Yes, I'm still ALIVE!...

...well it was bound to happen.. all the travelling caught up with me.. and even with a 'stat holiday' last week... it wasn't enought to recharge my batteries!  I've been tryin to lay low and get enough rest...I came back from my 'high-arctic' experience with a 'nasty' cough... which I'm thinking might have something to do with my allergies that sparked and came on while in Grise Fiord...

I'm feeling better now...(the cough is gone....and no I never came even 'close' to getting a pig tail or ears!)... I'm thankful my mum's new 'fleece' pjs arrived in time for me to live in them for over 36hours... (don't worry they have been washed alreadyand not even a week old...) I've trying to catch up sleep--but also messing up my sleep schedule in the process... NEVER have a nap from 6pm to 8:30pm..but then at 11:20pm you are looking at the ceiling of your bedroom thinking.. wow.. that's awesome woodwork--BUT seriously I need to sleep....added to the fact I'm travelling for my 'last' scheduled trip... on Thursday.. so I only have 3 more nights in my comfy bed... so I really want to SLEEP on those nights!!!

Speaking of sleep.. I've been having some WEIRD dreams lately.... they started while I was up in Resolute... all to do with my long johns (which I rarely wear on a daily basis) being stolen.. and how the RCMP doesn't want to help me with this 'VERY' serious matter...(oh yes...in my dream those long johns are VERY important!) Oh and my best friend from Grade 2 and 3--well her big sister is also in this dream.. and I haven't really seen her at least 12 years.... very weird.... and not sure why I need to be so concerned with the long johns.. or WHY the RCMP aren't so helpful.. ahhhhh I hope that dream doesn't find it's way BACK into my head tonight.......

Hmmm this was a kind of long post about nothing... yes! that's the way I roll... hope everyone else doing well!! :)

I have theWORLD's BEST Mum!!!

Here's a shot from when my mum came to visit me this past summer! 

This morning I went to check my mail... after travelling there was a bit... and I had YET another package from my mum!! (she's a superstar...seriously!!) It came on the best day.. as I was trying to get through the mounds of paperwork... on my desk... I got to open it at lunch and almost started to cry.... YES it was that good!! :)

My mum is a cool lady... she actually LISTENS to what I have to say(even though at times I dont' think she really IS listening...but after all we do talk at least 2-3times a week! LOL)..... I was talking awhile ago about how all my pj bottoms are ripped... and I was down to one pair...(and she knows HOW I luv to lounge around in those guys...) so today she sent not ONE pair but TWO!! In a different conversation I had mentioned in the summer how I had friends over.. and we wanted to play a dice game.. and how I didn't have ANY dice...so she sent some really cool dice... and she always manages to make me laugh.... like this package I got a 'random' can of salmon and cream of mushroom soup...(I remember in one of our convos... talking about how she was making creamed salmon for dinner on toast... and I was upset bc I didn't have any mushroom soup...!)

I seriously could NOT have asked for a more generous awesome Mother!! I am blessed to be able to call myself her daughter....

I luv you so much Mum.... only 20 more sleeps til I see you!!

Home Sweet Home....

I went for a walk in Pang yesterday...despite the 'chilly' weather... my walking friend and I headed out about 2pm...and walked for just over an hour---by the time I was at home.. (just after 3pm..) it was dark! Glad i got to spend a bit of time outside.....it's always nice to get some fresh air!!

I'm so glad to be at home again...but have to adjust to cooking for myself again!!  It has been so good to be sleeping back in my own bed!

The Olympic Spirit came to Resolute....

Today even though the temperture was -24C (with the wind chill it was -37C) there was some warmth in the way this small community came together to celebrate the Olympic Spirit that came to town!  Some random facts about the Torch Relay.....

The Torch Relay is an Olympic symbol of peace, brotherhood and enlightenment and represents a summons to the Olympic Games.

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay in brief:

• Over 100 days in length.
• Over 1,000 communities and places of interest where torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame.
• Nearly 200 celebrations hosted by communities in every province and territory.
• Approximately 90 per cent of Canada’s population will be within a one-hour drive of experiencing the Olympic Flame.
• Over 45,000 kilometres will be travelled.
• Extensive tour of the North including a planned visit to Alert, Nunavut, the northernmost permanently inhabited community in the world.
• 12,000 people will have the honour of being an Olympic Torchbearer and will help carry the flame to Vancouver, a majority of whom will be selected through public programs.

Now onto the photos.... sorry I just couldn't decide what ones to include and what ones not to include... (so there are a lot! hehehe I hope you enjoy them!!)

...here's one of the early exchanges... it was way too windy...so the for the torch relay they walked with the lantern--that kept the flame alive!

The sky was a pink and purple....but it was freezing COLD! (I was glad for my long johns, wind pants, and Goose Jacket.. I'm not sure how the torch carriers could do it in those 'thin' windbreaker type suits!)

The last person on the leg of the relay walked up the hill... with his torch in full flame....

It was a pretty exciting moment.... the whole community was clapping and cheering!!

All the runners of the relay had their torches lit at this moment...... it was pretty awesome!

The Cauldron was lit.......

A little piece of Athens, Greece here in Resolute Bay, Nunavut!

A shot of the five Torch Barriers from Resolute!

This is a close up look at how the flame is transported---all the way from Athens, Greece.... all the way across Canada...

I got to hold it!  Once we were inside one of the organizers said, "we should reflect on the flame... what it represents--peace, community and to remember that we each can take a piece of the flame and carry out in our lives.... to make a difference in the many different paths we take.... to take a look and see how it brought Resolute together on a cold day--to Celebrate!!"

Makes me wonder where next I'll travel to...what direction I will take...and where I will end up.... (some deep thoughts!) LOL

Standing beside the Cauldron.. just before we were ushered inside... so they could pack it up... to get ready for the next place to celebrate!!

Inside Coca-Cola, one of the sponsors of the relay, had a 'photo' booth.... and took photos that you can download from online...... I snapped on of this cute little boy....

..then of course... ended up in the cue....

(I'll have to check out the Coca-Cola photos when they upload them!)

There were many speeches, and cultural celebrations... this is a young drummer... who performed..and the children from the school did a square dance!!

This little girl couldn't stop dancing with her flag.... she's a cutie! 

All in all it was an awesome hour... that ended  with a community feast... it was pretty cool that my trip up here happened to be when the torch was coming through.... Pretty darn cool!!

(I hope you don't mind the HUGE post!!!)

Happy Birthday Baby Bro!!!

Hope you have a HAPPY 28th BIRTHDAY!!!

(no matter how old you get.. you'll always be my baby brother..)

I wish you all the best this day... and every day this next year!

I luv you....and I'm so proud to call you my little brother!

P.S. BSUT...tonight? hehehe

Grise Fiord....

I've been sitting here trying to decide what to write... and the words really aren't coming... today I'm going to let my photos tell the story! Hope you enjoy!!! :)

I've been trying to stitch together a few shots of Grise Fiord...to make a panoramic photo but instead of making ONE I ended up being successful at making TWO! (but if you join the left side of this one at the boats--to the right side of the one following... you'll get a whole view of Grise..just use your imagination!!)

I took the next two photos this morning just after 9am...I was on my way to do the buisness I had to do in town!  All morning the sun just sort of 'hung' out on the horizon until about 1:30pm it disappeared!!!

This was looking in the other direction from the hotel... LUV that the moon looks like a HUGE star..(as does the street light!!) have to love a little longer exposure!

Once I finished lunch I walked down to the beach area and took the next series of shots....(and the panoramic ones)...it was just before 1pm...and it was so beautiful....

As for self-portrait...I think I just found a new favourite!!!!

As I was standing there... all of a sudden I heard a big "THUNK" and it was the ice dropping... the tide still goes in and out...and the ice then drops... pretty freaky.... but still fun to look at!!

One last self-portrait!  it was fairly warm today... -14C with the wind chill... I've really enjoyed my time up here in Grise Fiord... I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to travel up to Canada's most Northern Community...

I'm flying back to Resolute tomorrow...weather pending

(let's hope the wind stays down...or I might have an extended stay here in Grise Fiord!!)

Going with the theme of late...

..more shots from the AIR!!!

I made it into Resolute alright tonight... though on the approach to landing there was a bit of turblence.. and before I could bite my lip.. i went "AHHH" and then was like... OOPS! that was out loud... but who could blame me... I'm sitting in a DARK airplane--they turn off the lights for landings...and you can't see ANYTHING outside but clouds... I guess the first step is to admit your problem... Hi, I live in Pang and I'm a Pang Screamer when there's wind and bumps on landings!

So here's a shot I snapped after taking off in Pang this morning at 11:45am...Home Sweet Pang!! :)

As the plane was taking off in Iqaluit the sun was setting...(about 3:25pm)...

so this is a shot from 'below' the clouds....

Just above the clouds....

...a close up look.... (couldn't decide what one I like better.... but I'm going with #2..)

So pretty!