Old myths die hard

Myth #1: "Up north" they know how to drive in snow and bad weather.
Myth #2: "Up north" they know how to keep the roads free of snow and ice.

Kids, we drove back from Montreal on Monday and the worst drivers (saw about 20 on them in the ditch) had license plates from "Up North." They can't drive in bad weather for nothin.' The first roads bare to the pavement were those in good ole Massachusetts. Half the roads between here and there didn't look like they'd ever seen a salt truck or a plow.

How was Montreal? Cool. And cold. Butt-chilling below zero. After some false starts, we discovered the underground city and hardly ever had to go out again. Being 1/4 French Canadian, I always feel a little nostalgic about French Canada. They know how to live. We stayed in a hotel with lots of families with beaucoup little kids and everyone was behaving himself and herself so nicely. We swam outdoors in the below zero weather in a heated pool. Really cool. Loved the Museum of Modern Art. Loved the French meal Saturday night, loved the old city, loved the way lots of people spoke Franglish. I'll post a picture or two when I can wrest them from Significant Other's computer. He won't release a picture until it's photoshopped to the nth degree. New verb. To photoshop.

Sunday afternoon we decided to do some walking and museum going and this fashion-screwup spurned her comfortable yet stylish walking shoes for workout shoes, you know the kind, big, white, ugly sneakers. Mon Dieu! Quelle embarassment! I was the only person in downtown Montreal with white shoes, the ugly American to the max. And I laugh at the tourists on Newbury street who don't know any better. The only thing worse would have been the weird pale gray or tan shoes that were popular in Europe among the geriatric set a few years ago. They are perfect when your ankles start falling down around your feet, and you sole focus is on comfort. Fashion goes out the door, way out the door. I am resolved never to do this again anywhere in the entire world or outer space.

No news from agents and/or editors. Need to send out more letters. Need to get going on current book. Need to finish short story. Need to write.

Alors, then.

Grapeshot