Come Mr. Taliban....

Is the U.S Government really serious about reconciliation? A theory now being toyed with for attempting to 'lure' out the lower Taliban fighters with money as the bait. Let's assume they pull out even one, the money the Government will spend just to do this will be costly. Let's even assume they pull out 2-5000 Taliban fighters from the lower end, what happens to the bigger fish in the Taliban at the top of the line? Do you really think your going to lure the big fish out of the water (or the sand dunes) with promise of money? They already have their own money. They want the US to stop supporting the Israelis do they not? This of course was according to the big guy himself, Osama bin Laden. Chances are Uncle Sam won't get one fighter.

Speaking of Osama bin Laden; how it is possible he STILL has not been located? Could it be for the fact that the Tora Bora mountains are so complex and the cave systems are so elaborate that Laden can hide for months on end despite the battle that took place in the area in 2001? I highly doubt your not going to be able to spot a 6 foot Arab hooked up to a dialysis machine walking around in the mountains in a white robe. After all, they found a tyrant of a President from Iraq cuddled in a hole in the ground hidden under a mat.

If Osama was caught, the money stops trickling in. Osama is and always will be a US cash grab folks.

Osama, welcome to the free world.

Penny Sale In Rankin Inlet

Today Rankin Inlet hosted a Penny Sale and a Talent show this evening respectively as a relief effort for Haiti. I do not yet know the outcome of the Talent Show financially what it has brought in, but I do know the Penny Sale has turned out just over $7,000. I would like to say, this sale alone was amazing that it brought in as much as it did. The turn out was huge. Thanks to everyone in Rankin who did come to show support both by setting up the tables, bringing in their wares for sale and the people who contributed financially.

If you are in Rankin Inlet reading this, or ever come to Rankin Inlet, come by the Siniktarvik Hotel and say hello to me. It is my new place of work and I am immensely enjoying it there. The restaurant is busy, and chocked full of wonderful foods on the menu in the dining room section. If you are coming to Rankin Inlet for a visit, book yourself in at the Siniktarvik and stay a spell. The staff are exceptional and friendly.

Well Deserved Win

Going back to the topic of last night's blog relating to the tragic loss of Nan Dicks, my grandmother in Newfoundland who lost her battle not to cancer which she has been battling for 43 years, but to a car accident. Reports are there were no skid marks on the road indicating she never even attempted to stop. Possibly indicating she may have had a heart attack or stroke while driving. There are many twists in this story behind the scenes that involve coincidences. To start, how is it that while being trained last night at work as I was asked to answer the next phone call that trickled into the hotel was the very phone call that brought the tragic news of my grandmothers death?

Another is even bigger. There has been a riff in the family. Between my step mother and I. This is where my blog gets so personal, it will most likely be the most private thing I may ever discuss on here. And I do so to bring you a little closer to my life, and into my world. As my wedding date speeds fast towards July 9th 2010 my step mother and I hit a speed bump in the road while on that journey. As I was anticipating her, her boyfriend and Nan to arrive this summer at the wedding, she wanted me to invite her sister, and brothers. I really don't know her sister and brothers very well. I had declined her suggestion of inviting them and just wanted to go form there. She had brought to my attention she would not be attending then. I had helped her with that decision by telling her she will not be invited then. Two mature adults acting like children.

Uggh. Ok, so this has come to a stand still and got so bad, we ended up not seeing eye to eye on the matter and ultimately stopped talking to one another. Enter the loss of my grandmother, her mother. I needed to be there for my step mother and made the call to her as soon as I got home last night after receiving the news of the accident. The call was hard for her, in more ways than one, but it was a loving and endearing phone call that was supportive of course as I am the eldest out of her three boys and needed to fulfill my role as such. I firmly believe I need to do the right thing here and let her know she is most certainly invited, as is her siblings in question.

Ironic twists of fate. Or signs from the Lord above that such arguments amongst family are insignificant in comparison to the fact that we are not here for a long time, nor is anything in life guaranteed? Whatever the answer is. It is awfully gut wrenching to think it may have taken the death of a family member to bring a family closer together.

I need to get ready for work. Thanks for reading.

A Great Loss

Tonight as I blog, I blog with a heavy heart. My grandmother on my step mother's side has passed away, she was in a car accident earlier tonight. Although I have just seen her this past summer during my trip with my fiancee through Ottawa, where my grandmother, or Nan as I call her, was visiting up from Newfoundland to see her daughter (my step mother) I must say, cancer or not, she looked great. A battle she has been fighting for over 40 years.

I received the call tonight while I was at work, in training. It hit me hard, and I am deeply saddened not so much for myself, but for Juanita, my step mother. Her sister and her brothers and the rest of the family. You see, if you know Newfoundlander's at all, it is the are a very tight knit type of people when it comes to family. I would appreciate if you took the time to read this far into my blog, if you could go a little further and view the photos below of my Nan who never asked for anything from anybody. Was tougher than most people I know, and would do anything for you. The way you would know a grandmother would be.




My two younger brothers, Adam on the right in the white shirt, and Brendan, our youngest brother on the left in the black shirt and Nan in the middle on her summer visit in 2009.



My Nan & I during the summer of 2009 in Ottawa at Juanita's home.




Nan, her daughter Juanita (my step mother) & I.



I love you Nan Olive Dicks. R.I.P

Take 2

Ok, ok. So my blog wasn't so user friendly yesterday lol. Or very pleasant on the eyes. Thanks to some fellow bloggers and advice from them, I did a little more tweaking with my blog page. I hope this is a little more pleasing to the eyes. With that being done, enough on that subject. I removed the poll as to whether or not the page was good, boring, whatever, whatever.

What I really wanted to blog about was this Nutri-System I have been using. Last Saturday was day one. I started at 254lbs. The biggest I have weighed. Today, just 5 days later, a few workouts on the elliptical trainer and a whole lot of Nutri-System meals and glasses of water later I am weighing in at 247 today. I feel good about this weight loss. I hate, hate the portion sizes offered up in Nutri-System however. They are no bigger than what a gerbil would dine on for a late night snack. That goes for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Though I did have a treat today for lunch, whole wheat pita bread with steak cut up into little bite size pieces with mozzarella cheese, green pepper, onion and a little fat free ranch sauce. Mmmmm mmmmm!! Ok, did I deserve it? Was it worth it? Did I cheat myself? I have no idea whatsoever but I can certainly tell you, it was fan-freakin-tastic!

And though I did treat myself today to at least something that resembles a darn meal, I will be right on track again tonight for dinner and have a treat day tomorrow, I will be ok. To see the scale weight looking back at me with a much smaller number than the day before is encouraging. I firmly now believe that daily tracking of your weight is motivating enough. Though I don't expect to see everyday results, I will continue to reap the rewards of what Nutri-System has to offer.

Till next time...

Breaking 1000

Well I never started blogging on Blogger to gain popularity. I was merely hoping to just use the opportunity as an open journal for anyone to read or follow along my time in the North. And although I do not always blog about the North per say, I still do my best to blog about something. I am hoping to have some better blogs to come as I hone my writing skills and following others, learn how they use words. The art of being able to paint a picture in someone's mind simply by using words has always intrigued me. At times I have been able to paint colourful pictures and other time's I feel I have not been very good at it. I hope by year's end I can weave a tapestry of words for you that will enable you, the reader to understand where I am coming from with ease and enjoyment from reading my amusing little blogs.

With that being said, I thank you very much for visiting my blog and supporting me and encouraging me, even if you didn't realize it, to continue to blog each week at the very least. This morning I seen I have reached 1000 visitors. I am quite proud of this and I am sure my future father in law, Gord Dunphy who has a very professional like blog is laughing at my measly little 1000 visitors, haha, this is big for me.

In conclusion, again, thanks everyone!

Is It June Yet?

Finally got a chance to get out and about today here in Rankin Inlet as the old man winter let up a little on us today. Warming things up to a balmy -27, got the town out in droves nearly. Made for a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Monday and Tuesday won't be no exception with temps getting as high as a reported -7 to -11! Come on, I know I am looking forward to May, June and July but this is a little too early isn't it?

Grabbed a couple of photos and finally, a brief short clip of the edge of Hudson's Bay frozen over. I hope to be adding more photos of around Rankin Inlet in the next few weeks. Check out some pics from earlier today below.



This was me trying to recapture my youth by climbing this giant mountain of snow.



Just me stopping for a photo pose.



Because it was so warm today I decided to jump for joy.


Till next time everyone, thanks for coming by...