Valentines Day Concert

Curtis getting ready to go for a ride, for the first time in 17 days our temp took a nice dip below -40. Both our sleds are in the picture and yes they're identical.


John Norbert in Sepia (just north of Tsiigehthic)


The band at the concert- John Norbert-guitar, Noel Andre- fiddle, Bob Mumford-Bass, Christina-keyboard.

Hello everyone,
Melissa spent this evening at the concert at the Aurora College campus in town.
A good time was had by all I am told. Games were played, songs were sung, food was eaten and chatter was exchanged.
Take Care
CG

The truth about Global warming.

Hello everyone,
We live in the north, ergo its supposed to be cold however with global warming its supposed to be warmer right? Wrong, Today marked our 13th day consecutively below a natural -35 or a adjusted -44. Today peaked at -51. THIRTEEN DAYS, thats a long time for a cold streak, and according to the elders I was speaking to today, the last time would have been around 1968 (or by thier recollection around when TV came up north). The forecasts all call for temps in the low thirty's and have for the last 13 days. I wonder if this data is the data used to measure records and the overall warming trend that we are supposed to be undergoing. Daily, we get up look at the internet for the temp, then out we go. The difference arrive's when you actually look at a thermometer, the forecast have been overestimating the temp, without windchill by at least 8 degree's daily (Its not just one thermometer either they all agree to a single temp that varies from Eviroment Canada reports). Currently, they believe its -29... Not even close guys, its - 40 out there if its a degree. I can't finish writing this without going out and confirming...BRB.
Ok, I'm right and they are wrong, digital as well as "old" fashioned thermometers agree, Its damn cold out. Everyday, I go to bed hoping that they realized they are wrong and the temp they listed for tomorrow will actually be the begining of the warming but a new day breaks and the freezing continues.
Which leads me into the top ten things you learn in the real cold.
10. Frost is a creeping monster that grows in your home the longer the temp holds true, the back door to the store rests beneath 1 inch of ice frost that has spread around the door and walls. Locks freeze from the humidity in the air.
9. A can of pop at room temp will cool to a nice drinking temp in about 6 minutes outside. Ice cream will start to crystalize in about ten minutes. A can of pop will explode around 25 minutes.
8. Exposed or lightly covered skin will "smoke" consistantly for the amount of time you are outside. I wear light gloves to work frieght and after 20 minutes of work they are coated in frost to the point that they'll stand on thier own.
7. Polaris Ski-doo's can't handle temps below around -32, after that the starter spring stiffen to the point where pulling them is extremely difficult and pull cords snap under the pressure and cold. In this cold snap I've counted 3 frozen drive belts snap, 8 recoil rope's snap, 2 ignition coils freeze and crack and the screws holding my windshield to the sled have shrunk to the point where you can remove the windshield without any difficulties.
6. Frostbite will start to develop beneath well covered skin in about 25 minutes outside (Christopher is now limited to a 15 minute walk home).
5. Frost burns hurt and feel just like heat burns. A couple of days ago I opened a door with a metal handle with my bare hands and the pain still lingers strong when I make a fist.
4. If your fly is down, you'll realize it in about 2.5 seconds.
3. It takes about 2 more seconds to remove your gloves, zip up and reach for a metal handle to get back in.
2. Things that are broken outside at this temp tend to stay broken till the temp changes.
1. Lots of people find perfectly reasonable reasons to head a few hundred miles south for a indefinite period of time when its this damn cold.

Take Care
CG

Everything is Relative

Hello Everyone,
Tonight, while closing the store there was a emergency. I knew this because 20 minutes after the store closed someone started pounding on the back door saying "Open up, its a emergency". Ok, as I head to the door, I check the location of the fire extinguisher, remember where my gun and ammo is and recall where I can find a lot of blankets fast, That should cover all the emergencies that come to mind in the time I have. Ok, I`m ready as I open the door too the two young ladies in distress, The door opens, the look in thier eyes tell me its bad.... How bad, Real Bad. The explain to me that they need to cash a cheque RIGHT NOW, I explain to them, that everything is locked up and I`m not reopening the store since they were in the store 10 minutes before closing and they didn`t need it cashed then. They explain to me, they just found out there`s a bingo tonight, I explain to them I`m going home for dinner.
Take Care
CG

The end of Selections

Hello Everyone,
For those who are unaware the Northwest Company (my employer) ran a mail order catalogue for northern residents offering everything from houshold goods to gun and trapping supplies. Today it was announced that this catalogue will be disbanded. Its sad really, well maybe not sad, lets look at a recent conversation I had with a customer service specialist at our selections office.
"Hello, I'd like to check the status of one of my customers orders.
ME: Here's the name and reference number.
CSS: Ok I have the order for this person for these items.
ME: We'd like to know when it was shipped.
CSS: Ok, this order hasn't been shipped yet.
ME: Is it out of stock?
CSS: No, it appears to be instock. Maybe we haven't recieved payment yet?
Me: Payment was sent five months ago, here's the transaction #.
CSS: Yes, I see we cashed that now, ohh there's a note on the order, that must be the reason.
ME: Whats the note say?
CSS: RUSH ORDER confirmed for delivery for OCT 31 before freeze up.
ME: So maybe thats not quite the reason that we haven't recieved it yet.
CSS: Yeah, thats probably not slowing it down.
ME: So any idea when you plan on shipping this product?
CSS: Oh I see it now, we cancelled the order.
ME: why? and did you refund the customer, or tell him?
CSS: I have no idea why we cancelled the order, maybe the item was out of stock. We didn't refund the customer and I don't think we informed him, there's a note here saying the store should inform him.
ME: And was the store told this?
CSS: Probably not.
ME: and what about the refund?
CSS: No, we didn't refund the item, Do you think the customer would like a refund.
ME: Yes, I think he might want either his product or his $500.00 back. BTW can you check if the product is actually out of stock?
CSS: Yes, I just looked it up, we get it direct from the manufacturer so its never out of stock.
ME: So any other idea's why we might have cancelled the order?
CSS: No.
Me: How about processing that refund for me right now?
CSS: Done, Thanks for calling"

I swear before the almighty that this is how the conversation actually went. I'm sure I could have gone on for hours with her like this if that had been my inclination but the subject matter was starting to bore me, and realizing I wasn't going to get any answers I decided to count my loses and get out while I still could.
Good-Bye selections, here's to better days.

Take Care
CG