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.

   

Starting a New Regime

    Went grocery shopping this morning after my Fitness class (Stretch and Strength, and, boy, did Alison stretch us out, we were gasping by the time we finished). I visited the bulk food store first to stock up on various items then a quick whip around the grocery store for fresh things and a few staples. I'm sure I was in and out in 20 minutes even though the store was quite a bit busier than my usual early morning shop. I will be back to my normal routine next week.

    That was pretty much it for today although I baked caramel bars this afternoon to use up the rest of the chocolate chips. The bars are now in the freezer away from temptation and all the chocolate in the house is used up. Let the resolutions begin!

Testing my Resolutions

   Minus 17C again this morning but it is set to rise from now on to the end of the week, thank goodness! I usually go out early for my grocery top up on Wednesday - mostly fresh fruit and veg - but decided to postpone the trip until later in the week as I still have plenty to keep me going. 

   I am finally using up the last of the holiday supplies and liquor as I plan to go "dry" for Lent. Tonight's dinner will be a smoked salmon and goat cheese salad and tomorrow I will return all the empties accumulated over the holidays. I had the last of a bottle of sherry for my pre-prandial snack today and all the wine is gone. I'm also going to go chocolate-free until Easter. That may be the hardest thing to do! I may get into the baking chocolate at some point to satisfy my craving for some dark chocolate.

   Yesterday was our monthly retired teachers' lunch and, although it was lovely to meet up with friends and share news, the meal was rather uninspiring. A nice enough salad and a very yummy Tiramisu for dessert,  but the main course Lasagna was very mediocre - just pasta and a bit of tomato sauce, not much meat and no cheese which are essential for a proper lasagna. A lot of complaints so we may have to look for an alternative location. Good spots that can accommodate 75 to 80 people are hard to find in our part of the city.

   That's it for today. Stay safe and warm wherever you are!

Polar Vortex

    Some severe cold heading our way tomorrow due to a polar vortex (strong winds circling down from the Arctic). At the moment it's only -6C but will drop down to -14C overnight and stay around that mark. So, in the minus double digits for the next few days and the wind chill making it feel several degrees colder. Only advantage that it will likely be too cold for snow.

    Last week went by fast but I came down with some sort of virus on Friday and have spent most of the weekend in bed, sleeping or reading. Today I finally feel like eating again so I must be on the mend!

   The coming week looks to be quite busy so I will just have to bundle up and brave the elements. I will definitely be skipping a daily walk unless the sun is shining.

Spoke Too Soon

    The snow arrived on Sunday so I spent an hour clearing the driveway with the snow blower. Today's snow was just a dusting but I cleared it anyway as the sun was shining and I was happy to be outdoors. The wind was strong and blowing the snow back in as I worked, wind chill -16C.

  Bridge this afternoon and, thankfully, I had better cards than yesterday. It's all about the luck of the deal and often I get pretty dismal hands. But it is still fun and keeps the old brain working. I also do the puzzles in the newspaper every day and am usually successful.

   One of the cats had to go to the vet yesterday for an injection and Judy came by to pick her up. What a job corralling her into the cat container - she had to wear protective gear to avoid the claws and teeth! But, mission accomplished and no one is any the worse for wear. Never a dull moment at Mia Casa!

   I have made some potato salad for dinner and will also have a green salad and some garlic shrimp. Some nights I just don't feel like cooking but this will be fast and easy. 

Hibernating

   Can't believe I haven't posted since before Christmas as the days between Christmas and New Year's are usually a "down time" chez moi. I did get started on a few twice-yearly chores but soon tired of that!

   The visit by the family on Christmas Day went off well despite the fact that they were accompanied by two dogs they were babysitting. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am currently fostering two cats who have been through a bit of trauma in the past few months and are very skittish. It seemed best to corral them into the upper floor of my house while the dogs were here but they let their displeasure be known once they were allowed downstairs again (messes on the carpet etc.). They are back to their normal behaviour now, thankfully.

   Since then I have been lazily filling my days with reading lots of books and working on a very tricky puzzle. Activities at the Senior's Centre started up again this week as well as Book Club and Knitting group. I was one of the presenters at book club (we read "None of This is True" by Lisa Jewell and, although a small group attended, had a lively discussion) and brought home lots of tasty nibbles to snack on. Back to "auld claes and parritch" (basic food and clothes), even our RTO Executive meeting was by Zoom this week!

    The weather here hasn't been as wintery as we are used to so far this month. Minus temperatures and cold northerly winds but (fingers crossed) not much in the way of snow. I am happy not to have had to do much shovelling so far this winter!