still around

hey so it hasn't escaped my notice that my new-mom friend Batman is posting higher quality and more frequent posts than I am managing to do. Not my fault if she's a hero ;-)

1. My parents have been in town for a week, but they leave this afternoon which is hard. The only really tough part about being where we are is how far away from family we are. We both miss them right away. I hope they felt liek thay had a full visit.

2. My sister is also in town! She got in last Wednesday evening and leaves this Wednesday morning first thing (ugh) in the morning, so we still have some time. We're gonna check out Miles Canyon and Canyon city and maybe hit up Skagway or some other day trip.

3. Yesterday we took a family road trip to see the mountains in Haines Junction/Kluane. Which was fine until we got there and the car started shaking and the check engine light came on and it felt very very odd. We nervously made it home, around 140 km (for a while between signs announcing we were outside the 911 zone). So that cramps plans for the next few days of sightseeing. I guess we'll rent. Car! Whyyou gotta be this way? I'm wondering is it's time to start a car fund.

4. We are experiencing lifestyle creep. Now that we both have jobs and feel stable, we keep buying stuff (well, sort of. It's spendy from what we're used to, whatever that means). Each month there seesm to be an off budget, one-off expense. The Dawson City Music Fest, the engagement, outfitting the guest bedroom (which is approved by my sister! book now!), and this month: a 32 inch LCD tv. What! You can imagine this one was driven by R and not myself, but it is nice and should keep us company over the winter. Next big one-off expense: a car? Jeez I hope not.Probably just repairing the thing.

5. Work is good generally, and I'm getting to do some kick butt training soon which is cool. R is still very happy at his work too.

6. The far hills have been dusted with snow for the first time in the season and it's sticking! Now week after week we will watch it get deeper and further down the slope, then make it to our own hills closer-by and then we'll get our own.

7. Awww yeah! I went for coffee and our hills have snow! Apparently a few of the neighbourhoods in town got snow, and a few cars had an inch or so on th roof! hah! Oct. 17th is the ski exchange at Mount Mac (the cross country ski facility built for the winter games a few years ago). We hope to get R set up and get me some poles and then we'll be ready to hit the trails. We also have or snowshoes, thanks to my parents so that's awesome. yeah!

8. It is now dark at night. A few days ago we were driving at 8:30 pm and it was totally dark and we realized it was the first time we've driven in the dark since last season, since it's been so light for so long. weird feeling. Now, it's time to start northern lights watch and think about winter hours at the hot springs (monday is cheap night). Anther thing that happened a while back was on the weather network. You know the screen they flash with daytine weather symbols and night time weather symbols? In the summer our night time symbol was a sun. Now it's a moon
:-) Times are changing.

9. We wish family were closer. Why doesn't everyone move here? Alternately, we can offer excellent guest accommodations with a mattress warmer (don't go another winter without one, OMG) and access to mountians and hills, wildernees, dogsledding, skating, forests and a sort of stunning dog per human ratio. Come visit! It's the best possible value for your aeroplan points in Canada! Seriously.

10. Ten is a good number, too bad for you I'm out of scintillating witticisms. Instead, I'll suggest that a crock pot bison roast is so amazingly delicious and you should give it a try. Time to grow your beards and fatten up for fall!