Feeling spring coming... I think!

Hey! It is amazing! For the last 2 weeks, the temperture has been amazing - with the coldest day being -20 and warmest was -9! For Cambridge Bay, which hit -64 for 3 weeks, -20 is balmy. I was walking to the Northern and post office one day, when it was around -11, and saw someone with their pants rolled up and no coat!!! OMG - it was truly beautiful, but wouldn't be me! Ellyott and I went to the community market today and it was so nice to get out of the ordinary routine! Every Friday is momma and baby date night (LOL) and he wanted to go to the "red-dur-aunt". We had dinner at the Inns North and then walked home. There were 2 puppies out back of our house, so I got our dog and we went out to play. A little boy came along and played with us - teaching Ellyott how to climb the mountain - aka snow bank! We stayed out till 640pm, which was amazing! Though he had a bit of a meltdown when I made him come inside to get ready for bed - my name was mud! HA! So, Ellyott and I are leaving Cam Bay for our summer vacation on June 3rd. We head to Montreal as I have a board meeting for a National foundation that I am involved with. My parents are going to drive from NS to Montreal. Dad wants to go see his sister and they will take care of Ellyott while I am in my conference. When I went home at Christmas, I was apprehensive... I love the life here in Nunavut... the pace of things, the patience of the people here and that there is so much more time for me to spend with him here - as opposed to how our life was in NS. But this time, I am actually pretty stoaked to come home! I am DREAMING about the cottage! I am excited to go for a drive and hang out at a beach and swim too! I am excited to see my family and friends and finally, I want to go dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is hard for me to be social here because I do not have anyone reliable to care for Ellyott. OMG, my ears are killing me! I had 2 bouts of strep and apparently because the strep was not treated on time, the virus went into my sinuses... when it did that, it caused pressure on my ear drums and the right side burst and the left side is flattened. I am on antibiotics. The nurse said that I should have my hearing back in 36 hours but it has now been about 70 hours and I still can't hear. I looked it up online and apparently there is a chance I won't get it back. I am a little, well alot, freaked out that it won't come back... I could not even hear Ellyott the other night when he woke and that is really scary. I am getting referred to the ENT clinic either here in Cam Bay if they are flying in or in Edmonton. Please wish that my hearing comes back, I am truly afraid. Well, I shall run and clean up the mess! We made and decorated cookies tonight and my kitchen is coated in icing and sprinkles! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!! It was great fun!

Lately

So, lately I have been thinking.... thinking about the things I have done, the changes I have made and the chances I have missed and the things that will happen. I don't know when I became so philosophical - however - perhaps it is something in the highly cholorinated water in Cambridge Bay? LOL. I feel like I may be missing out - I am 32 years old, living in the North with a great set of new friends, no social life, and a kiddo who keeps me in stiches with his crazy ideas and sayings...

i.e."momma, what do my want from the cupboard" OR "momma, what am my going to draw?" OR "momma, what am my are going to do" ---- seriously - do psychic powers come along with motherhood? Should I protest that I am missing out here? I really never know what he wants from the cupboard, I am always wrong on my guesses of what he is going to draw and I never quite prepared that what he is going to do, is probably jump on my head! HAHAHAHAHA!

I feel like I want some things that I have never wanted before. I feel that I really need someone to be with me, to love me, to take care of me, to protect me... any of you reading this who know me in person, know very well that THIS IS NOT ME! I have always believed that I am a strong woman, that I am independant, that I can take care of myself and my son, that I can do anything on my own...

H o W e V e R . . .

this is not how I feel right now! OMG - in Ellyott's words, "My am freaking out a little bit" - this is vulnerable and scary. Probably even more scary then it would be to say I am crushing on someone or more than that.... I don't really knwo what I am talking about right now.... I have been facilitating a training all week, have been sick since the 2nd week in January and Ellyott is sick too. So I am in my delusional, cough medicine, sniffles state - that is probably not the most responsible time to be blogging....

I will write again soon - probably with some crazy comment about how this one makes no sense, that I am not vulnerable and that I do not need someone to take care of me.... blah, blah, blah.... don't listen if that is the case.... truth comes out today!

How fast things change!

So, it is March 22 - happy birthday dad and happy first day of spring!

I am amazed at how fast the weater changes here. In January, we started to get the actual sun peaking the horizon - instead of the hour or less of twilight. Now, here we are, a bare 2 months later and we have the sun rise at 652am and setting at 722pm! Wow! Seriously gaining12 hours of daylight in a mere 2 months is nothing short of astounding! Can you imagine in NS changed this fast! Whoa nelly!

I am pretty happy lately - busy trying to figure out taxes, how to paint and the funny songs my son sings keeps me busy! I am anxiously awaiting our food mail delivery - was supposed to come last week, however arrived today after 5pm, so I have to wait another day. Okay, I suppose because Mr. Ellyott baby-o got some kind of belly bug! Poor babes. He has had it through the ringer with health issues since we have been here... I ordered a well.ca order and aside from my usual laundry soap, I am getting cod liver oil and probiotic powder for him. I hope this helps! He gets a multi vitamin and an extra vitamin D right now, but maybe the cod liver oil will actually work to help prevent being sick... next year, we are seriously getting the flu shot! No ifs, ands, or buts about it!

I was thinking on the weekend about time and wrote on my FB how much I appreciate how time is here... it is so hard to explain, except for the fact that I feel that I can breathe... I am so busy when I am in NS that sometimes my head feels like it is spinning, but here, my head does not spin at all. I am not saying that I don't ever want to be home, but being peaceful and having time to think and reflect is important to me right now. Hopefully, I will be able to incorporate this new way of life, when we move back down south. Will also be trying to maintain this frame of mind during our visit home in May-Juneish!

Well, have some extra work to do tonight, so take care all! XO's!

Quietly stating that we are feeling better...

Hush, I am not saying that too loudly! Ellyott and I are definetly in happier spirits!

Last night I tried to go out to a friends party and ended up in a chaotic situation with the babysitters... I won`t explain, other than to say I may have grown a few gray hairs! LOL

Today Ellyott and I reorganized the barge room, cleaned the house (mostly) and cooked spaghetti! We had such a great day and only 2 incidents of him not listening! YAY!

We made some changes with his daily routine at daycare this past week. He was getting into trouble and being agressive with other much younger kids. We figure that he may be a bit bored and with more directed learning he should be better. So now, the daycare is seperating him in the 2-3 year old area from the little babies and he is going to spend some time with the 4-5 year olds everyday. Through the week, there seemed to be a better pattern emerging! I really hope that this continues for the next weeks to come.

I did my taxes my myself, listening to Adele and Etta James, drinking a tea, laying on my belly with the tax papers all around me... Funniest part of it all was me actually doing the math associated with calculating! I hateeeeeee math! But I hope my calculations are correct!

I think that our next trip home to NS will be around the end of May into June... I am starting to look for good flight deals and may actually have enough aeroplan points for one of us to come home for free! Woohoo! I will have to book in the next few weeks and I will keep you updated!

So, does anyone read this or shall I call it my online journalÉ

Quietly thinking

So, I went to Iqaluit on duty travel, came home to a sick boy and got sick too! We have been sick for 3 weeks! Only reminents for Ellyott is a cough and I have a cough and no voice for the almost 5th day! OMG! I am facilitating a workshop this week - which has been quite an adventure considering! BUt I have adapted and the group has been very understanding. This weekend I am preparing for another workshop with 3 reps from CCSA, the regional managers and ED's of wellness centres - really exciting stuff!

I have been feeling a bit lonely lately... perhaps it is just because I have been so sick. I am craving a hug and to feel okay and safe.... silly and needy huh? I came to Cam Bay wishing for strength as a woman on my own, and find myself wanting a warm embrace... Oh well, suck it up buttercup! LOL!

I may go dancing tomorrow night... but I am taking a friends son for the night on Saturday and am not sure if I want to be tired, taking care of 2, 2 year olds!!! I think I need to have some adult interaction, that is not work related! Ha!

I am still trying to work on finding hobbies I like. I have not been using my camera or painting or writing! Shall I blame it on being uninspired??? Too sick? LOL! I am seriously going to get back at them soon. I need too!

OMG I am soooooo bored tonight! I just want to sit and chat with someone! I wish it was not 1am in NS... there is a few of you I'd love to talk to.

I am thinking of my brother, who was deployed on the HMCS Charlottetown. I truly hope that he is okay and that he comes back to us safely...

Valentines...

Happy Valentines Day...
This is the first year that I have really felt loved. My little boy is so sick and wants to cuddle and be so close... my heart just melted with him today...

I was away in Iqaluit for duty travel for 1 week, during which time my baby got sick :( I wanted to come home so much and time just creeped by sooooo slllllooooowly! I can't say my trip was wonderful. But getting home to a sick boy was... I need to hold him and take care of him. Yes, I recognize how juvenille this blog is sounding, but it is hard to sound adult like when I am talking about being a momma!

So... after almost 2 1/2 months of staring at my new book of poetry journal, I finally wrote a poem! YAY! Not the greatest work of art, but a milestone nonetheless!!! I am proud!

I went on an aurora guided tour when I was in Yellowknife. It was a really memorable experience! They showed me how to use my camera - it took pics of the lights, but when I uploaded them on my comp, they turned out blurry, so I need to keep playing with the settings.

I bought some watercolor pencils so I am going to try drawing again! OMG what a mess that will be! I think that I am becoming addicted to hobbies! Which is actually good because I need some!

I think that this post is a rambling mess of nonsense! I am going to end it and go cuddle in bed with my babes! Take care!

It's been a while

So I went home to NS for 4 weeks, back to Cambridge Bay for 2 days then went off to Ottawa for duty travel meetings. Ellyott stayed here in Cam Bay with his daddy, who left last week. I am trying to get back in the swing of things, but for right now, I feel a bit off...

I have been spending a lot of time thinking since coming to Nunavut and I really see some wholes I am working on. During my trip home and since being back, I really have not spent time working on those things. I am going to start back at it now...!

I bought a book to start writing poetry again... I have all kinds of ideas in my head of things I want to say, but I had forgotten about the courage it takes to write - courage to find the words, get them out and process the concepts. Tonight I saw, in the quiet after Ellyott went to bed, pen in hand and could not write! I al working on downloading some new tunes and I will try again - while listening!

The other passion is music. I lost my love for music - not sure how, when or why... but it is back! Trust me, the iTune charges to my visa prove that! Ha! There are so many beautiful words, songs and messages in songs and aside from death metal and country twangy music, I am happy!

I am working on learning photography as well. I bought an entry level SLR - Canon Rebel with an extra zoom lens. I am doing okay with taking indoor pics and still daytime outdoor pics, but pics of Ellyott moving or Zoey running, turn into a blurry ugly mess! Also, I bought a tripod to use to get pics of the northern lights... I have not figured out how to use the night setting or how to use the slow shutter speed option.... usually my trips out to get pics of the lights last about 5-8 mins and a super painful case of frostbite on my fingers! HA! Great fun - but I am still smiling!

I really appreciate my time in Nunavut, my job, my coworkers, people I have met through Ellyott's daycare and people from the community. I love that time here is slow - I am able to spend quality time with Ellyott in a different way than at home in NS. I love how the air feels here - it is so fresh and clean...not only fresh because it is cold, but fresh because it is not filled with the same pollution as at home. I love it when my eyelashes freeze and when I see people doing kind things for others. I love the fact that I am so close to the tundra - free land, uninhabited land... when I go walking ion the tundra, sometimes it feels as though I am the only person who was ever there... I know that it not reality, but it is exciting to feel that way.

I have decided that I am going to start checking the boards in the stores and post office for a second hand Honda. When it gets warmer, I want to be able to go out on the land with Ellyott, go to Mt Pelly and out to the camps at the Gravel Pit. I want to go to water lake and out by the dump to get pics of the foxes... I want to be mobile to travel around the community and see how the spring comes to the North... These thoughts make me have butterflies!

Well, I am off to check my downloads (soooo slow!) and to try another go at writing... take care all and I promise to write again soon!

Courage

So I have been thinking a lot since coming to Nunavut... there is one major issue that I found I need to work on... courage. I hope that my time in the North will change my self-opinion to include courage, strength, and a realistic understanding of my self worth... Heavy stuff eh? I guess that while I am writing this, I am also realizing that I need to explain it to myself, so that I can better understand it. So here is an example. I have a crush and I could never ever tell them that I have a crush... for many reasons. There are some pretty obvious reasons and then there are other reasons. One of which is that I am afraid that they will only see my outside. I am a big big girl. I am sad about this, have come to an understanding of how it happened, and am taking all the right steps for dieting, exercize and positive reinforcement... I have made some big changes since coming to NU and know there are more to come... when I come back to NS in the summer LOOKOUTTTTT! I will be a hot tamalie! However, I also don't want to be a skinny girl that people just want to know, just because of what I am on the outside. So I am in conflict with myself. I want to be loved as I am, but would never have the courage to put myself out there with the way I am right now. I have almost told my crush that I am crushing a couple times, but always ALWAYS chicken out. I feel like a stupid teenager.
I have spent much of my life loving people who don't want to be loved or who can not handle how intensely I love. I am not crazy in a relationship, but I am also not afraid to share my heart with a partner. I listen to a lot of music and find comfort and hope and sadness all entrenched in the words of the songs... like "can't make you love me" by Bonnie Raitt. Or beautiful songs of love and the hope for love, like "ready for love" by india.arie or Boyz 2 Men songs... I kinda got off track here talking about music, but the point I am trying to explain to myself is that I don't think that I deserve to be with someone who I idealize in my mind. My crush is so perfect. So funny. So attractive. So passionate. So brave. Why is it that I feel that I am not good enough??? WHY? I have a great career, an amazing child, I am a good friend and good daughter / sister and auntie. I am passionate and a good listener. I can be very romantic and am always loving.
I see the major disconnect in my courage. I have let things railroad me for a long long time and somewhere along the way I lost my courage. I want it back. I am starting out in this process, but find myself extremely frustrated already with how slow change happens - even if I make 100 little changes, it will take a long time to feel the impact... I know I want to reach my end goal of finding my courage... however, in the mean time I continue to dream. I dream out how things would happen, what I would say, what the other would say and how much it would make me cry to feel their arms around me and how safe I would feel if they felt the same about me. Someday I will feel this way, maybe not with my crush, but with someone who is as spectacular.

Christmas Bazaar

Yesterday was the Christmas Bazaar in Cambridge Bay. It was great! I got a few special things for some special people! There was a beautiful pair of beaver skin mitts, that were dyed different colors. The fit perfectly and were soooo cozy. However, they were 200.00... so I didn't buy them. I am regretful now... I wish I did!

So this week the temperature is going to go wayyyy down... it has been very warm here in comparison to what it has been in previous years... makes me sad to think that global warming is having such an impact and no one realizes the damage to the North :(

I have been meeting lots of new people and am on the Board of Directors for Ellyott's daycare. I am starting to make some great new friends and cook a lot of meals for people! I love to cook and to entertain! Ellyott and I have a good routine and we are able to spend so much time together. In NS, we spent 2 hours a day in the car and in Cambridge Bay we get to spend those 2 hours playing... it fills my heart. I love being his momma... I am so lucky that he chose me.

I watched the Lovely Bones today and cried and cried... what a frickin' story. I can't even imagine.

Well, Ellyott and I have 4 weeks from today till we start our journey home for Christmas. I am excited! Zoey is going to stay here with my coworker Irene till Dec 28, then she will be with another coworker Sue till we get back Jan 9. I will miss her dearly.

Well, I shall run for now! Take care!

Content

Hello hello!
Its been a couple weeks, so I thought I would write. I think that both Ellyott and I have gotten every single bug/ germ / virus possible over the last 2 months... flus, colds, ear infections, tonsilitis, pink eye... you name it. ARGH... today is a good day. Today (knock on wood) we both seemed to feel good! We went to the Rememberence Day gathering in town today, and played in the snow on our way home... we napped and played for the rest of the day, and NO sign of a running nose, red eyes, stomach ache... etc etc etc, blah blah blah! YAYYYYYYYY! Whop! Whop!

I am enjoying it in Cambridge Bay. I am not finding it very cold - but actually there was only a few days that the temp went below -30, so I guess we have had it pretty easy. Apparently the weather this year is not normal.

My job is going well... somedays I feel like my head is spinning though... I have always had a difficult time trying to wrap my head around policy, and not having real practical policy experience coming into this position is a big eye opening process for me. I was a bit down in the dumps for a while because a plan I thought I had in place about going home, did not work out, so I had to come up with the money to fly E and I home for Christmas time and for an appointment that I have. I got the tickets and a place for our dog Zoey to stay.

I have seen some new beautiful things while here that I want to share. I am also going to get a better camera with a strong lens when we come back to NS in December. I saw a light phenomeon called light poles... when it is -20 or below and there are ice crystals in the air, the lights from the community extend straight up into the sky... so beautiful. No northern lights... perhaps when we stay over in Yellowknife when we are on our way home.

Well take care all and I will write soon!

Loss for words...

Okay, I have not been a good blogger at all. Between parenting, my job, and trying to unpack everything - successfully, by the way and organizing - still ongoing, I jsut have not been writing.

We have had lots of snow and then some slush, then it froze and we had a blizzard, then it got a bit sunny and then we got a few dustings... which means that though it looks like snow, it is ICEEEEE! Trust me, I ended up on my ass 3 times in 2 hours. - one of which was terrible falling down my stairs.

I got the flu at the end of last week and now am on day 3 - almost 4, of no voice.... this SUCKS with a 2 year old who is currently testing boundaries.... in a big way...

I have been talking to many people, reading lots of documents and watching for local to Nunavut news.... I am very sad about the recent events in Cape Dorset. It truly stikes me as knowing how close people are in my community, that Cape Dorset is going to be affected by these events for many years to come...

I promise that I will start to write more often!!! PS - if anyone wants to see pics of Cam Bay, let me know and I will post some or give a link to my FB page.

Take care!

Reflections...

Hello!
So, we have been in Cambridge Bay for over 5 weeks now and have had some great and some not so great adventures...
Great adventures:
the plane, feeling proud of myself, starting a great job with super potential for my career, exploring the North - Mount Pelly, going out on the land with a coworker and her family, seeing the beauty of the North, meeting really great people, and learning many new life foundations - i.e. taking the long view...
Not so great adventures:
Ellyott hating the daycare, him having a very sore belly for 4 weeks, him getting a double ear infection and tonsilitis, my bed, couch and TV gone missing (have the bed now, couch is in Cambridge Bay but has not been delievered and the TV... well no one has any idea where that is) and I fell yesterday 3 times...1. in front of the daycare and a bunch of roofers, 2. up my stairs carrying E's wagon inside, and 3. the worst one, falling down 6 stairs while taking my dog out for a walk... ouch - sprained finger, sore ribs, bum and leg.

Apparently I may be able to go out on duty travel to explore some programs in Clyde River and I am soooo excited! I am going to learn so much! Either Ellyott's daddy or grandma may come to Cam Bay to stay with E while I go... all up in the air now, but firm details are coming in the next week or so! I can't wait to get going on this job... yay!

I am getting a parka through a friend I have never met... LOL! Thanks Susan for introducing me to Tara! I am getting a great deal, so I am happy.

So every night, I scour the sky looking for northern lights and some people say we are too far North, and others say they come in November... So I will keep my eyes open and fingers crossed! I feel that we are settled in now and am content. I have started really thinking about my life, the choices I have made, and the choices I want to make for my future... this North adventure is giving me lots of time to reflect and I think that it was long overdue!

Settling in...

Yay! I got my things aka "personal effects" on Monday. I am done unpacking and am organizing. I was hoping to get everything done and cleaned this weekend, but my little guy has a double ear infection - so, organizing and cleaning is on the back burner. They had lost my bed, my couch and my brand new flat screen TV. I got my bed Friday, my couch is in Yellowknife and will come when there is room on the plane and my TV, well no one seems to know where that is. Sniffles. I checked the price of the same TV here and it is 1400.00!!!!!!! OKay, no way on that one. The cheapest TV here is 600.00, so I guess I am going to do without...

I am loving my job - though I am not sure how I am going to learn everything. I have never done policy and standards before because I have always worked front line. I must say that I do miss the front line work - seeing how people learn and change has always been fascinating. I have been thinking alot lately about my life and wondering why sometimes I am not good at saying things. I can advocate for clients with lots of energy and passion, but when it comes to me saying something in my heart... thats another story. How did I get so complicated??? I listen well when Elders speak and the philosophy of truth from the heart has made me start to wonder why I can't say certain things... what is holding me back? Why am I afraid that others won't see me as I am? I know the answer to the last question, but I'll leave that for another day!

On to happier things, I am still on my quest to see the Northern lights... either the sky was clear and it wasn't cold enough, or it has been cold by cloudy, foggy or snowing. I have been looking at some other bloggers pics of the lights and I am soooo envious. Maybe I need to get a babysitter for late at night and go walk out of town a bit... perhaps I'd be more lucky then!

Well, should go for now, but will write again soon!

We're here!

Okay, so I have not been a good blogger since I have been here, but I am writing tonight! We have been here for 2 weeks and almost 3 days. We are doing relatavly well, except the following:
1. Ellyott is crying alot at his daycare - probably getting used to so many more kids - at his dayhome, there were only 6.
2. The first week and a half, he had a tummy flu and now I have it.
3. Which is probably number one, our things are not here yet. They were supposed to come on August 30, but here we are at September 16 and NOTHING....
4. I am stressed about money because I have not gotten paid and I have had to spend TONNES of money on diapers as again, they are in my shipment
5. I do not have my warm clothes either, and capris and sandals are not cutting it in the snow. Seriously!
So, I have learned an important lesson about the North... here goes...

DO NOT BELIEVE ANYONE FROM THE SOUTH WHO SAYS YOUR THINGS WILL ARRIVE IN THE NORTH WITHIN 4 WEEKS.... THAT IS A BUNCH OF BALONEY!!!! PACK LOTS OF WINDER CLOTHES, DISHES, SILLY THINGS LIKE A STRAINER AND FINGERNAIL CLIPPERS, BECAUSE YOU WILL SUFFER OTHERWISE!

Okay, so now that is off of my mind and I can share some wonderful things. I went on a walk for suicide awareness day with the community who chanted "Embrace Life". It was amazing to see how a community, so very intimately affected by suicide, gathered so closely for something so special!

We went out with a co-worker to her family cabin "out on the land" and it was a huge honor to spend time with her and her parents, who are 1st generation Inuit. It was an experience that I will hold true to my heart forever.

We are finishing up our orientation tomorrow, during with time I met the Assistant Deputy Minister. She attended our week long orientation. We met with 2 Elders and went through PILES AND PILES of documents. This is going to be a great job - hard, busy, and challenging, but honestly, I don't think I would get this experience at home. I am honored.

I also ordered food mail for the first time, which was supposed to come in Tuesday - but planes were cancelled as it was too foggy here for them to land. It did not arrive today, so I do hope it comes before it all spoils!!!!!!!

I have put lots of pics on my Facebook page and will continue to add more. One thing I want to say is that there are soooo many employment positions here that are not filled, if you want to come up North, it would be an enriching experience and you should seriously consider it. I learned on my first day here that the Inuit have a motto. The motto is as follows...

Regardless of your life situation is - no food, no money, bad health, relationship problems etc... we wake up everyday with a smile, and continue that smile throughout the day and that smile warms others as well as our own hearts... magnificient!

Humm... 8 days now!

Okay, we had such a great day yesterday for Ellyott's birthday! The sun was out, but it was not scorching hot. We had a great turn out too! Loretta (who was our dayhome childcare momma) came with a big blow up bouncy castle, and let me to you all how much fun he had! HA! I had ordered a digger cake from Superstore, and asked them to draw a pic of a dump truck or an esvacator, but instead they made some cool dirt and added in a toy escavator and dump truck! I was so impressed!

This week is going to be filled with dentist appointments for me, packing the 8 suitcases we can bring - which includes more shopping... argh... I am really shopped out. Ellyott's actual birthday is on August 26th, so we are going to have a little gathering on that day too. I realized that I sent everything, and was supposed to keep out some supplies incase my shipment has not arrived in Cambridge Bay, so I have to do some scrambling for sheets, blankets, pots and pans, plates etc... I have to gather up some random food things that I didn't send in my sea lift - i.e. yeast for my homemade bread, spices, etc. I need to get some more medical stuff and some other random necessities... I really hope that our things get there relatively close to our arrival time, because I did not save warm clothes here to bring.... lately Cambridge Bay has been in the low teens and down to 4 overnight. I am learning alot from this move and if I were to do it again, I'd make some modifications to my planning!!!

I sold my car - yay! All we need to do is have the car cleaned and the oil changed and the money exchange so that I can pay off the loan and cancel my insurance - then I am free from almost 600.00 in payments a month! WHOP! WHOP!

I am still a little nervous about the plane... I got some "puppy valium" for Zoey... OMG! Ellyott had a stomach bug for a week, an ear infection for a week and now a cold, so our family doctor said to give him advil about an hour before the plane leaves and to have some gravol onhand... I have no idea what to expect giving him gravol as he has not had it before... Once I get in Edmonton, we are going to check out the West Edmonton Mall - I have never been there, so since we have an overnight there, I think it would be great to explore!

I will update again later in the week and I know that alot of my friends are reading this blog and if you have any suggestions about all of this, plus let me know!!! XOXO's!

15 days! Tick, tock...

I htink that I am in a much better state than I was a few days ago. Last week was so hard to get through... the baby being sick, the puppy, the last week at work and that no one was around - Jimmy away working, mom and dad at the cottage, Jimmy's parents away and Lori working. I know that when I am in Cambridge Bay, it is going to be Ellyott, myself and our puppy... and thats okay - as long as there is not a little puppy peeing all over the place! LOL

I can't believe that in just over 2 weeks, I am going to be arriving in Nunavut! I have dreamed of going to Nunavut for years and years, and something always held me back. This current decision is based on a lot of factors - i.e. work experience, a great manager, money... ahh yes, money. A friend told me a story about her son and not being able to afford his soccer lessons, and he told his friend to come over after his lessons to teach him... this hit home for me. 11 more years it would take to pay off these loans at my salary, but I will have them paid in a year instead.

Here is a list of all the things I am excited about...
- seeing the Northern lights
- being part of a cose, family oriented community
- being part of such a progressive team
- not having to think outside the box, because "there is NO box" according to my boss!
- working towards my masters degree
- learning a new culture, practices and being part of a vibrant community that is growing in response to mining nearby
and just.... EVERYTHING else!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am going to miss the following...
- my family and friends
- walking through the isles of the grocery store, puttering
- Pete's Fruitique make your own salads
- Chapters
- trees!
- fresh produce that is readily accessable

But I am not going to miss driving an hour and a half to and from work everyday, especially in a snowstorm... I can`t wait...!!!

I feel like a bobblehead...

Okay, time is going by, 20 days to go!!! So this weekend I am going away to the cottage with some friends from work and then my great friend Natasha and her son, Christian (Ellyott's BFF) are coming up for a few days.

My complaints... I am a tad bit stressed (sense the sarcasam - meaning I am SERIOUSLY, crying, worrying stressed) about Ellyott, as he has a bad ear infection and a terrible fever. I am worried that I won't get everything finished at work by Friday, my last day AND my last complaint is that we got Jimmy a new puppy and this little dude is NUTS. He is a bullmastiff, 7 weeks old, pooping everywhere, outside for 20 mins and comes inside to pee all over the freaking floor - he like to walk and pee at the same time - - - quite the talented little one, eh?

So, if you have ever seen those bobblehead things in people's cars that move around like crazy if the car is moving... they go up and down, around and around, backwards and forwards, up and forward, down and backwords... totally random. Very unpredictable. Just overall crazy looking... well, thats ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, deep breath... relax.... insert positive self talk here... and yes, I have to end this blog, because the puppy was playing happily and right in the middle of this, with no warning, he crouched down and pooped on my bedroom carpet... argh......

25 dayssssss!!! Whop! Whop!

Hello!
1 week from tomorrow is my last day of work and in 25 days, at 715 am, we fly out for Edmonton, stay there overnight, and on August 31, we travel to Yellowknife and then Cambridge Bay! WOOHOO! I am sooooo excited!

The packers and mvoers came last weekend, so now my things are on their way to Edmonton to be crated and flown the rest of the way. My sealift order will arrive in my community before I get there. I had a conference call last night with my team and one of my new coworkers is going to the Northern and telling them that I don't arrive until August 31, so I imagine that they will store my things until then.

After work is finished, I have about a week off - to spend some time with special people at our family cottage and I start working for the Government of Nunavut August 23 from here... I am having Ellyott's 2nd birthday on August 21. Then the last week was supposed to be filled with wedding activities with a friend, but this plan has changed, so I guess I will do more visiting!

I arranged for Jimmy to get a puppy because I decided to bring my dog with me to Nunavut... funny thing is, I need to get her on a little diet before we fly ! HA! Apparently, the dog has to be under 22lbs to fly in the cabin with me and Zoey is 22.7 lbs... no more eating the baby's food Zoey! Lots of time playing outside too!

I can't wait to get to Nunavut! I think this job is an exceptional opportunity for me as a professional and the culture of the Inuit will enrich my life and core family values. I hope to make some great friends and some strong experiences!

NEED ADVICE FROM PEOPLE IN NUNAVUT!

Ok... It is now...
-1 week, 5 days till the packers and movers come
-3 weeks till my last day at work
-5 weeks till we leave!!!

I am almost ready... I still have to buy a few things - which most importantly include boots for me and Ellyott. I can't believe how difficult it is to get boots that are rated at -50 or lower... I have been to MANY stores and yes, I know it is summer, but seriously NO ONE HAS ANY! Unless I bought these huge heavy steel toed man boots from Marks Work Warehouse - which does not suit me. I can't find any boots for the baby either. I am at a loss.

Other than the boots, I need a few odds and ends, and am facing a laundry dilemma. I thought I was being placed in a unit with a top loader, so I went and bought powdered soap, however, they have moved me to a unit closer to the daycare and this unit has been redone (YAY) but includes a front loader. So hence my issue... my sealift is already ordered and crated and possibly already sailing and the company who is shipping my furniture does not accept any liquids...

ANYONE FROM THE NORTH HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR ME???

After my things are sent, we have 1 month of jam packed events! Our childcare provider is on vacation the first week of August, so Ellyott will be with family, then he goes back to Loretta for 1 week, then I am done work. We have a trip to the cottage with friends and then my friend Natasha and Ellyott's BFF Christian are coming out for a couple nights... then back to Halifax to plan for Ellyott's 2nd birthday party on August 21. August 23 I start working for Government of Nunavut from here... interviewing people, gathering info etc. THEN, Ellyotts real birthday is August 26, I am standing in Angela's wedding on the 28th and then the plane leaves with us on it on August 30th! WHOP!

I can't wait to hit the road! I am still terrified of the flight with the baby, but I am going to have to get over that, eh?

Anyone think of something I am forgetting? I appreciate any thoughts, suggestions etc!

XO's

Whoa Jennifer!

Ok.... so I must admit I was overwhelmed for a bit... I had a hard case at work, frustrated with the current systems and powers at play in my current job and this can be summerized as frustrating. I came home and played with Ellyott - during such time I fell down and hurt my wrist... I proceeded to give him a bath then came to my room and had a bit of a cry-a-thon-feel-so-sorry-for-myself-no-one-cares-fest... In thinking about what I need to do to get ready to leave NS, I began to feel alone... I mean really alone... J is gone away working, dad is at sea, mom is at the cottage with Maggie and aunt Barb, Pierre just had a baby, J's parents are in Cape Breton and my friends are all busy... so I felt a little stressed wondering how I was going to be able to go shopping to get everything I need with Ellyott in tow....NOT GOING TO WORK... so, I woke on Friday, vented a bit and then I read a FB post that said "today I am going to focus on what I can do, and not on what I can't do...

breath in... breath out...

So today I left home at 9am... Jimmy came home last night from work and stayed with the baby today... I took off to the car dealer to have my car appraised and then hit the stores... Thanks to Shannon who got me into Costco and helped me get some good deals, then it was off to Zellers, Henry's, Superstore, Canadian Tire and Lawtons... I spent $1500.00 today and counted up saving 1100.00!!!!! I have NEVER spent that much or saved that much either!! I came home, did a brief inventory and made a list of the remaining things I need... guessing one more full shopping day and I will be DONNNNNNNEEE!

So my plans were to clean this house tonight... but nope.... not doing it... I am going to lay in bed and watch a chick flick... seriously KAPUT!!!

3 weeks till the packers and movers come and then 7 weeks to go till departure!