Day 30- April 19- Saladie Snowball

I was in recovery today from the camping trip. I guess I was tired from all the wonderful fresh air and outdoors activities. It felt good to take it easy today. I didn't bake, I just relaxed and caught up on some things on my computer. If I had been more mentally sharp I would have done my taxes since I am really getting too close to the date for my own comfort, but I just wasn't up to it.

After school, Imaapik brought two of his friends, Nathan and Shawn, to play video games at my place. I was kind of busy anyway, so it was nice having them over. I was working on photos for a First Air photo contest, that I just recently discovered online. I had to edit, resize and select the photos from my library of thousands of shots. I went out around 7:30 for a walk, and went inside the arena since I could hear lots of action as I walked past it. The roads were also a mess of slush, water and ice so I didn't really feel much in the mood to walk far.

At the arena, I ran into Saladie. She's an avid reader of my blog and had just arrived home from watching the women's hockey tournament in Kuujjuaq this past weekend. I asked her if she'd be my photo of the day, and she eagerly answered yes! When I was setting up the first shot, a few of her friends who hadn't seen her yet started running over to welcome her home with hugs, handshakes and kisses. So I decided to put both shots in because they were such good sports!

I love Saladie. I got to know her a few years back when I was still coaching the Tundra Trot running team at the school. She started to come to the practices with her older sister and the two of them were naturals at the sport. I have never seen the same dedication to training that I saw in those girls. Often on the weekends I would see them running back and forth between the airport (a 4 km round trip) multiple times, "just for fun" they'd say. They have since had the chance to go to Arctic Winter games for snowshoeing and have also started playing hockey with the hockey development program. Saladie is incredibly aware and conscientious about her health and works hard to keep herself in shape. She is also very intelligent and is a stellar student. I can see the world completely open to her in the future if she keeps herself disciplined and working hard like she is now. She's a really great girl and I am proud to know her!






Theme Song for today: The Rest is Up to You by Relient K