It’s 8 AM here in Calgary and all the cars, lawns, and houses have a white coat of snow. Most of the leaves are still on the trees and wet snow is stuck on the leaves. It’s nice living somewhere where it’s winter almost eight months out of the year (sarcasm).
This is a little early; we usually don’t see the first snow until early October. I remember one Halloween when it was -35 and a big blizzard.
I wouldn’t want to live somewhere really hot like the US gulf coast or Arizona but sometimes I wish we had a little more hot weather here. After twenty-three years here I figure there’s about an average of six weeks a year when you can wear light summer clothes after the sun goes down.
The only good thing about it is the entertaining carnage on the roads every year. The first few snow storms cause hundreds of traffic accidents (very few injuries) and the streets become a madhouse. I think it’s because yer average moron steps from his house into his/her attached heated garage, straps his/her fat ass into a metal capsule, and heads off to their heated underground parking at work (avg. cost $220/month). As their vehicle passes through the actual external natural environment they don’t really notice that the streets are slicker’n snot until they hit the brakes.
After one early blizzard I was most amused when a local news team took their cameras through some local body shops —
SUVs lined up as far as the eye could see, waiting for repair. The news team speculated that it was because the SUV owners think they have really special vehicles that are capable of uniform performance under any conditions.
When I lived in Colorado I was amazed at how many SUVs I saw in the ditch every time it snowed. I figured it was all the recent arrivals from California who assumed that buying a 4WD would enable them to drive as stupidly in snow as on dry pavement.
Maybe so but what you folks are failing to appreciate is that an SUV can usually get stuck further in the snowbank than your average car.
And Al, I know it’s of little comfort to you but just think of those wonderful unseasonal thaws you’ve got to look forward to this winter… not buying it?.. oh well, I tried.
The difference between 4-wheel drive & 2-wheel drive:
You have to walk 5 miles further out of the woods.
The difference between 4-wheel drive & 4-wheel drive plus a winch:
You have to walk 10 miles further out of the woods.
Assuming you actually take your 4-wheel drive into the woods.
When I lived in Denver I was in awe at the huge, beautiful 4-wheel drives I saw all over. Saw until it actually started snowing, that is. Apparently these jacked up behemoths were too pretty and expensive to risk on slippery roads. As soon as the snow flew, they did a vanishing act.
As is our habit, Sue and I were talking this morning and she says it was snowing on the East side of the city, nothing here yet but it is just a matter of time.
BTW… I’m in Edmonton…
I guess it’s almost time to post the top ten reasons to live in Canada in the winter… where else can you use your car’s trunk for extra freezer space?
There’s been quite a difference in the weather here, too.
Apparently the tail-end of the front that gave you snow decided to visit the desert southwest this week. Last week, we had highs in the hundreds. This week, the highs are in the 60s. It actually gets (comparatively) cold at night. The lows have been in the low 50s, and it feels cold!
Sure, it ain’t snow, but you get used to the weather you have. By NM standards, this is cool autumn weather – time to break out the jackets.
We haven’t had snow yet in this part of Saskatchewan, but it is darn cold. We went from a high of 32C 90F on Sunday to 4C 39F today…That’s enough to make anyone want to hibernate.
I’m so jealous. I hate you all. I have to wait until Christmas to even think about snow, and y’all’re enjoying it now.
You’ve ruined the nice glow I had because it’s raining. Just when I thought fall was finally coming to southern California, you made me anticipate a winter that will never come.
But rain in LA can be just as enjoyable as snow in Calgary. Last winter on the first day it rained there were 172 accidents. It happens every year, but they never learn.
Al, I’m very jealous of your snowscape. I hate summer and dread it’s humid, sweaty arrival every year. Fortunately I live in New England, but even our timid little summer is too much for me. It’s starting to get colder here too and I can smell crispy trees and chilly winds. I can’t wait…
You’re all making me soooo homesick. I’m living in South Carolina, where it’s still 85 degrees and humid. I’m a Yankee, though, and grew up having to wear a ski jacket over my Halloween costume. Except for the couple inches of snow we got last year, I haven’t seen the stuff for 4 years.
I can’t wait for the first snow! I love snow. My nephew is finally old enough to help me build a kick ass snow fort. Maybe this year he’ll actually fight back in snowball fights. (I say all this now. When the first snow actually does come, I’ll be complaining about it. )
*TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING:
Five months, one week, six days, 39 minutes and 17 seconds.
6641 cigarettes not smoked, saving $830.14.
Extra time with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 2 days, 1 hour, 25 minutes.
*“I’m a big Genesis fan.”-David B. (Amen, brother!)
Here’s a post I made on January 27th of this year. In The Pit, obviously.
Still looking forward to that move?
BTW, if you still need apartment help, just tell me where you’ll be working, and I’ll try my best. I’ve lived in Columbus and its surrounding areas for 11 years now. I’m better acquainted with some parts of town over others, but I can tell you in general terms where you do and don’t want to live. Drop me a line.
We had our first snow this morning too. It didnt last long but it was beautiful to see those big flakes coming down. I can’t wait to get a good dump so that we can go out and play in it and make snow angels! Seems Calgary beat us to the good fall this year.
(I say all this now. When the first snow actually does come, I’ll be complaining about it. 
)