Melting Away

The snow has melted a great deal over the last few days and to my utter shock it is now June. The next time I buy milk it'll have a best before date that is after the last day of school. (I know you folks down south can buy milk that has a best before date that is 2 weeks after you buy it, but for me... anything over 5 days is good - well, better than the alternative - I really don't go through milk that quickly).

We hit 4 C today and 1.6 C yesterday, finally, as of June 1 - breaking the 0 C barrier (we did break it in April in a freak rainstorm - but its been colder than normal since the beginning of May, including a full blizzard on May 12 - a day I wasn't trying to travel.)

I'd better get back to my travails. I'm just starting to look forward to a change of routine, even if it means returning to the grind of thesis writing. It'll be good to see my family and friends and pets and Timmies and the Produce section at the Superstore..... still, here is a pretty good place to be and I'm looking forward to next year already.

The Housing Character of Community

I was reading a Toronto Star Article about a family that bought a home in the beaches that was not designated a heritage home. However, since their neighbours have found out that they plan to build a new home on the lot, they have tried very hard to get a hertitage designation to stop the Teehan's from doing so. Part of the Teehan's reason for wanting to build a home from scratch is to enable them to make it wheel chair accessable for Mrs. Teehan, who woke one morning to find out she had a rare nuerological condition and that she would spend the rest of her life in a wheel chair. The idea was to build a house that would be as accessible as possible to her.

After just reading the article, I found myself mostly siding with the Teehans. Although, I do believe in preserving historic properties, I also recognize that the cost associated with major renovations of an older property are much greater than rebuilding. Furthermore, many older properties have structural deficits and wiring and plumbing issues, and are rarely economical to heat. They may also have mould or building materials that pose health issues. Some special properties are definitely worth saving, but I don't think it is sustainable long term to say that every old house deserves and must be saved. Buildings have life spans. They can be renovated, but that isn't always the best option. There has to be a balance at any rate.

Here the thing though, after looking up Mr. Teehan's blog and taking a look at the house in question on Google live view, although there is an easier to link to picture here, I have to wonder if Mr. Teehan was looking for trouble. Now, they did say this was the only property in the neighbourhood with a wide enough lot and a low enough price, and they did check to see if it was a heritage house first, however, they may have set themselves up for this battle by choosing a house that is cute and then planning to build something that is as different as possible on the lot. The house they are planning to build (see pictures on flickr) does seem a bit monstrous and out of whack with the neighbourhood. The current house is cute in a quaint, pink-trimmed way and while change isn't necessarily bad, and I am not qualified to say whether its a heritage piece. I was surprised to find some sympathy for those opposing a change of that magnitude. I'm not sure that the image does the real thing justice, but I think a peaked roof and some minor changes to the exterior materials would have avoided the neighbours wrath. Its not so much that the old house is wonderful (its cute in a cartoony, possibly tacky sort of way), as it is that the new house is so modern and blocky and inorganic that folks used to looking at a cute little white and pink cottage with a turret might find hard to swallow. Now of course, the opponents are bent on proving its a heritage house and pretty much likely to stay their course. That the battle has become so entrenched is a shame, because the opponents are not likely to be willing to compromise. Even if the Teehan's win their case, they will likely find the animosity takes away from the joy of their new home. Yet, for financial and emotional reasons they have a lot invested in doing what they planned, whether or not it means living with hostile neighbours and more public attention than they would like. Its a lose-lose situation and now that its in the media both sides are likely to stay entrenched. If the neighbours had approached the Teehan's and requested nicely that the new design be a bit less of a change, a bit more quaint and cottage, the Teehan's could have made a few minor changes to the design and everyone's property values would go up and then they could all live together in the community on friendly terms instead of it being a dispute from the very beginning. This battle is seems to be an unfortunate extra burden for the Teehan's who have frankly had more bad luck than any family deserves and could have used a break from their neighbourhood. Even if they win, their victory will have some sourness to it.

I'm impressed by the number of posts by folks on the issue and that many of them are well thought out. I'm used to reading comments on political articles that are usually intentionally offensive to anyone who disagrees. It was nice to see some balanced opinions. I think the best hope for everyone is reconciliation. Right now both sides are backed into a corner and its going to be lose-lose. They are also using the heritage property vs property owner rights argument, even though I suspect that isn't at the root of the problem. A good community counselor would not take sides, but instead act as a mediator to see if a win-win solution could be found. I think the best compromise is that the Teehan's build from scratch, but maybe they could consult with their opponents to find some reasonable measures to make their exterior of their house a bit more appealing to folks used to seeing a cottage-style house on the lot. They could work together, treat each other with respect and then when the Teehan's moved into their dream home, they would enjoy it fully because they would be surrounded by neighbours that they have a positive relationship with, who might even reach out to them and maybe even be kinder than you'd expect in the lonely land of the city. This event could be an opportunity to build real community on this street to the benefit of all. Sadly, I suspect that it'll end up resulting in hardship for a family that could use a break. They'll either be forced to sell the property at a loss or they will build their house, but have to live with neighbours that feel like they lost and so are not only strangers, but angry strangers. I think this situation is typical of so many other situations that people make for themselves when they start out as antagonists believing that there is no chance of finding middle ground or because they feel threatened. Think of all the bad situations at work, home, and in the world as a whole. How many wars are fought because neither side even considered negotiating a compromise before they dug themselves so deeply entrenched in oppostion that they had no way to change their mind without losing face... I guess we all can learn some lesson from this mess and I hope for the sake of the Teehan's they find a way to turn this hurdle into something positive because I think they are due a bit of luck.

So the year turns

The world has a habit of being in a continuous process of change. Change can swing to the good side or the bad. Change is sometimes simply change. Spring following winter (whenever it gets around to it), getting a year older, the sun rising and setting, the internet getting faster, the minutes ticking by.

Of course, the school year is officially over in just over a week. This means that some friends are heading out for good. Its strange. With it being cool and the ground still fairly covered in snow, its hard to believe that that end is coming, I haven't really started thinking beyond exams. Which is good, plenty of things that need my attention without daydreaming about the summer, which will likely be a lot like last summer... Thesis... thesis... and more thesis. My goal is to put more than 1000 km on my car. I'm sure there will be lots to look forward to, but in the short term I'd better keep my eyes on the road.

One good change, I bought 2 floor mats today from one of my friends heading into the great blue world of roads and coffee shops and stuff... and they are perfect. My little home is just a touch awesomer and it'll be a nice reminder of her.

Back to work for me though...

It may be colder than freezing, but slowly we are melting down

The ever cruel weather folk are now promising 11 C weather within a week. Since they've yet to deliever on promises of above 0 C weather as of yet, I'm not exactly holding my breath. Still with brightness all the time and hot weather in the Yukon and spreading into Yellowknife there is hope.....

Its a busy weekend. I'm hoping that shortly after finishing this post my kitchen will return to a clean state - the dishes are already waiting. The coffee is brewed and then I'll have to see what I can find for lunch - I have a 1/2 a case of ravioli that I should whittle down a bit....

I'll keep you posted on the weather and try to throw up a few more pics this week, but its a busy bustle from here until the end of the year. I'm laughing at myself though. I've actually missed hockey the past few days. I don't even generally watch hockey - but its comforting to discuss and read about and watch the scores. I think I might watch some of tonight's game while I tackle some marking - at best its the 7th last of the season.

J

Sun Bunting Awing

Beautiful Sky

Oh... its still winter, but they are promising positive temperatures in the later part of the week. Here is to hoping...

Tourism a la Sewage Lagoon

A beautiful sunset just West of the only natural system sewage treatment facility in northern Canada. Its on two good walking routes and so far has been the best place for finding wildlife lately.

We are in the last hundred meters of the annual marathon, and the runners are worn, but trying to sprint to the finish. After being spoiled in March and April, the temperatures have been seasonal or slightly cooler in May. I had a random visual memory of the perrenials department at Terra Greenhouses pop into my head, leaving me wondering how the columbine and other early bloomers are doing. Hoping that those rascally lily beetles keep their chowing maws off my lilies until I can get home and fight them off for a little bit. Its funny. Having a sudden urge to garden when its still normal for the temperatures to be sub-zero and we had a blizzard bad enough to shut down everything only 6 days ago.

Still... I think I might have to scratch that itch by going through a couple batches of gardening photos... and maybe post one up here.

Jenn

Ukaliq

Still wearing his white coat this hare is quietly snacking away. Its sunny for the first time in a few days and the weather looks to be staying a bit warmer the next few days - so hopefully I'll manage to find a bit of time to go for a walk and maybe see some more wildlife.

Take Sunset Photos While Ye Can

We are approaching that time of year where those of us living in the north cease having that phenomena of night. Already, the sky is still bright at 11:30 or so and the sun is rising just after 4 am. As of Thursday, we will no longer meet the requirements for Civil Twilight. Last year the lack of night took far more of a toll on me that the lack of hours of sunlight in the winter, I found that my body really wasn't happy about the lack of nighttime. I really found that my body didn't want to sleep when it was light out even if my room was dark, exposure to bright light at any point after 9 confused it.

Anywho, I have some thesis stuff to tackle and my never ending pile of normal work facing me this fine Sunday. I remember in high school calling 1 pm on Sunday the depressing hour.... and some how it seems that Sunday has become my big work day. I don't know if I'd call my work depressing, but I wish I could be knitting or painting or going for a hike or reading a book for fun.

I did get my first knitting project started after about 2 months of not knitting. So the sun has set and risen and been up above the horizon for about 8 hours now....

I'll try and keep up some quick posts and more pictures as spring slowly changes the arctic snow into bravely questing ferns and moulting hares and ptarigan. (Ukaliq and Aqitgik (spelling - trying to correct into the new spelling from an old dictionary)

Cheers

J

Moving Day Blog Trauma Remedied By Amazing Sibling

Whew... for a while there I thought I'd have to revisit the process of individually reattaching pictures to blogs (with 1000 more posts than the last time I lived through that)... but... fortunately... I have good friends with good computer brains and almost magically the pictures reappeard on my blog with little intervention from me.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.... my friend at http://bog.araska.org

:D

It is done

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Downtown Baker Lake on a Sunny Day

The weather remains amazing as I sit in my apartment and um... sadly work. Tomorrow or Friday maybe I'll make myself take a real walk.

Not a whole lot to report. There are a few dishes in the kitchen and stuff to mark. I'm actually kind of in to the NHL playoff's this year and I'm even quietly cheering on a few American teams... I'm feeling oddly detached from the Canadian entries. Normally I back the Senators until they are gone, and then switch to whatever Canadian team is the mix. (Obviously I'd be cheering for the Leafs if that was an option - but I'll have to wait another year I think for that in the playoffs.)

Of course, I don't have a TV or cable - so I'm not really watching a lot of Hockey, but I have some marking to do, which usually means I watch a bit of playoff hockey while ploughing through stuff. I think actually I have everything I can mark up to date - although a wave of due dates are hitting this weekend - there is always more. I fear I'll run out of Canadian Hockey teams to cheer for in the Playoffs before I run out of marking.... and on that note... better go make some more work for myself to mark. :P

Blue skies and warm spring days

I guess living in the arctic skews one's opinion of warm, but it was warm enough for me to slip on wet ice an fall into a puddle... in the most dignified way possible. I should not be inside today... its far too beautiful, but as usual there is always work to be done and on that note I'd better get back to work writing this answer key for questions on genetics.

Hopefully though, nicer weather will turn into more pictures in general and more posts.

Winter Winding Down

I don't think the cold is over, but with El Nino we've been spoiled all winter and especially in March and April. Don't get me wrong, aside from Blizzards co-inciding with most attempts to travel by air its been a very pleasant winter. I recall praying this time last year for a day warm enough to walk to school with my glasses on and my hood down, this year we are looking for the temperature to possibly break zero 3 times in the middle of April, and event that did not occur until the 1st of June last year. Although, I've been advised that 7 years ago we endured 6 weeks of -40 C weather (before windchill).

Rain is also forcast for tomorrow. This is not good for the local Caribou, until it stays nice, but even that could have consequences in terms of the timing of bugs and food sources. Rain on snow, followed by seasonal temperatures for the rest of the winter could lock up a lot of food resources. I'm hoping for no rain, but I'm also hoping to get out for another walk this afternoon. This photo was taken on the lake on the way to the airport about a week ago.. and it was reasonably seasonally cold and quite windy that day.

Who knows... I'd better get back to geology and off of the topic of weather.

Cheers,

Jennith

Weather, Travel and Me

Its seems to me that the minute that I want the planes to work out, the weather gods cook up a doozy and send it flying to fool with my plans. (Those of you who recall, I was recently stranded in Rankin for 4 days - and the Science Fair nearly was cancelled - although in the end the weather worked out and everyone made it in) Not to mention my wild non-trip to Iqualuit. I do have to give them some credit - no problems at Christmas. So, I'm watching the weather again with a glint of horror as I hope beyond possibility that the blizzard conditions will abate long enough for a plane to land this evening. I'm not holding my breath, but I can't help wishing, especially since this looks to continue to get worse and last until Friday at which point, there will be nearly a weeks worth of bumped flyers trying to make their easter destinations and after weeks of seat sales, I expect that it'll be a while after the weather clears before my incoming guest can get a seat.

Baker Lake is the blizzard capital of the north, averaging nearly 20 blizzard events annually, thus our choice of the Blizzard as our athletic mascot. Still, while looking for a description of the minimum landing conditions necessary, I found this wonderful quote from the late weather caster, Bill Matheson:

“I really believe that Baker Lake, N.W.T., has got to be the epitome of all things Canadians hate about winter,” Matheson said. “The wind is blowing all the time. You're on the tundra. For half the year it's dark. And it’s always the coldest place on the weather map.”

Most of the time, I like the weather in Baker Lake. The crispness, the wind, and even the dark. The wind doesn't actually blow all the time, only when I want the planes to fly and frankly it has been quite mild this year and I can still see the sign, so maybe everything will work out fine. I guess sometimes you just have to hope and prepare to accept the worst. Not much else to do - to be happy in the north you have to be able to accept the things you can't change and weather is definitely out of my hands.

So, heres hoping beyond hope for a large miracle.... and making the best of things as they are.

Vinegar and nails....

If you want to induce rust this is a fun experiment. I was surprised that the nails under the vinegar were rust free, but the heads were very rusty. (The beaker was covered in tin foil so the heads were in vinegar fumes)

My head doesn't want to seem to want to wake up this morning, so I apologize for the short post.

Home Sweet Home

I had a wonderful weekend away from home. I have to say that the regional science fair is one of the most fun activities I've ever taken part in - a big thanks to the kids and colleagues that made it great. I'm already looking forward to next year. The really cool lab coat was a great idea. In the mean time, I'm looking forward to having only the normal teaching load on my shoulders. Its funny - it seems the busier that I am the more I get done, but I'm glad for a break because I have some great ideas I'd like to enact, but I need time to actually do them properly.

A happy anniversery to my amazing and inspiring Grandparents. I'm sorry that I couldn't be there to celebrate with you, but I'll see you in the summer and talk to you soon!

In other news, it is shockingly almost April and the days are starting to get longer. By the end of April they will be long and by the middle of May the sky will no longer get dark enough to call night (even if the sun does technically set below the horizen.) We've been spoiled with warm weather the last few weeks, although currently its pretty bitter. Hopefully, it'll get springy again in time for me to actually enjoy going out on the land (well, at least outside) for easter.

I'd better get my supper cooking and my biology homework done and a good workout in....

:D

Muffin Tree

Who said muffin's didn't grow on trees? Or at least grow like them!

Well, it didn't last long after I took the picture. It'll probably take me longer to clean the little tree cakepan then it did to eat it, but I was pretty hungry.

Yumm.... oh and I still seem to have the yawns. Okay. Quick bit of yoga, then out the door.

NWTel Science and Technology Challange

One of my favourite special events is the SET challange where students are given about an hour to complete a Science Challange. This year we were building Card Inukshuks and Straw Iglus. The one pictured about was my pick for most artistic. Good work to all of the students who participated. This event always surprises me by how engaged the students are with the task. Everyone had fun and even the ones that didn't win did a really great job working together as a team and coming up with some very inovative projects. Congratulations and a huge thank you for NWTel for their sponsership and KSEC for planning and organizing the event.