I think the Big Guy is after us. First He tried to bury us with snow. Then He tried to flood us out. Now He is trying to cook us. On July 1 it was 36.5 C here at the farm. That is too hot to work outside. I convinced Beverly to shut her lawnmower off before she got sun stroke. She was phsyco cutting the lawn and trimming the lilac hedge with her handy dandy electric saw. I even offered to go to the lake with her. I never go to the lake! After some quick packing by Beverly, off we go to the lake. That girl makes me tired just watching her!
Bev and her sister Lynn have taken over the family cabin at Turtle Lake so that is where we went. We also knew that granddaughters Faith and Torrie were in swimming lessons so maybe my suggestion of going to the lake was already in her head. I don't have the influence I temporally thought I did.
Son-in-law Roland took me fishing. I washed the hook for two miles up the lake, changed hooks and washed the hook all the way back. We was shunned by the fishes, shunned I tell you. Not a bite, not a nibble, nothing, zippo, totally skunked. The only thing I got on my hook was some weeds.
I blame the lack of fish biting all on my 10-year-old granddaughter Faith. Earlier in the day her father took her fishing and she caught one. Her father told her that it was Chibri family tradition that you had to kiss the first fish you caught and throw it back for good luck. So she did. With a horrified look on her face, I'm sure, she kissed the fish and threw it back. Now I am sure that that fish told all the other fishes that if you get caught, you will be kissed by a girl! That did it. When I was fishing, no fish were biting. That is very normal for me. When I go fishing it seems, the fish are on holidays. I don't like fish that much anyway. It was a wonderfully peaceful day.
The only other thing that happened during the fishing trip was Faith lost her hook, leader and some line. She was convinced it was the Turtle Lake Monster. That was a new hook so she is not pleased with the Turtle Lake Monster. Of course it could have been weeds but it makes a much better story to say the Turtle Lake Monster took it. Oh to be 10 again!
In political news the media is doing everything it can to keep the Senate scandal going. It's hard to keep it running as everyone is on holidays and Steven Harper is at home to take in the Calgary Stampede. He is not talking to reporters! The reporters are going round and round and even starting to interview each other about who knew what and when did they know it and so on. The have searched parliamentary data bases and come up with the following information.
Liberal Senator Mac Harb owes $231,649 in improperly claimed expenses. He has paid back $51,000 under protest but plans to pursue his judicial review in the Ontario Division Court.
Former Conservative Senator Pamela Wallin is being audited by audit firm Deloitte as she has $321,000 in questionable travel expenses. She has paid back $38,000.
Former Conservative Senator Mike Duffy is under RCMP investigation for fraud. He claimed Senate per diems when he was actually campaigning for the Conservatives plus claimed per diems from the Conservative Party at the same time. Duffy also has claimed $90,000 in housing allowance which he wasn't entitled to. Stephen Harper's former chief of staff, Nigel Wright wrote a personal cheque for $90,000 to pay it back.
Former Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau still owes $48,000 a housing allowance he wasn't entitled to. He is busy fighting his way through court with other charges not Senate related. He does not intend to pay it back at this time.
Mark my word, there are others. I hope they are nervous!!
All these people willingly and knowingly committed fraud. They should be run out of office. Their attitude about entitlement to the public purse is intolerable. Kick 'em out, I say. I hope Stephen Harper and the Conservative party distance themselves from this type of people and they treat them like they have the plague, because they do!
Joke of the week: Tom saw his friend the other day and said, "Hey George, when did you get a trombone?" "Well," said George, "I borrowed it from my neighbour's kid." "I didn't know you could play the trombone?" George says, "I can't. And now, neither can he."
