Tag: Weather, Holidays and Seasons

What Starts In 10 Minutes in Newfoundland?

It’s already March in the UK and in a couple of minutes it hits Canada. It’s not that I disliked February. I travelled a little. I laughed. I cried. If it became a part of you, relive my February any time you want. But it is now eleven months to the next February and I am not saddened by that. Who likes February the best? The month of no sports, no vegetation, vitamin D deprivation and false thaws. Wouldn’t the preference for February before all other months be an indicator of some mild form of manic disorder? Other months push it around. No Day 30. Loser month. Go away February. People call you “Febooary”…did you know that? They don’t even care to say it right. Can’t say March wrong.

Blizzard Coverage

Good blizzard coverage from Mike and Ian. We really missed it once again – despite a few hours on Saturday.

Seeing as this is now officially the boringest day of the year, talking about the not weather is even acceptable today.

Update: Arthur has a great photo of his view in Truro, NS of his refilled in driveway. Hey – can I out your address? I am thinking I used to play soccer on the field across the road.

Update #2: Dan has a whole gallery of him feeding Isaac though a stormstay.

Tiger Balm and Ice Cream Sandwiches

I was so sensible. Even boring. Watched a bad bowl game. Sipped a teaspoon or two of sherry. Drifted to sleep listening to the KMOX in St. Louis countdown from the next time zone west. That is it! I under-did it.

Yet, getting up too early to catch the Liverpool v. Chelsea game it is still time for a milky tea. And rubbing the head with tiger balm. I’d put it on toast. For a time, when I were a lad, my cure was club soda washing down vanilla ice cream sandwiches. Then it was sardines and hot sauce after sticking to brews I made myself. Now it is under-doing it. And napping.

Quiet

The office is quiet as I am it for staff at the start of today and today only lasts until noon. New Year’s Eve is best like this. Never been a greatest night ever even with the firmest of plans. My favorite bad New Year’s party was around 1986 when friends of friends of friends stiffed me for a bunch of tickets for something, hollaring ensured, mascara ran and I stayed in only to have Howie Chen show up and talk me into going out to the Flamingo after all to see I can’t recall who but maybe the Hopping Penguins. We leave the house around 11:50 and a cab is driving by. Cab stops. Drivers says “who the hell thinks they are going to flag a cab at ten minutes to miidnight on New Year’s Eve?” We say “who the hell is looking for fares?” Laughs and tips. After that, I remember Kenny who used to tend at the old Gingers was behind the bar and all was well.

When I was a kid, the folks had a party at the manse for the no-alcohol set but, being Scots, sherry is not no-alcohol and, when a large component of a trifle – actually called “sherry trifle” in our cookery – it is more of a food group. The aim New Year’s morning was to be the first kid up to gorge on homemade sausage rolls and sherry trifle at eleven years old and then lay around snoozing with the first inklings of buzzery. Speaking of buzzery, I read that Ian is getting drunk tonight and Rob spliffed up last night. Both have their reasons. Ian will be a Dad in 2005 and Rob learned that his daughter Hope had moved on to Laos after all, leaving the Thai beaches a day or two before the tragedy. Being a Dad involves a few stiff drinks on occassion it appears.

It has been a good year with us. The immigrations – ours in 2003 and my parents in 2004 – to the start of the big river from its mouth has paid off in many ways which I won’t bother listing except to say that being five minutes drive from a cardiac surgery unit was an extremely good call for my Dad. It is odd seeing the soles of his feet pink. It was a good year for family reunions and 2005 bodes well for that again. Getting back into soccer was one of the best things I have done for myself in years and many short trips with the kids the best we have done ourselves.

Being well, watered and together is good. There are few goods gooder.