The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
On the Road Again No, this column is not about Willie Nelson, although the famed singer is certainly worth an article. In his mid-70s, he and his band are still touring regularly and making millions. A few years ago, Nelson owed quite a few million in unpaid taxes, made a deal with U.S. revenue to pay it back, which he did in about two years, and is now again a millionaire, with album sales booming. Only in America! This week's column is really not about politics, but about a trip to the western U.S. taken in July by five of us, including two pre-teens, a great experience indeed. Like most Canadians, this writer takes a break from politics in the short Canadian summer, although Stephen Harper has been traveling around the country and elsewhere trying to make news. Opposition Leader Stephane Dion has done the same, recycling old Liberal promises and complaining about the government. Saskatchewan Liberal heavyweight Ralph Goodale was featured in a Reminder article saying the Flin Flon CommunityPlex would have been built if the Liberals had been elected. As everyone knows, in the Martin government's dying days, they were promising everything to everyone, and had quite a reputation of not keeping their promises. The trip to the U.S. started in a drive from Flin Flon to Fargo, N.D., with a late and no-frills flight to Las Vegas (and I do mean no frills). Our flight crammed in the passengers, played no movies and charged heavily for everything - even water, but it was cheap. Las Vegas was teeming with people late at night, with the emphasis on gambling and money. Even the airport was crammed with gambling machines. Everyone has their hands out for money with tip jars everywhere, even in the shuttle buses. They probably think that if people have money to gamble, they can afford to pay heavily for everything. Gone are the days of cheap rooms and meals. The next day in our rented van, we headed for a seven-night stay in Anaheim. The rent-a-car company did everything they could to sell us their insurance for $25/day more, then refused to assist us when we blew a tire on the crowded freeway. They said it was our fault, offered to tow us for $36 and charge us $250 for a new tire. Never again! The time in Anaheim was simply great, with two days at Disneyland (excellent for kids), a day at Universal Studios - well worth the harrowing 90-minute drive to Hollywood - a day of shopping and two days at two famous beaches. The beaches were Newport and Laguna, which are vastly different. Newport is huge, cosmopolitan and filled with people and traffic. Parking cost us $25, which the attendant said was a bargain. Laguna Beach is a town filled with people with money and expensive cars. It is also known as the arts capitol of California. The beach is clean and patrolled by police. No drinking, littering or animals are allowed. While in Anaheim, we found it! No not the lost chord, but the perfect restaurant. Its name is Coco's and it is a chain. The Anaheim one is is on Katella, a block or so from Disney, and has the three perfect ingredients of a great eating place - good food, reasonable prices and professional service. Managers Gordie and Jim are friendly and the perfect hosts. Gordie told us the chain is expanding. How about Canada, guys? If you go to Disneyland, readers, be sure to eat at Coco's. Tell them Roger sent you. By the way, we ate dinner there five of seven days! Our plans to spend three days in Vegas on the way back was changed to the small settlement of Primm, 35 miles outside the city. It was small but cheap, with three casinos, a shopping mall and several good restaurants. There is also free transportation everywhere on site. If you go to Nevada, try Primm. It is much less crowded and very friendly. Roger's Right Corner runs Wednesdays.
