The boat...I see the boat. Actually, I saw it much earlier this am...but yes ladies and gentlemen...the first tanker of the season is in. We are saved...sealift will start to arrive. And shortly after that...my truck can leave!

Short fast addition to the blog...pics of the tea dolls I bought in Labrador.

What a terrible blogger I am...I just realized I haven't posted any photos since the Aunties were here. Allow me to fix that error...enjoy


Inuksuit (plural for Inukshuk)



Cemetary in Iqaluit


Cool ice formations down by the river.



Fishing on the river a couple weeks ago. I didn't get out till this weekend...let me tell you about the one that got away...


More photos from the river...mid June




And a few more





Touch down in Cape Dorset...my 17th or 18th community. It was a short trip. Flew in to pick someone up, fuel up and then off to Labrador. Looked very nice, wish we had time to explore the town.




Labrador...welcome one and all. A very tiring trip, but well worth it. Not only did the work part go well, I bought two Labardor Tea dolls...and have yet to unpack them and take photos.


Back up in Iqaluit. Fishing trip down in the park. Our attempt at a fire using the local foliage...pretty smokey. The propane bbq wasn't agreeing with us...so we thought we'd try a fire and cook on a rock.


Luckily we finally got the propane to work and didn't need to rely on our skills at tending a fire.


Fishing supplies.


Even A-B-B-Y Abby had a great time, though she got to take her nap earlier than J and I did. This was taken at about 9pm.


Another view of our not so secret fishing spot. There were about a dozen groups and families out around the falls. A good time was had by all even if neither of us actually caught a fish.


One of my latest and almost last purchases...a musk ox. "Alie Kippomee, Pond Inlet. Alie started working in metal because he wanted to try something that would compliment his carving skills. Although there are no musk ox in his home community, Alie has always been fascinated by these unique, Northern animals and decided to try this image in metal." Or so says the card that came with the animal. Fell in love with it when I had F&F at the museum, went back Friday before I left for Labrador and had it put away for me...then picked it up this past Friday. And F&F you will be happy to hear I have found 'my carving'. It is a big beautiful polar bear. When I pick him up in a couple of weeks I'll take some pics and show you. He's on layaway...


Phew...hows that for an update?

Well readers, the time has finally arrived...North of Nain is heading South. Permanently. This decision has been just over six months in the making and has not been an easy decision for me.

There are so many things I love about the North...too many to count, but I'm sure you have seen it in the pictures I take and read it in the countless blog entries from the past 2 1/2 years. I don't hate the North. How could I? It is a wonderful place to be. I do feel though that on a personal level it is time for me to leave.

I am flying out on August 1 to PEI. I hope to relax, unwind and hang out on the beach for a couple weeks, sort through all my belongings that are in storage and then strap a uhaul trailer to my truck and "Head West young man". I'll park my stuff in Calgary and then continue the search for a job.

OMG



I bet I know a few people who would be interested in purchasing this nice toy.

Returned from Labrador today. Overall good trip. Made a couple of nice purchase..pictures later...maybe. Camera has died again. Update on the weekend.

Under the heading of..."It could only happen to me"

The evening in Happy Valley Goose Bay was quiet and uneventful. Attended two receptions and had a lovely supper...Monday the real work starts. I awoke this am and went about my usual routine as best I can in a hotel room...a shower was at the top of the list.

I turn on the water, adjust the temperature, am pleased that there appears to be lots of hot water and in I jump. I pull up on the handle and water begins to spray...EVERYWHERE. The water was coming out of the top where the shower head screws in and out of the actual shower head in bizarre directions. I reach up and attempt to put my handy woman skills to work and screw it back on. It falls off in my hand and now I have a steady stream of water coming out of the shower. I quickly reach down and turn off the water. Now...what to do? Hmmm. I screw it back on. I figure in my head that it had simply been loosened by people adjusting the head and I could easily fix this problem and continue with my shower. Nope. There is a rather large crack in the part that screws on and I don't notice it until I see water hitting up on the ceiling in about three different streams.

I'm resigned at this point to just...shower and get it over with...when I notice that one of the stream coming out of the head is somehow going around me and out the back of the tub. I gently tug on the curtain to close the gap and BAM! The rod falls off the wall and into the tub.

At this point I am now laughing so hard I fear drowning from all the water coming into my mouth. I then showered Indian style (see March posts for explaination of that) out of the facet and deliver the shower head to the front desk shortly after that.

Shower 1 Jennifer 0

My weeks off to a great start...how about yours?

You are sitting in your home reading my blog on a daily basis, waiting for another update and wondering to yourself..when is she going South again? It's been almost a month since our travelling friend has gone through security and packed up mini bottles of shampoo. Well, wait no longer. I am headed to one of my fav places on Sunday...Happy Valley Goose Bay. Yep. Labrador.

Labrador is the reason I am presently living in the North. I used to work for a rather large university in Newfoundland (hmmm, I wonder which one...LOL) and as I worked for the smaller West Coast campus, Labrador was part of my territory. I had wonderful travelling companions join me from the main campus on my journeys and I must say...Labrador was always a nice trip. I first fell in love with -40 temps when I worked there. I couldn't believe that I could walk around outside in -40 weather without a coat...it was love at first bite! In fact, for those in the know...North of Nain...came about because prior to my move to Nunavut...Nain was as far North as I had been.

I'm headed back on Sunday and can't wait. I haven't been there in about 6 years and am really looking forward to the trip. It's not all fun and games. I am headed there for work. I have a couple of presentations to make and a course to sell...there are however fun times built into the schedule and with any luck a visit to my fav store there...the friendship centre. I have purchased a few pairs of slippers from there over the years. They last for years...and years...and years. So they were not all for me. In fact, while living in Pang I called down and placed an order. The lady was wondering why I wanted to have them shipped to Pang...don't they make slippers there she asked...they do...but I like your best! It is a bit unfortunate that I don't need a new pair. Hmmm.

I may need to purchase a piece of jewelery though. I never felt that I had the $ before to make a nice purchase of the Labradorite stone when I worked for the wonderful university...that paid crap.

There is one small thing that has me a bit anxious about this trip. Now...don't read too much into this...I said a bit. A very small amount, so small that it comes and goes, but occasionally pops into my head. And let's face it HVGB is a small town and the chances of running into ex's is a distinct possibilty. I am not going to dwell on it...I have too much to do and too much fun planned to really be concerned about it...but I have thought about it.

The trip is short. Arrive Sunday afternoon, depart Wednesday afternoon. YEAH...Labrador!!!

Pics from my walks this week sometime over the weekend. Happy Friday!

The Snack.

It's open 24 hours. They deliver. It's greasy. What more could you ask for?

So tonight I had the Habitat AGM. Afterwards C and I decide to go to the Legion to hear one of my employees sing, have supper and a couple of drinks. We arrive and try to place a food order. Kitchen closes at 8:15pm. It is now 8:40pm. Can we order Snack and eat it here we ask...nope. Ok. So we have one drink and drive to the Snack. Doors are locked. Somewhere in the back of my head I remember reading inside that the dining room closes at 8pm. No problem...I have a cell phone. So standing in the parking lot we call to place an order.
"Snack."
"Hi. We want to order a Snack Poutine, taxi driver sandwich and fries."
"Is that everything?"
"Yep."
"What house number are you at?"
"I'm in your parking lot."
"We can't deliver to you."
"In your own parking lot?"
"Nope. You will need to park across the street at Arctic Survival."
"Um, ok. Then we will be the red truck parked in front of Arctic Survival."
Click.
Just over 20 minutes later the driver for the Snack walks out the back door, gets into his car and drives across the street to my truck. YEAH...FOOD. And a $6 delivery fee. (Things that make you go hmmmm.) At least he then drove off down the road...I can only hope it was to make another delivery.

As seen on the Environment Canada site this am for Iqaluit...

2:00am Distant Precipitation

I'm sure that applies all the time. It is likely raining or snowing somewhere in the world. How distant is distant when it comes to percipitation?

Who wants to meet for margaritas? I'll be flying out of Iqaluit on August 1 and heading to PEI...who would like to meet sometime the next week for pink drinks of sorts? Oh I know, it's a long way off...48 days away if anyone really wanted to know, but you know me and plans, I usually make these kind of arrangments months in advance. What if I send out a reminder a little closer to the date?

It's a lazy Saturday for me. I'm watching the sun struggle to come out from behind the clouds and I'm not making any effort to get up and help. I spent last night at BINGO! I didn't win the jackpot, but I did have an enjoyable time and the money is going to a good cause. WOOF!

Lots to do this week. I have three presentations to get ready...not long and it won't take me long to do them, but I want them to be good...really good. One is on my trip to India, one is a report on a conference I attended last November and the other one is a sales pitch of sorts on my organization. Which reminds me that I'm headed to Labrador the last week of the month. I am really looking forward to it. I haven't been to HVGB since 2002. It should be a good trip. We are chartering and I love to charter...I can pretend that I'm rich and have my own pilot. LOL

Guess I better get back to watching my movie. Enjoy your weekend.

Playing tourist...


Down at the Leg right now there is an exhibit of dolls from the Kivalliq region of NU. They are wonderful, beautiful handmade dolls. K...this is the kind of doll I have been trying to get for my niece.


NU flag on display


This block of snow/ice was fascinating. It was breaking off in icicles. The texture, the whiteness, the fragility of it was mesmerizing. The picture doesn't do it justice.


Aunt F with the amazing block of ice....proof she was actually in NU.


Aunt F holding a piece of snow, again proof of the visit...where else do you find snow in June.


This little guy popped up for a visit at the Tourist Information Centre. I have been in to the centre before, but never to the exhibit part. It was very nice. The whole thing is well done and the information was interesting.


One of the few polar bears the ladies have encountered on this trip. While it would be great to see a live bear...I still think it might be better to just see the stuffed ones in person and the live ones on film.


On exhibit in the tourist centre


As found in front of the Arctic College. From all angles and wonderful piece of art.

SLAP. So, it finally happened. The fingers were slapped today over the blog entry from last week. I stand by what I wrote. I didn't lie. I think the Gov't should be doing more than they did. I know the Prem has contacts in Ottawa that are connected to fisheries and don't live in NU that he could call on to help...though I think he should rely on staff here...What did I say that was wrong?

Here's an interesting question to my fellow bloggers...

"What is the difference between an anonymous letter to the editor and a so-called anonymous blog?"

Any thoughts?

The Aunties and I had a marvelous day. The sun was shining and we took full advantage. A nice hike out at the park...leaving one injured, but not badly. She walked back to the truck so it's all good. A trip to the Legislative Assembly building this afternoon and the museum. Followed by a bottle (or two) of wine, a lovely supper--cooked by them, and then a slide show of India! Tomorrow night or the next we view slides of NU. They must be family to put with more than one night of "my summer vacation" slides.

COMPANY!!! My Aunt F and Great Aunt F have arrived for a visit. Now, Great Aunt F isn't a greater Aunt...she's my Dad's Aunt...and therefore, my Great Aunt.

Anyway, the lovely ladies arrived around noon today and have been on a whirlwind tour ever since. They are bunking in my slightly small bachelor pad and I am bunking at a friends apartment who is bunking at a house sitting gig.

I am playing tour guide until Monday afternoon...so while there may not be blogging I will be going to see a few things I haven't seen before...and see a few favourite spots. Pics next week.

A couple of marvelous walks this weekend...and a tiny bit of cleaning house (ick...someday I will have a maid)

Not to frighten off my company, but I awoke to some snow on Friday am. It was gone by lunch...but just be warned.


Out and about today on the tundra


Abby the Dog and her owner J. We stopped a few times on our walk to drink from the mini waterfalls we found along the way...mmm, fresh water. I'm going back in the next day or two to fill up my jugs with the fresh, earthy tasting water. Abby would not drink the water...fussy puppy...actually, she knew we wanted her to jump in and take a bath...she wasn't falling for it.


Which one is the right one? This one?


Or this one?



It's the second one. But I like the greens in the first photo.

I spotted a couple of folks para-skiing out in the bay. It looked like a lot of fun and they had a good audience watching.


The rest of the photos are random river shots taken Sunday afternoon...enjoy!


I think this is my fav from today....looks best blown up...click on it to see it better.