Settling back into Routines... and MAIL CALL!!

Since coming back to Pang... it's been pretty hectic....and I'm not really talking about work (though that has been a bit of 'catch-up' and writing has been involved there..but nothing I can't handle)... the hectic of the 'day-to-day' stuff... like laundry, grocery shopping, and COOKING! These are the things that it's been hard to get back into the routine but because of necessity I've taken care of them... but man I miss just 'showing' up at a dinner table.. and having really good FOOD ready for me to eat!!!  (when's my next trip!? lol....)

The other awesome surprise I got when I returned on Sunday... was I had TWO packages from down south!! (it was like Christmas Thanksgiving came early!?) It was awesome.....

Let's first concentrate on the package with the Canada flag all over it... (first how cool is that packing tape?!)  It came from Brampton by way of my Haliburton roots!  Nancy Douglas and I have known each other a long time...(I'm not sure of the exact dates...)... See she was a year ahead of my throught kindergarten to the end of high school.... we were involved in Girl Guides (although I think her career there was a lot shorter than mine)... I remember figure skating with her too... but the best memories were those from the Haliburton IGA.... I was a 'deli' girl and she was a 'cashier' and we worked many 6pm to 9pm Thursday and Friday shifts in the winters... and endless numbers of Saturdays together!  After talking about

some of the movies I had seen while in Iqaluit, Nancy sent me a Facebook message... "don't buy the Time Travellor's Wife book...it's on it's way in a package".... and WOW.. it wasn't just the book in the package... it was a total FUN box full of goodies!! (one of the things you can't see is the container of Tim's Hot Chocolate..mmmm).... Thanks so much Nancy!!!  YOU ROCK!!!... I'm glad it made it 'un-touched' and intact when i got to open it up!! :)

Thanks again.... luv from the Arctic! Sarah

So you might be asking? Who was the other package from.... the one with like a ZILLION stamps on it?---That would be my AMAZING Mum... (I think she's making up for the years of me going to a summer camp and NOT sending packages... or the years I helped put together 'care' packages for my brothers at university or school....but then when I was in Uni didn't get any... and as I digress.. while I was in Australia she did send me a few awesome packages..and this is like the 4th or 5th package she's shipped to me up here on the top of the world....)

Ok back to the story... I think the Haliburton Post Office tryin to get rid of 'old' stamps instead of just printing a generic amount sticker for the postage? I"m not sure.. (go back and look at that photo... there are like a TON of stamps on there).... Crazy eh?!

Mum has been concerned about people 'getting' into my packages... so she decided to use Duct tape to put together this one.... which was a great idea... the package did arrive without being 'opened'...but it took me at least 23mins.. to get that sucker open... (and that was WITH using a pocket knife!)...  After that drama.... I opened the box lid to FINALLY see THIS:

..Yes, my MUM did 'extra' security... that's duct tape inside as well as bubble wrap.... (thanks mum because everything DID arrive safe!)

Look at all 'these' goodies... some of them were things she had 'ate' while here at the begining of August and felt the need to 'replace'... others like the 'bread knife, tongs, steel wool and things to put under hot pots' were 'essentials' that after her visit she felt I needed... (which life with these items will be so much nicer!)... Also included were a hand-made towel for my kitchen and dish cloth by my cousin Alison Rae and my Aunt Anna included a box of jay cloths.... (long story...)... My 'old' mail from my address in Toronto... (of the things I have still yet to get my address changed--also came... really need to get on that because it has been almost 7months! LOL).... and well some good old junk food!!! Thanks Mum.... your package made my day.......... and I think you alluded to the fact that there is a second package on the way for me....... I wonder what goodies you'll have up your sleeve for me this time.... Luv you, Sarah