Some thoughts on a variety of topics:
For the past few weeks, the phone rings early in the morning, early enough that if I weren’t already up I would be annoyed at the caller, thinking someone might have died or was in distress.
The calls have been coming in around 6:30 a.m., a time of day that telemarketers and scam artists should be home sleeping and dreaming about what schemes will be on their agenda for the day.
Instead they are already at work setting out to perpetrate bad deeds on folks who are likely half asleep when the phone rings and just might agree to who-knows-what before they have their first coffee or have showered away the cobwebs.
I was amused to note on one of the calls that my social insurance number had been accessed by someone who was about to use it for nefarious purposes. Would I care to recite the number to the caller to verify my ownership, the recorded voice asked.
I hung up, then wondered how many people are freaked out when they hear something like this and actually recite the number? I have never been able to recall my number without dredging through my wallet to find my card. My lack of memory serves me well early in the day.
The next time the early-birds sought the worm was to tell the person who answered our phone that our Visa card had been compromised in a foreign land. I wasn’t at all worried about such charges showing up and wished the shopper that wasn’t us the best of luck and happy vacation. We do not have that brand of credit card. Shop on.
I have always admired people who will do any job to earn a living but I’d admire these callers more if they would get jobs that don’t include phone calls that none of us want to receive — at any time of the day.
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Congratulations to the organizing committee and hundreds of volunteers for providing a most successful Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Moose Jaw has always been known for the capability of putting together world-class events and this time was no exception.
Curlers and fans alike have expressed considerable praise for the Mosaic Place venue, meeting all expectations of Curling Canada and the local committee.
As I sat there watching the games, I couldn’t help but recall the world junior curling competition held here in 1979 — the year the Civic Centre roof leaked right up until a few minutes before the games began. Pails were set in strategic locations to catch the drips, and staff and volunteers worked feverishly to ensure the games could go on.
I suspect very few visitors knew about the behind-the-scenes or roof-top activity that went on before the first rocks were thrown. They most likely remembered the hospitality shown by our community, the pin exchanges, friendly drivers and the mayor of the day who was on hand for most of the draws.
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And finally, a celebration that can’t be missed — March 7 is Crown Roast of Pork Day. Don’t know why but there you have it. I wonder how busy the local butcher shops and meat departments will be as customers rush in for a crown roast of pork.
There might be a sale.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
