Snow-madness

[garran]

It's been either snowing or below-freezing cold since Saturday. It's not a lot of snow; I mean, it's deeper than my ankles sometimes, but there hasn't been a blizzard or anything. But we live in Vancouver, so everyone is bewildered by it, and everything mundane that happens has an extra twist of surreality from the context. Who knows what other unwontedness might be waiting in familiar places so transformed? I understand that there have been significant power outages in some of the weirder suburbs. The buses lurch about late and overcrowded; on Saturday night, taken by surprise, many of them weren't running at all, and Isabel and I, who were out by UBC for movie night at Joanne's house, ended up after some struggle and confusion stranded and sleeping over on the floor of a friendly religion major with a passion for wine. The inane news radio station that provides background noise at my work has talked of very little else but the weather, possessed by what sounds to be a sort of panicked fascination.

Most people I know are pretty grumpy about the snow and the chaos both, but I am weirdly delighted by them. I guess that this is good for me, because my mother heard a long-term forecast suggesting we'll be snowing again on Sunday and on through the new year. If that holds true, then I think it will be the first white Christmas in my memory.

Speaking of my work, I intend to give my notice tomorrow; I will work through the Christmas break and then stop for the next term, because I am taking five courses and there really isn't room. This was my first traditionally menial job experience, and that was interesting albeit often irritating. What will you miss, Andy? I will miss the weathered, handwritten sign taped to the wall of the main bathroom, which reads,

HI, EVERYONE
     I AM JUST A TOILET, AND CANNOT DIGEST ANY HAND TOWEL.
THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION,
TOILET
MARCH 2001

Comments

[xorphus.livejournal.com]

Stolen!

[meta4mix.livejournal.com]

Yay! Snow in such circumstances does indeed sound lovely. Especially with a great, wide city to wander around snowy in. Snow-induced abnormal adventures are fun. I wouldn't want them every day, but they're fun.

We're supposed to be smashed with all sorts of snow and freezing rain and stuff from about 1am on, here. People are just muttering and battening down and driving 35mph on major roads, as always.

I will miss your toilet's sign, too. And I've only just met it.

[oberon-the-fool.livejournal.com]

My work takes me into countless businesses of all sorts, and they all have signs of this nature. Some are even worse- "Please don't pee all over the walls and floors", etc. I wonder if parents have just stopped potty training their children, that these signs are needed everywhere. I am frightened and revolted by the thought.

Likewise, nearly every building with a back or side door has it labeled "THIS DOOR MUST BE CLOSED AND LOCKED AT ALL TIMES!!!"

This door is always, without fail, propped open.