It started snowing yesterday and it hasn't stopped snowing.  So far we've had 9 inches and it's supposed to snow all day.  The weather forecasters called for 10-20 cm, but I didn't believe them.  I was wrong.  So far I've cancelled lunch with a friend and bookclub has been rebooked to next month.  I took Heidi to the dog park but the snow was so deep, over my boots, that I did less than half of my normal walk, but I got the same amount of exercise.

I worked yesterday, my last shift as a nurse.  I went in for a four hour shift and realized, it was time to stop.  I emailed my manager with my resignation and about five minutes later she came into reception and said, "You're just going to email me!".  And then she hugged me.  It feels weird but it's not part of my life anymore.  My life has changed and I'm good with the changes.  Retirement was hard to get used to, but I like it now.  I'm busy and enjoy it.  I'll miss my patients but I won't miss watching them get sicker as they die.  I'll miss my friends/coworkers, but I am making new friends.  I'll keep up with the young nurses as best I can.  We're going to have a BBQ in the summer, so I'll get to see some of them then.  It's not like it's a huge department, only six full-time nurses, and one of them lives three blocks from me.  Change is hard but change can be good too.

I've planted zinnias in my kitchen under the grow lights (the candystripe variety that Mary Moon had last summer).  Today I'm also going to plant some dianthus, while I ignore the weather outside.  I also have a romaine lettuce growing under the grow lights, in an effort to avoid buying lettuce from the US in the winter.  Spring will come, it always does.

I'm trying so hard to ignore the news but it's hard.  The fuckery continues.  I listened to Riley Black on CBC yesterday, who has written a book about plants and mass extinctions, "When The Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance".  I learned a lot about the evolution of plants but what surprised me the most was that she still has hope, because as she pointed out, the earth had already survived five mass extinctions of plants and animals, and will survive another.  Of course, whether we do or not, is up for debate, but the earth will survive.

The European Union has advised people to stockpile supplies, just in case.  Last week we lost power for about 45 minutes, not long, but it was frustrating and made me think about Ukraine.  I ordered a crank/solar powered radio that same day.  It's the most versatile little radio I've ever seen.  It has a USB port and a port to charge your cell phone, an ultrasonic dog whistle, a flashlight, a radio, and can tune into nearby weather stations.  The only thing it can't do is open cans:)

It's hard not knowing what the future will bring.  I never did know what the future would bring, but when I was younger, I thought I knew.  Now I'm older and realize I have no idea what the world will look like in ten years.  How prolific will Fascism be?  How many wars will have started? 

I will still try to be kind and help others.  I will speak up, but I'm not going to be nasty about it.  It's way to easy to be a nasty troll when you're on social media.  I don't want to be that person.  I want to be better.