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| Elders Supper |
The most intriguing part of my research included reference to a book entitled…Trapped in Ice which is a fictionalized account about part of the expedition. Now should you hear my daughters reading this blog, they will shout out at this point. The reason being that this book (in young readers format) was their brother's only book review for several years. We had purchased a hardcover copy of the story (perhaps in a bookstore on vacation travels?) and he thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so that it was the only book report he wrote for multiple years with a new teacher each time - much like the author who manages to lunch in Beverly Hills for weeks on a successful book launch. Wonder where that book is now…..
And speaking of things arctic, the local clerk has a three yr old granddaughter Lillian who is quite an entertainer. She has been recently speaking of wanting a baby sister (someone in preschool has one) and approached her mother holding her six month old brother Hayden this week stating "hey you got the wrong baby!" Good thing her bro does not yet understand that comment. I was unaware that there were squirrels in Inuvik but there are trees, it's quite a bit further south than Banks Island) so….apparently one varmint had been visiting their porch and stealing the dog food, storing it in boots etc. The mother of the house was checking on bread she'd baked and set to cool on the freezer and was 'attacked' by the squirrel which ran up her back, down her arm and bit her finger and thumb when she tried to retrieve the bread. She had made a few requests of her husband (who incidentally works for natural resources so this wasn't really an out of the way errand) to bring home a live trap and was adamant after the incident. Needless to say, the squirrel was captured the first day and so was taken for 'show and tell' to Lillian's preschool. When her father arrived she announced to her class "that's my father" and pointing to the cage "and that's his squirrel". Her Skype visits usually bring some fresh material for the clerk to regale us with.
I was trolling FaceBook from home and a young mother posted a photo of two toddlers asleep in their carseats with the following script:
I finished up my Web Science course and was intrigued to learn about a concept called IoT or the Internet of Things. A quote of the week intrigued me where it was stated that webpages traded in the currency of attention. Hmmm
Speaking of moving into the future…the Sudanese family being sponsored at home has arrived from the refugee camp in Kenya they've called home for many years. They first travelled by bus to Nairobi for three days of classes where they were instructed in 'how to be Canadians" and then I watched the progress of their flights from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to Zurich then Toronto and NS - winging their way to a new life. The sponsoring committee chronicles their catapult from rudimentary subsistence to the a developed life of the future in a series of internal posts about seat belts, taps, stoves etc. A huge adjustment for them. Will be looking forward to visiting them when I make my way home.
I had been attempting to keep a low profile with the manager (one of the pieces of advice from the departing on mat leave NIC) reinforced by my job share partner who instructs that emails should be very brief and to the point with just enough info so that a clarification reply is not required as she's very efficient. I've been doing okay, promptly replying, following instructions, not messaging unnecessarily until Thursday when I sent a purchase order for approval (all stock orders must have management approval) for toner for the colour printer. The manager queried why I wasn't ordering from Xerox so I advised that it was the colour printer not the photocopier/fax. She must've taken a second look and asked why I was ordering a toner cartridge from North of 60 Medical Solutions not Moe's Stationary? Good catch I can just see Paul's face at North of 60 wondering what a toner cartridge had to do with medical supplies. I promptly corrected the error with a note that sad "apologies'. So much for not getting noticed. It's not the clinical issues that will get me in trouble….
I have passed a quiet weekend, my roommate having temporarily deserted me for a visit home to celebrate the holidays early. When we exit the apartment we clean it for the incoming partner, but as I was in-house I suggested that wasn't necessary. However, she spent Thursday morning scrubbing and cleaning (my early Christmas present) and as much as I detest housework…a lovely gift it was. She skipped out the door with empty suitcases (to bring back goodies) stashed inside each other. She traveled to Inuvik and overnighted there on Thursday but as a light sleeper (something I cannot claim to be) she complained in a chat message that the gas fireplace kept coming on during the night and she alternately thought there was a fire or someone in the room so didn't sleep well. Friday she travelled Inuvik to
Edmonton overnighted and today was winging her way home having arrived this pm. She'll be back December 21st for 'our' holidays. The clerk left on Thursday too headed out for an appointment which will likely take 30 min. but will require a Thurs to Monday trip to Edmonton. She had plans for the malls and was pleased with the timing. I have crocheted some more Christmas decor - some of it seen here on the left including the crocheted forest of which (being treeless) we are most fond, done a minimal amount of housework and only relocated from the couch when absolutely necessary. Sewing was preempted for a mens activity at the recreation centre so I didn't even need to go out. Ahhh.
Resting up as the next week will be my last full five day jaunt until February. There is a tele health clinic scheduled with the physician who looks after our community for Monday and Tuesday afternoon. He is unable to come over as his wife (another Dr) has given birth to their third child and he doesn't want to travel. We discussed what was appropriate for him to handle on tele health (obviously not injections or prenatal exams) and I contracted to send him any information required by Monday am. Friday afternoon was spent sourcing reports, phoning or messaging patients, pulling charts, and drawing up a schedule. Being a one man band while seeing patients means that it's good I can multitask. Now we'll see how many patients show up for their appointments…being held in the afternoon as mornings are a problem for getting up….just sayin
Me: come on guys stay awake, you can nap at home in bed.
Daughter: NO, we like nap van. No nap at home.
Me: we're almost home!
Daughter: I said nap van!!!
I remember similar exchanges in the past in a van, which ended the same way…the struggle is real.
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| Crafters R Us |
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| Quote of the day |
