Rock N Roll parenting in the winter. . .

So; alot of time in winter in Montreal has to do with thinking about going outside, getting dressed to go outside, clearing the walkway, warming up the car, then getting to where we have to go as quickly as possible.
When you have a 2 year old son, this process gets very tricky. Especially if he doesn’t want to leave the house. Couple that with being 2 parents who tour most days of the year, and you can get a good idea of what it takes.

Here we are in March. The days are supposed to be getting warmer, the birds are supposed to be returning, and we just got another huge dump of snow. My backyard is starting to resemble the Russian north and I cant find my doormat through 3 inches of ice.
All my friends out west ask why I would do such a thing like move to Montreal. “But its so beautiful here. Why would you move there???”. Well, to be blunt, because Quebec is the best province to raise a family as far as the government goes, and its the best place to be a musician because of the government’s love and support for the arts.
So. . . .this province may be buried under snow, and sometimes I look outside with dread and fear about hauling my drums through snow or driving for hundreds of kilometers for the next tour, but then I remember why I live here.

I figure 4 months of cold snow and frigid temperatures is a fairly decent trade off for and economy that allows me to get by as a musician. I’m not driving a new car or living that sex, drugs, and rock n roll life, but I am able to have a roof over my head and spend more time with my family than 99% of the world does. Not bad Quebec. Not bad.