...and my peg leg's gone all weird.

I hear we're supposed to get a dumping of snow this week, so today might've been one of the last days for me to get a good look at Ol' Betsy on my way to school. I have heard about past winters when she was buried up to her ears in snow drifts. But I am beginning to be just a bit suspicious of other people's horror stories about the ferocity of Montreal winters ... not that I think anybody is lying, but come on, I was completely hyped up for daily Mt.Everest-ish treks, with ice picks in my boots and ski goggles on my face and only a 50% of making it home from school with all my digits still attached. So far I have managed to get by quite fine with the simplest adjustments to my usual attire ... a pair of long underwear under jeans, an extra pair of socks, a hat knitted by Jen's mom. Tycho has also been dealing quite well by adding just the slightest bit of insulation to his fine frame, and by staying close to the radiators.

Speaking of being warm.... Jen, Mark, & Megan's Annual Winter Adventure Weekend is coming up! Past such weekends have lead to all sorts of thrilling, swilling emotions - excitement, exhilaration, inebriation, and my favourites: heart-stopping panic followed by sweet, sweet relief. This year, for the first time ever, J&M are migrating to Montreal for Winter Adventures! Dudes, I was in Parc La Fontaine yesterday, and I don't want to build this up for you too much, but - people were sledding! People were sliding! People were having adventures! Soon we will be one of them!

This year, to take full advantage of the new location of Central Command (aka my apartment), we are going to go skiing, probably here, though I have been slacking off a bit in the researching-best-rates department.

Here is a taste of last year, to put us in the mood!

Le Ski:


Le Skate:


Le Mark:

And, for a laugh, remember this little mishap?



In other news... there may be a rumour floating around that some policemen were at my apartment on Friday night, but don't let that change your squeaky-clean opinion of me - unless it's a good change. I MIGHT have been having a bit of a party. I MIGHT have been playing my music a little too loud. But it was only 10:30! And it was good music! Doesn't that count for something? In crappy French I told the cops that I am from a farm where we can blast our music all the time and no one is around to hear, and I think my smooth talking got me out of a ticket. That, and the fact that when they busted down my door, all they found were a bunch of wide-eyed, candy-eating, harmless-looking students sitting around a board game. Not exactly the action they were expecting, I'll bet. Still I'm hoping this means that word will get around Concordia that I throw good parties, and maybe that means I'll get invited to good parties!

Speaking of good parties, lots of really good writing- and career-related things are happening (or have the potential to happen in the next little while), but I am only telling you this to tantalize you, because I am under an oath of secrecy on one thing, and am under an oath of don't-jinx-this on the other ... but it will all be revealed over the next few days. So stay tuned!

Something else to report: next week is reading week, which is kicking off with a trip to Quebec City avec mes filles! I will eat beaver tales, buy souvenirs, and fantasize about being a princess in the Chateau Frontenac (even though I know it's not that kind of a chateau). And there will be plenty of pictures to show for it, I'm sure.

Tons and tons and tons of work to do in the meantime, just like everyone else. Sorry for the sporadic blogging. You'll all thank me when I actually manage to graduate!

Here is a hilarious video for your trouble, which might make you feel better about all the complaining that most people (I am a perfect example!) tend to do this time of year...