ugh.

things are going well up here in the north, but not without a large portion of stress. it doesn't really feel as though i've been able to settle into my role as supervisor yet, in terms of the expected bookwork and socializing and relatively relaxed mornings. nope. of course, out of the entire contract, it just so happens that the three most difficult blocks of land to be managed and planted need to be done so in the first two weeks. not ideal for anyone, really. anyways, with some serious negotiations (undoubtedly aided by my perpetually persuasive and intimidating demeanor) there have been some favourable arrangements made with the client. and so, after the first really nice day of planting, unmarred by stressfully looming plans, i returned to camp in the evening to discover that the generator, water pump at the lake, and water pump in the kitchen were all malfuntioning. perfect. love it. well, the water pump at the lake just needed a master's pull of the cord, and the generator required some tlc to clean the exhaust filter, but the kitchen water pump seems to have burned out. what you have to realize is that this is all very expected. dreaded, yes; but certainly not surprising. we've had problems with the generator each year, and each year it seems not to have been serviced completely. the kitchen water pump has blown before. the water pump at the lake cracked last year. and especially when you are the one in charge, especially of a tree plant, murphy's law will invariably stand true. and i hesitate to even tempt the ill spirits of the north by mentioning that things could be worse. yes, indeed they can.

but really, i only mean to describe some of the daily difficulties that i am faced with. there's much satisfaction when i can bring about acceptable outcomes, whether by plan or serendipity, luck or providence, and somehow everything works out. right now the generator is humming softly, the water tank is full, and a loaner pump will be on its way tomorrow to get us through to the weekend, during which i can retrieve a spare from the company shop.

of course, tomorrow will bring new difficulties of its own. for example, awaking at five to deliver treeslike mad all day into an extremely difficult access block. and of course, we're expecting rain and snow. but it will all work out, and, after another similar day on saturday, i get to spend the evening in the sauna at shawn and brier's in atikokan. did i mention that apparently atikokan is in the runnings to become hockeyville?

'nuff for now. have a good weekend.