And today's watchword is...
COLD. Or maybe that's C-C-C-OLD!
So, when I was on my way to work, it was supposed to be about -29 (C, that's something like -21 F I think) with the wind chill. But hey, I'm a Canadian, I only had to be out for about 2-3 hours walk today since it's a comic day. No biggie.
Then I go to take a shower before work... no hot water.
After an abortive attempt to boil water and use it for a bath (I just didn't have the time to get enough hot enough to make a difference), I said screw it and just did a shower. Of course, I did it the reverse of usual. You know how you usually try to stay as much as possible in the spray because outside it's cold. I had to stay as much outside the spray and just dip my hands and hair in to clean and rinse off. And then, when I was almost done, rinsing my hair and about to step out... the hot water comes back on. Not full force. The hot water tap was turned all the way, the cold not at all (not the smartest plan, probably, just in case it all came on at once, but I'm a good jumper), and still it was only slightly more than body temperature. But still I did a quick rewash (because you can't get everything clean in cold water) and shampoo and soaked in the semi-warm water to warm myself up for an extra minute or two.
Still, fate was not looking good for me. But I spit in the face of Fate! Usually right before it kicks me in the stomach. Then it's time for my countermove. Doubled over, vomit on its shoes. And Fate has some expensive shoes. That, my friends, I consider a win.
Then, out to the frozen Canadian winter. Now, I may have mentioned this before, but what I wear generally only has three areas of variation. Hat, gloves, and jacket. My hat's a toque, relatively warm. My gloves not too bad but still get my hands pretty cold. My jacket is a light windbreaker, with three buttons missing and a broken zipper. These I only wear when the temperature's too cold. Underneath all that, I wear jeans and a t-shirt (and socks and shoes and underwear for all you nitpickers). That's it. Summer or winter. -30 or +30. It is a mark of my Canadian pride to endure, especially the winter. In the ultimate extreme, I'll pull the toque down over my face. I'm used to it, and I've gone walking for hours in the coldest temperatures like that and been relatively comfortable (The main discomfort is that when it gets too cold sometimes I can't read while I'm walking). But, it should tell you that it's was supposed to be a cold day. But I made no change to my routine.
And it wasn't that bad. I didn't have to pull my hat over my face, and for most of the walk, I didn't even have to stop reading (there was a time when I was walking a little more into the wind and my fingers were starting to numb). It was actually rather pleasant. It's the kind of cold that numbs the Weltschmerz and whispers in your ear, the kind of cold that you take to the market on a foggy day and three apples screw driver swallow you whole and spit you out again inflexible and starlight.
It's remotely possible my brain is still dethawing as I'm typing this. The gist of what I'm trying to say is that I endured. I am Canadian! Also, I much prefer really cold to not so cold but very slushy and rainy, as was the case last time I made the big trip.
Anyway, on to New Comic Day!
This week I got two books:
Captain Britain and MI-13 #9 (My pick of the week, but man, Cornell depresses me sometimes!)
NYX: No Way Home #5 (holdover from last week. Okay, will have to see how it all ties together though).
Of minor interest, the Obama covers of Spidey were already sold out when I got there, within an hour of opening. I might have got one if they were cover price and not marked up (I don't know if they did or not but they sometimes mark up the variants).
Full reviews as usual at my comic reviews site for anyone interested.
Work was okay. Got there early, and finished quickly.
And just learning sad news. Patrick McGoohan, best known as Number 6 in the TV show The Prisoner, has died at the age of 80. He is the reason number6 is part of my username. RIP, man. Be Seeing You.
Edited to Add: Not just McGoohan, but also Ricardo Mantalban... KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!
So, when I was on my way to work, it was supposed to be about -29 (C, that's something like -21 F I think) with the wind chill. But hey, I'm a Canadian, I only had to be out for about 2-3 hours walk today since it's a comic day. No biggie.
Then I go to take a shower before work... no hot water.
After an abortive attempt to boil water and use it for a bath (I just didn't have the time to get enough hot enough to make a difference), I said screw it and just did a shower. Of course, I did it the reverse of usual. You know how you usually try to stay as much as possible in the spray because outside it's cold. I had to stay as much outside the spray and just dip my hands and hair in to clean and rinse off. And then, when I was almost done, rinsing my hair and about to step out... the hot water comes back on. Not full force. The hot water tap was turned all the way, the cold not at all (not the smartest plan, probably, just in case it all came on at once, but I'm a good jumper), and still it was only slightly more than body temperature. But still I did a quick rewash (because you can't get everything clean in cold water) and shampoo and soaked in the semi-warm water to warm myself up for an extra minute or two.
Still, fate was not looking good for me. But I spit in the face of Fate! Usually right before it kicks me in the stomach. Then it's time for my countermove. Doubled over, vomit on its shoes. And Fate has some expensive shoes. That, my friends, I consider a win.
Then, out to the frozen Canadian winter. Now, I may have mentioned this before, but what I wear generally only has three areas of variation. Hat, gloves, and jacket. My hat's a toque, relatively warm. My gloves not too bad but still get my hands pretty cold. My jacket is a light windbreaker, with three buttons missing and a broken zipper. These I only wear when the temperature's too cold. Underneath all that, I wear jeans and a t-shirt (and socks and shoes and underwear for all you nitpickers). That's it. Summer or winter. -30 or +30. It is a mark of my Canadian pride to endure, especially the winter. In the ultimate extreme, I'll pull the toque down over my face. I'm used to it, and I've gone walking for hours in the coldest temperatures like that and been relatively comfortable (The main discomfort is that when it gets too cold sometimes I can't read while I'm walking). But, it should tell you that it's was supposed to be a cold day. But I made no change to my routine.
And it wasn't that bad. I didn't have to pull my hat over my face, and for most of the walk, I didn't even have to stop reading (there was a time when I was walking a little more into the wind and my fingers were starting to numb). It was actually rather pleasant. It's the kind of cold that numbs the Weltschmerz and whispers in your ear, the kind of cold that you take to the market on a foggy day and three apples screw driver swallow you whole and spit you out again inflexible and starlight.
It's remotely possible my brain is still dethawing as I'm typing this. The gist of what I'm trying to say is that I endured. I am Canadian! Also, I much prefer really cold to not so cold but very slushy and rainy, as was the case last time I made the big trip.
Anyway, on to New Comic Day!
This week I got two books:
Captain Britain and MI-13 #9 (My pick of the week, but man, Cornell depresses me sometimes!)
NYX: No Way Home #5 (holdover from last week. Okay, will have to see how it all ties together though).
Of minor interest, the Obama covers of Spidey were already sold out when I got there, within an hour of opening. I might have got one if they were cover price and not marked up (I don't know if they did or not but they sometimes mark up the variants).
Full reviews as usual at my comic reviews site for anyone interested.
Work was okay. Got there early, and finished quickly.
And just learning sad news. Patrick McGoohan, best known as Number 6 in the TV show The Prisoner, has died at the age of 80. He is the reason number6 is part of my username. RIP, man. Be Seeing You.
Edited to Add: Not just McGoohan, but also Ricardo Mantalban... KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!