They were right, it was the biggest storm of the year. We've got 18 inches of new snow and now we're a small storm away from breaking the all time snowfall record. I'm fairly certain we'll surpass it, because ever since I've been here, we've had a good snowstorm at the beginning of April. It's funny, I read the bloggers from Toronto whining about the snow but they've only had two thirds as much as we've had. Ha!
Yesterday I booked three excursions for our cruise coming up in 86 days. Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius, Florence and Taormina. Of all the places in Europe I've been, Italy was the trickiest. Easy to get ripped off there. (I suppose this is true of anyplace.) Anyway, the good thing about booking the excursions with the ship is that they won't leave without you if you're delayed. Not true if you book a tour independently.
Today's a lazy day save for shoveling. Also we've got to clean up for the housekeeper. I think we spend more time now cleaning for her than we did before she started cleaning for us. Irony in action folks. It's a disaster here though because Sara has started shedding. Big tufts of hair billowing from her every time you touch her. They've collected along every wall and table leg. I suppose I'll be vacuuming today, too.
20 comments:
okay, two things in defense of Toronto bloggers...
First, my friend Kate was here this week, from Montreal. Yesterday morning she said "wow, you know, I just assumed that it would be worse in Montreal, but it really is worse here"
Second, the difference is that Montreal is used to snowfall, so the city is more prepared to deal with it. Snow removal is a regular activity, not something that they have to gather people from all over the province to do. Kate said that when it snows things get ploughed *the same day*!!! The same day!?!?! man. Our street hasn't generally goes a few snow storms and snow a good almost foot deep before they can manage to plough it because their priorities have to be main streets, and since there is so much snow this year that means that they never can get to the second tier streets, they just have to keep going over the main ones.
Hmmm, that sounded way more bitter than I actually am. Personally, i think it's a pain and seem to end up abandoning my car on our street instead of parking it (yes, we have proper snow tires, none of this all weather crap...), but really, it doesn't bother me that much. It's winter. There's snow in winter. Snow is cold. But snow will go away eventually, as will winter.
I'm just stickin' up for my fellow Torontonians. ;) Bottom line is, no doubt Montreal has had more snow than Toronto, it would be a kind of scary thing if that didn't happen, but in terms of dealing with it, Montreal is in a far better position. I'm totally talking out my ass when I say this, but I suspect that it's something like, a foot of snow in Toronto has the same effect as two feet of snow in Montreal (or, you know, that idea).
I once saw an actual pair of dust bunnies, made of dog hair, at an art exhibit. Maybe you could turn her shedding into a profit.
We had an inch of snow even though much more was predicted. Now the sun is shining and all of the snow wil soon be gone. Dang it how can I complain about Winter when you guys have it so much worse? I know, you're supposed to have it worse you live in Canada for chrisakes! Don't shovel the snow too long Richard, men our age can get chest pains so take it easy. Ed
I used to clean before the maid came too. I've been crashing with friends until my new place is ready and I've learned something or two about having full time help. IT'S FABULOUS!!! I wish I could afford to have it all the time. It's so easy to get up and fix breakfast and lunch when you don't have to clean up the mess. I wish I could live here full-time!!! ha!! Moving into my new place on Tuesday and will miss it, and I'll never clean for the maid to come again. It's really just not necessary, it's what they're paid to do. If you feel that guilty, save your money and clean it yourself.
I'm doing four loads of laundry and sprucing things up for another Showing of the Condo. I do not envy you your shoveling. I hope to not touch a snow shovel ever again. Have a great day, my friend!
20+ inches here! That shoveling...me too. But unlike yours, our winter has been pretty much a walk in the park this year so...hey, I still love a good blizzard.
We do the same thing for our house cleaner: tidy up. I actually like it. It forces us to keep our crap at least somewhat in order. And it lets the cleaner focus on cleaning rather than putting away my shoes.
Here in Halifax, there's only a tiny bit of "snirt" left on the side of the roads. All the snow you've been having in Montreal lately has come down as rain here.
Like Doug, I only tidy up before the house cleaner comes. That usually includes washing whatever dishes are on the kitchen counter. Otherwise, I let her at it. :)
I must not be reading the same Toronto bloggers that you are as I have not seen any whining amongst my daily reads (but tell me who they are and we'll send them for brainwashing). My only complaint is with the pigs at the public trough at the laughing academy (aka city hall politicians) who cut the size of the plowing fleet last year so that they are having a lot of difficulty this year, especially when they are 10cm off the all time record snowfall (including yesterday). And then those boneheads at city hall plan to further reduce the plow fleet by another 35-55% after the contracts are renegotiated this year. You see, this was the year that the mayor and his council said they planned on cutting back on plowing and letting mother nature handle the snowfall, so that they wouldn't need as much road salt. After the great outcry from the public and the public transit authorities (you can't tell people to take transit if the roads are bad enought that the buses and street cars are unable to operate), they had a slight change of heart. (mutter mutter)
Personally, I love the snow and the snowfall to date, especially watching the dogs from our building playing in the snow on the hills out back. One of the bigger dogs in the building went running across the lawn, jumped in the air, went head-first into a snowbank and came up with this big snow-covered ball with two black spots that kept blinking.
But hey, the sun's out today and tomorrow, and by Friday it will be raining again.
Enough is enough. I realise that everyone is getting all excited about breaking the snowfall record this year, but I couldn't care less. I'm so done with winter.
Save the money on the maid and buy yourselves a good snow blower for next year. You're cleaning anyway...
Heh Heh, I am lovin' this TO vs. MTL snow smackdown. Gee, wonder who will "win".
Meanwhile in ghetto nouveau, we have moved on to the spring flower count.
Sarah's coat says "hang in there, spring is coming!"
we've got to clean up for the housekeeper
That sounds like us. We don't have a housekeeper, but I know we'd be cleaning up before his/her arrival if we had one. Heaven forbid the place doesn't look clean enough before the housekeeper gets here! :)
I think Rox has the right idea...
New pics then with the added snow, please.
Hey
You're doing the cleaning anyway so why have a ckleaner in??
Nice snow pics! Hope you're not too cold, perhaps you need toe socks!
Your house is beautiful! I do love snow. I don't have to shovel though so it makes a difference.
Ditto to the snowblower. They take care of the snow in about 15 minutes, with no aching back when you're done.
The word "excursion" made my mind swirl with excitement for you guys.
But it was reading "86 days" that made me smile the most. Some might say "three months" but those people don't live in the winter wonderland that you do.
I feel for you with the shedding. We, too, had dog hair collecting along the baseboards and furniture legs, until Sat when Spouse & I did our "big cleaning".
Mark :-)
Post a Comment