A brief moment in time

Sunday, 4 p.m.......
Derek Anderson had just thrown an interception and suddenly the Cleveland Browns lead at halftime had disappeared two minutes into the third quarter.
Meanwhile, to help soothe my fraying nerves, this:
"Did you put tomatoes on your taco?"
"Yes," (mumbling, highly uninterested in questions or anything at all related to conversation on game day - I had thought this had been established several years ago, but as I often say, this is a woman who could badger O.J. into confessing about those killings).
"Are you sure you put tomatoes on it?"
I let that one slide. I had just slapped the taco together, not 60 seconds ago and clearly remembered spooning on some tomatoes.
Couple minutes later, Derek Anderson threw another interception, this one taken back for another TD and I was hoping someone would jump on Derek Anderson's leg and break it in six places.
I so badly wanted that to happen. I have seen enough of this scatter-armed quarterback who isn't good enough to play in the CFL. Tom Brady with his torn-up knee would be more effective right now.
Oh but the game was secondary - there would be more to talk about on this Sunday afternoon.
"Are you full?"
"Yes, I just had four tacos."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure. But if I realize I'm not full, I'll have more tacos. It's not very complicated."

• • • •

It must have been in the spring of 2000 or 2001 when Daniel Gaynor came running down the aisle at the deCoste Entertainment Centre just as things got going at one of those awards functions, the kind where the food is usually great and the speeches lull you to sleep, should you be so fortunate.
Daniel was frantically waving his arms and yelling as he made his way down the aisle, then took over the podium to do a "Joe Canadian" rant, with of course a Pictou County flavour. Colin White had won his first Stanley Cup a year after Jon Sim won his - and Gaynor, while listing all the great and wonderful things about this county, called Pictou County "practically the home of the Stanley Cup," prompting a big cheer from the crowd.
A couple of years later, I ran into Daniel and told him in all sincerity that his "Joe Canadian" imitation was the highlight of the proceedings, and that when he finished, everyone should have packed up and gone home. It was a show-stopper.
Daniel, who died last week from cancer (he would have turned 27 yesterday), also performed in some TV ads promoting Eastlink sports programming a few years ago. Usually, the commercials are a prime opportunity to grab a brew or start listening to the wife, but his were wickedly clever.
He was involved in a host of other artistic ventures - mostly related to video and film - and while I didn't know him well at all, I'll always remember his awesome 90-second "Joe Canadian" turn, which I'd almost bet he himself had written. It was too good.

Kevin Adshade is sports editor with The News