Canadian Buffoon's Exhausted Vacation - Update 09/01 - New TR link!

[QueenJen]

Right? And you live in a Canyon right?

I do - good memory. With the May gray and drizzle this weekend, I'm hunkered down. I wouldn't turn down a fire in the fireplace.

I believe with the schools,
they don't let them out (anymore)
if it gets below -30C/-22F.

This is mind boggling - how does it even get that cold?

Think of it as... going out in the rain.
You'll change your shoes and wear
a rainjacket.

This might be why I stay in. I still don't change what I wear in the rain - I pick shoes and a jacket/sweater and that's it. I find that most clothing here can be worn year round.

I'm betting you're one of the few?

I carry them as well. I have the traditional cables in one vehicle and then we have something much smaller that can be moved to whatever car we need (comes in handy to travel with in a rental car).

 

[pkondz]

This is mind boggling - how does it even get that cold?

You turn down the giant thermostat.

This might be why I stay in. I still don't change what I wear in the rain - I pick shoes and a jacket/sweater and that's it. I find that most clothing here can be worn year round.

Ah.
You'd quickly overheat
if you wore indoors what you
wear outdoors.
And vice versa.

I carry them as well. I have the traditional cables in one vehicle and then we have something much smaller that can be moved to whatever car we need (comes in handy to travel with in a rental car).

Hmmm... maybe more people in CA (or USA) carry them than I thought?
I know that up here, I've found it to be quite uncommon.

 

[Steppesister]

(…however, that is me, (about 30 years ago)
and I did used to ski to work.
But that’s for the next update.)

Look at you go!! Zoomy-zoom!

But until you’ve really been cold,
you have no idea how much it hurts.

I DO know that feeling. It sucks.

Depending on your circumstance, that can come
from radiators

That's what we had in Kaz. They liked to explode at least once a year rendering us without heat for up to a week.

(Underwear optional

HEY! You're stealing my line!!

A glance outside has told me that it’s
snowed (again) last night.
I can’t even leave the house
until I’ve shoveled the driveway.
Even a thin layer needs to be removed.
If you don’t, your vehicle will pack the snow down,
making it almost impossible to remove later.
Eventually, you’ll have 6”-12” (or higher) mounds of
impenetrable, packed snow that will make
driving an impossibility.

Can a snowblower even remove that thin layer? I think, correct me if I'm wrong, but dont' those leave a layer of snow behind and you'd have to shovel anyway?

I know that movie!! I think it's one of your favorites!

But, if you’re like me
(healthy enough

Healthy with a bad back?

Okay, the driveway is now clear.
Time to go shopping.

So, given the amount of snow in that photo, how long would the shoveling take?

Some people will start their car and let it run for a few minutes.
It was a necessity before, but now, with fuel-injection,
it’s more for comfort.
Nice to get into a warm car instead of a mobile freezer.

I do that when it's 43 F.

Holy crap. Yikes!

Not to worry. I bought ice cream and frozen fries
and frozen pizza and a couple TV dinners.

Ah, the dinner of health and vitality with long life!


Not.

 

[pkondz]

Look at you go!! Zoomy-zoom!

Was fun.

I DO know that feeling. It sucks.

Yes, I'm sure living in Kaz
you'd experience that.

That's what we had in Kaz. They liked to explode at least once a year rendering us without heat for up to a week.

A week???

How did you keep from,
you know, freezing to death????

HEY! You're stealing my line!!

I actually thought of you
when I wrote that!

Can a snowblower even remove that thin layer? I think, correct me if I'm wrong, but dont' those leave a layer of snow behind and you'd have to shovel anyway?

That's true, but...
hmmm...
Would you rather lift 100lbs or 1lb?

I know that movie!! I think it's one of your favorites!

Healthy with a bad back?

I did say healthy enough.

So, given the amount of snow in that photo, how long would the shoveling take?

Maybe... 20 minutes? 30?

Ah, the dinner of health and vitality with long life!


Not.

I was just trying to think of frozen items.

 

[franandaj]

I was struggling with how to keep
it interesting for those whom this
is all old news, versus those to whom
this would all be new.

Well it seems that you entertained even the folks who deal with this on a regular basis!

And here you weren't scheduled
to leave for another four days

Ha ha! No, just a midweek weekend trip

Well, I wake up to temps above 55 too!
Of course that's inside the house...

That's with no heater running......

You forgot...
Snow globes
Snow man (Olaf of course)

I'll stop before this snowballs.

Sometimes (often) I think I'm bonkers
for living here!

I do think you are!

I'll fill you in on the next update.
That was farther North.

That's something I didn't mention.
(As a joke), Canadians are apt to say
"Bring on Global Warming!"

Come on up for a visit... In January.
I guarantee you won't forget it.

It was bad enough when my company used to send me to the middle of Missouri in January for a Music Educator's Conference!

I'm not sure with hockey.
I believe with the schools,
they don't let them out (anymore)
if it gets below -30C/-22F.

I don't think I'd go out if it got below 10F!

I rock a tank top and capris.

I need pictures!

I wouldn't be surprised.
Then again, when we watched
the fireworks, I recall Fran being
pretty bundled up.

OK, well that's her! I can be walking around the house in a tank top and capris and she wants sweatpants, slippers, an overflannel (she already has on a T-shirt) and a blankie!

I'm absolutely sure of it too.
I don't wear it very often, myself.

I barely get to wear the coats that I own. That might have been since we were confined to our houses at night mostly.

Photo???
(Or do you mean the masquerade ball
you went to a couple years ago?)

That one.

Because it's fun, Alison.

I can think of more fun things that aren't as cold.

"a few days"...

Try... months

See that's what I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around.

Alright. Lemme see 'em.

I wish I could've found a photo
of me that DW took years ago.
I was dressed for cold weather
and held a sign with the temperature
written on it.
-45C/-50F

I would like to see that!

Well... you typically don't buy a new coat or boots every year... but yes it can add up.

I guess not. I haven't bought a coat since my trip to WDW when it was so cold (I think in October) and I hadn't even thought to bring jacket.

In actuality...
You'd quickly stop doing that...
because you couldn't.
You couldn't move that much snow.

Not even if I moved it in Itty bitty shovelfuls?

I remember the snow being much
higher when I was young too.

Although, sometimes it was.

I remember it being as tall as me at my Grandparents once. It was also almost as tall as the car. I had just gotten new shoes and they gave me a balloon too. When I got out of the car the balloon touched the snow and burst. I cried.

That doesn't really happen.
Well, not like that anyways.
It gets in your eyelashes
and this happens:

That looks even more painful.

Think of it as... going out in the rain.
You'll change your shoes and wear
a rainjacket.

Not usually. Since we rarely get real rain, I just pull my shirt up over my head and make a break for it. If it's real rain, I either stay home or wait for it to subside. It rarely rains solid for long here.

Just in MB... but probably 90% of that
was in Winnipeg.

Jeez.

Perishables... perish.

I would restock between blizzards.

It's not the flag,
it's the risk of avalanche
and getting buried.
Or being hit by a tractor
or dumped on by a truck.

I looked at one today
(drive by one on the way to work)
and it's around... a five story building??

How do they get it that tall? I was just envisioning a truck with a slanted flat surface on the front that would slide the stuff off to the side.

...because that. Also... it's cold.
You don't want to park any farther
than you absolutely have to.

I keep forgetting about that searing cold. We don't have anything like that here. It's almost always nice out and when it isn't we whine about it.

Except in winter, here,
they'd freeze solid.
And probably explode.

They didn't last that long! This was a long time ago in the a&&hole ex-husband days.

Turn it on full defrost with the heat on.
Give it a few minutes if needed.
Then you don't need to open the windows.

The "give it a few minutes" is the problem. We are usually driving down a busy road when the windows start to become opaque.

 

[pkondz]

Well it seems that you entertained even the folks who deal with this on a regular basis!

I tried.

That's with no heater running......

Sure... rub it in.

I do think you are!

Well, yeah. You've met me.

It was bad enough when my company used to send me to the middle of Missouri in January for a Music Educator's Conference!

That'd do it all right.

I don't think I'd go out if it got below 10F!

10F? That's when we switch to
light jackets and don't zip them up.

I need pictures!

OK, well that's her! I can be walking around the house in a tank top and capris and she wants sweatpants, slippers, an overflannel (she already has on a T-shirt) and a blankie!

Really! Huh.
Funny how two people can
react so differently.

I can think of more fun things that aren't as cold.

When in Rome...

See that's what I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around.

We have a hard time too.

Those look toasty.

I would like to see that!

So would I.
I'm sad I don't know where it is.

I guess not. I haven't bought a coat since my trip to WDW when it was so cold (I think in October) and I hadn't even thought to bring jacket.

Florida... is someplace
I think I'd never wear a coat.

Not even if I moved it in Itty bitty shovelfuls?

Well... it'd take you several hours...

I remember it being as tall as me at my Grandparents once. It was also almost as tall as the car. I had just gotten new shoes and they gave me a balloon too. When I got out of the car the balloon touched the snow and burst. I cried.

Awww... poor little Alison.

That looks even more painful.

It's not, actually.

I would restock between blizzards.

Nah. You'll get out the next day.

How do they get it that tall? I was just envisioning a truck with a slanted flat surface on the front that would slide the stuff off to the side.

Front end loaders push it up.

They didn't last that long! This was a long time ago in the a&&hole ex-husband days.

Ah.

The "give it a few minutes" is the problem. We are usually driving down a busy road when the windows start to become opaque.

Really? Defrost on and fan on high?

 

[Steppesister]

Was fun.

Do you think you'd still enjoy that?

A week???

How did you keep from,
you know, freezing to death????

We had a couple of electric radiators like this:



We'd use them in a bedroom and one other room and just hunker down in there with blankets, schoolbooks, etc... and hope it'd be fixed soon. If it got too cold, we'd go to someone else's house who had an indoor coal oven/stove.

I actually thought of you
when I wrote that!

You didn't!

That's true, but...
hmmm...
Would you rather lift 100lbs or 1lb?

Fair point.

I think I'd go with the service. Then again, I suppose it's a good way to get some exercise too.

I did say healthy enough.

Oh, sure throw out the qualifier.

Maybe... 20 minutes? 30?

Just about what I'd have guessed.

I was just trying to think of frozen items.

Okay, I'll give you a pass.

Says the girl that just ate fries for dinner.

 

[pkondz]

Do you think you'd still enjoy that?

Oh yes!
I still have my skis and boots.
Just a matter of finding the time.
And that is in short supply.

We had a couple of electric radiators like this:

Ah! Okay. Phew!

We'd use them in a bedroom and one other room and just hunker down in there with blankets, schoolbooks, etc... and hope it'd be fixed soon.

Certainly makes for
intimate family time!

If it got too cold, we'd go to someone else's house who had an indoor coal oven/stove.

Huh!
People who know how to survive.

You didn't!

I think I'd go with the service. Then again, I suppose it's a good way to get some exercise too.

That's the way I look at it.

Oh, sure throw out the qualifier.

Okay, I'll give you a pass.

Says the girl that just ate fries for dinner.

 

[franandaj]

10F? That's when we switch to
light jackets and don't zip them up.

Really! Huh.
Funny how two people can
react so differently.

I'll be sweating and she'll be like "can we turn the heat up another degree?"

Those look toasty.

Actually they're not really. I noticed when I was walking on the snow in Seattle that the cold went right through the soles. I wear them here mostly when the rain is coming down pretty good and I have to walk to the Chiropractor. I mean I always walk to the Chiropractor, but if the rain is coming down good, there is one place that a puddle accumulates and I can't walk through it in regular shoes.

Florida... is someplace
I think I'd never wear a coat.

I rarely think of bringing one. Usually my corduroy shirt is plenty good in winter. I do have a jacket that I bought there one January that I often bring back. It's just right for cold in Florida.

Well... it'd take you several hours...

I never said I was efficient. Hence the hiring it out to someone.

Really? Defrost on and fan on high?

Sometimes it just seems to make it worse!

 

[pkondz]

I'll be sweating and she'll be like "can we turn the heat up another degree?"

I can see how that could be problematic.

Actually they're not really. I noticed when I was walking on the snow in Seattle that the cold went right through the soles.

That's not okay. Warm weather boots, then.

I never said I was efficient. Hence the hiring it out to someone.

Sometimes it just seems to make it worse!

Really? With the heat on? Or are you using cold air?

 

[vamassey1]

Loved your snow update. This is totally unfathomable for me. I keep thinking about the calories you're burning as you do all of this. I would love your summers.

 

[pkondz]

Loved your snow update. This is totally unfathomable for me. I keep thinking about the calories you're burning as you do all of this.

Then I put them all back with hot chocolate!

I would love your summers.

Yes you would.

 

[disneyAndi14]

How dare you speak of such nightmarish details, lol
I know all to well about cold and snowy winters
I think we sit below zero most of January, at least when it is -20 the sun is usually out for us. A small silver lining.
We had a decent winter this year.
Our snow was pretty much all gone in early March, very strange for us
I will definitely agree SNOW and COLD are the worst four letter words in our household.

 

[pkondz]

How dare you speak of such nightmarish details, lol

Sorry!
It did feel a bit weird talking about it.

I know all to well about cold and snowy winters

Yes, you certainly would.

I think we sit below zero most of January, at least when it is -20 the sun is usually out for us. A small silver lining.
We had a decent winter this year.

Yes, our winters are very similar.

Our snow was pretty much all gone in early March, very strange for us

Ours too... and then we had
the biggest snowstorm of the
winter... followed by more snow
in April.

I will definitely agree SNOW and COLD are the worst four letter words in our household.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Snow.

Not so bad here. It's rare enough that we look forward to the novelty.

Although, as far as dirty words go, maybe it’s a toss-up.
I have in mind another dirty four-letter word.
Kids still gone? Or at least eyes shielded?





Cold

(shudder) That's the one I hate.

(Can I just say I hate the way
the DIS embeds videos now?
Almost as much as I hate that
you can't edit in BB code anymore.)

Oh man, you're not kidding. The worst!

Ok, I don't know what that means.

(…however, that is me, (about 30 years ago)
and I did used to ski to work.
But that’s for the next update.)

Oh, there has to be a story with this!

I would like to point out that we aren’t always cold here.
We actually have some of the nicest
summers you’ll find anywhere on the planet.

Summer lasts from July 11th - July 13th.

Let’s start with a conversation I had recently.
“I’d rather it be too cold, than too hot.”
I’ve heard this repeated almost word for word
from so many people, I’ve lost count.
“If it’s too hot, there’s nothing you can do.”
(Air conditioning notwithstanding.)
“But if it’s too cold, you can always put more clothes on.”

Nope. Not me. Give me the heat anyday.

But until you’ve really been cold,
you have no idea how much it hurts.

Exactly. The worst.

And stay off my lawn.

It’s under the snow there, somewhere.

You can go outside in nothing but a pair of shorts
in extremely cold temperatures…
if you’re only going to be outside for a second or two.
But if you’re going to be outside longer, you dress heavier.

Or you could be inebriated.

(Cost ~$1,300)

$1,300....

Lord, please let me never be in a situation where it's going to cost me $1,300 just to stay warm.

A glance outside has told me that it’s
snowed (again) last night.
I can’t even leave the house
until I’ve shoveled the driveway.
Even a thin layer needs to be removed.
If you don’t, your vehicle will pack the snow down,
making it almost impossible to remove later.
Eventually, you’ll have 6”-12” (or higher) mounds of
impenetrable, packed snow that will make
driving an impossibility.

I can totally understand the references to Dante.

(And yes… I have been dressed like that by my mom.)

And then you had to go to the bathroom.

Once you’ve pushed the snow to the edge,
you can’t just leave it there.
If you do, you’ll wind up with a mountain of snow
that you can’t throw the snow over.
That might happen anyway.
But best to delay it as long as possible.
It’s not exactly fun trying to throw snow
over a seven-foot-tall mountain.

That's almost never a problem in my area, but I can see where long-term thinking would have to come into play.

I have a garage for my car, so it warms up fairly quickly.

I’ll describe what happens when you don’t park in
a garage in a little bit.

I have a garage. It's been years since a car was in there.

Don’t forget to test the brakes before you
get to that first set of lights or stop sign.
Depending on road conditions, you may find
yourself sliding right through that intersection,
so find out how slippery it is before it’s too late.

Good times!

The best part of this gif is the wipers making sure the windshield is super-clean right before impact.

Not many people have jumper cables, though.
But I always have some in the trunk.
And yes, I use them a few times every year.
Usually for others, but for myself on occasion too.

That surprises me. I feel like they should be standard equipment in a car.

(Remember going to see movies? <sigh>)

Yes. Sigh. I do miss a big screen with great sound.

(Yes, that one is my photo.
And yes that's in Winnipeg.)

Now that looks fun!

Not to worry. I bought ice cream and frozen fries
and frozen pizza and a couple TV dinners.
They’ll be fine in the car for… months.

I bet!

All snow brushes have a window scraper at the
other end of the brush.
So now you can scrape all the frost off all the windows.

Underrated terrible job.

(Notice it's good to -49C/-56F.
If it's colder than that, don't worry.
Your car won't work anyways.)

Again, I pray I never experience this.

 

[pkondz]

Not so bad here. It's rare enough that we look forward to the novelty.

I've had too many novels up here.

(shudder) That's the one I hate.

C'mon up! (In winter)
You'll have a blast! (of cold)

Oh man, you're not kidding. The worst!

Ok, I don't know what that means.

Then you don't have to worry about it.

Okay! Oh. Kay!

Oh, there has to be a story with this!

There is.
"Are", actually.

Next update.

Summer lasts from July 11th - July 13th.

Funny you should say that.
More on that... next update.

Nope. Not me. Give me the heat anyday.

Extreme heat? It's allllll yours.

Or you could be inebriated.

Seen that!

$1,300....

Lord, please let me never be in a situation where it's going to cost me $1,300 just to stay warm.

Then I just won't mention
the cost of heating a home.

And then you had to go to the bathroom.

Of course! That's a truism!

That's almost never a problem in my area, but I can see where long-term thinking would have to come into play.

My Dad told me...
And I've told my girls.

Critical information gets passed down.

I have a garage. It's been years since a car was in there.

I know.
I saw the video.

The best part of this gif is the wipers making sure the windshield is super-clean right before impact.

Gotta have video integrity
before you lose windshield integrity.

I don't know if anyone realized,
but almost certainly, the guy in
the car that the snow flew off of,
probably has no idea what he just did.

That surprises me. I feel like they should be standard equipment in a car.

Right beside the spare.
But... nope.

Yes. Sigh. I do miss a big screen with great sound.

And movie-theatre popcorn.

Don't necessarily miss the price
of movie-theatre snacks.

Underrated terrible job.

Every time I leave work and
see that I have to scrape...
My shoulders visibly sag.

Again, I pray I never experience this.

Barring an unforeseen ice-age...
you probably won't.

 

[Steppesister]

Oh yes!
I still have my skis and boots.
Just a matter of finding the time.
And that is in short supply.

That, my friend, I am VERY familiar with.

 

[pkondz]

That, my friend, I am VERY familiar with.

 

[KathyM2]

Let’s start with a conversation I had recently.
“I’d rather it be too cold, than too hot.”

The second… will keep you warm for hours.
No matter how cold it gets.
Typically, I wear the former, saving the latter
for lengthy cold weather activities.

(Case in point. Wearing it while a group
of birthday party kids are sledding.
I laugh as they retreat, shivering, to the warmth
of the indoors, while I am perfectly warm.)

Also, case in point...the parka is also useful for outdoor socializing during covid so you can hang with your buddies (at a distance) for more than five minutes and not freeze your cajones off...

Not many people have jumper cables, though.
But I always have some in the trunk.
And yes, I use them a few times every year.
Usually for others, but for myself on occasion too.

Yeah but...you also have to know how to use said jumper cables...I carried them around for years until I realized I wouldn't be much use to anyone without knowing how not to blow everything up...

No. You can’t.
I have to wait for the windows to defrost
on the inside now, from condensation.

This sure makes you appreciate summer where getting out of the house is SO much easier and faster, you don't have to budget a whole extra 10-20 mins for the whole getting dressed warmly, defrost the car, shovelling rigamarole!

I'm sorry I missed this post earlier but glad I found it. I find it humorous that this kind of thing is not common knowledge lol! Maybe someone from the south can fill us in on things we may not know about living somewhere that is hot all the time!!

 

[pkondz]

Also, case in point...the parka is also useful for outdoor socializing during covid so you can hang with your buddies (at a distance) for more than five minutes and not freeze your cajones off...

Very true!
You can talk as long as you're warm.

Yeah but...you also have to know how to use said jumper cables...I carried them around for years until I realized I wouldn't be much use to anyone without knowing how not to blow everything up...

When I bought mine,
it came in a bag with an
illustration of how to do it.

This sure makes you appreciate summer where getting out of the house is SO much easier and faster, you don't have to budget a whole extra 10-20 mins for the whole getting dressed warmly, defrost the car, shovelling rigamarole!

Oh, man. Yes!!!

I'm sorry I missed this post earlier but glad I found it. I find it humorous that this kind of thing is not common knowledge lol!

Stand by for part two.
Unless you've lived farther North,
it may come as a bit of a revelation
to you too!

Maybe someone from the south can fill us in on things we may not know about living somewhere that is hot all the time!!

I already know how to cook an egg
on the sidewalk and bake cookies
inside my car.