OMG, it's cold outside!
Jan. 18th, 2012 08:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
midnightsjaneOkay winter, that's enough. It's way too cold out, and there is way more snow than any resident of this area is comfortable with, outside of on the local ski hills. Brrrr. The local weather forecast is calling for temperatures of around -15 to -20C with the added wind chill factor, and probably colder out in the Fraser Valley. More snow is on the way tomorrow, but things are looking up for Friday, when it will turn to mixed rain and snow, then rain...back to west coast weather again!
Monday was the worst day. I was getting ready to head out to the farm when Sue called to tell me to stay home. The roads were in terrible shape, cars in the ditch all over, and some roads were closed entirely. They had over 8" of snow Sunday night, and it was still snowing. Poor Sue was there all by herself Monday, because no-one could get there. All the horses were fine, tucked into their stalls with lots of hay and water; thank heavens the water in the barns didn't freeze! The stalls didn't get cleaned, but a little dirt wasn't going to kill anyone. It was a matter of just hunkering down in survival mode out there. I felt bad that I was snug here at home while she was stuck there. She's a tough woman though, and made it through. Days like that, all you can do is wait it out.
I spent Monday just hanging out and reading; I read two books, drank a lot of tea, and generally just did a lot of not much. The Cable guy was supposed to come between 8 and 10a.m. to install the digital box that we now need to continue watching most of the channels, and he did arrive by 11a.m., so I guess that's almost prompt. We got the thing hooked up and working, but unfortunately it won't work with my ancient VCR, which totally annoys me. I hate not being able to use it because it's still perfectly functional. I guess at some point I'll get one of the PVRs, but not at the moment, it's not in the budget.
Tuesday was a better day, no snow, just cold, cold. I drove out to the farm, and the roads were fine, until I got to the back roads near the farm. I was fine, my Honda is great in the snow and I've got good snow tires. I know how to drive in snow, so that doesn't worry me; it's the idiots who have no clue and drive like it's summertime who make me nervous. I got the car parked in front of the gate but didn't even try to open the gate, just climbed over it and walked through the deep snow on the driveway to the barn.
Sue and Kelly were there working away, so I pitched in, and between us we got the stalls cleaned, the waters filled and the horses fed and everything done by 3 o'clock. Amazingly, in spite of the frigid temperatures, the water in the barn was still on, a huge bonus. When we were done I gave Sue a ride to the bank and post office since she couldn't get her car down the drive. I had a bit of a problem getting out of the driveway, and luckily Kelly's father showed up just in time to help us push. A farmer was driving by on his tractor, and he waited to make sure we could get out without his help. One of the nice things about that area, people come out and help their neighbours when needed.
By the time I got home I was starving; I ate breakfast but hadn't anything else until I got home, too busy working. I made myself a nice omelette with broccolini and cheese, and a couple of sausages, and I could hardly restrain myself while it was cooking! Gobbled the whole thing down, watched Glee and Chopped on TV, made a beef stew for my dinners this week, then went to bed with a cup of tea and the current book. I was in bed by 10, really early for me.
Off to work today in ICU. It was a good day, my patient got off the ventilator and the breathing tube out, and his family was thrilled. It's very rewarding to have a day that ends with the patient in much better shape than he started it in. I have to work again tomorrow.
That's my week so far.
Monday was the worst day. I was getting ready to head out to the farm when Sue called to tell me to stay home. The roads were in terrible shape, cars in the ditch all over, and some roads were closed entirely. They had over 8" of snow Sunday night, and it was still snowing. Poor Sue was there all by herself Monday, because no-one could get there. All the horses were fine, tucked into their stalls with lots of hay and water; thank heavens the water in the barns didn't freeze! The stalls didn't get cleaned, but a little dirt wasn't going to kill anyone. It was a matter of just hunkering down in survival mode out there. I felt bad that I was snug here at home while she was stuck there. She's a tough woman though, and made it through. Days like that, all you can do is wait it out.
I spent Monday just hanging out and reading; I read two books, drank a lot of tea, and generally just did a lot of not much. The Cable guy was supposed to come between 8 and 10a.m. to install the digital box that we now need to continue watching most of the channels, and he did arrive by 11a.m., so I guess that's almost prompt. We got the thing hooked up and working, but unfortunately it won't work with my ancient VCR, which totally annoys me. I hate not being able to use it because it's still perfectly functional. I guess at some point I'll get one of the PVRs, but not at the moment, it's not in the budget.
Tuesday was a better day, no snow, just cold, cold. I drove out to the farm, and the roads were fine, until I got to the back roads near the farm. I was fine, my Honda is great in the snow and I've got good snow tires. I know how to drive in snow, so that doesn't worry me; it's the idiots who have no clue and drive like it's summertime who make me nervous. I got the car parked in front of the gate but didn't even try to open the gate, just climbed over it and walked through the deep snow on the driveway to the barn.
Sue and Kelly were there working away, so I pitched in, and between us we got the stalls cleaned, the waters filled and the horses fed and everything done by 3 o'clock. Amazingly, in spite of the frigid temperatures, the water in the barn was still on, a huge bonus. When we were done I gave Sue a ride to the bank and post office since she couldn't get her car down the drive. I had a bit of a problem getting out of the driveway, and luckily Kelly's father showed up just in time to help us push. A farmer was driving by on his tractor, and he waited to make sure we could get out without his help. One of the nice things about that area, people come out and help their neighbours when needed.
By the time I got home I was starving; I ate breakfast but hadn't anything else until I got home, too busy working. I made myself a nice omelette with broccolini and cheese, and a couple of sausages, and I could hardly restrain myself while it was cooking! Gobbled the whole thing down, watched Glee and Chopped on TV, made a beef stew for my dinners this week, then went to bed with a cup of tea and the current book. I was in bed by 10, really early for me.
Off to work today in ICU. It was a good day, my patient got off the ventilator and the breathing tube out, and his family was thrilled. It's very rewarding to have a day that ends with the patient in much better shape than he started it in. I have to work again tomorrow.
That's my week so far.
