The search for missing teen Jordan Wabasse is still going on, and there was been no news about his whereabouts yet.
Unfortnately, something else has happened. This morning I was awakened by a call saying school was cancelled because there had been a death in the community. This time, tragically, I am told it was a little baby. I have no details other than the child was 6 months old and it happened over night. I am starting to wonder how it's possible for one group of people to face so much tragedy. This is the third death of a young child since I have been here and I have only been here 6 months. This is not the way it is supposed to be. People are supposed to live long lies and die peacefully, not like this. I wish I could believe that it is all part of some kind of divine 'master plan' but I just don't. Then again, none of that matters. All that matters is there are some people with very broken hearts here today, so if you can all give them a thought today, that would be nice.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
A community in distress
Things around here have been stressful for everyone recently. The boy who I mentioned in a previous post (Jordan Wabasse) is still missing, it is the 9th day now since he was last seen. This and other stressors are affecting everyone on the island and it is as though there is a collective holding of our breath to hear some kind of news. If you are interested in following the story or helping out the family, search for the 'Help Find Jordan Wabasse' and like it on facebook to recieve updates.
On a positive note, I have never seen a group of people pull together so well in a crisis. Countless people from the community have flown down to Thunder Bay to stay with Jordan's parents and help search. Other First Nations communities have also helped out financially, with the search and with spreading the word. People here either tend to be related or very close since they have lived most of their lives together..so they have each other's backs. There is something to be admired about that kind of support considering I didn't ever even know my neighbours when I lived in the city. This community has faced a lot of tragedy (like most First Nation's communities) and I think it has the effect of maturing kids before their time. I can only hope that this whole thing will be over one way or another very soon.
In an attempt to lighten up this very serious post, here are some things in my life that are good right now:
1. I got a surprise 'Northern Survival Kit' package from my friend Andrew yesterday full of all sorts of awesome things!
2. I had two people staying with me this week and when they left, they left all their food they brought..woo! Food!
3. 24 sleeps till I'm on my way to Jamaica!
On a positive note, I have never seen a group of people pull together so well in a crisis. Countless people from the community have flown down to Thunder Bay to stay with Jordan's parents and help search. Other First Nations communities have also helped out financially, with the search and with spreading the word. People here either tend to be related or very close since they have lived most of their lives together..so they have each other's backs. There is something to be admired about that kind of support considering I didn't ever even know my neighbours when I lived in the city. This community has faced a lot of tragedy (like most First Nation's communities) and I think it has the effect of maturing kids before their time. I can only hope that this whole thing will be over one way or another very soon.
In an attempt to lighten up this very serious post, here are some things in my life that are good right now:
1. I got a surprise 'Northern Survival Kit' package from my friend Andrew yesterday full of all sorts of awesome things!
2. I had two people staying with me this week and when they left, they left all their food they brought..woo! Food!
3. 24 sleeps till I'm on my way to Jamaica!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Poll results
Where is the first place I should visit in the Middle East when I have time off?
60% of you said Egypt. Either you projected the recent end of the revolution, or you REALLY want me to see a mummy, or you have a hate on for me and wanted me to get trampled? I sure hope not...
20% want me to visit Turkey..I do hear it's beautiful.
20% want me to visit Yemen. Either you have been there or you are a big Friends fan :)
I guess I'm going to Egypt!
60% of you said Egypt. Either you projected the recent end of the revolution, or you REALLY want me to see a mummy, or you have a hate on for me and wanted me to get trampled? I sure hope not...
20% want me to visit Turkey..I do hear it's beautiful.
20% want me to visit Yemen. Either you have been there or you are a big Friends fan :)
I guess I'm going to Egypt!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Shout out to the 'real adults'...
Today as I was cleaning my house and hating it, I began wondering at what point I will become a 'real adult'? When I was younger I always used to think that being a real adult entailed knowing what you are doing with your life, keeping up with housework, driving a car and paying bills. So I'm 25 now, and I still let my dishes pile up for an entire week before I'm willing to grudgingly do them. I throw my laundry on my floor instead of in my laundry basket, which is two feet away and pile my clean clothes on my dresser instead of putting them in it. Perhaps no one is really that organized or happy about doing these tasks, but they just complain less than me?
It's funny, the difference between how I perceive myself in relation to my students and how they must perceive me. I consider myself fairly close to their age, though for many of them I'm 10 years older. I consider myself 'in the know' with what the kids are into nowadays, but really I'm sometimes clueless. I also will spend hours creeping people on facebook and live to watch crappy tv shows about spoiled brats on MTV. But not to worry ya'll that I'm having a mid-20's crisis, I'm okay with not being much of a 'real adult.' I kind of think that all the other adults are just faking it anyways.
Perhaps this identity quandary is my fault, though. I tend to put myself into situations that make me stick out. In teacher's college I was one of the youngest people there..which my classmates always commented on. Here I fit in well with the teacher age bracket but I am that 'white lady' which obviously has all it's own connotations. I suppose that will carry over to the middle east but probably just in a different way. I wonder if I will become anymore of a 'real adult' when I am reluctant to move because it's so damn hot? I might be doomed to masquerade forever.
Those are my musings for today..now time to go vacuum *grumbles*
It's funny, the difference between how I perceive myself in relation to my students and how they must perceive me. I consider myself fairly close to their age, though for many of them I'm 10 years older. I consider myself 'in the know' with what the kids are into nowadays, but really I'm sometimes clueless. I also will spend hours creeping people on facebook and live to watch crappy tv shows about spoiled brats on MTV. But not to worry ya'll that I'm having a mid-20's crisis, I'm okay with not being much of a 'real adult.' I kind of think that all the other adults are just faking it anyways.
Perhaps this identity quandary is my fault, though. I tend to put myself into situations that make me stick out. In teacher's college I was one of the youngest people there..which my classmates always commented on. Here I fit in well with the teacher age bracket but I am that 'white lady' which obviously has all it's own connotations. I suppose that will carry over to the middle east but probably just in a different way. I wonder if I will become anymore of a 'real adult' when I am reluctant to move because it's so damn hot? I might be doomed to masquerade forever.
Those are my musings for today..now time to go vacuum *grumbles*
Friday, February 11, 2011
Fabulous February?
It's been a while since my last post. Probably because it has been a really long week. It is mighty cold here right now (between -40 and -50 daily) so it makes every day tasks like getting ready to walk 5 minutes to work or going to the store up the street, quite trying. Everyone also seems to be feeling the February drain a bit too. Not enough sunlight, an entire month with almost no break, (thankfully family day is there though) and the constant threat of cold and flu is making for grumpy Webequiers. Webequians? People of Webequie. There.
Classes are going alright. Literacy sure is a boring topic to teach but it is helping the kids (and adults, in this case) get those basic skills they need so it's worth it. Civics can also be tiring because it involves a lot of definitions and it's really hard to do anything hands on because there is not a lot of participation in the class. History, which I thought would be the worst for me, is actually pretty good. I am sort of learning as I go but I find some of it interesting. Plus it can lend itself to some creativity. When I have more than one student that is.
The community is struggling a bit right now because one of the teens from the community who has been down in Thunder Bay for high school went missing on Monday and still has not been found. He was actually in my class at the very beginning of the year but soon left to go to thunder bay. Everyone is really hoping he is found of course and I am too. Neither this community nor these teens need any more tragedy to happen. Here's a link to his story: http://netnewsledger.com/?p=5724
In brighter news, tomorrow is Friday which means I will have the weekend to watch useless shows on MTV and possibly clean up the dump that is my house. I would describe it for you, but it's gotten to the point where I might be somehow reported for my squalor. I don't know what they'd report though...lazy-assed-ness? In any case some serious housework needs to be done! I'd better be off to bed, lest I fall asleep in my own boring Literacy class tomorrow morning *yawn*
Classes are going alright. Literacy sure is a boring topic to teach but it is helping the kids (and adults, in this case) get those basic skills they need so it's worth it. Civics can also be tiring because it involves a lot of definitions and it's really hard to do anything hands on because there is not a lot of participation in the class. History, which I thought would be the worst for me, is actually pretty good. I am sort of learning as I go but I find some of it interesting. Plus it can lend itself to some creativity. When I have more than one student that is.
The community is struggling a bit right now because one of the teens from the community who has been down in Thunder Bay for high school went missing on Monday and still has not been found. He was actually in my class at the very beginning of the year but soon left to go to thunder bay. Everyone is really hoping he is found of course and I am too. Neither this community nor these teens need any more tragedy to happen. Here's a link to his story: http://netnewsledger.com/?p=5724
In brighter news, tomorrow is Friday which means I will have the weekend to watch useless shows on MTV and possibly clean up the dump that is my house. I would describe it for you, but it's gotten to the point where I might be somehow reported for my squalor. I don't know what they'd report though...lazy-assed-ness? In any case some serious housework needs to be done! I'd better be off to bed, lest I fall asleep in my own boring Literacy class tomorrow morning *yawn*
Sunday, February 6, 2011
How do you solve a problem like Karen?
Today I should be planning for the week, but instead I have opted to try to finish making my gloves that I started before Christmas and watch Sound of Music. As I was watching one of my favourite scenes/ songs, How do solve a problem like Maria I started thinking about the parallels between Maria and myself. One of those parallels is not the desire for nunnery, but instead for being a little too adventurous, perhaps a little too stubborn and having confidence in things I really have no idea about.
I decided one day at lunch with my sister I decided that I was going to go to grad school when she casually commented "well..you could go back to school..", two weeks before the deadline. Then, while I was there, I applied for and took a job up North. Then I came up North..."It will only be 10 months and I'll be back everyone, I promise..." and applied for and took a job in the Middle East. It will only be two years everyone, I promise!! ;) So, how do you solve a problem like Karen? Well...
She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee This morning I closed my hand in the front door
Her dress has got a tear And my pants have chocolate on them from a kitkat I just ate
She waltzes on her way to class
And whistles on the stair
And underneath her hoodie
She has curlers in her hair
I even heard her singing in the hallway
She's always late for meetings (and work and buses and movies)
But her dedication is real
She's always late for everything
Except for every meal
I hate to have to say it
But I very firmly feel
Karen's not an asset to the school Well, I don't know about that...
I'd like to say a word in her behalf
Karen makes me laugh! I try..
How do you solve a problem like Karen?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? Ask my Mom this one..
How do you find a word that means Karen?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown! I'm probably a flibbertijibbet...
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay? No one seems to know, she keeps moving further away..
And listen to all you say? Never gonna happen!
How do you keep a wave upon the sand? You can't, but you can keep a Karen on a beach in Abu Dhabi :)
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Karen?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
When I'm with her I'm confused
Out of focus and bemused
And I never know exactly where I am
Unpredictable as weather
She's as flighty as a feather
She's a darling! She's a demon! She's a lamb! This describes my childhood perfectly...
She'd outpester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
She is gentle! She is wild!
She's a riddle! She's a child!
She's a headache! She's an angel!
She's a girl!
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Karen?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
There you have it.
And my theme song for moving to Abu Dhabi you ask? I Have Confidence
(I hope you are not tired of my extended metaphor between myself and Maria. If so, this next part is going to be a little tiresome...)
What will this day be like? I wonder. Probably hot..
What will my future be? I wonder. Probably confusing..
It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free
My heart should be wildly rejoicing
Oh, what's the matter with me? I get bored easily?
I've always longed for adventure Even as a child
To do the things I've never dared
And here I'm facing adventure
Then why am I so scared Because I'm moving to the other side of the world!
A classroom full of children
What's so fearsome about that? LOTS!
Oh, I must stop these doubts, all these worries
If I don't I just know I'll turn back Parachute off the plane?
I must dream of the things I am seeking Mmm beaches...
I am seeking the courage I lack
The courage to serve them with reliance
Face my mistakes without defiance
Show them I'm worthy
And while I show them
I'll show me YEAH!
So, let them bring on all their problems
I'll do better than my best
I have confidence they'll put me to the test Oh, I know they will!
But I'll make them see I have confidence in me
Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children (Heaven bless them!)
They will look up to me
And mind me! Ruling with an iron fist...this one..
With each step I am more certain
Everything will turn out fine
I have confidence the world can all be mine I'm working on it, one continent at a time...
They'll have to agree I have confidence in me
I have confidence in sunshine and heat and humidity...
I have confidence in rain and extreme cold
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me
Strength doesn't lie in numbers Just me!
Strength doesn't lie in wealth Emirate people may argue with that..
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up -- Wake Up!
All I trust I lead my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence in confidence alone
Besides which you see I have confidence in me! Look out Middle East
Now, I just need to find myself a nice Austrian Captain to settle down with and I'm all set :)
I decided one day at lunch with my sister I decided that I was going to go to grad school when she casually commented "well..you could go back to school..", two weeks before the deadline. Then, while I was there, I applied for and took a job up North. Then I came up North..."It will only be 10 months and I'll be back everyone, I promise..." and applied for and took a job in the Middle East. It will only be two years everyone, I promise!! ;) So, how do you solve a problem like Karen? Well...
She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee This morning I closed my hand in the front door
Her dress has got a tear And my pants have chocolate on them from a kitkat I just ate
She waltzes on her way to class
And whistles on the stair
And underneath her hoodie
She has curlers in her hair
I even heard her singing in the hallway
She's always late for meetings (and work and buses and movies)
But her dedication is real
She's always late for everything
Except for every meal
I hate to have to say it
But I very firmly feel
Karen's not an asset to the school Well, I don't know about that...
I'd like to say a word in her behalf
Karen makes me laugh! I try..
How do you solve a problem like Karen?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? Ask my Mom this one..
How do you find a word that means Karen?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown! I'm probably a flibbertijibbet...
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay? No one seems to know, she keeps moving further away..
And listen to all you say? Never gonna happen!
How do you keep a wave upon the sand? You can't, but you can keep a Karen on a beach in Abu Dhabi :)
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Karen?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
When I'm with her I'm confused
Out of focus and bemused
And I never know exactly where I am
Unpredictable as weather
She's as flighty as a feather
She's a darling! She's a demon! She's a lamb! This describes my childhood perfectly...
She'd outpester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
She is gentle! She is wild!
She's a riddle! She's a child!
She's a headache! She's an angel!
She's a girl!
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Karen?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
There you have it.
And my theme song for moving to Abu Dhabi you ask? I Have Confidence
(I hope you are not tired of my extended metaphor between myself and Maria. If so, this next part is going to be a little tiresome...)
What will this day be like? I wonder. Probably hot..
What will my future be? I wonder. Probably confusing..
It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free
My heart should be wildly rejoicing
Oh, what's the matter with me? I get bored easily?
I've always longed for adventure Even as a child
To do the things I've never dared
And here I'm facing adventure
Then why am I so scared Because I'm moving to the other side of the world!
A classroom full of children
What's so fearsome about that? LOTS!
Oh, I must stop these doubts, all these worries
If I don't I just know I'll turn back Parachute off the plane?
I must dream of the things I am seeking Mmm beaches...
I am seeking the courage I lack
The courage to serve them with reliance
Face my mistakes without defiance
Show them I'm worthy
And while I show them
I'll show me YEAH!
So, let them bring on all their problems
I'll do better than my best
I have confidence they'll put me to the test Oh, I know they will!
But I'll make them see I have confidence in me
Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children (Heaven bless them!)
They will look up to me
And mind me! Ruling with an iron fist...this one..
With each step I am more certain
Everything will turn out fine
I have confidence the world can all be mine I'm working on it, one continent at a time...
They'll have to agree I have confidence in me
I have confidence in sunshine and heat and humidity...
I have confidence in rain and extreme cold
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me
Strength doesn't lie in numbers Just me!
Strength doesn't lie in wealth Emirate people may argue with that..
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up -- Wake Up!
All I trust I lead my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence in confidence alone
Besides which you see I have confidence in me! Look out Middle East
Now, I just need to find myself a nice Austrian Captain to settle down with and I'm all set :)
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Happy 100...surprise!
It just so happens that this is my 100th post (woo!) and I have some pretty big news!
While this has been a quite the experience up in the North, I have decided that one year here is enough and I'm going to move on to a new adventure. It occurred to me recently that since I am an Ontario educated teacher (who tend to be desired in other countries to teach English) and I have experience adjusting to a very different situation than what I am used to, I could really go anywhere!
Soooo....drum roll!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm moving to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in the Middle East in August 2011.
Here are some maps below that show where the UAE is in the Middle East and where Abu Dhabi is in the UAE:
Now, before you go all crazy and think I've gone off the deep end, here are some facts about the United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi.
-The population in A.D. in 2010 was 896,751 so...pretty big
-The average temperature is 35 degrees Celsius and it can get up to about 50 degrees in the summer. The lowest average temperature in the winter is 18 degrees..not too shabby!
-80% of the population in Abu Dhabi are ex-patriots which are people from places other than the UAE (mostly North America, Europe and Australia)
-The dominant religion of Abu Dhabi is Islam (meaning people there are often Muslim) and the mother tongue is Arabic. However, most people do speak English.
-Women in UAE do not have to wear a burqa, though some choose too.
I got the job through a company based out of Toronto called Teach Away Inc. They were chosen by the Emirate government to recruit teachers across North America. They are undergoing a huge educational overhaul in the UAE right now. Up until two years ago it was a teacher based educational system, meaning teachers spoke, students listened and memorized. Now they are moving toward a student-based learning system, wherein the teacher adapts to accommodates the student's needs. This is how Ontario teachers have been educated, so they are bringing us over to help institute the change.
Here is a list of awesome things about this new adventure I will embark on:
-Beaches and CONSTANT swimming weather
-Camel beauty contests (seriously....http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/08/camel-contest/teague-text.html)
-Free housing and flights to move there
-Paid summers off
-TAX FREE salary. Yep, that's right.
-39 cent cans of pop
-Chicken Big Mac...
-Close proximity to Dubai which totes all sorts of awesomeness like an indoor ski park (even though I don't like to ski...still cool) and the tallest building in the world.
-Swimming pools and water parks at every turn
The list could go on, but I will stop there. I know there might be some questions so feel free to post them in the comments and I will try to answer them.
One sad part about this whole thing is that I will probably have to re-home Muffin. They are not too keen on teachers bringing dogs into the UAE as they are not very common there. Muffin is also used to the cold climate and is in fact, even kind of made for it, with her thick fur. It wouldn't really be fair to her to bring her for this reason. It was a really tough decision for me to make, but a big move like this requires sacrifices. That being said, (and this is sad to even type) if anyone has been thinking of getting a dog, she will need a new home around the middle of August. She is one awesome little puppy I can say that much. I'll stop there before I get too sad but feel free to message me if interested.
I probably SHOULD have kept this quiet until the new contracts come out in Webequie in a few months, but I was just too excited. It's also great to now know that I can relax because I have a job waiting for me for next September. Oh also, it's a two year contract but I will be able to come home for the summer and maybe at christmas if I book in advance :)
Let me demonstrate my feeling of triumph with this sample photo:
While this has been a quite the experience up in the North, I have decided that one year here is enough and I'm going to move on to a new adventure. It occurred to me recently that since I am an Ontario educated teacher (who tend to be desired in other countries to teach English) and I have experience adjusting to a very different situation than what I am used to, I could really go anywhere!
Soooo....drum roll!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm moving to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in the Middle East in August 2011.
Here are some maps below that show where the UAE is in the Middle East and where Abu Dhabi is in the UAE:
Now, before you go all crazy and think I've gone off the deep end, here are some facts about the United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi.
-The population in A.D. in 2010 was 896,751 so...pretty big
-The average temperature is 35 degrees Celsius and it can get up to about 50 degrees in the summer. The lowest average temperature in the winter is 18 degrees..not too shabby!
-80% of the population in Abu Dhabi are ex-patriots which are people from places other than the UAE (mostly North America, Europe and Australia)
-The dominant religion of Abu Dhabi is Islam (meaning people there are often Muslim) and the mother tongue is Arabic. However, most people do speak English.
-Women in UAE do not have to wear a burqa, though some choose too.
I got the job through a company based out of Toronto called Teach Away Inc. They were chosen by the Emirate government to recruit teachers across North America. They are undergoing a huge educational overhaul in the UAE right now. Up until two years ago it was a teacher based educational system, meaning teachers spoke, students listened and memorized. Now they are moving toward a student-based learning system, wherein the teacher adapts to accommodates the student's needs. This is how Ontario teachers have been educated, so they are bringing us over to help institute the change.
Here is a list of awesome things about this new adventure I will embark on:
-Beaches and CONSTANT swimming weather
-Camel beauty contests (seriously....http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/08/camel-contest/teague-text.html)
-Free housing and flights to move there
-Paid summers off
-TAX FREE salary. Yep, that's right.
-39 cent cans of pop
-Chicken Big Mac...
-Close proximity to Dubai which totes all sorts of awesomeness like an indoor ski park (even though I don't like to ski...still cool) and the tallest building in the world.
-Swimming pools and water parks at every turn
The list could go on, but I will stop there. I know there might be some questions so feel free to post them in the comments and I will try to answer them.
One sad part about this whole thing is that I will probably have to re-home Muffin. They are not too keen on teachers bringing dogs into the UAE as they are not very common there. Muffin is also used to the cold climate and is in fact, even kind of made for it, with her thick fur. It wouldn't really be fair to her to bring her for this reason. It was a really tough decision for me to make, but a big move like this requires sacrifices. That being said, (and this is sad to even type) if anyone has been thinking of getting a dog, she will need a new home around the middle of August. She is one awesome little puppy I can say that much. I'll stop there before I get too sad but feel free to message me if interested.
I probably SHOULD have kept this quiet until the new contracts come out in Webequie in a few months, but I was just too excited. It's also great to now know that I can relax because I have a job waiting for me for next September. Oh also, it's a two year contract but I will be able to come home for the summer and maybe at christmas if I book in advance :)
Let me demonstrate my feeling of triumph with this sample photo:
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Calling all guidettes?
So the poll is over, here's what you all thought to my question...
For next semester: how can I convince my students to come to their exams?
The winner by a large margin was:
Dress up like Snooki from Jersey Shore and stand outside the portable so they come for an autograph.
6 (54%)
In second place (some of you are not very nice)...
Forget it, just fail 'em all!
3 (27%)
Tied for last place are...
A massive sleepover in the gym where I give them a banana and their exam at 9am
1 (9%)
Post their exam as a note on facebook and they can write the answers on my wall.
1 (9%)
(Both viable solutions I think..)
No votes, shockingly...A new car! And it will be a red convertible.
0 (0%)
No Price is Right fans here clearly...either that or you have thought through the idea of a convertible in Webequie.
Stay tuned for a post with a big announcement soon...... :)
For next semester: how can I convince my students to come to their exams?
The winner by a large margin was:
Dress up like Snooki from Jersey Shore and stand outside the portable so they come for an autograph.
6 (54%)
In second place (some of you are not very nice)...
Forget it, just fail 'em all!
3 (27%)
Tied for last place are...
A massive sleepover in the gym where I give them a banana and their exam at 9am
1 (9%)
Post their exam as a note on facebook and they can write the answers on my wall.
1 (9%)
(Both viable solutions I think..)
No votes, shockingly...A new car! And it will be a red convertible.
0 (0%)
No Price is Right fans here clearly...either that or you have thought through the idea of a convertible in Webequie.
Stay tuned for a post with a big announcement soon...... :)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Exams and a near death experience (not one and the same)
Well it has been quite the week back. Exams are all finished and marked and the new semester starts on Monday. I was pretty PO'd earlier in the week at the lack of care students here seem to have over exams. For example, not showing up on time or at all, not showing up on time after I have allowed a re-write timeslot, not studying even though I gave them a review with the exam questions in it and the list goes on...
I have gotten over most of these things now and again have reminded myself that education really just isn't a priority here. Some kids have done really well, with one of my students getting a 95% in grade 10 english. I know there will be a rush of students at the beginning of this new semester and then it will quickly drop off to 5 or 6 in each class. At least now I am prepared for that.
This week I also had quite the mishap with Muffin. She was outside playing and saw some of the other dogs across the street. Unfortunately just as she went to run across a truck came. I wasn't there to see it but was told by a friend that she kind of bounced off the trucks tire. I was quickly summoned to my neighbours house where Muffin was very shaken up. We called the vet and explained her symptoms and they said she was in shock. I kept her warm and still for the night and her shock symptoms went away. The following day she seemed okay and at night she was just doing this weird coughing thing. Today she seems back to her old self and is wanting to play outside. I'm still keeping her in for a few more days to be sure and definitely walking her on a leash from now on. By some grand luck, she survived her brush with death doggie (as seen below)
and it could have been so much worse! All my friends here were so supportive and helpful, as well as a friend who is a vet in the states and gave me some great advice. You all rock!
Last night we had a rockin' wii party (aka my neighbours came over and we played Price is Right for wii for 2 hours) and tonight is Bingo time. Jackpot = $800. I'll take it!
I have gotten over most of these things now and again have reminded myself that education really just isn't a priority here. Some kids have done really well, with one of my students getting a 95% in grade 10 english. I know there will be a rush of students at the beginning of this new semester and then it will quickly drop off to 5 or 6 in each class. At least now I am prepared for that.
This week I also had quite the mishap with Muffin. She was outside playing and saw some of the other dogs across the street. Unfortunately just as she went to run across a truck came. I wasn't there to see it but was told by a friend that she kind of bounced off the trucks tire. I was quickly summoned to my neighbours house where Muffin was very shaken up. We called the vet and explained her symptoms and they said she was in shock. I kept her warm and still for the night and her shock symptoms went away. The following day she seemed okay and at night she was just doing this weird coughing thing. Today she seems back to her old self and is wanting to play outside. I'm still keeping her in for a few more days to be sure and definitely walking her on a leash from now on. By some grand luck, she survived her brush with death doggie (as seen below)
and it could have been so much worse! All my friends here were so supportive and helpful, as well as a friend who is a vet in the states and gave me some great advice. You all rock!
Last night we had a rockin' wii party (aka my neighbours came over and we played Price is Right for wii for 2 hours) and tonight is Bingo time. Jackpot = $800. I'll take it!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
I thought it was about time for another happy-go-lucky post after that last atrocity. I am back in the Web and all is well. My trip at home was great, got things accomplished, saw some friends and picked up cheesy buns to bring back up. Life is good. This week is exam week for the high schoolers and today I held the grade 10 English exam. I thought since it will be the last time I have some of the students (like the grade 12's) I should get them a little something. The girls got candy and either a nail polish or lip gloss and the boys get a little Axe (the deodorant, not the wood cutting tool) and candy. Did them up like this:
Also had a treat...
Suggesting that I may just be the best teacher ever? Just throwing that out there :P
4 of 6 of my grade 10 students passed and the two that didn't, will have the opportunity to finish their essay before friday in order to pass since they are pretty close.
Next semester I'm teaching History, Careers/Civics and the Ontario Literacy course. Luckily my colleague who used to teach these courses sent me a TON of resources so I won't be totally lost. I also found out that there is going to be a conference that we all go to thunder bay for in the third week of March, following March break, so it will be like 2 weeks off then :)
Muffin is doing great...she has been much calmer and more well behaved thanks to my awesome neighbours Shannon and Jeff who took care of her over the last week for me. She lost two of her baby teeth today too! I gave her a bath tonight and then was cleaning the bathroom. I looked around the house and finally found her, wet and curled up in my bed:
Thanks for the wet bed pup, good thing you're so darn cute.
Lastly, here's "carrying home your groceries" Webequie style...
And no one even bats an eye.
Also had a treat...
Suggesting that I may just be the best teacher ever? Just throwing that out there :P
4 of 6 of my grade 10 students passed and the two that didn't, will have the opportunity to finish their essay before friday in order to pass since they are pretty close.
Next semester I'm teaching History, Careers/Civics and the Ontario Literacy course. Luckily my colleague who used to teach these courses sent me a TON of resources so I won't be totally lost. I also found out that there is going to be a conference that we all go to thunder bay for in the third week of March, following March break, so it will be like 2 weeks off then :)
Muffin is doing great...she has been much calmer and more well behaved thanks to my awesome neighbours Shannon and Jeff who took care of her over the last week for me. She lost two of her baby teeth today too! I gave her a bath tonight and then was cleaning the bathroom. I looked around the house and finally found her, wet and curled up in my bed:
Thanks for the wet bed pup, good thing you're so darn cute.
Lastly, here's "carrying home your groceries" Webequie style...
And no one even bats an eye.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
WHAT THE FNAFAKYHFOIN(#WHF(*@H*NF@ !!
So I usually try to make my posts fun, amusing and generally upbeat. This is not going to be one of the posts. Some things about the North SUCK. I booked flights to come home this week/weekend in advance and though it was already expensive I was excited to be coming home. Tonight I got to the airport and waited TWO hours to be told that there was a mechanical issue with the plane and it would not be flying tonight. While I was at the airport there was an old man there who fell asleep on a bench, snored like beast and kept almost falling off the bench. So that added to the fun...
This is obviously disappointing and frustrating, but it also completely screwed me out of a bunch of money. I had a hotel booked in thunder bay for tonight, so that leaves me out $110. Then I had a morning flight from Thunder bay and cancellations are an $80 fee so that brings me to almost $200. Add to that the fact that the flights are now almost $300 more than when I first booked and you have a very unhappy Karen.
So I called Wasaya airlines (which is the airline that flies out of Webequie) and the extremely HELPFUL (note the sarcasm) agent told me that flights for tomorrow were all full, she didn't know if they were adding another plane, she didn't know if they would refund or compensate me for anything and her manager wasn't there so I should call back at 7am. I tried REALLY hard not to be bitchy to this girl because it was not her fault that her company sucks donkey balls.
So...here I am, in my house, being angry and having no shining hope of going home any time soon. Also, it's effing FREEZING and I kept falling down today and hurt my leg.
Now I'm going to go eat a muffin and feel better. That's A muffin, not Muffin herself. I don't think she'd be that delicious.
Grumpily yours,
Karen
This is obviously disappointing and frustrating, but it also completely screwed me out of a bunch of money. I had a hotel booked in thunder bay for tonight, so that leaves me out $110. Then I had a morning flight from Thunder bay and cancellations are an $80 fee so that brings me to almost $200. Add to that the fact that the flights are now almost $300 more than when I first booked and you have a very unhappy Karen.
So I called Wasaya airlines (which is the airline that flies out of Webequie) and the extremely HELPFUL (note the sarcasm) agent told me that flights for tomorrow were all full, she didn't know if they were adding another plane, she didn't know if they would refund or compensate me for anything and her manager wasn't there so I should call back at 7am. I tried REALLY hard not to be bitchy to this girl because it was not her fault that her company sucks donkey balls.
So...here I am, in my house, being angry and having no shining hope of going home any time soon. Also, it's effing FREEZING and I kept falling down today and hurt my leg.
Now I'm going to go eat a muffin and feel better. That's A muffin, not Muffin herself. I don't think she'd be that delicious.
Grumpily yours,
Karen
Monday, January 17, 2011
Minus WHAT
So..according to the weather network there is a severe wind chill warning...supposed to go to -49 tonight.
Minus 49 with a severe chance of me freezing my f*cking ass off! That's more like it.
Can't wait for those Jamaican beaches...
Minus 49 with a severe chance of me freezing my f*cking ass off! That's more like it.
Can't wait for those Jamaican beaches...
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Always odd
8 reasons why where I live is weirder than where you live...
-Yesterday I snow-shoed to the store to buy dog food
-On Thursday I was teaching my class and heard something on the roof of my portable. After a moment of excitement "SANTA???!!" I looked outside to see the maintenance crew shoveling the roof of my classroom.
-I ran out of laundry detergent and went to the store to buy some. It was $30. (I did not buy it, but instead borrowed some from my neighbour)
-Going 'South' for vacation can mean going to Thunder Bay.
-People's pet dogs keep getting eaten by wolves.
-If you want a pet dog, you can just go outside and get one..and probably no one will notice or care.
-Seeing a bunch of ski-doos parked outside your classroom means good attendance.
-A big Saturday night is wii, movies AND a bingo.
***
In other not-so-fun news, two kids on a reserve close by just died in a fire. Super sad, and they were from here so there will probably be some services coming up in Web. School was cancelled on Friday because of it.
To leave you on a lighter note, I will be coming home for a visit next week from Wed to Fri for an undisclosed reason (to be disclosed later..lol). Maybe I will see some of you soon :)
-Yesterday I snow-shoed to the store to buy dog food
-On Thursday I was teaching my class and heard something on the roof of my portable. After a moment of excitement "SANTA???!!" I looked outside to see the maintenance crew shoveling the roof of my classroom.
-I ran out of laundry detergent and went to the store to buy some. It was $30. (I did not buy it, but instead borrowed some from my neighbour)
-Going 'South' for vacation can mean going to Thunder Bay.
-People's pet dogs keep getting eaten by wolves.
-If you want a pet dog, you can just go outside and get one..and probably no one will notice or care.
-Seeing a bunch of ski-doos parked outside your classroom means good attendance.
-A big Saturday night is wii, movies AND a bingo.
***
In other not-so-fun news, two kids on a reserve close by just died in a fire. Super sad, and they were from here so there will probably be some services coming up in Web. School was cancelled on Friday because of it.
To leave you on a lighter note, I will be coming home for a visit next week from Wed to Fri for an undisclosed reason (to be disclosed later..lol). Maybe I will see some of you soon :)
Thursday, January 6, 2011
It's beginning to look a lot like...Christmas?
Apparently Christmas runs extra long in Webequie. This week I worked a half day on Monday and that was it...no students Tuesday and the rest of the week has been cancelled. While I enjoy the extra time off it does make it difficult to prepare for exams which come in a few weeks. I have been doing a whole lot of nothing this week including sleeping in, watching Back to the Future and the hockey game. Tonight is radio bingo where you can win $2011 so I am definitely playing that!
In other news almost all our flights and hotels for the Jamaicia trip are booked. Only 64 days to go! Cannot wait!
This morning made me wonder why puppies have the most sensitive hearing EVER? I tried to sleep in till 10 (we usually get up at 8) and I woke up at 9am and literally just turned over in bed and she started barking. She is in the room next to me with both doors closed. How did she know?! Is she standing at the wall with a glass held to her ear? Seriously? Anyways it's not too bad because I can nap, and now I'm awake to watch Maury.
Omg..I wish I was a film student so I could intern at the Maury show! Damn. Okay, not I am blogging about nothing so I will go till I have something interesting to talk about :)
In other news almost all our flights and hotels for the Jamaicia trip are booked. Only 64 days to go! Cannot wait!
This morning made me wonder why puppies have the most sensitive hearing EVER? I tried to sleep in till 10 (we usually get up at 8) and I woke up at 9am and literally just turned over in bed and she started barking. She is in the room next to me with both doors closed. How did she know?! Is she standing at the wall with a glass held to her ear? Seriously? Anyways it's not too bad because I can nap, and now I'm awake to watch Maury.
Omg..I wish I was a film student so I could intern at the Maury show! Damn. Okay, not I am blogging about nothing so I will go till I have something interesting to talk about :)
Monday, January 3, 2011
Back in Web
So after a nice break I'm back in the North! Today I go into work to find out that we have half days (just the morning) all week until friday. Woot! It is winter carnival so there are games and activities going on, as well as a whole lot of square dancing! I'm sure I will make my way out to square dance soon.
Muffin is good, she gained 10 pounds in the last two weeks. She slept the entire day yesterday when we got home..I guess all the travels took a toll on her.
In other Web. news it is -30 and there is a shit-ton of snow up here. I miss city sidewalks! I had a short taste of them and it was very pleasant lol. I do like the slower pace up here, I find the city life a bit stressful now.
I had swiss chalet 5 times while I was home. I also saw Tangled, the new Disney movie and it was awesome! I highly recommend it. Saw a preview for the Justin Bieber movie in 3D! Just wait till February.
Muffin is good, she gained 10 pounds in the last two weeks. She slept the entire day yesterday when we got home..I guess all the travels took a toll on her.
In other Web. news it is -30 and there is a shit-ton of snow up here. I miss city sidewalks! I had a short taste of them and it was very pleasant lol. I do like the slower pace up here, I find the city life a bit stressful now.
I had swiss chalet 5 times while I was home. I also saw Tangled, the new Disney movie and it was awesome! I highly recommend it. Saw a preview for the Justin Bieber movie in 3D! Just wait till February.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Where is the love?
New year, new features.
Blogger sent me an email about some of the new features they just launched. One of the coolest is the stats tracker which tells you how many people have visited your blog, from where, when and even what type of technology (ie. PC, Mac, Blackberry).
While most of it is fairly useless to me, one thing I found cool was the location of page views. Since September I have had 3,416 from Canada (woot!), 283 from the US (hello fine friends across the border, I just came and bought some of your wares last week), 13 from Hong Kong which is very exciting and I wish I knew who it was!, 5 from the Netherlands-again, exciting!, 2 each from Australia, Colombia and the UK *waves* and one from Russia! If Sarah Palin can see you from her backyard I must just be a hop, skip and a jump away too :P
Thank you to all my readers near and far for your readership and dedication this past year. Who knew anyone would give two figs about what I'm doing up North! I hope to continue to amuse in the new year and I can assure you that no matter where I end up, the blog will come right along with me.
Some shout outs to long time readers (that I know of): Michelle my sister who regularly pimps my blog on hers, my Mom (REAL MOM) who always comments and encourages and my Dad who reads along with her, Sasha who constantly poses as my mother in the comments field, my friend Jen who reads it to procrastinate at work, Christine who tries to save up the posts for the week but ends up reading it all at once, my friend and former residence don Julie who tells me how much she loves it, a former pizza pizza-er Christina G who loves to comment on the things I'm afraid of like the scary hole, my friend Andrew who will leave me a foot-long message on facebook about my posts, my Auntie Kim and Uncle Mike who read each night, my cousin Pam who keeps me 'phresh' with the kids lol, several librarians who I am told read my blog (that's why I always spell check) and probably many many more of you I am not thinking of or who secretly read my blog. Thank you to you ALL!
Also, if you wish to show your blog love, comment on this post with your name so I know you are reading along with me.
Blogger sent me an email about some of the new features they just launched. One of the coolest is the stats tracker which tells you how many people have visited your blog, from where, when and even what type of technology (ie. PC, Mac, Blackberry).
While most of it is fairly useless to me, one thing I found cool was the location of page views. Since September I have had 3,416 from Canada (woot!), 283 from the US (hello fine friends across the border, I just came and bought some of your wares last week), 13 from Hong Kong which is very exciting and I wish I knew who it was!, 5 from the Netherlands-again, exciting!, 2 each from Australia, Colombia and the UK *waves* and one from Russia! If Sarah Palin can see you from her backyard I must just be a hop, skip and a jump away too :P
Thank you to all my readers near and far for your readership and dedication this past year. Who knew anyone would give two figs about what I'm doing up North! I hope to continue to amuse in the new year and I can assure you that no matter where I end up, the blog will come right along with me.
Some shout outs to long time readers (that I know of): Michelle my sister who regularly pimps my blog on hers, my Mom (REAL MOM) who always comments and encourages and my Dad who reads along with her, Sasha who constantly poses as my mother in the comments field, my friend Jen who reads it to procrastinate at work, Christine who tries to save up the posts for the week but ends up reading it all at once, my friend and former residence don Julie who tells me how much she loves it, a former pizza pizza-er Christina G who loves to comment on the things I'm afraid of like the scary hole, my friend Andrew who will leave me a foot-long message on facebook about my posts, my Auntie Kim and Uncle Mike who read each night, my cousin Pam who keeps me 'phresh' with the kids lol, several librarians who I am told read my blog (that's why I always spell check) and probably many many more of you I am not thinking of or who secretly read my blog. Thank you to you ALL!
Also, if you wish to show your blog love, comment on this post with your name so I know you are reading along with me.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Home updates
I realized that I forgot to put up the results of the most recent poll:
Which Webequie life activity do you wish YOU could do?
4 of you want to...Ride a Ski Doo to work (26%)-Me too!
3 of you want to...Go to a sweat lodge (20%)
3 of you want to...Take in a mangey dog (woo! Muffin!)(20%)
2 of you want to...Bear watching at the dump(13%)
1 of you want to...(Play) Radio Bingo!, attend a pow wow, and make a dreamcatcher
Shockingly, NONE of you want to Pay $78 for 5 grocery items
***
Here is a list of things I am enjoying at home:
-Swiss Chalet
-Going to stores
-The fact that my mom buys groceries and then I eat them
-Having people to help out with Muffin (she can be tiring!)
-SHOPPING!
-Seeing my bunny
-Seeing friends
-Hanging out with my family
-Drinking alcohol!
Thing I don't like about home:
-Still having this damn IV :(
Which Webequie life activity do you wish YOU could do?
4 of you want to...Ride a Ski Doo to work (26%)-Me too!
3 of you want to...Go to a sweat lodge (20%)
3 of you want to...Take in a mangey dog (woo! Muffin!)(20%)
2 of you want to...Bear watching at the dump(13%)
1 of you want to...(Play) Radio Bingo!, attend a pow wow, and make a dreamcatcher
Shockingly, NONE of you want to Pay $78 for 5 grocery items
***
Here is a list of things I am enjoying at home:
-Swiss Chalet
-Going to stores
-The fact that my mom buys groceries and then I eat them
-Having people to help out with Muffin (she can be tiring!)
-SHOPPING!
-Seeing my bunny
-Seeing friends
-Hanging out with my family
-Drinking alcohol!
Thing I don't like about home:
-Still having this damn IV :(
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
All I want for Christmas is....Meningitis?!
What's that you say? You missed me? You want to hear about what I've been doing while I've been home?
Well, you're in for a treat...
Let me take you all the way back to Thursday December 16. I was at work when a fellow teacher came by and said "Hey Karen...do you know if meningitis is contagious?" I told her that it was and asked why. She said that a grade 1 had come down with it and had to be evacuated out of the community for it. I said "Oh wow, everyone should definitely be notified of this" and that was that.
On the morning of Friday December 17, I woke up around 8 for work, on hardly any sleep because my sore throat had kept me up all night. I definitely wasn't feeling great but plugged on as was necessary. We got picked up for our flight at around 11:30 and then proceeded to wait until almost 2pm at the airport for the charter. The plane held 9 people and we had to be very creative with how to fit our luggage.
I was feeling really sick on this little plane, but I assumed it was because the ride was a bit bumpy. When we arrived in Thunder Bay I figured some pizza and timmies would do the trick with filling my tummy so I headed there. While in line, though, my stomach started to be like "Oh HHHHeyy Ya'll! I'm gonna barf! Get ready.." I will spare you those details but we all know what happened.
I went to the variety store and chugged a tiny bottle of Pepto and got on my next plane. This is when the real fun started. I was piled in layers and the girl next to me was in a tshirt but I was literally FREEZING. I was sweating and shaking, praying I would not barf all over my neighbours lap. We touched down at Toronto Island Airport and I rushed off the plane, sure by this time that I had either the flu or the big M. MENINGITIS! Dum Dum DUM!! To add to the pleasure of this trip though, when we got to the ferry that has to take you across the small bit of water to get into Toronto, the boat was broken. Of course.
I sat/layed in a hallway in the airport for the next hour and 45 minutes feeling like I was going to die. Not to mention the fact that I was already almost 3 hours late to meet my friend who was picking me up and had no way to tell her, being a person of the North with no cellphone.
So I finally get across the water and to meet my friends, warning them that I might have meningitis. They are so nice that they still let me in the car! :D
I got home and within 20 minutes my Mom was taking me to Emergency at the hospital. It's truly funny that I explained how I had possibly been exposed to meningitis, had all the symptoms and yet they STILL made me sit in the waiting room dying for two hours.
They finally called me in to the ER to an isolation room. This would be my home for the next days. The best way I can describe this room to you is that it was a very clean, big white box. There was nothing in the room that wasn't medical equipment in order to keep it sterile. While this is a good thing, it did not lend itself to much entertainment for the next several days.
I answered all the doctors questions (I probably saw like 5 doctors that night alone) and each and every person who came into my room had to wear a face mask and yellow gown so as not to be contaminated by little old me. I seriously felt like I was on House, because they didn't actually know what was wrong with me and were just kind of treating me for stuff and seeing if I responded. I was waiting for them to tell me it was autoimmune!!!
I will not carry on too much more about the room and my stay in the hospital since it's mostly be sitting and staring, but I will share with you two highlights...rather lowlights, of the experience.
1. Lumbar puncture. Worst thing ever! It is where they stick a giant needle into your spine and remove spinal fluid to test it. As if it doesn't already sound shitty enough, I have some sort of freak spine that cannot be tapped. They tried two seperate times for twenty minutes each and got nothing. Eventually they just stopped because it was pretty much just torturing me. I now have a series of purple puncture wounds on my back, I like to refer to it as my Meningitis tramp stamp.
2. Toilet chair. Yup, you heard it. I'm 25 and I used a toilet chair beside my bed for 3 days. The isolation room didn't have a bathroom in it and I couldn't leave in case I was infectious, so they wheeled in this chair with brakes and a little pan and there it was. The most awkward part? Having male nurses change your toilet chair.
I was released from the hospital on Sunday though I have a nurse coming to my house twice a day to give me IV antibiotics. I have to keep a nasty tube in my arm and I can't wait for it to be done. Then I can also drink.
Sigh. Merry Christmas.
Well, you're in for a treat...
Let me take you all the way back to Thursday December 16. I was at work when a fellow teacher came by and said "Hey Karen...do you know if meningitis is contagious?" I told her that it was and asked why. She said that a grade 1 had come down with it and had to be evacuated out of the community for it. I said "Oh wow, everyone should definitely be notified of this" and that was that.
On the morning of Friday December 17, I woke up around 8 for work, on hardly any sleep because my sore throat had kept me up all night. I definitely wasn't feeling great but plugged on as was necessary. We got picked up for our flight at around 11:30 and then proceeded to wait until almost 2pm at the airport for the charter. The plane held 9 people and we had to be very creative with how to fit our luggage.
I was feeling really sick on this little plane, but I assumed it was because the ride was a bit bumpy. When we arrived in Thunder Bay I figured some pizza and timmies would do the trick with filling my tummy so I headed there. While in line, though, my stomach started to be like "Oh HHHHeyy Ya'll! I'm gonna barf! Get ready.." I will spare you those details but we all know what happened.
I went to the variety store and chugged a tiny bottle of Pepto and got on my next plane. This is when the real fun started. I was piled in layers and the girl next to me was in a tshirt but I was literally FREEZING. I was sweating and shaking, praying I would not barf all over my neighbours lap. We touched down at Toronto Island Airport and I rushed off the plane, sure by this time that I had either the flu or the big M. MENINGITIS! Dum Dum DUM!! To add to the pleasure of this trip though, when we got to the ferry that has to take you across the small bit of water to get into Toronto, the boat was broken. Of course.
I sat/layed in a hallway in the airport for the next hour and 45 minutes feeling like I was going to die. Not to mention the fact that I was already almost 3 hours late to meet my friend who was picking me up and had no way to tell her, being a person of the North with no cellphone.
So I finally get across the water and to meet my friends, warning them that I might have meningitis. They are so nice that they still let me in the car! :D
I got home and within 20 minutes my Mom was taking me to Emergency at the hospital. It's truly funny that I explained how I had possibly been exposed to meningitis, had all the symptoms and yet they STILL made me sit in the waiting room dying for two hours.
They finally called me in to the ER to an isolation room. This would be my home for the next days. The best way I can describe this room to you is that it was a very clean, big white box. There was nothing in the room that wasn't medical equipment in order to keep it sterile. While this is a good thing, it did not lend itself to much entertainment for the next several days.
I answered all the doctors questions (I probably saw like 5 doctors that night alone) and each and every person who came into my room had to wear a face mask and yellow gown so as not to be contaminated by little old me. I seriously felt like I was on House, because they didn't actually know what was wrong with me and were just kind of treating me for stuff and seeing if I responded. I was waiting for them to tell me it was autoimmune!!!
I will not carry on too much more about the room and my stay in the hospital since it's mostly be sitting and staring, but I will share with you two highlights...rather lowlights, of the experience.
1. Lumbar puncture. Worst thing ever! It is where they stick a giant needle into your spine and remove spinal fluid to test it. As if it doesn't already sound shitty enough, I have some sort of freak spine that cannot be tapped. They tried two seperate times for twenty minutes each and got nothing. Eventually they just stopped because it was pretty much just torturing me. I now have a series of purple puncture wounds on my back, I like to refer to it as my Meningitis tramp stamp.
2. Toilet chair. Yup, you heard it. I'm 25 and I used a toilet chair beside my bed for 3 days. The isolation room didn't have a bathroom in it and I couldn't leave in case I was infectious, so they wheeled in this chair with brakes and a little pan and there it was. The most awkward part? Having male nurses change your toilet chair.
I was released from the hospital on Sunday though I have a nurse coming to my house twice a day to give me IV antibiotics. I have to keep a nasty tube in my arm and I can't wait for it to be done. Then I can also drink.
Sigh. Merry Christmas.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Square dancing machine...
Happy Sunday ya'll! Just woke up from a nice dead-to-the-world sleep after being totally exhausted last night from the Christmas party. We got there at 5 and it wasn't over till 11:30. These Webequie people know how to party!
There was a HUGE dinner with a million different things which was delicious. I can't describe it all but I definitely got to bring home some leftovers. There were door prizes, bingo games, card games, balloon popping and the game I was CHAMPION of, the hot potato ball game. I was the last WOman standing of 52. We also played musicial chairs which was hillarious to participate in and watch. It's the only time you will be able to muscle your superiors and colleagues out of a chair and have it be okay. Hardest worked for 20 dollars ever! I also got beautiful homemade mitts from my secret Santa, which is great since it's always Freezing here now.
I also square danced like a champ (well, not really like a champ..) which is actually a lot harder than you would think. It was especially challenging because I didn't know what the hell I was doing. In the first square dance my dance partner eventually threw up his arms and walked away, giving up on me because i was so bad lol. One of my bosses played the violin for the square dancing. They also had some regular club songs which I felt much more comfortable dancing to. All in all it was a very fun night and I am still recovering today.
My Mom suggested that I start a list of things I have done up here that I never thought I'd do..so look for that on the side of my blog :)
It is officially 5 sleeps till home! FIVE! I cannot wait, I'm so excited!
There was a HUGE dinner with a million different things which was delicious. I can't describe it all but I definitely got to bring home some leftovers. There were door prizes, bingo games, card games, balloon popping and the game I was CHAMPION of, the hot potato ball game. I was the last WOman standing of 52. We also played musicial chairs which was hillarious to participate in and watch. It's the only time you will be able to muscle your superiors and colleagues out of a chair and have it be okay. Hardest worked for 20 dollars ever! I also got beautiful homemade mitts from my secret Santa, which is great since it's always Freezing here now.
I also square danced like a champ (well, not really like a champ..) which is actually a lot harder than you would think. It was especially challenging because I didn't know what the hell I was doing. In the first square dance my dance partner eventually threw up his arms and walked away, giving up on me because i was so bad lol. One of my bosses played the violin for the square dancing. They also had some regular club songs which I felt much more comfortable dancing to. All in all it was a very fun night and I am still recovering today.
My Mom suggested that I start a list of things I have done up here that I never thought I'd do..so look for that on the side of my blog :)
It is officially 5 sleeps till home! FIVE! I cannot wait, I'm so excited!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Snowshoe-rrific
Yesterday I had my first foray into snowshoeing. A fellow teacher who happens to be the physical education teacher and often organizes field trips proposed the idea. The school has a set of 9 snowshoes which is pretty cool so it's an easy trip. We only ended up having 3 students go (it was pretty darn cold and windy) but it was a lot of fun. I honestly kind of wish I had snowshoes to wear to work every day. It makes walking over knee or waist deep snow MUCH easier. I fell a couple of times because it is easy to step on the back of your own snowshoe if you are not experienced (which I'm not) but no major injuries.
Today is the staff dinner up at the school. I am making cupcakes and it is a potluck for about 50 of us so I'm sure there will be a ton of food and selection. Unfortunately I first have to do every dirty dish in my house in order to bake :(
Muffin is doing good. A friend was over just a while ago and commented how she is looking much better than when I first got her, so I am happy to be being a good Puppy Mom. She is still keeping me very busy..she LOVES to eat my socks, any towel or dish cloth and post-it note pads. She also eats the tile off my floor which is slightly harder to control..sigh.
Only 6 more sleeps till home! :)
Today is the staff dinner up at the school. I am making cupcakes and it is a potluck for about 50 of us so I'm sure there will be a ton of food and selection. Unfortunately I first have to do every dirty dish in my house in order to bake :(
Muffin is doing good. A friend was over just a while ago and commented how she is looking much better than when I first got her, so I am happy to be being a good Puppy Mom. She is still keeping me very busy..she LOVES to eat my socks, any towel or dish cloth and post-it note pads. She also eats the tile off my floor which is slightly harder to control..sigh.
Only 6 more sleeps till home! :)
Thursday, December 9, 2010
A year in review. Took me about a year to write too..
2010 has nearly come to a close..and I googled around to try to find one of those 'year in review' notes but they were all lame and made by 14 year olds "How many boys have YOU kissed this year?!" So, I created my own! If you don't give two figs about my year then move along...
1. The biggest challenge I have had this year...was deciding whether or not to accept my job in Webequie. I am SO glad I did, but it was a scary decision to make, moving so far from home, all alone, having little idea of what I was getting into and teaching for the first time.
2. The scariest moment I have had this year...was walking into my new home in Webequie. Completely alone with no luggage (no sheets, no clothing, no shampoo!), no food except a granola bar and packets of sugar (and no way to get food for two days), barely any money and NO freaking idea of what I was going to face at work Monday morning.
3. The thing I am most grateful for this year...is my family as a whole, but in particular my Mom. It is rare to find a person who you can literally tell anything to, will never judge you, will always support you whether it's to listen to your stories about money troubles, annoying customers at Sears, a broken heart, fears, changes and joy. Thank you. I only hope I can be as good of a Mom to my kids some day, as you have been to me.
4. The most welcome change to my life this year...has been actually making a real pay cheque for once in my life. It's funny when I think of the position I was in at this time last year. A student living in an apartment I couldn't afford, struggling to find money to even buy a train ticket home for Christmas. While I'm not a millionaire right now, it's a HELL of a lot better. Money does not buy happiness, it's true, but it alleviates stress pretty nicely!
5. The best simple joys from this year...sleeping in, my bunny and my puppy
6. The things I've missed the most are: family, friends and Chester, stores/shopping malls, affordable groceries, the pool and hot tub from my old apartment, movie theatres, the ability to have a strong drink should I so choose, babybell cheese, living with others.
7. The things I have NOT missed at all are: commuting to work/school on public transportation, annoying crowds of people, dealing with rush hour traffic (here, rush hour is when people walk a LITTLE faster to get to the one store before it closes..), working for Pizza Pizza, being a student (assigning the homework instead of doing it is WAY better), having to do dishes before hooking up the washing machine every time, waiting for buses, being dirt poor, having a cell phone (oddly, it's freeing to not be attached to it up here), stupid men that make my life difficult (we're talking specific people here, I'm not hating on men in general)
8. The most important things I've learned this year are...that things can change VERY quickly, so don't dwell because you never know where you will be in a day, a week, a month or a year. Also, if all else fails, laugh it off and it will work out somehow. Don't stress.
9. The best memories from this year...are too many to list them all, but I have a few specific ones with certain people:
Andrew- completely sober 2 hour dance party in your apartment topped off with a disco ball light, moose tracks ice cream, keeping me up till 3am 'serious talking' because you were bored and drunk, the time your pants ripped at the museum.
Brendan- Two words: Hooker runs. Can't wait till next summer! Pitas at midnight. Show tunes in the car. Swimming!
Michelle M- Swiss Chalet lunches, calling you from Ottawa to hear the latest gossip, that time we found the karaoke channel at your house and sang songs without a microphone for like an hour, summer BBQs, ROCK BAND, that night at Slaintes you probably don't remember but I do, and when I came to your house so you could nap...:P
Devra- The cottage where I overcame my dark water swimming fear, singing Disney songs in the car, our 2 hour phone dates, Kindergarten cop and garlic dipping sauce
Amy Epstien- PB ice cream, take it to the grave..., EPIPEN!
Jen- The night we went to the EMPTY bar, sang Aladdin in Pizza Pizza and got followed across toronto by an Egyptian boy in a fedora hat, our boy talks in the pool, Pride!
Jess-when you worked your MAGIC and got us into that bar on St. Patty's day! Our drive to Hamilton/Boy chat
Jacq- keeping me sane with our complain-fests after class and parties in your sweet Ottawa apartment!
Kara- Our Lady Peace!
Sasha- Black. Dog. Relationship counselling chats. I still don't understand how it worked out that way, either.
Jane- My KILLER bunny, the time I found out you lived in my building after we had both lived there at the same time for two months.
Nikki-Your war museum tour guiding when those dudes were on strike, phone dates,your mad photoshopping skillz!
Kathryn-White water rafting weekend, that night we closed out Rok Bar- being 2 of a group of 4 dancing all night
April-parties at your house, boy talks in your room, watching you trying to find your tights that you'd lose pretty much every time we were going out
Christine- Your wedding! Dancing to Right Said Fred with you, msn chats
Michelle L- Gchatting while watching live award shows, seeing the penguins in Montreal, crying phone calls, your ever-reliable sister anger at men who wronged me, walking to that second cup on your birthday night and eating sugar cookies while watching the crazy montrealers on the street (was that this year? I feel like it was..), your hillarious stories about the ridiculousness that is Montreal, Hot tub!
Mom- Late night balcony talks in the summer, phone calls of me bitching about various things with your support, your general outrage at all wrongdoings inflicted upon me, watching you have a little too much wine at Grandma and Grandpas, your trip to visit me in Ottawa, you fitting my snuggie into my suitcase and insisting on the candles, our super lame new years eve toast while I worked till 3am for pizza pizza last year.
Dad- Big Dad hugs when other men in my life let me down, letting me 'talk' to Chester on the phone while I'm away, watching you crawl under the pick up truck like 15 times on my moving trip coming home from Ottawa to save my stuff, hearing from Mom about your awesome leprechaun Halloween costume
Uncle Wayne- watching you and my Dad drink beers and dance to 90's music at my apartment in Ottawa, saving the toilet paper on the highway, our on-going scrabble tournament
Auntie Kimmy- Wine!, life chats around the kitchen table
Pam- Margaritas in the basement, talking BTTF tattoos (someday...)
Paula- Puke bag on the plane, our bitchfests on facebook chat, talking boys, the christmas countdown
Trish-"It's the climbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb!" waiting for Radio Bingo at your house, watching you and Paula beg for quarters at the airport
Ryan- My time in your classroom RYAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!, bitchfests on msn, LEX!!, your "warnings" about certain things up here..
Shannon- Grey's dates!, doggie play dates, random visits
Eric- The canoe trip, your wealth of knowledge and honesty about teaching up here, "It's my day...It's Tuesday!"
Jennifer- Disney weekends!, the ridiculousness of trying to plan our trip, Cool Runnings, TRYING to play Ninja turtles, one last Mcdonald's in thunder bay.
Romeo- Your insight, your jokes, keeping me from going insane, letting me bitch about certain things and people..
***
Phew. That was a lot of memories! I should end here, if I haven't already lost you yet.
I'll leave you with...8 MORE SLEEPS!
1. The biggest challenge I have had this year...was deciding whether or not to accept my job in Webequie. I am SO glad I did, but it was a scary decision to make, moving so far from home, all alone, having little idea of what I was getting into and teaching for the first time.
2. The scariest moment I have had this year...was walking into my new home in Webequie. Completely alone with no luggage (no sheets, no clothing, no shampoo!), no food except a granola bar and packets of sugar (and no way to get food for two days), barely any money and NO freaking idea of what I was going to face at work Monday morning.
3. The thing I am most grateful for this year...is my family as a whole, but in particular my Mom. It is rare to find a person who you can literally tell anything to, will never judge you, will always support you whether it's to listen to your stories about money troubles, annoying customers at Sears, a broken heart, fears, changes and joy. Thank you. I only hope I can be as good of a Mom to my kids some day, as you have been to me.
4. The most welcome change to my life this year...has been actually making a real pay cheque for once in my life. It's funny when I think of the position I was in at this time last year. A student living in an apartment I couldn't afford, struggling to find money to even buy a train ticket home for Christmas. While I'm not a millionaire right now, it's a HELL of a lot better. Money does not buy happiness, it's true, but it alleviates stress pretty nicely!
5. The best simple joys from this year...sleeping in, my bunny and my puppy
6. The things I've missed the most are: family, friends and Chester, stores/shopping malls, affordable groceries, the pool and hot tub from my old apartment, movie theatres, the ability to have a strong drink should I so choose, babybell cheese, living with others.
7. The things I have NOT missed at all are: commuting to work/school on public transportation, annoying crowds of people, dealing with rush hour traffic (here, rush hour is when people walk a LITTLE faster to get to the one store before it closes..), working for Pizza Pizza, being a student (assigning the homework instead of doing it is WAY better), having to do dishes before hooking up the washing machine every time, waiting for buses, being dirt poor, having a cell phone (oddly, it's freeing to not be attached to it up here), stupid men that make my life difficult (we're talking specific people here, I'm not hating on men in general)
8. The most important things I've learned this year are...that things can change VERY quickly, so don't dwell because you never know where you will be in a day, a week, a month or a year. Also, if all else fails, laugh it off and it will work out somehow. Don't stress.
9. The best memories from this year...are too many to list them all, but I have a few specific ones with certain people:
Andrew- completely sober 2 hour dance party in your apartment topped off with a disco ball light, moose tracks ice cream, keeping me up till 3am 'serious talking' because you were bored and drunk, the time your pants ripped at the museum.
Brendan- Two words: Hooker runs. Can't wait till next summer! Pitas at midnight. Show tunes in the car. Swimming!
Michelle M- Swiss Chalet lunches, calling you from Ottawa to hear the latest gossip, that time we found the karaoke channel at your house and sang songs without a microphone for like an hour, summer BBQs, ROCK BAND, that night at Slaintes you probably don't remember but I do, and when I came to your house so you could nap...:P
Devra- The cottage where I overcame my dark water swimming fear, singing Disney songs in the car, our 2 hour phone dates, Kindergarten cop and garlic dipping sauce
Amy Epstien- PB ice cream, take it to the grave..., EPIPEN!
Jen- The night we went to the EMPTY bar, sang Aladdin in Pizza Pizza and got followed across toronto by an Egyptian boy in a fedora hat, our boy talks in the pool, Pride!
Jess-when you worked your MAGIC and got us into that bar on St. Patty's day! Our drive to Hamilton/Boy chat
Jacq- keeping me sane with our complain-fests after class and parties in your sweet Ottawa apartment!
Kara- Our Lady Peace!
Sasha- Black. Dog. Relationship counselling chats. I still don't understand how it worked out that way, either.
Jane- My KILLER bunny, the time I found out you lived in my building after we had both lived there at the same time for two months.
Nikki-Your war museum tour guiding when those dudes were on strike, phone dates,your mad photoshopping skillz!
Kathryn-White water rafting weekend, that night we closed out Rok Bar- being 2 of a group of 4 dancing all night
April-parties at your house, boy talks in your room, watching you trying to find your tights that you'd lose pretty much every time we were going out
Christine- Your wedding! Dancing to Right Said Fred with you, msn chats
Michelle L- Gchatting while watching live award shows, seeing the penguins in Montreal, crying phone calls, your ever-reliable sister anger at men who wronged me, walking to that second cup on your birthday night and eating sugar cookies while watching the crazy montrealers on the street (was that this year? I feel like it was..), your hillarious stories about the ridiculousness that is Montreal, Hot tub!
Mom- Late night balcony talks in the summer, phone calls of me bitching about various things with your support, your general outrage at all wrongdoings inflicted upon me, watching you have a little too much wine at Grandma and Grandpas, your trip to visit me in Ottawa, you fitting my snuggie into my suitcase and insisting on the candles, our super lame new years eve toast while I worked till 3am for pizza pizza last year.
Dad- Big Dad hugs when other men in my life let me down, letting me 'talk' to Chester on the phone while I'm away, watching you crawl under the pick up truck like 15 times on my moving trip coming home from Ottawa to save my stuff, hearing from Mom about your awesome leprechaun Halloween costume
Uncle Wayne- watching you and my Dad drink beers and dance to 90's music at my apartment in Ottawa, saving the toilet paper on the highway, our on-going scrabble tournament
Auntie Kimmy- Wine!, life chats around the kitchen table
Pam- Margaritas in the basement, talking BTTF tattoos (someday...)
Paula- Puke bag on the plane, our bitchfests on facebook chat, talking boys, the christmas countdown
Trish-"It's the climbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb!" waiting for Radio Bingo at your house, watching you and Paula beg for quarters at the airport
Ryan- My time in your classroom RYAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!, bitchfests on msn, LEX!!, your "warnings" about certain things up here..
Shannon- Grey's dates!, doggie play dates, random visits
Eric- The canoe trip, your wealth of knowledge and honesty about teaching up here, "It's my day...It's Tuesday!"
Jennifer- Disney weekends!, the ridiculousness of trying to plan our trip, Cool Runnings, TRYING to play Ninja turtles, one last Mcdonald's in thunder bay.
Romeo- Your insight, your jokes, keeping me from going insane, letting me bitch about certain things and people..
***
Phew. That was a lot of memories! I should end here, if I haven't already lost you yet.
I'll leave you with...8 MORE SLEEPS!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Princess Muffin
Everything's coming up Muffin!
Today the flea shampoo and spray came in I ordered, so I just spent like 3 hours bathing her, combing out her fur, spraying her down and cleaning my house from top to bottom. The things I do for this dog! I really hope this can cure the lice because she will be so much happier and I won't have to worry about it all the time. I got the carrier to bring her in on the plane and it was basically a really really expensive duffel bag...but it's "airline approved", meaning it's the correct size so I won't have problems getting her on.
Today I brought her on a walk and I was tying her up outside the store, trying to ward off all the crazy, big dogs that were jumping all over her. An older man came out, looked at her, laughed and said, "OH, THEY SURE ARE GOING TO EAT HER! Bring her inside!" I thought I wouldn't be allowed to let her into the building since it's a grocery store, but he seemed to think it was okay, so I did it anyways. When I came out a lady from the store was there with him, I thought she'd be mad I brought Muffin in but instead she was petting her and had brought her out dog food from the store. My little Muffin's puppy dog eyes did the trick again! Then she wouldn't walk home because it was cold and dark and she's a wimp, so I had to carry her...AND all my groceries home. Good times. Next time I will take a walk just for walk's sake, with no particular destination so I can turn back any time.
On a non-dog note, I have almost completed making my first pair of mitts! They look pretty professional and actually were not that challenging to make. I am very excited!
Christmas has hit the school, hard. The walls are all decorated, christmas trees are up in the halls and the little ones have been doing christmas crafts all week. We also have a crapload of 'activities' coming up, the most hilarious of which is the christmas 'parade' which is going to consist of the teachers wearing santa hats, riding in the back of pick up trucks and throwing candy canes at the kids lining the sides of the road. FESTIVE right?!
ONLY 9 more sleeps till home! So excited! The party starts as soon as we get to Thunder Bay, where all the teachers plan to start drinking immediately upon stepping off the plane in the airport bar during our lay overs. Then I get free wine on my Porter flight so I can't complain. Needless to say, if anyone wants to come pick me up from downtown toronto on the 17th around 7pm...I will be grateful...and drunk...
My schedule is also filling up fast..I've got a Niagara falls trip planned, a trip to the states to shop, several swiss chalet trips, a Harry Potter movie date with my friend Jen (who so graciously has held off on seeing it for me! woo!), New Years plans and LOTS of shopping to do!
:D
Today the flea shampoo and spray came in I ordered, so I just spent like 3 hours bathing her, combing out her fur, spraying her down and cleaning my house from top to bottom. The things I do for this dog! I really hope this can cure the lice because she will be so much happier and I won't have to worry about it all the time. I got the carrier to bring her in on the plane and it was basically a really really expensive duffel bag...but it's "airline approved", meaning it's the correct size so I won't have problems getting her on.
Today I brought her on a walk and I was tying her up outside the store, trying to ward off all the crazy, big dogs that were jumping all over her. An older man came out, looked at her, laughed and said, "OH, THEY SURE ARE GOING TO EAT HER! Bring her inside!" I thought I wouldn't be allowed to let her into the building since it's a grocery store, but he seemed to think it was okay, so I did it anyways. When I came out a lady from the store was there with him, I thought she'd be mad I brought Muffin in but instead she was petting her and had brought her out dog food from the store. My little Muffin's puppy dog eyes did the trick again! Then she wouldn't walk home because it was cold and dark and she's a wimp, so I had to carry her...AND all my groceries home. Good times. Next time I will take a walk just for walk's sake, with no particular destination so I can turn back any time.
On a non-dog note, I have almost completed making my first pair of mitts! They look pretty professional and actually were not that challenging to make. I am very excited!
Christmas has hit the school, hard. The walls are all decorated, christmas trees are up in the halls and the little ones have been doing christmas crafts all week. We also have a crapload of 'activities' coming up, the most hilarious of which is the christmas 'parade' which is going to consist of the teachers wearing santa hats, riding in the back of pick up trucks and throwing candy canes at the kids lining the sides of the road. FESTIVE right?!
ONLY 9 more sleeps till home! So excited! The party starts as soon as we get to Thunder Bay, where all the teachers plan to start drinking immediately upon stepping off the plane in the airport bar during our lay overs. Then I get free wine on my Porter flight so I can't complain. Needless to say, if anyone wants to come pick me up from downtown toronto on the 17th around 7pm...I will be grateful...and drunk...
My schedule is also filling up fast..I've got a Niagara falls trip planned, a trip to the states to shop, several swiss chalet trips, a Harry Potter movie date with my friend Jen (who so graciously has held off on seeing it for me! woo!), New Years plans and LOTS of shopping to do!
:D
Sunday, December 5, 2010
We wish you a Merry Christmas...of sitting on your ass watching Christmas shows
Results are in on your all-time fave christmas movies/shows poll:
Tied for first are:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas cartoon)(5 of you, 41%)
and
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (5 of you, 41%)
*I fully agree with these at the top. Ain't nothin better than a little bit o' max and watching Mr. Griswold trying to get those lights on, year after year.
A close second place (also tied) goes to:
A Christmas Story (4 of you 33%)
and
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer (4 of you 33%)
4 (33%)
*YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT! or, my personal favourite "I can't put my arms down!!!" and the flamboyant dentist.
Tied for third, all with 3 votes are:
Frosty the Snowman (Yeah! Karen in shorts!), Claymation (Yeah! California raisins!), A Christmas Carol (ohhh, Christmas life lessons!), Elf (Always fun!),
*Out of all these I'd have to say my fave is tied between Claymation (except that damn church scene skit Michelle ALWAYS has to watch) and Frosty. He's just plain fun. HAPPY BIRFDAY!
Tied for fourth with 2 votes are:
Home Alone and The Garfield Christmas Special.
*I am a little sad to not see more people loving the Garfield. It is my absolute all time favourite holiday special and you should definitely check it out!
Tied for fifth with one vote each are:
Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life (Mom...), The Santa Clause (really? I hated this movie..lol but I also really hate Tim Allen), The Grinch movie (COULD have been so good. Johnny Depp should have played the Grinch, Jim Carrey overdid it), Scrooged (classic Bill Murray cynicism, glad to see a vote here)
Honourable mention (from me, even though no one voted for them...) goes to the Chipmunk's holiday special "Meee I want a Huuuuulaaa Hoooooooop!" and to Jingle All the Way. I know it's an Arnold movie where he dresses up like an old tymey Iron Man, but it will always have a special place in my heart.
New poll is up!
Tied for first are:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas cartoon)(5 of you, 41%)
and
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (5 of you, 41%)
*I fully agree with these at the top. Ain't nothin better than a little bit o' max and watching Mr. Griswold trying to get those lights on, year after year.
A close second place (also tied) goes to:
A Christmas Story (4 of you 33%)
and
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer (4 of you 33%)
4 (33%)
*YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT! or, my personal favourite "I can't put my arms down!!!" and the flamboyant dentist.
Tied for third, all with 3 votes are:
Frosty the Snowman (Yeah! Karen in shorts!), Claymation (Yeah! California raisins!), A Christmas Carol (ohhh, Christmas life lessons!), Elf (Always fun!),
*Out of all these I'd have to say my fave is tied between Claymation (except that damn church scene skit Michelle ALWAYS has to watch) and Frosty. He's just plain fun. HAPPY BIRFDAY!
Tied for fourth with 2 votes are:
Home Alone and The Garfield Christmas Special.
*I am a little sad to not see more people loving the Garfield. It is my absolute all time favourite holiday special and you should definitely check it out!
Tied for fifth with one vote each are:
Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life (Mom...), The Santa Clause (really? I hated this movie..lol but I also really hate Tim Allen), The Grinch movie (COULD have been so good. Johnny Depp should have played the Grinch, Jim Carrey overdid it), Scrooged (classic Bill Murray cynicism, glad to see a vote here)
Honourable mention (from me, even though no one voted for them...) goes to the Chipmunk's holiday special "Meee I want a Huuuuulaaa Hoooooooop!" and to Jingle All the Way. I know it's an Arnold movie where he dresses up like an old tymey Iron Man, but it will always have a special place in my heart.
New poll is up!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Sweat Lodge
Today I had my first experience with a Sweat lodge. I went with one other teacher Julie who had been before. She was able to brief me a bit by telling me to bring 3 towels, one for my legs, one for my body and one to cover my head. She also told me to wear a skirt because it is believed that women have a great deal of power that flows from their 'lady parts.' All I could think at this point was, start your engines: SUPER VAG! Anyways, I got there and was greeted by the person holding the sweat. They were preparing the rocks and water on the fire.
The way it works is, a small, dome shaped structure is built in a garage using wood and is covered with various layers of different cloth. There is a fire pit in the middle where the rocks sit and once the door (which is a heavy blanket) is closed, it is pitch black. The lodge looks like this:
I watched as they chopped wood for the fire and prepared sweet grass to add to the water buckets and fire pit. In front of the garage there was a tiny fire where they were burning what I believe was sweetgrass and anyone who would bring anything into the lodge first waved it through the smoke to bless it. I brought fruit as I was instructed to do (blueberries) as it acts as an offering to the spirits and a refreshing snack after the sweat. You are also supposed to bring an offering of tobacco to throw on the fire for the spirits. Julie was nice enough to give me a few cigarettes to break up and throw on.
Once we were ready and all the men where in the lodge, we were asked to come in and take a seat. They then closed the door and told me: "Don't freak, Just pray." I liked that line, but wasn't quite sure what it meant. Then i found out...
They started chanting and praying aloud in OjiCree as I expected, and Julie told me to lean forward with my head as close to the ground as possible and put a towel over my head. I did this and stayed that way as they put more and more water on the rocks and the air got thicker. It was hard to not focus on how hot it was or how hard it was to breath but I tried to just listen to the singing and chanting and remind myself it only lasts fifteen minutes.
I was fine doing this until I felt a hand on my head guiding it upward. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I went with it (remember, PITCH black...could not even see my own hand in front of my face). The person took the towel off my head and as I was struggling to breathe, started touching my cheeks and forehead and speaking to me in what sounded like tongues or grunts, right in front of my face. Then the man blew hot air in my face several times and tapped me on the head with a large feather. He went around to the rest of the people as well but I think I got some special treatment, it being my first time. Finally, I heard those sweet golden words "Open the door" and light and cold air flooded in.
We sat around for a few minutes letting the cool air come in and recovering. They explained to us all that we should try not to look on the experience in a negative light and to not be afraid of what is going on. Then they made fun of me for jumping a bit every time they put the water on the fire and all I could think in my head was...how did you know?! Do you have owl-like night vision!?
Soon enough it was time to do another sweat so they closed the doors again and used a hand drum, singing songs in Ojicree. They had put new rocks from the fire into the fire pit and they were literally glowing and crumbling because they were so hot. The only way I can describe how it felt this time was to get you to think of the hottest, muggiest, mid-August, humid, 40 degrees Celsius day and then pretend it's 10 times hotter. You actually don't want to breathe because it's like being in an oven. You are drenched and dripping with sweat (hence the name of activity.) Just when I thought I'd have to get up and leave (while trying not to fall into a pile of burning rocks) they opened the doors. While I might be making it sound unpleasant or not worth it, it really was an amazing experience. I left feeling 'cleansed' in an odd sense, even though I was really sweaty and had to guzzle gatorade for a few hours after.
Before we left, the men who ran the sweat asked us if we'd like to learn more about it and we agreed. So tonight we went to my portable and two of the men who ran the sweat told us traditional creation stories. I learned that the songs they were singing in the sweat were actually telling a story of the first two people the creator sent down to earth (Adam and Eve type deal) and how they met a bear who helped them find their way. It all came together when I realized that the man who I thought was speaking in tongues was actually, in effect, channeling the spirit of the bear and was touching my face to 'discover' me as the bear did with the first people in the story. The bear was also said to have brought them berries to survive, which made it HIGHLY convenient that I went to the store before the sweat and randomly happened to buy blueberries as my offering without knowing about this story. Perhaps the bear spirit told me to! ;) We ate some of the berries at the end of the sweat too.
At the meeting tonight we sat on the floor of my portable, in a drum circle, burning sage in a casserole dish i found in my drawer and listening to an Ojicree song-story. This is an amazing experience I could probably never get anywhere else, but it did occur to me how much my Saturday nights have changed lol.
Here is a good article that helps describe sweats more if you are interested: http://www.aht.ca/sweat-lodge
In other news, my dog is still adorable and I love her so, but she is infested with some sort of bugs :( Luckily a vet friend is going to help me identify what the problem is so I can get her fixed up ASAP.
Next week there are a few festivities going on at the school, one of which is the staff Christmas dinner. I am looking forward to lots of different types of food including TURKEY! Woot!
The way it works is, a small, dome shaped structure is built in a garage using wood and is covered with various layers of different cloth. There is a fire pit in the middle where the rocks sit and once the door (which is a heavy blanket) is closed, it is pitch black. The lodge looks like this:
I watched as they chopped wood for the fire and prepared sweet grass to add to the water buckets and fire pit. In front of the garage there was a tiny fire where they were burning what I believe was sweetgrass and anyone who would bring anything into the lodge first waved it through the smoke to bless it. I brought fruit as I was instructed to do (blueberries) as it acts as an offering to the spirits and a refreshing snack after the sweat. You are also supposed to bring an offering of tobacco to throw on the fire for the spirits. Julie was nice enough to give me a few cigarettes to break up and throw on.
Once we were ready and all the men where in the lodge, we were asked to come in and take a seat. They then closed the door and told me: "Don't freak, Just pray." I liked that line, but wasn't quite sure what it meant. Then i found out...
They started chanting and praying aloud in OjiCree as I expected, and Julie told me to lean forward with my head as close to the ground as possible and put a towel over my head. I did this and stayed that way as they put more and more water on the rocks and the air got thicker. It was hard to not focus on how hot it was or how hard it was to breath but I tried to just listen to the singing and chanting and remind myself it only lasts fifteen minutes.
I was fine doing this until I felt a hand on my head guiding it upward. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I went with it (remember, PITCH black...could not even see my own hand in front of my face). The person took the towel off my head and as I was struggling to breathe, started touching my cheeks and forehead and speaking to me in what sounded like tongues or grunts, right in front of my face. Then the man blew hot air in my face several times and tapped me on the head with a large feather. He went around to the rest of the people as well but I think I got some special treatment, it being my first time. Finally, I heard those sweet golden words "Open the door" and light and cold air flooded in.
We sat around for a few minutes letting the cool air come in and recovering. They explained to us all that we should try not to look on the experience in a negative light and to not be afraid of what is going on. Then they made fun of me for jumping a bit every time they put the water on the fire and all I could think in my head was...how did you know?! Do you have owl-like night vision!?
Soon enough it was time to do another sweat so they closed the doors again and used a hand drum, singing songs in Ojicree. They had put new rocks from the fire into the fire pit and they were literally glowing and crumbling because they were so hot. The only way I can describe how it felt this time was to get you to think of the hottest, muggiest, mid-August, humid, 40 degrees Celsius day and then pretend it's 10 times hotter. You actually don't want to breathe because it's like being in an oven. You are drenched and dripping with sweat (hence the name of activity.) Just when I thought I'd have to get up and leave (while trying not to fall into a pile of burning rocks) they opened the doors. While I might be making it sound unpleasant or not worth it, it really was an amazing experience. I left feeling 'cleansed' in an odd sense, even though I was really sweaty and had to guzzle gatorade for a few hours after.
Before we left, the men who ran the sweat asked us if we'd like to learn more about it and we agreed. So tonight we went to my portable and two of the men who ran the sweat told us traditional creation stories. I learned that the songs they were singing in the sweat were actually telling a story of the first two people the creator sent down to earth (Adam and Eve type deal) and how they met a bear who helped them find their way. It all came together when I realized that the man who I thought was speaking in tongues was actually, in effect, channeling the spirit of the bear and was touching my face to 'discover' me as the bear did with the first people in the story. The bear was also said to have brought them berries to survive, which made it HIGHLY convenient that I went to the store before the sweat and randomly happened to buy blueberries as my offering without knowing about this story. Perhaps the bear spirit told me to! ;) We ate some of the berries at the end of the sweat too.
At the meeting tonight we sat on the floor of my portable, in a drum circle, burning sage in a casserole dish i found in my drawer and listening to an Ojicree song-story. This is an amazing experience I could probably never get anywhere else, but it did occur to me how much my Saturday nights have changed lol.
Here is a good article that helps describe sweats more if you are interested: http://www.aht.ca/sweat-lodge
In other news, my dog is still adorable and I love her so, but she is infested with some sort of bugs :( Luckily a vet friend is going to help me identify what the problem is so I can get her fixed up ASAP.
Next week there are a few festivities going on at the school, one of which is the staff Christmas dinner. I am looking forward to lots of different types of food including TURKEY! Woot!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
The Husky German Muffin
Well it has been one busy/ strange week. I should start by telling you the tale of my new puppy, or rather the tail. Ha.
So on Monday night after our choir practice (aka hours of practicing the same two songs for the christmas assembly...) my colleague Romeo who is very much a big dog lover comes over to me and says "I might have a puppy for you...and she's little!" I was clearly already pretty excited but I said okay, I'll have to see her. Her name was Hannah at the time which I don't think is a very fun name at all for a dog, and when he brought her over I exclaimed "Ohhh! Look at the little muffin!" All the teachers around mentioned that could be her new name. I was nervous at that moment, considering all the many responsibilities of owning a dog, both financially and time-wise, so I said I'd take her for a few nights to see how we did. It is believed she might be a Husky/German Shepherd mix, though I haven't seen any German Shepherd's on the island so maybe she's crossed with a wolf :P The first night was crazy, she was not used to me or my house and kept biting, pooping and peeing on everything in sight. I gave her a bath which she seemed to appreciate even though she didn't much enjoy being all wet. I set up the laundry room for her to sleep in because of the tile floor in case of accidents. She whined nearly the whole night, but I was instructed by all the dog owners here that she would and to just let her get used to it on her own. It's only 3 days later but I am absolutely in love with her and she is here to stay. It's amazing having a little friend to come home to and wake up to every day. While I have been bitten more times(puppy love bites) and cleaned up more poo in the last 3 days then ever before in my life, the good far out weighs the bad. She even had a play date with my friend Shannon's dog Bitsy and they were fast friends:
Today was also the third consequetive snow day which is just plain awesome. The first one was Tuesday and just the afternoon was cancelled. Yesterday the whole day was cancelled but we still had to go to work (for some reason..) and today was a pure day off! I went back to bed upon hearing this cheery news from my neighbour and then spent the afternoon relaxing and taking my puppy on a play date at Shannon's place. I think tomorrow we will probably be back at school but then it's the weekend already, woohoo! Needless to say all these days off are doing nothing good for me getting through all the curriculum expectations, but when the snow is up to your waist in some places, what can ya do?
Coinciding nicely with my time off was the arrival of my Wii. I have a few things to comment based on this:
1. If you don't have a Wii, get one. It's awesome.
2. Wii fit is actually quite fun and has some challenging exercises.
3. The New Super Mario is all pretty much all of the classic mario games COMBINED and is legit the best Mario ever! And if there is anything I know, it's Mario games.
4. The W in Wii actually stands for (time) Waster. I keep going to bed at 2am!
Now, if that list didn't satisfy you, you just know I had another one coming! Here is a list of observations about owning a dog:
1. Everyone will talk to you about dog care and/or your dog, and you will actually care, instead of being annoyed by someone talking about their dog too much (and don't you dare diss me for talking about my dog in my blog. It's my blog damnit!)
2. You can't leave old dishes around, or crusts of peanut butter toast because your dog WILL eat it and then shit on your carpet. So really, having a dog has made me a better housekeeper.
3.Puppies fart a lot.
4. Puppy farts smell. A lot.
5. Waking up and stepping in pee almost immediately is one of the most unpleasant things ever.
6. Having a puppy is like having a baby. With more barking.
Today we were also practicing for the Gospel Jamboree. I know, you SO wish you could come right? Anyone who knows me probably knows I'm not very religious, so there is something a little uncomfortable and artificial feeling singing a lot about Jesus. PLUS, they rejected any songs about Santa! Like...really? It's time to remember the true meaning of Christmas...The birth of Santa! For anyone missing that reference, it's from the Simpsons, I'm not trying to be confrontational lol.
It's getting closer to my home coming and I couldn't be happier! For now Little Miss Muffet and I need some sleep so I'll catch you again soon bloggies!
So on Monday night after our choir practice (aka hours of practicing the same two songs for the christmas assembly...) my colleague Romeo who is very much a big dog lover comes over to me and says "I might have a puppy for you...and she's little!" I was clearly already pretty excited but I said okay, I'll have to see her. Her name was Hannah at the time which I don't think is a very fun name at all for a dog, and when he brought her over I exclaimed "Ohhh! Look at the little muffin!" All the teachers around mentioned that could be her new name. I was nervous at that moment, considering all the many responsibilities of owning a dog, both financially and time-wise, so I said I'd take her for a few nights to see how we did. It is believed she might be a Husky/German Shepherd mix, though I haven't seen any German Shepherd's on the island so maybe she's crossed with a wolf :P The first night was crazy, she was not used to me or my house and kept biting, pooping and peeing on everything in sight. I gave her a bath which she seemed to appreciate even though she didn't much enjoy being all wet. I set up the laundry room for her to sleep in because of the tile floor in case of accidents. She whined nearly the whole night, but I was instructed by all the dog owners here that she would and to just let her get used to it on her own. It's only 3 days later but I am absolutely in love with her and she is here to stay. It's amazing having a little friend to come home to and wake up to every day. While I have been bitten more times(puppy love bites) and cleaned up more poo in the last 3 days then ever before in my life, the good far out weighs the bad. She even had a play date with my friend Shannon's dog Bitsy and they were fast friends:
Today was also the third consequetive snow day which is just plain awesome. The first one was Tuesday and just the afternoon was cancelled. Yesterday the whole day was cancelled but we still had to go to work (for some reason..) and today was a pure day off! I went back to bed upon hearing this cheery news from my neighbour and then spent the afternoon relaxing and taking my puppy on a play date at Shannon's place. I think tomorrow we will probably be back at school but then it's the weekend already, woohoo! Needless to say all these days off are doing nothing good for me getting through all the curriculum expectations, but when the snow is up to your waist in some places, what can ya do?
Coinciding nicely with my time off was the arrival of my Wii. I have a few things to comment based on this:
1. If you don't have a Wii, get one. It's awesome.
2. Wii fit is actually quite fun and has some challenging exercises.
3. The New Super Mario is all pretty much all of the classic mario games COMBINED and is legit the best Mario ever! And if there is anything I know, it's Mario games.
4. The W in Wii actually stands for (time) Waster. I keep going to bed at 2am!
Now, if that list didn't satisfy you, you just know I had another one coming! Here is a list of observations about owning a dog:
1. Everyone will talk to you about dog care and/or your dog, and you will actually care, instead of being annoyed by someone talking about their dog too much (and don't you dare diss me for talking about my dog in my blog. It's my blog damnit!)
2. You can't leave old dishes around, or crusts of peanut butter toast because your dog WILL eat it and then shit on your carpet. So really, having a dog has made me a better housekeeper.
3.Puppies fart a lot.
4. Puppy farts smell. A lot.
5. Waking up and stepping in pee almost immediately is one of the most unpleasant things ever.
6. Having a puppy is like having a baby. With more barking.
Today we were also practicing for the Gospel Jamboree. I know, you SO wish you could come right? Anyone who knows me probably knows I'm not very religious, so there is something a little uncomfortable and artificial feeling singing a lot about Jesus. PLUS, they rejected any songs about Santa! Like...really? It's time to remember the true meaning of Christmas...The birth of Santa! For anyone missing that reference, it's from the Simpsons, I'm not trying to be confrontational lol.
It's getting closer to my home coming and I couldn't be happier! For now Little Miss Muffet and I need some sleep so I'll catch you again soon bloggies!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Sweating in the snow?
It has been snowing here for about 4 days. I actually prefer the days it snows a lot because it means it is not SO cold. But, snow does present it's certain challenges.
I have compiled some facts for you about the trials and tribulations of winter in Webequie:
1. My mid-shin high boots are not tall enough to keep the snow out. I basically need hip-high winter boots. I don't know if these exist.
2. I don't have snow pants. This has become an increasing issue.
3. Since there are no sidewalks or paved roads there is very little plowed area, just some smooshed down snow to walk on. This makes walking to work hard!
4. I am now extremely jealous of those who have ski-doos. It is pretty much a must here.
5. I walk across the field to work, zig zagging to follow the ski-doo tracks so i don't get stuck in the snow. This makes me look insane.
6. When ever you come home, a dog or dogs will be waiting on your porch, ready to run in your house, steal your food and shake snow everywhere.
Now, enough complaining Karen! Jeez! Here are some good things about winter in the Web.:
1. Watching the kids loving life playing hockey on the lake behind my house.
2. Big fat fluffy snowflakes sprinkled on everything to make the whole island shimmer.
3. It means CHRISTMAS IS SOON!!!
4. It allows for 'sliding' aka sledding which the kids seem to love more than anything ever.
5. More snow on the ground means less mud and less mud means less muddy shoes in my classroom :)
6. There is a possible snow-shoeing trip coming up!
***
In other news, I finished my beaded dream catcher! I would post a pic but I might give it to a lucky person for christmas, so I'll keep it under wraps for now. I have moved on to doing beading on material, and I am going to make my own mitts. I'm really excited about that!
I heard that next week one of the community members is holding several sweat lodges or 'sweats' so I am really hoping to be able to go to one. I was also asked to join the church service tomorrow at 10am, I guess it's the beginning of advent. The minister is often in the staff room on my prep and he told me that he will do some of his sermon in English tomorrow, so it's a good day to go check it out. I'm also holding a pot luck tomorrow, and Bingo tonight. This is life in the North :P
It's time to go do my weekend clean up! New poll up!!
I have compiled some facts for you about the trials and tribulations of winter in Webequie:
1. My mid-shin high boots are not tall enough to keep the snow out. I basically need hip-high winter boots. I don't know if these exist.
2. I don't have snow pants. This has become an increasing issue.
3. Since there are no sidewalks or paved roads there is very little plowed area, just some smooshed down snow to walk on. This makes walking to work hard!
4. I am now extremely jealous of those who have ski-doos. It is pretty much a must here.
5. I walk across the field to work, zig zagging to follow the ski-doo tracks so i don't get stuck in the snow. This makes me look insane.
6. When ever you come home, a dog or dogs will be waiting on your porch, ready to run in your house, steal your food and shake snow everywhere.
Now, enough complaining Karen! Jeez! Here are some good things about winter in the Web.:
1. Watching the kids loving life playing hockey on the lake behind my house.
2. Big fat fluffy snowflakes sprinkled on everything to make the whole island shimmer.
3. It means CHRISTMAS IS SOON!!!
4. It allows for 'sliding' aka sledding which the kids seem to love more than anything ever.
5. More snow on the ground means less mud and less mud means less muddy shoes in my classroom :)
6. There is a possible snow-shoeing trip coming up!
***
In other news, I finished my beaded dream catcher! I would post a pic but I might give it to a lucky person for christmas, so I'll keep it under wraps for now. I have moved on to doing beading on material, and I am going to make my own mitts. I'm really excited about that!
I heard that next week one of the community members is holding several sweat lodges or 'sweats' so I am really hoping to be able to go to one. I was also asked to join the church service tomorrow at 10am, I guess it's the beginning of advent. The minister is often in the staff room on my prep and he told me that he will do some of his sermon in English tomorrow, so it's a good day to go check it out. I'm also holding a pot luck tomorrow, and Bingo tonight. This is life in the North :P
It's time to go do my weekend clean up! New poll up!!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Chocolate and Bunny, but not chocolate bunny
Hello bloggies!
Today was a good day! All this week my Grade 9 and 10 classes have joined in with the Art and Native Language classes to do traditional crafts. Some of the ladies from the community have come to show us how to make beaded dream catchers and they are so much fun! It took me a while to get the hang of it but I'm almost done my first one. As I was sitting beside one of the ladies she said "You are the first white lady to make a beaded dream catcher in Webequie ever!" So I HAVE to make it good..I'm setting a precedent here! The ladies are so knowledgeable and patient, it's been awesome to work with them.
I also had my teaching evaluation today, were my Principal and two members of the Board came to my classroom to observe. I spent a LOOTTT of time making sure everything in the classroom was there as needed and I think it went well overall. But, as soon as they left the classroom, one of my students said "You were so nervous. I've never ever heard you talk so fast as today!" Even though I didn't feel outwardly nervous I guess it showed a bit, but my lesson was good and the kids responded well so it should be fine.
Yesterday I got my clothes I ordered from Old Navy quite some time ago. New track pants, long sleeved shirts and sweaters. It's always super fun to get things in the mail! I ordered my Wii and after the worst customer service experience EVER with Futureshop.ca that I unfortunately got my sister involved with by using her credit card to order (Sorry Michelle) it has finally shipped! Can't wait to play me some Wii!
My poll finished up a few days ago. I think you all were right...
For Santa to transport Chester the bunny to the North
4 (33%)
A lifetime supply of chocolate
4 (33%)
A Wii for those cold winter nights
3 (25%)
Snuggies in all colours and patterns
1 (8%)
I took care of the Wii myself, so now I just need my bunny and some chocolate. I'll put a new poll up as soon as I can think of something!
Today was a good day! All this week my Grade 9 and 10 classes have joined in with the Art and Native Language classes to do traditional crafts. Some of the ladies from the community have come to show us how to make beaded dream catchers and they are so much fun! It took me a while to get the hang of it but I'm almost done my first one. As I was sitting beside one of the ladies she said "You are the first white lady to make a beaded dream catcher in Webequie ever!" So I HAVE to make it good..I'm setting a precedent here! The ladies are so knowledgeable and patient, it's been awesome to work with them.
I also had my teaching evaluation today, were my Principal and two members of the Board came to my classroom to observe. I spent a LOOTTT of time making sure everything in the classroom was there as needed and I think it went well overall. But, as soon as they left the classroom, one of my students said "You were so nervous. I've never ever heard you talk so fast as today!" Even though I didn't feel outwardly nervous I guess it showed a bit, but my lesson was good and the kids responded well so it should be fine.
Yesterday I got my clothes I ordered from Old Navy quite some time ago. New track pants, long sleeved shirts and sweaters. It's always super fun to get things in the mail! I ordered my Wii and after the worst customer service experience EVER with Futureshop.ca that I unfortunately got my sister involved with by using her credit card to order (Sorry Michelle) it has finally shipped! Can't wait to play me some Wii!
My poll finished up a few days ago. I think you all were right...
For Santa to transport Chester the bunny to the North
4 (33%)
A lifetime supply of chocolate
4 (33%)
A Wii for those cold winter nights
3 (25%)
Snuggies in all colours and patterns
1 (8%)
I took care of the Wii myself, so now I just need my bunny and some chocolate. I'll put a new poll up as soon as I can think of something!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
From blizzards to beaches
I recently got called out for not posting often enough by my dear friend Jen...so this post is dedicated to her. Now you have something to do at work :o)
Another week...another weekend...more snow. This week was sobriety week so there were community events all week dedicated to educating about drug abuse and sobriety.
A Medicine Man who practices traditional forms of medicine came into the community and we had him guest speak in one of the high school classes. He was amazing and told us some really cool information. For instance, did you know mint was good for depression? Also lily pads are good for extracting boils, if you wrap it around the affected area. He gave each of us who were there different home medications to try. I got marshmellow root which, when made into tea and drank, helps with cold symptoms and chest congestion. I've yet to try it, thankfully. Don't need any colds for Christmas!
We also had a sobriety walk in a -26 blizzard. I have to give this community credit for being dedicated to a cause...even the grade 1s marched along without complaining too much. We got back to the Band Hall and had FEAST hosted by the community. Veggies, fruit, cheese and cracker platters, salads, spaghetti, burgers, hot dogs, cake, ice cream and banana bread! Needless to say I did not go home hungry. We then listened to the beautiful drumming and songs of a local drum group and watched some community members do a round dance. Round dance is where the people hold hands and move slowly in a circle around the drum group, making the circle smaller as they go. I have fallen in love with the drumming being up here, I know I'll miss it once I'm gone.
This weekend was also National Children's Day and I helped out with games for the little ones in the gym. I spent the afternoon spinning a skipping rope and the kids absolutely loved it. It was awesome to see the parents out and interacting with their kiddies.
If you keep up with my facebook, you'll know I have been sounding off about my trip to Jamaica that's booked for March break. I am going with a teacher from up here and the aforementioned friend Jen from earlier. We are staying in Montego Bay at the Royal Decameron Montego Beach All-Inclusive. I want to share two of the most awesome things I have learned about the hotel so far:
Awesome thing #1 is a swim up bar. This was an absolute must for me as anyone who gets out of the water to have their drink topped up in Jamaica is just a sucka.
Second, are none other than WATER TRAMPOLINES! Genius? I think so!
While I am looking forward to coming home for Christmas break in 26 DAYS! I just can't seem to stop dreaming about laying on the beach...
I think i'd better get to bed...Monday morning comes early :( Does anyone else totally screw themselves over by sleeping in every Sunday and then not being able to go to bed? Good times. Luckily the kids are usually more tired than me so they don't notice :o)
Another week...another weekend...more snow. This week was sobriety week so there were community events all week dedicated to educating about drug abuse and sobriety.
A Medicine Man who practices traditional forms of medicine came into the community and we had him guest speak in one of the high school classes. He was amazing and told us some really cool information. For instance, did you know mint was good for depression? Also lily pads are good for extracting boils, if you wrap it around the affected area. He gave each of us who were there different home medications to try. I got marshmellow root which, when made into tea and drank, helps with cold symptoms and chest congestion. I've yet to try it, thankfully. Don't need any colds for Christmas!
We also had a sobriety walk in a -26 blizzard. I have to give this community credit for being dedicated to a cause...even the grade 1s marched along without complaining too much. We got back to the Band Hall and had FEAST hosted by the community. Veggies, fruit, cheese and cracker platters, salads, spaghetti, burgers, hot dogs, cake, ice cream and banana bread! Needless to say I did not go home hungry. We then listened to the beautiful drumming and songs of a local drum group and watched some community members do a round dance. Round dance is where the people hold hands and move slowly in a circle around the drum group, making the circle smaller as they go. I have fallen in love with the drumming being up here, I know I'll miss it once I'm gone.
This weekend was also National Children's Day and I helped out with games for the little ones in the gym. I spent the afternoon spinning a skipping rope and the kids absolutely loved it. It was awesome to see the parents out and interacting with their kiddies.
If you keep up with my facebook, you'll know I have been sounding off about my trip to Jamaica that's booked for March break. I am going with a teacher from up here and the aforementioned friend Jen from earlier. We are staying in Montego Bay at the Royal Decameron Montego Beach All-Inclusive. I want to share two of the most awesome things I have learned about the hotel so far:
Awesome thing #1 is a swim up bar. This was an absolute must for me as anyone who gets out of the water to have their drink topped up in Jamaica is just a sucka.
Second, are none other than WATER TRAMPOLINES! Genius? I think so!
While I am looking forward to coming home for Christmas break in 26 DAYS! I just can't seem to stop dreaming about laying on the beach...
I think i'd better get to bed...Monday morning comes early :( Does anyone else totally screw themselves over by sleeping in every Sunday and then not being able to go to bed? Good times. Luckily the kids are usually more tired than me so they don't notice :o)
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
Day 2 in grade 3. Crazy crazy crazy! We had kids jumping out the window, a lot of swears, can't count the number of times I was told I was stupid and ugly and most unfortunately witnessed a kid peeing on the playground. Did not need to see that lol. I'm happy to be back in the high school tomorrow where all my student's anger is at least passive aggressive :P
On the plus side, the kids are sometimes very sweet, drawing pictures for me and innocently asking questions as kids do. I also ordered a Wii online, could no longer resist and REALLY wanted the Wii fit game. I got a good deal from future shop http://www.futureshop.ca/en-ca/techspree.aspx and you should buy one too so I can get said deal. It's a group buying thing so they have to sell a certain number for you to get it at that price. Anyways enough shameless advertising.
I can't wait for Glee tonight!
31 days till home :D
On the plus side, the kids are sometimes very sweet, drawing pictures for me and innocently asking questions as kids do. I also ordered a Wii online, could no longer resist and REALLY wanted the Wii fit game. I got a good deal from future shop http://www.futureshop.ca/en-ca/techspree.aspx and you should buy one too so I can get said deal. It's a group buying thing so they have to sell a certain number for you to get it at that price. Anyways enough shameless advertising.
I can't wait for Glee tonight!
31 days till home :D
Monday, November 15, 2010
Ahhhhhhh!
So I may have just had the longest day of my teaching career and I wasn't even teaching! The community is having a meeting all this week about some issues here and they want all the high school students to go. As such, they have cancelled high school classes and the high school teachers are acting as EA's in the elementary school. I was in my friend Ryan's Grade 3 class. Anyone who wants to say that elementary school teachers "have it easy" because they don't have as much planning or marking is kidding themselves! It is like being Mom or Dad to 20 kids at a time, for 7 hours a day, all at once. It is: constant running around, don't do that, pick this up, stop letting dogs into the school, stop trying to jump out the window...and so on. I've got to hand it it elementary teachers everywhere and especially here, my hat is off to you!
I have been busy researching vacations as my friends and I decided that going to Disney World on March break is probably a really terrible idea. I am leaning toward Jamaica but there are also options of Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican and Mexico on the table. I just keep picturing myself laying on a beach, swimming up to bars to get frosty drinks and swimming above coral reef (Sigh). Cannot wait! Christmas is edging ever closer...you can check my christmas vacation countdown on my blog here :)
Right now I'm watching Tyra and there is a 22 year old woman who is selling her virginity in a legal brothel and the highest big right now is 3.5 million dollars. What the eff. Seriously. How creepy is she? And how creepy are men?! Ugh. Just thought i'd share that with you in case you missed it.
Now i'm going to go sit around and recuperate from the damage 9 year olds did to me.
I have been busy researching vacations as my friends and I decided that going to Disney World on March break is probably a really terrible idea. I am leaning toward Jamaica but there are also options of Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican and Mexico on the table. I just keep picturing myself laying on a beach, swimming up to bars to get frosty drinks and swimming above coral reef (Sigh). Cannot wait! Christmas is edging ever closer...you can check my christmas vacation countdown on my blog here :)
Right now I'm watching Tyra and there is a 22 year old woman who is selling her virginity in a legal brothel and the highest big right now is 3.5 million dollars. What the eff. Seriously. How creepy is she? And how creepy are men?! Ugh. Just thought i'd share that with you in case you missed it.
Now i'm going to go sit around and recuperate from the damage 9 year olds did to me.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Decorating the tree!
So I decided today that it is close enough to Christmas now that I can put up my "tree" (Note: I also did air quotes when I typed that). Now you should know me well enough that I NEVER make improper use of quotation marks because I find it incredibly irritating. The reason for my air quotes is because my "tree" is 2 feet tall and made of cardboard. It was easily transported in my suitcase and would appear GIANT to you if only you weren't so damn tall so please don't be hatin'. The little people who live under my dryer and make beds out of lint are flabbergasted at it's towering impressiveness.
So let me take you through the process.
Putting up the trunk, or Happy Festivus!!
Bottom layer. Usually the layer that would poke you most in the face if you had to put in the branches like on our old school tree from when we were kids.
Then layer two. The most delicious layer of all. Wait...no. I should stop watching Ultimate Cake Off while I blog...
The top layer, flushing out the whole tree..
THEN! The star!! And since I now live alone there is no fight about who put it on last year :P
And the final product! Impressive right?
Not sold on the final product? Then how about the final product if you were tinnnnyyy :)
So let me take you through the process.
Putting up the trunk, or Happy Festivus!!
Bottom layer. Usually the layer that would poke you most in the face if you had to put in the branches like on our old school tree from when we were kids.
Then layer two. The most delicious layer of all. Wait...no. I should stop watching Ultimate Cake Off while I blog...
The top layer, flushing out the whole tree..
THEN! The star!! And since I now live alone there is no fight about who put it on last year :P
And the final product! Impressive right?
Not sold on the final product? Then how about the final product if you were tinnnnyyy :)
Monday, November 8, 2010
Juice and Cookies
Report cards are done!!! This may come as a shock to you since I don't know if I mentioned on here that I was doing them, but I was. Maybe I was too busy to mention it, so get off my back..jeez! *Calming down the teacher voice*
I had to work all weekend long in order to get them done but they are finally there and hopefully everything I have said and done is satisfactory, I guess we'll find out. I also spent the weekend calling parents about their children's marks and attendance and doing laundry. Party in Webequie! Raise Da Roof!
I went to the store to buy milk after school and ended up with chocolate chips for my muffins, ice cream bars, cookies (which I ate almost all of tonight..oops) and like 10 cans of frozen juice. The juice goes fast up here and they had all the flavours so I had to stock up! Plus I need something to drink now that I am off pop and I didn't want to end up with the "orange juice" I got last week which I'm pretty sure was actually McDonald's flavoured orange drink from 1987 (or at least that's what it tasted like. Damn you McCain!!-the juice company, not John McCain. Well now this bracketed comment is far too long and getting out of hand...)
This week is Remembrance day on Thursday as I'm sure you all know (wear your poppies bloggies!) and I was trying to come up with some creative ways to inform and practice it in the classroom since we are cut off from the main school in the portable and do not have the announcements out there. My always helpful favourite sister/Librarian (note: she is both my favourite sister and my favourite Librarian) helped me find some links and resources. My favourite that I am using in the class on Thursday is the old Dieppe Bell commercial (extra points if it doesn't make you cry):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd1FNPx_YN4
I am also going to tell the story of Sadako and her 1000 paper cranes and then have them each make their own crane. I made a practice one tonight and I must say it's actually pretty time consuming..but cool in the end
I also got my Disney Vacation planning dvd today in the mail, so I will have to watch that this coming weekend and plan my dream. In christmas vacation news, a friend up here pointed out to me that there are only 39 days till home and only 29 days of teaching! Woot! As much as I love it up here it will be great to be home for a few weeks. My sister and I are planning to go see The Grinch Musical which seems like it can't do anything except be awesome! I also have plans to see Harry Potter and eat Swiss Chalet with several different people. Festive Special Biatches!
Now, as I have eaten far too many cookies and am done my planning it is off to bed for me :)
I had to work all weekend long in order to get them done but they are finally there and hopefully everything I have said and done is satisfactory, I guess we'll find out. I also spent the weekend calling parents about their children's marks and attendance and doing laundry. Party in Webequie! Raise Da Roof!
I went to the store to buy milk after school and ended up with chocolate chips for my muffins, ice cream bars, cookies (which I ate almost all of tonight..oops) and like 10 cans of frozen juice. The juice goes fast up here and they had all the flavours so I had to stock up! Plus I need something to drink now that I am off pop and I didn't want to end up with the "orange juice" I got last week which I'm pretty sure was actually McDonald's flavoured orange drink from 1987 (or at least that's what it tasted like. Damn you McCain!!-the juice company, not John McCain. Well now this bracketed comment is far too long and getting out of hand...)
This week is Remembrance day on Thursday as I'm sure you all know (wear your poppies bloggies!) and I was trying to come up with some creative ways to inform and practice it in the classroom since we are cut off from the main school in the portable and do not have the announcements out there. My always helpful favourite sister/Librarian (note: she is both my favourite sister and my favourite Librarian) helped me find some links and resources. My favourite that I am using in the class on Thursday is the old Dieppe Bell commercial (extra points if it doesn't make you cry):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd1FNPx_YN4
I am also going to tell the story of Sadako and her 1000 paper cranes and then have them each make their own crane. I made a practice one tonight and I must say it's actually pretty time consuming..but cool in the end
I also got my Disney Vacation planning dvd today in the mail, so I will have to watch that this coming weekend and plan my dream. In christmas vacation news, a friend up here pointed out to me that there are only 39 days till home and only 29 days of teaching! Woot! As much as I love it up here it will be great to be home for a few weeks. My sister and I are planning to go see The Grinch Musical which seems like it can't do anything except be awesome! I also have plans to see Harry Potter and eat Swiss Chalet with several different people. Festive Special Biatches!
Now, as I have eaten far too many cookies and am done my planning it is off to bed for me :)
Saturday, November 6, 2010
The one with Michael Jackson, long naps and complaints
Ummm does anyone else wanna see Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour Cirque de Soleil show?! I just saw an ad for it on tv and it sounds pretty friggin awesome to me!! Unfortunately it's in Oct 2011 and I don't know where I'll be at that point..but if you're around you should go..there's even a show in the Hammer!
In other news I just had another of my epic 12 hour naps on a friday night. I always feel like it's such a waste of a friday night when I do it but realistically, what the hell else am I really gonna do? Now at least I'm up early today, can do dishes, clean a bit then go up to the school for hours upon hours of report cards. I am lucky to have an awesome colleague who said he'd be willing to help show me how it's done. After that we're having a teachers versus Band Hall staff so that should be something to do for a rockin' Saturday night.
I finally have the house to myself this weekend after a seemingly long week of guests staying with me. AND I think they fixed my bathtub so it drains properly :D Next on the list: getting a dish rack, then i'll have a perfect household.
I can't seem to stop ordering things online. I think it's a combination of having a real pay cheque along with not being able to shop for anything but overly priced food up here. Right now I'm waiting for more yoga pants/comfy clothes from old navy and some shoes from land's end.
I ordered food in from a grocery company that delivers up here...so on Thursday I got my a whole giant box full o' chicken, 5 boxes of cereal, bananas, cookies...the works! One thing I will savour for the times I'm home is the ease of access to food. Never again will I complain about going across the street to get milk or pick up a pizza (or at least I won't complain as MUCH).
It has been 8..that's right EIGHT days since I have had any diet pepsi and three days of having no caffeine at all (I was drinking tea to supplement). I am obviously overly proud of this accomplishment, but it took a lot of dedication to not break down and just drink it!
Lastly: I think it's time to start a count down...41 days till I come home :D
And..new poll up!
In other news I just had another of my epic 12 hour naps on a friday night. I always feel like it's such a waste of a friday night when I do it but realistically, what the hell else am I really gonna do? Now at least I'm up early today, can do dishes, clean a bit then go up to the school for hours upon hours of report cards. I am lucky to have an awesome colleague who said he'd be willing to help show me how it's done. After that we're having a teachers versus Band Hall staff so that should be something to do for a rockin' Saturday night.
I finally have the house to myself this weekend after a seemingly long week of guests staying with me. AND I think they fixed my bathtub so it drains properly :D Next on the list: getting a dish rack, then i'll have a perfect household.
I can't seem to stop ordering things online. I think it's a combination of having a real pay cheque along with not being able to shop for anything but overly priced food up here. Right now I'm waiting for more yoga pants/comfy clothes from old navy and some shoes from land's end.
I ordered food in from a grocery company that delivers up here...so on Thursday I got my a whole giant box full o' chicken, 5 boxes of cereal, bananas, cookies...the works! One thing I will savour for the times I'm home is the ease of access to food. Never again will I complain about going across the street to get milk or pick up a pizza (or at least I won't complain as MUCH).
It has been 8..that's right EIGHT days since I have had any diet pepsi and three days of having no caffeine at all (I was drinking tea to supplement). I am obviously overly proud of this accomplishment, but it took a lot of dedication to not break down and just drink it!
Lastly: I think it's time to start a count down...41 days till I come home :D
And..new poll up!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Trick or Diabeetus?
So it's time for a serious update folks!! The weekend was very busy, we had trick or treating on Saturday afternoon I had a whole bunch of kids and managed to use up nearly all of my candy which is probably good so I don't develop the Diabeetus (as Wilford Brimley would say). It was also awesome to see the parents pulling their kids on SkiDoos to go trick or treating! Not a sight I'm commonly used to on Halloween. We had the halloween dance on Saturday evening and many of you have probably already seen my amazing magenta crayon costume. It was amazing except for the fact that everyone kept constantly asking what I was. I mean really. They weren't all the brightest crayon in the box. HA! See what I did there?
The dance was lots of fun...trying to guess who was under all the scary costumes and seeing the people let loose under the cover of various masks. I definitely danced my butt off in a high school gym which is something I haven't done since...well...high school! I ended up being tired out by about 12:30 and everyone was still going strong. It was really funny to see how parents brought pillows for their little ones to curl up on, on the floor when they got tired so they could all stay at the dance.
On Monday at work I was asked to have some guests from outside the community stay at my house for a few days, so I have had three people from 'the south' aka...probably where you are reader.. staying with me. They have all been really nice and bought real butter and are leaving it for me, so therefore I like them a lot. I only buy margarine up here since butter is soo expensive!
I picked a student of the month in each of my classes for the month of October and I asked them what they'd like for a prize. First they said $100 and I laughed at them...then they all decided on a can of Red Bull. These kids live off of it. And now I can look down upon that since I have not had ANY pop in FOUR days. Yeah. Believe it! So I went to the store and bought 3 cans of Red Bull for over $10 F*&#! They'd better appreciate...
I'd better be off to bed now, I have another big day of trying to teach the kids about parts of books they haven't read...
The dance was lots of fun...trying to guess who was under all the scary costumes and seeing the people let loose under the cover of various masks. I definitely danced my butt off in a high school gym which is something I haven't done since...well...high school! I ended up being tired out by about 12:30 and everyone was still going strong. It was really funny to see how parents brought pillows for their little ones to curl up on, on the floor when they got tired so they could all stay at the dance.
On Monday at work I was asked to have some guests from outside the community stay at my house for a few days, so I have had three people from 'the south' aka...probably where you are reader.. staying with me. They have all been really nice and bought real butter and are leaving it for me, so therefore I like them a lot. I only buy margarine up here since butter is soo expensive!
I picked a student of the month in each of my classes for the month of October and I asked them what they'd like for a prize. First they said $100 and I laughed at them...then they all decided on a can of Red Bull. These kids live off of it. And now I can look down upon that since I have not had ANY pop in FOUR days. Yeah. Believe it! So I went to the store and bought 3 cans of Red Bull for over $10 F*&#! They'd better appreciate...
I'd better be off to bed now, I have another big day of trying to teach the kids about parts of books they haven't read...
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