I just yelled down to my husband through the open Lanai door-
"We're having Hamburgers or Polish Sausages tonight!"
He was leaning on his snow shovel in a pensive sort of way in our snow-covered back garden. He looked up to me standing at the door waiting for his answer.
It came back-
"What Polish Sausage?"
"The ones from Costco"- I said holding the door a open a few inches.
Now, two things are wrong with that back and forth above.
No, not the fact that we're BBQing in February.
That's the norm here.
What isn't the norm is the use of the word "snow" twice in one sentence!
Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow and SNOW!
Now, I know I just came clean two RobBlogs back about the possibility and eventuality of snow on our lovely Isle. However, over the past 48 hours it has become absolutely fucking ridiculous!
On Monday afternoon the amount of snow cover- specifically in the Cowichan, was being compared to a snowfall back in December 2008.
Now, today- Tuesday, this constant snowfall is being compared to a blizzard way back in 1996 when over a 24 hour period something like 65 cm of the stuff fell. We are edging close to two feet or metrically- 60 cm of white stuff.
This is not the norm for Vancouver Island.
It is NOT pretty and if one more person says that to me I may dig a hole in a "pretty" snowbank and shove them in it! Head first!
This snow is a fucking nuisance and a danger. This from a former Ontarian who was used to living with snow for 65 years then we moved out here hoping never to see large amounts of snow like we did back in Orillia, Ontario. Some winters the snow would virtually shut that Central Ontario city down- especially when freezing rain was added to the wintry mix.
The last snow of any consequence the Mister and I have seen while living on this Mediterranean-like Island was back in December of 2017 when on December 22nd or thereabouts a few cms fell. It turned cold and we had a bit of white here and there over Christmas- at least along the trail through the forest.
Before that we hear tell of a "white" episode in 2014 for a day or so but the major events were 2008 and 1996 as stated above.
Islanders are little prepared for this onslaught of winter. Even the Mister and I have only one snow brush for the van. One small red shovel. No snow rake. No Snow Blower and no winter boots.
I mean, I think we brought boots with us but we can't find them, so I'm shuffling around in my black, fully-enclosed, "Nurse Reid" Crocs.
No, I am not a Nurse or a restaurant worker. I bought these crocs online because they have no holes on the top or along the sides. The Croc ad said for "Crocs for Nurses and Restaurant Professionals". That's why I call them my "Nurse Reid Crocs".
The crocs have special soles that prevent slippage in foodstuff and humanstuff such as grease, oil, peepee or poopee. They handle quite well in snow- the treads, so that's what I have ventured out wearing. Of course, with only one little, red shovel, I watch while the Mister shovels.I did shovel some snow off the patio today.
I have to be careful.
If I lift wrong, I will be walking with a cane for a couple of weeks.
That's not pretty- like snow, Nurse Reid with Crocs and cane.
Here on Vancouver Island Highway and City staff are not well-trained in the art of snow removal- or driving in it before it's removed. Pickups with plows attached on the front bumper go up one side of the street, then the other, leaving a huge barrier of snow down the centre. Cross-streets are not cleared like back in Old Home. Snow is left here and there.
Some streets get one narrow, one car width swipe up the centre and that's it!
These Islanders do their best driving in it. Yesterday, one had to be careful when navigating corners. There were ruts of snow left at most downtown corners.
We don't have snow tires on our van.
We're Islanders for cripes sake!
We have tires with a triangle and a snow symbol in the centre that allows us to traverse the Malahat legally from late October until Late March. The Malahat is the mountain that separates Greater Victoria from the Cowichan. These approved tires can't compare to the "snows" we used back in Ontario and no one these past two winters has asked us the usual heard-only-in-Ontario question-
"Ya got your snows on yet?"
Sidewalk snowplows are nowhere to be seen. One doesn't hear neighbours ripping up and down their drives at Oh Dark Hundred clearing snow. Nobody knocks on your door in early October asking if they could have your snow-clearing contract for December through April.We build our fences and plant gardens, trees and shrubbery right up to the edge of the street.
Why?
Because we don't usually have this quantity of snow!
The question today is- where in H E double Hockey sticks will we put it if it keeps snowing?
So, who can we blame for this strange weather- from the vast forest fires that force BC'ers- including
Islanders, to stay inside on hot, smokey summer days to today's Snowmaggedon?
 |
| Yes. Hello. I'd like to blame someone please? |
It's that old chestnut "Global Warming". It's just that this "Old Chestnut" just happens to be true. Arctic ice is melting.
Forests are catching fire leveling towns, killing wildlife and humans.
The sun is hotter. Summers are dryer and winters- like here in this Mediterranean climate area of Vancouver Island, are more unpredictable.
From Cow Farts to factory, car and truck emissions, it all goes hand in hand when changing the climate of our Mother Earth. Of course assholes like Doug Ford, Andrew Scheer and that New Brunswick Premier all believe warming is a big lie concocted by the Liberal part to make money from the Carbon Tax.
Get a Fucking Life you right-wing doorknobs and start to think of all of us on this planet not just the rich Millionaires and old white guys- who just happen to be the type of humans who are rich millionaires.
So, enjoy a sausage or a burger and hope to Gawd that sooner- rather than later, these Hamburgers and Sausages will be all plant-based and cows and pigs will just be animals who live out their lives in a sanctuary field.
I've started myself on that road to helping.
I haven't eaten pork since September.
Beef will be next on my list heading to be as much of a vegetarian as I can be.
I am hoping some Canadian company- and it won't be a Conservative company unless there's millions to be made, will get into the business of making plant-based, meat-like products that will make us go yum!
It's the way of the future unless you let Doug and Andrew and that New Brunswick guy have their way.
Hey, I just looked out the window to my right.
It has actually stopped snowing...for now.
Well, whaddah ya know about that...
