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i OFF THE RECORD By Cathy Denny Section Two The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, September 12,1984 13 Water Skier Wins Provincial Title As P.T. Barnum once said, "there's a sucker born every minute." And if I didn't know better, I would almost be inclined to believe that I'm a member of that unfortunate unfortunate majority myself. In fact, at times I could swear that the words "sucker" were written right across my forehead. But after much deliberation I concluded that it wasn't my forehead - it was my face, that revealed my vulnerability. vulnerability. No matter how hard I try to mask it, salesmen instinctively instinctively pick me out of a crowd as the one who could be persuaded persuaded to hand over my money for just about anything. anything. I guess I only have my mother to blame (I hate placing the blame on myself) myself) I'm just too naive to realize that the main objective objective of some proprietors is to severely iio the unsus pecting customer. Unfortunately, the main breeding ground for such money-hungry vultures just happens to be this prey's favorite favorite place to visit; the Canadian National Exhibition. Exhibition. You would think that after years of abuse I would have learned my lesson, but every summer I find myself leaving the grounds in the same condition; flat broke and kicking myself because of it. It's not the cost of admission admission that bothers me, that's reasonable enough. And I don't mind paying astronomical astronomical sums of money for the rides either, everyone needs a good scream once in a while. And the appetite quenchers, are as junk-food-like as you could possibly hope for. In fact I love j ust about everything everything about the Exhibition, Exhibition, everything but the human traps that are plotted plotted in every nook and cranny throughout the grounds. I am speaking of course of the inescapeable row of game booths set up all around the midway. It's not the actual huts that I have problems dealing with, but rather the smooth-talking attendants running them, all of whom have a trained eye for gullible people and prospective losers. In fact, I can't remember one year that I didn't get taken for a bundle by some kid who convinced me that the more games I played the more likely I was to win. It seemed like a sensible idea at the time, but having lost with such logic before, I was just short of stupid to think it would work this time. I can't begin to express the fear that rouses in me every time I pass through the games section of the Letters to the Editor R.R. 4, Bowmanville LlC 3K5 September 6,1984 Dear Mr. Smiley: Reference: Your ("Education Stalemate"; I am taking the liberty, as an avid reader of your amusing and thought-provoking thought-provoking column in our local paper "The Statesman" (not the Christian Science Monitor, I'll admit) to let you know that the enclosed letter from one, R. Willsher of the Northumberland and Pebblestone Holds Annual Championships On Sunday, September 9, the members' annual dinner dinner was held at the Pebblestone Pebblestone Golf Course. Don Pringle won the men's club championship trophy. The winner of the Ladies' Club Championship was Evelyn Heard. Paul Sobil Jr. received the Pebblestone family championship. championship. Approximately 100 members members of the golf club attended attended the annual dinner. Newcastle Board of Education Education was not the only comment on your most needed review of the "System." It was the ONLY review published. My letter, copy of which is enclosed, was not worthy of print???! I wonder why? Mr. Willsher's however, was rewarded this week by an almost quarter page of why he, as a school trustee would not want a retirement pension ?.? and why the school cafeterias cafeterias operated at a nearly $10,000 loss, among other inanities. I wanted you to be aware that all of us in this area are not numb from the neck up. I am sending a copy ot this to our newspaper. When you wrote of your wife's death, I was deeply moved. From experience I know your suffering. Words are small comfort and I used to hear, "Time is the healer" - not really! One just gets used to the pain. How I would like to meet you some day! 1 couldn't STAND to eke out my full pension having been, as I used to tell the kids, a WORKING girl (outside of education). Keep on with your remarkable sense of humor and perspicacity. Sincerely, Wanda Ball Mr. R. Willshir . Board of Education Northumberland-Newcastle Cobourg, Ontario Dear Sir: I have just finished reading your nearly quarterpage of "news" in the Bowmanville Statesman and have been moved to send you the enclosed copies. Did you know that there is a difference between education and training? Doctors are trained but not necessarily educated. I'm all for the helping of the so-called "retarded," "slow- learner," "handicapped" or whatever the modern socially- acceptable term is but not at the expense of the gifted! When education tax is more than 50% of the property tax, a similar proportion should be spent on the exceptional child. We are all born "equal in the sight of God" but we are certainly nob all horn equal in talents. ' Sincerely, .. Wanda Ball fair. The pointed fingers, the luring prizes and the amplified voices are all more than I can handle. Of course the only logical solution to the problem is to quite simply avoid the game department altogether. altogether. But that's easier said than done. I've tried to just ignore the pleading voices and the outstretched hands coming from booths, but it seems the more inconspicuous I act, the more conspicuous I become. Whether I'm browsing at the booths ahead of me, talking to a friend, or brushing brushing the popcorn kernels from my sweater, I always seem to be spotted, centred out and embarrassed to the point where I play the dumb game just to save face in front of the million eyes turned toward me. Either I face the challenge challenge like a true competitor or turn away looking like a cheap-skate and feeling like a good-for-nothing loser. Games solicitors have that sort of effect on suckers like myself. So, in the end, I usually pull out my pocket book and give the game a whirl. This wouldn't be so bad if I could at least make a half decent showing of it, but somewhere amidst the pressure from the crowd and the shrill of the microphone, microphone, I loose all sense of concentration. Knowing full well that I'm unable to stop until I've won something or run out of cash, the game host keeps urging me on with a look in his eye that makes me play round after round just to spite him.. However, regardless of the effort put into the game, I usually walk away empty- handed with a huge dose of inferiority following close behind. But there was a time that I actually did win a prize. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago (two years since my last visit to the Ex) that I decided to try my luck at the dart game. I thought that maybe things would be different different this time, that I would be able to calmly play the game once or twice DURHAM FARMERS' COUNTY CO-OP YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO SHOP CO-OP Congratulations to Durham Farmers' County Co-Op Winners at the Orono Fair $25.00 GIFT CERTIFICATES Thursday, September 6th : Mrs. Ross Ashton, R.R, 1, Enniskillen Friday, September 7th Mrs. Morley Robinson, R.R. 1, Newton ville Saturday, September 8th Mrs. Sharon Caruana, R.R. 1, Orono BARBECUE Saturday, September 8th Mr. Peter Gun, 15 Phalen Crt., Agincourt DURHAM FARMERS' CO-OP COOLERS Presented to the Reserve Champion of the Novice Jumper Class. Winning horse was High Roller, ridden by Mr. Greg Kuti of King City. Presented to winner of the 6th Race in Harness Racing. Winning horse was Wil Lor Hickory driven by Victor C. Arlidge of Dundas. BAG OF CO-OP RABBIT PELLETS Mr. Bill MacIntyre of Oil Springs, Ontario Taunton Road and Hwy. 115, Orono (In Area Code 416) • 1-800-263-7805 Telephone: 983-9134 or 983-9135 and if I was losing I would simply give up. Who was I trying to kid?. I threw my first dart of the game at 2:05 p.m. Ten dollars dollars and six minutes later I had finally hit the big red star, the one with the words LARGE printed in the centre of it. I can remember the way that dart floated through the air, just like it was yesterday. yesterday. Like a swift and graceful Concorde, it glided directly to the big, red beautiful beautiful star that would win me a prize With no further adieu, I quickly rummaged through the toys above my head, searching for the perfect choice; maybe something that would look nice in the bedroom, or perhaps something something to match the living- room. But just as I reached for the grey and brown stuffed ostrich only an arm's length away, the fat-pocketed kid behind the booth proceeded proceeded to hand me three more darts. "Now just do that three more times," he chuckled "and you win the prize of your choice." Judging Judging from the smile on his face, he knew that he had landed on a salesman's delight. delight. I guess I was so involved in the excitement and the festive atmosphere of the exhibition that I neglected to get the specifics about the game. Even though I had my heart set on that lovely animal animal hanging between the Scooby-Doo dog and the clown, I was too frustrated to argue and too stubborn to admit that I had been taken once again. The choices that remained remained before me had quickly dwindled to a cute little Smurf and an odd looking Pack Man doll. The decision was obvious, I hated those silly Pack Men, (I could never win a Pack Man game either). So, anxious to finally break away from the lineups lineups and the curious people, I grabbed the Smurf and started toward the gates. Boy did I get ripped off. I would like to be able to say that I had learned my lesson and I was heartily sorry for wasting $15 for a $3 prize, but that would be a lie. In fact there's no doubt in my mind that I will do the same thing again next year and probably every year after that. Afterall, if it wasn't for the CNE, my summers just wouldn't be the same (I'd be alot richer) and if it wasn't for people like myslef, the exhibition just wouldn't survive, (it would go bankrupt!) bankrupt!) Shari McCoIl took home a gold medal in slalom skiing and a gold in trick skiing to win the overall championships at the Coca-Cola Ontario Novice Competitions. Shari entered the competition which was held in Clairville September 1st, with a wooden ski that her father, Ray McColl, handcrafted for her. WILSON'S FURNITURE CELEBRATES THEIR GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY And have made special purchases of quality mattress sets at sensational discounts and are passing the tremendous savings on to you. Here's a "golden" opportunity for you to purchase "better quality" bedding at very little more than the price of economy 1 quality bedding. TWIN SIZE MATTRESS By King Koil Hundreds of coils, multi-quilted to knitted cover. Reg. $249. ANNIVERSARY $4 Xn SPECIAL $100. OFF 1 4î7. 39" CONTINENTAL BED King Koil Posture Rest Multi-quilted mattress, box spring and 6 legs. ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL *188. SUPERPEDIC SETS By Bodi-Gard 312 coil construction, layers of insulating pads, attractive, durable knitted cover, multi-quilted to foam for comfort. Matching box spring. 25 year warranty. TWIN SET $499.95 Value *288. THREE-QUARTER and DOUBLE SETS $599.95 Value *328. DREAM MAKER By King Koil QUEEN SIZE SETS 312 coil construction, knitted ticking multi-quilted to foam, spring edge supports, box spring to match. Sold for $599.95. ANNIVERSARY . SALE SPECIAL O0%7. HERE'S A BUi WORLD'S FAI 510 coil constructs foam, sidewall sup Sold in sets only. TWIN SET Reg. $369. SALE *249. rtt R BY KING KOIL in, beautiful satin tick! Dorts, cone grid box sf DOUBLE SET Reg. $479. SALE *299. ig channel quilted to iring to match. QUEEN SET Reg. $529. SALE *349. SERTA PERFECT SLEEPER SIGNATURE I 325 coil construction, Synchroflex 6 turn coil, exclusive Ser- taliner bands, multi-layers of insulation materials, damask cover quilted to Sertafoam, matching Sertalock foundation with Omniflex Omniflex coils and Spanlock top. Sold in sets only. DOUBLE SIZE SET WAS $640. $XXO SALE 440. QUEEN SIZE SET WAS $740. $p j q SALE Old. jr> GARD $ . : vr: 1ÉÉ" / w ll ■%, x :; Wl SORTS Furniture VISA 20 Centre St. N. FREE PARKING OPEN THURS. A FRI. TIL 9P.M. Downtown Oshawa 723-3211 ■!' g lotto * u I •mit l