Names...and a prize, say it ain't so....

When I was in university... I got two gold fish(well had many sets of two gold fish--as I digress)... it took me a long time to figure out names for those two fish... I watched them swimming... I cleaned out their bowl, I fed them.. and finally like 6 weeks into being a 'fish-mum' I came up with their names... the first two were "Chesterfield" aka Chester (for short) and "Cushion" (no shortform required)... (weird names.. I know but it took WEEKS to figure it out...my friend and roommate Sarah at the time would probably agree it was way too long to name something like a fish...)...Then next set of fish... (after Chester and Cushion went off to fish heaven) were named Pickles and Olives... (ok, ok... maybe I really did have issues with naming fish! lol)... and then there was Jules and Suds.... and that was the end of the fish for awhile... (aren't you glad I haven't had to name a BABY yet?!--oh I am.. that child might be 5years old before I come up with something!!!!)

You might be asking yourself what is the point of this?  Well I'm in that place yet again.... and I NEED to find a new name for something.... ie) my new blog... because I can't be "newbie in the north" when I hit Winnipeg--although the temps right now are COLDER than Nunavut...(projected to be like -30C on Friday when I arrive..gasp!)...I still need to find something new... but I can't think of anything... and dont' want it to be like 6 weeks or maybe never for me to blog again...

So I'm asking you, yes... YOU to comment and leave your suggestions for names... I'm moving to a new city... (I've been there 2 times in my life... the first when I was 12years old and travelling across Canada with my grandparents and 2 brothers---only memory is that my Grandpa drove on a few one-way streets the wrong direction! YIKES! I hope I don't do that!.. The second time was earlier this month when I flew out for the interview....)  I'm starting the dream job.... hmmm what else can I say? I'm a shutterbug... and love taking photos... (is that enough for you to work with?!).... I'll let you think about that.... for awhile..... and I cant' wait to see what you come up with......

And you know what? if I like the name... you might even win a prize!!!!

Thanks in advance! Sarah

LET it snow, let IT snow, let it SNOW!!!

Sunday night when I got home after the movie night... it was already kind of 'nasty' out... lots of fresh snow + some wind = blowing snow, snow drifts and white-outs.... On Monday at noon.. when I took Omar out... this is what I saw.. a HUGE drift of snow in front of the house... (all Sunday night the house shook because of the wind).... (by Tuesday morning this drift was ABOVE the truck's window... I wish I had taken a photo!)..

Omar didn't mind... he just jumped through it.. and dove, hiding his head looking for things under the snow... it was quite fun to watch.. and I was wearing my sorel boots and snow pants and was ok to wade through the snow at some points higher than my knees!

Even the door was covered with snow.....and some ended up in the porch!

Here's the row of houses across the street....when I was out with Omar before bed... there was a few times.. I was standing (just on the other side of the house...) and I could not see anything but white...I just stood still and waited for the wind to die down for a second so I could walk closer to my house..(about 20feet away!) I made it home safe and sound....

I'm so excited I got to see such an awesome winter storm... although tonight, it makes me a bit worried... I'm leaving tomorrow heading south.... but well that's 'weather permitting'... so my hope and prayer tonight is that the wind stays calm, and the ceiling high for the morning... just long enough for the plane to land and then take off again....(of course with me and my 3 bags on board!)... Here's to hoping for that.... although it wouldn't be so bad to be 'stuck' here in the north--for a few more days... it just  might mean I fly directly to Winnipeg and not spend 2 nights in Toronto... not the end of the world.. just not what I had planned.. I'm hoping for good weather...but what will be will be... the fresh snow does look so nice.. and the temps here have been amazing... it toped -1C today at one point... and now is hovering around -10C I think! Pretty darn nice..

A walk to the end of the road...

On Christmas day I took a long walk..and headed down to the end of the road... it was my Christmas gift to Omar...and well also myself!  When we headed out the mountains on the Pang Pass...were pinky from the sun.... it kind of struck me just past the dump.. that this might be the last time I walk down here... I don't usually get all gushy and emotional and what-not...instead I just enjoyed my walk...with my four-legged companion...and took a few photos... (with me still hanging onto the leash..yes, i'm just that good!)  So here are some of my favs from my walk to the end of the road......

Looking back towards town... my house in the left hand corner...

..further out...This is just such a beautiful place to live...

You can see some of my hair was even frosted up....

Merry Christmas Omar!!! (him with the Pang Pass in the background)..

.this was a fun and interesting photo to take... and well frankly it's not in focus..but it was hard to get the dog in the right spot...and to snap it!!

..in my new Parka...and new hat from the one-of-a-kind show in Toronto.... a "newbie" to the north no more.... but thinking back to my first days in the north!

When we got back.. there was just about an hour of sunlight left...and the moon was already up and shining over Mt. Duval... I still can't believe I climbed that mountain 3 times!

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day....... and RELAXING!!

Christmas Eve I spent with some really good friends!!! Kim and Jason and their daughter hosted an awesome night...of FOOD and FUN Christmas Eve there were 7 adults and one excited girl that Christmas was here!  There was a full out Turkey dinner.. and tons of yummy snacks and goodies before hand!!!

 A quick snap of the 'pre-dinner' snack food!!!

A snap of Kim and I!

After Katie went to sleep....we all watched a movie... it might not have been the most 'Christmas-ey'..but was so darn funny.... I hadn't seen the Hangover... and well I'm glad I did get to see it!! If you haven't you should see it....

Just before the movie started I was served a Christmas MINT hot chocolate!  With a candycane and marshmellow AND whipped cream..it was delightful...

On Christmas Day... I woke up and gave Omar a HUGE walk---2 1/2 hours.. (like the ONLY daylight ones).. and we went to the end of the road...(but well I'll blog about that separately!).... That evening Tara has invited me over for Turkey and Char dinner... it was delish!!! She had a visitor from the south for the holidays.. and other friends Devin and Kendra came over too! It was a great night... Thanks Tara for doing all the cooking!!! :)

...getting everything ready...

...here we are about to eat... it was such yummy food!

Tara has this great tradition about hanging cookies on her Christmas tree....when I arrived I got to do the honours and hang them on the tree.... Tara also talked about this tradition on her blog...check it out!

This was my second Christmas ever in my 30 years away from home... the first one was Christmas of 2003...when I was living in Australia...that Christmas was different and the whole time it was happening it had this sureal kind of feeling about it...because it was summer!  This Christmas it was definitely NOT summer..but the temps weren't that bad... it was a white Christmas and one I won't forget.... on Boxing day I finally got to sleep...(other than the necessary trips outside with a dog...) and just relax!  I didn't end up going to the games on the ice or any other community events... I was just so tired... I think all the travelling this fall, packing, and trying to wrap my mind about relocating to a new city while living in the Arctic had finally caught up to me! 

Sunday I felt rested up and went to Kim's for a good MOVIE day!! hehehe we watched 3 films... one I had seen parts of.... Wedding Crashers...and there were two other friends that watched that with us..(as we had some yummy lunch!)... and then people departed... and Kim and I continued to watch movies...we watched Four Christmases (is that how you spell that/?!) and The Ugly Truth.... both were very good and funny!  it was awesome to have one last 'movie' day with Kim.... hopefully at some point we can do it again.... I'm so going to miss seeing you regularly!!! 

I had a fantastic Christmas though--and I hope you and your families did too!!!

homeless in Pang?!

..well not quite!  Since I had my huge house sale on Saturday...and sold well everything in my kitchen--pots, pans, dishes, knives and forks plus microwave, toaster oven etc... AND sold my TV/DVD player...AND sold my towels, and some of my sheets..(plus a wide variety of other things)... I realized that living in a house that has well none of those things..especially over christmas for like 10days until I leave on Dec 30th..was not the most ideal circumstances... I had a few friends offer their houses...and I took up two really good friends!! (they are the best!!) I moved into their house Sunday night--they flew out Sunday Afternoon...it was perfect timing....

oh and the bonus? I have a house-mate... yep... and sometimes he even joins me in bed...and gives me lots of kisses!!  OK get your minds out of the gutter... he's a bit too furry and well he's pretty cute... (spoken from the 'non-dog' herself person... I must admit... I'm not so much of a fan of dogs...I respect and like other people's dogs...and am a fabulous friend to dogs...if I'm doing 'short-term' dog sitting.. I don't think I'll EVER get one of my own---but it's nice to borrow one once and while... Don't worry friends vacationing in the south he's in GOOD hands with me!

There have been 3 dogs in my life that Ive gotten attached too...Winston a rescue dog from Texas, USA that my little bro brought into our lives... a boston terrior.. and very cute!  He was a good introduction...he had been shot at some point in his life.. and had 'hip/hind end' issues.. so he didn't jump up... didn't go up or down stairs...and was pretty well trained...

Here's a shot of Winston...

John also brought the second dog into my life... Gus... as a little puppy this guy had TONS of energy.. and boy did he JUMP up... and often I did walk him when I was around Toronto... he soon found a soft spot in my heart...and when I was staying with Kat and John earlier this month.. I was pleasantly surprised about how less puppish? (is that a term) he has become.....

Here's a shot of Gus....

This brings me to the 3rd dog... My current house-mate... yep... he's an AWESOME dog... his name is Omar... and well if I was a dog keeping kind of gal... I'd totally keep him!!

doesn't he look cute?....

He's very well mannered and polite.... except when he hears something.. or sees something.. and perhaps you are walking him.. and well aren't paying that close attention.. and then maybe he leads you onto the snow(which had been a hardened crust until the temps topped +5C on the weekend) and that means your foot goes through the crust.. the dog is still going.. and well you fall down.. tripped.. and hanging onto the lead for all you are worth... because frankly you know you aren't a dog person and if you let go.. you might NEVER get him back.. and you really don't want to call your vacationing friends and say... "Ummm I'm sorry... I lost your dog"...so this means that you might have a ride... or been dragged by a husky... while you are frantically calling OMAR stop!!! LEAVE Keisha ALONE... oh yes.. it's good times!! (especially when a good friend of yours witnesses the whole ordeal...)

Here we are... house-mates for another 6 days!! :)

Icebergs...revisted!

Remember in April when I posted about going out to see the icebergs?...if not...there were 4 posts...ONE, TWO, THREE, or FOUR to refresh your memory!  I finally, yes I realize that it's been almost 8months--got some 'group' shots from my friend Claus...he takes some amazing photos... check out his SITE here!  I was thrilled to get these shots... Thanks so much!!

It reminds me how 'huge' these actual things are!

I must admit..this photo of the iceberg in my shades is one of my favs...I think it's the coolest thing around!!!

Thanks Claus, for helping me remember some awesome times!!

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?!