This is the latest in the Malcolm Ernst series of cartoons.

Hi everyone! Remember me? I have just been so darn busy these days shoveling snow that I couldn’t get back to my blog here lately. Sorry about that! I missed you all, and I hope you missed me as well. So, now I’m back!

And the first thing I want to do is wish you all a very loving and caring Saint Valentine’s Day! Since I love all of you I’m giving you my special Valentine’s Day blog Illustration…he, he!

This Valentine’s Day season like most of the others, finds us folks up here in Akita covered with a heavy blanket of snow. It seems we have a ton of it everywhere this year! The city of Yokote, about and hour or so drive south of Akita city, where I live, always getting much more than the rest of us. So much more that folks are forced to go up on their roofs and shovel it off to prevent the roofs from collapsing under the weight. This is quite dangerous as twice as many people this year have died from falling or buried under the snow that falls off. Too many elderly gentlemen attempt this task who shouldn’t be doing it.

Fortunately for me, I don’t have to climb up there but I do spend a lot of time out shoveling off driveways and parking lots! Great exercise for me though! Driving in this snow is ok as long as it isn’t too thick and stays cold. When it warms up a bit the snow melts and turns to slush, that’s when most cars get stuck and I have to put down my shovel and help give a push…more exercise!

Well, I can see by looking out my window that it is snowing again. The catch phrase I hear around here these days is, “enough already!” So, I’d better get out there and burn off a few calories before I start eating too much Valentine’s Day chocolate! Here’s a big kiss for all of you, and I hope you get one from that special lover of yours as well!

Happy Valentine’s Day, he,he,he…. Mata ne!