I took the day off. It was a great idea. But first a rant...

I finally tracked down my cleaners last night. We had problems hooking up in the afternoon and I started to do the cleaning myself yesterday afternoon. After 4 hours I headed back to the office gave her another call and finally connected. I went home happy and content that the cleaning would be finished on time.

This morning as I am doing my usual Sunday morning activities...watching Coronation Street and surfing the internet when suddenly there is a knock at the door. This is an inside door that can only be accessed via a locked outer door so I figured it was my neighbour. I was right...sort of. Standing beside her was one of the cleaners. She had come to tell me she needed a vaccuum and some more Mr Clean. Sure, no problem I said. I'll be there when the stores open.

When I closed the door the neighbour goes nuts and yells at me. "Tell your friends not to ring my door bell." I tell her that I didn't know she was coming and that one of our employees told her where to find me. My unit doesn't have a door bell...and I don't have a phone that works so I need to know guests are arriving ahead of time. Then I said, oh and by the way, I need the vaccuum. "About that. I got flack over buying that vaccuum in the first place and it was bought for my unit. Terry had his own vaccuum. I don't think I should have to lend it out. I'm going to talk to (and I'm not sure who she mentioned) on Monday about it."

She placed the vaccuum in the common room and closed her door. I slammed my door closed and cursed her. Spoiled brat.

She wormed her way into getting the apartment...her position should not come with housing--and she is living here rent and utility free. She was given free reign to buy things for the apartment that most of the office disagreed with but didn't know about till too late. She had laminate flooring installed...then bought rugs for all the floors...when the vaccuum was purchased we all disagreed with it. Generally housing comes without that type of accessory and if an employee wants a vaccuum they buy it themselves.

Anyway. She has a company paid for vaccuum cleaner. I live 6 feet away also in company housing and feel that the vaccuum should be shared between the two units. I think she may find that I am right and she is wrong come Monday.

I took the vaccuum to the cleaners, checked on their progress and headed to the office. I called an old friend and had a great chat. I will be staying with her in Iqaluit at the end of June. I felt great when I got off the phone with her. I had vented about a number of things and knew she would understand. Then we chatted about my upcoming trip and her life. It was great.

In the great mood I was then in I decided to go out and take some pictures. I walked down a couple of streets that I haven't been on before and headed towards the dump. I didn't have a particular destination in mind and if I had of planned ahead I would have brought a snack. I strolled towards the dump then headed across the land and found a lot of geese hanging out. I took a few pics and then kept walking. It was a lovely day for a stroll. I walked for about two hours and would have gone longer except that the memory card in the camera was full and when I sat down to delete a few photos the battery died. I figured that was my sign to go home.

I'm charging the battery so I can download the photos...and some day I will get a chance to post them for you. I may need to call in unable to go to work tomorrow. The puddle in front of the house has grown to cover the entire driveway and in fact there is no snow left to walk on. I was ankle deep in water walking to the house this afternoon and it may only get worse before it gets better. I wish I had my rubber boots with me.

I'm totally in countdown mode. On June 18 I will be flying to Yellowknife and then the next morning on to Iqaluit. I'll be in Iqaluit until June 29 at which time I return to Yellowknife followed the next day by my arrival back in Cambridge Bay. My trip to Iqaluit has been approved and I'm super excited! I'm excited to see some of my friends again, I'm excited to help out with a Habitat build again. And I'm excited to have some time off. I don't mind a working vacation.

I'm also in countdown mode to June 4th. I'm heading back to Edmonton for about a week. There is a meeting that I have been asked to attend. I'm happy to go down for it. I'm also happy cause I'll get to check on my truck, my apartment and maybe if I'm lucky enjoy some HOT weather. And stock up on more groceries. I will also get to meet the Habitat team that I will be building with and find out what they would like me to bring over. I have a feeling my suitcases are going to be overflowing and at maxium weight.

Yeah! Countdown mode.

I'm feeling some anxiety around work. We have a new employee arriving on Monday with her hubby. I'm a bit concerned that they do not know entirely what they are getting into. If they survive the first few months then all will be good. What I am hoping is that she can see past some of the imperfections of her new home. The walls need to be painted, the carpet needs to be replaced, it could use some new blinds and some of the furniture needs replacing. The good news is that she will be able to do this for her apartment shortly after she arrives. The bad part is that I don't know if she will be able to see the trees for the forest. First impressions and all that.

Worst case scenario she hates it and refuses to live there. In that case I will offer up the unit I am in until hers can be renovated. We have another unit coming available the end of June that I think she should really move into and I am hoping that I can convince her of that. It will suck to move twice, but in the end I think she will be happier with the other unit. It doesn't need to be painted or need flooring, etc. Fingers crossed. I have someone coming in this afternoon to clean her unit (AGAIN) and the one beside it. We have offered it up temporarily to one of our other employees. He technically shouldn't have it...they are based on position so it is a temporary move, but the last employee left it...DIRTY. Hopefully the two ladies cleaning this afternoon can make it sparkle.

I'm off to the office shortly. I want to get a few things done at the office before I spend the rest of my day at the apartments throwing out garbage and helping with the cleaning. Yes, I have more than enough office work to keep me occupied but I think the physical work of cleaning will also be a good mental break.

Still lots to do with our hiring season upon us, but...BUT I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I will have offer letters out by the end of the week for all our jobs and then it is a matter of filling the final spots for those not accepting and then the paper work. I'm hoping to have a helper in place by the time it comes to getting all the paper work done.

This is a siksik. My apologies if I spelled that wrong, but I think it is correct. A siksik is kind of like a gopher but it lives in the North. The burrow in the ground like gophers, but I have never seen one before. I've heard of them, but haven't seen them. I didn't dare get closer, I didn't want to frighten the poor little guy away. They hibernate in winter and come out in the Spring. This is the OLD OLD hotel in Taloyoak.

A map of Taloyoak that is at the hotel. All the important buildings are marked in red. RCMP, Northern store, Co op, school, etc.

If you can read this it is worth a look. Click to make it bigger. Basically it tells you how much the room and meals cost, when the meals are served and when the stores are open. It's an FYI for you.

I've been trying to upload pictures at the office during lunch and then filling in text at home in the evenings. It works ok...but really I wish I had my Southern internet connection. Sigh. Spoiled after only a few months.

It's 8:53pm and the sun is streaming in the window. It's nice to see. If I wasn't lazy and tired I'd go out for a walk. But it is simply nice just to see it. Sports bra season has officially started. That would be when all the pot holes appear and you should make sure your shocks are in good order. There is a lot of bouncing when driving. I ended up with two drives today. One on my way back from the Health Centre some of the guys from work stopped me on the street and gave me a lift back. And after work one of the guys happened to pull up as I was leaving and I begged a ride home. I could have walked, but with a full and heavy backpack it was a nice treat. And I was tired...

I think I'm headed back to Edmonton on the 4th of June. I can't say I am not looking forward to the break, but still lots to do before then. Today though I got a slice of the pie finished and should have a TON more done by end of day Friday! I'll be home for about 5 days. Time to relax, unwind, enjoy some take out food and re-stock before I head back up North.

Some of the art work on the walls at the hotel. I think the outlines were drawn by a local artist and kids from the local school coloured them...I think. My hotel room in Kugaaruk. This is the room the second night, not the one I shared the first night...but they are basically identical. This is a nice, new hotel.
Twin beds!
These kids were fun. The girl was a bit shy and wouldn't take my picture when I asked her, but she hardly left my side all night.
From the Community Centre in Taloyoak.

I love this sign at the airport. You may need to view it in large mode to read the text.

Finally...more pics

This is a close up of one section of a wall hanging from the hotel in Kugaaruk. I think the materials used are from a musk ox and maybe human hair?.


The detail is fantastic in the work and can really only be appreciated in person.


The hanging was about 31/2 feet wide and about 5 feet tall.





This little cutie was taking a nap when I found him. This yard is pretty typical for the North. Garbage is a constant struggle. What do we do with it and where do we put it.


Another typical Northern view...polar bear (or other animal skin).


Room with a view. Quamitik...I know that is spelled wrong and I am too lazy to go and look up the proper spelling...Kamatik. I like the window in the front so the passengers can have a view and still keep warm.

Taken outside the Catholic church in Kugaaruk. I like the way the seal skins are incorporated into the shrine. It's a bit hard to see in the small version, but in the middle of the picture is a swing. Just like you would see in backyards all across the country. See...the North...the same, but different.

I'm in Kugluktuk this morning. I want to stay. Flew in yesterday afternoon and scheduled to fly out early this afternoon. Community presentation last night that went quite well.

The sun is shining high in the sky and looking out the window is almost painful as the sun is glaring off the white ice and snow..but I keep looking. The sun has been up and shining since we arrived and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. The temperature is a lovely -5 and all around town are signs of spring.

The hotel here is nice. I have my own room, satellite tv and a great view. The food has been excellent and I will be sad to fly out this afternoon. I could certainly handle another day of working in the sunshine. The hotel is called the Coppermine Inn and has been run by the same family since 1984. That must be a record. I'm hoping to get out and go for a walk shortly but am waiting for my boss to call...ugh. Somedays it would be nice to leave technology behind us completely and go back to the telegraph. He was scheduled to call at 10am. It is now 10:20...I'm envoking the no show rule and I'm heading out for a walk.

There were swans and geese along the runway yesterday when we arrived. I had put my camera away by then as the trip down the runway usually does not bring about any photo ops. I will have it at the ready today but will no doubt end up on the wrong side of the plane. But...I did see them. A large group of people were out on the ice fishing and there was a constant parade of families coming back in off the land last night. Families who had spent the weekend fishing or out at the cabins relaxing and enjoying the wonder

ful weather.

I slept very well last night. I left the curtain open so the sun could come in and around 1am there was a beautiful sunset. I was so asleep that while I saw it I couldn't do anything about it. Almost like a dream.