Overnight the water main was fixed and the road was reopened.
Apparently many things were still closed today but Loblaws was open. It was busy but again there was no lineup at the cash.
I did work as things need to progress with the course so that we can get our marks in on time.
Apparently the Concession St. closure is related to a water main break. Doesn't explain why they give no warning that it is closed. There also were no workers that I could see so there may not be any resolution tomorrow. Hopefully they will work on the signage soon.
I made homemade pizza for dinner. It was really good, so happy with it!
I walked to Shoppers today and saw that Concession is closed to traffic. It looks like it flooded and then froze so they closed it as it is dangerous. However, there is no warning to anyone that it is closed before you get to it, so there are cars entering the intersection to go there and then realizing that they can't and having to change directions mid-intersection, also dangerous. Not sure which is worse! The beer store is closed today, not sure what people will do tomorrow if they want to go to the beer store as that area is impassable to vehicular traffic.
Traffic in general was pretty light. Shoppers was busy as there seemed to be some sales on. It was not difficult to get to a cash though and I was only picking up one things so I was in and out pretty quick.
Sidewalks and roads are passable but there is ice under everything so care needs to be taken!
Walked to Rustle today and the roads were passable. The sidewalks weren't always passable so I had to walk on the roads at some points.
The 401 looks mostly green.
The bits that I had dug out for paths don't seem to be drifting over anymore, the sky is mostly blue but more snow is in the forecast for the next few days.
Yesterday I made vegetable flatbreads, which were good. Christmas dinner is Golden coconut turkey curry.
Merry Christmas!
while it looked like the 401 was improving at 1pm
it now looks worse 11pm
While the city said it had pulled its plows, the sidewalk plow did come by. I don't see anyone driving but I saw people walking so I guess it is a good call? The sidewalk plows work will be for naught when the street plow comes by (*if the street plow comes by)
At some points it seemed like the gusting had decreased but I can hear it blowing now!
The wind seems to be howling less but snow is still blowing all over. Checked for clear vents but didn't venture beyond the house.
The blizzard rolled in at lunchtime. There is lots of snow and howling wind. The 401 is closed for large stretches due to dangerous conditions.
I chose my rain boots for the walk to Food Basics and this was the right choice as there were many puddles and it wasn't too cold.
FB itself was busy but not excessively busy.
I am still working my way through my email and snow is falling. Taking a break to make lunch!
The blizzard is only supposed to arrive at noon, which means that the stores will likely be busy in the morning? So far it is only wet and rainy.
This morning I went to see Chelsea. I made another version of the stew. Improved I am told.
My email is over 200 so I tried to take on some of that.
James went out to do hockey coaching. I was hoping that the rain would clean the car!
I was hoping everyone else would go to the grocery store today so that they wouldn't go tomorrow. We'll see how it goes, I just need to pick up a few things.
Yesterday James spent on Wolfe Island playing outdoor hockey. He took a rest day today.
I tried to make his billet's chicken stew but did not have great success.
Now we prepare for the storm
James drove across Canada to arrive back in Kingston. Says he'll keep me on my toes. He wants to make stew with me as he found one he really likes that his billet Mom makes for him. He went out to coach shortly after he arrived and then went out for dinner with other hockey coaches.
A lot of work in the past week. A visit to the Yorkville Mall, a very interesting experience and I didn't even see it all! Today I sorted through a closet where I keep old memories. I found some postcards I sent to Shieleen that she had evidently given back to me. My nose is filled with dust now.
From my trip:
Watching planes land at Pearson while waiting for Dierdre
Second day of the trip- Julie and I were up early and Keith made us fruit cups and his special egg mcmuffins. We headed out the door into the snow. Dixie was pretty snow covered but the highway was better (except when changing lanes). There was one accident going the other way but we made good time to Elevation arriving at 9:20am. We participated in both services and then went to Kelsey's for lunch/dinner. I had the chicken parmesan which was huge and very filling. Then Julie went off to see her sister in Burlington and I waited for by friend Dierdre (we went through university together). She lives in Yorkdale but said she would take an hour to get to me (which is longer than the distance from Yorkdale) which was fine as I watched planes land at Pearson. The wrong move I made was I told her that the Kelsey's was some number on Applewood drive but when I stepped outside I realized it was Aerowood not applewood. So then I was wondering if that was why it was going to take her so long to get to me as I had sent her the wrong address! So I'm trying to text her the right address but I'm not hearing back from her. It turns out she hadn't looked carefully at the address I sent her and had just searched for Kelseys and happened to find the correct one, so that was all good! And then her computer screen had died so she didn't get my other texts with the correct address. It all worked out in the end.
Julie and I drove to Brampton to meet with the ladies in our weekly meeting group. So nice to see them all in person again. The roads were clear and the travel was good though we saw 3 large accidents. One that seemed to have just happened and emergency services weren't there yet. Emergency services were a few kilometers down the road at the second accident. These were before we got into Toronto. In Toronto there were some trucks that were all smushed into each other on one of the roads heading into the 401.
This term the students have been working on designing robotic arms to aid in household tasks for people with disabilities. They spent so much time working on their arms they started to name them. Sometimes typical person names like "Gary" or "Sally" but one team named theirs the "Automated Personal Helper Robotic Arm" (acronym APHRA). A different team said I could share their picture- their robotic arm is mounted on an old cast so that it can be used as someone's helper arm on their arm. Very creative!
Today was a 12 hour day of testing and sorting out parts.
I talked on the phone with the guy building Rustle's fence and had about 20 interruptions. Such is my life.
This is the fun part though when they see the results of all their work. But sad if it doesn't work.
Tomorrow Brandon is going to be helping me so I won't have to do another full day. I needed today to figure out what needed to be done and then he happened to be in the room watching his teams and offered to help.
James had a player profile posted on the team site!
https://www.rapidshockey.ca/en/player-week/player-profile-james-rogers/
Yesterday I wore new winter leggings and they were so nice!
I was so pleased to wear my purple boots yesterday as they were much warmer than the shoes from the day before. But I wore them today in the snow and realized that they aren't as waterproof as they were last year. So I brought up a new pair of boots (I bought a whole pile of the same boots on sale as I love them so much) and they were so wonderful. And they worked out well.
Yesterday I did manage to get in touch with chef's plate to ask about the chorizo skillet with potatoes issue as it had neither chorizo or potatoes after my email was rejected. I got in touch on their chat and they were puzzled. It took a while to explain. They said they had to talk to some people and they would get back to me the next day. I haven't heard from them so far!
I had to renew my drivers license and the service ontario has an appointment booking system so I booked an appointment after work. I walked over - they had not used this system previously- during Covid the waits were very long. Using the appointment system they serve you first over walk ins and they were super efficient. I was in and out in a few minutes. Seems to be a good system at that service ontario!
The water in the bowls in the backyard must have been frozen as it looked quizzically at one bowl and then moved to the next, but no drinking for it. I put out some fresh water.
It was a long day today -13 hours.
I was trying to select my chef's plate meals for next week.
There was a "chorizo skillet with potatoes" but if you look carefully at the ingredients there is neither chorizo nor potatoes! I tried to send them an email but their email is no longer a "channel" that they use. Read the ingredients carefully!
Yesterday was in Brighton for a birthday dinner with my parents:
Knowing that the rain would roll in later in the day in the morning I didn't take my backpack, just a bag that I knew would dry quickly. Raincoat and rain boots.
Watching out my window I saw the rain rolling in. The walk home was as wet as expected.
A murder of crows slept in the backyard trees and had a lot to say when they woke up. Were they talking about how they slept? What they were going to do during the day?
This week I got 5 chef's plate meals- all good so far:
1. Italian Antipasto subs- this was a quick to prepare meal with roasted veggies and bocconicci cheese
2. Carmelized beef and pork stir fry. I think I am getting better at the carmelization. This was the first time I used their beef/pork mix. I am not sure what advantage this mixture is to them or me but I couldn't tell much difference from the beef or pork stir frys in the past.
3. Applewood bacon chowder- I chose this one because the pans to make the others were dirty. A very filling soup.
4. Chorizo and rice fiesta skillet. Good mix of meat, rice and veggies. They also had pickled onions with it but noone here liked pickled onions, I won't waste my time making them again. The meal was just fine without them.
5. Tomorrow is honey mustard chicken tenders. Seems like a heathier version of chicken fingers.
https://www.kingstonpolice.ca/en/news/two-men-sought-following-large-drug-seizure-on-college-street.aspx
Apparently a large drug bust on my street with dealers jumping out windows to escape police (and being successful!) and I didn't even see a police car that day. I wish they had posted a time- I'm guessing this happened in the wee hours of the morning?
Today's dinner was creamy chalet chicken. It was good but required milk which I guess normal people have in their fridge but I had to go out to get it before I could make dinner.
I ordered a package from the states and in tracking it, I can see that it crossed the border on Wed but then has been stuck because of a "mechanical failure". Does this mean the truck has broken down?
Yesterday I made a curried chickpea dish that I thought was going to turn out badly but it was actually quite good. I cooked the chickpeas, mashed them and then added sliced celery, spices, vinegar, mayo and it was really really good. Kind of like making egg salad but with mostly different ingredients. Well done Chef's plate.
Today I made chili pork with sticky rice. This is the first time that the sticky rice actually seemed sticky so maybe I have improved at that. It was a nice combination, though I added too much sriracha.
Today I learned that George who I worked with for years at RMC passed away. We made a good team as he was always angry about something and I always balanced him out. I talked him out of a few difficult situations. He was always determined that his plans would go well and would do whatever it took to get his ideas off the ground. When you were on George's team, you were at his table. He never understood why I had to leave RMC. I thought this described how George treated his team:
We had lots of TA training today and an assignment due today. Busy for reading week!
After 3 years of relatively no sickness I came down with a head cold. Like every other head cold I have had but now I am far more aware of giving it to other people (or trying not to). I still cough a lot but as my symptoms have been improving for many days I am allowed on campus. I'm sure my co-workers will appreciate that.
James' billet brother tested positive today and so he needed to move billet houses. He loves his old billet home though so it was no hardship on him. Hopefully he doesn't get sick. And so we wait for a week.
Today I did some painting.
BEFORE:
I think bunnies may be living in my garage. Hopefully it keeps them dry!
It has been raining on and off today but not too hard so my coat was wet but not soaked.
Rustle was good today, got to see a number of people I hadn't seen in a while.
The Elevation service was very relevant today: Torn but trusting
Tonight I need to do some work and need to update Rustle's finances. I have the July and August reports to do.
On Friday was the dedication for Izzy's tree, it was very beautiful and I learned a lot more about Izzy than I knew before.
I didn't sleep well on Friday night but I had an extra long sleep last night so hopefully that all balances out.
Today Todd returns from sabbatical so we're having a bit of a celebration before Church.
I biked down to Lake Ontario park today. It was pretty gloomy and cold but still nice. There were more people out than I expected. Also a cormorant, golden squirrel and groundhog.
