Gratitude Monday--Vulcanized Edition

My friend Sylvia and I went went to ComicCon in Calgary over the weekend. We got to see many famous people. We got to go to the Star Trek TNG Reunion Saturday evening. We survived the lineups and got in the event all three days.
I have many new things for which to be grateful because of it.
For today, let me say I am grateful for the time I spent with my friend.
*
I bought the T-shirt at the Vulcan tourism booth at ComicCon. It holds one of my favourite lines from Star Trek's original series:
"Spock, are you out of your Vulcan mind?"

Photo-Finish Friday --Ice Wall

This is the ice wall on the Kootenay Plains west of Rocky. It's well used by ice climbers and tends to stay intact well into June.
There's a path beside it for those who wish to hike up the ridge.
I've done it. I recommend it.

The ice wall becomes a mud wall in summer as it is spring-fed. Despite that, it is climbable in the summer. Start on the side path and  and then switch over to the drier parts of the mud wall.
It has good rest spots with spectacular views.

For perspective, here's a long view of the wall.

Thursday

"Is today Thursday?" I would ask from time to time when young.

"All day if it doesn't rain*." my dad would invariably reply.

It's not raining here today, so I guess it's Thursday.



*If you don't get it, say Thursday quickly so it sounds like thirsty.

Safe For Now

Along the David Thompson Highway.

Alberta is safe for now.
Premier Alison Redford was returned to power with enough of a majority to do most of what she wants to do.
Danielle Smith was elected and can now lead the Wildroses from the legislature. We can see her in action holding the PC's feet to the fire for not being conservative enough.
The Wildroses have enough seats to worry the Redford government in the way that a dog worries cattle.
This is healthy and good.
Redford accepts climate change is real and that human's take their fair share of blame for it. Smith said the science on this was unclear.
This leads me to my post title. Though hardly in the clear, Alberta's natural beauty and (mostly) fresh air and (many) clean (appearing) streams are (moderately) safe for now.

Gratitude Monday--Election Edition

This is only wild rose I want to see blooming in Alberta

Today is election day in Alberta. I am grateful I live in a country where I can vote without fear. 

That said, I do have fear this time. I am scared the Alberta Wildrose Party will take the helm of the province and send us reeling back in time a few decades.

Leader Danielle Smith is a smart woman who knows how to present herself and the party ideas. Some of them sound good on the superficial level. Give them some critical thought and we can see that white guys believe they speak for everyone and are listened to by everyone unlike those ethnic people, gays and lesbians do not need protection (and by inference do not deserve same) and that the jury is still out on climate change.

She will, however, balance the budget on the backs of the poor and the ill while patting us on the head and handing out $300 cheques.

But this is Gratitude Monday and I'm getting away from my point.

I am grateful that by tomorrow we'll probably have a viable Opposition in government for a change. And that means no matter who gets the nod from the voters there'll be others on the job to keep them reasonably honest.

I am grateful I live in a democracy, but I do wish more of us would use it.

.

Photo-Finish Friday -- Lone Man

A  lone man near a deserted streetcorner in Guatemala City.

Bearing Greetings

My husband carved this bear's head. He put it up by the front door thus encouraging people to think carefully before they ignore the "No Trespassing" sign.

Here's a closer view of Jaded,  who Mike said would be  Jasper's grumpy brother, if he had one.

A noted about the sign on the front step. Ken MacKenzie made it out of horseshoe nails and gave to Mike. However, I had Mike add a nail when he put it up as an apostrophe, thus changing the plural to a singular possessive.