IHOP Jarek/Great Balzarini Blues: Friday, March 14th

Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from that of their social environment. -Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel laureate (1879-1955)

Hello marathon man! Are you working up to the 18k world race!!
 
Very interesting about the Prof. Shame I didn't enter my pasty. It would have been a sure winner! Yes we Cornish were very adventurous and migrated to all corners of the world in search of mines! Strange when you consider how small Cornwall is. Even Barry, who you met when you were here, travelled to Saudi to mine. He said it was so hot in the mines they could only do three hour shifts. The brother of Margaret's x husband was also a miner and travelled to the Australian interior to mine. These were very remote and desolate areas and a far cry from the green and pleasant land of England.
 

 Looks like you had a very pleasant family gathering with Ayn. Shame we didn't get to meet her but maybe during one of our visits to Vancouver our paths will cross.

We just returned from Southampton after helping Marnie and Ant move into their new house. I said to Gayle this has convinced me not to move any time soon! Although they employed a moving company to move all the furniture we packed all the boxes, and there were lots of them to pack! Considering they only had a two bedroom house I couldn't believe how much stuff they had accumulated. 

Fortunately, they moved into a house with a double garage which meant they could store the boxes there rather than clogging up the rooms in the new house. We managed to get the important areas, such as the kitchen and bedrooms, sorted before we left and Marnie and Ant will continue tackling the rest of the boxes in the coming weeks.

Spent a rather nice day yesterday with the sisters. Took Gayle to the Pandora for a belated birthday lunch and a walk along the river. Lovely day, sunny and calm although the sea mist started to roll in by the time we left the pub.

We are meeting Steve and Gudrun tomorrow for dinner then going to the Hall for Cornwall to a concert by The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment. There is a lot of stuff going on this year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Great War. I have been watching a fascinating 3 part series called 37 days. It chronicles the 37 days leading up to the start of the First World War from the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria by a student to the United Kingdom declaring war on Germany. It reveals what went on in the corridors of power in the various nations and shows the unfolding events of 1914 through the eyes of the key politicians of that time.
 
Gayle and I are just off for a long walk to Porthtowan then up over the cliffs to Chapel Porth then making our way up the valley towards Mount Hawke and finally back home. Should take about 3 or 4 hours depending how much energy we have!

Looks as if Krissy will be operating Pig on the Street this summer. Appears she managed to get the framers markets again which is a bonus. Mark won't be involved this year since he obviously has to concentrate of his full time job at the International School. Let's hope you get a sunny summer! Best wishes, Derek

Hi Giorgio!

Thanks for joining me on last leg. Enjoyed seeing Robo Man as well, of course. The company after the loneliness of the long distance rider of the day before was much appreciated! I could have used some idle chat when venturing through Silk Stocking Land, dodging Blue Bloods and their pesky running lap dogs!

As well, appreciate the thought/notice about Paul but I didn't know him. I may well have seen him in the locker room at Evergreen but if so, again, I didn't ever play against him, to my recollected knowledge, singles or doubles. Seems like he did a fair bit for the game. Hope his spirit rubs off on the Lawn folk!

Thanks for update on the Famous Blue Bike. (Was that a song by Leonard Cohen? Captain Kirk should put it on his next compilation!) I've attached picture Dawn sent along, after I berated her, and it does look like a Can Tire/Costco special! 

Nothing wrong with that, especially since it has been used but rarely! That being said, I really don't know why Dawn is fussing. I'd just put a "Best Offer" on it if having a garage sale or else simply donate it to a local charity. She and Heraldo, (Gerry, her husband), are lovely, lovely, generous people and they don't suffer from lack of coin but I suppose attitude is the direct result of having to work hard, (teaching/pharmacy), to achieve what they did. Again, I applaud their efforts but at a certain point, what is the big deal? I suppose somewhat similar to the case of the extremely valuable Campagnolo! I more than enjoyed having it but was even more pleased that I could give it to someone who appreciated it and gave it an even better home!
 

Interestingly enough, on my ride with Sara, a few weeks ago now, I happened to mention Jacob Two-Two, yourself, etc., and she told me a bit about Campagnolo. This from Wikipedia:

Founded by Tullio Campagnolo, the company began in 1933 in a Vicenza workshop. The founder was a racing cyclist in Italy in the 1920s and he conceived several ideas while racing, such as the quick release mechanism for bicycle wheels, derailleurs, and the rod gear for gear changing. Campagnolo has been awarded more than 135 patents for innovations in cycling technology.

According to Sara, "in the beginning" when cyclists needed to shift gears they had to stop, labouriously take off wheel and make the appropriate chain adjustment. I guess a light-bulb went off in Tullio's head! I was quite tickled to learn these facts. I suppose we've all become so accustomed to things that, generally, we simply fall into the trap of believing it has always been so, whether in computer technology, (IPhone), squash, (racquet head size/composition), cycling, to point out but a smattering of obvious examples, or elsewhere in our busy lives, unless we ponder and ask about the evolutionary process which presents us with a "new" product at a given moment in time!

At any rate, I see that a refurbished Campy is woth about $5 on Craig's List so I'll offer Jacob Two-Two two bits to take it off his hands since he no longer has storage, having been thrown out on the street by Carlos the Jackal, Scrooge Uncle that he is! Talk latter. Window seems to be open a crack between for a couple of hours between 2:00 pm-4:00 pm, or thereabouts. Off to breakfast at IHOP at 10:00 am with Clarisse/Dusty/Cora Lee and the Great Balzarini and his wife, Janet. Franchise on Broadway, between Laurel and Oak, I think, is owned by Jarek, a Pole who jumped ship in Vancouver back in the mid/late '80's. Through another friend we learned about him and his brother, Edvard, and they worked on our house on 12th/Mackenzie when we were renovating. This is his second restaurant with chain, other is off Bridgeport. Talk about drive and hard work. Jarek is really quite a character. He and Edvard both worked with Dusty on the major renovation to the Balzarini's home so that is connection. Cheers, Pannekoeken Patrizzio!

Hi Big Al!

Thanks for site but, unfortunately, don't find "Wine Elbow" listed! Look forward to seeing you and Stompin' at Emeritii Luncheon. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Pat, Glad you are interested. The only background information is the list of questions that I provided a link to in the original message. I have now passed your name on to Herbert Rosengarten who is doing the interviews. 

Hi Chris! Okay. Thanks. I guess I'll wait until I hear from Herbert. Cheers, Patrizzio!

P, Loved the piece about Tullio, a name I quite like. My buddy Joe Mioto, who died a couple years ago of colon cancer (was also a great rider by the by -- way above my league) , his father was Tullio and Joe named his ranch after him. In fact Joe gave me a Campy bike at one point which I foolishly let go... My father's doctor in Yukon was a Tullio (Albertini) and he kept my father laughing and in fine drugs (and wine) most of his adult life...
 

I think we will try to convince Carlos to build a shrine to Tullio with the bike in a glass case in the new renovation. Would ride again today about the same distance -- in the so called 'window'. Looks nice right now?  Let me know, W

The next gathering will be on 6 April. Venue TBC – suggestions welcome.
The book is Bernardo Atxaga, Obabakoak (Jon). Kurt has chosen Hubert Aquin, Prochain Episode (Next Episode) to follow. Mark or Misha, whoever speaks first, will choose the book after Kurt's.

Hello Lads! The duly constituted NRBC is welcome at the Islay Inn on April 6th unless someone else wishes to host. I don't want people to feel that it has to be here but if convenient for all concerned, am happy to have group pay fines close to Legacy. Makes re-stocking of malt cabinet more efficient. Just let Giggster know so that I can provide The Sisterhood with enough notice! Cheers, Patrizzio!

I am also willing go host on the 6th.  However, the Inn of the Seventh Happiness may be more convenient given its central location and proximity to the malt outlet Patrick mentions. If at my place, perhaps Kurt could show me how to connect new ereader to the  printer.  GBR 

Guy thanks for offering to host. We will meet at the Islay Inn (6th April) for all the valid reasons you have proffered. We will hold your offer in reserve in case the co-owner of the Islay Inn gets smart to us and reneges on her consent. 

George: I’m okay with date/place. Will Pat be attending? --Kurt


Guy thanks for offering to host. We will meet at the Islay Inn (6th April) for all the valid reasons you have proffered. We will hold your offer in reserve in case the co-owner of the Islay Inn gets smart to us and reneges on her consent.
Stats for today's ride: 
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/460953729#.UyOThe2j5lc.email

P, I waited at the turn to Westbrook but I guess you had gone East, so to speak. I hope you stayed out there to capture the sun. I was almost thawed when I got home -- then spent an hour, ironically in the sun, cleaning the flotsam off the Jamis.

I have placed the copy of Aquin (all 124 pages pb) on the porch, in a plastic bag in the recycle bin. If you don't get by, issa no bigga deal, I will get it to you in person nexta week. Just waiting for word from Carlos about League squash next week. If he can play, Ed and I can ditch the squash and win big at bridge again. Enjoy your weekend or what is it for us retirees, the weekend of the others? W

Hello Game of Thrones fans! Thought that you might be interested to know a bit about Michelle MacLaren. I didn't realize that the director was a woman, let alone a Canadian! Cheers, Patrizzio!

PS: VIFF screens wonderful films all year round as well as hosting various Forum sessions. Not only is the programming more than exciting, physical location is just across Granville Bridge so easy to get to. In fact, I was just there, this past Monday. Cora Lee dropped me off, (She had "homework" to do for her Elderhostel Book Club following day so had to swot book being discussed!), and I walked home after screening. Took in The Great Flood.

Hi Patrick I thought you may be interested in this announcement. I remember Marilyn Dutton and suspect you do too. Cheers Jo-Anne Naslund

Hello Everyone, Further to my email of March 3, 2014

The UBC Library has received a major gift that will finance the creation of a new informal learning space for students in the Education Library. This project is funded in its entirety by the estate of Olga Marilyn Dutton (May 13, 1922 - June 4, 2012). In 1962, Ms. Dutton earned her BLS at UBC and became a Reference Librarian in the Social Sciences Division at the UBC Library until retiring in 1985.
 

Over the spring and summer (dates still to be defined), we will see the Library space expand partially into the Scarfe foyer – administrative space in the Library will be reduced and student space increased; there will be a newly oriented entrance and a facelift to the entry of the Computing Commons. These changes are to enhance existing student spaces and to create additional spaces that will facilitate collaboration and individual study. The informal learning space inside the Library will be outfitted with new furniture and power upgrades. The glass wall of the Library will be expanded and some seating removed from outside the Library and then relocated. A new Library entrance will be located at the foot of the existing ramp.

More details about this exciting project are forthcoming. Tracy Wyman MA, Project Director Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia