January 13, 1997 - A Mature Point of View

by Tom DesRochers

Hi folks ! Miss me ? Didn't think so. I hope old Saint Nick treated you decently. The most valuable thing I received over the holidays was a lesson. If your mother is a fervent Catholic and she shows you her new nativity scene, don't say the statue of the Virgin Mary looks like she's had one too many valium. Trust me on that one.

I'll be hopefully sharing this space with other mature-types this term. Roberta Bald (the other half of "Club Pepsi") will be free-lancing in her own CLASP column, so we'll have to find someone else with some bush stories. OOPS! I hope I won't be ostracized for that ethnic slur. Actually, I've been called "pepsi" all my life and never thought much about it, until recently when someone told me it means empty from the neck up...no respect eh. Speaking of which, do you know what fine French cuisine is in Sudbury ? Pea soup, boudin and a couple of Molson Ex. That slam was aimed specifically at Ms. Bald and is not intended to reflect on anyone else from Sudbury who has a good right hook.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news for you 1st year people, but you'll have even more work this term than during the fall. Don't shoot the messenger, that's just the way it works here. You have Civ. Pro. assignments and LRW memos and a Factum and your moot...the list goes on. The good news is that it should be less stressful than the fall term; at least that's what I found. If you managed to drag yourself back here after the break, you'll be fine. Trust me on this. You have hopefully developed decent work habits and realize how much effort you have to put into this place. Keep the pace up and don't think about marks until they arrive, which will be a while yet. And for Pete's sake, have some fun.

TRIVIA TIME: Sorry about the pre-break question. Nobody got it on the first guess. Who scored the tieing goal in the final game of the '72 series? The answer is, of course, Phil Esposito. (Nobody remembers that!) I tested the next question on a couple of people and it is a bit more reasonable. It's in two parts: In February, 1971, what Canadian politician admitted to having used the very unparliamentary term "fuddle-duddle" and (2nd part) who was the famous public figure who claimed the term was directed at him (Hint: from Ontario)?? It was really big news back then. I will buy a drink for the two people with the correct answer to BOTH parts. (Nothing with an umbrella in it)

Anyway, best of luck this term and watch out for those low doorways.