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Saturday 18 January 2014

A month of entries

Home for the holidays. 

One thing that's really difficult about being so far away from home is how much I miss my family and friends.  I have had an unreal experience in Nunavut so far and more importantly in Whale Cove. A lot has happened since my last blog so again, I'll split it up a bit. 

-Hockey update--

First off, I need to talk about the crazy media experience December turned out to be. Apparently that fundraising site that I started and the story that goes along with it garnered some heavy media coverage. I have been in awe since that whole thing started.  I now just can't wait for March when my bunch of boys from Whale Cove roll into Greenstone. They are going to be little celebrities!  It's very exciting to think about. Next is the tryouts for the team... Those start when I get back. We might be able to take a few more than originally planned now! Again, I have a lot of you to thank for making your donations and contributions. Without my friends and family involvement there would be no story for the media to cover so closely. So... Thank You. 

--Va cay--

This trip home has been an amazing break! I got to visit with so many people that I've not had the chance to see in many years. I finally got off a plane in Winnipeg and got to visit my aunt and uncle for the night! It was unreal seeing them! My tiny little cousin... Is all grown up now! Awesome job Tina and Greg!! She's going to make you guys so proud!

After my quick visit in Winnipeg I hopped in my car with my parents (who drove all the way from the Soo  to pick me up) and we were off to Longlac.  With a very hectic and speedy 5 hour visit in Thunder Bay.  Finally we arrived in Longlac at 3:30 am. Longest day of life. But it was awesome to see everyone!!

The next day was filled with so many smiles, hugs and stories. I was welcomed back to Greenstone with a Pancake Breakfast at GCHS. (With all proceeds going to the Whale Cove hockey team)  I went and visited many friends and got to throw a party at my house for everyone. 

I brought a taste of the North for everyone to try. (thanks George!) we sliced up some beluga (maktaaq). And I was impressed with how many people wanted to try it!!  Awesome. 

Then we were off to the Soo.  I can't explain how amazing it felt to see my Family and friends  in the Soo. It's crazy how you can move away from a place and never realize how much you missed it until you come back. And suddenly you're home again. We drove by Old Woman's Bay and that feeling struck me hard. I was home. 

I spent a little more than a week visiting with family and friends, meeting great new people an hearing all the awesome news that surrounds my best and closest friends!! "Another baby on the way!!" to "fergs wedding in August to look forward to" and "Dave finally found a great girl!"

I'm definitely going to miss everyone like crazy. But now I'm in an airplane headed to Toronto for some overdue visiting there!  I'm about to land so... Ill continue this later. 

...Three weeks later... 

So I got back to Whale Cove safely. Just in time too (the day i returned there was a blizzard that shut down the town for two days.)

Firstly, my trip to Toronto/Burlington was awesome. It was really nice to spend some time with some friends I haven't seen in way too long! Such a great time. Missed you guys a lot!  That trip was definitely overdue. 

Once I got back to Whale Cove, reality sunk in. January is F'n cold here. It was hard getting used to the temps again. For the past two weeks it has been below -45 with the windchill. Sometimes reaching down lower than-55. Just yesterday I almost cried when I was walking back from the rink. My body was so cold! The wind literally ripped through my clothes like they were made of mesh. I wasn't ready for that. Snow pants for that walk might be needed from now on. 

As I have been welcoming every opportunity to experience the land, wildlife and everything else that Whale Cove has to offer... I didn't hesitate to continue this trend when Shon and Michael asked if we wanted to join them on a seal hunt at the flow edge. This is where the Arctic Ocean is still water. We drove out on the sea ice to the waters edge. It was a miraculous day. Words can not explain that day. 
We did not see any seals but we did see plenty of wildlife. It is simply amazing that animals can survive this weather, but it is unexplainable how the flocks of ducks that we saw swimming in the ocean at the flow edge can live here year round. These ducks were splashing and playing in the water like the geese would do at Bellvue Park back home. Only difference is that on that day last weekend the temperature was -52.  How can these birds survive!?  Simply unreal.  Hopefully we can get out again soon. 

...another hockey update...

In the last two weeks we have been making preparations to make this trip to Ontario even more special. Last week, I was contacted by a representative of Rogers Media and Sportsnet.  They have shown interest in our story up here and have decided that they want to cover the entire event in march. They (a camera crew, a few sportsnet personalities and a producer) will be coming to Whale Cove and will be filming here for 4 or 5 days. They will interview some local people about their lives in Whale Cove, they will shoot from the rink during a practice and they will have the chance to speak to the boys. Then they will be joining us on our trip to Greenstone!  They will be with us every step of the way an will end with us extending our trip to Toronto!!  I'm not sure yet what the details of the Toronto trip will be. But. I'm sure it's going to be amazing!!

I am simply blown away by all of this! Amazing.  

Signing off. If you haven't already. Join "happiness in hockey" on Facebook and follow us there. I'll be updating that site regularly now.