A Confession...

A sledding day

As a Canadian, it is assumed that I love winter and all the lovely outdoor activities associated with winter.  This is not the case. I like winter, but what I like about winter is the hibernation aspect.  A cozy evening with a nice fire, pyjamas and comfort food, staying warm inside while the elements batter away outside.  To be fair, there are aspects of the outdoors I do like.  I like taking the kids sledding but not actually doing any sledding myself.  I like walking in the cold with crunchy snow under foot, but only by choice and if I'm dressed for it.  I like how quiet it is outside on a winter's night when the snow is falling and muffling all other sounds.  I also like the magic of a white Christmas and therefore I wouldn't trade snow and winter for a second.  But here's my confession: I hate skating. 
This may seem like a small thing but in my particular geographical circumstance it is frowned upon.  I live in Canada and should therefore like skating.  Not only that, I live in Ottawa, home of "the world's longest outdoor skating rink"-the Canal.
http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/places-to-visit/rideau-canal-skateway
Worse still, I live in a neighbourhood that the Canal runs through!  I just had to get this albatross off my neck and confess to the world that I hate skating!!  It hurts my feet! It hurts my back! It's cold out and you fall! And unless you carry your boots with you, your stuck miles away from your damn boots and have to endure the torturous journey back to the hut where your boots are being held hostage.  My idea of a trip to the Canal involves no skates for me!  For my kids, sure.  They don't do anything but fall in a 5 foot radius anyway so we don't have to chase them.
Despite my avarice for skating we will most likely hit the Canal this weekend where lovely husband will put on skates even though it's cold out and his feet hurt and his back hurts and he may fall because that's what we do for the littles.