Tags
Alberta, Calgary, Canada, chinook winds, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, life, living in the moment, winter
It’s been cold here, let me tell you!
And when I say cold, I mean holy-moly cold – cold enough that I didn’t even venture out for two days.
But it’s only the beginning of January so I know it’s going to get worse.
Holy-moly-cold will soon seem like a heat wave in comparison to the I-can’t-feel-my-feet-and-hands-my-lips-are-frozen-to-my-teeth-and-it-hurts-my-lungs-to-inhale-the-air kind of cold that’s still to come!
And that’s why today’s Chinook was such a lovely reprieve from the cold.
I’m no expert, but from what I understand, a Chinook happens in Calgary when the warm winds come from the west, leaving the precipitation in our neighbouring province of British Columbia on the other side of the Rocky Mountains.
These warm, dry winds can change the temperature in Calgary from the minus 20s to above zero temperatures in a matter of a couple of hours.
It’s what we look forward to every winter!
Today’s Chinook won’t even last the whole day. By early evening the winds will be coming from the north and we’ll be back to holy-moly-cold.
So naturally, I had to spend time outside while it’s warm…
…and that’s my roundabout way of explaining why my post is late today.
~HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
It occurs to me that this wintry post can also serve as an analogy for the difficult times in life. Hard times are like holy-moly-cold winters, so we need to take full advantage of life’s Chinooks when they come, treasuring each and every moment.
Wyrd Smythe said:
I know my comment is late today and here’s why…
I’ve been busy. And sick. And cold! (We might not get quite as cold around here as you do up there, but it’s been single digit temps (some with minus signs) for a while. We did have a several-day 40+ degree January thaw… wonder if it was connected with your Chinook.)
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dianasschwenk said:
Your comments are always welcome Smitty, timely or otherwise. ❤
I'm no scientist but I'm pretty sure my Chinook would not affect you there. However, I did leave the door open Canada-side, so….
Diana xo
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Jim McKeever said:
Feeling your pain here in Central NewYork, Diana. And now I have the word ‘chinook’ stuck in my head.
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dianasschwenk said:
hahaha! Sorry ’bout that Jim. 😉
Diana xo
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Minuscule Moments said:
Diana it is the same in a heatwave. I do not venture outside either and we wait for the southern winds to save us. Its even worse when its catastrophic bush fire weather. Luckily this summer has been a rainy one. Im not complaining. I have never heard of the Chinook, its sounds like one of natures little miracles to me.
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dianasschwenk said:
It is a miracle to me too Kath!
Hard as I try, I cannot imagine not going outside in the summer! I’m guessing I’ve never encountered your kind of heat. ❤
Diana xo
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Jean said:
Thanks goodness I returned to Calgary during a chinook.
I’m recovering from a head injury …from a bike collision when another cyclist ran into me on Vancouver bike path on New Year’s Day.
So chinook warmth was welcomed!
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dianasschwenk said:
Here’s to a quick recovery Jean! How the heck did someone collide with you?
Diana xo
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Jean said:
A guy was cycling fast towards me and clipped into me. My partner cycling just 10 metres heard a loud bang….
Anyway I don’t remember the actual collision, what the cyclist looked like, his bike nor even when I was transported by ambulance. Not even when I was rolled into CAT scan machine.
According to neurologist at hospital and my sister an emergency medicine doctor in Ontario, it is not unusual for head injury victims to remember their accident.
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earthriderjudyberman said:
I totally understand, Diana. I’d take the Chinook temps over the holy-moly-cold any day of the week. Here in Florida, I begin whining about the cold any time it drops below 65 degrees. I can remember days when I lived in Syracuse, New York and folks would be in their shorts and flip flops any time the temps went up to 50 degrees or above. It’s all in your perspective. 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
So true Judy! I used to go to a yearly fundraising conference in LA in February. You could spot the Canadian attendees quite easily: they were the ones swimming in the outdoor pool!
Diana xo
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earthriderjudyberman said:
Hysterical! 😉
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Jennifer's Journal said:
Good analogy! Take comfort: we’re freezing our bits off here in Newfoundland too. But we aren’t as cold as Labrador — now that’s holy moly deep-freezing. 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
I can’t take comfort in you freezing your bits off Jennifer, but it is a Canadian reality right? We can’t wish it away! Stay warm!
Diana xo
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Jennifer's Journal said:
First thing I thought of to say when I was dashing out the door. lol I suppose I thought misery loves company. 🙂
Minus 9 or 10 is better than Labrador’s minus 40 plus. 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes, it definitely makes me feel better to know that I’m not out in the cold alone! 😉
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Sheryl said:
You know that you live in a cold place when it is considered warm when the temperatures rise to “above zero temperatures.” 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
haha so true!
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rachelcarrera said:
Better late than never. 😀
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dianasschwenk said:
Only if it’s not the norm! Oops I guess I’ve revealed one of my pet peeves – people who are late!
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rachelcarrera said:
LOL! 🙂
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Wendy L. Macdonald said:
Diana, I guess I better not complain about the fog blanket here on the coast. At least it’s keeping us warm. I love the analogy you closed with.
Blessings ~ Wendy ❀
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks so much Wendy. When I lived in the Kamloops area, I felt less cold in -20c temperatures there than I did in single digits above 0 in Vancouver. The dampness of the coast chilled me to the bone!
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Wendy L. Macdonald said:
Thanks for sharing about the dampness. Now I don’t feel like a wimp for warming up my bed with a hot water bottle each night. Kamloops is my hometown. I haven’t lived there for over 25 yrs. Whereabouts did you live?
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dianasschwenk said:
Just up the mountain past Paul Lake. A little place called Pinantan Lake. Lived there about 7 or 8 years! Small world Wendy!
A couple of years ago, on Thanksgiving, I met an old friend in Kamloops for the weekend. We stayed at the newly renovated Plaza Hotel on Victoria Ave. We had a blast revisiting Kamloops and even drove up to Pinantan Lake to surprise old friends!
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Wendy L. Macdonald said:
Diana, small world, indeed. I went to a house party of a co-worker at Pinantan Lake back in 1980ish. What a lovely community. She had a house on the lake. I’ve always wondered if she still lived there. She’d be in her 60’s now and was my favorite person to work with. ❀ Thank you so much for sharing the link to my blog post on your Friday Pick. Hugs.
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dianasschwenk said:
My pleasure Wendy! We missed each other by about 3 years Wendy. I moved to Pinantan in 83 and then to Calgary in 90. ❤
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Alan A. Malizia: Contagious Optimism! Co-Author said:
Diana,
Cold is not a friend to me also. When winter hits it pretty much keeps me close to home. Often, to get to spring I imagine myself on a 3 month space voyage and return to Earth in April.
-Alan
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dianasschwenk said:
What a creative way to get through it Alan! ❤
Diana xo
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elizabeth2560 said:
I LOVE your analogy that life’s adversities are like holy-moly winters and at those times we should still enjoy life’s special moments. But what do you do when an I-can’t-feel-my-feet-and-hands-my-lips-are-frozen-to-my-teeth-and-it-hurts-my-lungs-to-inhale-the-air comes along?
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dianasschwenk said:
Climb under my comfy duvet and hibernate for a bit. ❤
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elizabeth2560 said:
Great idea 🙂
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bulldog said:
I’m not partial to the cold, but with our heat wave at the mo with 40 C and up at times, I might just wish for a bit of that white stuff you get…
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dianasschwenk said:
Well come on over bulldog! Maybe a house exchange would change your mind? haha
Diana xo
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Southern Sea Muse said:
Beautiful life analogy! May we all brave the holy-moly cold with as much appreciation as we do the Chinooks.
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dianasschwenk said:
I was thinking how funny it would be if you posted that as your Facebook status without any explanation! 😀
Diana xo
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markbialczak said:
All hail the Chinooks, Diana. I am a fan all the way east in Syracuse to lend my support for the rise in temperature, short as it may be. Tonight, flat 0 F here before wind chill. Gimme some Chinook, baby!
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dianasschwenk said:
Hey Mark, any time you want some Chinook, you know where to find it haha.
Hey I bet Denver gets Chinooks too, it’s so similar to Calgary there.
Diana xo
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f-stop mama said:
Looks alot like Indianapolis today, sunny skies but bitter cold. Although I’m sure your weather was colder. I have enjoyed snugging under the covers after venturing out a bit today. Hot tea is the perfect way to top it all off. Stay warm Diana!
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dianasschwenk said:
Actually during a Chinook it is unusually warm! It’s entirely possible that we were warmer than you today. We reached 8c which is about 47f. Did we win that one?
Tomorrow, however they’re calling for -16 which is about 3f.
Diana xo
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f-stop mama said:
Wow that is unusually warm. Tonight we are -20f with the wind chill, 1f without. Brrr, but I am oh so warm under my blanket!
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dianasschwenk said:
In the winter it is so hard for me to coax myself from under the blankets in the mornings!
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Val Boyko said:
May the Chinook be with you!
Who knew … ❤
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dianasschwenk said:
haha love that Val, it could sooooo be a Calgarian colloquialism! May the Chinook be with you as well! ❤
Diana xo
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Healing Grief said:
Sending you lots of warm love from Australia Diana! I do not like the cold!! But you are right, accept and live in the moment, this too shall pass. 🙂 🙂 xx
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Karen! Happily accepting your warmth! ❤
Diana xo
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joannerambling said:
I just told Blain to shut the damn door it is stinking bloody hot outside.
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dianasschwenk said:
Are you showing off Jo-Anne??!! Just teasin’ I’m just jealous. ❤
Diana xo
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pattyalcala said:
What a beautiful picture, Diana. I love your analogy. It is true that we must bathe in the sunshine when we can.
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Patty – your life is living example of just that, you’re so inspiring! ❤
Diana xo
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pattyalcala said:
Thank you!
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cyclingrandma said:
Catch the sun when you can! Stay warm! It’s freezing here too but maybe not as much as you.
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dianasschwenk said:
I know that you can get pretty cold winters there as well Lisa! Stay warm as well. ❤
Diana xo
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