You do not represent me, Black Bloc

On Saturday there was mass rioting in Toronto. Members of some sort of ridiculous anarchist group burnt police cars, smashed windows of businesses that they deamed perpetiated globalization, such as Starbucks, and large banks. 

They wore black clothing, and once they were done with their destruction they slunk back into crowds like the cowards that they are and removed it – blending in to the crowd of peaceful protestors.

I have to say that I am utterly shocked and embarrassed at these disgusting people. I do hope, like the news has been saying, that these people were not Canadians, but rather people who flew in just to protest and destroy things, because I like to think my country is better than that.

I truly hope it is.

I just don't understand their goals, in smashing the windows of Starbucks, and banks. Starbucks really haven't done anything to harm us. They make coffee. They make delicious Passion Tea Lemonade. I enjoy them. In fact I went through a stint at SAIT where I was too poor to buy them so I bought a couple and carefully watched what they put in it. You can buy the passion tea at Starbucks. You boil it up, Then you add lemonade and serve over ice. And there you have it, a little bit of profit stolen from Starbucks. 

Now Mr. Anarchist, wouldn't it be worthwhile instead of destroying things at Starbucks, to maybe just open a better coffee shop close by and steal away their demographic with slightly less expensive lattes and frappuchinos? Josh and I also discovered they no longer have wireless internet for free there. You could have free internet, and people would flock to YOUR coffee shop instead of Starbucks. Now instead of wrecking the windows of a Starbucks franchise that is most likely individually owned by a person living in your very community, who will now have to replace said windows, you are stealing directly from his customer base. Not only that, you are now a productive member of society instead of a piece of shit anarcist. You can probably take the money you make from your coffee shop and keep it in a shoe box under your bed, because screw those banks right! 

The recent global economic crash revealed some wolves in sheeps clothing amongst the banking world, and while I loathe the $375 a month mine takes from me for student loans, I am mindful of the fact that without the money they put up to support my family and I in sending me to school, I would not have been able to go. I would have been some poor anarchist just like you, possibly working in a Starbucks because I did not get my loans.

Instead, I am a working member of society, who continually has to pay taxes so ridiculous uninformed "anarchists" such as yourself can smash the windows of public buildings, and destroy RCMP cruisers that my tax dollars will have to pay to replace. 

I work hard for my money, and you do nothing to contribute to society, but wine and cry about how your right are being violated after an RCMP officer arrests you for smashing shit. You violated my rights, dear Mr. Anarchist, by wrecking stuff in my country, and I don't think those of us that contribute to the Canadian economy appreciate it.

So take off your black clothing, reveal your faces to the world and admit what you have done, because you know what? I'm a little pissed off at you. 

Love,

Annalee.

Elizabeth

The Queen is visiting Canada today, starting in Halifax and then going on to Winnipeg and such.

Whenever there is a royal visit there is always a certain level of debate, but the way I see it, is the british monarchy is an important part of our history. You can tak till the end of the world about the horrible attrocities that the British committed in their settling of Canada, but what I always think of is a term my College of the Rockies history professor Marcel told our class once; historical empathy. 

What the term means is understanding that while terrible things have happened in the past, they are no longer accepted and we need to look back on these things as something to study, in hopes that we do not make the same mistakes again. We need to learn from things. 

I read on CBC today that one Acadian is bitter that they are visiting and not issuing an apology for the atrocities that were done upon the Acadians in the 1700s. In the late 1700s there was a "burying of the hatchet" ceremony following the end of the battle between the British colonists and the Acadians. But this man says, it isn't enough. He thinks the Queen should apologize for the things done to the Acadians over 300 years ago, despite the two sides literally burying a hatchet to close the dispute. wtf?

The issue was closed 300 years ago man, you're a little late. 

I always take historical empathy and apply it to many modern apologies for historical attrocities. At the time, it was okay to rape and pilage communities of people. Now, it is not. I think the empathy should be applied to now. Yes, there is some black marks in how Canada was developed, but we have moved forward and created a pretty awesome country to live in in 2010. 

I think the entire country needs to have some historical empathy for the British monarch. It is an outdated system of government that is mostly symbolic now. The Queen does not have any real governing authority over what we do in Canada, besides a ceremonial one. How I feel about the Queen is that she reminds us of where we have come from. We were born from the empire of Britain, and we should remember that. 

For those people that want to protest and complain about the Queen visiting, and the cost it has for us, I think they must be misinformed about our history. The Queen represents how Canada became a country to me. We should celebrate her coming here, and welcome her. Without the monarchy we would not be the country we are today. And whether we would have been better off without the British involvement is up for debate, but I must say I am pretty happy they got involved, because I exist today in a country I love. 

So thanks, Queen Elizabeth. Welcome back to Canada. I only wish she were coming as far as the Yukon, because she has awesome hats. Perhaps more on the Queen as a fashion icon later. Also, Prince Phillip is totaly rad. 

I think I'm just rambling here, and there is no real research to any of this. But seriously, get over it naysayers. The Queen is coming. Leave your car at home and take a freaking bike to avoid the road closures.

Annalee.

Idiots.

I was just reading back in my blog, and came across my post about the RCMp and how they did not arrest anyone for smoking pot on 4/20. I also mentioned about stupid little girls posting photos of themselves smoking pot on Facebook. Then, I came across this on Google.

Little needs to be said here. No baby for you.

Annalee.

Earthlings

Many people complain about packing, but I think I quite like it. I love clearing out crap I don't need. I get a certain sense of accomplishment when I fill a garbage bag or two full of stuff that has been clogging up my space.

I have a lead on a place to live in Jasper. It's a one bedroom suite. I'm kind of excited about the prospect of living alone. I don't mind roommates but I think I am independent and need to spend some time on my own. This way I never have to worry about noise, I can be as messy and as neat as I want, and I can aquire my own furniture and things. It's very exciting. It can alos be decorated to my specifications and it will be my own happy little home. I should go call right now. Eeee! 

I offered to work for free on July 1 so that I don't miss a day of the upcoming Yukon River Quest It's not really work anyway, I'm going on an adventure. And technically I get paid for the stat anyways. So who cares. I also get to go on another boat ride. And my other also is that I am homeless after the 30th, so I will have a place to sleep, which will be nice. I borrowed a tent from my neighbour Heather. 

I will miss organizing a camp with Josh. We got so good at it. When the Kia finally pulled to a stop after a day on the road, the cooler was out, drinks were in hand, the stove was put to use frying up whatever type of animal we had procurred that day, and Josh set up the tent while I tended the food. I usually helped actually put up the tent, but it was so freaking small it was a one person operation once it came time to put things in there. Seriously, a six foot long tent for two people taller than six fet? Not good times. We figured out  how to sleep in there though. And by that I mean I stretched out diagonally across the tent, and Josh curled up in a ball. Poor Josh. He's a trooper. 

I took my car in for an oil change and tried to con Toyota into giving me a free hubcap. They would give me a hubcap alright – in exchange for $130. I nearly fell over, so I told them that was horrendous, and they suggested I go to an auto wrecker. Now Dad and I get to troll Northern Alberta's finest auto wreckers for the part so I don't look like a hillbilly anymore. I know it's just cosmetic, but my rims are stock and very ugly not covered up. They also trap dirt, so they are now brown. Foul.

My email isn't working and keeps telling me I have one in the inbox. Then I get all excited and think I have mail, but alas, I do not. Gmail is cruel.

Love,

Annalee.

The Adventure Final 6

More from the Yukon Quest chronicles. We left off with Josh suffering through his radio interview, on our last night in Dawson.

Morning arrived and we had a plan to meet at the Eldorado for breakfast. They had the best eggs benny there, and what my hangover needed was definitely eggs benny. So I had thought Josh and Sam had said they would wake me up on their way by. In fact, I specifically remember telling them to do so, but there was some sort of communication breakdown – and it wouldn't be the first of the day. Anyway, Sam and Josh skipped off for breakfast, leaving me to sleep. The two of them ate with Jason, none of them particularily worried that I was not there. 

Finally my internal clock kicked in and I woke up – about 45 minutes late for breakfast. Great. I knocked on Sam and Josh's door. No answer. Then I packed up my room and wandered across the street to the Eldo, so find the three of them scraping the last bits of food off their plates and happily sipping coffee. Thanks guys! The suggestion of me skipping breakfast came up, but by the look in my eyes, all the men decided to let the lone woman in the group eat for the love of sweet jesus, and I was allowed my delicious eggs benny – alone.

While eating, as Sam, Josh and Jason packed their rooms up and loaded the very small rental car, I glanced out the window and noticed Gerry Willomitzer walk by my window. Strange, I thought to myself. Even the Red Lantern carriers had left early this morning. Willomitzer walked down the board walk and hopped into Hans Gatt's truck with his partner Susie. 

Meh, I thought to myself. My benny called to me and I was soon lost in the sweet hollandaisey-goodness. My god that was good.

Sam and Josh also noticed Willomitzer. They bid the tall musher good morning, and carried on with the packing. I finished up my benny and happily trounced out of the Eldo and plopped into the front seat. About 10 kilometres down the road I mentioned seeing Willomitzer to the group. Sam said yea, I saw him too. We all went silent. It took about thirty seconds before Sam said wait, We have to turn around.

Turns out Willomitzer had still been in town because he had scratched. We returned to the checkpoint, and of coure he was already headed for Pelly. But we got what we needed just in case we didn't run into him and headed off down the highway, feeling like idiots.

To be honest, the next checkpoint was fairly uneventful. We did catch up with Willomitzer, nearly the second we got out of the car. He scratched because as he headed out of Dawson he had the wrong tracking on his sled, and it was dragging. This caused him to slow down. He turned around, then changed his mind, then turned around again before finally deciding to quit all together. 

The teams came in throughout the night. We slept inside a buidling on another hard gym-like floor. I remember chatting with Josh till neither of us could keep out eyes open. I went and brushed my teeth and by the time I got back he was passed clean out, still in his Carharts with his bunny boots sticking up like ears on top of his sleeping bag. I thought about waking him up because it couldn't have been comfortable, but instead I went to sleep in my very uncomfortable sleeping bag. At one point I woke up sleeping on top of my laptop charger – a large black box. 

In the morning Jason kicked me to wak me up and I grunted back at him. I don't think I have ever hated a messenger more than that morning. I was tired, uncomfortable and just plain unpleasant. I'm sure everyone noticed. That day we carried on through Carmacks. The leaders were already through, they had passed early morning, but an executive decision made without me decided we would not chase them at like 4 a.m. I was happy with it. I would have voted in favour.

That brought us to just before Braeburn, when we stopped at hospitality spot at the Kruz family's home. Last year it burnt down just after the Quest. They had been welcoming mushers there since the first one. We did a cool story about them getting their feet back under them after the fire. Josh and I tag teamed the interview. I like that tactic. Then neither of us forgets anything. It's great.

While Sam and Jason were out getting photos, I hung with the litter of puppies they had. I nearly adopted an adorable black little girl. 

Then we were on to Braeburn, home of the world's largest cinnamon buns. Josh insisted on getting one, and to be honest, they weren't that great. The guy who runs the store was a bit creepy. We hung out there for probably eight hours, and through the course of that time I clung to Josh a lot to try to show that I was not interested in old men with biker beards. Although to be honest, Josh's bush man beard didn't really prove my point.

Josh and Sam had to stay late because they had deadline. While we waited for more mushers to come in, we talked with Peter Kamper again, the crazy german videographer. I told him I hadn't seen the northern lights since I was a kid, and little did I know he set out on a mission to find me some. Once it was thooroughly dark, Peter came up to Josh and I as we worked away and told us to come outside. Sure enough the sky was beginning to fill with what looked like a faded green mist. I said to Peter, "Well...they're not that bright." Peter looked at me like I had just said something utterly ridiculous. "Now there are northern lights, and they are not good enough for you?" He turned around muttering something in German and left Josh and I to watch them. 

We walked out across the highway to get away from the light pollution from the checkpoint, and they did get a lot brighter. It was Valentines Day, and I have to say, spending it underneath the northern lights with Josh was the best one I've ever had.

We finally left Braeburn about 1 or 2 a.m. for Whitehorse. I opted for the backseat and quickly fell asleep as the stars got brighter. I imagined the mushers out there. It was cold outside, but such a clear night. I couldn't wait to spend the night in my own bed after about 10 crazy nights sleeping on whatever gym floor the checkpoints had to offer. 

Annalee.

It's all coming together

I have realized in my life that not one thing comes to me easily. I have worked really hard for every major thing I have accomplished, especially in the past 10 months. 

I took the job at the Star and paid my dues working sports. I really enjoyed this job, but my desire to write more diverse stories was always clawing at me. I also developed my photography to the point where I knew it was something I wanted to pursue as a career. I have struggled financially, mentally and sometimes even physically to get through my time in the Yukon, and I think I am about to emerge as the strongest woman I have ever been. 

I'm really proud of everything I overcame, and especially proud of myself for what I have achieved. I'm about the leave the Yukon, which is something I have looked forward to for awhile, to work in Jasper, Alta., at quite literally my dream job.

I was hired on Monday as photojournalist for the Fitzhugh, a tiny independent paper in probably one of the coolest ski/tourist towns in western Canada. One of the requirements was that I be able to ski, and they mentioned something about backcountry skiing. Eek! Maybe I'll need to take a few lessons? My record with powder has never been good. Once I fall, I'm effed.

But as a photojournalist, I still get to write, which is a passion I have always had and never want to give up on. I can't wait to buy lenses and collect camera equipment. I can;t wait to be so busy I barely get to sleep, I can't wait to go on adventures and become a crazy outdoors-woman as I get better and better at this.

My other excitement in life is that I have found someone I hope to be with for a long, long time to come. Everyone keeps saying things about my long-distance relationship with Josh like it's never going to work. But it is working better than any relationship I've ever been in. I can never truly miss Josh because there is always communication. In the age of Facebook I can see Josh everyday. For my birthday he sent me two videos, one of him wishing me a happy birthday, and one of him and his friends. I love them, I've played them like a billion times already. I can take him with me everywhere now. I'll have to return the favour this afternoon. 

Once I get internet at home I can have a real live conversation with him on Skype, and I am always cognizant of the fact that in two years, when he is done school one of us will move to the other and things will be 100 per cent normal. I can't wait to come home to him everyday. I can't wait to see him in a month. I can't wait till the next time he sends me a text or an email or whatever. My life is filled with excitement for the next time we see or talk to each other, and who can say that isn't the perfect relationship?

Anyways, with so much excitement it's a wonder I am still staying focused on my crazy work schedule at the Star right now. I pulled an 11 hour shift yesterday, and any of you who know me, know that I freaking love working overtime. I know, it's strange, but I love what I do and getting to do it all day is more than I could ever ask for.

So cheers, to being 22 now. My first half of 21 was filled with bad relationships, fighting and constant drama. The end had so many good things set up for the next year to be the best of my life. I can't wait to get a little further into it and see what's in store. And by that I mean, I can't wait to get out of the Yukon and onto phase two of my career!

Love,

Annalee.