Ski Season Begins

Yeah, I know, I know. I can hear many of you starting up already: "What's that SkiDoo got to with skiing?". Well, a (sort-of) confession: My town buddy Stu and I went together and got a used snow machine with the intention of using it to get up various logging roads to where all the good ski slopes and and where the snow is usually great. So what you see here is the backcountry equivalent of a ski lift or the winter equivalent of a 4x4 truck.

Today we decided, despite morning temperatures of -20C, to have a look at a hill we skied on last winter. The hill could use a bit more snow. It's been planted so there are new trees poking up all over the place. Mind you, that forced me to practice my turns while avoiding the little trees, and there were stumps that didn't have quite enough snow on them. All in all, though, it was fun for a couple of hours until my skins refused to stick to my skis.

The ride up and back down was not as cold as we were expecting. The person driving has heated handle grips and a windscreen and the person on the back, well, they need to dress warmly! The backcountry ski lift worked well, getting us to the hill in about 15 minutes rather than about 3 hours.

Another advantage of being up high like this is the sunshine. Once you're out of the valleys, you are often out from all the cloud and fog that seems to settle down there. Once again, a chance to see the peaks and views that this area is noted for.

Understanding Canadian Democracy

The events of the past couple of weeks have been discussed, analyzed, debated and dissected to such a degree that there seems little left to say. So, just to set the record straight....

Not all people living in "The West" support Harper and his government. I seem to be finding more reasons to dislike and mistrust him as time passes.

Stephanie Dion could very well be a great guy, but for whatever reason, he didn't come across to many Canadians as the kind of leader we wanted. He did the decent thing and stepped aside.

It's not "undemocratic" for opposition parties to defeat the government and take power by forming a coalition. It's exactly how our system works. Too many Canadians don't seem to understand that.

Harper and his cohorts have been doing almost nothing but playing nasty partisan games since 2006. Canada needs leadership, not a dictatorship. Quit with the games and get on with consensus building and dealing with the needs of real Canadians. This can be done without every step being a matter of parliamentary confidence or Conservative ideology.

I dislike John Baird (former Environment minister) more each time I hear him, to the point that I will turn off the radio or TV when he comes on. If that guy could actually deal with the issues rather than spout Conservative invective, I would be astonished. Not to mention that he's part of the reason why Canada has been labeled as especially obstructive in all recent climate-change talks. He really needs to learn how to do his job and can the partisan rhetoric.

I am especially disappointed that Harper resorted to playing on national unity fears by whipping up anti-Quebec fervor. This is NOT what our Prime Minister should be doing. He should step down if that's the best he can do.

My final shot? I'm pretty much disgusted with the whole lot of them.

Too Good to Pass Up?

Receiving yet another of these inane missives in my inbox was enough to get me writing again. I know these things have been circulating for years in various forms, but the question is why? Does anyone actually respond to these things? Wouldn't you think these people would just give up after awhile? Even if they have cancer of the lever?

"From Mrs Gladys Emma
ABIDJAN COTE D' IVOIRE05 B.P 107 05 ABIDJAN.

Assalamu Alaikum,

With Due Respect And Humanity, I was compelled to write to you under a humanitarian ground. My name is Mrs Gladys Emma from Iceland , I am 68yrs old,I am married to late Engr. Alahaji Emma Moradi who worked on oil company in Cote d'I voire. before he retired in the year 2002. He died in the year 2005 after a Cadiac Arteries Operation.

We were married for 36 years without a child. And Recently, My Doctor told me that I would not last for the next six months due to my cancer problem (cancer of the lever and stroke). When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum Of $1.8.Million in one of the finance firm here in Abidjan capital of Cote d'Ivoire for safe keeping.

Presently this money is still in the Vault of the finance firm.Having known my condition I decided to hand over this money to an individual,Brother or sister that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want that you use this money according to the desire of my late.husband to help the Less privilaged,orphanages,and propagating the word of Allah. I took this decision because I don稚 have any child that will inherit this money, And I don稚 want in away where this money will be used in an unGodly way. This is why I am taking this decision to hand you over this money. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going.I want you to always remember me in your daily prayers because of my up coming Cancer Surgery.

Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I have Stated herein. Hope to receive your urgent reply. Due to the present condition of my health,I was warned by my doctor to avoid receiving or making any call.You can always reach me through this my private email address.

Yours Sister in Islam,
Mrs Gladys Emma"