floe edge?

My feeling coming down on the plane was that I was getting some excellent chances to see ocean features that I don't encounter much in my lovely inland community. Well, I suppose our rather large lake is not lacking in ice, but there is something different about tidal salt water compared to fresh water. I enjoyed looking out the window and hopefully these pictures will help me with Tariuq next year.

The only news for this morning as I continue attacking my model is that I desparately need coffee and I'm not sure how to fix that..... I'm going to start by hunting for a coffee maker.

Oxbow Lake

I'm hoping these come in handy next year for teaching :D...

Churchill, Manitoba... thawing :D

Another shot as we were taking off from Churchill over the thawing taiga.... trees!!

Ice Light

It was bright day when I took this from the plane - so just a photo-quirk... neat though

The Forks Market, Winnipeg

A neat aerial shot of where I stayed and hung out the last few days.

Ice Free Shores

Well, I finally found weather warm enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt, although I admit that I'm actually feeling kind of chilly right now. We had a wicked storm blast through here, although its all sunny skies now.

Its hard to believe that I'm already at this point in my plans. I'm trying to work full steam ahead on an ongoing project.

The act of organizing and leaving anywhere for an extended trip is always exhausting - although I actually got sleep my last night, although I was admittedly tight on time getting out the door... like on time exactly, rather than early and tight on weight.... at 69.5 lbs.... which is what held me up - on and off the scales until I was under. I'm a bit sorry that I left my cords behind (especially since I doubt they made much weight difference).

The trip began with me getting off the plane in the sprawling metropolis of Winnipeg, where I promptly picked up my rental and drove out into the real world. No holding back while I adjust from my quiet home in the arctic to downtown. The drive went shockingly well in spite of feeling terribly visually overstimulated and having to jar my brain into that multi-awareness traffic driving mode after traveling on foot for 6 months. There seemed to be so many cars, buildings, people and signs. Usually I start driving in the suburbs that I know like the back of my hand with a clear picture of where I have to go and any special situations and in my familiar little car. I can't really complain about the car.... the accents on the dash were different in accent colour, but aside from that it drove and handled like mine. Still, the setting out into a strange downtown with a semi-memorized set of driving instructions and only a crappy map to consult at red lights, it amazes me that I made it straight to the place I was going without even getting lost. I did find it a bit stressful. Not dangerous, just enough to laugh at myself for putting myself into a dorky position. Fortunately, I'm a good and experienced driver (and anyone who cares to disagree can shove their comments up their noses with their fingers) and it all came back quickly.

My next driving foray, I was aided by the thoughtful printing of Google map directions by the gentlemen at the hotel front desk. Neat service. In general, I have nothing but good things to say about the hotel. The bathroom looked so cool with glass counters and pot lights and stuff.

The conference was a good experience. Some of it was over my head, but I still learned a lot. The highlight was meeting the Mayor or Iqaluit. I was incredibly impressed by her positivity and ability to act as an ambassador of the north. I met people who were in charge of forecasting our weather and learned a lot about how they do it. I'm getting pretty excited about the new Gr. 12 curriculum.

Otherwise, the other good part of the trip was getting to spend lots of time talking to another mentor of mine, one the the science curriculum writers. She is easy to talk to and offered lots of great wisdom. We tag teamed for our presentation and I feel like it went well, although I was relieved to get it over. Its funny feeling stage fright when I spend most of my days presenting or maybe it was weird because no on interrupted me with a request to get a drink or go to the bathroom.

The next leg of the trip was uneventful, the clouds out the window were cool (the picture above was taken as we were taking off or landing near Rankin. The ice was really that turquoise). Its strange/good to be back here - although it almost feels like I never left in some ways, save that all the kitchen utensils have moved around. I even got up at 6 am and swam my Bronze cross lengths (in somewhat more than the required 14 minutes, but not bad for a first swim in 10 months.) The garden needs some weeding, if the wind doesn't blow it all away. I recommend that no one sane would ever plant lemon balm in their garden... its a weed, it makes my spearmint and even the raspberry brush jungle look well behaved.

I'd better get back to picking through my modelling and checking it out. I'm hoping to have it polished off by the end of the week. Well, at least the piece I'm working on right now.

Cheers,

Jennith

Transitions

So here we are between winter and summer (sometimes called spring), between white and a tundra colour, between the end of a year and the beginning of another... (or between the time that the muffins came out of the oven and when they are cool enough to extract from the muffin tin and eat safely......

I'm not quite sure if I feel like this ptarmigan with my head in summer and my body in winter...... and I don't think I'm moulting my feathers. If anything today, I feel in a particular kind of mental limbo. I should feel excited and I just feel like I have a lot of things to do and there isn't too much point making plans because every plan I make takes away from thesis writing time. I have learned the importance of balance in ones life - yet, I am determined to get this stone off my neck as quickly as possible.

I'm sure a few more days of getting lots of sleep and eating healthy food and hey... it looks like of sunny and they are now promising nice weather on Thursday and Friday.... or maybe once things get a bit closer perhaps I can find more enthusiasm for a change of scenary and routine....

Ah well... I've always been one of those people that are happier with transitions once the loose ends are tied up and I'm on the bus and the rest is a matter of the length of road and when I get there is out of my hands. In the meantime, I'd better get a few little errands done, so I can head into work dressed in something other than PJ's. Actually, I probably could go into work dressed the way I am. (I'm wearing a t-shirt and black stretch pants - so I don't really look like I'm wearing PJ's - I guess after years sleeping in my jeans and first response jacket and hiking boots, anything comfortable passes as PJ's)... still... I think I can find something more well, unslept in. Transition from morning to day.. you know...

Okay... I'm rambling for no reason save that once I finish this post, I'll have to get my brain into a more organized and forward moving mode... and I guess I don't mind being in limbo for a few minutes longer :D

Peace out

Wonders what kind of bird this is...

Um... Clare? Its a striking..... ? Sparrow?

UPDATE: For those of you who haven't read the comments - this is a Lapland Larkspur according to the ever awesome Clare of The House and other Musings. For arctic or general bird enthusiasts - you will also find a wonderful selection of bird photos.

The end of ages of ice

Is it the water resourcie in me... that I am facinated by run-off and snow melt and the storm ditches.... I'm not sure... but I just thought this was cool. Even cooler because the water just emerges in front of this house from a snow bank. Its nice out again this morning. I think I'm going to head out for another walk. In the mean time, I have a few pictures stocked up for the next few days if I don't escape or if its as overcast as the ever fickle weatherdude-folk are suggesting. Believing in a 5 day forcast up here is a bit more gullable than belieiving in the tooth fairy marrying Santa Claus.

Still.

Maybe if they say dismal, we'll get nice. Predictions of nice have come up short certainly.

Still just as well, lots of work needs doing that the temptation to go outside might hinder and goodness... how did it get to be June already.

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