Lake Effect...

Two words anyone living in the Great Lakes area hates to hear, right up there with freezing rain and black ice, all of which we have had in the past two days. Wikipedia even has a page for it: Lake-effect snow is produced in the winter when cold winds move across long expanses of warmer lake water, providing energy and picking up water vapor which freezes and is deposited on the leeward shores.... This effect occurs in many locations throughout the world, but is best known in the populated areas of the Great Lakes of North America. ie my house. I did manage to drive to morning swim practice without putting my car in the ditch like I did the first snowfall of last year, but have decided that leaving it in the garage for the rest of the day is probably the best idea. Does shoveling snow count as a workout? I officially started back training last week, but I find that extreme cold weather negatively affects my motivation to train, unless I am heading out to ski but we don't have quite enough snow for that yet. I am still trying to get over a cold I picked up three weeks ago. It never got all that bad but is lingering way to long and feels like someone is sitting on my chest during my workouts. Thankfully I will be headed south to train again this year with JR in Alabama, only three weeks to go until then. A little bored since there is not much landscape architecture to do when there is snow on the ground. Might spend the rest of the day baking Christmas cookies. To those not living in warmer places (ohhh I miss Arizona on days like this) stay warm, drive save!!! You Know You're Canadian if... You've plugged a car in overnight You’ve had a Hallowe'en costume that fits over a snowsuit Driving is better in the winter because then the potholes are filled with snow You can play road hockey on skates Your municipality buys a Zamboni before it buys a bus You yell "Patio Weather!" when the temperature rises to 0. You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them There are seven empty cars running in the parking lot of your neighbourhood Tim Horton's at any given time You've ever had your tongue frozen to something You have more kilometers on your snow blower than your car You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, construction You Know You're a Canadian Redneck if... You own an ice auger You have a "good" parka for formal occassions The trunk of your car has doubled as a deep freezer You have more than $20 in Canadian Tire money You owe more money on your snowmobile than your car You think the Hockey Night in Canada theme song should be the National Anthem You know several people who have hit deer more than once