Okay, I've never been one to believe in the ability of rodents to predict the future...but as it appears to be a North American tradition to be fascinatied in the whole shadow concept, I must admit that the recent weather has me believe that our pre-destined road-kill has no freaking clue as to what it/he/she is talking about!

Let's face it...40 cm is not indicative of an early spring. Nor is the ice rain. Nor is the impending drop in temperature.

Look, I like winter. I don't believe I could call myself Canadian if I didn't. However...this whole "spring is 3 weeks away but there's a snow storm coming in" is rather ridiculous. Or is it just me?

I love winter sports! Honestly, I do. Skiing, skating, ice wine...in any combination for you creative ones...totally appears to my sense of Candiana, but enough is enough. My shovel is looking rather ragged...aka...when is Canadian Tire about to have a sale on them again? My driveway isn't long enough for a snow blower and I count my blessings that one of my next door neighbours is a secondary school gym teacher. With every forecast predicating 5cm or more, I pray Allistair will flex his muscles.

On the plus side, my dog - affectionately referred to as "A Blonde" by my mother - has realized that it's much more entertaining to jump into snow banks with four paws foreward. Nor more is Miska tossing herself in head first! (so much for my entertainment).

In tune with our winter, the CN Tower has become a weapon of mass winter destruction! Ice sheets are ripping off of the Tower and hurtling themselves towards the streets below! For the pedestrians silly enough to not wear hard hats...well..that's why the police closed the streets nearby. Thank you. How can people not carry a hard hat in their backpacks?!?!

I do believe that I've hit the CaNaDiAnA SiLlIeS....where we make no sense but are attractive nevertheless. You know you love me. Leave a message and admit the truth!

40cm of snow overnight meant waking up on February 14 to a world covered in white, fluffy flakes. I contemplated driving to work...honestly, I did!...but in this day and age of telecommuting, I opted to call in and say "Thanks but no thanks to showing up today. I'll work from home." I swear, I accomplished more in 4 hours from my couch than I would have had I actually risked driving on the snow covered roads!

Walking the dog was quite the adventure, I must admit! She's a "petite 50 pounds", so not exactly a small dog. The winds were so strong that drifts formed in the fields where I walk her. And there she was...running running running...thwoomp!...Miska completely disappeared from view! Not even a tail! The snow drifts were so deep and the snow so light, she just sunk right through!

And she loved every moment of it! *lol*

Daytona 500 is today! NASCAR Nextel Cup kicks off today! You know what that means right?

Right?

It means that Formula 1 is just around the corner! Yay! *does her little dance of joy*

I spent last week at a sister mill assisting on their Health and Safety audit. Leave it to our Lead Auditor to pick what is statistically the coldest day of the year to do the physical conditions inspection! And statistics didn't disappoint! I was almost able to prove that contacts lenses can indeed "stick" to your eyeballs!!! *lol*

However, I've had the weekend to successfully warm up...how I did that I shall leave to your wicked imaginations!

My white singing canary, Jareth, is a veritable virtuouso! From sun-up until I go to bed, the birdie sings...quite loudly, too. Unless, he's bathing. I guess I'm the only one who sings in the shower in this household.

Superbowl weekend is coming up...go Bears! My dog's name, Miska, translates into 'little bear', so is it any wonder that I'm cheering for Chicago. I've got a football kerchief all set for her to wear during the big game, too.

I'm not sure which is more significant...that I survived Winnipeg or that Winnipeg survived me.

Work beckoned me in Winnipeg this week and I met up with my counterparts from my company's sites from both North and South America. It's been a while since I've been with this group and I had forgotten how intense our day-time meetings could get...and how even more intense the evening conversations could get.

Amazingly, the following restaurants didn't kick us out - Hy's, Earls and Branigans. If you're ever in Winnipeg, go visit 'em and make sure you take the time to walk around The Forks.

*yawn & stretch* Time to catch up on my sleep.

Last weekend was a long weekend here...and what a long weekend it was. Caribana in Toronto on Saturday. Metro Toronto Zoo on Sunday. And a visit to the small town in Northern Ontario where I grew up. 6 hour drive there. 3 hours at the beach. 6 hour drive home. But those 3 hours...wow. I had forgotten what the air smelled like...trees, water, sand...

The water of Lake Huron on the North Channel was so unbelievably warm! Soft sand under my feet and a warm breeze made my time at the beach perfect.

Miska, my dog, hates water and to my knowledge has never been swimming. (fyi, I adopted her from the Humane Society last year). I managed to get her into the water and after a few not-quite-successful attempts, she quickly learned how to dog paddle.

Unfortunately, that breeze I mentioned was actually causing a "small craft warning", so the water was a tad choppy. I don't think she appreciated getting waves in the face!

But I admit to being recharged after my time there. Just sitting on the beach in my small town, smelling pine trees and water...does it get any better?