Date: January 9, 2006
Weather: -26°C and clear
Sunrise: 13:17
Sunset: 14:47

Not too much happening today. Apparently we had sun for almost an hour and a half today…funny thing, I didn’t see it.

The other thing that I just thought about is that we have yet to see a good show of the Aurora. It was clear tonight but we never thought about planning a drive out of town so that we could be away from the lights of town. The weather office is not forecasting clear skies again until Thursday. We will have to make a point of checking out the skies then.

Lorie started her job today. She’s pretty happy to be back at work and we will be both happier when the pay cheques start arriving! It’s been a tough go with no salaries for a month and then only one for another month – especially with the cost of living up here. Hopefully she will be consistently employed from here on out.

The ice road to Tuktoyaktuk opened today and I am planning a trip to there before the end of the week. That will be neat – 400 kilometers round trip on a solid glare of ice. I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes. Hopefully the ice road to Aklavik will open too so that I can visit that town. A month in and I have only been to four of the thirteen communities that I am responsible for. Sounds like I have a bit of traveling to do! A trip to Yellowknife will soon happen too.

We spent most of the evening attempting to straighten up another room in the house. Everywhere we look there are boxes piled on boxes. The room seems in relatively good shape before you start (the stuff being in boxes and all), and then everything gets unpacked and it gets worse than ever. Oh well, it will take time I suppose.

I read in the news that they had a wildcat strike back at my former place of work in Newfoundland. I just wanted to take this opportunity to say to my former coworkers that I sympathize with them having to work for the striking staff. I bet it brings back memories of the “mother of all strikes” a few years ago. Luckily for me the union and the government here just ratified a deal that lasts until 2009, so I won’t be seeing front line duty again for some time. And for that I’m thankful. If I never see a housekeeping cart again, it will be too soon! Right, Cathy?

Monday is past and we are looking forward to the weekend again. We have another party to go to. Folks up here sure like their get-togethers. Then again so do we!

That’s it for now.

Cheers!