reminds me of what I used to do
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
I just found out today that my credit protection for my mastercard was approved for benefit payments back to July of 2006 so all of these things are serving to help me. So the insurance company will continue to pay $164.00 per month until new forms are due in January. My ability to pay my bills in a timely manner and to pay for balance protection is valuable to me under these new circumstances.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Getting to work from an Island
remembering-
How many of you lived on an island and had to get to work by water transportation? For four years (2002-2006) I lived on a small island in northern Manitoba (population 65). At about 7:30 A.M. I walked down a small hill from my home overlooking the lake and I waited for a boat taxi. My personality and attitude assisted me in waiting mostly patiently. Although at times I would pre arrange for a ride and have someone meet me at the appointed time most community people did not have the same time frame in mind that I had and they mostly taxied after my school time. So it was all serandipity and happenstance. If the weather was calm and the water resembled the smoothness of placid glass then I would enjoy the gentle lapping of the tiny waves on the rocky shore. Sometimes a boat would travel by on the far side of the lake and create a larger rolling wave reaching and touching my shoreline and I would wave frantically for a ride. For almost the entire four years some ambitious boater would see me, load my awkward self into the boat and deposit me safely on the opposite dock and I would get to work in a timely manner. Then there would be the adventures of getting to the opposite shore when the lake was turbulent with unfriendly high waves and I would straddle the seat of the boat and fix my stare either on the floor or on the face of the driver so that I would not be terrified by the tossing of the boat up and down repeatedly- when I would arrive at the highschool the staff would ask me how my morning trip was and I would say, "I survived."The four dollar trip got me where I had to be." Then there was the freezing of the water in the late fall.
Now the skies were greyer and the dock would be covered with slippery moisture turning to ice and I would have to get to the boat without falling on the dock or off the dock. As the weather became decidely colder the lake would form larger pieces of ice but a windy day and movement of the boats would destroy the ice formation and then freeze-up would be lengthened. As the ice became strong the native taxi drivers would push through the ice and make a water channel leading to the docks so that everyone could still do their errands and shop on stevenson Island. I woud follow the lead of the native people and continue to go to work under these adverse conditions and I would not stay on the other side during freeze-up.
So if you think I was scared on a windy autumn day you should have seen me when the icy snow was striking my face and I was holding onto the edge of the boat as it sped through open waters beween ice fields. The drivers really put the speed on through the open waters because when they got to the ice bits they had to slowly break the ice. The ice was broken with the push of the boat and maybe the boat driver would attack it with a pole or some handy item. Sometimes we would have alot of passengers so that the weight would prevent the boat from overturning during a storm.Then I would have to go through the whole experience to get home after school. Then on a certain day the chief would tell people to stay off the ice and one day would be left for nature to complete the job of icing over the lake at least a few inches. Then I would walk to work on what some persons deemed thin ice but it was declared officially safe for human weight but not as yet vehicles. I really looked forward to the winter months when getting to work on my time frame and my two feet was possible. I could get to the mainland a about five minutes unless the snow was too deep. That is another story. More later on spring break-up!!
How many of you lived on an island and had to get to work by water transportation? For four years (2002-2006) I lived on a small island in northern Manitoba (population 65). At about 7:30 A.M. I walked down a small hill from my home overlooking the lake and I waited for a boat taxi. My personality and attitude assisted me in waiting mostly patiently. Although at times I would pre arrange for a ride and have someone meet me at the appointed time most community people did not have the same time frame in mind that I had and they mostly taxied after my school time. So it was all serandipity and happenstance. If the weather was calm and the water resembled the smoothness of placid glass then I would enjoy the gentle lapping of the tiny waves on the rocky shore. Sometimes a boat would travel by on the far side of the lake and create a larger rolling wave reaching and touching my shoreline and I would wave frantically for a ride. For almost the entire four years some ambitious boater would see me, load my awkward self into the boat and deposit me safely on the opposite dock and I would get to work in a timely manner. Then there would be the adventures of getting to the opposite shore when the lake was turbulent with unfriendly high waves and I would straddle the seat of the boat and fix my stare either on the floor or on the face of the driver so that I would not be terrified by the tossing of the boat up and down repeatedly- when I would arrive at the highschool the staff would ask me how my morning trip was and I would say, "I survived."The four dollar trip got me where I had to be." Then there was the freezing of the water in the late fall.
Now the skies were greyer and the dock would be covered with slippery moisture turning to ice and I would have to get to the boat without falling on the dock or off the dock. As the weather became decidely colder the lake would form larger pieces of ice but a windy day and movement of the boats would destroy the ice formation and then freeze-up would be lengthened. As the ice became strong the native taxi drivers would push through the ice and make a water channel leading to the docks so that everyone could still do their errands and shop on stevenson Island. I woud follow the lead of the native people and continue to go to work under these adverse conditions and I would not stay on the other side during freeze-up.
So if you think I was scared on a windy autumn day you should have seen me when the icy snow was striking my face and I was holding onto the edge of the boat as it sped through open waters beween ice fields. The drivers really put the speed on through the open waters because when they got to the ice bits they had to slowly break the ice. The ice was broken with the push of the boat and maybe the boat driver would attack it with a pole or some handy item. Sometimes we would have alot of passengers so that the weight would prevent the boat from overturning during a storm.Then I would have to go through the whole experience to get home after school. Then on a certain day the chief would tell people to stay off the ice and one day would be left for nature to complete the job of icing over the lake at least a few inches. Then I would walk to work on what some persons deemed thin ice but it was declared officially safe for human weight but not as yet vehicles. I really looked forward to the winter months when getting to work on my time frame and my two feet was possible. I could get to the mainland a about five minutes unless the snow was too deep. That is another story. More later on spring break-up!!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Kira
My granddaughter thoroughly enjoying herself about six months ago. I used my digital camera to record her dancing to music.
How do I feel today- alot of tiredness and some stress- happy to see Deidre having a great time in highschool-she received one award for having a b average-a certificate -based on last years academic achievement. She also had received a honourarium to go to the International Peace Gardens for her volleyball sports camp. My grandchildren came for a small version of a thanksgiving supper yesterday. Deidre helped serve the meal to Kira, Kylie, and Kylie's friend Lauren, and David dropped in for about ten minutes, ate and went home. Cora came and chose not to eat-she and David used their personal problems not to sit down and share thanksgiving dinner with me but I took it with a grain of salt for the most part. they should have sucked it up and respected my dinner but I let it go and enjoyed being with deidre and the kids.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Here I am at the library downtown and finished my appointment with my insurance lawyer-things are being lined up and no more to say about that. It has been a beautiful summer like day and the golden leaves on the trees add to the texture and colour and whimsey of downtown Winnipeg. I thought there might be some teachers down from the north for a teacher's conference but perhaps I got the dates wrong as it was only a rumour I heard. I was very sorry to hear of my former boss's death-Nelson McKay -such a gentleman who always spoke with kindness and courtesy and teated all so well. He was my Director of Educatio and my vice-principal at Gardn Hill, Mb. and he hired me more than once. The last time we spoke was in front of the sheraton Hotel about a year ago. I always appreciated his friendly smile and warmth and the coolness he had-if he ever got upset it was not revealed to us. Save a spot for me Nelson.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
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