Renata

Last year I had NO FUCKING IDEA what winter was going to be. I had been, in my late teens, one week in a winterish Florida – nothing, absolutely nothing like winter in Toronto. Now I am planning my winter season – snow boots, snow jacket and I am seriously considering an electric heater for my bathroom, so I don’t freeze and my towels don’t smell like death a few hours after I shower.

I was obviously considering a Canada Goose parka, but I couldn’t find the medium-sized Junior Kensington anywhere. Same thing for small boots. HOW DO CHILDREN SURVIVE WINTER IN THIS COUNTRY? I wonder if there are any kids in the Yukon????? Do you wrap your babies in goose down to protect them from the cold in Nunavut?

There’s a Patagonia store a few blocks away, and, like Obi-Wan Kenobi, now they’re my only hope. I know their sizing is ABSURD (I bought a thermal t-shirt a couple of weeks ago, and it was “kids small”), so I hope I can find the Girls’ Down Coat in small/medium size – and decent colour.

Those North Face would be another option, but I’ve never ever seen anything small. Looks more like a monster kong costume than a winter jacket. Comfortable, though, but doesn’t look very, hm, practical for walking the snowy streets. The kids’ designs are not similar and don’t cover your legs.

Any suggestions from expert Canadians? I want long-ish kids winter warm jackets. And nice boots!

One week ago, we noticed that one of Björk’s canine was looking weird. She didn’t seem to give a damn about it and was eating and playing. Last Monday I took her to her first visit to the vet here in Canada, and it was quite upsetting: she was diagnosed with a root abscess and given antibiotics for two weeks (now talk about giving pills to a cat for two weeks…) and will have the tooth removed tomorrow morning. Poor kitty!

Other than hating taking pills, she looks fine, and loves the prescribed “paté-only” diet. She has absolutely no idea on what’s going to happen tomorrow. As for me, I can’t fall asleep tonight, I am feeling terribly nervous and insecure. Tomorrow will be an awful day for me. She’s expected to stay overnight at the animal hospital and only come back home the day after, but I really hope they call me to bring her back home before that.

UPDATE: It happened! She is doing great and I will be able to pick her up tonight!

UPDATE: She looks good the next morning. They’ve prescribed painkillers, it will be another week of catsitting. But she’s alright!

A couple of months ago I posted the winter weather forecast of minus twelve, feels like minus twenty. To compensate the blizzards and snowstorms, we’re having a helluva summer and the picture I’m posting can be easily mistaken by a brazilian summer week. Don’t let it fool you: it’s summer in Tronno and yesterday I melted under 35 degrees. Just like Rio.

No more below-zero temperatures, the sun is shining, the grass is becoming green, birds are singing and it’s patio and t-shirt weather again. I rode my bike with my ridiculously white legs exposed and saw few people wearing t-shirts and tank tops. We were all smiling, even the dogs are smiling. Time to get a sun tan.

This is Björk lazily tanning on the bed

My chai latte, and Mike’s something and cookie. At Bulldog, the masters of Torontonian Latte Art.

Don’t forget today’s Yuri Gagarin’s 50th first human orbital flight anniversary and watch First Orbit (shot at the ISS, how cool is that?) when you arrive home. A great way to end such a beautiful day!

Along with Daylight Savings, finally we’re having a sunny day – I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen it sunny outside after a couple of weeks of boring snain. It’s even above freezing and I rode my bike today. The bike certainly needs some tuning after such a long time parked inside, and I myself need some tuning too. I put on some weight – my scale tells me I need to lose 3kg (that’s 6.6 pounds for you imperialists!) – after all those mochas and I’m really not surprised. A few weeks of cycling and not having mocha must solve all my problems.

This summer I really want to do an outdoor barbecue and a picnic in Toronto Island. Not in Hanlan’s Point please. Maybe a trip to P.E.I. or Nova Scotia to eat all their seafood? YUM.

According to the Groundhog, winter was supposed to be shorter this year, and I almost believed it because last Friday was 10 C and sunny outside, I even went for a bike ride, despite the heavy winds. Silly me, today I woke up to minus something and snow showers again.

I have some nice pictures of the so called Snowpocalypse, and the days after. And me properly dressed for cold days, for your pleasure, the day we moved to our new home under HEAVY HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS.

We moved during a snowstorm. But the boxes arrived safe!

It’s cold, but it’s beautiful.