Cold Weather Comeback

Last Thursday night saw a significant shuffling of cars and unraveling of extension cords in our household, as the overnight low approached 40 below zero, Celsius.

The Jeep that Glory drives to work at the diner was booked in for emissions recall the next morning, and the block heater cord on the Flex had been torn off somehow prior to the previous winter. This meant the older Ford needed to be brought into the garage and the Jeep plugged in out front to ensure both vehicles would start the next day (which, mercifully, both did).

Having the day off felicitated this, a trip to Costco, and the ability to pick Glory up at the end of her school day so she wouldn't have to wait at the bus stop in weather bitterly cold even for Edmonton.

Less than 24 hours later, however, it had warmed up enough that Canéla and I actually made it to the dog park for the first time this week. The cold and snow required dressing her up in her jacket and boots ("Muttlucks"), something she is not fond of in the slightest, but which was achieved without bloodshed.

The wind kept it a bit below -20° C, but once we passed through the double gate at Lauderdale Off-Leash Park, she spent most of her time there on the run, playing with several other dogs (for a change).

I've been bringing the clicker and treat bag with me to try to improve her recall, and while I don't appreciate how much more food-motivated she appears to be these days (not leaving strangers who have given her treats, etc.), watching her come running towards me is still pretty rewarding.

There are so many more important things to talk about at the moment that it honestly feels quasi-irresponsible to spend one of my weekly blog posts talking about simple successes and basic joy despite the best efforts of the cold. 

But all the important stuff - the Alberta Sovereignty Act, the growing healthcare crisis, the enabling of fascists and anti-democracy types in social media and elsewhere - they all make me angry, and there are enough other, smarter, people writing about them that taking time to focus on a happy dog running to me across the snow felt like the right choice after a really enjoyable weekend.