Springin' in da Hood!

Ah yes, spring is in the air!
Can you smell it?
The delicious tang of rotting milk assaulting your senses as you casually stroll on Bethune street behind the Baskin Robbins ice cream plant. As the temperature rises, garbage stains begin to emit their foul reek for all to enjoy. Nothing like the Spring thaw to show that the whole freakin' town is in desperate need of a bath.

In Canada, we sand and salt our roads to make winter driving less treacherous and come spring time we have about two inches of mung lining our roadways. It carries over on to the lawns and boulevards. The street sweepers have been out kicking up dust clouds and it looks like it's going to rain soon; mud pies for everyone!

Snow covers the filth and provides countless winter activities. Winter snow, and the cold that often comes with it, serves another important purpose. It sends the local thieving dirts into hibernation.

I knew it was Spring long before I even looked outside the other day. I just had to read our local newspaper to see those familiar tell tale signs. Headlines like; "Goods stolen from home", "Cash stolen" and the ever popular "Thefts from vehicles" are starting to appear. A sure sign that the local criminal set is starting to flex their atrophied limbs before embarking on the really big heavy thefts of TV's, stereo equipment etc. They're wise, they don't want to strain themselves after a long winters siesta so they start small. News of the theft of change from cars, ipods, cellphones, small things that won't cause any kind of muscle strain is slowly trickling into the "In Brief" section in the local rag.

I see them, emerging ever so slightly from their parkas; casually exposing their gaunt frames and pale flesh to the sun. Casing the neighbourhoods, checking to see who has replenished after they were robbed last year. They're on scouting missions for their next victims, now that the fair weather is here.

As I jogged through the gritty streets this morning I saw another tell tale sign that Spring has sprung. Vagrants were drinking their pre-lunch brewski's on the railroad bridge behind no-frills; King cans for as far as the eye could see. As I cut through the parking lot at Del Crary park I crossed paths with a gentleman who was coming home with his groceries, 12 cans of wildcat beer and a stick of pepperoni. I was reminded of Ricky from Trailer Park Boys and I wondered if he had any galapeno chips at home to complete his meal?

B-spot runnin' through the grime on the Northern grind!