Month-iversary

Here's Charlie marking our Month-iversary on the line, by adding a really big rock to his inukshuk.
Notice the way the wind is blowing back his CMG sign.
Now, think what a gust like that will do to a bunch of Styrofoam coffee cups and little itty, bitty creamers.
Yeah. The weather conspired against our other plan to mark the month-iversary: coffee and cookies on the line with anyone who cared to drop by at coffee time.

Actually, we managed not to lose a single coffee cup. Those butt-ugly racks on either end of Ike-the-Bike made for perfect coffee tables.

Mr. Solidarity was the first to show up. Kind of cute, isn't he, considering he also looks a bit like Joseph Merrick (aka:"The Elephant Man.")

Svante, who's with the Nunavut Employees Union, showed up next. He was the first to sample the coffee. (Mr Solidarity offered, but we were worried he'd burn his lips.) Notice Betty has pulled out "the big guns" when it comes to gear. She's wearing her winter parka and sealskin mitts.

Leo Subgut and Charlie chew the fat with Yvo Samgushak watching.

We consider Yvo the"unofficial" sixth staff member at CBC Kivalliq, he hangs around so much. He comes out just as faithfully on the picket line. And he doesn't even listen to CBC, because he's deaf-mute.

Oh yeah, and that's the "VAT-O-COFFEE" hanging out on Ike's rear rack. Told you he makes a good coffee table.

Rankin North M-L-A Tagak Curley digging for cream and sugar.

Sadio came...with baby Shara. She gave us yummy samosas and they warmed up our insides better than the coffee! THANKS!

The stamina prize goes to Mrs. Irkootee. She stayed and chatted for at least 45 minutes, standing there with no gloves on. When I shook her hand to say good-bye, it was toasty warm. I guess she eats more "country food" than I do.

(That's another technique for staying warm on the line when you have lousy circulation: Shake a lot of people's hands.)

More people came out: Aaron and crew, John, Sandy, Lisa, Steve... I'm sure I'm forgetting a few, but thanks to everyone! I'm not sure what the morning accomplished with respect to contract negotiations, but it sure did our spirits good to spend time with folks on such a bitter cold morning. Especially since it's been a rather sad couple of days in Rankin Inlet.

After it was all over, Charlie was exhausted.