The Winter of My Discontent?

So much for global warming; we have now had more snow and a longer period of cold than we had all last winter here in Southern Ontario.  Those forced to work out of doors are feeling the effects of this weather.  The dangers inherent in walking on icy, slippery surfaces and exposure to cold and frostbite are obvious but it is the less obvious effects that are more insidious and lasting.  Hands exposed to long periods of drying cold become chapped, crack, and bleed.  It becomes necessary to remember to use gloves when washing dishes to preserve the natural oils in one’s hands and to slather them with moisturizer on a regular basis. 

 

Long exposure to cold is fatiguing and the effects don’t become readily apparent until one returns to normal room temperatures.  Exposure to extreme cold can cause the body’s core temperature to drop and from personal experience I’ve learned to suspect this condition when I find myself making mistakes I would not normally commit and at that point getting inside to warm up becomes imperative.  I’ve been cold enough that the battery-operated watch on my wrist stopped working.  Other effects are no less significant but not normally discussed in polite society.  If you were to be on the work floor just before letter carriers are leaving to spend 3 to 4 hours walking up to 8 miles you would know that before departing the station a trip to the washroom is an essential last step.  Going, even if you don’t feel the need is an essential part of every letter carrier trainee’s education.  It’s something they probably don’t teach in “Posty School”.  What they also don’t teach is that exposure to cold can cause the bladder to spasm and force a search for the nearest rest room—it is at this point that being on good terms with one’s customers is important.  I have personally knocked on a few doors over the years. 

 

So far the Christmas rush is most apparent in the number of parcels we’ve had to process; the gang will work this weekend in an attempt to clear up the backlog.  In the previous week there was an enormous dump of admail—junk mail to those on the receiving end.  Thursday I made coffee for a United Way Sponsored Breakfast held at our station.  We have been most fortunate in that no one has been hurt despite the adverse walking conditions this week. 

 

On a more personal level this was a quiet week for the most part.  On Monday I patronized Swiss Chalet before going to Shoppers Drug to pick up medication.  I dined out at the Coach and Four, a decent local pub/restaurant in Bronte on Friday after work.  The rest of the week I managed to find something to eat at home.

 

Got brave on Tuesday and took my laptop along to take minutes during the Trafalgar Community Policing Committee Meeting.  We had a talk from Jackie Brennan on Identity Theft.  Among her recommendations:

 

1. Carry only one credit card and eliminate all unnecessary documents from you purse or wallet.

 

2. Photocopy the contents of your wallet.

 

3. Reduce your exposure by keeping your credit card limit at the lowest minimum practicable.

 

4. If you plan to travel call your credit card company and advise them to expect unusual purchases from unusual locations or you may have your credit frozen—for your own protection.

 

5. Change PIN Numbers regularly 

 

Most of us find it sufficient challenge just remembering Interact PIN’s and most never change them.  We are also advised to conceal our fingers while we enter that pin at the grocery checkout or at our auto-bank teller. 

 

Being the victim of Identity Theft is an alarming prospect.  Learning that once victimized the process of recovering will take a minimum of 1000 hours and leave one’s credit record forever problematic is nightmarish.  For more advice go here:

 

http://www.phonebusters.com/english/index.html

 

I will say that it was pleasant to leave that meeting with its minutes already complete.

 

On Wednesday I settled in here in front of my computer screen and watched an entire episode of the CBC series, The Tudors:

 

http://www.cbc.ca/tudors/fullEpisodesPlayer.html

 

I must say that seeing old ‘Enery the Eighth as a lustful, handsome, young stud is a novel idea.  This being CBC his bedroom exploits are tastefully handled. 

 

Thus, the week that was in my life.  Today I’m taking a relaxed approach to browsing, catching up on the world, and recuperating.