Traces of ASBESTOS

I have been exposed to trace amounts of asbestos at work. So what does this mean? Well, it means that close to 450+ children ranging in age from 2 (at the day care) to 13 have been exposed to it as well. They tell us not to worry because it is below the detection limit of 0.01 fibres per ml of air. Although this is under the acceptable for Canada and the NWT, the fibres have been disturbed which means the tiny cancer-causing beasties are floating about. I have read about it and according to Health Canada, repeated exposure is not good.

The Workers' Compensation Board Sr. Safety Officer seems concerned about it, but the Risk Management and Safety Specialist from Public Works and Services seems to disagree, along with the Superintendent of our School Board. So why are they telling the Principal to hide it from the parents? And why did they have to have an Action Plan in place by a specific date? In addition, we had a staff meeting on Friday afternoon telling us that every crack and hole in the building would be sealed (with caulking) by the end of the weekend.

Being in the old science room, my classroom has two smaller rooms off of the main room. The room behind my desk was the old darkroom. There was definitely old water damage visible on the ceiling (um...can you say mould?!), but there is also a gaping hole. The ceiling looks like it is being held together by a wooded board put up before I started teaching in the room one and a half years ago.











I heard the WCB Safety Officer and the Superintendent were in the building so I found them and showed them my room. Superintendent told me to close the door and not go in the room. OK - will do (or not do, as the case may be) - but this is my large walk in closet that I keep my coat in so the little hoodlums don't steal my wallet. I also keep my gym clothes in there (no one needs to get hold of my sports bra!) Well, I was told it would be done by the weekend, so no problem...I took my personal things out of the room and left.

I went in on Monday and it still looks like it does in the pictures above. I told the VP and he called the Department of Public Works. I then proceeded to call the Superintendent. He told me that they couldn't get it all done. Funny, I have 40 witnesses who heard him say that my room was a priority and would be done right away, along with our Server room which had vermiculite insulation (containing the asbestos) literally falling from the ceiling. The guy doing the work came to my classroom a few hours later and apologized. He told me it would be done that night. It is now Wednesday and it is still not done! The Principal told me yesterday that they would be drywalling the entering ceiling but it would have to wait for the weekend. I am not looking forward to cleaning the mess I know they are going to leave after they finish the job (if they ever start it!). They left a mess in my room when they came in just to caulk around the ceiling.

What does this mean? - "Based on these results, it is our opinion that there is no significant health risk to the occupants of this building provided that the following conditions are met:"

Let's analyze that sentence, shall we. "provided that the following conditions are met" to me means that we shouldn't be in the building because it is not safe until the conditions are met. These conditions include:

1. All vermiculite insulation that has escaped from the ceiling cavity (attic
space) is contained and removed.
2. All openings in the ceiling that may
allow the vermiculite insulation to escape and contaminate occupants'
internal
environments are sealed.
3. BLAH...BLAH....BLAH....

Um...I know for a fact that #2 was not done! In fact, #1 was not done either according to the WCB Safety Officer - this is why he still has the NO ENTRY posting on the door to the Server room.

Is this safe? Any thoughts? I am shocked that no one has contacted our Union yet!!!!

Inuit Guarded

Looks like a typical day in Inuvik, but if you look closer...

you can see some excitment grow a couple hundred feet from our front door.

"Is that an RCMP vehicle?" you ask.

"Why yes, yes it is!" The vehicle was blocking the east side of Inuit Road...

and this was blocking the west.

Rumor has it that someone was stabbed in one of the houses on the street. Most of the houses on the south side of the street (known as the Blueberry Patch for their colour) are row houses and belong to the College in town. They just finished exams, so maybe it was a party that got out of control, or maybe not...for a small town it's difficult to get the scoop when our 'news reporters' are never around when there is news and often get the 'facts' messed up.

I will post more when I hear something.

Gone where neither of us has gone before...

...the squash court!

I was asked if we wanted to join some friends to attend a Squash Clinic held at the Rec Centre last night. (Much to my surprise) Tom agreed to attend the clinic. They were taking people in groups of four and we thought it wise to go at the same time as other beginners. Unfortunately, by the time I called to book a spot, we could not go at the same time as our friends. We did however sign up for the next available time slot.

In preparation for the clinic our friends asked us if we wanted to try playing before the Clinic, so we did. On Wednesday night we headed to the court to try our hand at the sport for the first time. That crazy little ball does not bounce! I am also a weakling! It took all my strength to get that ball to reach the wall and bounce back over the line where I served. But I tried, and that's what counts. I am also trying to lose some weight (yet again) and get back in shape. I have been going to the gym during my lunch hour 4 days a week and got back to the swimming pool (finally) on Thursday night. With the return of the sun my energy level increased significantly - and it helps that it started to warm up again (if you can call -22C warm).

I must say, Tom is more athletic than he looks! He was all over the court and hits hard! I was also incredibly stiff after playing on Wednesday, but not him (grrr...). I am still stiff today but feeling much better. I will also admit that I enjoyed playing - it was definitely a better workout than walking/running (for short bursts) on the treadmill for 25 minutes. *I hate the treadmill* I think we will play again - it was fun, we got exercise, and it's not too expensive to play. I am not sure what people pay in the south, but it's $12/hour to rent the court and an additional $5/person if you require equipment (racquet, goggles, ball).

Minus 49

Here are the fireworks pictures I promised. The fireworks were great, but there are only so many pictures you can take when it is -34C outside. The first reason is that the life of any batteries at this temperature is shortened to a small fraction of its normal life, the second reason is that flesh freezes in a matter of seconds! (My poor little fingers! - OUCH!)




Well, we have had our first taste of winter since early January, in fact, the temperature dipped to -38C on Friday and the wind chill made it feel like -48C - that's right...-48 degrees Celsius! That night our dog friend came by to say hello (along with another dog). If you look closely you can see the frost on her fur and the ice on the fur under her mouth. You can also see the frost forming on the outer door to the apartment.












Here is a table I copied from the Environment Canada website to show the weather conditions over a number of hours on Friday, January 12, 2006:

Time Conditions Temp.Wind Chill
(C) (C)


22:00 Clear -34 -45
21:00 Clear -34 -44
20:00 Clear -35 *
19:00 Clear -34 -47
18:00 Clear -35 -48
17:00 Clear -34 *
16:00 Clear -36 *
15:00 Clear -36 -47
14:00 Clear -35 *
13:00 Clear -36 -47
12:00 Clear -36 *
11:00 Ice Crystals -38 -49
10:00 Clear -37 *
9:00 Ice Crystals -38 *
8:00 Ice Crystals -37 *
7:00 Ice Crystals -37 *
6:00 Fog Patches -38 *
5:00 Ice Crystals -38 *
4:00 Ice Crystals -39 *
3:00 Ice Crystals -39 *
2:00 Ice Crystals -38 *
1:00 Ice Crystals -38 *
00:00Ice Crystals-37 *

Here Comes the Sun...

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
It's all right
(Beatles)

Rising and setting times for the Sun

Jan 1, 2007
Down all day
Jan 2, 2007
Down all day
Jan 3, 2007
Down all day
Jan 4, 2007
Down all day
Jan 5, 2007
Down all day
Jan 6, 2007
Sunrise - 12:20 PM Sunset - 1:03 PM
Length of time we see the sun - 43m 07s
Jan 7, 2007
Sunrise - 12:07 PM Sunset - 1:16 PM
Length of time we see the sun - 1h 08m 37s
Jan 8, 2007
Sunrise - 11:58 AM Sunset - 1:25 PM
Length of time we see the sun - 1h 26m 56s

You get the idea. Click on the link to see the entire chart.

We are going to the 20th annual Sunrise Festival this evening. This is the first time we are taking place in the festivities. We are going out for dinner with some friends. I believe there is a bonfire and fireworks this evening. There is also a draw for 2 tickets to Edmonton (We have 4 tickets - wish us luck!).

I will post pictures later.

100 Things About Me

Happy New Year!

Many people out in Blogland have done a '100 Things About Me' list. I decided to hop on the bandwagon and do one of my own. At first I thought there was no way I could even come up with 100 things, but it wasn't that hard.

1. I would love to take a road trip with my husband.
2. I love sushi.
3. No matter what they think, I am the most adventurous person in my family.
4. I love am infatuated with ducks.
5. I am often lonely in a room full of people.
6. I was on a game show.
7. I love shooting our my .22
8. Many people have told me I am "NICE"
9. I would love to go canoeing and camping with my husband.
10. My brother and sister think I am a nerd. To be more specific and to quote my brother - a "nature nerd"
11. I played the clarinet in school.
12. I can't read music, but I can follow along if I write the notes underneath the lines.
13. I love to wear brown.
14. I don't close my eyes completely when I blink.
15. I won a Beauty Pageant in my younger years.
16. My favourite alcoholic beverage is a frozen strawberry margarita or daiquari.
17. I enjoy making Tom laugh.
18. Spring is my favourite time of year.
19. I hold a restricted and non-restricted firearms licence.
20. I wear glasses for distance.
21. I need them more in certain light.
22. I am afraid of spiders.
23. I always ask for the window seat on a plane.
24. In elementary school I would try out for singing parts in plays but I never got a singing part.
25. I usually got a very small talking part or the part of emcee instead.
26. I am looking forward to owning a home and property in the near future.
27. But I will probably pass out from spending that much money!
28. I turned white-as-a-ghost when I signed the paperwork to buy my car.
29. I was on a talk show.
30. I am an angry person.
31. I am a negative person.
32. I think I come by these honestly.
31. The day we were married! I wouldn't change anything about our wedding day.
32. When I find a grey hair, I remove it.
33. I HATE the beach!
34. I always look at the prices when I go to a restaurant.
35. Often my choice is based on this information.
36. I hate being 'shushed' when people are watching TV
37. I loved working in retail!
38. I wish I could run my own small kitchen and giftware business .
39. My favourite flower is the gladiolus.
40. I once grew them in my mother's backyard.
41. I wanted them for my wedding bouquet but everyone else said no.
42. I bought my wedding dress from eBay.
43. I have only used eBay once.
44. I still bite my nails.
45. And the skin around them (I know it's gross).
46. I like watermelon (on occasion), but I hate watermelon flavored food/drink.
47. I sometimes say stupid things.
48. I usually regret them later.
49. Then I feel guilty.
50. This causes anxiety.
51. I love eating bagels with cream cheese and lox (smoked salmon).
52. This is even better when served with tuna, chopped egg, pickled herring, etc.
53. When I am angry I (literally) bite my tongue.
54. I hate shopping.
55. I need complete darkness in order to fall asleep.
56. I wanted to be Wonder Woman when I grew up.
57. Now I just want to fit into her outfit!
58. I never liked green olives until I had them on pizza from Dante's.
59. Now I love green olives.
60. I am not fond of black olives but will tolerate them in certain dishes.
61. Kalamata olives, especially in greek salad, are delicious.
62. I have a weird blotchy tongue (called "geographic tongue").
63. I like to snack on popcorn (air-popped or microwaved kettle corn).
64. I once sat on a swan's back so someone could give it a shot.
65. I remember the address of the first house I lived in.
66. Chocolate milk makes me happy!
67. I don't like background music when I am trying to work.
68. I have been beading a pair of slippers for over 2 years.
69. I love tuna sandwiches.
70. I had my gallbladder out in October of 2003.
71. I will fight (hard) for what I believe in.
72. A duck bit me when I was a toddler.
73. I have lived in 2 provinces and 1 territory.
74. I like cheese melted or on crackers, but not (usually) on its own.
75. I am 'Scent-Sensitive'
76. No one else cares!
77. I am bitter!
78. Contrary to popular belief, I have a good sense of humour.
79. At my heaviest I weighed an embarrassing 190 pounds.
80. I would like to be 130 pounds again!
81. I tend to be somewhat sarcastic.
82. No, really?!
83. I am terrified of job interviews.
84. I am good with money.
85. I got my first detention in Grade 2.
86. Now I give them.
87. I once looked after a family of orphaned skunks.
88. I never cook without making a (big) mess.
89. Reality TV sucks!
90. I am an instigator.
91. I wish my MIL and FIL would make more of an effort.
92. I hold grudges.
93. I wish I could change, but I can't, so I won't.
94. I am sometimes overly sensitive.
95. I can go an entire day without having a drink (I am a camel).
96. I get headaches regularly! (Can you see a correlation?)
97. I enjoy a good specialty coffee.
98. I had my first and only hangover at the age of 23.
99. The 'Wonder Woman' phase has passed and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
100. I learned a lot about myself while writing this.