Things that make me go hmmm?

Me this morning. Me every morning. Source: who knows.

Hi faithful readers of five. I'm here at work (not technically working), watching the snowmageddon arrive in my fair city. I feel like making random comments/questions/musings/ramblings about the world-at-large (mostly political). The things that make me go hmmmm.....

• I have heard the Progressive Conservatives of Alberta describe the Wild Rose Party of Alberta as extremists. If that is the case, then why did you let that element rest in your party for 30+ without censure, constraint or expulsion? Don't you have yourselves to blame for the party that emerged? Hmmmmm....
• I have heard the Wild Rose Party of Alberta describe the Progressive Conservatives as corrupt. Really? You sure enjoyed the hand that fed you for 30+ years without complaint. I guess as long as you don't get to share in the pork, then it's an issue. Hmmmm....
• Interesting debates about meals costs for politicians and health care executives. On some instances, sure the complaints are legitimate. But do we honestly think that you can have a meal for two under $50.00 in Edmonton anymore? Do people think that they should go for meals to McDonald's? Hmmm.....
• If I hear one more squawk about how awful the National Energy Policy was for Alberta in the 80's, immabout to lose my sh*t. First off, can we all deliberately ignore what was going on in the rest of the world that probably had a larger effect on the price of oil and gas? Also, it's been 30+ years. Policies have come and gone. Alberta is doing more than fine now. In fact, are we not now pushing for a national energy policy by our own conservative/federal conservative government? You can call it under any name you want now, but it is essentially the same type of policy. Hmmm......
• Let's stop pretending that any vote for Justin Trudeau as a leader of the Liberal Party of Canada is because of any policy ideas he is putting forth, and more to do with the fact that he is a Trudeau, and a handsome one at that. Hmmmm....
• On that note, how long will it take before anyone in the Liberal Party of Canada realize that Marc Garneau is the best possible leader of the current hopefuls? Will it be too late? Hmmmm....
• Why do we complain about how early Christmas music is released onto the public? I remember Christmas music blaring in the malls in November when I was a kid. So why are we all acting like this is some sort of new phenomenon? Hmmmm....
• Why do we treat Advent like Lent? It is not the same. One is a joyful period of anticipation. The other is a solemn period of anticipation. While we are always to be mindful and reflective of our interior selves, we don't need to treat Advent like a funeral. Hmmmm....
• How much privacy and platform changes will we truly accept from Facebook before enough truly becomes enough? Hmmmm.....
• Can we all agree that TWITTER = Total Waste (of) Intellect, Time, Talent, Energy and Resources? So let's stop pretending that we are intellects in 140 characters. Hmmmm.....
• For that matter, why do people act like self-proclaimed experts on all subjects on social media? Hey, I can pull a quote from a Google search too. A fact doesn't always trump a viewpoint based on personal experiences. Let's stop pretending our "facts" don't stem from a personal bias. I can hunt down any "fact" to support my bias too. Hmmmmm.....
• Can we all stop pretending that Gordon Lightfoot's performance at the CFL half-time show was any good? I get it. He is a legend. But it was not good. He needs to retire his guitar. Hmmmm....
• Speaking of not good, did the organizers of the CFL half-time show really think that those who like Justin Bieber would become fans of the CFL? Are you kidding me? Do you know the audience this boy attracts? More importantly, do you know your audience?  Hmmm....
• On that note, whoever decided that Gordon Lightfoot and Justin Bieber would be good CFL half-time entertainment should have tossed that plan in the garbage and booked Rush and Trooper. Surely they aren't busy these days? Hmmmmm....
• Now that Nascar, Baseball and CFL are over, sports TV suckssssssss! Hmmmmmmm......
• Is there anything good on TV anymore that doesn't involve "reality" TV and singing/dancing/food competitions? Hmmmm.......
• Why can't I get frozen borscht from the grocery aisle? Hmmmm....
• If men celebrate Movember for prostate cancer research, can I propose that women celebrate Janu-hairy for ovarian cancer research? I will gladly not shave my legs for a month. Hmmm......
• I will say this once: please stop playing Last Christmas by Wham EVERY FREAKING HOUR. It is stupid. Replace Christmas with any word and the song applies. "Last Ramadan, I gave you my heart...", "Last election day, I gave you my heart..." Adding the word Christmas randomly does not a Christmas song make. Hmmmm....
• For that matter, I'm tired of radio stations switching to an all Christmas music format. Can't you just slip some Christmas songs in between Careless Whisper and Boys of Summer? Hmmm....

There you go. I sound kind of angry. I am a bit owly today. I blame waking up. I had a nice warm blanket, was in dream land, and then woke up to an alarm clock with Christmas music. Bastard world!

Friday's (Way Overdue) Top Five: Vacation Destinations

Sheesh, you tired of me yet, faithful readers of five?

So it is time I post the second (and final) catch up FT5 post. Staring out my window, looking the snow, and longingly makes me think of my best vacation destinations.

This list reflects the places I have been and recommend to you all, not necessarily the places I want to go.

5) Penticton and Disneyland

 



 

I lump these two destinations together for one reason: this is my vacation future. Once I have kids, this is where I will likely go most of the time. I am A-OK with that.

Disneyland is magic, pure and simple. My time there was short and I only got to experience California Adventure. But I know that when I get to experience Disneyland through the eyes of my child, then this place will where my best memories will come from. Sometimes you need a vacation to simply experience happiness, and Disneyland is that place.

Penticton is relaxing, pure and simple. My time there on my honeymoon was restful and enjoyable. When we have kids, we simply won't be able to afford extravagant vacations. So we need a place that is a reasonable drive away, affordable, enjoyable, with lots to do but in a relaxing manner so that it feels like a vacation. Penticton is that place.


4) The US South


Source: Unknown

Y'all, I love the South.

My love affair started on the Great US Road trip of 2002 with Joanne when we travelled trough Northern Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina and Virginia. The South is like nothing I had pictured or expected. It was a sudden and passionate love affair, cut short by the journey I had to take north. I even said on the trip "Jo, now I know why the South tried to separate." It is truly like a different world. It feels like it's own culture, fiercely patriotic but distantly removed from the hectic pace and thought, that is the rest of America. I almost feel like I stepped back into a different (better) era when I stepped off the bus.

Everyone is so friendly. Everyone is so helpful. Everyone is so curious about you. Everyone is so hospitable. It is like the clocks stop because the connections with people are more important than anywhere you need to go.

The food - oh God the food. Where do I begin? You feel the love of the culture in every spoonful. You feel the pride in every bite.

Source: Travelwire.com

I had the pleasure of spending two weeks in North Carolina with a dear friend and her family in 2006. So I got to *know*  North Carolina. I got to *experience* North Carolina. There was simply so much to do, as is the case with all of the South. There is something for everyone...the beach bum, the military junkie, the history buff, the sports fan, the nature freak.

If you are looking for a slow-paced vacation with many options, go to the South.

3) Washington DC

Source: Telegraph.uk.co

I can't explain how much I love Washington D.C. There is much to love.

You have to appreciate a city has no skyscrapers (because no building can be taller than the the Capital Building). You have to appreciate a city that charges free admission to The Smithsonian's, giving everyone equal opportunity to experience historically and culturally significant artifacts that defined the nation. You have to appreciate a city so powerful and rich in political tradition. You have to admire a city that goes out of its' way to honour those who have served by way of vivid memorials and poignant grave sites.

There is so much to do that my one 3-day visit alone wasn't enough. There is so much to love. There is so much to recommend. Just go. You won't regret doing so. It will stay in your heart forever.

2) Las Vegas

Source: unknown

 

"Bright light city gonna set my soul, gonna set my soul on fire." ~Elvis Presley 

Vegas, you saucy lady. You grew on me. I didn't care for you at first. Sure, you had lights and excitement and endless buffets. But you were busy and hot. I was tired. I wrote you off.

But circumstances in my life kept bringing me back when I would have rather gone elsewhere. And each time, you revealed yourself to me, real and artificial. I got to experience a wedding, Vegas-style. Most importantly, I learned how to travel and be alone in a foreign city.

By around the third date, you and I decided to take our relationship to another level. I was with friends, and I got to genuinely enjoy every minute of you. I even got to see every bathroom in every hotel thanks to a pregnant friend. I got to see a whole new side of you...

By the fourth time, I was with the man I love. He took me to The Mix at the top of The Hotel at Mandalay Bay. With your beautiful lights displayed to me in an exhilarating fashion, the love of my life proposed to me.

When I tire of your bright lights and loud slot machines, I can rent a car a drive to both a man-made (Hoover Dam) and God-made (Grand Canyon) wonders. Each time I do come back to you, there is a new hotel or display or restaurant to explore. You continue to reinvent yourself.

I visited you again last month. It will probably be the last time for a long time. I got to eat the most amazing food, and relax by the pool without a worry in the world. You rejuvenated me.

I worry you are about to get tired, but I fear not because the cranes of construction tell me you are reinventing yourself again. I worry that you are starting to become elite and unaffordable to the masses, but you will adapt to the needs of the masses, like you have for the past century. So when the time comes to visit you again, you will offer me new attractions and new sites to explore.

1) The Canadian National Parks in Alberta and B.C.

This was my view from the Banff Springs Hotel!

I will summarize my thoughts in a haiku:

Breathtaking beauty
There is so much to explore
This is God's country

I am fortunate to live a short drive away from Jasper and Banff. Thanks do my brilliant husband, I got to explore the National Parks in ways I never have before while on my honeymoon. My husband took me hiking all over the place. We didn't just stop, take a pic, and drive on. We hiked around every lake we came across. I saw some of the most incredible sites of my life, sites I never explored the previous 20 times I went to Banff.

We continued our journey through Yoho National Park and Glacier National Park on our way to Penticton. I got to see amazing sites like Takkakaw Falls:

I would recommend that everyone take the time to really explore the National Parks of Alberta and BC. Stop on your journey to where ever you are going. Plan an extra day or two. Really live in the moment. You won't have any regrets.


What are your top five vacay places? And head over to Joanne's blog to see her choices!

Dani wades into politics...does she drown or float?

Hello my faithful readers of 5. It's blog time. (a.k.a. I'm sick and bored out of my tree, and possibly picking for a fight...one that I will have no energy to actually fight back, thus rendering this post useless. But I digress.)

This has been an interesting election to say the least. The Alberta PC Party has been the monarchy government in power since well before I was born. I honestly thought I would die before they were ever remotely close to loosing power. The Alberta Liberal Party has been the official ghost opposition for just as long, with the Alberta New Democrat Party hanging on for dear life.

Then some weird things started to happen.

• Cowboys and rig pigs started getting pissed off at their PC party for moving to the center, so every single slight from royalty taxes to land rights started to become a bone of contention. In response, they voted Allison Redford, who kinda looks like she belongs to the Liberal Party (through a screwy system in which the 3rd place candidate became the leader.)
• Middle class white collar liberals started fracturing because of lack of leadership, vision, and fatigue at constantly sailing on the Titanic. So some left and formed The Alberta Party, which is what you get when you merge a Liberal and a Conservative...I think? So how did the Liberals respond? They elected to their leadership someone who used to be a PC Conservative party member, who quite frankly is a odd-ball who has great one liners, but shaky policy promises.
• The NDP carried on as always, appealing to the hippies, students, and eco-warriors, continuing to be led by a blue-collar worker (who doesn't have the support of actual blue-collar workers) who has led the party down in seats after every election.
• Remember those pissed-off cowboys and rig pigs? Well they got attracted to a shiny new party, the Wildrose Alliance Party of Alberta. They elect someone who is a self-professed Libertarian to lead the socially conservative group, one that make's the PC's look like New Democrats. In the process, they nominated a pastor who hates gays, a man who thinks he's pretty fly for a white guy, and a member who likes to rub elbows with the KKK.

So are we clear? We have a liberal leading the conservatives, a conservative leading the liberals, a blue-collar worker leading the hippies, and a libertarian leading the conservative party, and a new liberal party led by another conservative.

You have a party that has ruled, unchallenged, for so long that they have ignored and pissed-off their base, and sometimes reek of corruption. You have a shiny new party with good fiscal policies, but scary-as-shit candidates running on scary-as-shit social issues. You have a party that has been destroyed by a scary-as-shit conservative pretending to be a liberal. You have a party that has no hope in hell of winning in this province because of good social policy but crazy-bad fiscal policy. And you have another shiny new party made up of mostly former liberals pretending to be Red Tory's. 

What this election has come down to is change.What kind of change do we want?

I will say a few personal thoughts:

• Change for the sake of change isn't a great reason to change. I don't think the PC government had operated as badly as some claim, but I don't think they've governed as well as they should have. If they do get elected back into power, let's hope they remember how close they came to losing it all, and get back to being a government, not a monarchy. *Note: I like monarchy's, but only the royal kind...not the political kind*
• On that same note, as scary as some of the candidates are, I don't think the WRA is as bad as some make them out to be. They do have some good policies. Every time Danielle Smith speaks, I am scared less and less, and more sure that nut-jobs will be tempered. For that matter, as scary as some of the new parties candidates are, we are also the same province that let a government sit in power for 41 years with members who thought the same thing (Ted Morton, Doug Elniski, Tony Abbott etc...). So why the outrage now? If Alberta was ok with nutters for 41 years without speaking out, I suspect they will be ok with nutters for 41 more years....
• Don't discount the other parties. They have good policies, and who ever wins the election amongst the two leading conservatives party, it would behoove that leader to sit down with these other parties and cherry-pick the best they have to offer. It makes sense.

Despite the craziness, I think everyone should vote. But instead of voting strategically, vote for who you truly believe in, and let the election be a true reflection of Alberta's views. It may surprise people in ways they didn't suspect and lead to a better balance of power amongst all parties.

Also, one final note: I know we are tempted in social media to use it like a bully field, tweeting punches left and right. I know we can get upset about issues, people, viewpoints. But remember that we are all human. No one person is one-dimensional. Allan Hunsperger is also a caring family man, father, husband, grandfather who does mission work in third world countries, and served his community in good faith for many years, and maybe in the fullness of time will come to see the error of his thinking by meeting people of the LGBQT community.

People vote for parties for many different reasons. A vote for the PC's does not necessarily mean a vote for pay nothing committees. A vote for the WRA does not necessarily mean a vote for bigotry. A vote for the NDP does not necessarily mean a vote for stricter environment regulations.

We all have our views. We all have our issues that are important to us. And we vote accordingly. If the vote doesn't turn out your way, people aren't stupid. They are informed on the issues important to them, which don't necessarily mean the issues important to you.