Ready For Christmas

So, it seems that I have everything ready for the holidays. I ordered all my gifts fairly early on and all but one have gotten here. However, when I used my Canada Post tracking number today, it says that it's here in Rankin Inlet, so I think I can officially say that I'm done.

As I keep saying, this has been the hardest year ever to get ready for Christmas. I pride myself on being a really good gift-giver and I put a lot of thought and energy into finding the right gifts for people. Also, because I am cheap, I tirelessly search for the best deals on things and comparison shop for days before I make a purchase, which makes my Christmas budget stretch so much further. Since being in the North, I tend to send my family at home gift cards because I can't shop for them, but I try really hard to get Will things that I think he will enjoy. The problem that I have come across (for the second year in a row, I might add) is that Will has a REALLY bad habit of buying things for himself if he wants them. I spent hours and hours online looking for a beer-making kit for him. He has been saying for a while now that he thinks it's a hobby that he would enjoy and he keeps mentioning that he wants to 'look into getting one'. So, one morning as I was getting ready to go to work, I passed by his computer to see him looking at the exact website where I found the kit and mentioning again he wanted to look into getting himself a kit. I admit that I may not have handled it the best, but I got kind of angry at him for saying it, which I think (actually, I know) let him know that he was getting one. When it arrived, I gave it to him so he could start his first batch to have some ready for the Christmas season. As much as I know he enjoys it, I feel a little cheated that I won't get to see his reaction to opening a gift he would have been really excited about.

Another ruined gift was the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2 video game. Apparently, it's the top selling game this year and it was a pain in ass to find. He only mentioned it in passing and I made no indication of having heard him say it. Last week, again when I was getting ready for work, I was talking about the new Kings of Leon CD that I had received. I had asked Will if it was cool for me to order it (as I know what it feels like when people buy gifts for themselves that they have bought) and he said he didn't have it for me. He laughed at me for talking about buying myself a gift and then mentioned something about Call of Duty. When I asked him what he was talking about, he admitted that he had bought himself the game. Again, when I got mad, he asked if I had that for him because it was so hard to find. In my haste to show him he was wrong and that I actually DO listen to him, I went to my hiding spot and took the game out and tossed it on the couch. When he picked it up, it actually wasn't the video game, but yet another gift I had for him (collectors edition of The Boondock Saints - his favourite movie). I was so upset by the whole situation, I started to cry and couldn't stop. Three of the five gifts I had for him, he knew about and I was devastated that he would only have a couple things to open Christmas morning. I have ALMOST gotten over it because I know the holiday is not about the gifts, but there's still a twinge there even as I write about it.

Another thing about the holidays that I really, really love is the baking. However, with just the two of us this year, it feels over-indulgent to make a variety of cookies to have. God knows I don't need them and there's no one to really share them with. Add to that the cost of baking supplies from the Northern or Co-op and there's really no reason to do it. I did make one pan, though, and so far, it's kept the baking need at bay.

I am looking forward to a quiet Christmas this year. There will be enough to do around town to keep us busy if we want, but we don't have anyone's expectations to keep up with if we feel like having a day in. With the hoopla that will surround both our and my sister's weddings this summer, I'm going to relish the break.

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Random Ramblings and Advice Searching

It's the night before the last week of school for the year! As much as I really like my group of students, I will be very glad for the break. As a 50% Student Support Teacher and 50% Grade 5, I sometimes feel really stretched thin. But, alas, I am on the cusp on a few weeks off and am excited to get the week started.

We have our little apartment here decorated nicely for the holidays. With the new paint, it's warm and cozy and the stockings, tree, and lights make me feel a little less lonely at this time of year. While I know teachers get a really decent break for the holidays, we just can't justify the amount of money it costs to go home for such a short amount of time. Add to that the stress of worrying about the weather in Nunavut and the unpredictability of the weather in Newfoundland, and I don't think it would be much of a break at all.

We spent last Christmas in Kuglutuk with my sister and her fiance and we had a lovely time. The four of us made our own little family there and we didn't feel like we were alone during the holidays. This year, however, feels a little different. While I have gotten to the point that I enjoy the slower pace of Christmas in the North, I am a little sad that I will not have any of my family (except Will) around this year. As much as I need a break and to be able to relax, nothing can beat my Mom's Christmas jigg's dinner and being around a group of people that love you. It's really a double-edged sword - do we spend the money to go home for the short period of time and come back more tired than when we left or do we stay here in Nunavut, get the break we need, but miss everyone terribly for a couple weeks? If there is a simple answer, I'm all ears :)

We are also having a Secret Santa at work this week. We each drew a name and have to buy small gifts ($5) for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday followed by a larger ($20) gift on Thursday. Does anyone have any suggestions for nice gifts that you would like to receive for about $5 that I can get at the Northern or Co-op?

And for my last request....
I am applying for my Masters in Education but I need to get a professor from the university that I went to to vouch for me and my ability to do courses at this level. I have been graduated from University for 7 years and have lived outside of Newfoundland since then as well. So I don't really know anyone that taught me years ago that I can go to. Has anyone else ran into an issue like this when applying for courses at a University? How did you get around it? Or better yet, does anyone know of a Canadian university that offers an entire Masters of Education degree that I can take directly online?

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Rock On!

Tonight was my first time since high school playing curling. I wasn't very good at it then (and still am not) but I have been a fan of curling for years.

Will and I were persuaded by a friend of ours to give it a shot and go see what it is all about. I'll admit it....I had fun this evening. I was dreading going back out into the -52 with windchill weather once I had gotten nice and cozy inside. However, it was nice to get out of the house on a Tuesday night (I usually go to bed around 9ish...our game didn't even start until 8pm), meet some new people, and do something that is healthy for us.

And as much as Will groans he hates curling and anything to do with it, I think he surprised himself a little with his ability. A few games and he'll be pretty good.

As for me, what I lack in ability I make up in enthusiasm!

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Ghosts of Christmas Lists Past

Lately, I've been frantic trying to get gifts organized to be sent here for the holiday season. A few posts ago, I ranted a bit about the shipping issues when you stay in the North for Christmas, so I won't do it again. I have also been thinking about how hard it must have been for my parents to get Christmas organized for us when we were younger.

We (my three siblings and I) grew up in out-port Newfoundland and had two full-time working parents. We lived a long 4 hours away from St. John's (the shopping hub of the province) and were 45 minutes from Marystown (which had a few stores - Jeans Experts, Eclipse, Smart Set, Reitmans, Canadian Tire, and Zellars). Any shopping that was done, had to be done on Mom's days off and we would either have to go to St. John's for the weekend or head 'down over the road' to Marystown for the day. With 4 children who have an eleven year age span, it must have been hell on them to find what we had asked for that year. Yet, every year we got pretty much what we had asked for and were never disappointed with our gifts.

While thinking about this, I have also started remembering some of the really awesome gifts that I received over the years. Here are some highlights:

~a green leather winter coat when I was about 13-14 years old. It was a dark hunter green, made of the softest leather, had shoulder pads, and a belt that kinda wrapped around the bottom. I thought this was the coolest thing ever and was super impressed with my parents for such an awesome gift (I hadn't even asked for it!). I wonder what ever became of that jacket?

~the year of the GT. My sister and I are two and a half years apart. When we were younger, our parents bought us a lot of the same things to prevent any arguing. One year I can clearly remember us both getting brand new shiny GT sleds and our little brother got a purple and green plastic one. We enjoyed those immensely!!

~My uncle Al had this innate sense of which book I always wanted to read. As an avid reader, even when I was young, getting Babysitter's Club Books or the Anne of Green Gables series was always something I looked forward to. Looking back, he probably asked mom what I was interested in at the time (he was a university student) and bought it for me. I thought he was the best but my cousins who didn't like reading as much weren't as happy with their gifts. I usually ended up with their books a couple months later.

~Tux, the stuffed penguin. When Will and I started dating, it was December. That first Christmas was difficult for both of us because we were still getting to know each other. But, Will remembered my love for all things penguin and found the most awesome stuffed penguin puppet. I gave the little guy the name Tux and he's been my side kick ever since. Will has given me more stuffed penguins since then, but none come close to the affinity I have for that first one. In fact, after traveling all over Canada this summer, when I arrived here in Rankin Inlet and began to unpack, I noticed Tux was gone. The utter panic that I felt in the next few hours was probably unwarranted for a toy. I put out an APB on Facebook asking all my family and friends where we had stayed to take a look for him and was in the midst of making a list of all hotels we had stayed in when my Mom called to say she found him in my sister's closet. He's there until we go home for our wedding this summer.

What are some of your favourite gifts???


PS. My mom is a Newfoundland celebrity! She appears on the cover of the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses' Union yearly report. She's the attractive, short-haired blonde at the front standing next to NLNU President, Debbie Forward...

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Home Renovations

Funny how a little paint, some awesome new curtains, and a few new pieces of furniture can make a small apartment feel more like home.

I was so sick of living in what looked like a hotel room. So we went out and bought a gallon of paint and have spent the last couple weeks slowly making the place feel like ours.



Before



After (without curtains)


Simple things can keep you happy in the North.

P.S. I finally figured out the whole pic uploading thing. I have to make them super small in paint first, but it works!!

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Long Time, No Post

It's been a dog's age since I've posted on here. But between work, wedding planning, and getting ready for Christmas, I feel like I haven't had a spare second.

This has been the hardest year I have ever had Christmas shopping. Usually, I am very good with online shopping, finding decent deals, and getting a reasonable shipping amount. However, this year, it seems like I can't get organized to find the things I want to buy. There is nothing more frustrating than finally finding what I'm looking for and finding out they either don't ship to the north, or will charge me more than the item is worth to get it here. I get most annoyed with CANADIAN companies that either a) charge an extraordinary amount for shipping to the territories, or b) don't ship here at all. For one part of Will's gift, I had to have it shipped to a friend in Toronto, who will then ship it to me up here. Add to the mix that I`m getting cheaper and cheaper with age, and it hasn`t been a fun year of buying.

I am very much looking forward to Christmas holidays again this year. In the last few years, I have very much gotten into the holiday spirit and each year it seems I start getting ready earlier and earlier. I am very glad that we have decided against going home and are going to stay in for the break. As much as I would LOVE to be home with family, I really feel that there isn`t enough time to justify what it would cost for both of us to go home for a couple weeks. And with the wedding this summer, I just don`t think it`s a good financial decision. And, with a few people staying in town, there will be enough around to feel like we have somewhere to go without being run off our feet for the two week break. I am looking forward to reading, and reading, and maybe, watching a DVD to two. I`ve just received Seasons 1-4 of Weeds, and am looking forward to watching them.

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Mish Mash

Not too much has been happening around Rankin Inlet lately, or in our lives, for that matter. So I'll just blather on about a couple of the things that are on my mind.

~We bit the bullet and ordered an elliptical trainer. The one that we first ordered I was in love with. It had all the bells and whistles and the company guaranteed free shipping anywhere in Canada. I was so excited that I didn't really care that it was going to cost us $1400. I would have a *nice* piece of gym equipment that we could use in the comfort of our own home on a daily basis. Plus, for us both to go to the gym, it would cost us $1000/year. So, for $400 extra dollars, we would have something to show for that money. Unfortunately, the company didn't ship to Nunavut and canceled our order. So we shopped around and found another that would (although it is a little more expensive that what we originally planned to pay). I am so excited to be able to work out at home and not to have to go back out into the cold once I get here at the end of the day.

~Will and I are trying the Atkin's Diet for two weeks. I know, I know, it's not the healthiest diet out there, but we just wanted a jump start on the weight loss to see some quick results that will motivate us to keep going. I won't lie and say it's easy to cut out all carbs (I am a Newfie after all) and last night I would have killed for a piece of bread, rice, spaghetti, whatever. Once the two weeks are over, we plan to shift to calorie counting and portion control. So far, we feel pretty good and hope to see a noticeable result in two weeks.

~I am so glad for the Remembrance Day holiday this Wednesday. I know it's a day of quiet reflection and I will try to keep the spirit of the holiday in the forefront of my mind, but, wow, is it ever nice to kinda get two Fridays in a week - Tuesday and Friday. I will be thinking of Pte. Kevin Kennedy that day.

~There's still very little snow here in Rankin Inlet!!!

~I am trying to convince my parents to come to Rankin Inlet and work for a while. It may be a lost cause, as they have their house and lives in St. John's, but I think it would be a great experience for them. My dad is a journeyman electrician who teaches at the College of the North Atlantic in Newfoundland and my mom is a nurse. The opportunities for them up here are endless. My youngest sister is in her first year of university, so it's not exactly like they would be leaving small kids behind. The fact that I would love to have them here and I'm being selfish is driving me in my quest.

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