What do you hate most about winter?

[Guest]

She's in her second year there. It's tenure-track so she isn't about to move, and yes, she's perfectly suited to it. And besides that, her boyfriend (a farmer, someone who knows everything about animals and machinery) just bought her a snow blower.

 

[Guest]

Well now, that's torn it! I'm mad! I've spent all winter long (hasn't it been a looooonnng one?! Buzz off spellcheck-leave me alone!) shovelling and salting, shovelling and salting. I have a long city sidewalk to clear. The neighbours seem nice enough to compliment me on my efforts. That's nice. I do it for them, I never use the dang thing anyway. As far as the city goes, I'd like to donate my worn out shovel where the municipal sun don't shine. Heck. I don't even mind when the snowplow buries the end of my driveway. I just tell myself "Hey Brad. He's got a sense of humour just like you!" The last stupid straw this week was when I found a note scribbled on my mail. It wasn't even mine. It was another darned National Geographic magazine for our youngest son. Heck, he hasn't lived at home in years! Anyway, the note said "Please salt driveway. Thanks." The postal lady (what the heck is the gender neutral politically correct term nowadays?! Buzz off spellcheck, I said leave me alone!) is nice enough, and goodness knows I try to keep my driveway clear. That part I do use. I've been dividing my time, between visiting our eldest daughter and newborn grandson in the hospital, and getting into trouble here on this forum. There's only so much time in the day. I guess something's gotta give. This week it was my driveway. Hasn't this Canadian postal girl seen a skating rink before!? Anyway, I found some bags of sand in the shed, used to be for weighing down the back of a pickup I used to drive years ago. I put that down right after the note. And then it friggin snowed! (Spellcheck, you're starting to p*ss me off!) Every store in this city (there's a conspiracy goin on) has run out of salt. I skipped a hospital visit (He's so cute! He's so beautiful! Thank gawd he doesn't look like his grandad.) just so I could fit in a store search and a bit of work yesterday. Five (5) freaking 20 kg bags ought to get me through the week. The driveway's salted now. I hope I never have to receive the note ever again. She is nice, she smiles when I say "Hi! Nice day eh?" Hmm. I wonder though. Maybe she's married to the snowplow driver? Maybe her family owns all the COOP and hardware stores in town? Or maybe cabin fever is finally getting it's grips on me at last. I never did find my cell phone I lost in a snowbank somewhere a while back. Everyone's been asking me when I'm gonna replace it. Why should I? This little bit of cell phone free peace and quiet has been nice. I just tell people to yell, I'll hear them just fine, and if that doesn't work, leave me a note. (Note to self: After salting this morning, start shopping for a new cell phone. Think about cancelling son's magazine subscription. Skip work and visit the maternity ward again.)
Thanks for the rant. Feeling better now.
signed,
salt stained Brad

ps If I've offended any postal delivery people out there - I'm sorry. We have a lady letter carrier (letter carrier! That's the term I was looking for!!) in the family. You're entitled to a safe working environment.
ps If I've offended any snowplow drivers out there - I'm kinda surprised. I thought we shared the same sense of humour.
ps If I've offended any spellcheck people - relax a little.

 

[yellowcanoe]

She's in her second year there. It's tenure-track so she isn't about to move, and yes, she's perfectly suited to it. And besides that, her boyfriend (a farmer, someone who knows everything about animals and machinery) just bought her a snow blower.

Bought who a snowbolower? I assume HE is going to use it for HER.

Now Brad, the USPS I believe stole the clusterbox idea from Canada. We have 30 or so addresses here but they are spread out. So our clusterbox at the corner is handy. Usually someone cleans in front and in back of it( it gets loaded from the rear). Now the someone went on vacation and one storm got missed. We didn't get mail one day after it snowed. The next day the postman came with his own shovel and cleared it.

Delivery people wear traction aids.. surprised that the postal people in Canada don't.

What I like least about winter this winter is the loonie took a dive and my shopping season is in the summer when I paddle in Canada.

Maybe Canada should have lost the hockey games!

 

[Guest]

Hey YC-
We were given the news not long ago, that we'd be losing door to door delivery. Those high rise mail boxes are coming our way. We had them in our last neighbourhood. It became a casual post work meeting place. When people started putting up neighbourhood notices on the boxes, the post office got mad. I wonder if we're streamlining our sociable world a bit too much. Too much traffic speed , not enough pedestrian pace. I like occasionally greeting our letter carrier. She drives her own car, from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. She often pulls in my driveway to drop off my mail. That might not be proper protocol, but I don't know, and I don't care. Maybe she can't drive with traction aids on; it's funny you mention it though. Immediately after reading her note, I was feeling pretty steamed. Not really at her, mostly at myself and winter. Anyway, I thought of hanging up a spare pair of our traction aids on our mailbox for her with a note to keep them. I decided what she real needed was for me to do the job right, and get my drive salted.
I didn't get too into the Olympics this year, last time in Vancouver was a real fun time though. The hockey this time, was thrilling. Yeah, I'm wondering what the payback will look like. Every TV commercial, when the voice over and patriotic pitch was delivered, I thought "Let's dial this down a little. Can't we be quietly proud?" The dropping loonie might be the first payback pinch. I'm wondering when the other shoe will drop. Oh! I know what it'll be. We'll run out of salt. I'll have to salt my drive with pink sea salt from the Mediterranean. My lady letter carrier will love it. oops. I feel an apology coming on.

 

[Guest]

The wind is up and it's snowing. If it keeps snowing sideways, maybe none of it will land on my driveway. I'm curtain twitching with a cup of coffee in hand. Not sure if it's the salt or my piercing glare that's melting the ice off my drive. I better not run out of coffee, that's all I know.

 

[meopilite]

Here in MN, I think we will be ice fishing on opening weekend in May...............

 

[Guest]

If I've offended any postal delivery people out there - I'm sorry

I forgot about winter parcel delivery issues.

My long, steep dirt driveway is often impassible and we park our cars at the top of the hill a fair hike from the house. 20 years of that has gotten old, but we’re used to it.

But the USPS, FedEx and UPS drivers aren’t walking down with packages. Occasionally they leave a note that delivery was unsuccessful, but often as not they simply leave the package at the top of the drive near the mailbox.

Well, the package starts out near the mailbox, but the top of the hill is very open and wind exposed. If you put a slender package containing a light weight bent shaft paddle at the top of a windy, ice covered hill it may end up a quarter mile away at the bottom of the hill on the other side of the road.

I’m tracking a package scheduled to arrive today, and fortunately the driveway is passable. Another ice storm is predicted for Monday and if it arrives then I may not find it ‘til spring.

Complete aside, when you look at the FedEx logo do you see the Ex arrow?

http://www.moillusions.com/fedex-logo-optical-illusion/

If you never noticed it before it will probably be the first thing you see from now on.

 

[yellowcanoe]

I may not find it ‘til spring

Mike. Spring starts Saturday.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_is_spring_in_2014

 

[Guest]

Hey Mike;
I found a "delivered" package yesterday, from postal service. I've gone through this before with them. A neighbour last year had trouble correcting his delivery address, and so had many expensive parcels delivered here. They were dropped off at our door despite no-one being home. Here, that's a no no. I repeatedly dropped them off at my neighbour's front door with a friendly note. After a couple weeks of this, he finally skipped the usual phone call and knocked on my door to personally thank me. That was nice. One day I caught the delivery guy as he was leaving without dropping off the parcel. I was ready to ask for my own uniform. Anyway, he explained that it's against all post office rules to just leave a parcel at a door. When I told him it happens all the time, and I've been completing these deliveries, he was shocked. It finally got sorted out. I wouldn't have been such a cheery chappy delivering my neighbour's parcels in February. I checked this package's label. It's for my wife. That's a relief. My letter carrier is likely just doing me a favour, and saving me a trip over to the post office. I think I'm okay with that. I think. Hand delivered mail is now considered inefficient here, and is due to be replaced with more efficient whaddayacallem big boxes. I'll miss the romantic notion of a slower paced life, seeing my postie walking up my drive (so long as the parcels are for me).
I'm off to make my own delivery now. I'm helping carry all the extra baggage and stuff home from the hospital. My sil will be bringing home the precious parcels. If I could find a way to even remotely link my grandson's photo with a canoe related story, I'd do it. (I never noticed that FedEx arrow before!)
yours in happy suffering,
Brad

 

[yellowcanoe]

Cluster boxes are an excuse for a block party. Occasionally the (usually summer) deliveryperson gets confused and we all play get to know your neighbor when an assortment of mail that is not yours is in your box.

And yes we can buy stamps and our packages are safely delivered in a locked parcel box. Reminds me.. the camping loo from REI ought to be in the mail today.

 

[snapper]

I guess I'm lucky. Our current postal carrier (he's still the mail man to me!) is a former student and intern of mine. If he can't put something in our mailbox he drives up to our back room and leaves it all on my wood pile that sits outside the kitchen door. My guess is he isn't supposed to do that but that's the nice part of living in rural area. Customer service still actually means something.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...Be well.

snapper

 

[red langford]

Broke the previous record for today by 12 degrees.

Still nary a black fly or mosquito in sight.

 

[Mihun09]

March weather will be colder than usual, forecasters say


Canadians hoping that March would bring relief from a frigid winter may be disappointed: Environment Canada is predicting that cold weather across parts of the country is here for a while, even as spring approaches.

From Saskatchewan eastward — including Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and most of the Maritime provinces — temperatures are expected to be colder than usual for this time of year. Temperatures in British Columbia and northern Canada are expected to be milder than normal, while Alberta is set to remain seasonal.


Environment Canada’s senior climatologist David Phillips said that even a balmy day in March could still prove to be a relief from the biting cold of January or February.

This winter was also the coldest for Winnipeg in 35 years, and is the second-coldest stretch of frigid temperatures on record in 75 years.

The long, enduring winter will also mean a slow transition to springtime weather, since it will take longer to melt all the ice and snow that has accumulated. The frost line is also “very deep” this year because of the long-lasting cold, Phillips adds. 2m deep in Manitoba, which translates to over 6 feet.


Tonight, 27 February
Increasing cloudiness early this evening. Wind becoming south 30 km/h early this evening. Low minus 25. Wind chill minus 38.

Friday, 28 February
Periods of light snow ending in the afternoon then clearing. Local blowing snow late in the afternoon. Wind becoming north 20 km/h near noon then increasing to 40 gusting to 60. High minus 18. Wind chill minus 37 in the afternoon.

Friday night, 28 February
Clear. Wind northwest 30 km/h becoming light near midnight. Low minus 36. Extreme wind chill minus 48.

 

[Guest]

UPS can easily redirect your package for $5

UPS can easily redirect your package for $5

I forgot about winter parcel delivery issues.

My long, steep dirt driveway is often impassible and we park our cars at the top of the hill a fair hike from the house. 20 years of that has gotten old, but we’re used to it.

But the USPS, FedEx and UPS drivers aren’t walking down with packages. Occasionally they leave a note that delivery was unsuccessful, but often as not they simply leave the package at the top of the drive near the mailbox.

Well, the package starts out near the mailbox, but the top of the hill is very open and wind exposed. If you put a slender package containing a light weight bent shaft paddle at the top of a windy, ice covered hill it may end up a quarter mile away at the bottom of the hill on the other side of the road.

I’m tracking a package scheduled to arrive today, and fortunately the driveway is passable. Another ice storm is predicted for Monday and if it arrives then I may not find it ‘til spring.

Complete aside, when you look at the FedEx logo do you see the Ex arrow?

http://www.moillusions.com/fedex-logo-optical-illusion/

If you never noticed it before it will probably be the first thing you see from now on.

I recently discovered the My Choice program from UPS. It is an easy, no cost sign up, and generally saves time with my shipping needs. Best of all for me, for $5, UPS will redirect the package to a local "UPS Store" franchise that then holds the package for me. I just log onto the UPS website and redirect the package once I get the tracking number. This UPS Store is very convenient for me to stop by on the way home from work.

The My Choice program has fueled my recent gas, which is related to cabin fever and the fact that now is a great time for bargains in camping and paddling gear. My Choice has the twin benefits of: 1) Not having the packages sit out in the weather, unsecured, until I get home; and 2) Stealth from the significant other - for birthday and other gifts - and for general domestic harmony. If you have a convenient UPS Store, it is well worth it. My local UPS Store could charge another $5 per package for the service, which would be an extra $10 total extra, and that perhaps would make me think twice, but they have graciously chosen to waive the local holding fee every time I have used it the redirect feature. YMMV.

 

[Guest]

What I begin to hate about winter over time

What I begin to hate about winter over time

I like snow. And I like the infrequency of snow that is the norm in eastern Maryland. It snows, it melts and a few weeks later perhaps it snows again. Repeat maybe twice over the course of a winter season.

This winter has been an exception. It has snowed a dozen times without ever fully melting and we’ve had constant snow cover on the ground since January, maybe since December.

I’ve been going through bird seed and suet at a fearsome rate and the patch of crusher run driveway I’ve shoveled to bare stone is a feathered crop fest when the sun is out. That part at least is fun to watch.

I am less well adapted to constant snow cover. I miss dirt. Leaf litter, pine duff, sand, something that isn’t just white.

I need to feel some kind of naked earth beneath my boots between now and what looks to be an equally exceptional mud season.

Run away, run away! Soon.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Driveways and bird seed.. a note. I notice how fast the snow melts under the bird feeder with all the discarded sunflower seeds. I wish I had thought of feeding birds by throwing black oil sunflower seeds in the driveway.. Not only would I still not have a sheet of ice but I wouldn't have fallen twice on the way to the canoe shed to get gear..

Meanwhile this from our friends in Chicago.. Let it go...

http://morningnews.wgntv.com/2014/03/03/dans-hilarious-frozen-inspired-parody-let-it-go-chicago/

 

[Guest]

Driveways and bird seed.. a note. I notice how fast the snow melts under the bird feeder with all the discarded sunflower seeds. I wish I had thought of feeding birds by throwing black oil sunflower seeds in the driveway.. Not only would I still not have a sheet of ice but I wouldn't have fallen twice on the way to the canoe shed to get gear..

It melts even faster if you have mixed Flaming Squirrel Sauce in with the seed.

http://www.safehomeproducts.com/shp...e=GoogleBase&gclid=CK-tn-PD_rwCFYyhOgodcnEArA

Back when I lived on a truck farm we used to spread walnuts on the driveway to take the hulls off.

Let it go? Or just go? I’m packed and outa here soon, the only question is if I stay through the forecast ice pellets on Thursday.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Thursday is Day 1 of Springs and Swamps of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. I'll start in Homosassa Springs FL. End some two weeks later after Okefenokee 3 day trip in Sparkleberry.

 

[Guest]

The days are getting longer. I can see my drive and sidewalk again. I think winter is loosing it's grip, just a little. Florida sounds nice.
Happy paddling.

 

[Seeker]

I need to feel some kind of naked earth beneath my boots between now and what looks to be an equally exceptional mud season.

I think you're onto something there... I used to hate how hard the earth was, even under the snow... missed the softness of each step "giving" a little when you took it. Kinda how I miss carpeting in my home, now that it's all hardwood and tile (easier to keep clean with a dog and cat though.)