Vancouverites have been voted the Weather Wimps in Toronto. Normally I would agree, but having been here for over a year has almost lumped me into that category. I know it is not cold by any comparison to where we are from, but when you are not expecting it the effects are exponentially greater. Add to that the ice on everything (I cannot open my van doors in the morning, if I'm lucky to get my key in the lock. I've never used de-icer before now!) and the fact that you have to drive up and down hills everywhere you go and it makes for a completely different winter experience. In Toronto they laugh that everyone here buys snow tires. I did too. Til I lived here. Never owned a pair in Alberta. Now, thinking we cannot go without. It is such a difference having to navigate those hills, and here they are not prepared with their sanders and snowplows to keep the roads in order if snow does come. Back home they give an extra good sanding to the one or two major hills in town and call it good. Out here they'd have to sand every street in the lower mainland to get the same result.
So I say Weather Wimps Unite! It IS tough when it gets cold here because no one plans for it. Nope, everyone told us we'd never want to leave after experiencing winter here. I beg to differ. I would take snow and cold and knowing exactly what's gonna come every single year, but getting surprised when a chinook-laden season rolls in. At least I know what I'm in for...
The bright spot in the sudden drop in temperature is that, not one, but two radio stations in my van are playing non-stop Christmas carols to cheer us all up. Try explaining to a four year old every day that there are still over 30 sleeps til Christmas actually gets here. Oh well. Happy Early Holidays!
I hear you about the hills, Medicine Hat is full of them. I am very grateful for my new(to me) 4-wheel-drive vehicle, and last week I got new winter tires. Best winter driving ever!
ReplyDeleteMy kids want to listen to Christmas music all the time already too, and I don't mind, it was the big snowfall that put me in the mood.
Weather wimps unite! Here I am. It's crazy. Never seen anything like it....it can snow 20cm and they still have no resources to plow...or salt....or sand....and we're left to our own devices. Greg had to take the kids to school on the city bus this morning because we couldn't navigate our hill. We're still debating whether to get new tires (which we need badly) or winter tires now and new tires in the spring. Who can afford that??
ReplyDeleteI am a Weather Wimp from Ottawa, no less.
Where is the support group?