I-5 Stage Coach Blues: Tuesday, November 19th

Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them? -Abraham Lincoln, 16th US president (1809-1865) 

Up at 5:45 am Hi Goils!

Well, I'm alive and well and drinking rum. (Bottle of Whaler's Original Dark Rum, from Trader Joe's, that I had stashed with Marilyn/Mike! Really needed it as I can say, without qualification, that the last two days worth of driving have been the most taxing/nerve wracking that I have ever done on this stretch. I rained, and heavily so, from moment I crossed border, (not too, too bad on drive to Pacific Xing), all the way to Cornelius Pass Road. 


Even had heavy fog there so I missed turn-in to Chateau Oliver but did see all the Christmas trees harvested at a nearbye lot, wrapped and ready to go beside the road. (Wonder if any are  destined for Aunt Leah's!). Simply wonderful evening with Fingare and Digitale who missed Coriandre terribly!

There was an accidento, earlier in the afternoon, somewhere near Boeing Field. Although I saw no actual evidence of same, the traffic was simply horrendous. Backup domino jam started just as one enters Seattle proper. Took me almost two hours to get past Federal Way. Cora Lee might well remember the drive, a number of trips ago, when we ran into similar filthy weather. We didn't reach M's/M's house until after 9:00 pm, (ETA 6:00 pm), and when they greeted us Marilyn threw her arms around us and kept repeating: "We thought you were dead! We thought you were dead!" over and over again.  I wasn't quite as late as that time and they very kindly waited to start dinner.
 

I was up at 5:45 am next morning and had a quick shower. I had most of my baggage and a case of wine loaded before Marilyn stumbled into the kitchen. By her own admission she was nursing a pretty nasty overhang, (These Yanks just cannot keep pace with their Canadian neighbours!), and I felt badly that she was up at all. Tough lady and incredible hostess that she is, she made me a more than scrumptious breakfast: English muffins with her own delish apple butter, bacon and scramblage with home-made salsa. Michaelo even struggled out of bed to say "Good  Morning", and see me off. Marilyn headed back to bed once she had turned out the delicioso fare. Again, I felt badly that she had gone to so much trouble as I had fully intended to sneak away before anyone was awake. Neeedless to say, didn't keep me from enjoying the Full American Breakfast!

I have never such traffic on US 26. Of course it was rush hour with commuters heading into Portland. Left at 7:22 am and I literally inched along all the way to I-5. Rain didn't seen too, too heavy when travelling so slowly but on I-5 it was a repeat of yesterday's conditions. Slight let-up after two hours of car wash highway driving but only for half an hour and then was literally in socked-in conditions all the way to Redding. Fortunately traffic thinned out further south I drove so not quite as tiring but still it was not a pleasant drive at all.

Thought that skies might clear after I made it into California but this was not the case. I think it rained harder as I was entering Redding than almost anywhere further north. Good thing as Lake Shasta looked far lower than in past years. Had toyed with staying in Redding for the night so that I could have dinner at Jack's. However, it was only 3:06 pm when I was there so I decided to push on and see how i felt by the time I hit Williams.
 

Just outside of Redding, a digital highway sign informed travellers that there was an accident about 4 miles ahead, advising drivers to use right lane. When I reached accident site, a few minutes later, I had a pretty complete view of of wreckage as cars had to slow to a snail creep to pass scene, although incident took place on north bound side of freeway. Not sure what happened or why, of course, (other than thinking that heavy rain was probably a significant contributing factor), but from what I saw I imagine something caused a semi and three other cars, (perhaps more), to collide. Smashed, although not too badly, cab of semi, with trailer still attached, was up against  the support of an overpass, in the median dividing the highway. Underneath the trailer was a Mercedes which didn't seem to have sustained much visible damage at all. This in contradistinction  to a mini-van, I think, which had  its front end completely accordionized, back to the passenger compartment. I shudder to think about fate of front seat passengers!) About half a block further south were a number of ambulances, emergency vehicles and police cars and I could see somebody on a stretcher, with medics surrounding individual. I wasn't able to take in any other details in terms of other vehicles which might have been involved other than to notice some torn car parts and other such debris.

I assume that the person on the stretcher might well have been in a vehicle which was somehow involved in the grisly accident, gruesome evidence of which I'd first seen a few hundred metres north. Given driving conditions I'd experienced over last two days, I thanked my lucky stars that I'd not been chosen by the Fates to suffer such a horrendous accident. While it is nothing, in comparison, to the lives which might well have been lost or so terribly changed, I couldn't imagine how long the people in the cars stopped, as a result, would be delayed before the highway was cleared enough to let traffic trickle past. Cars must have been stopped for at least five miles back before I was past ever lengthening jam.
 

Putting this disturbing event behind me, I continued on to Williams. By this time the rain had eased considerably so at least I didn't have that to worry about that aspect of the drive as the light faded. I then stopped at the first Rest Stop I came upon to relieve my full bladder, (Thanks for the wonderful java, Marilyn!), as I still hadn't decided/determined if I was going to stay in Williams or push on to Healdsburg. Once in Williams I stopped for gas and then I thought I should see what the rates for a Single might be at Granzella's. Around $90 so I decided I'd try the Stage Stop Inn around the corner. Half the price so this is where I will be for the night. (Think Coriandre and I stayed here once before, a few years ago, when Granzaella's was full.) 

Once I'd brought the luggage I wanted/needed into the room I set up my workstation and had a hefty belt of rum. Not that I needed it but it tasted wonderful, nonetheless! Will have a quick shower once I send this message along and then stroll over the Granzella's Sports Bar for dinner. Plan to leave fairly early tomorrow morning as I 'd like to try, weather permitting, to go for a ride on Dry Creek Road. I have to stop, en route to Healdsburg, at Soda Rock in Alexander Valley, to pick up latest release and then on to Coffaro. I have half a case there and am keen to look at some of the Mourvèdre on special. I'm sure I can leave Titanium Green there while I go for a ride. Then, sweaty and stinky, on to Berkeley to Casa Vicente!

Hope your Aunt Leah's event goes/went well, Chloë. Fondestos, Love and Cheers, Dad/Patrizzio!

Pic: Michaelo this morning. He cut his chin shaving yesterday! When but nicked, he bleeds profusely, given his course of heart medication, blood thinners! Bridge/dinner at Keatings on Sunday.

Great pics of everyone. ..love the Mexican blanket table cloths too. Picked up a gorgeous young 22 lb organic turkey tonight.  Packed in a salt brine and good in the fridge until next week! Glad you're safely ensconsed inside California!  See you soon. love to all! Xoxo

Boris and Natasha are licking their chops as well they might! See you tomorrow!

Thanks so much for remembering.  No great rush on this end.  Have a lovely Thanksgiving and a safe journey in both directions. All good wishes, Peggie

Hi, Patrick, It was very nice meeting you at the auction and chatting a bit about more or less distressing issues :) I hope you had fun at the event and you are enjoying your new treasures.

I noticed you took lots of pictures at the auction, and I was wondering if you'd like to share some of them with me. I will use them to write a blog post and they will go on our Facebook page as well. Thanks a lot, Lumi

Hi Patrick.

Tricia is leaving Pasadena now on Saturday morning so she won't be able to say hi. Things are looking a little iffy for me now with Thanksgiving and Christmas so close. What is the address there?  I'll try to come for a couple of hours to say hi and catch up a bit but I can't stay longer than that. Thanks. Trice

9pm Tues Nov 19
 
Feeling much stronger this evening and the physio is going to go over "stairs" with me tomorrow which I have heard is the final review pre-release. My one lingering problem is fluid retention which results in swollen ankles and feet. Hopefully the drug they are giving me which has me "peeing like a racehorse", to use the metaphor favoured by the nurses, will resolve this, I'll sign off now understanding that this might be verging on too much information.
 
Thanks again for your support and good wishes. Cheers.....Paul

Hi  Folks,

Hope you both are well.  Firstly, I must apologize for this very late letter to inform you that Aunty Mary passed away in July.  Tonight as I was cleaning up some files on my lap top I was horrified to find an unsent letter to you right after her death.  I drafted the letter to you but did not send it as I was under the idea that you were still away on holidays and that I would send it in a few weeks.  In the meantime I bought an ipad which I just love.  Unfortunately, I still do not have it synced to my computer and because I mostly use the ipad or my iphone I never realized it till tonight. 

About 10 days before her death the home care giver found her one morning in bed in a state of confusion and not knowing who or where she was.  She went to hospital and was transferred to hospice where she passed away some 8 days later in her sleep.  My only source of information during this time was from cousin Diane who began to visit every day.  Unfortunately Diane does not have a medical background and was unable to provide me with very much.  Aunty Mary by this time was not eating and had lost weight and no longer conversed with her.  She was receiving pain medication so perhaps it was her suspected colon cancer that did her in.

I always knew that once she went into hospital I would not be going up to visit with her.  I felt that for the last 2 years of travelling every 2 months that I had the best of quality time that I could ever have received.  I have not regrets about that.

She left everything to my brother Ron and he has been such a jack ass towards our cousins Diane and her sister Chris.  He never did call Diane to inform her that A.M. was sent to hospital and he had her cremated even though he knew she wanted to be buried!  We all knew that but she would not put it in her will because she said she had discussed her wishes with him along with her bedroom suite  to be given to my daughter Shanna and some large framed needlepoint pictures were to be given to Diane, Chris, and their other sister Lorraine.   Sadly, no one has received anything.  I talked the other night to Aunty Mary's first cousin Helen Slobodian who said Ron called her in August willing to sell her the 4 chairs to Aunty Mary's dining table for $25 per chair.  She declined just on principle.  Her daughter has the identical suite to A.M.'s and Helen always told AM that her daughter would like more chairs.  Obvious Ron paid attention to AM when she told this story.  Diane was called to the hosp the night when AM passed as they could not get hold of Ron.  He was not very pleasant towards seeing Diane and when she mentioned the needlepoints he just said she would just have to wait to see what was in the will.  What a pr_ _ _!!!  AM had such faith in him.

Life around here has been so busy.  Shanna and her husband bought a farm last month.  It is 90 acres and is right next door to the 80 acres that they already own and were just in the process of designing her dream home with the architect when this came up for sale.  Actually a couple of months before they heard thru the grapevine that this farm was for sale but were unable to find anyone home and nor could their agent.  They let the idea go and began to concentrate on their home instead.  then one day in late september they are told the farm was again for sale.  In 48 hrs they were the new owners.

Cory would love nothing better than to be able to quit his job in manufacturing and concentrate solely on farming.  These past 2 years he has raised a couple of cows, 50, chickens and 13 sheep all on their own land but all had to be slaughtered in the fall because there were no barns on their property and it is very costly  to build as you could imagine.  He already has orders for next year.  As you know, everyone wants to know where and how their meat comes from and programs like marketplace, 5th estate etc are certainly helping his business.

The farm comes with a 100 yr old farm house which at closing time they were told that it used to be the post office for the surrounding area.  It has an ultra modern barn and a professional sized green house.  For the past month contractors have been working on the house as well as shanna, Cory and other family members.  Ripping out laminate flooring to expose the original hardwood floors, removing wall paper, upgrading  the electrical, you name it.  They are exhausted in addition to having to go to work at their own jobs. 

They are hoping to rent their home here in the city but so far there is little interest shown. The rental agency(a former cop at the station with Shanna) said that nov and dec are the 2 worst months for transfers.  Fortunately for them they are able to live at home while the farm is being renovated.  With so much activity going on in the farm house they simply could not live there.  Unfortunately, they are having to make payment on 2 properties for the next while.  I have been spending time at their city house just sprucing up the place.  Again, a few jobs where more than what I was bargaining for.  A paint chip on the door frame had me scraping off all the paint and sanding the wood and now applying the proper paint etc.  Transplanting plants so that next spring we can transfer to the farm.  Lots and lots of work at both places.

Well, I guess it is time to ask my question of you which is what brought me to the computer in the first place.  Cory and Shanna are going again to Costa Rica in February and their friend has asked if they would bring him a bottle of single malt whiskey.  Is single malt scotch whiskey the same thing?  If not could you suggest the name of a single malt whiskey in case we have to get the liquor store to order it.

What do you think of Toronto's crack smoking mayor?  Are you getting ample coverage about Mayor Rob Ford?  The news media keeps saying that his coverage is world wide.

Take care and again I do apologize for being not so computer savy. Simone   

Just thought you would like to see the write up for Auntie Mary in today’s paper. Chris