Sunday, 30 March 2014

HEY! WHOA! WAIT!

Weather? What Weather?

It is spring, right? We arrived at the vernally equinox more than a week ago, right? 

So, who didn't get the memo?

We have had snow for three days in a row! Three days in a row, I tell you. Or maybe four. I think it's four. Whatever.


Street view

Back yard

It's enough to make a Bear go "GGGGggRRRRrRrrrRrr!" 


More Cold

What makes this even worse is that Bear has a cold. Stuffy head, sore throat, sneezing and sniffling, hard to breathe. And pains in my chest. 

Most of that I would normally ignore — even the chest pains. But not this time. So we hiked over to our medical clinic last night. 

Good news: no pneumonia (so it is not a repeat of last fall's experience). And my heart is good. The chest pains come from the costochondritis which visits me from time to time. 

"Treat the symptoms and rest." Right. We can deal with all that stuff. An exercise in patience.


Cold Weather Fun

Dana has a wonderful video over on her blog The Daily Dose. I'm not going to spoil it by telling you the story; you should slip over to Dana's and read/see it yourself.


Life in Ukraine

My friend in the Ukraine sees dark days ahead. Because Ukraine is so dependent on Russia for natural gas to energize the Ukrainian economy, it seems likely Ukraine will be absorbed into Russian President Putin's "Euroasian Empire." In one way or another. Oligarchy and corruption will, once again, be the order of the day. Not so different from Canada and the US.

Some things never change. 


And that's about that.

The world is getting brighter! If I were feeling better, I would go outside and play. But I'm not — either feeling well or interested in going outside. Perfect day for tea and a book to read. Inside. And an afternoon nap.

I hope you don't get bogged down in the cold and flu season. It is so "No fun!"  Not for anyone. (Unless you're a masochist.)

Blessings and Bear hugs!



  Today's Weather Report
It is overcast at -15°C (5F) — though it feels more like -27C (-17F). The sun is trying to break through. There is some potential.

49 comments:

  1. Oh, Bear! I am so sorry to see all that white stuff at this time of year. And I'm glad you are going to be all right. It's a brave bear who goes to the doctor, especially if he's a male bear. I thought you said you have Costco-chondritis and I figured I might have that, too. :-)

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    1. This male Bear has never been afraid of going to the vet (or doctor, or whomever). It's what one does when one is "out of sorts."

      Costo-chondritis? Well, now, that is interesting. I don't think I have that, as we rarely go (and haven't bothered keeping up our card). Retail therapy has never appealed to me.

      Aside from the white in you hair, I hope you have a non-write spring and summer.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  2. I'm glad you don't have pneumonia- but now I have to go look up the other to see what it is!
    I like Bigelow's green tea with pomegranate, it's a treat when I am feeling poorly.
    Feel better soonest!~

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    1. I certainly do not need a repeat performance of pneumonia. That's not fun.

      Thanks for the suggestion about the tea. I have some green tea with lime and ginger from our local specialty tea shop (nice tea being my one and only luxury).

      I've been resting well today, and am feeling better. But, really, I should have hibernated over the winter. Had I done so, I'm sure I'd be fine today. But those silly cubs refused to hibernate, and kept coming over to our place, and, well, that's the way it is.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  3. "Not so different from Canada and the US."

    bear, i want to understand this. how is russia and ukraine similar to the u.s. and canada?

    i hope you feel better soon. no spring here either--thankfully no snow but it is damp and cold and unspring-like. I am grumbling about it all. i want 60 degrees of bright sun.

    No. More. Snow. that is my prayer.

    love
    kj

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    1. kj, you ask an important question that is not answered easily. I'll have to send you a separate note. The key notion is that of "oligarchy," which you could check in Wikipedia. But I will write.

      Up here , about 20°C (68F) would be dandy right about now. We're not even close. As in well below freezing. Sigh.

      And as for snow, I suspect we may yet get one big blizzard. That's life up here.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  4. Grrr, "Snow-begone!" ...Did it work, is it gone? ...oh well, take care of that big ole Bear body, we need you and your wisdom. Blessings

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    1. I think you're going to have to yell louder, or something, Susie. Absolutely nothing happened. (Boo! Hiss!) Still a "GGggRrrr" kind of day. But thanks for your valiant attempt.

      Hope you are well and spring in your part of the world is advancing nicely!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  5. Oh dear Bear, that is really NOT spring weather!

    I am sorry you are poorly, I had never heard of that diagnosis before until 4 days ago when a colleague at work told me her Dr. put her chest pain down to the same thing. I do hope you recover soon.

    Over on this side of the pond, the clocks have just gone forward an hour. Today was sunny (sorry about that!) and it was light until gone 7pm - the bliss that is British Summer Time!!

    Take care my friend

    S x

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Sorry your friend has costo. It is very uncomfortable. I have lived with it long enough to know what it is and how to deal with it, but occasional I will go to the hospital or clinic when things are bad or uncertain (as was last night).

      Summer time/Daylight saving is something we don't do, and it confuses us, because we are out of sync with the rest of the world. But one learns to adapt.

      Do hope you're enjoying spring after your horrid winter. We will do the same, before spring turns into autumn.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  6. Got an email from friends in MB and it sounds like they have a severe weather warning. 30 cm snow and 80 km winds. Hope it misses you. Get well.

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    1. Nothing that ugly is supposed to be coming our way. Their storm must be moving up from the south.

      Starting Wednesday, our highs are all supposed to be above freezing. About time, I say. But I'm still betting that we'll have at least one more spring blizzard.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  7. If anyone deserves a nice awakening of springtime, it is you folks who have endured this loooooooonnng winter. I hope you don't mind that I still loved the photos. I like this post, lots. A great piece of newsy journalism.

    Never heard of that condition of yours, but it cannot be something to take lightly. I'm glad you don't have pneumonia, but still......you darned better take good care of yourself and get well, Bear.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thank you for your very kind thoughts, Lydia. As I believe I have already mentioned, one has three different ways to dealing with our winters: 1) die 2) move away 3) get accustomed to it and live accordingly. Bear seems to be stuck in the third category, though I do find the extreme cold quite depressing.

      It seems that Bear just trundles about like a post-Socratic gadfly, and takes pictures of things, and wonders about what is happening, and writes little bits of whatever, whenever I feel like it. I have no deadlines. As for the trundling, my regular stops include the blogs of those who write poetry. I am, in fact, working on a couple of things poetic.

      My health tends to be a mystery. I understand costo, and I can tell the difference between that and heart attack. But pneumonia vs. costo is pretty much unknown territory. So I play that safe. Those matters aside, I'm all right for the shape I'm in, so there is no cause for worry.

      Blessings and Bear hugs, m'lady Lydia!

      Delete
  8. Just a few days ago we also experienced a spring blizzard that howled into town and back out again. The results are mostly gone now and we're hoping that's the last. I wish you better weather too.

    I also hope you're on your way to better health in the very near future.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Winter storms are such a nuisance, aren't they. I was just beginning to get a start on some yard work, and "poof": more snow. GGGrrr.

      As to my health, I hurt, but it is nothing serious. I'm all right for the shape I'm in. Please believe that.

      I've been over your way several times, but I haven't always left you notes. I'll try to step up correspondence.

      Blessings and Bear hugs.

      Delete
  9. Spring/winter/politics--nothing is behaving this year.

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    1. Ah, Susan; a very astute observation. Well done; go to the head of the class.

      Unfortunately, Bear is not much good at changing things. That reminds me of the question about how many psychiatrists it ties to change a light bulb. It only takes one, but the light bulb has to want to change. Sadly, you and I both see lots of situations where people are making a total mess of things, but do not want to change. GGgRrr.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  10. This certainly has been the winter of our discontent. It is warming down here in Pennsylvania and I hope it moves up north to you soon. Until then, take your medicine, rest, and look forward to the spring blossoms that will come soon.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Ah, great thoughts. Yes! It's only 8:30, but I feel a snooze coming on. I think I'll take it! Winter of our discontent? Indeed!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  11. Well, phooey on that cold and that blasted snow. Sending warm and healing thoughts your way.

    ((Hugs))

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    1. Warm and healing thoughts are always appreciated!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  12. We were hit with what seems like a ton of snow yesterday. It's so sad to hear even my kids say that they wish the snow would just go away already. Thankfully, it seems to be melting today.

    I hope you're feeling better soon. Take care, friend. Thanks for pointing people to my Sunday inspiration post. I think it's a pretty great video. :)

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    1. Sorry to hear that you got dumped on. Sounds like a lot of snow! But if it snows and melts fairly promptly, you should be OK. Unless you get a flood. (I hope not!)

      This cold is progressing. Sniffle. Cough. Other than that, the "therapy dogs" are here, so that should be a month of fun. And feeling a lot better.

      I think you must be "due" about now. Hope everything goes well!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  13. Sorry to hear you are sick, R-bear, but happy it's not pneumonia. We've had to deal with bouts of stomach and respiratory flu in our house recently. Spring cannot come soon enough.

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    1. Sorry to hear of all the illness in your household. That is just not fun, especially when planning a wedding! Lets hope all the late-winter illness disappears, and everyone gets healthy!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  14. Wow, so much snow still. I only lived one place that had snow and that was for one winter. Cold, wet and slippery. Hope you're feeling better. I had a cold 2 months ago..not fun.

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    1. You've lived in a real winter for one year? Well, better than not at all. Ironically, we've had snow every day since I posted this on Sunday. I have the feeling this could go on for a few more days. And it's April already!!!!! But we also had snow in April last year, so, this isn't exactly new. But it is GGgRRrrrr!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  15. Poor Bear! I'm sorry you're not feeling tip-top but am glad that it's nothing sinister. Relax and enjoy the day from the inside.

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    1. Thanks, Hilary! I will be enjoying the world from inside. It's snowing today, just as it snowed yesterday. (No, that's not an April Fools thing.) I hope you have a delightful day, too, whether inside or outside.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  16. Oh, Bear, I know the pain that comes from costochondritis, I have had 4 bouts with that over the past 3 years, I will pray you heal soon.
    Blessings and a hug

    Margie

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    1. Oh, Margie! I am so sorry to hear that you've been living with costo! It is NO FUN! I've had problems with it for decades. I hope yours stays away! Thanks for the support.

      Blessings and Bear hugs.

      Delete
  17. I'm so sorry about your health! I have never heard of that, sounds awful. Feel very bad for you.

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    1. It's not fun, Jody, but it isn't life-threatening (in my case). It's a nuisance; lots of people live with nuisances all the time. Pneumonia, on the other hand is a killer; that I do not want!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  18. I hope you will feel better soon. Is that cold weather bad for your health? Snow fell here yesterday, first time this year, a sort of April Fool's joke. Now it's raining, which is so much needed here. Take care of yourself.

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    1. Snow as an April Fool's joke. How fitting; in a peculiar sort of way. The cold weather isn't particularly good or bad for my health. But having a cold in any cold weather is far from optimal. So to speak. I hope you get a good soak in the rain, without rattlesnakes climbing into you downspouts, etc.

      Do take care, Inger. Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  19. I am so sorry to hear you are not feeling well. The cold weather doesn't help one bit. My daughter has been sick with that since the weekend. Miserable stuff. Hope you get to feeling better soon! Also hope that warm weather returns soon and stays! ♥

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    1. Thanks for your concern for this tough old Bear, Kathy. I'm doing the best I can to behave and stay healthy — always challenges for some Bears. So sorry to her of your daughter's illness. I think the change of seasons brings on all kinds of nasty stuff, for Bears, and Humans, and others.

      The one piece of good news is that it did not snow today. I'm usually happy for that in April.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  20. Hello! I simply cannot believe how winter is holding on for all her might! My youngest son lives in Minneapolis ~ they are expecting another foot of snow tonight! Twenty four years was enough for me.

    On an exciting note, I have been offered the trip of a lifetime ... fourteen day Atlantic crossing to Barcelona on Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam. We depart this Sunday. I am extending a few days in Barcelona, friends live there. Ports of call are amazing too. 90% of the trip is free, making it affordable for this retired lady.

    I will have tons of stories and photos to share (FB) and will visit your blog when I return.

    Take care, Bear.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Helen (bless her heart!) left a comment. But Google wouldn't allow it to appear (Boo! Hiss!). So, being a good, subversive kind of Bear, I skipped around the system.
    Hence:

    Hello! I simply cannot believe how winter is holding on for all her might! My youngest son lives in Minneapolis ~ they are expecting another foot of snow tonight! Twenty four years was enough for me.

    On an exciting note, I have been offered the trip of a lifetime ... fourteen day Atlantic crossing to Barcelona on Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam. We depart this Sunday. I am extending a few days in Barcelona, friends live there. Ports of call are amazing too. 90% of the trip is free, making it affordable for this retired lady.

    I will have tons of stories and photos to share (FB) and will visit your blog when I return.

    Take care, Bear.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Boo! Hiss! Google, indeed!

      That trip (not a trip, and adventure full of daring-do and stuff like that) you're going on sounds very exciting indeed! I hope you have a wonderful time, and do not get sunburned! (That's the one time you want to be not so hot!) Hope you have a grand time with all the men you "meet."(I was going to say "seduce," but this is a family-rated blog.) Looking forward to all the pix and stories.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  22. Such a sad winter for bear. Cold, snow, more cold, sickness....I would invite you to stay with me a while, but I am doing a house purge right now. My grown children have been given warning.

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    1. Ooooh! House purge. That sounds dangerously awesome! And that you've warned the kids is fair notice. After you have well and truly cleaned house, will there be room for a couple of Bears? Weve been to Mendocino and San Fancisco, and I always thought living in California would be exciting! Especially since the winter here has been cold, wet, and none-too-helthy.

      blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  23. Sorry to hear you're not feeling the best Bear, chicken soup works wonders in this household; hope snow and dose disappear soon and that you are back smelling the spring flowers!

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    1. March winds, and April snow showers bring forth May flowers. Or something like that. I trust I'll be healthy before May. If I can keep the pneumonia away.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  24. Just keep chanting "climate change is a myth", you'll be fine.

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    1. Cimate change; myth or mythery? Bear gets so confused. I think changing the rules in the middle of the game is not fair! Even if the scientists are right.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete
  25. We had ice on Sunday. Sorry you're seeing snow. Yuck. I hope spring comes for you soon. Feel better!

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    1. Oh, dear! Ice is no fun at all. Makes cars and trucks slip and slide; brings down power lines.

      The snow has actually stopped for a couple of days, which is good. I'm trying to get healthy; I'm having limited success.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

      Delete

So glad you've dropped by the Bear's den. Please leave a note -- getting notes is such fun, and often informative. I'll get back to you, here or by e-mail, as soon as I can (or, if it's winter, after I wake up). 'Til then, please Bear with me.
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