Pat,
Hope the visit to the doctor went well.
Just watched a program on the
Knowledge Network called Coast exploring the area between Newcastle and
Hull which included the Yorkshire section, some of which you will be
seeing this summer. Some great footage from Saltburn,
Staithes, Whitby, Scarborough, Filey (which I think is your proposed
cycling destination), etc. Well worth watching if it is played again. Ray
Hi Raymond!Thanks for popping by with books. Enjoyed brief chat as well. My dottore seemed to think, under circumstances, I was doing pretty well. Tough old bird like Mom, Sharktooth Annie, I suppose! Dizziness, to the extent I experience it, is apparently caused by having "jolted" some inner ear sensors, according to her. I theorize that I had actually turned them off to shut out The Sisterhood's whining and whingeing and crash-landing re-invoked them. And here I thought the pulled groin was bad enough! She even gave me the green light to drive to Squamish today and even indulge in a glass of alcohol. Funnily enough, I actually don't feel much like imbibing, at present, so I know I am definitely not well! Anyway, I can sip a bit to be sociable so that is fine for now.
I'm very pleased to report that when I "leaped' out of bed this morning my left groin felt the best since the accident and walking is slightly more normal instead of the earlier shuffling gait. Trust this means that I might be able to try some time on the stationary bicycle, on low resistance, at the False Creek CC across the way, either Sunday or Monday.
We enjoyed a lovely evening and wonderful dinner last night. Cora Lee simply outdid herself preparing a stunning array of Thai food: vegetarian vermicelli noodlles with shiitake mushrooms, asparagus tips, shredded cabbage and julienned carrots; pork and spinach in coconut milk and chicken in spicy peanut sauce. For appetizers Flamin' brought Spring Rolls from the Market and Coriandre had done shrimp stuffed mini zucchini tubes. I slathered hot peanut sauce over both! Friends Rosemary and Andre, together with Frank, (friend they stay with when in Vancouver), were over, together with Jo-Anne, another friend/neighbour in building. (She will be joining Cora Lee and others in the Book Club in Italy.), so plenty to chat about over dinner. At some point, both F/S/CL and I plan to visit with R/A in France this coming September and/or October. Rosita's pear pie, (Baked and frozen before she left, bless her heart!), for dessert so caloric consumption alone means I need to be back cycling to Horseshoe Bay and beyond!
Time for a spot of brunch. Overlefts from last night's feast while I finish last few chapters of James Lee Burke's Heartland, featuring Billy Bob Holland, a former Texas Ranger. I've read some in this series but not this earlier one. Found it in the Lobby of our building where people tend to leave books for others. Often of the Avon True Romance variety so I was more than delighted to come across it. Burke's eye for the Texas landscape similarly captures what he so powerfully renders of Robichaux's Louisiana. As well, I particularly relish his dead beat and criminal characters. I never cease to be amazed at the depths of pure evil and the heights of human goodness he is able to plumb/scale. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Ragin' and Dennisovitch!
Thanks, first of all, for the email address, Branko. As I mentioned way, way back last Fall when we bumped into each other at the Jill Barber concert, Dennis, I'm keen to know a bit about the place you rented in Languedoc. I'm working on a plan to stitch together a stint in the region to cycle, etc., as you people did. We are doing a house exchange in Cornwall for the month of August and then Cora Lee flies off to Italy for two or three weeks with her Book Club Sisters! Consequently, I'm interested in renting a place between the beginning of September and the 28th of that month. At this point we will join Flamin' and Sarge and two other couples for a two week canal barge trip out of Agen. If you could pass along any details an suggestions I'd much appreciate it.
Furthermore, I'm also planning to buy a foldable Montague road bike to have, both in England and then in France. I have already made arrangements to leave it with friends who live near Lyon. Since Cora Lee has decided that our travels, (Fate willing/allowing!), over next few years will be in Europe I have decided I might as well have my own bike there. At any rate, more of that later.
Had an appointment with my family dottore yesterday to have her take a look at my concussed coconut! I was hoping to have her drill a straw-sized hole into my skull, (The Sisterhood claims it's empty anyway!), so that I can fill it up with piña coladas since Giggster carelessly, wantonly emptied my toxic waste filled water bottle onto someone's lawn after he took it away with him from bike shop. I guess I'll have to deduct the cost of a NUUN tablet, (Electrolyte replacement tablets Whirlygig told me about in the first place!), from the muleage charges! Better yet, I'll sue him for replacement costs and pain and suffering damages!
At any rate, she seemed to think, under circumstances, I was doing pretty well. Tough old bird like Sharktooth Annie, I suppose! Dizziness, to the extent I experience it, is apparently caused by having "jolted" some inner ear sensors. I theorize that I had actually turned them off to shut out The Sisterhood's whining and whingeing and crash-landing re-invoked them. And here I thought the pulled groin was bad enough! She even gave me the green light to drive to Squamish tomorrow to see Ruth and Ricardo and even indulge in a glass of alcohol. Funnily enough, I actually don't feel much like imbibing, at present, so I know I am definitely not well! Anyway, I can sip a bit to be sociable so that is fine for now.
This past Wednesday morning I talked to Julia Akinson, one of the people first on the scene of my accident as she left a message on our home phone voice mail. She didn't actually see me fall but gave me the number of another woman, Cecile, who was first to find me. I left a voice message as she didn't answer the phone. I was rather curious to know if she witnessed me go down as it might shed some light on the assassination attempt. ( Funnily enough, just as I finished this last sentence when, I first composed the message, she called. Lovely lady, from Saskatoon, visiting her daughter.) Unfortunately, as it turns out, she didn't see me fall either, so cannot offer any other details on the hit! She did tell me, however, that a third woman, a doctor, happened upon "catastrophe" and examined me and proclaimed me stable enough to be moved off the roadway. I remember I felt pretty woozy at this point so I just leaned my back against a tree trunk and enjoyed the cherry blossoms until the ambulance arrived. Whether this is all just an understood Conspiracy of Silence on the part of the Sisterhood Network, I suppose we'll never know for sure but it seems likely to be just the case!
Don't remember much about the ambulance ride but once I was in Emergency at VGH details started to come back. Once I'd regained consciousness I couldn't remember the date or what I'd been doing before the accident but as I lay waiting to be examined and then for a CAT scan, things gradually drifted back. (Quite a scene beside me with a First Nations man who was obviously drunk or under the influence of some drug or other or both. He'd been smashed in the face by someone's fist and literally howled for most of the time he was beside me. He had to be restrained but kept pulling at the straps and yelling a blue streak. I had to laugh, in spite of my own discomfort, when one of the nurses walking by muttered to herself that she could hardly wait until he lost his voice. Don't actually think that happened but rather he was sedated after having been examined!). Finally came to me that it was Tuesday and even had a rough idea of when the mishap occurred, around 1:00pm. (I had cycled out to Steveston with Robo Ray, Whirlygig and Sneaky Pete at 9:45am and then left them on return leg at Heather and 49th to ride to MD. I knew that I had almost 58. 5 K on the clock by the time I returned from the Imperial/16th loop and was heading back along the playing field in front of St George's, along Camosun, so that I'd have close to 60 K on the odometre by the time I was to head back down Camosun to MD. (Guess it was an official ride up until this point so I'm curious to see distance on odometre when I pick up my bike.), I turned down 27th and there is a slight dip towards Crown. I usually accelerate down this decline to give me a bit of a slingshot up the similar rise between 27th and 28th. I remember that when I turned the corner I was encroaching, somewhat, into the oncoming lane, (Basically the nature of the turning process and my speed at the time.), and as there was a car coming towards me, not dangerously so for either of us, I think I made a quick swerve to the right and in so doing, I believe that my right pedal caught the road surface and brought me down!
Celine said that when she found me my bike was still between my legs. I don't know if my shoes were still attached to my clips, at this point, but I surmise that when my bike finally stopped, I kept going and the "yank" which occurred caused a fairly significant strain/stretching of my groin muscles as I lurched forward to then be arrested/bungee corded back by my screaming muscles! In fact, this is the most uncomfortable injury I sustained. Walking is painful but if I do so slowly, I can shuffle along without too, too much discomfort. Lying down, getting up is another matter altogether as this puts a considerable stain on my groin and it is reasonably painful when this happens. Nice abrasions on my right side, ankle, knee and elbow. My ribs and shoulder are a bit sore but nothing really. Three stitches to close about a half-inch gash on my temple. That and adjacent area are tender to the touch but not really uncomfortable, especially since the swelling of the once mighty goose egg has subsided.
Funnily enough I noticed a number of cameramen filming in the Emergency Area while I was waiting to be seen. When Chloë arrived I was just about to be discharged and after she inquired about my injuries she said that she had been to elementary and high school with the producer. A few minutes later, Kevin, came by and Chloë introduced herself and her injured Papa! Quite a bright young man, as you can imagine. Now a producer for Knowledge Network. Somehow we started talking about what he was doing and he told us that he had just been to LA on business. He was walking to his rental car, with a friend, seven months pregnant, when he literally fell face first onto the sidewalk! He'd suffered a heart attack! He's 37 as is Chloë. The friend commenced to try to resuscitate him until paramedics arrived. They whisked him to UCLA Medical but had to give him electro-shocks twice, en route. Of course, he is lucky to be alive and now has an ICD, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, a device I'd not heard of before. I gather it is somewhat similar to a pacemaker, but different! Quite an afternoon between my accident, the non-stop yowling and meeting Chloë's former classmate on location!
Guess it'll have to be lattes on the Rum Runner! Cheers, Il Quasi-Ambulatore!
Hi Kjell!
Are you seeking medical attention? My dottore seemed to think, under circumstances, I was doing pretty well. Tough old bird like Mom, Sharktooth Annie, I suppose! Dizziness, to the extent I experience it, is apparently caused by having "jolted" some inner ear sensors, according to her. I theorize that I had actually turned them off to shut out The Sisterhood's whining and whingeing and crash-landing re-invoked them. And here I thought the pulled groin was bad enough! She even gave me the green light to drive to Squamish today and even indulge in a glass of alcohol. Funnily enough, I actually don't feel much like imbibing, at present, so I know I am definitely not well! Anyway, I can sip a bit to be sociable so that is fine for now.
I'm very pleased to report that when I "leaped' out of bed this morning my left groin felt the best since the accident and walking is slightly more normal instead of the earlier shuffling gait. Trust this means that I might be able to try some time on the stationary bicycle, on low resistance, at the False Creek CC across the way, either Sunday or Monday.
We enjoyed a lovely evening and wonderful dinner last night. Cora Lee simply outdid herself preparing a stunning array of Thai food: vegetarian vermicelli noodlles with shiitake mushrooms, asparagus tips, shredded cabbage and julienned carrots; pork and spinach in coconut milk and chicken in spicy peanut sauce. For appetizers Flamin' brought Spring Rolls from the Market and Coriandre had done shrimp stuffed mini zucchini tubes. I slathered hot peanut sauce over both! Friends Rosemary and Andre, together with Frank, (friend they stay with when in Vancouver), were over, together with Jo-Anne, another friend/neighbour in building. (She will be joining Cora Lee and others in the Book Club in Italy.), so plenty to chat about over dinner. At some point, both F/S/CL and I plan to visit with R/A in France this coming September and/or October. Rosita's pear pie, (Baked and frozen before she left, bless her heart!), for dessert so caloric consumption alone means I need to be back cycling to Horseshoe Bay and beyond!
Time for a spot of brunch. Overlefts from last night's feast while I finish last few chapters of James Lee Burke's Heartland, featuring Billy Bob Holland, a former Texas Ranger. I've read some in this series but not this earlier one. Found it in the Lobby of our building where people tend to leave books for others. Often of the Avon True Romance variety so I was more than delighted to come across it. Burke's eye for the Texas landscape similarly captures what he so powerfully renders of Robichaux's Louisiana. As well, I particularly relish his dead beat and criminal characters. I never cease to be amazed at the depths of pure evil and the heights of human goodness he is able to plumb/scale. Cheers, Patrizzio!
P,
Are the inner ear sensors somewhere on the bike. I can ask Jake. Anyway, good to know you can have a drink to celebrate. Came by for a visit but Chloe
intercepted me on route. She said you were not home. I may have
mistakenly passed your water bottle along to her. She took one look it
and... said she -- GO thee to a NUUNery. What is all this
red mould....Sunday Sunday: If we cannot secure a 4th we will give Kerry a lesson -- maybe Natalia can join. Squash buddy (Mike
Carrier - aka Penguin) partner Nora has a show at that waterfall gallery
(named...) just your way from Feckless Rider. Check it out. Enjoy your dinner tonight. Squeamish: If you feel like stopping by Howe Sound again I would take all the Bitter you are willing to mule. W
I think the sensors are next to the rear gesprockenheimerflugelshaft but I'm not really sure! Put the toxic container in the dishwasher and now we have a gaping hole in the front loading door. Actually, makes it easier to load/empty appliance and one can give Maggie a shampoo at the same time. Silver lining in every cloud!
Think we'll need to pair Kerry with Wrathful Mentor. I'm sure he'll be nothing but supportive! Barncle Branko has another engagement. As he mentioned, nothing for months and then two on same date! Sarge offered that if we held it here, he could probably play. His Uncle Joe will be along and he plays so could be fun. If you want me to explore this I can pursue matter but probably need to know before we head out to pick up your hootch! A car load?
Latest from No Decimal Point:
We have completed
your work order (041713103409) at West Point Cycles - West 10th Ave.
Please stop by at your earliest convenience.
Hello Patrick,
The Trek Madone you have
here for a safety inspection is done and ready to be picked up. The bill
is $204.37. The mechanic's notes are as follows: "Bike inspected and
key components are still good and safe to use.
Rear tire replaced. Front tire still has life left in it until you
start to see blue on the tread as the rear did. New fenders installed as
old ones were broken from the crash. Bike test rides well. Minor
adjustments made. Please show Patrick how his new fenders
affect how the wheels remove and install. Please also re-install the
end clamp for his right grip if he brings it in when he picks up the
bike."
Thank you, Geoff
No
point in worrying about cost. Since my scrambleage it seems I've taken
to adopting The Sisterhood Philosophy/Motto: Never, never worry or
concern yourself about buying what you can't afford today and will never
be able to pay off tomorrow! From all the doom and gloom they continue
to preach about my riding, I won't be around to have to pay the debt in
any event. Malt for my camel pack for sure now!
I'm very pleased to report that when I "leaped' out of bed this morning my left groin felt the best since the accident and walking is slightly more normal instead of the earlier shuffling gait. Trust this means that I might be able to try some time on the stationary bicycle, on low resistance, at the False Creek CC across the way, either Sunday or Monday.
We enjoyed a lovely evening and wonderful dinner last night. Cora Lee simply outdid herself preparing a stunning array of Thai food: vegetarian vermicelli noodlles with shiitake mushrooms, asparagus tips, shredded cabbage and julienned carrots; pork and spinach in coconut milk and chicken in spicy peanut sauce. For appetizers Flamin' brought Spring Rolls from the Market and Coriandre had done shrimp stuffed mini zucchini tubes. I slathered hot peanut sauce over both! Friends Rosemary and Andre, together with Frank, (friend they stay with when in Vancouver), were over, together with Jo-Anne, another friend/neighbour in building. (She will be joining Cora Lee and others in the Book Club in Italy.), so plenty to chat about over dinner. At some point, both F/S/CL and I plan to visit with R/A in France this coming September and/or October. Rosita's pear pie, (Baked and frozen before she left, bless her heart!), for dessert so caloric consumption alone means I need to be back cycling to Horseshoe Bay and beyond!
Time for a spot of brunch. Overlefts from last night's feast while I finish last few chapters of James Lee Burke's Heartland, featuring Billy Bob Holland, a former Texas Ranger. I've read some in this series but not this earlier one. Found it in the Lobby of our building where people tend to leave books for others. Often of the Avon True Romance variety so I was more than delighted to come across it. Burke's eye for the Texas landscape similarly captures what he so powerfully renders of Robichaux's Louisiana. As well, I particularly relish his dead beat and criminal characters. I never cease to be amazed at the depths of pure evil and the heights of human goodness he is able to plumb/scale. Cheers, Il Sottore!
Doctor's report sounds positive. Concussion must affect the inner ear sensors if we are to believe her.
I've read the Burke character Billy
Bob Holland and really enjoyed several of those books.. Sylvia just
passed along a Reginald Hill novel and Joyce's 'Pilgimage of Harold Fry'
which I'll get into once finished Patterson's
'Private Berlin'.
Sam Chapman brought 2 truck loads
of maple today which I started to split this afternoon. Peter is taking a
load and I hope ther is some left of suitable size for George.
I can get a pass for you to try out Fitness World if you wish and once you are feeling ready. They have 2 very good bikes. Enjoy your day in Squamish. Ray
Ptriçio,
Lo siento mucho that you had a crash and burn! All other factors, although significant, must be eclipsed by the mental anguish of touching the ground before the ride's end and the proper "33" on the speedo! Fortunately, as evidenced by your characteristically detailed account (you would have been Magellan's scribe in another age) your typing skills are intact. You will be back in the saddle on no time.
I on the other hand, or should I say 'leg', have developed a new problem - fluid on the knee. At one point it was excruciatingly painful to bend it more than 5 degrees. A bit of drainage and cortisone has it under control it seems, but extended inactivity has wreaked havoc with my fitness level. So no 100+ rides for a while, but I am (carefully) back at it and hope to be doing Richmond by next week.
Lo siento mucho that you had a crash and burn! All other factors, although significant, must be eclipsed by the mental anguish of touching the ground before the ride's end and the proper "33" on the speedo! Fortunately, as evidenced by your characteristically detailed account (you would have been Magellan's scribe in another age) your typing skills are intact. You will be back in the saddle on no time.
I on the other hand, or should I say 'leg', have developed a new problem - fluid on the knee. At one point it was excruciatingly painful to bend it more than 5 degrees. A bit of drainage and cortisone has it under control it seems, but extended inactivity has wreaked havoc with my fitness level. So no 100+ rides for a while, but I am (carefully) back at it and hope to be doing Richmond by next week.
Hi Patrick - apologies for the delay in responding. Really sorry
to hear about your accident. I trust the healing is going well and
that there are no concussion like symptoms. Take care out there my man
and don't push yourself too hard.
We are back from freezing in Europe for 3 plus weeks - the
coldest spring in over 50 years. In the UK sheep and cattle were "dying
in the glens" as they say. Snow in Dublin and London but with "no
visible accumulations" as my Irish cousins put it.
Off to New Zealand on Wednesday which no doubt will be experiencing an
early winter the way things are going for us. Still, things could be
worse - we could be in Regina which is having a God awful time from the
sounds of it - tons of snow, rutting so deep
in the side streets that they are almost impassable and inevitable
flooding when it eventually melts.
Given that we are off soon and I'm panicking over stuff I still
have to do before departure, it would be best if you picked up the
Scotch tickets directly from the Fest and asked them to credit our team
with the sales. Seeing as you are getting 5,
the price will be the same as if you got them from me. Great you can
come. I donated a litre of Laddie Classic Edition 01 from Bruichladdich
to the silent auction - it is surprisingly tasty given that it is
unpeated.
Saw Kjell and Jane at Liisa's last week. He is cutting way down
on his drinking. Talked to him today and he indicated he had a kidney
stone episode (self-diagnosed) this week. I wonder if it related to his
reduced alcohol consumption? This requires
monitoring I think :-)
Take care of yourself and we'll see you on May 31st if not sooner - we are back from NZ on May 20th. Cheers.....Paul
Thank you so much!!! Those are great she really improved them!
travis directed me to this production "a house a home". i later discovered that he had just lost a musical band-mate from his high school days. his 22 year old acquaintance was a strong member of the percussion
section @ the time, went on to study jazz @ the u. of m. & was
achieving very high grades. he was also the drummer in a group which had recently signed a professional recording contract. last week, he dropped dead very suddenly from a medical condition known
as "wolff-parkinson-white" syndrome, having to do w/ abnormalities in
the electrical circuitry of the heart.
evidently, once diagnosed with this problem, only about 1 in 175 die from the problem, so his prognosis must have seemed hopeful to him & his immediate family who were the only ones who knew about it. although i never met him, i'm quite saddened by his bad luck & early demise. i hope you're on the mend & you've properly decided to wear a helmet wherever you go henceforth. http://youtu.be/t_X29ja3BiQ
evidently, once diagnosed with this problem, only about 1 in 175 die from the problem, so his prognosis must have seemed hopeful to him & his immediate family who were the only ones who knew about it. although i never met him, i'm quite saddened by his bad luck & early demise. i hope you're on the mend & you've properly decided to wear a helmet wherever you go henceforth. http://youtu.be/t_X29ja3BiQ
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