SNOW.

Ah, now this is the Edmonton that I remember! None of this dry and temperate November. Instead this is more like the seasonal norm. Thick, wet, windy and snowing! Here's my general rule. I don't ride bikes on the first day of a snow. Ice isn't even so bad because it's flat. The fresh snow is just crazy, and I wouldn't take the Madsen out in it. I could barely walk! Hopefully the pictures of my pants covered in almost knee-high snow will give you some indication of how hard core we Canadians are.




So we've finally got a good amount of snow. Just overnight too. And already there are reports of all these collisions on the roads. People are such horrible drivers here. There are the huge pick up trucks who just pummel past smaller sedans, and then there are the people who are going too fast. Seriously, driving in Edmonton is volatile. You get honked at if you don't get off the stop line fast enough, even if it means slipping all over the place because the intersections are icy. So... people would prefer you to slam on the gas and spin out of control? It makes no sense, but people here just need to get where they're going SO FAST because they are so important.

There are no lines on the road either. They're all covered up. So if you're driving on a street that usually had 3-4 lanes it's just a guesstimation thing, where the lanes actually go. Naturally in these situations everybody should chill out and just chug along the best they can? Let's just say the same tendency for drivers to NOT shoulder check is still in full effect in these perilous driving conditions. Note to stupid drivers: Shoulder check. And don't go so fast. The last thing we need is a loser who is over eager and then ends up blocking the entire intersection when the light changes. Or worst. People get their cars smashed up and also get hurt. Not cool.




Even though it's snowing a bunch, it's not -20/-4 or anything. I wore my hoodie and a down vest because it's not necessary to break out the full on parka. I don't think it's necessary to start cars and let them idle for 10-15 minutes before getting in to drive. I have an auto starter too and what I do is press it before I put on my shoes and coat. By the time I get out to the car it's only a few minutes. I don't start it and then go eat breakfast. And if I've already driven the car and it just sat for about an hour while I am at physio with the baby, I don't need to let it idle for yet another 10 minutes. The car is warm already, from driving it before.

And I don't use the auto starter in the summer! Only when it's at freezing or colder.




Yes, sometimes I drive. And it is only out of necessity. I don't prefer it.

Oh, and you know how I'm always talking about how the bugaboo is wicked? Well, check out its big wheels! This stroller has never disappointed me and today was no exception. I took off the two small wheels and instead of pushing the stroller, I pulled it rickshaw style. Much easier to drag two huge wheels through the snow than to push four wheels. I saw lots of other moms struggling with their strollers that have hard, small plastic wheels. Looked painful. And I pulled the chassis with heels, too.




I'm glad our weekend looks really chilled out because I'd rather just stay in and drink hot beverages. Perhaps we'll take Dexter on his first sledding adventure. The neighbourhood school has a little hill that would be suitable for a 6 month old. There's this other hill I go to with my friends... one that is so scary I couldn't toboggan last winter because it would have been dangerous being 4-5 months pregnant. I'll show it to you when I go over the holidays. It's frightening. But so much fun:)