A week of nice weather as we are marching toward spring. Well not really marching more like crawling, but a steady crawl nevertheless. With the amount of snow around, just as sure as God made little green apples, there is going to be run off. Hopefully no one gets flooded out. The best thing that could happen is what is happening now with a little melting every day and then freezes up every night. Nice thought but not likely going to happen. As soon as we don't expect it, Murphy's Law kicks in and we get another shot of winter. It would be inconceivable that we could go through March and April without a spring storm.
The Big Guy always sends at least one "crow snow." The crows get arrogant, so the day after they come back, the Big Guy sends in a spring storm. The crows are all huddled in a tree, looking all wet and bedraggled, trying to fluff out their feather so they don't freeze to death. The Big Guy just wants them to know he is still in charge. The crows are pretty quiet and settled down after that. So are some ranchers and truckers, too
I saw two crows today so I phoned my father-in-law Bob Polinsky to report the fact. He is 90 years young, in good shape and he and his wife live in an apartment on the fourth floor up in Lloydminster. He says he likes to look around. Bob and Ada liked to go to the Zeller's restaurant for coffee and visit friends. They are not happy that it is closed. Bob told me there are always three crow snows after they came back. Sure as clockwork it's snowing tonight. He couldn't talk long. He was eating his supper so he could watch curling. Sounded like a good plan to me.
Alberta had its budget delivered last week. There was much wringing of hands and interviews from the opposition parties blaming the government for cut backs. Much discussion about borrowing money for capital projects. I would wish Allison Redford well as she deals with having to run a deficient and deal with peoples neverending wants. It's not nice when you have to tell people a "no" to their wants.
There seems to be a mind set that Alberta is rich and people can have everything they want. This is a fallacy, never true in private life and definitely not true in any government. There is even some idiots suggesting Alberta could have a sales tax. More taxes and more money is not the answer. Controlling the spending is the only workable option if you plan for the long term. It should be no different than the way you manage your own personal money.
My worry is Saskatchewan could be next with budget problems if they don't watch spending.
In Rome the cardinals are gathered to elect a new pope. It is a real media event and the Catholic Church has lots of pomp and ceremony. The event was started hundreds of years ago, but the bright colors and rituals are tailor-made for the media. I am not a church goer, but for those who are, I hope they get a modern pope who has rapport with the people. Some people need a church in their lives and raising children with a Christian set of values is a good thing. It certainly doesn't hurt.
In England, in a most unusual step, the Queen is holding a special ceremony to mark Commonwealth Day. She is going to announce that she is signing an Equal Rights Charter and all leaders of the Commonwealth have agreed to uphold it. The charter declares "we are opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether based on gender, race, colour, creed or political beliefs or other grounds." The "other grounds" is thought to be for gays, but the gays are not happy because it doesn't specifically name them. The government is introducing new legislation which would end discrimination against women in line of succession to the British throne. This would mean the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge first baby would be in line for the throne whether it is a boy or girl. If you read between the lines you have to be suspicious that the baby coming is a girl!
Joke of the week: Bob Polinsky told me when he was young he and his brother Ewald had a Whippet car. The weather was really, really cold that winter. To start the car to go to town they kept the oil and antifreeze in two pails by the kitchen stove. When they wanted to go to town they would go out and pour the warm oil and antifreeze in the car. Then it would start! One day it was A really, really cold day and they decided they had to go to town. They poured in the oil and antifreeze, the car started and off they went. When they got home, it was so cold they had to shut the headlights off before they could get the car back in the garage! OOH boy! That Bob!
