Blogatus Interruptis ?

My last blog entry here was months ago, which itself was after a long hiatus...

With the illness of my dad, followed by his death, I had neither the time, nor the willingness to blog anything.

And these days, my life has been violently rocked again, except that it is in a good, VERY good way.

It took dad's death and the announcement in the local newspapers... to discover that I have half-sisters. And I kept doing the maths: Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five... but S-I-X sisters!!!


(Photos of Toronto Islands, a sandy path to one of its beaches.)

In some religions, the tree represents life. If you've been on the west coast and you have been next to big trees... This is life spats at you, in full force. You could see it, you could *feel* it.

Between trees, there are paths.

I wish that my path, like this sandy path on the photo on the left... would have been a straight line.

Straightforward.

Straight.

Mhhhh...

You know, like everyone. That everyone, the silent unknown individual of the majority.

Not a chance. A non-standard family and I'm quite a non-standard guy. And the past few years...

Mhhh...

I guess that is one of the twists of life... that I've stopped frustrating about. Like it or not, I have to accept.

I had to do so with dad's illness...

Accepting the bad... which I thought was the summum of things to accept...

And now the good, the wonderfully good... the summum in the other direction, but still immense, still huge to accept.

Accepting that my dad had a prior life, and deliberately kept unknown to me for reasons that escape everyone, whose past is now becoming my present time.

6 wonderful women who are my sisters and who are calling me brother. Moi, un frère? A brother?!? Whew !!!!!

It's a re-birth, except that I'm born by the age of 46. :)

Accepting, welcoming...

... with open arms...

I'm sure there will be some blog entries ahead. If life doesn't keep me busy, there is that. :)

Cheers,

-J

Garage sale !

With the relocation of my parents to a "ressource intermédiaire" (nursing home), and only this >little< can get in their rooms, so I'm stuck with a couple of stuffs from their former apartment that I have to get rid.

I'm skeptical that my blog has such a huge audience (ooooh, sweet dreams!), but who knows? You might even want to travel to Montréal just to see me!

(Though if you help me clean my parents' former apartment, I'd appreciate! How's about free food at a good restaurant ? I might even wear my kilt just for you! :) )

So here's the stuff, all once big ticket items that I *must* get rid:

-1 20" TV Sony Trinitron, with 1 video input. Great picture, little used. Compact, take little room. Ideal for dorms, bedrooms, etc. $50

-1 24" TV Sony WEGA, year 2004. Great picture, superb sound. 1 video input and 1 video/s-video input. $300

-2 electric "hospital" beds, one single, the other double. Both have remotes. These beds can raise or lower themselves, or just the head or the foot. $200 for both.

I still have some tables, chairs, fancy cutlery, etc. All yours if you make good use of them. :)

Voilà!

This is a time-limited offer. Operator (moi!) is standing by for your call! ;)

Cheers,

-J

Internet on the go: I bite at the bait...

I bite at Fido's offer for "broadband internet" (so called 3G), 1Gig for $30 per month.

This is getting decent, and closer to what the Americans charge.

For the upcoming months, I'll be traveling once to twice per month. (Those who know me, I'm a caregiver to my parents, and I need a break. Since it takes so much planifications with our social services to have such breaks, the deal I've done with them is to set ahead of times all those breaks, so they'll be able to do my job while I'm away (and on top of what they _already_ do, which is _a lot_)

The good side is now I know all my vacations all the way to September. The bad side of course is that it's rigid. I can't change days easily. Oh well... )

If you have traveled a little bit... and like me you bring your laptop, you know there are less and less hotels offering *free* internet service. And when it's free, it's so lousy that you congratulate yourself for not paying for it.

Then, on trains (and even some buses) Wi-Fi internet is becoming available (at a cost, of course), and of course it's already there at all major airports. When you have to kill time, internet is great for that. :)

When you have to pay for your internet access, it seems that most providers in the US and Canada have come up with a standard price: Around $10 for 24 hours.

Then, Fido's $30/month for broadband service would pay for itself after 3 days of use per month. Which is likely to happen, in my case.

ANd for work, I need a backup access to the company's VPN. I'd love to ditch my land line and the antiquated 56k modem for that reason. That would be the other reason for giving a try.

First hurdle: Fido itself. My cellphone can also act as a cellular modem to my laptop. So I ask the $30/month data deal to be added to my voice cellphone service. After lenghty search, the sales' rep told me that my cellphone isn't eligible.

Huh ?

No, I need to buy or get for "free" if I sign a 2-year contract with Fido a USB key that acts as a cellular modem.

-Ma'am, my cellphone does *already* that. I carry already too much electronic devices with me when I travel, so why I need your USB thingy when my cellphone can do the same thing ?!?

The problem is with Rogers, (owners of Fido). In other words, they're doing just about every illogical things they could do. (For instance, we were the *last* industrialized country to have the iPhone in Canada, because Rogers has the monopoly on GSM in Canada, and they thought that the iPhone wasn't important and no one would buy it. This got Apple people fuming at Rogers.

The same could be said when Rogers bought Fido, the first thing they did, was to ditch the Sidekick (called Hip-Top in Canada), which was the iPhone's ancestor (and still an aptly competitor today), while in the US, T-Mobile were playing big on the Sidekick, and even developping niche markets, (like the deaf community) with special rates for them. (Affordable unlimited data-only rates). There were also many fascinating applets designed for deaf Sidekick users.

Phone makers and cellular carriers in the US saw the potential of mobile internet, while in Canada, they didn't even bother until... it was almost too late, having to upgrade their network as fast as they could to provide mobile internet.

So, to make a long story short, I got their USB stick. Mumble...mumble...mumble... End of rant. :)

On the photo, it's the "Novatel Wireless". They tout heavily that it is "installation free". The part that they don't tell you... You *must* be logged in with an administrator account. Hello ?!?

Since it's out of question that I do this, so yes I had to install the software and use the "run as" trick, so their software would run with admin power while I'm logged in as a regular user. It's clunky, but it works. The documentation is so skimpy that it is almost worthless.

Now the acid test. Mobile... internet. Since there's nothing more mobile than a train... I thought it would be a good test!

When 3G service is available (the light turns blue on the Novatel USB key), throughput is almost as good as broadband. There is a noticeable tiny delay, but web pages load up fairly quickly. Essentially, it's just as good as the broadband internet that you're used at home.

First gotcha: 3G data service is available in big cities. As the train leaves Montréal, 3G also leaves. 3G service is incredibly spotty on the Montréal-Toronto corridor. A glimpse in Cornwall, Kingston, Brockville, and of course, it gets rock solid when I arrived in Toronto.

Then there's "EDGE", which is the next best thing when 3G service isn't available. Think of a 56k modem... on a good day. :) It's a sharp drop in speed, but it is still tolerable. I didn't tune up my web browser, but I figure that using a large cache would help tremendously. So most of my trip were on EDGE service. Personally I didn't mind.

"GPRS". G as in Gasp!!! If I remember well the specs, it's the equivalent of a 9600 baud modem... when operating in ideal conditions, which almost never happen. Access to the internet is almost unusable. You must surf with graphics off, for instance.

To my surprise, I saw a couple of times my USB key flashing me that its data link with the network has downgraded to GPRS when we were deep in rural Ontario, with no city, town nor villages in sight. Ouch. That tells you how Rogers/Fido are serious about mobile internet.

A few dead spots too, but not all that noticeable. I was too busy typing text on forums and the like, so by the time I was ready to hit enter, I got again a useable signal. :)

So my experience of "mobile internet", in its true sense, going from point A to point B... if the bus or train offers onboard Wi-Fi access, it's likely to be superior over cellular service. You might want to pay for the extra bucks and save on frustrations.

I figure that if I were in the US, the Novatel USB key would shine. Here in Canada, and the poor state of Rogers' network, all in all, my impression is that the key did its best given the circumstance.

Now, at the hotel in Toronto, I stayed for 3 days. It would have cost me $30 for 3 days if I used their Wi-Fi service from my room. So I stay on cellular. 3G service was available of course, and it was rock solid and speedy the entire 3 days. I love it!

So, as a substitute for Wi-Fi / wired internet access when you're sitting still, say at your hotel room, airports, etc... and in you're in a big city with 3G service is available, that USB key really shines. I love it!!!

Another negative point agout Rogers/Fido: contrary to broadband providers at home (cable, satellite, telcos), they have no web page nor any program to run that would measure your internet usage.

For light usage (my case), there's no problem, but if you're using it regularly, even without downloading files, that 1Gig limit could be reached easily.

My Canadian 2-cent...

Ah technology... when you're a caregiver...

As some of you already know, I spend between 5 to 7 hours everyday at my parents' house. It's a labour of love yes... but it's a full-time job on top of my full-time paying job.

And there are just 24 hours in a day, and I have to get a few hours of sleep among a few things. You know, a few basic things.

I've been thinking this weekend, how technology, especially internet have made my life easier. To a point that it made possible to maintain my parents at their home, while things are working their slow way to relocate them to a nursing home.

Banking... no need to waste time at the bank. Over the internet, I pay all the bills, do fund transfers, etc. A few days ago, I've done my yearly contribution to my RRSP (Registered Retirement Saving Plan. Sort of our 401k here in Canada) in just a bunch of clicks. Total time: 5 minutes.

I am thinking that not too long ago, I would have wasted at least an hour or two to get physically at the bank and wait for my turn.

A few hours saved do not appear that much, but when you think of the basic things you have to do, when you have so little time for yourself, saving an hour here and there does make the difference... so I can be a caregiver... and have time for me.

Grocery? IGA accepts online orders. You can choose the store you want to order from and they will deliver to your door at the day and time you tell them to do. Imagine the time you normally spend at the grocery store. At least an hour if not more, right? For me, in about 10 minutes, it's all done.

One thing neato is that you can store up to 10 shopping lists on their web site. So I have a shopping list for recurrent things, week after week, so in just one click, I can put all of those items in my "basket". From there, I do my online shopping for the few items not on the list.

Of course, there's a list for my parents, and what the heck, I have also my own list for my own stuff. Me too, I want to save time on my own grocery!

Drawbacks? There are some. For instance, at the store... if the bananas are green, maybe you wouldn't buy them, but instead you would satisfy your craving with those seemingly juicy green raisins from California just next by. When I'm online, I've no way to tell. There have been a few surprises.

Also the online version of the IGA store is just a "subset" of a brick and mortar IGA store. Not all the brandnames can be ordered online. So you have to take what's available online.

All in all, considering the situation I am in, I can accept that.

All these sites charge a few dollars, from $2 to $10 which can vary according to the amount of goods you buy, or whether their cost or their size.

However IGA charges a flat fee of $7, and you have to order at least $35 of goods. With 3 persons to feed, that's not a problem. :)

Those fees are costly? Yes and no. If you have to take a car... how much it would cost you? From my perspective, I don't own a car, and time is a factor. How much time it takes, using the transit system, to get there, and to return home? Imagine if this is a salary, and even at minimum wage... how much it would cost?

Worse, if you buy lots of stuff (say at the grocery store) or you must buy bulky items, the taxi ride back home will cost you a lot of money.

Clothing, consumer goods: One site that is a life saver: Sears ! It takes a while to shop online about clothes (try to find stuff that _really_ fits) but I have been lucky so far for my parents. It would have been out of question to have my dad and my mom at the shopping center. Their online shopping brings the store to them... and for me, I also save a lot of time. Based on my experience, delivery time is usually 3-5 days. Decent.

Latest thing I bought: Absolutely decadent plush bathrobe. One for mom, one for my dad and what the heck, I'm allowed to pamper myself, no? One for me. Oh, sweet o sweet! :)

Hardware stuff: Two web sites I like: Canadian Tire and Rona. For various things. At my parents' place recently , I had to change their shower curtain, and they needed a new laundry basket, the old one gave up.

Drawbacks? Canadian Tire's web site is a tad clunky. The photos are tiny and the descriptions minimal. A few times, their online order section was down. Oops.

Rona's site was flawless and their delivery time is blazing fast, usually the next day or two. I recently ordered a set of mops and buckets to clean their floor (a chore I have to do everyday because of my dad's health conditions). The problem with Rona is that the choice is extremely limited.

There have been a few other sites, but those are the web sites I usually go for my online shopping.

I've been thinking that just a few years ago, these sites wouldn't exist... and I'm wondering how I would cope. It would have been unbearable.

As a computer programmer, I have to say that I am pleased to see the things made possible by my profession. :)

Cheers,

-E

Go Habs Go !

It's been a long long time I haven't seen that in Montréal.

Montréal *IS* a hockey town. Now that the playoffs have begun... and for us, it has begun between two rival hockey teams. Our mighty Canadiens against... the Big Bad Bruins (Boston).

I had to do some shopping downtown...

Wow, you should have seen Ste.Catherine street! Absolutely crazy. Many cars waving a Canadiens flag and honking their horn full blast. There were also many festive pedestrians (probably with the help of ahem... alcohol) wearing the red "CH" jacket, some had a blue-white-red "CH" painted on their cheeks, even on their hair and probably elsewhere but I won't dare to check. :)

It reminds me when I first met Clevergirl in Ottawa last May. Ottawa is also a hockey town and they all got crazy when their Senators went into the semi-finale rounds.

Yeah I know, it also shows that Ottawa is the capital of the country. Only in Ottawa that its citizen would get excited about their "senators". Harumpf! ;-)

I remember that it was a warm evening and we were at a restaurant which had set tables outside. It was calm and cozy. So what could happen?

All of a sudden... Boom! Cars honking, people roaring LOUDLY... it got to a point we couldn't hear each other. It was amusing to see that.

It was like that in downtown Montréal, the other evening.

The craziness has even hit the workplace. A colleague of mine was all excited. He got tickets for the first game, Canadiens-Bruins. Price? $800.

I'm speechless.

Ooooooookay, I'm a Canadiens fan too... but up to a certain ahem... financial limit, you know? :)

So... if the Canadiens go all the way to the finals... We'll hear (in many ways!!!) about the Canadiens from now to mid-June. Whoppy. "Go Habs Go" indeed!

Oh my poor ears!!! :)

I'm thinking that life is sometimes way way way too serious...

... and sometimes, it is *very* healthy to get silly. Even collectively silly. 3 millions of Montrealers, in fact. Yikes!!!

Cheers,

-E

I was shoveling snow...

Q: What were you doing for the past two months?
A: I was shoveling snow.

Q: Did you go to the movies?
A: No, I was shoveling snow.

Q: Did you read books, magazines, anything?
A: Too tired. I was shoveling snow.

Q: What are you going to do today?
A: I'll shovel snow. (On the roof, with my landlord).

Q: Do you have a life?
A: Sigh.... Nope, I was shoveling snow !!

I wish I could forget my shovel. :)

Winter... did someone say winter? :)

Got about 40 cm of snow, and we're the lucky ones. Ottawa, 51cm. Trois-Rivières and Québec, both near 60cm. For our American friends, we're talking of a foot and a half of snow to *2* feet of snow! Welcome to Canada! :)

This is the 3rd major snowstorm in a week (last Saturday, Wednesday and this Saturday).

For Montréal, it's the 29th snowstorm of the season. Ayup. *29* snowstorms... so far. The 30th is scheduled to hit us by mid-week... if the weathermen have their way. We're close to historical amount of snow. I can say that I haven't seen this much snow in my entire life.

What a difference a day makes...

The image on the left is the leftovers from the Wednesday storm. I didn't have time... or rather my courage ran out for shoveling my patio.

The image on the right was taken today, after the storm.

When they say that a picture is worth a thousand words... I'll let those words speak for me.

Can you say... ARRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHH!!!! :)

(to give you a scale, I'm holding a standard 8 1/2 X 11" notepad.

Then... and now !

Regulars from FC will recognize my unofficial "bedroom webcam". I love nature and I find important when I get up the next morning... to see the outside world.

The image on the left was taken last November after our very first snowstorm.

The neighbor's fence is 4ft tall. So I'd say we're between 5 and 6ft of snow on ground.

I'm a little bit worried when all this snow is going to melt.

<--- During the storm, last night... The dilemma I see... during and after a snowstorm... Snow does embellishes the city. It is beautiful, immensely beautiful.

Especially when seen from inside, where it's warm and cozy... :)

When so you don't have to feel the bitter wind, or like last night, you are spared from the ice pellets grinding on your face,

When you don't have to shovel the snow....

When you don't have to go outside... to go to work, or bring food and other supplies in.

However, when it's the 29th snowstorm of the season that you're shoveling, and your arms and your back are killing you... The beauty of winter fades a bit.

That's understandable, yes... but nonetheless a bit sad. We're in March, this is the baroud d'honneur for winter. Spring will arrive very soon, regardless of what the calendar will say.

From there, it's bye-bye snow...

So...

Welcome to Canada and I hope you have appreciated this quick trip to my world, today!!!

PS: Stay warm! :)

-E

PPS: Just to chill you, click on this link and see the photos of Québec City's Ice Hotel. Would you believe that a lot of their clientele comes from people... living in warmer climates? A lot of Americans from... Florida, California, even Hawaii !!! I'm speechless.

PPPS: I _might_ have a chance by the end of this month to visit the Ice Hotel. It's very iffy, but if I'm in Québec City, I'll do everything to stop by the hotel! I'll let you know how it turned out. If you think I'm a bit weird... you're probably right. :) Cheers! -E

A glimpse of serenity and peacefulness...

Beauséjour means "nice stay" in French, and boy it was indeed a nice (albeit short) stay, last Sunday.

With a pair of (loaned) snowshoes, I went to Beauséjour Park. The good thing is the park is located close to my home.

The park is the pride of our neighborhood. You'll see why in a few minutes. It's a heavily wooded park and it is located along the shore of the Rivière-des-Prairies.

The day was nice, sunny and warm, and after the last snowstorm that has dumped another foot of snow, it was an opportunity to get outside.



This is the entrance to the park (which is plowed. There are some plowed trails in the park too).

In the distance the "chalet".

PS: Notice the height of the snow. :)

Above waist high snow.

Note: today (wednesday), we had another snowstorm...

... and yes, we were graced or ahem dumped with another foot of snow today, and guess what? Another foot of snow is forecasted for the upcoming weekend. I kid you not!

So what you see on these photos is already... very passé. :)



It's winter wonderland...


















Path... path... path...











Sun peeking through the trees...

Calm, peacefulness...

Silence, serenity...

And one wonders why I love nature? :)

Well, my friends, I hope you enjoy this walk in the park. Canadian style. :)

Cheers!

-E

Montréal Nuit Blanche...

It seems that I won't make it to that event. The other year, I had an awful bad cold, and this year, I'm on call.

What is Nuit Blanche? It's a cultural event. Many shows to see, all night long.
There are also fun activities to do throughout the night. The highlight of that event is a night at an outdoor swimming pool. Heated pool, I should mention... but still surrounded with snow for some added effects... and observing (I hope) a starlit sky.

Sigh. :)

Web site: Nuit blanche.

Cheers,

-E

Being hugged by a stranger...

The doorbell chimed in yesterday evening.

The snowstorm had subsided a bit, but it was still snowing and it was quite windy. No one is outside unless one has to. A neighbour? My landlord? Mhhh...

So I opened the door. I saw a tall man in his 60s, lots of grey hair and wearing worn out clothes. Mhhh... in this snowstorm?

Overall, the guy seems shy, and it's obvious that a lot of doors have been slammed on him.

He didn't say a word, but he waved a card at me. So I looked at his card...

A card, with letters A to Z, with drawings of a hand for each letter.

Dang, I immediately recognize... fingerspelling.

Fingerspelling is the alphabet... in *Sign Language*. The guy in front of me is most likely deaf.

On the other side of the card, there's a short text telling me that he's selling these cards for a living and asking me for a donation. I also noticed that it was for Valentine's Day. It's a bit late.

I was genuinely surprise, and he saw my surprise.

So I *signed*... DEAF YOU ? (with the proper facial expression for a Yes/No question). Textbook ASL. :)

You should see his face lighting up. Really, he didn't expect that someone who could sign!

What I didn't expect... he came to me... and hugged me!

Mhhh.. there are things in life which... you accept, no matter what. Can you refuse a hug? Of course not!

Hugged by a stranger, right at home. Home delivered hugs. :) Got to say, there are far worse things that can happen when answering the door!

Gee whiz, he isn't dressed warmly. He didn't want to come in nor drink something hot.

So I learn that he's born deaf, and he's trilingual, French, LSQ (Quebec Sign Language) and ASL (American Sign Language). He found absolutely amazing that I'm a hearing person and learning ASL for the fun of it during my spare time.

The conversation didn't last long... He wanted to continue his run. In this crazy weather? Yup...

So I gave him a substantial amount of money. That's the very least I can do.

So we "Muaaaaaaaaaahh" each other and he left. I stayed on the front porch for a little while, observing him, walking in the snow toward the next home...

In the snowstorm... I felt bad for him.

What can I do?

Now, it was me who was getting cold.

So I closed the door.

Sigh...

-E

Enough, shall I say ?

<--- Photo taken this morning. Again, that's my bedroom "webcam". :)

Note that the neighbour's fence has now entirely disappeared in the snow. The fence is *4 feet* tall. That gives you an idea of the crazy amount of snow we have here in "Southern" Québec.

---

I like snow... to a point.

My country is also known as the Great *WHITE* North for a reason, my handle is Eskimo *also* for a good reason...

But, I'm a little concerned, you know?

I haven't seen this much snow in my entire life, and we're near the all-time record amount of snow for the *entire* winter season... and we're just in mid-February.

PS: More snow mixed with dabs of ice pellets and freezing rain are forecasted later in the day.

PPS: Global Warming, anyone?

PPPS: The urge to hibernate never felt so strong.

Cheers,

-E

Everything is relative!

<--- Photo taken from my bedroom window, yesterday. Gee whiz, it looks just like Seattle, n'est-ce pas? ;)

To give you an idea, the fence that is almost disappearing in the snow... is 4-feet tall!

I don't recall ever seeing this much snow on the ground so early in the season.

That being said, since my return in Montréal, I've been shoveling snow (and clearing out my windows too. :)

<--- Did someone say... snow?

I _think_ it isn't a stretch in any way...

But we're going to have a white Christmas.

I think...

But who am I to say that?

Ah... Balmy Seattle, where are you? I miss it!

It was just a few days ago...
<--- Photo of my street.

Gee whiz, just like Seattle, isn't it? ;)

Snowboots, hat, scarf, glove, real winter clothes...

Exactly what I was wearing in Seattle!

Well, sort of... ;)

Cheers,

-E

The joy of the Slingbox: Being in Montréal by proxy !

Greetings from Seattle! It's about 9AM Pacific time when I'm typing these lines. We're having a mix of sun and clouds (not bad, considering they usually have lots of rain!)

For about a month, I have a Slingbox. What it is? well you can watch TV... on your computer. Any computer that is plugged to your internet router. A router with Wi-FI, it will make a laptop shine.

To keep an ear on Keith Olberman's Countdown when I'm doing my dishes, it's kind of cool. :)

But it can also work... over the internet. I had to fumble a little bit, as it was the first attempt to do so... 5000km away from home... and Bingo! Of course, the images aren't as sharp as at home, but who cares! I'm in my hotel room in Seattle, and I had Montréal on my laptop!

(I think that I'll repeat that stunt in January when I'll be in Paris with my family. I'm the computer geek, so a computer geek has to impress his host with geeky stuff. Right? Right. :)

Here are some computer screen snapshots, as they appeared on my laptop. I'm watching MétéoMédia (The French-speaking side of the Weather Network).

I was there, watching their images in complete disbeliefs. 40cm up to 50cm of snow for today, Sunday (that's 14 inches to a 16 inches of new snow on top of what we already have!).

One word:

WHAT ?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

(Sound of jaws being dropped here!)

Gee whiz, great timing for leaving Montréal! Supposedly, Seattle is extremely rainy at this time of the year. So far, it has rained a bit, but we had a bit of sunshine too!

Temps are in the mid 40s, (between 6 and 8 Celsius) and of course no snow on the ground. Heh!

Look at the screen shot on the left. Hint: -12 Celsius is in mid 10s Fahrenheit.

All in all... I maintain my words:

Ahhhh!!!! Balmy Seattle!!! :)

(At the blogfest, one asked me: You must had quite a dose of special brownies to utter Balmy Seattle. Gee whiz, our winter has been so crazy so far, I wish I had those brownies!!! That's the point!)

Cheers!

-E

I need a blow job! :-)

Hehehe...

Be honest, you were thinking of THAT blow job, right? The job that sucks, right? ;)

You have a dirty mind... well... as dirty as mine and a lot of people. That's not all that bad, come to think of it.

No, I haven't posted that blog entry at FC... yet. I'm still giggling!

Sooooo.... of course, I'm thinking of a blow job of another kind.

To blow... the snow away from my little street. *That* kind of job. By the way, where are the snowblowers?

We got the storm on Monday, and it's now Sunday... and we (the residents of that street), men and women alike, we're all collectively waiting for our collective blow job to occur. :)

(You know, there are certain things that are done in groups, and you can bet that in this case, we'll all rapidly climax of joy when it's going to happen. We've been waiting for soooo long, you know! ;) )

I also wonder whether next Monday, I should call City Hall. I can imagine the conversation on the phone.

Sir, I need a blow job, and it's an emergency!

Ok, it's Sunday morning, the week has been though...

Am I allowed... to record some moments of silliness?

Thanks. :)

PS: Credits for my immediate neighbour about the word play on blow jobs... and for contaminating my mind since then!!!

There are lights... and there are lights.

This is the time of the year that you see Christmas lights everywhere.

Personally, those lights are a downer in shopping malls. The mercantile aspect of Christmas is so glaring obvious.

However, those same Christmas lights... when they are decorating homes and trees, that's something else.

They are there... for the sheer pleasure of its owners. There's nothing to buy. They are there, free, to be enjoyed.

With the foot of snow that we just had... those lights give a great festive look to our streets.

I like that!

Cheers from North Pole, Canada!

Snow! 14 inches later. :)

<--- Front page of today's La Presse. "The most important storm in 60 years to strike Montréal in early December, shutting down all schools".

(THe kid in me says: YAY! :) )

The cost of snow removal? $17 millions. The adult in me says: Ouch!!!

<--- snow covered trees and a mess on my street. :)

I figure that I needed a break. so I went inside, grabbed my digicam, and I snapped those pictures.

It's beautiful, nonetheless. A beautiful mess, heh. :)

<--- Backyard of my neighbor. Look at the thickness of the "snow pie" on their table. :)

My arms and my legs are still screaming from all this intense shoveling. I guess I'll be able to appreciate all this beauty, when I'll get some rests. :)

Cheers!

-E

SNOW !

Snow is a 4-letter word. :)

It is also 30 cm perhaps up to 45cm of white fluffy stuff.

Where's my shovel? I'm just an eskimo lost in the blizzard. Heeeelllpppp!!!!!!

:)

Cheers,

-E

Did someone say... SNOW ?

<--- Don't fret, this is a "file photo" of my backyard. This photo was taken some years ago.

At the time I'm typing these lines, it's -16 Celsius. Brrrrrr!!!!

Bitterly cold temperatures so early in the season. Where's Global Warming when we need it?

However, clashing with this bitter cold air from Arctic... there will be warm air from the Americans.

Results?

30cm of snow... a FOOT of snow is forecasted for tomorrow.

Welcome to Canada. Bienvenue au Canada! :)

I think we'll get a white Christmas this year. Nous allons avoir un Noël blanc cette année!

Citoyens, citoyennes.... à vos pelles!
Citizen... at your shovels!

:)

-E

Payback time...

This photo was taken this morning, from my bedroom window.

(should I call that... my bedroom webcam? :) )

This morning, it is indeed payback time. For the misery,

-whether shivering in cold weather,

-whether attempting to stay upright on icy sidewalks

... and bruises you-know-where, when you do not succeed. Ouch!

It's payback time, because it is a beautiful morning.

We are blessed with a blanket of snow.

Til spring, this blanket will hide the ugliness of the big city.

I'm a guy who loves nature... and in big cities, we're so isolated, so this is the period of the year when we're closer to nature.

So beautiful, this morning. I'm at awe...

And yes, for a minute, I've forgotten all my pains. :)

Cheers!

-E

Winter Storm Warning ?!?

<--- Environment Canada said so! That's what my weather radio has picked up when I arrived home tonight. (In case one is wondering, we're now using in Canada the same technology that is in used in the US for many years. If you happen to hear a S.A,M.E. alert when it is transmitted, you'll hear a "databurst" similar to a modem for a short period of time. This allow to display the type of alert (Advisory, Watch, Warning), a short description of the alert here, Winter Storm Warning, and for which region (FIPS code) is intended. I've set this weather gizmo to display weather alerts strictly for Montréal Island.

For my deaf friends, all tabletop models are required to have an external port, so you can plug in a flashing warning light, vibrer, etc. Not bad. :) (I wish a longer text message would be displayed on the LCD screen, but that's a step in the right direction!).

----

Winter, oh winter...

It's mid-November, winter is on time... except we aren't.

Spoiled by a nice weather, used to late winter arrivals...

Now we're back to ahem... normal?

Where's my winter boots?

Scarf? Gloves? Hat?

Where oh where?

I can't remember where I've put them last spring!

Ah, I know what it means!

Time for me to hibernate,

Time for me to say: "See you next Spring!"

(Well, I wish I could say so. ;) )

Cheers!

-E
PS: Where's my shovel? I'm just a clever Eskimo!