The 'boggan.
Kristie bought a three-seater toboggan to haul Greta and Erick to Grace's school in the afternoon to bring her home. In clement weather, the whole operation takes, I'm told, about 15 minutes. Now, with the donning of three snow suits, taking off the suits to pee, putting suits back on, mittens, tuques, and boots, it takes 40 minutes to just get out the door. Then it's pack mule time over the windrows of ice boulders that the plows leave in their wake, dragging the kids to and from school. Kristie reports it is somewhat easier than using the wagon in the snow, however. (!) Easier than pulling the wagon on dry pavement, too.
Mega Boggan
This morning was -24C and blowing. Kristie drove me to work on her way to Mom's Morning Coffee group, so the Sorels got a day off stomping duty. She picked me up this evening, too, as Thursday is skating night in St. Vital across the river. Normally it takes about 10 minutes to get to the rink but it was snowing again, and traffic was backed up for about a mile at the Bishop Grandin bridge. Grace and Greta only got 10 minutes on the ice, but had a great time anyway. I play with Erick while the girls skate, and he's starting to enjoy watching the skating as much as I do. It's a real hoot seeing all those tiny kids shuffling around in their hockey outfits. Some little boys have knee pads, elbow pads, and big helmets with steel face guards. We're cheap and from the south so our kids just wear snow suits and little white helmets from China. Grace likes to wear her old trainer undies because they really pad her bottom!
St Vital Centennial Arena is a real bit of Canadianna, about 35 years old and well worn. It is very much a local skating rink, hosting about 7 neighborhood teams along with two free-skate sessions plus lessons. There are 6 rows of wooden bleachers missing lots of paint from skate blades, and rubber flooring off the ice. The concession stand has popcorn, cocoa, coffee, tea, hot dogs, chips, and soft drinks. Big signs warn against sunflower shells. French is spoken there as much as English, so I really feel like I'm in another place.
I suppose I have 2 years to become a good skater before Erick starts lessons. I wonder if I can find some in size 15?
s
Mega Boggan
This morning was -24C and blowing. Kristie drove me to work on her way to Mom's Morning Coffee group, so the Sorels got a day off stomping duty. She picked me up this evening, too, as Thursday is skating night in St. Vital across the river. Normally it takes about 10 minutes to get to the rink but it was snowing again, and traffic was backed up for about a mile at the Bishop Grandin bridge. Grace and Greta only got 10 minutes on the ice, but had a great time anyway. I play with Erick while the girls skate, and he's starting to enjoy watching the skating as much as I do. It's a real hoot seeing all those tiny kids shuffling around in their hockey outfits. Some little boys have knee pads, elbow pads, and big helmets with steel face guards. We're cheap and from the south so our kids just wear snow suits and little white helmets from China. Grace likes to wear her old trainer undies because they really pad her bottom!
St Vital Centennial Arena is a real bit of Canadianna, about 35 years old and well worn. It is very much a local skating rink, hosting about 7 neighborhood teams along with two free-skate sessions plus lessons. There are 6 rows of wooden bleachers missing lots of paint from skate blades, and rubber flooring off the ice. The concession stand has popcorn, cocoa, coffee, tea, hot dogs, chips, and soft drinks. Big signs warn against sunflower shells. French is spoken there as much as English, so I really feel like I'm in another place.
I suppose I have 2 years to become a good skater before Erick starts lessons. I wonder if I can find some in size 15?
s
posted by Steve Grimmer at 7:52 PM
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