Winter Weather

This is a map, as per the Environment Canada website, indicating weather warnings in different parts of the country today.

The red part means there is a warning, and the beige part means there is no warning in effect.

The weather has been so crazy lately with super-low temperatures in the Prairies, to ice storms in the Atlantic.

Luckily, we've had mild-like weather here in Ontario, and I've appreciated it. I'm now bracing for the 20cm of snow we're about to get tomorrow! I'm so excited about it!

Happy 50th Birthday LEGO!!

Australia

I had just heard on the news this past week, that Australia's foreign affairs had issued a warning to travellers coming to Canada. They were warned by posting a 'proceed with caution' list:

- risk of a terrorist attack

- pick pocketing

- earthquakes

- avalanches

- spontaneous forest fires

- extremely cold weather (wind chills)

- heavy snowfalls/ice on the roads

- wildlife watching

- demonstrations/protests

Every country is unique. You can't dwell on the negativities when contemplating visiting another country. There is always a risk in safety, no matter where you travel. It just seems a little over the top as to how many warnings have been said about a country like Canada.

The Bell Jar

I have just finished reading The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (her only novel written). The story is about a girl named Esther who is put through many different emotions, and is eventually sent to an asylum to help her to get some sleep and to stop her from wanting to commit suicide. She describes her insomniac depression as the feeling of being trapped under a bell jar, struggling to breathe. I love how the story ends in a quizzical way, leaving the reader to determine what should become of Esther. The book ends with Esther walking into an interview room where it will be determined whether or not she needs to be in the asylum anymore.

I recently learned that the book is semi-autobiographical and has many similarities to the author's real life, excluding the names of people and places.

Next book: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

The Secret Life of Bees

I have just finished reading a book I got for Christmas. The Secret Life of Bees is a story about a girl who is faced with hard times and has to make some tough decisions while learning about her past, and enjoying being a beekeeper at the same time. The book takes place during the time of the Civil Rights Act in South Carolina and forces the reader to deal with the controversy that people were facing at the time.

I love this book and I loved the main character, Lily, as she was led down certain paths, meeting really nice people that helped discover who she was.

Next book: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.