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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 9 to 33 of 33. Go back in thread:
Posted by Cam W. on January 5, 2002, at 17:16:12
In reply to Canadian weather » Mitch, posted by IsoM on January 5, 2002, at 14:06:34
;^)
IsoM - I kinda like the weather we get. It can take your mind off of your troubles, at times (ie. thoughts are literally sucked out my those huge "mother lows" - low pressure systems - from the Arctic).
We spend time in San Francisco every few years and I find it remarkable that no matter what time of year you go, no matter what day, the daily temperatures are exactly the same (low 54F; high 74F). The only planning you have to make is if it is going to rain lightly or heavily. I mentioned this to the afterwork crowd in Tappe's Sutter Street Bar (I like the owner Mike; the old crusty curmugeon) and they didn't even realize that they didn't notice the daily temperature (of course, it could have been the daily beer quota that they had).
I think the worst job anyone could have on the prairies is that of weather-person. The best meterologist, with the best equipment is always wrong. On local T.V. we have a sweet young meteorologist, who did not realize that she was still on air, used the "f"-word after a telecast. She was forgiven, probably because of our changeable conditions. Her stock went up in my book anyway (gotta like those nasty girls with the prim and proper exteriors).
Anyway, living on the prairies, you make sure you are prepared for all 12 months. All you need is one box in the trunk of the car. It contains: a tool kit, a map (local & provincial), a first aid kit, jumper cables, fold-up shovel, sandbag, old ski pants, old sweater, Gortex™ mitts, toque, rain slicker, rubber boots, sunblock, and an AMA card (AAA equiv.). See, there you are, ready for any day in June.
One problem with really cold weather (< 30C), one can find many reasons not to scoop dog poop. When warmer weather does come, you have to make sure that you get outside before it is too warm so they don't go soft, but warm enough that the snow on top has melted some, so they are easier to locate.
Why I Like The Prairies - By Cam
>
> But I did spend some years on the Canadian prairies - hoo boy! That's a winter! Five months of winter & the other seven months divided among spring (the mud season), summer (very hot & lots of mosquitoes, black flies, & grasshoppers), & fall (the bare trees, brown grass, & never-know what's-next weather).
>
> Highs could sometime reach 40C (104F) in summer & lows -40C (-40F too) in winter. Honestly! I found it so weird. One spring in mid-May with the flowering lilacs beautifully scenting the air, a hot, windy weekend came & all the lilac flowers were burnt brown.
Posted by susan C on January 5, 2002, at 18:13:41
In reply to Re: Canadian weather - Wimp! » IsoM, posted by Cam W. on January 5, 2002, at 17:16:12
Posted by Mitch on January 5, 2002, at 18:46:29
In reply to Re: Canadian weather - Wimp! » IsoM, posted by Cam W. on January 5, 2002, at 17:16:12
> ;^)
>
> IsoM - I kinda like the weather we get. It can take your mind off of your troubles, at times (ie. thoughts are literally sucked out my those huge "mother lows" - low pressure systems - from the Arctic).
Cam, IsoM,I got a question about Saskatchewan. When I was about seven or eight my Dad told our family that he had the option to transfer and we would have to move to Canada. He told us that it would be in Saskatchewan. I think he said the town was Prince Albert. Is that right? Anyhow, he had a habit of drinking a little too much and telling us kids wild stories. I was just wondering-is there quite a bit of logging activity in that area? He was working for a big lumber company at the time. I just wonder if he was "kidding" us or not.
Mitch
Posted by paula on January 5, 2002, at 20:13:51
In reply to Re: Canadian weather - Wimp! » IsoM, posted by Cam W. on January 5, 2002, at 17:16:12
Every time it snows or sleets in Memphis, folks flock to the stores to stock up on milk and bread. I mean any amount of frozen precipitation at all. And I do mean stock up--the TV news usually has footage of empty shelves and frantic shoppers.
And about the tough job of predicting the weather: Did y'all hear about a Brazilian meteorologist is being SUED by the president(? prime minister?) for incorrectly predicting terrible storms on New Years. Talk about on-the-job pressure! --p (writing from Chicago where only today we finally got a little snow that's sticking....)
>
> I think the worst job anyone could have on the prairies is that of weather-person. The best meterologist, with the best equipment is always wrong. On local T.V. we have a sweet young meteorologist, who did not realize that she was still on air, used the "f"-word after a telecast. She was forgiven, probably because of our changeable conditions. Her stock went up in my book anyway (gotta like those nasty girls with the prim and proper exteriors).
>
Posted by Cam W. on January 5, 2002, at 21:24:27
In reply to Re: Canadian weather - Saskatchewan question, posted by Mitch on January 5, 2002, at 18:46:29
Mitch - Saskatchewan is pure prairie for the most part. There was an old joke that when you moved from another province you had to take pictures of trees to remember what they looked like.
The dust storms of the "Dirty Thiries" was especially bad in Sask. because there were no windbreaks to trap the topsoil. Most farms do have windbreaks (rows of trees) planted around them, now.
I'm not sure; there might be some logging near Prince Albert, in the north part of the province, but it is rather swampy up there. The fishing's great; but you have to fly in on pontoon-equipped planes. Northern Alberta and Northern British Columbia are the main logging areas, I believe, especially near the Rocky Mountains.
From the air Saskatchewan and Alberta look completely different. Saskatchewan is all prairie grass and Alberta is all bush.
BTW, Prince Albert use to be known for its good junior hockey program. Some fairly tough teams came out of that little backwater.
- Cam
Posted by Mitch on January 5, 2002, at 21:53:55
In reply to Re: Canadian weather - Saskatchewan question » Mitch, posted by Cam W. on January 5, 2002, at 21:24:27
> Mitch - Saskatchewan is pure prairie for the most part. There was an old joke that when you moved from another province you had to take pictures of trees to remember what they looked like.
>
> The dust storms of the "Dirty Thiries" was especially bad in Sask. because there were no windbreaks to trap the topsoil. Most farms do have windbreaks (rows of trees) planted around them, now.
I remember driving out to Kansas (last trip), and when I got into the most BFE part of the trip it was rolling grassy hills and there were no trees(my favorite part). I remember one spot where there was one lone dead tree like a dark hand at the top of a hillside. There were locals who had put up "sillhouette sculptures" of Native Americans on horseback and it made my day.
>
> I'm not sure; there might be some logging near Prince Albert, in the north part of the province, but it is rather swampy up there. The fishing's great; but you have to fly in on pontoon-equipped planes. Northern Alberta and Northern British Columbia are the main logging areas, I believe, especially near the Rocky Mountains.
>
> From the air Saskatchewan and Alberta look completely different. Saskatchewan is all prairie grass and Alberta is all bush.>
> BTW, Prince Albert use to be known for its good junior hockey program. Some fairly tough teams came out of that little backwater.
>
> - CamThe first hockey game I ever saw was the Wichita Thunder playing the Tulsa, OK team. They won! I was really excited.
Mitch
Posted by susan C on January 5, 2002, at 22:06:34
In reply to Re: Canadian weather - Saskatchewan question » Cam W., posted by Mitch on January 5, 2002, at 21:53:55
Posted by Mitch on January 5, 2002, at 22:27:45
In reply to Northwesterners are called Tree Huggers (nm) » Mitch, posted by susan C on January 5, 2002, at 22:06:34
So,...Now we need a new TV series called "Northwestern Exposure"???
Are there lemmings up there- mouselike ?
Posted by sid on January 6, 2002, at 15:45:20
In reply to Snow, posted by paxvox on January 4, 2002, at 12:53:05
I'm from the north and I thought people in DC acted weird in the snow - must be REALLY weord in the South then!
"Chances of snow tomorrow in DC" = no more bread or milk in grocery stores. I never thought snow could be so scary before.> Sorry, I know to most of you, snow is not that uncommon, but here in South Carolina, it is rare. Anyway, we had a nice 6" snowfall Wed/Thur. You REALLY can tell when people have "issues" when you see them down here in the snow. I grew up in DC, so snow was no big deal, but boy howdy, do folk act weird in the South when it snows! Makes me feel more normal to see others in panic for a change (just kidding).
>
> PAX
Posted by susan C on January 6, 2002, at 21:40:49
In reply to Re: Northwesterners, Tree Huggers, NWExposure.. » susan C, posted by Mitch on January 5, 2002, at 22:27:45
Posted by Mitch on January 6, 2002, at 23:04:59
In reply to The snipe hunt is held annually at low tide (nm) » Mitch, posted by susan C on January 6, 2002, at 21:40:49
Posted by Cam W. on January 7, 2002, at 0:08:33
In reply to Broiled snipe is best-bumperstickers being issued (nm) » susan C, posted by Mitch on January 6, 2002, at 23:04:59
Posted by IsoM on January 7, 2002, at 1:43:56
In reply to Re: Canadian weather » IsoM, posted by Mitch on January 5, 2002, at 14:31:24
Ah, Mitch - don't listen to Cam. He's been frost-bitten too many times. A good pharmacist he is but he'd make a crappy meteorologist. Besides, he said I was a wimp. (How do I make a little smilie with a lower lip hanging down??)
Sure Kansas' weather sounds like the Can. Prairies, they're both prairie regions, but I think Kansas does get hotter in summer & while lots of tornado warnings are given out in hot, humid weather, the place I lived in was just at the very edge of Tornado Alley & I never experienced one.As for logging in Prince Albert, yes! The first sawmill was opened in 1877 & at one time "logging crews of over 2000 men were employed during the winter in the Prince Albert area to cut & pile logs in one location. As many as 400,000 logs would be piled waiting for the spring thaw."
Your Dad wasn't pulling your leg. The Northern forest has much smaller trees though than you find on the West coast.
**********************************************************************************************
>
> Wow, I am from Kansas and it was a lot like that living there. Also, wind that just never..stops. I remember reading a book when I was in elementary school-"The Endless Steppe"-about the Ukrainian or central Asian steppes/grasslands. I was joking with someone about the heat out there in Kansas this summer when I visited family-"I might as well have been in Kazakhstan!". I haven't been on the Pacific side of the continent yet. I may have to fly to Long Beach in March. Eeek, not looking forward to being in a plane.
Posted by Mitch on January 7, 2002, at 11:32:07
In reply to Re: more Canadian weather » Mitch, posted by IsoM on January 7, 2002, at 1:43:56
> Ah, Mitch - don't listen to Cam. He's been frost-bitten too many times. A good pharmacist he is but he'd make a crappy meteorologist. Besides, he said I was a wimp. (How do I make a little smilie with a lower lip hanging down??)
> Sure Kansas' weather sounds like the Can. Prairies, they're both prairie regions, but I think Kansas does get hotter in summer & while lots of tornado warnings are given out in hot, humid weather, the place I lived in was just at the very edge of Tornado Alley & I never experienced one.
>
> As for logging in Prince Albert, yes! The first sawmill was opened in 1877 & at one time "logging crews of over 2000 men were employed during the winter in the Prince Albert area to cut & pile logs in one location. As many as 400,000 logs would be piled waiting for the spring thaw."
>
> Your Dad wasn't pulling your leg. The Northern forest has much smaller trees though than you find on the West coast.
Thanks for that info! He was a carpenter and mainly worked framing windows and doors. He then got a job with this lumber distributing company (which had steadier work and benefits) and started assembling prefab/prehung windows and doors. They evidently had openings for a lumber mill in Saskatchewan. The company was called Simpson Lumber-no telling what they are now.Oh, about tornadoes. I have just seen two and they were hanging out of clouds not on the ground. However, when I lived in Wichita there were about two tornado warnings every week during the middle of tornado season (March-July). When the big Oklahoma City tornado hit, the suburb of Wichita that I lived in (Haysville) got hit too. It wiped out about half of the town. Our house was near the railroad tracks in the middle of town. It got wiped off the foundation-nothing left. There was three story church dating from around 1920 that got wiped clean a block away-all that was left was a little pile of bricks where the chimney was.
Mitch
Posted by Willow on January 7, 2002, at 12:59:19
In reply to Re: I like my snipe hot off the manifold! (nm), posted by Cam W. on January 7, 2002, at 0:08:33
Cams so hot the whole prairies are warming up into the double digits and we're well into January. Blow some of your heat my way, we hit -20c last night!
Cracking Willow
Posted by IsoM on January 7, 2002, at 14:09:33
In reply to Re: more Canadian weather » IsoM, posted by Mitch on January 7, 2002, at 11:32:07
When I lived on the Prairies, I freaked so badly during tonado weather. I think the electricity in the air affected me easily. You could put me in a dark, windowless room & I could predict when an electric storm was moving in by the way my skin crawled & my 'antsiness'.
Now I only have to worry about the "Big One" (earthquake) coming here. We're a hundred years overdue for one on the magnitude of 8 or 9 on the Richter scale!
**************************************************************************************************
> Oh, about tornadoes. I have just seen two and they were hanging out of clouds not on the ground. However, when I lived in Wichita there were about two tornado warnings every week during the middle of tornado season (March-July). When the big Oklahoma City tornado hit, the suburb of Wichita that I lived in (Haysville) got hit too. It wiped out about half of the town. Our house was near the railroad tracks in the middle of town. It got wiped off the foundation-nothing left. There was three story church dating from around 1920 that got wiped clean a block away-all that was left was a little pile of bricks where the chimney was.
>
> Mitch
Posted by IsoM on January 7, 2002, at 14:11:00
In reply to Re: I like my snipe hot off the manifold!, posted by Willow on January 7, 2002, at 12:59:19
Posted by Willow on January 7, 2002, at 22:45:58
In reply to Where Do You Live, Willow??? It's +15C here (nm), posted by IsoM on January 7, 2002, at 14:11:00
Iso
Your name translates in Finnish to big. Just thought I'd throw that in.
I'm in the middle of Ontario, considered north. The temp went up to -12c and it was sunny, so the furnace didn't need to go much on during peak sun hours. For Wednesday they are forecasting +2c, I'm just praying we don't lose any snow. It's been scarce this year because of the unseasonly warm weather.
Whistling Willow
Posted by Mitch on January 8, 2002, at 0:04:26
In reply to Re: Tornadoes Earthquakes » Mitch, posted by IsoM on January 7, 2002, at 14:09:33
> When I lived on the Prairies, I freaked so badly during tonado weather. I think the electricity in the air affected me easily. You could put me in a dark, windowless room & I could predict when an electric storm was moving in by the way my skin crawled & my 'antsiness'.
>
> Now I only have to worry about the "Big One" (earthquake) coming here. We're a hundred years overdue for one on the magnitude of 8 or 9 on the Richter scale!
I read an article in Popular Science eons ago about earthquakes and all the different seismic waves they make, etc. The interesting thing (which is somewhat of a corollary to tornado chasing) they talked about in the article had to do with being in an open field when a big earthquake struck. They said it was generally safe because nothing was going to fall on you and it would great fun to "ride out" the earthquake. I work with someone who is from LA and tells me all sorts of weird quake stories, but I think they would be interesting (being in the country of course)!Mitch
Posted by Mitch on January 8, 2002, at 0:07:31
In reply to It's +15C here » IsoM, posted by Willow on January 7, 2002, at 22:45:58
> Iso
>
> Your name translates in Finnish to big. Just thought I'd throw that in.
>
> I'm in the middle of Ontario, considered north. The temp went up to -12c and it was sunny, so the furnace didn't need to go much on during peak sun hours. For Wednesday they are forecasting +2c, I'm just praying we don't lose any snow. It's been scarce this year because of the unseasonly warm weather.
>
> Whistling WillowWillow,
Did you see that movie "Night on Earth"-the part with the Finnish taksi driver? That is one of my favorites. I wonder if we have any lurkers from Helsinki out there...
Mitch
Posted by IsoM on January 8, 2002, at 2:21:20
In reply to It's +15C here » IsoM, posted by Willow on January 7, 2002, at 22:45:58
Well, of course, you're Whistling Willow. That's what the wind does through the willows at this time of year. :)
Yeah, I know that part of Ontario - brrr. Pretty cold for me. I've had relatives there so been to visit a few times.
Iso...that's funny - big. I'll prefer to think big-hearted. I picked it for isomorphix, a take on a biology term for my user name for forums.
> Iso
>
> Your name translates in Finnish to big. Just thought I'd throw that in.
>
> I'm in the middle of Ontario, considered north. The temp went up to -12c and it was sunny, so the furnace didn't need to go much on during peak sun hours. For Wednesday they are forecasting +2c, I'm just praying we don't lose any snow. It's been scarce this year because of the unseasonly warm weather.
>
> Whistling Willow
Posted by Willow on January 8, 2002, at 9:12:57
In reply to Re: It's +15C here » Willow, posted by Mitch on January 8, 2002, at 0:07:31
Mitch
Wasn't that great? I liked the part in France or was it Italy? (A great part of being ill for me is I'm able to watch movies a second time now because I don't realize I've watched them or perhaps it's because there's no memorable parts in them.) It was from watching this movie that I realized that it wasn't just my family that cursed a lot, the whole finnish dialogue was cursing.
By the way, one of my father's cousins is a professional bank robber by trade. He's in prison now or has spent some time there, I don't know if he has changed occupations. My uncle was driving a cab, a mercedes, he too has had a change of trade. So cousin calls uncle for a ride, family right. A police chase ends with the both of them in jail. Since then my uncle has taken up rally driving as a hobby, it too is big in Finland. This uncle is the youngest of three boys, grandma went and fetched him out of jail.
This story also reminds of me of the time my parents were doing the hippy thing. They moved the family from Toronto to the backwoods of northern Ontario, probably were just craving some more birch trees, I recall having one big one that we'd climb in our backyard in Toronto. (I too had two older brothers. And someone had peeled a deep chunk of the bark off the tree. We got a lecture on the importance of a trees bark.) Years later around the time my father became ill the little town bank was robbed. My mom had parked next to it meanwhile shopping at the little store. The police showed up at our house asking about what she had been doing. A good thing they were so hyped that they never asked for her driver's license because at the time she never had one.
Rambling Willow
Posted by Willow on January 8, 2002, at 9:15:58
In reply to Northern Ont Girl » Willow, posted by IsoM on January 8, 2002, at 2:21:20
I was thinking the same thing! Proof that great minds do think alike.
Big Trunked Willow
(my age must be starting to show, when I was younger I was willowy)
Posted by Mitch on January 8, 2002, at 10:14:26
In reply to Night on Earth » Mitch, posted by Willow on January 8, 2002, at 9:12:57
Posted by IsoM on January 8, 2002, at 13:11:42
In reply to Big Hearted! » IsoM, posted by Willow on January 8, 2002, at 9:15:58
This is the end of the thread.
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