Rainy Day Window Cat Blues: Saturday, February 1st!

Permanent good can never be the outcome of untruth and violence. -Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) 

Rowan post bath and sitting with his Nana❤️ Hello Teddy Bear Post Bath People! The Little Chap looks so pleased and happy do you think he will want to return to Penticton! Whose bear is that in the background? What are you folk up to for the rest of the weekend? Where is Clarisse staying? When does Ms Tinsel Town head home? Maya liked her reply post to Noreen. What was it about?

Raining here, at the moment, although not the amount that has drenched Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. All sorts of landslides and road/highway closures as a result. Am wondering how Harbour Terrace fared. Forecast suggests there might be a window of opportunity, for another ride, between 2:00-5:00 pm so I'm hoping I can squeeze one in then. Have enjoyed two muffins that Clarisse baked when last here and they are yummy and will fuel me to ride forever! [Have been living out of the freezer and discovering all sorts of things!]

Had a reply from Deanna and she sent along a pdf version of SR Newsletter so I can now open it. Short mention about arrears but you can look at it when you are back. Perhaps Rowan James can find a modelling job in The Peg to help pay for mounting expenses! Kittens, mainly Duke, of course, have been most cooperative of late. He was sleeping on the chair when I got up, [No sign of Etta.], just before 6:00 am, to go to the bathroom. He had a drink, from the water I'd left in the sink, and I went back to bed until 8:30 pm, without a squeak or murmle. He must have returned to the chair as he was there when I finally got up.

[Teens at Heritance Kandalama] He really enjoyed the pumpkin this morning. I had opened a new can so I guess the fact that it was at room temperature helped, although I've not served it for a week or so.

Must away to split a bit of kindling before I head to bank to collect LOC papers. Will stop at Winnipeg Street afterwards to check mail. Fondestos and Love to one and all. Cheers, Dad/Patrizzio! 

Hi Don! Trust you are well. Notice, from the Emeritus College Newsletter, that you are President, so thought I'd say hello. [Greetings to Peter Ward, as well. I see he is delivering a lecture on February 12th.] We've been waiitng for you to come wine-tasting in the Okanagan. Life continues to go extremely well here. Exciting news for us is that Chloë gave birth to a bouncing baby boy, Rowan James, on November 26th. At the moment, she and Corinne are in Winnipeg, showing him off to relatives there.
 

Quite a vibrant live music scene, here in Penticton, centered around The Dream Café. I volunteer there, usually two or three evenings a month, selling 50/50 tickets. Saw Begonia, from Winnipeg, interestingly enough, [We are form there.], this past Thursday, and have tickets for The Jerry-Cans in mid-March. Missed Jill Barber last October as we returned from a six week junket to Europe day after her show. Chloë "inherited" our tickets! Michael Kaeshammer in July so loads and loads of talent in a simply wonderful, intimate venue. Have not yet made it to the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, in August, but hope to do so this coming summer.

Not to mention wine-tasting! A number of distilleries and craft breweries so no shortage of wonderful hootch! Anyway, let us know when, not if, you will visit! Jo-Anne and Colin have been here a number of times, as well as many other friends from UBC and Vancouver. Fondestos to you and Sue. Stay well. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Two months old; Leaving for Winnipeg, from Kelowna, last Monday; post-bath with Nana! Christmas Eve!

Hi Wildwood Park Winter People! Trust everyone is well. Just a quick note to let you know that, at the moment, Chloë and Corinne are in Winnipeg, showing Rowan James off to relatives. Ayn is in town as well. [They fly back this coming Monday, Ayn to Tinsel Town on Sunday.] I'm hoping you might have the opportunity to arrange a get-together. They are all staying on Harvard, near Kelvin. You can reach Lady Dar and Chloë on their cell phones. I thought I had your phone number but if I do, I can't locate it! Fondestos to you and Sally. Stay well. Cheers, Patrizzio! 
 

I picked up the papers for the LOC at the bank around 11:00 am and then popped by Chloë's place to check her mail. No money but RJ's Care Card! With the wind last night, a fairly large branch from the huge pine next door obviously broke off and a fair bit was protruding over Chloë's sidewalk. I thought I could push it back into neighbour's yard, [Have never met her or even seen her. Apparently she is quite an elderly lady and I don't know if she has anyone to take care of things.], but I couldn't even grab the tip of the branch as the needles were needles! The limb was far heavier than it looked. I plan to take a pair of work gloves and a small saw there tomorrow. I might knock on front door and ask if I could move it somewhere. If nobody is home I'll pull branch back so that it doesn't block sidewalk. One can still get by but it will be a nuisance for Chloë if she is carrying Rowan in his car seat, etc.

Photo: Africa Studio/Adobe Stock

Had a bite to eat once home and then was ready to roll by just after 1:00 pm. It had stopped raining when I left the bank but the wind, roaring out of the SW at 28 km/h, gusting to 57 km/h, temperature, was ferocious. Did dry the streets nicely, however, so it was a terrific ride with quite a bit of blue sky and glorious sunshine. Almost balmy at 9º C! Had hoped to make for OK Falls but with wind howling as it was, put Trek back on autopilot and described almost exactly the same route as yesterday. 
 

A Mencken Chrestomathy

Only real difference was that on my return to PTC, after the obligatory gerbil loops of Churchill, a car honked at me as I was making my way along Lakeshore, near the SS Sicamous. It was Thomasino. I gather he was getting ready to go for a walk and then head to community centre for a sauna. Myriads of people strolling the boardwalk, many walking pooches of all sizes and descriptions, quite interested in getting to know each other as they passed. In spite of the crazy wind the lake surface was remarkably calm. I had expected to see large whitecaps. Had to pinch myself, once back home, that I had been for such a wonderful ride on February 1st! Map and Stats for ride:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4503814281#.XjYSpvk-SB8.email

Hi Patrick, Thanks so much for you email. You mentioned great sadness for Corinne and her family. Can you elaborate--is this Corinne's niece? or her mother??
 
You seem to be surviving and the cats do help you along with your music activities. I have been volunteering for the PUSH Festival and have enjoyed several performances. It has been a great distraction from aging parents and my step mother's diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Pauline is 82 and they are not going to operate to remove the tumor. She will have to decide about chemotherapy.  

So much has been piling up and the January rain and darkness have been off putting. Sun is out today and I went to aquasize so feel marginally better. Do take care always Much love Jo-Anne

Hi again, Marps! Corinne, Chloë/Rowan James went to Winnipeg to attend the Celebration of Life for niece/cousin Marlo. I chatted with Corinne this morning and memorial went very well, over 300 people, many work colleagues and a number of teachers from their children's schools. Marlo's son, Emmett, 11, and daughter, Quinn, 8, both spoke, and seem to be dealing with their mother's death as best one can expect. Still, going to be difficult for their father, Ryan, as you can imagine. 

Terribly sorry to hear about your step-mother's pancreatic cancer. That is a pretty tough hand to be dealt. Clara underwent bowel surgery, about a year ago, for the removal of a malignant tumour. She did extremely well, given that she just turned 95 this past Tuesday.Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Chloë sent along these snaps of the red-head this morning!

Thanks Patrick. Sincere sympathies to Corinne and all of you regarding Marlo. Such a loss and way too early with such a young family. Pictures of young Rowan were lovely!! Corinne looks really in her element. Anyways ride safely!
Best regards always Jo-Anne and Colin

Hello again, Memsahib! Trust you are well. Have really been enjoying your blog, descriptions and pictures. You had me chortling over your attempt to devour a mini-towel! Don't eat any dish rags from street vendors! Stay well. Travel safely. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Jennifer and Denise at Joshua Tree!

Patrick, Guess where? Bill Patrizzio, Thanks for this. Lots of great talking points I’ll give you 2: never heard of a good Pinot Noir coming from Italy; BC could use a little more heat for Cab Sauv which struggles here. I sure hope not to see +4c average temp increase! Went Joshua Tree park yesterday, it was great. Thanks for suggesting. Cheers Bill Hi again, Coachella People! Pleased you enjoyed Joshua Tree. Day we were there it happened to coincide with President's Day so we didn't have to pay entrance fee! Here, life continues to unfold as it should Enjoy the heat. Travel safely. Stay well. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!