I’ve never been a winter enthusiast, but over the last several years, I’ve started to embrace the changing seasons and have stopped kvetching about snow and colder temperatures.
Well, I’m here to tell you that my honeymoon with winter is now over.
Last Fall it was predicted that we would have a brutal winter this year. Long, very cold and lots of snow.
For a while, I thought Mother Nature was going to prove them wrong. November and December came and Continue reading
I’m just publishing this now, but I wrote it a week ago this past Sunday. I delayed it because a day later 
tragedy struck Toronto; and at the time it just didn’t feel right to talk about trivialities 24 hours after 10 innocent people were killed and 14 others injured when a disturbed man, who allegedly was angry because he was spurned by women, purposely drove his rented van right into them.
The Sunday this was written I was sitting on a patio — at long last — at my local Starbucks, savouring both the beautiful weather and a tall Pike Place (medium roast coffee). This past Sunday — a mere week later — I awoke to snow. Yes, snow, at the end of April. You’ll be happy to know, today it’s expected to hit 23 celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit), so all is right with the world again — at least in terms of the weather.
Writing a post celebrating being able to sit on a patio may not seem Continue reading
Yes, I’m superstitious. And that’s why I try to be careful about making predictions. Prognosticating. Assuming. Planning ahead. Counting my chickens. Because the last thing I want to do is jinx 
myself. Put a hex on things. You know. Screw things up. And then curse myself forever and a day for having such a big mouth, for blowing it.
So let’s just say the signs are all pointing in the right direction.
Saturday, while I was out and about, I could see that restaurants and cafes had their terraces open; and, people were out there, enjoying the weather. The streets were packed. Old folks, Continue reading
Considering this has been one of the coldest winters (and snowiest in some parts of the world) in history I can hardly believe 
I’m saying this: I was shocked the other day to read we have to change the clocks again next week, March 8 to be precise. So soon?
Where’s the winter gone? Oh, I know there are a lot of you reading this who think I’ve lost my mind. Especially those who live in Boston and may not see pavement again until June or July. If you’re lucky.
Let me clarify. It seems to me it was always later in the season when we did this. You know, move the clocks ahead. Spring forward. Fall back, spring forward? Continue reading
I remember it very clearly. It was a long, cold, miserable winter, we had this year. Endless, in fact. It started early and ended late. Lots and lots of snow. More 
than I’ve ever seen, in the almost thirty years I’ve lived here.
And it was damp. Went right through you. Chilled you to the bone, no matter how many layers of warm clothing you had on. I shivered day after day, week after week, month after month. If I didn’t absolutely, positively have to go out, I did not. I hibernated. Like a bear, in a cave.
It was a misery, all right. And I remember the promise I made to myself, when we were really in the thick of it. When it seemed like there’d be no end to it. When it was still snowing and blowing and freezing in March. When it was supposed to be spring. When I couldn’t stop my teeth from chattering.
“If summer ever comes, no matter how hot it gets, I will NOT complain. I will NOT moan. I will NOT groan. Continue reading
This is highly unusual. It’s Monday night and I’m sitting here, writing tomorrow’s blog. Don’t always write them in advance. Of course if you’re reading this, it’s
already tomorrow. Tuesday. But for me, right now, it’s still tonight (last night for you, though).
Tuesday’s my day to volunteer. I start at 8:00 a.m. Which means if I want to write and post my blog at my usual time I have to get up very, very early. Like 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. early. Usually I don’t mind. But I don’t want to do it this time. I’m too tired.
I’ve been writing into the wee small hours lately. Practically every night for a couple of weeks. And by wee small hours I mean until 2:30 or even 3:00 a.m. So I am definitely sleep deprived. And it’s beginning to catch up with me. Plus the weather’s really getting me down.
Making me very drowsy. Dark and dismal and wet does not work for me. Not at all.
We have had very few sunny days so far this summer. And very few warm days. I’m cold most of the time. I’m wearing sweaters and even jackets. And still I shiver. The minute I wake up I have to close my windows and get back into bed for fifteen minutes, to warm up, before I take a shower.
In the middle of June? Continue reading
Geez! Something’s in the air. And it ain’t pretty. At least it’s how my day went yesterday. Tell you the truth, I’m not so sure I want to venture outside today. If it’s 
anything like yesterday was, I’d just as soon stay home. By myself. Alone with my cats. With the ringer off on my phone. No email. No texting. No nothing.
Locked in the bathroom.
It started off well enough.
Gorgeous sunny day. Something like the fourth or fifth in a row. Nice and warm. Everyone should be happy, for God sake.
Winter’s barely a memory.
The trees are full of pretty, new green leaves. No bare branches at all. Flowers are popping up everywhere. Continue reading
Remember how excited I was yesterday? I could smell Spring in the air. Do you also remember the last sentence I wrote? No worries. I’ll refresh your memory: 
“Mother Nature can be a real bitch, you know.”
Well, she was certainly right on cue. Went to bed Tuesday night listening to howling wind. And I do mean howling. But there’s more. We also had a combination of swirling snow and rain. Went on all night. Was still going strong yesterday morning. Now we’ve got piles and piles and piles of heavy, ugly, dirty, messy, disgusting slush! Ponds at every street corner, too wide to jump across. So guess what?
Yep. No other choice but to wade through them. Up to your insteps, if not higher. Sidewalks are a royal mess. Roads are a royal mess. And God help us if it gets cold. Because it will all freeze; and then driving and walking will be absolutely hazardous.
So yes, Mother Nature can be a real bitch. She’s certainly proved it over the last two days. Can’t you hear her cackling? I can. And, while I’m no shrink, I think she’s also unstable. Hormonal at best. I wonder if she’s ever tried taking Evening Primrose Oil. Might be a good idea.
Can you do me a favour? If you’re talking to her, try suggesting it. Continue reading
I can’t believe how often the weatherman is goofing these days. It’s like they hardly ever get it right. At least in my neck of the woods. Don’t know about yours, 
obviously. It is SO annoying. Because I am NEVER wearing the right clothes.
When I have my umbrella, it doesn’t rain. Even though rain was predicted. When I go out without boots, it snows. Even though it was supposed to be sunny and relatively mild. Well, everything is relative. Mild for winter.
When the temperature is supposed to be plus 6 Celsius (42.8 Fahrenheit) and I go out without a hat, I end up freezing to death. Yesterday, the weather report I read said it was 1, but felt like minus 4. So I wore a warm sweater, a cashmere scarf and a hat. Plus a down-filled coat. I was melting. It was making me feel quite sick, Continue reading
365 And Counting 