A night to Remember...

While I was walking home from the Daycare Christmas dinner.. I looked up...and stood in awe... the Northern Lights were out... and they were dancing... I hurried home and called really good friends of mine Markus and Delia... and asked them if they wanted to join me in going out on the ice to take some photos of the lights...They agreed...and we met up about 40mins later! 

I'm going to let my photos do the talking...for right now....

The lights started over Mt. Duval.. and danced across town...and out towards the sound...

Looking in the other direction.... they were still there....

Simply breath taking....

The stars were even awesome... Delia pointed out Orion...and a bunch of other things... that was way cool!!!

Here I am.. In my new parka...Words can not describe this experience...the memory of this night...and spending it with two really good friends will be held in my heart for a long time.... This is because it might have been the last night I get to watch the lights dance over Pang...I'm leaving the north... there I've said it..out loud here on the blog...(family and friends on the 'book have known for a little longer)... that's the news that I sort of elluded to just before my birthday weekend celebrations...

I'm moving to Winnipeg in the New Year..to start a job that I've been wanting to do for as long as I can remember...I've been working at and directing my career to this point in my life.. and FINALLY that dream is coming true! I'm so excited to get the opportunity..... but on the other hand... (here are always two sides to any story)... I'm sad... really sad... I have come to love the north, and call it my home...and am sad that I have to leave... (my contract was up Jan 15th...so in reality I'm only leaving about 2 1/2 weeks early)...I'm so going to miss my friends I have made...and the awesome adventures I have had here while living at the Arctic Circle!  I must admit.. while watching the lights with two friends... I had a moment...and cried... the last time I felt like this was when I left Melbourne summer of 2004...that was the first city that I fell in love with and in....

I'm looking forward to moving---south west (although really in the middle of the country--so not really that west... just west from where I am now)... exploring a new city... and looking for an apartment, a car...and hmmmmm starting the 'dream' job... I'm so thankful I have a job I'm going to... I've spent many a sleepless night.. this fall thinking about that.... but all in all I sent out dozens of resumes.. and after accepting this position I had at least 5 other offers of interviews...

I'm glad it's finally out there in the 'Blog-o-sphere'...sorry I didn't announce it sooner..but I've been trying to sort out my life... I always seem to make these 'huge' moves in short periods of time... I had about 4 weeks to be in Winnipeg when I accepted the job...(sound familiar--I think I had that amount of time when I came up here in March!)... my absense on the blog has been due to resigning from my current position, sorting out my stuff, packing, getting ready for a HUGE house sale...selling all my stuff (on Saturday)...and then cleaning and moving into a friend's house to house sit for my last 10days in Pang... YIKES! (oh and there's also the apartment searching in a city you don't really know...but you sort of know the neighbourhood you want to live in... but still aren't sure...)

10 days left..... Maybe if I don't think about it.. it won't happen!?

I'm going to keep on blogging..but feel like a new name..any suggestions?! 

In the quiet of the night.........

Tonight I was on the phone with my friend Tara and I mentioned how at work today people were talking about how cool the Northern Lights were last night.  I casually said, we should look out our windows...so we did... and ended up walking and posing and taking heaps of photos! (We were back at my house at midnight--but had started taking shots shortly after 10:30ish I think!?) This is my second attempt--and I must admit I have lots to learn...but still got some great images...and can't wait for the next time I head out! 

Tara and I posed for numerous 'shots' with the dancing lights... but often ended up laughing or moving half way through-it's tough to hold your breath! 

All the lights are from 'downtown' Pang....and the lights just sort of hovered above the fjord. This was my fav shot from the evening.

They changed directions, patterns before our eyes... but this 'S' shape stayed for awhile...kind of looked like it was writing my name!

Our last and final attempt at a 'decent' shot together--I love how you can see the STARS so clearly!

Tonight I was reminded yet again...of what an amazing place I live in... and how truly blessed I am to experience life in the Arctic.

Northern Lights....

When I arrived last spring I saw a few nights of the Northern Lights...but my camera was so new... and it was SOOOO cold that I couldnt' figure out what I was doing to take the photos... After talking to a few other photographers, reading my camera book, and getting use to the new settings on my camera in the last 5months... tonight I was ready!!!

On Saturday I was talking with Delia and Markus and was saying that I'm afraid I'll NEVER see them because I rarely look outside in the dark(now i'm going to look more often) but they said that they'd CALL if they see them..... and tonight they did!!!

Saving my favourite shot for the last... I'm sure it's going to be one of MANY that I shoot this year!!!