IIDD, Jan 24th

In this world, you must be a bit too kind to be kind enough. -Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux, dramatist and novelist (1688-1763) 

                                                 Ruins of the palace on the Palatine Hill 

paladin 1. A strong supporter of a cause.
              2. A heroic champion.

From French paladin, from Italian paladino, from palatinus ([officer] of the palace). After Palatine, the name of the centermost of the seven hills on which ancient Rome was built. Roman emperors had their palaces on this hill. Other words such as palace and palatine derive from the same source. The 12 peers in Charlemagne's court were also called paladins.

Chloe Alexis Dunn

Count down to the Oscar's begin!!!!Patrick James Dunn ‎"Begins!

P,

Nice that Shark Tooth still has an appetite. My father (Henkel Troken) eats
heartily when he is well -- not unlike his former self.

On the SP jog front, I am not sure whether I can make it work for 8:30. The
MT may need her escort into enemy territory that morning with a drop off
time that I am not permitted to reveal. I will get back to you via courier
pigeon (stuffy) as soon as I have the dossier in hand. W

Hi Whirlygig!

Your Dad and Her Majesty have the same taste! One of the Royal Highness's favourite drops of bubbly. In fact, she often bathes in a tubful!!!

As I mentioned in earlier message hope you have a great tourney. Please send along regards and best wishes to gang. Give me a shout upon return. Cheers, Il Conduttore!
 

Looking good, lads!

Thursday's forecast: 

  with a High of  +7°C

• 
  

Any interest in a ride?

    
8^) cheers, Mark

Mark,

I can only do a morning ride Thursday and cannot get onto the saddle until about 9AM.

A ride around the park would work for me departing Science World about 9:15.G

Hi Peleton Photojournalist et al!

Thanks for snap, Marcus Aurelius! Looks like timing for ride won't work for me as Her Majesty needs to be at Mount St Joseph's by 10:00am for an x-ray. The Difficult Life and Times of an Indentured Manservant! However, Robo Ray and I are planning a jaunt to Iona and/or Steveston on Friday should anyone be interested. Buona Fortuna in Portland, Whirlygig! Cheers, Il Conduttore!

HI Gents,

The date is in my calendar.

And just so I'm clear, no book reading is required for the next meeting. Rather we're going to watch Apocalypse Now and then discuss. Is this correct? Cheers,..D

I am clear on Feb 11 for any program. Cheers Moe

                                                         Notthatanyofushavereadit!

Hi Titanium Man et al:

For clarification purposes only:

We, (number yet to be determined), plan to screen Apocalypse Now, (time yet to be determined), and then have a pot-luck meal, (menu yet to be determined), with significant others, (composition yet to be determined), and then group, (participants yet to be determined), will discuss Conrad's Heart of Darkness, (edition yet to be determined). No book reading is required, as per article 1.11 of the NRBC Constitution! Should you wish to be in violation of our Charter and actually read the book in question, a fine, (amount yet to be determined), will be levied. Cheers, Your Determined to be Determined Host, Il Conduttore!

Patrick thanks
 

I like these cartons both content and execution. Lecture about the brains is interesting. Salve Misha

Ah,

The pictures reminded me of this time last year when we had the full reign of the house! Jim still looks like the same old Jim. Corinne looks great, even given the misery she is going thru. Pardon me, perhaps not misery at all. With the manservant on duty, I bet it's worth another little nips and tucks. You better watch out ... (When can I send Randy over for the training?)

Your schedule sounds dizzyingly busy! I don't know if I can do 1/10 of it. Randy and I have taken a couple of house hunting trips to Dallas and have narrowed down our choice to a short list. We are looking at possibly moving mid-May time frame. Come and visit!

Please send our love to Clara and Dusty, (Did you get the pictures of them from last year?) and Serge/Flaming. Wish we were there to help celebrate Clara's birthday! Ruth

1. Stare at the red dot on the girl’s nose for 30 seconds
2. Turn your eyes towards the wall/roof or somewhere else on a plain surface
3. Keep blinking your eyes quickly!
4. What can you see?

I saw The Last Supper! Cora Lee saw an ad for Nordstom's Rack while Chloe saw an application for a Co-op apartment, coming available on February 1st, 2012! This is totally, totally amazing! I'm going to stare at the picture for an hour and see what happens then! Perhaps I'll be able to levitate my way to The Valley!!!

Any good captain should have a wealth of quotes.

Churchill...

The current plight of the Costa Concordia reminds one of a comment made by Winston Churchill. After his retirement he was cruising the Mediterranean on an Italian cruise liner and some Italian journalists asked why an ex British Prime Minister should choose an Italian ship. ”There are three things I like about being on an Italian cruise ship,” said Churchill.” First, their cuisine is unsurpassed. Second, their service is superb. And then, in time of emergency, there is none of this nonsense about women and children first…”

Hi Lads!

It's even better if he has a plethora of quotations at his command!  Cheers, Il Conduttore, L'ispettore capo, Polizia grammatica!
 
"Any good captain should have a wealth of quotes."

Why Milton should reconsider his withdrawal, and why Big Molly and the Bull should apply for membership...8^) cheers, Mark

Hello Peletonnieri!

I agree, wholeheartedly. This way they could read each selection over a latte, never mind having to stop for lunch!!! Cheers, Il Conduttore, Ispettore Capo, Cappuccino Pausa di Polizia!

Conduttore mio caro,

Last time I checked that was actually Article 3.33. Have there been constitutional amendments t which I was not privy? 8^) salud, Burnaboid del norte

Dear Burnaboid del Norte, et al:

You are obviously referring to the by-law/regulation which deals with the number of continuous "no-shows", an article which may well have to be invoked shortly! That being stated, I do appreciate that the Constitution was not written with an over-abundance of lucidity and brevity, (Guy de Lungo Senza Fiato was responsible for drafting the document in the first instance, hyperbole being his natural tendency, I fear!), so I will not impose a fine for this misreading. However, three strikes and you, my Northern Rascal, will be dreaming about the warmth, from the fireplace and the malt, and conviviality of the NRBC, huddled over a one stick fire on the frozen shores of Burnaby Lake! Cheers, Il Conduttore, Capo di Infrazioni Costituzionale e Fraintendimenti!

Marcus,

Or should I say Weathemanus Dubious.  What crystal ball are you consulting?  Mine shows rain and very low single digit degrees right to Sunday when it may turn to falling slush.  With the wind pattern as it has been, simply blasting from the East, does not look good!

BUT I remain optimistic and keen as always to hit the road not too ridiculously early - let's see how it shapes up.

Friday to Steveston sounds good too.  Lunch at the Fisherman's Boot Café perhaps? 

más adelante//bjp

must be looking at different websites together. I guess the question is, "Do you trust the government?"

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-74_metric_e.html
    
8^) cheers, Mark 

Dear Raindrops Keep Falling on Your Heads!

The question is not do you trust the Government but do you trust Captain "Chartless" Barnacle? Not a well known fact but  the Captain of the Costa Concordia is a not so distant cousin of Ragin' Bull!

Ask not what your Government can do for you but what has Captain Barnacle done for the Peleton, except complain? Cheers, Il Conduttore, Capo della Società per l'Estirpazione dei Molluschi!

Pat,
 

Definitely keen on a ride Friday if you are able to extricate yourself
from a life of servitude. We may have to give the frost time to disappear
but I've got all day. TJ Parker's latest is set mostly in Mexico with all
the accompanying violence that is topical currently. Ray

Hi Raymond!

Have already petitioned Her Majesty about having a half-day off on Friday so all is well on the indentured servant front! Just waiting to hear back from Kjell as he indicated he might like to join us. Will let you know as soon as I find out what he thinks. Cheers, Patrizzio!

OK OK OK.

Now my crystal ball - also known as the Apple Widget - temporarily shows a window of Sun and Happiness in the Endless Age of Wet, Dark, Wind Ridden Depression that is Winter Wonderland in Vancouver.

Patriçio's caustic and completely unnecessary, not to mention inaccurate response, as usual, requires a rebuttal.  I am working on it.  It is no doubt driven by his failure to bring a sample of lamb roast to Her Majesty after the party.  Who knows what dire consequences he suffered!!

más adelante//bjp