Snow Daze.....

I thought I'd share these as I finally got around to downloading my camera software to my re-jigged computer. If you happen to be in warmer climes perhaps these will cool you off for a moment or two. This top shot was taken about a week ago from my townhouse doorway looking across the complex. That is a crab apple tree with a nice dusting of the fluffly stuff.

This shot was taken yesterday over at the house from the kitchen looking out at the little side patio after our most recent storm. Nice, eh? Later on in the day a high pressure system swept in so it was clear, sunny and bright. We're in for another small storm tomorrow night and the forecasters are telling us there is another major one heading our way Sunday into Monday which is supposed to dump another 20 cm. (about a foot)

Ah, the joys of Canada in February...... (please tell me why I still live here.....) Florida, the gulf coast of Texas, Arizona and California all sound good right about now. So do Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Trinidad.

**TEASER** - I have some major news to share later; good stuff. Woo-Hoo!!!!!

Family Footprint

As promised, I said when I received another photo of Zeph that it would appear here. Sort of an unusual family portrait but a good one. Zeph will be 6 months old next week. That half-assed plan I had to go visit next month is gonzo; it was a short lived pipe dream. June will be along soon, right?

I did my overnight shift last night and the snow began to fall just before I was wakened to begin the day; before 6. It has been coming down hard and heavy ever since with strong winds piling it into drifts. The drive home around 10 was sloppy but now at mid-afternoon I'm debating the sanity of trying to drive over to the house in order to spend the night with Lynda. (It's normally a 10 minute drive) Looking out my window at passing traffic people are getting stuck, getting out to help push other cars and slip sliding about - not fun. It might be a good night to stay in with a pot of tea and a couple of good movies or a book.

This morning my boss returned my Johnny Cash book about the apostle Paul - The Man In White - so I may have to parcel it up to send off to cousin BJ. John said he had thoroughly enjoyed it and that it was evident Cash had put a lot of work and study into the writing of it.

Now ...... to pack up and get out in the white stuff .... or stay put. Hmm ... tough call. Did I tell you that Lynda told me 'she loves me' the other night?? She did. I hadn't heard that for an awfully long time.......

A Real Quick One

I ain't dead yet; I've just been feeling rough which has prevented me from doing much of anything this past week. Managed to get it together just in time to come back to work. Very strange week tho! If you're enjoying good health, you are truly blessed.

So what's up??

*I'm still doing the night gig here but I've taken on a new area of responsibilty in order to help out and earn a few brownie points.

*I did get out for a while one day last week to apply for a job elsewhere. Closer to home, better pay, great benefits, a couple of people on staff that I know slightly.

*It's Canada! In winter!! It's incredibly cold!!! Not surprising but very 'in your face' -40 with the wind chill sort of cold. I broke down yesterday and got out 'Big Red', my down-filled coat. What a difference it makes. So much for style.

*Lynda and I have hit a rough spot; there are things being left unsaid so as to avoid a major blow-out. Cooler heads need to prevail - let some of the steam ease off before some sensible confrontation. Ever notice that men and women perceive the world and our relationships very differently?? Too true.

*Grandson Owen was out with his parents for the day Saturday and he continues to develop into a very bright and entertaining little character. He'll be 3 in a couple of weeks and we'll be headed off to his party.

*My quit date has passed and although my smoking is drastically reduced I continue to smoke. 10 a day is better than 30 to 40, but it certainly isn't as good as none.

*Last week I managed to get my camera and computer talking again (or was it before last week - it's a big blur to me now) so I'm really hoping to figure out how to start posting some pictures. Possibly this week. Don't hold your breathe tho.

That wasn't as quick as I was planning but I do carry on a bit now and then. There's some work to finish just now though. Later.

How cold is it ???

This in response to Kel's recent posts about high temps and bush fires in Oz and todays post by Michelle about the +40C temps in SA.

We're enjoying(?) a transpolar cold snap straight out of Siberia, across the North Pole and into the heart of east central Canada. I was just outside for a very brief smoke and the trees are snapping with the cold. Not breaking and falling down but popping like small arms fire as they contract. Tonight its about -15C/-5F and the high for tomorrow is to be -18C!!!

Michelle was describing the measures she is taking to get relief from the heat. Here is how I'm layering up to stay warm - socks & undies (natch), longjohns, T-shirt, pants, turtleneck, shirt. When I head outside I also put on a bulky cotton sweater, scarf, a thermal vest and my Aussie oilskin coat. With temps where they are and no wind you can be out for a fair while without problems but if the wind picks up there's a very real danger of frostbite which can occur within minutes.

(One of our clients right now lost most of his fingers and toes a few years ago when he sank his snowmobile; had to climb out of the lake, run about a kilometer in freezing temps to the nearest phone and wait for an ambulance outside.)

It's so cold that.....it kills your car battery and thickens the oil in the pan so much that the engine won't turn over. Take a spray bottle outside, give it a squirt and the water will hit the ground as ice pellets. Spend five minutes outside and your ears, nose and fingers are brilliant red, tingle and take half an hour to warm up. I hope these sorts of images cool you down just a little bit. Me, I'm enjoying the thought of 40+ - just for a minute to keep me warm.

***update*** - If it gets any colder the big hooded downfilled jacket (that makes me look like the Michelin Man) comes out of storage. We don't want to see that, do we?