November's sky is chill and drear

[Holly Stick]

We got sudden winter last week, snowing and cold.  It's -17C now, though the sun is shining; brrr! for the football games here today and tomorrow.  They are promising some warmth later next week.

[skdadl]

Y'see? Global warming -- it's all a lie!

People in these parts (southern Ontario) seem to be doing Santa Claus parades today. That was never my culture, so I just ignore. I think this is inherited from the infamous Eaton clan, who started it all in Toronto, and then it just spread all over the province. There's something odd about Ontario ... 

[Toedancer]

On my xtra long walk today with the wee squirrel terrorizer (and unfortunately the wee elderly women with support canes) I was thinking global warming is such a nice thing to have on November 20th. The sun was warm against my face with no annoying leaves to block it.

I'm going to be very childish during the few warm days remaining. Usually I would rake up all the leaves, dig in the nastie leaves and roots and just generally tidy up the front and side gardens. But I'm not going to lift a finger this year. Because my Landscum pushed aside my energy saving washer and dryer and installed COIN operated ones. Fuck Him.

[lagatta]

What a pig. I've heard of lots of things in the landlord/tenant game, but never of coin-operated washing machines and dryers in a duplex, triplex or whatever you live in. To top it off, I doubt very much they are energy-efficient.

I confess I'm enjoying the shorter winter too, though the puir polar bears aren't... I hate winter.

Your landlord has changed the conditions of your rental - he owes you. Do you have tenant's rights associations in Hamilton?

[Toedancer]

I am leaving this early summer and no longer have a lease. Since it was the upstairs who ruined the deal by over using (who tf does laundry for 2 twice a week?) they can deal with the authorities if they feel like it. Hydro is going to up way way up in Ontario soon.

The poor polar bears are waiting patiently along the banks of Hudson waiting for the ice to form so says an American scientist who was just up there north of Manitoba recently.

[Toedancer]

There is an amazing ring around the full moon tonight. I can't remember the folklore, how many stars within the ring is how many days before rain or how many days of rain. I saw 1 star within the circle, but just now even it has disappeared.

[Antonia]

Sunday. late afternoon, grey, darkening, dreary, depressing. I have a million things to do and all I can think about is going to bed.

I had a photo of a polar bear clinging  to a small ice floe as my Facebook profile pic but people complained that it was too upsetting. Talk about denial.

[brebis noire]

Huh. I was just thinking about Facebook a few minutes ago, and how the intrinsic social pressure of that medium is to be upbeat. I'm trying to use it more as a way to engage, but that pressure is hard to ignore. I say keep the photo.

[Antonia]

I'll bring it back. Right now I am using a new Star photo shot on Wednesday.

[skdadl]

Huh. I was just thinking about Facebook a few minutes ago, and how the intrinsic social pressure of that medium is to be upbeat. I'm trying to use it more as a way to engage, but that pressure is hard to ignore. I say keep the photo.

Heh. I used to write outrageous political things on my FB page, knowing it would go through my rellies' feeds. ;-) Haven't done much on FB lately b/c of the Twitterdiction, but it's always an option.

[Toedancer]

Haven't done much on FB lately b/c of the Twitterdiction, but it's always an option.

It's always something....Heh.

[lagatta]

We have a bit of freezing rain; fortunately I'm working at home today, not outside. I do have to go out later (feed friend's cat, take a load of laundry to the laundromat round the corner) but not right away and it should all have melted fairly soon as the high will be about 5° or so, but we'll have to be VERY careful. In these parts "le verglas" still has a scary connotation because of the Great Ice storm of southwestern Qc and eastern On.

I do have cleats if things should get bad in that regard - the problem is knowing ahead of time if one might need them. Some bus runs have been cancelled, including buses going up Mont-Royal from Vendôme métro in NDG - some people had been waiting for a bus for 2 hours. Commutes whether by public transport, walking or car are at least twice as long as usual. So far I haven't seen a single bicycle passing by this morning...

I have seen Amsterdamers cycling in weather like this, but they are on designated bicycle lanes, there is a lot of traffic and I suppose the city salts or sands the paths.

[brebis noire]

It's very deceptive out there. It looks wet, but it's more slippery than I've ever seen. As I type this, I'm watching an SUV slide across the street.
Schools are out, thankfully. Nobody should have to go outside till after 10 am...not even doggies (took mine out for a pee, the only safe place to walk is on the grass.)

[skdadl]

It might be like that here too -- we had freezing rain last evening. The sun is just coming out wonderfully as I type, though, so your 10 a.m. advice should hold.

[lagatta]

CBC Daybreak just interviewed a guy in Lennoxville - I think he works in some capacity for CBC, perhaps covering the Eastern Townships? (L'Estrie) - I don't think he commutes from Lennoxville to Mtl every day, which would be quite a haul.

Lennoxville is now part of Sherbrooke; physically it is a town at a bit of remove from the main city and is the seat of Bishop's University. The man interviewed lives at the top of a very steep hill, and tried to drive down but his car went into a spin - he managed to get back home and determined not to risk it.

brebis' area is very hilly - making it beautiful but also treacherous in this kind of weather.