Differences in Extremes

I finally decided to brave the weather around noon and headed out to do my flier routes. I bundled up with fleece, a heavy coat, gloves, a scarf, and a tuque, only to shed everything but my fleece by the time I’d loaded two packages of fliers into the car!

Being paid to be outside this afternoon almost felt like a privilege; it was so warm and sunny, with no hint of that unpleasant Lethbridge wind. I did my first two routes in record time, had a snack, did two more routes, then headed home for a lunch break. I took that half hour to fill the fresh water tank, then I went back to work.

The last two routes were tough; I was fading fast and past the point of exhaustion by the time I got halfway through the sixth route. But I got them done, including bringing the extras to recycling. Not counting my lunch break, the six routes took me five and a quarter hours to do. If I take off the car loading and recycling depot then they took me five hours. I don’t think I’ll be able to improve on that!

 

Cold Snap

Last night was COLD. It apparently hit minus 12. I went to bed at 11 and within five minutes of turning off the electric blanket I was shivering, and that’s while I was under three heavy blankets including a down comforter! I decided to take a chance and sleep with the blanket on all night.

Next thing I knew, it was 9AM (!!!), I had two cats curled up tight against me, and I was snug as a bug. Love that little 12V wonder! I’m glad I now know I can sleep with it on all night if I need to. I wouldn’t do that when boondocking, but when I’m on shore power it’s more cost effective (and quiet) than running the furnace off and on.

Now, I’m waiting for things to get a little warmer (and less slick) before I go out and do my fliers. I need to do all six routes today since Jody and I are road-tripping again tomorrow. It’s going to be a long day, but the sun is out so if the wind cooperates the job shouldn’t be too onerous. I finally have my routes laid out in the most efficient way possible so my goal is to shave fifteen minutes off each to finish all six in four and a half hours instead of six hours.