No Way

Alright, let's face it. There is NO way that I am capable of writing a blog on a daily basis, not now, and probably not ever. It's not that I'm a failure at it, but that I am just too busy and have far too many other things in life to be doing. That's fine. Honest.

So, I will pop in now and then when I can, or when I have something to say. I don't know how often that's going to be, so I guess it'll just be a surprise when and if it does.

I am going through something right now. Changes of some kind. I cannot begin to explain it, and I most definitely cannot put it into words. There are just some major changes happening within me and I am flowing with them. The Universe has some plan in mind for me and I trust that when we get there it's going to be phenomenal. I also trust that I am going to be learning and experiencing along the way, as well. That's all wonderful.

I am looking forward to the journey. I am ready, willing and trusting that it will all be for my highest good.

Aho

Chinook Winds

Chinook winds, or Chinooks are found in the western area of North America, where the prairies and great plains meet mountain ranges. While it is the name of a People where the name was first derived, it has been claimed by folk usage and is said to mean 'ice eater' - which is a great name for it. Those winds can make a foot of snow vanish in a day, easily; using a combination of melting and evaporating. The temperature can also drastically change.

According to records, the greatest change within a 24 hour period due to Chinook winds was recorded in Loma, Montana. The temperature went from -48º to 9º Celsius (-54º to 49º Farenheit). This brings welcome signs of Spring, but sadly, it is all a false alarm. Winter will return sooner than not, with more freezing temperatures and more of that lousy white stuff!

Chinook winds are more prevalent over southern Alberta, in a belt from Pincher Creek and Crowsnest Pass through Lethbridge. They are averaging 30-35 Chinook days a year, which makes that the most desirable area of Alberta to be living in! Luckily I'm on the verge and get to enjoy the bonuses, here, too.

These winds can also gust in excess of 120km/h (75 mph), which is considered hurricane force. Personally, I love the strong winds, and miss the wind storms that are prevalent on the West Coast! However, it can make for a royal bloody mess here. Trains get derailed, empty semi's have been blown over by strong sudden gusts. If the snow hasn't melted, look out, the entire road can vanish in a white out.

So, while bringing a welcome respite from the harsh temperatures and insanity triggering whiteness of the never ending snow, the Chinook does have it's downsides, as well. 

I discovered some fascinating lore while hunting about on DuckDuckGo...

Native legend talles of a girl named Chinook-Wind, who married Glacier and moved to his country. Somewhere in the area of Birkenhead River. but Chinook-Wind pined for her warm sea-home in the southwest (somewhat similar to myself pining for Vancouver Island), and she sent a message to her people. Her people sent her an answer, they came to her in the vision of snowflakes and told her they would come to get her. In large numbers her people came to take her home, but they quarreled with Glacier who did not want to let his woman go. In the end, Chinook-Wind's people were able to overpower Glacier and they took her home.

A parable to weather patterns? Simple family history? One will never know, will they?!

Overloading

When you overload yourself it has consequences. You take on one thing, then another, and then another. You've got a list of all of these things that you are supposed to be scheduling into your day, and it grows and grows and grows. Until all of a sudden, you are actually buried under a bunch of little things you've got to accomplish.

There's not enough time in the day. So, you end up being grumpy, and exhausted and feeling simply overwhelmed.

I just did this to myself during the last week or so, so I know all too well how easily and quickly it can sneak up on you and drop you into the oblivion canyon where there is no escape. That is, unless you stop.

Yesterday, I stopped. I took the day off and said piss on it. The world won't stop turning if I don't write my blog, or my journal. The courses I am taking, oh well... I can either catch up, or return to them at a later date. I need a break.

I am on the road to burnout and I cannot afford to do that at this point in my life. So...

This morning I got up with a new outlook on things. I took that daily list and dissected it. There isn't much that I actually HAVE to do daily. I put that in a list on one side of the page and then wrote everything else down on the other side. That list is an IF I GET TO IT, I GET TO IT section. One day I can do one course, the next a different one. Simple, right?

Well, we will see how that works.

All I know is letting yourself become overloaded isn't good for you mentally, emotionally, spiritually OR physically. I find myself fighting off that virus, again. I am tired. I am on the verge of depression, and my body has aches and pains that have no need being there.

No, it wasn't worth it. At my age I ought to know better, but I was caught off guard and felt that I could handle it all. Guess what? WRONG!!!! lol

So, I shall take it gently for the rest of the week and do what I desire. Next week I will do what I can on the days that I can. We shall see how that goes.

For now, I need to do an article on how to select a sleeping bag, which is not so simple for women as it is for men - believe you me!

Frozen in Time

You know it was just a couple of days ago the sun was out and it was almost nice outside. I know better though, that's just a false sense of hope. Mother Nature is not about to let Spring come to us, not yet. However, the odd day will be tossed out there so we can feel good and soak up a little of that wonderful Vitamin D that we so badly need during the dark months of winter.

There was a soft rime coating everything the other morning, but this morning, it was a lot worse. Everything is white and it won't warm up enough to melt at all. Even the thermometer is dressed in white spikes.

Animals, they hustle outside and then scurry back in very shortly thereafter. Their business outside is their own and I don't mind - most of the time. To be honest, anything that saves me room in the litter box is quite welcome! Doesn't mean I have to clean it any less often, but it does make it a little less unpleasant.

I find myself dreaming of tropical paradise destinations. Not for visiting, mind you, for living. Yes, I think perhaps I could do something so crazy as to move somewhere more agreeable year round. Where I could sit outside on a beautiful deck and practice yoga or meditation, write, or daydream and work on plots for writing at one point or another. It would be sweet. A warm ocean to swim in not too far off so I can hear the waves crashing against the shore. Yes, it would be agreeable.

I will sit here and drink my coffee and dream of warm white sands, green leafy vegetation, warm gentle breezes, and the sound of the surf.... It is one way to escape this cold netherhell region I am in - for the moment. Perhaps my creative visualization efforts will result in something... I will try!

Break Stuff

You know... it's definitely just one of those days. In fact, it has been one of those bloody weekends. The whole inauguration, then the protest marches, the arguing the fights, the bullshit. Get the fuck along people. Like Madonna said, and I really don't know how I feel about quoting her, "it won't work until we learn to love one another..." The woman is right, yet women are telling her to go back to london... seriously?! WTF?! If women can't get along, how the hell can we expect the rest of the world to take us seriously... hello?! Is there any sanity out there?

Anyhow the one thing that just kept playing through my head today were the lyrics to a Limp Bizkit song...

Break Stuff

Its just one of those days

Where you don't want to wake up
Everything is fucked
Everybody sucks
You don't really know why
But you want to justify
Rippin' someone's head off
No human contact
And if you interact
Your life is on contract
Your best bet is to stay away motherfucker
It's just one of those days
It's all about the he-says, she-says bullshit
I think you better quit, let the shit slip
Or you'll be leaving with a fat lip
It's all about the he-says, she-says bullshit
I think you better quit, talking that shit
Its just one of those days
Feeling like a freight train
First one to complain
Leaves with a bloodstain
Damn right I'm a maniac
You better watch your back
Cause I'm fucking up your program
And then your stuck up
You just lucked up
Next in line to get fucked up
Your best bet is to stay away motherfucker
It's just one of those days
It's all about the he-says, she-says bullshit
I think you better quit, let the shit slip
Or you'll be leaving with a fat lip
It's all about the he-says, she-says bullshit
I think you better quit, talking that shit
Punk, so come and get it
I feel like shit
My suggestion, is to keep your distance
Cause right now I'm dangerous
We've all felt like shit
And been treated like shit
All those motherfuckers
That want to step up
I hope you know, I pack a chainsaw
I'll skin your ass raw
And if my day keeps going this way, I just might
Break something tonight
I pack a chainsaw
I'll skin your ass raw
And if my day keeps going this way, I just might
Break something tonight
I pack a chainsaw
I'll skin your ass raw
And if my day keeps going this way, I just might
Break your fucking face tonight
Give me something to break
Just give me something to break
How bout yer fucking face
I hope you know, I pack a chainsaw
What!
A chainsaw
What!
A motherfucking chainsaw
What!
So come and get it
It's all about the he-says, she-says bullshit
I think you better quit, let the shit slip
Or you'll be leaving with a fat lip
It's all about the he-says, she-says bullshit
I think you better quit, talking that shit
Punk, so come and get it

Written by Brendan O'brien, John Everett Otto, Leor Dimant, Samuel Robert Rivers, Wesley Louden Borland, William Frederick Durst • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group

Hoar Frost or Rime

I've heard the term for both, and seen both, however until I actually looked it up I didn't really know what was up.

I've spent the afternoon sitting here watching a rare fog get heavier. I hadn't really noticed that the Ponderosa pine tree beside the deck was changing until a moment ago. However, it is rapidly going from green to white. The temperature outside is rapidly dropping, and it will fall even further once what feeble daylight we have is gone.

I mentioned hoarfrost and got a grunt to the affirmative. But when I checked it out online, I discovered that what we have - at the moment - is rime. Soft rime, to be precise.

According to wikipedia: Soft rime is a white ice deposition that forms when the water droplets in light freezing fog or mist freeze to the outer surfaces of objects, with calm or light wind.

  While things may change a little later, this is the type of 'frost' we have at the moment.

I've often seen leaves looking like this back home in Victoria, and never realized it was rime. I remember scraping it off of leaves as a child and marveling at the texture and temperature. It would melt quickly in the sun when that ventured out again.

Here in Alberta, I've not really noticed it. Probably due to the fact that fog is a rarity, especially a heavy fog. Normally you can see through it quite easily, and I do find myself amused by the reactions of those dealing with it. I've had it so thick you can't see your hand in front of your face, so this is nothing.

Rime needs fog to form. Freezing fog, to be exact, and it is definitely that today. It went from a plus temp to -7 celsius. For those of you in farenheit, that's 19.4 - still bloody cold!

I'm wondering if it will in fact become hoarfrost later, or at least a hard rime. The branches look so beautiful when covered in spiky ice pointing all over the place. It really gives an ethereal appearance to the world that tickles my fancy and my imagination!

Wherever you are, I hope you are warm, dry and enjoying the day!

Sick in Bed