So far this year I’ve cleaned snow off our walks and driveway more times than I did all last winter. The glass-is-half-empty person in me says that stinks. The glass-is-half-full person says it’s not so bad; shoveling is good exercise.
I’ve had access to a new snowblower this year, but I haven’t used it. I’ve figured out that I can move less than five inches of accumulated snow off our (fairly expansive) driveway and front walks in just about 30 minutes. Not too bad. Over five inches, especially if it’s wet, takes longer.
The most important revelation this season, however, has been the plastic shovel we bought for Leah last year so she could help out. I had my manly metal shovel with the ergonomic handle, and we decided that Leah needed something a little daintier. Well, the fact is that the plastic shovel is one heck of a nice snow moving implement. If I may wax automotive for a second, it’s light, responsive, and stiff. It handles all the cracks and bumps in the driveway — of which there are many — with aplomb and comes back for more. Thirty minutes with the plastic shovel is a joy compared to even 10 minutes behind my old clunker, and the plastic model cost half as much.
I’m not saying this shovel makes me look forward to shoveling, but it makes the job much, much easier than last year. All hail the plastic shovel.