Thunderdome is but a distant memory

Today witnessed one of the most fun events the law school has hosted, the annual Trike Race. Dubbed "Trike Rider 2005," the rules are simple: in relay style with a team of four, chug a beer, pedal a tricycle 50 meters, and all the while dodge the fury of hundreds of law students getting the last vestiges of tortious conduct out of their system before graduation - that is to say, dodge waterballoons.



Before I get to the abysmal performance of my team, let it be said that there is no cool way to ride a tricycle. Nor, come to think of it, is there any way. What remains then, is a sort of "sidesaddle" technique. Feminine perhaps, but then so are the streamers emerging from the pink handles.

So, already at a disadvantage, the "Road Warriors" stumbled out of the gate. I have to hand it to our team leader, unsurprisingly dubbed "Mad Max," for being first. Not only did he get to try and figure out the best way to pedal, but during those tense moments he also got the first wave of balloon attacks from an impatient crowd. Quite the soaking I must say.

I, either by divine intervention or the foresight of Gore-tex scientists, came away relatively unscathed. If there was any consolation to losing, it's that we weren't forced to race in later heats and endure the volleys again. Good times though, the best moment being when that poor, poor soul fell down mid-race and witnessed a torrent of water not scene since Starr Jones' last cannonball. (That's right, I'm not above a Starr Jones joke.)

Though the fun had to end, which leaves us now with two weeks of classes left. Time sure flies when you're having fun, or alternatively as we now know, when you're consulting a high-priced lawyer. In just over three weeks, exams begin. Time for some more Spanish: Ay chihuahua!

On the bright side, I got tickets to the Joel Plaskett show in town next Friday. He's playing a solo show with another great Canadian guitarist, Peter Elkas. This will be the first time I've seen him perform without his backing band, The Emergency, but I hope he still keeps his honky-tonk cover of R. Kelly's "Ignition" remix in the repertoire. That there's gold.