Random Thoughts on an August Morn. August 2nd. 2023

• It is hard to sit here in the dark corner of my basement when the sun is shining and the air is warm.  I just felt the need to stay in touch.   It has been a pretty incredible summer here at the lake.  We have had some smokey days,  but we missed the wild fires.   It has not been a wet summer but we have not suffered from drought like so much of our Province has.  In fact, the crops here look absolutely fantastic.   We have been lucky so far.   Huge hail storms have been all around us.  When it does rain, it is usually at night.  We have missed perhaps a single day of golf due to weather.  And that says a lot,  cause we golf what seems like all the time.
• Our family dynamic has changed again with the addition of two new grand children.   Our daughter and her husband have taken on two foster children aged four and two.  Once again our house adorns baby gates,  scattered toys,  tiny finger prints, and sticky edges.    It also contains smiles and belly laughs,  warm little hugs.   We have been very lucky in our retired lives to have two of our three sets of children living so close to us.   Having two more little ones at this point in our lives sounds intimidating.  In truth,  it is a gift.  
• We have done much less hiking this year.  Not because we didn't want to.    Wild fires to our west caused excessive smoke.   The early part of the summer is when we saw some rain.  Truth is,  it seems like the summer is getting away from us.  But the golf is good.  We walk the course which is just over a four mile walk.  It may be a little more than that when you golf from side to side like I do.    And that isn't to say we haven't got some walks in.  But we miss it.
• You will note the fancy point form today.  So whatcha think?  Truth be told,  I pressed something somewhere and I don't have a clue what.  I don't like it much.  It kinda cramps my style.  
• It seems like every day we find another indictment awaiting Donald Trump.  By any other standard we would be calling him a disgraced President.   But we are watching the American justice system making the Donald more powerful than ever.  We are watching what appears to be his biggest threat in the nomination race is far more intent on separating the classes and snuffing out any possible chance of a one person one vote system for once and for all.   It appears the American public has had enough of democracy.   It appears a goodly portion of the average American feels there should be limitations on freedom.  Mostly along the lines of the white, the male, and of course,  the wealthy.
• Up here in my home and native land,  we have seen our leaders follow the Donald Trump map to success with some pretty good results.    Preaching hatred and making it as personal as humanly possible seems to be the formula for the results one requires.  Polarization is so so dangerous.  And when polarization finally gets you the success you want,  you are going to find it near impossible to reel in.  The division of our country has caused damage that will take several generations from which to recover.   How is it we always seem to learn the wrong lessons?
• My kids have a cabin at a neighbouring lake and this month they have decided to hold a western reunion with the cousins.  And there is a lot of them.  I have always enjoyed seeing all these cousins get together.  It reminds me of our trips to Flin Flon Manitoba when I was younger.  I had cousins there whom I believed to be the most fun people in the whole world.   Mostly because of the distance we didn't maintain contact as we should have.  But my kids generation have done a much better job of getting together and keeping up with one another.  Tell you what:  I am gonna do some cooking.   It is always fun to make a batch of things people like.  I am hardly a chef.   My dishes are simple and tasty.  Pub food if you will.  And my recipes?  Well I consider myself the master of the can opener.   I know of nothing that doesn't taste better with garlic.
• I can't help but lament a little bit for Canadian Women's Soccer team.  Eliminated in the first round by the Aussies in a game where the Canucks looked like they didn't belong.   I have to admit I wasn't JUST disappointed in the teams elimination.  When interviewed after the game, one of the players blamed the teams lack of success on the teams funding.    While I truly believe we can do a better job of funding our women athletes and hope we see that day come soon,  I don't believe funding was the reason our Olympic Gold Medal team came out flat as a pancake.   As they say,  when you point your finger at someone,  you have three fingers pointing back at you.  The Canadian Women lost the game to a team that outplayed them.   Simple as that.
• It is hard to understand economics for someone like me who has never really cared much about money.  However it appears that understanding economics can also be difficult for professional money people.   Since the pandemic we have seen crippling inflation.   Inflation that hasn't troubled everyone.   In spite of the labour shortages, wages haven't gone up anywhere near the profits made by Corporations.   Now I understand supply and demand,  but I have trouble understanding how transportation, crop shortages of things like coffee, beef prices mean the communications companies need to increase  the cost of internet time, phone use, and cable t.v.   
• Well that is about all I got.  It is a beautiful day here and it is time I tried my hand at some chores, my feet at some steps, and clearing my head with fresh air and warm sunshine.   Have a great day everyone.