Amazed

We've been up here almost three years now, and two things still amaze me:

1. Watching the Northern Lights dance and flow across the sky.

2. That I have to look to the south to see the Northern Lights.

;)

Neato

Today is our first workday blizzard of 2012. (We had blizzard-like conditions on Saturday, but it didn't last too long, and what fun are weekend blizzards?! They just ruin our social plans :P)

We like to watch the Environment Canada website for the weather updates. There are general rules set out for when we are allowed to shut the office for the day. We need to hit visibility of .2kms or less AND have sustained winds more than 60 km/hr AND have a windchill of -50 or greater. There are a couple of caveats: we can also close if/when the municipality pulls the water/sewage/snowclearing equipment off the road and/or the taxis give notice that they are going to shut down.

Well, today we hit the trifecta! Quite often, we close because one of the caveats have occurred and management feels that it is no longer safe for people to be trying to get home (either walking or driving). But this afternoon, we legitimately have met all the conditions set out to stay home in our jammies.

Ok, well the jammies thing probably isn't in the official policy, but it is our 'house rule'.

Turning a Corner

I don't know when it happened. Maybe it's been sneaking up on us for just over a month? I don't know.

Suddenly though, we aren't living in the dark. It's damn near daylight on the way to work! Soon I'll be able to cut through the tundra on the way home without risking life and limb.

To top it all off? There was liquid water outside today. Outside, water has two states right now... solid and vapour (as in ice/snow and breath). Even though the thermometer said that it was -29, the sun was warm enough to melt a bit of snow.

Without going out over the Christmas season, it has seemed like a long, cold, dark winter so far. But the forecast says a high of -5 on the weekend, so maybe there is hope that spring isn't too far away.

Christmas Decor 2011 in Pictures

Epic Fail

I decided to carry my camera around today, so I could get some shots of the daylight we experience during the shortest day of the year.

Trivia note: This will be our third Christmas since moving north, but our first winter solstice in Baker. (And our first Christmas up here too.)

Back to the pictures thing.... the photo on the way to work is a black background with white specks all over it. (It was dark and snowing and the flash just picked up the white flakes.)

The pic at morning break is a total white out. Ditto for the one at lunch. By afternoon break, it's a bit darker shade of white.

On the way home, if I had've tried another picture, it'd be a copy of the first one.

Hopefully, one day this week it won't be snowing and I'll be able to sneak out and snap some decent pictures.

Robbing a Bank?

In Baker? Ha! Funny! Everyone knows that we don't actually *have* a bank here in Baker!

No, Squire and I are just bundled up to go for a quick walk around the block. I'd like to report that by the time we got home, she'd dislodged all 4 boots, making me pick them up and carry them home (it was too cold on the fingers to try to get them back on!).

I guess that's what I get for making her wear boots when none of the other dogs' moms make them wear boots!

Dig Out

Last week we had our second three-day-er of the year. I'm talking blizzard, of course. This blizzard was a bit different, in that it definitely got worse before it got better.... The third day of the storm was worse than the other two combined. This is a terrible time of year for storms, as many of our friends and co-workers are beginning to travel home for Christmas. Maybe we picked just the right year to stay put?


One of our friends couldn't even get into their office on Friday... getting an 'extra' day off! You can just barely see the top of the door frame behind that monster snow drift.

Getting into our office by vehicle was impossible as well. This is the snow drift at the corner, and if you backtracked around the block, the road was blocked with a similar drift. It took til coffee break for the hamlet to have it dug out, and even then, it was only one lane wide. In fact, even today, two full days after the blizzard, many of the side streets around town are only one lane wide. In Baker, we don't bother with ploughs... real blizzards call for a squad of loaders to clear the snow (and sometimes dump trucks too!)

At lunch time, we snapped a quick pic to show the height of the drift. Kinda impressive if I do say so myself!

Blizzard-tastic

Last week we were hit with a pretty decent blizzard. We were sent home from work in the morning on Monday, and didn't venture back to the office until Thursday.

We're glad it's not our job to shovel the snow out in front of the Library distribution centre....

Squire *is* glad that the snow drift allowed 'he' to rescue her frisbee from the garage roof! BTW, I'm not allowed to play with the frisbee in front of the house anymore.

We've been under a blizzard threat for most of this week too, but haven't seen anything yet. Maybe tomorrow?

Vitamin D

While we weren't able to talk the nurses into issuing a prescription for us, we still thought it'd be a good idea to get some extra Vitamin D in preparation for the long winter ahead of us. Turns out, three of our friends thought so too.

One of our friends have been here, there, and just about everywhere. (She won't admit to having a physical map tucked away with thumbtacks in each country she's been too, but I'm fairly certain she does!) Whether physical or just mental, we committed to heading somewhere that'd give her another country on the 'been there, done that' side. The other two girls would be experiencing their first trip to anywhere in the Caribbean.

Oddly enough, four different schedules caused us all to converge on Toronto at the beginning of October. Travel out of the north is tres expensive, so it's awesome when you can combine business and medical and family visits with sun, sand, and surf!

We surfed the internet, trolled trip advisor, and decided Now Jade in the Mayan Riviera in Mexico was the place for us! We'd get some sun, some much needed and well deserved rest and relaxation, and make some great memories with our Northern buds.

Please note: That isn't even a promo shot from the resort's website, I actually took this picture! We were extremely impressed that the resort looked even better in person that it did on the internet.

We did a lot of this! TGIF for my Kobo, because I devoured books. It was good that everyone we were with also enjoyed a good book. And by having so many of us, we could always talk someone into a swim and a drink!

Poncho and Indigo were our noble steads for our ride through the jungle and along the beach. All five of us were able to go on a private ride. At one point, 'he' and Indigo took off gallopping down the beach, and we thought for sure we'd find 'he' hanging from a branch in the jungle.

These cuties had their own paparazzi. We were able to grab a quick shot with them by the pool.

Chillin in the pool. Gotta love the infinity pool effect, where it looks like you can swim into the ocean and off to the horizon!

Once upon a wild and crazy night, three beautiful ladies showcased their fantabulous dancing skills in the lobby, while the chivalrous knight took some pictures. All this dancing and random photography was not at all induced in any way by the consumption of several vodka and cranberry beverages. They then proceded to play Santa Claus in the lifeguard tower, before the knight fell off the ladder into the sand. The entire group took a quick dip in the ocean, and then in the pool, before heading off to bed. The next morning sucked. The end.

'He' and 'she' swimming in the rain.

Dos Blue Hawaii's, por pavor.

So to recap:

Vitamin D? Check.

R & R? Check.

A killer good time? Check.

Mission Accomplished.

Winter?

Need proof that winter is officially here in Baker?

How about some kids playing ice hockey on a frozen pond in behind 'Mt. Baker Lake'.

If I get ambitious over the next few days, I just might traipse all the way out there and snap a couple of pictures.

And while I'm feeling ambitious... I think I promised my parental units that I'd post some of the Mexico pictures, so I'll do that soon too. I promise.

Chilly Day

So judging by the bite in the wind today, winter is coming. Surprisingly enough, we haven't seen any kind of accumulation in the way of snow yet. There was one day with some scattered snow showers, but nothing that stuck around.

We leave Baker tomorrow to go on vacation with our Northern besties. (Look out Mexico! Here we come and nothing will ever be the same!) So this will be the first year we haven't seen snow in September.

I would imagine when we return after spending some time in Ontario over Thanksgiving with family, there will be some frosty white stuff on the ground.

Yahooo!

As a professional online shopper, I was pretty geeked up today to find out that Reitmans now has online shopping!

$7.50 flat rate shipping is not as good as Lulu, The Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic who ship for free (and free returns!). But on par with Ricki's and Cleo, and slightly cheaper than Sears.

And! I heart Reitman's jeans!

So, sorry, gotta go do some shopping! Don't tell 'he'!

Yoga Class

Not too sure if Squire is the instructor and the Giraffe-E and I are the students, but one thing is certain.... Her downward dog is textbook!

Resolute Plane Crash

Anyone who lives the north for any length of time, quickly comes to understand that each community revolves around its airport.

Generally, the airport is the gateway into or out of town. It's our lifeline to supplies. Hell, it's where we pick up our booze!


It doesn't matter whether I'm at home or the office, when I look out the window, my eye is drawn out across the water to the airport.


The plane crash in Resolute last month that made headlines across major news stations down south was even more keenly felt here. You have to remember that the communities up here are incredibly close knit. Everyone knows everyone, and so many people are related to one another.


That there were any survivors at all is unbelievable. That the military was in Resolute planning on simulating the response to a plane crash was fortunate. That such a crash happened at all is kinda scary.


I had to tune in to watch the interview with one of the survivors. The recap can be seen/read here.


The poise and overall attitude Nicole Williamson has towards this tragedy is inspiring. I can't imagine I'd walk away from an event like that with my head on that straight.


While we await the results of the investigation into the crash, one thing is certain. If you live in the north, you'll be flying eventually. Considering the number of planes that I seeing flying past my window on a daily basis, and in spite of this tragedy, I'll still feel pretty safe the next time I hop on a plane.

Cute Kids

So Squire and I were out for a quick walk tonight.

We're walking down the road towards two little boys. (Squire LOVES kids... but little boys are her favourite!) They're probably about 3.5 and 2 years old respectively.

Anyway, as we get closer, the younger one starts to cry...

... the older one solemnly explains to me that 'the baby is afraid of your dog.'

Sometimes, kids are too cute.

Wedding Cake and Longest Day

Last weekend, I upgraded from Dora cakes to wedding cakes. The wedding party didn't deliver the silk flowers, so I wasn't able to see it complete, but it was looking pretty good for as far as I got. I even had some help from an apprentice baker - but 'he' wants to remain anonymous.

I figured, since the longest day of the year, really is a LONG day up here, that I should get out and snap a quick picture for everyone back home who experiences a short longest day of the year. Squire and I were out for a walk at about 11pm, when the sun was just starting to set over the snow fence. Even once the sun goes down, it doesn't get dark - which can make sleeping difficult for a few months!

PS. Yes, Trev, there is snow in Nunavut in June! That snow at the base of the snow fence is probably still about 10' deep and will last well into July.

June Snow and Caribou Hunting

So, I guess mother nature forgot to check her calendar.... We got easily a few inches of snow over night (using that term loosely since we don't experience darkness in Baker right now...). And it snowed almost literally all day! Those big gorgeous fluffly flakes that belong on the front of Christmas cards. Then the wind decided it should pick up and blow all this fluffy snow around. It's gusting up to 70 km/h out there right now, and visibility sucks. Although it's not particularly cold, it isn't particularly nice out there right now, either.

But, jealous that the weather was the talk of the office, a herd of caribou decided it should stir things up. It wandered down the wide open tundra across the road from our office. I was sitting and enjoying a tea in the coffee room, when someone yelled down the hall that there was a herd out there.

Someone call 'he' quick!

By the time he made it to the office, the herd was migrating back out of town, but still visible, especially with binoculars. A few of us kabloonas decided we needed a closer encounter, so after stopping at home for the camera, we took off up the dump road.

We ran into these four stragglers before we hit the dump, but they weren't very friendly. Or photogenic for that matter! This shot was taken well back, and prompted an outcry for a telephoto lens!


At least 'he' was there for the action!

Following along the lines of Mantracker and Stormchasers, we decided to see if we can find the rest of the herd, and catch them... on film, of course!

We ended up heading out Meadowbank road, scanning the tundra for anything that moved. The only thing we found was a gigantic flock of Snow Geese... which apparently make for an awesome meal. Unfortunately, the only thing we brought back were these pictures.

Big 3oh!

I recently celebrated my big 3-oh. The girls thought I needed some help to fall over the hill.(Anyone who knows me well, though, knows I don't need help falling over anything!!)

And boy, oh boy, did we celebrate it in style! My girls collaborated on the planning and decorating and cooking and baking, and were assisted and supported by what seemed like most of the office! There was enough food to feed most the town, with chicken wings, kabobs, dips, a cheese tray, fresh bannock, a pizza tray, and rocky road bars, just to name a few.

My friend outdid herself on the cake! It was amazing.... and very tasty too. And someone even brought ice cream! Sheer decadence at $20 for two litres!!

The highlight of the night was a surprise for everyone; a recital from Mr. He of a poem he wrote for the occasion! I'm not gonna lie: I was a teary mess! But not the only one. What a great memento of a great night!

The Perfect Girl I Wed

OR

A List of my Wife's Faults, Except She Doesn't Really Give Me Much to Work with Here...

***

Why is Krista naughty?
Cuz she never learns at all.
She walks two feet and trips on air
and manages to fall.

She truly thinks it never rains;
the sun, it always shines,
And fixes any problem saying,
"It'll all be fine!"

And speaking of her temper, well,
I hardly think it's fair
To make me all forgetful with her
Smiles that make me stare.

And worst of all... her lies.
You think that "Thirty Years" is true?
I know damn well she hasn't grown
a day past twenty-two.

So even though this birthday's hers,
the best gift goes to Ted;
Another year to bitch about...
the Perfect Girl I wed.

IQ Day

Last week our office declared an IQ Day - a day for Inuit to get back to and to teach us kabloonas (white people) about their cultural routes.

We gathered at the office and made our way down to the ice, where a convoy of hondas (quads) and machines (snowmobiles) along with several kamotiks awaited us. Our destination was the point on the east side of town.

We spent the entire day out on the ice, 'jigging' for fish with a traditional ice fishing rod. We were able to try some frozen caribou meat, and later, a pretty tasty caribou stew. Bannock was fresh made on a Coleman stove out on the ice too.

As a group, we caught three fish (trout). Including this guy, who *almost* got away... I think our boss was glad to get his hook back from the fish that snapped his line.

The highlight of my day? Getting to drive the machine back to the office...!

Kickball!

This past weekend we challenged our friends and their families to a kickball game in the snow. (Kickball is like baseball, but you kick a soccer ball instead of swing a bat at a baseball.) We had about 10 players and 5 fans, so not a bad turn out. We were able to walk up the snow dunes over the fence behind home plate. The trip from home to first was downhill through soft snow and caused more than a couple falls. Going from third to home, you had to run through knee deep snow. We couldn't have asked for better weather, and we all lasted two innings. For those keeping score the Baker Lake Rockettes beat Baker Lake Kablamo 12 -4. Both 'he' and 'she' were on team Kablamo.

We all then headed back to our place for a bbq. 'He' bbqed hot dogs and hamburgers, and we had all sorts of salads, chilli, and carrot cake and macaroons for dessert. One young'un ate two hamburgers and three hotdogs!

We had to throw people out before 8 so that 'he' could watch Game of Thrones on HBO. We've read the books (a few times) and have been looking forward to this for awhile. There's even been a countdown on at our house for atleast the last two months: "Hey, did you know only 47 more days til Game of Thrones?" then "Guess what? Only 29 more days to my show!" and finally "Can you believe it's only 24 more hours til Game of Thrones?" The show was fantastic, we highly recommend it... and the best part? No more countdown!