The Final Countdown (do do do do)

It's ON like Donkey Kong people. In 5 sleeps (as the kiddies like to say) I will be back in Ontario and on my Goosebreak!

For those of you new to the ways of Wemindji, Goosebreak is the annual sanctioned time to go goose hunting in the bush. The entire town takes off for 2 glorious weeks to hunt and the teachers take off to home and abroad for a much-deserved and well-celebrated break. Each of the Cree nations gets their own two week Goosebreak, some taking place earlier than ours. Wemindji's Goosebreak was supposed to start last Friday but was pushed back because in recent years, the geese hadn't flown yet so it was wasted time. I am in favor of pushing our Goosebreak back a week because it means we get a extra day with the Victora Day holiday tacked on so it's pretty awesome. 

Since we get a 2 week Goosebreak, we don't get the traditional March Break. Let me tell you something. March Break is sacred. I totally get March Break. I miss March Break. I NEED March Break. Don't take March Break for granted southern teachers. Because when you spend 4 loooooooong, dark, cold months in the wild North, March Break makes a lot of sense. But no. We employees of the Cree School Board suck it up and trudge along, dreaming of May 1st and the promise of the sweet, sweet Goosebreak. Things often get crazy during this time. I liken it to being the winter groundskeeper at the Overlook Hotel. All work and no play make Aidan a crazy teacher... instead of blood spilling from the elevator (there exist no elevators in Wemindji EDIT: I think there's an elevator in the clinic) children spill from the hallways into my classroom after Gym or Cree Language, screaming about this offence or that injustice. 

Anyways, Goosebreak is almost upon us and I plan to spend most of it at Dollarama and Costco, prancing through the aisles, filling cart after cart of wonderful supplies and provisions for the North and my classroom. I will be driving down with the Dream Team, myself, Monika, Samantha and Meghan, as well as all of our pets - a cat, a dog and a hamster. (Did I mention Carmonika died? She died. Now I am left with Nick). Oh and our luggage. It'll be a tight squeeze. One night's stop in Amos and we'll be in Ontario on Saturday! I'm really looking forward to seeing friends and family as usual and catching up with everyone. This is the longest I have ever gone in the North without going home at least once so it's about time! 

Anyways this time next week I will be cuddling with my handsome prince Bobo, sitting in the backyard with the sun shining and the birds chirping! Wish me luck on my drive!

It was cRaZy hAiR dAy at school this week. 

Back to square one we go. I made them take an oath, it lasted less than 30 seconds. 

It did snow again this week but today it was 8 degrees and gorgeous so I forgave Mother Earth. 

This is going to be my view in 5 short days. 

Night of Nostalgia

What a weekend!! Last night was my friends Sam and Meghan's joint birthday party which took place at my home. It was 90s themed costume party which was SO MUCH FUN!!!! I, as well as everyone else had the best night ever. The decor was amazing, the costumes very well done and the music INCREDIBLE. We danced until the wee hours of the night and had so many laughs. 

Last week at school was pretty awesome too. My kids seem to be going through a burst in skill development and are working really hard and producing some great work! We are diving into writing always working hard on reading and they are superstars in math. We have a lot of fun activities planned for the next few weeks leading up to Goosebreak and it's really nice to be able to motivate the kids to give it their best with engaging learning experiences. It's also really nice to be at the point with my kids that they now have enough confidence to work more independently and try new things. Just talking to my students in regular conversation is becoming a really neat experience because the topics and details are becoming more mature and introspective as the kids are learning ways to express their thoughts and ideas with clarity and reference a lot of learning and details I know they have picked up on in lessons and activities.  I'm feeling inspired as an educator and really excited for the leaps these kids are making in their learning!!

This past week Wemindji has also begun to thaw!! Temperatures were in the posititives last week and this weekend was absolutely gorgeous. The snow has REALLY started to melt which means a) the roads are atrocious and b) my basement is flooded. After being covered in at least a foot of permafrost for the better part of a year, the mush in some places is incredible. Today while going to the Inn for dinner, I got my van stuck not once but twice in the feet of slush and had to be pushed out by Meredith and her handy boyfriend Carson. 

It may be "warm" but this is still what my lawn looks like. 

Anyways, it's the start of one of 3 rare 5 day weeks tomorrow and I must get my beauty sleep. It's as if the kids can smell the "I didn't get enough sleep Sunday night" scent and push alllllllll the buttons so ta ta for now!

Eat Your Heart Out Easter!

Another long weekend has come and gone and I took every advantage to nap and watch Netflix. 

We have been blessed in Wemindji in the last couple of months with plenty of short teaching weeks. This one was the piece de resistance, a 4-day long weekend of work obligation-free time away from the classroom!! Besides unloading a truck delivery for Breakfast Program in a blustery blizzard on Friday morning, I managed to spend most of the weekend doing what I do best: cleaning, sleeping and hosting parties. Lol Jk but not really about that last one. 

As I alluded to above I hosted an Easter dinner for 13 of my dearest coworkers and friends. I had to borrow a table and chairs from school but still managed to squeeze everyone in! It was potluck style and everyone brought delicious sides and desserts and a great time was had by all. It was my first time cooking a turkey and rightly so I was extremely nervous. I spent the better part of an hour screaming and gagging on the phone to my mother who (bless her heart) tried to walk me through the de-necking of one of two raw turkeys I prepared (turns out this one was pre-de-necked and I was in fact cutting out the spine but that's a tale for another day).  After delivering my "backup" turkey to Meghan who graciously cooked it for me in her oven while I cooked the other in mine, I retuned home to do some last minute prep. Guests arrived and we had a great meal and chatted long into the night. 

Turkey #1

Turkey #2

This weekend the Internet service was pretty spotty and I've been watching my Netflix screen pause at loading the new season of the Mindy Project at 82% for the last 5 minutes so I feel as if we may be in another "ebb" of the "ebb and flow" cycle. Oh well. That's what books (aka naps) are for! Sometimes I feel like a pioneer living in the wilderness in the 1800s or whatever. Hand me my knitting box dear and I'll darn your socks by the light of the fireplace. Next thing you know I'll be churning my own damn butter and milking stray Wemindji dogs for my morning cornflakes. ANYWAYS.

Speaking of Internet, one man has been working tirelessly to solve our Creenet problems. That man, that INTERNET SUPERHERO would be the great and powerful Jeremy Brown. People, the one man you want in your corner is Jeremy Brown. He is a dedicated family man, a connoisseur of all things all things, a true friend and confidante. Truly. The better half of my good friend Marsha, Jeremy works hard for our community and amways has time to help out his friends. And, tomorrow is his birthday!! So the happiest of birthdays to you Mr. Jeremy Brown and from our friend....