Just Me and the Cats and My Lonely Sling Blues: Friday, March 15th!

It is better to prevent crimes than to punish them. -Cesare Beccaria, philosopher and politician (15 Mar 1738-1794)

Hi all. I have a wee problem. I will not be out with the Old Farts on Thursday, March 28th. Also doubtful is Thursday March 21st. Soooo, is anyone out there willing to lead the group on either or both of those dates? You can choose to snowshoe or to hike, and the choice of destination is entirely yours also. I will even put out the weekly blurb with information. Can you help me? If so, please let me know at your earliest convenience. Many thanks, Jim Hi James! Trust you are well. This is to let you know that both Corinne and I Will attend the showing this coming Tuesday. She will bring her own gluten-free food. Thanks and Cheers, Patrick! Thanks for the heads-up, Patrick. Cheers, Jim

Text: Lisa (@xLiserx)

Superbloom! It really was incredible, and there was strong fragrance and birdsong. This picture is near the south entrance to Joshua Tree Park. Best to both of you, Jim Hi Patrick – Thanks for the generous donation! It will support the balanced, effective approach of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Because of the generosity of friends and relations, my target of $500 was well surpassed. Together we generated a substantial sum, much more than I expected. Really appreciate your support. We arrived home on Sunday after 10 days walking the deserts of Southern California. We did a few days in Borrego Springs wandering the Anza Borrego Park and then finished at Sagewater Spa in Desert Hot Springs, our base for hiking in Joshua Tree National Park. I played bridge with Peter at the Palm Desert bridge club (huge turnout, and obviously good players because we didn’t do all that well) while Jocelyn hung out with Lynne in their mid-century modern pad, and we had dinner with them a couple of times.

It was windy most of the time, even cold – in the low teens – some days, but it was wetter and colder before we arrived. It was so wet through the winter into February, in fact, that it’s a “superbloom” year. There were flowers everywhere, right beside the cacti. We wandered through carpets of purple sand verbena our first day just off the highway and fields of blue and yellow flowers the next day on the way up to Hell Hole Canyon. Flowers are everywhere, right beside the cacti. We took too many photos and walked further than planned, so slept well – until Sunday morning and the clocks going ahead – no wonder early flights on Sunday were cheap.

Guess you are crying into your beer, losing the Lighthall’s. But you are building a pretty good circle of friends up there. Look forward to seeing you at the end of the summer on our annual jaunt through, if not sooner. Let us know if you are in Vancouver. Thanks! Jim

Sleep in a wine barrel on Portugal: https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/quinta-da-pacheca-vineyard-portugal-wine-barrel-hotel-rooms?fbclid=IwAR1l9084DHQ_fNlGZgRk_1ryfmDbQxj-YuvRrjA7Dg9-LVhF0-ywuPJbeXY Hope the patient is recovering! Love to all, Ayn 

 

Good afternoon Patrick—So good to see you are pretty much “oot and aboot” and back to your usual chirpy self! It’s always great when a medical procedure goes better than anticipated, no? Even though we did not experience any time changes (except the turnover to DST last Sunday) I still feel totally jet-lagged. Maybe it was because it was such a long day on our return what with the first leg to Calgary and then the delays in Vancouver. Then there is always so much to catch up with when we got home. I still haven’t made it past the first turn in our driveway. Grumble, grumble, grumble ….  

Do you think you will be up for an outing early next week? Peter and I would like to treat you and Corinne to dinner. Let us know how you feel about this. Cheers for now, Lynnie P.S. Hugs to Corinne and Chloe as well. Hi Lynnie, Dinner out sounds delightful. We are free Wednesday. Or could do Tuesday at a pinch. I believe Peter is off again soon. Let us know what is best for you. Look forward to catching up. Hugs Corinne Hi Corinne, Wednesday will be fine.  We’re thinking of the Hooded Merganser. We’ll pick you up at 6:25.

Cheers, Peter Hello Narrow Nation! Sounds wonderful! Thank you so much for the lovely invitation. Cheers, Bethany Teal also known as Patrick! Glad to hear all went well with the surgery Patrick...Sounds like you are not in too much pain postoperative ...so hope that's still the cas That's amazing!!! Pictures in hospital look great and back at home as well...so all good!!👍🙏

Are you out of commission. To play cards as well??...It will be a while in the sling...I presume As for myself...there's always something going on...between the walking group and the gym & Aquasize....time seems to escapeI enjoy a quiet evening at home now and then to catch up on my PVR'd tv shows and phone calls  It's good for me to keep busy...mostly it is with women folk so it's nice to have the male mixture on Mondays with the OF's...I do have a few girlfriends with husbands and partners that I socialize with so that works too In fact last Saturday, I went to the last Vees home game with a couple Wednesday it was the older version of a Star is Born that I watch with another friend and her partner...and played Canasta with Carrie Paul and Rita last Friday evening ...So there,...It's nice to have both male and female friends...
 

[Latest Netflix series, Secret City, set in Canberra, that we are watching.] Well I must be off to get ready for the evening Every other Friday ...the Summerland Arts Council has a cabaret style live entertainment for $10 cover charge...and snacks are provided and wine available for $5 a glass It is a fundraiser for renovations to be done Something interesting to do in Summerland on a Friday evening Tonight ,...the music is by Rick and Julie Vallenti and their drummer. They are a fun couple with lots of energy and great music so I'm looking forward to the evening Happy recovery and again ..I am very happy to get some news from your household Adios... Ceou...Aurevoir...a great evening to you both Murielle (Elle)🙏😊💐 Hello Summerland! Trust you're well with your very busy life, Murielle. Cheers, Patrick!
 

Just thought you'd enjoy this one. Hugs, Olly Hello Rolly-Poly! Trust your neck is even better, Olga Polga, and that your new roof is either completed or near completion. Enjoyed the Irish joke so thanks sending it along. Cheers, Bethany Teal also known as Patrick! [Not sure if you know that I'm using the dictation feature on my Mac so it keeps coming up with interesting translations!]         Hello take no prisoners with respect to over-left hooch! Due to your stance I thought you might enjoy this Irish joke, sent to me by one of my fellow Snowshoers: The rain was pouring down. There standing in front of a big puddle outside the pub was an old Irishman, drenched, holding a stick, with a piece of string dangling in the water. A passer-by stopped and asked, "What are you doing?"   "Fishing" replied the old man. Feeling sorry for the old man, the gent says, "Come in out of the rain and have a drink with me.” 

In the warmth of the pub, as they sip their whiskies, the gentleman, being a bit of a smart ass,  cannot resist asking, "So how many have you caught today?”  "You're the eighth", says the old man.

At any rate, I trust you're both well ensconced back at Villa, [you sent this send day], V I see EE and tea EE! Did the grounding of the latest bowling airplanes affect your travel plans? For my part, I spent another lazy day dictating to my difficult secretary napping/reading. Ladies you are was back at the hospital doing her volunteer shift at the information desk for most of the morning. Good friend arturo's dropped by to wish me well. Enjoyed mugen Java caught up since I last saw him and Jos. He was about to leave when Lady Dar returned from shopping so he chatted with her as he had seen her since before she left for Mexico.

Chloe is coming for dinner and she just arrived a few minutes ago. She and her mother left for a walk, along Penticton Creek, for an hour so, while pork chops are baking. Must away as I'd like to do another round of my arm exercises before The Sisterhood returns. Fun pistols, Best testicles and cheers, I think he'll athletes seal I At least he'll Patrick! [I trust I cannot be accused of inappropriate, sexist language since nose greetings or not what I dictated but I thought you both might enjoy them!! Cheers, Pizza weasel Pizza R hi ZZ Home! Pics: Friends,  Jim and Jocelyn, just returned from hiking around Joshua Tree and sent along this snap. Front porch felines!

Norm's Sample Sale: It’s that time again for some great deals on dress shirts, sports shirts, sweaters, suits, sports jackets, pants and more from Bugatti, Leo Chevalier, Viyella, Sotto Sopra, and S. Cohen.   We have lots of Fall and Spring samples available. We’ve moved to a bigger showroom in the FX Building.  I hope you can come and see us: Where: FX Building, New Room, Glen Drive, Vancouver (in the back aisle on the second floor) When: Sunday, March 24 - 10 am till 2 pm (call my cell for access through the gate) Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - 9 am - 4 pm See you there, Norm Greetings from the Sling Man to the Sample Salesman! Trust you are well, along with family, Stormin'! Would love come to your sample sale but not this time as I'm recovering from a right shoulder replacement, this past Tuesday.

 

Had a brief visit from Grogg and Lurch in mid February as they were on an extended ski trip going as far is Revelstoke. He mentioned that Chopper, aka Nigel Amon, and Karen are now living in Parksville. I had a message from him and they are well although he slipped on the ice during the cold patch and sprained both wrists. We might be down in Vancouver in May and if so are hoping we can make a quick run to the island. If you are around it would be great to catch up. All the best to to you and family. Cheers, Patrizzio!

 

Hi Fartograms, Another great outing coming up, this time under the professional leadership of our own Tony Cottrell. We will be exploring some of the lower peaks at the south end of Cartwright, starting from Deer Ridge. This will be a hike, not a snowshoe, but cleats are highly recommended. There is a mix of old snow, some slush (not much) and some bare ground and rocks.

As usual, meet to carpool at Home Hardware in Penticton at 08:40 AM and IGA Summerland at 09:00 AM. After that we will debrief & relax probably at the Beanery, Hope to see you there! Aart, the Mountain Bard