I realize I'm complaining about something that's going to get me nowhere and I may not even be right about this, but I have to get it off my chest. On Saturday, I checked into a hotel in Regina at 3:30 in the afternoon. After checking in, I was told the room wasn't ready and that check-in is at 4 p.m. Check-out would be at 11. I know housekeeping needs time to get rooms ready and Regina is a busy place so it's not like there are clean rooms just waiting for people to claim them. But, I do think that at $140 a night, establishing check-in time as four o'clock is a little late. I can protest this all day long, but the reality is that the rules are what they are and the hotels are filled to capacity on a regular basis. Still, I don't think it's overly fair.
Huge props to the province of Ontario, although I'm not sure how they got away with this without someone filing a discrimination lawsuit. When you turn 80 years-old, you will be required to do a form of re-testing in order to keep your driver's license. This is something that should expand throughout our country.
I am not a model driver. I should not be the person to teach young people how to drive. I have some extremely bad habits and I'm less than polite on the road. Having said that, I feel there are a few things I am qualified to offer to people who are struggling behind the wheel. First of all, at a four-way stop do not wave someone through who arrived at a stop sign after you. It's a recipe for disaster. Secondly, do not ride your brake all the way down Broadway Street when there is no reason to use it. It's not good for your vehicle and it's also very frustrating for those behind you who are wondering why the break lights are coming on every few seconds and aren't able to see any obstructions. Thirdly, do not travel at a rate of speed at which someone riding a pedal bike would pass you. While it's true that fast, careless drivers can cause accidents, the same is the case for people who are frightened and should have maybe called a taxi. This is what makes Yorkton so dangerous. We have a population mix of a large number of young people who feel they are invincible as well as a large population of older people who drive without moving the needle on their speedometer. And, the last tip I have for today is that when you are turning left at a traffic light, do not proceed after the light turns red. This is a problem that is really magnified in Regina. It is routine for four or five vehicles to blow red lights to get their turn in.
I don't mind if you are a person who criticizes Peyton Manning for not being able to get it done in big games. However, as a reminder he has won one more Super Bowl than Dan Marino. So, don't feel bad for Marino not having a decent supporting cast but rip Manning for being a choker. And, I thought after you won one Super Bowl, the fans and media are supposed to leave you alone. It was an all-around bady day for Peyton on Sunday. He was paid $46,000 but had to turn around and fork over $57,000 in New Jersey State tax. If you wonder why, it's common in the great US of A to make professional athletes pay a tax for playing games in their state.
I just want to say that in a time of bad television and radio announcers right across Canada that it's a treat to turn on the tube every morning and see the Global Regina crew. Top to bottom, there is some real good talent there. Heather Anderson anchors the news, Rusti Dean does the weather and a lot of current events. As good as I find Heather to be, Rusti really is the glue. Hopefully she attains everything she strives for in her career. But, it doesn't stop at those two. Kent Morrison is sharp as a tack with his wit and I find reporters Kahla Buchanan and Mike McKinnon are excellent on-site with reporting and interviewing. McKinnon is a young guy I've seen only a couple of times, but he's very impressive with his knowledge and he looks like he prepares for his interviews very well. Buchanan, if she's not ad-libbing, is fooling me when she's doing her live hits. She's very natural and conversational. Nicely done to the person who hired them. I'm not sure what the ratings say, but it's not even close for competition in the Regina market. Global is killing it right now. Their six o'clock show isn't all that bad either.
Speaking of television announcers, it sounds as though Paul Romanuk will return from living in England the last ten years to be the number two play by play man behind Jim Hughson with Rogers next year. That would be a major step up over Gord Miller.
Hopefully, Rogers finds room for Rick Ball too. The CBC late game play by play man is not bad at all. I'd like to hear more of him.
Nice person mentions this week to Mike Jakubiec, Michele Dekker, Ane Roodt, Del Lavineway, and Abi Adefolarin.
