A cold dark world

I am back in my northern nest.. freezing my butt off. I forget each time how cold it is. The cold hits you POW! each time you step out the door. The wind is up so there are some cool spots ,both in the classroom and the house. And it does not help that it is dark most of the day. I don't bother to open my blinds in the morning as it is dark outside and will be dark when I return at 4. Hopefully on Sat and Sun I will see a bit of daylight.

The community is still celebrating New Year's with games each day and night. This morning I only had 5 of 17 students in class and they were moving pretty slow. Yesterday I had two boys asleep by 10 am. I have gym mats in the classroom for them to sleep on. The games will go on until this weekend. By Tuesday or Wednesday things will be back to normal. Is there a normal up here?

I had a lovely Christmas in the south. I had so many opportunities to catch up with family and friends. I had not driven for several months so the driving was a novelty until the trip back from the Valley, after dark, in freezing rain. It is very different to hit the mall at Christmas time. Going to a store is such a treat but at Christmas I find I do get overwhelmed. The first night Sara and I went out I was like a small child in a candy store: the colours, the people, the noise, all that stuff. Where to look next, what to buy next, what credit card to use next?

The first store Sara and I went to was Shopper's Drug mart. I had an entire page in my book of things I needed there. I also had to buy for Christmas. The retail space in that one store is bigger than all the retail space we have in Salluit. I have to say I was disciplined . Then we went to the Dollar store next door. That was a bit of a challenge to stay disciplined as I want so much for my classroom. Then we went to Walmart. At that point I was putting anything I could carry in the cart. I saw it. I bought it. Did I need it? Did not matter... I saw it, I bought it.

Sara had the house looking so beautiful .. even my bedroom was outfitted in red and white bed linens. The windows were full of lights and all the special decorations that we have collected over the years were out. She worked so hard to have the house perfect for Aran and I.
Aran arrived late on the 23rd., having driven from Toronto.

Leslie and Jon's boys have really grown. Elias was hopping up and own when I drove in the yard. Jacques is too young to remember me but we certainly had a good time together. I spent New Year's Eve with the boys so that the young 'uns could go party. The neighbours set off fireworks at midnight. I was up rocking Jacques back to sleep, the best way to see the new year in.

Now I am back in Salluit. It is cold and dark and yet this does feel like a home to me. I am anxious to get back to work in the classroom. These two days are really only babysitting. Most of my students are keen to learn and to be in the classroom. We have a good time. It honestly does not seem like work at times. Now dealing with the school board is real work. Trying to get the proper supplies I need to do my job is bloody well a pain in the arse. It is difficult to keep my Woolaver mouth shut.

Next week we have specialists coming in to evaluate the children who have problems learning. The cost of their trip up here is sky high. They will only see 12 children and their reports are confidential. Teachers cannot see the reports. If what I said about that does not get me fired then what I said about the lack of pencils and erasers will.

I have great plans to sew and paint the month of January away. In Feb. a terrible band of friends will arrive to lift my spirits. You talk about cowboys! Then in March we have our big break... and sometime after that my brother George will arrive in Salluit. Before I know it I'll be back in Walmart.

All the best to all of you in 2006.