November 16, 2006

Thursday Thirteen #21: This Week’s Storms


Header Graphic by Yellow Rose's Garden
They don't call it the wet coast for nothing, and this week Vancouver has lived up to that moniker. I swear, no one small-talked past the weather the past few days. These are just a few things I saw/heard/noticed...
  1. Public garbage cans became nothing more than umbrella graveyards.

  2. The evening news casts gave a huge portion of their time to rain-related news, and in one case used it as another opportunity to talk about climate change and Canada's role.

  3. There was much less mockery at the sight of dogs with raincoats and booties. Also saw several dogs in those coats and booties being carefully tucked inside coats or carried in blankets so they wouldn’t get wet or cold. Aww.

  4. Myriad of folks wore garbage bags as a layer of protection between them and the elements.

  5. Puddle jumping became an extreme sport.

  6. Walking home was a battle between human and nature, and felt like a grade school math problem (If Ms. Cin is walking home at X kilometers per hour but the wind is whipping past her at Y kilometers per hour, how much longer will it take her to get home?)

  7. All but the most intrepid tourists went shopping or otherwise stayed indoors.

  8. Had coworkers whose families had to be evacuated from their homes in West Van and Chilliwack.

  9. Found myself calling family and friends in outlying areas to make sure they and their homes were ok.

  10. Noticed that the major department stores are carrying more of the full-sized English-style umbrellas than ever before. Smart move – they stand up to wind and heavy rain much better. Bonus – they’re great for mock sword fights, which I saw a few of this week.

  11. It rained so hard even the die-hard hot dog vendor outside of London Drugs at Robson and W. Georgia stayed home.

  12. Several stores smelled like wet woolies. And wet dog.

  13. Human kindness showed its face; several kind-hearted people helped their older or less-abled counterparts maneuver the flooded street corners and giant puddles. In one case, I even saw a gentleman give his umbrella to an older lady whose umbrella had just broken.

    UPDATE: Well, now it looks like our water quality has been affected. Check out the media release from the GVRD... Filtered water anyone?
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Tug
2. Lindsey
3. Julie
4. Starrlight
5. Elisa
6. Tvaddictgurl
7. Sweet Kitty
8. Caylynn
9. Ruth
10. KuanYin
11. Chelle Y
12. K T Cat
13. Yellow Rose's Garden
14. ancsweetnsassygal
15. Leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

15 comments:

Tug said...

Yucka...sounds, well...WET. Hope you dry out!!

Happy TT!

http://justtug.blogspot.com

Lindsey said...

Yikes!

Note to self: Check the weather report before visiting Vancouver...

Julie Q. said...

These are very amusing. I love the image of sword fighting with the sturdy umbrellas. I think between that and the puddles, my kids would be in heaven there!

Cinnamon Girl said...

I'm in Oregon, Cin. We are feeling it too. Great list!

Elisa said...

Great list! Yuck on all the rain, though.

http://elisaadams.livejournal.com

Anonymous said...

Hope you're drying out today. We've got beautiful blue skies down here in Seattle, but there's another storm system moving in this weekend.

http://tvaddictgurl.livejournal.com

Sonny said...

"There will be sunshine after the rain..."

Smile and you wipe the rainy clouds away!!

Nice list!
Greetings from Germany,
Sonny

P.S: See my list at http://sweetlikekitty.blogspot.com

Caylynn said...

We've been following the Canadian news (most of our friends and family are back in Canada) and we've seen and read the reports about the insane amounts of rain in parts of BC.

Mock sword-fights? I wouldn't want to get wet! Nice that people are being kind to each other during the horrible weather, which I'm sure hasn't helped anyone's mood.

I hope you dry out soon!

momsmusings said...

I heard about the weather out there. Power outs and cancelled schools too. Wow!! Happy TT!

kuanyin333 said...

Happy TT! I love Vancouver...one of the most beautiful cities I've ever visited! I'm sure I would still love it even with the rain. Hope some sun will peek through soon for ya.

Kuanyin from www.mamamaui.blogspot.com

K T Cat said...

Rain? How perfectly dreadful. We had that once here in San Diego a long time ago. I don't recommend it. It gets in the way of surfing.

My TT is up.

YellowRose said...

We've had rain, but not like you have had!! Yuck!

Thanks for visiting the "Garden!"

Anonymous said...

Numbers 5 and 6 are hilarious! Hope you dry out soon.

Come visit my 13 @ http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-a4SO9mwwdaU7Mx0y0sc41xICV60MtPeDvA--?cq=1

Anonymous said...

Thank you for all your kind words everyone!

We're expecting another storm system on Sunday, so I expect life will continue to be soggier than usual for a while. Wonder if I could knit myself an ark?

Anonymous said...

Great reporting Cin. I feel like I'm right there, except, wait, I'm dry!

The doggies carried is so cute. For their next breezing direction, the legs will become purely decorative, like dewtoes.