An understatement. The wind could not decide if it wanted to restyle my hair a la Peg Bundy or exfoliate my skin, so it did both, with a bonus cornea scraping thrown for good measure. It was nasty, but I still walked for about 90 minutes through Rossdale and then over to Scona Hill, where the wind was marginally less blowy.

The weatherman’s hyperbolic promise of an epic deluge came to nought, as expected. The snow that fell last night dried up this morning. Whatevs. It was brown yesterday, it’s brown today, but there are strokes of green amongst the brown, which is encouraging.

The birds seemed to be on standby…literally standing by, waiting for the wind to subside. I ran across a goose by the Epcor side of the Walterdale Bridge, waiting for someone to come along with a camera. I happily obliged, but was only able to snap a few shots before it hissed at me. What a tease.

The thing about bad weather is that it can be deceiving when viewed through a window. In my experience, it’s usually better to be out than in, and unlike books and people, I try not to judge a day by its cover. A walk through the woods on a gloomy day is often a calming, contemplative pleasure. However, today was a perfect example of WYSIWYG. It was just as grim outside as it appeared to be inside. But I’m glad I walked. I’m always glad I walked, even when I get snowed on, or rained on, or if the wind slaps me around a bit. I can take it.

5:40 PM/5C

I am become dust.

Excuse me for stating the obvious, but wind is not rain. Also self-evident?  Paths that cross giant dirt fields should be avoided on windy days. Ouch.

5:20 PM/7C and blowing  =: o

Things are looking better out there. Overcast. Gloomy. Keep up the good work, Cumulonimbus! If there is any way I can facilitate your weeping, please let me know.

1:46 PM/13C and cloudy 🙂

OK…the sun is shining, the sky is blue. It looks like it’s going to be another beautiful day. This is not good. I’m all geared up for rain. I’ve got my umbrella, I’ve steeled myself for a bad hair day…and yet, as of 10:06 this morning, a 60% chance of rain seems terribly optimistic.

I think the thing that bothers me most about our droughty province, other than the massive amounts of hand-lotion and lip balm required to keep my inner reptile at bay, is the failed promises of rain.  So much anticipation, so little satisfaction. Just like pancakes.

C’mon clouds…do your worst. Please.

10:19 AM/9C and sunny >:(

Today, just below Saskatchewan Drive by the University, the trees were full of Bohemian Waxwings getting their drunk on, as is their fermented berry-picking way. Such a lovely bird, and so collegial. As I was watching the waxwings swerve fom tree to tree, I spotted another Robin, which is the second one I’ve seen this year. I hear them all the time, outside my window in the morning, and even now…at 7:17 pm. It’s very calming, like the sound of water bubbling over rocks in a stream.

Feeling much more energetic today, so I took one of the routes that takes about 90 minutes, door to door. The little staircase at the north end of the Low Level Bridge has police tape across the rails. Some waste of skin set a fire, and the stairs are now unusable. At least it didn’t spread. The river valley, like everywhere else, is dry as a bone.

Lots of people out enjoying the weather. Lots of dogs, too. A woman near one of the Mill Creek bridges asked if I’d seen a ‘small red dog’ that escaped a neighbours yard. I do try to keep an eye open for strays. You can’t walk through the ravine without seeing a poster for a missing dog or cat. I did find a dog once, or more accurately it found me. Just started walking in step…like we were together, and it took a few minutes to realize the dog was alone. It was a sheltie-type dog, so it probably thought that, like him, I was I was on my way to find some sheep. He was wrong, and after a quick phone-call, the dog was returned to his owner. But today, sadly, no small red dogs. Just a flock of stewed waxwings.

6:05 PM/16C

Feeling blah…so rather than a long walk, I opted for a short walk down Saskatchewan Drive. I’ve walked that walk so many times, it almost fails to register, in spite of the spectacular vistas it offers. Nevertheless, I still changed into my gear, tied up my sneakers, and unravelled my iTouch earphones, all for a 25 minute walk. Listened to a Bugle podcast, episode #107 (I’m two weeks behind) about ethics violations, which was particularly funny, but not even Andy and John succeeded in putting a spring in my step. Must be the going back to work thing after four days off. And the clouds. And the Mr Fruit n’ Nut hangover.

5:07 PM/12C