It's Saturday morning. There are birds chirping outside my window, the sun is shining and the temperature is going to reach double digits. What more could one ask for of a weekend? Nothing.

I am writing up my list of things to do before I leave for the North. I'm heading up on Wednesday for about a month. Yep, a month. Lots to do and lots to pack before I go.

I checked my fridge this morning and it seems to be ready for my departure. I have two cheese slices left, some pancake syrup, partial bottles of capers, ginger and garlic, a couple tablespoons of pepper sauce (for chicken), half a bottle of soya sauce, an open tub of margarine and an unopened bottle of salad dressing. And that is it. (Well, technically at the moment there is also a half bottle of diet pepsi...but that will be gone before I finish this post...excuse me for a second while I go to the fridge.)

There are a couple loads of laundry to be done...why is it that laundry never seems to go away...like dirty dishes. I need to clean the bathroom and the kitchen and then the house is done...oh yeah, and I need to put away the mounds of clean laundry. And pack a couple of suitcases.

The list is getting longer by the second. Some for fun, some necessary things. At the top of the list is getting my passport photos done. I need to send in my passport for renewal before I head North or it won't be a renewal it will be a new application. I can't believe how fast 5 years can go. I am hoping that the new passport will take me to Italy next year. I have been making some plans for a trip in March. (Update...diet pepsi has been taken care of and will not go to waste.)

I know I haven't posted any pics from my last excursion...maybe later this weekend. But I am sure that over the next few weeks there will be a few more interesting pics from the North. I'll be doing a tour of all 5 Kitikmeot communities but will be in Cam Bay for most of my time.

One of the ladies in the office mentioned the other day that I would be able to save a lot of money while I was up North. She is under the mistaken impression that there is no shopping. I said that it would likely cost more. There are so many wonderful things to buy including a new fur for my coat, some kamiks I saw on my last visit (kamiks--boots), carvings, drawings, meat. So many choices! LOL. I think she was surprised. She shouldn't be.

Alright. I'm going to finish my lists and head out the door. By the time I'm ready to go the stores should be open.