Mr. Harper's visit to Pangnirtung

This morning I headed down to the airport... there was a visitor coming to Pang....Prime Minister Stephen Harper. There was lots of action... our Rangers and Cadets were there, as well as community members and media...and well security...and like 5 planes plus a normal Canadian North flight!!

Here's a shot of the Rangers and Cadets...as they await Mr. Harper's appearance out of the airplane!
Here he is...with a quick wave...Mr. Harper greeted the Rangers and Cadets---he shook each of their hands, and asked their names!

One of 'many' photo ops!!

He signed the 'Welcome to Pangnirtung' banner that the summer students from the Uqqurmiut Centre. Then came behind the sign for a photo---I stood beside him---just beside his left shoulder. (I'm hoping that someone from the community can give me a copy of this shot!!) After the photo he turned around, shook my hand and asked my name! We spoke briefly---and unfortunately I didn't say can I get a photo!? and hand my camera to someone beside me!! but that's ok--many others took this opportunity to get photos with him!

We all gathered outside the Hamlet office where Mr. Harper did his 'official' speech. He reannounced $17 million already earmarked for construction of a small-craft harbour in the community. (from the CBC's arcticle found at http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2009/08/20/harper-arcticvisit.html?ref=rss)
Also check out the announcement HERE

Here's a shot of the media... and community that had gathered to hear the announcement!

...a visit comes to an end!

Last night we (errrr I) struggled with mum's suitcase and backpack trying to get all her clothes to fit...along with some other things--like a fish(arctic char)...and some HUGE Twilight books!! Finally we got it all sorted about 11pm last night... we watched the news (mum wanted to know what kind of temps she was going back to!)...



We woke up to an amazingly sunny and HOT day... I was surprised... in these last minute photos.....in front of my house.... I'm thinking 2 things: 1. I needed my sunnies b/c it's WAY toooo bright... and 2. my hair needs a cut or something...(perhaps i'll have to 'start' styling it?!)

Mum...thanks for taking your holidays and coming NORTH to visit me at my home just south of the Arctic Circle... it was so much fun chill'n and well talking...not on a phone!

Some of the fun times I'll remember!!

1. I enjoyed you enjoying revisiting your Grade 9 year with you...with a little of the Partridge Family...and just so you know it was with much LOVE that i heckled you and teased you about knowing 'all the songs' and singing along... (I'm sure as the winter season approaches I'll be studying up... to be able to sing along the next time we are watching the FIRST season!)

2. Watching you 'flirt' at dinner!? wow.... that was some skills...and then you didn't even realize you were flirting....(if you want deets you'll have to talk to HER... my lips are sealed...well unless you send me chocolate...then I could perhaps email you the deets! ;) (JUST KIDDING!)

3. For opening my eyes (again) to the beauty of the place I live.... Your cute 'announcing' that the tide is going OUT or coming IN...even though I could look out my window and see that indeed these things were happening.... It was fun re-looking at my home through your eyes!

4. You sitting on top of the hill on a rock...LAUGHING at me trying to 'walk' in the mud left behind while the tide goes out... you did TOTALLY miss out... I mean how much more fun would it have been to be STUCK in that mud together....

5. I have a question!?......... hehehe

6. Our 'long' walks....enjoying the 'fresh' air that Pang has to offer!

7. the dreaded 'sleeping' chair...I'm not sure I should EVER sit in it again... I might NEVER leave my house....bc of it's power to help one sleep!! ;)

Thanks for coming to visit.. I hope your flights went smoothly.. and your suitcase made it through... cuz that fish will be smelly if your suitcase gets lost!!! (can't wait to hear from you when you get home!!) luv ya!!!

My MUM is flying into Pang at 2:05pm!!!! Soooooooo excited to have her come visit.... :) I'll probably not be posting as much in the next 10days..but who knows!! Yesterday I spent the day...organizing, cleaning, scrubbing, dusting, also doing laundry and folding it all AND putting it away... (hmmmmmm perhaps I have become a 'domestic' goddess? naw.... don't get your expectations TOOO high!!)... it's not that I'm a 'bad' housekeeper; it's just the DUST from the roads seems to invade my house from EVERY direction!! one of the joys of living in the north in the summer I suppose---also living on a 'main' road that the water and sewage trucks pass very frequently!!!

Anyways back to my mum I hope her flights went ok... and she actually IS on this plane... (one can never tell when you travel in the north!)... ;)

Leaving on a jet plane.....

Waiting for the plane to arrive......... Thanks Emily for an AWESOME weekend!! I can't wait til I see you in Qik at the end of April....

Up, up, and away!!!

...just Emily and one other person on the plane...(well the flight attendent and pilots too!)

One more sleep.......

Soooooooo my good friend Emily is flying in from Qikiqtarjuaq (or Qik...you can check out the handy dandy map feature if you need to know what that is.....) tomorrow night. She's flying back Monday morning----should be an awesome time!!!! I can't wait to show her around Pang...do a bit of exploring--and I'm sure some photos will be taken as well.... and I'll update you all on Monday!! but who knows---maybe before?

I also want to wish everyone in the south an AWESOME Easter holiday.... and to my Rez friends... enjoy the SUNRISE service... it's always been something I've LOVED to do.... (maybe i'll go watch the sunrise here---although apparently it's happening at 5:56am..I haven't actually witnessed it!!)... but we'll see it's always good to do once a year!!!