Sept 1, 2023, is the music died for me. James William Buffett passed (aka) Jimmy Buffett passed away at the age of 76. For most of my adult life, his music was the soundtrack. My wife, my children, even my grandchildren know how much his music meant to me.

l never had the chance to see him perform in person, but his music touched every part of my life. Once my daughter asked me if my life was a TV show what would my theme song be , I said without hesitating, “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.”

The line , ”if we couldn’t laugh, we’d all go insane!”, became pretty much my motto.
I know I will continue to listen to his music, but knowing there will be anymore new songs or stories saddens me.

I know there are probably millions of other fans feeling the same as I do, but we will care on and keep his memory and music alive.
Sail on Sailor.

Okay so I have really tried to be less negative, about things, especially our political environment in Alberta. Unfortunately, our esteemed premier, won’t let me. Once again she is proven to be a liar. She has in her own words, been pressuring crown prosecutors about cases involving covid protestors.

Ms. Smith obviously thinks she is the queen of Alberta and has the right to pardon and over rule our laws. Alberta wake up.

This person and her cronies have stolen $130 plus million in federal money that was to go to assist in cleaning up abandoned oil wells. They blew 80 million on turkish tylenol that nobody needs or wants and they can’t get rid of it. They want to give 20 Billion to oil companies to clean up their messy abandoned wells. We should note that Smith lobbied for this when before she was back in politics. Another conflict of interest I think.

Alberta is the laughing stock of Canada. Even Doug Ford is grateful, because it is taking off the focus from his inept and corrupt government.

Please STOP Danielle Smith and the UCP on May 29.

I am amazed that our provincial leader has absolutely, no idea how to act. It’s no secret she holds the federal government in contempt, especially the Prime Minister, but her presence and actions at the recent Premier’s meeting was truly embarrassing.

She has no idea of how to act professionally or even personally. Anyone who has gone to a meeting or even out to dinner with a group of professionals should at least no how to shake hands. Whether you respect the person or not. As my grandmother use to say, “There is no excuse for bad manners.” This especially true when it comes to the people who are our leaders. It’s their actions that dictate what the world thinks of us, as Albertans. If our leaders act like petulant children, that is the image of Alberta that is projected.

So once again the Premier of Alberta continues to lie to the people of Alberta, without even batting an eye. Obviously, hyperbole and lies are her leadership style. She said on the “air”, heard by hundreds, that she has been talking to people in the Alberta judicial system about cases of people who have been charged with health code violations during the COVID crisis. Then her justice minister issues a letter saying she didn’t speak to anyone in the courts about cases.

So who is lying? If the minister is lying and covering for the Premier then he needs to resign. If the Premier did, as she stated, then she needs to be investigated for interfering in the legal system. Either way the it’s quite obvious that the Premier thinks she above the law and is the “QUEEN” of Alberta. She thinks she has some kind of pardoning power. WRONG!!!

Let’s not forget how she went after the PM for sticking his nose into the SNC-Lavalin case. Now she thinks she can do the same thing in Alberta without consequence. HYPOCRITE!

So far she has introduced a bill that will make Alberta and outcast from federation. She has backed away from her promises to the anti-vacs faction and these were the people who helped her win the leadership race.

Also let’s not forget this is the same way she was when she was leader of the Wild Rose and how she sold that party out by crossing the floor to the then PC party. Why, did she do it, because she thought it would help her get what she wanted, but what it did was destroy both parties.

Now that she has finally got what she wanted, she thinks she is going to be able do anything that she wants to improve HER status and standing. She could care less about the people of Alberta.

Unfortunately she is playing a dangerous game. She is neither smart enough or has the backing of enough prominent Albertans to hold on to power. She and a small minority of Albertans, like some of our neighbours to the South, believe this ultra-right conservative anti-canadian movement is the way to govern. They don’t listen to anyone who disagrees with them and are hell bent on punishing and going after their perceived enemies.

I am sure that we will not see an election this May and the UCP will hold off calling one until their poll numbers improve or they will change the law.

Danielle Smith does not want to GOVERN she wants to RULE.

This morning I woke to the news that ALBERTA PREMIER, Dannelzibub Smith thinks it’s okay for children to die, in order for her small base of far-right FREEDUMMERS, to be FREE (Whatever that means?). This is appalling. Think about it. After dismantling the AHS, the appointment of a single individual to run AHS, and is kicking sick and dying children from palliative care facilities. Why, because of the healthcare crisis that UCP government created.

I must admit this action makes me feel physically sick. I can’t believe that these people who think they are so hard done by and that they have been so badly treated by the federal government, for reasons only they know, are prepared to allow children to die.

I truly want someone to tell me what FREEDOMS they don’t already enjoy and what they want that is so important to ALBERTA, they are prepared let children suffer and die.

If I was religious person I would ask GOD to have mercy on your souls, but I don’t think any of these people have a SOUL.

To all of the UCP MLA’s and members of the party, YOU WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE for any all deaths that come from this action or lack of. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!

As a loyal Albertan for the last 40 years (give or take), I fear the end of our glorious Province’s position as a leader in Canada, is nigh! Our current Alberta government is more interested in being an outlier and antagonist, rather than leader within confederation.

The Smith government continues to vilify the the Federal government and our Prime Minister, but does not tells what specific CRIMES to Alberta have been committed. They seem to want to blame them for all of the problems in Alberta without actually saying what those problems are or what they have cost Alberta.

Smith and her government are acting like petulant children, and their blaming the FEDS is a way of covering up the errors and mistakes that they themselves have made since coming to power.

Albertans had better pay attention. This Alberta Sovereignty Act is nothing more that the UCP consolidating power, so they circumvent the legislature, anytime they want to push through policies that benefit them or their cronies.

If you don’t believe me, just look at the 180 degree turn around of the the UCP candidates who were against it during the leadership campaign and what they are now saying. COWARDS!!! One and all! So much for their integrity.

I also believe this is a way for the UCP to bring in things, like private health care, using the act to circumvent the CANADIAN HEALTH ACT, because they can say it doesn’t benefit Albertans. Getting rid of the RCMP, using the act to say they don’t act in the interest of Albertans, because they are a federal police force. Of course using the act to not have to answer what happened to 8 billion of Federal money they received during the pandemic, but can’t explain where it went or even provide a reasonable accounting. They can use the to say it’s none of the Feds business.

YEP, we are in for an interesting 6 months, until the next election. I want to encourage everyone to hold their MLA’s accountable. Ask them to explain “in detail” what they think about the ACT and more importantly if the even read it before voting. It has already been discovered that some of the UCP MLAs did not read it and are simply going along to protect their jobs, not what is good for the people of ALBERTA.

So Danelle Smith is our new ALBERTA Premier, and got the job without having to run in a provincial election. I think there is something wrong with a system that puts someone in the top PROVINCIAL POSITION, and doesn’t have any kind of mandate from the people of Alberta. I get that Kenney step down and the UCP need to elect a new leader, but that she automatically becomes Premier is not RIGHT! However, until there is a change in the way our parliamentary system works, this is who has ALBERTA in charge.

The one saving grace is that she cannot sit in the chamber, present bills, or enter into debates. I don’t even think she can be a member of the UCP caucus, yet. So she is going to have a tough time getting the bills she wants passed into law.

She has already made several political gaffs and having back track on statements she’s made in the past and currently.

Also she is going to try to win a seat in Medicine Hat/Brooks riding, because she thinks an easy win. So easy in fact she is not even campaigning there. I wonder if the people in the riding realize they are being used and she doesn’t know them or care to. she just want the seat, so she can sit in the legislative assembly.

So just remember all you voters in Medicine Hat, if you vote her in, how long will it be before she “sells you out, like she did the Wild Rose.” Danielle Smith believes the what good for ALBERTA is what is good for HER, not the people of Medicine Hat/Brooks or people ALBERTA.

I can’t believe it has been almost 2 years since my last post. What happened? Between moving and COVID, I guess i keep getting distracted. Anyway I think it’s time to start again, but first let’s recap what’s has been happening.

1. covid continues to RAGE
2. Biden is the new President, but TRUMP refuses to admit defeat and claims election was stolen
3. we are realizing how far we are from family and decide we need to move closer.
4. Dec 31, 2020, Deborah finds a house in Airdrie and we go down, take a look and buy a new house
5. We sell our St. Albert residence on the first day of listing ( but it’s doesn’t go that smoothly) we are nice to the new buyer and eventually the deal will get done, but not without some angst.
6. we pack all of our stuff of 30 years in the same house , with no help from friends or family. BUT WE DID IT!!!
7. Moving day to Airdrie and its minus 40C, but had great movers and not a thing was broken, except for an accident with a curio cabinet (got fixed as good new though).
8. My Mum dies just 10 later ( one of our reasons to move was to be closer and able to take care of her and my brother.)
9. I spend the next 10 months dealing with her estate and the guardianship of my disabled brother.
10. FINALLY, the legal issues are settled and we can concentrate on settling in to our new home and living our new life.

That is a quick recap of “our” life, and still having to deal with all of the craziness going on around us. Election deniers in the US storm the capital on Jan 6, 2021. Canadian FREEDUMBERS storming and occupying OTTAWA for 3 weeks. Provincial Government poor response to the COVID crisis and wanting things to go back to “normal” while thousands continue to get sick and die. CRAZY!!

I have become a full TRUDEAU and LIBERAL supporter. I have torn up my UCP and CPC membership. ( I will have to do another blog about the mismanagement and corruption of political RIGHT later.)

Funny, but after almost 2 years of zero leadership in Alberta, the UCP has kicked out Kenny and brought in Danelle Smith. THE WORST POSSIBLE CHOICE.

We really need to stand up now against what she is going to purpose and really hurt ALBERTA.

Well that’s it for my update and we will back with more in the near future hopefully.

The vaccines have finally arrived, YAY!!!! Iknow full well that it will be awhile before the majority of us will be getting our SHOT or JAB, but there is hope on the horizon. I am prepared to wait for my turn and can only hope others are too.

The most disturbing part of all this, however, is the people saying they won’t take the vaccine. Almost 66% of Albertans don’t want it. WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THESE PEOPLE??? It makes no sense to me. I am certain these have to be the anti-maskers and the people in Alberta who think this whole Covid19 is a FAKE, or is an infringement on their rights.

What about my rights? Don’t I have a right to live in a healthy environment. I don’t want masks to be the NEW NORM. I want to go to Sporting events and hug my grandchildren, but if we don’t work together, we will never get out of this situation.

I truly put the blame on Jason Kenny and Minister of Health Shandro. They are suppose to lead us through this mess. Instead they abdicated to private interest groups. They failed to respond quickly to the information they were getting from the medical professionals and made the outbreak in Alberta, at the top of the world, in cases per capita. YES, THE WORLD! Not just in Canada.

The lack of provincial leadership has been absolutely has been appalling. Albertans are getting sick and dying and the lack of action and empathy is shameful. NOW, that there is a vaccine they acted like it was ALL THEIR DOING. When in fact if it was not for the foresight and leadership of the Federal Government, the devastation, in Alberta would be even worse.

Pay attention Albertans. While we will get out of this, we cannot forget the failure of our leaders, when the next election rolls around. We have to be prepared to make sure nobody FORGETS about the people who got sick and died, during this crisis. And let’s not forget how the government treated our HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND FRONT LINE STAFF, BY CUTTING THEIR NUMBERS AND TRYING TO ROLL BACK SALARIES, AT THE TIME WHEN THEY WERE NEEDED THE MOST!!!!! What kind of Government does that????

PLEASE REMEMBER THIS, ALBERTA.

WEAR A MASK, WASH YOUR HANDS AND GET VACCINATED.

So it continues to be a year of uncertainty. It’s obvious the 2020 is going to continue to be a year of disruptions. If there was ever a time for unity, it is now. I am not talking about just in Canada, but the world.

Unfortunately, we seems to be lacking true leadership. Where are the leaders? In Canada, I was finally starting to think that I was wrong about Justin Trudeau and the Liberal party. Unfortunately, the recent scandal surrounding the WE Charity shows that he is still an elitist “trust fund” kid. The other parties are in disarray, too.

The Conservatives are leaderless. The NDP are in poor financial shape and can’t afford to go onto an election, so they will go along with whatever, prevents our current minority government from collapsing. The Bloc don’t care about Canada outside of Quebec and the Green have no fiscal plan or leader. Nowhere is there a responsible credible voice for the people of Canada. Even our Governor-General is in trouble for her treatment of staff.

And now Trudeau has prorogued Parliament to avoid further investigation into the WE scandal. This action suspends the committee looking into the scandal, on the day they receive a 5000 page report about what went down. Just when I was starting to give JT the benefit of the doubt and was impressed on the way he was handling the COVID-19 crisis, he proves that he is only interest in covering himself and his cronies. He is the just another elitist, trust fund kid, who has no understanding, how average Canadians live and what they need. He thinks throwing money (our money) at problems will makes us think he is one of us.

WRONG!!! He is trouble and so is his party. Is there anyone in this country who can lead us. Let’s see what next week brings. When the CPC elect their new leader.

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL!