Agen Penichette Blues: Sunday, September 29th

The less justified a man is in claiming excellence for his own self, the more ready he is to claim all excellence for his nation, his religion, his race or his holy cause. A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people's business. -Eric Hoffer, philosopher and author (1902-1983)

 

Michele Darrow-Sutherland

First day on canal... Nobody died !!

• Ayn P Oh look at Poppa the deckhand!
• 

  Patrick James Dunn Not a stinkin' deckhand, but a Tour de Francer! I spit on canal barges! Yesterday evening in Agen!
  

  Ayn P Not just a deckhand, but an obviously French influenced deckhand!

  

  Patrick James Dunn No, I beg to differ, a Pastis influenced deckhand! Agen, our port of departure!
  

  

Ayn P Beautiful!!

Patrick James Dunn I hope that at some point, in the not too, too distant future, you too will be able to enjoy this remarkable countryside and culture! Soap at market in Pézenas a number of Saturdays ago!

Today's ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/383093350#.UkhJXzLSXMY.email

Left Agen at around 10:00 am, Flamin' and I taking off after the first lock to make our way towards Buzet. Simply wonderful to ride along the canal, loads of other cyclists and families, lovers, walking , all very friendly, "Bonjours" exchanged, most civilly, on both sides. Flamin' needed, as is the natural state of affairs, with The Sisterhood, to go to the bathroom, after a mere 25 km, so my first latte stop, ever since arriving in France! All right, really a Capuccino stop, but nonetheless, a stop far earlier than I would have liked. BUT, I'm a very good friend, so I stopped and touched The Burning Ground, to allow Falmin' to relieve her bursting bladder, blow her nose, (She was sniffling all the way from Agen, recounting the more than traumatic details of her dear mother's death in Dartmouth. Sheila died on July 24th and while i knew some of the facts surrounding her last days, I hadn't realized how truly, horrendously difficult Linda, her sister, had made this already agonizing siutation even more of a trial.

Dinner: fabulous pork roast by Flamin', roasted kartofellage, roasted zuchinni and red pepper, mixed green saladin, all washed down qith a magnesium of Paul Mas 2012 "Vignes de Nicole", 14%, Cabbage/Syrah and a 2009 Baron d'Ardeuil, Vielles Vignes, 14%, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabbage

Bridge after dinner with plenty of Caol Ila Moch, 43%, wonderfully fresh and clean, smooth mouthful of peat, to help endure Mr Fixit's constant criticism of our bidding!

Dear friend,
Thank you very much for supporting me with your generous donation! Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

My wife Linda, daughter Courtney and I completed the Walk today in Stanley Park and avoided the rain! Barely. It was an awesome event and with your help I raised over $4,500.00 for Autism Speaks Canada. Thank you so much. I hope to raise a bit more before the end of the year with a squash event at the Vancouver Racquets Club.

On behalf of everyone who is affected by autism in some way, thank you for your support!

All the best, Brian 

Hi nrbc,

Sorry for the late notice but I won't make it to today's meeting because of my volunteering at the film festival. My shift is running later than expected and by the time I finish it'll be past 9p

Looking forward to the next meeting

Patrick,
Thank you for confirming your Vancouver Writers Fest Gala volunteer shift!
Please join us for the 2013 Volunteer Orientation for Gala volunteers on Wednesday evening Oct 16, at Studio 1398, Festival House, 1398 Cartwright St., on Granville Island.
Doors open for volunteer package pick-up at 6:30 pm.
The package will contain your volunteer badge, finalized schedule, job description(s), invitation to our Volunteer Appreciation Party, freebies and pertinent general information about the Festival.
If you are eligible for, and have submitted to the Volunteer Ticket Lottery, your volunteer package will also contain your complimentary winning ticket. (If an invitation to submit to our 2013 Volunteer Ticket Lottery hasn't already arrived, please let me know!)
Introductions begin at 7 pm, with an outline of some general information essential to 2013 Festival volunteering.
Break-out training sessions for the different volunteer activities/jobs begin no later than 7:20 and we hope to be all done no later than 8:15 pm.
It is essential that all first-time volunteers attend, but it's also highly recommended that returning volunteers attend.
Things change every year and we want everyone to have as much current information as possible before the Festival begins. With only six days of events, there's no time to get familiar and comfortable with changes on the job.
Don't miss out on our light refreshments and fantastic door prizes!
We look forward to seeing you there!

Kathryn Fowler, Volunteer Manager 

Hello! Just wanted to send you a link to pix of my 2013 Artful Bra
entry. This is my third year of participating in this cancer
fundraiser.

If you are in the area and are free, the opening reception is on
Wednesday, October 2 at the North Campus of the University at Buffalo,
in the Center for the Arts.

http://DeborahSawyerArt.blogspot.com

It is also possible to place bids online for any of the bras, to help
raise money for cancer research. Or, purchase a copy of the calendar
the organizers usually print. Deborah 

Hi nrbc,

Sorry for the late notice but I won't make it to today's meeting because of my volunteering at the film festival. My shift is running later than expected and by the time I finish it'll be past 9p

Looking forward to the next meeting Take care