Correction

I said in an earlier blog that the temperature in Dawson City was -41 degrees Celcius on March 15th. I was just corrected with a picture to prove my bad!

So Sick of Winter

Need I say more??

Women in Art

Just found this on someone else's blog (thank you windrosehotel) and really enjoyed it.



500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art

500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art”—nominated as Most Creative Video at the 2nd Annual YouTube Awards—is an awesome video, submitted by Philip Scott Johnson on April 22, 2007

Music: Bach's Sarabande from Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 performed by Yo-Yo Ma

Nominated as Most Creative Video
2nd Annual YouTube Awards

For a complete list of artists and paintings visit http://www.maysstuff.com/womenid.htm

Higher resolution version at
http://www.vimeo.com/1456037

Dropped into Natasha's new house this afternoon. She has just moved in and is thrilled with it. It is very nice and built by one of the best house builders in town - Horizon Construction. Of course, her husband Derick, who is in university in Edmonton, has yet to see it.
Met Tash in the early afternoon in Starbucks. She said that with all this snow, she is doing very well work wise - she is a physiotherapist. Actually went to meet Deb there and we were going to plan our next big trip which will be to Naxos - once again. Greece keeps calling me back for some reason - maybe I'm part Greek, not part Hungarian??? Was going to take my computer with me and phoned Starbucks to ensure I could get a connection. They told me to bring the computer and I could probably hook into an unprotected internet site - yeah right. So I left the computer at home. As it turns out with Natasha there, we talked house decorating instead. If anyone has rented a house or apartment close to Naxos Town/Agios Georgios, please let me know. That's what we're looking for.
Don't want to go on about the weather, no, really I don't, but, BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH. Dawson City had the coldest temperature on record for March 15 today at -41C. That's where SR is now, trying to open up the mine. Old Crow was -65C with the wind chill.
We sat at around -15C but that wind was chilly - don't even want to know what it was with the wind chill.
Picked up two good movies last night. Changeling (directed by Clint Eastwood): it was very good and Angelina's lips were very big and red. It is based on a true story and very interesting and a bit sad. Also rented Australia (with Hugh Jackman, who is pretty easy on the eyes): it's an epic tale with good guys, bad guys, damsels, horses, cattle, wars ... just about everything and kept my interest for its almost three hour length.

In Like A Lion

Driving into town today I looked around and thought what a vast country we live in. The east is being plummeted with snow storms as is Washington state, temperatures are well below normal in other areas and here we are in the far north and the temperature is -1 degree celcius and calm - something that lifted my spirits as I am well through with winter. Oh for the warmer temperatures to descend upon us and the vast amounts of snow we have had can start melting away. I washed my car yesterday (I do that when I can no longer see out my windows) and unfortunately, with this warmer weather, the road snow has melted and mixed with the sand that had been dropped all winter to prevent sliding and the mud was being sprayed onto my clean car. But, even that I could handle. IT WAS WARM.
I went into The Country House to look for new bedroom curtains (yes, I am trying to help the economy with my purchases!!) and when I came out it was like I was in transported into another world. There was a huge snow squall - thin hard snow being pelted around in huge circles by the turbulent north wind. Visibility was about 20 feet. My windshield was covered with frozen snow which needed to be scraped off before I could see. What happened to my beautiful, hopeful day?? As it turns out, it wasn't a squall, it was weather which has now lasted 8 hours and is going on strong. After my shopping I came home and retreated into the shelter of my house only to sit and look out the window at the wild weather.

Just before dinner, I decided that although it was still snowing I should shovel what has fallen to this point or I may have a very hard time shovelling when the snow stops - not a pleasant job. The chaotic wind had caused three foot drifts in the driveway. The snow banks are more than six feet high so when I toss the shovelful of snow over that bank, half gets blown back onto the driveway and if the other half doesn't reach the topof the snowbank it rolls back down into the same spot I have already shovelled. Whew! What usually takes 10 minutes took 1-1/2 hours.

Now darkness has fallen, the wind is still blowing hard from the north, the snow is still falling and the drifts are again forming. Well, I won't even think about it again until I depart tomorrow, which won't be too early as my Man U game starts are 9:00 AM at which time I'll be sitting with the fireplace on, sipping a cup of hot coffee and I'll be transported, at least for a couple of hours, into the warmer weather of England, watching an exciting soccer game with good looking muscular men in short pants! Snow, what snow??

Rendezvous

Once again, another Yukon Rendezvous has come and gone. My favourite part lately is the snow sculptures. At this point, I don't know which one won 1st place, but here are my favourites.

Above is the entry from Finland.

And this is my absolute fave, The Snow Queen, an entry from the B.C. team. She has an icicle crown and earrings.

This is why we Yukoners are tough. Even the wee ones have to brave the cold to celebrate Rendezvous.

Today, the final day, was beautiful as you can see from the blue sky in the above photo.

Joaquin Phoenix on David Letterman

Now, I loved watching Joaquin Phoenix in movies. I believe he should have won the Academy Award at least for WALK THE LINE. Apparently he's now into music and if you missed him on David Letterman, here's a real eye opener onto the NEW Joaquin:



P.S. Now I love David Letterman!

Cousin Joe still trippin'

They've rounded Cape Horn and are in the final stages of the cruise. If you're interested in such a cruise, or in the area visit his blog by clicking here. He has outlined his trip complete with photos.

Yukon Visitor

We do get visitors here in the winter (other than my mother and Jennifer!). Sues left the blustery snowy New Brunswick winter to visit the snowy and extremely cold Yukon winter. And she's still smiling!
But you can't beat our blue blue skies of the extreme cold.

Deb had some "book-clubbers" as well as former Hawaiian ship cruisers over to her house for a lovely luncheon including champagne and orange juice. (now you know why we laugh so much!)

Cousin Joe's Cruise

My cousin Joe and his wife are on a cruise aboard the Star Princess sailing aside Patagonia and through the Straight of Magellan. He is keeping me up to date on his travels and I thought I would share some of the photos with you. Above: He says, "We are on our way to Ushuaia, Argentina via the Beagle Channel named after the ship sailed on by Darwin. At 8:00 am this morning we entered a section of the channel that has glaciers and hanging valleys."

Above and below photos: "The highlight of the day for me was seeing the Osorno Volcano and some of the rapids and waterfalls in the area. For most of the day, the volcano was shrouded in clouds and it was only late in the day that we finally saw the peak. The volcano is a classic example of a cinder cone just like the famous Mount Fuji in Japan. Of course when you think of Chile llamas come to mind and you see a few on the country. We also came across a Monkey Puzzle tree which I have to admit is one of the strangest plants I have ever seen. " (as you can see I didn't include the Monkey Puzzle tree - if you want to see it let me know)

Snow, Snow and more Snow

I don't know how many cm's of snow fell yesterday but it was definitely whiteout conditions driving to attend the shower. Between my neighbour and I, we shovelled the driveway four times and it was still snowing. Being in a semi-arid climate, we shouldn't be getting that much snow. As you can see from the photo above, I have to heave each shovelful of snow high into the air to get it to stay on the huge snow bank, which I have already pushed back many many times.

There was a snowfall advisory issued yesterday and they weren't kidding. Only two more months of snow, then it can start to melt. On a brighter note, our daylight hours are increasing (sunrise now about 9 AM, sunset about 5 PM). That is something everyone notices. AND you can now feel some warmth when the sun shines. Spring is coming!!!

Shower / Meet 'n Greet

Cody-Anne had her baby shower yesterday - correction, she had her Meet 'n Greet yesterday. Showers involve making silly paper plate hats with all the bows and ribbons and playing silly games. A Meet 'n Greet involved coming to meet the new baby and bringing a gift or not, just enjoy. There was a full age range in attendance, from one month (Ella) to 62 years (or there about). Also in attendance was Cody's step daughter Sam and step son David (who stayed hidden during the affair).
Little Ella slept through the whole affair even though she was passed around to everyone. She awoke at the end, only interested in food, to which Cody obliged, and fell asleep once again.

The proud Grandmother hosted the party and did get to hold her new grandchild, at least for a bit.

Sue & Iris come north

Paulette is having her hip replaced in YVR, Nuge is having his fused spine checked out at the same time, so Sue & Iris came north to look after the house, kids, and invalids (when they return). I was lucky to catch a bit of their time and we had a lovely luncheon today at my house. I've known Sue & Iris for over 40 years (!!!) so it was fun to get together and "chew the fat".

Lego Inauguration

Legoland California has created the inauguration of President-elect Obama and his family along with Vice President-elect Joseph Biden and his wife as mini-figures in Lego bricks.
Invited dignitaries include Lego versions of President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Lynne Cheney, former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush and Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Here is Jennifer's favourite part. Interested in seeing more? Check out this site, click here, or watch on Youtube by clicking here.
(Thanks Jenn for this info)

Movie Review

With only 2 double theatres here (one with a hole in the screen!) I often have to wait and wait for a good movie to come. Recently there has been a rash of horror movies (I'll pass thanks) and kids movies (unless it's Shrek or similar, I don't really want to go). I've been waiting for MILK, not yet here and waited and waited for some in the recent past which never did make it here. But in the last two weeks, I did see two movies.

TAKEN: with Liam Neeson. I like Liam. I didn't think this would be a blockbuster movie from the trailers, but thought it would be worth seeing - WRONG. Full of spy killing, cars rolling and bursting into flames action, it is so bad and unrealistic. Liam escapes at least 5 machine guns and hundreds of gun shots and yet can shoot his attacker with one pull of the trigger. The IMdb website gives it 8 of 10 stars. I give it 2 of 10 and that's being generous. Click here to see movie details .

GRAN TORINO: with Clint Eastwood. Again, I like Clint (other than the fact that he has five children from five different women), but I'm not big on muscle cars, so I wasn't expecting too too much from this movie. He played a bigotted old man in a multi-cultural neighbourhood (lots of fuel for the fire). I LOVED the movie. Definitely worth seeing. IMdb gave it 8.5 out of 10 stars. I'd give it 9 of 10. Click here to see movie details .

MILK: Coming soon to a theatre near me - I hope.

Need a new Job?

I'm sure you've all heard of this job being advertised in Australia, toted as the Best Job in the World. Click on the link below to see the Job (click on the links at the top to find out the details of the job and see picutres of where you would be working, should you be the successful applicant) and see one of the applications from the north:
http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/applicants/watch/_gpv6kO1WY4

Just want to see the northern applicant - here he is:



If winter is getting you down, you still have 20 days to apply! Good Luck.

Note the temperature - crazy! We go from -30 to -4 in two days.
Just celebrated Sue's birthday last night. What fun. It was a '70's theme - '70's, '70's mmmm what did I do and wear in 1970?? I had a hard time thinking what clothing in the 1970's was like - let's see, I backpacked through Europe (jeans & t-shirt), worked for CP Air (yes, remember that great airline who rivaled Air Canada) so I wore work clothes so there were mini-skirts and midi-skirts and platform shoes, moved to Calgary and wore those Indian wrap-around skirts as well as jeans and t-shirts, then moved north into a cabin in the bush and wore lumber-jack shirts and big boots as well as jeans & t-shirts. I guess it was a decade for wearing everything and anything but jeans and t-shirts remained a constant, so that settled it. And I still wear them so I had only to go into the closet. The evening started off with Marguerita's - what fun. I haven't had those since the '70's, and ended with Bailey's coffees. For a wine and beer drinker that was different. The music had variety also, from John Travolta disco to Joe Cocker. The theme was chosen as that is when Sue "came of age" and as she is once again "coming of age" (the senior's age that is) it was appropriate. And best of all I awoke today without a hangover!

My Friend turns 50 !!!!

Make a Smilebox greeting

History in the Making

I watched the inauguration this morning - history in the making, as they say. The crowds were amazing and I wondered what those people did when they had to go to the bathroom! So the good 'ol US of A now has a new President and it will be interesting to see what that means to Canada.
In with the new, out with the old. Here the helicopter awaits the Bush's. What will the comedians do without George Dubbya. And like Robin Williams says, what will he do now, he can't go on talking tours! Here is David Letterman's Top Ten List on George Bush:

While the rest of Canada was (is?) experiencing extremely cold temperatures, look at ours (below). Who'd have thought you would have to travel north of the 60th degree parallel to hit these temperatures. It has been like this since Monday and won't go back to near normal till Wednesday of this week. Gotta love it! Forecast Issued: 5.00 AM PST Sunday 18 January 2009 Today: A few showers ending this morning then clearing. Wind south 40 km/h gusting to 60. High 10. Tonight: A few clouds. Wind south 30 km/h. Low plus 2. Monday: Increasing cloudiness early in the morning. Wind south 30 km/h becoming light late in the day. High 6. Tuesday: Cloudy with 30 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 3. High plus 1. Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud with 40 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 12. High minus 12. Thursday: Sunny. Low minus 19. High minus 16. Climatological Information

Month Mean Temperature oC Mean Total Precipitation (mm) Mean Number of Precipitation Days Daily Minimum Daily Maximum Jan -22.0 -13.3 16.7 11.0

Ella

A baby has a special way of adding joy in every single day.
-- Author Unknown

Welcome to this world of ours, little Ella. Only a few days old, Ella is the granddaughter of my good friend Debbie. It wasn't so long ago (or maybe it was) that little Cody-Anne was running around in diapers, but now she is a mother of her own beautiful baby girl.

I went to visit little Ella tonight. She was so tiny. Were we all like that once? Her mom and dad, Peter, were beaming with joy.

So was Grampa Don who held her every chance he had.
Congratulations to Cody and Peter. What a beautiful little girl you brought into our world!

My Anti-theft Key

This is a view from my bedroom. I don't venture out too much if I don't have to. But I did go to the Nissan dealership today as I have been experiencing a problem starting my (almost) new truck! I would drive to where I was going, then when I wanted to drive away, my truck wouldn't start. This happened twice both times in extremely cold temperatures. After trying to start it, and trying to start it, and trying to start it some more, I would sit, look around and try to figure out what to do. And being the holidays, the dealership was closed. If I left the truck it would freeze solid then I certainly couldn't get it started. So then I swore out loud, tried it once more and alas, it started. The problem they said was my key! These new keys have computer chips in them that must sync with the chip in the car so only my key will start it. Something is wrong with my key and my car is not reading it, consequently it won't start. So, let this be a heads-up to all of you with similar "safety" systems. Carry 2 keys.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Now in Whitehorse

Short Term ForecastUpdated: Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 9:00 PST

	Tuesday Afternoon	Tuesday Evening	Tuesday Overnight	Wednesday Morning
	Variable cloudiness	Variable cloudiness	Variable cloudiness	Variable cloudiness
Temp.	-32°C	-35°C	-35°C	-36°C
Wind	NW 5km/h	NW 5km/h	NW 5km/h	NW 5km/h
Humidity	69%	74%	74%	70%
P.O.P.	20%	10%	10%	10%

-

What ????.... they are the same!! My co-worker & I have the same first name, work in the same office, both have a bit of gypsy in us and wear the same clothes!! We were meant to meet!

Well the new year is upon us now. !!!Happy 2009!!! And we are once again in a deep freeze - I mean weather wise, not economy wise... or do I? Minus 34 at my house, minus 39 downtown, so I am hunkering down and thought a coffee, computer, and Quartetto Gelato sounds a whole lot better than venturing outside if I don't have to.

Here's to 2009, may it bring you health and happiness. Cheers!

Yukon Sunrise

Gotta stop taking pictures out this window. You'd think that's all I do at work, but not true. Someone once told me that in the Yukon you really notice the sky. How very true. I was drawn to this window just after 10AM the other morning as the brightness of the sun was blinding us all as it appeared above the horizon.
The good news -- I think we're out of the -35 weather. I was going to write a "cold" fact each day until the weather broke, such as the colder it gets, the louder your boots squeak in the snow, or at -35 and colder, when a plane takes off from the airport it sounds like it is taking off down the street you are walking. I parked my car the other morning and walked 3 blocks to work and my glassed were crusted with ice and my hair and scarf were white with frost. Let me tell you, I won't miss it if it doesn't come back!! But it did hit -20 tonight. I had to pop into a store to pick up my Xmas gift and had to squeeze by a lady in the parking lot. "Sure is a lot warmer" I said to her. "Yes, it feels like spring" she replied. I guess only in the Yukon can you say -20 feels like spring, but it really did!
Good things and bad things are happening to me.
Bad thing: I took a bite of a rancid cookie this afternoon.
Good thing: I won the Christmas Basket from my Hairdresser
Bad thing: My pizza flipped up-side-down onto the kitchen floor when I took it out of the oven
Good thing: My neighbour came in with Christmas baking for me
It's definitely a yin and yang time for me.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve ... I get to open one present before I go to bed, a custom I have never out-grown. And after feeling them all, I know just the one I'm going to open.
So don't forget, you only have one more day to be "good" before Santa arrives.
!!!Merry Christmas!!!

Garbage Truck Santa

As mentioned in my blog below, here are two photos of the Santa Garbage truck that lights up our streets every winter. Wayne Henderson actually used to pick up garbage in his decorated truck but now the city has allowed him time to drive to schools, old age homes, etc to bring a little Christmas cheer into our lives. It is fun seeing it driving around, especially at this time of year when it is dark most of the time. If you want to learn more about him here is a little video story that CBC did on him: click here
P.S. He is also one of the workers that helped dig that huge hole at the end of my driveway this past summer. He's everywhere, just like the real Santa!

Weather vs Climate

When it is -35 degrees celcuius you begin to wonder about global warming (and why isn't it happening here!?!). I heard today on the radio that we are experiencing "weather" not "climate". What's the difference you may ask. Here's an explanation from the NASA website:

The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time.

When we talk about climate change, we talk about changes in long-term averages of daily weather. Today, children always hear stories from their parents and grandparents about how snow was always piled up to their waists as they trudged off to school. Children today in most areas of the country haven't experienced those kinds of dreadful snow-packed winters, except for the Northeastern U.S. in January 2005. The change in recent winter snows indicate that the climate has changed since their parents were young.

But it's difficult to think climate when you have to be somewhere at 9 AM and it's -35 outside. This morning I was driving to work and saw the Santa Garbage truck. This is one of the City's garbage trucks that is decorated with over 1,000 Christmas lights and Santa driving. Sitting behind my steering wheel in my full length down coat with a thick scarf wrapped around my neck, ear bags keeping my my ears cozy and big red winter gloves AND being strapped into my seat by the seat belt, I was unable to maneuver myself to grab my camera to share this unique spectacle with you. Sorry, but blame the weather. The exhaust from the vehicles in front of me sits in the air as I drive through it, like driving through a thick fog impairing vision. I only like my vehicle sitting about 4 hours outside before starting it up again, so it doesn't freeze up, so half way through my day I must go out and sit in a frozen car while I run the engine for 10 to 15 minutes. (Tomorrow I'm looking for a spot I was just told about where I can plug in, thus eliminating running the engine, but it's a secret spot so I can't tell you where it is) It could be worse though, as at -36 and colder (not unusual getting to -40 or colder) the seats are as hard as rocks, and the wheels are square for the first five minutes of driving. Yes, I am trying to make my glass half full!!

And to top it off, I received a phone call just before lunch from SR who is currently in HAWAII!!!! He laughed when I told him it was -35. It was 28 above in Hawaii and it was only 8:30 in the morning there. Ah well, I hope he enjoys it.

This weather is predicted to at least Monday, so I'll keep my long underwear handy and think warm thoughts (see glass half full again).

Aloha!

Merry Christmas

Xmas Plate

To MJT: This is the Christmas plate you once sent to me. It resurfaces every Christmas and gets filled, usually with cookies.

Officially Christmas Season

I attended the Christmas Choir last night at the Arts Centre. That always marks the official beginning of the Christmas season for me. The performance last night included readings from local Yukon writers about their Christmas experiences. That, coupled with the singing made it the best performance I have ever seen. It never ceases to amaze me of the talent so far north - it rivals anything you can see anywhere else in the world. So, here's to the Christmas season, may it be a happy one for you all.

3PM Thursday, I saw someone walking two dogs along the edge of the clay cliffs. For those that don't know, Whitehorse is in a valley with cliffs running along side. Just beyond the trees in this photo is the airport. Anyway, back to my story. They were silhouetted on the edge of the cliffs and would have made a great picture if I didn't stand there watching them instead of getting out my camera to take the photo. Now the man and the dogs are walking in these trees, not that you can see them, but that's my story of the missed shot. Not much of a story, but hey, I don't have much time for stories now that I'm working.
This weekend was spent getting ready for Christmas. Baking cookies, writing cards, wrapping gifts and mailing them away. The week ahead has Christmas parties, and of course, the Whitehorse Choir and the Persephone Singers performing in the Arts Centre. The snow is falling, the temperatures just below 0, and colourful lights are lighting up the houses on the street. Just watched Elf on TV and yes, I do believe!

A Book Club Christmas

True to my word, one of our Book Club people doesn't want to be recognized on my blog, thus the face (but apparently with the right equipment you can unswirl her face and recognize her) ... but last Saturday, we had our Book Club Christmas party. As usual, lots of good food including the cookies baked by the little Hungarian one. I know it may be difficult MJT, but do you recognize the plate the cookies are on? And sorry Lisa, if I were in Ontario this year, these cookies would have been baked for you and Kate! We had our Xmas tree decoration Chinese auction and of course lots of laughs. This marks the start of the Christmas season.