Winnipeg-born author-illustrator wins Swedish prize

Downtown Winnipeg counted the same number of business openings as closures this spring.

It’s the first time in at least five years the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ hasn’t tracked a second quarter net loss.

Three businesses opened in the city’s core, while three closed, according to a recent BIZ report. Last year, six more businesses closed than opened during the second quarter.

Securian Canada, The Grumpy Chicken and Haydar Pasha Pizza opened this April through June.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I made it four months without a girlfriend. Although I miss the sex, I have never felt more free! I’ve had overlapping girlfriends since the age of 13, and it’s like having a job for a guy like me. I’m always serving the woman, keeping her happy, giving her what she wants.

After my last break-up in June, I told my best friend I needed to stop serving princesses. He said “Well, you pick ’em! They can see you coming a mile away, and they’re ready.”

I start university this fall, and I swear I’m not going to end up in the same kind of messes with women in my life I always do. There’s a chance to start over, but I don’t know how to be anything different from what I am — a guy like my dad. He totally looks after my mom’s needs — but she loves it, and she looks after him in return.

I don’t know how to be a hard-headed guy who looks out for himself, like a few of my buddies who seem to get what they want with women. But I don’t see them finding any great relationships, either.