All that separates, whether of race, class, creed, or sex, is inhuman,
and must be overcome. -Kate Sheppard, suffragist (10 Mar 1847-1934)
Cat Video Festival 2020 at VIFF Year Round Should I buy tickets? Duke and Etta want to go!!! Ummm this is hilarious!!! I would definitely go...lol Chloë
Hi Ariane and Teens! I've been meaning to send along a message for a few days now. The LA vacationers returned this past Saturday, tired from the flights so everyone hit the hay shortly after I collected them from the airport that evening.
On Sunday we had supper, [Chef Patrizzio prepared baked chicken breasts, garlic mashed potatoes, butternut squash and a large mixed salad], at Winnipeg Street and I was able to take pictures of all the wonderful presents. [As I mentioned, in an earlier Facebook post, Chloë will certainly be in touch to thank you both.] Unfortunately, I forgot my camera when we went home and so I wasn't able to download the pictures the next day. Anyway, I'm quite jealous of the fabulous wooden vehicles so I might steal them away when Rowan James is sleeping!
Speaking of which, he sleeps for most of the night so Chloë is able to get much needed rest herself. Per esempio, last night she put him to bed at 7:30 pm and he slept right through the night, until 5:00 am. Had bottle and then slept until 7:30 am! We hosted two tables of bridge last night and Lady Dar was relating some of their LA trip to the ladies at her table and how Rowan James had traveled so well and enjoyed his time there. One of the players, Josinta, has a relatively "new" grandson, Arlo, two years old now, who is still up two or three times a night. Jos pleaded with Lady Dar not to tell Bodil, her daughter, who is really stretched, as you can well imagine! Every child is different, of course, but we are certainly fortunate that Rowan seems to have fallen into quite a regular sleep pattern. I'm sure, being well-rested is one of the reasons he has such a jolly personality.
He loves to be read to and "vocalizes" enthusiastically, squeaks and shrieks, as Nana reads and shows him the colourful pictures, waving his arms and punching his tiny fists like a mini-pugilist! I'm hoping he will become a swimmer as he couldn't be happier having a bath. Chloë puts a warm towel over him when he is in his "whale" tub, usually on the kitchen counter, and he smiles like he's in heaven, all the while. In LA he had his bath in Ayn's large kitchen sink, something we did, at Falcon Lake, when Chloë was around his age.
Chloë called this morning and the remaining drywall, in the basement suite, is being installed today, the chaps already there. Apparently it will take about three days as they have another job, in between, which will delay the taping, "mudding" and sanding at Winnipeg Street. I'm hoping we will be able to start painting by the weekend to speed things along. Must away as I'm planning to hit the pool. Am selling 50/50 tickets, at The Dream Cafë , this evening and good friend, Guillermo, will "shadow" me to see what volunteer job entails as I've suggested he might be interested in doing the same. Really very little effort as most patrons want to help, [.25 cents of each dollar sold at The Dream goes into a fund that Hazel uses to bring in acts that might not be well known, etc. BC Lottery sanctioned, it has been in place for just over a year and to date volunteers have raised over $9,000.], so it is an easy sell. Thanks again for such wonderful, wonderful gifts. Stay well. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Gorgeous gifts; The Boxer! The Bather!
Dearest Rip Van Winkle, Your musings (half it which is surely made up in a drunken malt stupor) are always a source of mild entertainment and major confusion, the only thing worthwhile of extraction from all of that is that it is great to hear that Chloe is happy and well (I've heard so much about post-partum depression being more common place nowadays), and Rowan J. is also happy and healthy - great picture of Corinne and RJ resting, very likely because they do not have to hear or see you! I guess it is also nice to hear that you are still getting around, getting rides in and all...... Also great to hear your LA family is doing great and there are a lot of positive developments going on there.
On your note about travelling, I agree that we have not seen the worst of covid-19 yet, and as the stock market reacted yesterday, we are truly in interesting times. Nevertheless, as someone who dabbles a bit in stocks, this will also pass, although, the big question is when, and to add the oil price wars on top of the pandemic is akin to replacing our limited toilet-paper supply with sandpaper. The news coming out of Italy is terrifying, Costcos are being raided for the most basic supplies, and even seeing how people in Vancouver are starting to slowly change is creating an unsettling undertone to everyday life here. To no surprise, VPL has done little to make its employees feel safer and less confused about what to do during these times as a public institution that interacts with the public in such an intimate manner. If previous pandemics have taught us anything, it is that being proactive and overreacting are not bad things.
Also, isn't it Green Book? and not "Green Room"?? Are you sure you saw the right movie? Like I said, I believe your replies to me are written with the sharp pen found at the bottom of a dram of Islay......
Jessica (Jones) and I are still together, like any couple we have days of laughter and joy, and other days not much so. I think the longer a couple manages to stay together, the better they get at arguing, in the sense that we increasingly learn how to deal with our differences better. Of course, when the water is smooth, anyone can sail the ship. But you tell me, why do we stay with people despite our misgivings about them, may it be big or small? I think I've been in enough relationships and in the current one long enough to know that "love" is not what keeps two people together, there's more to it than that, although, if you asked me I wouldn't be able to tell you right now. What has kept you and Corinne together all these years despite you being slightly more civilized than a half-naked caveman?
I'd love to come and visit you and your new addition - I'm sure RJ could beat the crap out of me after I've had a few glasses of scotch. Considering the virus has put a halt on travel by plane or boat, local vacations are probably the best bet for the next little while, and Okanagan is always very pleasant in the summer months. Please, have your finest single malt and garden-grown vegetables ready for me! Until then, if you swing by Vancouver, please let me know, would love to see you Take care, VL
Here you go Patrick; some more masks! And some other techniques for non-contamination. What a great little boy RJ appears to be -thanks for the pics. Bill.
Hi Masked Marauder! Always as silver lining in every storm cloud! Glad you enjoyed the snaps of Rowan James. As Lady Dar had a meeting this evening she dropped me off at The Dream at around 6:20 pm for my volunteer shift, selling 50/50 tickets. Knew I would be early so I took along my latest book, Michael Connelly's Night Fire in which he brings together his main character, Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch, and a newer detective, Renee Ballard. His defense attorney character, Mickey Haller, [also Harry;s half-brother], from The Lincoln Lawyer also appears, so a fascinating mixture of personalities.
Was able to read a couple of chapters before Hazel announced the draw and I started selling tickets. I had not even heard of Martyn Joseph before I read about him on The Dream's Upcoming Entertainment page so I was interested to meet a couple, from Kelowna, who had known him for 25 years! They first met when they lived in Vancouver and volunteered at the Vancouver Folk Fest, along with one of their daughters who was in charge of Volunteres. Back in 1995 Martyn was scheduled to appear and before he could do so his guitar was stolen. Apparently their daughter took him under her wing, helping him out, and they all became good friends.
Almost a full house so I sold quite a few tickets. Only tables where I didn't were most often people who didn't have any cash. However, one woman actually went to the ATM, not far from The Dream, so that she could buy tickets! At another table, No Cash was the excuse but I chatted with them anyway and discovered they were from Manitoba, Neepawa! Since this is where Margaret Laurence was born and lived we had much to talk about. Both are retired, [Debbie, a nurse, and Colin, a conservation officer], and had just come from Puerta Vallarta, stopping in Penticton, for a month, to visit with Debbie's mother. I told them I was expecting to see friends, Rita and Guillermo, just back from PV themselves, here, this evening, but neither hide nor hare! D/C were planning to ride the KVR in Naramata but did not know about the stretch along the west side of Skaha, to OK Falls, so were delighted I had mentioned it. Shortly after I had given them directions, Martyn came onstage and show began.
I was nothing but impressed and much moved by Martyn's song and playing. It is probably too, too narrow a description but I would characterize his lyrics as being in the mold of protest songs, à la Pete Seeger, early Dylan, Billy Bragg and the like. Not surprisingly, his latest CD, just released in 2019, Days of Decison: A Tribute to Phil Ochs, contains fourteen covers, as well as liner notes by Phil's sister, Sonny. They met at a music conference, about nine years ago, I believe, and discussed the possibility of putting out an album, exclusively of Phil's songs. His lyrics are intelligent and extremely powerful, usually electrifying, decrying injustice, flailing the selfish and greedy, yet often caressingly beautiful when he sings about the power and pain of love.
Furthermore, Martyn does not just sing about people in powerless situations or suffering injustices of all sorts, but has started Let Yourself Trust, a non-profit organization that provides funding for and informs on a wide variety of grassroots projects and justice movements across the globe. LYT funds 2 large projects per year, with focus/fundraising for each project running for 6 months from wherever Martyn stands on stage during that time period. Now beginning its sixth year since inception, LYT is starting work on its 11th project. From Alrowwad, in Palestine, the first, to Haiti Allies, the latest, the organization also provides Community Development Donations, (CDD), as a way to continue to grow the expansion of support, and to continue to solidify the current partnerships while creating foundations of community empowerment around them. To learn more or to donate, visit: <www.letyourself.net>
Lady Dar arrived shortly after Martyn returned to the stage, after the break, and joined me at the table Hazel had assigned to me. Great seats and we were mesmerized by his riveting material and gripping musical and vocal realizations. [I so enjoyed the fact that he often wove in lyrics from other artists, [Springsteen, The Beatles, etc.], to add context and further emotional "punch" to his own lines. In his paean to Canada, [skeleton written on a bus between Prince Rupert and Smithers], he included indigenous chanting into the body of the praise. At the end of the show, the audience simply wouldn't let him off the stage and he was "forced" to do a two song encore. We'd still be there if the choice had been the crowd's decision!
When he finally left the stage, I introduced Lady Dar to Debbie and Colin and we exchanged phone numbers as we invited them to pop by for a drink, at some point. They will be here in town for almost a month, so we'll have plenty of time to arrange a visit. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Chloë walked over with Rowan James on Tuesday, for lunch and a visit! Chloë with picture of herself and Rowan! Doing "core" exercises on our bed!
Hello Neepawa! Great to meet you both. Here is our home number, Give us a shout or a message and we'll arrange a time to get together. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Martyn Joseph and More.
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