Home - Day 11 - Walking in "la sluch"

In English we describe semi-melted snow as "slush". In Quebec colloquial French its "la sluch". Personally I feel the word better describe the physical nature of the semi-solid, unstable, snow-water-dirt-garbage mixture that makes up la sluch. To say it correctly all the emphasis is on the "ch" at the end.

This morning's walk was all about la sluch. Yesterday was such a bust due to the weather that no matter what my mom and I were getting out and walking today. It's hard to describe the way I feel from a fitness perspective. I'd say my energy is about 55% of what it usually is, my lung capacity is maybe 65% and my muscles are simply on vacation. So a 24min walk in la sluch is pretty epic. It didn't seem so bad when we started. After about 8 minutes I was in death march mode. One foot in front of the other to get it done. No matter how much I slowed down or stopped I didn't seem to be able to get to a relaxed breathing. I wasn't panting or anything, I just wasn't comfortable. The footing was crazy and there really wasn't an option once we started.

Along with the experience of la sluch comes and entire vernacular of Quebecois curse words, expressions and the like. I figure my last 12 minutes of walking this morning covered a good 70% of the gamut. You know, its the kind of cursing that can only be portrayed verbally because of the value associated with the emphasis, pauses and general drawl used. I used my inside voice of course, but I was into full conversational cursing. Had the walk been longer plots and themes would have developed. La sluch around my house looks like it's going to stay a while and so to avoid too much exertion and curse combinations that would impress a Quebec city theme park roadie, my mom and I looked for new terrain.

This afternoon we decided to go indoors. I got in the car for the first time since I came home from the hospital and we headed towards Billings Bridge Mall, commonly know as the "Blue Hair Mall". I figured the traffic pace would be just about my speed. My mom and I did 4 lengths of the mall in 24 minutes. We got passed by a couple of buggies and a lady on O2. Aside from that we held our own.

The day itself has been alright. My mom has eased the trash talking in crib after a couple of come behind wins on my part. Every day I feel my lung capacity get better, some days it's tangible, other days I just convince myself that the breath I took was deeper. We got both of our walks in along with the exercises. Today was a good day.