While friends and family down East enjoyed a snow day on Friday I still had to slug it out at work. Sigh. I could really use a snow day. Saturday and Sunday are days off--yes--but they are not snow days. A snow day is a gift--a treasure--a bonus! A snow day is a day that can be spent with a good book and no feelings of guilt because you didn't do the dishes or laundry--they are not scheduled snow day activities.

I would like to spend my day today reading a book or visiting the 4 or 5 Value Village stores in Edmonton...but I really need to clean and do a load of laundry and clean out the truck and buy groceries...etc. Hmmm.

.....almost 2 hours later and no official decision on what to do today has been made. Breakfast is over, the dishes are done and I'm enjoying my free extra channels on tv. I've been addicted to deja view since switching over to Telus for my communication needs. It shows so many of the classics--Golden Girls, Cosby Show, Who's the Boss, Three's Company....all the good wholesome shows of yesteryear. You remember the time before 'reality tv' took over. I miss good half hour sitcoms.

Just over a month till my temporary return to PEI. I really need a vacation.

4 years ago today I arrived in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. (New-na-vout) Which means that 4 years and 4 days ago I left PEI to embark on a new adventure. Wow...time sure does fly. During those four years I've been to Newfoundland, Boston, various places in Maine, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Yellowknife and lets not forget the trip to India. In the territory I made it to 16 communities. Not bad mileage for an Island girl. :)

Would I consider going back up North? Yes and No. I carry so many wonderful memories of my time up North...memories that I hope I keep and cherish for many years to come. I'm glad for the blog I kept during my time in Nunavut. I printed off the entire blog and it sits in two binders in my storage closet...in case it isn't available online in the future. My art collection and appreciation for art have certainly grown in the past few years. I guess my love of art has always been with me but when you get to meet the artist and watch them create the art it certainly changes your feeling. The landscape is/was amazing. Rough and gentle all at the same time.

The North can be a hard plae to live. The long winter nights, the isolation from things, people and places. The cost of living in the North both mentally and financially can be hard on people. It isn't like you can just go for a visit...the closet community will cost you a plane ticket and hotel room, not a highway toll.

It is a difficult place to explain. You love it or you hate it there is no room for in between.

I've recently explored the possibility of going back up North....I don't think it is in the cards at the moment...but I've learned not to say never.

My new favorite kitchen tool--my hand blender. Thanks to Mom and Dad for that great Christmas present. I am blending everything. I made turkey soup after Christmas and 'creamed it' with my hand blender. It was so yummy. Cream of Turkey and Vegetable soup without the dairy. Sunday of this past weekend I made some vegetable soup and again out came the hand blender. It is SOOOOO good.It is good due to a combination of FRESH herbs and the hand blender. Yes, fresh herbs make a huge difference. I even made my own pasta sauce a couple weeks ago with some diced tomatoes and fresh veggies.

Friday evening was nice. It is always good to visit with old pals. And the funny thing is I will be seeing him again in a few weeks in Cambridge Bay. This is the person from Pangnirtung that I used to dog sit for--Saber. It was a nice visit until I got us a bit, hmmm, misplaced. Let's just say that you can't turn left where I wanted/needed to so I took another route--which was under construction so I had to detour. I followed the detour signs until I didn't see anymore of them and by this time I figured we were really on the wrong track. I think that had I of continued down the road we would have eventually come out close to where I wanted to be, but I wasn't willing to chance it...so I tried to back track but realized I hadn't been paying attention to some of the turns and ended up on another street. I finally took out the McDonald's map and within two turns was able to get back on track. No worries...no one was harmed and it was only about a 10 minute detour.

I'm finding it hard to believe it is the end of January and at the same time I'm tired of January...come on February....its a short month and always seems to fly. Off to bed with another good book courtesy of the local library.

They have begun.

I mentioned a while ago there might be ads showing up on my blog. They are here and I'll decide in the next couple of months if I am going to keep them or not. It is part of an experiment I am doing so bear with me.

It's Wednesday...um, no actually it is Saturday. I'm not sure why I wrote Wednesday the first time. Huh. Oh well.

I headed to the Farmer's Market again today. I'd go all the time but the 30-40 minute drive is certainly a deterrent to me. The shelves at the market were a bit bare. I'm going to assume it is because it is late January and everyone's yummy produce has been sold and they are displaying all they have left. The meat folks and bread folks are still doing great but the yummy veggies are certainly at a low. I bought some yummy carrots--orange, purple and yellow. They are super sweet. Also picked up a nice fresh looking cabbage, some fresh made bagels and a spaghetti squash.

If you have never tried spaghetti squash I highly recommend it. It is super easy, takes awesome and gives your body a vitamin boost.

Take spaghetti squash and cut in half vertically or horizontally--remove seeds (just like a pumpkin). Place cut size down on a baking sheet and pop into the over for about an hour at 400 degrees. If you can get a fork through the rind it is done. Simply scrape out the inside and voila! spaghetti squash. It comes out in strings--like spaghetti. It has a very soft flavour and I really enjoy mine with a meaty pasta sauce.

I am looking forward to eating mine in the next day or so.

My eye and nose are on the mend but still not quite 100%. Last time it took two rounds of the anti-biotics and I think it will be the same again.

I had a trip to the library today. I have now officially paid for my library card--it was $12. I read the Julia Childs bio, and have rented a couple of dvd's. Money well spent. This week I am enjoying Season 2 of Meerkat Manor and another novel. Things were getting a bit out of hand the past couple of weeks with books around here. I had three on the go at the same time. Yep, three. Each one a different mood, different room and different type. I may cut down to two this week as I have been neglecting one book that I started a couple weeks ago. And now...to find something decent on tv.

No rest for the wicked...I must be really bad. After the Dr appointment yesterday I headed to the office...for a couple hours...famous last words. Why you are asking did I go in? Because people expect to be paid.

I've been pulling double duty since November 2--payroll and HR. Yeah me. Not! Monday my temp help for payroll started and of course I was then gone the next day...unfortunately payroll needs to go in this week and since I am the only one who knows how to do it...I had to slog in. I survived the afternoon but desperately wish I didn't need to go in today. Sigh.

I have the meds and am hoping they kick in quickly but I don't seem to recall a quick fix last time, in fact I recall having to go back and get a second round of the antibiotic. Hmmm.

And yes, I can't believe it is already the 21st of January...this month is flying...thank goodness. I will be quite happy to see the beginning of February. Maybe I just need some flowers to make myself feel better.

Oh, I have an old friend popping through Edmonton on the weekend. We are having supper on Friday night and then I am helping with some shopping before he heads up to (ironically enough) Cambridge Bay. We met in Pangnirtung four years ago this month. Life never ceases to amaze me. I'm looking forward to seeing him and catching up on the news.

It is day 4 of no diet pepsi. Surprisingly things are going well. I had a moment of hesitation today when I ordered lunch at McDonalds...what would I get to drink? I opted for Chocolate milk. Healthy! Yeah, sure it is only 4 days...but with no cravings that is impressive.

The eye/sinus problem that reared its head last year is back...I have a Dr app't tomorrow and will hope to get on the same meds as last year...and will then buy some Benadryl. Last year when I went on the medication I am hoping to be put on again I was having issues with allergic reactions. Here's to hoping I won't need the allergy pills this time.

I spent the day at home today. My eye was too messed up this am to drive safely and then based on the issues I was having at home I'm glad didn't go in. Staring at the screen, tv or reading all hurt after a few minutes. I can only imagine how great I would have performed at work in front of two monitors. The problem though with being home when you aren't feverish, vomiting, generally feeling totally miserable is that boredom can kick in. I couldn't watch tv--but I listened. I couldn't read. Couldn't work on any of my photos or read a good book. I sat on the couch and thought about all the stuff I'd like to do. I shouldn't complain...I did manage to get a few of my pictures re-arranged on the walls but that is about the extent of accomplishments.

I am hoping to go in tomorrow after my Dr app't. If I can see. If not they said stay home and we can always bring stuff to you...yeah, thanks..just what I want. LOL.

Can you believe that it is almost the end of the week? YEAH!

Now, who's going to cook supper?

Countdown to PEI continues...41 days. It is going to be a jam packed hive of activity. The problem with vacations is that there never seems to be enough time to accomplish everything on your list. Ah well.

Not much else new today...just working on some homework. I didn't sleep well last night and had to be up super early this am so I thin me and my book are going to hit the bed and get to know one another. Hope your week started off well...start as you mean to go on!