Our house is like sick bay today. Michele is home with the flu so we should delay bridge at my place until another week. Wayne
Hi Sarge!
Sorry to hear about Flamin'! Perhaps we'll just not play tonight. I had arranged for Clarisse and Dusty but I don't want to expose them, in case you, yourself, come down with something as well. I hope not but better safe than sorry. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio! 10-4. Wayne
Sincere condolences on the death of Lloyd. I must say that I forgot to ask Trev how he was doing. Did you manage to see him, over the course of your stay, Trev? For my part, I was at a memorial service, this past Sunday, for a friend, Casper deJong, I knew from VRC. He and his lovely wife, Allyson, had moved to Mexico, Ajijic, on the shores of Lake Chapala, a few years ago. The church service was a truly wonderful celebration of a simply wonderful family man's life. Extremely emotional and I cannot even begin to imagine the strength required of Allyson and their four adult children, Jason, Danielle, Kimberley and Veronica to speak so movingly and lovingly. Reception was at VRC afterwards.
Once again, heartfelt sympathy from Corinne. Fondestos, Patrizzio!
Hi Patricio,
Apologies for my slow response to your Feb 17
post-valentine greetings. I’ve been in hibernation mode, serious case
of late winter doldrums, also brought on by watching a lot of the Sochi
Olympics, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Much to
the chagrin of my closed-minded and heavily biased wife, I thought the
Russians did a great job of hosting the event. Long live the emperor
Putin.
I am occasionally...]
I was also recovering from an Island jaunt, having driven the snowy passes coming and going for a visit to my brother Bill in Union Bay. He’s recovering from a hip operation and it was my turn to be his companion/minder. Poor Bill lives alone, so on top of not being able to get around much he’s pretty lonely. I spent 4 days with him, cooking, cleaning and doing a few other chores. I also had a good visit with our good friend John Wigle (you know the family from Dryden) and his budding author wife Jo-Anne, aka J.P.McLean. Sister Mary and bro-in-law Peter came up from Victoria and we had a nice family party at other sister Jane and Larry’s place on Denman Island. Featured hors d’oeuvres was a huge mess of freshly picked oysters, served both raw with lemon and Tabasco, and breaded and fried. You’ll enjoy meeting my sisters at the great 70th gala. You can also meet Wigle and talk about your Dryden connection.
Our cultural event this week is a live old-time
radio show in Penticton, being produced by a local Naramatian Craig
Henderson, see the link following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wa7SZVYjBI
Best wishes to you and Corinne, Peter
Dear Hibernation Fellow and Unjustly Accused, (Have recently finished An Officer and a Spy so am very, very au courant with L'affaire Dreyfus and all that it entails!) Closed-Minded/Heavily Biased Lurkin'!
Quite obvious that cabin fever has addled Jugo Dom Padros' mind even more than it was already addled, given his deleterious remarks regarding the wife everyone in the Free World dreams about! Down with the Unsmiling Emperor Putin! A man who cannot laugh is not to be trusted! However, I think the facilities and organization, (never mind the astronomical cost!), were most impressive, [Evidence?], and I take my fur lined riding helmet off to Russia!
That being said, I am most taken with your intrepid crossing of the snowy passes of late. No mean feat. Looking forward, with much anticipation, to meeting your sisters and Dryden connezionne at boithday bash. For our part, we have been watching House of Cards, (Kevin Spacy is truly wonderful!), on Netflix. Want to take in Breaking Bad as I've heard nothing but good things from others as well. In somewhat the same vein, have you ever seen Justified? Saw a few episodes a few years ago when we were house sitting in Simi Valley, year we drove to Guayabitos. based on a novel/character written by Elmore Leonard. Gave first three seasons, one each, to Cora Lee, Chloë and myself as stocking stuffers this year but I presume it is on Netflix as well. Give it a look.
Recent snow hampered my riding with almost limb, if not life threatening consequences this past weekend. Was coming down fairly heavily on Saturday but wasn't sticking so I thought, what the hell! Had never ridden in a
snowstorm before so thought it could be fun. However, couldn't believe how cold my hands became. Thought
that I'd be fine as I had my new, fancy, smancy gloves from Cora Lee and
believed I'd be impervious to cold and wet. Quite a significantly wrong
assumption as I made for my first Prospect Point Hill Loop. Situation
deteriorated rather rapidly from there on and I spent the rest of the
ride trying, unsuccessfully, to reanimate the circulation in my hands.
Rest of my body was fine but my hands were absolutely and unequivocally
turning into unfeeling blocks of increasingly painful ice, as you can
well imagine.
Still,
stubborn beast that am, I had decided upon 51 km or bust so did just
that to my own detriment. Pulled into Ice Station Zebra with no feeling
in my hands and only gained ingress to The Hearbreak Hotel because
another tenant took pity on my frozen self. I must admit, Dear Reader,
that my hands were so cold that I was unable to remove the keys from my
coat pocket in order to let myself in. Chap in question opened the door
and I managed to fumble/stumble my way into the complex. I couldn't,
literally couldn't, lock my bike up and so left it to go and try to warm
up.
Cora Lee
was on the phone when I staggered inside and was able to undo my helmet
clasp, a manoeuvre I was incapable of performing, so unresponsive and
clumsy were my digits. Once inside, I started to thaw out but it took a
good length of time before I could manage to undress myself and run a
shower. Quite an experience and I have much, much, much more sympathy for those
climbers on Everest or Antarctic explorers, incapacitated by the cold. Vive Shackleton! If not him, then his malt!!!
Nevertheless, Stupido Extraordianario that I am, I forced myself to ride 51.36
km over 2:45'21, AVG 18.6 km/h in spite of the fact that it was,
without exception, the most uncomfortable ride of my entire life! My
finger tips were still tingling two days later!!! I am now known, in some circles, as Ice-Blockhead
Patrizzio, not that I deserve it, of course!
Yet the story takes a turn for the better. Fair bit of fog about yesterday morning and reasonably crisp so I waited until just before noon to set out, in order to let any residual snow/ice melt from the roads/Seawall. By the time I was heading towards Stanley Park it had turned into a simply gorgeous day. English Bay was spectacular, probably 14 freighters at anchor, back-dropped by the North Shore Mountains. The Lions were stunning, majestically white, shining regally above the green of the surrounding slopes.
Since
I'd not been out since my ill-fated freeze-dry ride of last Saturday,
I wanted to try to log at least 70 km and set about making the
necessary Prospect Hill Loops. Once I'd found my lap rhythm I added in
two sets of parking lot dipsy-doodles to ring the overall count up to 71
km after the fourth loop and I was then away to the
races, so to speak, as I made for home.
Bit
of excitement on last circumcyle of SP as I approached the roundabout,
just
past the underpass for the Stanley Park Causeway. I had heard sirens
blaring a minute or so before but assumed they came from emergency
vehicles on West Georgia. At any rate, a police cruiser, lights
flashing, siren whoop-whooping, came hurtling towards roundabout
as I entered it and I neatly hopped up onto slightly raised centre
section to allow vehicle to continue on its course. Lost sight of it as
it sped around corner near Rowing Club and assumed it might have been
making for the Aquarium as I saw nor heard any
further evidence of it after that, as I pedaled on.
However,
shortly after passing the statue of Harry Gerome one approaches
Brockton
Point Lighthouse and I immediately noticed a VFD ladder truck, two
ambulances and the aforementioned police cruiser. Activity centered on a
red car, (couldn't tell make or model), which had obviously jumped the
low curb to descend the slight, grassy embankment
there, to come to rest against the metal fencing which runs the length
of most of the tip of the Point. Be curious to know the circumstances of
this accident. Seems most likely that the driver may well have been in
"Drive" rather than "Reverse" and so ended
up heading towards the drink! Anyway, I didn't stop to add to the large
number of curious onlookers, the thought of touching the Burning Ground
trumping my need to find out the cause of this bizarre situation Left
the emergency personnel to their jobs and
"attacked" the Prospect Point Hill for the last time before making for
home. Stats for ride:
Once
back I rinsed off my Trek. Fair bit of "muck" as road surfaces were
often
wet. Wiped the chain and cleaned the gears as best I could without
actually using any de-greaser. Re-oiled things and then put bike back in
our storage area. Wanted to let oil "soak" in overnight and planned to
wipe off excess next day.
After this was done, I took an "errand" ride, (1.89 km over 0:08'47, AVG 13.0 km/h), to Cheap Thrills for a few staples and then back home for a quick shower. I had signed up to attend an information session for The Ride to Conquer Cancer to take place on June 14th/15th, to Seattle. A friend, Sara, is doing her second ride this year and I thought I might see about trying it as well. Meeting was at Ceili's Modern Irish Pub on 7th and Burrard, but a short walk away.
In fact, I really didn't need to
attend as by the time I was there I had already found out most of what I
wanted/needed to know from the Ride website. Basically, every rider
commits to raising $2,500. Given this amount and
time left before ride, I've decided I won't sign up for this year. One
of the complicating factors is the fact that David and Pat Coffaro,
winery owners from near Healdsburg, will be visiting in June and I don't
want to be away when they are in town.
More importantly, I don't want my fund raising to become something that will turn the event into a worrisome affair if I cannot meet or feel I cannot meet my target over the next three months. According to Jessica, the young woman running the session, this is really not an issue but I know I'll be more comfortable if I have the next year to work on my subscription base. Funnily enough, the ride itself is really not much of an issue, in terms of distance, at least as far as I'm concerned. A number of the people attending saw the UBC Foreshore Hill and Prospect Point Hill, suggested training routes for individuals in this area, as quite daunting. Didn't want to to seem boastful so didn't mention I'd just come from doing the latter four times. Nevertheless, a wonderful opportunity to put my riding to a very significant and worthwhile cause.
We were to play bridge this
evening, hosted by Sarge, but Flamin' came down with a nasty bug so we
had to cancel. Didn't want Clarisse and Dusty to catch anything.
Coriandre was at VPL Board Meeting, of course!
Don't denigrate Jack Reacher. I am a fan. Plot hurtles along and I like the fact that he would approve of my cycling gear, the sight of which sends The Sisterhood into fits of apoplexy! Your radio show should be wonderful. Did you see Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion? One of our favourites. Time for next episode of House of Cards! If we can't play bridge, we can watch everything come tumbling down! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Time for next episode of House of Cards! If we can't play bridge, we can watch everything come tumbling down! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Finally back in AZ, now just a little over a month left of our stay. It was -30 when I left Tues a.m., brrr! Don't miss the cold! The time will speed by! Lots happening here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wa7SZVYjBI
Dear Hibernation Fellow and Unjustly Accused, (Have recently finished An Officer and a Spy so am very, very au courant with L'affaire Dreyfus and all that it entails!) Closed-Minded/Heavily Biased Lurkin'!
Quite obvious that cabin fever has addled Jugo Dom Padros' mind even more than it was already addled, given his deleterious remarks regarding the wife everyone in the Free World dreams about! Down with the Unsmiling Emperor Putin! A man who cannot laugh is not to be trusted! However, I think the facilities and organization, (never mind the astronomical cost!), were most impressive, [Evidence?], and I take my fur lined riding helmet off to Russia!
Yet the story takes a turn for the better. Fair bit of fog about yesterday morning and reasonably crisp so I waited until just before noon to set out, in order to let any residual snow/ice melt from the roads/Seawall. By the time I was heading towards Stanley Park it had turned into a simply gorgeous day. English Bay was spectacular, probably 14 freighters at anchor, back-dropped by the North Shore Mountains. The Lions were stunning, majestically white, shining regally above the green of the surrounding slopes.
Since
I'd not been out since my ill-fated freeze-dry ride of last Saturday,
I wanted to try to log at least 70 km and set about making the
necessary Prospect Hill Loops. Once I'd found my lap rhythm I added in
two sets of parking lot dipsy-doodles to ring the overall count up to 71
km after the fourth loop and I was then away to the
races, so to speak, as I made for home. Bit
of excitement on last circumcyle of SP as I approached the roundabout,
just
past the underpass for the Stanley Park Causeway. I had heard sirens
blaring a minute or so before but assumed they came from emergency
vehicles on West Georgia. At any rate, a police cruiser, lights
flashing, siren whoop-whooping, came hurtling towards roundabout
as I entered it and I neatly hopped up onto slightly raised centre
section to allow vehicle to continue on its course. Lost sight of it as
it sped around corner near Rowing Club and assumed it might have been
making for the Aquarium as I saw nor heard any
further evidence of it after that, as I pedaled on.However,
shortly after passing the statue of Harry Gerome one approaches
Brockton
Point Lighthouse and I immediately noticed a VFD ladder truck, two
ambulances and the aforementioned police cruiser. Activity centered on a
red car, (couldn't tell make or model), which had obviously jumped the
low curb to descend the slight, grassy embankment
there, to come to rest against the metal fencing which runs the length
of most of the tip of the Point. Be curious to know the circumstances of
this accident. Seems most likely that the driver may well have been in
"Drive" rather than "Reverse" and so ended
up heading towards the drink! Anyway, I didn't stop to add to the large
number of curious onlookers, the thought of touching the Burning Ground
trumping my need to find out the cause of this bizarre situation Left
the emergency personnel to their jobs and
"attacked" the Prospect Point Hill for the last time before making for
home. Stats for ride:After this was done, I took an "errand" ride, (1.89 km over 0:08'47, AVG 13.0 km/h), to Cheap Thrills for a few staples and then back home for a quick shower. I had signed up to attend an information session for The Ride to Conquer Cancer to take place on June 14th/15th, to Seattle. A friend, Sara, is doing her second ride this year and I thought I might see about trying it as well. Meeting was at Ceili's Modern Irish Pub on 7th and Burrard, but a short walk away.
More importantly, I don't want my fund raising to become something that will turn the event into a worrisome affair if I cannot meet or feel I cannot meet my target over the next three months. According to Jessica, the young woman running the session, this is really not an issue but I know I'll be more comfortable if I have the next year to work on my subscription base. Funnily enough, the ride itself is really not much of an issue, in terms of distance, at least as far as I'm concerned. A number of the people attending saw the UBC Foreshore Hill and Prospect Point Hill, suggested training routes for individuals in this area, as quite daunting. Didn't want to to seem boastful so didn't mention I'd just come from doing the latter four times. Nevertheless, a wonderful opportunity to put my riding to a very significant and worthwhile cause.
Don't denigrate Jack Reacher. I am a fan. Plot hurtles along and I like the fact that he would approve of my cycling gear, the sight of which sends The Sisterhood into fits of apoplexy! Your radio show should be wonderful. Did you see Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion? One of our favourites. Time for next episode of House of Cards! If we can't play bridge, we can watch everything come tumbling down! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Finally back in AZ, now just a little over a month left of our stay. It was -30 when I left Tues a.m., brrr! Don't miss the cold! The time will speed by! Lots happening here.
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