Our family went to see the Free My Muse youth play production Little Red Riding Hood on Saturday night. Carrie Pengilly is doing great things with young people in our community and that was evident on Saturday. All five of us enjoyed it a great deal, but our 4-year-old daughter laughed from the start of the play right until the end. So much so, that my wife and I wondered if we should muzzle her a little because she was giggling and repeating lines that she found to be funny, and I'm sure her laugh and voice could be heard throughout the Anne Portnuff Theatre. She said afterward that her favorites were the Canadian beavers (Cleaver & Steaver) played by Kendra Varjassy and Darrian Enns. Before the production started, Carrie announced that there were a number of performers who were on stage for the very first time. I couldn't tell you which ones they were because they all turned in veteran performances.
Last week, I made mention about a pet peeve with department stores who cram their aisles so full of merchandise so that it becomes impossible for two carts to pass each other when going opposite directions. I got quite a bit of feedback on that, and one lady mentioned something else and even says she'd be willing to pay for it: She points out that only one of the major shopping outlets in Yorkton has riding carts available for people with disabilities. And, in the case of the one department store that carries them, she says she often has to wait awhile for a cart to become available because they are so popular. She feels if each location had ten of these carts, they'd all be busy and she also recognizes it is a costly courtesy, so therefore she's also willing to pay out of her pocket to ensure having one. Interesting food for thought for the powers that be to chew on.
I have harped for a long time on the unorganized parking at the Gallagher Centre, and this week I want to really point out a few ignorant people who seem to think there are invisible parking spots on the near side of the designated handicapped areas. First of all, handicapped spots are designed to be closest to the building for a reason. If you can't figure it out, trade lives with a handicapped person someday. Some people disregard the handicapped signs altogether and steal those precious spots. Nothing burns me more than to see something like that. If you are one of the people doing this, don't let me catch you leaving the building the same time I do.
The National League MVP of Major League Baseball, Milwaukee Brewer Ryan Braun, has been busted by the drug police for using a performance enhancer of some kind. Can we just legalize this stuff and move on? I mean are we all really naive to think the majority of professional athletes aren't putting something artificial into their bodies on a regular basis? Look at the physiques of a professional athlete from the 1970s and look at the physiques today. I've got news for you: that's not a result of clean living, eating properly, exercise, and Flinstone vitamins. Although all of those things I just mentioned probably play a role in looking like a gladiator. I just don't feel any elite athlete can look like that without performance enhancing drugs, blood doping, or some other substance.
Rather than simply say Garth Simms is a nice person who deserves a mention, I'm going to give him a whole paragraph. The President of the Yorkton Harvest got a phone call early Sunday morning that his summer residence had been broken into by a number of punks, so he drove over an hour to survey the situation. Fortunately, it appears as though these criminals have been apprehended and the possessions taken will be returned. But, Garth's dedication to the hockey team did not waver. He dealt with the police, locked up his cabin and headed back to Yorkton in time for the national anthem at 2 p.m. Furthermore, he helped an older person with a health issue upon his arrival. Then, he put the finishing touches on the team's progressive 50/50 promotion and Christmas meat basket drive. That, my friends, is commitment.
Nice people who deserve a mention this week (other than Garth): Jeff Odgers, Brad Lewthwaite, Gary Lamb, Lana Haider, and Karli Wagner.
