The path through the park presents a contrast to the city streets and sidewalks: it’s not covered in ice, or at least, not as much. I enjoyed being able to walk part of the way to work without being concerned about falling–or, rather, making a hard landing.
It was hard to hear the chickadees and chattering squirrels over the roar of the heating plant that serves the provincial legislature and associated buildings. Multiple plumes of smoke or steam were pouring out of the plant’s stacks to go along with the noise. I wondered what the racket and smoke were about. What was being burned? Important documents? Campaign promises? Political integrity? Who can say?
My friend Pat McPhillips suggests buying boots from a manufacturer in Quebec which puts a retractable metal cleat in the sole. I visited the company’s web site. It’s an ingenious idea; I think I’ll order a pair. If nothing else, they’ll keep me from complaining about icy sidewalks for the rest of the winter.