Day 36- April 25- Jessie Papak

I was very successful today. Successful at procrastinating from doing my taxes. I'm not bragging about this, I am kind of annoyed with myself, but it is one of those things you dread, like going to the doctor, and once you go or start it's never as bad as it seems. It is just SO very difficult to start. This year in particular as I have receipts from renovations that I am able to claim, so that makes doing the taxes not as straightforward and "the same" as past years. Ugh... Doesn't matter that due to that refund I might actually get money back this year, it's just the thought of the extra minutes of work it will take to do that unknown part that I dread. But I determined on Saturday, that I would in fact enjoy my weekend and do them first thing on Monday... Tomorrow... morning. Hmmm. No more waiting I guess!

I spent the day doing things I like. I read lots of the book, "Perks of being a Wallflower" and am in the last section now. It's really good actually, I highly recommend it to all! then I got my iPod charged up and went for a skidoo ride, with my snowshoes at hand so I could hike around a bit if I found a beautiful spot. I went down past the airport and up a big hill that we sometimes take with the dogs. This hill is tall, towering even and it has a spine that runs from Alain's Lake down to the bay (where the watermelons grow). I drove close to the top of the hill, across snow and even some exposed bushes and tundra on my Skidoo. Then I walked further up on foot, trying to get a good shot of the water that is ice free already in the river and bay!

While I was walking up, I started to waiver a little bit. The wind was strong, so strong I could barely breathe air in through my right nostril, it was completely numb from the cold and pressure. I actually felt the wind pushing me so hard I felt like I could easily lose my footing, and off to my left side was a sheer cliff running the length of the trail I was walking. I felt as though if I had vertigo ever, I would not want to be anywhere near this trail or else I might not make it to the next day. I walked to the third rise, squatted behind a boulder, clutching my mitts carefully and firmly while I took out my camera for some pictures. Within seconds my hands were icy and almost unable to take more than three or four pictures.


I went from there back towards town, over an unfamiliar yet freshly cut track, checked out the other side of town before deciding on going back up the hill behind the water station to see how the trails for camping looked. As I climbed the hill out of town on my machine, I kept pressing heavier and heavier on the throttle and started flying across the lakes and hills. The sun and skidoos have made the trails a perfect highway. It was a really great ride. I got off at another spot and explored a few hills and in the trees a little bit on foot. When I came back into town I drove unknowingly though three groups of ptarmigan on the hill behind the school. As I approached them, they'd suddenly leap into flight and swarm all around my head as they fled from me. When I got home, I went for a stroll around town before settling in for supper.

I saw Jessie on my way home from a walk. She is kind of new in town. I didn't meet her until I got back here in February. She is living with a couple of teachers a few doors down. I have never met a kinder, more friendly girl in my life. She is a great photographer as well, and is super excited every time she sees you. She is good friends with Theresa, one of the French students. I think she is enjoying her time here in town!


Theme song for today: The Sound of Settling by Death Cab for Cutie (That part where they sing "Bap Aah, etc. always gets stuck in my head when I a driving on days like today)