I like kids, but I don't think I could eat a whole one

In the dubious honour of mother's day yesterday, I would like to mention to others that Whitehorse is a very child-friendly place.

Almost too friendly, if the title statement may apply to you, as it might to myself. They are at art openings, crawling on the floor, protruding not yet born from bulging bellies, hoisted in their artist parent's arms while he is making a speech. The only other place I have seen more babies/pregnant women/strollers/toddlers was Spain, where they swarmed the streets and blocked narrow roads. They were worse than those dangerous mopeds that cut pedestrians off in front of hostels.

Curiously, Whitehorse is also very dog-friendly. Connection? Maybe. I am afraid of dogs but more afraid of babies.
And I think dogs are cuter even.

Coming from someone who, while at a nice brewpub/restaurant in Alaska, was almost seated near a child or baby (can't remember, all look the same). The hostess was edging us closer and I was edging away and then I said, I prefer to not sit near children. No prob! We trotted on over to a more appropriate adult table, near the beautiful stone fireplace. PHew.

But hey, some people might be seriously offended by that. Let them. I will not willingly go near a baby/child/toddler until they are old enough to speak like adults and not yard-apes or aliens (usually around age 12, which is ok).

I say, offended parents should really be more concerned about adults who love children. Love them so much they engage in inappropriate acts. Adults who do not like children will not cause them harm, simply put.

So, if you like babies, Whitehorse is a great place to raise them. If you don't like babies, Whitehorse can be annoying at times. There are ways to avoid them though, so no worries!

Work it Out

As I was forcing myself up yet another flight of the deadly Black St. stairs, I though, why do I do this?

It honestly can't be fun, huffing and puffing up a 200+ flight of iron stairs only to turn around and bandy-legg it back down again. But every lunch hour, if I don't have something better to do like grocery shopping or going to the library, if the weather is nice out, if I brought my workout clothes and runners...I'll head out to torture myself willingly.

(if the stars are aligned just so...if we are having an eclipse...if my hair is behaving itself..if it's not windy)

I'm almost, well actually quite, ashamed to say I do it so I can see improvement in my body. I want muscles, I want to be fit. I also feel that low-lying pressure of 'weight' that I am sure all girls/women feel. A revelation for me was when I was grumbling about how my jelly belly wasn't obeying the confines of jean waistbands when a friend, far thinner than myself, joined in the self-loathing. I was flabbergasted. People smaller than myself feel the pressure? Feel the cut of underwear into their flab thighs and bums, the gouge of a muffin-top overflowing tight pants, even if it's just in their heads?

It's so very insidiuous, this self-hate. One minute you're loving yourself in the mirror, naked with a rockin' body before a shower, then you're examining your legs for early signs of varicose veins and 'cankles.' Or cellulite. Or whatever.

We're not 13, or 15 or hell, 19 anymore. Why fight ourselves? I do tell myself this, but man, it's tough. And I am not a large individual.

Everyone feels this way, which totally shocked me. You can't really escape it, but you can deal with it. It's nice to know you're not alone in your masochistic workouts, or guilty Wine Gum candy sessions.

Keep on keeping on! (oh but I do recommend getting into a good workout routine..it does help the brain recognize you need those large thighs for running!)

Klondyke Dental

Gouge, scrape, pick, hack, scrape, gouge...OUCH.

That's pretty much how my latest dental experience went. My poor poor gums are still swollen and aching from the 'adventure'. And jesus it was painful!

I went because I was concerned about my left molars and/ or jaw area which ached something fierce one afternoon. Booked a Dr's appt, then dentist. All clear at the Dr's, so I trotted off for a 2 hr torture session at the dentist to determine the cause. I had my teeth cleaned, which was probably the most pain I have ever had at a dentist that didn't include a root canal or intense deep fillings (both of which I have had). Holy fuck!

I swear to god, I looked up and saw blood reflected on the shiny instrument of evil. In my eye it looked like those hideous hook things on the cover of Hostel, covered in blood, MY blood. I was tasting tin and swallowing it.

I flinched, squirmed and battled with my tongue. I am also proud to say I didn't start crying until the hygienist pinched my tongue tendon.

My mouth filled with blood and when I chanced a glimpse at the bib thingy, it was spattered with it. The hygienist felt bad, I felt worse. My left molar is still aching and you know what? The dentist gave me an absolute clean bill of health--I had two types of X-rays done, teeth and one for my jaw. Hmm..now why is my jaw still aching...probably from having it open for 2 hours!

$308.00 and an advil later...

grumble.

Well, at least jaw arthritis isn't showing up and I don't have cavities.

Workplace Consideration

Now, I've sat on my hands long enough.

Here's a small thing that has been chafing me since I sat down during my lunch hour to cover the people that drift out the door, leaving the office empty.

Please DO NOT just assume, oh well, "someone" will be there to handle it. That lucky "someone" is me, the office monkey, 9 times out of 10.

Also, due to the enormous privilege of being the lowest-paid office monkey, I also have the honour of being first in line for the weirdos, the drunks, the people who want someone to bitch at about some random thing that I have no idea about. Also, people feel the need to inform me about their 'great idea' that of course, being the office monkey, I should jump to implement ASAP!!

pfft. Here's a small example; I go for lunch at 12, someone else leaves at 12:30. During that time, the door is locked and the office is empty. That 2nd person never leaves a 'going to lunch, back at ..." note. Guess who gets bitched at when they get back? Oh wait, here's a great idea. How about YOU leave a note when you go for lunch? Why is that MY responsibility? When I leave BEFORE you? BULLSHIT.

Finding it harder to be nice. Bonus: Office Vulture is gone! Halleleujah! No more answering questions when they were directed to ME, no more fucking hovering over me like a carrion-eater sniffing around a dead zebra. Ah, no more doing his work, no more getting blamed for his stupidity problem, no more listening to bizarre personal calls...
Downside? Now I do the Vulture's job. Well, now I know how much he did exactly. And trust me, this Vulture was exceptionally good about 'delegating' aka, I do the work...so there isn't a huge workload increase above what I was already in charge of. Interesting. It just sucks to have 2X work and ...pay +?? nope.
Now...to improve job to point whre one feels appreciated. Not gonna happen.

Weakerthans!!!

" and hears the price of gas repeat his phrase...i hate winnipeg"

The Weakerthans are finishing up their Rolling Tundra Review tour with buds the Constantines. We attended the Yukon Art Gallery show last night, and they are performing at the bar Coasters tonight. I anticipate the bar show will be a lot livelier but hey, the sit-down crowd wasn't too shabby last night either. They were offering earplugs though. Kind of wussy...

The Constantines brought it hard and fast. They rocked from song to song, only pausing to break it up with a slow number after about 6-7 numbers. Highlight? When John K. Samson of the Weakerthans stepped in to take lead vocals for a song. It was amazing! Constantines were high energy, although not much stage presence and kind of danced like poorly-strung marionettes. Oh well, the music was more than pumped and brash, a great sound to start the work week.

A short intermission (everyone had a drink in their eager paws) and the Weakerthans stepped up without any prima donna waiting games. They curiously began with a song from their newest album, where I was expecting something from a bit later, to work the crowd up. Oh well.

Samson was in fine form, with his nasal-but-awesome voice. He had quite the backup, even had Rusty Matyas on keyboard, trumpet and some backup vocal and guitar. Rusty really looked like a rusty, he was wearing rust coloured flared pants circa 1970, a powder-blue button down that was too tight in the midsection and a bald spot. Very indie chic or maybe 'retro dad' chic.

Samson was drinking red wine throughout and there wasn't really any drunk rockstar moments. Highlight of the show? It would be hard to pick just one...I liked hearing from their new album, Reunion Tour but hearing the old stuff from Reconstruction Site, and others was awesome. Their lyrics are something to behold.

They crowd-pleased, Samson was the only one talking but definitely charismatic. Rusty and another band member duelled guitars briefly.

And..they brought the classics; Pamphleteer, A Plea from a cat named Vesper, One Great City...it was allll good!

What's your fav. Weakerthans song?

Carmacks?

Went on an interesting little road trip on Sunday. We stopped at the Braeburn 'cinnamon buns as big as your head' world-famous pit stop and indeed, those 'buns are as big as your head and pretty much as expensive. $9/each! Good but a bit on the stale side. Oh well...

We ended up in Carmacks, which seems like a pretty little nowhereseville town. A very brand-new school, some ancient offices painted a light '70's green, a house. I think there are 2 restaurants (a record for a 'community'!!) and a building euphemistically referred to as a hotel. All right on the river, cute.

It seems pretty far from Whitehorse, about 2.5hrs but the road is very good, only one tire-losing monster pothole to worry about. We also saw a very cute fox on the way. Hello Mr. Renard!

To sum up; Braeburn is kind of far for cinnamon buns...they are huge..but expensive..kind of stale..oh well! It was a gorgeous day for a road trip.

It's too nice outside

To work. ARghhhh, finally great weather and my ass is stuck indoors. Boo!!

I enjoyed a great jog along the river yesterday, along the 'Millennium Trail' about a 3km job, not strenuous but pretty good.

It's too nice out to be here! Oh and enjoy this, really made my day: http://www.barnmice.com/profiles/blogs/show-jumping-rabbits-competing

So adorable, and hinging on my post of last, totally appropriate!

Enjoy!