Looking Back ~ Looking Forward

~ sigh ~

There's no better therapy for escaping the stresses of renovation than a trip to a football game. No electrical issues to worry about. No waiting for paint to dry so walls can be painted again. No crazy contractor to deal with. Yup, there is not a thing I'd rather do than hop in the Sandra-mobile and head to a game at Old Mosaic Stadium on Taylor Field. This is exactly what the Hubster and I did last Saturday in wild anticipation of an old fashioned Lion taming.

Waaaaaalllllyyyyyyy

Okay, so maybe no Lions were tamed as the final score was (gulp) 40 – 27 in their favour. Without going over the minute details of the game because they've all been hashed to death by now, including how Brooks maimed our franchise Quarterback. THANK GOODNESS, it wasn't a serious injury. Darian Durant is a total beast and competitor which is apparent since he not only remained on the field to throw a touchdown pass after the injury but also has been in practice since as well. There is only one other Roughrider legend who has been known to be as Saskie tough.

George Reed.

I had the pleasure of meeting George Reed when the CFL was celebrating it's 100^th anniversary by having a train visit several cities and Saskatoon happened to be one of the stops. I waited in line for what seemed like forever but it was completely worth it by the time I made it to the autograph table. He was immensely gracious and I was in complete awe.

I was equally in awe on Saturday in my section 43 seat on the West side when the 1966 Grey Cup winning Roughriders entered the stadium right beside us and marched the Grey Cup by. WOW. What a different time. Everyone stood and applauded in our section. I've never seen anything more beautiful than the Grey Cup with July sunshine glinting off of it.

1966 Grey Cup winning Roughriders

At halftime, highlights of the 1966 Grey Cup were broadcast on the Sasktel Maxtron. Then each player was introduced. Some are not with us anymore and some simply were not able to make the trip. I watched as two RCMP marched out and a stunning red mustang convertible drove to midfield containing the cup and I have to admit my eyes started to well up as we also learned the car contained Lana Mueller, daughter of Ron Lancaster, sporting a #23 jersey.

There we were celebrating the 50^th anniversary of this epic victory over the Ottawa Rough Riders while saying goodbye to the place that's been home for not only the Saskatchewan Roughriders but home to us fans as well. The lady behind me talked about how badly she wanted to take her seat number home with her. Funny, I thought as a man who was sitting a few seats down had gashed his leg on the seat back metal. I've done it and I bet you have too!

Taylor Field.....the site of so much happiness, tradition and heart bursting memories.

New Mosaic taken from the West Gate ramps of Old Mosaic

This Friday when our Riders take on the Rough Riders...er, Renegades...er, Redblacks (what is a redblack anyway?) there will be a celebration of the 1970's. The 70's were not kind to us GreenWhite fans although I was barely around to know or remember. I would have been 3 years old in 1976 when Saskatchewan met Ottawa in the Grey Cup but trust me I know about Tony Gabriel and “the catch”. 
 

Songs like Don't Go Breaking My Heart and Play That Funky Music were top of the music charts. People were watching Rocky, Carrie and The Bad News Bears. The Timbit was introduced in 1976 and our Prime Minister was Trudeau.

It's fun to look back isn't it?

Traditionally the Roughriders have not been a highly successful team. The team which was established in 1910 has only won 4 Grey Cups. Fans have endured extreme heart aching defeat and incredible emotional highs. Isn't that what being a fan is about? The roller coaster? The face palms and the eye rolls? The jumping and high fives? It's about supporting your team whether the record is 3-15, 9-9 or 0-3. Sure, it's more fun to drive the two hour drive home from Regina after a win but haven't we been lucky to have this team all these years! Because of us...the fans, players have made Regina and this province home, some staying here like George Reed, while others like Don Narcisse have returned. Isn't that wonderful!?!

There's no other fan base I'd want to be a part of...Rider Nation you crazy wonderful community you! I love ya!

Thursday aka Game Day Eve, the Grey Cup will be at the Co-Op which I frequent on 33^rd St West in Toon Town. Hamburgers will be sold with proceeds going to the Scouts. I plan on seeing Earl Grey's contribution close up. 

~ sigh ~

Renovations

If you are one of my Twitter followers (@smilingsandra) you may have noticed a good number of recent posts regarding my rental suite, Renter Person and the massive renovations we are now undertaking. Renter Person, while somewhat irresponsible always paid rent on time until April when for whatever reason started lying and not paying up resulting in our inspection of the suite and soon after eviction. Did you know that a cooking combination of high heat, oil and curry would coat every surface in a sticky orange film? Enter our contractor, Randy Koroll who is working to update and clean up the entire basement suite. It's a huge leap forward in time...1975 gone – Hello 2016. It's expensive and certainly has not come at a good time in our lives. It's revenue though and we depend on the space so I have to keep reminding myself that it's okay I spent $1000 in one morning because it's actually for the greater good of Casa Larson.

Likewise, my beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders have just gone through an entire rebuild. I don't think I have to rehash all the players who have been released, traded or *eyeroll* retired. Just like I handed over my house keys, Chris Jones now has the keys to the Ridermobile and is working to find the right puzzle pieces for a winning team. There is a huge amount of talent on this 2016 team and by huge I mean they are large in stature as well as ability. I saw it in Training Camp and I have to say what is being built by this new regime is exciting and I couldn't wait to take my seat for the start of this Farewell Season...the first of the last if you will.

We ate at the Wendy's on Albert St and then caught the Fan Express ($3 each way) at Northgate Mall where nice people were handing out green seat cushions. The bus was full except for two seats at the back of the bus which no one wanted to take for some reason so I went to the back and Hubby found the other seat beside a male fan. There was a little girl beside me who was admiring my cowbell so I let her hold onto it. We discussed our wardrobe as she was wearing a green sparkly tutu and ribbons in her hair. This wasn't her first Rider game but might have only been her second. By the time the bus pulled up to Old Mosaic Stadium I had learned the little girls name was Brooklyn and we were basically bff's. This is why I love Ridernation so much. Strangers at a bus stop and besties at the stadium.

In our section 25 row 35 seats prior to he game and during warm ups there was a WWII bomber flying over the stadium. I'm no expert but if it was a Lancaster bomber that would be very cool and appropriate. Legendary members of previous Rider teams were honoured including Ray Elgaard, the stadium singer sang “thy sons command” and with the fly over the first game of the Farewell Season commenced. 

BRING 'EM OUT!

Sure, I hoped the Riders would win and I figured with the Argonauts looking so poor in week one the Riders chances were pretty good. There were definite glimmers of great things but then those stupid cringey 2015 moments tried to work their way in to the game via fumbles and stupid penalties..... Ugh. And then there was the OMG! When Foley sacked Darian Durant and I'm pretty sure if I didn't gasp that I did hold my breath until he got up. Were there improvements over 2015? Yes, definitely. The Riders held their own and except for those "tree" (did I mention Proulx was the official?) cringey moments they really had a shot to win the season opener. 

I felt I had realistic expectations but I don't know how other fans were feeling. Ridernation needs to be patient and that's not one of the traits Canada's Team fans are known for. Maybe this contributed to fans starting to leave with 8 minutes left on the clock in what wasn't a sold out game. They got tired of watching guys who they have no connection to (yet) and I think our fan base is a little gun shy because after enduring the pain of what was 2015 we are afraid to be hopeful. We want to be hopeful but it's hard.  It's very easy to throw your hands up in the air and walk out, but please don't do that. Keep supporting this team. Great things are to come and this will be a legendary season saying goodbye to Old Mosaic. Won't it be great to say you were there?! 

View of the New from the Old

So how do I think my Riders are going to match up against the Evil Empire on Friday? Do I go with my gut or my head? My gut says the Riders are underestimated and could totally roll into Commonwealth and take the Eskimo's a la 1989. My head says “Sandra get real.” Ha! Obviously, the Maas led Eskies are a good team and we have no right to even think the Riders could beat them. Back and forth I go. Then I think about the TiCats being so dominant one week and a train wreck the next...the same could happen for the Esks since they'll be coming off a bye.

Shrugs

I guess that's why we play the game.

Er, watch the game, cheer and ring that cowbell.

Now I know while you've been reading this blog the burning question you have for me is...what colour scheme did you go with for the rental suite reno?

Is it green and white?

~ smile ~

It's shades of grey.