Things I have learned in Nunavut

10. I am not a fisher person.
Last years fishing fiascoe proves that I am better off purchasing my fish.

9. Always have mittens on hand.
It is May 31 and there was snow on the ground this am.

8. Parkas can be sexy.
Apparently there is something about fur around a womans face that drives a man wild with desire. Long live the parka!

7. Even in the least populated place you can feel claustrophobic.
Denisty in Nunavut 0.015/km2. Density in Toronto 3,972/km2

6. Being out on the land is one of lifes most amazing gifts.
The land doesn't need to be in Nunavut...but it certainly helps.

5. Amazing art work is available between 5pm and midnight.

4. Flying Northern airlines is so much more civilized than the Canadian brand in the South.
They feed you a nice hot meal on every flight between Iqaluit and Ottawa. And if you ask for a special meal...you get it! Let's not forget the free wine and the Franklin coffee.

3. 24 hour daylight is an amazing thing.
I love this time of year. No matter when I'm awake the sun is up with me. And I love catnapping in the sun...even at 3am.

2. Northern Lights are the best free show on earth.
While not available year round, they truly do make you stop, breath deep and smile.

1. I'm still me, only a little bit better.
No matter the location, the change of wardrobe or colour of my hair I am essentially the same person that moved from PEI 2 1/2 years ago. I may be a bit braver but I'm still me. And I like me.


St. John's


Me in Ottawa


More Ottawa pics


My cool new lashes...ignore scary brow


Sexy me in a parka January 25, 2006

Ok, I give up. I managed to upload a few pics but then the computer lost the internet connection the next three attempts, overheated and then lost the connection again..so this is it for tonight.

Not NU pics, but pics from my latest trip to St. John's.

Icebergs. We hit the jackpot, it was a bumper crop. About 12 big beauties on the boat tour. Fantastic times, highly recommend it.


Puffins at their nests.


Close up puffins


Gull Island birds. Like something out of a hitchcock movie.


I'm sitting in my living room checking out my artwork. I laugh that somedays I feel like I'm living in an art gallery, the walls are full. I love my Northern artwork. I love the carvings and the prints I have collected and while I don't have any large carvings, I am happy with the ones I do have. Small but mighty.

I am collecting art work from my travels and lives. The only place I don't have art from though...PEI. I have beautiful pieces of wood working that my grandfather did for me, wonderful china painting that my grandmother has done, some amazing pieces of art that my niece and nephew have done, but that's it. No real PEI pieces. I will need to rectify this on my next visit. Any thoughts on what to get?

I fully expect to get burned by the post just below this on both a professional and personal way...but hey, I needed to vent.

Slightly revised from original post...
Some days you need to shake your head and ask WTF?

I had a call about an event that happened on Tuesday...call came in on Monday I agreed to their request even though I think what they are doing is perhaps not the best way to handle the situation.

There is going to be a protest on Tuesday regarding the quota that Nunavut has or doesn't have in its adjacent waters. I agree that NU should have access to the fish, that isn't the issue. What I don't agree with is the form of protest--burning a canoe. The UNOFFICIAL Word has it that the premiers office is the driving force behind it. Well, that makes sense, only Paul would come up with such an idea. Let's show the Federal government that we are unhappy with their decision by acting in an adolescent manner and burn something. Oh yeah, that will make the Feds change their mind. Has the Premier done a good job of letting Ottawa know we are unhappy with the decision? I don't think so. He has publicly stated that it wasn't in the best interests of NU? Yes, but has he really done any work on this issue? Nope.

Paul, if you really want to do something about the fishery and getting the quota moved to NU, then do some work. Grab your experts in the GN and get them together and find out how and why NU didn't get the quota. You know I normally support you Paul and I think given the people elected in NU you probably have done the best you could, but lets face it, your heart isn't in it anymore and you really don't give a f. I know your have a friend with lots of connections and might be able to help you out with getting the quota back, ask for the help. Or, maybe that is part of your plan...clever you, get some PR for yourself and some consulting work for another person who has never and will never live in NU.

Don't make the people of NU look like fools who only know how to set fires to get attention. Act like a Premier and work with the Feds to solve this issue. And now you want a podium and mic in place, LOL, this is a protest, not a picnic. A true wild cat leader would use a megaphone at a protest of this kind, but I guess you are too delicate to be expected to rough it. What's next if this little protest doesn't work? What is the next step? Is this another Burnt Church waiting to happen?

So OFFICIALLY, the GN had nothing to do with the event...but Paul did show. Right at the very end and only by a prompted phone call that the boat was almost in ashes and if he wanted his photo op he needed to come ASAP.

The event had about 50ish folks in attendance, it didn't get out of hand and no one started yelling, it was very quiet, too quiet to really warrant any attention from anyone outside of NU.

My above comments were picked up by the press on Monday afternoon (before the press release went out), so I pulled my post until now. It caused some grief for a few folks who help me out and so to not have them get their fingers slapped...I pulled it. No, I'm not a GN employee so I don't need to worry about getting fired, but I hate to see people I know getting fingers slapped over something I did. My comments stand, but they are my thoughts and opinions and not that of my employer or any of the agencies that give me money, including my mom.

I like to post stuff on my blog for friends and family and while yes it is visible to the world, but I would prefer it be kept quiet and anything I post not appear in the news or used as a way to start a news story (the seal protest poster aside...glad I inspired you Kent!).

Hello and welcome back. I'm back up North...for a whole month!

I headed off to St. John's in late April then hit Calgary, Vancouver, Whistler and then Ottawa before turning North. I survived the 3 day/night Trade Show in Iqaluit the next week and then packed my bag the next Monday and went back to St. John's. I spent the long weekend on the East Coast and then headed to Ottawa where I waited for a nice sunny day, enjoyed the day and then flew back North on Sunday. And yes, I'm tired.

I am now preparing for a visit by Aunt F and Aunt F. YEAH!!! Ladies, I'm still not sure how we are going to fill all your time (as brief as it is) but we will certainly try. A visit to the Legislative Assembly is on the list, the museum, an art gallery, and a few of the stores that sell carvings. No trip to the North is complete without a trip to the grocery store...just to see for yourselves the prices I pay for food. Don't forget to pack warm clothes, we are still hovering around 0 most days and while they haven't shown up yet, snow flurries were in the mix for today. And don't forget your cameras!

I've been having some wonderful visits with old and new friends on my past couple of trips and enjoying all the things that Southern Canada has to offer. I had a Mustang rented last week in Ottawa and yes, it was wow. I had a chance to take it out on the highway Saturday and while I didn't open it up as far as it could go, I certainly had a great ride. (Speeding ticket on wheels!) I've had two hairs cuts and colour treatments in less than a month and am still not happy with the cut. I don't have much hair left up top to cut again so may need to wait for it to grow out a bit before I can attempt the third cut. So much for letting it grow.

I'm looking for volunteers to help me take the sand out of the back of my truck some evening this week. Anyone? And I could really use some help in washing it as well. I'm sure you will let me know if you are available.

Apparently I've lived in the North for too long as it took me a while to understand the poster. I kept reading it going, yeah, gas prices are way out of control...not really the point they were trying to make. Oops.



Heading up the gondola in Whistler.


View from the gondola...not quite at the top yet.


Hill pass for dummies. This pass allows the non-skiers up the slope.


Me and the guys. On the left is the ED from Moose Factory in Ontario, then the ED from the Fort McMurray group, me and then one of the Federal Gov't guys who attended the Managers meetings I was FORCED to attend in Whistler a few weeks back. It was rough, but I had to go.


Pics of my zip line trip. It was fantastic and I'm really glad I did it. Given the opportunity I would do it again in a heart beat.

Finally...pics.

Look, mountains.


On route to Banff


Banff


Vancouver is in bloom.


Vancouver at night from my hotel room, interesting cloud formation upper left side of photo.

I tried to update on Friday and it didn't take...and I've been trying all day to add photos and they aren't uploading. Sigh. North of Nain returned to the North last Monday...just in time to get ready for the Trade Show. I talked the talk and walked the walk all week and boy was I tired by the end of it. It is always a good time and I enjoyed myself once again. The tada outfit for the banquet was one of my sari's from India. And believe me, I turned more than one head. I forgot my camera and am relying on the kindness of strangers to send me some pics from the evening. My trip South was great. I got lots of good work stuff done and lots of me stuff as well. My own personal What not to wear makeover is complete and I think there would be no doubt now that I am indeed a girl. I even have the make up and purse to prove it. LOL The highlight of the trip was the weekend in Calgary where I got to visit with my best friend whom I had not seen in person in almost 3 years. We didn't have much to get caught up on cause we are in pretty regular communication, but it was great to see her and I certainly hope we don't need to wait another three years for the next visit. I enjoyed a guilty pleasure during my trip...fresh, crisp, newspapers over my morning tea. I had forgotten how much I enjoy rising in the am and sitting and reading the paper, feeling it between my fingers while listening to the news and enjoying breakfast. I realize now how much I had missed that the past few years. The other event that I enjoyed was the road trip that A and I took. We got up, had breakfast at Denny's, hung out with our friend K for a while and then headed out on the highway. We stopped for junk food along the way and I couldn't have asked for a better day. I had forgotten the freedom of taking off on a journey whenever the mood strikes. No buying tickets in advance, no check in and security line to go through, no lost luggage, and no friendly AC service to ruin the day. Just us, the open road and good times. Yep, I enjoyed my trip. I unpacked my bag this afternoon and re-packed. I leave tomorrow. Back to the East Coast (NL) for a week or so. I'll add photos when I can, but it isn't looking good until I return from Sinjawns.

Updated this on Friday. Entry is missing. Check back tomorrow.