Hello Winter My Old Friend.

This morning when my eyes fluttered open, laying snoozing under the warm covers and reality began to come into focus for another day I remembered a few things.  First of all today is Remembrance Day in Canada where at 11 am we stop everything, and give thanks for those who gave their lives and futures so that we in the free world could remain free.

A good 8 or 9 inches of snow overnight before drifting!

Also we were to get a huge dump of snow over night, yesterday as we enjoyed our evening there already was a light dusting on the ground.  Enough to paralyze a southern American city but hardly enough to make a Winnipegger blink twice.

Today however is a slightly different story,  although not debilitating to any Canadian versed in winter, but a pain in the ass none the less.  Over night we got a good solid dump of around 9-10 inches of wintry goodness.   Enough to make our trucks in the backyard look like they were tucked in for a good winters nap complete with sleeping caps à la The Night Before Christmas.

Truck and jeep cleaned off but still with a little toque of snow on top.

It’s not like we were not expecting it, but it still sucks to know that you have to put on the Sorrels and shovel everything out before going out.  It makes you want to just stay in bed and cuddle the day away with your special someone.

I guess that’s it for fires this year. Our fire pit is full of snow.

It also makes me very glad that Darlene and I have 4 wheel drive, thus allowing us to brave the higher snowbanks and forgo shoveling out the driveway until we get our snow blower back in action this week.

The path to our composter is clear thanks to Dominick.

I guess the most important thing about being Canadian is loving each one of our four seasons and making the most out of each of them.  As we say in St Boniface C’est si bon! It’s so good!!

Lest We Forget

Related articles

• The Eyes of a Child: Remembrance Day (momparadigm.com)
• Lest We Forget: Canada honours war dead with Remembrance Day services (news.nationalpost.com)
• Lest We Forget: Sergent Tommy Prince – Canada’s almost forgotten hero. (bahbs.wordpress.com)
• Largest crowd in recent memory gathers at Victoria Park in London for Remembrance Day (lfpress.com)

BBQ Canadian Winter Style.

In a time before I lived with Darlene and Dom, I used to live a pretty swinging lifestyle.  I knew for a fact that I may not be the most athletic, or the best looking, or even the smartest branch on the tree.  But one thing I knew for sure is that if I could get a lady talking, maybe go for a coffee and walk in the park that I had a chance.

Yes winter finally has decended, it's only 5 pm.

Women, let’s face facts you all like men that can cook.  Not only can this Bobby cook but he does a freaking fab ass BBQ and as time went on I’ve become a one woman man and now she gets all the good that I have to give.

Using a 4 grate and two zone set up for my charcoal maximizing air intake.

Want a taste of winter? Come to Winnipeg.

Just when I thought this world couldn’t get any stranger.  In a bizarre case of the grass must be greener over there, Winnipeg is welcoming visitors from Australia and southern United States who want to experience cold.

Val Keenan and Jean Hyrich will welcome visitors to Winnipeg. (Photo - Matt Preprost: Winnipeg Free Press)

Yes, that’s right cold.  Bone chilling lock yourself in the bedroom and crank up the furnace and hide cold.   The six-day winter exchange is all part of worldwide cultural exchange movement called Friendship Force.  Founded in 1977 by US President Jimmy Carter, Friendship Force joins people around the world in an opportunity to explore different cultures and experience the world in a way travellers seldom get to experience.  By billeting, the travellers get the opportunity to stay in a home hosted by a native of the area.  Thus getting an authentic taste of daily life that staying in a hotel just cannot deliver.

Australian Pam Ferguson with host Jean Hyrich. (Photo - Phil Hossack: Winnipeg Free Press)

I Hate Winter!

There I said it; I am expecting the RCMP to come pounding on my door minutes after this is posted for the entire world to see. As I stand on my doorstep, shovel in my hand, white from doing battle with Jack Frost.  I scream into the morning light, “I hate you winter!  Go away and leave me alone!”

Buried Axle deep in Snow

But you say Bob you’re Canadian.  You’re supposed to like the snow and the cold and the Frosty the Snowman thing. To you I reply, enough already I give up. Take me away and lock me up somewhere warm, preferably Aruba.

40 years in this frozen hell is enough, if I had killed a man just to watch him die surely I would be granted parole by now. I’ve done my time; I deserve sandy beaches and fruity drinks delivered by girls in bikinis. Don’t I?

Enough Already!

What did I do to deserve this?  I go to work, pay my taxes.  I don’t kick puppies or shove old ladies into oncoming traffic.  It’s only November after all, and by my calendar that means I am locked in this icy wasteland until at least march.  5 months in the hole, 5 months of shovelling the driveway and plugging in my jeep.  5 long months of going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark.

Typical Winter Driving Conditions for Manitoba

Almost 6 weeks of enduring happy shoppers and smiling children waiting for Santa.  Humbug!  Ship me out in a box if that’s what it takes, just as long as it’s somewhere warm.

Beautiful But Deadly

Thanks for listening.  The nice man in the white coat says the shot is going to calm me down and make me sleepy.  “Hello puppies, hello rainbows.  I’m coming Elizabeth, I’m coming.”