The other night I wore jeans and boots for the first time since, I don't know, probably May? I love the boots though so didn't really mind- new Lara's from Browns. My feet, which have been happily free in flip-flops all summer, were not as impressed by the shiny leather as I was.
Paddling has been INSANE these past few days. Huge waves on the lake - it's been so much fun. Last night as I paddled into the 40-60km winds and ridiculous waves it occured to me that my son has no idea what I'm doing. I'm sure he pictures me paddling up the river in a leisurely fashion, maybe wearing a sun hat and gardening gloves. I don't know. Damn, I wish I'd had my camera this week. Anyway, I strapped on my ankle leash, adjusted my headband and headed out into mayhem. The waves were really...disorganized...so I paddled straight out. I met up with Stringer about 3 km out and he yelled something into the wind. I finally got it on the repeat, he was heading in after this run. Conditions were so bad that the fishing boats weren't even out there. Not one. There had a been a few the preceeding days (mostly racing for the port) which is nerve-wracking when the waves are so big. I'm not always confident they can see the outrigger sliding up and down the waves, peaks and valleys. I don't want to get creamed by a cabin cruiser. This night I only stayed out there for an hour but the wind was really ramping up and whipping the lake into a frenzy. I was still having fun but it was becoming a struggle. Once the percentage of work vs fun got to 80-20, I called it a night.
I came home and grabbed some yoghurt. No time for dinner, I had some serious shopping to do - a list that was in my head for a few weeks or months. I went to Home Outfitters and got new linens, a standing mirror, a lamp for my bedside table and then I dropped by Chapters to pick up a Starbucks mocha, some magazines and paperbacks. Last long weekend of the summer, I need reading material! I'd been home just long enough to getthe stuff out of the car, get downstairs with a drink, when the power went off. For 3.5 hours! Good thing I know where to find matches and at least one candle. Actually, I was surprised at how many candles I have around the house. I thought I'd packed them all up or thrown them out. By the time I gathered them all together, I was able to sit and read in the living room. Sadly, they're all scented candles which just tells you what a sucker I am for pretty packaging and smells. My house smells like vanilla-blueberry-musk-lilac-and some unknown scent from one I got at a candle party. Candle parties...now there's a definite sign of the decline of western civilization...
In a blackout you need a couple of things or it's boring. boring. boring. A man and... um...okay, one thing. This was the longest blackout I've had to suffer through alone in years. During the last major blackout, we were all at a db party at Rob's bar, The Underground, having a blast. We were actually sitting on the rooftop of the upstairs bar because the Underground had flooded (or closed due to underage drinkers, I can't remember which).
This time, home alone, no man, no wireless radio...(the wind-up radio/flashlight I bought at CAA last year broke on the first 2 cranks). I walked up to the corner around 11:30 and saw that the lights went out around Jack Darling and were on again around Carrie and Attila’s. Just one straight dark strip from the lake north through Lorne Park. I considered going to a Tim Horton’s somewhere but decided to just go to bed. I sat on the steps for a little while watching the sky. Without the lights, you could see the black storm clouds roiling over Lake Ontario. It looked terrifying and I considered what it might be like to be out there in the waves in the dark.
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