“Yay! the Geese are back!”

Canadian Geese swimming in water. On the top is a pair of ducks. Photo: April 28, 2007

It’s not that I love the Canada Goose a lot. They make the whole place crappy after a while and can be quite aggressive when in large groups, making it quite annoying (and sometimes risky) to walk on the grass.

But I was happy, because the arrival of the Geese signaled the arrival of…. wait for it… here it comes… Spring!

During winter, these birds migrate to warmer regions towards the south (i.e. USA). Only a couple of weeks back I was in New York and it looked like the Geese had taken over the city.

Canadian Geese in New York. Photo: March 24, 2008

There are still large chunks of steadily melting snow on the open areas. It’s about 0°C today and I hope it gets warmer soon. Nevertheless I suddenly feel that Toronto is alive again… Welcome Spring

If you are an extremist Hindu OR a self-declared-guardian-of-religion OR someone who imposes their ideas of right and wrong, then buzz off.

I woke up to loud noises today morning at 5. Out of curiosity, I went to the window of my bedroom to checkout what was happening. It was too foggy but I could see lot of dust in the air. Suddenly a mid size branch of a tree came zooming by and crashed on my window. Although I was safe indoors, by reflex action I ducked. FYI, my apartment is on the 17th floor, so I am sure someone cannoned the tree branch. In a microsecond, all my laziness vanished and I became more alert than I’d have been after 3 cups of coffee (partly due to the panic, partly due to the excitement).

Later, I was walking as fast as a snail (almost) to my bus stop this morning at 6, stomping my feet hard on the snow-covered damp grass. Walking on the walkway was out of question since it was covered with ice and I didn’t want to play घसरगुंडी / फिसलपट्टी / slide at this age. The wind was too powerful and confusing – it seemed to blow from all directions and was particular interested in me. Since it was cold and windy I was covered from head to toe with winter jacket, boots, hat, gloves and scarf, leaving just a little opening for my eyes (I looked like those Afgan women wearing an Abaya, except that I don’t cross-dress) yet, it was simply impossible to walk. I was almost getting blown away.

Ah, then I realized.
Pavan पवन aka Vayu dev वायु देव, the Hindu God of Wind decided to tease me today.

So, what happens when Pavan decides to be naughty with me?
(Puku is my nickname btw)

He blows strong wind (phooo….) and sweeps me away!

But hey, who’s complaining??

Now, since the City of Toronto isn’t getting any better (yeah yeah, I’ve started bitching about it like any Torontonian), Pavan dev took matters in his own hands winds.

But, ultimately the God is a guy, and boys will be boys. After all that work, he decides to cool off…

Thanks! Pavan dev

- – -

Today was a very windy day in Toronto. Wind speeds reached as high as 50 kmph with local gusts upto 65 kmph. The cold winds stretched the temperature to -19 deg C (feels like).

I enjoyed walking in this brutal weather during lunch time, there was almost nobody on the street!

[tag]Toronto[/tag] is currently suffering under a relentless [tag]heat[/tag] wave. I was reading this and this and started feeling worse.

Look at the numbers right now (source):
Temperature: 32°C, Feels like 37°C
Wind: North 7kmph
Relative humidity: 96%
Visibility: 18.5km
UV Index: 9
phew!

In the past week, daytime temperatures have risen to 42°C (feels like). Its crazy. Look at the wind speed, its as good as nothing. Look at the UV (Ultra Violet) Index, 9 is alarmingly high. No wonder everyone is being warned to be careful. Add to that the fact that days are longer – dawn breaks before 6 am and the day ends after 9pm.

If you saw Canadians surprised over a spring-like December, you ought to see this Toronto Star report about a [tag]freezing [/tag]February. If they said that December 2006 was the warmest in 40 years, so here we have, February 2007 as the [tag]cold[/tag]est in 28 years!

The average temperature was -8.4C, which was three degrees colder than normal.
That also made it the fifth coldest February since 1937 when weather records were first kept at what is now Pearson International Airport.
- Toronto Star, March 5, 2007

Indeed, it’s March already, yet we had one [tag]snow storm[/tag] yesterday and today’s temperature has plummeted to -21°C with a wind chill of -35°C. Ooh!!

Pjf writes:

Dearest readers in warmer climes, please blow some warm air our way for we are suffering terribly as we navigate the bitterly frozen landscape of Toronto.

Blow?? We came here to do just that! Some time back, we joked amongst ourselves that there are too many people ‘imported-from-warm-countries’ which is making Toronto all heated up. Looks like they have turned a cold shoulder now

The weather Gods haven’t spared India either. Northern parts of the country are grappling with a brutal [tag]cold wave[/tag].

The hill state (Himachal Pradesh) came in the grip of severe cold with temperatures falling 3°C to 4°C below normal as the state experienced isolated snow during the past 24 hours.
-Tribune India, February 15, 2007

Brace yourself for the climatic shift…

(Source: The weather network)

Although your face is the only exposed part of your body, the [tag]wind chill[/tag] will rob it off sensations in no time. It helps if you keep talking; else the muscles go so numb that you cannot speak at all.

The night sky looks illuminated and bright gray when it’s snowing. I live on the 14th floor and everything below looks foggy. [tag]Snow[/tag] is beautiful.

Its the arrival of the rainy season, and “I’m loving it!”

What else does it mean? hmm…
- I have to go to station by AutoRik otherwise my clothes will be sprayed with muddy water splashed by passing vehicles
- I will have to wear gumboots and keep the formal shoes confined to office area
- I’ll have to carry a raincoat, then hang it properly making sure it gets dried, otherwise it stinks
- Go to the station everyday, and pray that the trains arrive on time
- Get into the crowded trains (which are usually overcrowded during rains, no idea why) and pray that they reach destination on time
… and many more things !

And at the same time,..
- Trek to Sahyadri, in the heart of nature almost every weekend
- Photography, I’m already excited.
- Sun covered by clouds and a pleasant climate overall
So in short, I love the rainy season.

bolo Varun dev ki.. jai!