A snowy world...

[fajrdrako]

I haven't walked to work in a month now: it's been way too snowy. Not slippery, like last year, and walking through the snow would probably be good for me, but it would take me two or three exhausting hours to get to work. Maybe after they've ploughed - ?

Anway, walking to the bus stop this morning was bad enough. At one point I encountered a man walking two lovely daschunds. The snow was deeper than their little legs and they came to a snowbank at least two inches higher - a major obstacle. "Come on, now," their owner urged them enthusiastically - and they were right into it, mountain climbing doggy style. They jumped. "Good boys," said their owner. They looked so proud.

maaboroshi caught up with me at the bus stop. The bus was late and overcrowded, but at least it was the only one with which I don't have to make a tranfer. We talked about TV, and how we have nothing much to watch just now. We speculated on the future of Heroes. maaboroshi had actually forgotten the cliffhanger ending of vol. 2. It made quite an impression on me! I don't think she's the Petrelli fan I am.

Following a conversation I had with commodorified and auriaephiala last week, I borrowed a full-spectrum SAD lamp and I used it yesterday morning and, for a lesser amount of time, this morning. I don't know if it's the lamp, but my energy level has gone up tenfold. I tell myself it might be normal hormonal fluctuation, but my goodness - what a difference.

Comments

[chatona.livejournal.com]

*sneakily steals some snow*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Hey you can have it! Lots of it! Take truckloads!

[chatona.livejournal.com]

Tehehe! I shall steal your snow and use it to cover my city and it'll be good *bounces*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It'll be pretty, but traffic will grind to a crawl and it will be difficult to walk anywhere unless you have skis or snowshoes. And soon it will be unpretty because they load it with salt and sand so everyone doesn't kill themselves on the streets.

[chatona.livejournal.com]

Nyah, not taking quite that much snow. Besides, snow never keeps 'round here (unfortunately) and we never get more than... 1-5 cm, that's it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

To tell you the truth, I'm enjoying the snow right now. It isn't so warm it keeps melting and freezing, as it did last year - that was really hard to get around in, and dangerous, because it was so slippery all the time - like living on a glacier. And last year, we had no snow in December, which is extremely rare.

But I usually like snow in December. It's pretty, it sets up Christmas so nicely, it's a novelty and it's fun.

Ask me again how I feel about it in March or April.

namaste,
Elizabeth

[chatona.livejournal.com]

I'd probably whine about the cold and be happy about the snow. But we never get a white christmas around here and should it happen to snow at any given time, three or four hours later nothing but grey mud will be left of it, anyway. 's a pity.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That's not our problem. We're in a "snow belt" and (like Montreal) get vast quanitities of snow. Typically it starts mid-November and stays till April. There's usually snow in October too, but only flurries, and it melts quickly.

[chatona.livejournal.com]

Yeah, well. It's much colder in Canada than it is here, I'd guess and also, I happen to live in an area that's warmer than most of the rest of Germany for some geological reason that I think I might know but am too lazy to really think about.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

There's always some geological raeason! I don't know why we get more snow than other places at the same latitude. It's just... one of those things.

[chatona.livejournal.com]

Very true. I think it's related to latitude and the river running through the city for some reason. Never was good at geology, me. Or geography. Or any of those things.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I was always good at geography, but meteorology doesn't interest me much unless I have a reason to be interested. So if I ever knew why we are so snowy, I forget!

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

We're not NEARLY as bad as London (Ontario), because they get the lake effect. I think it's primarily cold temperatures and a slightly humid climate.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That makes sense. It would apply to Montreal, too.

[chatona.livejournal.com]

Never was good at any of those 'cause I'm just not really interested in it. I'd probably be okay with all of them if I had to sit down and actually wrap my head around it, like I have to with biology, but without school forcing me to, I just can't be bothered. More interested in other stuff :D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'd rather spend time reading or writing about Captain Jack Harkness than worry about why we have snow. Even though I'd be curious enough to ask about the snow, if I come across someone who might be able to give me the answer.

[chatona.livejournal.com]

I'd be more interested in Captain Jack Harkness, too. Can't really blame us, though, can they? :D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Not in the least!

[lacesforalady.livejournal.com]

Yay for energy! And those dogs sounded adorable.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

When I was a child I had a fox terrier I loved very much - and I'd never even met a daschund. But I thought they were wonderful dogs, glamorous dogs, and I fantasized about having one when I was grown up.

I've still never owned one, but I do think they're utterly charming.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

The snow itself has been OK, because it's stayed fairly granular and fluffy, and hasn't melted into nasty ice chunks. Thank heavens we've so far avoided winter rain or sleet!

But the City of Ottawa response -- particularly not clearing heavily-used sidewalks quickly enough and not clearing bus stops as a priority -- has been quite bad, and endangered a lot of transit users. And it's actually slowed down the buses downtown because people couldn't get on & off the bus fast enough particularly on the Mackenzie-King bridge.

Guys, don't you read your own standards, which require you to give priority to bus stops?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think the Mayor has other things on his mind.

As for the regulations: someone must have written them. Doesn't mean they read 'em!

I've seldom seen the buses so bad. It has been taking me an hour and a half to get home after work. Last night it took more than twenty minutes to get from the Rideau Centre bus stop to Sussex Drive on the #7. How does that make any sense? It's, what, fifty feet?

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

I think the Mayor has other things on his mind.

Now there's an understatement, given http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/12/12/ot-mayor-thankful-071212.html">the news recently ().

Both he and the rest of the city may be nervous about this federal government decision (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/12/13/chalk-river.html) as well.

It's at times like these that becoming a hermit (or a his-mit, in my case) begins to appeal to me.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

There seem to be a lot of people around with no concience at all. I think the Mayor might be one of them. Up until recently, I just thought he had no sense.

[halfspokenwords.livejournal.com]

I use a SAD lamp-- though not for SAD, but rather for a circadian rhythm sleep disorder-- and I do notice that it helps!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Something has made a big difference to me in the past two days, and the only thing I've done differently is using the lamp.

This is quite encouraging. I was starting to despair that I'd never have any energy again.

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I'll have to consider using one ... because I too feel pretty lethargic at this time of year.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I am astounded at what a difference it made. Instantly. Three days now.

[coalboy.livejournal.com]

I don't have a problem with SAD now, but I did in the past. I have heard from other sources as well that the SAD lamp works wonders.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Third day and it seems to be doing miracles. It's like getting my life back.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I have a full-spectrum lightbulb in the lamp on my computer desk, and another one in the lamp by my bed. I'm not sure how much difference it can make, but I do know that my mother and grandmother both had seasonal affective disorder terribly badly, and I probably do too... so, I got the lights. I hope you continue to feel re-energized! I will of course be thinking of you.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I feel delightfully re-energized, except for yesterday. I think I didn't use the light long enough yesterday. Or maybe didn't get enough sleep the night before. Or maybe (hah!) exhausted myself walking home on slippery sidewalks.

Feel good today, though!

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

So many interconnecting variables! Do try to get enough sleep (I promise not to phone you after 8, from now on!) and give yourself enough time to do everything you choose to do... such as, walking home on snowy sidewalks, yikes. You're a better Canadian than I am, Gunga Din.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

i'd been planning to walk home today, but it's very, very cold and I decided... maybe not.

I did my exercises this morning, though. I am mighty!

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Oh, good for you! The exercises, I mean. I stand in awe (no, really, I do).

As for walking or not walking -- remember: frostbite is not good. You need your nose, cheeks, and fingers, eh? They come in handy for so many things.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So far so good on the exercises. I'm alternating: weights one morning, yoga the next. Today was a yoga day. I need to work on the timing - I really need to get up half an hour earlier! - but it's going well.

Frostbite is not good at all. Today was one of those mornings where I walked out of the house and instantly my eyelashes froze together. Ugh!

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Good for you on the exercises. I know you're big on resolutions for the new year... never have done that, myself. My main resolution: make sure the cats are taken care of. That one permeates my entire existence.

Today I stepped outside to fill the birdfeeders, and soon lost feeling in my fingertips and left-foot toes. Yike! With a tiger cat and a grey cat sitting inside looking out the door at me, wondering why I suddenly started to move a lot faster...!

I read polar exploration journals for entertainment... hm, I'm guessing you don't, eh?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Your resolution sounds good to me.

Yes, it was certianly cold outside here. Winter weather. They say it will be warmer next week.

I have no problem with reading about polar exploration, and have done so. I just don't want to do it.