The Isaac Brock Diaries: Saturday, May 25th

Few things are more satisfying than seeing your children have teenagers of their own. -Doug Larson, columnist (b. 1926) 

Hi Jim!

Sorry to hear about the "cood in jour dose"! Hope you are better by time you read this. Thanks for latest update and efforts on my behalf!  Having had some more time to think about the Monties, I think I'd like to have you order just the Navigator, as I'm interested in having racks for panniers and FIT doesn't come with such kit,  as far as I know. This way I can try the 19" as well as the 21" frame. Hope this makes sense to you. I'm a bit puzzled, as well, over holding stock. Seems a bit odd but who knows the "back story", buzz word from Tinsel Town!

Cora Lee and I are certainly keen as mustard for the Lake District so please, by all means, go ahead and plan an outing, a night or two, or whatever you feel is warranted. On the other hand, we certainly don't want you to feel that you have to be constant tour guides while we are visiting. We are more than happy to "potter" around locally, going for walks, reading in back garden, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and warmth, sipping lattes!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to connect with West Hartlepudlians as their schedules and ours didn't mesh. They were in Kimberley and then we were in LA, etc. Robo Man did say that they had gone for some bikes rides and enjoyed them muchly

Sending this from Winnipeg as I arrived on Thursday afternoon to attend the 100th anniversary of my Junior High School, Isaac Brock. Another classmate of mine, Joan Woodbury, was on same flight. In fact, she was the one who told me about the reunion. Just by chance we met at a friend's party last summer. Up until that point I hadn't seen her since the end of high school in 1965!

We landed about 2:00pm. My cousin's husband, Filmer, picked me up and was waiting so we made for home as soon as my bag showed up on the carousel. Pleasant day here as opposed to drizzle I left behind in Vancouver. I was planning to go for a swim at the Pan Am Pool but there is a swim meet on this weekend so Training Pool was only facility open and it closed at 4:00pm. It was shortly after 3:00pm when I discovered this so it wasn't worthwhile to make the trip, given time left.

For dinner we had pizza from a local place not far away. Delicious, both vegetarian and another, one half Hawaiian/one half pepperoni. I made a mixed green salad and threw together a small bottle of dressing. Too much mustard for Filmer so I was happy as more for me! Dusty, (Cora Lee's Dad, who doesn't fancy other than off the shelf salad dressings), would have been pleased with the store "boughten" Italian Filmer used instead! We washed everything down with a bottle of Little Penguin red. At the risk of being accused of wine snobbery, will definitely be stopping at nearbye Grant Park liquor store in next day or so for some other more interesting hootch. Little Penguin is fine as far as it goes, price/taste, but not particularly characteristic of Shiraz varietal!

On the other hand, coffee Filmer brews/makes is simply fantastic. Vietnamese style. Filmer prepared a cup shortly after we were back at their home and it was even more delicious than I had remembered from last time I visited.

Friday morning I was up fairly early, 5:30am, as Filmer rises at 5:00am! Sally, my cousin, leaves for work by 7:00am so I had arranged to catch a lift with her to the pool. She works nearbye dropped me off on her way to the school where she is the manager of the day care facility. I found a coffee-shop and read there until public swim started at 9:00am. Not many other swimmers in Training Tank so I quite enjoyed logging two miles. Longest distance since I started swimming in LA this past weekend/week. 

I had hoped to do that distance at the Van Nuys pool not far from where Ayn, our eldest daughter, lives but was at just over 1.75 miles when life guard told me pool was closing for vacuuming! Anyway, enjoyed the swim and then after showering/changing walked back to shopping centre to buy some wine and spirits. Found a great selection of Malbecs, Carmenères, Tempranillos and Priorats so was very pleased. Much better prices than in BC so even better! Also picked up a single malt, Bruichladdich 1998 Sherry Edition, (aged in Oloroso Jerez Sherry wood), 46%, (not overly peated so even you might approve!) ,on sale so saved about $20. Original price was about $20 cheaper than back home so I'll have to leave all my clothes here in Winnipeg to get all the booze home!

My brother-in-law, Greg, (Grog as I call him!), very kindly offered to come and collect me. We returned to their home and I had a spot of lunch, (His wife, Pam, (Spumoni), is Cora Lee's youngest sister), loves me to visit as I eat all the "overlefts" in her fridge. Her two sons and Grog won't touch them but I could live for weeks on them!

Grog then dropped me back at my cousin's place and I got ready to go to the first planned event of the reunion, a wine and cheese reception at the school itself. My nephew, Travis, dropped me at a bus stop about ten blocks from the house and I caught an express bus downtown to change to another which took me but a few blocks from Isaac Brock and my old neighbourhood. Bus itself stopped at Valour Road, so named to honour three Canadian soldiers in WWI who received the Victoria Cross. Interestingly enough, they all lived in the same block of then named Pine Street. When in Grade 9 I was voted by my classmates to place the Canadian Legion memorial wreath at a commemorative plaque on the corner of Valour Road and Portage Avenue on Remembrance Day, 1961. After snapping a few pictures of plaque, I strolled towards school, reminding myself of some of the houses and churches and stores that were part of neighbourhood I lived in from 1959 through 1967.

Reception itself was loads and loads of fun and I met about ten classmates whom I knew very well, and scads of others from neighbourhood, older/younger siblings, community recreation centre, mainly hockey, on my part, acquaintances/team mates, etc., as well as high school friends. Isaac Brock was a feeder school for Daniel MacIntyre and I knew many students there that I'd not known in Junior High as being older than me they were ahead of me. In many instances I "caught up" with them when they ended up failing a grade or two! Or else they were married to someone who went to IB.
 
One couple, in particular, I never expected to meet as I didn't even know that the wife attended IB: Elaine and Dick Archer. They are probably about five to seven years older. At any rtae, I played handball against Dick and his partner, Norm Armstrong, for years, when I was at University Of Winnipeg. Cora lee even came along to tournaments that were held in North Dakota, in Grand Forks, so it was simply wonderful to see them both after more than thirty years at least. They spend about half a year in Sarasota, Florida, and have invited us to visit. Hope to be able to take them up on the offer in next year or so as we'd both love to visit that part of the US.

Anyway, it was a fun-filled time machine trip down memory lane. Last person I bumped into was a chap named Warren Brooke and I knew him very well although he is seven years older. My Dad owned a small corner grocery store in the neighbourhood, at the time, and I delivered groceries, by bike, to many of my classmates' homes. 

In fact, I actually knew many of their mothers better than my own peers through this activity. Jack Weremy, a close friend of Warren's worked for my Dad, delivering groceries by car, until I could drive myself, and so I came to know Warren. When I went to U of Wpg, (then United College), I had all these "connections" with the "big guys" on campus, myself still a freshman, so I was accepted into the "inner circle" from the very beginning. What it meant was that i had a whole set of "older brothers" to help me find my way in a new world. Probably accounted, in large part,  for how much I enjoyed my studies there.

 Warren and his wife, (I didn't know her as she is not from Winnipeg), now live in London, Ontario, so hope to visit them there at some point as we plan to drive east in a few years, all the way to Nova Scotia. Event was over just after 9:00pm and since Warren had riven to Winnipeg he offered to drop me off. He and his wife were staying with his sister in the same part of the city, not too, too far from my cousin's home. I wasn't unhappy to climb into bed around 10:30pm as it had been a long but delightful day. Off to wander the halls of Isaac Brock this afternoon and then attend the reunion dinner tonight at the Canad Inn, a hotel in a local mall, Polo Park, (a former racecourse, hence the name), not far from the school/neighbourhood itself.  Looking forward to continuing catching up with classmates. All the best. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi, how are things? Phone revenue Canada and left message have not heard back. Phone Chris Kite, no rush get back to him when you can, an update on your investments. Talk to Ron at Probe and thanked him. He said phone Pete at National Pacific and let him know how helpful he was. Price Alarm's talked to Kim about changing the batteries. Maggie and I are fine. Painting bedroom. Have just washed curtains. Will be working at the book sale later this afternoon. Give my love to all! CoraLee  

Hi Goils! This is text I sent to Jim in Yorkshire. He is helping me with buying the foldable bike I'm interested in purchasing. Thanks for all the updates on phone mesages. Still waiting for money transfer Cora Lee, Daaaaaarling! How is wedding, Ayn? How is Maggs, Chloë? Peg, their dog, is in about the same shape as our aging kitten. Everyone says hello. Coolish today with threat of rain. Fondestos, Love and Cheers, Dad/Patrizzio!

Wayne Sutherland Biked 92 k from Penticton to Oliver and back. Legs are done. Wine tasting yesterday and tomorrow and then back to the real world.

Patrick James Dunn Sarge, if you had tasted a bit more wine you could have done 100K! Still, great ride. Grand Fondo in July?

I will join the cycling contingent despite the fledgling (unhatched?) nature of my bridge skills. 

Also, rest assured that despite the [minor] detail that I haven't read the book, (whatever book that is), I will be pleased to opine upon it... Kurt, do I need to bring a sleeping bag?

George, can you send me details of the cycling itinerary?  8^) cheers, Mark

Does anyone have an mp3 version of TSB? 8^) cheers, Mark

Mark, Great that you will join us. I don't know the exact plans yet. Likely getting on the road to get a noon ferry. Leave 9:30 from Pat's? I assume you will be up for playing some bridge Saturday? If not, Kurt  needs to find a 4th? G                I am certainly up for playing bridge. How "up" should I get? Is pharmaceutical assistance permitted? 8^) cheers, Mark

 Aloha Patrick, It was great to meet you and Corinne... and be of service and to hopefully help make your recent California  trip from the Bellingham International Airport less stressful and a bit more fun! No doubt you brought home many wonderful "graduation" memories that will be shared for a life-time! 

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I cannot emphasize how impressed I was with the service provided by Wiki Wiki Park n Shuttle! Velma and Ernie were wonderfully friendly and more than efficient. The fact that one can have complimentary hot chocolate and/or coffee just makes the parking and shuttle to/from the airport even better. Felt almost like a personalized limousine service. The online registration is straightforward and easy to use. It also allows changes to schedule, if required, to be made so that is reassuring.

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In February of 2008, a Brooklyn, New York, woman named Carine Desir died. The cause of death seemed to be an asthma attack -- she had been complaining of shortness of breath and her last words, reportedly, were "I cannot breathe!" -- but what makes her death notable isn't how she died. It's where she died. Carine Desir passed away on a plane, en route to New York City from Haiti. And what does the airline do when someone dies in the middle of a flight? Depends. In Desir's case, American Airlines enshrouded her in a blanket and laid her corpse in the aisle in first class. Space is lacking on planes, and most airlines don't have a section for recently deceased travelers.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (the FAA) does not issue regulations or guidance regarding in-flight death. Most (if not all) airlines have policies in place in case of such an event, but as the Seattle Times learned when they asked about those policies after Desir's death, the airlines were not very forthcoming -- Delta, JetBlue, and Northwest all declined to provide details. American's spokesperson also gave little in the way of details, offering a broad-stroke view of the policy: "When there is a death aboard a flight the general procedure is to move the deceased to an area of the cabin where they can be isolated to some extent and covered in as dignified a way as possible." British Airways, after a death aboard one of their flights, demonstrated a similar policy. Per the Consumerist, the British Airways crew placed the corpse in first class, as there were no other available, somewhat isolated seats.
 

But one airline -- Singapore Airlines -- has a plan. Many of their flights come equipped with a special place for those who die in flight, colloquially called the "corpse cupboard." Singapore Airlines, as of 2004, operated "the longest non-stop route in the world: a 17-hour, 7,900-mile journey between Singapore and Los Angeles," in the words of the Guardian. In May of 2004, the company announced that these flights, again per the Guardian, would have "a discreet locker next to one of the plane's exit doors which is long enough to store an average-sized body, with special straps to prevent any movement during a bumpy landing."

I will join the cycling contingent despite the fledgling (unhatched?) nature of my bridge skills. 

Also, rest assured that despite the [minor] detail that I haven't read the book, (whatever book that is), I will be pleased to opine upon it...Kurt, do I need to bring a sleeping bag? George, can you send me details of the cycling itinerary?  8^) cheers, Mark

Mark, Great that you will join us. I don't know the exact plans yet. Likely getting on the road to get a noon ferry. Leave 9:30 from Pat's? I assume you will be up for playing some bridge Saturday? If not, Kurt  needs to find a 4th?  G

Hakaii Pass