🧑‍💻 XXXI and closing out the ..... 31

 🧑‍💻  and so fast and so cold

the view is sharp and bright. Sun reflecting off snow. Blue sky and FYFO. bit of wind [ I think ] recall much is pretty stiff w / the cold

thus hibernate. one of the guys sent an advert for ice fishing .... no, I don't think so

hibernate is the key

reflect. on all things good
last year at now, I was stiff and sore. limping etc
Today, managed to get socks on [not much aggro ] and walked to the coffee station [ read kitchen ] b / c that was paramount.
really, I thought my hip / groin and leg woes were permanent or likely to improve slightly.
fast forward and I should / am grateful

hope ...... 'rebellions are built on hope '

💺🥣 XXX and another ....

 💺🥣 the ' boro. cold and sunny. beautiful. wind is calm. Came in and didn't realize my left fingers were numb

great things.
took back the driveway at least 4 ft now for sure. Thus the nest plowing, the driveway won't shrink another foot.

the back gutter seems clear, Thus when the melt comes ...... water will flow and ice won't form on the roof edge [ as last year]

as we age. accentuate the positive.
to wit. I can yet haul home my own Guinness and drink it [ Thank God ]

I can moan about shovelling the driveway
good for you, we say

moaning is proof of life

🏰 XXIX January

 🏰 at 7 AM in the ' boro cold and dark out there

typing and sipping ginger / lemon to re hydrate. yepper, woke at 5:30 A . thought about coffee then got smart.
however, coffee is on my mind

coffee is in my hand . we save coffee from the day before and often .... that's it. we don't make a fresh pot
but I'm thinking  ...ah. not much left. yepper, a fresh pot is needed

Brilliant blue sky ( Hi pressure zone ) and frosty, obviously wind chill is present

mainly caretaking and maintenance jobs. I tidies up the snow piles. Taking back a bit more of the driveway. As well,disturbing the top layer of snow makes the snow mound melt faster. The crystals of ice that form on the top of the pile reflect light much better [ less heating ]

And I need to do a daily check on the back side gutter and downspout. Keep the path free for any melt water [ electric cables are on ]

🐶 XXVIII of I

 🐶 the after the snow mega show. he streets are clearing but our access road is a mountain pass in the Alps. Ugly

coffee and typing, day looks bright and still.

my right eye is weepy and a tad sore [ esp on blinking ]. the pharmacist thinks ' virus '. My guess is a physical type injury. My heart mask goes on like a helmet and Sunday past, my eye was sore to stinging when I removed it.
That right eye has been irritated off and on for about two weeks, I suppose that night was the ultimate trauma

the annual fight to take back my driveway from the snow mound encroachment. I systematically, tok back about 3 - 4 ft in width by tossing back a mass of snow. Like a ritual welcoming Hoggous , the god of the mound

🖼 for January 27

 🖼 the  ' boro is amazingly calm. There is a small expectation of snow but slight

Shovelling is done for now. But who knows 

Yesterday, I was plagued w / an eye irritation - -weepy, red and sore. I rinsed w / eye drops and later used a saline rinse. Finally, after trying to sleep, I took Acetominophen and later toward morning, I upped the game and took an Acetominophen and Ibuprofen. Seemed to help

But I am heading for the Shoppers Drug for eye meds of some kind

👾 on Jan 26

 👾 the term ' buried ' comes to mind. The blow mound of snow in front of the house on the flagstones and to the door was thigh deep.

the service plow arrived and cleared out the drive, thus 1 / 2 dug out

' boro picture is white and glistening, wind is still. colder than yesterday
we are not expecting much melt. for weeks, maybe

Out and cleared the backside perimeter up against the house. keep the melt out in the yard ( ? )

Deck will be next

accomplished the deck. I estimate that I moved the equivalent of 1 inch of snow over the driveway. However, this did not involve lifting. Instead, I sifted the snow under the railing. To optimize this feat, I left 1 / 2 board width missing when I replaced an outer plank, thus there is a gap for snow to fall through. Maybe about 6 ft in length near the middle of the railing. I know it helps

🏙 Jan 25

 🏙hibernation encore 

Snow

Snow 

We have the early afternoon update and it says snow snow swirling snow and then snow. Not freezing - freezing cold but obviously the wind chill is going to be a big factor. Actually very entertaining. Looking out our picture window on the backyard outside the front it looks like a bleeding disaster
funny that.
garden view is serene and contemplative
front view is rugged and bare
--- cars get stuck 
the plow comes thru
the real world intrudes

W / the blowing, the snow is light and fluffy and two feet deep in front of f the front door.
the screen door won't open

I went out and did a perimeter shovel job. And got to the front and shovelled out the door

the service will come but they will have a tough time doing the stoop [ or front step approach ]

done !

♾ sooo...ooo long

 ♾ we do not anticipate much of a break in the cold for several days[ some up and then down ].

HIBERNATE is the word. How bad ? No car has left our garage since Tues, night. Lazy as well. And getting ready to entertain [ Wed ]. the rest is hibernation

and the ' boro is 08 F. sunny and FYFO 

🥣 yepper a soup day

 🥣 ' boro is cold - really cold. so cold that ......... [anything that you want ]

sunny and bright [ and may all your Christmases be light ...... huh ? what is this ]

Ventured out for the newspaper. Cold
Checked the downspout for ice. Colder. Snowy swirls

Last year. The downspout [ that went to the ground froze ]. More than likely, this backup caused the the gutters to fill and become an iceberg.
This year, I'm determined to be more vigilant. Already, I de iced the downspout. I changed the configuration so that I can clear the downpipe from the deck. [ not on the ground ]
New heating cables are installed and seem to be doing their job.

We shall see said the Zen Master

and to repeat. my hip / leg / groin disability seemed to begin after a prolonged effort up on the ladder [ chopping ice ]

Follow up. w / hope, I say, the hip / leg / groin situation has become an annoyance not a disability. 

🚂 Jan 22 in ' 26

 🚂 still chugging along

the boys from lawn and snow care arrived and made quick work of the light fluffy stuff.

M ... s get together fizzled- in the cruddy conditions. The lady w / the furthest to come arrived a bit late and unfortunately everyone else turns for home. Now, the two had an hour or so to chat and likely, given the circumstance, the best possible option. 

And yes, lasagna and salad to spare.

🛍 for the 21 st

 🛍 ' boro. the weather is gnarly [ BR. term ] wind high and swirling the snow off the roof s. Stuff is falling [ maybe, it might be the bigger flakes and the smaller is the blow around kind ]

recap. Yesterday, was get to the hairdressers, shop at Metro and rest.

Then around 5:40 P head out to Scarborough Town Centre.  a disparate bunch meets monthly, reflecting the relationship of Leacock Alumni and teachers. Actually, last night, one teacher.

A spin off from the  55 th Re - union for SLCI. Thus, last night 4 were gathered and closed the food court down [ lady cleaner suggested the tables needed cleaning ]. What was accomplished - nothing. However, there is a feeling developing, warmth and attuning.

Out there is gnarly. Visibility is down by some 20 - 30 percent. There road surface is spot bare and basically white

Alrighty. Scratch the previous. Snow - Megeddon is going on. M ... is supposedly hosting a get together. One friend had to turn around driving in from 40 miles N. We cannot reach the person coming from a field. 
Oh, well , the lasagna is in the oven. Meaning. Lasagna for dinner and maybe tomorrow.

Lasagna - geddon is coming

Watching ' Material Girl ' video. Madonna and she is great. The vid is dynamic. A tribute to art in the music ind

Sitting in the window. What is going on ! Worse. Snow - megeddon plus. Shovelled the drive. Mega snow. Two pints to the good.

Life is great. 

🕋 marching along in Jan ' 26

 🕋 .... the ' boro is white again. Not a whack but enough to colour the world

supposedly, warmer than yesterday [ although, w / out sun  ??????? ] 

the story : Saturday, Amazon delivered a SIM card from Chatr Mobile. OK, the deal is $ 100 for a fiscal year granting 400 min talk and text. I'm re - using a Moto g phone from 2019. The Moto is unsupported and lacking security updates BUT it will be a phone not data device.

Thus, holding the SIM in my hand, I enter activation..... nope ! takes my money but no result. Do it again - nope. Change phones and NOPE. Discovered that they return the funds [ whew ! ]
Now, lets use the laptop [ bigger screen etc ]. Read the instructions on the card folder.
1. go to activation screen
2. w / SIM card in your phone [ what - say what - yes you dummy ]
3. enter information and bingo bango , you have service 

not really, I forgot that it takes 20 minutes for the SIM and phone to know that there is service available. Eventually, phone works.

essentially, I could never have used the Moto to start activation or it would have been problematic

All s well, eh !

the Moto g now becomes a spare phone for emergencies  etc

Sun did pop out but blowing snow intermittent all the day. Some new snow fell

💺 Janvier XIX

 💺.... boro the weather was coldish but not much happened precipitation or wind everything was tranquil.That's the only way to describe it. 

This afternoon I hosted a little get-together of two friends, both younger by quite a bit, probably 30 years, but it was pleasant. A .... brought in takeout from  local Sammy's Restaurant.

We watched three movies which was totally idiotic because of the choice of the movies. 

I mean Godzilla for one

  and old Henry.

 finally we finished off with'  XXX the Return of Xander Cage'

 Talk about pathetic. 

Oh well we able to talk about fishing, life in general. Just general chit chat. pleasant, while away an afternoon. 

🧮 abacus - ca - da - bra

 🧮January the 17. predicted temperature will hover at freezing.
the snow boys had to come early evening to clear the day s accumulation which ... I believed was nada....however, on the back deck the snow is piled against the railing [ see ! ]. 
 
couldn't sleep from 4:45 A on, tossed and rolled, then got up

coffee and typing 

a retired electrician dropped by to estimate a job [ s ] one is hunt and search and pray, one is piece of cake [  well you're here , might as well ]

Jan 16 🌨 🌨 🌨 🌨

    🌨 🌨 🌨 🌨  🌨 🌨 🌨 🌨  '  boro, it is cold but not as cold as yesterday. No snow fell much overnight I guess and 

 I went out and did what we call maintenance, in snow country. 

The lawn service arrived yesterday around suppertime with the plow truck and they cleared out the driveway. Then about an hour and a half later the crew comes with shovels etc to do the rest of the removal on the walk. They even went around the side deck and did a very good job clearing off my back deck.

However, the snow was piled up against the railing of the back deck and I don't like that because when it snows and there's more ,they're going to pile it up even higher. And of course it's not going anywhere. Thus, I went out and I forced the pile under the bottom rail and onto the ground clearing the deck completely. 

In order to take back the driveway I removed about a foot and a half of snow that was on the driveway not on the lawn. So just sort of widening the driveway taking my driveway back. That's how I refer to it

Job done

 

🌨 🌨 🌨 🌨 .... for real

 🌨 🌨 🌨 🌨 light and fluffy but frrreeexing cold

and rumour says, here to stay w/ sub freezing temperatures

I cleared a path to the garage and the back walkway up against the house

Well, I am a frequent contributor to ' Neighbourhood Watch ' on Whatsapp. Maybe 60 people in total.
So, I post a description saying the city snowplow left a mound 6 ft tall at # 10 - 12. I get back a message that the pile is 10 ft. When it's not in front of yours - well, its not that big looking

🪢 for Jan 14

 🪢as per usual here in the semi Great White North, awaiting the latest round of stuff falling from the sky.
and to that point, the repair guy was here to change out the heating cables over the back roof.
I noticed that the previous cable seemed to be shorting out the circuit breaker. This morning the two guys took down the old one and replaced it and then added a second cable going Westward to a not cabled portion of the roof.

XXXXXX hopefully, this cable will not short out the electrics

We shall see said the Zen Master

so going on ..... recall that my hip / leg / groin debacle over 2025 starting in late January, arose after standing on a ladder chopping ice from the same back gutter.

NOW, think ! did I pierce the heating cables chopping out ice ??????? 
we will never know but  - you have to wonder

BTW, my hip / groin anguish is really diminishing = taking way less meds and therapy. My take is' does the Guinness make a difference ? 
Really, I cannot come up w / a alternate hypothesis for the rather sudden change in the pain regime

Wishful thinking ? of course ! but I bought more Guinness yesterday
of course, of course Wish away

Okay there's been some agonizing about which phone to buy  the Moto G8 excuse me is kind of way past support date. So I need a you know spare phone down in the basement 

and quite a bit of back and forth, Galaxy a36 pixel 9A.

 Both are a year out of date but they're offering 6 and 7 years of support so that's pretty good. Galaxy a36 is $379 and the Pixel 9a is $ 670

However, some pretty important carry over features from our Pixel 6 a 

Anyways better tell you the white stuff is a coming, no doubt. We are talking about maybe four 6 in of snow so fairly significant but it's life in the great white North semi Great White North

🐶 ' ... his name was Goyaate ......

  🐶 ... but long ago the Mexicans had given him another name ........ "

' boro. sitting at the corner desk, dull overall [ sorry, that's me ] hovering around freezing. always a chance of something [ snow, freezy bits etc ]

yesterday. Tripped out to Staples.
the story : we use our living room as den [ TV watching ] and
dining room [ all meals ] and kick about place.
The area rug is the placemat for the floor.
We use a low round wood table for eating and reading stuff and work [ some ]. 
Obviously, this rug takes a beating [ food and drink spills ] plus whatever cascades off the table. 
I try and clean the area rug [ and it has been to the carpet cleaners ]
but w / its age and use, we decided to replace. Thus Amazon had an attractive 5 ft by 7 ft area rug for 70 dollars [ one day delivery ] so we bit the bullet.

Now, attractive in a blue / blue /grey pattern ...... yet thin. Yes, thin enough to ruck up if you move your feet too much.
Unsightly, and dangerous for walking. 
three solutions.
 first. I put synthetic mats right up to edge of the rug to catch spills etc.. Didn't solve the crease and rucking tendency.
.... ? use an underlay for support. but if the rug slides a touch then it will crease, again.
you see the round table has feet and not casters. I used carpet pieces and then small tiles under the feet but still the rug would crease.

At Staples, tho ', I found a 36 in by 47 in bottom toothed rug protector for an office commercial type carpet. The translucent protector is stiff enough to not move when the table slides a bit. The protector meets the mat that I was using and the table basically covers the protector - meaning that you cannot see the protector at the exposed places around the table. 
Winner, winner ..... chicken-dinner !
so goeth, my day

have a good'un

or Goyaakla in Apache } they called him Geronimo. American legend
A purported rationale for the name, was the Mexicans calling on ' St Jerome ' for divine aid

🧑‍💻 the new week, begins

 🧑‍💻 the ' boro will be near freezing. unsettled conditions [ little flakes, scattered precipitation ]

😄 January 11

  😄 ... the cold ish ness returns. semi clear conditions. wind is stirring
Sunday is Tiger shopping day. My fav store

purchased for Sunday : crackers, coleslaw mix, pizza and slippers

♾ ... and it goes on and on forever

 ♾ .... you must forgive me ...... form " in My mind, I'm going to Carolina " ala JT

day is cold in the  ' 'boro , not terrible but a reminder

🕋 the week that was ......

 🕋 the week that was ...... ends w / soaring winter temperature [ as in 50 ? ]

a big melt is going on.  white on the ground but roads are looking bare black

and another take the old guy to lunch day. another former student [ read here, man ] heard me waxing glorious about the Magic Noodle Restaurant. He lives near, and said we should go for lunch. We had some glitches, holidays and weather but today is fine

🌰 for today

 🌰 wet and mild [ for January ]

above freezing all day.white out there but dreary feeling

take an old guy to lunch day. We went to the Noodle. Then on to Costco. M .... needed Aceto in EZ swallow format. [ $ 14 ] Plus coffee and plastic garbage bags ...... all in $ 60

Well, lunch was good

However, glorious day for January. Temperature was 38 F, big sun bit of wind. Washed the boot tray [ salt encrusted like baked salmon ].Cleared the roof edge [ actually, well melted ] and perhaps found a way to straighten the new carpet.
The carpet is decorative but thin. Hence if a table sits on it any movement means there are creases [ if I had help then you could plunk the sucker right down ] but I put it down and need to re - address position and it rucks up
New plan: used wall tiles as coasters to sit under the legs. Most creases went away
we shall see said the Zen Master

Exercised. day s work fini

 

🏰 its the 7 the of janvier

 🏰 .... " I spy w / my little eye ......

white. yes snow fell a bit
tire tracks
air is still [we had quite the blow for three days ]

Flashback to really this time last year. There was an ice sheet that was gutter to shingle approx 3 ft up the roof edge. Of course, thicker at the edge near the gutter and in the gutter. We'll say 8 inches but it felt like 8 ft while I was chopping ice out. Roughly, 4 days on a ladder cleaving blocks of ice out of the gutter and that stuff stuck to the lower roof edge

Cold and long. This year, this morning, the gutter ice was 1 inch in depth and loose. I sprinkled ice melter / rock salt in the gutter itself. Freed up the downpipe and made sure water flowed. I need to continue to monitor and free up the ice bits. 
AND there will be no heater coil available [ the cable is shorting out, circuit breaker is popping ]

NOW, my sore hip, groin and leg in general dates back to Jan 2024, the ladder days.
And today, the leg has improved from disability to annoyance [ and a touch more ]

NO. no ladders, his AM. Most was standing on a deck chair

⚡ "danger on the roads

 ⚡ "danger, danger , Will Robinson .......
not snow but a freezing rain ' yellow alert ' for a large swath of North Shore of L. Ont

???????????? you have been warned

day was slow and thus was traffic. rain came on schedule and the temperature hovered around freezing.

Drove out at near 1:30 P and roads were good. Traffic - not so - I ended up U Turning to avoid a log jam.

Didn't stay long, at the cousins visitation and went out to find ice on the car [ rain froze on the metal ]

anyhow, made it home w / Mc Donald s for dins

Haven't heard an update on the conditions after I got home

❇ symbol for the snow that arrived

 ❇ symbol for the snow that arrived ........ and is still arriving out in the view from here on Jan 5 th

a soft blanket w / little blowing. traction is poor to barely OK. as I watch the cars negotiate the street scene

pretty and even

well. Xmas is being boxed for another year. Tree is still up but due for removal. Santa is headed down the stairs

following up. this afternoon, the Xmas tree was consigned to the basement + decorations around the house

the snow accumulation was in the 3 inch range. slightly heavy [ warmer air overnight ]

BTW, a luncheon date was cancelled b /c of potential driving hazards 

🍾 or not

 Janvier quatieme Sunday. hibernation or not

🎑 on the 3 rd of Jan

 🎑 a comedown from holiday foofaraw or business.

And the cold continues
the battle in the living room is heat [ supplemented by a space heater ] and humidity. The room has containers of water, a makeshift humidifier [ a plastic tray w / sponges and airflow thru the container ]

actually, the DIY humidifier worked quite well for a time but as the outside temperature fell and the space heater kicked on - the humidity continued to fall. I added a large - ish tray of water w/ a filter assembly [ greater surface area ]. The humidity sits at 28 % [ or whatever scale is used ]. Nominally, a goal of 30 - 40 is suggested. 
all in all, tho' , the water containers have to help - at least a bit to maintain moisture 

AND IF YOU HAD TO HAVE A PROBLEM, this one is solvable

💺 for deuxieme janvier

 💺you get the feeling that cold has settled in for a spell
Ah. We are Canadian. 

late afternoon update. Made a run to Shoppers Drug for scripts and sundries

exercised for the first work out of the year.

leftovers for dins

cold. cold

dinner was a hodge podge of left over Chinese - a sausage - 

💥 💥💥 2026 commences

 💥💥💥 we heard and saw fireworks last night. the worst of the weather predictions missed us. The pattern called for sweeping winds, bringing snow streamers  and noticeable amounts of snow. However, this was always going to be localized, tight banding 

Follow up. on hip and pain. heating pad was not effective, this morning. Popped Robaxin, for comfort

hey, we were out for lunch at a friend s, chicken pot pie and scones. simple and delish.

Cold out there, straight uncomfortable