Weather

 Improving. However, the library is full every day, it seems.

Wonder if the kids are doing this outside?

BYE

Arctic incoming!

 Really, Alberta clipper? Okay, it's true we were overdue for the snow. For about two days, things were dicey. But the plows were out before long and things were good. Then the deep freeze threatened. Indoor recess two days in a row and more promised next week

  Yeah, it's frustrating. Also, something is borked in my Sims game. I'm still playing but one of the sims is a bit ropey. Anyway, here's a dude I spotted a while ago.

  Happy chappy, no? That's all I have for now. Things are going to be wild next week. The chill won't be going away very soon. Yeah, we were spoiled.

BYE.

Several words

 MERRY CHRISTMAS! I finally got all my shopping done. It's just a matter of wrapping things up in my usual half-assed manner.

  2024. Hope the situation of the world is better in the new year. The school year was such that our cut off date was the 22. Yikes. Well, at least we'll have lots of time to relax in January.

  To the few who actually still read this blog; I wish you happy holidays; get plenty of good food and rest in ya. See you in 2024.

BYE.

Avoidance

       So we got our first big snowfall of the year and my car got stuck in a rut (aren't we all so stuck in ruts?). Yeah, so I'm home today and not very happy about that. It was Remembrance Day yesterday so I was off from work. You might think I'm thrilled about having a four-day weekend but I'm just frustrated. I hope someone can clear some of the parking lot so I can at least get my car back in its stall because I couldn't make the turn and got stuck. A very nice dude who was shoveling out behind his vehicle helped me to at least park out of the way of oncoming cars. Not that anyone's going to make that turn right now.

       A lot of outraged shrieking in the car, let me tell you. Nothing to do but wait. At least I'm safe and warm. Also, I'm not the only staff member who could not make it into work today. Meanwhile, I'm avoiding my compy. I need to open it up and give it a good blast of air because I want the ghost in the BIOS to go away. It's been at least a week since I turned it on. I'm not going to say what I've been playing, Sims-wise, because I uninstalled that piece of dreck from the compy a long time ago. Why I installed it on my lappy, I cannot explain. I'm sad and pathetic; that's all there is to it.

       Now for something very important - after the fact, but still...

 

Shout-out to John https://www.flickr.com/photos/shebalso/44385637204  for the image.

       That is all for now. If you would like to see some Sims stuff, I only have the dreck for you currently. 

BYE.

The Winter Persists

      So, after a massive thaw, the snow is trying to make a comeback. Not that it's trying very hard or anything. Anyway, I fear I do not have much else to say. Stay safe and remember that March is fast approaching.

BYE.

My pen persists

      Something about ballpoint pens. My blue one likes to trick me; first it seems like it's on its last dregs of ink, only to charge forth as strong as anything. That sounds like a neat name for a blog, doesn't it? 'The Pen Persists'. You, my few and fantastic followers, are welcome to use it. Besides, this is the only blog I use. Yeah, I was on LiveJournal once a long time ago, but that's lost to the mists of time. As far as I understand it, LiveJournal is deader than disco. Blogger might be fading like the dodo, but this has been my base of operations for some time, and I have no intention of going anywhere new.

     I've had the year of 2017 on the mind lately. One of my second cousins was born in 2017, while another one was born in 2016. A third one was born only a few weeks ago. My cousins are going wild with the babbies these days. We had a wretched cold snap - on par with Texas only Canada's used to such dealings - and the cold killed my car's battery. Cue my bitter frustration with a very overworked CAA. Anyway, I had a new battery installed and now I'm paranoid. Something at last for my rampant anxiety to sink its yellowed teeth into! It's been almost a week since that happened, and my car's working fine.

    2017 was a momentous year. A wedding, a journey to Nova Scotia, a second cousin born in China, and a very sad event for my great-aunt and great-uncle. Anyway, the cold snap has passed and tomorrow calls for a high of 0. Very good news all around. The fact that it's Saturday is also very good news. Assuming my car doesn't die again on me this weekend, I'm going to see my fam and eat some excellent potato casserole. Another of my Grandma's recipes, and it is amazingly good. Anyway, I thought about posting some Sims stuff but I changed my mind. This is just all the nonsense of my life. I hope you enjoy it and I hope you are all staying safe and warm.

BYE.

Blisteringly cold

      Winter finally caught up with us. I expect indoor recess all the rest of the week. We had an inservice today, so the kids got to stay home and stuff. On the literary front, I finished up a poignant book called 'The woman on the Orient Express'. I only call it poignant because it woke so much nostalgia within. Agatha Christie was married and divorced in her early days, and she made an escape to the Middle East to get away from the rumour mill. I wonder now what her ex thought when she became something of a superstar writer. Did it stick in his craw - an ache that not even death could heal? Yes, I am spiteful. What of it?

       Anyway, the book was so drenched in Mesopotamian affairs that I flashed back many times to the Christie classic 'Murder in Mesopotamia'. The author of 'The woman on the Orient Express' confirmed my suspicions that one of the characters in the book who crosses paths with Christie was the inspiration of one of the characters in 'Murder in Mesopotamia'. This character was a real person, believe it or not. As a result of all my flashing back, I found myself enjoying the foray very much. If I recall correctly, 'Murder in...' was the first Christie book I have ever read. Both books are very good, by the way.

       Continuing on the nostalgia train, I discovered another reason why I love the band Squeeze as much as I do. When I was in high school, like most people of my time, I watched 'Hackers'. My first encounter with Angelina Jolie, Jonny Lee Miller, and Matthew Lillard, as well as my first encounter with Fisher Stevens as a bad guy. When you're used to Ben Jabituya in 'Short Circuit', it's a little bit of a shock to see him as this douchey hacking mastermind. Anyway, at the end of that movie, while Miller and Jolie are in the rooftop pool, there's a great song that plays. I've been in the dark as to which band released that song for YEARS. 😥

      Thank you IMDB! It took me a bit of searching but I finally found the song in question.

      Is it any wonder that I love Squeeze so much? All this time and I don't even have one of their albums. I think that's going to change soon. Shoutout to KeeFHQVideos for posting this video. Am I getting people in trouble by giving them a shoutout? Not like there are any people actually wasting their time on my blog. Now, I hope people stay warm in Canada, as the cold weather ain't going away anytime soon. Maybe by this weekend.

BYE.

Into February

      Am I happy that January will soon be but a memory? Until more Canadians get the vaccine, one month is just like another. Until all Canadians get the vaccine, actually. I have nothing good to say toward or about the anti-vax crowd, so if any of my followers are part of that crowd, just keep moving and forget you ever heard of me. Groundhog Day draws near; time to listen to Sonny & Cher's whinging in unison about their *ahem* undying love for each other.

      This is going to be a quick post. Oh, and what's this stuff about Google wanting me to join a group? I'm too anti-social for that, guys. I recently finished reading a batch of fluff called 'Planet Lolita'. You'd think there'd be more to a story with that kind of title. Nope! It was a somewhat fascinating bit of fluff that I really do not recommend. Still, if you like the concept of social networking put on paper, have at it! Now I'm reading 'Casino Royale'. I think I understand why this book was not made into a movie back in the 1960s. The censors would have flipped tables.

      Okay. That is all I have for now. Stay safe and warm, ye few still in need of a good night's rest. I hope I've bored you plenty today.

 

 

 

BYE.

Ambivalence or Apathy

     I should be excited for Xmas; but thanks to the pandemic, I'm feeling immensely meh. Not sure if this is a sign of ambivalence or plain old apathy. Does one term follow another? Anyway, my tender feelings to the few that follow this blog. I wish you nowt but the best for the end of this whole miserable year and nowt but the greatest hope for 2021. 💕

     I've been playing some Skyrim of late and watching a Youtuber/Twitcher named Rufert play Morrowind. The scenery in Morrowind looks gorgeous but Rufert played an unarmoured, hand-to-hand Argonian. My play style in Skyrim has been that of a sneaky archer. I'm nearly topped out on sneak in that game. A sneaky orc chick; not summat one sees very often, eh? 

     It's crazy cold today and I've been grumpy and in dire need of a hug. It's been months since my last hug. Okay, enough griping. The pandemic will end eventually, and then I can go back to hugging my family until they run from me. Now, should I post a few pictures that have nothing to do with the season? Yeah, why not.

Whoa, where did this last pic come from?

BYE.

Developments

     I'm sharing my usually silent space with noisy 6s until Xmas Break. It was either this or a complete and total lockdown for our school division (I'm guessing; and that could happen anyway). So one of my favourite co-workers has moved in and turned the library into a makeshift classroom. Today was the first day with these 6s. I was expecting chaotica but it's too early for that. Once the kids settle down a bit; then the chaotica and shouting will follow. The pandemic continues to work its deadly skill upon the hospitals and the ICUs of the world. 

      Even Nunavut is no longer immune. I was in awe of Nunavut earlier this year but it has joined the rest of Canada. At least they're smart enough to institute stringent lockdown rules. The rest of Canada would do good to follow suit. Perhaps it's too late for that. It might be too late for our divided neighbours to the immediate south. At least they voted for a new Prez that won't cause America's rep to continue its freefall. Not that he could do any worse than the Orange Nuisance, at this point. He certainly cannot do any worse. At least, I hope he will not do any worse.

      I plugged my car for the first time this winter tonight. Exciting, this wintertime! Now for some generic pics.

 

 

 

 

BYE.

Cans

     Nothing like inclement weather and poor road conditions to make one do an inventory of one's canned goods. I consider myself lucky that I only had 3 cans of soup past their expiration dates. One of my cans was still good so I made lunch and will make dinner out of it. Chunky beef barley soup - smelled and tasted okay. Fills me up, anyway. While I'm here, I have to wonder about expiration dates on canned goods.

     Once it's past the date it should be thrown out - better safe than sick - but how far past the date is it okay? I mean, once you get past the date the can's in a grey area and you're doubtless better off throwing it away; suppose it's all you have and you can't get to the store because of of poor road conditions? That or an ICBM came for a visit upwind and you're completely screwed anyway? Like the dude in 'The Day After' said, "Just get the canned goods!" I'm sure 2019 might have been okay but what about 2018? Too far past the date?

     I was already stuck with a churning belly the other day as it is and I'd rather not go through that again. If you plan to go to McDonald's, DO NOT order the spicy chipotle seasoned fries! Anyway, I should go out and clear the snow from my car. Not planning to go anywhere but it's something to do, innit?

    Okay. Here's a bit of Sims stuff.

BYE.

The Welcoming Thaw

      This wondrous and goodly thing has come at last? If not, at least I can take comfort in the approach of Spring Break. We've had some plus temps this month and the snow is starting to melt. Not fast enough for some people but we need to take care that it doesn't melt too fast. One of the last things we need this May is a flood. Bad enough the outskirts are going to get the mess this Spring (as usual), but we've had enough water this winter as it is. Watermain breaks here and frozen pipes there... yes, this city is more than ready for a nice slow thaw.

       As you can see, even my indoor cat's ready for a change in the weather. Some news if you're interested. After years of withstanding the temptation, I finally broke down and got a YouTube channel. I'll be posting my videos there from now on. If you're looking for something to bore you to tears, look on YT for the Wry Zone - also doing business as WryAlways. I'll keep posting the pictures on here. Pictures like this one.

Later Days!

The winter unending

   Who ever heard of a -49 windchill at the dawn of March? We're supposed to be having a false return to spring garnished with a few blizzards. The weatherfolk promise it's a dry cold that will keep the impending floods at bay this spring but that, to pardon the pun, is cold comfort to even the hardiest winterphile. The fine folks around here are dog people for the most part, and it hurts the heart to see them out there walking their poor pups in such icy circumstances.

    At least my pet's strictly indoor. Perhaps if I weren't so lazy I would have gotten a dog. On the other hand, most of the folks here have more time during their day to walk the dog. If I were to win the lottery that would be another case. Meanwhile, the merry spinsters continue to hang out and try not to get on each other's nerves. At least, one of us is trying....

    I'm continuing with something I messed around with in previous years. I hope to keep it going.
20 years ago...

March 4, 1994

Today when I got home, I was told by my parents that actor John Candy had passed away after having a heart attack. It really shocked me to hear that, I have been a fan of John Candy for a long time. However, his weight was higher than it should have been, the doctors think that’s what caused the heart attack. Not only was this actor very good, he was also a Canadian, and that adds to my sorrow. Needless to say, this has been a sad March the fourth evening Goodbye John Candy, I miss you.

    Later days... and hopefully warmer days!

 

While the parents are away

     They left for Mexico this Friday for their yearly two weeks away from the very nasty weather. Yesterday the weather was nice enough but this morning the ruthless windchill returned with a minus 44. It was 20 or better where they are right now. I take comfort in the fact that the snow is giving us a break.

       Neko loves my computer chair for some reason, and many of the pictures I take of her will find her right here, as you can see. She also likes my bed and the futon. One question for the few viewers I have; is she more Burmese than anything else, and which type of Burmese is she? She looks like a British/Oriental over an American one, but I really don't know. It's just something I'd like to know. I'm sure she wouldn't win any contests - not a very nice personality around other cats.

       I apologize that this video is so dark - I like it more for its audio than anything else. Our family cat was a master at purring - you could hear him from the other end of the house. Then again, he was enormous and the purring probably could be felt through the floor. He passed on in June 2012 after almost 15 years of greatness. My sister's cat is not one for purring and I was glad to get a cat that purrs.
      That's all I have for you for now. Hopefully February cuts us some slack and brings us better weather.

In Winter's icy embrace

         For the merry spinsters it's our first Xmas in the condo. I just got the tree up and it looks downright ridiculous. Considering I haven't put the tree up since I first moved into my apartment (Xmas 2009) I think it's a passable effort. Neko sees the tree as just another thing to chew on, and now that I've gone to the trouble of decorating it she takes great delight in playing with the pretty balls. Good thing they're plastic - I learned that lesson while still living at the house and observing the venerable Mr. Schneider.
         Speaking of the house, I usually spend Xmas Eve and New Year's Eve with the family on the couch downstairs. Since I don't feel right about leaving her alone overnight I have no choice but to bring her with me. In 2012 Mr. Schneider passed away and was succeeded by Dende. Last Xmas and New Year's Eve Dende took pleasure in keeping me sleepless for a while. This Xmas Dende's sharing his space with an intruder.
         For the record, this is Dende.

         As neither cat's spent much time with their own kind, my family's worked to try and bring them together. Main goals; avoid a screeching bloodbath and try to get some sleep in heavenly peace. Experiment #1 lasted a few hours and ended with Neko hating her pet carrier. Experiment #2 was grounded in 'out of sight, out of mind' and lasted for half the day. Experiment #3 was our longest attempt to date - a whole day of hoping there would be at least tolerance. I've come to understand that my cat's a little bully around other cats. She was spoiling for a fight and all Dende wanted to do was be friends. Poor Dende.
        Xmas will see Neko spending time in the basement and Dende upstairs while we're away with the extended rels. This way she won't be able to kill the poor dude. Next time I post I'll try to get a good pic of my abysmal tree.

First winter in the new digs

It rained a little yesterday evening but overnight the magic happened. I looked outside in the wee hours and saw the first signs. By this morning, the view outside my window had wonderfully altered.

I got a better view of the parking lot and this is what I saw.

Neko's a year old now, so she's seen the winter before. Today also marks 4 months that she's been my beloved roomie. Based on the video below, I think she's glad to be an indoor cat.

I give you, the weekend

Very cold weather has hit Winnipeg over the past week. Snow seems to be falling on every big city in the world. England even got more than its fair share of Winter this year. It's times like these when perspective plays a huge role. Canadians (especially 'Peggers) shook their heads mockingly as the Brits lamented and bewailed their plight, while the kids had a snow day and lots of fun with the snow. Worst Winter in 30 years, the headlines said. We in Canada would call that December, or January, or February, or March... or May. It has happened before and it may happen again. I remember when Toronto called out the army when they got snowed under. 'Peggers again shook their heads and snorted derisively. To this day, 'Peggers still chuckle as they recall how pitiful Toronto was. Things are a little different for England, however. This is a nation more used to rain and fog as their winterscenes. Besides, shovelling is a real pain for anyone.
I forgot to plug my car in last night, so hopefully it will start when I head out into the world today. I'm listening to John Lennon this morning. #9 Dream, to be precise. I guess it's as good a title for a song as anything. Ah bawakawa pousse pousse, indeed! It will be thirty years this December since the man himself was ushered into his next life. He could be anyone or anything that walks this planet today. But enough meandering through reincarnation and rebirth. I'm reading about Tibetan Buddhism, so I may go off on such tangents. I've been duelling with doubts and worries this past week (quelle surprise!), and I'm hoping this will pass before long. I do this way too much, I think. Could it bring me a heart attack someday? Hope not, but so be it if it does.
I guess that's all I have to say. BYE.

Geez, it's cold!

I'm pitying my car in the morning these days. It's a 2008, so it probably won't conk out any time soon, so long as I keep plugging it in overnight and keep running out during recess to start it for several minutes. Still, I do feel like a brute to put it through such a struggle in the frigid mornings. Is it wrong to pity one's car? Maybe it's better than feeling sorry for myself, having to get up and struggle to the car in the -25 stillness and shiver my way through scraping the windshield. I think I need to spend more time around other living, breathing, individuals. Pitying my car might be a sign of lunacy. Naming it was probably a big mistake. Better to focus pity on the kids that don't bring their tuques, mitts, or scarves because they don't have them at home. There are kids who just don't bring their winter gear because they forget, and I pity them, too.
When it's cold like this, snow doesn't fall, and I would like there to be more snow on the ground. It's looking like a pretty paltry White Christmas out there. I would like to make better use of my boots. The cold also knocks out stop lights, which causes nothing but trouble on the road. This cold weather does keep the roads from being greasy, but I'd rather have slightly warmer weather with lots of snow. No matter how bad the traffic is with snow on the road, I want more snow! There's still a week to go before Xmas break, so I am going to continue to hope for snow.
I finally started my shopping, but there's still a lot of ground to cover, and the malls are going to be insane next week. Maybe I should try ordering stuff online? The one thing my folks were going to get me is now a bad idea until the company that makes this item starts thinking enough to fix all the problems. It's game-related, and that's all I am going to say about it. So, I guess that's about all I have to say for now. BYE.

Greasy roads and 40s music

Anyway, my sister says my driving's getting better, and it's a good thing, considering Winter is firmly upon us now and I'm plugging my car in. Windchills of -30 or so = plugging the car in at home and running out during lunch to start it so it doesn't get hesitant and snarly at me when I need to get going in the morning and at 4 in the afternoon. I'd rather not have to call Mid-town and wait the who knows how long it would take before someone came to boost my car. Winter driving is stressful and rough enough; why make it worse by not taking precautions? I've done some winter driving since the snow-that-stays started falling in late November, and I have a few thoughts.
It seems that people's commonsense diminishes when they get behind the wheel and get'er started in the winter. The roads are apt to be greasy and slippery (especially during a snowfall), but some people keep going at or beyond the speed limit. My parent's voices ring clearly in my head; give yourself time to make the trip or face the consequences! Traffic lags almost every afternoon when I get off work and start the half-hour trek for home. It has taken me an hour and a half a couple of times to get home. Imagine the time it would take if I rode the bus? At least two bus rides between my place and either of my two workplaces. Still, when you're stuck behind the wheel and things are moving slow enough to make a turtle the next champion sprinter, patience wears thin.
What gets me are the cars that go from lane to lane, trying to find a faster lane and a shorter drving time. I liken it to a weird sort of ballet - the cars are doing a meaningless dance and going nowhere fast. People who cut ahead without signalling their intention are a universal bane that won't go away anytime soon. Luckily, I have the comfort of satellite radio and over a hundred stations to play with while waiting out my time. First I listen to the 80s station (child of the 80s I am) and then I go over to BBC radio 1 and listen to what's quickly becoming my favourite quiz show. After that's done, I usually go back to the 80s station. However, coming home one evening, I discovered a station that plays 40s music. Now that's become a new interest for me. Most of the music sounds the same, all groups of male singers for the most part, with the occasional big band thrown in for flavour.
I was listening to the 50s station yesterday, which was somewhat fascinating, although I went back to my favourite 80s station soon after that and howled as Frank Zappa sang about 'Valley girls' and his daughter bitched about teenage life. They really talked like that, eh? Stay tuned, for my next post might have me complaining about mall parking lots and a near-death experience. BYE.