Step 8. Winterize. Or at least try.

Friday: 18 degrees.

Sunday: 10 degrees.

Monday: 7 degrees.

Thursday: 4 degrees.

Saturday: 0 degrees.

Tuesday: -3 degrees.

And so it begins. Hark, the long, long winter of our discontent.

It is hard to take pictures of the temperature. How do I show you the dry, crisp air? How do I convey the new wonders of having to scrape ice from my window? Of having to run the car for 10 minutes before driving? Of playing outdoor soccer in 0 degrees in a t-shirt, shorts, and neoprene leggings? Well, granted, I could have taken a picture of that last one. Rather, though, I have an amazing picture of they mythical ice buffalo, harbinger of winter. I captured this elusive beast on film outside of the local college, a few DAYS after a banquet:

That's right- days. The beasts local habitat is now cold enough for the ice beast. Even though we have yet to have a covering of it, the snow is starting up in earnest, coming out to give a sprinkle every few days. This picture doesn't quite capture the blizzard like conditions, but it's more snow then you'll be seeing in Vic any time soon. My hands are getting all cracked and dry from being outside in this weather.

Even though we have yet to have a covering of it, the snow is starting up in earnest, coming out to give a sprinkle every few days. This picture doesn't quite capture the blizzard like conditions, but it's more snow then you'll be seeing in Vic any time soon. My hands are getting all cracked and dry from being outside in this weather.

Uncertain of how my truck will hold up in the weather, I have been trying to make sure that the both of us are ready for whatever is coming. I decided to try taking the bus so I was familiar with the service in case the roads were too scary for me one day. Taking the bus was fine. But, because I'm an idiot, didn't think that showering before I headed out into -2 degree weather was a bad idea. My hair froze into little brown icicles while I stood on the side of the road, completely unprotected from the wind.

And that was just -2! Wait till is is -40! Yesterday was my first day of actually wondering how I plan on lasting 6 months of snow; I sang Christmas carols to myself till I felt better. I took my truck in to have winter fluids put in, but they didn't have the shop time they thought they would, so I drove home dejected. I was supposed to have my automatic start put in this week, but that fell through too.

I am trying to winterize myself, too. In the last week I have bought all kinds of winter stuff. I got a windshield scraper, fleece gloves, and 5 pairs of wool socks! And check out this sweet ninja balaclava, which I did NOT buy:

This whole post was going to be about getting my vehicle done, and that did not happen. And I failed to take any pictures of the many many social things I did recently, like friends over for a movie, a great local research conference, outdoor soccer. But hey, here is one of the Halloween Party for women I went to. Notice that I did not carve a pumpkin- I don't agree with pumpkin murder, with creeping into the pumpkin's home and taking it's life and then pulling out it's guts and cutting it up. That, and I didn't want to get my hands cold.

So yeah, this blog is a bit hit and miss. Sometimes you get to see dead animals, other time nothing in my week goes according to plan. So there. I am headed out of town for 2 weeks now, to go hunting in BC. I'll post you later!

Step 7- Survey Terrain, preferably with guns.

So, if we are good friends, or just distant friends, or acquaintances who have met on the bus, chances are that you know I like shooting guns. I enjoy shooting at targets, and even occasionally at things with legs. Moving to Alberta had the major perk of being the most pro-gun province in the country. I knew that I could have guns here and not have to worry about what my friends would think- assuming they weren't all too scared of me on the bus to become my friend in the first place. My dad came up to visit last weekend and we took some time exploring the back roads and putting meat on the table. Here is man in his natural element:

While we were out, my dad was hunting for deer, while I was simultaneously hunting for grouse. I got a few too! We each popped 2 of them. Here is what was left of that little bird once all the dirty work was done:

I can't make head nor tales of it! That poor little bird never saw it coming. And if it did, it should have run away. The final result- two little grouse breasts, now frozen. Liz is going to teach me to bake them with bacon and garlic. Yum!

The woods out here are really beautiful. The landscape is very different from BC. I kept wanting to get up a mountain to look around, but there just aren't any. It is all pretty flat! It can look quite barren with all the naked trees. And I love that you can see entire fluffy white clouds. I hope you enjoy the pictures because I am quite certain my dad lost a few more hairs while observing my picture-taking-while-driving technique.

While Dad and I were out, we drove down to a little town called Conklin and ate in the only restaurant. I was the only woman there! The next day we drove north on the winter roads up to where the ice road begins later in the season. What a crazy place to live. We only got stuck in a bog once, at which point Dad had to push and I got an impressive coat of mud on my four wheeled beast. Washing it in 4 degrees, though, was a little too cool for school.

Check the sweet pipeline sign, up in the middle of nowhere!

This week at work: has been really good. I am learning to leave my work at the office. I got my one month review, which consisted of comments like “awesome” and “really valuable.” I also had a meeting in Edmonton, and the commute was crazy. You fly in, first thing in the morning, then race out to get a cab and get back to fly home for 7pm. That said, I did feel pretty cool flying in for a meeting. I almost sound important! I started up our Community Kitchen program too, ala West Abbotsford Mennonite Church, and that is going to start next week.

Step 6- Celebrate the Season

There's not always a ton to celebrate around here. But fall has come and the days are shorter and the sunsets are beautiful. But here is what this town is celebrating!!

Garrrr!! Seeing the sands is so strange. It is one of the most powerful landscapes I have experienced. It is mechanical and completely inhuman. The enormous processing plants are surrounded by acres and acres of grey, dead soil. The first time I saw it, I was speechless. It is even more powerful when you see it in the evening with the lights on. Sometimes the smokestacks are lit to burn off fumes, making it even more of a show.

But seriously, on to what this post is about. Fall is well underway. The mercury is beginning to fall. The days are getting shorter. And rather than wait for Christmas to decorate, most of the neighbourhood is getting into the holidays early. It is sick!

Really, though, most households really get in to Halloween. The decorations went up at the beginning of the month. I get it too. By Christmas, the snow will be so high that decorations will be hard to see. Everyone is taking advantage of the clear ground to set up homage to the holiday. You know those inflatable Christmas decorations? They have those for Halloween too, apparently. This is just a small sampling.

And finally, something nice to have a look at.

This week at work: Tiring. I have to learn to take my breaks. I am organizing some big events and writing grants and other stuff like that. When you care a lot about your work, it is easy to take it home and that makes it exhausting! I am learning not to put a lot of pressure on myself for completing things immediately. So even though it's tiring, it's good! We also moved our offices around, so I now have a dedicated workspace. And one of my favorite clients, who I have know since I started, was just moved into his own place! I am so happy for him. Last weekend my friend Brittany came up from Edmonton, and this weekend my Dad is coming. I managed to get invited to two Thanksgiving dinners and am blessed with lots of fun friends!

Step 5- Get Some Wheels!

When I first got into town I had no vehicle. If it would have been possible to live here and do my job without a car, I would have found a way. I bicycle commuted in Abbotsford- in snow! The highway that connects the burbs to the town is too dangerous for a bike. The traffic is so thick and people get very aggressive. It was okay, though, because Liz works a block away from me. I just carpooled with her. On days when I needed a vehicle to drive into town on my own, the Cheethams lent me their minivan.

Now here is the challenge with this post. I believe in two somewhat opposing guidelines: don't look a gift horse in the mouth, and never let the facts get in the way of a good story. You see, the Cheethams lent me the vehicle and asked for nothing back. All I had to do was pay for my own gas. And even then, Gary took the van out and filled the tank for me when I was low. I don't want to complain. On the other hand, if the Cheethams had wanted to get rid of me, they couldn't have found a better way.

The electrical in the van was loose, so that the power shut off from time to town. The entire car would just shut down. This could happen at any time- at stop signs, or even on the highway. I would then throw it into park, shut it off, and start it again. On the highway the engine would just turn itself over and start up again, no problem, except you would loose power steering and brakes for a few seconds. It sure kept driving exciting!

Now, though, I have my own car! I have a 2005 Chevy Blazer. Here she is:

My Grampa game me his truck over the summer and I have just assumed custody. I spent Monday and Tuesday driving this beautiful beast over the Rockies and back up here.

Here are the top 5 reasons that my truck is so great:

5. It holds a great deal of stuff. When I fold the rear seats forward, there is enough space for me to lie down! Yeah, diagonally, but still, this is not your sisters hatchback.

4. It is a 4X4! My Grampa and I spent some really good hunting trips in this truck. He made a point of teaching me how to drive in the snow, on ice, and how to use the 4X4 to get over logs and lumps on decommissioned roads. That is important, considering the state of the roads around here.

3. The truck has some pretty sweet features. For example, the music automatically turns up or down depending on how hard (i.e. loud) the engine is running. Another sweet feature is that it is a very similar colour to the dirt that is in the air here. That means less washing!

2. It smells faintly of gun slick and black powder. Two of my favorite smells.

1. It is a gift from my Grampa! We spent a lot of time in this truck. It is familiar. It has been a large part of our time together. He wanted me to be able to go and do the things we did together, like hunting and fishing and shooting. This is the picture of me and truck that Grampa took on one of our hunting trips.

I know it is weird, but I pet my truck yesterday. It just feels so close to my heart. It is my new baby.

Work this week: I taught another high school class today, and it went really really well! I had a great time. I just love what I am doing.

On the office end of the work, a client was killed over the weekend. She was sleeping in a dumpster and the truck came. She was crushed to death. City officials spent the last few days searching the dump for her body, and found it yesterday. I am somewhat removed and so it has become my job to set up the memorial. Because of the nature of the death, we will not be able to observe the traditional First Nations three days for the spirit to leave the body. It's a really downer story, but that is what is going on here. Regardless, I still love me job.