Dave in Retirement

Author: ashworthdavidg

  • Mariachi Madness

    It all started with La Hija del Mariachi.  Since returning to Vancouver I’ve watched all 147 episodes again and have gotten a couple friends hooked as well.  We’ve downloaded all the videos and have an mp3 library of over 100 songs.

    Much of the music was written by José Alfredo Jiménez.  I purchased sheet music for 15 of his songs and am able to play a couple of them.  My piano practice routine has been shattered by unwelcome distractions including work, being on strata council, and being part of the board of my building.  Oh, and by the way, we are being sued.

    Last night we attended a 2013 Mariachi Festival concert in Vancouver.  It was a great show.  I hadn’t been on Granville Street at night for many years.  I was hugely impressed by great variety of bars and restaurants, and by the throngs of people enjoying themselves.  I must get out more.

    With that in mind today I started buying tickets for the 2013 Vancouver International Jazz Festival.  I could be out every night from June 21 to July 1.  The festival overflows with free concerts all over downtown.  I’m particularly looking forward to attending free workshops on jazz piano (strictly as a bystander).

  • Ski Trip

    I got three days of skiing in at Whistler before Christmas but have not been back.  Although spring has arrived in Vancouver and I’m starting to think about going to the cabin in March, tomorrow I embark on a one week ski trip that should be fantastic.

    On Sunday I drive to Revelstoke BC to meet up with friends and ski a couple of days at Revelstoke Mountain Resort.  “Revelstoke Mountain Resort boasts North America’s greatest vertical at 1,713 metres (5,620 ft)” and I have never skied there before.  I’m staying at the budget-minded Revelstoke Lodge.

    On Wednesday we’ll drive to Meadow Creek BC to go catskiing at Selkirk Wilderness Skiing.  The lodge is half way up the mountain in the wilderness and we’ll go up that afternoon for 3 days of powder skiing and 4 nights of good food and good fun.

  • Snow hits B.C.’s South Coast

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/12/18/bc-snow-south-coast.html

    My home near the Park was spared.  However, yesterday morning our beloved Stanley Park Seawall was assaulted and damaged by heavy seas.

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/12/17/bc-storm-flooding-seawall.html?cmp=rss

    More snow is in the forecast for tomorrow.

  • Home Six Months

    I moved back to Vancouver about six months ago. It has been six months of positive change and I am totally satisfied with all of it.

    I love where I’m living, the location and the apartment. The place is mostly furnished but I am not yet completely organized with everything in its proper place.

    Getting back to the cabin has been a highlight.  I sold my old boat and used the water taxi on the long weekends this summer.  I missed having a boat so I’m buying a new smaller but rugged aluminum boat with Mercury 25 HP 4-stroke engine for next season.  Sold my old Mazda Protoge and bought an even older Subaru Legacy as a tow vehicle.  I drive very infrequently now that I live downtown.

    The cabin is an ongoing fun project and I have plans to keep me busy there next year.  In particular, I’m going to start developing perennial gardens around the cabin.  These gardens will be built into the various rocky outcroppings using rock walls and imported soil, and irrigated on a timer.  The biggest challenge will be choosing plants that the deer will ignore.

    OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

    We are having a nice Fall.  There is a cherry tree outside my window whose leaves are turning bright orange.  I run on the Stanley Park seawall most days and the mood along the water is calmer as befits the season.  Soon the torrentials will be here and my theory that it rains less by the park will be tested.

    I’m looking forward to skiing at Whistler again.  I’ve got new skis and am eager to re-establish a skiing social life.  I also booked into an indulgent  catskiing trip in February with the “hardcore” group that I’ve enjoyed many trips with in the past.

  • Piano Preoccupation

    I am happily preoccupied with playing the piano better.  This activity ranks #2 on my discretionary priority list behind a daily run in Stanley Park.  I’m lucky to be working from home most days where the piano is only steps away from the computer.

    There are couple of new recordings on the piano page and some great new pieces in the works. Live lessons with Shannon have resumed, pushing me forward with new challenges.

    I’ve been back in Vancouver four months now.  I have bedroom furniture and will have living/dining room furniture next week.  Had my windows replaced last week.  We are having a perfect summer.