The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

It's 6 Celsius and I'm chilly? 'm pretty sure it happened with the coming of 2006, soon after the stroke of 12 midnight-- I felt chilly. You know that feeling-- chills, those annoying little shivers running up and down your spine. It seems to be an annual thing for me, that time when I realize that winter is upon us. And in spite of the fact it's been unseasonably warm lately, I'm still chilly. Perhaps the warmth and excitement of Christmas masks the cold, making one less sensitive to chills, but now that we're back into the full routine of work and regular schedules, I'm wide awake now, and perpetually freezing. I have come to dislike (but not quite despise) winter. Years ago, I could hardly wait for the first flakes of the season to accumulate on the ground, so I could get out the old toboggan and race down the hill behind the house at breakneck speed-- all day long. And when I grew into adolescence and young adulthood, I graduated to a snowmobile, so I could race back up the hills at breakneck speed-- all night long. But those days are gone. Now, those winter activities don't quite cut it for me anymore. My idea of winter sports centers around taking part in a spectator capacity-- from the sofa in my den with a good remote control in hand. And to think there are people out there who actually drive to places with snow, to get out and freeze while strapping on a pair of skis. They're deranged. Earlier this week, I walked into the office, dressed in a cozy corduroy shirt, snow boots, gloves, and a heavy winter coat. I was chilly and it was 6C! Is that an age thing? I tell ya, I spent the day feeling like I was reenacting The Cremation of Sam McGee. After checking the thermostat in the office, I realized the problem wasn't with the heating in I A TED BIT Ted Brown the office, but me. I returned home that night and gave the thermostat a nudge, to pump a little more heat into the house, and ultimately, into me. The next morning, I stuck my nose out from under the sheets, electric blanket and duvet, to test the air. My nose was cold; not a good sign. After scampering across the cold floor and ultimately into some warm clothes, I still felt damn near frozen. On the way to work I observed that the heater in my vehicle starts to blow warm air, just as I pull into the parking lot of the office. I actually wondered if was I coming down with something, like a good, old-fashioned cold, or maybe a flu bug? Couldn't be. I had a slight head cold after Christmas, but now I feel as healthy as a horse. A chilly horse, that is. Whatever the problem is, it's a fact of life. I seem to shiver and complain, until spring returns to drive the chills out of my bones. In the meantime, I decided I'm taking my annual action that always tides me over. I'm gonna throw another log on the fire in the fireplace and park myself beside the hearth with a hot chocolate (topped with whipped cream) in hand. And I ain't budging. Until about April.... "Michael Chong has a clear and progressive vision for the future of Canada that is strongly rooted in its history and traditions. Canada needs honest and dedicated MPs like Mike more than ever right now." William Christian, Professor of Political Science at the University of Guelph, author and journalist In Timbits Hockey, learning to laugh and make friends goes hand in hand with developing the skills of the game. It's the perfect way to ensure young boys and 1-800-837-7075 info@votemichaelchong.com www.votemichaelchong.com girls get off to a good start in this great game. Tim Hortons is proud to support the kids who play Timbits hockey in Acton and Georgetown - where fun rules. The first goal is having fun. Fergus 180 St. Andrew Street East Georgetown 40 Main Street South Acton 103 Main Street North NOW, more than EVER! Authorized by the Official Agent for Michael Chong.