I was over-served at the Moose game and all I got was this lousy hangover.

Below is my journalism assignment from the Manitoba Moose game we went to last Tuesday.  I enjoyed "researching" and writing it. (The names have been changed to protect the intoxicated).  I hope you enjoy reading it.

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“There's the green zone, the yellow zone and the red zone," said Brett Larson during the first intermission of the AHL game Tuesday night.

Larson, a supervisor at Moxie's Classic Grill at the MTS Centre, is not breaking down the offensive zone in the game between the Manitoba Moose and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  He is reciting part of the save hospitality policy that Moxie's staff must adhere to.  The Manitoba Tourism Education Council's website (http://www.mtec.mb.ca/) explains that the Serving It Safe, Responsible Service and Safety Program provides information and training "to help staff and patrons stay safe in licensed establishments" in the Manitoba.  The colour coded zones listed by Larson represent classification levels of customer intoxication.

“People who come in after the Moose game are usually in the yellow zone. They’ve had a couple drinks, they are not quite in that ridiculous state yet (the red zone), but a couple more and they could get there,” said Larson, a Winnipeg native.

“There is always the worry of the (Manitoba Liquor Control Commission) coming in to make sure we’re not over-serving our customers,” said Larson, 27. This could result in fines or liquor license suspension.

At the end of the second intermission Kaleigh Sill is sitting at the Moxie’s bar, a bottle of white wine on ice in front of her. She visits Moxie’s after most home games with her boyfriend. Sill says she has never experienced any problems with people being over-served. “Everyone is here to have a good time. To have fun and get a little rowdy.”

 www.servingitsafe.ca explains that the goal of the program is to reduce alcohol-related problems. “The main concerns are impaired driving and alcohol-related lawsuits against both servers and licensed premises.”

“There is always that issue of people drinking and driving,” said Larson. He often asks customers, after they have had five or six drinks, how they are getting home, because if they are pulled over or crash, “we’re pretty much liable.”

Near the end of the game Mike Timmins is in Moxie’s, sporting a Winnipeg Jets jersey and drinking a beer. Timmins, a corrections officer, usually comes to Moxie’s between periods with friends for a quick drink because the beer is cheaper than at the MTS Centre. “The game tonight was quite awful so we stayed here for the third,” said Timmins.

At the end of the third period the final score is 2-0 for the Penguins.  But at Moxie’s the fourth period is underway, Timmins is going strong and threatening to break into the red zone. “Six beers tonight. And counting.”

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Soupy out.

Magazine Hangover

Well we survived the team magazine project.  Terryn, Robert, Anrea and I completed the first (and only) issue of Run WPG, a magazine for local runners about local races, trails and athletes.  Overall the project went well.  We worked well as a team, and got our content done on schedule (I just dropped it off at the printer this evening at quarter to five).  

We struggled most in the consolidating of our material.  Everything looked good individually, but we definitely underestimated the amount of work it would take to bring it all together into one cohesive document.  So we spent a lot of time last week formatting it for the pdf submission to Al on Friday.  Then we foolishly relaxed and took the weekend off magazine work thinking that it would only take an hour or so to pdf it for the printer and run off four copies of our "masterpiece."

Oh how wrong we were.  We put the "finishing touches" on it on Monday afternoon and sent it to the printer that evening.  We prudently ordered a proof and looked it over on Tuesday morning.  Well apparently some of our images were not linked properly and some of our fonts were not outlined and a lot of our text was way too close to the edge of the page.  I believe the term is "creep" -- when the outside pages of the magazine don't have as much space as the middle pages because of the thickness of the fold.  I vaguely remember Al telling us about that in the first week of magazine layout class, but when I realized he wasn't accusing me of "creeping" I tuned out.

So we spent this afternoon reformatting our magazine (when I say "we," I mean Terryn...thank you for putting up with my backseat indesign-ing, Terryn), linking all the pics properly and finalizing the proposal.  I dropped it off at the printers and will pick up the final (no matter what!) version tomorrow morning.

A couple big thankyous have to go out to the non-crecommers that helped us.  Darren Anderson, a good friend of mine, and technical coordinator for Manitoba Marathon, was a big help throughout the magazine project.  And he put me in contact with photographer Brian Hydesmith who was also great.  Aldo Furlan, the subject of one of my feature articles was also very accommodating.  Anrea's contact at Manitoba Runners' Association, Leni Campbell (no relation), also provided us with some great photos.  

See you at the magazine trade fair --Thursday March 31 at RRC Princess Street --the final hurdle of the magazine project. 

Soupy Out

Hypothermic Half Marathon Makes Winter Worthwhile

Well I participated in my first Hypothermic Half Marathon last weekend.  It is a half marathon in the heart of winter that is organized by the Running Room and Fort Whyte Alive.  I first heard about it last year and was quite interested.  In the last few years I have begun to run outside in winter.  I think it first started when I realized that the Assiniboine River trail that stretched all the way from the Forks to Assiniboine Park was merely a five minute jog from my front door.  Having a long trail like that so close to me made it a pleasure to run outdoors.  And the view of the city from the frozen river was a  perspective I rarely get.  So I found myself going for long runs along the river trail over the last few years, sometimes bringing my skates along and skating for part of the way and running on other stretches.  There is something very relaxing about exercising in the snow covered outdoors.  There is also something powerful about knowing that you should be cold but you're not.  Your exercise is what is keeping you warm.  Great motivation to keep moving really. 

So this year I decided to use the Hypothermic Half Marathon as my motivation to stay in shape over the winter. Since I am not playing recreational ice hockey for the first time in about four years I needed something to keep me active in the cold winter months.  And I have made it.  Here it is the first week in March and I am wondering where the cold months went?  I out ran them.  With the impending half marathon getting ever closer I was more concerned about getting in shape for it in January and February than worrying about how cold it was outside.  Whenever I had a free hour or two on the weekend or weeknight I would go for a run.  Often I wouldn't even look at the temperature before going for a run.  That can be a real de-motivator.  I would just judge by the frost on the windows if I needed to wear an extra layer. 

So last Sunday I was well prepared and really enjoyed the beauty of the day and the thrill of a little friendly competition.  Oh and the massive brunch that was served at Fort Whyte afterwards was nice too.  The event was run exceptionally well.  From start to finish.  The trail from Fort Whyte, through Assiniboine Park and back was well marked and well manned by volunteers. This is the only race that the volunteers are worse off than the people running the race.  They often have to stand in one place in minus twenty-something Celsius for up to three hours, probably longer.  I don't know how they do it?  And they manage to stay positive and cheer runners on.  As I ran past them I was applauding them in return, knowing that they probably needed more motivation than I did.  And the cooking and serving staff were friendly, hospitable and very generous with their servings of eggs, bacon, hash browns.  My plate was overflowing yet they still spooned more on at my request. 

Yes all in all it was a great race and a great day.  And training for it actually made for a better winter experience than I have had in many years.  Instead of staying inside and complaining about the cold I got out and used our city in all of it's frozen glory. And here I am in March looking forward to the Winnipeg Police Service Half on May 1st.  I guess I know how I will be spending my free time in March and April.

Soupy out