‘Peg pleasures

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/07/2011 (5243 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One Thousand Awesome Things is an award-winning blog that has spawned two bestsellers and a lot of debate over what qualifies as more awesome: donning underwear that’s fresh out of the dryer or popping bubble wrap. (It’s got to be bubble wrap, 10 times out of 10.)

Author Neil Pasricha started his blog in June 2008 in an effort to bring attention to the simple things in life. Since then, over 30 million people have logged onto Pasricha’s site to read about such down-to-earth pleasures as “the three-paycheque month,” “sweatpants,” and “that pile of assorted beers left in your fridge after a party.”

Ace Burpee — a Winnipeg radio personality who routinely uses the word “awesome” to describe everything from his Hot 103 cohorts to kubasa to blurbs for Kern-Hill Furniture Co-op — recently introduced the “It’s a Winnipeg Thing” contest in the Winnipeg Free Press. In a nutshell, readers have until July 15 to submit stories about the most awesome places or things associated with a Manitoba summer.

Although Free Press scribes are disqualified from entering, we couldn’t pass up this opportunity to list a few of our own awesome ‘Peggisms, every last one of them inspired by Pasricha’s latest compendium, The Book of Even More Awesome, and Burpee’s own penchant for that particular adjective.

In no particular order, here’s what qualifies as awesome in our book…

Record shopping at Into the Music and hearing your all-time favourite song (that would be Baby Blue by Badfinger) being played by whoever is manning the Exchange District store’s turntable.

Nailing a 10-to-1 long shot at Assiniboia Downs, based entirely on the fact that the nag in question’s name matches that of a girl you had a crush on in Grade 6. (“Five bucks to win on There Goes Tracey.”)

Being asked by the counter staff at VJs whether you want your double cheeseburger and fries in “a bag or a box,” and knowing precisely what that implies. (Note: ALWAYS choose “box”)

Hitting the green lights just right on Notre Dame Avenue, one of the few (civilized) thoroughfares in Winnipeg where the traffic lights are actually in synch.

Taking in a junior game at Whittier Park, a St. Boniface field of dreams that offers as breathtaking a view of downtown as Shaw Park. Better: You never have to worry about having Fargo manager Doug Simunic around to spoil the scenery.

Being handed a pencil and paper by the waitress at Kelekis, and taking extra time to make sure your handwriting is legible, so that the cook gets your Yaleburger just right.

Seeing tourists stop to have their pictures taken next to large, inanimate objects. Like the cowboy leaning outside the Westbrook Inn on Keewatin Street. Or the armoured sentry who guards the parking lot at Bill Knight Flooring & Carpets, on Century Street.

The drive-through staff at the Tim Hortons location on Beaverhill Boulevard, who always have doggie treats available for any extra passengers in the car.

The drive-through staff at the (burp) beer vendor next to the Marion Hotel.

The patio at Saffron’s. The patio at Carlos & Murphy’s. The patio at Pizzeria Gusto. (See where this is going?)

Rainbow Stage. Especially the second act, which, to its credit, almost always waits until the sun has gone down to get underway.

Swimming your widths at the outdoor pool in Kildonan Park, even thought the lifeguard never asked you to.

Choosing sides at Canad Inns Stadium for one more Bomber season, at least. (For the record, it’s the East Side that sucks.)

Buying corn out of a pickup truck on Lagimodiere Boulevard. Or cabbage rolls out of a bus on Highway 59.

Taking a mulligan at the train hole at Kildonan Golf Course, so you can go over, then under, the bridge.

Trying to hold your notes as long as announcer Ron Arnst when he introduces “Your Winnipeg Goooooooooldeeeeeeeeeyes…” at the start of each home game. (We’ve tried. It’s impossible.)

Free Slurpee Day on July 11. (That’s 7/11, duh.) Especially when your local “Sev” has cream soda on tap.

The scent of a new rock T-shirt from O Calcutta on Portage Avenue. Even after three washes, you can still detect the incense.

The candy toss at Red River Co-op Speedway. Don’t know what that is? Round up 100 or so kids. Rain candy on them from five metres above. Get the hell out of the way.

Smoke’n Bob’s henchmen: The ones who take your order at the corner of Fort and Portage before you even realize that you’re in the mood for a smokie.

 

(For more information on the It’s a Winnipeg Thing contest, go to www.winnipegfreepress.com/contests/

david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca