Simply Col

“This Weather Not For Wimps“

Thus proclaimed the headline of our local paper.

Maybe true.. but when you are living the day with no choice in the matter, wimp or not.. you simply do what you have to do to get through and to stay warm. Sadly this is not always the reality. Two people died over the weekend related to the extreme cold. How do those without suitable shelter manage? I shiver at the thought.

And how do the creatures survive… the squirrels, the birds. I know that many are tucked away, hibernating through the worst of it. But not all. Charlie was out there yesterday .. bounding over the fence posts. It is beyond me how he manages to endure. He must have a warm nest somewhere. I wonder if my daily gift of peanuts is perhaps not such a good thing. I wonder if the thought of a daily feed is keeping him awake when he should be allowing thoughts of sleep to take over.

It has finally come to that freezing point where the dogs and I have put our daily walks on hold. I just couldn’t bring myself to walk into that north wind with temps hovering just about -30C. We still do the fetch game in the back yard but only in quick sessions. Even that is not without its weather related complications. The balls (wet from Sadie) quickly freeze and acquire a thin layer of frost. After a few tosses Sadie is hesitant to pick them up. Luckily I have two.. so I keep switching balls and sticking one in my pocket to help it regain some warmth. You know it is friggin cold when Sadie will not pick up her most beloved object in this entire world.

I am doing my best to keep busy to get this month over with. Yes I realize that in a way I am wishing this month away.. but that is what I tend to do in January.

Went to the movie theater the other night with my good bud BRD. We saw Juno, a film that I would highly recommend. Apparently it is regarded as an American production but interestingly the director is Canadian as well as many of the actors. According to the credits, much of it was filmed in in Vancouver, B.C. and the surrounding area. I am assuming the funding was American.

If you have teenagers, or better yet, can still remember when you, yourself, lived those years.. this film is a must. The acting is superb, the story line sensitive but handled with humour and honesty. It had me laughing and it brought me to tears. Rarely these days does a film touch me in such a way. Go see it.. and take your teens with you. There will be much to talk about afterwards.

January also tends to be a time of books. My current read is a surprisingly good one entitled, “Eat, Pray, Love” by the author Elizabeth Gilbert. This book was an unexpected gift from my friend, Jen. I had not heard of the title before and therefore had little in the way of expectations. To be honest my initial impression was that it would be a piece of fluff telling the tale of woman’s travels through Italy and other European parts following a traumatic divorce.

The story is of her travels, but the interlinked moments of personal thoughts, emotions and spirituality have me pressing my nose closer to the pages. I quickly found myself lost in her story being able to relate to much of what she writes, searching for similar answers in my own journey, I suppose. There is an honesty in her words that draws me in. I like that. This book may not be for everyone.. but now I find myself recommending it. Thanks Jen.

Well, my coffee cup is empty. It has been filled twice so far.. I suppose that should be my limit. I could easily just stay here in my cozy spot.. but life calls. As it is, there seems to be a bit of a reprieve in the weather today so I had better get myself in gear.

Wishing you all a good one.. a safe one.. and a warm one.