Well, it's Saturday night and I'm not exactly spending it the way I thought I would. I was supposed to be at a surprise birthday party, but instead I'm sitting here with two little girls at my feet and they have their eyes glued to the tv watching "Surf's Up". There's a really long story behind this, but suffice it to say I'm "fostering" them for the weekend. It's a terrible situation and I really hope that it turns out well in the end, but we'll just have to wait and see.

I'm learning alot this weekend....single parents are AMAZING!

It's actually a little funny...one of them is sitting here in my t-shirt (her pjs for the weekend) and the other is wearing one of my fancy dresses (they've been playing dress-up with all of my shoes, dresses, jewelry and make-up). The treadmill has been a huge hit and when I went to vacuum the floor they fought over who would do it (they thought it was really fun)! We made cupcakes together - they decorated them, so cute, and I wiped cupcake off the bathroom floor (no idea how it got there).

I must say, I feel like all I've been doing this weekend is washing dishes....lots of glasses have been used. But, it has all been worth it if it means they get to spend one carefree weekend with me, with lots of food to eat and lots of dancing around in the kitchen taking place!

Stay tuned.......

Water Water Everywhere

Funny or not? I have a water bottle that I fill up and bring to work every day. I find that there is a taste on the water at work and with the high levels of copper in the water here, I like it to be filtered by my Brita. Anyway, this particular water bottle has a little snap on the lid that sometimes opens up....I think you can see where this is going. After work I was headed to the grocery store, so I put the bottle in my backpack, careful to place it so that it wouldn't fall on its side, etc.

Being the environmentalist that I am, I put all of my groceries in my backpack and went to grab a cab home. I'm sitting in the cab, chatting with the driver when suddenly I feel like something is leaking onto my leg. Light bulb moment: the water bottle must be open! Great, water is pouring out of the bottle into my backpack, out onto me and into the cab. Luckily we were at my apartment and I paid the driver, hopped out and hoped he didn't notice anything or think that I wet myself (which technically I did).

I got into my apartment, opened up the bag and sure enough, there was the culprit - an open water bottle! Luckily my scarf soaked most of it up and then my jeans took the rest. Both are hanging up to dry right now. Just another day in Iqaluit......

Almost a Nunavummiut

I finally received my Nunavut Health Card in the mail, so starting February 1, 2009 I will officially be part of the Nunavut system and I can throw out my old OHIP card. Changing all of my addresses has proven to be a bit of a challenge. The woman I spoke to on the phone from Revenue Canada laughed when I told her that my street name was the Road to Nowhere and the person from the National Student Loan Centre pronounced Iqaluit as Ick-wa-lit even though I has just said it properly (I let that slide because I just didn't have it in me to explain anymore). The last change is my driver's license which I'll be doing this week....three cheers for a new photo! =)

Old Me in A New Year

It's officially 2009 and I'm looking forward to what the new year will bring me in the North. I closed off the old year by packing up and heading off on a little adventure, so here's hoping there are many more adventures to be undertaken this year!

I'm sitting here writing by candle light, listening to Ray LaMontagne, watching the wind blow outside, sipping a glass of red wine and I couldn't be happier. At this time last year I never would have guessed that I would be where I am, so I can only just imagine where I'll be next year, but I'm looking forward to the journey.

It's a little ironic that the girl that hates being cold would wind up feeling most at home and blissfully happy in Iqaluit. I guess you just never know where life will take you....although I am hoping that it takes me to both Iceland and Greenland this year!

Counting Down The Days

I'm very excited to be heading home for a little Christmas vacation shortly! I'm flying out on Tuesday and can't wait. I'm so excited to see everyone, especially little William! I've heard through the grape vine that he's walking now, so I can't wait to see that. Last year he pretty much slept through the opening of presents (as you can see), but I'm sure he'll be really into it this time around.



I love the Christmas season! When I was down in Ottawa last week I helped Jenn decorate her tree and it really made me get in the holiday mood. I've been watching all of the Christmas movies on tv (even the cheesy ones) and am preparing myself for the chaos that will be holiday shopping in Ottawa.

Now I have to head off and clean my apartment/pack for the flight, but here's a cute little photo to get you in the holiday spirit!

Busy Bee

The last couple of weeks have been a little crazy. Work has been insane and I feel like I've barely slept (the dark circles under my eyes have confirmed this). However, the meeting that I was preparing for is finally over and I'm hoping to be able to catch up on both the work that I have neglected and my sleep. Hopefully in between work and sleep I can attempt to have a bit of a life!

Before I left for the meeting in Ottawa I was able to visit with this little girl that I became friends with in 2004. She asked my about my nephew and I was really touched when she told me that she still had the pictures of him that I sent her last December. Then she took me to the computer and pulled them up to show them to me....it was really cute. It breaks my heart to know that she doesn't have as easy a life as I had growing up. There are a lot of people around her to support her and give her opportunities, but it's just not the same as knowing that your parents support and love you. Children should not have to grow up at such a young age and she really has.

The burning question is......

What does Jenny's office look like? The answer.......

And here is the view....