Ookpik Lullaby

I'm so glad
I saw your blue
I'm so glad
That I bought you
When I was drunk at the bar that night
It was a bit of a fight
'Cause I could have used the dough
But know I know
How much joy you bring to me

Ookpik, King of Spiders

Walkie words at 8 a.m.

ring...static, static...

- Able Dog, come in. Come in, Able Dog. Do you read me?

- Roger that, Fox Bat. What's your sitrep? Over.

- The blue eagle is approaching. Are you ready for the best breakfast of your life? Over.

- Roger that, Fox Bat. I have a visual. Out.

static, static...

Ookpik gets funky

6 p.m.

Secret Agents

Yesterday my coworker and I went to Northmart to purchase $6.99 Spiderman walkie talkies. Unfortunately, the 9V batteries they required cost $11.99 each, so we retreated in sadness. Defeated, heads hanging low.

After giving up all hope, fate interceded. A kind soul heard of our heartbreak and lent us genuine walkie talkies, powerful enough to work the enormous distance between our office and apartment building. Even when one person is driving away.

We tried them out immediately in the aisles of Northmart after purchasing much cheaper triple A batteries. We communicated between cubicles. We relayed accordion music from the truck. We even bonded with one of the Army of Darkness.

The pinnacle: we somehow intercepted some kid's walkie signal who was looking for "Josh." To which we replied, "We have captured him." I really hope there is a gang of kids out there talking about secret service agents. Possibly while using Spiderman walkie talkies.

Also, I spoke to Chuck Strahl about fishing. And attended city council. And interviewed someone about muskox.

Some days are just really good.

Oh, and I almost forgot to add - someone gave me a copy of the new Weakerthans CD!!!

Harvest season

I made chowder tonight, throwing in carrots, parsnips, onions and even some kale harvested from the greenhouse. Plus a healthy handful of our fresh herbs, which I also tossed into the bread I've got rising on the counter for good measure. I've been having a bit of a moment with Richard Buckner on the stereo and a very homey kitchen.

Yesterday was officially the last day of the season, and about 20 members pitched in to de-green and put the building to bed for the winter. There will be some fall projects, like the construction of cold frames for next year's potatoes, but it's mostly wrapped up.

Being a part of the greenhouse was a really rewarding experience, offering a sanctuary at the end of the day, a challenge and a semblance of sustainability. Plus I met some nice people!

Amazing library book sale today

It was just like Christmas, only with more elbows. Just joking, it was peaceful. But definitely the only time I've ever seen a lineup outside the local library! (Homeless guys in Toronto don't count.)

Picked up for a grand total of $10:

NON FICTION
Birds of Nunavut
Guerrilla, by Walter Laqueur
Northern Balcony Gardening, by Brian Andrews
The Specter of Communism, by Melvyn P. Leffler
Reservations are for Indians, by Heather Robertson
Women as Wombs: Reproductive Technologies and the Battle Over Women's Freedoms, by Janice G. Raymond
UFOs: a Manual for the Millenium, by Phil Cousineau
Rand McNally atlas
Yoga, by Rodney Yee
Making News, by Martin Mayer
Bugs of British Columbia, by John Acorn and Ian Sheldon

COOKING
Cooking for Campers, by Paul Hamlyn
Cookin' on Broadway, by Richard Simmons
Great Meatless Meals, by Lappe and Ewald
Company's Coming: Light Casseroles, by Jan Parre
Low-fat Italian, Mexican and Stirfry

FICTION
Five Past midnight in Bhopal, by Dominique Lapierre and Javier Moro
Two Old Women, an Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival, by Velma Wallis
Natasha, by David Bezmozgis
For Esmee with Love and Squalor, by J.D. Salinger
The Postman, by David Brin
Spellbound, by Nora Roberts (!)
The Pilgrim's Regress, by C.S. Lewis
2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke

Also, a number of trashy VHSs, including one about taking God to the Supreme Court, starring Mr. T.

Check out Bob Izumi Jr.'s finds here.

UPDATE: Check out Dooner's picks here and Townie Bastard's picks here.

Good news when bad news makes the news

Nunatsiaq had a good article in today's paper about the recent censure motion against the premier. The story pointed out that not one, but two MLAs in this territory have prior sexual assault convictions.

One was sent to prison for nine months after inflicting a 14-inch gash on a woman's face, and the other was caught trying to rape an unconscious victim.

Both of them were in office when they did the deeds, lost their seats, and were re-elected.

Both those men voted to censure the premier over profane comments, and the hypocrisy causes bile to rise in my throat.

The story about the two MLAs with dirty pasts is pretty much common knowledge, something that gets bitched about in the dark corner of a bar. But I'm really happy to see the dots connected in print.

Police in Nunavut recorded seven to 14 times as many sexual offences in 2004 than in any other province or territory, according to Statistics Canada's Measuring Violence Against Women: Statistical Trends 2006.*

We regularly scan court dockets a mile long with sexual assault cases, often note the girls with black eyes walking through Northmart.

No one knows what the answer is, but we're always talking about role models, about respect. Maybe people should talk more about the models they've elected into office.

*The section does point out that it seems to have declined over the prior three years.

Life in a box

I had never worked in a cubicle before moving here, and always disdained the idea of a "cubicle job." I was wrong. My cubicle doesn't make me feel trapped. It's like the lunar base station for my wanderings. I feel safe here, amidst the mess.

Dark days are coming

Everyone around me is booking their tickets south for Christmas. I hadn't anticipated how extreme the exodus would be, and I'm starting to get a little worried that I won't know a soul in this town by the time they all clear out.

I have, however, agreed to house sit for some acquaintances over the holidays. That'll make it feel a little bit like a vacation, even if all I do is drink and watch Rudolph the stop-motion Reindeer. Lonely. Cold. Sniff.

Family: start planning the care packages now.

I'm also compiling a list of things to do while alone in near 24-hour darkness.

1)Figure out how my screenprinting kit actually works.
2)Make more Ookpik movies.
3)Cry.
4)Order things online.

Suggestions welcome. I only have a few months to mentally prepare.

Bob Izumi Jr.'s poetry

A friend gave himself a haiku challenge: one a day 'til October. Here's some of his witty words. Bring on the haikus. Leave him fan mail.

Went to a movie
Sunshine: It made me insane
Some drunk smashed my car

The September sun
Sparkles through the broken glass
Thanks a lot you prick

I saw a bruised eye
On a woman at the store
She said she fell down

Boys and girls drinking
Rot-gut juices in a room
Walking on faces

Red wine rings are like
Tattoos for your tabletops
That's my spin on it

iMovie hero
Clean hands cutting tomatoes
Juggling limes, drinking

(Ahem)

Ookpik and the pumpkin

music: Raindrops, raindrops by Karin Krog

The iMovie obsession continues. My first stop-motion, starring Ookpik.

PIZZA: THE MOVIE

music: Chicken Payback by The Bees

One of our pilot friends took a job in India, so we took the opportunity to throw a little bash. Tons of food and a good mix of people. Another friend is leaving next month for a good job in Yk, and I'm already feeling heartsore at the loss. Life in a transient town, I guess.

Also, I discovered iMovie yesterday, and it may have changed my life. I made this at 2 a.m. while HBF snored in bed. I've only got his little point and shoot to record with, but maybe 12 seconds is a really good challenge to work with!

Summer's over...

song by Sarah Kurtis, a TO singer-songwriter

Blowing snow dusted the hills with white for some time today. Now it's mostly soggy rain, but it was exciting while it lasted.

From the greenhouse today

I got a fly

Apex

The tundra is turning red with the cooling weather, but today felt like the middle of summer at about 13 degrees Celsius.

I snapped this picture on my way to Apex this afternoon. Apex is Iqaluit's only "satellite" community, and the Road to Apex is the only one on which you can drive over 60 kilometres an hour around here.

Unfortunately, due to our truck's ailing health, the mechanics have warned us against driving over 50. We're totally out of luck in the cheap rush department.

Legion dues

I'm reading the back of the membership form for the local Legion, and it says that I must solemnly swear that "I am not a communist, fascist or anarchist, and do not, and will not, support any organization advocating the overthrow of our government by force or which advocates, encourages or participates in subversive action or propaganda."

So I'm not a communist really, or definitely not a fascist or anarchist, but what about the whole subversive action thing? Does guerilla gardening count?

And what does this have to do with cheap wings on a Wednesday, and last call on a Saturday?

I'm so confused.

Friday haiku

sad reporter girl
burnt both ends from messy week
and no peace in sight

Snow

Snowflakes just drifted by my window. Now they are slush. Now they are rain.

Wanted: dial-down space

Tomorrow I have a training session at the local gym, where I plan to volunteer in return for a free membership. While looking forward to jumping on an elliptical trainer, I am ecstatic about possibly having a new place to practice yoga.

One of the most wonderful going-away gifts I received when I left Toronto was a instructional yoga CD from one of my old roommates. (Thank you.) Recorded by a Kingston instructor, that lengthy, intense Ashtanga session helped focus my self-practice and pulled me out of my the lazy rut I was sliding into.

I confess I was spoiled by living near a number of fantastic studios in Toronto. It's easy to fall reliant on structured classes, hard to keep motivated on my own.

In general, I find it difficult to manage any practice at home. It's a small apartment, and I don't have a lot of alone-time in it. Sometimes it's just nice to practice with a group, to hear your breath mingle with others, and to have an instructor to touch up your sloppy asanas.

So here's hoping. Rumour has it there will be a class offered weekly, and maybe I can sneak into the multi-use room on occasion too!

Quick blug

I feel the need to point out this story, about a giant spider web in Texas.

Gatherers

Today was absolutely gorgeous, so we headed out to pick some blueberries and crowberries. The Stephenator is way more ambitious than me, and was contemplating making jam. I'm pairing mine with vanilla ice cream, and leaving it at that.

In bug news, I saw two wolf spiders. And one other little white one that kind of looked like a crab. Crawling around on the tundra also makes you realize how amazingly diverse the plant life is here.