winter closing in

Mon, 2013-11-18 20:15

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

We got snow the night before last, and it will be here to stay, this late in the year. The new neighbors were so industrious about shoveling their walks that I was shamed into clearing mine yesterday. Roxy is having fun with it, though.

Tue, 2013-11-19 09:46

#3

Caissa

I hope snow will stay away until late December like it has done in the last few years here in Saint John.

Tue, 2013-11-19 11:00

#4

lagatta

We had two extremely mild winters here in a row - almost no snow or frigid weather, and I could cycle most of the time except when it was too icy. But we got quite a bit of snow and even some severe cold (though nothing like we'd get 20 or 30 years ago) last winter and that is why I'm dreading winter so much.

They had announced snow showers last night, but fortunately we didn't get them.

Tue, 2013-11-19 16:36

#5

pookie

It seems bitterly cold right now. I am travelling to Montreal tonight and weighing the chances that I can get away with nice boots...

Tue, 2013-11-19 18:48

#6

lagatta

You can. No snow here at all. Not any serious snow predicted soon.

Tue, 2013-11-19 18:49

#7

MegB

I don't mind the cold, much, or snow (except when I have to drive during a snowstorm), but I hate the short, grey days and the ritual bundling up in layers of clothes before stepping outside. It's a novelty at the beginning of the season, the thick socks and comfy sweaters and jeans, scarves and hats, but by March I'm thoroughly fed up with the need to put on or peel off pounds of winter wear every time I cross the threshold of an indoor space. By calendar Spring I'm longing to step outside, go anywhere without having to don layers of clothing.

When I lived in Toronto I could cycle for most of the year and take public transit the rest of the time. Here in southwestern Ontario there is so much more snow, and if you have hours of time on your hands you can take the LTC, which, like most public transit in small cities, has incomprehensibly circuitous routes that will take you anywhere in the city except close to where you actually need to go.

Tue, 2013-11-19 21:06

#8

lagatta

Oh, I mind all of that, more and more with age. But I was happy to get out on my bicycle, although it was all of 1°. Public transport would have been of little use (not that I would have spent two tickets on running daily errands anyway), because it was a matter of covering a territory not a hell of a lot more tan 1.5km in any direction, but go to the bank, the market (Marché Jean-Talon) at least 3 shops where things I needed were on special etc.

Nor would driving, actually, with the difficulty parking in a densely-populated urban area.

Walking takes longer, but that never bothered me; it is just a matter of calming down with the nasty season, but sometimes arthritis makes it very painful and there were a few times during the extremely snowy winter this past year, when it hadn't been ploughed out, that I actually used a cane (my late mum's). Horrible, as people treat you as if you are mentally deficient.

Wed, 2013-11-20 19:54

#9

pookie

It was a gorgeous day in Mtl today. Didn't feel the cold, and the wind was not bad at all.

Only regret is that my visit was so brief I didn't get a chance to enjoy really good food. Next time.

Wed, 2013-11-20 21:16

#10

lagatta

Oh, that is a pity. I can advise on places even near where you might be working.

I had one of those absurdly brief working trips to Vancouver, but at least I did get a bit of Asian seafood...

There was almost no wind today, and it was very dry, due to the previous gales. I was able to cycle around for errands (we aren't talking long distances here, basically around Villeray - La Petite-Patrie - the Plateau) today although it was around zero, as there were none of the treacherous patches of ice we had last week

Wed, 2013-11-20 21:26

#11

6079_Smith_W

-27 going down to -29 tonight. Time for the blockheater and long johns.

Apparently they made Hamilton practice outside today down in Moose Jaw so they could acclimatize, though it's going up to -1 for game day.

Wed, 2013-11-20 22:48

#12

cco

Yikes! Is that before or after wind chill?

Wed, 2013-11-20 22:59

#13

6079_Smith_W

Before. I'v ejust come in from walkign the dog, and was going to say the wind is pretty still, but I just checked, and with windchill it is -36.

Wed, 2013-11-20 23:09

#14

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

Uff da, that came early!

Not as cold here, but up to 4cm of snow tonight. Sparkly!

Wed, 2013-11-20 23:13

#15

6079_Smith_W

Thing is though, it's only going to last two days, then it's warm again. THis is not so bad; not like several weeks straight below -25.

Wed, 2013-11-20 23:19

#16

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

Yes, the last couple of winters in Regina were bad for that. Two years ago we had about 5 or 6 weeks where it never went above -20. Brutal.

Thu, 2013-11-21 01:23

#17

Catchfire

Save me your whinging, Prairiefolk. It was -2 in Vancouver today. Imagine! I have two small children! I can only hope they won't be affected by this as they grow older.

I even had to move my Pale Ale homebrew inside from the garage. Fermentation had come to a standstill. Never seen the like.

Thu, 2013-11-21 09:15

#18

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

As long as you don't call out the army when it snows...

Thu, 2013-11-21 10:48

#19

lagatta

No, they'll call out the Navy, as it will all melt before the armed forces arrive.

Thu, 2013-11-21 12:00

#20

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

Had the first argument of the year with Thing 2 about what constitutes weather-appropriate clothing. It's gonna be a loooooong winter!

Thu, 2013-11-21 13:14

#21

Catchfire

My 2-year old refuses to wear hats and mittens. And putting them on him is a recipe for losing them, since as soon as my back is turned he whips them off and throws them in a puddle.

Everyone talks here about being terrified driving when it snows. I look at them incredulously and wonder if they've ever actually seen the stuff.

Thu, 2013-11-21 13:24

#22

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

My uncle lives in White Rock - after living there about 3 decades, he's still incredulous about the panic freezing temperatures induce in the lower mainland.

My advice for mittens: Idiot strings. Srsly. They can take them off, but not lose them. Hats are harder. Even if my kids weren't rebelling against them, they'd lose them. And then, when it's seriously cold, I'd get a phone call from school: "Muuuuuuuuuummmm.... Can you come get me? I don't want to get frost bite...."

Apparently Thing 2 no longer believes in frost bite.

Thu, 2013-11-21 13:54

#23

lagatta

Aren't there any hats she'd find cool, and want to wear?

So many hipsters around here (for some reason, they all seem to be from the RoC, attracted here by the cool factor, and lower tuition ... once they manage to get resident status) wearing trilbies (the hats with narrow brims, as opposed to wide-brimmed fedoras) in WiFi cafés, wherever - even in summertime.

Fri, 2013-11-22 10:01

#24

6079_Smith_W

They may not look cool. but there is nothing more versatile than an Elmer Fudd hat - especially the fur-lined ones. The police and military issue are somewhat more stylish.

And doesn't it snow up Kingsway anymore? I seem to remember it was around Hastings that it got too low for snow to stick.

(edit)

I had to threaten our eldest for the first time this year. Told him that if went out with just a hood and no toque he'd regret it when he came back looking like a barn cat.

Fri, 2013-11-22 11:07

#25

pookie

lagatta wrote:

Oh, that is a pity. I can advise on places even near where you might be working.

I had one of those absurdly brief working trips to Vancouver, but at least I did get a bit of Asian seafood...

There was almost no wind today, and it was very dry, due to the previous gales. I was able to cycle around for errands (we aren't talking long distances here, basically around Villeray - La Petite-Patrie - the Plateau) today although it was around zero, as there were none of the treacherous patches of ice we had last week

Thx lagatta. I have fave places, but always happy to get tips.

Because of timing (talk ending at 1:30), we could NOT get a nice lunch reservation (also, some places closed for renos). I was sort of dependent on my host.

So we went to McGill Faculty Club. Which is actually quite nice, but the food was just ok.

I DID get to do some power shopping so it wasn't entirely wasted. For me, food and fashion are pretty much tied re: what Mtl has to offer.

:)

Fri, 2013-11-22 12:11

#26

lagatta

Yes, the Faculty Club is nicer in terms of setting than food. I'm glad you were able to find some nice items, though. Not always evident.

Fri, 2013-11-22 12:53

#27

MegB

I spent a lot of years on public transit, ferrying my girls from home to daycare and home again (and also getting to and from work) and it was most difficult during bad weather.

I remember one evening, after a long workday, at Christmas, laden with packages, I was struggling with my asleep toddler and packages. When I got off the bus, this guy offered to carry my bags so that I could get my snoozing daughter home. I was hesitant, because I thought it might be a setup to rob me of my packages, but I was too tired to care. As it turned out, he was just a generous soul who saw me struggling and helped out.

Fri, 2013-11-22 15:21

#28

lagatta

The low-floor, almost universally accessible trams in Amsterdam impressed me in those terms as much as the bicycles: http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/crossrivertram/crossrivertram... (and a (big) London line that will be pretty much the same). They are so much easier for parents, as well as for disabled and frail elderly people.

I'm just hoping it doesn't SNOW significantly tonight. Actually I'm very well placed in terms of public transport - I'm close to two métro lines as well as several buses - but things are just so much faster and easier with the bicycle, especially in terms of local errands. The bus wouldn't have helped me at all today, I'd just have had to take three times as long, and sometimes, much as I enjoy walking too, it can be painful for me.

I'm finally getting my winter boots out of the back of the closet.

Fri, 2013-11-22 16:35

#29

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

I pulled my knee-length downfill coat out of storage today.

Thing 2 went out to meet a friend and bring her back to our house - it's a day off because of teacher conferences. She went out in ankle socks and mary jane shoes and appears to have mild frostbite on her ankles. This, after getting new boots earlier in the week.

Fri, 2013-11-22 18:09

#30

lagatta

New boots often hurt, though...

Fri, 2013-11-22 19:49

#31

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

No, the boots are comfortable - it's the look she worries about.

Fri, 2013-11-22 19:57

#32

KenS

I'm in deep denial.

( and have a [very] vested interest )

Fri, 2013-11-22 20:48

#33

6079_Smith_W

lagatta wrote:

New boots often hurt, though...

The fix is to pour boiling water in them, then put on big socks and go for a walk (though I expect that only works with leather).

Fri, 2013-11-22 22:12

#34

lagatta

I confess I'd rather have my nice shoemaker stretch them.

Fri, 2013-11-22 23:10

#35

[email protected]

To keep hat I attached a long piece of yard to the hat and attached it to the inside of my families coat. What escapes me is how to retain umbrellas, particularly when commuting on public transportation. I lose them and they get stolen. I received the worlds most beautiful unbrella for my birthday in September. In October someone took it....I am still grieving.

Sat, 2013-11-23 03:58

#36

MegB

I have yet to find an umbrella-like thingy that doesn't go inside out with the first puff of wind. So I knit hats - light, heavy, thick and thin.

Sat, 2013-11-23 21:42

#37

lagatta

We may have ducked the snow announced tonight, but I'm not going to stay up much later to see. Obviously, decent days are fewer and fewer - tomorrow it will only get up to -6, and my bicycle brakes seem not to work very well at that temp (evidently there is something I can do about the break cables?) so I won't really go anywhere. I want to have my hair done in a French braid down the back, as I have a job interview on Wednesday, so I have to see when the person who does this (who works at home) is available, but that is a short walk from my house, just past Jean-Talon Market.

Sat, 2013-11-23 22:00

#38

Bacchus

I thought we would avoid it but the snow commences. And Mrs Bacchus made me pull in the A/C and close the window

Sun, 2013-11-24 00:57

#39

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

Going for the down duvet tonight. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and -3, though, so that's better!

Sun, 2013-11-24 01:09

#40

cco

Oh, I feel your pain, Bacchus. At my old place we had to haul the window unit in and out of the window (including duct-tape and plastic, because it wasn't the appropriate size) every seasonal cycle. What made it worse was that the windows there, due to their idiosyncratic sizes, had to be inserted and removed according to a complex Tower of Hanoi pattern that I had to remind myself of every year.

Sun, 2013-11-24 01:33

#41

Bacchus

Oh I know that pain cco.

This year my wonderful neighbour watched me, went into his garage with much sawing and machine sounds and came out with wood he bolted to the wall to be a perfect fit.

Sadly that was the basement A/C, the living room one was the one I fought with a hour or so ago. With snow blowing in

PITA At least now I have a fire going in the fireplace

Tue, 2013-11-26 15:43

#42

cco

Supposed to get 21cm tonight, though it's pretty warm out there today. There's also a possibility of freezing rain, which should combine nicely with the Champlain bridge closing to make commuting absolute hell on earth. (Good thing I live downtown!)

Tue, 2013-11-26 16:14

#43

lagatta

Yes, it will be horrible. I had a job interview today - glad it isn't tomorrow.

I'm VERY worried about Champlain Bridge. Not personally, as I almost never take it via any transport mode. I just get visions of horror of the disaster in Laval some years back, multiplied several times over.

I have a nasty cold, and because of the interview, took some decongestant I never take otherwise. Feel a bit stoned, and not pleasantly so.

God, I hate snow.

Tue, 2013-11-26 17:08

#44

cco

Sorry about your cold. :(

I seldom take the Champlain either, but like you, I keep waiting for it to collapse. I wonder why the Cartier bridge, which is much older, hasn't had similar problems? Was the Champlain built so much worse? More Mob skimming in the 60s than the 20s? Hell, the Victoria is 160 years old!

Is there a technical reason they couldn't set up a ferry or something during the work? The métro and the other bridges just aren't sufficient for that level of traffic.

Wed, 2013-11-27 10:36

#45

DaveW

awful in Montreal today: very wet and slushy, and launched outdoors with leaky boots; thank goodness I had a big seasonal cold last week, and now I am basically immunized through spring

give me a nice steady minus-10 any day, with solid crunchy snow, no problem;

but this stuff, yecch

Wed, 2013-11-27 11:33

#46

lagatta

I have a pair of neoprene boots - bought them on sale last year at Canadian Tire for around $30. Canadian Tire repeats their sales regularly. Those are great for a day like today, if I should have to go out.

What are you doing here, Dave?

Wed, 2013-11-27 12:52

#47

DaveW

I am moving back from Europe... left alpine France last week and they had to de-ice the wings and cockpit with blue and red chemical sprays, so early winter not limited to Canada

Wed, 2013-11-27 13:01

#48

pookie

Lots of white stuff in Ottawa today. Our street is beautiful.

I took a snow day (first day off in several weeks). Going to brave the streets and visit my mom, then pop to Cdn Tire to get scrapers (we had several expensive ones, and have no idea where they went).

But, all I really want is to make a gingerbread latte and sit on my chaise in peace.

Wed, 2013-11-27 13:37

#49

lagatta

Dave, where were you living in France? I've been to Lyon and Grenoble, as well as some smaller towns in Savoie, as well as to Turin not far from there, in Italy.

Pookie, you have real snow, not the slushy stuff we have here? Usually Ottawa and Mtl have very similar weather. Probably because your storm would have started a few hours earlier, at night? Here it was mostly in the very early morning, and temps were rising.

I have a nasty cold, and probably shouldn't walk outside much farther than a corner store, but I do want some good cheese and the corner store (which is more than a dépanneur, almost a small grocery) doesn't seem to have any. However, I did buy some tempeh yesterday, so I can make an Indonesian dish with that and some vegetables, and obviously no cheese is required.

Sad not to be riding my bicycle...

Wed, 2013-11-27 16:01

#50

pookie

Hi lagatta,

Yes real snow. White, heavy and plentiful. Temps are mild so major streets are clear, with a bit of slush.

Wed, 2013-11-27 16:09

#51

DaveW

was living in the Rhone-Alpes region, near Jura mountains and Swiss border; Lyon an hour or two away, and no large French cities in largely small-town rural and suburban region

most people there earn Swiss money and pay French prices, which suited me fine ...

winter closing in

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