The difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it
is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind. -Charles Darwin,
naturalist and author (12 Feb 1809-1882)
Hello Winston, Paddington and Dog Whisperer!
Up at 6:30 am to an otherwise silent house, rest of my companions still soundly asleep, I presume, Mme, Coriandre, for her part, gently, blissfully, snoring and Little Engine That Could puffing away! I took my laptop into kitchen and set my workstation up at wonderful glass bar there. While I Keurigged my "Bold" java, did a few wine glasses from last night's dinner and the four tumblers used for the malt tippling Gary and I had enjoyed after The Sisterhood abandoned us. Not quite sure of the water-to-pod ratio just yet but the end result was that I am sipping a dynamite espresso as I scribe!
[Marvin Angelo Mercado before she was my wife — with Nicole Marie.]
Rest of gang just appeared. I will drive A/G to the airport around noon so I'm going to go for another ride after I have a spot of breakfast. Must away as cleaning lady is to arrive shortly. Fondestos, Love and Cheers from The Rich and Famous of Palm Desert!
Hi again, Ayn: I just checked my email after driving Ann and Gary, along with Lynne and Nana, to Palm Springs Airport at noon. We came straight home and had a very enjoyable lunch, on the patio, under two umbrellas as sun is hot! After lunch I cleared the table and then began to move our luggage into guest bedroom vacated by A/G. We slept in the study last night, a very comfortable set-up but Peter will use it as his office when he returns on Friday. I gather he played bridge with your grandparents and Sarge last night.
At any rate had a message saying earlier email to you at Crown address was "larger than size limit for messages" yet I see it appended to some of your replies to Chloë. Just in case you didn't receive pictures let me know and I'll resend them in smaller batches.
The Sisterhood are lolling on inflatable mattresses in pool, snoozing and trying to sober up after polishing off a bottle of Pinot Grigio between them at lunch. Kitchen help are not allowed any tipplage! I'll save my share for this evening. Had a really fab ride this morning. Didn't leave house until 9:15 am and knew I had to be back by at least 11:30 am as Mme Coriandre would be fussed about me being late to take A/G to airport. This being the case I knew I would have to try to up my AVG if I was going to be able to log a 51 km ride in allotted time. Pleased to say I managed to do just that as last afternoon's/evening's ride had given me a sense of surrounding street topography and how I could stitch together chosen distance minimizing climbs I'd need to do, yet maximizing speed I could attain on downhill swoops and thereafter maintain AVG on flat/flattish stretches in between. Even managed to break the 50 km/hr barrier on my last descent of Ocotillo Drive so I was quite chuffed. Stats for ride:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/696132914#.VN1BIIh9Xl4.email
Simply paradisaical afternoon. Still and quiet, the odd chirp of a bird, the drone of a small plane, sun beginning to drift, ever so slowly behind the surrounding hills to the west but still glaringly bright and oven hot in the clear, dry air when one is not in shadow. The Goils will probably have naps, on the loungers, in the shade, around pool before dinner, salmon and salad, (Seems a bit of déjà vu!), but I will make myself a Keurig espresso and try to catch up with my backlog of email. Fondestos for now to you and The Bear of Winnipeg! Love Dad! Pics: Front door and door to garden; Aquatic Babes Great pics...the pool looks lovely!
Dear Patrick, Corinne and Ayn! Thanks for the California update! Oh to be in Tinsel Town and to be in California shots of the beach and the sunny environs so appealing not to mention access to great wines and company. You are indeed lucky. It is rainy and gloomy here albeit warm! John and Eric are freezing in eastern US--Boston has been hit again with another snow storm and Eric's room is really cold at Princeton. Eric can't understand why people want to live in these cold regions.
Right now we have two young cousins--20 and 19 here from Sweden. They are funny not sure they are interested in too too much. Anyways how was your trip to Naramata did you find a house?? Take care and have a wonderful Valentines Day!! Cheers for now
Hi Jo-Anne! First of all, please accept my condolences on the death of Pamela. I know how good you always were to her during the very, very difficult life she struggled with over these past years. I do apologize for not answering sooner but life on the road, while deliriously enjoyable, has been very full, as I'm sure you can well imagine. On another matter, I'm wondering how Tip and family are managing. I know the situation was dire. Please pass along our heartfelt wishes and prayers to both Tip and Jim. As well, how are you and your ankle doing? I gather you have discovered, since we last saw you, that your femur was fractured, as well, to further complicate matters. Hope you are well on the mend by now but I'm sure it is a difficult recovery! Port is the answer, lots and lots of Port! Fondestos for now to you and Colin. Lynne sends along her best wishes as well. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Heather and Ayn; Bart and Alison; fire-pit; view of surrounding hills from front garden this morning.
Hi again Jo-Anne! Had meant to include a number of these snaps, taken the day I rode over the Golden Gate to Tiburon. Happy Valentine's to you! Pics: Ferry Terminal Building in SF, start of ride over Golden Gate; trusty Trek at Tiburon ferry dock; view of SF from Tiburon; your Valentine presents coming from a very expensive store in upscale Tiburon!
Hello Lads! Trust your bridge evening with Rosie-the-Riveter and Picasso went well. Have been having a blast in Palm Desert with the live-in masseuses! Sarge, please send along Joe's email as we'd like to try to connect while here. JDP, please confirm your flight info, (WestJet, 1722, arriving 11:15 am, February 13th! Buona Fortuna!!!], as Lynne is too, too frazzled at the moment. Cora Lee was charged with broiling bacon for tonight's spinach salad and almost burnt the house down! Flames were literally leaping out the oven door, alarm was set off and we expected the PDFD any moment but were able to call to tell them that things were under control before sirens were heard! After the hubbub, Lynne almost fainted so I revived her with a snort of Bruichladdich, in her special glass, I hasten to add. Salmon for dinner!
Had a wonderful time in LA. Monday we were planning to visit the Getty Center while Ayn was at work and then do a bit of shopping for Pierre's 26th birthday, on Tuesday. Originally we had planned to hold it in the evening but his class is not over until 9:00 pm so that makes a dinner then rather late. Instead we planned a large lunch so that Alex could attend as well. He is starting his Emergency Medical training morning courses at the same campus Pierre will be at, LA Valley College, just around the corner from where Ayn lives. However, turned out that Getty is closed on Monday so we decided to visit the LA County Museum of Art. Ayn gave us directions to take Laural Canyon into LA as it is a very scenic drive. It is one we've not done before so we were looking forward to seeing the city from this perspective.
Had little difficulty following the directions Ayn had provided and we were certainly delighted with drive through Laurel Canyon. I, for one, don't think of such wonderful canyonscapes as being synonymous with Tinsel Town. Once we'd parked at LACMA we visited the Ahmanson Building to take a look at Art Deco Textiles and on the same floor is the Janice and Henri Lazarof Collection which included works by Klee, Kandinsky, Feininger, all of the Bauhaus, as well as about twenty works by Picasso so it was wonderful to see so many we'd not seen. After that I was fascinated by another exhibition, Ernst Barlach: Portfolios. However, more than Barlach's prints and books I was taken with the "2006 film Ernst Barlach: Mystic of Modernity, directed by renowned photographer Bernd Boehm. The film showcases the monumentality and timelessness of Barlach's sculptures". Both Coriandre and I had been particularly drawn to the two smaller bronzes exhibited in the gallery: Russian Lovers and the Flute Player.
I learned that "although he was a supporter of the war in the years leading to World War I, his participation in the war made him change his position, and he is mostly known for his sculptures protesting against the war. This created many conflicts during the rise of the Nazi Party. In 1936, Barlach's works were confiscated during an exhibition and the majority of his remaining works were confiscated as "degenerate art". Barlach himself was prohibited from working as a sculptor, and his membership in the art academies was canceled."
Next, I spent about an hour in the Art of Americas Building drinking in Haunted Screens: German Cinema in the 1920s:
"An exhibition that explores the height of German Expressionist film history through nearly 250 objects. Augmenting a vast collection of set design drawings—on loan from the Cinémathèque—an array of film clips, photographs, posters, documents, and cameras represent 25 films, 20 artists, and 14 directors."
I could have spent even longer but one can only see so much! A quick look at a number of the paintings by both Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo and then we took the long escalator to the 3rd floor of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum where Cora Lee knew I'd be able to take a couple of snaps of the Hollywood sign, having been there on an earlier visit. Back to the car we retraced our route up Fairfax to Sunset. Traffic was fine and I thought I knew where to turn back onto Laurel Canyon but we missed the exit as it is not actually called Laurel Canyon at that point, but rather Crescent Heights. Nevertheless, soon after we passed the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, my trusty navigator came up with an alternative plan and we ended up using Beverly Glen Blvd to return to Sherman Oaks, enjoying the more than picturesque drive.
Tuesday morning Mme Coriandre released me from my kitchen duties, (peeling spuds, in the main), so I was able to suit up, lube up and take off for the Orange Line Busway at just past 10:00 am. It was a glorious day, (67º when I started and about 77º when I finished), but a few clouds in an otherwise clear blue sky. Wind was out of the west at about 6 mph so I was able to achieve and keep up a pretty good AVG, (20 km/hr and maintained, towards the end at 22.8 km/hr but that dropped on final three or so long blocks back to Woodman as I had to do a quite a few creative dipsy-doodles when approaching red lights, circling and such, in quite a limited space, but am pleased to report a Dreaded Burning Ground Free ride! Stats for ride:
http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/694590866#.VNp1P-NFGpE.email
We were planning to leave Tinsel Town some time between 9:00 am-10:00 am Wednesday morning but we had an offer on our place the night before so we had to send along our counter-offer before heading to Palm Desert. To do this we had our agent send the necessary paperwork to Ayn's office and by the time we arrived at Hallmark, on Ventura, she had the pages printed and ready for us to sign. Once this was done she faxed them back to Vancouver. Couple have until 6:00 pm today to reply but we have not yet heard back so not sure what will happen. Should we decide to sell, there is a place in Penticton we are quite keen about so who knows!
We visited with a number of Ayn's co-workers we'd met on previous visits for a bit before we said goodbye. After we left we missed our first turn, Whitsett Ave, in spite of Ayn's clear directions, for same sort of reason we missed Laurel Canyon on LACMA visit. This time we saw Laurel Terrace Drive on sign but not Whitsett. No never mind as we turned around shortly thereafter and were well on our way after that. Not really a lick of traffic trouble after that and we were sailing along 210 to San Bernadino and then I-10 at Redlands before we knew it. Fortunately, for me, had no difficult merges to make, (simply had to stay left at any critical junctures), as my less than trusty navigator's head was lolling, fast asleep, for most of journey!
Again, no trouble finding our way in Palm Desert once we left freeway and just as we were pulling up to the house on the Shadow Lake Drive Lynne was walking out the door, [The Lighthalls had invited us to spend a week with them. Funnily enough, Peter is in Vancouver until tomorrow, on business for last few days!], en route to do a bit of grocery shopping. We greeted one another and then went inside to say hello to Ann Curry and Gary Albach, good friends who have been with them for a week. Then Cora Lee walked to local stores, a few blocks away, with Lynne, I unloaded car while A/G read by the pool. Shoppers returned by the time I had unpacked and then I suited up and went for a ride. Wanted to explore neighbourhood in order to get a better sense of where future rides might take me.
Not at all disappointed as I found streets to be much the same as those in Simi Vallley, by way of comparison, main ones, divided blvds sporting gorgeous palms, with dedicated bikes lanes, residential ones wide, smoothly surfaced, etc. Much of Palm Desert is nestled into the surrounding hills so the grades, where I was riding, were gradual but long, long, long, much like I experienced in many parts of Languedoc. Vegetation was otherwise, of course. Not called Palm Desert for nothing! Again, all of the homes, fenced estates, etc., were immaculately groomed and landscaped so it was a delight to drink in all the different cactii, palms and flowering shrubs. Vistas of the surrounding hills, mesas and Coachella Valley were wonderful as well.
I didn't leave until just after 4:00 pm so I knew I'd still be out once it was dark. Wasn't worried as I had my LED lights at the ready. As well, I suspected that traffic would be very light, given nature/demographic of communty/area where I was riding. In fact, the dedicated bike lanes are also dedicated golf cart lanes, for obvious reasons! Anyway, quite a hoot. Towards the end of my ride, just after 6:00 pm, my path took me near one of the local courses and as I was approaching a sharp corner two carts came out of the driveway of the golf course, the second cart without lights. I presume the driver had called a friend to come to escort her home as the streets are not really lit at all and so quite pitch dark except for lights marking residences and some other estate entrance-ways. At any rate, I rode up to cart, running blind, and joked with the two women aboard, telling them I'd lead them home if they invited me in for a drink! They chortled as I think they might well have been having a few at the 19th hole after their round.
Stats for ride:
http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/695775495#.VNy9ngcVUX0.email
Anyway, home by 6:30 pm to find gang preparing dinner, lovely tacos but with hard corn as opposed to soft flour tortillas. Gary had concocted some delish Margaritas so once I'd showered and changed I rejoined group and we sat down to a lovely meal. After dinner we repaired to the huge patio/pool area where we sat around the wonderful gas fire-pit, sipping more wine and visiting. Gary and I stayed there for half an hour or so, after The Sisterhood went inside to do the dishes. [Something wrong with dishwasher and maintenance company is supposed to come, at some point, to sort things out.] I would have been more than happy to do the dishes but The Goils were getting a bit chilly, and sleepy, so I think they wanted to warm themselves up. Fire was gorgeous but night was cool and one probably needed a sweater. I just toasted my toes and my face so I was fine!
Had a chance to get to know Gary as I really had never talked to him, at length, before. I didn't realize that he had studied plasma physics at UBC, earning a PhD, so he knew Ayn's Uncle Eric and The Great Balzarini. Gary didn't wish to become an academic, as business was his interest, and he eventually became the first person to create a successful spin-off company from research at UBC. Gather he has gone on to do rather well in other related entrepreneurial ventures. After we chatted for half an hour or so we came inside to pour ourselves a couple of drams of malt, (16 year old Lagavulin, 43% and The Bruichladdich Organic Scottish Barley, 50%), to continue getting to know one another. Around11:00 pm we bade one another goodnight and after I'd brushed and flossed I climbed into bed, throwing off the heavy duvet as I knew I'd be roasting before long. Didn't realize that there was a screen-door that I could have opened to allow the cool night air inside but will do so tonight.
Up at 6:30 am this morning to an otherwise silent house, rest of my companions still soundly asleep, I presume, Mme, Coriandre, for her part, gently, blissfully, snoring and Little Engine That Could puffing away! I took my laptop into kitchen and set my workstation up at the wonderful plate glass bar there. While I Keurigged my "Bold" java, did a few wine glasses from last night's dinner and the four tumblers used for the malt tippling Gary and I had enjoyed after The Sisterhood abandoned us. Not quite sure of the water-to-pod ratio just yet but the end result was that I was sipping a dynamite espresso!
When rest of gang appeared it was confirmed that I would drive A/G to the airport around noon so. Wanted to take another ride before my chauffeur duties kicked in but didn't manage to leave house until 9:15 am. I knew, all to well, that I had to be back by at least 11:30 am as Mme Coriandre would be fussed about me being late to take A/G to airport. This being the case I relized I would have to try to up my AVG if I was going to be able to log a 51 km ride in allotted time. Pleased to say I managed to do just that as last afternoon's/evening's ride had given me a sense of surrounding street topography and how I could stitch together chosen distance minimizing climbs I'd need to do, yet maximizing speed I could attain on downhill swoops and thereafter maintain AVG on flat/flattish stretches in between. Even managed to break the 50 km/hr barrier on my last descent of Ocotillo Drive so I was quite chuffed. Stats for ride:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/696132914#.VN1BIIh9Xl4.email
Back in time for a quick shower and change and then we all, [Lynne and Cora Lee came along as well], piled into Titanium Green and made for Gene Autry Trail. After dropping Ann and Gary at the Palm Springs Airport we came straight home and had a very enjoyable lunch, on the patio, under two umbrellas as sun was scorchingly hot! After lunch I cleared the table and then began to move our luggage into guest bedroom vacated by A/G. We slept in the study last night, a very comfortable set-up but Peter will use it as his office when he returns on Friday. I gather he played bridge with Corinne's parents and Sarge last night.
After lunch The Sisterhood lolled on inflatable mattresses in pool, snoozing and trying to sober up after polishing off a bottle of Pinot Grigio between them at lunch. Kitchen help are not allowed any tipplage! I'll save my share for this evening.
Simply paradisaical afternoon. Still and quiet, the odd chirp of a bird, the drone of a small plane, sun beginning to drift, ever so slowly behind the surrounding hills to the west but still glaringly bright and oven hot in the clear, dry air when one is not in shadow. The Goils will probably have naps, on the loungers, in the shade, around pool before dinner, salmon and salad, but I made myself a Keurig espresso and endeavoured to catch up on my backlog of email. Fondestos for now, to you both, from Helga and Inga. Lynne and Cora Lee send along her best wishes as well.
Started dinner preparations around 6:00 pm and Cora Lee was charged with broiling bacon for spinach salad. Quite a happening as she almost burnt the house down! Flames were literally leaping out the oven door, alarm was set off as smoke filled the kitchen area. We expected the PDFD any moment but were able to call to tell them that things were under control before sirens were heard! After the hubbub, Lynne almost fainted so I revived her with a bit of mouth-to-mouth and a snort of Bruichladdich! In spite of all the excitement, dinner was more than delicious.
Best wishes to you and rest of gang from Cora Lee. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Pics: Lynne, our host; fire-pit, Cora Lee, Lynne, Ann, Gary; view of surrounding hills from front garden yesterday morning; Aquatic Babes! bacon bbq!
Cheers, Patrizzio!Pics: Winston and Paddington; Heather and Ayn; Bart and Alison; Inga relaxing after my massage; fire-pit; view of surrounding hills from front garden this morning; Aquatic Babes! Bacon fire-pit!
Hi Winston! In case you haven't seen yourself! Cheers, from your surrogate walker, Pit Bull Patrizzio!
Great evening last night with a 2013 Scott Chardonnay, 14.5%, courtesy of Lighthall's wine fridge, as well as a 2010 Soda Rock Malbec, 14.6%, from our muled stash! Salmon was absolutely divine and we spent a lovely time chatting over the extended meal. Once we'd finished and cleared away things Lovely Lurkin' Lynne toddled off to bed while Mme Coriandre and I watched the latest episode of The Blacklist, aided and abetted by some Bruichladdich, before we turned in ourselves.
Also, dear trail-rider, you left your bright red shorts and long-sleeved pullover in the closet. Or did you leave those for future reservations? Winston, (AKA Winni-peg, Winni-pooh, Winni-Mandela…all names I’ve called him) misses his grandparents already but slept very well upstairs in his bed beside mine.
Dr. Oh called and asked how he was doing, reporting his tests all came back with good results, so aside from his teeth cleaning next week, he is a healthy senior! He easily managed a couple miles this morning. He needs to work on his dog-meeting skills, but loves all people!
It was great to have you both and I really appreciate the support welcoming Winston to the household. I know it made his re-entry to society, after doing time, much easier. Have a lovely time in Palm Desert, I always imagine Frank Sinatra gliding by in a 50’s convertible when I see the older architecture there. Love Ayn & Winston
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