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In anticipation of the upcoming snowstorm we look if we can score some nice backcountry skis. Backcountry skis have metal edges so the grip better in the snow and also handle better in rougher terrain. Next week we want to do some multi-day trip with a backpack through the lesser frequented parts of Mont Trembalnt park.

We go to several stores and see if they have end-of-season deals. This picture is made in the “Poubelle de ski”, a big old warehouse filled to the rim with cheap skis. Unfortunately they don’t have what I want.

Even though the temperature is around zero, Anne and I drive to the Laurentians to see if we can do some cross country skiing. She has brought her skis and ski boots, so let’s try to get some use out of them. The coming week the weather predictions call for temperatures far above zero so it is probably our last chance.

After arriving at the ski centre I ask what type of wax they recommend.
“Klister,” they answer.
“Okay, can I buy some klister wax?”
“No, we don’t have it.”

So we leave with the softest wax I have under my skis. Anne has skis with fish scales on it and in this soft snow that certainly is an advantage. Halfway, when the snow has really warmed up and is almost melting under my skis, I have to work really hard to make progress and use my poles in order not to glide backwards. I try to re-apply some wax but it makes no difference.
Fortunately we are very close to a neighbouring ski centre and there they do sell klister wax. Klister wax is actually not a wax but a very sticky glue that doesn’t dry. It is really nasty stuff because it sticks to everything. And also to wet snow which makes it really nice in weather like today. I have never used it before, but now I can attest it works very well. It saves my day and the 6 km back to the car go flawlessly.

Anne, our guest from the Netherlands arrived yesterday and that was also the first day since November with temperatures above freezing. Rather unfortunate because one of the reasons she comes to Montréal is to go cross-country skiing with me.

So hopefully not all the snow will melt.

She doesn’t particularly likes dogs but still plays with Poupoune.

I haven’t written here in a while, and have a huge backloglog (pardon the pun) in pictures. Please forgive me, I’m terribly busy.

Anyway. I’ve been tagged again, this time by Frank, and I can’t wait a couple of weeks with my response, since he will be angry at me.

Here are the rules, they have to be included with this post:

People who get tagged must write in a blog of their own ten weird things or habits or little known facts about themselves as well as state this rule clearly. At the end you must choose six people to be tagged and list their names. No tag backs!

Here we go:

1. I almost always eat the same food for breakfast.
2. I generally don’t like small dogs.
3. I can bend my fingers very far back.
4. I don’t like crowds and don’t know many expensive words in English.
5. I often have lucid dreams.
6. For the past 3 weeks I had paint in my hair.
7. I sleep in pajamas. also in the summer.
8. I speak 5 languages badly.
9. I’m terrible with numbers.

I hereby tag Alison, Christelle, Beth, Zus and Pien.

That’s only five names, but they’re all women and I’m a contrarian. Also, I’m sure not many of them will follow up on this which is a good thing. If all five of them do, (and the 30 people they tag, and the next 180 et cetera) this meme will die very quickly by lack of blogs that haven’t been tagged. Ah well.

We’re expecting a guest from the Netherlands next week and we decided to use her as an excuse and a deadline to make the house nicer.

Because we were painting already we decided to paint the dining room as well. Not yellow, but light pink. The old colour was a drab brownish yellow, painted before Alison moved in to this apartment, so about 12 years ago. Time for a fresh layer of paint.

While we were at it I insisted on also removing the protruding rail that was installed halfway the walls and that could be used to display plates and other knick-knacks. I wanted to get rid of it because those plates, candles and various other things added a lot of clutter to an already dark and cluttered room.

The lower half of the walls, below the now removed rail, are covered with almost 80 year old pressed linoleum and the top of the walls are just plastered, so we needed something to cover the seam. We went to Home Depot and to my surprise and delight we found a wooden profile that was almost identical to the one that is used in the hallway.

It took some effort to come to an agreement with Alison on all these changes, but she’s happy with the result and so am I. And we were just in time for the arrival of our guest.

O joy.

One of the many uses of a chihuahua.

I’m painting the hallway bright yellow. Together with the new lights the corridor looks and feels much bigger. The actual painting is fun, but prepping the walls, filling holes and repairing blemishes is a tedious process and took way more time than I like.

After this I only have to do the living and dining room, then the house is totally painted, for the first time since Alison moved here about 13 years ago. The paint that is on the walls now is put there by her predecessors and only one, not completely covering, coat in an ugly brown. A job long overdue.

But before I start that I first want to built some bookcases, so my books can leave the boxes I’ve put them in, more than 3 years ago.

Being a landlord is not always fun. Two of our tennants had pumbing problems this week, so I spent quite some time with my head in the under-the-sink cabinet.

I replaced one sink strainer, two kitchen taps, a couple of rubber washers and I unclogged one bath tub.

I also installed a new baseboard heater and a thermostat to control it. Now we certainly have to raise the rents!

O, how Poupoune hates it when we put these doggy socks on her feet. She growls and tries to bite me, but most of the time Alison holds her tight so she can only growl harder.

When the socks are on, she often refuses to walk, and stretches one of her legs in the air. I understand they are uncomfortable, but they’re the first doggy socks that she actually doesn’t lose and that protect her from the snow, the salt and the gravel. Unfortunately I can’t explain that to her, and she has a hard time seeing the connection. When she leaves the house and runs in the snow everything is fine, but getting those things on is a major hassle and requires two persons. So Poupoune doesn’t get the amount of walks she wants.

The other day I took her outside without the socks on and the salt on the sidewalk hurt her so much that she stopped in her tracks with both paws in the air, sitting on her hind legs, and softly whimpering. Genuine Pepe behaviour, not typical for Poupoune. I had to pick her up and carry her home, stared at by passers-by.

Target marketing gone bad:

1) we buy a lot of diapers because Pepe… has a little problem with peeing outside when it is so cold.
2) we buy them at Jean Coutu and show our Airmiles card.
3) we must have an incontinency problem.

So today we got a special offer from Jean Coutu/Airmiles for extra Airmiles if we buy Tena adult diapers. We asked Pepe if he’d like that, but he immediately hid in his dogbed. He’s a bit ashamed about his problem, I guess.