Journaling

Yesterday I was frightfully busy and did not have a chance to make an entry. Sorry for that. A remarkable amount of snow fell on Toronto over the course of the day on Sunday, something in the neighbourhood of 20 cm in 20 hours, which I am sure people across Canada are snickering about, but here's my rant, they are snickering cause in truth they are jealous and this is a thoroughly Canadian way of winning an argument. (Consider what we do when the subject turns to the health uninsured Americans.)

Rather than belittling Americans lets accept the fact that up until the reign of Son-of-A-Bush the United States was the most creative, productive, industrious society the World had ever seen. Similarly although once every decade or so Toronto gets a pretty bad wallop from the snow, it is a cultural and financial capital of the country, to say nothing of the most open and diverse city south of The North Pole.

Anyway one day after the snow fell life was pretty much back to normal, except for the Go Train which does not function when it rains, so it stands to reason that the province will have to buy them a new locomotive or an elastic band I guess.

Anyway yesterday besides it being International Laundry Day it was also grocery shopping day. Our car may be expensive but I must confess Audi Quattro drive system is a good thing in the snow. Audi timing belts, serpentine belts, clutches, water pumps, are all over-priced, but damn Quattro is nice. It was amusing, and a little scary to watch other cars struggle up the hills. Even in all season tires all wheel drive works well.

Sunday evening Sigrid (see the Blog Roll on the right) celebrated her birthday, which is actually today. She invited us all to Ferro Bar and Cafe many of the people in the Blog Roll came to eat the fine Italian food there. Former Astronaut Al Bean is reported to have once said something to the effect of, in a journey it doesn't matter if its a trip to the corner store or to the moon, what matters is the company you keep as you make the journey. Given that Al Bean is one of the very few, very lucky people to have ever kicked moon dust I will defer to his expert opinion and say the company was very much worthwhile.

This morning, Monday, I walked to work in thick snow. As long as the snow is fresh and white the city looks like its got a freshly laundered blanket on. Sadly we all know what is going to happen to that blanket for the next few days. They used to say in the Soviet Union that Winter was the good season because the snow hid all the grime, I think it safe to say that in The West Winter is the ugliest season.

On a final note, I found the following blog which some may find interesting to read.