At this point, I'm not sure anyone cares. Oh, well, I always said I did this for me, and not for anyone else. And I do want to put some late breaking pictures of the Gallapagos up (if I can), and to record the summer before it is totally gone.
So. Here goes. First, the pictures.
In Quito, we visited Sunamune, a music school for developmentally disabled supported by Grand Circle Travel, the group sponsoring our trip. I was skeptical, but was won over by the joy, and the music. This site doesn't let me download the video we received - and in which we participated. I am so sorry, because it is so much fun. Even though I could barely breath because of the altitude, you couldn't say no to these kids when they asked you to dance. Here are a few still pictures....
One of my fellow travelers caught a few pictures of me snorkling and on the zodiak....
I am afraid the rest are videos, and the site is rejecting them - no doubt because they take up too much space. Oh, well, they are on my computer, and in the effort to download them, I saw them again, which was nice.
Sorry, not very much that I was able to share - hardly worth waiting four months over. Well the four months haven't been earth shattering in any event. I was dreadfully sick for just about all of May. Nothing life threatening, just some respiratory stuff, but it felled me - it is one way I know that age is catching up to me. It took me pretty much the whole month of June to recover, and I don`t think I am walking up to speed yet.
There was no work for April or May or June, and only about a third as much as usual for July and August. I really did think I would expire of boredom, but managed to amuse myself in the end. Lots of lunches with colleagues, with or without work - Bea, Randy, Paul, and, of course, the pho gang, and former colleagues - Mickey and of course Eric.
Some opera outings with Jack, both live at the Vancouver opera (Traviata and Cenerentola) and Metropolitan Opera in the Movies (Romeo and Juliet, Dialogue of the Carmelites), and bridge, lots of bridge, both at the club and at tournaments, and, of course, home with the boys. (You would think with all of this playing, I would get better, but it certainly doesn't seem like it.)
A number of theater outings, both with Tom and Jack, both live and National Theater Live in the movies, some good, some not so good. I went to Jerusalem, put on by United Players. Everyone raved about it; I walked out at the first intermission. Saw Once upon a Mattress with Tom at the North Vancouver Light Opera Society. I actually love these old musicals-operettas. Went to all three offerings by the Ensemble Theatre Company - Born Yesterday, Superior Donuts and Drawer Boy - all were wonderful, but they are always wonderful. And I am always saddened to see that they don't sell out. I don't know how people can live without the theater - I can't. Maybe they actually have lives, as opposed to me, who has to live vicariously through the theater and the opera. Jack and I saw All about Eve at NTLive; neither one of us was impressed. It is one of those old movies that doesn't age well. On the other hand, we also saw Kinky Boots - filmed live on Broadway and played in movie theaters around the world - and it was fabulous, although I must say that a musical is one thing that you miss the electricity of a live performance. And I mustn`t forget to mention The Audience with Helen Mirren. This was an encore production, but I hadn't seen it the first time around, and was glad to catch it. Very good!
They always make a big fuss over Canada Day at the bridge club...
....even yours truly got into the swing of things...
(that`s my bridge partner Alex in front of me...)
....and our traditional visit from ``the Queen`` , and her Mounty escort
Jen and Joyce and I at Fisherman`s Terrace, our usual dim sum joint...
.....and colleague Paul and I enjoying a celebratory Japanese meal...
Bea and I had our by now traditional outing to Bard on the Beach to celebrate our mutual birthdays, this year a reprise of Taming of the Shrew done as a spaghetti western. Yes, I know, it sounds dreadful, but it worked the last time they did it - it is hardly surprising that they tried it again.
Can`t forget the traditional dim sum at Kirin with Richard and Linda, dinner party at Sue`s (lucky you - since I wasn`t blogging, I rarely remembered my camera), Even friend John got into the act, offering up a sushi birthday dinner, as did Gerry (also known as the Juke Box Man, who added a new Greek restaurant to my list (named New York, New York, of all things, but worth going to again, in spite of being out in Surrey).
New friend Lou got a boat which is moored close by, so invitations for wine in the cockpit were forthcoming.......
So. Here goes. First, the pictures.
In Quito, we visited Sunamune, a music school for developmentally disabled supported by Grand Circle Travel, the group sponsoring our trip. I was skeptical, but was won over by the joy, and the music. This site doesn't let me download the video we received - and in which we participated. I am so sorry, because it is so much fun. Even though I could barely breath because of the altitude, you couldn't say no to these kids when they asked you to dance. Here are a few still pictures....
One of my fellow travelers caught a few pictures of me snorkling and on the zodiak....
I am afraid the rest are videos, and the site is rejecting them - no doubt because they take up too much space. Oh, well, they are on my computer, and in the effort to download them, I saw them again, which was nice.
There was no work for April or May or June, and only about a third as much as usual for July and August. I really did think I would expire of boredom, but managed to amuse myself in the end. Lots of lunches with colleagues, with or without work - Bea, Randy, Paul, and, of course, the pho gang, and former colleagues - Mickey and of course Eric.
Some opera outings with Jack, both live at the Vancouver opera (Traviata and Cenerentola) and Metropolitan Opera in the Movies (Romeo and Juliet, Dialogue of the Carmelites), and bridge, lots of bridge, both at the club and at tournaments, and, of course, home with the boys. (You would think with all of this playing, I would get better, but it certainly doesn't seem like it.)
A number of theater outings, both with Tom and Jack, both live and National Theater Live in the movies, some good, some not so good. I went to Jerusalem, put on by United Players. Everyone raved about it; I walked out at the first intermission. Saw Once upon a Mattress with Tom at the North Vancouver Light Opera Society. I actually love these old musicals-operettas. Went to all three offerings by the Ensemble Theatre Company - Born Yesterday, Superior Donuts and Drawer Boy - all were wonderful, but they are always wonderful. And I am always saddened to see that they don't sell out. I don't know how people can live without the theater - I can't. Maybe they actually have lives, as opposed to me, who has to live vicariously through the theater and the opera. Jack and I saw All about Eve at NTLive; neither one of us was impressed. It is one of those old movies that doesn't age well. On the other hand, we also saw Kinky Boots - filmed live on Broadway and played in movie theaters around the world - and it was fabulous, although I must say that a musical is one thing that you miss the electricity of a live performance. And I mustn`t forget to mention The Audience with Helen Mirren. This was an encore production, but I hadn't seen it the first time around, and was glad to catch it. Very good!
They always make a big fuss over Canada Day at the bridge club...
....even yours truly got into the swing of things...
(that`s my bridge partner Alex in front of me...)
....and our traditional visit from ``the Queen`` , and her Mounty escort
July 18 was my birthday, and it seemed as if there were lunches and dinners for two weeks. I loved it, I have to say. A sampling...
Jen and Joyce and I at Fisherman`s Terrace, our usual dim sum joint...
.....and colleague Paul and I enjoying a celebratory Japanese meal...
Bea and I had our by now traditional outing to Bard on the Beach to celebrate our mutual birthdays, this year a reprise of Taming of the Shrew done as a spaghetti western. Yes, I know, it sounds dreadful, but it worked the last time they did it - it is hardly surprising that they tried it again.
It didn`t work quite so well this time, but dinner at Oddfish, a local restaurant, was fun.
Of course, Robin, Debbie and I had our annual joint birthday dinner too, this time at a new venue, called Savio Volpe, an Italian small-plates restaurant. I must say, I wasn`t as impressed with it is as Robin was - a bit too gourmand for me - but we did have a good time, as always. Forty five years and counting.
Can`t forget the traditional dim sum at Kirin with Richard and Linda, dinner party at Sue`s (lucky you - since I wasn`t blogging, I rarely remembered my camera), Even friend John got into the act, offering up a sushi birthday dinner, as did Gerry (also known as the Juke Box Man, who added a new Greek restaurant to my list (named New York, New York, of all things, but worth going to again, in spite of being out in Surrey).
New friend Lou got a boat which is moored close by, so invitations for wine in the cockpit were forthcoming.......
Friends from Palm Springs Scott, Suzie and Nan stopped in Vancouver for a few days on their way back from a bridge cruise to Alaska, and it was great to get a desert ``hit`` in the middle of the summer.
Those of you who know me know that, but for playing Scrabble, I would never be on Facebook. Twice this year, I felt compelled to go on Facebook. In the spring, it was to find that old friend (and I mean old - Alison from New York from 50 years ago - had died, and her son was trying to contact his Auntie Nora. A few weeks ago, it was Kim, the daughter of friend Carolyn, trying to reach me to tell me that Carolyn had been found dead in her house in California, cause of death thus far unknown. It is creepy, I tell you. (Carolyn was David`s assistant in the Bank; she, husband George, David and I used to go skiing in the old days; then, later, sailing). Although I haven`t seen much of her in recent years, it was still a blow.
Well, I realize I haven`t spoken much about feelings, or about my reading list, or about recent weeks. But it is a start, and I am bound to be caught up in days. For those of you still out there in cyberspace, thank you for sticking with me. I`ll be back shortly.
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