Rain Ain't So Bad

OK, so it was sunny yesterday, and as of this morning The Weather Network says that it's supposed to be sunny today... and tomorrow... and Sunday. But as we all know, the rain could start at any time and not slow down for a week or more. That fact isn't helped by the fact that some expert types are predicting that we're in for a good one this year. But this is the best place on Earth right? That's what the IOC and ICBC have teamed up to tell us all... and as the steadfast bastions of ethical behaviour they are, they wouldn't lie to us. So take heart, because for every hassle there's at least a partial solution. It was true for The Great Water Inconvenience of 2006, it's true our current garbage strike, and it's absolutely true for the impending winter.

And now here in time to save your life... my guide to surviving the Vancouver winter:

Quit whining - Whiners often whine just to listen to themselves whine. And if they listen to themselves whine for long enough they start to believe their own whining. This leads to more whining. It's a vicious feedback circle. So whiners, please refer to my next piece of advice...

Move - There's lots of reasons not to live here, so pick one and hit the road. It'll help us all out. It's always sunny in Winnipeg, and houses cost way less.

Buy a raincoat - They aren't fashionable, but what the hell, neither is showing up to an important social event in a soaking wet kit. If you're worried about kinking those frosted tips with a hood, then an umbrella is also an option. Just mind the wind.

Take up a winter sport - This is a no-brainer. We have three ski hills within a 30-minute drive of practically anyone in the city. More ambitious types can drive south for a couple of hours to the best hill on the continent or approximately the same distance north to the alpine equivalent of Granville and Robson Streets. True, lift tickets are prohibitively expensive for many people, but there are ways to ride these places for free. Get creative. And remember that alpine skiing's oft-maligned cousins, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, also offer fun at a fraction of the price. And they're about 1000x better exercise anyway.

Listen to more Jethro Tull - If it didn't rain so damn much, Vancouver wouldn't be surrounded by these incredible forests. And nothing builds an appreciation for the forest like listening to the sprightly musings of that brilliant minstrel, Ian Anderson. For those whose tastes lean to the heavier, Norwegian "forest metal" (I only wish I could lay claim to that term) pioneers, Ulver offer a reasonable alternative.

Take up an indoor sport - There's more of these than I can count and they're all easily accessible to anyone who lives in Vancouver. A few ideas to get you started... Brazilian jiu-jitsu, indoor soccer, ice hockey, judo, floor hockey, yoga, kickboxing, pumpin' iron, stripperobics, pilates, gymnastics, aquafit, jumping jacks, jogging on the spot, Jane Fonda's workout...

Learn to read - Wondering what Mac the rat has been up to since the last time you picked up a book? Why not find out today. Recommendations? Four off the top of my head would be East of Eden, Miles Davis's autobiography, Dead Souls, and anything by Bill Bryson.

Photo courtesy of Howdy, I'm H. Micheal Karshis.