I need to bottle a bit of Dragon fire.

• May 31, 2012

Perhaps it is SpaceX’s Dragon making a splashdown after a picture perfect flight today. Perhaps it is anticipation with catching up with an old friend. Perhaps it is having my dad back in town and being able to talk face to face. Perhaps it’s a pile of little things going right. Perhaps it really is Directed Change. You know those days where it’s completely overwhelming, the world crushes upon your shoulders and you look around wondering how you can possibly get everything accomplished - let alone getting anything accomplished? Read More

n-plus-1 bikes, inner tubes, spacetweeps and stress.

• May 16, 2012

There’s a truism I’ve heard quite often lately about bicycles. No matter how many you own, you always need one more. I laughed when I first heard it. Quite loudly. Then the frame on my 20 year old Norco mountain bike broke while riding in the snow. I bought myself a new Trek 3 series regretting that it wasn’t the bike I really wanted to own. What I really wanted to purchase was a great road bike for city commuting on the roads, but it was cheaper and much more practical and reasonable to get a new mountain bike for my newfound year-long riding. Read More

Our First Step

• April 23, 2012

Alberta Party, I support you. I stand amongst your numbers. I believe in your principles and work towards your aims. We have created something this province has been lacking. We formed in response to a need. The need for a government who is in touch with Albertans. A need for a political process that’s more respectful towards Albertans. A need for citizens to feel that their voice matters to government. Read More

Weekend chores.

• April 21, 2012

Lots and lots to do this weekend. There’s no way I’ll be able to fit it all in, but I’m going to do my best. I have computers to repair, a house to de-disaster, a car and bike way past due for fall maintenance. Oh, and I have to figure out who I’m voting for. I made the conscientious decision to not form an Alberta Party CA until I had a stronger group of local citizens involved. Read More

Get Involved with the Alberta Party

• April 19, 2012

I noticed several people yesterday lamenting that there isn’t an Alberta Party candidate running in their riding. If you are one of those people that really likes the message of the Alberta Party and would like a positive and forward thinking option in your riding, I have two suggestions that you can do right now. The very first is to go to the Alberta Party webpage and get involved. There are a number of choices you have there. Read More

An Open Letter to Alison Redford

• April 13, 2012

Ms. Redford, I heard you being interviewed on the radio yesterday morning. This was even before the leader’s debate. During the interview, you said one thing that suddenly made every single interaction I have ever personally had with you make sense. You were talking about an old adage. “You’ve probably struck the right balance when you have people on both sides of you that aren’t happy.“ The question was about the PC party fighting the election from different perspectives, on the right in the south and on the left in the north. Read More

Stabilize AISH

• April 12, 2012

My perspective has changed since I moved to my neighbourhood. There are good things that happen you you break out of your isolation and see a world outside your own. I’m extremely proud of my neighbourhood. I’m extremely proud of my neighbours. I have the best neighbours in the world. I swear. One of the people in my building is forced to rely upon AISH. We’re not extremely close friends, I don’t know all the details of their life. Read More

Represent Me, Really Me

• April 11, 2012

Have I pretty much bored everyone to death yet? So far in my blogs I’ve discussed about government’s inability to conceive, coalesce and carry through on a grand plan. The insistent principle that civil servants absolutely have to be civil towards all Albertans they are expected to serve. The unacceptable bribing of the most voters with our own money. The transition from reliance upon resourced-based budgeting to moving to a more stable tax-based budgeting and building up a fund from resource income that grows and supports us into the future. Read More

Finding love in Costa Rica.

• April 10, 2012

There were several “Bests” of Costa Rica. Best joke flying down: “I don’t think we’re in Kansas any more.” Best befuddled moment: Meeting Juan Jose for the first time and getting our orientation. Best bus driver ever: Juan Carlos Best place to stay: Tortuguera Best ocean: Both of them. Honestly. Best boat pilot: Primo. Best guy to make sure I get a good photo: Primo. Best kindred spirit: Primo. Best surprise of the trip: This tweet. Read More

You Can Only Burn Me Once

• April 10, 2012

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you. Fool me twelve times, who’s getting the blame this time? When Alberta last went through a sea change in government, Alberta was a much different place. We were primarily an agricultural economy, with energy revenues becoming more and more important to our well being. I honestly don’t know what life was under Social Credit. I do know that in the mid 80’s one of the most influential people of my childhood ran for Social Credit and got trounced soundly. Read More