Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474

National Range Day June 7 here in Canada and I'll be out demo'ing Cowboy Action Shooting. I've prep'd enough .45s for 70 visitors to shoot a stage. Might be among the last times here, due to the political climate and gun bans. Some real "ANTI'S" were elected in April.

Our Pipe bands, on the march, do not, but I'd be interested to see it done!

Oh that brings back some memories of me as a 19 year old. Drilled in the Cartier Square Drill Hall all winter, to be ready and jeered the Cameron Highlanders, who shared the Drill Hall. Little did I know! July in Ottawa; black trousers, red jacket, the busby and the FN shouldered while you marched down Elgin Street to Parliament Hill. A tall skinny kid then, I probably sweated off any fat I may have accumulated over the winter, the first day of tourist season. The Cameron's paraded with us, with the pipe band and they all wore kilts and marched "Regimental".

PUMA Deer Hunter. I've had it for over 65 years. When I wore a suit, it lived in my pocket. Weekends and now I'm retired, it's carried in a flap top holster, on my belt. It's cleaned deer, moose, bear, ducks, geese, partridge, rabbit and fish. Sundays, when I had counting duty at Church, it opened envelopes. It also saved me from a mugging.

Babies! Children! Says he, counting down to his 82nd.

The French only did that to try to poke King George in the eye, because his Navy was beating the .....stuffing out of his Navy, after expelling France from North America in 1758/59 (Perhaps an attempt to regain their Canadian colonies as well?). Unintended consequence: 1) The American Revolution was successful. 2) The French Royal Family lost their heads a few years later.(OOPS!)

In my view, Canada is a little too large, geographically and population (About 40 Million) to be just one state. FYI: Ontario: 16 million Quebec: 9 Million British Columbia: 5.6 Million Alberta: 4.8 Million Manitoba: 1.5 Million Saskatchewan: 1.2 Million Nova Scotia: 1 Million New Brunswick: 900 Thousand Newfoundland: 500 Thousand Prince Edward Island: 180 Thousand Yukon Territory: 46 Thousand Northwest Territory: 44 Thousand Nunavut Territory: 40 Thousand It would be interesting to figure out how those population numbers would translate into Congressional and Senatorial seats and what the effect would be on the Electoral College.

I watched them at Petawawa and chatted with them in the mess, but it wasn't for me!

I wore suits or a uniform for 40+ years after I left Alberta and came East. Now I'm back to my roots in jeans and flannel shirts or T's. My cowboy cloths, which represent nearly my entire wardrobe now, never see an iron. Gotta be period correct!

The flags on my Father's grave, my Father-in-law's and those of my Uncles: Robert, Freiman, Douglas, Lester, Donald and Ernest get replaced at least annually on November 11. Uncle Ernie's gets replaced April 19 as well as November 11. The old flags are brought home placed in a large kraft envelope and are discreetly burned along with my outside flag, when I replace it.

Real sorry for all you've lost Pard. Keep your chin up.

The French spoken in Quebec is closer to the French of the pre-British conquest of French Canada in 1759, following the Battle on the Plains of Abraham.

She is performing a balancing act with those in her party who remain(ed) Federalists and those who are Pro-Independence. As further onerous actions take place with the new Cabinet, in my view, more of the Federalists in her party will switch. From statements and interviews with the new and recycled Cabinet Ministers, the laundry list of reasons leave Confederation, continues to grow and the complaints of the West are ignored. As a result of this, I suspect the Federalists will ultimately join the Pro-Independence group, unless there is a dramatic change in the way the West is treated. Sad really. Canada will be no more and the chapter in the history book will likely be: CANADA! The Study of A Noble Experiment that Failed! The price of ignoring the will of the people who generated the significant portion of a country's wealth.

My Alberta birth Certificate is in a safe place and I hope I have "The Right Of Return."

It's beginning to look like WEXIT is beginning to gain momentum. A May 15, National Post/Ottawa Citizen article, by Rahim Mohamed, mentions a recent poll showing that the majority of Conservatives, in the largely Conservative province, would vote YES in a referendum to leave Canada. It appears the election and the continued/continuing attacks on the gas and oil sector, have tipped the scales and the future of the continued disproportionate amount of money flowing from the province in Equalization Payments to the other provinces, is now in jeopardy. Oh well. The warnings have sounded for more than a decade. It appears some in the east lost sight, (or never knew) that for many decades, the natural trade routes for the West has been North/South, not East/West. This is also reflected in the North/South family ties that have developed over the past 150 or so years and, ultimately, may be of even greater impact.

Recovering from our disastrous election. Conservatives thought it was in the bag, with a 27 point lead before the start, then something happened and the Conservative lead vanished almost overnight. The aftereffects are rippling through Canadian and Western Canadian society and a crisis is brewing.

It was so long ago, I don't remember!

Winter insulated boots with an aggressive, self clearing tread treads are about the best. Real deep and getting out in the boonies; Snowshoes for a fun hike. Here's Dr. Dr. Bob with a pair of Trail Breaking Snowshoes.

You've been fighting the Brits for days, then you are allowed your sleep ration: But then something makes you wake up.

Hey Jabez! Remember this gem?