Frisky Felines On a Sunny, Sunny Day Bygone Blues: Tuesday, April 30th!

Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you. -Annie Dillard, author (b. 30 Apr 1945) 

Good morning Pat, and Corrine, Just wanted to let you both know that your Net Metering Application was approved. We are thinking 3rd or 4th week of May for your install. Thank you for your patience. I will follow up with a weeks notice if that’s ok with you. Have a wonderful day! Southside Jonny

Hi Southside! Thanks for the update. Wonderful news. Be great if work could start in third week of May as Lady Darjeeling has me hooked up to the stationary bike to re-charge Kona. I'm starting to feel like a gerbil! Fortunately she lets me drink malt to keep me hydrated! We'll be home, me at least, chained to the bike. Thanks and Cheers, Hamster Man Patrizzio!

Yes, I'm available on Friday evening! If there is only one table, then I'm happy to host as well. Janet Friday is only night that would work for bridge. We won't be back until 9 or 10 on Saturday night. Corinne

Angus MacGyver
Played by the actor Richard Dean Anderson
Painted woodcut on cherry

Art: Lisa Brawn

Hello Vancouverites and Salish Sea Folk! Trust everyone is well. I'm trying to stitch together a bridge game for Friday evening so am hoping there will be enough for two tables, even if The Galiano Gadabout and Calamity are not available. Nevertheless, this will work if four, [Dummy to move if only seven], of Elaine, Sarge, Ragin', Fast Eddy, O Susannah, The Snooz, Polly and Mick of Famiglia "Golf Cart" Carter, late of Palm Desert, can make it. If there are players enough for two tables, I am going to be pushier than normal and ask if we could implore either Elaine, Sarge or Green Carters to host. If only one table, The Penguin has kindly offered to entertain, and lavishly so! Let me know what you think and I'll plan accordingly. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Last night, Greetings from the Penticton/Summerland High Stakes Bridge Club! Patrizzio, I am up for bridge anytime, anywhere, as long as I get a partner who bids properly. On the other note, just to be clear and honest, I like to drive. I don’t go nuts, at least not that often (anymore), and I am not dilutional, I know I am not a nascar driver, but fr me, it’s fun.

cheers // bjp Branko Hi Ragin'! Consider yourself booked for Friday night, come Hell or High Water, since we now have four confirmed, as of this writing. Snoozola 'ain't available and have not yet heard from rest. You may well not be "dilutional" or delusional but your tippling seems to have "diluted" your grey matter! I'll be in touch about location once I know more. Stay well. Cheers, Il Conduttore! Pics: Do Not Dilute!

Patrizzio, I just checked my calendar, and I can’t believe it, but I am booked for Friday. This happens to me all too often. I spend eons of time lamenting in loneliness, then get multiple invitations for the same day. Life is not fair ...Sorry, but if you can spring yourself for a coffee, pleas drop by, I’ll start up the fossil fuel guzzling espresso machine. Branko I will be in Kamloops.  You can host it at my place if you want. Sarge. Hi Sarge! Thanks for the offer. As of this writing I don't know how many will be playing but I might well take you up. Will let you know, of course. Thanks again. Travel safely. Cheers, Patrizzio!We just saw your email re bridge are busy this Friday and also Sunday lunch. If you have any spare time come by for a coffee or drink. Otherwise we are up in naramata on June 16. Pauline Hello Clan Carter! Look like this weekend won't work out but look forward to connecting in June. Organize your trip so that you can stay with us for a few days before and/or after Sandy Beach Lodge. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Playing Hard to Get Бранимир! Too, too bad. Your erratic bidding and inevitable whining will be sorely missed! Given my schedule, on Friday afternoon, I think I should be able to pop by for some fossil-fueled fuel! I'll give you a shout, once in town, [Chloë plans to leave Penticton at 8:00 am so we should be in Vancouver around 1:00 pm, perhaps earlier, depending on road conditions, traffic, etc.], and see what might work for both of us. She will be dropping me off. Location not yet decided as I'm waiting to hear from friend, [Tom Shorthouse, former UBC Library colleague.], I would like to meet before hooking up with you and your machina! Cheers, Patrizzio!
 
Pat, Not available Friday night, enjoy our smoke free environment here in Vancouver. Hope you are doing well. John Snooz没有桥！ Snooz méiyǒu qiáo!/No Bridge for The Snooz!

 嗨Snoozola！对不起，我们会想你的。是的，考虑到我在3月12日接受了完整的右肩置换手术，我的确做得非常好。看到我的专家，这是上周四，[手术后六周]，下午在Penticton地区医院的Cast诊所，他签署了物理治疗康复中心，希望我能很快回来骑自行车和徒步旅行。过去六周不再需要佩戴作为我的信天翁的吊索了！太好啦！ [预约后第一次开车，一切都感觉很好！]不幸的是，在公共卫生部的Physio部门没有任命，直到5月7日，所以我联系了他的办公室，他将在社区中心签署一份类似待遇的申请表， REACT计划，我用我的第二次髋关节置换术。就像那里的热水浴缸和蒸汽房一样，并计划继续深水行走，一旦我清理了这样的运动，当一个人在水中拉动时，即使用浮动带支撑，也会在一个人的肩膀上施加一定的压力。保持良好。干杯，Il Conduttore！

[Early 17th century Chinese wood block print, thought to represent Zheng He's ships]
 
Hāi Snoozola! Duìbùqǐ, wǒmen huì xiǎng nǐ de. Shì de, kǎolǜ dào wǒ zài 3 yuè 12 rì jiēshòule wánzhěng de yòu jiān zhìhuàn shǒushù, wǒ díquè zuò dé fēicháng hǎo. Kàn dào wǒ de zhuānjiā, zhè shì shàng zhōu sì,[shǒushù hòu liù zhōu], xiàwǔ zài Penticton dìqū yīyuàn de Cast zhěnsuǒ, tā qiānshǔle wùlǐ zhìliáo kāngfù zhōngxīn, xīwàng wǒ néng hěn kuài huílái qí zìxíngchē hé túbù lǚxíng. Guòqù liù zhōu bù zài xūyào pèidài zuòwéi wǒ de xìntiānwēng de diào suǒle! Tài hǎo la! [Yùyuē hòu dì yī cì kāichē, yīqiè dōu gǎnjué hěn hǎo!] Bùxìng de shì, zài gōnggòng wèishēng bù de Physio bùmén méiyǒu rènmìng, zhídào 5 yuè 7 rì, suǒyǐ wǒ liánxìle tā de bàngōngshì, tā jiàng zài shèqū zhōngxīn qiānshǔ yī fèn lèisì dàiyù de shēnqǐng biǎo, REACT jìhuà, wǒ yòng wǒ de dì èr cì kuān guānjié zhìhuàn shù. Jiù xiàng nàlǐ de rè shuǐ yùgāng hé zhēngqì fáng yīyàng, bìng jìhuà jìxù shēnshuǐ xíngzǒu, yīdàn wǒ qīnglǐle zhèyàng de yùndòng, dāng yīgè rén zài shuǐzhōng lādòng shí, jí shǐyòng fúdòng dài zhīchēng, yě huì zài yīgè rén de jiānbǎng shàng shījiā yīdìng de yālì. Bǎochí liánghǎo. Gānbēi,Il Conduttore!

In case you are rusty! Hi Snoozola! Sorry we'll miss you. Yes, I'm doing very well indeed, considering I underwent complete right shoulder replacement surgery on March 12th. Saw my specialist, this past Thursday, [six weeks, post-op], afternoon at the Cast Clinic at Penticton Regional Hospital and he signed off on physiotherapy rehab so hope I'll be back cycling and hiking soon. No longer need to wear the sling that has been my albatross for last six weeks! Hip Hip Hooray! [Drove for the first time after appointment and everything felt fine!] Unfortunately, no appointments, at Physio Dept at PRH, until May 7th, so I have contacted his office and he will sign a request form for similar treatment at the Community Centre, REACT program, I used with my second hip replacement. Like the hot tub and steam room there and plan to continue deep-water walking once I'm cleared for such exercise as a certain amount of stress on one's shoulders when one pulls oneself through the water, even though supported by a flotation belt. Stay well. Cheers, Il Conduttore!

Patrick, Wo bu zhidao, ni keyi shuo putongua! Feichang hao!我不知道你会说普通话。 很好! John I don’t know if you would say ordinary Lost in Translation! 翻译失去了！ Fānyì shīqùle! Hi again, Snoozola! Who said anything about "ordinary"?

嗨，Snoozola！谁说过“普通”？Hāi, Snoozola! Shéi shuōguò “pǔtōng”? Il Conduttore!

Dui, wo hai xuexi putongua! Mei xingqi wo shang ke! Yes, I still study Mandarin. Every week, I go to class….John DUI, I also learn ordinary UA! M诶 I am in class! Confucian Scholar indeed! 儒家学者确实！Rújiā xuézhě quèshí!How goes the individual tutoring with The Babes? Cheers, Patrizzio! 如何对The Babes进行个人辅导？ 干杯，Patrizzio！Rúhé duì The Babes jìnxíng gèrén fǔdǎo? Gānbēi, Patrizzio!

Tummler, Love to join you but we will be on the North Island. G’us a heads up when next you are swanning around the lower mainland. Fond regards to all, W&CJ Hello No No-Trumpers! Sorry we'll miss you, it goes without saying. On a positive not had a message from Argon Solar. Our Net Metering Application was approved and installation work will start 3rd or 4th week of May. Must away as my yogurt with dehydrated apple rings and cherries await! Cheers from the Tumbling Tummler! Hi All, I am available Friday evening and can host as well  if we have one table (at West Blvd & 41st with a killer view). Cheers, Susan P.

Hi Chris! Trust you are well. Sorry for taking so long to reply to your letter. I quite enjoyed the article you sent along. Thanks very much. Give us a shout if you will be up as we'd love to see you here in Penticton. Stay well. Cheers, Patrizzio!! Pics: Kona, cats and garlic! What? No pics of single malts nor vino tinto? The real pat dunn would have led with strength……….Glad all is well. Q: what was the all in price of your ‘elon light’? Chris Hi again, Christopheros! List price for Kona was $55,000. I wanted model below, $45,000, [Basically the same but no bells and whistles, such as they were. Who needs leather seats or seats, at all, for that matter!], but dealership did not have any and was not expecting delivery in who knows when. With our 2013 Equinox, trade-in and Lady Dar's 2003 Bug, [Scrap-It program], we ended up paying around $37,000, with sundry taxes, etc. 16 solar panels, with Tier 2 charger to come.

No time to drink as I must away to ride stationary bike! Cheers, Patrizzio, But a Shade of the Real Pat Dunn! Pics: Me, myself, malt cabinet, [corner just in background] and I; vino fridge, top for half for whites, bottom for tinto, with differential temperature control! Malt storage. Combo locks on both while Lady Dar is away! Atta boy…………..that’s the pat we have come to know and love xoxo Chris Join us in celebrating Mother's Day with the release of our 2018 Rosé! #RoséAllDay Township 7: Start here? Sure. I’ll be your DD. Night ❤️ Hi Sleepy Head! Just back from quite an evening. Started out at the PAG AGM, where, in the front row of seats, sat beside Norberto, a lovely man we met at the last exhibition we were at. Business meeting was over in a little less than an hour and then there was a very pleasant reception for attendees. 
 

First talked with the owner of the BookShop who had received a Lifetime Honourary Membership. During presentation, by Paul Crawford, Curator, of a lovely print, as a thank you, + lifetime membership, I learned that Bruce Stevenson taught at Lord Byng but left in 1972 so no cross-over, unfortunately. I did my first practicum in the school library there, [Liz Austrum was in charge], in the Spring of 1975. Next I chatted with Barb Dawson, Board Member, [Interesting woman who worked in SF for five years in animation. Her husband is an animator and they just moved to Penticton, from Vancouver, two years ago. [They live on Eastside Road, just south of Skaha Lake Marina and paid a cool million for their house!], and suggested PAG approach City to have the large electrical boxes, on the large expanse of grass in front of the Gallery, covered with some of the images, or others, used on various receptacles, along Main street. [I think they could use images taken from works in permanent collection.] She was very receptive to idea.

Next I bumped into Antonella de Michelis, a lovely young woman who teaches an art appreciation course, (Italian works), at the Gallery, as well as holding faculty positions at UBC Okanagan and at U Cal, based out of El Cerrito, near Berkeley, for a university in Rome. She leads PAG sponsored trips to Italy every year and we'd love to go so please start a crowd-funding page on Facebook, as prices are pricey! At a certain point, Barb joined us and I suggested that the Board should approach the City and suggest that developers should be required to fund public art as part of any new building permits granted to them. 
 

[Thank you for the lovely photos. It was great to meet you and I hope to meet your wife one day too. Barb. Hi Barb! Glad you enjoyed snaps. We will be away in Vancouver over this coming weekend but I'll give you a shout when we are back and perhaps you and your husband can pop by for a drink and a visit. Cheers, Patrizzio!] Since PAG is in desperate need of climate controlled storage space for its permanent collection I suggested that a given developer could satisfy this requirement by figuring in a certain amount of  appropriate storage space in a given development. If a series of these facilities were constructed across Penticton it would allow the collection to be dispersed and hence, protected, inasmuch as only a portion of the entire collection would be destroyed if fire or flood, or other catastrophe, reared its ugly head. Now, if PAG was consumed by fire, it would be most likely that the entire permanent collection would be lost.

Current storage is grossly overcrowded and hence, works are not easily accessible nor stored under ideal temperature conditions. Both Antonella and Barb were quite taken with the suggestion and it seems I'm running for Mayor next election! Still, since PAG is currently negotiating with City to take over maintenance of their physical plant maintenance, etc., it would seem an opportune time to plant this seed in the Council's mind as a way to leverage developers into contributing to the ongoing cultural life of the city.

Bade goodnight to those I'd met and strolled to Cannery Brewery as I knew Clan Sutherland was gathering there. I'd popped in on way to PAG but it was around 5:45 pm and Flamin' said they would be there at 6:00 pm so no sign of anyone. Same held true when I walked inside, around 8:15 pm but I stopped, briefly, to chat with James Miller, former editor of Penticton Herald, about local politics, [future of Shatford Centre, etc.], and was just about to leave and make for home when Flamin' came up behind me. I had looked everywhere, earlier, when I first arrived but had not seen them. Anyway, the other couple they were with left so we sat down for a beer apiece and had a grand visit. I wanted them to come inside for a nightcap but no stamina, given shifts for Beckster and Kid next day and grand-parenting for Flamin'.

I was welcomed by both Etta and Duke but they wouldn't come inside so I brushed and flossed and then started on my last round of arm/shoulder exercises. Once I've finished them and sent this message, I'll hit the hay myself as I've invited Flamin' for dinner tomorrow and I needs must be up reasonably early to ready the house for grand visitors. 

Already made a coleslaw salad, before I started this message, and have had chicken marinating since this morning, so food preparation is well in hand. Fondestos, Love and Cheers, Dad/Patrizzio! Pics: PAG and Cannery! 

Hi Clan Sutherland! Thanks for the IPA, Flamin' and ride home Kid. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Old Farts Hike Thursday MAY 2: Still no sign of Jim so that gives me the chance to show you one of my favorite places at this time of year. I would like to make the annual pilgramage to Roddy Flat and beyond  to view the spectacular display of balsam root flowers which should be in their prime this week. Last year's display was phenomenal. So Penticton and south meet at the Home Hardware parking lot at 8:40 for carpooling to Summerland. Summerlanders meet at the IGA to await the arrival of the southern contingent before departing to our destination at 9:00. Hope to see you there, Peter