During World War II a U.S. Air Force plane was forced to ditch in the ocean, and four survivors managed to reach a small deserted island. “Let’s send up a signal flare,” said the first aviator. “Won’t work!” said the second. “Let’s build a fire so they’ll see the smoke.” “No!” said the third. “We’ll need all the wood to build a shelter.” “Whoa!” said the last, an avid bridge player. “Let’s just shoot down another plane so we can have a team game.”
Hi y'all I plan on borrowing your message about the pledging and vacuuming
for certain friends! If I write or say, "See you at 5". They respond
that they will see us at 6:00 or 4:00, whatever time was in their heads
that they think the time should be. I respond
with the time I set but they still arrive on their schedule. Once we
were out. Once the dinner was dried out. Once I was in the bath. Either
I chalk it up to old age or I ?? I have known them over 40 years so I
guess I have to shrug my shoulders!
Didn't make it out last night to the hockey game either. The wind chill made it -21! I gather the new/refurbished Trek is working out for you.
Wally will be back from doing a shift for "In From the Cold" so I
must get out the sanitizer and make a fresh pot of coffee. The homeless
will have really filled the church last night. (And I complain about
missing hockey games and errant friends) Cheers
Hi Pledge Person! Cora Lee and I both chortled heartily at your
description of stubborn guests! Sounds like you are living on the
Prairies with the sub-zero temperatures and wind chill! Cora Lee is
reading on the couch with the electric fireplace blazing away, as I
scribe.
I feel like I'm in a sauna! Like you, I shouldn't complain as
for the homeless these frigid temperatures are nothing but serious. We
both applaud Wally for volunteering at the shelter. On a less serious
note, I know what you mean about the sanitizer as Cora Lee's nose always
wrinkles when I come back after a long ride. On Friday she said I
needed to shower immediately as I was "seriously high!"
Yesterday
we did a four hour stint at Aunt Leah's Tree Lot on 54th and Granville.
Beautifully sunny day so it was a perfect day for Christmas tree
shoppers, of which, I'm more than please to say, there were many, given
how early it is in the season.
Started off the shift helping to unload a
semi full of wrapped trees, (Cora Lee handled sales counter.), almost
500. Took two people to drag the huge Noble and Nordman Firs, (Many
other types, Interior Douglas, Grand Fir, etc., were not as heavy,
fortunately for the 8 worker bees assembled for the task!), to the spots
on the lot where they would be displayed. Certainly glad I didn't go to
the gym beforehand as it was quite a workout, let me tell you.
Literally didn't stop moving for almost two hours. Everyone was nice and
toasty however.
Once truck was empty we spent the rest of the
shift helping people choose trees, measuring height, (each species
varies in price per foot), cutting off lower branches, trimming trunks,
bailing trees in plastic mesh and then helping to carry trees to cars
and/or tying them to car roofs/car racks. Very rewarding to see and meet
so many repeat customers, people who really want to support Aunt Leah's
work and are pleased with the wonderful trees, from Noble Firs to
Charlie Browns! Unfortunately, Cora Lee wasn't as warm as the rest of us
as she was the cashier and as such wasn't moving around as much. Even
though she was dressed warmly she was Icicle Woman by the time we were
heading back home.
Nothing that a couple of glugs of red wine and
a hot shower couldn't overcome and she was soon rosy-cheeked and happy,
ready to welcome our guests for two tables of bridge. Had a grand time
playing. Started out with appetizers by both O Susannah, (tasty wrapped
cocktail sausages), and Ragin' Bull. Must say that Branko really outdid
himself with a stupendous platter of olives, dips with mini pitas,
stuffed grape leaves and the hit, small red peppers stuffed with soft
feta. Plenty of hootch, of course. After we'd played eight hands,
(Changed partners after each four. Cora Lee and I shared a card, the
better able to do things in kitchen.), we enjoyed the Chicken n'
Cherries stew Coriandre had prepared in the slow cooker before we left
that morning.
Served with jasmine rice and a tasty salad, medallion
slices of bocconcini with cherry tomatoes garnished with fresh basil.
For dessert Elaine brought a delicious meringue smothered in fresh
blackberries/raspberries and topped with whipped cream! Hardly needed
the Breaking and Entering Bourbon Ragin' Bull requested to make
everything blend together.
Played another four rounds after
dessert and then ended the evening awarding fabulous bridge prizes to
everyone except the players from the Islay Inn and The Annexe. A
wonderful way to de-clutter and re-gift at the same time. Had the
assembled company in stitches when Elaine received the prize, (six small
beeswax decorative candles), Clara had won at their place a week ago!
Clara had given them to me, earlier that morning, when I asked her if
she had anything I could use for silly prizes. Anyway, great good fun
and Elaine insisted on taking them back as she already had ideas for
next re-gifting!
Pretty chilly here this morning and looks like it
will be so for most of the day. I might go over to the gym later but I
plan to spend much of the day reading The Island of Crimea, by Vassily
Aksyonov, the next NRBC, (Non-readers Book Club), selection. Fairly
heavy going fiction as I don't have a lot of the political/historical
background that work is based, to a large extent, upon. Did find,
however, last night, after we'd tidied up a bit, that I was beginning to
make more sense of plot and main character, Andrei Luchinov. Perhaps I
need to drink Long Table Texada , (a wonderful small batch distillery at
the foot of Hornby St, just across False Creek from GI Market), Vodka
while reading. Or Truth Vodka from Libery Distillery, right on GI
itself. Perhaps both! Cheers and Na Zdorovie from Iro-Ukrainian
Patrizzio!
Pics: Tote that tree; Chloë, (black toque), is
the Volunteer Coordinator for the four tree lots so she was our "boss"
yesterday! Elaine's wonderful dessert; Elaine and Clarisse; New Yorker
dessert plates!
Hi White Christmas People! From Fall to Winter in one night! Have just finished putting snow tires on my road bike! Cheers, All Weather Patrizzio!
Hi Patrick, We had our snow dump on Wednesday, all gone now but it left behind a lot of damaged trees and a 10 hour power outage. Today is a beautiful cold sunny day. We'll be enjoying the fireplace. Cheers, Peter
Hi Shivering Naramatians! From snap, with green grass, looks just like Summer, had it not been for
leafless tree! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Patrick, It was lovely to meet you at Camp Fancy last week. I'm writing so you can send me some of those pictures you took! Thanks for being a friend of Fircom, and hope to party with you again. Best, Anita
Hi Anita! Lovely to hear from you. Delighted to meet you and your charming husband, Ned. Terrific gathering. This evening we hosted two tables of bridge. Do you two play? We are always looking for people. Usually/often make it an evening combined with a pot-luck dinner. If you don't play and would like to learn, we'd be more than happy to teach you, for a small donation to Aunt Leah's! Again, wonderful to meet you Canoe Woman. Happy Christmas, Cheers and Na Zdorovie to you and Ned from
Patrizzio! Pics: Of the Woods Blondie at Camp Fancy!
Hi Big Al!
Thanks for passing along telesur website. Unfortunately, haven't been able to watch much news of late. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Kids! Trust
everyone made it home safely, clutching their fabulous bridge prizes!
Thank you to everyone for coming along and especially for all the simply
wonderful food contributions! Much appreciated and certainly much
enjoyed!!!
Speaking for myself, had a grand time playing, whenever I was allowed! However, the Award Ceremony was one of the best, to date. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Patrick James Dunn Are you watching White Christmas? Nana wants me to put it on!
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