We are done! Ok, the house isn't quite finished yet, but Team 2 leaves tomorrow and we will not be doing any more building.

The walls are up, the roof is on and the outside walls and ceilings have been insulated and covered in poly. And we temporary windows and a door in place so it is warmish inside. Today the rain came down and didn't stop. It was rather chilly all day. We had a high of 2 degrees. Brrr.

Monday it is back to Yellowknife for one night and maybe breakfast with an old pal. Then Tuesday I head to Cambridge Bay again and work for a couple of hours--ick. And then rest up the following day--Canada Day!

Friday night in Iqaluit.

The team had the family we are building over for a bbq. Everyone had a great time and we topped off the evening with a trip to the river. It was great. My feet are still chilly--I was wearing my sandles...wasn't planning on a hike, just supper. So I'm off to bed in my socks to warm up and rest up for tomorrow. We build Saturday and Sunday and maybe Monday morning before we go.

There are still a number of friends I haven't seen yet and am disappointed that I won't get to see. C'est la vie.

Wing Night!!

Yes, it is that Wednesday night Iqaluit tradition. Wing night. The team went for wings and drinks. It was nice. I ran into a few old friends and had a wonderful time chatting with my new friends.

Today was a bit of an off day at the build site. The roofing guys were onsite and since they are pros we step back and let them take over. Instead of just watching them all morning we went touring around Iqaluit. It was tons of fun I if I was smart I would be downloading pictures right now...hmmm. And now I am. Back to the site for a marvelous lunch and then in the afternoon D helped me clean Jen's car. I am borrowing a vaccum tomorrow and hope to have it sparkly clean when she returns on Friday, kind of as a thank you. Then we were done for the day so I did some visiting and FINALLY mailed my landlord July's rent cheque. I emailed him in May about it and just got it done today...after a call from my office reminding me. He called there trying to track me down. Oops.

Tomorrow is another day of work and then lunch with the guys I used to work with. They are located in another building now. Much newer and the VIEW is awesome...right out on the bay. It will be nice to have lunch and catch up a bit. And my evening is going to be my own. I've been invited to join the group for an evening out at a concert, but I think an evening alone is really what I need. And I may have a friend over for a quiet supper.

Man am I tired. But feeling good.

Another great day of building. It was a bit rainy, windy and chilly, but as long as you kept moving it was ok. I managed to sweat through my sweat shirt, but only because my rain coat has no ventilation. YUCK!

I have been helping S with the measuring, cutting and delivering of wood the past couple of days. We got into a great rhythm on Sunday as exclaimed by my arms that evening. But this morning I was at it again and feeling fine. I organized the storage shed this afternoon. It was a bit of a make work project that I took on myself, but it needed to be done. I had a shelf made (I made all the measurements--but had some help with the cuts and nailing) and that helped. There is way to much stuff in the shed...so in two more days it will be a mess again. Oh well.

The food...doesn't stop. Coffee break, fruit, cookies, that sort of thing. Then a couple hours later lunch, followed up later in the afternoon by another coffee break and then a short while later supper. I ate with the group Sunday night. It was a team two/team one evening. Lots of laughs and good times all around. Tonight I ate a bagel at the house here in front of the tv. I didn't think I could handle another big meal. Tomorrow night I am having onne over to my friend Jen's for supper. I brought musk-ox and one of the ladies on the team bought the veggies for our musx-ox pot roast of sorts. And an apple pie. If I get it done in time there will be homemade guacamole as well.

It's nice to be back and I don't know how I am going to see and spend time with everyone that I want to see. I just know it isn't going to happen. But I will try!

Quick update...

Arrived in Iqaluit safe and sound Friday afternoon. Had very surreal evening. Being back and yet feeling like I had never left.

Headed to build site at 11am on Saturday and left at 1:30am Sunday. Midnight build was exciting and fun and tiring.

Built Sunday from 9-5 and am just heading to the site again today. Nice weather up till this am. There is some rain coming down.

More later.

Whatever gets you through the day....

Today is Thursday, June 18. Hopefully at around 5:40pm tonight I will be flying to Yellowknife. It is very foggy here this am, but we are expecting it to burn off in a couple hours. Then tomorrow I'm off to Iqaluit! YEAH!!!

It is getting me through my day when I have soooooo much work to do. So much that in fact I should not be writing this...I should be working.

See you from the dark side!

Why are some people so resistant to change?

Why are they against people bettering themselves?

Why is such a simple thing like setting up a bank account seen with venom from my fellow co-workers?

I want as many employees as possible that live here in Cambridge Bay to set up a bank account so they can have their pay direct deposited. It is a simple thing. The bank is generally willing to accommodate them (provided they have not had issues with the bank before) and in the end it saves the employees money as they usually have the cheques cashed not at the bank, but at the local store who charges 2-5% of the value of the cheque. Why would you not encourage an account where they can keep their money safe?

I'm confused and I get confused so easily lately.

My time in Edmonton is quickly coming to an end...sigh. It's good to be home.

I am off to a bbq Saturday afternoon. It is a global village/habitat for humanity reunion type event. I am looking forward to seeing a couple of old friends and meeting some new people.

Saturday I need to:
a) find something to bring to the bbq
b) go to the office and pack up my files
c) pick up a few more groceries
d) clean my apartment
e) do some laundry
f) pack for Iqaluit
g) pack for Cambridge Bay
h) relax and try to stay relaxed before I leave town Sunday morning. Phew. I'm tired already just from writing the list. But we all know I will get it done on time.

So...here's how my next few weeks are shaping up. Sunday go to Cambridge Bay...Monday -Thursday work like a dog. Thursday, fly to Yellowknife and hopefully meet up with friend for supper/tea in the evening. Friday, fly to Iqaluit for build. Spend week in Iq building with old and new friends. Monday, June 29 fly to Yellowknife and hopefully again meet up with friend. Tuesday fly back to Cambridge Bay. Wednesday is Canada Day! Then two days of work followed by the weekend. Work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and then Thursday is Nunavut Day! 10th Anniversary of the territory becoming a territory. I'm helping out with the festivities. Can't wait. Then one day of work followed by the weekend. This brings me to July 13...almost halfway through the month. I am hoping (fingers and toes crossed) to be leaving the North on August 1 and spending the rest of my summer in Edmonton...or Edmonton and surrounding area as I am hoping for a few visits to out lying communities.

So no, I haven't transferred over the pics I promised yet...I know you will forgive me for relaxing in Edmonton all this time and trying to save up some energy. But there will eventually be pics and more stories and adventures.

Fear not...I am still in Edmonton. And am now here till early Sunday morning...so I may eventually get the photos transfered and posted prior to my departure North. Life is good.

I'm in Edmonton. Ah.

I arrived back safe and sound Thursday evening and headed to the office a short 8 hours later. Friday was a long day and I'm sure I wasn't overly productive but I did help with some budget numbers and I was there to get some direction for the Board meeting on Monday.

Today--Saturday, I went shopping. Ok, it wasn't a spree. I needed to get one of my boots repaired. I bought them the last time I was in the US at LL Bean...which is longer ago than I care to think of. Anyway, the nice man at the shoe repair store said $20. And as I write this I'm wondering why I didn't take my shoe with me...the one I broke the heel on last fall and still haven't had repaired. Most of my shoes are disposable...I buys lots and they are usually cheap, but the boots and the shoe are expensive and a few dollars of repair work would be worthwhile. Nuts..why didn't anyone (me) remind me of the shoe.

I bought my first pair of steel toe boots. I'm going to wear them around the house or at work tomorrow to see if they are going to be ok. I need them for the habitat build. The guy at the store was less than helpful and was ever so nice to tell me that I had BIG feet for a woman.

I need to transfer the pictures I took up North onto my personal laptop before I can upload them all for your viewing. Oh, and I was right...it is a lilac bush outside my deck and I have had the door open all the time so I can smell them...and there is a bunch on my table. It is nice to be home for a while.