I just keep reminding myself with three simple words: 鈥淲e were due.鈥�
鈥淲e were due鈥� to have a pretty fierce cold snap at some point, not just in this area but across the province.聽 鈥淲e were due鈥� to have temperatures drop to the point of 小蓝视频 -25 from a technical standpoint, but actually 小蓝视频 -35 or even -40 with the windchill.聽 鈥淲e were due鈥� to have air that basically burns our face, leading us to ask why we live in a part of the world where the cold air burns our face.
Speaking from a weather standpoint, I think we had it pretty good during November and December, especially the latter.聽 I was actually worried that it wouldn鈥檛 be much of a white Christmas, but lo and behold, I woke up on December 25 to find that Conquest had been blanketed with a fresh coat of snow.
We had it pretty good through the holidays and even for a week or so into the new year, but then, almost like clockwork, Saskatchewan as a whole was basically dropped into a giant deep freeze.聽 (Is that a frozen roast I see鈥�?)
In times like these, your mind has a tendency to wander, and in this case, it鈥檚 wandering right into warmer temperatures during another time of the year that鈥檚 months down the road.
I know it seems far off to even think about spring or summer, but I鈥檓 going to simply float it out there in the hope that time will fly by even faster than normal, and that instead of thinking about drinking the hottest of hot beverages, it鈥檒l soon be time to stock up on cold drinks that鈥檒l be sweating in the summer heat.
I can hear most of you just salivating at the thought of it.聽 Hey, I鈥檓 right there with ya!
If we鈥檙e going to be stuck in the deep freeze that is known as mid-January to roughly the end of February on the Prairies, then I鈥檓 going to think warmer thoughts and transfer my mind and spirit to months ahead on the calendar.
Friends, it鈥檚 like I鈥檓 already there.
Instead of freezing in weather that feels like -40, I鈥檓 actually wiping beads of sweat off my brow as the hot July sun bakes the top of my head while I鈥檓 lounging on the back deck.聽 A cold drink is to my right, my shades shield my eyes from the piercing daylight, and a good book is in my hands.
Instead of hitting the remote start and warming up my Ford Escape for 15-20 minutes each day, or sometimes even multiple times on those days where the temperatures are bitterly low, I鈥檓 not even worrying about it.聽 I鈥檓 good to go at the drop of a hat.聽 Something I鈥檝e got to go cover?聽 Hop in and go, no warming up period required.聽 Jump in, crank that A/C, or even open up the sunroof and hit the open road.
Instead of wearing warm clothes such as thick socks and my sheep-lined trucker jacket, I鈥檓 wearing a Metallica t-shirt, light fabric shorts and a pair of flip-flops.聽 Away with the gloves and the toques, it鈥檚 time to remove some layers and let things get good and breezy.聽 Every day is Casual Friday when it鈥檚 summertime, man!
Instead of covering winter-centric events such as the endless amount of hockey that goes on, I鈥檓 headed to the ball diamonds to watch some baseball during the late-spring/early-summer evenings.聽 Throngs of people with lawn chairs lined up to catch the action, snacking on sunflower seeds and ice cream while keeping hydrated, and almost everyone with shades pulled down over their eyes.
Instead of focusing on hearty soups and stews that stick to your ribs and keep you warm and full in cold temperatures, I鈥檓 thawing out some thick and juicy steaks and prepping to lay them on the grill outside.聽 Pair them with some asparagus and perhaps some shrimp, and you鈥檝e got yourself some sweet summertime dining.聽 Maybe I鈥檒l even eat it outside.
Instead of simply dreaming of what to do in the outdoors this summer, I鈥檓 already doing it, man.聽 I鈥檝e got my camera gear and I鈥檓 taking photos in all sorts of places.聽 I鈥檓 sitting on the beach up at Candle Lake and watching the sunset in the west.聽 I鈥檓 fishing down at Lake Diefenbaker.聽 I鈥檓 enjoying my surroundings and the comfortable heat that comes along with it.
Yea yeah, I know.聽 I know it鈥檚 still cold out, the driveway probably needs another shovel job, and we鈥檙e likely to get a hearty handful of fresh snowfall in the coming weeks, but sometimes you鈥檝e just gotta think warm!聽 That鈥檚 right; deny that to which you鈥檙e currently surrounded!聽 If you ignore it, it鈥檒l go away 鈥� the denier鈥檚 motto!
For this week, that鈥檚 been the Ruttle Report.
