Oh my God - it's noon and minus 21 degrees. At 8 this morning it was minus 29. Apparently at about 6am it was -32.
A three dog on the bed night. We only have one, so Trudy was working overtime to keep us warm. The kitchen, with the leaking solarium, is like a fridge. Happily the living room is toasty warm. But I'll tell you, when it gets this cold everything is fragile. Everything creaks.
Trudy went out this morning - as briefly as possible - and came back limping from the cold. It's so cold it burns her pads. And our lungs. Easy to start coughing on a morning like this. And there's ice frost - so cold the air starts to freeze. Very beautiful, actually.
I remember when I lived in Winnipeg it would get so cold the car tires froze square to the ground and the car seats felt like concrete. Michael and I were pretty sure the little bug wouldn't start this morning. Tony was standing by the boost it from his truck if necessary - but it started.
There were wind chill warnings out - and black ice warnings along the highway. The irony of a northern winter - it is achingly beautiful - and deadly.
We went off to Cowansville for breakfast then the garage to get the replacement car until Michael's 'real' car is fixed.
Thank you for all your well-wishes, and your own stories. They really do help. We're feeling actually just fine. - a few bruises, but surprisingly neither of us is afraid to drive. But we are afraid to be very far from each other. I think that's the only side-effect to the accident. I had to drive back in to Montreal today to do a live Radio Canada interview in french tomorrow morning - Michael is staying at home with Trudy. But we needed to connect with each other as soon as we both arrived at our destinations. And a few times since. Don't like being more than 10 feet apart. Practically texting him when he's in the next room.
Not sure how long this will last - probably until the divorce.
Nice to be safe and sound and warm inside. Hope you are too.
Had fabulous news today - BURY YOUR DEAD has been nominated for the Dilys Award in the US! This is chosen by the Independent Mystery Bookseller's association, and represents the books they most enjoyed selling in 2010. The other nominees are: Steve Hamilton (The Lock Artist), Dennis Lehane (Moonlight Mile), Colin Cotterill (Love Songs From a Shallow Grave), Keith Thomson (Once a Spy), and Don Winslow (Savages).
Congratulations to everyone.
The award will be given out at the crime readers/writers convention called Left Coast Crime in February.
9 comments:
It's good to hear from you. These events are so discombobulating. Take care, hug each other, and above all, stay warm. Brr!
Congratulations on the nomination. I think you must have been nominated for everything by now! Stay safe on the roads. We need you around to keep on writing.
Brrrrr.... makes our 19F seem positively balmy.
Yay for the nomination!
A three dog night, eh! Do you need more reasons for getting Trudy another brother or sister???!!!
Congratulations on the Dilys nomination! I feel "Bury Your Dead" should win every award out there, as strongly as I feel "The King's Speech" should win every award for which it is nominated. Bravo to both!
Glad you and Michael are doing o.k. and keep on texting one another! Hugs, Shelagh
Très froid aussi à Laval. Ma petite Sushi est sortie à peine 30 secondes...
"A three dog on the bed night" Voilà une expression que je ne saurais traduire en français.
Congratulations on the nomination. Bury Your Dead should sweep it, at least I hope so. Your writing deserves it and that comes from a fan of Colin Cotteril with his oh so lovable protagonist and gifted story telling but when all is said and done, as my latte mug says, Viva Gamache!
Mrs Penny,
since my english is not very good, reading your blog will help me a little I hope. I just found out about it.
Also I bought your first book, well the french translation (En plein coeur) and am currently reading it; do I need to say that I love your style (otherwise I would have shut up), warm and cosy despite the matter. Its just like being inside each character's head, and I have to restrain from reading it too fast...
I think you truly deserve the Award!
Lise C.
I recommended your books to a friend just this morning! He's going to Europe and I felt like you would get him across the Atlantic thoroughly entertained, especially since he has been to Quebec City.
One of the delightful things about your Three Pines series is that we not only want to know "who dunnit" but also want to move there. (Coming from someone in southern US, that is saying a lot!)
We moved to the Upper Midwest for a time and I remember my daughter running one frigid afternoon when the charm on her necklace flew up and hit her on her bottom lip--and it STUCK there! That's when we knew we were in a different world. Yet here you are, making it sound so lovely I almost miss the cold.
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