Little more A.B.

So amazing

I just returned from Arctic Bay. The blogging capital of Nunavut is one of the most breathtaking places I've ever had a chance to visit.

I now have hundreds of photos to go through, and countless interviews to transcribe, from my time there and in Clyde River. Thank you universe for these unparalleled travel opportunities. I love community journalism in the North.

As a side note to travellers and tourists, Clare's bed and breakfast is out of this world. Amazing and thoughtful design, overlooking the bay. As well as being a fantastic blogger he is a wonderful cook and host. Go there.

Back to work.

Burnt

As folks have likely noticed, I have been a little less than verbose in this forum of late. This is due to the advanced stages of burnout I have been experiencing.

Yesterday was a very dark deadline day. I think I cried. I don't remember, because it was so blurry and involved a lot of numbers and little caffeine. I am kicking the habit.

There was one bright spot of light though: I helped deliver a wedding dress for a bride-to-be I met in Clyde River last week. I don't know why this tickled me so much, but it did. The dress-buyer Fed-exed it to my office from the west coast, and I ran it up to the boarding home into the arms of father-of-the-bride-to-be. He will now take it the final leg of its journey up-island. I love it that I was part of the chain! Warm fuzzies.

Back to the burnout. As of today, I have started re-incorporating the word "no" into my vocabulary in an effort to pare down on my myriad commitments. I love my job and my volunteer work, but have been struggling with the quantity of both.

So yes mom, I will take it easy. Next week.

"Next week" because tomorrow morning I am departing on a surprise trip: Arctic Bay! Yep, Kate Nova incoming. With her camera and a little voice recorder. And hopefully clean clothes, if I get to my laundry this afternoon...

New (yellow) shirt

Siaruai

Qangatasuukkuvik

Kangiqtugaapingmi

I love airplanes

I'm not blogging because I'm busy and I don't feel like it. This is a quick note to say I'm heading to Clyde River in a couple hours and I am looking forward to it.

Yay.

i'm a junkie

i'm a bad blogger for a good reason: currently mainlining standing committee hearings. god i love my job.

Learnin' stuff

I have to cover crime-y things now at work, which is, uh, new. And scary. I've been reading Martin's Pocket Criminal Code. Did you know that that poster you posted, offering a reward without questions for your lost cellphone/puppy/wallet is wrong?

143 – Advertising Reward and Immunity

Every one who

a) publicly advertises a reward for the return of anything that has been stolen or lost, and in the advertisement uses words to indicate that no questions will be asked if it is returned,

...

is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Who knew? I didn't.

It's also badass to print or publish such information, and I know I've heard it on our fine local radio stations. I guess they didn't know either.

Chris's new phone message

Dedicated to Chris, because he actually put this on his machine.

My new phone message

Dedicated to Val, because she just called me back.

Radio Bingo on a Saturday night

Has it really come to this?

What would my 16-year-old self say if it saw me drinking cream soda and playing radio Bingo at 6 p.m. on a Saturday night? Coupled with the fact I know the caller personally, I am now my parent's generation. Except a little weirder.

Bingo caller: Mi me mo ma. Under the B, seven.
Curtiz: He just activated a sleeper cell.
Bob Izumi Jr: I hear the machine guns in the distance.

I jest though, really. My 16-year-old self spent many, many weekend nights drinking whiskey with a 65-year-old woman named Marie, learning to play cribbage with Gaelic curse words. Waiting for the boys to come around with their guitars. Listening to CBC's Saturday Night Blues, my song aired while driving, weeks on, down the Trans Canada to Halifax.

Well, we didn't win last night, but this new saga will continue. Brandog is obsessed, and my aim for the month is to secure a guest-caller spot on the show. I must succeed.

The other side of the coin

Here's another take on my "dark side" post. It makes me sad, but hey, it's a wild, wild web out there.

If I was guilty of anything when I used the seemingly controversial phrase "dark side," it was of employing tired stereotypes in poor attempts at comedy.

I don't measure my worth - good or ill - against anyone else's. If I did, I'd go crazy trying to keep up.

I know I make mistakes, and I try really hard not to.

That's all.

They came in the mail like magic

For Bob Izumi Jr:

Mini jam

Even though we have a population of less than 7,000, and even though there are no roads in or out of here, there are very regular back-ups at Four Corners.

Everyone takes their lunch like clockwork. I wouldn't have sneezed at this eight months ago, but now if I have to be someplace important by noon I will leave at quarter to. I recognize this is ridiculous. And this still means getting snarled in the quarter-to mini jam of drivers avoiding the mega jam.

The picture above is of the mini jam.

What's really scary is the mega problem all the castoff gas guzzlers are going to cause as they continue to pile up in the landfill. New vehicles keep coming off the sealift, but the old ones have no place to go.

But don't we look like a big city?!

car = nunasiuti (I think)

Disclaimer

For any communications acquaintances I have offended with my last post: please don't take it personally, it was meant as a tongue-in-cheek goodbye to a talented co-worker who I love to tease mercilessly. In a territory as tight-lipped as communist Russia, you are my lifeline and I respect you.