P.S. SNOW! We finally have snow!
Showing posts with label Snow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snow. Show all posts
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Careful what you wish for!
Yes, I asked for snow. I didn't mean we needed it all at ONCE! We got snow. Lots and lots and lots of it, and it's still coming down. The drifts on the driveway are already 2 feet high. Tomorrow I will show you pictures, but tonight I am just going to huddle under my cocoon of pink and pretend it doesn't sound and feel like the wind is going to blow our house down.
Oh, and by the way? Remember Bubba, our new car?
Bubba has 4 wheel drive, and I knew I was in love with him when I drove to work on Wednesday morning and found myself stopped behind a line of cars trying to get up a steep hill on Airport Road. Without missing a beat, I swerved into the oncoming lane, went right around those pansy-assed cars, and carried on my merry way. There may have been a little bit of giggling too. (I know, the good Samaritan thing to do would have been to stop and help these poor folks, but I didn't think me and my unborn [but not by much] child were really the best people to be helping push heavy cars up icy hills, so I kept going.) Needless to say, I am in LOVE with Bubba, and his 4 wheel drive.
And drifts in our driveway? Bubba eats drifts for BREAKFAST!
Oh, and by the way? Remember Bubba, our new car?
Bubba has 4 wheel drive, and I knew I was in love with him when I drove to work on Wednesday morning and found myself stopped behind a line of cars trying to get up a steep hill on Airport Road. Without missing a beat, I swerved into the oncoming lane, went right around those pansy-assed cars, and carried on my merry way. There may have been a little bit of giggling too. (I know, the good Samaritan thing to do would have been to stop and help these poor folks, but I didn't think me and my unborn [but not by much] child were really the best people to be helping push heavy cars up icy hills, so I kept going.) Needless to say, I am in LOVE with Bubba, and his 4 wheel drive.
And drifts in our driveway? Bubba eats drifts for BREAKFAST!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Snow Please!
I can't BELIEVE I'm about to say this...just can't believe it.
We've had a November that's been pretty much barren of snow. But now? Now it's December. Now it's time for Christmas cheer, and cutting down Christmas trees, skiing and snowmen.
Know what you need for all those things?
Snow.
Thats right, peeps, snow. I'm ready for it. I even WANT it.
However, "everything in moderation" as my Dad used to say.
(Ha! Wrote the above last night. This morning it's white, with snow squalls to boot, and I'm about to drive into the smelly city, where everyone will likely be experiencing their yearly "what is this white stuff and how do I drive in it." Oh well, I suppose I asked for it!)
We've had a November that's been pretty much barren of snow. But now? Now it's December. Now it's time for Christmas cheer, and cutting down Christmas trees, skiing and snowmen.
Know what you need for all those things?
Snow.
Thats right, peeps, snow. I'm ready for it. I even WANT it.
However, "everything in moderation" as my Dad used to say.
(Ha! Wrote the above last night. This morning it's white, with snow squalls to boot, and I'm about to drive into the smelly city, where everyone will likely be experiencing their yearly "what is this white stuff and how do I drive in it." Oh well, I suppose I asked for it!)
Monday, April 06, 2009
What a difference a week makes
Last Weekend: 
Annnnnnd.....this morning:
No question....I prefer last weekend!
Annnnnnd.....this morning:No question....I prefer last weekend!Sunday, January 25, 2009
Downhill Adventures
So picture this - you're outside, a sunny but c-c-c-cold day. You're carrying a 40 pound sack of...oh, I don't know, something VERY expensive, priceless you could say, between your legs. Let us, for story sake, say you're hanging onto a large and obviously priceless Faberge Egg. (A wiggly one.)
You're trying desperately to hold onto this precious cargo, while it wiggles between your heavily gloved hands, which lessens your grip with every wiggle. You're trying to teach an important lesson to the egg, whilst holding at an awkward angle with one hand, and with your other hand you're holding onto a handle, a handle that is pulling you towards your destination in a not so graceful way.
You reach the first destination on your journey. You can see the next destination in your journey from here. You must travel the wiggly, priceless egg down to the bottom of a hill. There are a ton of people trying to get to this destination, many with priceless wiggly eggs of their own. Many of them travel quickly down the hill, without a care in the world about their precious cargo. Or yours for that matter.
Whilst you travel to your destination, you continue to talk to your egg, trying to impart on it the importance of this journey. You take it slow, ask the egg to observe your movements, all while it wiggles and you try not to let go.
You reach your first destination at the bottom of the hill. Your back screams from the awkward position you have been traveling in, in order to protect your cargo. You spy your next destination (which looks remarkably familiar) and repeat the agonizing travel process, all while keeping your primary goals in mind - the safety of the egg.
Plus, it is also important that the egg is enjoying the journey.
"Are you having fun, little egg?"
"AGAIN, AGAIN!"
We take that as a yes.
You reach the all too familiar destination. Again, you repeat the slow journey down, reminding the egg of the lessons it learned on it's last journey. The egg has no time for lessons. It's only response is "GO FASTER!"
(Did I mention that you and the egg have long, slippery boards attached to your feet? No? Well, ya do, just to make it more fun.)
After about 3 hours of this fun, yet agonizing journey, you've decided you've had enough for the day. You are pleased with your journey. The egg is safe. The egg had fun. Nothing is broken, everyone is happy...a successful day!
(Your egg almost ruins everything by FINALLY escaping from your clutches in the parking lot, and running between a row of parked cars and into the roadway before egg-Daddy has a chance to grab his little nearly-scrambled self.)
Sadly, your lame self didn't get any pictures of the journey of the egg. But you did get a picture of the super-conk that happened on the return to your egg-home. And the 3 hour egg nap that followed:
The journey of your priceless egg is all worthwhile. The numbing back pain, the cold, the anxiety, it's all worth it when it results in a 3 hour nap!
You're trying desperately to hold onto this precious cargo, while it wiggles between your heavily gloved hands, which lessens your grip with every wiggle. You're trying to teach an important lesson to the egg, whilst holding at an awkward angle with one hand, and with your other hand you're holding onto a handle, a handle that is pulling you towards your destination in a not so graceful way.
You reach the first destination on your journey. You can see the next destination in your journey from here. You must travel the wiggly, priceless egg down to the bottom of a hill. There are a ton of people trying to get to this destination, many with priceless wiggly eggs of their own. Many of them travel quickly down the hill, without a care in the world about their precious cargo. Or yours for that matter.
Whilst you travel to your destination, you continue to talk to your egg, trying to impart on it the importance of this journey. You take it slow, ask the egg to observe your movements, all while it wiggles and you try not to let go.
You reach your first destination at the bottom of the hill. Your back screams from the awkward position you have been traveling in, in order to protect your cargo. You spy your next destination (which looks remarkably familiar) and repeat the agonizing travel process, all while keeping your primary goals in mind - the safety of the egg.
Plus, it is also important that the egg is enjoying the journey.
"Are you having fun, little egg?"
"AGAIN, AGAIN!"
We take that as a yes.
You reach the all too familiar destination. Again, you repeat the slow journey down, reminding the egg of the lessons it learned on it's last journey. The egg has no time for lessons. It's only response is "GO FASTER!"
(Did I mention that you and the egg have long, slippery boards attached to your feet? No? Well, ya do, just to make it more fun.)
After about 3 hours of this fun, yet agonizing journey, you've decided you've had enough for the day. You are pleased with your journey. The egg is safe. The egg had fun. Nothing is broken, everyone is happy...a successful day!
(Your egg almost ruins everything by FINALLY escaping from your clutches in the parking lot, and running between a row of parked cars and into the roadway before egg-Daddy has a chance to grab his little nearly-scrambled self.)
Sadly, your lame self didn't get any pictures of the journey of the egg. But you did get a picture of the super-conk that happened on the return to your egg-home. And the 3 hour egg nap that followed:
The journey of your priceless egg is all worthwhile. The numbing back pain, the cold, the anxiety, it's all worth it when it results in a 3 hour nap!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sunday Random
-I got puked on twice yesterday - happy Early Christmas, from Griffin! Both times were fairly monumental - the first was a change the entire bed puke (by the way, what the heck do you do with vomit soaked pillows?) The second time we were at a christmas party down the street, me dressed in my brand new wool sweater that I hope will, someday, not smell like puke anymore! I was just starting to enjoy my glass of wine too...luckily we weren't too far from home. The puke fest seems to be over, and the only side effect seems to be an extra snuggly toddler. OK by me!
-Snowmageddon - it came, it snowed, it went. Friday morning it was like someone turned the snow switch to "on" around 7:30 in the morning, and flicked it to "off" around 6pm. It stayed off until last night around 9pm, when it got turned back on again. It's still on, but on low right now, and I'm headed out to plow the driveway for the umpteenth time it seems. Can I just say how much I love Red? He has saved our ass, yet again!
-We are all on HOLIDAYS! No more work until the 5th of January! Now there is really NO excuse not to dump 1/2 a cup of Baileys in my morning coffee!
-If I don't talk to y'all before then (but I probably will. Aw heck, I'm SURE I will, so never mind. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas later!)
-Snowmageddon - it came, it snowed, it went. Friday morning it was like someone turned the snow switch to "on" around 7:30 in the morning, and flicked it to "off" around 6pm. It stayed off until last night around 9pm, when it got turned back on again. It's still on, but on low right now, and I'm headed out to plow the driveway for the umpteenth time it seems. Can I just say how much I love Red? He has saved our ass, yet again!
-We are all on HOLIDAYS! No more work until the 5th of January! Now there is really NO excuse not to dump 1/2 a cup of Baileys in my morning coffee!
-If I don't talk to y'all before then (but I probably will. Aw heck, I'm SURE I will, so never mind. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas later!)
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Snow-mageddon??
From the Canadian Weather Guru - Environment Canada:
"..Could this be snow-mageddon?..
Environment Canada is generally not prone to exaggeration unless there is deemed to be a real threat. We evaluate weather information and prediction models in a measured, scientific manner and couple that with overall impacts for significant events.
Mother nature from time to time will line up a near perfect set of conditions that generate a series of significant events. That time appears to be the coming week or so for many portions of southern Ontario in the form of snow storms. There appears to the right balance of sufficiently cold air in place, with Arctic highs to the north and a storm track along the lower Great Lakes. The term 'snow-mageddon' is not meant to alarm anyone or make light of the situation, but to highlight the cumulative effects and impacts that a series of snow storms can have on a wide region.
Total accumulations from the Wednesday, Friday and Sunday events may reach 50 centimetres in some areas. The cumulative effects of these three storms will make travel over this pre-Christmas period very difficult at times."
If Environment Canada is calling for "Snow-mageddon" (we actually prefer snow-pocalypse here) then I'm pretty sure we're in for it!
Happy Holidays!
"..Could this be snow-mageddon?..
Environment Canada is generally not prone to exaggeration unless there is deemed to be a real threat. We evaluate weather information and prediction models in a measured, scientific manner and couple that with overall impacts for significant events.
Mother nature from time to time will line up a near perfect set of conditions that generate a series of significant events. That time appears to be the coming week or so for many portions of southern Ontario in the form of snow storms. There appears to the right balance of sufficiently cold air in place, with Arctic highs to the north and a storm track along the lower Great Lakes. The term 'snow-mageddon' is not meant to alarm anyone or make light of the situation, but to highlight the cumulative effects and impacts that a series of snow storms can have on a wide region.
Total accumulations from the Wednesday, Friday and Sunday events may reach 50 centimetres in some areas. The cumulative effects of these three storms will make travel over this pre-Christmas period very difficult at times."
If Environment Canada is calling for "Snow-mageddon" (we actually prefer snow-pocalypse here) then I'm pretty sure we're in for it!
Happy Holidays!
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Lazy Sunday
Well, the family Christmas was a success!
We had THIRTY SIX people in the house, for about 5 hours. 36! That's a lot of people! Oh, and a dog, who was VERY excited about all the company. And all the food!
My photo-taking was sketchy at best, and I got a TON of blurry shots, and a few clear ones. Here's my favourite niece, Jolyn. OK, she's my only niece, but TOTALLY my favourite! I thought about stealing her - you'd think with two other little boys, Paul and Stacey would hardly even notice the missing one. Don't you just want to eat her up?? I let her go home this time, but I may steal her yet...
Here's 9 of the 11 munchkins that were running around the house all afternoon. The twins are still immobile, but next year...look out! I'm glad we got in on the Christmas hosting while the numbers are still "reasonable." People just keep having babies, so it's just going to get bigger and bigger!
These 2 are my cousin Michelle's little monkeys - so cute, but don't let those beautiful dark eyes fool you - they're full of mischief!!
And today? Today we chill. We're all still in our PJ's, Daddy and the G are watching a big show, I'm alternating between blogging, eating left over rice crispy squares, and drinking boozy coffee. There's a snowsquall warning out, the roads are crap, so we're just going to tuck in for the day, and enjoy our beautiful, CLEAN house!
We had THIRTY SIX people in the house, for about 5 hours. 36! That's a lot of people! Oh, and a dog, who was VERY excited about all the company. And all the food!
My photo-taking was sketchy at best, and I got a TON of blurry shots, and a few clear ones. Here's my favourite niece, Jolyn. OK, she's my only niece, but TOTALLY my favourite! I thought about stealing her - you'd think with two other little boys, Paul and Stacey would hardly even notice the missing one. Don't you just want to eat her up?? I let her go home this time, but I may steal her yet...
Here's 9 of the 11 munchkins that were running around the house all afternoon. The twins are still immobile, but next year...look out! I'm glad we got in on the Christmas hosting while the numbers are still "reasonable." People just keep having babies, so it's just going to get bigger and bigger!These 2 are my cousin Michelle's little monkeys - so cute, but don't let those beautiful dark eyes fool you - they're full of mischief!!
And today? Today we chill. We're all still in our PJ's, Daddy and the G are watching a big show, I'm alternating between blogging, eating left over rice crispy squares, and drinking boozy coffee. There's a snowsquall warning out, the roads are crap, so we're just going to tuck in for the day, and enjoy our beautiful, CLEAN house! *Edited to add:
It's 10:07pm, and I'm ready for bed. Luckily, I can go straight to bed, not even pausing to get into my PJ's, because I never GOT OUT OF THEM!! That my friends, is what I call a successful day!
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Eati, drink and be merry!
Hello Internet! I know, I know, where have I been, right?
Well, I'll tell you.
(But before I do, I must briefly gloat. It's 8:30pm. The monkey is sleeping, and I am IN BED, with a nice big glass of boozy yumminess and no work till MONDAY!! Whoot whoot!)
So, my Dad's side of the family, being the logical folk that they are, like to get together for the family christmas gathering well before christmas, to avoid any other familial conflicts. This year the party is this coming Saturday, and it's at MY HOUSE!! 2 days from now, about 35 family members will be descending onto our wee abode here on the roof to eat, drink and be merry for a few hours.
So...I've been getting ready for it.
Now I wish I could say that our house is in a state of constant readiness, so that guests can pop by any time and we can offer them something warm and tasty to eat, a comfortable bed to sleep in, and a toilet that's been scrubbed sometime in the past 6 months. Very Martha Stewart like. In reality? I've been cleaning shit up for THREE WEEKS now, and I finally am ready to let all these people into my home!
While our house is hardly a pigsty, there is always stuff that "gathers." They gather in what that annoying Fly Lady calls "hotspots," which are like big magnets for stuff to pile up on. Dudes, my whole damn HOUSE is a hotspot! So we've been chipping away at them, and at the same time made some major furniture movements, and after 3 weeks of toil, this place looks DAMN FINE, y'all!
My other new best friend, the cleaning lady, came by today to put the finishing touches on it all. Tomorrow all that's left is a few more christmas decorations and some stuff in the basement that needs dealing with. Oh...and the FIVE baskets of clean laundry that need to be folded. The Laundry Fairy arrives tomorrow night (hi Mom!) but I'm going to try like hell to get them done before she arrives, because even Laundry Fairies need to chill some times!
Despite all the schlepping and hard work, it's awfully nice to give this place a thorough once over, at least once a year. I sure as heck don't have time to pull this "hosting parties for 35 people" off on a regular basis, but I'm looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday.
Hope they all drive their small cars, because I have NO idea where they're all going to park, with all that fricking SNOW out there. (We had just about as many cars here the day we got married, but I realize that not once during my wedding day, did I think to give a rats patootie about where people were parking. So maybe I just won't care on Saturday either!)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The joys of the winter commute
It usually takes me an hour to get to work in the morning.
Yesterday it took me 2 and a half hours.
The first 80 kilometers took an hour.
The last 10 kilometers took another hour, thanks to the lightest of light dustings of snow, and the stoopid people who don't know how to drive in it.
Pushing the SEVEN cars up the very long and windy country driveway to get to building where I work? The last half hour.
It's going to be a loooooong winter!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
So far, so good...but the night is young!
Toddler asleep, not a single tear shed.
Tonight, snuggles with Daddy. Tucked in and kissed goodnight by 8:30.
Around 9:15 I hear a mysterious noise and look upstairs to find Griffin on the landing, walking back and forth running his hand along the rungs of the railing over and over...just like last night. Must be soothing or something? I looked up and said "I thought you were sleeping! Can you go back to bed please bud?"
"OK" he said, toddled back into his room, closed the door behind him, and went to sleep.
Easy peasy! (She says all laissez-faire like, while subtly knocking on the wooden desk in front of her...)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
And now, the bad news:
(This, sadly, is one of the most visited web pages in our winter repertoire.)
Tonight, snuggles with Daddy. Tucked in and kissed goodnight by 8:30.
Around 9:15 I hear a mysterious noise and look upstairs to find Griffin on the landing, walking back and forth running his hand along the rungs of the railing over and over...just like last night. Must be soothing or something? I looked up and said "I thought you were sleeping! Can you go back to bed please bud?"
"OK" he said, toddled back into his room, closed the door behind him, and went to sleep.
Easy peasy! (She says all laissez-faire like, while subtly knocking on the wooden desk in front of her...)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
And now, the bad news:
(This, sadly, is one of the most visited web pages in our winter repertoire.)
Aw heck, lets zoom in for a close up, shall we??
So there you have it folks. Winter is on it's way. Heck, I think it may even be HERE!! And wouldn't you know it, we just sent our tractor in today to get the blower put on and have ol' Red get all shiny and tuned up. No matter how on the ball we think we are, winter always seems to sneak up on us here.
Pray for our under-dressed souls, that are still in denial and haven't dug out the hats and mitts yet. I'll keep you posted....that is, provided no snow laden limbs affect our power lines!
Giddyup!
Friday, February 01, 2008
Impending Doom Wahoo! Snow Day!!
Once again, we seem to be bracing for the worst storm in 20 years. Hey, didn't we play this game a few months ago? Yuh huh. Shure did! Here's how the doom and gloom looks, from the Environment Canada's point of view. Environment Canada being THE people at the top of the Weather Forcast Foodchain:
Latest indications show the potential for significant amounts of snow from this deepening low as it tracks...blah blah blah. This type of winter storm often has a swath of 15 to 30 centimetres of heavy snow associated with it. Freezing rain and ice pellets will also be a problem as the storm centre gets close to the lower Great Lakes...good times.
The leading edge of the snow is expected to reach the [us] late tonight then spread rapidly northeast across [to the rest of youz] on Friday morning.
Ice pellets and freezing rain may also be an issue to contend with generally in regions near and southeast of highway 401. Exact snowfall amounts and the location of ice pellets and freezing rain will depend upon the exact track of this developing storm....yada yada yada.
Travellers should be prepared to alter plans accordingly again as driving conditions once again will deteriorate significantly on Friday. The heaviest snow should begin over southwestern Ontario Friday morning and over eastern Ontario Friday afternoon. This storm has the potential to be quite significant and have high impact especially if heavy snow develops.
Outside at this moment, it is quiet and still. The sky is clear, there's a wee wind, but nothing like the effin GALE FORCE WINDS we had yesterday when we thought the ENTIRE ROOF was going to come right off our cozy little house. I shit you not...if we had a storm celler, we would have been in it on Tuesday night! Anyway, my point is, that if you look outside right now, you might be tempted to think that this entire thing is a joke. A conspriacy, set up by Walmart or someone, to force us to go out and stock up on canned beans, candles, and wind up radios. I'm certain it's not, and the likelihood of us being burried up to our arseholes in snow by this time tomorrow is pretty good (especially since we're burried to pretty darn near our arseholes on a regular day) but wouldn't that be the ultimate practical joke? Seriously.
My Dad always joked about setting up a roadblock for a few days near my childhood home and our family business, which was on pretty major highway. Just a little two laner, but I grew up on Highway 2, which was essentially the Southwestern Ontario thoroughfare before the 401 existed. He just thought it would be nice to have peace and quiet for a few days and nights. Just pop out some signs, pound in a few detour posts, and sit back and relax.
I always thought it was a great idea...people would TOTALLY follow it, at least for a day or two, nobody would know the difference, or even care, because the signs were obviously put there by "the man" and you totally trust what the man says because, well, because he's the man! Same dealio with the weather. You just trust Enviroment Canada because, well, they're Environment Canada. But wouldn't be hilarious if they were just shitting us? Oh, there'd be a big to-do, uproar, you lied Morgan you're a liar, blah blah, but you'd have a smile and a laugh, if even for a second, and wouldn't a few more laughs and smiles in all our lives be a good thing? I'd like to see the next forcast come across the board looking a little something like this:
Latest indications show the potential for a pantload of snow...wahooo! Snow Day!!! This type of winter storm often has a swath of 15 to 30 centimetres of heavy packing snow associated, perfect for building snowmen, skiing, snowmobiling, or sitting around a fireplace getting liquored on hot toddys because your power will be out and you won't have to go to work tomorrow!! This storm has the potential to be quite significant and have high impact, going so far as to cancel all exams scheduled for the week. Due to the serious nature of this storm, and the potential economical impact, any skiing or other recreational sports will, for the rest of the winter, be tax deductable, especially if heavy snow develops.
Latest indications show the potential for significant amounts of snow from this deepening low as it tracks...blah blah blah. This type of winter storm often has a swath of 15 to 30 centimetres of heavy snow associated with it. Freezing rain and ice pellets will also be a problem as the storm centre gets close to the lower Great Lakes...good times.
The leading edge of the snow is expected to reach the [us] late tonight then spread rapidly northeast across [to the rest of youz] on Friday morning.
Ice pellets and freezing rain may also be an issue to contend with generally in regions near and southeast of highway 401. Exact snowfall amounts and the location of ice pellets and freezing rain will depend upon the exact track of this developing storm....yada yada yada.
Travellers should be prepared to alter plans accordingly again as driving conditions once again will deteriorate significantly on Friday. The heaviest snow should begin over southwestern Ontario Friday morning and over eastern Ontario Friday afternoon. This storm has the potential to be quite significant and have high impact especially if heavy snow develops.
Outside at this moment, it is quiet and still. The sky is clear, there's a wee wind, but nothing like the effin GALE FORCE WINDS we had yesterday when we thought the ENTIRE ROOF was going to come right off our cozy little house. I shit you not...if we had a storm celler, we would have been in it on Tuesday night! Anyway, my point is, that if you look outside right now, you might be tempted to think that this entire thing is a joke. A conspriacy, set up by Walmart or someone, to force us to go out and stock up on canned beans, candles, and wind up radios. I'm certain it's not, and the likelihood of us being burried up to our arseholes in snow by this time tomorrow is pretty good (especially since we're burried to pretty darn near our arseholes on a regular day) but wouldn't that be the ultimate practical joke? Seriously.
My Dad always joked about setting up a roadblock for a few days near my childhood home and our family business, which was on pretty major highway. Just a little two laner, but I grew up on Highway 2, which was essentially the Southwestern Ontario thoroughfare before the 401 existed. He just thought it would be nice to have peace and quiet for a few days and nights. Just pop out some signs, pound in a few detour posts, and sit back and relax.
I always thought it was a great idea...people would TOTALLY follow it, at least for a day or two, nobody would know the difference, or even care, because the signs were obviously put there by "the man" and you totally trust what the man says because, well, because he's the man! Same dealio with the weather. You just trust Enviroment Canada because, well, they're Environment Canada. But wouldn't be hilarious if they were just shitting us? Oh, there'd be a big to-do, uproar, you lied Morgan you're a liar, blah blah, but you'd have a smile and a laugh, if even for a second, and wouldn't a few more laughs and smiles in all our lives be a good thing? I'd like to see the next forcast come across the board looking a little something like this:
Latest indications show the potential for a pantload of snow...wahooo! Snow Day!!! This type of winter storm often has a swath of 15 to 30 centimetres of heavy packing snow associated, perfect for building snowmen, skiing, snowmobiling, or sitting around a fireplace getting liquored on hot toddys because your power will be out and you won't have to go to work tomorrow!! This storm has the potential to be quite significant and have high impact, going so far as to cancel all exams scheduled for the week. Due to the serious nature of this storm, and the potential economical impact, any skiing or other recreational sports will, for the rest of the winter, be tax deductable, especially if heavy snow develops.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Happy New Year!
We spent a very quiet, chill night here last night, me and the G, my Mom, and Kendra and Adara. Steve is on the road again, this time in Boston, so we took advantage of the absence of any adult males to eat gourmet pizza WITHOUT any meat on it, watch a good chick flick, drink reeeeally nice red wine, eat chocolate and talk babies. And stuff. It was delightful. Kendra and I rang in the new year with a New Years Chocolate, and then prompty hit the hay by about 12:02. Civilized indeed.
Today is my 8th day of a 12 day without a day off work week. Its starting to wear thin. At the same time, the job itself is becomming less job-y and more like fun as I get to know people, and start to make sense of the 876 forms that one needs to fill out just to take a pee at this place. (OK, there's no actual pee forms, but I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a committee somewhere working on one!)
Griffin has been hanging out with my Mom while Steve is in Boston, and soon he's off to spend a few days at his other Grandparents. Like as in sleepover. For THREE nights! Oh lordy, what am I going to do with myself without a Griffin?? I'd like to think I'll take advantage of my freedom to spend a night or 2 on the town, or dance naked with really loud music at 3 am, but the reality is I'll probably go to bed early and lie awake thinking about how much I miss my boys!
I started out the new year less than auspicously this evening with trying to blow the biggest rock you've ever seen out thorough the snow blower. Even if you're not mechanically inclined, you can likely figure out that really large rocks and snow blowers don't really mix. I am PRAYING that I just busted the shear pin, which is a fancy word for 5/8ths bolt, and can fix it with a wrench and about $3.50. I am also praying that I didn't totally wreck the gear box...because that will take a lot more than a wrench...and A LOT more than $3.50! I'll reassess tomorrow in the light. Meanwhile, I got to test out the snow blower as more of a snow plow, and it done-did the trick just fine. Done-did. It's a word, trust me.
And now, for Steve, who loves to see what we're up to while he's away. First up - eating a spagetti dinner. With our hands. And our hair.
This one's from when Steve was still home. But HOT DAMN if my kid isn't the cutest thing on 2 legs!!
Happy New Year! I still feel like saying Happy Birthday to my Dad - he would have turned 60 today...New Years Day is wierd without my Dad...it was always HIS day. Anywho, I hope the New Year is fabulous and wonderful and brings you all good things!
Today is my 8th day of a 12 day without a day off work week. Its starting to wear thin. At the same time, the job itself is becomming less job-y and more like fun as I get to know people, and start to make sense of the 876 forms that one needs to fill out just to take a pee at this place. (OK, there's no actual pee forms, but I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a committee somewhere working on one!)
Griffin has been hanging out with my Mom while Steve is in Boston, and soon he's off to spend a few days at his other Grandparents. Like as in sleepover. For THREE nights! Oh lordy, what am I going to do with myself without a Griffin?? I'd like to think I'll take advantage of my freedom to spend a night or 2 on the town, or dance naked with really loud music at 3 am, but the reality is I'll probably go to bed early and lie awake thinking about how much I miss my boys!
I started out the new year less than auspicously this evening with trying to blow the biggest rock you've ever seen out thorough the snow blower. Even if you're not mechanically inclined, you can likely figure out that really large rocks and snow blowers don't really mix. I am PRAYING that I just busted the shear pin, which is a fancy word for 5/8ths bolt, and can fix it with a wrench and about $3.50. I am also praying that I didn't totally wreck the gear box...because that will take a lot more than a wrench...and A LOT more than $3.50! I'll reassess tomorrow in the light. Meanwhile, I got to test out the snow blower as more of a snow plow, and it done-did the trick just fine. Done-did. It's a word, trust me.
And now, for Steve, who loves to see what we're up to while he's away. First up - eating a spagetti dinner. With our hands. And our hair.
This one's from when Steve was still home. But HOT DAMN if my kid isn't the cutest thing on 2 legs!!Happy New Year! I still feel like saying Happy Birthday to my Dad - he would have turned 60 today...New Years Day is wierd without my Dad...it was always HIS day. Anywho, I hope the New Year is fabulous and wonderful and brings you all good things!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Can You Spot the Problem?
On this side of the fence lives our house, our son, our dog, etc. On the other side lives the cows, the horses, etc. Except...where is the fence??Sunday, December 16, 2007
White, on white, with white accents.
We, like the rest of the province, are under a blanket of snow. A very large, heavy, thick blanket, and not a very nice one, because it's bloody cold! Tomorrow when the sun shines (HA!) I'll take some pictures, but I imagine it looks like just about everywhere else within a 300km radius. White, on white, with white accents.
Most of the storms that we get around here blow in from the west. Westerly winds is what reeks havoc around here, specifically on our driveway. They huff, and they puff, and they blow every speckle of the white stuff around and dump it smack on our driveway. See - here. And here. In that second picture you can see the stakes that outline the entity formerly known as the driveway. You can see that it would be pretty impossible to get a CAR down that driveway - which pretty much takes the drive right out of driveway, and makes it a walk-through-knee-high-snow-for-300-meters-with-bags-of-groceries-and-an-infant-in-a-carseat-way. (Both pictures from last year.)
Hmmm...where was I going with this....
Oh RIGHT - the damn WIND!!
So, this storm, the one that brought the wet, cold snowy blanket, the "worst storm in 60 years" seems to be blowing in from the south east. East? EAST???? One more time....EAST???
What about the over 200 feet of snow fence that I sweat to put up on the WEST side of the driveway??? West side, people, WEST side!! My snow fence does zip, zero, zilch, for the driveway when the snow comes from the other direction!! Just when I thought we had the driveway licked, figured it all out, the worst storm of the season (and lets put a little "so far" in there for good measure) has to blow in from the wrong damned side of the driveway. Groovy.
Luckily, Back Door Doug showed up and plowed the driveway for us. Likely in about 30 seconds. It would have taken me a good hour, and likely still will in the morning. Whee!
And...while everyone stayed tucked safely inside for this storm, me, I went to work. At my new job, working Member Services at a ski club nearby. (Or "servicing members" as Steve was so nice to put it, implying all sorts of dirty things unsuitable for this nice friendly family blog!) Because if anyone is crazy enough to head out in a massive winter storm, searching for that "ultimate ride," it's the snowboarders and the skiers!
Most of the storms that we get around here blow in from the west. Westerly winds is what reeks havoc around here, specifically on our driveway. They huff, and they puff, and they blow every speckle of the white stuff around and dump it smack on our driveway. See - here. And here. In that second picture you can see the stakes that outline the entity formerly known as the driveway. You can see that it would be pretty impossible to get a CAR down that driveway - which pretty much takes the drive right out of driveway, and makes it a walk-through-knee-high-snow-for-300-meters-with-bags-of-groceries-and-an-infant-in-a-carseat-way. (Both pictures from last year.)
Hmmm...where was I going with this....
Oh RIGHT - the damn WIND!!
So, this storm, the one that brought the wet, cold snowy blanket, the "worst storm in 60 years" seems to be blowing in from the south east. East? EAST???? One more time....EAST???
What about the over 200 feet of snow fence that I sweat to put up on the WEST side of the driveway??? West side, people, WEST side!! My snow fence does zip, zero, zilch, for the driveway when the snow comes from the other direction!! Just when I thought we had the driveway licked, figured it all out, the worst storm of the season (and lets put a little "so far" in there for good measure) has to blow in from the wrong damned side of the driveway. Groovy.
Luckily, Back Door Doug showed up and plowed the driveway for us. Likely in about 30 seconds. It would have taken me a good hour, and likely still will in the morning. Whee!
And...while everyone stayed tucked safely inside for this storm, me, I went to work. At my new job, working Member Services at a ski club nearby. (Or "servicing members" as Steve was so nice to put it, implying all sorts of dirty things unsuitable for this nice friendly family blog!) Because if anyone is crazy enough to head out in a massive winter storm, searching for that "ultimate ride," it's the snowboarders and the skiers!
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Forecast: Crap, changing to Freezing Crap.
Once again, it seems like Mama Nature is going to mess with my plans to go into the city again. Jeez...do you think someone is trying to tell me something?
This time we're expecting snow, followed by freezing rain, followed by more snow. It's not the snow that's so bad. It's that stupid freezing rain that gets us! Freezing rain is, well, frozen, and thus stays on stuff. It seems to have a particular affliction for trees, and power lines. Trees get heavy, and come tumbling down. Usually, smack on top of those already ice laden power lines. Hey...doesn't this sound familiar? Didn't we play this game last year?
I read an article recently about the 10 year anniversary of the 1998 Ice Storm - this was an extreme case of the damage that can be caused by the evils of freezing rain. Don't know what I'm talking about? There's a great little CBC clip from the midst of the storm here. I don't think we're in for it that bad, but even last year's little freezing rain episode left us without power for 3 days. But it's all good...we're leaving for a few days to join Steve in Winterpeg. I'm sure this freezing rain business won't affect ANYTHING that has to do with us flying in an airplane...
This time we're expecting snow, followed by freezing rain, followed by more snow. It's not the snow that's so bad. It's that stupid freezing rain that gets us! Freezing rain is, well, frozen, and thus stays on stuff. It seems to have a particular affliction for trees, and power lines. Trees get heavy, and come tumbling down. Usually, smack on top of those already ice laden power lines. Hey...doesn't this sound familiar? Didn't we play this game last year?
I read an article recently about the 10 year anniversary of the 1998 Ice Storm - this was an extreme case of the damage that can be caused by the evils of freezing rain. Don't know what I'm talking about? There's a great little CBC clip from the midst of the storm here. I don't think we're in for it that bad, but even last year's little freezing rain episode left us without power for 3 days. But it's all good...we're leaving for a few days to join Steve in Winterpeg. I'm sure this freezing rain business won't affect ANYTHING that has to do with us flying in an airplane...
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Confessions of a Single Parent
Today I strapped Griffin into his highchair and parked him in front of Baby Einstein on repeat play. Whoever had the ingenuity to put that repeat play option on there is a GENIUS. Anyway, I digress...
I gave him a nice yummy bottle of milk, and tucked a warm blanket around his legs to keep him cozy. And then I strapped on my snowsuit, gloves, hat, the works, and went out to plow the driveway! Before you call me a horrible parent for leaving my child unattended, I should tell you that clipped the baby monitor to the INSIDE of my hat, right over my ear so I could hear it above the roar of the snowblower. If he had decided to start screaming, I likely would have gone instantly deaf. Now THAT'S commitment to your children! But as it was, he didn't make a peep, and I got to listed to strains of "My First Shapes" while I plowed the way clear for us to drive the car out of the driveway.
Because lord knows, if we had spent another day cooped up in the house ALL DAY, one of us would have lost our minds, and it would have been a race to see who got there first!
And I likely would have won!
I gave him a nice yummy bottle of milk, and tucked a warm blanket around his legs to keep him cozy. And then I strapped on my snowsuit, gloves, hat, the works, and went out to plow the driveway! Before you call me a horrible parent for leaving my child unattended, I should tell you that clipped the baby monitor to the INSIDE of my hat, right over my ear so I could hear it above the roar of the snowblower. If he had decided to start screaming, I likely would have gone instantly deaf. Now THAT'S commitment to your children! But as it was, he didn't make a peep, and I got to listed to strains of "My First Shapes" while I plowed the way clear for us to drive the car out of the driveway.
Because lord knows, if we had spent another day cooped up in the house ALL DAY, one of us would have lost our minds, and it would have been a race to see who got there first!
And I likely would have won!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Oh the weather outside is frightful.
Well, it's official, winter is HERE.
Outside it's doing nasty things. So nasty that we've cancelled our date in Toronto tomorrow night. This time around, they're supposed to be getting the white stuff down there too, and we all know what the first big snowfall of the season does to most Toronto drivers. That's right - it erases their memory of all driving skills and common sense they had before the snowfall (if they had any to begin with.) Tomorrow should be a fun traffic day in the city - accidents galore, people in ditches, closed roads and ramps. Which is why we're staying right here. Because who the heck needs to drive to Toronto to land in the ditch, when we can do it right here, close to home!
We had a VERY close call in a car vs ditch battle tonight. Car won. Thank CHRIST, because we just couldn't have dealt with ONE MORE THING today. Thanks to some very excellent driving skills on the part of my husband (and I sometimes doubt those skills...for this I now apologise!) we swished and swerved and fishtailed and spun (but not totally around) and landed nose to ditch, with about 6 feet to spare. As usual, Griffin slept through the whole thing.
Tomorrow we will be putting the snow tires on the car.
Outside it's doing nasty things. So nasty that we've cancelled our date in Toronto tomorrow night. This time around, they're supposed to be getting the white stuff down there too, and we all know what the first big snowfall of the season does to most Toronto drivers. That's right - it erases their memory of all driving skills and common sense they had before the snowfall (if they had any to begin with.) Tomorrow should be a fun traffic day in the city - accidents galore, people in ditches, closed roads and ramps. Which is why we're staying right here. Because who the heck needs to drive to Toronto to land in the ditch, when we can do it right here, close to home!
We had a VERY close call in a car vs ditch battle tonight. Car won. Thank CHRIST, because we just couldn't have dealt with ONE MORE THING today. Thanks to some very excellent driving skills on the part of my husband (and I sometimes doubt those skills...for this I now apologise!) we swished and swerved and fishtailed and spun (but not totally around) and landed nose to ditch, with about 6 feet to spare. As usual, Griffin slept through the whole thing.
Tomorrow we will be putting the snow tires on the car.
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