Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot. -Charlie Chaplin, actor, director, and composer (1889-1977)
by: Philip Koch
Patrick James Dunn Is this a picture of a ceramic "carabbit or a "katgaroo?" I suppose this is where lucky charms come from!!!
Pat, The Gentleman's Hour by Don
Winslow. Reading The Jaguar by T.Jefferson Parker, a Charlie Hood novel. Enjoyed
Downton and the modern version of Sherlock Holmes last night followed by some
reading which made for a late night.
Thanks for the photos. It was
nice to meet up with Dave Cook and John MacLean after so many years and it
was good that there was support for Branco.
Enjoyed the walk along the
waterfront and chatting with Corinne for a few minutes.
Very busy week coming up but I
think I'll be free on Friday, so if the weather cooperates, perhaps we can
get out on the bikes. Ray
Hi Raymond!
Thanks for the two titles. We haven't read T. Jefferson Parker for years. I really enjoy his well crafted plots and characters. First encountered Laguna Heat and Little Saigon in the late '80's. I think the last few I read were the Merci Rayborn series. Don't believe I know the Charlie Hood series so thanks for reminding me about his work.
Great minds think alike as we watched Downton and the modern version of Sherlock Holmes as well! Have you seen the second Downey film version? I read Winter in Madrid until almost 2:00am so it was a late night for me as well.
I have just received my chauffeuring schedule from Her Majesty and I am excused from coach duty until later in the week! Feel as if my chains have been sundered! Hoping to cycle over to the Aquatic Centre later this morning as forecast suggests showers are to abate. Not too bad, if I cut over Burrard Bridge, even if it is a tad wettish. As of this writing, Thursday and Friday show sunshine so perhaps we can manage a jaunt out to Iona and/or Steveston. Will be in touch. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Ania, good to talk to you the other day. Congratulations again on your new grandson and to Adena and Ben.
Our schedule at the moment is as follows:
Pat and Corinne arrive on March 12 at 7:15 am
Wayne arrives on March 17 at 9 am
We all leave for Melbourne @ 3pm
April 2 or 3 back in Sydney until April 6
April 20 Corinne and Pat to Darwin
April 25 to Kakadu National Park
April 28 back to Darwin
April 30 or May 1st to Sydney
We have not booked flights to Darwin from Cairns yet but will soon.
May 11 to Japan
Ania hope you join us in Darwin. let us know so we can book a room for 3 or do you prefer to stay by yourself? Love to all, Corinne
Hi Pauline!
This is just to confirm that bridge is on for Sunday, January 29th, at 5:00pm! Cheers, Patrizio!
Yes see you then. pauline
An appetizer would be great. Thanks Pauline
Hi Pauline!
We'd be pleased to bring some appetizers.
Further to her toes, Her Royal Florence Nightingale removed most of her stitches this morning with the aid of a pair of small sewing scissors and some hydrogen peroxide! She plans to take out last few before her appointment on Thursday. Her toes don't look too, too bad but are still very, very sensitive.
Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Misha!
Great that you have Appocalypsis Now DVD! Will be in touch as to actual screening time closer to date.
Found the RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms very stimulating! Thanks!
Cheers, Patrzzio!
Hi Maya!
Have you started your full-time position yet? Buona Fortuna!!!
On another matter, Torin Sanders wants to be friends on Facebook and I can't remember if he is one of Fionna's sons or not. Could you remind me of his parentage. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Zircon!Trust conference went well. Wanted to send along a few more snaps. Fondestos and Cheers, Patriizzio!
Greetings from Geyserville!
Hello Patrick and Happy New Year to all of you! Good to hear from you
with all of the latest news from your part of the world. Sorry it's been
such a long time since I've corresponded. No good excuses, just the
regular routine of life getting in the way of keeping in touch. We did
have a very merry holiday season with our family. Susie came down from
Seattle and stayed with us for two weeks and Kate's office was closed
down for the week between Christmas the the New Year, so she stayed here
with us for a week as well. It was just like old times, having both
girls home with us for a while! Mostly good.
I know that your 2010 wines are indeed waiting for you in Berkeley, and
that is a good thing, since that will give them a chance to age for a
year or more before you get to them, and that's exactly what they'll
need. You don't even have any of the Zins, which are the wines which
show the acidity more than some of the others, so all should be just
"peachy" in a year or two.
Hope you are staying warm and cozy with all the cold weather we've been
hearing about up north. Susie was almost snowed in at her home in
Seattle for the past few days. It was fun to see the photos she sent of
her neighborhood all covered in snow. We're finally getting some real
winter weather down here too, with some much needed rain for the past
two days.
Take care and hope 2012 is a great year for us all! ~Pat
Hi Pat!
Glad you enjoyed such a lovely time over hols with Susie and Kate. Seattle really did get hit with some heavy snow. Wasn't too, too bad here although put a stop to cycling, for me at least, until melt occurred. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Branko,
I would have loved to joined the festivities but was out of town and
did not get back home until yesterday evening . I would really like to
come and check out your yacht one of these days it sounds really nice! thanks
for thinking of us. Happy birthday! and I hope you had a great
celebration.
Take care, Al
Hi Big Al!
Thought that you were away as had not heard from you in a bit. Missed your company as Robo Ray and Whirlygig were not available to ride on Saturday and it was an incredible day. Forecast looks promising for Thursday/Friday and Robo Ray and I are thinking about Iona/Steveston so wondering if you are interested. Let me know. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
P,
Nice ridemanship Saturday. I was kicking
myself for not getting out earlier.
And thanks for the gift delivery. And for staying
on the ship to represent the riders while the skipper of the Argosy accidently
fell into his 60s life raft -- not the least bit under the influence of the bourbonia,
I am sure.
The forecast looks favourable later in the
week. I could do an early ride on Thursday. Carlos & I drive to Portland that day in the
early afternoon for the PCO. W
Hi Giggage!
Too, too bad you missed ride and Ragin's Bourbon tasting! It really was a great gathering.
Forecast looks promising for Thursday/Friday and Robo Ray and I are thinking about Iona/Steveston, probably on Friday as that day is best for him with respect to tutoring. Consequently, I'd be up for something on Thursday. Perhaps a Stanley Park jog, given your Portland trip? Let me know what time you had in mind. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Too, too bad you missed ride and Ragin's Bourbon tasting! It really was a great gathering.
Forecast looks promising for Thursday/Friday and Robo Ray and I are thinking about Iona/Steveston, probably on Friday as that day is best for him with respect to tutoring. Consequently, I'd be up for something on Thursday. Perhaps a Stanley Park jog, given your Portland trip? Let me know what time you had in mind. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Pic: Non-inventive Queen with Royal Feline and Storm-Trooper Boot! A Still Life!!!
Bridges
have a fascination for travellers -- the unique ones can become icons
for their cities and a magnet for tourism and especially for those who
appreciate historical and cultural themes. See great photos of these
most famous bridges at Touropia at the link at the bottom of this
article. Some will be familiar and others are in some very remote
corners of the earth, but all are fascinating.
- Great Belt Bridge, Denmark
- Chapel Bridge, Lucerne, Switzerland
- Chengyang Bridge, China
- Brooklyn Bridge, New York, USA
- Alcántara Bridge, Spain
- Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia
- Stari Most ("The Old Bridge"), Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Si-o-se Pol ("The Bridge of 33 Arches"), Iran
- Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, ("the Pearl Bridge"), Japan
- Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy
- Tower Bridge, London, England
- Millau Bridge, France
- Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California USA
- Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy
The Ultimate Bridge Failure
Watch
the amazing "Gallopin' Gertie" November 7, 1940 film clip of the Tacoma
Narrows Bridge. Slender, elegant and graceful, the Tacoma Narrows
Bridge stretched like a steel ribbon across Puget Sound in 1940. The
third longest suspension span in the world opened on July 1st. Only four
months later, the great span's short life ended in disaster. "Galloping
Gertie," collapsed in a windstorm on November 7,1940.
Hi Champagne!
Quite enjoyed the bridge pictures and video of collapse of one at Tacoma! Quite some footage! Pics of Zircon and Her Majesty. Jim is a good bridge player and we enjoyed a number of games with Sarge and Clarisse/Dustman while he was here. Practicing for your evening!!! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Quite enjoyed the bridge pictures and video of collapse of one at Tacoma! Quite some footage! Pics of Zircon and Her Majesty. Jim is a good bridge player and we enjoyed a number of games with Sarge and Clarisse/Dustman while he was here. Practicing for your evening!!! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hello, PJ, mon vieux! Just wanted to say you are welcome to stay on
Lower level as long as you want. This will spur me on to undertake
more home improvement projects to ready for your possible arrival. As
long as I am in this house, you and the lovely Corinne are always
welcome. Enjoy your time in Oz and the Orient and safe travels, there
and back! Deborah
Lower level as long as you want. This will spur me on to undertake
more home improvement projects to ready for your possible arrival. As
long as I am in this house, you and the lovely Corinne are always
welcome. Enjoy your time in Oz and the Orient and safe travels, there
and back! Deborah
Hi Deborah!
Thanks for open invitation! Much appreciated. As well, thanks for travel wishes. Pics of Zircon, close friend Jim Hillson, visiting from Calgary last week, and Her Majesty. Jim is a good bridge player and we enjoyed a number of games with Sarge, Clarisse and The Dustman while he was here. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Thanks for open invitation! Much appreciated. As well, thanks for travel wishes. Pics of Zircon, close friend Jim Hillson, visiting from Calgary last week, and Her Majesty. Jim is a good bridge player and we enjoyed a number of games with Sarge, Clarisse and The Dustman while he was here. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Maya!
Have you started your full-time position yet? Buona Fortuna!!!
On another matter, Torin Sanders wants to be friends on Facebook and I can't remember if he is one of Fionna's sons or not. Could you remind me of his parentage. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Have you started your full-time position yet? Buona Fortuna!!!
On another matter, Torin Sanders wants to be friends on Facebook and I can't remember if he is one of Fionna's sons or not. Could you remind me of his parentage. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Yup! fiona+.s youngest. i start nxt tues+ thanks
Hi again, Maya!
Thanks for confirming. When I responded to Torin's request just a few minutes ago, there was a lengthy reply from Fionna, telling me a bit about herself and her friendship with Thea and her family! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Thanks for confirming. When I responded to Torin's request just a few minutes ago, there was a lengthy reply from Fionna, telling me a bit about herself and her friendship with Thea and her family! Cheers, Patrizzio!
oh, then maybe it was fiona trying to connect? that makes more sense:) maybe she's not on Facebook. (like me!)
take care, hope to you guys before your trip.
Let life happen to you. Believe me: life is in the right, always.
~Rainer Maria Rilke
Hi Maya!
I suspect you are right on both counts! Cheers, Patrizzio!
I suspect you are right on both counts! Cheers, Patrizzio!
- Hi Patrick,
Long time! I just wrote you a somewhat long message. thanking you for sending Thea connection. How on earth did she find you? I'm too tired to repeat message, but will not make the mistake of leaving message to look something up again!
Thea and I were best bud's after they arrived in Winnipeg from New York. Her father was a lawyer who ended up being the Rabbi at the Shara Zadek Synagogue. They moved to LA when I was about 13. It's funny how the world works; I've spoken to her a few times after being connected and she had ironically received info. about me from Bobby Wiseman who I went to Argyle with, and then met him here. Thea had gone to Ramah with him, but only vaguely remembered him.
She said that she had told her brother Zach that she had received my info. from him and that her mother had called "yelling", "Why haven't you heard from Fiona?( I still remember her strong New York accent, you remember things like that when someone like that blows in to town, all bleached blond,etc. Not what you think of as a Rabbi's wife in the 1960's...) Thea said she said "Why doesn't her own family know if she has as email address,or think they do but not sure if it's right when someone unrelated can find out the information ?"
Since Rocky died things have changed - he was pretty much the glue holding us together-as best he could. Torin turned ten on Sunday; he was six weeks old when Rocky died. I am very thankful that Rocky got to hold him, they were here the day after he was born, and then someone took pictures of Rocky in his favorite chair, holding him the night he died.
I went into anaphylatic shock ( I know it's wrong, too tired),due to a reaction to an antibiotic in the Spring and ended up in ICU for four days. One of the Doctors told me "That was very close, touch and go". I knew it was as I saw Rocky while I was "out" - I never even see him in my dreams. He was standing, in his fleece jacket, at one end of a hall and my kid's were at the other. Very bizarre.
Have you turned Italian, and opened a B and B? Or, was I reading your Blog wrong? Late now, so have to go. Give my best to Corrine. Hope all is well with you and your family. Will try to write later. Thanks/Fionna
Hi Fionna!
Sorry that it has taken me sometime to reply! I wasn't quite sure why Torrin, (Happy Belated Birthday to him!!!), wanted to be my friend on Facebook! I asked Maya if he was your son, (I'm sure you can appreciate that it it a tad difficult to keep all of the Sanders Clan's offspring straight!), and when she confirmed, (She isn't on Facebook either!), I replied, expecting to ask him if his mother had contacted Thea! Pleased that you did. Funny, as you say, how the world works. I was curious how she found me as well. When I posed the question she mentioned that she had been trying to locate you and your family and finally ended up putting Rocky's/Noreen's name into a Google search, I think, and came up with a hit to my blog. I had mentioned visiting with Noreen when we were in Winnipeg last August/September. Not sure if she mentioned it or not but we will try to visit with her when we are next in LA to see Ayn and our grandsons. Ayn lives in Northridge, (She is now working for Hallmark Media but had been with Disney Family Cable for over five years previously.), not all that far from Santa Monica, as you might know.
Sorry to hear about your anaphylactic shock episode. I suffered a similar reaction back in 1968 when I was given simply massive doses of penicillin before it was determined I was suffering from Mono, (Infectious Mononucleosis of The Kissing Disease as it was often referred to then!), just after writing my 3rd year finals at U of Wpg.
No, I haven't turned Italian! I just love the language so I've taken to calling myself "Patrizzio" just for fun. Started quite a few years ago and has simply evolved. And no, we haven't opened a B&B, although we do call our place The Island Inn, (We live right next to Granville Island Market.), as we have numerous visitors and often an ESL student, most recently three from Switzerland, at different times of course.
We are getting ready to leave, on March 5th, for about three months: 5 nights in Hong Kong, close to two months in Australia and then three weeks in Japan where we will spend close to half our visit with an ex-boarder, Toshi, who lived with us for three years back in late '80's. Corinne is recovering from the corrective foot surgery she underwent on December 9th. She is hoping to be able to start bearing weight on it this Friday after seeing her surgeon. Chloe is currently working at Granville Island Brewery and living with us while not house sitting for friends! We hope she will find an apartment in co-op housing over next little while as she needs to be on her own now that she is 35! Unfortunately, she finds the "nest" too, too comfortable!!!
We have been in Toronto a number of time over last three years. Hope we can connect when next there. Please let us know if you will be in Vancouver as it would be great to see you here, of course. Last time here was back in the late '70's I think, when you were off to Carcross. You and Liam and your parents stayed with us in the house we were renting, at the time, in Kerrisdale. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Big Whiters!
Trust all goes well with ski holiday! Remind us of the time you will be back in Burnaby as we'd like to see you, if only briefly, before you head back to Perth. Cora Lee is hoping to be walking, or at least weight bearing by Friday, so steps might not be as much of a problem in Burnaby! Look forward to hearing from you. Time to head out to Aquatic Centre. Fondestos and Cheers, Patriizzio!
Hi Pat
here is a video on opening wine bottles with shoes...
Hi Mr Grizzle!
Big Al Soroka beat you to the punch. He sent me the same video last week!
How was Burning Man? Cheers, Patrizzio!
Thanks for the pictures and for the full report of a day on two wheels. I hope you resolved to give barricades, stanchions etc a wide birth. You need to avoid those trips over the handlebars and headfirst into the concrete curb. Thanks again for the hospitality in Vancouver. I also had a great few days in Victoria and now am off to senior bridge in Cochrane. I hope Corinne's appts with the doc go well this week. J
Hi Zircon!
Glad your conference went well.
Cora Lee removed most of her stitches this morning with the aid of a pair of small sewing scissors and some hydrogen peroxide! She plans to take out last few before her appointment on Thursday. Her toes don't look too, too bad but are still very, very sensitive.
Cycled over to the Aquatic Centre, via Burrard Bridge, this afternoon, to log 2.25 miles in pool before I was finished. Would have liked to do 3 miles but wanted to feed Mom her dinner at 5:00pm. Pleased to report that she ate everything on her plate plus dessert. Tomatoe juice was a big hit as she's always liked it and she downed almost a full glass, a sip at a time! Even had quite a bit of milk, something she never drank in her adult life! She put her hand on my hand and kept the glass near her mouth. Quite happy that she is able to do this as it indicates some awareness.
Sarge just popped up to say hello and chat about tomorrow's match. We have he late draw and he is speaking at some function in Surrey beforehand so I might have to meet him there. He will be in blue dress serge and he's like to come home to change but might not have time, depending on traffic and when dinner is over.
Will be celebrating Clarisse's 87th birthday this coming Saturday. Have invited Ted and Elaine, as well as Flamin' and Sarge. Not sure if Ted will be in town so if they can't come then we won't play bridge, otherwise we'll have two tables. Hope your bridge in Cochrane was fun. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hello Ye of Little Faith!
Sounds as if you have Hockey Fever! Cora Lee was most appreciative of your sympathy as she clams she receives none from her own family!!! One wonders why!!!
Further to her toes, Her Royal Florence Nightingale removed most of her stitches this morning with the aid of a pair of small sewing scissors and some hydrogen peroxide! She plans to take out last few before her appointment on Thursday. Her toes don't look too, too bad but are still very, very sensitive.
Hope your team continues to blaze! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Alan,
Thanks for your good wishes. You missed a fabulous bash. I certainly had a great time except that Condutoré passed on some grief he got from Her Majesty as he failed to bring home some roast lamb! Next time I pass by Trader Joe's, I may have to pick up a piece offering …Maybe next bike ride, we can stop by the Inside Passage for a beer! Hmmm, guys dropping by for 2(!) football games made a serious dent in my supply!
más adelante//bjp
Hi Big Al et al:
What Ragin' Barnacle didn't mention is the fact that he received enough hootch as presents to last quite some time. I guess he really doesn't want to share any of his high octane Bourbon with a Burnaboid! Cheers, Il Conduttore!
Patrizzio y Ragin'
Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2012 Praises the choice.
Booker's 7 yrs 4 mths 64% alcohol (batch #C03-1-17) Rating: 95.5 (out of 100)
Nose: a mountain of dates and walnuts topped with kumquats and even the lightest hint of newly laid tarmacadam: sweet, earthy and near mesmerizing
Taste: faultless, the weight and distribution of the oils is textbook, the balance between the sweet Demeraras and drier liquorice and hickory is almost to atomic precision... just take one bloody big mouthful, keep on the palate for a minute and simply discover how good life can get
Finish: somewhat thiner than might be expected from the delivery and middle. But still enough dried dates and almost smoky earthiness to make the experience complete
Balance: the best Booker's I have tasted for a very long while, probably ever. Absolutely world class whiskey.
Patrizzio and John:
"Around the Christmas period [2010] I learned of the loss of that most
genuine and appreciative of whisky connoisseurs, Mike Smith of
Vancouver. He had supported Jim Murray's Whisky Bible for 5 years,
especially during a most difficult period of legal warfare. And had it
not been for Mike and his wife Barbara, there would be no Whisky Bible.
Fact! Thank you, my dear friend.
Jim Murray
The Tasting Room
Wellingborough September 2011
ps Patrick He says Ballantine's is of the Chivas Bros. group
Hi Riptide and Snozzola!
Great to see you both at the Barnacle Bash! Thanks for the notes on the Bookers Bourbon, Ballantine's as well as the details about Mike Smith, Rippster. Cheers, Il Condutore!
P,
Assuming there is no risk of frost or ice, let's try too get out early,
maybe 9AM, if that can be worked into your Manservant schedule. The SP jog
would be about rthe right distance for me -- just a warm up for you.
We will confirm on Wednesday. W
Hi Whirlissimo!
Was informed that I had made an error interpreting my Manservant's Schedule. In fact I have to take Her Majesty to have an x-ray on Thursday morning, close to 10:00am and then to the dottore for an 11:00am appointment, so I wonder if we could head out at least by 8:30am. Just a quick run around the Seawall and everyone is happy, including The Royal Grump! Let me know what you think. Cheers, Il Conduttore!
Hi Felicity!
Trust all goes well in The Antipodes! Enjoyed the website on cycling in NZ that Ray passed along. We hope to go for a ride this coming Friday as weather is supposed to clear. Cheers, Patrizzio!
No comments:
Post a Comment