Avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments, which,
under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are
to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty. -George
Washington, 1st US president, general (22 Feb
1732-1799)
 |
| Clover enjoying the snow! |
A fabulous evening - great discussions, scrumptious nibblies, and excellent wines. The date of our next "Book Club Evening" will be April 4th, 2019. 7:00 p.m. at Pam Webster's home. Several books were suggested. Please have a look at the list below and choose the book you would like to see us read. Other suggestions were made however many of them several of the group had already read. Send your replies to Patrizzio. He will let us know the "winner". Please reply ASAP so that we have a chance to secure the book and get reading. Thanks. - Dame Judith
Son of the Trickster - Eden Robinson
Everyone
knows a guy like Jared: the burnout kid in high school who sells weed
cookies and has a scary mom who's often wasted and wielding some kind of
weapon. Jared does smoke
and drink too much, and he does make the best cookies in town, and his mom is a
mess, but he's also a kid who has an immense capacity for compassion
and an impulse to watch over people more than twice his age, and he
can't rely on anyone for consistent love and support, except for his
flatulent pit bull, Baby Killer (he calls her Baby)
— and now she's dead.
[Lucas Cranach the Elder, Cupid complaining to Venus, National Gallery, London] Jared
can't count on his mom to stay sober and stick around to take care of
him. He can't rely on his dad to pay the bills and support his new wife
and step-daughter. Jared
is only 16, but feels like he is the one who must stabilize his
family's life, even look out for his elderly neighbours. But he
struggles to keep everything afloat... and sometimes he blacks out. And
he puzzles over why his maternal grandmother has never liked
him, why she says he's the son of a trickster, that he isn't human.
Mind you, ravens speak to him — even when he's not stoned. You think you know Jared, but you don't. (From
Knopf Canada)
[VP Throttlebottom, Prez John P. Wintergreen, and the beauty contest winner Diana Devereaux in
Of Thee I SingEureka Theatre, San Francisco Photo:
DavidAllenStudio.com]
Educated - Tara Westover
An
unforgettable memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves
her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge
University. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she
set foot in
a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that
there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no
one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When
another brother got himself into college, Tara
decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed
her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to
Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too
far, if there was still a way home.
 |
Meet Rana catesbeiana.
Bloody noun!
Photo:
Jen Goellnitz
|
Runaway - Alice Monroe
This acclaimed, bestselling collection also contains the celebrated stories that inspired the Pedro Almodóvar film Julieta.
Runaway is
a book of extraordinary stories about love and its infinite betrayals
and surprises, from the title story about a young woman who, though she
thinks she wants
to, is incapable of leaving her husband, to three stories about a woman
named Juliet and the emotions that complicate the luster of her
intimate relationships. In Munro’s hands, the people she writes
about–women of all ages and circumstances, and their friends,
lovers, parents, and children–become as vivid as our own neighbors. It
is her miraculous gift to make these stories as real and unforgettable
as our own.
Brother - David Chariandy
An intensely beautiful, searingly powerful, tightly constructed novel, Brother, explores
questions of masculinity, family, race, and identity as they are played
out in a Scarborough housing complex during the sweltering heat and
simmering violence of the summer of 1991.
With shimmering prose and mesmerizing precision, David Chariandy takes
us inside the lives of Michael and Francis. They are the sons of
Trinidadian immigrants, their father
has disappeared and their mother works double, sometimes triple shifts
so her boys might fulfill the elusive promise of their adopted home.
Coming of age in The Park, a cluster of town houses and leaning
concrete towers in the disparaged outskirts of a sprawling city, Michael
and Francis battle against the careless
prejudices and low expectations that confront them as young men of
black and brown ancestry -- teachers stream them into general classes;
shopkeepers see them only as thieves; and strangers quicken their pace
when the brothers are behind them. Always Michael
and Francis escape into the cool air of the Rouge Valley, a scar of
green wilderness that cuts through their neighbourhood, where they are
free to imagine better lives for themselves.
Propelled by the pulsing beats and styles of hip hop, Francis, the
older of the two brothers, dreams of a future in music. Michael's dreams
are of Aisha, the smartest girl
in their high school whose own eyes are firmly set on a life elsewhere.
But the bright hopes of all three are violently, irrevocably thwarted
by a tragic shooting, and the police crackdown and suffocating suspicion
that follow.
With devastating emotional force David Chariandy, a unique and exciting
voice in Canadian literature, crafts a heartbreaking and timely story
about the profound love that exists
between brothers and the senseless loss of lives cut short with the
shot of a gun.
GOOD MORNING MR. PATRICK: THANK YOU for hosting last night’s book club. Fabulous, as usual. I’m for reading EDUCATED by Tara Westover. Cheereo and have a great Friday. Von Bingen…….😊😊😊 I vote we read Educated.
Hi Von Bingen! Pleased to learn you made
it home without incident. Yes, it was loads of fun. Thanks again for
wonderful appetizers and wine. Hope to see you on Monday. Cheers,
Patrizzio! AND……………I HAVE A BIRTHDAY LUNCH ON MONDAY. Another Friend turning 70. SO AM GOING TO MISS SNOWSHOEING AGAIN……………..Will get started on our book. See ya soon though…………have a great Friday and Week-end…..:😊😊😊 Hi Social Whirlwind Dervish! Will miss you but understand. Cheers, Patrizzio! Sorry I missed the evening. Corinne After reading the reviews I too would like to read Educated. Dame Judith GOOD MORNING JUDI: I see you are an early riser this morning too. 😊 Just a correction…….the Author of Educated is Tara Westover. I’m for reading that one too. What a great Book Club get-together. Have a great Friday. Hugs from Hildi
Buongiorno Book Club! Thanks
to everyone for the delicious, more than generous appetizers and
wonderful, wonderful wines, not to mention the lively, spirited discussion. Thanks,
as well, to Dame Judith for acting as Club Secretary, and providing the
reviews for the next book selection. Given the replies, already in, and my vote, I
decree, by the power invested in me as Despot Extraordinaire, that Tara
Westover's Educated be our next selection. Thanks, of
course, to Naramata Goil for hosting in April. Stay well. Read on!
Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: First snapola: I haven't read the book so I'm just going to have a nap!
Thanks Patrick That was going to be my vote to. I’ll get one ASAP. I’m going to get personal with you and share my neurosis -oh dear- I love your photos but I don’t like having my picture taken ;(Can we agree not to include me in your photo journal. Thanks Xoxo Michelle Hi Cousin! Hope you are feeling better. We missed you last night. No snapolas of you is fine with me. Cheers, Patrizzio! Sounds good to me! Louise Sounds great! Nice photos Patrizzio! Dame Judith
The kids invited me to go out with them to the cannery tonight as they already had a babysitter lined up. (They don’t tell me anything!) Wondering if we might get together tomorrow M Hello Social Whirlwind! I thought you were on medical leave not a road tour! I gather there may well be live music at The Cannery this evening so loads of fun, I'm sure. At any rate, tomorrow is fine BUT Greg, Pam's husband, is supposed to arrive sometime on Saturday, driving from Calgary where he is on business. He plans to ski at Apex for a few days and his two sons, Cody and Dustin, are flying in to Kelowna, next Tuesday, to join him. In his last message he was concerned that avalanche warnings might well affect his drive so he wasn't sure when he would actually arrive. This being the case, he might not make it to Penticton tomorrow. If he does arrive, however, while I don't want to be presumptuous, is he invited? Let me know and I'll plan accordingly. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Apparently we are both presumptuous!! Rebecca has a gaggle of people in on Saturday nights to watch the episode of The Bachelor!! Can't understand it or believe they watch it but they have bets on who will get picked!! 😳 but if we want to get together at your place for dinner Greg may appreciate that more after a long travelling day and I promise to bring the nice bottle of Shiraz or reasonable facsimile. Let me know your thoughts M Hi Turn-the-Dinner Table Around Woman! Wow! How is it that I'm invited for dinner at my own place? Talk about Reverse Freeloading! That's fine but it better be a pretty damn good reasonable facsimile! Had a bottle of 2016 Terravista Syrah, last night, brought by Senka's good friend, Von Bingen, in hiking group as well. She helps bottle and is paid in wine! Senka brought her 2017 Figaro which didn't get around to opening as everybody brought so much wine!
We can compare it to your facsimile! Even if Greg doesn't make it we will still have dinner at the Front Street Brasserie and you can pay to make up for The Millionaires skipping out on their treat to Chloë and I. Freeloader Boomerang!!! Will someone drop you off or do you need a ride? Let me know and I'll plan accordingly. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Senka and then with Dame Judith; snowshoe outing on Thursday. Felines waiting for you, Flamin'! I have raised freeloading to an art form !! Never say I am not talented !! I will bring both wine and take you to dinner so you can not besmirch my good name!! M
Yes ticket is for you and I would like my table back. I need it for Mar 4th
Happy that you found some one Judy Hi Patrizzio, Monday or Thursday night sound great. I can have the Bridge eve at my house. Just let me know. Hugs, Olly Monday for me, please. Susan Hello Patrick, Monday night works the best for me! Cheers, Jos Hello Bridge Sisterhood! Everyone who can play would like Monday evening so we'll convene at Olga Polga's around 6:30 pm. Thanks for hosting, Rolly Polly.
[We missed you last night. It was a wonderful gathering and great discussion.] There will only be the four of us. Susan, if you come to my place, around 6:05 pm, I can drive. [Thank you, Patrick, I will be there by 6:05 Susan] Josinta, do you want us to collect you? Let me know and I'll plan accordingly. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio! Thank you Patrick for organizing and the offer to pick me up. Planning to drive myself. Cheers from a snowy Summerland. Jos
Hi Patrice, Great to hear about all your socializing with
bridge, bands and hikes!. You are an inspiration and I believe that
someone that other more idle types should aspire too, after all how can
one sit around and do little or no activities outside
of their comfort zone and thus let life pass them by? I’m with you in
that there are so many things I want to do, places to see and misc.
adventures to embark on that I feel I would need several lifetimes if
not an infinite amount!!.
I Sympathize with Chloe and her plumbing woes as
when we went up to the cabin last Friday our plumbing system was
literally frozen solid. The toilet bowls were pure ice and needless to
say we did everything we could to thaw out as fast
as possible. Normally we leave the heat on low as the baseboards have a
minimum 5 degrees they stay at but the minus 19 temps for a week
overcame this. By Saturday mid morning I was able to remove the ice that
was left in the toilets and discovered the one
on the main floor was cracked from top to bottom, alerted due to the
water leaking from under the toilet.
I went to Rona and bought a new one
and had Jake do the re and re under my supervision as I felt it was
good knowledge to pass along as well as the fact
that they need to earn their keep! I also replaced the toilet tank on
top of the one upstairs as it had been giving me trouble anyway with a
leaky flapper valve and I had a spare tank from the recent cabin reno.
Down the street. After that I was ready to
turn on the water and discovered my Pressure reducing valve was also
cracked and needed replacing so embarked on that. Again luckily I had a
replacement in my stock of materials gathered from the house demo’s
happening in Burnaby that Jake’s soccer coach Ivan
let me go in and take before the houses got scraped. That required some
creative cutting and soldering of copper pipe and fittings but worked
out well and was better that the system that was there that had been on
my radar to be replaced anyway.
Finally ready to turn on the water around 4 p.m.
and nothing came through which seemed very strange and made some calls
to see if anyone else had any water issues but they did not. After some
deduction I found that the water main coming
into the house was still frozen even though it was in an area where I
had a heater going for some time. I set a hair dryer on the pipe and let
it sit for a couple hours, Meanwhile I drove Colleen to our friends
Vern and Jill’s as they were going to music bingo
down at the Holiday trails r.v. resort for the evening. I had decided
to pass due to the situation at hand and didn’t feel too much like
socializing.
I walked Clover for a while and then came home and tested
the pipe again and found that it had thawed out
because I could hear it start to flow but I waited until I had the boys
stationed at strategic positions to see if anything else was awry. When
they were ready I fully opened the valve and almost immediately heard
the sound of water leaking and a waterfall
started coming out of the bottom of the wall behind the shower and down
into the crawl space where I was standing only a couple feet away.
Needless to say I shut it down as quickly as I could and uttered a few
colourful expletives!!.
After going and mixing myself a stiff rum and coke I
went and had a closer look and feeling there was no time like the
present and driven by the thought of another night without cold or hot
water and peeing in a bucket I proceeded to grab
a crowbar and start demoing the wall!. I did this with as much surgical
precision but as hastily as I could and soon discovered a broken pex
pipe. It looked like it had been shot from the inside out but
fortunately was in a relatively easy spot to access and
even more fortunately was not the very expensive shower valve beside
it.
I messaged Vern as he had said he had a bunch of
tools and parts I could use for the repairs if needed, taking him up on
his offer I quickly went and got the tools I needed and make a pretty
quick repair which involved cutting the old crimp
rings off with a cutting disc on an angle grinder which I know you are
familiar with. Once done I called for the boys to man their stations and
tried the water again, only to hear the sweet sound of silence!.
By this time it was 9:30 and did a quick tidy up
and had a long hot well deserved I thought hot shower. Colleen arrived
not too long after and very pleased to hear of the progress. Sunday was a
very relaxed day and we just went for some
nice walks in the snow with Clover and in the afternoon attended the
winter fest over at the skating rink put on by the ratepayers
association. There was a bonfire, hot chocolate, chili and prizes as
well as some hot apple cider with fireball concoction that
Colleen had dreamed up. This really hit the spot and I had a chance to
catch up with a bunch of people I had not seen in some time.
Monday the boys headed off back to town just before
lunch and Colleen started cleaning the aftermath of the plumbing fiasco
while I headed over to the other rental cabin to change the code on the
electric lock for the door as well as investigate
why the washer was not draining. This has been a problem for a month
but we had not been able to get in there due to people renting it for
three weekends in a row. Long story short after tearing the washer apart
I deemed it a write off due to it’s age and
further troubleshooting seemed to not fit the cost benefit criteria I
am trying to adhere to. So far this week I have not been able to find
one as it is an apartment size and not a popular size…of course.
I got a call to come work on a Bat Woman TV pilot
so went and spent Wednesday and Thursday helping them out. Nick who is
running the shop has been trying to get me to come work for him for 20
years as he says and I have made it quite
clear that I don’t want to work that much. They worked me over for the
two days I was there, giving me a gas card and offering me incentives
such as working part time or as my schedule allows so might be a good
thing. They start the series later in the spring
so I will mull things over.
I took today off to look after some personal stuff
such as a little repair job on the security gates of my friend Glen’s
apartment building which he manages. We are charging a hefty rate and
think it will only take a an hour or so and then
will head to an Irish pub on the corner for a late afternoon meal and
pint. Happy trails, take care for now and talk soon.
Al Pics, spare toilet and parts, broken pressure valve, The boys at Winter Fest, Clover enjoying the snow, makeshift toilet!
Hi Emergency Plumber and Music Bingo Girl! Terribly sorry to learn about all your frozen pipes and related
problems! What a complete and utter drag. Makes my sliding bathroom door
off its plastic hook seem like a walk in the park! At any rate, pleased
to learn that all came well, due to your competence
and ability, Big Plunger Man, in the end and that you were at least
able to enjoy Sunday. [Enjoyed all the Popular Science photos. Clover looks like me yesterday!] Glad your latest work is to your liking and
schedule. I apologize for not replying sooner to Colleen's message inviting
us to The Sunshine Valley Five Star Hotel over Easter weekend. I had to
ask Lady Dar about our plans as I knew she had been in contact with
Rosemary/Andre, friends from London/Chabeuill, [where I left my bike],
and it turns out that they will be visiting us that weekend, at Spirit
Ridge. I'm terribly sorry, yet again, that we are not able to accept
your generous offer. Seems as if social engagements always come in
clumps at the very same time.
A
case in point is this coming week and next few days, as well. Greg,
Pam's, [Corinne's youngest sister's], husband, is supposed to arrive
sometime on
Saturday,
driving from Calgary where he is on business. He plans to ski at Apex
for a few days and his two sons, Cody and Dustin, are flying in to
Kelowna, next Tuesday, to join him. In his last message he was concerned
that avalanche warnings might well affect his
drive so he wasn't sure when he would actually arrive. This being the
case, he might not make it to Penticton tomorrow.
At
any rate, Toshi, our long-term Japanese boarder is in Whistler, on
business, herself, and will be flying up to Penticton next Wednesday, to
stay until Saturday. House has been empty ever since Lady Dar left and
soon will be bursting at the seams. May well have Toshi sleep at Chloë's
place but will make that decision when I know more about how long other
relatives will be staying. Unfortunately Toshi will miss seeing Lady
Dar as she has to return to Japan before March 7th, date Her Royalness
returns home.
[Teddy Roosevelt in a political cartoon The Washington Post, 1902 Cartoon: Clifford Berryman]
Other
than that I've been pretty busy with wonderful boot hikes, snowshoe
outings, [Monday's below], and deep-water walking at pool. Sauna, steam
and hot-tub are simply wonderful after invigorating workout. Once my
right shoulder replacement, [surgery on March 12th], recovery, [six
weeks +/-], is complete I'm hoping/planning to start swimming regularly
again. Especially when weather doesn't allow cycling. Had a fab snowshoe
outing yesterday but haven't had time to put album together yet as I
hosted our book club last night. Grand time with plenty of wonderful
hootch, delish appetizers and lively, spirited discussion about Michelle
Obama's Becoming.
[After resigning, Nixon making his farewell speech, accompanied by his daughter and son-in-law, 1974 Photo: Ollie Atkins]
Flamin'
had invited me for dinner tonight. [She and Sarge were in town for long
weekend. He drove back to Vancouver on Sunday but she is staying until
this coming Sunday.] She and Chloë were over for dinner this past
Tuesday and we had a great visit. At the end of the night she asked me
to come for dinner tonight. However, just received a message and she
said that Rebecca and Corey had invited
her to go out with them to the Cannery Brewery tonight, [live music],
as they had a babysitter lined up. She wondered if
we might get together tomorrow so I've invited Greg along, if he
arrives! Always a Freeloader!
Must
away as I want to hit pool again and then have to do quite a bit of
grocery shopping for coming hordes of visitors, Japanese and Manitoban
Freeloaders! Stay well. Fondestos and Cheers to you both, Marilyn and
Big Molly. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Flamin' and Duke and Chloë; Bridge Sisterhood on Monday; Nickel outing; Book Club, Senka is owner/winemaker at Terravista.
Olivia is on her way!! Heading to the hospital at UCLA Santa Monica. Sam went into labor this morning and is at 5cms!! More to come xoxo Soo exciting!!!! Chloë Yay! Sending lots of positive vibes to Sam and Alex.Here’s hoping it’s a quick labour 🤞Thanks Marlo!! Xoxo Ayn So exciting! Anymore news? Love The G Nana Contractions are coming right on top of one another. Sam is calm and doing well. She is hoping to not need an epidural and do it naturally. Good for her. How is Alex doing? Mom 7Alex is being a great labor coach! Congratulations to them both. Trust all continues to go well. Love Patrizzio, Great Grandfather in Waiting! What is happening on the baby front? Just got back from dinner. Love Mom At 8 cm!! It’s a lot of work this getting born!! That's for sure Does Alex get triple time?
Patrizzio, Thinking of and then came across these pictures. Glad times in the green room. Rita has returned from the east and we are getting reaquainted! Chat soon. Bill Hi Wild Bill! Bumped into Gordon Pasha at the pool a few days ago and had a brief chat with him. I'm just back from spending a few hours there this afternoon. Third time this week so pleased to be getting back into deep-water walking routine.
Lady Dar is enjoying her last few days in Mexico before heading to LA for a week or so. Had word from Ayn, our daughter there, that she is at the hospital, UCLA Santa Monica, where contractions have begun for Sam, wife of our youngest grandson, Alexander. Olivia is on her way! All going well so far. Fondestos to Rita the Returnee! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Yay!!!! Congrats on your beautiful new addition :) can’t wait to meet her !!! PS we all appreciate Alex’s team support ;) Nicolina 😘 Hi
Nicolina! Thanks for all the good wishes for Sam, Alex and Olivia. Trust you, Marvinator, Kaiya and Jaxonator are well
recovered. I'm sorry I missed seeing everyone over the long-weekend but
self-preservation took over! On another matter, I have been wanting to
thank you for the lovely, lovely Welcome picture of Kaiya and family, and do apologize for taking so long to do so.
Given arrival of Olivia you obviously set the tone and style for
bringing gorgeous babies into the world! Stay well and I hope we'll have
a chance to catch up in the not too, too distant future. Fondestos to
one and all. Cheers, Patrizzio! Beautiful Pictures. Congratulations to all!! Ryan
On a far more exciting front, my other wonderful, wonderful news is the birth of Olivia, last evening/night. Both she and Sam are well. I don't have all the stats yet but believe she weighed over 8 lbs and has legs like a champion racehorse! She'll probably be taller than Uncle Pierre! For my part, I'm now an extremely proud Great Grand-Father who now has the best reason in the world to be a Truly Grumpy Old Man, or as Flamin' said, a Great Troll!
Hey Patrick, Won’t
make it to your place until Monday night. Need to see a customer here
in Calgary Monday morning and then head your way. I think it’s about an 8
hour
drive. Will update you when I’m on my way. Greg Hi
again, Mighty Grigor! Thanks for note. Understand completely. Only
disappointed I won't see more of you as we've plenty of rum to consume!
On a sadder note, Mabel, from Go Green, in Vancouver is devastated that
you won't be there this trip. She had organized a party with some great
ribs that weren't all that green when she took them out of a dumpster,
as well as a half-eaten birthday cake that she over-wrote, on top of
"Happy Birthday", "Welcome Back Greg", in some chocolate chips she'd
scraped from the bottom of the aforementioned dumpster, and melted in her heroin spoon. Also, she mentioned she was saving half a jug of Baby
Duck she opened on New Year's Eve! Your loss!!! Stay well and let me
know your progress on Monday. I'll be hiking that day so probably won't
be home until 3:00 pm but assume you will be here later than that. If
not, The Lads on the benches along Penticton Creek happen to know Mabel
and would be glad to host you until I return. Their jug wine is even
better than Mabel's and I think they have an extra appliance box so you
might consider spending your time in Penticton with them! Cheers,
Patrizzio! PS: Don't know if you have heard about birth of Olivia, delivered yesterday evening/last night.
Hello Great Grandmother! Hip Hip Hooray! Congratulations to you, Lady Dar! I suppose you are pleased as punch, as well you should be. Glad everything went so well. You'll be in Seventh Heaven when in LA. Perhaps you won't be able to tear yourself away. Whole photography angle with professional photographers is quite different from when our two girls were born!
Big news, from her, is that she stumbled upon a RMT, [Beckster's was unable to fit her in.], at Riverside Mall, above T-Bones, on Friday. He explained that what others had been doing was only exacerbating her condition and what he did was nothing short of miraculous as far as she was concerned. She was able to sleep for seven straight hours that night, something she had never done in months and felt almost like she did before accident next morning! Went for another session today and she can even contemplate returning to work in next little while.
