Exams, exams, exams! They're almost over! Soon I'll be bundled up on my couch surrounded by family and good food with a hot coco in hand. I'm one of the unlucky students who got stuck with my last final on the 19th, so I can't start dreaming of sugar plums dancing in my head just yet. In the meantime, I'm dreaming of easy-grading profs and sympathetic TA's.
The top 5 things I'm looking forward to this break are:
5) Sleeping in my own bed. There isn't quite anything like getting home to find your bed all made up with clean sheets eagerly awaiting you to jump into its heap of plushy softness!
4) Dad Jokes. You know, the kind of jokes all dads make that are filled with lame puns and laced with an eagerness that says "I'm so happy you're home!" They're the best kind of jokes and no matter how lame and silly they might be, they're the funniest and make me never want to leave home again.
3) Real home-cooked meals. The best is that first moment you walk in the door, duffle bags in hand, and the comforting aroma of cookies, shortbread and the fireplace wrap you up in an invisible blanket of awesome. Just as you put your bags down, dinner appears on the table and it's all your favourite foods! Home is awesome.
2) Snowshoeing with the fam. I love the outdoors, especially in winter and when my parents told us they were planning a little family holiday to a cabin in the woods, I got all giddy and started jumping up and down. When my family goes snowshoeing, it often turns from a perfectly relaxed winter hike to a messy snowball fight and races to the next bend (if someone doesn't get pushed into the snowbank first, that is). All in good fun, it develops into a snow war where my little sister and older brother team up against me. As you might have guessed, I'm the one who usually ends up in the snowbank.
1) Skating on an outdoor rink. Could I be more Canadian?! This is one of those timeless pleasures that I can't get enough of. Be it a frozen pond, canal, river or the soccer field around the block, I love lacing up my skates and feeling my edges cut through the ice while snowflakes land on my nose.
Need I say more?
Sleep lots, laugh lots, eat lots and play lots.
Keep active and have very happy holidays, McGill!
- Martlet Girl
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
Gearing Up for Winter
Cycling to class is a great way to get some exercise, save money on a metro pass and help the environment. Though now that winter has started to set in, many of us find ourselves looking for alternatives to our regular bike habits. Walking to class still gives you a light workout, but we don't all live in the ghetto so we turn to public transit. But the busses are crowded and the metro is stuffy... so what else can we do? Why not keeping cycling?
Montreal's winter can try to push us off our bikes and onto the bus, but as long as we do it safely we can continue cycling throughout the winter! I know this may sound like a crazy idea, but hear me out. Winterizing your bike isn't as complicated as it might appear. Having the right tires is crucial: traditional road bikers often opt for mountain bike tires because they're wider and have better grip. To really gear yourself up, look into a set of studded tires (found at MEC & other outdoor shops) to keep you safer on the ice. Bike fenders generally sit pretty close to your wheel, but this means that snow, slush and ice get caught easily between it and your tire, which slows you down poses the risk of getting your tire stuck. Looser fitting fenders will do a better job at preventing unwanted and dangerous buildup. Also, word has it that car wax on your frame can help ward off rust and slush build up. Once you've winterized your bike, time to winterize yourself!
It's important that you dress appropriately when biking outside during the winter. This includes waterproof outer layers (jacket, pants, mits, shoes). Don't be afraid to look silly by dressing properly (you're already looking silly by cycling in the snow!) because by the time you get to class you'll be dry and happy, and you'll thank yourself for putting on those rain pants over your jeans. If you don't have waterproof shoes, putting plastic bags over your boots is a cheap and easy alternative. And you'll want to dress warm, but not too warm as you will heat up on your ride to school. A thin hat, headband or even a balaclava fit well under a helmet. Start of a bit cooler so you can allow your body to warm up comfortably. And don't forget eyewear: if you're not willing to break out the ski goggles for your cycle along Sherbrooke, lab goggles make for an excellent substitute!
If you want some help winterizing your bike, check out McGill's bike co-op The Flat in the SSMU basement. They have some great suggestions on how to keep yourself going this winter!
(And if all efforts fail, you can always try this!)
Have fun, good luck, and stay safe :)
- Martlet Girl
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| Winterize your bike and yourself! Photo courtesy of Bikurious Montreal |
It's important that you dress appropriately when biking outside during the winter. This includes waterproof outer layers (jacket, pants, mits, shoes). Don't be afraid to look silly by dressing properly (you're already looking silly by cycling in the snow!) because by the time you get to class you'll be dry and happy, and you'll thank yourself for putting on those rain pants over your jeans. If you don't have waterproof shoes, putting plastic bags over your boots is a cheap and easy alternative. And you'll want to dress warm, but not too warm as you will heat up on your ride to school. A thin hat, headband or even a balaclava fit well under a helmet. Start of a bit cooler so you can allow your body to warm up comfortably. And don't forget eyewear: if you're not willing to break out the ski goggles for your cycle along Sherbrooke, lab goggles make for an excellent substitute!
If you want some help winterizing your bike, check out McGill's bike co-op The Flat in the SSMU basement. They have some great suggestions on how to keep yourself going this winter!
(And if all efforts fail, you can always try this!)
Have fun, good luck, and stay safe :)
- Martlet Girl
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