Freezing

My Beloved and I have been contemplating purchasing a deep freezer. On one hand, a small, apartment-sized, energy efficient freezer seems like a smart purchase, allowing us to make larger portions and freeze left-overs. On the other hand, such a purchase seems extravagent for spendthrifts like us. I mean, we live in Alberta. Couldn't we just use our balcony as a deep freezer for like eight months of the year?

Well, we ended up making the purchase. And once we got it home, where did my sweetheart wish to put our newest appliance? On the balcony!

Perpetual Winter

I feel betrayed. These past weeks, Spring has been toying with me and my emotions. My heart beat faster at the sight of tiny buds on the trees. The warm breezes caressing my face elevated my mood. After months and months of icy chill, I finally began to let down my guard, to hope with abandon for the pleasure of Spring's warm embrace, to trust and believe in the truth of Spring's thaw. And then it snowed. Again. On the May long weekend.

Happy Victoria Day!

mud

So, despite the six inches of snow we got yesterday, it's officially spring here. And what that means is that we have temps above freezing during the day, which melts some of the snow, and temps dipping below freezing at night, which refreezes the water on the walkways and roads, creating what is known as ice (for my Texan friends, this is the same stuff you put in your tea, only much more of it. And you have to walk/drive on it, instead of letting it melt in your drink, which is very hard to do).

The other thing about Edmonton spring is the mud. See, in Edmonton, all winter long, they have been putting sand on the roads to keep them from getting too slick. Every once in a while, a snowplow would come through and push the sand/snow mixture to the sides of the roads where it would pile up, obscuring the curbs and eliminating entire lanes of roads.

Commuting in Edmonton in springtime does not involve flowers and sunshine, but rather, having to make the split-second decision whether to run into the snowbank or risk having a deluge of muddy water sprayed upon you by the passing bus. It also means going out of your way to cross streets earlier, even getting off the bus three blocks early, in order to avoid that puddle. Some muddles are so big, I swear they have tides.


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In summary:

Edmonton in summer - the city is garbed in lush green. Festivals every weekend, the sun never sets. Glorious. You should come.

Edmonton in autumn - the city is crowned in leafy gold. The river valley is spectacular, hiking and biking are fantastic. Glorious. You should come.

Edmonton in the winter - the city is robed in glistening white. It's really, really cold. But the people are hardy, and the city is alive with music and theatre (and shopping, I confess). Glorious. You should come. Just wear layers.

Edmonton in spring time - you are drenched in muddy brown. Stay away. Better yet, can I come stay with you?

trouble in winter wonderland

Walking home from an astronomy dinner last night, I realized one of the things I most dislike about winter: when walking with Craig, I am not able to hold his hand. Gloves and mittens prohibit hand holding. And when I put my hand in the crook of his arm, I got a handful of downy and woolen layers. Walking in winter is not so wonder-filled if you can't hold tight to your Beloved.

So I think they should make mittens like this:

What do you think?

Daylight Savings, II

Another thing, isn't it supposed to be "Spring Forward"? It's not even remotely spring, as we are still nearly two weeks away from the vernal equinox.

Tell me, does this look like spring to you?

High today was -24c (-11f) and the low was -34c (-30f).

wilderness

I have always envisioned the wilderness of Lent as a desert with shifting sands. But after my commute into work this morning, I am certain it is the streets of Edmonton, with shifting snows.

Temperatures dropped over 20 degrees (that's Celsius - about a 36 degree drop in Fahrenheit) last night. And it snowed. Actual snow fall was probably only a few inches, but the wind caused snowdrifts, covering sidewalks and pathways.

Normally, my walk to work takes about 40 minutes. Today, it was an hour. It wasn't just snow I was battling, but wind and slick sheets of ice under the foot of new snow.

And my route was changed. The landscape had shifted. I was thrown off-course by thigh-high piles of snow (courtesy of the snowploughs) blocking sidewalks. And paths that existed yesterday just aren't there any longer. (the photo is the exact same park I pictured yesterday, sans pathway through)

It was quite a trek. But finally, I arrived. Face chapped. Legs sore. Breathless and exhausted. And drenched with sweat.

But, at the same time, I felt empowered, triumphant, and invincible.

You see, I realized that if I can make my way. Even as familiar paths disappear and obstacles block my path, I can find my way through this wilderness. I always do.

I love my walk to work...

I Got Shoes!!

Well, boots actually. Yea!! This photo was taken this morning at the beginning of my 3.5k commute to work. Ah, it was good to be back to walking...

These past few months, I have been taking the bus as I commute to work instead of walking. And yeah, it's freaking cold here, but that's not why I stopped walking. I know how to layer to deal with the cold. No, I stopped in part because it was so dark with the sun rising well after my 8:00 am workday began and setting long before I set foot outside the hospital at 4:30 pm. And also because I didn't have the boots.

See, in Edmonton, they don't always usually shovel the snow. So my commute involves walking on 4-6 cm of ice and packed snow. Quite treacherous. So I needed shoes with tread that can handle the slick terrain. And having flat feet, I need good arch supports. And with these frigid temps, I need warmth. None of the shoes I owned had that trifecta of tread, support, and warmth. But these do! :)

At church yesterday, the minister was talking about preparing for journeys, both literal treks and figurative pilgrimages. He talked about having the right shoes before starting out on a long sojourn.

I am not sure where my shoes will take me. But I sure do like the feel of them on my feet.

germs

From the Greek pathos (suffering) and gen (originate), a pathogen is that from which suffering originates.

You know, this is not exactly my model of ministry.

So instead of spreading my sniffly-sneezy germs to already sick patients, I am home with my sniffly-sneezy self.

Brrr... It's cold.

We're back to -20 and below temps. This is what -25 looks like.