Winter Driving

    Bracing for a big dig tomorrow as we are on the cusp of a major storm. Not particularly cold - just a few degrees below freezing - but the wind is strong and snow and/or freezing rain is forecast to keep falling until tomorrow morning. There's likely to be considerable drifting so I will have to use the snow blower. Must remember to plug in the Lithium battery before I go to bed tonight!

    Judy is staying over tonight as she was anxious about tomorrow's commute. I am very close to her school, only minutes away. Her normal commute is around 30 minutes but with bad road conditions it can take up to 2 hours. Better safe than sorry.

   The cat got his claws trimmed without incident on the weekend which has cut down on the amount of mauling I have to put up with. His favourite thing is to climb on me as soon as I sit down and maneuver, using his claws, into a comfortable position. Ouch!!

   The RODEO lunch which was to have been tomorrow (we were visiting Lebanon) has been cancelled for the second week due to road conditions. Several of the ladies are nervous drivers. Plus there's always the chance that we will be completely snowed in. It's now scheduled for next Thursday so I only hope that the weather gods will co-operate this time.

This, That and the Other

    My scars are finally beginning to fade but the two spots where the biopsies were taken are still a bit sore and itchy. I have been keeping them covered but I think it will be safe to leave them exposed to the fresh air by tomorrow.

   More shovelling today but not very much, so it was just a minor workout. Today was supposed to be our visit to a Lebanese restaurant but several people called off because of the slippery road conditions (we had freezing rain forecast for this afternoon). So it has been decided we will try again next Thursday.

   This worked well for me and my friend Susan as we both were able to attend our monthly book club which is also on the first Thursday of the month. Next year I plan to transfer to a different group that meets on the third Thursday.

   One of the cats is badly in need of a claw trim so I'm hoping Judy will be able to do it - she does it for her cat). Otherwise it will have to be a visit to the vet as there's no way I'm going to tackle it!

Rather Unpleasant Day

    I had my annual checkup at the dermatologist booked for yesterday, and to have her remove a skin tag from my neck which has been annoying me for some time. However, one look at me and she went to grab her vapourizer (not sure what it is called but she uses it to blast incipient problem areas) and set about zapping me.

   Unfortunately she also found a couple of more serious spots and had the nurse take biopsies to send for testing. It's likely basal cell carcinomas which I've had in the past but, hopefully they have been caught early for quick treatment. I will know more once the results come back from the lab.

   So, now I look like a wounded warrior with red areas which will fade quickly, and a couple of band aids on the places that were scraped for the biopsies. The skin tag removal was deemed cosmetic so wasn't covered by OHIP but I was happy to pay the fee to have it gone. 

   Tonight I have treated myself to a take-out dinner - dim sum and sushi from the local Chinese grocery store. We have several in our area but this one has a very tasty hot table and items are marked down at the end of the day. A win-win for both the store and the customers!

Shovelling

     Several inches of snow overnight and I hadn't plugged in my snowblower battery so I was out early, shovel in hand. 

   It was quite easy work and I had half the driveway cleared before I left for my day at the Seniors' Centre. Surprisingly quiet there today due partly because it is the Chinese New Year today but also because the more cautious were staying home until the roads and sidewalks were safely cleared. I didn't have any trouble on the roads and my side street had been cleared by the time I got home.

   Another half an hour of shovelling got the whole driveway clear but by then the wind was picking up and, combined with a drop in temperature, made it a bit of a struggle. It's currently -8C but with the wind chill it feels more like -18C. I was very glad to come back inside to warm up. Tomorrow should be an easier day.