Only in Iqaluit can you go out for supper, walk through the lobby of the hotel on the way to the restaurant and have to walk past an inuk man holding a six-foot long narwhale horn that he was trying to sell. I was curious about how much he wanted, but I don't think I would have asked because I know they're not cheap.
Fortunately, just as we were heading in, someone else asked. So in case you're wondering, the going price for a narwhale horn in Iqaluit is these days it's $2,500.
Only in Iqaluit can a steak, chicken and ribs and two bowls of French onion soup cost you an appreciable percentage of the cost of a narwhale horn.
Only in Iqaluit can you walk past Polar Man, the city's resident super hero, on Halloween and discover he's wearing a costume - a cardboard box that makes him look like a toy action figure. Which is quite clever, really.
Only in Iqaluit can you go from about +4 to -25 in 48 hours, which is essentially what happened this week. Actually, that can probably happen elsewhere, but I imagine it still sucks as much as it did for all of us this week.
I can't think of any more, but feel free to add more in the comments section if you feel like it.
Meanwhile, Cathy's begun the pre-move pack. We haven't looked at the place yet and, admittedly, the odds of us saying no to it are pretty small. Still, I find some amusement that Cathy has already begun move planning that makes US generals in Iraq look like amateurs in their preparation. Which, again admittedly, isn't that hard. But there's already stuff in boxes and I spent about 20 minutes trying to figure out whether or not various old pieces of electronics and cables need to make the move upstairs with us.
Incidentally, if you want a computer speaker system or a nice, but slightly old Sony digital camera, give me a shout. The camera in particular was pretty hot shit back in 2004 and would still be pretty good now. I'll pretty much give away the speakers rather than toss them, but I wouldn't mind a few bucks for the camera, though.
Last Five
1. Square one here I come - The Hives
2. I will possess your heart - Death Cab For Cutie
3. Terminal romance - Matt Mays and El Torpedo*
4. Luno - Bloc Party
5. Let it die - Feist
8 comments:
OK, I have to ask: Is Polar Man an activist for fathers' rights?
We have Plywood Man in Yellowknife. He marches in parades, protests in front of my office, and pulls stunts that get him arrested.
Worst of all, his grammar is TERRIBLE.
Ouch on the tusk! We got a four and a half foot one shipped from Resolute for $600. Beautiful!
I just thought I'd point out that its usually called a "tusk" not a horn. I can bring you down one of the un-irrupted ones for you if you'd like, they're about 10-12" long.
Actually, I did want to know how much a narwhal horn costs, thank you. And I've seen the temperature drop 30 degrees in 24 hours in Hay River, Inuvik, Calgary, Sherwood Park and Fort McMurray.
I don't really know what Polar Man champions, other than kids seem to like him and he does lots of shovelling.
I knew it was a tusk and not a horn...this is what I get for writing late at night when I'm tired. And while it would be nice to have one, I think we'll require more space to be able to safely display it. I have these nightmare about Boo accidentally chewing on it or something.
I was actually going to mention to you that your extra computer speakers, along with an Apple Airport Express, make a good way to have music in a room that doesn't have anything else. A reconditioned Express is pretty cheap, although I don't see any on the Apple website right now. New they run $99.00.
Just make the Express part of your wireless network, plug in the speakers and select it in iTunes.
I knew Polar Man when he was known as Polar Boy. He really does believe he has super powers (and sadly thinks washing his clothes washes away his super powers). I think he does his best to protect kids. When he was younger, he would ride his bike around town and then report to the RCMP everything he saw. He shovels snow for a fee, I think.
I shouldn't say this because he doesn't like it, but his real name is Derek Emmons. Oh I feel bad for writing that. But it is listed elsewhere on the internet.
Did you see the picture of Polar Man and Steven Harper during his last visit here? Harper's handlers didn't want him to pose but The Prime Minister said it was okay. I don't know this for a fact because I did not go to greet Harper... it was invite only for those who support the Conservative party. Others were not welcome. http://www.stageleft.info/2008/09/22/dion-doomed-in-the-north/
I also knew Polar Boy, I haven't seen him since he changed his name. I didn't know he changed his name. I was 10(14 years ago) when I lived in Iqaluit, and I always thought it was pretty cool to have a super hero around. I would always wear jeans and a jean jacket, and he started calling me denim-boy or something along those lines.
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