Let's face it, we here in the nation's capital have a propensity for complaining, especially when it comes to the weather. It's either too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry.

We also love to complain about the city, or to be more specific, city services, like the abundance of potholes in the spring, or OC Transpo buses being too early or too late. But when the extreme weather leads to a breakdown in city services, say after a snowstorm, then that's really worth complaining about.

In particular, I'm referring to the mess that was recently created by a massive snowstorm followed by day of rain and then a sudden drop in temperature which left Grand Canyon size ruts on some streets and outdoor skating rinks at the end of others. No big deal if you drive a monster truck or an SUV, but a disaster waiting to happen if you drive something a little closer to the ground like a Chevy Cruze or Hyundai Elantra.

Community Facebook pages have been inundated with photo-graphic evidence of said ruts with each post trying outdo the last.

And God help our local councillors who are getting inundated with the same photos and complaints that they need to do their jobs and clear the streets with seeming expectation that they should grab a shovel and a pickaxe and do the job themselves.

I'm pretty sure getting 100 complaints a day from irate residents ready to take to the streets waving pitchforks and ice chippers was not what they had in mind when they ran for office four short months ago. But that's Ottawa.

Mother Nature doesn't have a complaint department or an email address, but you local councillor does.

The fact of the matter is that we live in a city that can have some wonky weather in January and February that includes freezing rain, rain and sudden changes in temperature. Streets are going to get iced over, ruts are going to form and puddles the size of Dow's Lake are going to form at intersections where the stormwater drains are blocked by snow.

City workers are going to do the best job they can to clear up the mess, but there is only so much they can do. They can't be on every street in Ottawa at the same time. Yes, it's a hassle. Yes, it's a pain in the rear end and yes it can often be infuriating, but we live in Ottawa not Myrtle Beach.

I read somewhere once that for some people complaining can be cathartic and even therapeutic. It can also be annoying if you are the target of the complaints.

Hopefully, we have seen that last of Old Man Winter. According to the long range forecast, the first two weeks of March will be abnormally cold, but the last two weeks will see above average temperatures along with above average precipitation and potential flooding when the complaints will likely begin anew.