Steveston Fish Fry Blues: Good Friday, April 18th!

To my mind to kill in war is not a whit better than to commit ordinary murder. -Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel laureate (1879-1955) 

Good Friday is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of Passover. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Black Friday, or Easter Friday, though the latter properly refers to the Friday in Easter week.

Based on the details of the Canonical gospels, the Crucifixion of Jesus was most likely to have been on a Friday (the day before the Sabbath) (John 19:42). The estimated year of the Crucifixion is AD 33, by two different groups, and originally as AD 34 by Isaac Newton via the differences between the Biblical and Julian calendars and the crescent of the moon. A third method, using a completely different astronomical approach based on a lunar Crucifixion darkness and eclipse model (consistent with Apostle Peter's reference to a "moon of blood" in Acts 2:20), points to Friday, 3 April AD 33. 

P, What a great day you had ending appropriately with the hooch tasting and bird kill. I expect you are right that it may be a falcon -- maybe a juvenile?

Have you tried Hendricks (Scottish) cucumber gin -- very tasty and great bottle? What did that gin cost?

I would join you and your security escort -- for the ride via UBC to Steveston -- meeting on Scalbania's Inconvenient Walkway at 10:30 if that works for you? Will likely return with the lunching and latte gals. We shall confer when you surface from slumberage -- putting your foot down on the burning bedroom floor. No, that was a dream. W

Hi Dream Weaver!

My Scottish porch cleaner has been restricted to malts so I am not familiar with the Hendricks Sea Cucumber, so thanks for ginerous tip! Feeding Boid didn't look like a juvenile but I don't know enough to say for sure. Leave such certain pronouncements for bridge, NRBC and "dialogues" with The Sisterhood!

I'll head downstairs once I've sent this message to confab with Sarge and see if departure time suits him. Not sure what he has on after ride. Talk shortly. Cheers, Burning Cuke Man!

Pic: from VAG's latest exhibition: Patrizzio Peregrine's Blossoms in My Noodle Soup with a Cucumber Gin Chaser: A Very Still Life! 

Isn't demouement what happens to the facial expression on a smokers face when he stops sucking on cancer sticks?

Hi Marcus Aurelius, et al! Couldn't have said it better myself! Thanks Dr. Johnson! Cheers, Burning Ground Boswell!

Must say, C looks great sans make-up. Nice complexion! Must be the Coastal climate. Living in dry climates like AB and AZ has not helped my already dry skin. This is when I might have preferred to endure a pimply teen age stage to have fewer wrinkles!!

Frank shaves his own head, #2, in the shower, cos he's too cheap and too lazy to go to the Stylist, who would be our dtr, Stephanie. She never used to charge him, but Frank would give her a generous tip! He too had a full, mountain man beard until 2 winters ago when I mentioned that I thought a Yuma friend of ours looked sexy with his goatee style beard. Frank tried it and that is now his look. When he worked as a Consultant, he was clean shaven for several years and then sported a very trim beard/mustache. I must admit, I do like a beard/mustache but trimmed. After retiring, his beard got very shaggy until I would complain and he would retired to the men's room to do the damage.
 

After checking out your photos, I realized again why we sold the home we owned in Victoria when Alli & Beth were @ UVic & Camosun. I hate grey & drizzle!! I need and love the sun!! Of course, it is the sun which does most of the damage to one's skin. Oh dear, can't win!!

Don't know my birds, sorry; although, I have fallen in love with the Mocking Bird and the Chickadee, mainly for their songs. I am working my way through The Mockingjay but since arriving home, have not done any reading.  We are too busy keeping this space looking spruce and the new ad is in today's paper with the 'new much lower- 539,000- 499,900, price. Our Realtor seems to think that over 500,000 is keeping away offers. I am hoping for a feeding frenzy! Every day, I find some small change to make our place look just a bit more appealing I hope!
 

I am off soon to do some serious Easter dinner shopping. Beth will cook the turkey but I will keep it here until early Sunday morning since she has no room in her fridge. Beth will also host the small dinner we are having to celebrate Frank's 70th Tuesday the 6th. Frank is not one for fuss and much prefers smaller more intimate parties. The girls and I are going in on a 4 hr group cooking lesson with a local Chef, date to be chosen by Frank with the Chef. I am also hard at work looking for a good quality pizza stone since Frank now makes his own dough and bread for that matter. He also wants a Kitchen Aide Pasta Maker but I am saving that for his next Christmas gift. They are more expensive than the actual basic KA Mixermaster. How fortunate I am that Frank wants practical items for gifts, unlike me!!

Looks like a winter wonderland outside, pretty but bleak & grey here too!! Yuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where is Spring? Ciao for now, m

Noreen thanks you all and sends her love from Provence! Noreen leaves for Paris tomorrow with Kevin et al and Gail and I leave for Barcelona for Easter. So damn beautiful here in Provence. Kevin is looking at purchasing possibilities. Noreen had a lovely birthday yesterday and we celebrated all day! Too much fine cuisine and wine and dessert - is that possible?!! Peace and love, colin 

Had a grand ride today with Sarge and Whirlygig. Arranged to rendezvous with Giggster at Point Grey/Macdonald at 10:15 am and so we set off from The Heartbreak Terrace at 9:55 am. Just as we turned the corner leading to Fisherman's Wharf, (a few blocks west of entrance to GI), Sarge heard a "pop" and sure enough, his rear tire had a flat. We weren't all that far from Reckless, local bike shop just two blocks away, so he walked his lame steed back there while I went on ahead to meet Giggenheimer and let him know what had happened.

Hooked up with Giorgio on Point Grey Road and we simply cycled up and down street, once or twice, (City made corridor between Macdonald and Alma "local traffic only" a couple of months ago so it is no longer the busy route it used to be. Sarge rejoined us not much more than twenty minutes later and we proceeded out to UBC along Spanish Banks. Once past campus we continued along Marine to cross into Richmond via Arthur Laing Bridge, one one takes to YVR. From there we proceeded to follow Russ Baker Way which turns into No 2 Rd just before it crosses the Mighty Fraser. From there along Lynas Lane with a jog onto Granville Avenue which soon turns into Railway Avenue. Here we rode along the new dedicated bike path, (Very nice job of landscaping along this new tarmac surface so most pleasant riding.), paralleling Railway, to the west, right into Steveston. Here we took Whirlissimo a block or so away from the fish & chips spot where he planned to meet his girlfriend, Kerry, and her daughter, Tia.
 

Waved goodbye near Pajo's on the Steveston Wharf and retraced the route we had taken earlier. Once back on Lynas Lane we crossed over Westminster Hwy and continued to River Road, turning east to follow it and then a wonderful, asphalted bike/pedestrian path along the dike almost to Moray Bridge. A few blocks before this bridge a marina blocked dike access so we returned to River Road and then dipsy-doodled our way to and along No 3 Rd, crossing busy Bridgeport Rd to the River Rock Casino. We were back on known territory then as neither of us had cycled that part of the dike before. Glad to have discovered this route as it is very attractively landscaped as well, and quite picturesque along Fraser to boot.

Cambie SkyTrain Bridge is not far from casino so we climbed it back to Vancouver. At Cambie itself Sarge made for home and I headed east as I wanted to log a 100+ km ride. Had the wind at my back so I sailed along, down Kent and then the dedicated bike lane all the way to Boundary. Here I soon entered the huge industrial park complex I have come to know quite well from many rides here. Basically, wound my way around all the main thoroughfares which criss-cross the place and when I had 75 km on my odometre I headed back towards Boundary and thence up Cambie myself.
 

Had 93 km on the clock when I reached Cambie and Marine so I knew I was on target for my target distance. Quite a few cyclists on dedicated bike path here so I used ones slightly ahead of me as pace rabbits to help keep my AVG from dropping as little as possible on long though reasonably gradual climb. Made all the lights without so much as thinking about a side dipsy-doodle and I was soon whizzing down Cambie, past Queen E Park to King Ed. Turned left to avoid red light there and then onto Yukon which took me, without any Burning Ground difficulties, all the way to E 5th Ave. Here I headed east again to Columbia St and I caught the light at W 2nd Ave and I was Home Free. Almost a straight run from there, (few ancillary dipsy-doodles to push distance to 105 km by time I was in HT parking lot), although I had to buck the very strong head wind again. Stats for ride: 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/482428715#.U1Grt51cZmg.email

Inside I found Coriandre just about to leave to see Lunchbox: "A mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system connects a young housewife to an old man in the dusk of his life as they build a fantasy world together through notes in the lunchbox." She was to meet friend, Robyn, at Fifth Avenue Cinemas. I showered and changed and then set about sending messages. Around 5:30 pm, friend Vittorio, (he is in our Book Club), popped by with his girlfriend, Jenny. They had been at Granville Island earlier and just wanted to say hello. As well, Vittorio wanted to introduce Jenny as I had been giving him a difficult time about the relationship at the last Non-Readers Book Club, (NRBC), gathering.
 

At any rate, once I'd met Jenny I offered them a drink and before I could pour a drop, Mme Coriandre walked in the door. More introductions and then we spent the next hour or so chatting and sipping the new "finds' from Long Table Distillery. The Sisterhood were partial to the Cucumber Gin but Vittorino and I also put some substantial dents into the Långbord Akvavit as well! Lovely time, very companionable young people and not bad hootch either. After they said goodbye, we proceeded to have dinner. I made a simple red cabbage, diced carrot, lettuce and Feta salad and we re-heated the remains of Coramandel's delish turkey meatloaf. Opened a bottle of 2007 Las Moras, Argentina, Tannat , 14%, and we watched an episode of The Bletchley Circle, a fascinating British series: "In 1952, four women who worked at the wartime code-breaking center, Bletchley Park, reunite to track down a serial killer."

After dinner and show were over, Sarge knocked on the door, and we offered him some Tannat and then we visited for about an hour before he headed back downstairs. Flamin' had worked all day so she was already in bed and Sarge wanted to talk about riding next day. We arranged to head out at 9:30 am and then we said goodnight to get ready for Land of Nod ourselves. 

Patrick, we think it's a cooper's hawk, but are awaiting the opinion of someone who knows far more than we do before giving you a definitive response. Hence, a delay. 

We went to a great lecture on warbler identification last night, by the way.
Our trip to the South was most wonderful; not much in the way of notable wine, lots of good seafood and some local barbecue, greens, etc.
 

There are far too many whackos in this country and with the disrespect for government growing on the left as well as the right, it's hard to be optimistic about where the USA is headed. Cactus  
                                     

Here is what we have learned:
 

Hi David, Erica (Cooper's) and I (Sharpie) could not agree, so we asked a hawk bander for GGRO (Golden Gate Raptor Observatory) to weigh in and she said: "Cooper's Hawk, adult!" So it's a Cooper's Hawk! David

Tractable:

MEANING:

adjective: Easily handled, managed, or controlled.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin tractare (to handle), frequentative of trahere (draw). Earliest documented use: 1504.