WHERE DID I GO ??

Someone asked me why I hadn't been blogging...well; because I've had my hands full I guess. Settling in to Toronto is no small feat, the boss let me outfit my room so of couse loving to save money and always looking to do so , I found Kijiji and bought everything there , even my Ipod ! That required driving around the big city by myself usually, picking up all my gem finds ! and I did well, only took a few wrong turns but always found my way back, such an adventure ! and now that I have been here awhile, it's not so bad : )


I guess once you get to know a place it gets smaller....I have been to a play by Christopher Plummer called "Barrymore" that was really halarious and you know I love humour ! Last night was the Mariinsky Ballet "Swan Lake" absolutely thrilling music and dancers, just beautifull, Soon we will be attending the musical "South Pacific".

Have been sampling some of the great food to be found around here, riding the subway just to get used to it, looking forward to a trip on a "GO" train, but will save that for summer. Next weekend on Saturday morning a trip to the St. Lawrence market is planned, can't wait !

Also on the lookout for a new camera, a dock for my Ipod and a family Doctor !!

Planning a trip to see Darren , Jess and Dominic for Easter, a trip home 1st week of July, a trip with brother Karl and sister Carol out to Alberta to see our oldest brother Gordie and my grandson Patrick 2nd week of August and maybe another week home in October and making plans for the big trip to Mexico for December !!

All of this, plus looking after my two beautiful charges keeps me pretty busy !!

VISITING THE NORTH

Anyone who thinks that this isn't a gift of a lifetime, does not understand their Canada and that you should make all effort to take the opportunity when the Arctic comes a calling.

Very few people have been on Baffin Island, when you compare it to the population of Nova Scotia even. A very spirtual place, a place where death is just across a very thin line.... if you step over it.

Meeting the Inuit elders wo are so gentle and kind of heart, watching the mums AND the dads, carry their children on their backs in beautifuly home made "Amouti " parkas, to see the trappings of wilderness roaming in a Government seat city , to walk the tundra where ancient plants still thrive,to bathe in the glory of the Northern Lights gleaming above your head, to see the leftovers of a distant ice age.........you would be a fool to give up the chance to come here !!.......just saying : )

TORONTO BOUND......32 days

I have been trying to figure out why I am going to end up in Toronto, Ontario ? Hopefully to win the lottery... since it appears that that's where most of the winners come from : )
I have never liked Toronto.... or at least the week I spent there once on a management course. Too many people, too much smog, just not my thing. Fortunately the bosses mom has a beautiful ranch style home an hour outside of the city where I can take the kids, lots of horses, bison farms, markets ...everything !! I will love that !!
The other thing I will love are the really good restaurants so I can experience some new cuisine. And there are plays, operas, hockey games, comedy clubs ( which I adore ) china town for shopping, and loads of other stuff to do.
Now that my knee is shaping up I can hopefully start a weight lifting program again. There is a gym close by with a trainer, so that should work out well !
Still I am not so sure of the summers, I will certainly be missing the cool fresh air here in the Arctic , on those horrible humid days that Toronto suffers through every summer for two to three weeks.
Those will be the days to get out of town !!
Once settled I will start planning my trip to Mexico for next December...getting so very excited and not the least bit worried about the problems their having , as its no where near where I will be. I miss that Country so much ! I want to check out the school in Techuacan, as that's where I've been accepted to teach, and I may do that one of these days in the foreseeable future , if I live that long  : )

FAREWELL TO THE NORTH !!

I don't know where to start ! Has this been one of the most exciting adventures of my life ?...yes ! Would I do it again ...mmmm , have to think on that, If I did , I would have to go further North , definately ! Would I live here longer, I think so , assuming I had a 4 wheeler, skido, 4 wheel drive truck, and a couple of  loaded rifle's !! and hung out with the Inuit.
I like the Inuit peoples, not terrible fond of some of the white people hanging around here, a lot of misfits, but their everywhere I guess. The Inuit are a community minded group,very kind .They take care of each other, at least in the smaller communities. A whale is caught, it is shared by all, as is caribou or any large animal. A good way to live. But how long this will last with the influence of Southerners is unknown.
The Government is here and they are after the resources. Why else would you be in this part of the world ? Sure as heck , not for the beaches and palm trees : ) !!
But it has been an adventure for sure, one that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a complete change in cuture or just a change of scenery. There are not many people who can say they have lived on Baffin Island, thats for sure !

KARL , MY BABY BROTHER

One of my favourite people in the whole wide world is this guy. So gentle, never outspoken, but says what he thinks when its necessary. We teased him a lot when he was a kid but we took care of him too. And the one person he reminds me of out of all the family is my Uncle Charlie, gone now, but I loved him dearly and Karl is just like him in spirit, personality and looks !
Karl is married to a wonderful woman who I think has been the light of his life ever since he met her...they have raised two fine young people and have done well for themselves throughout the years.
I am very proud to call him my brother, and though we don't see each other often , I love him to bits !!

THE INTRUDER

The other evening while out, I saw a white convertible and thought " the nerve of some people ", intruding here with that , in this sacred place ....then looked across the harbour at piles upon piles of dark storm clouds, layering the horizon, and the next morning I write...

The dark voluptuous clouds, line the horizon, stacked one on one
They stare at me from across the cold freeze of water
I am the intruder.....

The bear, muscles quivering under a coat the colour of clotted cream
The eyes glaring ,walks not that far behind me
I am the intruder.....

The tundra screams as I tread across it's glorious skin
The beautiful ancient plants cry silently at the sting
I am the intruder....

As I walk the path of many before me,
The ancient, deep set eyes meet mine, and smile knowningly
For I am the Intruder................

IT'S BEEN AWHILE !!

Haven't been here for some time, busy with summer, was home for two weeks in August , thanks to my super employers !! Was good to see everyone but glad to get back to cool weather.
And I was anxious about Presley as the court was making a decision as to where he was to go...fortunately he is going to be with his little sister whom he often talks about,  who is with an RCMP family ...so that is a relief...though I am really heart broken that he has to leave at all...but I believe in the Gods, everything for a reason.We will be able to stay in touch , thank heavens !!