daily life as life goes on . . .

For many years I would buy a new Teflon coated frying pan.  For Christmas.  For Jill.  Because nothing says “Christmas” like a frying pan!

Then the inevitable happened.  Too many frying pans!  You can’t keep buying and buying and hoping that a frying pan will wear out each  year.

These past few years have been excruciating.  I’ve had to think about what to buy!

But, behold, my salvation is near.

We threw out our large frying pan today.  The teflon was scarred.  Brown matter emanates from the pan — I guess you call it rust. 

The request was forthcoming.  “I need a new frying pan.”

Just in time for Christmas.

Breakfast pancake fundraisers are always fun.  There is usually an abundance of golden brown, fluffy delicacies along with lubricant rolls (called “sausages”).  And lots of chance to talk.

Today was no exception!

We arrived at our church quiz team fundraiser around 10:30 – in time for a great brunch and a sit down conversation time.  As we were about to leave we were alerted to the fact that reindeer were about to arrive.

The conversation turned!  Could these be just cardboard cutouts used for picture taking?  Were these to be in-the-flesh animals?  Where would they be?

The mall had arranged for a small corral just down from our breakfast nook.  David and I wandered over to watch the erection of the corral.  A bungee cord held part of the corral together.  We wondered how safe that might be.  Pictures were $7.00 each.

The reconnaisance party (David and I) returned to the breakfast tables. We explained the lay of the land (or should that be — the build of the corrals).  In just a few minutes the reindeer would arrive.

Off went David to check out the final details.

Upon his return he reported that real reindeer had arrived.  They were calm and standing in the mall.  But then the announcement that got me headed down the hallway!  Now, I’m not one for violence, but I was intrigued.  From the mouth of our capable and credible spy came the following —

“There’s blood on the antlers!”

P.S. (for those who no longer read long handwritten letters — P.S. means Post Script — that’s basically a thought after all the other thoughts have been put on paper):  I checked more closely —  the “blood” appeared to be a cream for the antlers — but the story sans explanation is much more fun!!

I’m unplugging you right now . . .

This computer is going to the living room.  There it will be used to record music. 

Beautiful music . . . Unique music . . . One of a kind music . . .

I’m unplugging  you right now . . .

Oops, one last commercial.  This will be great music . . .

I’m unplugging you right now . . .  Good b – – . . .

The weather of Saskatchewan is often indescribable.

I wanted to start this blog entry by describing the chill of the outdoors. My son is on a cruise ship in the Caribbean.  There the temperatures do not dip to -10 degrees Celcius — or to any Fahrenheit equivalent.  To talk about the cold of -30 degrees Celcius is meaningless.

I have watched students come to Canada from tropical climes.  Theire first reaction to snow is incredulous.  From the sky comes a solid substance that can sting in a strong wind, can melt on a sunny day, or can be pounded into mounds of rock like formations.

So how do I describe the cold of the last few days?  There are always times when a quick temperature change disorients you.  Even the hottest day can bring an unexpected breeze or a cold shower.  What you had expected from that balmy day is immediately dispelled.

Take that exact moment.  Stand in a doorway and pretend you are walking into the chill of that moment.  Now, increase the exposure by around 10 times.  Add a growing tingling to your face and exposed skin.  Finally, shiver so that you feel you will never recover.  That’s -30 degrees Celcius.

Wait til you meet -40 degrees Celcius.  You become an ice cube wishing you could thaw, an ice cream sundae whose frozen toppings are impenetrable, a reverse furnace who finds more warmth on the outside than on the inside.

If you want to join the extreme sports crowd, venture this way.  Welcome to the wind blown prairies of Canada.