Nonagenerian West Jet Blues: Wednesday, February 10th!

I see too plainly custom forms us all. Our thoughts, our morals, our most fixed belief, are consequences of our place of birth. -Aaron Hill, dramatist and writer (10 Feb 1685-1750)

Bye Mom and Dad; I'm going to cry; Can we go yet?

Hello Dusty Macaroons! Once again, thanks for Monday's grand outing, Maestro, (Older and Wiser), Al, and to everyone for the most enjoyable company. Thanks, also, to Otto, for being such a gracious car-pool chauffeur, and Mary Lee for fastening my seat belt. All the best to the best hiking ensemble in the Pacific Northwest, if not the Known Universe! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Gongorism: [Luis de Góngora y Argote
Art: Diego Velázquez (1599-1660)]
MEANING:
noun: An affected literary style marked by intricate language and elaborate figures of speech.
ETYMOLOGY:
After Spanish baroque poet Luis de Góngora y Argote (1561-1627). Earliest documented use: 1813.
NOTES:
Some Gongorisms from Luis de Góngora y Argote:
• La vida es ciervo herido, que las flechas le dan alas. (Life is a wounded stag in whom the fast-stuck arrows function as wings.)
• A batallas de amor, campo de pluma (Feathers are love’s most fitting battle-ground.)

Hello Peacock Petros! Sorry I've not been in touch sooner! Thanks so much, from all of us, to both of you, for such a wonderful, wonderful evening. Poor Ayn was devastated not to have been able to join us!

At any rate, Sunday was a blur, with Super Bowl and designer food paired to be eaten with game! Then Monday's hike for me. When I was back, Sandee and Arv, close friends of the Durstons, from Falcon, arrived for the night from Osoyoos. They sold their "wintering" place in Phoenix two years ago and this year rented a condo at Spirit Ridge for three months. We didn't know that they were there and they phoned George, Cora Lee's brother back in Manitoba, to ask of C's/D's whereabouts, and he passed along their phone number. Then Chloë left. After we took her to the airport, we played bridge as Sandee loves the game. Arv was more than happy to read. Lovely evening with more bridge later, after dinner.

Gattens left, back to Osoyoos, after breakfast next morning as Sandee plays in a bridge group there, 14 tables!!! Early that afternoon, Dusty and I went outside to hook up water barrel at front of the house. Very pleased as forecast is for rain, as you probably know, over next little while. Last night of bridge before and after dinner and The Sisterhood now owe The Brotherhood $4,000 each, as we were ahead by that much, at a $ per point. Cheque's in the mail!!!

Cora Lee was off to a Grandmothers for Africa meeting at Shatford this morning so I took Clarisse to her hair appointment. When everyone was back home, late lunch and then we drove The Manitobans to the airport at shortly after 1:30 pm. Anyway, we both went inside and sorted everything out. I loaded their bags onto security scanner and then we said a final goodbye. 

Back home, stopping at the library as Lady Dar had a book to collect. Unfortunately, she twisted her ankle, stepping on a stone, just outside Shatford Centre, on her way to meeting and it was too sore for her to pop by library at that time. She iced it as soon as she was home this morning and is now resting, in the Rumpus Room with it elevated, drooling over Victor in the Young and the Useless!

I guess you two will be busy packing and otherwise readying yourselves for departure. Plan to give you a shout but just wanted to send along thanks for forwarding picture of peacock as well as for terrific evening. Fondestos from The Ice Pack, (aka, Pick!), Babe. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Saturday's dinner; Sandee and Arv; Rosita's latest hair!

Hello Sunshine Valley! Sorry I've not been in touch sooner! Trust life goes well, especially given everything you've had to deal with, of late. We spent a terrific long weekend although, unfortunately, Ayn wasn't able to fly up, as planned. Cheers, Patrizzio! PS: Latest hike to Peach Cliff, below.


Hi Janet! So sorry to learn that you've really been under the weather! What a complete drag, in the first instance, and then to have it hit you again and again! I've not been through something of the sort for years but when it happened it was a difficult time so I trust you are well on the mend by now. Glad you liked the calendar. Yesterday, Lady Dar collected a small weaving of Ganesh, (I chose it a "weaving factory" which our guide in Varanasi took us to.), a birthday present from Lynne/Peter and Cora Lee, which she had framed at a local shop. Absolutely delighted with result and both Rosita and Dusty were raving about it as well.
 

Trust life goes a little bit better at work. Given today's very uncertain times, financially, as well as politically, of course, you are probably right to continue working until "Earliest Unreduced". In your shoes, I think I'd be likely to stay until then and then assess things. Really depends on what one wants and wants to do, upon retirement. I suspect "material" possessions are not overly high on your list, while travel probably is. This is, more or less, my profile and as I age, I know that travel, more or less how we have done what we have done, will likely, generally speaking, be less feasible, particularly in more "exotic" countries/spots. Still, like your Mom, we'd like to keep exploring into our '80's, health allowing. Not that I'm at all unhappy to stay home and read a book, mind you! To be quite honest, I'm looking forward to the next little while as we really have no visitors or social obligations for next month as it has been a very busy time with Cora Lee parents here since January 12th!

She has joined a Book Club, [First book was The Jane Austen Book Club but they watched the film, "a 2007 American romantic drama film written and directed by Robin Swicord. The screenplay, adapted from the 2004 novel of the same name by Karen Joy Fowler, focuses on a book club formed specifically to discuss the six novels written by Jane Austen. As they delve into Austen's literature, the club members find themselves dealing with life experiences that parallel the themes of the books they are reading."], here and I drove her there, for 7:00 pm. 

Did a bit of grocery shopping on way home and am now back at my desk trying to catch up on 596 messages, most of them backlogged from time in India! [Not really as bad as that but I do have to clean out my In Box!] Take care of yourself, Janet. Fondestos, in absentia and in dolore from The Ice Pack, (aka, Pick!), Babe. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Ganesh, original and B/W filter. Will take a better snap when light is better. Also, Lady Dar wants to move it, slightly, towards the wall, the better to see it from most of the room. 

Hi Patrick, Hope your eyes are good. My iPhone decided on this small font. Weather in Whitehorse a balmy -5 degrees. Just back to my room after a delicious dinner of Arctic char, cheap Pinot Gris, and good camaraderie with some good engineering colleagues, one of whom I last saw in Peru a decade or so ago. Good news today, Penticton Golf Club is opening for the season this weekend. Don't tell Lynne but I won't be going to Palm Desert. Cheers Peter