Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday, the 28th day of January 2016.

Well four days left in the first month of 2016.

Our weather for the first month of 2016 has been amazing ….. so much warmer than an average January in Western Canada.

The one thing that comes with rain and warm temperature in the winter is ICE.

Well that walk for me and so many others who catch the bus to work yesterday morning was so treacherous.

I left my house twenty minutes earlier because of the ice knowing full well it would be a long slow journey to the bus.

I went from my steps to the snow covered lawn and when I made it to the sidewalk out front of my house.

The sidewalk was sparking in a sheet of ice.

Perfect for skating but not so much for winter boots.

So I kicked some of the snow onto the sidewalk and was able to safely cross the sidewalk onto the street.

I managed to cross to the sidewalk on the other side only to find another sheet of ice so very carefully I stepped up and into/onto the snowbank on the edge.

Only one thing the snow was deeper than my boots ….. so I could feel my boots filling …. lucky for me it was warm out so I did not feel the wet right away.

I very slowly and cautiously carried on as far the mailbox.

Here I had to step down and go around …. some of the ground was okay …. I held onto the mailboxes as I crossed to the next snowbank.

Always in between crossing back lanes to the next sidewalk and snowbank.

When I got to the street that I usually take to the walkway to the main street again it was icy ….. so I tried to step in spots where there were chunks of snow and stayed away from the sidewalk.

Managed to get to the walkway.

When I looked down it this is what I saw.

A long sidewalk that gleamed in the street lights …..

One side snowbank up to my knees.

Other side snowbank up to my knees lined with rose bushes.

The entrance to the walkway had the snow piled up so I had to do some climbing and did I mention I had a big bag of teas that I was delivering to work??

YIKES.

I took a deep breath and said a little confidence builder ….. “You can do this.”

Up and slowly stepping until I got down to where the snow was only knee deep.

It wasn’t too bad until I reached the rose bushes and because they were close to the edge I had to gingerly hold on to them and make my way along.

It seemed to take forever but was only a few moments.

The walkway is quite long but I did it.

When I got to the entrance to the main street I took a look about ….. ice everywhere.

Again hit the snowbank and kept on going.

Some places I was able to walk on the street but these streets are busy with people going to work and they are not watching for ME on the street where they are driving.

Plus most of our streets are lined with cars on both sides …. which does not help.

Finally I arrived at the last street to cross before the last sidewalk to the bus.

Just took my time ….. slipped a few times but did not fall.

Sometimes I think that is worse as when I got onto the bus I could feel the tightness in my shoulders ….

Oh well all in the day ….. all in the life.

When I got to to the bus stop I was so relieved.

There were points that I almost turned around and went home but then I thought what am I going to say and besides no vacation days left ….. so I had to go.

When the bus arrived it was an icy few steps but thankfully the driver let down the step so that it was easier to get onto the bus.

When I sat down I was so happy….

My thoughts did go to getting off the bus …. downtown would likely be icy.

When I got off of the bus I saw this small sanding machine being driven down the street and that was good.

I took the long way around to the office as I knew that the entire street by this one company would be in good order for walking and it was.

I managed to get to work with a few minutes to spare …..

P.S. my socks and pants up to the top of my boots were wet …. they dried quickly.

This leads me to the next thing …. one of the girls that I work with offered to drive me to MARKS or CANADIAN TIRE and pick up these rubber pulls on that have spikes on them.

Perfect for walking on ice.

So after work off we went stopping at MARKS first ….. instead of looking about ….. we just asked the CASHIER and she pointed them out.

“Studded Snow Tires for your feet” …. that is what they are called.

It was the best $30 that I have ever spent …. well almost anyway.

I tried them on when I got home and they fit perfectly …..

With all of the melting there was a big pool of water and ice out front of my house (it dips down there to the storm drain)….

Why not, I thought …. oh and yes, I looked after me Alvin before going ice chipping.

Long story a bit short ….. I could walk with them on …. no slipping.

This morning I am excited for my walk knowing that I will be safe and not have to worry about falling onto the ice.

I will be careful of course ….. that goes without saying.

It will be a much different experience than yesterday.

Well time to head out …… have a great day.

If you live where there is ice …. you need to pick these up ….. “Studded Snow Tires for your Feet.”

Have a great Thursday ….. whew almost the weekend.

Special Hello to: all fellow humans who live where there is ice and snow.

Always, Carol and Alvin