Frost

Do you ever have those days where the world is so beautiful, you wish you could call in "photograph"?

It's been like that here for the past three days.

However, I do not have one of those jobs... I've had to satisfy myself with photographing things on the way to or from work.

(Yes, the frost lasted that long!)

Raffi In Daylight

"Daylight" was pretty dim today (overcast), but I think this photo is a winner:

Now to figure out how to bend Photoshop to my will. (I miss GraphicConverter... but it seems silly to buy a new GraphicConverter licence when I have Photoshop. I may break down and purchase a new GraphicConverter licence one day anyway.)

Garden

I took this photo of my garden on Saturday:

It's probably looking rather whiter and fluffier now.

The cardboard is where I stood while planting my garlic, so that I didn't sink (as much) into the mud. The area between the cardboard and railroad tie is planted with two rows of garlic and/or onions, plus one row of random perennials (next to the tie) from a neighbour. The part starting just past the cardboard still needs to be dug. Looks like that will be spring, now. ;)

Hot

One lining done, one to go.

It's not a funny shape, but the loose knit stretches different ways.

From pushing in the lining and trying it on for fit, it seems insanely hot, as expected. Of course, the fact that it's 27 C in my apartment could be affecting my perception. I'll let you know for sure next winter.

Fit seems a bit snug & short... I may try to block them a bit larger.

I am slowly going crazy...

It is very definitely day. Snow is travelling horizontally, from west to east. Although it is day, I'm not sure it is May. It looks more like December. (There aren't the huge snowbanks that we'd have if it were January.) However, I can't tell if it's last December, or next December.

I finished the design, printed it, and assembled it. I was about to start tracing, when I realized I was famished. I decided to stop for... is cereal eaten at 7 am breakfast even if you haven't slept in 21 hours?

I decided to leave pills for second breakfast, which I assume will happen after some sleep. (Please let there be sleep!)

Okay, off to trace, then to apply resist.

Change of seasons

You know winter is over when construction hits. There was a plague of it downtown yesterday.

Sorry I caused the weather to turn cold overnight... I left my windows open all night. (It was *brisk* today, inside *and* out!)

Social Cooties

Winnipeg is in it's dusty season, where the snow has melted, leaving behind a season's worth of road grime, ground down sand (and probably road too), salt, and snow mold. I'm recovering from my cold, and still have a hacking cough.

So that my cough isn't exacerbated by the dust, I've been wearing dust masks.

People look at me strange, and I've noticed the seat next to me staying empty longer. I ignore the looks, and enjoy the space. ;)

Miscellany

March 1 the overnight parking ban on snow routes was lifted. It seemed crazy... after all, to all appearances, we were in the depths of winter. That week, the words "bitterly cold" were used to describe the forecast. Today, I was confused by my thermometer, because it wasn't using a minus sign. (+6? How can it be +6? Must be heat leaking through my cheap apartment windows.) Although the weather web page isn't saying it is as warm as my thermometer, it also isn't using a minus sign.

There is, however, a blizzard warning for today. The pain in my sinuses appears to confirm that.

Oh joy... sounds like the engineering "band" is playing in the atrium. (Drums, cowbells, some sort of brass wind instruments. Only approximations of "music", in the loosest sense.)

It appears that I'm *not* scheduled to meet with the student I tutor this morning. He wasn't where we usually meet, and none of his e-mails mention today... but I don't remember hearing the words "we aren't meeting tomorrow". However, I think he has a midterm today, so the fact that we aren't meeting isn't that surprising. I guess I should do a better job at confirming these things.

Too bad my marking is at home. However, I have a program I'm working on, and can use the time for that.

I think my angora "ice queen" thing sheds fur in my eyes. I seem to have problems on days I'm wearing it. I washed my eye when I got in, and put some drops in. (Those drops are *expensive* for such tiny little bottles!)

A friend of mine has family stationed in Japan... does anyone know the condition of the US military bases there? I haven't heard much about the levels of damage yet, just that an emergency number has been set up, and that phone lines are tied up. My sympathies to all who are affected by the earthquake and after-effects.

Privacy Frost

New designs appearing regularly.

Hee!

Remember this photo I blogged last November?

Well, I sent it in to the local news channels, encouraging them to use it in a way that might cut down on the stupidity. I just spotted it on TV! It's on one of the "60 Second Driver" spots on CKY! (I hope that driver spots themselves and is embarrassed!)

Challenges of Stealth Photography

I saw a really cool toque on the bus the other day that I just *had* to take a photo of. However, I didn't really want to be seen taking the photo.


Dang... why did the camera have to choose the close focal point?


This is no good at all!


Good focus, the bar isn't in the way... but not that great a shot of the hat. Please look at me! (Well, not at me, but in my direction.)


Yes! (Not the pretty smile that was in the first photo, but I finally caught the hat! Now to put the camera away before *I'm* caught!)

The hat looks to be store-bought, mass-produced, but probably by an indie designer, kind of like the Ugly Dolls. She had one matching mitten, and the other mitten was a donkey. Way cool. (The mittens were too hard to photograph without specifically *asking* if I could take photos.)

Strategic Snow Placement?

Do you suppose they're trying to train us out of using the shortcut over the lawn? (It's now been several days since this photo was taken, and given the new paths *over* the snow piles, their strategy didn't work.)

Yesterday's Snow

THANK YOU to those who shovelled! (That thar walk was *hand* shovelled!)

Walking through yesterday's snowfall was hard on the knees.

How's the weather where you are?

Hoar Frost

The hoar frost was lovely today.

I can haz warmth!

The winter coat I bought back in... oh... was it 1996? 1997? has finally reached the point where it looks like it belongs to a homeless person. (One with access to laundry facilities, at least.) It wasn't that bad at the beginning of the season, but the tears where the pocket corners join the jacket are getting ridiculous, and the cuffs are showing their age too.

A friend admonished me, for goodness sakes, not to buy a men's coat. She offered to take me shopping, but I had already arranged with my dad, since then it would be a Christmas present from him. (Actually, it was because I remembered seeing a nice selection at some places he took me before, and which were awkward to get to by bus... plus the possibility that the coat might become a Christmas present.)

Saturday I bought a ladies coat, although I had some misgivings. It was very fitted, and I'm not used to having winter coats being fitted. The salesperson convinced me that you don't *want* a lot of extra room, because then you had to heat all that air. However, there was *no* extra room, even though the coat was XL. I got several second opinions on Sunday, and decided that I wasn't going to be happy with the coat.

Today dad and I returned that coat, and went shopping in the men's department. (Sorry R!) I now have a men's size L down jacket. (M might have fit, but they were out of Ms, and S was definitely too small.) Dad and I were debating who I looked like more... I said the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, but dad said the Micheline Man. (After googling the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, it turns out he was fictional fictional, for Ghostbusters. I guess my dad never saw that movie.)

There were some nice looking coats in the women's department that fit, but they had polyester outer fabrics that were attracting dirt from well over a foot away (dad tested using a scrap thread he pulled off one), and, in addition, the fabrics didn't feel that durable. Why is it that only men are expected to need practical outerwear? *sigh*

Tomorrow, you may laugh when you see me, but I shall be warm. (Hmmm... I wonder if I'll still fit in a single bus seat?)

Pudgy Little Bunny

Gee... the bunnies look pudgier this time of year. ;) This one is cleaning up after the messy birds scattered their seeds. :)

The city bunnies definitely aren't jack rabbits... not only are they smaller, but their ears are much shorter. I think jack rabbits go white in the winter too.

Tip For Idiot Drivers

Suggestion: you might want to brush off more than just the front windshield and driver's door windows... with roads the way they are, being able to see more than 90 degrees will help you avoid someone who is about to hit you from the right or behind.

Also, how on earth do you expect to be able to merge right safely?!?!?!!!!

I'm glad I'm home now, for more reasons than one!

This is Ridiculous

Really? REALLY?!?!! It's only been snowing since Thursday, and the snow piles are *already* a storey tall. Sheesh.

The rivers are still high. I heard on the news this morning about flooding in some areas, and the Amphibex being sent out to break up ice jams. Next spring could be *bad*.

Winter Is Here

Attendance at the art show was pitiful... probably due to weather and the number of other shows on this weekend.

My display:

(Since pretty much everyone missed seeing it in person.)

Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful

And the sidewalks haven't been plowed yet. Since it would take me a ridiculous amount of time to slog down to Henderson with the way the sidewalks were, I decided to wait for the 20 (since the 60 runs often enough that I *should* have been fine). The 20 was only about five minutes late... but then I ended up waiting *25* minutes for the 60!!! According to the schedule, *five* buses should have gone past in that time. Even if they can't manage to be on time, it would be nice if they could at least maintain spacing. *sigh* With additional time lost en route, I'll be making up 26 minutes sometime.

I don't think any students missed me... anyone who would have come see me for help would also be contending with the buses, and I have yet to have a single customer.

I wonder how many of my students will be showing up for class this afternoon?

PS: It will be nice and toasty at the art show tonight, so if you're looking for something to do... ;)