Ahhhh. Another beautiful sunny spring day. I have a hoar frost rain marked for May 5, which by the time you read this will be history. It will have rained or it didn't. We have had some wind but if it is sunny and warm, it's not all that bad outside. I have weeds growing in my hills but not here where I live, yet. Things are always quicker in the lighter land. Everything will be growing soon with that great starter rain we just had. Good riddance snow mold and all that other stuff that floats in the air in spring. Thanks, Big Guy! Bring on summer.
Life on a farm in the spring can be different especially if you have livestock. Son Ron has a few cows and his kids have ownership of some cows. He has cowboy farm rules that a cow has to raise a calf or the cow gets sold or eaten. They have a cow that is so tame she will eat corncobs out of their hands. Last year she didn't get in calf so the kids know the rules and right away they were begging their dad to give this pet cow another chance. So father Ron relented and the cow got to stay another year.
Just when it looked like all hope was lost and the cow was heading down the road, the cow calved saving her from the hamburger maker. The calf was up, sucking and doing fine. Then disaster struck and here the cow went and laid on the calf and killed it. These things happen even in the best of families. So Ron is going to sell the cow. Again the children plead, "Oh Dad can't she have another second chance? Please, Dad, please!" So, off to Paradise Hill goes Ron, where someone had two heifer calves for sale. He buys both calves and back home he goes.
This pet cow when she gets in the barn turns into a proper beotch, trying to jump stalls, ramming the head gate. Ron has a self locking head gate and swinging gate to get her locked up. Ron gets her locked up and she proceeds to kick the lightning out of everything in sight. We have some chain hobbles he puts on her. He sprays Frebreze on the cow's nose and on the calves. He gets the calves in there and they are hungry and they suck. The cow can't move. So everything should be good but, oh no! This beotch cow decides she doesn't like one of the calves and anytime this poor calf comes anywhere near her she swings her head and knocks it flying. So, next feeding time back in the head gate she goes, now she has to be encouraged with an electric prod, chain hobbles go on and the calves get to suck.
That cow lesson had to be repeated several times! She is now in a small corral behind the barn with her little family. The outcast calf has learned how to get in there and get dinner when the other one does and not get bunted. What a pile of extra work on "Please Dad, please, just one more second chance." It was a good deal for the cow, she gets to live another day. It was a good deal for Ron's kids, they kept their pet. It was a good deal for the guy that sold two calves. For Ron? Not so good. The joys of being a cowboy and a father!
In political news, poor old Rob Ford, mayor of Toronto, has taken a leave of absence to get help for his drug and alcohol problems. He had lots of enemies but his very worst enemy was himself. I wish him well but about 60 per cent of the people who have that problem usually fall back into it. I have the greatest respect for those who can turn their life around and stay clean. Good luck, Rob Ford.
In other Ontario political news, the Liberal Party of Ontario, which was the ruling party by a minority, needed the NDP to stay in power. The NDP leader has refused to support the government and the budget proposed. Premier Kathleen Wynne has called an election for June 12. The Liberal government has let government spending go unabated and every civil servant and the NDP have a huge list of "I wants." The Ontario economy has fallen apart under the Liberal government, slipping into have not status from the strongest economy in Canada. If you don't practise good, responsible government the chicken will come home to roost and someone else will be left cleaning up your mess. Hopefully neither one of the above mentioned party will be elected to form government. I would hope everyone in Ontario will get out and vote. You get what you deserve, Ontario. Watch what you vote for.
In Alberta, two leadership races are on, one for the Progressive Conservatives and one for the NDP. Brian Mason, leader of the NDP, has resigned as leader but will continue to a sit as an MLA. He feels a younger person should take the job. Mason is 60.
In the PC leadership race, Jim Prentice MP from Calgary has thrown his hat in the ring to officially be the second contender along with Ken Hughes. Other would-be contenders like Finance Minister Doug Horner and Inter-government Minister Rick McIver are contemplating what they should do. Wildrose Party Leader Danielle Smith is not impressed. She said it will take more than a one-man change to stop the feeling of entitlement after 40 years of being in power. I think she is probably right.
I don't get it! What's wrong with Dave Hancock, acting premier. Do the PCs not understand what they have there. He appears to be a good organizer getting people to work together. He presents a calm and reasonable persona on television. He looks like a premier. Am I the only one that can see that? He hasn't bought an expensive penthouse with government money. Cannot someone in the PC Party start a "draft Dave Hancock for leader" campaign? Come on Albertans, your province needs your help, step up to the plate
The PC leadership race is interesting. To run you must have a $50,000 deposit. The vote will be electronic with anyone with a membership can vote if they have a cellphone, iPad, tablet, laptop or a computer as long as they are connected to the Internet. Anyone who has a membership over the age of 14 can vote. This is going to be an interesting race as a large population will be able to be involved with democracy. Whoever wins, it will be a good thing.
Joke of the week: A man passes away and goes to the Pearly Gates. Saint Peter looks in the Big Book and says you have been a bad man. You are going down to burn in hell. A demon appears with a menacing fork and escorts the man down. As they reach the gates of hell the bad man see a prominent attorney making love to a beautiful woman. The bad man says this is not fair. "I am going to burn in hell for all eternity and that lawyer is able to make love to a beautiful woman." The demon escorting him poked him in the back with his pitch fork and said "Who are you to judge the punishment of that woman?"
