Sunday, October 29, 2006

I've been asked to provide a mailing address...apparently someone wants to send me mail...woo hoo! Mail is one of my favorite things. Send mail, send money, send food...ah heck, just send a post card and I'd be happy.

You know the name...the place is
PO Box 718
Iqaluit, NU
X0A 0H0

Yep...OHO...just a step away from Santa.

Saturday, October 28, 2006


Happy Halloween

A couple weeks ago I was at Ventures and pumpkins could be bought for the low price of $37ish dollars each. And I'm not talking Giant Pumpkins, I'm talking regular, run of the mill, jack o' lanterns. I think they were marked at 3.99/kg. It is only three days from Halloween now and the price has dropped by half. I guess there isn't much call for them as of November 1, so they are on sale. This pumpkin is only $19.92. What a great deal! I did purchase one of those small gourds that look like pumpkins and it only cost me $2.99.


Sunrise Tuesday morning. It was just below 0 but everyone agreed that it was a great day. The sky was void of clouds and everyone seemed to be in a better mood than the day before. The sunset was nice too, but to really have a nice sunset you need clouds for the colours to play off....so I didn't post any of those pictures. This also gives you an idea of how much snow we presently have.


The river in Apex, Friday.

Perhaps I shouldn't have been playing hooky on Friday, seeing as it was my last day with the GN, but I did. I took an extra long lunch and went for a drive with my friend Patrick. He hasn't seen much of the town yet, so I took him out to Apex. The day was perfect for it, clear blue skies and hardly any wind. I had to stop and take a picture (ok, actually I took 14) of the river as it starts to freeze. I'm sure you will agree that it does look rather interesting.


It shouldn't be much longer until the river freezes over completely.

It was interesting to view up close and see how and where the ice starts to form and the patterns it makes.


I was dancing again tonight (Saturday) by myself outside in the quiet of night. Actually it was very early in the evening. Around 6:30pm I was leaving my new office and headed home when a green movement caught my eye. There up above and to the South West were my friends the Northern Lights. I drove out to the edge of the city where my pictures wouldn't have to compete with street lights. You will notice a couple of red lights in the pictures, coming from communication towers, but you can still get the idea of how great the light show was.












A truck drove by creating the interesting line of light in this image.





After I took all the pics I came home to post them for you! Yep, I'm a wild crazy girl on a Saturday night.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Snow.

The snow has finally taken over the landscape. The ground isn't completely white yet, but it is slowly getting there. Every morning this week there has been a little more whiteness outside. I do not think it is going to disappear this time as the temps are staying below zero both during the day and at night. This morning it is -7. I notice that it is +7 in Charlottetown.

We have had a wonderful week for weather. The sun has been shining and the air is crisp and clean. Someone call LL Bean and tell them to put a rush on my coat or I will not have it in time to have a fur put on it. I need a coat for in between now and when my parka comes out.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

A huge thanks for EM for helping with my tax information. Revenue Canada has decided to audit part of my income tax return for 2005. I'm more than a little nervous....and everything is due by Thursday, so true to my nature I plan to have everything to them by Thursday....and not a minute before!

3 working days left with Health. I'm excited to start fishing on Monday...and you should be excited too, cause I will get to travel to EVERY community in Nunavut. That means lots of pictures and stories of my travels.

And no, they don't eat the dog meat. (In response to yesterdays post)

Monday, October 23, 2006

Hey, what happened to your dog Spot?

Spot made a lovely pair of mitts.

I'm not sure how big a problem this is in Iqaluit, but in the smaller communities people have had their dogs go missing only to end up being sold to them as mittens. Apparently dog fur makes great trim on mittens. If you have a dog that has a nice coloured coat beware of leaving him/her outside for extended periods or you may find that Spot is no more.

I knew a lady in Pang who had 5+ dogs and couple of them had very nice pure white coats. She built an outdoor pen for them and a few times the dogs with the nice coats went missing. Luckily she was always able to track them down and rescue them.

There is a story told of a family who went on vacation and had someone from town dog sit. The dog passed away while they were down south and when they returned they were presented with one of the pairs of mitts that someone had made out of their family pet. The little girl didn't understand what had happened to the dog and the parent's couldn't figure out how to explain that the mittens were made from her beloved pet.

I am dog sitting in December for my friend Lindsay...I hope that there will be no need to make mittens while she is away.

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Another Saturday night and I'm in Iqaluit. Ain't going nowhere cause I got no plane. Now how I wish I had somewhere to fly to, I'm in an awesome place....ok, if you know Cat Stevens you can sing along to the above lyrics...if not...move on and keep reading.

Went for a hike today and last Saturday...finally getting around to posting the pictures for you. I cheated with this post. I didn't put all the pics together, I did all of them seperately....same idea for you in the long run, easier way for me to post.

It is going to seem like a long post, but it is basically just pictures to look at.

I was fascinated by the thin sheets of ice that had formed on the rocks. The crackling noises that I could hear as I walked by were nice and made me think about my walks out on the ice in Pang. Looking forward to pulling out the parka.

Apparently I'm not the only one who enjoys walking on the beach.

The rocks on the river are great for jumping on and climbing. My new boots are great, but not as grippy, (is that really a word), as my old 'construction boots'. They weren't really construction boots but they had the look of them. I purchased them at Payless a few years back. I wored them this summer when I hiked through the park, unfortunately they barely survived the trip and have since been replaced...if Payless ever brings them back in, could someone pick me up a pair?

More views of the river.

Yes, this is part of the old dump. You can see the garbage peaking through the grasses. Nature is slowly taking back the land.

Exercise is important, even out on the tundra. Found this exercise bike at the bottom of a hill and on top of a rock. The hill is garbage from the dump. Amazing what you can find on the outskirts of town.

The path leading down to the river. I started on this path and then quickly switched to finding my own path...which as most of you know is usually the way I go.

Looking at the waterfalls in the park.

The truck out at the end of the road in the park. In the distance just infront of the hills is a flat spot...this is the runway.

Footprints in the snow. There isn't much snow around...in fact it is hard to find at the moment..but someday soon the snow will not be hard to find.

Taken today, October 21. Sheets of ice on the rocks.

More views of the river in the park.

Although the park is used by people from town to hike and walk their dogs the risk of injury unfortunately is high. People enjoy hunting in Nunavut and just because it is a park doesn't mean they aren't going to set traps. This trap has been bolted into the rock and looks like it has been abandoned, but there are many traps set in the winter months to catch rabbits, and coyotes.

Sylvie Grinnel Park...and the Iqaluit River.This at the moment is my favourite place to go for hikes. The park has a few pre-marked trails, but I prefer to just walk where ever my feet happen to take me either along the rivers edge or along the hills.

Has anyone gotten tired of viewing the tundra yet?

The snow creeping in towards town. The snow has yet to arrive in Iqaluit. And even the snow pictured here (taken last week) has since melted.

Looking down the river to the same ships as pictured below.

One of the many small rivers close to town. They say that Iqaluit was built on the water and near the water.

This is as close to leaves as you will find in the North. Seaweed found on the beach.

Low tide in Apex. Off in the distance there were 7 ships in. Two coast guard, the rest container ships with final sea lift treasures.

Taken a couple weeks ago before the tundra started to freeze close to town.

More tundra. It's amazing how far you can see when there are no trees around.

Alongs the rivers edge the ice has started to form.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Simplicity.

Today's post was brought to you by JP...who emailed me a disgusting story about womens purses and all the 'stuff' that can be found on the bottom of them. Yuck.

Life really does seem a little simplier some days in the North. There are a few things that I find easier in my daily living. Watches and wallets.

I don't wear a watch anymore...at all....ever. I don't need to. Driving anywhere in town can be accomplished in under 5 minutes (except during rush hour(?)) and what am I really going to be late for? At work there is a clock in/on the computer and at home the alarm clock gets me up in the morning. What else is there? Try living without your watch for a day and see how much your stess level goes down...trust me.

And I don't use a wallet anymore. I was never a purse girl. I've tried, it isn't me. Oh sure, when I'm on vacation likely I have a backpack with me but that's more for the camera than my money. I used to carry a wallet on PEI...just a wallet...obviously I don't have kids you say...true. My wallet contained everything I needed...including my keys.

These days my keys are found dangling off a belt loop on my pants. Carabineers are a wonderful thing. My 'wallet' consists of my visa, my bankcard and my drivers license which I keep in the back pocket of my jeans. Cash also goes into the back pocket, change in the front.

It's a very simple, easy way to get around. I highly recommend it.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

"Dance for me," I whispered. "Dance for me," and so they did. The past generations danced and I danced with them. When the song was over I thanked them and I bowed.

The northern lights were out for a good part of the evening. Picked a friend up around 7ish and the lights were out then along with the stars. Drove out the Road to Nowhere and watched for a while. But they weren't really dancing for me. Later, after I dropped my friend off back home I stopped to watch them again. I asked quietly for them to dance for me. And they did.

When the lights dance they flicker and move across the sky. The green exposes shades of red and purple, not vibrant, but subtle. They danced, just for me. I asked. They obliged. It was a beautiful sight and a wonderful feeling. Everyone should get to experience the dance at least once in their lives. And really experience the movement away from the lights of the city. Just you. And the dance.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Yes, it is colder here than where you are...where ever you are...but at this precise moment (a rather early 4am...or late depending on how one views the time) it is exactly 3 degrees warmer in Iqaluit than Charlottetown. It is 7 here at the moment. And the winds are blowing...gusting upwards of 70km/h.

Yes, I should be in bed sleeping. No, I am not tired. Well, that's a lie. I am tired, but not tired enough to sleep. I'm a bad sleeper, always have been. Always will be. Right mom? Tonight I miss my front porch in Pang, and the backyard I had in Tryon. I want to go stand outside and feel the wind as it rushes through my hair and wraps itself around me. I want to feel it's energy as it envelopes me in its embrace. I have pressed my face and hands against the window, but it does not seem to help. I can not feel its presence as I would if we were not seperated by the glass. I can hear it going by overhead, but I want to touch it.

Perhaps in the real light of day, none of this will make sense....and those of you who read the blog early in the day will wonder as to my state of mind. I assure you I am still grounded...but perhaps the hour makes little sense on the keyboard.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Ok, the phone call came Wednesday and the email arrived Thursday afternoon. The fax went out within the hour and the email goes out at noon on Friday. Curious?

I am resigning from my position with the Governme/nt of Nunavut and I'm moving. I'm moving off the Road to Nowhere and into downtown Iqaluit. I've decided to take on a different role for me. I will be the new Executive Director for the NFT Consortium starting the end of the month.

I'm very excited to be taking on this new role. I will be traveling all over Nunavut to meet with people interested in training in fisheries (so yes, there is still a recruitment portion to my job), and will be responsible for the daily running of the consortium...budget, staff, etc.

Moving out of the GN means a few changes. I will no longer live in subsidized housing, the one bedroom apartment I am moving into is at the low price of $1900 a month. For those of you slow on the math, that works out to $22,800 a year. OUCH! On the plus side I will have a view of the bay. Unfortunately I will be close enough to work to walk...can't justify driving one block...though I'm sure I will try some days.

Wish me luck as I get ready to embark on this new adventure.
Took these pictures last week sometime. Just went for a drive up one of the hills around town and started clicking. The view was quiet nice and I had a grand time. Hope we get some nice sunny weather again this weekend so I can go for another hike. And, my hiking boots arrived this week so I can go in if not comfort for the first few times..at least style. I have a feeling it will take a while to break them in.


Out for a walk on the tundra.


Looking down on the town from the top of the NavCan hill.


Enjoying a nice fall day.


Apex. Apex is at the opposite end of town and is where Hudson Bay originally set up their supply buildings in Apex. The road to Apex has a speed limit of 50km which means I get to go really fast....well, relatively fast.


Looking down the river at the hills covered in snow.

See the blog posting on the snow and the battles being fought with the white vs brown ground....you could almost see the snow inching closer as I took the pictures.


The snow creeping in towards town.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Bragging about the weather...

A sarcastic thank you goes out to everyone who informed me yesterday that they had been enjoying temperatures in the 20+ degree range...that was very much appreciated. NOT! No, actually it didn't bother me that much.

This morning it is -8, -13 with the wind chill. There is still no snow in town and the temperature is expected to go back up to -3 today and will hover between -3 and +2 for the next few days. At night the temps are dropping to around -10.

I am anxiously awaiting a phone call today that could change a few things in my life. Thank you for those of you who helped on the weekend with the counselling and the many discussions (my phone bill is going to be CRAZY!), the best advice came from JP who is very wise for her years. For those of you who don't know what's going on, wait a couple days and all will no doubt be revealed.

I'm off to work....to wait for the phone to ring....have a nice day where ever you are.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Winter has arrived in Iqaluit.

For a few weeks now we have had the teasing of winter and snow. The temperature has been hovering around 4 degrees and slipping into the barely minus temperatures when the sun goes down. Rain/Snow showers have occasionally come and gone leaving us with the knowledge that soon, snow will be here to stay. The temperatures has finally settled a couple degrees coulder than it was, now we are holding steady at +2. Yesterday morning when I looked out my window the snow was arriving sideways instead of down from the sky. It was a sight to see and under normal circumstances one would think snow storm. But by lunch the snow had stopped and the puddles had begun to turn into small patches of ice, crunching under my boots as I made my way across the parking lot. Speaking on the phone with my dad last night I annouced that winter had arrived. The snow and ice of the morning had disappeared by evening, but this mornign as I look out my window I see that winter has begun to settle in. The hills have a ver light sprinkling of snow on them. Not enough to change the colour of my view, only enough to show the beginning of a change. Like in the spring when the fresh greem leaves turn a darker shade of green and you know summer has begun. Now the hills with their brown, reds, blacks and yellow colourings have taken on a new colour. White. Small patches of white found peeking around the other colours. You know that eventually the white will over take the others, but for now colour is winning the battle. I look forward to the changes that will take place over the next few weeks and wonder when the battle for colour domination will end.

The days are getting shorter. We are definitely losing the battle for light. So far I am not concerned about the shorter days. I do miss my 24 hour day light, but I know that in about 12 weeks we will be back on track to increasing the minutes of light that we receive. There are four light seasons. A few short weeks ago we passed the equinox when we were getting as much sun as dark. By the end of December the next season of light begins and we make our way back to equal light and day. The next season will start in Spring when light wins the battle and the minutes turn into hours of day light, then a day will arrive in the 'summer' when the light starts to slowly decrease again until we are back at equal day and night....then back to where we are now. It is of course a never ending process and one which I can honestly say I didn't pay much attention to down south. Why here in this rugged land am I so keen to know when the seasons shift, I'm not sure, but I know that it is important to me to feel the connection. Perhaps it is because it is easy to get caught up in the seasons changing through the land and not through the change of decorations in the stores.

Friday, October 06, 2006

And now I feel like I'm back in university....

I was very happy the night of the Crispy Oven Manual incident that I didn't set off the smoke detector. It is hooked into a system for the whole building, so after sometime not only does your alarm beep...the whole building does.

Well, guess what woke me up about twenty minutes ago...yep, the fire alarm. I immediately jumped out of bed and started pressing the button in my apartment only to quickly realize that it was not just me beeping. But there wasn't a panic from other units so one starts to think do I need to go. Throwing on slippers, sweater and ball cap I finally ventured into the hall (where the noise only became worse) and downstairs to the front entrance. Apparently someone had been having a party and some idiot pulled the alarm. Well, that's just _________ great! It's now 2:54am and the alarm has finally been silenced. I have no idea how or by who...but it is done...and I can try to go back to sleep. If this starts to become a regular thing I will become very upset and so will the few of my neighbours who actually went downstairs to see what was going on.

I hope everyone else had a good sleep.

Monday, October 02, 2006

Here's something to keep you busy...a few websites on Iqaluit....Enjoy!


http://www.nunavutparks.com/

http://www.nunatsiaq.com/

http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/iqaluit.html

http://www.subwayiqaluit.com/menu.html

http://www.iqaluitonline.com/

http://www.frobisherinn.com/home.html

http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/city/pages/nu-21_metric_e.html

http://www.arcticcircle.ca/Baffin/Iqaluit/

http://www.astrotheater.ca/

http://www.nunanet.com/~northart/index.html

http://www.city.iqaluit.nu.ca/


What dedicated readers I have....