Tootoo's in town

So I think we all knew this was going to happen. Second blog fail in just over a month, sorry for the long wait. Well I'm back, with a couple of pictures, I have a ton more to put up but the internet here is not great and it takes FOREVER to upload pictures. So here are two, in honour of Jordin Tootoo (teehee).

So Jordin Tootoo is in town, and it's kind of a big deal. (FYI he's the ONLY famous person to ever come out of Rankin Inlet, and therefore is their claim to fame). He's been here for a couple weeks now and people are still talking about it. Everyone seems to have a take on the guy, and to put it mildly the reactions are pretty polarized; from hometown hero to gangster-womanizer, everyone has a story to tell about him. (Like seriously, when I mentioned that it might be neat to meet him, my boss called me into her office and had a 45 minute chat with me-- she warned me to avoid him at all costs, and be afraid because he's a "player" that is territorial over Rankin's "white girls" -- the whole time she was talking, the bed intruder song was playing in my head, "hide ya kids, hide ya wife", ahahahahaha ridiculous. Of course, she was overreacting; when I told some of the local girls about the chat, they lost it, they thought the response was hilarious, and though not unfounded, not something to lose sleep over).

Naturally, this is the first thing I saw when I got off the plane 6 weeks ago (picture more snow though, obviously) and it's classically Rankin-- a picture of Tootoo surrounded by caribou antlers. If it was lined with furs, it would be perfect. (Note: behind the picture is one of many snowmobile summer resting place, there are about 20 machines sitting there, waiting for snow to return).

(To my non-hockey fan friends: So I know what some of you are thinking-- who is this guy, who cares etc-- he dated Kelli Pickler, the American Idol chick-- and she came up here with him one summer for a couple of weeks. Apparently she is as... blonde... as she seems on TV. Sorry, I just seriously cannot picture her here...)

So after all this, I have not met him yet! The "most exciting thing" to happen to the Hamlet all year and I still don't even know what the big deal is. He's been out on land hunting. Well maybe I'll get my chance tomorrow, as it is National Aboriginal Day, and there's a big celebration planned-- I'm stoked for that! It's going to be neat!

Also, this is the Sugar Rush, the only restaurant in town (with the exception of the restaurant in the hotel). It has wifi! (and is open from 8am-630pm. And I work from 830-5. So yeah, I don't get there too often.) Also, it is owned by Jordin Tootoo's aunt, coincidentally; she's also a member of our Legal Services Board, so small world! Even smaller world, Tootoo's parents are directly my neighbours, like actually right next door. So though I haven't seen him, I bet Tootoo is less than 100 yards away, even as I'm typing this. (I'm trying to be impressed by this, but even I'm not, so I'm sure you aren't. So sorry for even mentioning it really... oh well, it's already written, guess there's nothing I can do about that...)

Okay well I didn't really say much in this entry (and yet it is still freaking long). I'll try to have a better post soon.

(Also, sidenote: I had my first bout of homesickness last week when the Canucks had a chance for the cup, so Wednesday was rough-- until the aftermath. Now I'm pretty relieved to have had some distance. If nothing else, perhaps it softens the blow. I hope you were all safe!)