It's been a good year so far in Halifax for snow, this 2005. This month we've already had one serious snow storm last Monday (it was no White Juan, but it was something) and another noteworthy blizzard on Thursday. Today/tonight we're getting the white end of the stick again, and this Optimuscriminal is wishing, and hoping seriously that his work will be cancelled again.

Today was a real adventure. Maggie and I braved the storm, bundled in layers upon layers, and made our way down to Spring Garden Road, to catch a 2:30 (or more accurately, what turned out to in fact be a 3:30 screening) of The Life Aquatic, with Steve Zissou. Alright, it's fairly old news, and readers are probably all sick of amateur reviews, so we'll just say this: Effing incredible. Effing incredible!

"I'm gonna fight you, Steve!"

It was crazy, the trip there, and back. It was cold, it was windy, and it was nothing but white. Oh, and a lot of really really good foot-sliding down hills. There was that too. We were two of maybe 30 people in the downtown area.

Not to downplay the intensity of the weather today, or last Monday, but as an ex-ontarian it's actually a little astounding the way that this Atlantic Canadian city deals with blizzards. That is to say: We shut down - almost as though we didn't see it coming a mile away. In Atlantic Canada. I just find it amazing that a province who spends such an absurd amount of money salting the streets to the point of insanity, could actually be caught off guard by blizzards, on such a regular basis. I don't remember that happening so often in London. Maybe in Owen Sound, but I mean, for the most part it seems like Ontario just tuffs through the weather more. It's not like they don't get blizzards. I don't get it.

Don't get me wrong. I love it. I welcome the day off work, knock on wood. And as a matter of fact, there's something really charming about a city that just takes a break when it gets really cold. It's cute. It's just funny, is all.

Optimuscrime: Crossing my fingers, hoping for more snow.