Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Mother Nature is not having hot flashes! OH NO ITS SNOW!

My version of Frosty the Snow Dude made from junk in my desk drawer at work.
Across the Capital Region today we woke up to winter full-on.  Us Victorian's are kind of smug when it comes to winter compared to the rest of Canada because we usually have mild and wet winters.  Through most of Canada they have snow starting around the end of October and last to at least March.  Every once in awhile Mother Nature throws us a curve ball and the city is usually paralyzed be a small amount of snow.  We somewhat learned some lessons in 1996 when we actually had Snowmageddon  and had record snowfall which essentially shut down the capital city for an entire week.  It hasn't been so bad this time around because we are learning lessons on preparing for winter.  I have been scootering all through most of the winter, but the other day I parked Vixen and took the bus, I didn't want to give her or myself any road induced owies.  While most of my motorcycling and scooter brothers and sisters have their babies tucked up for winter I have continued on, they have now had their revenge.  

When I was going into work yesterday I saw a young lad on a dual sport motorcycle go zipping by me, he was incredibly lucky because the roads were nothing but ice.  On my way to a meeting after work the temperature had dropped considerably and the roads were slick from the melt and refreeze that was happening.  I just about fell out of my seat when a woman on a scooter coming in the opposite direction went by.  I have to say these two individuals where going on a wing and a prayer because even 4 wheels were having trouble.  It snowed all day yesterday and was just was taste of what we would wake up too this morning, 15cm of snow overnight.  Today was declared a snow day for most public institutions and schools.  Kids were out having fun.  I lived in the Northern half of the Province where snow is an everyday occurrence along with -40 temps on an average winter day, we never got snow days, school was always open, people went to work and went about their business.  The one thing that is different for Southern BC is that most people do not have snow tires, don't have the skills to drive in it and honestly there are a lot of eccentric Vancouver Islanders who think winter clothing is shorts with sport sandals with wool socks, that should tell you how *ahem* prepared we are here.  They are calling for snow tomorrow and then rain on the weekend with warmer temperature.  So Mother Nature I wouldn't mind you getting a few hot flashes and sending them our way okey dokey?!



This lovely tree is in the laneway on my way to work, those sad little apples are still hanging in there.The upcoming pictures were snapped from the balcony yesterday throughout the day at work.  Mother Nature seemed to have misplaced her meds because she couldn't make up her mind if it was going to be snowy or sunny all day.  It was quite the day and the adage for Victoria lived up to the saying; "If you don't like the weather wait 5 minutes and it will change."  It was a wild day yesterday.







The next pictures are from today.  I went out to Check on Vixen to make sure she was snug as a bug.  Speaking of bugs there is my '74 Super Beetle hunkered down behind our Westfallia "Goldzilla"  I tried to coax Zilla out of the driveway this morning, but she wasn't having any part of it, after 45 minutes I gave up and Motorcycle Man drove me to work to do what I needed to do & then go home.  Unfortunately on my way out to the car at work I slipped and fell hard on my lower back & elbow and smacked my head on the concrete.  I am feeling it now, so much for being a Road Warrior Princess.  I had on good winter boots too!




This evenings snow shots and the doggis is out frolicking in the white stuff, for at least 5 minutes anyway!


So all of you who are thinking "Well that isn't very much snow at all!"  I am here to tell you in Victoria it is a lot of snow and it is enough to make a city shut down. We are supposed to get more tonight & tomorrow and then we are going to return to the rain bubble again for at least a couple of days, and then we might get more snow.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

See what happens on my lunch hour when it snows


This is what happens when it snows and I am tortured looking at it out the window all day.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Snow! Mother Nature paid a small visit

Foot prints in the snow.....


It's here, the dreaded snow.  I know it is barely a skiff of snow compared to what other parts of Canada are getting, but I think this is the calm before the proverbial snow storm.  Believe me when I tell you this, this small amount of snow is enough to cause chaos on Victoria roads.  People do not know how to drive in this stuff.  Now I am trying to figure out how I am going to get to work, because Vixen is parked.  It seems Bobskoot picked an excellent time to go to Hawaii!  Weather forecasters are calling for more snow at various points in the week and that does not bode well for Princess Scooterpie - it means BUS.  Please no!!!!  I am coming up to my 1 year moto anniversary, essentially I have been scoot commuting to work for a year.  I only drive my car on weekends.  Now if only Mother Nature would stop with the snow, I'd be a very happy Princess Scooterpie!

Doggis doesn't know what to think about the white stuff....


Friday, January 13, 2012

When you were a newb motorcyclist what was your nemesis?

Today while out and about I was thinking about 2011 & all the things I have done. I was also thinking about the conversations I have had with other motorcyclists and scooterist about driving habits & how they started their moto journey.

When you were first starting out on your bike or scooter was there one thing that scared you more than any other? i.e For me there were 2 things; 1) stopping at the top of a hill and getting the bike moving again without stalling it. (Yup this happened a couple of times) 2) I seemed to have a bit of throttle anxiety, I was almost too afraid to pull back on the throttle & give it some juice. Finallya with repeated practice I marshaled these skills and don't even think twice about them now.

So what caused an anxiety fest for you?

Monday, January 9, 2012

Thank you Princess Scooterpie Followers & Readers.

Just wanted to post  a thank you to all who have followed Princess Scooterpie and read my blog.  I appreciate that you take the time to read.  Happy road wanderings filled with many miles of twisties and gorgeous roads!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Scarlett Vixen - First week into the New Year.

Scarlett Vixen



We are week into the New Year and I still haven't ridden the newest edition to my moto family.  Miss Scarlett (Vixen).  Like most I returned to work on Tuesday and hit the ground running.  I haven't really looked back because it has been just too darn busy.  My Christmas tree is still up and that is because today January 7, 2012 is Orthodox Christmas on the Gregorian calendar.  Part of my heritage came from Eastern Europe.  We don't really do anything fussy or prepare elaborate meals - I tried to make cabbage rolls this week and had just mild success.  But Motorcycle Man who is in love with cabbage rolls ate them and said they tasted good.  Bless his little full face helmet!  You know you have someone who loves you because he has eaten what I have cooked from day one and I can say some of the offerings have been less than stellar.  Remind me to tell you about bricksagna one day.  I have been meaning to post a picture of this lovely bottle of wine that Dave who is a friend of mine gave me for Christmas ~ Motorcycle Mama Wine.  He is a graphic artist and came up with this wonderfully unique label and gave it to me for Christmas.  It is from the Darlin Darlene Estate Vineyards.  I just happen to think this is a wonderful gift.  He truly is a talented artist and has given us many memorable hand painted Christmas cards.  




Now if I only looked this hot.......

Motorcycle Man and Scooterpie Jr have been hinting since before Christmas that there was going to be a late present.  I came home on Tuesday and there was a small parcel in the mail that Scooterpie Jr quickly snatched out of the box before I could get it.  When Motorcycle Man came home and we were relaxing in the livingroom. Scooterpie Jr presented me the box.  When I opened it inside was a sterling silver motorcycle charm from my Pandora bracelet.  WOW!!!  It truly was a very Motorcycle Christmas.  It is so cute and looks fabulous with the rest of my wee charms.


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

I always get a chuckle how folks find my blog

Every once in awhile I check in on the blog stats to see who is reading from where and the terms they enter into their search engines to find Scooterpie.  Here are a few.


princess scooter pie
7
man on moto
 - 3
2007 yamaha vino classic blue 50
 - 2
mill bat fire dept malahat crash victoria
 - 2
motorcycle man
- 2
my hobby making bracelets
- 2
princess scooterpie
 - 2
1984 honda cm 450 -
1
1985 honda vt500 shadow magazine ad
1
bad driving habits - 1 *Hope they weren't trying to find me because of bad driving habits. 

I have also had one that said Gross Couch, Free Sofa, Hanging bras - that was from the Bra's on Broad post about breast cancer.