Monday 16 May 2016

Suspicious Spring

Hello!! Well, Goosebreak is sadly over and it felt like the fastest passing holiday I have ever had.  Of course when you factor in a total of 4 days of travel, 2 weeks off isn't really as long as you imagine, but I still managed to squeeze in lots of social and family time down south in Oakville.

Monika, Raquel, Capable Sub Jill, Bobo and I took off Friday afternoon two weeks ago after school and began our journey home.  We made it to Amos at about 1:30am and hit the sack!  We left again the next morning around 8 or so and hit the road for the GTA! Both travel days had good weather and clear skies and the drives were fun and peaceful.  I am a very cautious driver now but apparently not cautious enough because I scored myself my first ever speeding ticket just outside Rouyn and boy was it a doozy.  I learned my lesson however and really watched my speed for the rest of the trip and on the way back up to Wemindji too.

Home was glorious.  I saw lots of friends and had many good laughs!! I spent as much time as I could with family and earned a place in Robin's heart as he smiled and laughed at me non-stop!!  I figured out what made him smile and did that constantly to get my fix!! It went by fast but every moment I could spend with friends and family I cherished.  I am really looking forward to returning in just 5 short weeks!

This Goosebreak I also did a lot of planning and booking for my UK/France trip with my mom!! We are taking 2 weeks and hitting up London (the fatherland), Paris and Wales (the motherland).  It is going to be a very packed trip but we really want to see and do as much as we can!! We have some really amazing excursions planned and I am really looking forward to seeing where my family comes from and also see some amazing historical sites.  I wish we could go for longer but my wallet does not allow me to extend this trip any further.  I'll just have to make a list of things I want to see and make another trip someday!

The weather in Oakville was beautiful pretty much the entire time I was home.  Gorgeous sunny days with temperatures ranging from 10-20 degrees and it really renewed me!! I took Bobo on lots of neighborhood walks and I couldn't believe how the town is changing so much every time I am home.  Oakville's large lots provide new builders with plenty of room to build monster homes where bungalows once stood.  Every time I come home there is a new house on this corner or that street and I can feel myself becoming less and less familiar with the Oakville I still call home.  With all these monster mansions springing up, it further solidifies the fact that I will never be able to afford to live in Oakville when I decide to come back south to look for work.  I will likely stay rural, which is no bother to me.  I love the peace and quiet and privacy of countryside or woods, so the urban life doesn't appeal to me anyways (phewf).

The weather upon arrival to Wemindji was not as beautiful however.  While away, it looked as if most of the snow had melted!! But, once I got home, the grey skies opened and dumped lots of snow and freezing rain back down, so that has been my reality for the past weekend.  I was lucky to have a relatively good drive back up north (which I am grateful for because I got my winter tires switched off the day before I left) but others who left a day later were not so lucky!  Currently, about 7 teachers and their families and pets remain stranded in Amos or Matagami because the James Bay Highway was officially closed due to dangerous driving conditions.  When it started to snow up here, apparently it REALLY started to snow down at Matagami, and since the plows had long been tucked away (because in any normal world, you don't need a snow plow in May - still a foolish decision in my opinion), the road could not be plowed and it was very unsafe to travel.  So my friends stayed an extra night, and now another, until it melts a little and is deemed safe to return home! Most will be travelling home tomorrow morning and will make it in for Wednesday.  I wish them a safe journey and am VERY GLAD it is not me stuck down there because you know my luck!!!!!!

Anyways, during Goosebreak I had a lovely couple who were friends of a past employee come stay in my home for their own holiday!! They were interested in learning more about native culture and found themselves in plenty of amazing experiences while here.  They took unbelievable care of my home and even CLEANED MY OVEN!! My oven prior to their visit was shameful.  I have recently had two oven fires (for a total of 3 since I moved in) which I didn't clean very well (or at all) and these poor folks had to experience my oven and its penchant for fires on their first night.  So I felt really bad about that (even worse about the fact that I forgot to leave them the code to deactivate the BLARING fire alarm) and that I left them with such a dirty oven, but I came back to literally a sparkling appliance.  I am forever grateful.  They also left me some very thoughtful gifts and I was tickled.  By hearing and seeing all the fun things this couple did, I realize that I need to get out more and explore the Cree Nation and see all the beauty and traditions that exist.  I am going to make it my goal to see all the communities before I leave here and I am very excited to start planning.

Anyways I have to watch the season finale of Girls and the latest episode of Game of Thrones and relax after my first day back at school after so much time off. I am pooped to say the least. Ta ta for now!


First sushi of the trip! 

THAT. FACE. 

I also discovered the magical world of Snapchat filters.  I am a faceswap fiend now. 

I also turned others to the dark side. 




Bobo finally got a haircut!! 

Spring! Is that you? 

A direct result of leaving Bobo at the groomers which apparently was a traumatic experience. 

Yum.


This lunch was goooood. 

Eryl's sweet new ride.  Well, the inside of it anyways.

Look at this big boy!! 6 months and 20 pounds.  A real workout.  

Visiting Nana!! 





Second sushi of the trip!! 





Mother's Day breakfast


MY OTTER FROM RAQUEL!! 

First ever Chipotles!! Did not disappoint!! 

Mmmmm Mexican.




This was yesterday.  Basically I was snowed in.

School with a foot of snow in a drift in front of the door.  We should have had a snow day!!! 


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