Why do guys have to spit so much?

By Delynda Pilon

I don’t get it, but it is definitely one of my pet peeves. I mean, they do it like it’s as normal as breathing - well, okay, it is as normal as breathing, but so are a lot of other things people don’t do in public.

Walk into any store and look down at the cement and you are going to see drips of spittle all over the place. I personally have taken a few quick counts of public spitters while sitting and waiting for passengers to be done their business (well, there was nothing good on the radio) and so far I have not seen any women hocking a loogie in public. Older fellows don’t usually seem to be the culprits either. But guys - say between the ages of 17 and 40 - are major villains in the expectoration extravaganza.

The other day I was sitting in the van waiting for Dallas when three young guys got out of an old beater. Their hair was perfect, their shades were cool and their jeans were baggy. I knew at once that as soon as they shucked up those jeans they’d be spitting up a storm. Sure enough, within seconds, spittle spattered the pavement.

In ancient Egypt spitting was part of a lot of magical ceremonies. For instance, if you wanted to hex the heck out of an enemy, you’d spit on his belongings. But if you wanted to get rid of a demon, you’d have to expectorate like mad.

Those boys were pretty cool about their spitting, so I doubt they were being vexed by demons. And they weren’t spitting on anything but the ground, so I don’t think they were casting a whammy on anyone either.

When I got home I decided to do a little research on the subject. In other words, I have way too much free time on my hands lately. Anyway, I finally ran into a theory that makes some sense to me. One sociologist likened men spitting in public (unless, of course, it is because they are sick or have something yucky stuck in their mouths) to dogs urinating on fenceposts to mark their territory. It’s a way of ensuring other guys know you are cool, tough, virile and not someone to mess with.

Wow. That’s a lot of work for a few drops of saliva.

Pig Heaven

By Jamie Rieger

The warm weather that we get to enjoy during the summer months has many people taking the time to enjoy leisurely outdoor activities.

Whether we are heading to the nearest campground or golf course or just relaxing in the backyard with good friends, summer seems to get the couch potatoes off their duffs and out to enjoy some of the sunshine. In southern Alberta, we never know how long the nice weather will last, so we better enjoy it while we have it.

On Saturday, that is exactly what I did. I didn't go camping or golfing, though. Instead, I got invited to a pig roast and decided that this was social gathering I didn't want to pass up. So, my daughter, her boyfriend packed up the car with salads, lunch chairs and lots of cold refreshments and headed out for an evening of socializing.

The pig roast was held on an acreage just outside the city and when we turned into the yard, we couldn't believe the number of people who were there. And, the masses quickly separated into two groups: The young folks who gathered and spent a lot of time walking around the yard and us of the older generation, who formed a circle with their lawn chairs and coolers. Some of us just enjoyed the socializing and didn't even get up from our chairs until the hosts yelled, "Supper!!'

With everybody bringing a salad, dessert or other food item, the spread was truly amazing and I don't think I was able to sample half of what was laid out before me. The main event, though, was the roast pig, which was succulent and roasted to perfection. I was in pig heaven.

After supper, people took strolls through the yard to check out the hosts' animals, including the buffalo, pigs, and sheep, and had to check out some of the vintage vehicles that some of the guests drove to the party. Then, it was back to the lawn chairs for more giggles, storytelling, and great music.

As soon as the sun starting lowering in the western sky, a fire was lit in the pit and the older generation congregated with the younger people who provided humorous entertainment for everybody.

It was a great night, with great people and great food and an evening that was thoroughly enjoyed by everybody. I am already looking forward to the next gathering that will pull me off the couch and away from my baseball games. Some things are more important than seeing if my team is going to win or lose. Spending time with good people gives far greater memories and besides, I can always catch the highlights of the game on the computer when I get home.

By Jamie Rieger
As some flooded-out families in Cypress County are able to return to their properties and assess the damage caused by the June 18 flood, others are still not able to return home because of siting water or the roads and bridges to their properties are still not accessible.
What is quickly seen though, as one drives through the southeast part of the county is the mass destruction caused by the ravaging flood water. Uprooted trees, tin, fences, outbuildings from neighbouring farms, and other debris litter the fields where cattle should be grazing. In many lowlying areas, the water still has not receded; but sits stagnant almost a week after the destructive flood hit the area.
Cypress County work crews and contractors are the only people to be seen in many areas as some roads are either not safe for travel or have seized to exist in some places.
The creeks themselves tell a story of their own. Winding through the hills and coulees and through the flatlands, the creeks' paths seemed to be as permanent as the earth itself. The flood changed that and many creeks are carving new paths, new meandering waterways where roads once existed.
As farmers and ranchers are slowly able to get to at least portions of their properties, some wonder out loud whether rebuilding and stay in the agriculture business is even an option for them now. Some, teary-eyed as they take a glimpse of their properties and see years, or even generations of sweat equity washed away in the blink of an eye. For some, this massive flood was not the first one they have experienced in the tumultuous spring of 2010; for some it was their second or third flood of the year. To say this year has been exasperating or overwhelming would almost be an understatement when you witness firsthand the massive destruction.
Some families are not even ready to go back to their properties yet. They simply are not mentally prepared to face what they know is there-a devastating loss. To these people, these places were not just their homes, but they were the places where their grandparents or great-grandparents homesteaded a century ago; they are the places where they work and places that they love.
The flood has not only changed the physical landsape of southeast Alberta forever, but has many people wondering if it is all worth...is the beauty, the heritage, and the love of the land all worth it when the land has been so heartless in return.
The trees and brush will re-grow and the cattle and wildlife will return to the lush grasslands; and yes, most people will return, rebuild and thrive. First though, they need to be able to get home.

By Jaimie Rieger

So, nobody won last Friday's big lottery, the largest in Canadian history. That surprises me a bit, considering the number of people who were surely out purchasing tickets in the hopes of winning it big.
I was not one of them. I typically do not buy lottery tickets, but I was planning on spending a few bucks on this one. However, it was also a busy week and other things pre-occupied my mind, so I forgot. So inclined had I been to buy a ticket that I was discussing with my daughter what I would do with the money if I won and I would do probably the same thing everybody else would-travel, pay off bills, buy a new vehicle and home, and live a life of leisure.
All my daughter said to me was, "Dream big, mom!" I think she was being sarcastic, but I'm not sure. Sometimes with Carmen, it's hard to tell.
There's nothing wrong with dreaming big as long as everything is kept in perspective; like not spending more on the tickets than you can afford to lose and don't bet the farm. Chances are you will not be winning the big one and in last Friday's draw, nobody did.
When I told her on Saturday that nobody won, Carmen just shrugged it off. Apparently, she is not all that impressed by a $95-million lottery. Or, perhaps she is just more realistic than I am and knows that even if I was to spend a few dollars on a ticket or two, chances are I will not even get back the money I spent.
I did come close once a few years ago, getting four out of six numbers right and being only one digit off on the remaining two numbers. Had I checked the boxes immediately below the ones that I did, I would have been $19 million dollars richer. Instead, I won substantially less than that. Thinking that I would still get a fair amount with the four correct numbers, I turned in my ticket, found out that 64,000 people had four number right, and I walked out of the store with $75. So close, but yet so far from the big one.
So this week, I will choose my numbers carefully and closely guard the ticket until Friday's draw. You never know. As they say, you can't win if you don't buy a ticket. And, I'm feeling lucky this week.