| Tue Oct 8 Greetings one and all. Here are the latest happenings from Kingcome, British Columbia Animals, animals, animals: Recently, we have had the good fortune to partake in many more animal, uh, encounters. We saw a guy cutting up a seal, after he put it over a fire to burn the fur off. People here eat the blubber, heart, liver and meat. The head is used for something too, I don't know what. He later brought us over some deer meat (at least, he told us it was deer...). I had the good fortune of receiving a 15 pound dog salmon and cleaning it out. Kristin got to fillet and portion the huge shark - that thing was 3 feet long! We got that fish and 6 crabs just on a boat ride down the river. "Hey, you want a salmon? Hey you want some crabs?" Pull them out of the trap and BAM, our house smells like Fisherman's Wharf. We also saw some bear tracks (fresh ones) on the beach by our house. Anyone wanna come visit? Friday, I got to go out late night hunting (more like scouting) on the boat with a guy named Les. We took the boat and 2 guns down river with his spotlight to look for deer or geese or whatever. Before we left he grabbed a huge Crocodile Dundee knife and said, "This is in case we have to walk back." (anyone wanna come visit?) Is that to cut wood for an overnight fire or to mame some wolves as they hack at my jugular? We saw a bear on the shore that night (my first sighting!) although it was hard to see anything as the fog was thick as mud, not to mention the pitch blackness of night. It felt like a Bigfoot sighting as it was distant and not quite clear, but it was a black bear for sure. Despite the darkness and fog, Les could navigate the motor boat down and up the river with ease because he knows it like the back of his hand. I couldn't see a thing. What an example of faith and trust. We made it back fine with no animals. North pole magnetism?: Our digital clock still runs fast and it irks me. I can understand a wind up clock going fast, but an electronic clock running fast? I timed it and one minute runs 59.79 seconds. Well, over 24 hours it gains a couple minutes. If it ran slow, every night just TICK TICK set a new time with a couple clicks. But I gotta sit there and reset the time brand stinking new every other night. Ok, so there are way bigger things in life to worry about, but can any of you explain this? Please, there is a reward: one smashed digital clock. Putting Crest out of business: Kristin, in her ever-creative and saving ways, has made toothpaste. It's 3 parts baking soda and 1 part sodium. We have all tried it. My opinion: yeah, my mouth is clean but I feel like a bovine at a salt lick. Can one get high-blood pressure from toothpaste? Winter-readiness: Nicole and I have been getting our wood ready for winter. I bring it from the stacks that were delivered in our basement* and she stacks it in piles. If you know Nicole, you realize that this is for her enjoyment, not punishment. *We don't really have a basement, houses are raised 8 feet off the ground for flooding purposes. Our wood is under our house. get it? N is for Nicole!: We have encountered some racism issues here regarding some other kids using the n-word. The majority of parents are fiercely opposed to this continuing, and action is being taken, which is great. Racism has to be addressed here, not only for Nicole's sake, but because when kids leave here in grade 8 to go to school elsewhere, they will be the minority. First Nations people are very scorned in the "outside world" and the sooner kids realize to respect each other and themselves, the stronger sense of self-worth they can have - for when they are put to the test soon enough. Al Pacino wanna-be: Nicole cut her chin up pretty bad at her friend�s house. She fell and hit the toilet (???) and got a pretty good sized gash. She's wearing bandaids on her chin, which she loves as children long for bold fashion statements (joke). She'll eventually be fine, but yuck, that thing was gross-looking. Phone: For those asking, we use email and internet at work (school). So despite our phone being hooked up who knows when, our email is unaffected. Speaking of internet, that's my source for news, I've been checking CNN.com. How 'bout that hurricane? Didn't know-it: I have been writing Haiku as a means of entertainment. I submit this example: Why Haiku you ask? No movies, cars, shops or clubs, so why not Haiku? To all you Mennonites: I have a goal before our 2 years is up here in Kingcome. I have devised a plan to have Kristin, Nicole and I to be able to sing #118 (the old 606) in 3 (I wish it could be 4) part harmony a capella. It's an 8 step plan, but I'm determined. Not like Arlene Joseph's: Nicole's teacher gave me a recipe for frybread, so I cooked up a batch this weekend. Not too bad, a little thick, though. That's my fault. Not so good that there was a frybread riot. Solos: We are becoming somewhat lonely here. We have each other and new things and new people, but we miss our family and friends a lot. When we get a phone working, we might be calling often - depending on int'l rates, etc. It's lonely especially when it rains all day and we gotta stay in. This has only happened a couple times, so that's positive. Everyone, please write to us (yes, even you!). We miss you all and want to hear what's going on in your life. Until next time, JohnKristinNicole |