Day: February 9, 2026

Just when you felt the winter couldn’t get a whole lot worse we have to run to the airport in a panic in minus thirty five temperatures, and dab at a runny nose, accompanied by lots of sneezing. Perfection! I’m not a morning person so that early wake up which I hadn’t planned on was both unexpected, and unpleasant. Luckily I do not feel as bad as I did with the previous illness/flu like thing I battled for eleven straight days. No aches, no pains, no chills or fever, and no two day long unending headache to keep me occupied. So a runny nose and some sneezing is simple to deal with.

But I do wish this winter would end quickly, and allow for some higher temperatures to make themselves known. I can be outside without wanting to die if it gets up around zero for a few weeks before we venture off into positive numbers. I’d be ok with that. That would allow me to shovel, chip away ice, and prepare the property by opening the second storm drain, and tossing the back patio snow off onto the grass to keep it from winding up on my basement floor.

I’d prefer to much about outdoors without a runny nose, and sneezing, but if the sun is going to stay out, and the temperatures are going to rise out of the horrific zone (below minus twenty five) and become a bit more tame, then I can sort myself out, cold or no cold, enough to reclaim our driveway end, and get the drive right down to the asphalt, or cobble stones. It’s a physically intensive job, but one that’s more fun when your fingers, nose, and eyeballs don’t want to freeze solid due to the cold. Life in Canada, can you dig it?

With any luck this prolonged cold snap will limit the ticks, and other such stinging bugs for the spring, summer, and fall. I could do without more tick bites when I get back into the wood piles at the farm. I have a hankering to swing my axes a little before we start to trend upwards too far. I’m a simple man. I have simple pleasures.

With any luck I can shake this cold before the Family Day/Valentine’s Day mix n’ match long weekend that’s coming up soon. Reminds me that I need to grab a gift for both kids. And my wife too. I should get on that! Oh oh, it’s Friday the 13th this week!!! Could be a fun evening of scary movies, popcorn, and petrified children. Ha!