the thaw has begun!

...and despite the snow flurries Saturday evening, the snow is melting and this week looks gorgeous. to see how far we've fallen from the wonders of Texas, today's high is 8*C (=49*F) and we're bouncing around in the sun like it's the middle of summer. by thursday, it should be 22 - i don't even know what will happen then...

it's so spectacular that the garderie that Ella and Ez attend is having a Beach Party tomorrow. It is entirely indoors, but it's a beach party - there's supposed to be a pool, bathing suits, and an 'open bar' - which in this context is both hilarious and completely inappropriate.

quickly, before lorna drags me off to set the table - the food in this town continues to amaze. Sunday we drove to the somewhat sketchy area of Côte-des-Neiges (which, in this case, means only that, while the houses looked fine and the streets only as dirty as EVERYWHERE ELSE after the snow has melted and left garbage in its wake, there are more black people than white. this is the least scary metropolis i have ever heard of). There you can find "Mr. Spicee." The perpetually raved about west indian/trinidadi take-out joint that sells 'doubles' (curried goat/beef/veggies and chickpeas stuffed in doughy goodness) and 'pholourie' (deep fried round balls of dough accompanied by a sauce of spicy, tamarind-tangy amazing wonderful goodness). After chasing down some cash (there are no atms and i cannot remember to keep cash on me) and ordering a bagful of whatever, we ate in the car in the rain in the overcast gloom and giggled with enjoyment. it was amazing and it is now Ella's favorite. she is demanding we go again next weekend and i see no reason to say no, other than the loss of the possibility of trying another Mr. Spicy-like outpost of amazing.

but i have dinner to eat and though it's not Mr. Spicy, its some miraculous lasagna we made last night (hooray for the kitchen-aide pasta rolling attachment). phhllbbbbt.

-j