IIDD, Winter Solstice: Tuesday, December 4th

Mankind's true moral test, its fundamental test (which lies deeply buried from view), consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy: animals. And in this respect mankind has suffered a fundamental debacle, a debacle so fundamental that all others stem from it. -Milan Kundera, novelist, playwright, and poet (b.1929) 

Hello Fellow Pugilists!

I'm just putting on my boxing gloves, suiting up for a ride in TKO territory. Am going to try to get to Horseshoe Bay and back in three rounds! Anyone interested in throwing a knock-out punch at the West Van Contender? Or are you both huddled in the safety and comfort of your respective corners? Cheers, Cassius, Dancing Like a Butterfly, Stinging Like a Bee as you featherweights do the Rope-a-Dope Dance!

PS: Imagine the fistacuffs if the documentary had been shot in Newcastle/Hartlepool where real brawlers are spawned! They'd just as soon spit on their knuckles as look at you!

Lads,

I am at squash this morning – duking it out. A ride tomorrow would be great for me. G 

It looks great out there but I'll leave it for the 15 round main event tomorrow. Ray

Hi Laddage!

I would have liked to join you for the Queensborough Extravaganza but I have an appointment at Scotiabank, near 41st/Arbutus at 10:00am, to to with Mom's estate. Depending on how long paperwork takes to complete and weather, at the time, I may well cycle down to CSTB and then along River Road as far east as Westminster Hwy. If I don't bump into you by then I'll retrace my route, possibly making for Iona if weather allows. If not probably up Heather and home.

Quite sorry that I had no takers today as it really was a glorious ride. Ironically, sun was so bright when I set out at 9:30am that I literally could not see a thing, at times, when I was riding towards Science World. Quite disconcerting to be completely blinded and I had to slow to a near stop, (No burning ground touching, thank my lucky stars!), a number of times as I could see absolutely nothing for a few seconds. Felt a bit like a fighter pilot being attacked by the enemy coming out of the sun. I guess I always knew, theoretically, how tactically advantageous this is but have never really understood, with such overwhelming force, just how vulnerable the one facing the sun happens to be. Sunglasses or not, I was literally blind for a few disconcerting moments and I had visions of running into something or someone or someone's dog or child! To make matters worse, this happened near Spruce Harbour Marina, Robo Man's Kill Zone, so I was even more apprehensive. Fortunately I had filled my water bottle with bilge water. I needed a few glugs to settle my nerves by the time I was finally outside the perimeter, unscathed!

Rest of ride was, more or less, a classic text-book pattern with a dipsy doodle into North Van on Spirit Trail, over ped/bike bridge as far as Bewicke Ave to give me 30K by the time I made ready to advance into hostile West Van. Made the light at Marine and 27th without any trouble and sailed along, reaching Horseshoe Bay with 48K on the stump. I thought that I had fought a head wind on the way out but I was sorely mistaken as it was even more blustery on return. Did another jog along Spirit Trail, only as far as Pemberton Ave this time, to register 72K on the odometre before tackling the Lions Gate.

Once down the Stanley Park Drive Hill I did three loops of the parking lot by Second Beach to push count to 81K and then set off to circle the park. Not many people about so had the Seawall mostly to myself except for the occasional shutterbugs standing smack dab in the middle of the cycle path or else a mobile user chatting away, oblivious to the outside world, again, in the center of the bike lane. For a lesson, I ripped the earphones from the chap's head, as I whizzed past, and the attached cords brought his cell along. I tossed everything into the tidal pool I happened to be passing at the time! Felt good and I didn't even throw a punch! Last I saw of the cell a crow had snatched it out of the water and was dropping it from a considerable height, hoping, I suspect, to crack its exoskeleton and gorge on the exposed innards. Hope the poor thing doesn't suffer from heavy metal poisoning!

Really very lucky with the weather. A few tiny drops once or twice but nothing of any consequence. (Sky had darkened considerably by the time I was back at Ambleside so I took off my shades as I was having trouble seeing the odometre readings!) Temperature was poifect as well although I might have enjoyed having my camel pack along. Had to ration my sips of bilge water and was running on empty by the time I left Ceperley Playground. Okay for such a ride but probably not when temperature is much warmer.

Anyway, home with 101.3K over 5:01:18, AVG 20.1KPH, MAX 52KPH, so quite pleased, overall. Attribute my reasonable AVG to the fact that I rode solo and therefore did not have the Pugnacious Pugilists along, stopping to scrap and brawl whenever a pedestrian, dog walker or jogger so much as looked at them the wrong way. Unfortunately, its cyclists like them that give the activity such a bad reputation. Almost better to ride, if only occasionally, with Captain Barnacle since he only argues with waitresses and barristas about his niggardly tips!
Cheers, Il Conduttore!

Pic: I think Marcus "The Burnaby Bomber" Aurelius is either seeing double or punch drunk or both! I told him to lay off the McClelland's metholated spirits but he wouldn't listen! TKO Kurt's right eyebrow looks like it needs stitches from all the "pounding" he subjected himself to. Fight Impresario Whirlygig is laughing as he put the fix in on their bouts and made a killing!

 Hi Sisterhood!

Lovely evening. Glad I've finally met one of The Sisterhood, (other than Coriandre, of course!), who enjoys malt! Look forward to a bit of tipplage in Arizona! Send along your street address so we can stalk you there! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hello Dearest Marilyn!

So pleased to learn that Michaelo is doing well! Wonderful news indeed! From his last missive we knew that recovery would take some time so glad recuperation process is returning him to his former self or better!

Thank you for your message and invitation. We must be on the same wavelength as I was planing to send you a message this evening to inquire about Mike's condition and whether a visit would be possible. We have been quite busy of late and hosted a pre-Yuletide gathering yesterday. Started with a meeting of my Book Club at 3:00pm, followed by the Open House proper at 5:00pm. I planned a bit of a malt surprise for some of the malt aficionados who would be attending. Not sure if you have heard about this particular malt or not but I picked up a bottle of Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt, apparently a meticulous re-creation of the original malt whiskey shipped to Antarctica in 1907 by the explorer Ernest Shackleton to fortify his 'Nimrod' expedition. Several wooden crates of this precious whiskey were abandoned to the Antarctic winter in early 1909, then rediscovered over a century later. Quite a story, one that celebrates the enduring spirit of both man and malt. Everyone seemed to enjoy the "100 year old malt" and funnily enough, friend Flash, who was along with his family at the Open House, told me that he had met the man who had found the five original cases! In all the activity I didn't catch the chap's name but apparently he is from Victoria and is a specialist in hardwoods and I think for this reason he was consulted and brought to Antarctica to work on the stabilization of the foundations of the original buildings at base camp at Cape Royds on Ross Island near McMurdo Sound where they were discovered, in 2006, by the team of restorers from the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust. All in all, a lovely evening with family and friends.

As I mentioned above, I was waiting until hectic party was over to contact you and inquire about the visit we had talked about earlier. We are planning to leave on Wednesday, December 12th, and would hope to be knocking on your door well before 9:00-10:00pm like last time! Your words, as you embraced us both, at the front door, are forever emblazoned in our minds: "We thought you were dead! We thought you were dead! We thought you were dead!" With any luck we should be all packed and ready to leave by at least 9:00am that morning, with a mind to arriving at your place between 3:00-4:00pm, if this date/time suits you. We'd like to be in Redding, (or even further south), the next day, if we are to keep to our itinerary which has us in LA by December 19th or 20th, depending whether we stay in Fresno, with friends, Jessica and Michael Kelly, (these damn "Michaelo's are everywhere!), on way to LA or upon return to Vancouver. We think we'll spend two nights in Healsdburg and two nights in Berkeley with friends Nancy and David. Cora Lee's classmate, Amos, lives in Oakland and he visited with us this past October, (We hadn't seen each other for over 34 years!), when he was in town. His wife, Patricia, knows our friend, David, from the Library at Berkeley.

Again, we are delighted at the prospect of seeing you two. Hope the date works but please don't fuss if not. We'll just pick up some wine from your cellar, (if there is any left!), and spend the night in the parking lot at Fred Myers! After about six bottles we should be able to sleep quite comfortably in our seats! Let me know and we'll plan accordingly! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Last night, last guests to leave, Lynne and Peter, from Naramata, Okanagan, in spite of the fact that they literally flew into town yesterday afternoon, from Cancún, where they had attended a family wedding! Lynne and Coriandre were in Library School together so she knows Amos as well.

Perfecto . . .

I have to pick up the grandkids on the 12th and keep them overnight.  So Monday the 10th overnight works very well.

Will no doubt be in touch before that. Marilyn 

Hello again, Miss Scarlet!

Not sure if you interpreted the clue correctly or not BUT our planned arrival was for Wednesday, December 12th, NOT Monday December 10th! We'll still pop by for a short visit but will make other arrangements to stay elsewhere. Cheers, Colonel Mustard!

Patrick,

We would most prefer that you stay here.  Our grandkids will not get in the way  . . .they are quite civilized. Hope to see you next week. Marilyn 

I'm sorry, I must have had my bifocals fogged.

Still, no problem, the kids sleep upstairs. In the morning, you'll have to fend for yourself because I have to leave for school at 8:00, or a little before.

Mike will be here when you arrive.  I will be picking Paul and Amanda up in Portland between 3:30 and 4:30, will feed them pizza ahead so they can take their bath/shower and get in their jammies.  They can watch TV or read while we have dinner. 

They go to bed around 9.  Marilyn

Hi Fingare!

Thank you for your lovely invitation. Needless to say, we are more than delighted to stay, so thank you, again, very, very much.

On the matter of "overlap", please remind me how old your grandchildren are and their names. I think the eldest is Paul but I must confess that the youngest's, a girl, I beleive, has completely slipped my mind! Obviously, not imbibing enough maltage!

Thanks again for the accommodazzione. Cora Lee, (Nana to Los Horridos!), is now in full Grandparent Mode and is looking forward, most eagerly, to pizza and jams with your grandchildren, while we adults have civilized cocktails!!! Will be in touch, at least the day before we leave, to confirm arrival time, etc. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio! 
Hi All,

Looks like i will be able to upload an mp3 version of Suttree.
(i was about to set up a NRBC google drive :).
Thanks to Mark and Moe for dropboxes - will let you know when files are there. Misha

Thanks for that m 'n m.  

I have very pleasant partial memories of listening to the sonorous soporific voice of the reader of the Thinking Book.  I listened to the first seven chapters and found myself each time entering a Theta wave meditative state followed by a nice nap.  Just think- only about 30 more sleeps and I'll have finished it. 

Looking forward to more.  Guy

Hi Moe, 

Thought I'd let you know that I'm quite enjoying CTG. 

I began listening in the wee hours of last night in expectation that a few minutes would be a cure for a bout of insomnia. An hour and a half later I was still wide awake, and thoroughly immersed in the story to boot. It needed a deliberate intervention by my System 2 to remove my earbuds and power down my iPod. The reader is sell suited to the material, and the writing well suited to the audio format. Thanks, eh!  8^) cheers, Mark

Hi Mark,

I am happy that you are enjoying the book. This is one of the best audio books that I have listened for a very good match between the reader and the book. He is like grandfather narrating a story. Cheers Moe

Patrick,

Great to hear from you!  Let me re-cap the dates to make sure:  (plus minus a couple of days)

Dec 12: leave Vancouver for LA; stop in Cal

Dec ? - Jan 12: leave LA

Jan 14-15: in Dallas (Tornadoes in Colorado)

Jan 16-23: in New Orleans

Jan 24-28: in Dallas

Jan 28-Feb 7: in St. Maarten

Feb 8-? : in Dallas?

You can definitely use our condo while we are in Colorado.  I can mail the keys to Ayn -- please provide address.

End of Jan stay in Dallas is great timing, so is Feb - before and after your St Maarten trip.  Leaving your car with us is good, and we should be able to take you to DFW airport.  I dont' think we can join you for St Maarten as we have fixed plans the weekend of Feb 1.  New Orleans is not looking good either as we will have just returned from Colorado on 19th -- Randy has classes Tue-Thurs, and I will need to show my face in the office as Jan is our busiest time of the year!  But we definitely look forward to the two stays before and after St Maarten!

Would you take some measurements at our condo for Dusty?  We have projects!

Talk to you soon!  Safe journey! Ruth