IIDD, June 20th

Hi Sarge and Flamin'!

Glad you enjoyed Capri. Did you manage to visit the fabled Blue Grotto? Sometimes, if sea is too rough, small rowboats cannot manage opening in the cliff which provides access to cave. I was last there in 1957 and it was magnificent. My parents and I were accompanied by my school teacher and her mother as they were returning to England while we were en route to Canada. Miss Bath's Mother had a wonderful voice and she and the chap rowing the boat sang a number of snatches of arias from various Italian operas. Quite magical with incredible acoustics in cave and aquamarine/turquoise, crystal clear water.

Marvelous, marvelous supper last night. Chloë prepared a truly delicious and visually stunning dinner, with some help from Coriandre on the curry. The Dal/Dhal with ginger, was perhaps my favourite but the radish salad with coconut and hot green chili peppers was remarkable, as was the wonderful tomatoe/onion/shrimp curry. All washed down with a terrific bottle of De Martino 2009 Legado Reserve, Syrah, Choapa Valley, Chile, 14.5%, left for us by Grogg. Some very striking mineral notes with fresh red fruit and chocolate, velvet in the mouth with a slight hint of oak on the finish. Dessert was ultra creamy crème brûlée from Stuart's Bakery in GI Market. We enjoyed them while watching two taped episodes of Downton Abbey:

"The series is set in the fictional Downton Abbey, stately home of the Earl and Countess of Grantham, and follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants early in the reign of King George V. The series spans the two years prior to the Great War, commencing with news of the sinking of the Titanic, an event that sets the story in motion."

Cora Lee started watching it in London last October. I can hardly wait to see next few episodes and would have watched them but it was close to midnight by the time we had seen a number of the recorded sessions!

Session Six of my Eight Session chemical peel and I dream about the whole process being over, I can tell you! Bit like having Chicken Pox when you want to rip your face and other affected areas to bleeding, such is the constant itch and tightness/dryness of the skin undergoing treatment. Like having a hot, hot shower after a bad sunburn! Not much fun but maltage helps, of course!!!

Have to wait for my Father's Day presents, face protector, as Body Shop was out when Chloë went to Oakridge to pick up lotions and unguents. Have an I-O-U for them and a pass to see Midnight in Paris later this week. We were going to go last night but by the time we finished dinner it seemed silly to dash out the door, especially since Chloë is still fighting a bit of a cold. As well, gift package contained about seven mini, mini-bottles of Tobasco Sauce, scored from recent trip to Vegas. They have DIY fridge magnets written all over them!!! My Father's Day card shows a demented, Maggie-like feline face so everyone was in on gift and celebration!

Had a call this morning and when I looked at display it read, "Van Coast", so I thought it might have been something to do with either my dermatologist or the orthopedic specialist about my shoulder. Unfortunately, neither! Danielle! I wouldn't have picked up if I'd been quick enough to realize it was his number. Wasn't particularly talkative or encouraging in any way as he rambled on about everything from how painful he finds riding his bicycle to how there is no fruit in the Okanagan and all the wineries are going bankrupt to how long it took him to finish their place and there is little work to be had and on and on and on. Ended with him saying he was planning to be at GI this evening and would pop around for a beer, uninvited, I might add! Cora Lee will be doing her shift at WISH. Haven't decided if I'll be at home or not!

Think I forgot to mention that poor Dodenheimer fell at the Lodge about two weeks ago and broke her hip! I just found out about it last week and visited her once. Given surgery, etc., she seems to be in pretty good shape but difficult, if not impossible, to get details from her or staff as we are not family, of course. Plan to walk up to VGH with CL and Chloë later this afternoon to see her. I also want The Sisterhood to advise me on a new pair of frames. Lost or misplaced my glasses about two weeks ago and they have not turned up yet. Am using an old pair from '80's, (now back in style!), but prescription is much changed, of course. Need to have something when in TG as my driver's license stipulates glasses. Funnily enough, I really don't notice much difference, either driving or watching TV, between old and new, in terms of clarity of vision. Who knows, perhaps my eyes are getting younger while the rest of me is falling apart!

Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizio!

Dear Lincoln Lawyer and Frank Lloyd Wright:

I have followed, with more than passing interest, your lengthy, quotidian, not to say legalistic, exchange regarding the alleged misappropriation of said "leftover" books. I find it highly amusing and painfully ironic that the two of you are fussing, ad nauseum, about the disposition of reading matter when the Lame Brain Lawyer didn't even have the wherewithal to read the book selected for the last Book Club meeting and the Absent Architect, is just that, having missed more gatherings than the NRBC constitution allows, and now faces summary ejection from group.

To these plebeian quibblings you have added additional incendiary material, the like of which marks you, nay brands you as part of the yahoo/yob culture responsible for the recent riots. I leave you to your mind numbing chats about the notion of statehood, government accountability and rule of law, to which you obviously pay lip service. I look forward, for my part, to leaving behind the cerebral dessication of Fukuyama for the visceral blood sport of Jø Nesbo. In closing, I remain, your Nemesis, Il Conductore-4, Two-Face/Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper-0! Cheers, Patrizio!

PS: Sorree, I spit on long pants!