Icy day...

[fajrdrako]

One degree below the freezing point this morning, and drizzling. I left the apartment and found myself hemmed in by a sidewalk covered in totally invisible ice. Since breaking my ankle, I have neither the balance nor the nerve to venture past the barrier, and no guarantee that the road beyond wouldn't be slippery, too. It looked fine, but then, so did the sidewalk. The apartment building casts a cold shadow, so that even when you can't perceive the difference, the street in front of it is always colder and icier than the rest of the street.

While I was standing on the lawn wondering what to do, a big burly gentleman from my apartment building went striding past me, and almost landed on his butt. He recovered and continued without falling, but it was a close thing. It didn't encourage me.

I considered options. Calling a taxi to go to work would take a while, and I'd probably be late. Phoning maaseru would just wake her up, and her guest, too, probably, unless she'd already gone to work. Getting the cane would mean I'd have to carry it around all day, and no guarantee it would help.

So I went to the parking lot in the basement, and out the back door onto Fourth Avenue, and the sidewalk was fine there. I walked to the Fifth Avenue bus stop, and got a bus there.

When the bus got to my regular stop on Third Avenue, maaboroshi got on. She usually leaves for work at least half an hour before I do. But on leaving the apartment, she had slipped on the ice, soaked herself, bruised her elbow, and had to change her clothes and go to work late.

Makes me worry, a little, about how I'll get home. But I'll cross that icy bridge when I get to it.

Comments

[xinef.livejournal.com]

At least today is supposed to get above freezing, so all that ice will likely be gone by the time you get home from work.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I certainly hope so! I have a lunchtime errand, too, that involves walking... Let's hope for the best.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Do take care! It's cold and sunny here, but no ice.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'll be careful. With luck it will just get warm enough to melt and all will be well. I'm hoping I won't have to skip my Tai Chi class because of the weather, just when I'm starting to feel more confident about it.

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

Can you get ice walkers? I have found them very helpful.

I grew up in and live in New England - I am pretty comfortable walking on ice, but I have taken a few falls over the years. (The last one was during a snowfall, and I didn't know the ice was there and I was walking briskly.) Nonetheless, I find that I am a lot more comfortable, particularly on slopes, when I have walkers on.

Also, when my wife was still running, I converted an aging pair of running shoes to snow treads by screwing a few small sheet-metal screws into the rubber soles. Can't wear them inside, but they work great in slippery weather.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Can you get ice walkers?

Yes - and believe me, I was annoyed with myself this morning because I hadn't already done that! Back in April lying around with the broken ankle I told myself I'd get ice walkers for sure. So how did the season sneak up on me this way?

The last one was during a snowfall, and I didn't know the ice was there and I was walking briskly

That was the case when I broke my ankle. On all previous occasions, I'd just picked myself up again and dusted myself off if I fell. Thinking each time that I was lucky not to have hurt myself. Ahh, the joys of winter.

I converted an aging pair of running shoes to snow treads by screwing a few small sheet-metal screws into the rubber soles. Can't wear them inside, but they work great in slippery weather.

Woo, good trick!

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

So how did the season sneak up on me this way?

The same way it did to all the rest of us here ... with little cat feet, till one day - ZZZIPPPP!! Swoosh! THUDD! [Wince. :-(]

If anything, this season seems earlier than last year, and I distinctly remember my surprise when the snow that stayed in late 2007 came just six days after the usual start of winter in Winnipeg (Nov. 15, which I call "Snow Day"). I thought that Ottawa's climate is supposed to be warmer than Winnipeg's, no? Or is global warming just a flash in the pan??

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think you just can't trust the weather, wherever you are. I expect mid-November to be the 'start of snowy winter', though when I was a kid, there was often snow before Halloween - which then melted again.

They say it will be warmer today. Good!

[frankiesblue.livejournal.com]

Just be careful. It's just raining here, and isn't cold enough to freeze.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Really, I wish it were a few degrees colder - it would just snow, then, and no problem with all this iciness.

I'm about to go out on an errand, as it's lunchtime. If it's too icy, I'm just going to come right back indoors and forget it.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Be careful.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I will! I managed to do my lunchtime errand with a minimum of problems, and the ground isn't icy any more. Yay! In fact, the sidewalks are quite dry.

So far so good.

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear it! May you have many more safe days of walking to come.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Walking home on Friday left me with badly sore muscles, but I'm proud that I did it.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

My thoughts have been with you for whenever the first time for ice was. Elegant solution, going out the other door to a less-shadowed sidewalk. Congratulations -- the first of this winter's icy days is now behind you. And you did fine.

Falling on ice is always one of my main fears, and I've never even had an ER trip out of it [g]. You're in good company!

Just hold on. You can do this.

Sorry for bruised elbow et al., as well.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

the first of this winter's icy days is now behind you. And you did fine.

One down and umpteen to go!

I'm hoping for a winter that isn't snowy and harsh. In Ottawa? The odds aren't good, but it can happen.