Saskatchewan is really a very interesting place. Not really interesting in the "oh my god, that's fascinating" way of putting it but rather interesting in the "gee, this place sure is flat!" As I was walking out of the arrivals area of the Regina Airport today I happened to look out the window. Now as I was on the second floor I had a great view and I'll show you what I saw _______________________________________________ as far as the eye could see. I'd completely forgotten how insanely flat it is out here.

Getting into my Uncle's Van he asked if there was anything in particular I wanted before we headed out to Yorkton. I didn't even hesitate to demade a Starbucks run. Increadibly he was very excited about the idea and enthused how lucky it was that they lived not even two blocks from the only Starbucks in Regina. Lucky indeed! At this point I was thinking that the trip may not be half bad.

It's a damned good thing that I've been watching Corner Gas for the past few weeks trying to prepare myself for my visit. I swear that I ate lunch in a gas staition today! Well ok maybe it was a "restaurant" attached to a gas staition but none-the-less it was there and I ate. I was somewhat perterbed by the whole experience as soon as I walked in. As soon as I sat down I was all out disturbed. I think it was the waitresses coke fingernail (you know how coke heads grow their little finger's nail out to provide a mess free way of snorting) that really creeped me out. Either that or it was how her massive belly hung over her apron. Or it could have been the fact that aside from my 80 year old Grandfather I was the smallest guy in the place. They sure do grow 'em big out here! So there I sat in my gap jeans, Banana Republic sweater and leather boots eating a "Toonie Buger" at what may as well have been the seriously down market version of Corner Gas, and yes the locals stared at me.

I arrived in Yorkton and we went straight to the house. I was amazed that in the five years since I've been here NOTHING has changed. I'm not kidding NOTHING has changed. Come to think of it thought I don't think this place has changed at all since the first time I was here about 20 years ago. Yes, Yorkton is a time warp. Mom and Dad always say it's like going back to the 80's when you're here but I think it just may have moved into the 90's... early 90's it may be but things are moving!

Carrying on with my series of firsts for the day I did something that I've never done tonight. I watched American Idol for the very first time. It just so happens that it was the 2 hour season premier tonight and Grandma and I watched it together. I have to say I was very entertained by the whole thing and just can't believe how completely deluded so many Americans are (I'm sure Canadians are just as deluded) when it comes to their singing abilities.

Tomorrow brings more adventure as I'm going shopping with Grandma and will be attending a Yorkton Terrier's Hockey Game with Grandpa in the evening. I'll be sure to update on which is going to be more fun. Frankly I'm going with the shopping but the Hockey may surprise the hell out of me.

Quite honestly I've seriously been considering sneaking off and buying a mickey of Vodka to help me cope with the rest of this week. You just don't know when you're going to prefer to be drunk. So far since arriving here I've already bought one new sweater online from L.L. Bean and that's a coping mechanism that isn't cheap (although I've been haunting their web site waiting for them to get more in stock of this particular sweater and as luck would have it they had mediums in it in only one size left tonight, happily it was just the colour that I wanted!).



Maybe I will find a liquor store tomorrow...