Reading harold_maude's journal

Well, it seems that the after thought of winter has arrived.
With all the connection to Christmas that snow has, it seems that the months that follow after are almost an after thought.

Kind of a cold emotional left over. This year the month of December seemed to be filled to over flowing with the mentality that this was the last December that shopping was allowed.

It was everywhere. But there was no snow to accompany the madness. It would have made the picture complete somehow.

Now here it is, January and there has been the first snow dump of winter. Actually, when you think about it, winter has only been here for a few weeks.
That is, of course, according to the western calander, but else where it may be some other time of year. Still winter or summer based on what part of the world you live in.

A side note to all of this: I found out a couple of years ago that south of the equator the toilet water goes the other way when you flush.

Anyway, winter is here and driving is a terrifying act that I have been going through since the white stuff started falling.
I would love for it to snow everywhere but on the roads.
That would solve alot of problems. I think I'm going stir crazy.
I feel a bit crazy lately. And sleep isn't worth alot lately and every time I get behind the wheel of the car, my body goes into this stress mode.
I get back here and I'm still shaking. And all I can think of is how long will this last...

Ah yes, it's winter. I wish I could be someplace where it was a few blocks to work. I'd walk, even in the dead of winter...
So this is winter in the middle of the country....
I found out the other day that alot of people here go crazy in winter.
Too cold to go out side, and so your stuck inside except to go to work and on your way home, if you need any food that's when you pick it up.
And you spend the rest of the time wondering if you'll have to face a mountain of snow in the morning or if the roads will be clear.
You look at the clock and when 9 or 10 starts getting close you feel it start all over again.
This is the worst January I can ever remember...
I've fought depression before in winter, but nothing like this...
I used to want to move to alaska, there was never enough winter for me.
Now, however, there is an over load of it...and I just want to be warm and not have to deal with crazy people on the road...

I've never seen snow and I 'used' to always love winter cause I could dress in nice black trench coats and wear my boots, the part that I love the most is when your half hugging and walking down the road with your loved one, then kissing them with cold lips and feeling cold lips on yours, warming yourself up in the proccess.

The past two winter's however, drastically changed my opinion on my favourite season. It just got too cold for comfort. Even though 6 degrees or so would seem alright for some people who live in negative temperatures, it was hell for me.

Firstly the heater broke and for some some the shower will stop giving hot water after about 10 minutes of showering and I'll come out of the shower with icicles forming on my nose. I'm the kind of person who gets cold very easily.

I had to wear atleast 5 layers of clothes (I dont have any thermal wear), two layer of socks and a beenie to keep my ears from freezing. I drank too many cups of coffee and hot chocolate and in doing so permanatly burnt my taste buds.

Going out was just not an option and staying at home with parents that drive you up the wall was worse, occasionally I'd wear a lot of clothes and walk out looking 2 sizes bigger to get a decent smoke, but would you believe it. The wind took my ciggerette away! And that was my last one too! (I was flat broke at that time)

No one to walk with, and no kissing and cuddling. Applying lotion over and over again so that your skin doesnt dry up.

*shakes head*

Summer, spring, even rainy days are so much better compared to this.

sigh... and to think I'll be going to Australia and it's going to be the end of summer there and when I get back from Australia (in December this year) it's going to be winter here.

...sigh..

*goes to pack up a whole lotta thermal wear*

Foosh... Aaughh!!... Foosh... Aauuggghh!! - Cold spray deodorant

Even though 6 degrees or so would seem alright for some people who live in negative temperatures, it was hell for me

... ;)

The city where I live is Ottawa. The temperature variation here is greater than any other national capital in the world. In the summer it's consistently 30 degrees celcius, in the winter down to -20 to minus -30 on particularly cold days.

But last month was the craziest month for weather that I have ever seen. It was literally 0 one day, -25 the next. It would alternate between rain and blizzard. It was nuts, and the driving conditions were despicable. And this is my first winter of driving so... yeah, I got into a skid. But I didn't hit anything/one, and I didn't put it in the ditch. And I learned my lesson: don't try to go from 50kph to a full stop in under 15 metres on a slush covered road. :p

Unless I'm wet, 0 is not cold. -10 below is cold, but fine if properly dressed. -20 below or colder... well, that's downright frozen. Trying to snowblow a foot of snow off a 50 foot double lane driveway when it's -20 and the wind is blowing it back into your face is not my idea of a good time.

But anyway, I think if there was al least a bit of snow you might enjoy winter more. Snowball fights! Snowmen! And everything looks so white and clean. I hate seeing grass when there's snow around (unless it's spring). There's about two feet now, so that shouldn't be a problem.

I do get cabin fever though, sometimes. I fight it with Taekwon-do, and just getting out for fresh air whenever I have some time to spare. I like to skate as well, play hockey against my brothers.

On a related note, as a hockey fan I had something to cheer about recently. The first person to name what that was, wins!

You're here, aren't you? You're talking to me, aren't you?

I think we almost due south of where you are. That means no mountains to break the cold.
The weather man said that the artic air has been pushing south for a while now.

I try to dress in layers and it still doesn't stop that wind that blows through you like a freight train.
I have a feeling part of my mental state is due to exaustion from the cold, and knowing I have to drive across town twice a day.

The people here are nuts when they get behind the wheel of a car.
They drive crazy most all of the time. After the first dumping we had last week they listed the number of accidents and there were 75 fender benders that first day.
A few cars that flipped over and one death.

I've never had the taste of winter like it's been here.
I've been in cold weather durring winter most all of my life, but here it's different.
Exposed, and bitter. I can only immagine that the only way to survive it is to grow up in it. It feels normal then.

When I think about it, I think what I romanticized the most about was being snowed in.
Having to spend hours listening to the wind and being with people you loved....it's a good thing if you like the people you have to spend alot of time with because after a while your nerves get raw from things that don't normally bother...

If you ever decide to move to a place that doesn't have such intense cold winters I think it'll probably seem like something is missing.

I personally like to make snow angels. The problem here is that there isn't really any flat places to make them in.
And the cats would be all over me if I layed in the snow and if they thought I had food I would be under attack from several of them.

..someday when I am very old, and still doing crazy things I think I'm going to write about life, maybe then I will understand why I keep ending up in extreems.

Lots of thermal underwear...you could always tie die it if it's a 100% cotton.

Ah the joys of cold...I know what it's like to have to take cold showers. It's painful. Last year we house sat for 4 months and 3 1/2 of thoes were without electricity. It got to the point where we heated water over a fire pit we dug out of desperation in the back yard of the place.
We slept under a pile of blankets and went stir crazy.
It's a long story of how we ended up being roped into doing something like that.
But it's enough to say that being out in the middle of nowhere with no refrigeration and no heat on a daily basis can do things to you, and after a while the idea of taking a shower is a planned event. It took about 6 hours to heat enough water and then we would mix equal parts with cold water so that there would be enough luke warm water to try to get clean in.
There was wood ash in the water.
Laundery consisted of doing a few peices in the bathroom sink with shampoo because the mice had gotten into the soap and left "gifts" on a daily basis.

We finally escaped when some money came our way. I was ready to abandon all our possessions, everything in the back of the truck, and walk out.

I would have loved some thermal underwear. I hope the trip to OZ is snow free for you.
A good rule of thumb is dressing in layers and having lots and lots of socks. Can never have too many pairs of socks.
And toilet paper too. That's the one luxury item that I have to have...no matter what.
Having none is bad.

Hope it's warmed up where you are. We're supposed to get another heavy dumping again this week.
I want a dog sled or a tank...

I find that I get 'cabin fever' as well when the winter comes... that's why I went to the knit shop yesterday, and began a-new my passion for knitting. I bought a bag full of yarn. When it snows, and when it doesn't, I plan to work on three scarves, two sweaters, a cloak, two hats, and a design for Vogue Knitting magazines competition for breast cancer awareness scarves...

Barring that, I try to fill up my freezer with as much food as possible, so I don't have to go trudging in the snow... and read, read, read.

I am lucky too. There is a theatre within walking distance. In this freezing, freakin' cold!

And I still get anxious about driving. The black ice on the roads last night was frightening. I took my knitting with me, needless to say, in case the car wrecked, I survived, and had to occupy myself somewhere waiting for help. Fortunately, there was no accident. And I plan on there not being any, at all, this winter.

I intend to breeze through winter like a bad dream, cozy in my knitwear, and deeply engrossed in my books, and hogging space on the NAO. Miss you oodles, harold_maude. Wish you were here. Never fear, I shall knit you a scarf... *cheezy grin*

My mind is made up...not like my bed, which is a mess.

Hello..*smiles*
I miss you bunches. I think I would make even you crazy right now. I'm not quite in a balanced state of mind.
It sounds wonderful to live with in walking distance of a theatre.

Unfortunately even if we did there would be no money to go to the movies with.
After it warms up a bit around here I'm going to start looking for a second job.
The simple expenses of life have caused us to live at the edge of a financial cliff from month to month.

When we sat down to figure out what we both needed to do to make ends meet and have enough time to persue the other directions of our lives, we figured it only to where it was enough.
That way we could both work less than full time and it would be ok....bad idea. Only in perfect conditions can one do that.
Life has a way of throwing curve balls at your head when you do that.
And we've had more than our share and I'm tired of being so stressed out all the time over money crap.

In order to remain here where we are it reqires a certian amount of money...and it sucks.
But it's reality. The alternitive is living again in the car or housesitting for someone who has decited to abandon their house or some other physical and emotionally draining situation...I think I need to find the zen place and live there.
Just when I think I've got a handle on things, I find that there is still so much inside to deal with.

It's awesome that you've taken up a passion for knitting. I wanna learn how to make socks. And when I do, I'm going to give them as gifts. Three socks, instead of two. Made of all kinds of unmatched yarn. Then I want to learn how to make the kind with the toes. And get some of that fun fur, and make fuzzy toe socks, and maybe put some of thoes googly eyes on them. For wearing with open toe shoes.
I have to find a good teacher though, and then there is the time thing, and the yarn.

But I haven't given up on the idea.

I'm finding that I'm painting alot just to stay sane.

Okay... I am really, really pissed. I just wrote an entire post here in reply to harold_maude, well-crafted, and funny... and the damn new site just kicked it off..

This isn't the first time. It happened the other day, and I had to copy by hand just about everything that I typed and re-write it later. That sucked! It sucks that now I cannot take the time to re-write my original reply to this post, because I have like five minutes...

I will have to come back to it later, and by then I shall have likely forgot. This time, I did not save to draft, as I rarely do anyway, not having needed to... and lost everything! I am really, really peeved. I know putting the site together takes a lot of work, and that this post should probably be on thesite-related forum... but, well, I just, quite frankly, don't have the time....

Maybe I should wait a while to post again, so I don't have to go through this while the new site is being de-bugged. Ciao.

Who knows, maybe I'll even loose this post, and that would be par for the course...

My mind is made up...not like my bed, which is a mess.

while the new site is being de-bugged.

There is no debugging involved. The site is exactly the same, just in another place. When you experience connection problems please post them here. The site works fine for most users, so unless somebody informs me of a specific problem I assume everything is okay and won't lift a finger.

"God is dead." - Nietzsche, 1882 "Nietzsche is dead." - God, 1900

This post was edited by null on Jan 08, 2005.