first frost
This morning when I walked the dogs, the plants along the waterfront trail were covered in a layer of ice. It's still mild enough for a light jacket, but I need gloves in the morning, and today I could have used my ear muffs.
taking it
In comments here , James brought up an interesting piece. One of the most common questions I hear up here when yet another example of Bushian idiocy, incompetence, or corruption shows up is, "Why aren't people more outraged by this down there? Why isn't anyone making a fuss?" From up here, it often looks like almost everyone's going along with Bush, though that's certainly not the case. Of course, one of the big reasons for that is that the major news networks don't think it's newsworthy when people do make a fuss. But serious opposition to Bush and his policies is almost invisible up here, except to those who make a special point of following US politics from a liberal perspective. I hear this a lot, and it drives me nuts. Millions of Americans are making a fuss. I know because I used to be one of them. Here's my reply in that same thread: A fuss? We were - oh, that's "they are" - making a huge fuss. But the Bushies control all bra...
One thing I don't envy about your short walk to the lake is the cold, cold wind you're going to be getting off the water very soon. You'll want to make sure you have a very thick coat.
ReplyDeleteMMmmmmmmmmmmm....winter. I find it hard this time of year because it's too cold to do summer activities but to warm to do winter activites. In a month and a bit however, I'll be skiing up a storm.
ReplyDeleteI love crisp mornings. We had a heavy frost too. It went down to -5oC last night.
It's all down hill from here :-(
ReplyDeleteHave you discovered the toque yet? That got me when I first heard it...
ReplyDeleteI think she meant the kind of hat we wear in winter.
ReplyDeleteI think she meant the kind of hat we wear in winter.
ReplyDeleteBut she said "when I heard it". That's why I asked. I know it's a hat, but heard what?
Speaking of which, what do you call it in NYC?
Nothing in particular. A hat. A knit cap, maybe. Or a ski cap.
Allan, from Vermont, calls it a toque.
Funny thing, a toque pronounced "toke" is the big puffy white hat worn by pastry chefs, although mostly cartoon versions of chefs these days.
Isn't it pronounced "tuke" rhyming with nuke? Or is that just a Quebec thing?
ReplyDeleteYes, it's pronounced "tuke" like "nuke".
ReplyDeleteBut people sometimes spell it toque (like the chef's hat which isn't pronounced the same) or touque. The "proper" spelling is tuque.
Or where you referring to the chef's hat?
ReplyDeleteThat might be a Quebec thing....
Naw, I was definitely refering to the most elegant of winter accessories.
ReplyDeleteTime to start unpacking the winter stuff. At least I'm not in the Eastern Townships where they just got 25 cm of snow this week.
*shudder*
You both have me completely confused.
ReplyDeleteYou both have me completely confused.
ReplyDeleteMaybe one of your first culture-clashes.
When expat said "Have you discovered the toque yet?" that instantly registered in my mind as talking about the hat.
You knew that a tuque was a hat, but a lot of foreigners don't which is why she said "That got me when I first heard it".
It seemed simple to me, I couldn't figure out why you thought she was talking about anything else.
Then that started the discussion about the "toque" (chef's hat), which then confused jessica because Canadians always assume toque=touque=tuque=winter hat.
ReplyDeleteWhew, thanks for clearing that up, Kyle.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the two kinds of hats were spelled differently.
What threw me was "when I first heard it". I thought, how can you hear a hat? :)
The "proper" spelling is tuque.
ReplyDeleteThat...can't be. Lies, I say! Lies!