deathpixie: (climbing)
Rossi ([personal profile] deathpixie) wrote2009-01-16 09:57 am
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Getting to work - an epic tale

So, last night there was a blackout, caused by a flooded power station. We lost power at around 10 p.m. (apologies to those in chat the roomie and I were talking to at the time!) which meant no lights and more importantly, no heat. Luckily our apartment is a small toaster oven of a place, so we kept the windows closed, lit some candles and I went to bed early.

Power came on again around 6:30 a.m. - I was woken up by the exhaust fan from Pizza Pizza downstairs turning back on. The roomie came and woke me around 7:40-ish with the news that the subway was down still, and shuttle buses were being used, which meant traffic was going to be hell and it'd take longer to get to work than usual. No problems, I got up and left the house by about 8:15 and took myself to the bus stop.

Now, something to remember is Toronto has had double-digit negative temperatures for most of the week. Outside it was clear and sunny, which meant that the air temperature was lower than it has been for those previous days, and the forecast had been for -16 C. Waiting at the bus stop, it became very clear that I wasn't about to be getting on a bus any time soon - four went past and didn't stop, too full to even think about it. I was freezing my legs off (the rest of me was toasty) and it was a nice morning, so I decided to walk a few stops down the line and see how long it took.

It's 3.4 km from Runnymede to Dufferin. That's how long it took for a bus to arrive that wasn't full to the gills. I wound up walking alongside a nice bloke called Martin, who originally came from Ottawa, and we chatted along the way which made things go faster, but I was glad for the bus since my legs were getting a bit too cold. It took maybe a half hour to get to St. George, and I set off again, since the bus wasn't going any further, walking to Bay St. and then down to Wellesley, where I work. That one was harder - it's windier downtown, so it was colder, and my lack of breakfast (I've discovered I can't eat first thing in the morning, the meds make me too nauseous) was starting to impact. I finally rocked into work at 9:40 a.m., an hour and almost a half after I'd left the house. I'm about to go down and get coffee and something to eat, and my legs are slowly regaining sensation. The rest of me is fine and toasty. :)

Hopefully the subway's back up and running by this afternoon!
ext_175209: unicorn vs redbull (lu//pretty - me)

[identity profile] ceemonster.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 03:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Eep! This is why I could never survive in Canada. And you didn't miss anything in the chat -- just a discussion of Jason Priestley's mustache, I believe.

[identity profile] tywyllwch.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 03:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Thermals and/or thick cotton/wool tights under your pants is totally your friend. You should so know this. *hugs* Good luck defrosting. At least you're at work and they have heat. Meanwhile, it's supposed to be about 20.5C here today so I won't be sharing your pain but I have memories of brrr!cold if it helps.

[identity profile] nute.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 03:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, trudging. Builds character, good for the soul.

[identity profile] seraangel.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I did wonder why you guys dropped off so suddenly. Good to know the power did eventually come back on okay though.

[identity profile] technophobia.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
That is a pretty epic tale. Yay for walking and striking up a random conversation with someone! That's always fun.

[identity profile] technophobia.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Extra awesome! Glad you're feeling good about yourself. :D
ext_175209: unicorn vs redbull (xp // lil kills spidey - me)

[identity profile] ceemonster.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 04:25 pm (UTC)(link)
lol yuh. We did a comparison.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v301/caitlish/xmen/?action=view¤t=jasonprelfi.jpg compared to http://www.marvel.com/universe/Jeffries,_Madison

Perfect.

'Cept Lil says he grew the facial hair after she left because she would have taken a razor to it herself.

For the lulz:
Cate : it was too perfect
Frito : Oh my LORD that's perfect.
Frito : I think Lil should divorce him over that stache, myself.
Cate : I like to think he grew it after she left. xD
Frito : I have this funny mental picture of if we ever get a player for him the test log being Garrison going "Shave it. TRUST ME."
Cate : Awesome.

[identity profile] stratford-girl.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 04:26 pm (UTC)(link)
You live above a Pizza Pizza?!?!? AWESOME!

Ugh boo subway station and buses that don't stop! And omg what a walk! Glad you made it okay in the end though :) I definitely have some sympathy for you and the cold now. Not much, as it's still -40something here, but some ;D

[identity profile] technophobia.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 04:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Dammit, now I have King of Spain stuck in my head.

[identity profile] technophobia.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 04:35 pm (UTC)(link)
What is it with NPCs and bad 'staches in this game? :D

[identity profile] stratford-girl.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
...
I don't know what that means...

[identity profile] technophobia.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 04:38 pm (UTC)(link)
And you call yourself a Canadian?

[identity profile] sephirajo.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, that sounds like a fun adventure right there. Makes me glad I drive into work... though today that wasn't the funnest thing either, given how long it took me to start and thaw out my car.

The joys of cold weather, right?

[identity profile] seraangel.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 04:59 pm (UTC)(link)
(blech) You'd think they would have some sort of backup for these things. The people in power have obviously not been watching 'The perfect storm' on Discovery channel and realising that Canada gets really cold sometimes.

[identity profile] fixeight.livejournal.com 2009-01-16 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
If you guys need a place to stay, I can always bring you over here. We have a futon and Ian's bed is nice a cosy (but you'll be sleeping next to Ian's crib heh). Just let me know if you guys need it.

[identity profile] tywyllwch.livejournal.com 2009-01-17 08:56 am (UTC)(link)
It's always easier to go into the bathroom to take off clothing than it is to be fucking freezing for a significant enough part of the day to be of note.