In our northern climates, with the coming of summer, mosquitos and other insects come in hordes. No matter what we do with our mosquito jackets or nets when camping, they always seem to find a vulnerable spot to bite, usually where there are gaps..ankles, necks and wrists.  In Calamine lotion, after bite and a variety of sprays we seek relief. I remember one summer in Kugluktuk, I got a mosquito in my right ear canal and the buzz almost drove me batty especially when it first was noticed intermittently in  the Sunday church service...well, the solution was oil drops and cotton balls to eventually drown it. In some of my other attempts at at least a dip in the ocean above the Arctic Circle, it was not usually the temperature of the water but the mad scramble to undress from the rocks and get into the water before the hordes of mosquitos found you.

100%
of the money we receive through World Swim Against Malaria will buy
nets, they will end up over heads and beds and we will demonstrate that
has happened. Many of the mosquito net distributions have already taken
place and the details, including pictures and video, are shown on the
Against Malaria site.

 World
Swim Against Malaria is an initiative of the Against Malaria Foundation
(AMF), a charity registered in the UK, US, Australia and a number of
other countries. 

 
Was wondering... ..is it freaking spring yet?

Snow and rain predicted for Wednesday but Monday supper on the front porch first of the season and delightful....

 

.....after puppy chewed a toilet paper roll,with mess similar but not quite as extensive as shown here, older dog found a
new escape route &  getting loopy, unsettling voicemail messages!

PLAN:

So todays "to do list"  and message to self was:

Today being Sunday April 27, 2008 and needing to get some sense of accomplishment and movement  and centerness,

 I will

*Walk the dogs
*Give the dogs their nose drops and vaccines
* Put files on the kitchen table into file folders
* Meditate tonight
* Go through receipts in bowl and put in categories
* Take the box and contents out of the car
* Nap
* Put the will list on computer
* Measure and mark outside boards for side porch repair
* Board up escape route for dogs
* Do some sorting or putting away even of a small project that will give me some hopefulness for the coming week


BREATHE: Remember that you are a sweetheart and do ducky work! as per some encouraging comments from others

RESULTS: Did all above but one....

As much as I like to think of my self as an independent woman who can tackle all, after spending a frustrating time this afternoon trying to repair again the escaping dog route next to the garage, I have confirmed that a carpenter I am not....much better at screwing than hammering,,,but the lattice edifice may still come apart!

I sent an e-mail to friends in the are asking if they had any contacts for a handyman or carpenter!

still fighting the blues ...too much snow shoveling in the last few days and feeling scattered in both my personal and work schedules!

In my rather schizophrenic life style, place  a high value on flexibility but zilch in any sort of pension, savings, structure goals that I see in many others at the same life stage. Part of it is probably concern that just 4-5 weeks left until I go north and too many projects and not enough time.

Those outdoor walks provide solace, as does the lengthening days, with all the spring time birds from the first robin a top of a telephone pole, tap-tap-tap of woodpeckers in the ravine, circling hundreds of cedar wax wings, migrating pairs of geese or the sparrows in the backyard fence and feeder in the mountain ash tree.

Attended an evening recital on Saturday of a young cousin, Erin

A strong mezzo-soprano voice, with pieces from Straus, Rossi and Schubert, much expression and being graded by her prof in the audience, I thought one of the best moments was congrats from a proud papa!

First bike of the spring with both dogs at bottom of ravine about a week ago then....

Friday 18 April 2008
Tonight.. Periods of snow. Low minus 13.
Saturday.. Periods of snow. Local amount 2 to 4 cm. High minus 4.
Saturday night.. Cloudy with 70 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 12.
Sunday.. Periods of snow. High minus 6.
Monday.. Periods of snow. Windy. Low minus 9. High minus 2.
Tuesday.. A mix of sun and cloud with 40 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 8. High plus 3.
Normals for the period.. Low minus 1. High 13.

The dogs actually love the snow and racing around the yard has given
them their exercise as I haven't had time today to get to leash free area as I am on call and freeways absolutely horrid amid slush and slippery.

When driving do you ever note the signs and descriptive names for the dental clinics....certainly not Dr. Hammer.....more like Soft Touch dentistry.

No wonder dentists need patience and have given their clinics titles like " Soft Touch "
   

ATTENTION: Iqaluit Users Re: Toonik Tyme

Please be advised that the City of Iqaluit has declared a half day civic holiday on Friday, April 18, 2008.

Consistent with past practice and in accordance with the Public Service Act and delegated authority to the Deputy Minister of Human Resources, the Government of Nunavut employees in Iqaluit will be permitted to take the afternoon of Friday, April 18, 2008, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. as a Toonik Tyme Holiday to participate in the planned activities.

I am aware of Nunavut Day on July 9, hamlet days and in Alberta Family Day in mid-Feb. but this is a new one…


The ulu is one of the traditional Inuit knives, used primarily by women but with many uses. I own several and was reminded of its practicality and frequent use in my kitchen in preparing a quick supper tonight. Here  is one with my indented wooden chopping board great for stir fry veggies. This particular one was brought back from Rankin Inlet but without a sharpened edge.

This photo was forwarded by one of my friends, Cindy who teaches at Arctic College and on Feb.19 commented “that went with my students to an elders house, Tony, who showed us how to make ulus”. I have since sharpened my own on a similar grinder in the garage.


Readers etc. A lot of the northern bloggers are on Blogspot and even my daughter switched from xanga… but I remain, well I guess, because this is where I started in 2004 and enjoy posting my photos and random thoughts on my adventures. It beats sending the mass emails I used to do when north. Unlike some of the other sites I do not get alot of comments or interactive discussion but for the most part can track my readers and know who regularly stops by. However I must admit it does surprise me when in casual conversation with some of my friends I discover someone who is reading and asks a question about the dogs. I do like the feedback.

If you can leave a comment...go back a few entries and there are instructions for non-xangians or in my profile box the " email me "

Legal docs etc. For some reason that refrain from Blood Sweat and Tears..” When I am dead, dead and gone, there will be one child left to carry on…’’ has been going through my head recently. Last week did some work with seniors who were in hospital and several facing decisions around long-term placement and assisted living. Again reminded of the importance of having one’s will, enduring power of attorney and personal directives in place and up to date and careful consideration of who is chosen to act on your behalf…does not always have to be family.

The elderly lady of almost 90, who was still very with it mentally, did not appreciate the family members from the States, who could not come to visit when she was ill, but announced they would come for 10 days to 2 weeks later in the summer to “ sell the house, give away or donate the furniture, and find a nice retirement home because they had looked on the internet”. Because of our FOIP or provincial privacy laws information did not have to be shared by hospital staff without the consent of the patient.

…. that is what I swear we need to do every once in a while because there is always going to be more on the “ to do “ list.

The other project I started a few weeks ago is the removal of grey and red plastic wall tile from the bathroom. Tiler said I would save myself a $100 from his labour if I did it myself.. The tiler said it was simple just put in the chisel or screw driver, one bang with the hammer and pop off..yeah right for some tiles but not all. These tiles must as well were original in the house as I found they were put in before the wooden trim around the door. Two walls got done with the help of various tools and liquid libations.

           

We call ourselves " The Gils Swim" group, an odd assortment of mostly women in mid-life, with the odd daughter and husband thrown in, who have practised twice a week, for over 10 years, at one of the local Edmonton pools....Tuesday and Friday mornings at 8:30 am this year and invariably I am always about 15 minutes late. Some of us also do synchro or triathalons, but most swim for fitness and friendship.

As our year end project we are going to do a 30 minute timed swim on Friday May 3 and doing fundraising.  If you feel so moved  you could sponsor me or make a contribution...

Our page has the address:  http://www.WorldSwimAgainstMalaria.com/GilsSwim

You can send this link to your friends and family to tell them about it!

100% of the money we receive through World Swim Against Malaria will buy nets, they will end up over heads and beds and we will demonstrate that has happened. Many of the mosquito net distributions have already taken place and the details, including pictures and video, are shown on the Against Malaria site.

 World Swim Against Malaria is an initiative of the Against Malaria Foundation (AMF), a charity registered in the UK, US, Australia and a number of other countries.