. . . . and so it begins

It's November 25 and a blanket of snow covers London, Ontario.  Not this one, mind you; this picture was taken last year at the beginning of December.

Why post an old pic?  Because it's pretty and that's really the only reason for snow - isn't it?

Oh yeah, there's all that environmental stuff.  As a boater, I want a LOT of snow to fall  . . . just not here.  From my understanding, to fill up Lake Huron, a ton (and I do mean a ton) needs to fall in the far north - by Lake Superior - to run down through the system and refill the depleted lower lakes.

Today's dusting doesn't qualify as pretty, yet.

At this time of year and in this part of Ontario, snow serves to give us a clean slate to cover up that ugly late November mud and dead-leaf crust we have on the ground.

It also gets us in the Yule spirit, so we can go out and shop at local retailers, which is actually mood + safety.  Who wants to venture out on the highway to go to big box stores or across the border when it's snowing out.

Snow at this time of year is the holiday season's wolf whistle saying, "Hey, look at me!"

I'd never be a proponent of greedy commercialism, etc. but everyone has someone who would love a special treat from one of our hard-working local artists, retailers or other small business person.

So delight in the snow  . . . and go  . . . shopping (or to grandmother's house because she could use a visit from you too - or dental work if she has wolf's teeth)!

This is the one and only time you will hear about enjoying snow on this blog - the end!

Hot 'nough for ya'

Don't you just hate it when someone comes up and uses that as an opening line these days?  The true mark of a moron.  I like to say - "No, I'd like it to be about 10 degrees warmer, like 7th ring of hell hot, then I'd be happy" with a straight face.  Some pretty interesting reactions.

Nevertheless, it really is hot enough for just about everyone these days, with record breaking temperatures all week.

Is this a real sign of global warming?  Are biblical end times near?  Is 2012 to be the last year that humankind walks the earth?

Chime in here and let me know what you think: Is it hot enough for you?

Change seasons, change clothes, change name

The ROCASS you know and love is no longer Residents of Canada Against Spring Snow; for now and through the next few months it will be ROCASS: Residents of Canada Against Sweathy Summers.

Whether it's the cold, wet stuff that screws up your plans to drive to work every morning or the hot, humid heat of summer, Canadians love to bitch about the weather.

So be a weather whiner!  Bitch here, bitch often

Go, snow, go: what are you doing to cope?

April showers are supposed to bring May flowers but when those are snow showers, they bring scraping car windows, shoveling side walks and, worst of all, pulling your boots out of storage.  After all it is April 24 and those boots have long been put away.

Pull out your boots, mitts, hats and scarves children, because it's snowing out there.  Time to defend your turf against the white enemy.

Our budding trees and blooming tulips aren't loving this.  Did you protect yours before bed last night?

Definitely not the latest snow we've had - I remember seeing the white stuff on Victoria Day weekend - but definitely the latest in recent history.

So growl and snarl and deal with it, or be like me and head off to somewhere warmer.  Heading to Vegas tomorrow.

So tell me what are you doing to cope with this late blast of Father Winter's breath?   Chime in here and tell all!

(BTW, this meme reminds me of watching my neighbors walk their dogs this winter.)

On being pelted with the white stuff on March 30

From 80 degrees Fahrenheit to snowing in less than a week - yikes!

Good news:  warmest March on record (couldn't get away this spring break and hardly missed it!)

Bad news:  snow after the vernal equinox - first day of spring - isn't allowed in the ROCASS universe.

Just say no to spring snow!

How to celebrate Leap Day

Leap Day!  Should be truly special as it only happens once every four years, but today's sad, spoggy weather doesn't portend well for this being a rippin' fun, leap into life - jump into spring kind of day.

How should we celebrate Leap Day?  Each holiday has its designated decorations, foods and festivities. 

Christmas - turkey and gifts, carols and candles
Valentines Day - flowers, candy, jewelry and hearts
St. Paddy's - green beer and corned beef
Easter - eggs, chocolates and hats

Even the more minor holidays have special ways of celebrating: Robbie Burns Day requires scotch and hagus.

So Leap Day really deserves its own set of celebratory parameters.  Should we be literal and actually have a designated time that everyone leaps?  Perhaps a gathering of observation in Victoria Park - or a central location in your city or town - to have a group leap.

Or should we be more symbolic and everyone think about how he or she will 'leap' into new endeavors and 'leap' out of bad habits or negative relationships.

What kinds of foods symbolize Leap Day?  Frogs legs?  Wiggly, jiggly jello - any kind of kenetic foodstuff would do, I suppose.  Your thoughts?

What are your ideas about observing Leap Day?  I'd love to hear some creative feedback.

I'm ready to leap into spring that's for sure.  This ROCASS has had enough winter!

Oscarizing

Is there any better way to beat those mid-winter blues than watching beautiful, incredibly thin people parade around in clothes worth more than your car?

Oh yeah, I guess anything  . . .

Rodent rage

Well it's three to two - seems Old Man Winter is here to stay for a while longer in Canada or at least your friendly (or not-so-much) neighborhood Groundhog says so.

Here in central Ontario, Wiarton Willie failed to visualize his shadow, as did Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam.

But three others - Alberta’s Balzac Billy, Quebec’s Fred la Marmotte and the lone submission from the other side of the border Punxsutawney Phil - all saw their shadows and ran back inside away from the cold that encompasses us.

Yes, it's been a bit warmer this year than last.  But I don't attribute that to global warming, rather than Mother Nature's admission that we've had several really sucking winters in a row and we deserved a bit of a break this year.

Too bad those damn rodents disagreed.  Here, kitty kitty  . . .

Minus 15 here in the Forest City

And this image says it all

Cold, cold, cold

Yeah, it's January and the temperatures have finally reached Canadian-cold rock bottom levels that we usually associate with this time of year in North America's deep freeze.

And while I'm a proud snow bitcher, the fact that we've had warmer then usual temps and less snow than normal here in southwestern Ontario, it does seem somewhat reassuring that Armageddon isn't on the horizon now that we have cold weather and a coating of the white stuff covering the ground.

However, yesterday at the London Wine and Food Show, I did get some questioning looks and snarky remarks about wearing sandals.  Don't usually wear them after the snow flies but flip flops (my glittery, lovely footwear of choice) are the most comfortable things known to woman-kind's feet and it was going to be an arduous day of walking and wining!

So now it's cold and snowy in our part of the Great White North just as it should be at this time of the year and all's right with the world.  Time for a warm bath  . . . .