Where Was I: Grey Cup 100

I attended the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto last Sunday. As I mentioned earlier, it was a quick trip this year: I took the Via train to Toronto on Sunday morning and returned late early Monday evening. Some random observations:

- I was wrong. Very, very wrong. After flubbing my predictions for both Conference Finals, I called for Calgary to win the Grey Cup, and kept my modest wrong-ness streak alive. The Stamps just did not show up; the flip side, of course, is that the Argos perfectly executed Scott Milanovich's game plan. In any event, the Argos dominated.

- It was a boring game, due to the Argos' dominance. What kept it entertaining (other than booing the Bieber previews being shown during the first half) was, obviously, how much the Rogers Skydome was rocking throughout the game. That was great fun.

- As soon as the first half was over, I ran for the concourse. I was having noting to do with the Bieber-Carla Mae Jepsen-Marianas Trench debacle of a half-time show. Unfortunately, that meant I missed Gordon Lightfoot's abbreviated version of the Canadian Railroad Trilogy. However, crossing paths with CFL legend Damon Allen more than made up for it. And, yes, he looks like he could still play.

- It turns out the Eskimo Cheer Team was staying in my hotel.

- Things I missed about skipping Grey Cup week: Spirit of Edmonton; Touchdown Manitoba; that moment you realize you are having the same conversation with the same Lions fan for the fourth year running; running into random CFL alumni at team parties; the BC Felions; ordering a non-import beer (as opposed to a domestic beer; oh, come on now, that joke never gets old); Grey Cup week.

- Things I did not miss about skipping Grey Cup week: 'Green is the colour; football is the game'; gin shots; 'No, it's not French (you dolt), it's fucken Latin.'

- And every year, I usually come back with one Grey Cup week story, which usually has something to do with beer and a hospitality suite (and, amazingly, rarely involves me). I figured I would not have a Grey Cup story this year, but I was wrong, although technically this is not really directly related to the festivities. However, it does have to with my return from Grey Cup, so I will have to allow it. So here it is:

I was riding the Via train back from Toronto on Monday. I happened to look up from whatever surfing or reading I was doing. It was way past sunset, so there was not much to look at through the window. However, I do happen to catch the reflection in the car window of the smartphone of the guy who was sitting in front of me. I could only see roughly half the screen, but it was a sideways close-up of the face of a red-headed woman. I glance long enough to see that her jaw is at a really weird angle. All of a sudden, she grabs her hair with one hand and holds it back. Now, let's be clear, this all happened on the reflected half-screen of a smartphone in about five seconds, but I'm automatically thinking 'There is just no way that this is what I think it is...'So, I crane my neck trying to get a reflected view of the full smartphone screen and...Yes, yes, it is exactly what I thought it was... The guy is watching porn on his smartphone. On the Via train to Ottawa.  This kept up for about 10 minutes. At which point the guy went to the washroom. After about another 10 minutes, he returned to his seat. Mission accomplished I guess...

Ladies and gentlemen, my Grey Cup 2012 story...

On to Regina!


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