week as well but it was only the on the tops of the very tallest mountains way off in the distance towards the park. Today, it was right outside my door. Of course, by noon it was melted and all was right in the world again. I've heard some other snow comments from around the north on Facebook and on other blogs so I know we're not alone.

Let winter begin.

Weighing In

When I read the latest post from 'The Help' over at  A Slice Of Deep Fried Awesome the first thing I thought was that I could have written that post. I have been a fat girl for most of my adult life and even though I know I should have made the changes years ago, I think I've always been in denial. I always joke that I have a reverse eating disorder: People with anorexia look in the mirror and see a themselves as fat when they are way too skinny. I look in the mirror and think it's not that bad when clearly, it's bad. It's mostly when I look at pictures of myself that I really understand what I've become. And when I walk up the stairs, when I bend over, when I feel my gut sitting on my legs when I sit down....

The last couple of months before I went on vacation in July I had started going to the gym and spending some quality time with the treadmill. I dutifully brought my gym clothes to New Brunswick saying that I would continue but of course, I didn't. I was very busy and active however so I managed not to gain any weight even though I was eating like I was on vacation. I kept telling myself that when I got back I would finally make a change. I just couldn't be in denial any longer. Luckily, Nick also made the same decision for himself, without my saying anything. I am pleased to announce that we are both on day two of our respective diets. The day two update is: I'm starving. But I'm committed so I'm going to suffer through. Maybe I'll go and eat a big bag of mini carrots to get me through to supper.

The irony of dieting for me is that these healthy changes means plan, plan, plan. All that planning means that I'm constantly thinking about food. How many points are in that? What foods can I eat the most of for the least amount of damage? What am I going to make Nick for dinner? Since he's doing a different plan we are eating completely opposite things. And then what do I feed the kids? Isaac is still eating baby style foods so there is alot of preparation required for him too. There is also the added difficulty of living in the north were fresh meat and veggies are sometimes hard to come by.

All of this are just excuses in the end because if I really want it, I'll make it happen. I have set a not so lofty goal of losing 5% of my total weight to start out but haven't set a time frame for it to happen. Once I get there, I'll work on another 5%. My ultimate goal is somewhere in the ballpark of 70 pounds but that number is just too daunting at the moment. Smaller goals mean more successes (hopefully) and success means staying motivated.

Just like The Help, I'm not going to make the blog a platform for my diet. I am however choosing to make a public announcement about my intentions in the hope that you all might keep me accountable. Even if it's only in head. Weight loss for me is mostly a mental game and I can use all the help I can get.

Summer Highlights

We are back in Nunavut after a wonderful 6 weeks down south. I have to be honest, I didn't want to come back to a world without my family and friends close by but I am glad to be back in this beautiful place and our family's familiar routine. Lots happened up here while we were away and it seems most of it sad. There was a drowning here a few weeks ago, a suicide of a prominent member of our hamlet and the First Air crash in Resolute Bay. The crash was particularly disturbing for me since we rely so much on air travel up here. I joked with the flight attendant this time that Oliver has been on more planes in his short life than the average adult (38 flights if I have it right). I felt like it just hit way too close to home, I'm sure most Nunavummiut felt that way and mourn for the losses.

On a lighter note... the boys have changed alot since we left in July. Isaac is on the move graduating from pulling himself along his belly to all out speed crawling. He's developed quite a temper if he doesn't get what he wants, he's said his first word. "HI", strangely that was O's first word too. Oliver has changed too but not all for the better. My quiet, passive, laid back toddler has turned into whiny, temper tantrum throwing, never shuts up KID. For the positive he's learned to stand up for himself, is talking in crazy full thoughts and has developed a vivid imagination. It's crazy what they can learn in short time when they are around other kids 24/7.

As usual the best part about being down south is getting kid free time and Nick and I did get to enjoy some. We got away for a couple of nights and laughed ourselves silly with friends. Nick also started doing some research and made some contacts in preparation for our upcoming transfer back down south. There is no news on that front because we are just in the beginning stages of deciding on what we want and where we want to be. He spoke to people in a different types of policing and different provinces and will take that information under advisement.

All in all, it was a fantastic vacation. Probably the best one we've ever had. So without further ado, here is a glimpse of some of it. Enjoy!