Helenenorth

 Hello all Sorry if I did not get to visit you on this past trip, but it was a little hectic.  My main reason for making the cross country jaunt was to complete my income tax and I am glad I did.  I actually get a refund this year!! I have met new friends in Montreal, and had a wonderful time visiting some Inuit art shops, the Mc Cord Museum, Old Montreal and a jazz club.  Of course we ate far too much, but it was worth it.  The diet has started again!! School has settled in.  Of course on the way back from Montreal, we had a night in Kuujjiak, gratis the school board.  So, we have only had 3 school days this week. We have been busy preparing the school for the visit from St. Daniel's in Toronto.  Some of our students visited them in November.  They will be here for Culture Week.  Culture week is a time to celebrate the Inuit Culture.  Everyday will feature something fun, and unique.  Ice fishing, seal hunting, igloo building, ...

 Good morning all Another true north adventure this week.  We had a 48 hour blizzard with winds of over 137 k an hour, and 13 cm of snow!!  It blew so hard, I thought my house would blow away.  It shuddered and shook.  As you know, our homes are manufactured, and they are set up on stilts because of the perma frost.  So, the wind got underneath and really gave us a good shake up.  And was it noisy--I couldn't quite figure out the note--but it was like a deep growl that never stopped. I was worried that the power poles would blow over, or that the many big dishes would smash-but nothing like that happened.  Only the power lines blew off.  On the hill here, we did not lose power, so we were ok. The other side of the village was not so lucky.  They lost power early on. Today is bright and sunny, small wind, but about minus 29 with a wind chill of minus 42.  Our road is totally closed with drifts as high as a house.  Parts of the v...

 Hello friends Living in the north requires strength, understanding, acceptance and many other unwritten personal qualities.  Qualities that can't me measured or quantified.  But they are necessary for survival. Last week, a very young, talented and beautiful young lady, who just happened to share my birthdate, went home, and took her life.  She had just returned from another community, triumphant, from a girls volleyball tournament, and was busy planning for the immediate cross country ski trip, and the spring graduation.  A total shock to everyone, including her dearest and closest friends who lived in the same 4 plex. The school has been operating, half days, with the support of grief councillors from around the north, and the local Truth and Reconciliation folks.  Yesterday, John Hill, from Kelowna, the best know grief councillor in Canada,  arrived, and will be here indefinitely. Last Saturday morning, in an un related incident, a local Inuit man,...

 Good morning!! Happy Valentine's Day A bright and sunshiny morning, not too cold, about minus 15 and no wind.  What a break from the sub zero temperatures, big winds of 60 k plus, and blowing snow that we had Wednesday and Thursday. So sad about that--we were supposed to have the leaders of the cross country ski program with us for training on Wednesday, but because of the weather, they did not come.  We have our fingers crossed that they will at least come this afternoon for 1 day of training!!  No room at our local co op hotel, so I have opened the Helene Hotel, with help from my colleagues.  I have a single mattress, sheets and extra towel for one guest.  Hope my water lasts!!!  It was kind of sputtering this morning. With the school closed for 2 days, and being very heavily encouraged to stay home, I  got a lot of practicing in, and what fun.  I have this great Hal Leonard play along book called, Swing with a Band, and it has some great ...

 Hi there!! A very good Saturday morning to you!  It is minus 20, wind 27, and snowing.  Very unlike the beautiful weather on the island and elsewhere in BC! Ah well, I am sitting here, enjoying my third cup of coffee .  Last night I did my weekly chores of shopping, cleaning and laundry.  I also spent some time making home made Valentine cards for my students.  Today, I am having the local pastor for lunch.  We are having a navy bean soup, cucumber, tomato and onion salad, and frozen raspberries and ice cream for the dessert.  The smallest container of Haagen-Dazs was $14!! Saturday and Sunday are my favorite days because I get to have at least 3 practice sessions.  One session is technique, one session is jazz/blues/ play along/ and one session is for more classical music.  A friend and I are putting together a set to perform, so I am playing through possible selections--all fun.  I especially like a Klezmer selection.  It ha...