I've lived in Nunavut for about 3 and a half years, and though I have applied on MANY occasions, I never got my Nunavut health card. Honestly, it wasn't something I thought about too often (til I needed it of course, then I'd go about starting the application process again). The first time I applied was December 12th, 2007. You'll note, it's 2010.
The office where you send such applications had no record of any applications on my part, let alone many. And the bit that makes it all sticky - I can't get tuition money without the health number. So I applied with vigor this time, having sent the most recent application about 6 months ago. About 2 months ago, I get my application back (Hey, I'm taking this as leaps and bounds - they're acknowledging that I'm alive!) because they need a couple other bits of information (that I have provided several times, but whatever). I send these necessary bits, and begin an email campaign. I'm trying to impress on these guys that I need this to further my career, life etc. I have never received a response to these emails.
I was beginning to get VERY concerned. I can't register for next semester without paying for this semester, and I feel like the 2nd half of first year might be vital to getting to the first half of second year. Concerned may be a bit of an understatement. I couldn't sleep, and was sick with worry.
Then I mention this to a friend, over many glasses of wine when we had that hen night. This girl is a frigging ninja! She emailed the application guys, and they immediately called me. THEY HAVE PHONES?!?! I assumed from the lack of use, that the phones were cut out in the last budget. Then this friend came over and collected my information, and half a frigging hour later, I have a health care number. She's a witch! Voodoo perhaps?
Man, does it ever pay to have friends on the inside. For my part, I'll be naming my firstborn after her, regardless of the sex.
The Help
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
On the Sunny side
Things aren't so murky and dark now, thank goodness. Well, it's dark out, but....oh, never mind.
Date night was lovely, hen night was lovely, and holy God, the amount of wine imbibed over those two nights....I cannot confirm or deny, but I may have had a slightly drunken adventure in Ventures on Sunday night (Ventures is one of the two general/grocery stores). It was fun actually (if it did indeed happen), we spent a bunch of time playing with the neat-o toys that appear every Christmas, and like a good girl, I did NOT set off 14 dancing Santa's that played a tinny version of "Jingle Bells". The store clerk did though, and even though I did not know her, I made fun of her for it, and we had a grand laugh. Or didn't.
A month from today my pretties, a month from today, I will be on vacation. A month from right now, I will presumably have a drink in hand somewheres, without a care in the world. Just need to get through those pesky intervening 4 weeks.
School was cancelled again today. I literally haven't had a class since last Wednesday. Whereas at first, it was kind of fun, now it's getting to the point where I'm afraid I'm forgetting things. I guess I need a reassuring level of stress, or I get stressed. How's that for confusing? My poor, poor boyfriend.
Bought myself a fancy-schmancy dress today. On line of course, so I won't see it for several weeks, as it's coming from California, but buying that frivolous pretty thing lifted my heart to new heights.
This evening a good friend and I begun planning of an Iron Chef styles cook off. We are both insanely excited now, there is nothing more fun then showing off for your peeps in the kitchen, and we delight in showing off for each other. I've been feverishly clicking through this giant cookbook lovingly referred to as the interweb, and oh, my. I believe I'll be making a spicy pork tenderloin in a caramel sauce. Feel free to be jealous.
I heard from a dear friend today, one whom I'll be seeing in a month. Things are looking up.
The Help
Date night was lovely, hen night was lovely, and holy God, the amount of wine imbibed over those two nights....I cannot confirm or deny, but I may have had a slightly drunken adventure in Ventures on Sunday night (Ventures is one of the two general/grocery stores). It was fun actually (if it did indeed happen), we spent a bunch of time playing with the neat-o toys that appear every Christmas, and like a good girl, I did NOT set off 14 dancing Santa's that played a tinny version of "Jingle Bells". The store clerk did though, and even though I did not know her, I made fun of her for it, and we had a grand laugh. Or didn't.
A month from today my pretties, a month from today, I will be on vacation. A month from right now, I will presumably have a drink in hand somewheres, without a care in the world. Just need to get through those pesky intervening 4 weeks.
School was cancelled again today. I literally haven't had a class since last Wednesday. Whereas at first, it was kind of fun, now it's getting to the point where I'm afraid I'm forgetting things. I guess I need a reassuring level of stress, or I get stressed. How's that for confusing? My poor, poor boyfriend.
Bought myself a fancy-schmancy dress today. On line of course, so I won't see it for several weeks, as it's coming from California, but buying that frivolous pretty thing lifted my heart to new heights.
This evening a good friend and I begun planning of an Iron Chef styles cook off. We are both insanely excited now, there is nothing more fun then showing off for your peeps in the kitchen, and we delight in showing off for each other. I've been feverishly clicking through this giant cookbook lovingly referred to as the interweb, and oh, my. I believe I'll be making a spicy pork tenderloin in a caramel sauce. Feel free to be jealous.
I heard from a dear friend today, one whom I'll be seeing in a month. Things are looking up.
The Help
Sunday, November 14, 2010
What a week
Well, at least it's not just me.
Yep, it's official, everyone has lost their marbles. And instead of bending over to pick them up, we're all sliding around in a macabre slapstick parody.
This week, misunderstandings and hurt feelings abound. Luckily, I've basically only been on the periphery, though I am not without a couple of burn marks on my heart. It really does feel like highschool without the good bits - the skinny-ness and debt free-ness. Fraught!
So I do what anyone would do. I wait it out. I hold the people who need holding, and scold the people that need scolding. I try and throw myself into my schoolwork, though it has been admittedly hard, it's hard to concentrate with so much worry for loved ones pressing on my chest.
I think I've done my share of hurting as well, though certainly not intentionally. I've been so involved in school, and work, and pushing, pushing, pushing to succeed and get it right, that I have neglected some of the people I love the most. Again, I am so blessed that most understand, most forgive. And thank God, because there have been many times that these dear friends have been the only thing keeping my head up, and my nails painted.
Tomorrow night, I'm gonna have a hen night with at least one of my girls. You can bet your sweet bippy that there's gonna be wine. Probably tears too.
Tonight, it's date night. When I get home from work tonight, the most wonderful man since my daddy is going to put his arms around me, and tell me everything is going to be alright (and offer to break legs if necessary, God bless him). Then we're going to dinner and a movie. I should probably study, but I need an infusion of real humanity, with a dash of humility. I need to not worry for one whole night.
Go tell someone how awesome they are. They need to hear it, promise.
The Help
Yep, it's official, everyone has lost their marbles. And instead of bending over to pick them up, we're all sliding around in a macabre slapstick parody.
This week, misunderstandings and hurt feelings abound. Luckily, I've basically only been on the periphery, though I am not without a couple of burn marks on my heart. It really does feel like highschool without the good bits - the skinny-ness and debt free-ness. Fraught!
So I do what anyone would do. I wait it out. I hold the people who need holding, and scold the people that need scolding. I try and throw myself into my schoolwork, though it has been admittedly hard, it's hard to concentrate with so much worry for loved ones pressing on my chest.
I think I've done my share of hurting as well, though certainly not intentionally. I've been so involved in school, and work, and pushing, pushing, pushing to succeed and get it right, that I have neglected some of the people I love the most. Again, I am so blessed that most understand, most forgive. And thank God, because there have been many times that these dear friends have been the only thing keeping my head up, and my nails painted.
Tomorrow night, I'm gonna have a hen night with at least one of my girls. You can bet your sweet bippy that there's gonna be wine. Probably tears too.
Tonight, it's date night. When I get home from work tonight, the most wonderful man since my daddy is going to put his arms around me, and tell me everything is going to be alright (and offer to break legs if necessary, God bless him). Then we're going to dinner and a movie. I should probably study, but I need an infusion of real humanity, with a dash of humility. I need to not worry for one whole night.
Go tell someone how awesome they are. They need to hear it, promise.
The Help
Saturday, November 13, 2010
City-wide Insanity, Part deux
Cause it sounds sexier in french, non?
First of all, I wrote a giant entry yesterday, only to have the kick ass internet crap out before publishing, and because I was in that hazy space between saving and publishing, NEITHER happened. Which was awesome. Really. Awesome.
I'm not gonna try and re-live yesterday's blog, cause I don't remember a greater chunk of it, and I'm in a relatively better mood then I was yesterday anyway. It's been a weird couple of days my friends.
Those of you who know me, know that I'm I'm a horror movie fanatic - zombies in particular, but I'll take anything really, as long as it's actually scary and not a people horror. Does that make sense? No? Ok, here's the thing. Zombies aren't real, and they have no working brains, so the nasty things that they get on with don't scare me. Ghosts, ghouls, witches etc, none of them scare me (not because I doubt their existence as such, probs much more because I'm far too boring to ever have a real life frightening encounter). The horror movies that I don't like are the ones where people are the freaks, and doing other stuff to people (example those Saw movies. eeesh), and this is because it's totally believable that people are freaks, cause people are freaks.
So bearing this in mind, I went to see Paranormal Activity 2 a few nights ago. When I went to see the first one, someone told me it was the scariest thing they'd ever seen, so I obviously called them a wussy (not quite that word, but it rhymes) and said I would go see it for myself, and tell them what was what with scary stuff. I was so wrong. I actually cried, I was so scared. Kept a friend up all night cause I was too scared to go to sleep. For reals.
I was eagerly anticipating the sequel. Or first attempt, the movie was sold out. So we tried again a few nights ago, and managed to score some tickets, got our popcorn, and sat in wait. When the movie began, it played for a few minutes, then the power went out. When the lights came back on, the system needed to re-boot. This happened four times. Then we got about 45 minutes into the movie, things are starting to get good, then the power went again. This time the owner of the theatre came and told us they wouldn't be starting it up again as the entire city was without power now. Reeealllly.
My fella and I head outside, and it's frigging anarchy! Sleet is fallin sideways and landing/sticking as ice, the whole city is dark, there are cars gone off the road (some in a big way) and there aren't enough cabs to go around. When we finally did get a cab back to our very dark building we found that our phones were almost dead, with no way to re-charge them. Awesome.
On the good news angle, for some reason, all the schools (including mine) were shut down yesterday, which was like manna from figging heaven cause this gave us nursing types a few extra days to study for a dreaded exam. The weird thing is, though it was snowing, it was quite nice out.
On to the bad news. I gave up my choir yesterday. It completely broke my heart, just telling them was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But something had to give, and I've got no give left. It's not just the exhaustion, there were a lot of factors at play, and I've got no coping mechanisms left. To my dear Choiring Squad, you have made my life. Maybe if things calm down in my work or personal life, we can start up again, but until then.....
My fella got his plane ticket this week. So, two weeks from tomorrow, he goes home. I'm really happy for him, he's been pretty home sick, and if there is anyone who is as tired as I am, it is him. He needs the break. And while I understand all of these things, I'm still sad. I will miss him dearly. I get a little hitch in my throat whenever I think about it for too long.
That is all for today my darling dears. I hope your lives are stress and insanity free. I hope you have a warm jacket.
The Help
First of all, I wrote a giant entry yesterday, only to have the kick ass internet crap out before publishing, and because I was in that hazy space between saving and publishing, NEITHER happened. Which was awesome. Really. Awesome.
I'm not gonna try and re-live yesterday's blog, cause I don't remember a greater chunk of it, and I'm in a relatively better mood then I was yesterday anyway. It's been a weird couple of days my friends.
Those of you who know me, know that I'm I'm a horror movie fanatic - zombies in particular, but I'll take anything really, as long as it's actually scary and not a people horror. Does that make sense? No? Ok, here's the thing. Zombies aren't real, and they have no working brains, so the nasty things that they get on with don't scare me. Ghosts, ghouls, witches etc, none of them scare me (not because I doubt their existence as such, probs much more because I'm far too boring to ever have a real life frightening encounter). The horror movies that I don't like are the ones where people are the freaks, and doing other stuff to people (example those Saw movies. eeesh), and this is because it's totally believable that people are freaks, cause people are freaks.
So bearing this in mind, I went to see Paranormal Activity 2 a few nights ago. When I went to see the first one, someone told me it was the scariest thing they'd ever seen, so I obviously called them a wussy (not quite that word, but it rhymes) and said I would go see it for myself, and tell them what was what with scary stuff. I was so wrong. I actually cried, I was so scared. Kept a friend up all night cause I was too scared to go to sleep. For reals.
I was eagerly anticipating the sequel. Or first attempt, the movie was sold out. So we tried again a few nights ago, and managed to score some tickets, got our popcorn, and sat in wait. When the movie began, it played for a few minutes, then the power went out. When the lights came back on, the system needed to re-boot. This happened four times. Then we got about 45 minutes into the movie, things are starting to get good, then the power went again. This time the owner of the theatre came and told us they wouldn't be starting it up again as the entire city was without power now. Reeealllly.
My fella and I head outside, and it's frigging anarchy! Sleet is fallin sideways and landing/sticking as ice, the whole city is dark, there are cars gone off the road (some in a big way) and there aren't enough cabs to go around. When we finally did get a cab back to our very dark building we found that our phones were almost dead, with no way to re-charge them. Awesome.
On the good news angle, for some reason, all the schools (including mine) were shut down yesterday, which was like manna from figging heaven cause this gave us nursing types a few extra days to study for a dreaded exam. The weird thing is, though it was snowing, it was quite nice out.
On to the bad news. I gave up my choir yesterday. It completely broke my heart, just telling them was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But something had to give, and I've got no give left. It's not just the exhaustion, there were a lot of factors at play, and I've got no coping mechanisms left. To my dear Choiring Squad, you have made my life. Maybe if things calm down in my work or personal life, we can start up again, but until then.....
My fella got his plane ticket this week. So, two weeks from tomorrow, he goes home. I'm really happy for him, he's been pretty home sick, and if there is anyone who is as tired as I am, it is him. He needs the break. And while I understand all of these things, I'm still sad. I will miss him dearly. I get a little hitch in my throat whenever I think about it for too long.
That is all for today my darling dears. I hope your lives are stress and insanity free. I hope you have a warm jacket.
The Help
Thursday, November 11, 2010
S'Wonderful
I slept in this morning, for the first time in I have no idea how long. Frigging long. And I feel like a new woman, stress levels that were reaching a dangerous high in these last few days have taken a dip. And thank goodness, cause I was getting to the stomping around, ripping shit off of walls - in an admittedly amazing Godzilla impersonation - stage.
So living in Iqaluit, sometimes, it's like living in the Hollywood high school version of reality tv, just without all the plastic surgery and bronzer. It's one of those places where everybody knows everybody, and your ex's are also your best friend's ex's and theres all kinds of overlap in friend groups and such. Which is cool except it seems like this time of year, every year, everyone is all frigging fraught. Drama! I have a theory that everyone knows whats coming (winter) so everyone loses their EVER LOVING MIND. See, it's dark out right now, and it's 3:30 in the afternoon. A week from now it'll be darker, a month from now, people reach a fever pitch of insanity. It's like your body knows that it's gonna be dark all the time, and you're subconsciously preparing to hibernate for the winter, but without the added benefit of all that sleep. It was really confusing for me, my first winter here. I was all tired all the time, but couldn't figure out why. I'd eat supper at 2 in the afternoon, and be baffled when it was 7 and I was hungry again. So my first winter, I took the attitude of, "well, it's dark out, must be time for a drink."
So why the drama? Why the lost threads of sanity? Excellent question, and frigged if I know. It's not like anyone has to work less, or get paid less, or there are less flights out or even crappier then usual selection of stuff at the grocery store. People certainly don't party less, in fact, if possible, people party more. Everything just feels a little frantic. It's probably a combination of the dark, and the knowledge that it's gonna get really fucking cold, really soon. Probably. Maybe people are just nuts, hard to say.
In other news, a startling number of people have read this little blog in the time that I've been writing, and I want to express my gratitude and sheer amazement. God love ya, every one. It's really good for my head to think that people are listening, and to all of you who have mentioned the blog to me at the grocery store, and the airport, and school - know that you make my day every time. Thank you.
My fella didn't work today, so I got an extra helping of sweet, sweet kisses. I am the luckiest.
The Help
So living in Iqaluit, sometimes, it's like living in the Hollywood high school version of reality tv, just without all the plastic surgery and bronzer. It's one of those places where everybody knows everybody, and your ex's are also your best friend's ex's and theres all kinds of overlap in friend groups and such. Which is cool except it seems like this time of year, every year, everyone is all frigging fraught. Drama! I have a theory that everyone knows whats coming (winter) so everyone loses their EVER LOVING MIND. See, it's dark out right now, and it's 3:30 in the afternoon. A week from now it'll be darker, a month from now, people reach a fever pitch of insanity. It's like your body knows that it's gonna be dark all the time, and you're subconsciously preparing to hibernate for the winter, but without the added benefit of all that sleep. It was really confusing for me, my first winter here. I was all tired all the time, but couldn't figure out why. I'd eat supper at 2 in the afternoon, and be baffled when it was 7 and I was hungry again. So my first winter, I took the attitude of, "well, it's dark out, must be time for a drink."
So why the drama? Why the lost threads of sanity? Excellent question, and frigged if I know. It's not like anyone has to work less, or get paid less, or there are less flights out or even crappier then usual selection of stuff at the grocery store. People certainly don't party less, in fact, if possible, people party more. Everything just feels a little frantic. It's probably a combination of the dark, and the knowledge that it's gonna get really fucking cold, really soon. Probably. Maybe people are just nuts, hard to say.
In other news, a startling number of people have read this little blog in the time that I've been writing, and I want to express my gratitude and sheer amazement. God love ya, every one. It's really good for my head to think that people are listening, and to all of you who have mentioned the blog to me at the grocery store, and the airport, and school - know that you make my day every time. Thank you.
My fella didn't work today, so I got an extra helping of sweet, sweet kisses. I am the luckiest.
The Help
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Today is going to be a little short because I realised that given the mood I'm in, and the heavy load of stress, I would do nothing but bitch anyway.
I'm trying my friends.
So what I would like to bring up - tomorrow is Remembrance Day, and we have the day off for a reason - well, you all will have the day off for a reason. Promise me you'll think about it k? I'm not saying behave as if you are at a funeral, just take a minute or ten to think about how lucky we all are. As Canadians, as humans.
The Help
I'm trying my friends.
So what I would like to bring up - tomorrow is Remembrance Day, and we have the day off for a reason - well, you all will have the day off for a reason. Promise me you'll think about it k? I'm not saying behave as if you are at a funeral, just take a minute or ten to think about how lucky we all are. As Canadians, as humans.
The Help
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Ruh-Roh
Guess what I got the weekend? An xbox. Ruh-Roh indeed.
Ok well, it's kinda hilarious, it's a "gift" for "me", but I haven't actually used it, and I won't until at least Christmas (when I get Rock Band, and THEN look out), but don't worry folks, the xbox hasn't been sitting in a lonely corner collecting dust. My wonderful boyfriend has been keeping it company, keeping it entertained if you will, for the last few days playing Fallout, or Fallin or Fallover or something. I've never owned a gaming system before, and besides Rock Band, the last video game I played was super mario brothers in grade 7. And I was pretty bad at that. But Rock Band, I'm all over, like bacteria (can you tell what I've been up to lately?)
I may have been studying a bit as well. I also got myself a whiteboard over the weekend, and my fella installed it on a wall in my apartment for me.....apparently I'm like a nerd in the movies - headphones on, scribbling on/staring at a white board, muttering to myself about sciencey things. Throwing papers around like confetti when I've memorized something. If this is what the next four years are going to be like (and maybe more, but we'll talk about that later), I shake my head in pity for you all. I alternate between studying with ferocity to being a gibbering mess.......3 and a half years to go!! Whoo-hooo!!!
Good news! Just over a month til my vacation and SHOPPING (I'm gonna build a bear, yeah, you heard me). I've still got an A+ average. I got many sweet kisses today.
All in all, shit's ok.
The Help
Ok well, it's kinda hilarious, it's a "gift" for "me", but I haven't actually used it, and I won't until at least Christmas (when I get Rock Band, and THEN look out), but don't worry folks, the xbox hasn't been sitting in a lonely corner collecting dust. My wonderful boyfriend has been keeping it company, keeping it entertained if you will, for the last few days playing Fallout, or Fallin or Fallover or something. I've never owned a gaming system before, and besides Rock Band, the last video game I played was super mario brothers in grade 7. And I was pretty bad at that. But Rock Band, I'm all over, like bacteria (can you tell what I've been up to lately?)
I may have been studying a bit as well. I also got myself a whiteboard over the weekend, and my fella installed it on a wall in my apartment for me.....apparently I'm like a nerd in the movies - headphones on, scribbling on/staring at a white board, muttering to myself about sciencey things. Throwing papers around like confetti when I've memorized something. If this is what the next four years are going to be like (and maybe more, but we'll talk about that later), I shake my head in pity for you all. I alternate between studying with ferocity to being a gibbering mess.......3 and a half years to go!! Whoo-hooo!!!
Good news! Just over a month til my vacation and SHOPPING (I'm gonna build a bear, yeah, you heard me). I've still got an A+ average. I got many sweet kisses today.
All in all, shit's ok.
The Help
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