Another day, another update.

I am leaving NWTel as of July 10th to begin a new life as a consultant/contractor. I have decided that I like constant challenges and new environments to learn and grow from. I think this is representative in my career that I have not stayed at any one position for a prolonged period and that each job had a very minimal connection to previous.

This is a big leap and full of new challenges and new experiences. It's a lot bit scary in some ways but it has huge potential in many more ways.

Let's see what happens now...

Red Banjo - Remastered.

That was the name of our team for the Kluane-Chilkat International Bike Relay - a.k.a the Haines to Haines for the locals. 240km of riding by our 4 person team.
This year Red Banjo consisted of: Evan, Rachel, Ryan and Bernice. We smoked through the race and Ryan wins the prize for having the only flat tire as well as getting the most wet. His hands were all prune-y at the end.

We also came back home with fresh dungeness crabs. I will be posting pictures of the relay and the cleaning of the crabs when I don't need the internet bandwidth for other uses.

In the interest of continuity I am not using the original post title: "Land of the Midnight Son/Daughter". That would have been great but a bit too laden with pun. I also love continuity.

Those of you tracking this site will be the N'th people to know that Rach is 15 weeks pregnant now. All those times that I was asked and said no, I was lying. It was an enjoyable pastime but as we are into the time where one can tell people about this I can reveal the mystery behind the curtain. Things are going swell (ha!) and I will try to resist the posting too frequently on baby things; we will see how that goes ....

Beware big wide world - something descended from me will be coming in mid-late December. I know I am waiting with occasionally rushed breathing ...

Recently we planted some green things in 25+ degree heat. The Yukon gave itself a smack and has returned to the normally scheduled 18 (sometimes) degree heat and the things that were green are now less robustly green. Some things are mottled. Some of the basil just didn't make it and the tomatoes are retreating to the indoors. However; the spinach is kicking butt, the turnips are cranking and the beets are missing in action. This may put a serious kink into the 100ft borscht this fall - GO BEETS!

Walter (the Guardian of the Potato Mausoleum +5 Death by Kitsch) has ensured that we have 7 of 42 potato plants appearing so far. I hope to get 40lbs.

Oh, and on a not green note the poppies are popping - lovely yellow. I will take pictures on a nice day when they are not being buffeted by 25km/hr winds and are more ready for a photo shoot.

Garden blogging is just my pace - updates once a week or less! Garlogging? Glogging?

Today I did a tonne of garden work. We received a half a dumptruck load of dirt (volume = lots) and some of it was still frozen! Luckily, it was 28 - according to the deck thermometer, and most of it melted but still required great lengths of "FUN WITH WHEELBARROWS" preceded by "FUN WITH SHOVELS". Of course, I had to put the wheelbarrow together first which was "FUN WITH WHY DO I HAVE TWO LEFTOVER SCREWS".

I should note I am a little sunburnt from the 28 degree weather but the garden looks pretty kickass. I have decided to call it the Potato Mausoleum which will become pretty apparent once you see the picture & layout.

Before: & After

For those interested the "plots" in clockwise from the wheelbarrow/shed are:

• carrots, swiss chard, beets
• brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage
• potatoes
• potatoes
• rhubarb
• potatoes
• broccoli, red cabbage

Walter is the Mausoleum Guardian in the front there -- +5 to death by kitsch.

I just got my new Hipster Doofus glasses.

I am now officially way more hip, doofy, and able to see. Who knew that your vision changes over time :P