Sickies

There is a good reason why I haven't posted anything since we been back....both Blitz and I have been ill.  Blitz caught kennel cough while boarding in Yellowknife and his temperature rose to 40.2'C at one point and was vomiting.  Yesterday was the breaking point for him as his temperature is back to normal and no more vomiting.  I was quite worried especially after talking to his vet Jillian as she was worried about pneumonia.  So glad that he is just about back to normal, just a bit of coughing here and there.

As for me it started one day after our return to CamBay with a sore throat.  Then it went up into my head for a couple of days and now it's in my chest.  Maybe it was the recirculated air in the plane or maybe it was the many people you come in contact with while flying or maybe it's just sympathy cold for Blitz.  However I caught it I'm not liking it. 

I have been going to work every day since returning as March 31st is year-end for us and I had to get many things finished before then.  I have three more projects that need to finalized before the end of this week so no sick day for me until the second week of April...by then I won't need a sick day.

The weather here has been sunny and cold with windchill still sitting around -40'c.  Good news is the sun is warm on the skin and the days are becoming longer with the sun rising about 6:30am and setting at 7:30pm.  I look forward to the day when the sun starts to melt the snow, unfortunately it  will be a couple more months.

So needless to say that I do not have much to report this time and only 3 pictures of the Shorthairs enjoying the warm Arctic sun.

Talk soon!

This is how it all started

Then Blitz felt the need to join in

And this is how it ended...how cute is that?!

Family, Friends and a New Tattoo!

We arrived in Winnipeg on Wednesday late afternoon, went to pick up our rental at Hertz and much to our surprise they did not have a vehicle for us.  Even though we reserved one a month and half ago!  We called our friends Sandy and Keith to come and pick us up and the following day we headed over to Hertz's competition to rent a vehicle of our choice.  Needless to say we will not be reserving a rental from them again. 

We laid low Wednesday with our friends and the following day we did a bit of shopping then off to dinner with Craig's parents and his sister and family.  I couldn't believe how tall Spencer was and yes he is much taller than I...surprised?  Reece has lost one of his front teeth and is also growing like a bad weed.  We had a nice dinner catching up with the boys and everyone else. 

Friday was the day of the new tattoo so Keith and Craig dropped off Sandy and I at the studio as they went off shopping for guitars.  I have this ugly scar on my right forearm and I decided it was time to try to cover it up and what better than Blitz's paw print.  He has large feet but it still wasn't quite big enough to cover the full scar but it is close.  Ivy, from Metamorphosis did a great job making sure the tattoo was exactly Blitz's paw print.  I must say that tattooing over scar tissue was special....very special!  I couldn't believe how much it hurt compared to my other tattoos but I toughed it out and in 2 1/2 hours it was completed and I love it!  It is still swollen and red today but I have been icing it and putting the cream on it when needed.  Thank you Sandy for "holding my hand" and of course Ivy for giving me a great tat.

After the tattoo the boys took us to Sargent Sundae for an ice cream cone and the weather had been so beautiful we sat outside and ate the ice cream.  From there we headed to my old place of employment, Birchwood Animal Hospital to say hello to everyone.  It was great to see my former boss Philipp, doctors and fellow co-workers.  We had a nice chat with everyone and then it was off again to get ready for dinner.

Friday night was dinner with friends at Tony Roma's.  It was great to see everyone again but missed a couple of them that couldn't make it.  Once finished some of us headed over to the Birley's for a few drinks and to watch the Jets game, or should I say watch the Jets win!  It was an exciting game and probably too much excitement for me as after everyone left I was spent so off to bed I went.  I was so tired I didn't notice right away that there was an Apple bag on my pillow.  Guess what Craig bought me?  That's right the new IPad 3, I guess he was tired of me using his IPad all of the time. ha ha  What a great surprise and I can't wait to open up the package.

Today we did our last load of laundry, went for a late breakfast with Sandy and Keith, returned our rental, finished packing and then headed to the airport.  The flight went smooth and we are now relaxing in our room after having a great steak dinner at Creations in the Sawridge Inn.

Tomorrow we spend the day hanging with my big bro Mike and our friend Michelle.  Can't wait to see them again.  My other brother and his family can not make the drive up from Airdrie but we will be thinking of them and wish they were here with us.

Monday we head back home to CamBay, picking up the dogs in Yellowknife on our way up.  Oh yeah I forgot to mention that my poor Blitz got kennel cough while in YK and now I am just praying that Molly doesn't get it.  They all received their vaccine for kennel cough in December but I guess it's just like our flu shot, doesn't always work. Molly has chronic bronchitis so that's all she needs, keeping my fingers crossed that she doesn't get it.  The boy needs his mommy and soon he will be able to snuggle with me.  Missing all three of them and yes even the cat.  Will be good to go back home and get into a routine again.

Talk soon!

 Reece showing off his hockey trophy

 Mom, Dad and Craig

 Todd, Spencer, Laura and Reece

 The stencil and the beginning of the process

Ivy hurting me....I mean giving me some ink. haha

 Finished product!

 Craig having some fun at the tattoo studio

 Sandy not feeling left out in the fun

 Jillian and myself at dinner

 Trish and Rod

Sandy and Keith

The rest of the gang: Donna, Jillian, myself, Craig, Craig, Angela, Les, Mike

Final Day in Boston

The Boston International Seafood Show 2012 came to a close today at 3pm.  It was my pleasure meeting some of the people that work in our sister companies and of course meeting people from around the world.  I will take home wonderful memories of this historic city and hope one day I will return.

After tear down Craig and I decided to take a taxi to one of the box store malls here in Boston, about a 20 minute taxi drive.  We finished our last minute shopping and headed back via cab.  While riding back our cabbie received a phone call from his wife stating that the Hilton was on fire....HILTON THAT'S THE HOTEL WE ARE STAYING IN.  After searching for the news on my Blackberry it was not our Hilton but the one in Back Bay and it was actually not the Hilton but the garage next to it.  That area of Boston had no power or had limited power due to this four alarm fire and some of the guests from that Hilton ended up in ours.  No injuries reported the last time I looked.

We ended our evening with a bang here in Boston when Craig was asked to join the couple of guys singing & playing at Mr. Dooley's Irish Pub located just down the street from our hotel.  Stephane and I couldn't believe our eyes when Craig ended up on stage as he told us he was going to the bathroom.  He did one song and his captured audience cheered him on...might of been the Guinness. haha

We are packed and ready for bed as 6am will come early.  We head to Montreal first and then to Winnipeg for a couple days of visiting with family and friends.  Thursday evening is family dinner at Boston Pizza, Friday at 11am I get another tattoo and then Friday night is booked for a get together with friends at Tony Roma's.   Saturday we start our trek back to Edmonton for a couple of days where I am hoping to see my brothers, then it's Yellowknife to pick up the dogs and then back home. 

Tonights pics are more of the show and one of Craig on stage.  (sorry pic is not great of Craig as I took it with my Blackberry)

Talk soon!

 Brian and Brian.  One on the left is my accounting guru from NDC and the other Brian is the manager from the Rankin Inlet plant.

The crew, Maggie (Brian Z. wife), Brian Z., Vivian, office manager from Rankin and Brian S. wife, Craig and Brian S.  Confused yet?   Missing is Gordon from Pang fisheries.

Just a small portion of the show

View from the other side of the walkway

Craig having a blast at Mr. Dooley's Irish Pub

Boston International Seafood Show - Days 1 and 2

Wow what a busy couple days here in Boston.  I have done trade shows in the past but this one is huge with companies from all over the world.  People are quite fascinated where we live, how we live, how do we get from CamBay to Boston, how cold does it get and how on earth do we fish in the Arctic.  I in return have many questions for them.  I have met people from of course Canada, United States, French Antilles, Iceland, Japan, China, etc etc etc.  I think the highlight so far was meeting Keith Ashfield, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and his entourages.  Very nice man and he said he was so proud of the Nunavut Fisheries...very cool.  Some of our supplies for the plant are at this show and I can now put a face to the names that I come to know.  Another highlight was from today while we were on the shuttle coming from the show to the hotel.  Clean Fish is the only company that we deal with in the States and there was a video playing in the shuttle where our company was one that was featured.  It was amazing to see some of the employees on this video and I can't wait to tell them all about it when we return.

 

 

There are 3 fisheries under the NDC name that share the booth, Pangnirtung Fisheries, Kivaliq Arctic Foods and Kitikmeot Foods Ltd.  It is nice to meet the managers from the other companies to share stories and ideas.  We all went for dinner last night and get to know each other a wee bit better.  The managers from Kivaliq Arctic Foods, Brian and Vivian will soon retire so it is kinda sad as I just met this couple and now they are leaving.  I finally met Brian's (from NDC) wife, Maggie and really enjoy talking to her.  Gordon is the production manager from Pang which is a very large fishery so I love hearing the stories of his plant.

 

 

Tomorrow is the final day and the show ends at 3pm so we might be able to get more shopping done.  Not sure what I am looking for just want to do some shopping. 

Pictures tonight are of the show and I will try to post more tomorrow.

Talk soon!

Craig, Vivian and Brian

Craig, myself and Brian

Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (6th from the left) and his  entourages.

Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada on your far left.

The Shrimpster!

Another creative booth at the show

 Are we back in the Arctic?  I've never seen so many polar bears!

 Part of our cooler display

Another part of it

 The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum - too bad it was closed for renovations.

Not used to all this traffic

The Streets of Boston

We all met at the convention centre this morning to set up for the Boston International Seafood Show, we first got in line to register and then went to find our booth.  Thankfully the isles were number and we were booth 1149.  Brian and his wife Maggie met us there and we went to work setting up the banners, cooler and putting together packages for our visitors.  Brian the manager of Kivaliq Arctic Foods in Rankin Inlet and his wife Vivian met us at the booth a few minutes later.  It took us a couple of hours to set everything up and then tomorrow we finish the job with our display of Arctic char.  It will be busy tomorrow as the show goes until 5pm and then it's off to dinner with everyone.  The show is pretty amazing as it involves companies from all over the world so I think tomorrow will be interesting.

After setup we headed back to our hotel for a later lunch and then it was off to the Market to do some light shopping.  We spent a couple of hours there, dropped off our bags in our room and went for a nice walk to find the Cheers bar.  We came across some amazing historical buildings then came to Boston Common and finally our final destination...Cheers.  We didn't see Norm there but I am sure we were a bit too early. haha

Tonight's pictures are of some of the sights we seen on our walk this evening.

Talk soon!

Our room at the Boston Hilton in the Financial District

 Stephane waiting at the front of the hotel

The lobby

 Many horse and buggy rides today

The Market where we went shopping

Came across this very narrow building during our walk this evening

The following pictures are an example of the amazing statues in Boston

 Very narrow streets
















The Massachausetts State House

 Another view of it

Loved the entrance to this apartment house

Thought this one looked better in B & W.  One of the many historical buildings turned apartments

This church had a fruit/veggie stand on the right

The melting skating rink in Boston Common

Good Nite Boston

Cape Cod

We arrived in Boston yesterday evening about 7pm and got settled in at the historic Boston Hilton in the Financial District.  Ordered room service and hit the sack around 11:30am as we were planning a road trip today as this is the one full free day here.  We realized that from Cambridge Bay to Boston we hit 7 cities/towns in 2 days.

I think I just found a new favorite vacation spot today...Cape Cod.  I always wanted to go here and now I can take it off my Bucket List.  The love the feel this place has, relaxed and comfortable like your favorite pair of jeans.   The drive from Boston to Cape Cod was scenic and beautiful and I would come back in a heartbeat.  I love the homes with their weathered cedar siding and the pop of colour some have on their front door or window trim. 

We headed to Hyannis Port, the place where the Kennedy's spent days in their vacation home.  Many shops and restaurants were closed for the season but we managed to eat lunch at the British Beer Company where we had a taste of England.  From there we crossed the street to visit the JFK Museum and then to the Korean War Memorial. 

Tomorrow is set up for the Boston International Seafood Show.  We meet Brian, our business advisor from NDC (Nunavut Development Corporation) around 10am where first we will register and then it's booth set up.  We are praying that our Arctic char made it to Boston as we will be displaying our char at our booth.  We should be completed around noon and from there Craig and I will visit the area around our hotel and do a bit of shopping.  Sunday through Tuesday are show days for us and Wednesday we leave for a short visit in Winnipeg. 

The pictures tonight are from Hyannis Port and Chatham - hope it gives you a feel of the area.

Talk soon!

Many boats along the shore in Hyannia Port 

So many boats to photograph... 

Private pier  

Another one 

Korean War Memorial 

JFK Museum in Hyannis Port

The Kennedy vacation home in Hyannis Port 

Craig enjoying the view 

The view from the Kennedy home

The beach by the Kennedy home

Some of the beautiful homes in Chatham 

Chatham boats at low tide