The Lady Drives Too Fast!

So, I did it again.  Just going home from  work, minding my own business.  It was sunny out, the top was down.  I wasn't even in a hurry to get anywhere, and didn't even feel any particular annoyance with my fellow drivers.  Then, lights, sirens, action, and several minutes later, a $290 ticket.  Speeding would have been bad enough (apparently, if I would have been going 5 klicks faster, they could have impounded my car!) but it was also for changing lanes (he lost track of how many times!) without signaling!  (Ironic, that; I signal when I turn into my garage, and one of my pet peeves about the diver in Richmond is that they sem to think that their turn signals are optional extras on the car, but I wasn't going to argue with a cop!).  Oh, well.  It's not the only time I have been speeding - I seem to remember telling y'all about another such episode - and I always think that by the timee I have gotten the ticket, it has already been amortized.

That was enough to slow me down, for a while, anyway.  (I didn't even know they could impound your car for speeding...)

Tuesday (August 20) I met friend Joan for coffee.

I had reconnected with her at one of my theater outings a few weeks ago, and we decided we needed to catch up.  She is one of the foundeers of United Players, and I worked with her on a number of productions a few years ago doing props.  She's in her 70's and still going strong, acting (she will be in The Habit of Art in September - review to follow), and writing and directing her own play after that.  We always talk theater - what she has seen, what I have seen, who's doing what to whom in our local, very small world - good fun!

And Wednesday, back to the routine, bridge with the boys, preceded by dinner.

You might notice someone missing - there's me, Tom behind and John across - but where's Dennis?  He didn't get the word - John's job (I'm in charge of Tom on the telephone tree), so he couldn't get to dinner in time.  You will be happy to hear h made it to John's for bridge though, and, as usual, a good time was had by all.

Friend Arlene came from Seattle for the weekend - was it only last weekend, it seems like eons ago - and I tried out my very rusty (see previous post) cooking skills, making puff pastry Danishes to go with bacon and eggs for breakfast, after which we headed out to Bard on the Beach for Elizabeth Rex by Timothy Findlay.

Yes, I know that I've seen it before, but Arlene hadn't seen it and it was worth seeing again.  Indeed, it was even better the second time - maybe it was just seeing it with an intelligent, knowledgeable, theater loving friend!  Which Tom (with whom I saw it the first time) is too, of course, but Arlene loved it (Tom did not) so it was even better.

We went to the matinee, so it was still light out for a lovely drive to White Rock to friend Robin's who invited us for dinks before dinner at Little India on the water in White Rock.

Doesn't Robin's garden look gorgeous?  Anyway, we had lovely G & T's, and headed off to dinner.  Little India gets five stars (well, maybe only four....), and dinner at the beach was a great way to end the day.

And on Sunday, we did another matinee at Bard, Hamlet this time (and yes, I did see that before too), and Arlene loved it as much as I did.  That wasn't a sure thing going in - I probably mentioned that it was set in 2013, and neither Arlene nor I like updating the classics as a rule, but I thought she would like it and she did.  I mean, one knows one is not responsible for other people's experience of the theater, but one does feel responsible, no?  Anyway, I live for those great theater momentss, and I sure have had a lot of them this summer!

Bard was followed by dinner on the pier in Steveston, at my current favourite, the Blue Canoe...

....and we continued the talking and drinking back home.  Arlene is going through a difficult stretch right now, both physically (notice, there were no walks on the agenda) and emotionally (and no, I won't tell you.  It is one thing to tell you all my secrets - they are, after all, mine to tell - but I won't breach someone else's privacy.  Who knows who is reading this blog, after all), and it was good to be able to be of help.  Our friendship has had some ups and downs over the years, and it is nice to be back in the up direction!

So, busy weekend, followed by a quite week at work.  We did have one of our Pho soup lunches (we always go there when is starts to rain, and guess what?.....)

Colleagues Tony, Bill, Lisa and Brian



You know, we have been going to this dive for years (we go in through the back and Lisa has to close her eyes when we pass the bathrooms!), and I don't think any of us could tell you its name.  However, we know the owners (father and son, and grandson recently born), and it has the best - and cheapest -  Pho and spring rolls in town.  When you come, I will take you.  what is that, now, about 60 restaurants we have to go to?

Well, there was one more thing this week, bridge with Robin at the bridge club in White Rock (we didn't do so well, but at least we were in the middle of the pack and not dead last!) followed by a Thai lunch - excellent!  (Let's just make it a given - if I don't provide the name it's because I've forgotten it - if I ever new it!)

The newcomer at the top is friend and fellow bridge player Carol

Which brings us to the weekend.  Labour Day weekend - the summer is nearly over, although I must say that September is often glorious here.  I did a lovely three hour walk today, and have two more planned for the next couple of days (although I will probably go in to work on Monday - the pressure is on to get my work done before I leave next month), and will send you the photo gallery next time.)

Till then....

I can't believe the summer's half gone....

  I left you last time on August 5, Canada Day, and I was on the way to the theater for the third of three of the repertory plays.  That night it was Mark Twain's The diaries of Adam and Eve.  It was a very sweet little play (some of you might have seen another adaption - glitzier, of course - on Broadway as The Apple Tree (I know I did, although I didn't realize it until I was halfway through this iteration.  Anyway, another nice night at the theater (although I have to say - have I said it already? - that if I ever win the lottery, I will buy that theater an air conditioning system!

Tuesday night was set to be a movie night with friend Donna, but as there was nothing around fit for an adult to see, we decided on a dinner for adults instead, at the previously mentioned new Steveston favouritem The Blue Canoe.

Left to right, Sue, Donna, yours truly and Kelly

As adult translates to wine with this group, and the food and conversation were the usual sparkling, well, it was way more fun than a summer blockbuster.

Followed by bridge on Wednesday night with the boys, this time at my house, and preceded by dinner at Yokahama (yes, we are creatures of habit.  My theory?  My childhood was so chaotic that I lock on to any tradition I can).

Thursday night was back to the theater, Bard on the Beach with Tom, this time for Hamlet.  This Hamlet got great reviews, which, considering the quality of the reviewers in this town doesn't mean a lot to me.  This time, though, it was totally and utterly justified.  Jonathan Young.  Remember that name.  This was his first season at Bard on the Beach, but let me telll you, that man is going places.  It was perhaps the best Hanlet I have ever seen, and trust me, I have seen a number!  And the staging, although modern (compete with Apple I-Pads and cell phones), was brilliant.  Folks, this is playing through September, and it is worth coming to Vancouver for!  (By the way, this is repertory, so he is also playing Feste, the fool, in Twelfth Night, and he is brilliant in that as well!)

And Friday I headed down to Seattle (can you see now why I haven't written earlier?) to pick up Peter; he flew in to Seattle for his weekend here.  He wasn't coming in until 6:30 P.M., but I headed down early for lunch with Mariah, Bobby and Gerardo.

Bobby and Gerardo (seen previously in these pages) spend most of their time in Puerto Vallarta, but were up staying in their little studio pied a terre (sp?) in Seattle for the summer and graciously invited me and Mariah for lunch.  It was great to see them both to catch up, although as you can see Bobby was a wounded bird - an ear infection gone horribly bad - and so was somewhat (alathough not much) less than his usual ebullient self.  Another sign:  they ordered in instead of cooking, although it was fried chicken from what is apparently Oprhah's favourite fried chicken joint.  (And no I can't look up the name - I am afraid to navigate away from this page for fear of losing it all - you'l have to Google "Oprh's Favourite Fried Chicken - Seattle.  If you find out, let me know).  It was indeed delicious, including all the sides, although I tried not to partake too much, as I knew a big dinner was in the offing.

I picked Peter up from the airport with not too much difficulty (except for making a wrong turn from the cell phone parking lot and landing on I-5, but hey, the signage was terrible, and I did manage to get back!) and we celebrated his arrival with a fabulous dinner at The Metropolitan Grill.

In a rare break with tradition, we changed our menu choices, from prime rib (we share, and alternate who gets the bone!) to prime rib (him) and porterhouse (me).  Great food, great service, as always, and great exit to the freeway for the 2 1/2 hour drive home.

Peter is my foodie friend (or I should say, one of them) so I tried to arrange a food filled weekend, not too difficult in Vancouver, I have to say, and espeially not for someone who likes food.  After a rare sleep in, we had a dim sum brunch at the already reviewed Fisherman's Terraace, rested for the afternoon, and headed out for Kitsilano Beach and Bard in the early evening.

Stopped for a drink and appies at my usual place, Corduroy, where the music is loud but the drinks are generous.  Then on to the theater.

(I think that may be my first published - and illegal - picture of the stage.  We were sitting on the side, so couldn't get the water and natural scenery behind the stage).  Peter requested Twelfth Night.  I, of course, had seen it already, but liked it even better the second time.  Peter was appalled that the actors were miked, and was only slightly mollified by being reminded that it was, after all, a tent, and completely lacking in accoustics.  Anyway, he agreed that it was well acted and well staged, and, I think, worth going.

Continuing our cultural streak on Sunday, we headed out (after a breakfast of leftover steak and eggs prepared by yours truly) for the Museum of Anthropology at UBC.  I hadn't been there for maybe 10 years or more, and so I was happy to indulge Peter in this.  It had turned rainy, anyway; a lovely day to spend at the museum.

And that's it for the totem pictures, lucky you.  They are endlessly photogenic, though, and, for an anthropology museum, it is amazingly interesting.  For example, their afternoon musical event consisted of Sufi music and a Whirling Dervish, and their special exhibit addressed dislocation in the Middle East and seen by a number of artists from that part of the world.  Yet another reson to come to Vancouver

We finished the weekend with dinner at La Cigale, a French bistro which came highly recommended by my local foodies.  Hank approved - food, service and ambiance all passed muster, and we were all having such a good time (and the waitresses were so busy) that I didn't take any pictures.

And Monday, I drove Peter back to Seattle and the airport, and immediately turned around to high tail it home.  Round trip:  7 hours, but easy driving and the wait at the border was tolerable with company.  You will be happy to hear that this whirlwind of activity was followed by two days of rest.  (I was working, of coursee, but at least there weren't any "after school" activities.  Thursday I was supposed to play bridge with Robin, but due to a mix up - not of our making- at the bridge club, we each ended up with different partners.  I was luckier than she was, and ended up coming in third (out of 15 tables), as well as meeting a potential new partner!

And Thursday night, I again had some colleagues over for dinner.  I want to get back into entertaining again, and Deidre staying over from Victoria was all the excuse I needed.

(That's Susan at the top, and Deidre immediately above.) My new recipe for garlic couscous and North African chicken was a huge success (it has been such a long time since I have actually cooked that it took me half their proposed cooking time just to find my casserole dish, but hey, I know where it now), and there was enough wine so that by the end of the evening we were trading stories about first loves (I haven't thought about those for a long, long time) and hopes and dreams for the future.  I am encouraged to do it more often, and will start inviting couples as well.

The week finished with a good bye lunch for colleague Daphne, who has finally decided to take the plunge and retire.  (She will be going on contract, as I am, but will be working mostly from home so I won't see her much.)  She didn't want a big fuss, but did allow me to take her to lunch at Cactus Club.  I haven't been there since Rob Sweeny (Vancouver's idea of a celebrity chef) went there to be the executive chef (it is a chain, but higher end).

(That was mine, the braised shortribs.  You can sure see why the kids Instagram pictures of their food!)  Anyway, it was nice to have a chance to tell Daphne how much pleasure it had given me to get to know her over the past few years.

After all that over the last two weeks, it was good to have a quite weekend, with Saturday given over to the prosaic (I cleaned out my closet, finally acknowledging that there is little likelihood that I will return to a size 6 again. ), and today given over to my usual newspaper binge, as well as 5 hours in the office.

On those days I have been home, I have been doing my usual hour plus walk in Steveston every evening, but will spare you the pictures till next time.  Well, maybe a few...

Can you see why I love it?

San Francisco and Beyond

I don't know whether this will be successful (it says "error on page"!), but it's time I reported in.  I left you 10 days ago, having just arrived in San Francisco, on Thursday July 25.  I am starting to - no, really, I have been for a while - feel guilty for taking advantage of Hank's hospitality, but he assures me time and time again that I am welcome, so, well, here I am again.  I not only have a key, I have a (senior!) Clipper Card to get me on BART and all things rapid transit, so I go directly to Hank's (when he doesn't otherwise have my dance card filled up).  When he got home from work, we did our customary dinner at the Alamo Square Bistro (I'm sure I have given it my thumbs up already, but, again, French bistro without the attitude, great wine list and fresh fish made any way you like it.)

Friday - again with the tradition - we had our usual lunch at Henry Hunans, followed by some shopping (for me - Hank, of course, had to go back to work) and a quiet evening in.  

Saturday was the big day, and the reason for the trip - the Giants baseball game1  No, that is not a misprint, Nora going to a baseball game!  Actually, I don't mind the occasional baseball game (although this one was particularly boring, score 1 to 0, in the last inning, and no, we didn't win, but more about that later).

We had been trying to organize lunch with friends and former colleagues from the Bank of America for a long time, and finally succeeded.  Karen and Suzanne picked us up and we went for a late lunch at the Mission Rock Resort, right near the water, around the corner from the ball park, and gone considerably upscale from when I was living here in the 80's!

We had a lovely lunch out in the sunshine. catching up on lives (I would say "and loves" but none of us has had any - I think I am the only one who is looking, more fool me!) - oh, and the food was good too.  As a group, we have been known to be fractious, but I think we were all on our good behaviour, very much aware, I guess, that there are no friends like old friends and nothing lasts forever.

The girls then dropped us off at the ball park, and - here's the big reveal - the party started!  Another tradition - I have been selling lottery tickets at Hank's University of Arizona alumni functions, and this party, in conjunction with the game, was one of them.

As you can see, it is a lovely stadium, and it was a lovely party.  We had a deck all of our own, there were about 150 attendees (to our party, not the game!), and we made a bit of money for the alumni association.  (Not my personal best in terms of lottery sales, though, it was a younger and poorer crowd than attends the football game, but hey, it kept me out of trouble - and out of the wine! - and the association was really gracious to me and grateful for the support.  On the whole, though, I think I will give it a pass next year, and just stick to the football game in the fall.

Sunday was a busy day, starting with brunch with friend Peter at Colibri, a Mexican restaurant on Geary Street. 

Quite high end, for a Mexican place, but freshly made tortillas and guacamole, and the carnitas/eggs benedict was a new and nice twist on an old favourite.

Peter went off to do his dottie domestic stuff that he does of a Sunday, and I went off to meet Hank for a double feature movie afternoon, both big hits.  Most of you have by now heard of Twenty Feet From The Stage, a documentary about the back up singers of the bands such as Bruce Springsteen, The Beetles, The Rolling Stones, Sting, David Bowie, etc.  It was a tremendous film, full of nostalgia and great sounds.  I highly recommend it. 

We had an hour break between movies, and so wandered out on the street and discovered - a Japanese Pop Culture Festival to amuse us.

(What is it with the Japanese and Miss Kitty, not to mention all the nubile teenagers dressed up like school girls?)  Anyway, suitably amused, we returned to the theater.  By the way, this was Hank's neighborhood movie theater, The Kabuki, and a civilized place it is too.  Not only are the seats amazingly comfortable, after 4 P.M. in certain of the theaters, liquor is sold and can be consumer while watching the movie!  Imagine!

The second feature was The Way, Way Back, a coming of age movie.  These are right up Hank's alley and not usually mine, but I quite liked it, much to my surprise.  (Most of you have heard my mantra - it iw my firm belief that friends are meant to drag you kicking and screaming to places you wouldn't ordinarily go1)

We ended the day - and th weekend - with a meal at Memphis Minnie's, a barbeque joint in the Haight that Hank has been telling me about for years, but have never made it to till now.  No offense, Hank, not the best barbeque in the world, but a great dive, and the owner was a flirty thing who obviously liked women, which is always fun!

Anyway, so much for San Francisco; I left the next day, and was back to work the day following that. 

Vancouver has been glorious this summer - we broke the record for the number of days without rain, and had a completely rain-free July.  And  am amazingly content with my life.  Good theater always helpd.  Friend Tom had scouted out the Ensemble Theater Company, who are doing three plays in repertory this summer.  We saw the first on Wednesday, July 30th - it was The Farnsworth Invention, written by Aaron Sorkin (yes, you recognize the name, he was the writer of The West Wing) - tremendously intelligent dialogue, well acted -- and all for $17!  (God, good theater makes me happy!)

I came back to the theater, which is at Jericho Beach, (see above for a change of scene for my evening walk) for those of you following along, on Sunday, to see the second play, Women Beware Women, a Jacobean play, not usually my cup of tea, but again, a good play well acted.

Which brings us to today, B.C. Day and so a holiday for us, and another beautiful day in paradise it is.  Friend and former colleague Eric came over for a walk....

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And so, having dawdled the rest of the day away with the remains of the Sunday New York Times, I am off to see the third play, The Diaries of Adam and Eve by Mark Twain.  Review next time. 

Hope you are all having as good a summer as I am.  I have a busy couple of weeks, but will try to post next weekend, between guests.