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Not much from me lately, I've been crazy busy. And I actually mean that! As somebody else observed, I've been coming out of my shell and actually going out. It's great, I'm enjoying it and the days are going by fast.

Yesterday was the first day of spring and it was actually quite warm! I checked the weather when it was -7C, but the high was -5C. I've said it before and I'll say it again (and again and again)...anything warmer than -10C up here feels like it's actually above zero.

When it stays warm enough to lose the parka for a few days, I'm going to have it dry cleaned. It has 2.5 years of coffee spills on the front of it (I never claimed to be graceful), not to mention I've probably sweat more in that thing than I sweat at the gym. It's starting to feel disgusting to put on, but I think it's just a mental thing. Unfortunately, the zipper is starting to go on it, and the cuffs are fraying a bit. I'm disappointed considering how much it cost. Less than 3 years and it's falling apart. And trust me, I don't wear it more than I have to. I have days where I just cannot make myself put on boots and a parka, so I leave the house in sneakers and a peacoat. I always end up regretting it later, but I never learn my lesson.

Speaking of lessons, I learned yet another vehicle-owning lesson this week. I noticed my front passenger-side tire was getting flat, but I kept forgetting to get it filled. A friend agreed to loan me a pressure gauge so I would not overfill the tires. In her driveway, we whipped out the old fashioned one, the kind with the ruler-like stick that pops out and tells you the pressure. We pushed it onto the nozzle and nothing happened. We tried again and again, but it wasn't moving. So then we pulled out a digital one, and it kept reading 6-8psi. We didn't understand why it wasn't reading properly, so my friend phoned a friend, and he met us at the gas station. It was then that we realized that the pressure in that tire really was 6psi (it's supposed to be about 25psi). I have no idea how long I drove around like that, either. Another lesson learned. I need an idiot's guide to owning a vehicle, I swear. I didn't know I was such an idiot about it, but you don't know what you don't know. It's actually nice learning these things, learning to be more self-sufficient.

Anyway, I'm all moved into my own place finally, yay! And when I say finally, I mean I hadn't been in a place of my "own" since January 2008. The only problem now is acquiring the things I didn't already own. In the last month, I've purchased the following:
-TV
-microwave
-countertop dishwasher
-vacuum cleaner
-self-cleaning litter box (housewarming present for the cats, haha)
-various kitchen stuff from Pampered Chef

I'm done buying now but I would still like to buy the rest of the cutlery set I have and some decor to give this place some style. I'll be hitting the moving sales HARD! I recently entertained some guests for dinner and realized I own absolutely nothing for serving, not even salad tongs or small appetizer plates. Just writing that sentence makes me feel young and old at the same time.

The best part of my new apartment:

The view.

Oh, and happy one year in Iqaluit to me. In ten short days, I'll have been here for a whole year. Like all things do, it flew by. I can honestly say I liked Rankin Inlet better as a place to live, but I stay busy here and that's what's important, I suppose. Rankin just felt more personal and authentically northern. Nevertheless, I do plan to stay here for several more years, if I ever even get up the courage to leave! We'll see...

A Rant

Of all the things people here find reasons to complain about, I have only one real pet peeve about the north: complainers.

I grew up in a city of 70 000 people in Ontario. Many Sarnians (at least from my generation), believe this to be so small and redneck and that there's nothing to do. I always thought Sarnia was a great size. Not too big, not too small. But no matter where you go, people find reasons to complain. I'm still not sure what Sarnia was missing. The CN tower? A giant stadium? Wonderland?

Likewise, I'm not sure what some people expect when they move here. Wonderland? Malls? Twenty-four hour coffee shops? What can you possibly want? In my opinion, the only legitimate complaint here is that we are all far from family. Everything else can be overcome if you want to overcome it.

I think everybody I've met in the north can be categorized into 3 categories:
1. The people who go out, have friends, and enjoy living here.
2. The people who don't go out, don't have friends, and hate it here.
3. The people in between who are just biding their time, waiting for the next phase in their life.

I strive to fit into the first category and I believe I do. My pet peeve is the people in the second category. They're the people who, when I told them I was moving to Nunavut, made a face at me and scoffed, "WHY? Why would you want to move there?!" It's tragic that these people are actually let into Nunavut borders because they're like parasites, feeding off any whine and complaint they can muster up to bother people with.

There is only one rule you must abide by when you move here and want to like it: you must try. If you don't try, you will never like it here. You must attempt to make friends, you must attempt to leave the confines of your home and workplace, you must attempt to engage in cultural activities. If you don't, what's the point of even coming here?

To anyone who hates it here...we won't miss you. Don't let the tundra hit 'ya where the good lord split 'ya. Go home, back to where things make sense to you, and stop bugging everyone who likes it here.

And quite honestly, this post was inspired by people I know. I don't know if they're reading this, but I hope they are.

Thus ends the only angry rant you will ever read on this blog. Phew!

PS: I'm not implying that the north is perfect or that there are no problems here. We know that there are. My issue is with the people who can't see past their own whiny, high-maintenance personalities to find something to smile about here.