Errands

Dec. 21

I went back to the Hamlet to check on my Driver’s Licence.  They finally got the form faxed back from Rankin Inlet (the regional capital) only to tell me that they need more ID – specifically a Nunavut Health card.  No!!!  I tried to explain I was hoping to get one and should be getting one and deserved to get one, but didn’t have one.  I got a shrug back.  This did not go over big with me but I put on the patient smile and tried again.  The counter attendant put on the same smile and said there was nothing she could do.  I whined and she called the boss in Rankin.  I heard a lot of, “I told her that” and “I explained that to her” and I was beginning to lose hope when she put me on the phone.  I was prepared to repeat the Health card dilemma when the dude asked me if I had proof of residency – like a phone bill.  Hello! 



A nice surprise at the post office – my parcel from mom and dad was in.  Diabetic chocolates and cookies for Cindy.  Yummy!





Dec. 22

One more trip to the Hamlet with a phone bill.  I now have a Nunavut Driver’s Licence.  Don’t laugh, but it looks like a grocery store receipt.  I told David (pardon me, Constable Cretien)  I want him to write the phone numbers of all the cops on the back of it in case I get stopped in Ottawa!

Cindy (who now has to work on convincing Nunavut Health to fork over)

                          

Cold

Dec. 20

I hate to whine – but I am cold.  Something is wrong with the heat in the apartment and I end up calling the manager’s office daily.  I have even had to call the after hours number when the heat conks out at 1 in the morning (still a night owl).



Now cold outside is to be expected.  The wind chill hit -48 yesterday and I was out and about the town. I stopped into the Hamlet office (nothing Shakespearean about it – Baker Lake is technically a hamlet, not a town or village) to see about a driver’s licence.  I waited and waited and was getting hot in my parka – but my feet were cold and never did warm up. By the time I left it would be safe to call the weather a blizzard, but I had more stops to make so I kept going.  I went to the KSO – sort of like going to the school board office – and checked on my dental benefits and learned I have to call someone else.  Next was the Health Centre to fill out a release of info form so my medical records can be sent from Nanaimo.  Next stop, the RCMP detachment.  I am applying to be a guard at the jail.  A lot of teachers do it.  I have nothing better to do this holiday and I also hope it will help me get a health card.  It appears that Nunavut Health does not like giving benefits to teachers on term contracts.  If I am a guard then I have a job with no end date.  Worth giving it a shot.  Tweek the system, baby.  The form was really long and they told me to take it home.  I met Mat, the new cop, and chatted about being Air Force kids.  Dave said he will be coming to Amanda’s Christmas party on the 24^th so I will see him there.  I then intended to pick up my mail at the Northern, but the weather was nasty and my feet were icy blocks so I just went home……to a cold apartment and another phone call to the office.



Cindy (who is glad she won that heating pad at the square dance)

                          

Spikes

I love my new spikes.  Not heels - that would be weird up here.  I mean the traction devices you attach to your boots.  I ordered a pair from Mountain Equipment Co-op -- along with a balaklava and some energy bars.  Not thrilled with the face mask but in love with the spikes.  I feel so much more confident walking to the store.  However, once in the store you feel a bit of a tool.  The things clink on the tile floors and everyone knows a kabloona (white person) is coming.  Better than slipping on the steep inclines that lead to both of the grocery stores.  I'd recommend them to all you Southerners who live in places with icy sidewalks and parking lots.  Just watch yourself on metal gratings (up here that means in front of doors and on stairs); you can catch a spike and trip.  The irony is not lost on me!

XO
Cindy (who has not been able to walk with her spikes being housebound with blizzards)

Warm Fuzzy

I have spent the last two weekends watching basketball at the high school.  Most of the time I have sat with two of my Grade 11 girls.  We have had a lot of fun.  Today, at lunch, they started talking about what I would do at their graduation.  On the way home, reflecting, I got misty-eyed.  I think this is the beginning of feeling rooted.

More Blizzard

Hi there!  Welcome to my Winter Wonderland!

We have had a 3-day blizzard and lazypants here hasn't written a thing. I posted some Facebook tidbits, but no real writing. It's almost time for bed, so of course this is when I decide to get serious. Oh well, maybe I will prove my laziness and just copy the stuff I put on FB. Sorry for those of you who read this and are FB friends.


I had a great weekend cheering for the Under 18 Boy's basketball team.  Go Blizzard!  More prophetic than anyone wanted.  Teams arrived on Friday from all over Nunavut along with 2 refs from Yellowknife and 2 from Winnipeg.  It was a great weekend of entertaining basketball and a gold medal game that went into overtime with a 61-61 tie.  Our local boys won making it an even more festive atmosphere.  Even before lunch on Sunday, though, people were talking about the approaching blizzard that had not been predicted on the Friday.  I should jump ahead - spoiler alert -- they are all still in town.  The 6 other teams (Pond Inlet got stuck somewhere else and never did make it to the tournament) and their coaches are holed up in the arena.  Pity those teachers!  The 4 refs have it better as they were booked into a lodge.  As usual for kids' teams travelling in the North, the kids and coaches slept on gym mats on the floor in classrooms.  However, they were moved out on Sunday night.  School was actually opened on Monday morning but within the hour the blizzard got worse AND the school had run out of water so the few kids who had even bothered to come were sent home.  I was really sorry for the ref who happens to be a school teacher in Winnipeg.  He has to pay for his own sub when he is away.  Ouch.  They may get out tomorrow (Thursday).



 This picture is actually from the blizzard LAST weekend.  You can see the reflection of my camera near the top middle.  That building is the old Co-op and it is being renovated.

This is what it looked like trying to get out the entrance to the 12-plex (the name of my building).  Those two sticks leaning from the far left of the photo are part of the fencing that goes around the whole building.  I have been told we have a family of arctic hare living under us.  Folks complained about catching their pants, etc. and it has finally been fixed.  I was more worried about keeping in(or out) the fox or wolf kits that I have also been told live under us.  Do they really co-exist?  Hmmmm.





Want to complain about your job?

This is the new community hall being built next to the arena. I took this from my living room window. I was cozy. This guy? Not so much.

If it ever loads (it has been 12 minutes) -- this is the far entrance to the 12-plex (we have one entrance at each end of the building).  I fianlly went out to check on the strange screaming sound.  Enjoy.

So we got sent home on Monday and now it is Wednesday night.  The building ran out of water this morning.  Jeneth (teacher friend and lives across the hall) said it is more likely our sewage is full than that we have no water.  The water truck made three deliveries to us on early Monday morning but the sewage truck only took away one load.  It is a safety system to cut the water so you don't overflow the sewage tank.  People were heading out around noon to collect snow to melt for water - but Jeneth reminded them not to put it down the drain or toilet.  I had kept enough water that I was fine - plus I had pop and juice.  Up until this morning I had only flushed my toilet 3 times and of course had not touched the shower, dishes, or laundry.  I did my part.

I may give up on this video -- it is STILL attempting to upload.  Did I mention in the past that I have lousy internet service?  If you send me cute things and I don't respond then I may not have seen them.  I am not that patient.


I call this last photo:
"Here comes the sun .... and the plow (and someone desperate to get wherever the plow is going)."




This is actually the first bit of sun we have seen since Saturday. It doesn't show in the photo, but it was a strange yellow colour.



I heard that tonight was the last Bingo of the year.  They stop it for the holiday season -- the hope being that people will not gamble and use the money to buy food and gifts for their family.  I went out to buy cards and actually enjoyed the fresh air.  It was a bit nuts getting down the front steps but after that I was fine.  The wind has died down from the crazy 100 kph it got up to.  I got within two numbers but didn't win anything.  Better luck in 2012!

And on that note - Good Night!!


PS: I gave up on the video after 1 1/2 hours.......                                                                              

Questions

Hi there
A blog reader had a question and I thought I would answer it here for everyone.  Just like we always say in class, "There are no silly questions - and chances are someone else is wondering the very same thing".

The question had to do with my post where I talked about conserving water during a blizzard.  You other Northerners (present and former) reading this can stop now and go back to whatever.

The short answer has to do with the water truck.  If you know a blizzard is looming you fill all your containers, do your laundry and dishes, and have a bath.  If the blizzard hits without warning then you just go without clean dishes and hair.  It is important to conserve water because the water truck may not be able to make deliveries.  The same for the sewage truck - hence the not flushing and other water wasting habits we have.


Thanks for the question.  If you have any thoughts you want to share send them to me via this site or my email (teachingismyreasonforliving@yahoo.ca).  I know that other folks will appreciate your bravery.  It is a my fault that I make assumptions and leave out tiny details that help make the big picture much clearer.  I need all the help I can get -- so question away!

Bacon

Mama brought home the bacon tonight.  There was a square dance at the hall in honour of Harold Goobie who is retiring as our superintendent.  Lots of folks attended and there was the usual singing, live music, dancing, and games.  I think I described this game before - but it is the one where there are prizes in the middle of the floor and the people playing make a circle and then roll a die to try and get the given number.  Tonight the number was six.  If you rolled a six you got to grab a prize from the pile and place it in front of you.  Once all the prizes were gone from the middle you then got to "steal" from someone else.  There was a HUGE box of chocolates that was very popular.  So was a rice cooker and surprisingly a bottle of dish soap and a box of dryer sheets.  I had my eye on some light bulbs and an electric heating pad.  There were 5 dice going around and for the life of me I could not throw a six.  However, it only counts at the end -- or if you pick an unpopular prize at the start you just might get to keep it.  I finally got lucky about 10 minutes in and someone had just taken the heating pad.  I could have taken it out of her hands on the fly, but I went for the light bulbs.  Two more throws and then I hit a six in the last minute.  I went for the pad and was able to hold onto it.  From zero to hero; I ended the game with ot one, but two prizes.  Like I said, mama brought home the bacon tonight, kids.

PS I also danced