Yukon Jen: A Series of Random Events
My life since 2005
I arrived in Lausanne last week. It was also my birthday. Bear’s mother made sure that I was well-equipped to live in Switzerland.
We also have a brand-spanking-new meat slicer. An industrial-grade meat slicer in fact. An important amenity here in Switzerland, with all that raclette and viande seche.
She threw in some fromage d’alpage (cheese from the mountains) and some homemade viande seche (dried meat). What more could we need?
On the way from Whitehorse to Healdsburg, I stopped to visit my friend in Smithers, BC. She has just bought a house there and is starting to become part of the community. It’s a time for change for everybody I know–or that’s what it seems like anyway. Regardless, I had left Whitehorse at 6h30 am that Thursday morning. I arrived in Smithers at her house at 12h15 am that night (technically, I guess it would be Friday morning).
She is a good friend and she waited up for me. I should have called my father as he was waiting up for me back in Whitehorse too. But, I think I was just so glad to have arrived, my friend gave me a glass of wine and we just started visiting.
We visited until 2h00 am and went to bed. We woke up and started visiting again. We planned a bit of an excursion to town. We went to a furniture shop where she showed me a few things she was thinking of buying. We window shopped along main street. At one point, we stopped to look at an outdoors gear place. I was looking at the gear in the window. She was looking at the guys in the store. I guess our version of window shopping was a bit different. 
We stopped at a pottery place and she showed me the type of pottery she likes. We drooled over bowls and crockery. I wanted to buy her a house warming gift, but that was our first store. I thought we might find something more in another store. As always, in retrospect, I should have just got it then and there. Maybe I can order it online? I’ll have to investigate.
We were walking and shopping and talking. And talking and shopping and walking and across the way, we saw a makeshift structure on the opposite corner: The Moose Hut. And we could discern a lone figure sitting behind the counter. I thought we needed to investigate.
It turned out to be a German guy selling sausages: elk, bison, and pork sausages. What? No moose? How funny is that? It seems like a trick question: What do you sell at The Moose Hut? Elk, bison, and pork sausages. We just laughed. He offered us a taste. He cut up some pieces and put them on toothpicks and handed them over the counter. And we tasted. And honestly, they were quite good. My friend decided to buy one. I think she bought a bison sausage for her housewarming party.
He asked her if she wanted a bag. She just said, “No. I’ll put it in my purse.” And I snorted with laughter.
“Just what every good woman needs. A sausage in her purse!” When we got home, I took a picture to prove it.
And yes, we drank those two bottles of wine that night.
What do you need to know about my car? That’s it’s for sale.? That it’s a 2005 Honda Civic Si Hatchback? That it has just over 82,000 miles? Oh…it’s also a 5-speed manual transmission.
I just had a minor service, they guys at Automotive Excellence in Cotati said it was in good condition.
I have all of the service records, including two services I had in Calgary, Alberta and Whitehorse, Yukon.
The blue book value is $8,445.
Here is the CARFAX Vehicle History Report.
For such a small car, it is very roomy. Surprisingly roomy. In fact, when I was remodeling the bungalow and I had to transport a fireplace, the guys where I picked up the fireplace stood around and looked at me and looked at my car and shook their heads and said: “No way. No way will you fit the fireplace in that little car.You need a truck. You definitely need a truck.”
I said: “Pshaw. P-S-H-A-W! I once fit three 17-foot sea kayaks on top, three people, and enough gear for a three-day camping weekend in a Honda Civic hatch. I bet I can fit in that fireplace. Besides, if it doesn’t fit in, it will fit on top.” (Did I mention it has roof racks?)
So these big burly guys stood around harrumphing and betting that I couldn’t fit the fireplace in the hatch, but once they saw that it would fit, they all crowded around to help. “Well I’ll be…” I heard somebody exclaim. “I’ll be..”.
Regardless. Most of those 82000 miles are highway miles. I bought this car in March of 2005 when I lived in Healdsburg and worked in Petaluma, California (70 miles round trip, daily). Then, I lived and worked in Healdsburg for two years with little or no driving.
In 2009, I took it on a road trip to Canada. I drove it to Calgary, Alberta, then to Whitehorse, Yukon, then back again.
It’s a good little car. I love my little car. If I weren’t leaving the country, there would be no way in hell I’d sell it.
Here are the specs:
To my friends and family who have inquired: “Nothing happening on your blog Jennie. What’s going on? Are you OK?” Thank you for inquiring. Yes. I am alive. I am fine. I’ve just had a lot going on.
At the end of January, I drove from Whitehorse, Yukon to Healdsburg, California. We’d sold a property and I needed to be in Healdsburg to close the deal. I stopped in Smithers for a day to visit my very good friend (good woman post to come). On Saturday, I carried on to 100 Mile House. On Monday, I got up as early as I could and started into Vancouver. I had to pick my older sister up at the Vancouver airport. (My sister pulled her Big Sister Card on this trip and said she was going to fly out and help me with packing and moving–even if I didn’t think I needed help). What can I say? She was right (as big sisters usually are). I’m glad she did.
Anyway, I picked her up and we carried onto my cousin’s house in Surrey, BC. We showed up around 3 pm. We visited for a while, then went for a walk along the waterfront. On the way home, we (my sister and I) decided we were going to cook dinner–so we planned a menu, went to the shops, bought the groceries, and cooked dinner. I think my cousin quite enjoyed it. She now says we can just show up anytime and cook her dinner.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE ALASKA IS?
Early the next morning, we drove the five minutes to the US border and crossed into the United States. The border guard kept asking: “Where are you from?” and “What is your purpose in the United States?” I told him three times that I was from the Yukon before I realized that he wasn’t hearing “Yukon”. He was hearing, “Utah”. When I finally realized that, I asked him if he knew where the Yukon was. He said no he didn’t. I’m not offended that he doesn’t know where the Yukon is, not too many people outside of Canada do.
But, I have explained it so many times before: “Do you know where Alaska is?” I put my left hand up in front of my face and splayed my fingers in a vague array of a map of Alaska. He nods but looks a bit affronted (probably because of my tone of voice, but I couldn’t help myself). I smiled to alleviate the annoying tone and put my right hand up beside the left and flipped it over mimicking the border of the Yukon and Alaska. “The Yukon is the Canadian part of Alaska.” And the light went on in his eyes (as it does when I mime this description). “Ah…Right. Way up north. OK.” He lets us through.
STOP! FOLLOW THE PLOUGHS
We stopped in Oregon for a break and something to eat. We actually stopped at Costco — to pick up healthy munchies for the road. And I practically danced out to the car in the parking lot with just one layer of clothing. I think I started singing: “It’s warm enough for one shirt. One layer! Wwwooohoooo!” I’ve been in the Yukon for three months and I wore a minimum of three layers at all times. I was never comfortable being so bundled up. All of those clothes restricts my movement.. My Mum would say: “You have to grow your own layers Jen. Grow your own built-in layers.” I told her that I already had 20 extra pounds of my own built-in layers. I am not comfortable in them either.
We carried on to Healdsburg (through Washington, Oregon, and Northern California.) We had to stop for the night in Redding because from all of that driving from the Yukon, the worst weather we encountered was in Northern California. The weather really was terrible. At one point, we were the one car behind three snow ploughs that were staggered across the highway ploughing snow. Then, all of a sudden, they just got off the highway. And I was stressed and anxious about not being the driver (even though my big sis drives in conditions like that all the time in Ontario). I was so stressed about the weather, that when I saw the plows exiting the highway, I literally shouted, “STOP! FOLLOW THE PLOUGHS!” because all I could think of was: The weather is so bad–EVEN THE PLOUGHS are leaving the highway. And non of the exits were ploughed. The snow was too deep for my wee Honda (even if I had snow tires). I just thought the weather was so bad, that the ploughs were leaving and ploughing the ONE exit from where we might actually be able to leave the highway.
My sister thought totally the opposite. She thought the were leaving the highway because it didn’t need to be plowed anymore.
She was right (as big sisters usually are) and we carried on. We carried on because there was a line of big trucks coming up at high speed right behind us and there was only one option–to keep going. And she was the driver. We kept going and we got through the snow storm and we stopped in Redding. Because I was so stressed about the driving and I’d stressed my sister and we just stopped and got off the road and out of the weather. The hotel was definitely worth
TREE DOWN
We finally arrived in Healdsburg the next day. We arrived to a two-ton tree that had fallen on Fitch Mountain Lookout. Well..not exactly on, but against. And, it could definitely have been worse. Three feet to the left and it would have been on top of the house. Regardless, it did do damage and we now have to figure out how to fix it.
In the meantime, we sold the other property (HealdsburgBungalow.com) and had to get all the personal property off that property and relocate, redistribute, or resell the household furnishings. Fitch Mountain Lookout got an update (which is nice). It is now a notch above what it used to be.
I had to sign papers left, right, and centre for the sale of the bungalow. Just when I thought things were finished, there were papers missed, or new forms. It was all a bit of a nightmare, but I think we got it all sussed. I’m quite relieved that it is done and off my plate. Moreover, I think I am just relieved that I am no longer responsible for half of the mortgage.
My sister was here for three weeks and was a godsend for help. And if she couldn’t help pack or move, she cooked us dinner. You gotta love somebody who can cook you dinner: exactly what you need and just when you need it. Have I mentioned that she is a pretty good cook? So, luckily, for three weeks, I enjoyed the wisdom and company and cooking of my older sister. Thank you Redd. I enjoyed every minute of it.
Today was the first day I’ve had some time for myself. Today, I took a break. A break from my personal fixations and worries and stresses and I had a coffee and a great chat with Jennifer Becnel. We were talking about ideas for her website and family business: BecnelFamilyVineyards.com. I had a few good ideas for her site and she reciprocated some of her own ideas, perspectives, and thoughts for me.
Then, I thought I’d take a bit more time and make my first official blog entry of 2010.
Happy New Year everybody. Don’t forget to show up tomorrow at 11h am!!!
I sent an email with all the contact information. Let me know if I missed something.
Looking forward to meeting everybody.
Tonight I was playing Canasta with my parents. I laughed and said: “You know you are a Yukoner when you know what hand and foot Canasta is.”
How would you finish this sentence: “You know you are a Yukoner when: …”
Hi everybody, I am looking forward to meeting everybody in a few weeks. So far, the bloggy brunch consists of:
Anybody else in? 11 am on 03 January. Bring your skis and we’ll go out to Mary Lake after (work off all that brunch).
Leave a comment if you are bringing something. I’m making stuffed French toast.
I don’t match my socks. But it’s not as bad as you think. I just don’t match two socks and roll them up and put them in a drawer. I don’t like the rolling bit. I don’t know why. I just don’t. Maybe I read somewhere it’s bad kharma to roll your socks. I-personally-like to have a drawer full of single socks. Actually, I have two drawers full of socks: one full of white sport socks, and the other full of dark or woolen socks.
When I do get dressed, it’s not like I have visibly odd-socks. I don’t wear a white sock and a dark sock. Or a dark sock and a woolen sock. I usually wear socks that I buy in bulk from Costco or some other warehouse place. I put all of the same colours in one drawer. When I need a pair of socks, I pull out two from the drawer. I have a theory. If I reach into the drawer and pull out one sock, how many times to I have to reach into the drawer and pull out its mate? Once. At most, twice. It’s like a game when I get dressed. Almost a ritual.
When I opened the package of white sports socks I bought this last time, I saw that they have different-coloured writing on the toes. Meaning, there are now pairs of socks in my bulk purchase (if you look at socks that way). A pair of socks with pink writing. A pair of socks with blue writing. And so on.
I still put all of the same-coloured socks in one drawer. When I want a pair of white sport socks, I pull out two of the same type (previous bulk purchases have grey bottoms, now some of them have coloured writing), and I put them on. At least I have the same type of sport socks on. I don’t normally care if they are the same colour of writing on the toes or not. I guess I’m just rebellious or something. Or I’m asserting myself by not conforming to wearing a veritable pair of socks. Who really cares anyway?
So far, I have found four people who have told me I am wearing odd socks.
And I say: I know.
I like them that way.
I logged on to my blog today to write a story about socks. Not even Christmas socks, but regular socks. I think I’ll save that for another day. Tonight, I’ll republish a Christmas wish from Fawn. I am so impressed.
Last week, when I knew I was going to have to start hearing Christmas music all over the place, I wanted to hear some different tunes. Alternative. Unique. Different. I am tired of all of the same songs, year after year. I even started finding the ones I really like in YouTube and publishing them here.
Fawn, though–being true to herself, actually wrote and recorded her own Christmas song and published it. I am so impressed.
Head on over to her blog and leave a comment if you like it. I do. I said I’d join the chorus and request the CD.
