Wednesday 22 February 2012

IIDD, Feb 21st

It is more often from pride than from ignorance that we are so obstinately opposed to current opinions; we find the first places taken, and we do not want to be the last. -Francois De La Rochefoucauld, moralist (1613-1680) 

 
$200 million graffiti Art: David Choe Photo: Kristy Duncan
"$200 million is what graffiti artist David Choe is expected to earn from the listing. He painted Facebook's walls in 2005 and opted to get paid in stock options."
Larry Claasen; Facebook in Numbers; Financial Mail (South Africa); Feb 10, 2012.  
Hi - just keeping you in the looooooop!!! hugs & kisses
e

Subject: FW: RaymondCulos sent you a video: "Final Cultural Centre3.wmv"

Please have a look at this video invitation and then, if you don’t mind, pass it along to people you know who might be interested in a free copy of the book.  Thanks.



Subject: RaymondCulos sent you a video: "Final Cultural Centre3.wmv"

Click on RaymondCulos below for a personal invitation to get your copy of INJUSTICE SERVED on March 6th compliments the Government of Canada; Community Historical Recognition Program.  Thank you.

YouTube


RaymondCulos has shared a video with you on YouTube:
Hi Aquitaine!

Thanks for thinking about us. Ordinarily, we'd love to be "in the loop" and attend the ICC Museum opening/book launch. Sounds more than terrific. However, seems that things have never slowed down since Christmas/New Year’s and I’m starting to fret a bit about being ready for our next trip. We leave on March 5th for five nights in Hong Kong. Then on to Australia for two months, travelling with Flamin’ and Sarge. We part ways in Cairns when they fly back to Vancouver. We continue on to Darwin for a week and then back to Sydney until May 11th when we fly to Japan for three weeks. Will visit with Toshi and Izumi, former ESL boarders. Looking forward to trip but have to file income tax before we leave and accomplish scads of other things as well.

Cora Lee underwent corrective foot surgery on December 9th. The first three toes on her right foot were “drifting” and had become quite painful. Her big toe was fused and pins inserted into each of the other two. Everything went extremely well for the first seven weeks of non-weight bearing and then, about three weeks ago now, things took a nasty turn for the worse. She had a physio session on Saturday, February 4th, and her foot started to itch on Sunday evening. By Monday morning it was puffy and covered with an alarming rash. I took her to Mount St Joseph's where her surgeon saw her and prescribed some cortisone cream. He didn't think it was infected so that was some relief. Just an allergic reaction to the oil/lotion physio had used, we think! However, to make matters worse she came down with a horrible cold/cough on top of everything else!

Following day, our own GP prescribed steroids and slowly, slowly, the rash went away. She is back to see her surgeon tomorrow and she hopes he will give her the go-ahead to start wearing a normal shoe, albeit with a stiff sole for support, to replace the "boot" she has been wearing ever since she was allowed to walk on her right foot. Until that time she had a nifty "scooter", on which she rested her right knee so that she could get around.

Give our best regards to you Dad and congratulations on his latest book. Perhaps you could score a copy for us! At any rate, trust all goes well at home and at work. See you in June! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!

Dear All,

I'm in the process of organizing our annual luncheon. I will work
out the menu details with Sage Bistro. Meanwhile:

Date:
Wednesday, March 28th 2012

Time:
11:30 am - 2:00 pm

Place:
Sage Bistro Music Room, UBC
(formerly the Faculty Club)

Please reserve the date. Also let any of our lib-em colleagues
without email know about the lunch should you have the
opportunity. I'll get back to you with the menu choices I work
out. I was late in getting started on this event, consequently I
could not book the University Librarian, Ingrid Parent, as our
speaker again this year. The Library will send Leonora Crema,
Associate University Librarian - Client Services and Programs, to
give us the annual Library update. I plan to contact the UBC
Association of Professors Emeriti about sending someone to give us an
update as well. My plan, then, is to have two guests. Once again,
the Library has agreed to cover the room rental and pay by Library
requisition. I reimburse them the day of the lunch. Both of these
services keep our costs to our luncheon choices only, plus lunch for
any guest(s) we invite.

Cheers, Nadine


Hi Nadine!

Thanks again for all your hard work on organizing the annual luncheon. Unfortunately, I'll not be able to make this wonderful gathering. Corinne and I leave on March 5th for five nights in Hong Kong. Then on to Australia for two months, travelling with close friends. We part ways in Cairns when they fly back to Vancouver. We continue on to Darwin for a week and then back to Sydney until May 11th when we fly to Japan for three weeks. Will visit with Toshi and Izumi, former ESL boarders, while in Osaka and Sapporo, respectively.

Best wishes to everyone. Cheers, Patrizzio!


Hi Patrick and Corinne

Elaine and I are in Melbourne staying with Laura and James. We have a phone 0402366861.

Let us know when you will be here. Ted
 

Hello Melbournites!

Not sure if we'll connect with you two. How long are you in Melbourne? We leave on March 5th for five nights in Hong Kong. Leave on March 11th to land in Sydney on March 12th. Will be there until we fly to Melbourne on March 17th to hook up with Flamin’.

However, there may well be a slight change of plans, for Sarge, not us. He was up last night and is keen to take in the F1 race on in Melbourne that weekend. He will even try to change his flight to Melbourne to accommodate the race! Does James have any connections regarding weekend passes? As of this writing, Sarge actually flies into Sydney on March 16th at stay overnight with us, at Ania's, where we are staying once we arrive. As I mentioned, he will try to change flights in order to fly on to Melbourne after he lands in Sydney at around 9:00am, local time. This so that he can take in most of race. Apparently this has been a life-long dream! Anyway, if there are any local connections, I'm sure he would appreciate knowing about them. (As you can see, I've copied Sarge as he might wish to contact you directly.)

On the Home Front, have had a full, full day of Royal Chauffeuring today. Her Majesty had to have what we both hoped was the final x-ray at Mt St Joesph's around 10:45am. Just as we arrived, power went out so we didn't leave hospial until just after noon. Her appointment with her surgeon was for 11:45am, near Broadway and Macdonald! Anyway, whisked her there and then proceeded to Young Brothers for fruit and vegetables while she was being prodded and pulled. Delighted to report that Her Royal Footness walked out of the office wearing a "normal", one with a stiff sole for support, shoe. Great news, of course, (We were both optimistic that this would be the case in spite of the allergic rash setback of about three weeks ago now. Apparently caused by some lotion/oil physio used when massaging her foot!), since we leave in less than two weeks and she needs get used to ambulating without the Royal Boot.

Bad enough that I'm indentured to the Royal Household but have also been rented out to other aristocratic families. About 2:30pm I was to take Mr Fixit to Olympic Sky Train Station as he is returning to St John's, via Toronto, after being here for about two weeks, renovating Clan Sutherland's master bathroom and skiing. Where will my serfdom end? Not sure as Her Haughtiness referred to me as The Royal Knave this morning as I brought her tea to her bedside. Is that a promotion or a demotion? Hard to tell with these madcap royals!

At any rate, when I was back at The Island Inn found a note from Chloë informing me that Sarge had already taken Mr Fixit as he was trying to hop an earlier flight. Relinquished from servitude, I plan to start on income tax. I'm using Nicole's laptop, (Did last year as well as you might remember. Found the service, both Internet and lattes, on Bayswater to be somewhat lacking!!!), as she received a MacBook Air for Christmas. Starting to fret a bit about the scads of things we have to do before the 5th. I wake up at 3:00am, screaming! Not sure which is worse, the nightmare or the reality!

However, can't really complain as last few days have been simply gorgeous. Yesterday's ride with Robo Ray and Whirlygig was stupendous. They picked me up at the Heart Break Terrace, (our place!), at 10:00am and we went around Stanley Park. I wanted to do an up-and-over Lions Gate Bridge but they vetoed me! Giorgio had to be home before noon so that was his excuse. After we left him at Point Grey and Macdonald we proceeded out to UBC along Spanish Banks. Quite a strong headwind until we reached the Foreshore Hill and then it was pushing us along quite nicely on Marine Drive. We climbed Crown to 29th and then cycled past St George's to Imperial and then to 16th. I rode with Raymundo to his place on 23rd/Arbutus and then made for home, down Macdonald. Day was perhaps one of the warmest, most pleasant, in terms of the weather, that we have had for some time. Blinding sunshine, crystal clear blue sky. The North Shore Mountains looked like giant ice-cream cones!

Had 60K on the clock by the time I was at totem pole on Kits Point so did 9K's worth of dipsy-doodling there to have 71.33K on the the Deadly Odometre by time I was back at the Island Inn. Had a quick shower and a bite to eat and then ran some errands. I had wanted to walk over to GI to post some letters and just as I was about to step out the patio door the heavens literally opened and it rained cats and dogs and there was even some hail! Didn't last and it was gorgeous shortly thereafter.
Vancouver, a bit like Melbourne, from our experience. Forecast for this coming weekend is for snow flurries, for example!

Well, hello to Laura and James. We'll be in touch with them, (Could you send along their email addresses?), even if you have left by time we arrive. Nevertheless, let me know if we will cross paths in Melbourne. Cheers, Patrizzio! 


Dear Patrick and Corinne, thank yo very much for the sweet Valentine's day greeting !
I spent the day in the Norwegian mountains down hill skiing, along with Peter, Johan, my mother and in touch with some other families from Denmark, also on vacation in the area.

I know I did not write for Christmas, I hope you're not disappointed nor worried !?
I seem to be loosing energy and the good spirit every winther (last few years) but now things are better. My new job is okay, I might have told you I switched into child psychiatry by October 2011, which means I have declined to become a 'young' doctor again (don't know English word for it), and if I decide to continue, it is 5 yrs all together to become a specialist. I realize, that I am not likely to by a clinic as a general physician, it is too much work and many obligations for a number of years, and I think I will be overloaded. And jobs in municipality are uncertain, my last position there was a big disappointment as to organisation, leadership and work challenges.
My main concern these months is, that Johan is not feeling well emotionally. He has always been the most vulnerable of my sons, and he is stressed by the divorce-situation and the fact that he do not have enough confidence in his dad to tell him how awful he feels about his life. He thus shapen up in his behaviour at Steen's place , and when Johan is with me, we argue all the time, he argue with Peter, refuses to go to school at least once a week, and gets very upset, throwing things across the room and behaves like af 4 yrs. old , throwing himself on the floor screaming and crying for hours . It is very demanding, and I have to be vary careful not to start screaming, too. During the holiday past week, I was happy to take my mother along (or , rather , she took us), so we could alternate between boys and activities. Johan got on snowboard for the first time, and my mother made it down a black slope succesfully - at 74! Johan is content, at least there is now one thing he masters which Peter doesn't! I try to be gentle with Johan so he can recover without great difficulty. Problem is that his father doesn't meet the problem and tells me I am making up the problems, putting diagnoses on him, which isn't true. The boys is sufferning IRL. Well, we'll see if Johan tells his dad at some point...

Otherwise - not som much new. We will be celebrating my father's 75th Birthday in May and I am planning a 50th Birthday party for myself, in the summer, which I hope will be much fun. I have engaged a rock-blues band already!

I hope your are well, and thank you again for the sweet card and thoughts!

Much love, Margareta 


Hi Steel Magnolia!

Glad you liked the Valentine's Day card! Sorry to hear about your difficulties with Johan. Must be very worrying and draining. Our hearts go out to you both. Pleased that holiday in Norway provided a modicum of respite. Hope your new work will pan out for you. Buona Fortuna!

This past Sunday evening we had arranged with Grogg and Lurch to go out for dinner. They had arrived back in Vancouver around noon that day, after having been away since New Year’s Day when they flew to Hawaii for two weeks, then on a cruise through the South Pacific followed by two weeks in New Zealand traveling with another couple from Calgary. They came by at just after 5:00pm and I was literally just walking in the door myself, having biked over to he Aquatic Centre earlier that afternoon to swim. Managed 3.5 miles so was pleased. Cora Lee was visiting with Clan Sutherland so I opened a La Frenz, Naramata Bench, 2010 Viognier, 12.5%, (tropical fruit, rich and ripe, a lingering finish with just a touch of pleasing bitterness), and sent them downstairs to catch up with Flamin’ and Sarge while I changed.

Grog had brought along a 2009 Leonetti Merlot, Walla Walla, 14.5%, (big fruit, red berries, long finish with silky smooth tannins), which he had opened shortly after they arrived and by the time I was changed the three came back upstairs and we chatted about their travels while we enjoyed the wonderful wines. We didn't have long to do so as we had reservations at Edible on GI at 6:00pm. Short stroll and we were there with a minute to spare!

Have been there a number of times before and have always enjoyed the food, the ambience and the
service. Grogg ordered the HARVEST SALAD, (Okanagan pears, toasted hazelnuts, sundried cranberries, local greens), while rest of decided to have the MARKET INSPIRED SEAFOOD SOUP, (East Coast lobster broth, mussels, clams, seasonal sustainable fish), and a bottle of OROFINO, Similkameen Valley, PASSION PIT 2009 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, (tobacco and black fruit), to start!

Soup was divine and Grogg said salad was terrific. He and Cesca had both ordered one of the specials, flank steak with fries, while Coriandre and I chose the other, breast of duck on sweet potatoe mash. Both the steak and the duck were thinly sliced and scrumptuous, delicioso indeed. Of course, we "needed" a second bottle so decided upon STONEBOAT VINEYARDS, Oliver, 2008 PINOTAGE. I'm not a fan of South African Pinotage but was quite taken with this winery's expression of that varietal when we fist visited a number of years ago. True to what I had hoped to taste, we all relished its remarkable plum/raspberry nose with a most palatable cedar spice finish.

Each couple shared a crème brûlée for dessert and I alone had a cappuccino. Grogg and Lurch insisted the dinner was on them so I suggested a round of expensive maltage! (Just kidding!) Nevertheless , it was most generous of them, together with the very pricey Leonetti so we basked in the glow of the Rich and Famous, if only for a few hours! We were ready to leave by 9:00pm and jet-lag was starting to take its toll so they caught a cab right outside the restaurant and we waved goodbye, having made plans to see them the following evening. Cora Lee and I walked home and we, ourselves, were not long in going to bed to read a bit before turning out the bedside lamps. Didn't take either of us long to fall asleep as we each had the better part of a full bottle of wine sloshing around inside our tummies!

On the Home Front, have had a full, full day of Royal Chauffeuring today. Her Majesty had to have what we both hoped was the final x-ray at Mt St Joesph's around 10:45am. Just as we arrived, power went out so we didn't leave hospital until just after noon. Her appointment with her surgeon was for 11:45am, near Broadway and Macdonald! Anyway, whisked her there and then proceeded to Young Brothers for fruit and vegetables while she was being prodded and pulled. Delighted to report that Her Royal Footness walked out of the office wearing a "normal", one with a stiff sole for support, shoe. Great news, of course, (We were both optimistic that this would be the case in spite of the allergic rash setback of about three weeks ago now. Apparently caused by some lotion/oil physio used when massaging her foot!), since we leave in less than two weeks and she needs get used to ambulating without the Royal Boot.

Bad enough that I'm indentured to the Royal Household but have also been rented out to other aristocratic families. About 2:30pm I was to take Mr Fixit to Olympic Sky Train Station as he is returning to St John's, via Toronto, after being here for about two weeks, renovating Clan Sutherland's master bathroom and skiing. Where and when will my serfdom end? Not sure as Her Haughtiness referred to me as The Royal Knave this morning as I brought her tea to her bedside. Is that a promotion or a demotion? Hard to tell with these madcap royals!

At any rate, when I was back at The Island Inn found a note from Chloë informing me that Sarge had already taken Mr Fixit as he was trying to hop an earlier flight. Relinquished from servitude, I plan to start on income tax. I'm using Nicole's laptop, (Did last year as well. Found the service, both Internet and lattes, on Bayswater at Keatings, to be somewhat lacking!!!), as she received a MacBook Air for Christmas. Starting to fret a bit about the scads of things we have to do before the 5th. I wake up at 3:00am, screaming! Not sure which is worse, the nightmare or the reality!

However, can't really complain as last few days have been simply gorgeous. Yesterday's ride with Robo Ray and Whirlygig was stupendous. They picked me up at the Heart Break Terrace, (our place!), at 10:00am and we went around Stanley Park. I wanted to do an up-and-over Lions Gate Bridge but they vetoed me! Giorgio had to be home before noon so that was his excuse. After we left him at Point Grey and Macdonald we proceeded out to UBC along Spanish Banks. Quite a strong headwind until we reached the Foreshore Hill and then it was pushing us along quite nicely on Marine Drive. We climbed Crown to 29th and then cycled past St George's to Imperial and then to 16th. I rode with Raymundo to his place on 23rd/Arbutus and then made for home, down Macdonald. Day was perhaps one of the warmest, most pleasant, in terms of the weather, that we have had for some time. Blinding sunshine, crystal clear blue sky. The North Shore Mountains looked like giant ice-cream cones!

Had 60K on the clock by the time I was at totem pole on Kits Point so did 9K's worth of dipsy-doodling there to have 71.33K on the the Deadly Odometre by time I was back at the Island Inn. Had a quick shower and a bite to eat and then ran some errands. I had wanted to walk over to GI to post some letters and just as I was about to step out the patio door the heavens literally opened and it rained cats and dogs and there was even some hail! Didn't last and it was gorgeous shortly thereafter.
Forecast for this coming weekend is for snow flurries, for example!

Later that afternoon I went to Broadway Lodge to feed Mom her dinner. She had a good meal and then I wheeled her back to her floor where I proceeded to clip her fingernails. It is a bit of a challenge as she is constantly moving or twisting her hand/finger(s) away. I felt quite badly a few minutes after I had started the process as I nipped her left thumb when I was clipping its thumbnail. Bled quite a bit although she didn't complain at all. (On a previous occasion she exclaimed "Ouch"!", although I hadn't drawn any blood. I had to chuckle as it reminded me that some of her circuits are still intact!) A nurse brought a band-aid and compressed the end of her thumb until the bleeding stopped. After I'd filed the cut nails I fed her dessert, a Dixie Cup. Once again, I had to laugh as she wanted to chew on her bandage once the ice-cream was finished. Managed to distract her by putting lotion on her arms and face. Pleased that she is looking so well, her hair done quite nicely and the dry spots on her forehead helped by the skin cream.

Much, much Love, Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
  
Hi Patrick and Corinne,

Ever since I arrived it has snowed every day, the friends of Trevors who left last Tuesday are spitting chips.
We have been out every day at 8:30am and have skied at least 12 runs, about 75 miles, before 12:30pm.
My knee is just coping with Voltarin Gel and a form of Ibuprofen to keep the swelling down.
Trevor is looking out for me all of the time and I am being spoiled.
Have a nice surprise happening at 4pm today, Rae and Lloyd are coming for afternoon tea!! He is definitely on the mend, not skiing yet but that may happen.
Just to let you know we are arriving in Vancouver on Sat 25th Feb at 18:12 AC8197.
Are you still able to pick us up? If not we can book into a hotel.
Then we are leaving on Sun 26th at 18:45pm, would have to be at the airport at 16:45pm.
If this is not convenient for you guys, please dont hesitate to tell us.

Cheers Tina
 

Hi TNT!

Glad to hear that Lloyd is on the mend! Also pleased that snow is back!

I'll pick you up outside Arrivals so keep a look-out. I'll try to time it about 15 minutes after flight has landed, luggage, etc. The Annexe will be ready and waiting! We plan to invite Flamin' and Sarge for dinner on Saturday night. I'll take you back to airport on Sunday. Let me know if anything changes. Otherwise, just send an email before you leave on Saturday to confirm arrangements.

Just home from curling. We won our first playoff game so pleased, of course. Were matched against 16th ranked team as we won regular season. Great kids but not experienced curlers so we were in charge most of the time. Next week's game will be a good one as Team Davis consists of seasoned players! Cheers, Patrizzio!
 
 

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