Cinco de Mayo Blues: Tuesday, May 5th!

When you sell a man a book you don't sell him just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue--you sell him a whole new life. -Christopher Morley, writer (5 May 1890-1957)

Hi Patricio, Sorry for the long delay in getting back to you but life is been a bit of a whirlwind since Saturday when I had to make my way down to the ship and head off for Victoria and all the preparations beforehand. I didn't get a chance to read your email until now but I do hope that you had a great ride and appreciate the invite nevertheless.
 

Certainly enjoyed dinner at your place! had a great time catching up so great to see you guys again as well as the chance to spend some time with flamin and Sarge as well as meeting Glen and Patricia not to mention enjoying the delicious fare! Life here is ok, very ship like and just getting back into the groove of dry dock life.
 
Tuesday morning here and Just had breakfast and waiting to meet up with my workmates and figure out what we will do for the day which may not be that much because a lot of our equipment and tools have as yet not arrived. Will report back soon. take care for now, Cheers! Al

I just signed the petition, "Re-Open Kitsilano Coast Guard Base." I think this is important. Will you sign it too? Here's the link:

http://www.change.org/p/re-open-kitsilano-coast-guard-base

Thanks, George                              Hi Whirlygig and Calamity! Trust all goes.  well on building and teaching fronts. I signed the petition. Here is what I said:

Not only is this an extremely critical service for such disasters as the recent oil spill here in English Bay but overall maritime safety on the West Coast is seriously threatened. Yet another shocking example of how the Federal Government, under the Harper Dictatorship, is bent, mindlessly on dismantling key public services, relentlessly abandoning our various user communities, eviscerating our environmental protection capabilities, decimating our cultural heritage, all for a mess of pottage! My blood boils every-time I ride past the closed facility so I hope the petition works!

Fairly busy here but have enjoyed some lovely social occasions as well. Just a few minutes ago we had a pretty heavy hailstorm! Patio deck was completely covered with ice until heavy, following downpour melted most away. Forecast shows a few more showers later in the afternoon so not sure if I'll go over to FCCC to use elliptizer or chance a ride out to UBC. Fondestos from Cruella, just off to have a walk and lunch with close friend, Agneta, back from Mexico this past Saturday, having left orders for me to fetch more packing boxes! Cheers, Il Conduttore!

Pics: Sarge with Avery; Kid Chelene with Gwen; The Usual Suspects; Mr T/Robert/Winston

Hola Pat, hope all is going well with packing etc. wild weather in the last hour!! Here is another Perry ride. Thanks for keeping us in the loop Hello to Corinne!! Cheers, Jane 

*DESCRIPTION: *Please join me on a Washington state ride starting at the
Aldergrove border crossing. It is an 80km loop that incorporates Nooksack
river flat lands with the Mt Baker foothills. We will be stopping at the
North Fork brew pub also known as the beer shrine. Please bring a lunch and
your passport. *DISTANCE: 80k* *ELEVATION GAIN: minimal* *TIME NEEDED: 8hrs.* *BOOK RATING: moderate* *MEETING TIME AND LOCATION: 9am. Centennial Theatre Parking Lot. 23rd. St. and Lonsdale North Vancouver. I can pick up riders and their bikes from the Lonsdale Quay side of the seabus.* *LATEST RETURN TIME: 6pm* *AFTER HIKE PLANS: Up to group* *MAXIMUM # HIKERS: 6* *STRICT SIGN-UP DEADLINE: 8pm. Tuesday May 5th* *PLEASE INDICATE:* If you are bringing a car, and your cell phone # if you have one *ORGANIZER: Perry* *BRING:* water, lunch,  rain gear, money for your driver (if you are a passenger) *VEHICLE DRIVER COMPENSATION: $10*

Hi Calamity! Thanks for latest info on Perry's ride. What a great outing indeed! Not surprsingly, I've been "grounded" by Cruella so I can only dream of the Nooksack Loop! Still, I'm making progress on filing off the ball and chain she's affixed to my right ankle so who knows what I'll do when I break out of The Big House! Cheers, Prisoner 113857!

Hi Glasgow! Sorry you won't make send-off but we'll have to rectify that when you visit us at Burns Street B & B in July! Cheers, Il Conduttore! Pics: Laurie and Chloë, Krissy, Brian; Rachel and Cora Lee; Leigh and Marcy; mark, Krissy's husband, and Jason; bridgers, David T, Robert and Winston. thanks patrick as always some interesting stuff.long live the S N P.go Ms Sturgeon go1 matt Hi Glasgow! I thought that you might be flying to Scotland instead of The Big Apple! When do you leave and for how long? See from latest coverage that the NDP has won a majority government in Alberta. The times they are a changin'! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hello Cornwall! Trust all goes well with you folk. Cheers, Patrizzio, Sorely Oppressed but Ever Defiant! Onward!! Fight!!! Cinco de Mayo Forever!

Hi Corinne, Just wanted to touch base with you to see if any of these dates would work for me to show the buyers of your place through. The 16th, 17th, 18th of May work for the buyers, do any of those days work for you two. They would like to see the storage locker so I would need the key to the lock or combination if at all possible. Let me know if any of this works. Nice seeing you the other day, you looked very happy. All the best, Dave
 

Hi Dave, the 16 or 17 would be best. We can leave keys with Joanne if she is around otherwise you can pick up on the 13th. We leave on the 14th for long weekend. Best Corinne

Hello Dry Dock Man and Marilyn! Can only imagine how busy you have been with getting ready fro Victoria, etc. Fairly busy here, ourselves. Cheers, Patrizzio
Pics: Star and support crew for Chopped:Laurie, Krissy, Brian;  Rachel; Leigh, Marcy; Mark, Jason; Usual Sutherland Suspects; Bridge Lads, Mr T, Robertito, Winstonian!

Cruella just finished packing all of Mom's crystal glasses in boxes I brought back from Writers Festival Office on GI. Had a call asking if I was coming over to Island as Ann, one of people I have been working with on Volunteer Giving Program, said  they had something for me. It was a house-warming gift, a bottle of Schramm Gin, 44%, from Pemberton, one of their sponsors, in part a thank-you for the donation to spearhead 2015 campaign. Will have to have G/T's, with Winston, when Ayn and Chloë are up in August! Must away as it has finally stopped raining and I think I can squeeze in a ride before next showers start.  

Dear Writers Fest Folk! Just a quick note to thank everyone for the more than wonderful hootch. Certainly not expected but very, very much appreciated! I trust that any VWF staff who venture to The Okanagan will pop by to share a few G 'n T's, and local wine, of course! Everyone is welcome at the Burns Street Boarding House, most certainly our extended VWF family. Cheers, Cora Lee and Patrizzio! PS: Given subject of card I'm rather embarrassed to have talked about the hail this afternoon! Sorry Oscar!

Opted for the Elliptitron so headed over to gym at FCCC just after 6:00 pm to have a pretty good workout, given the fact that I kept putting off exercise, of any sort, for the better part of the day! In the end I managed to burn 1,134 calorifics over 70 minuten, climbing 15,624' verticales and pounding away for about 3.5 milos. Probably could have managed a ride given the fact that the skies had cleared themselves of most of the rain clouds and quite a bit of blue was showing. Forecast for most of the rest of this week and over the weekend looks pretty damn good as far as cycling goes so I hope to log some decent distances. Better do a bit of packing this evening to earn credits for good behaviour from Cruella!