Brian’s
Comments
(group member since Mar 02, 2009)
Brian’s
comments
from the fiction files redux group.
Showing 81-100 of 346
i'm bringing a sleeping bag patty... just in case... and i think the ratio is still ok. it is a ratio that would always be ok :)the latest from pennie follows...
Hi again, Brian,
Well, it's going to be neck and neck down to the finish, whether you all arrive first, or the Lasagna Pans do. I just got a note that they have shipped, and I do think the point of departure (geographically) is on this particular planet. So there is a pretty good chance that they will be there, and I'll send word as soon as our local manager tells me they've arrived (and inspects them, hopefully, but they are nice Cuisinart stainless steel, not glass or porcelain that could break in transit).
Just had a really nice picture of some horsies that we picked up in Aspen (the picture, not the horsies) arrive with what sounds like a slightly zinged corner.
I have NOT found a suitable Humongous Turkey Or Ham Roaster ("HTOHR"?) yet, but I'm still looking. Problem is we are running out of time to get it there for you, so maybe if you need something Ultra-Humongous, or with a rack or lid, you could get two aluminum foil ones (and use one for the cover ;-)
But again, if that is *critical* for a specific dish or meal, you might even want to brings those across the Pass.
[Here is a sobering thought: As you drive up the ultra-modern and always-being-widened Interstate 90, just imagine how the Pioneers did it! And without any central heat, or running water, or 197 flavors of toothpaste in approximately 10,000 different sizes and types of containers...]
Do you have a final headcount?
We've gotten a few more beds in since you first contacted us (see Floor Plan which I *think* is now accurate), and there are 3 additional convertible beds littered around the living areas.... they tend to get moved a bit, depending upon where people want them used as extra sitting (each is a huge double-sized leather ottoman when not opened as a twin bed).
But NONE of those (often the "extra twin" in several bedrooms) are as comfortable as our "regular" beds/mattresses.
If upper bunks are a problem, and you don't *also* need to open the convertible in a specific bedroom, you can take the top mattress and put it on the floor. There isn't room in most bedrooms for an extra mattress on the floor AND for the convertible twin to be opened.
On the off chance that your group has grown, or anyone just wants a bit more privacy, there are a few much-smaller places right nearby (and they'd allow for access to the same swimming pool, obviously an important consideration).
Did your friends find out what they needed to know about the golf courses as Suncadia or elsewhere?
Do you need info about bike rentals or such?
River rafting?
Anything else?
Again, as a reminder *PLEASE*: ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING, NO PETS OF ANY KIND (FURRY OR OTHERWISE). There is a SEVERE allergy in a young member of our extended family, and we MUST be very strict about this (or you can toss coins to see who pays for some serious professional cleaning... )
Sorry... we had one renter a few months ago who LATER said, "Oh, were there not supposed to be pets there?" She herself signed the Rental Agreement. (Grrrrrr.)
Most people are more respectful than that (more intelligent, too, I'd guess...).
I do not know if the "dry season" has arrived yet, and what that means for your group is mostly "can there be open fires or not". The BBQ is gas, and not a problem. IF open fires are allowed, we have a little fire pit (metal table type) but we do not stock firewood. Propane is supplied for BBQ, which is on the Patio during nice weather, and the spare Propane Tank is on the Balcony off the Main Level.
We had a frantic call last week, during the rental guests' final dinner that the propane ran out. Fortunately they phoned, and we reminded them where the spare was. [That's in the job description here these days. CALL with questions.:] It's a pretty big Cabin, and no doubt hard to remember where everything is. You might want to print out the Floor Plans so you can find each other every morning. Or not.
I'm attaching a picture about the nice new level path between "somewhere near our Cabin" and Cle Elum. It's an old coal rail road track path, so it's nice and level, and goes a few miles through some really nice forested areas. Or there are hikes where the trail maps warn one "not to get injured, because there is no access for miles". Gotta love handy hints like that, eh?
(There is an actual "road/forest race" through one "serious trail" each year, and the race organizers kindly point out the sometimes multi-mile sections where one should not get injured. And it is a 24 hour race, so it goes through the night. That means "NO LIGHT", or I guess miners lights, which is apropos, given the serious mining background in the area!)
You might want to check the schedule at Suncadia for events, and there is something called "The Gorge" about an hour (maybe a bit more?) east, which apparently has a neat amphitheatre built into the hills (or so I've interpreted).
And a BREATHTAKING drive along the Yakima Valley canyon between Ellensburg and Yakima.
IF anyone is afraid of heights DO NOT (repeat **NOT**) take this drive North to South. (Probably don't take it at all!)
If you drive SOUTH TO NORTH, the car is on the hillside side, not the downward cliff side, and it is just a 2 lane road.
I'd recommend floating down the river instead ;-)
Let us know if we can help with anything else.
Thanks!
Best regards,
.... Pennie
she is so funny :D
save travels and see you soon... yay!
For Patty and the chefs :)... here's Pennie's reply to my email. She usually replies within the hour... she did again. My Bolds :)-------------------
Hi Brian,
Good to hear from you, and the others (even if indirectly)...
For starters, you should expect to find NO actual food, including spices, although we WILL have a little Welcome Basket waiting for all of you.... or at least whoever gets there first, if they are really hungry
It will have an assortment of teas, coffee, and some hot chocolate, including some real half and half in mini ultra-pasteurized containers [*not* the fake "non-dairy creamer":], plus a few snacks - for the first evening, or morning if anything is left (hopefully some of the coffee and tea?).
Unfortunately, we are not "golf members" at Suncadia, so there is no discount or priority tee times. They might want to check in advance with the Resort. Prospector's Course is fully open, but I think Rope Rider only has 9 holes open at this time, and they might have some short 3- or 6-hole loops for juniors, etc. As you can tell, I know just about as much about golf as you do!
There is another Golf Course called Sun Country.
We have very well stocked cookware and bakeware, but we do recommend that if specific equipment is absolutely necessary or a meal or item will be a disaster, it's probably safe to bring what is absolutely necessary. For example, we DO have a hand mixer... but on occasion, things do "walk away", and we can't necessarily get replacements immediately.
And we do not at this time have an immersion blender.
I've actually ordered 2 large lasagna pans! Sorry I didn't know in advance that you'd want them specifically, but they MIGHT have arrived in time, so perhaps check back a couple of days in advance, okay?
As for a big Turkey Roaster (or Ham, etc.), I was getting one for the week-long Thanksgiving guests, and I'll try to rush something in for you if you do expect to want that.
I can have our manager double check this weekend during the next turn-around, if the 2 cake pans are still there, but again... they could still wander off after they were spotted, so please do keep that in mind...
If there is anything else specific that you all would like, please let us know, and if it makes sense for other rental guests, too, and if there is time, we'll try to get it....
Thanks again!
And don't hesitate to ask any other questions... that's what we are here for!
Regards,
... Pennie
Patty... I'll send Pennie an email. Should know soon.
Literary storm rages... really? sun is shining here. not even a breeze. where is this storm occurring?
happy happy birthday margaret and so glad you hit the jackpot... what... you're up by about 3$ right? and i like that it was 7 & 14 that put you in the higher tax bracket :)
Adrian wrote: "In an interview, Borges said that he preferred the German language to French because, he claimed, one can never say anything serious in French."it's posts like these that make me love this place. that was a good post adrian. i'm mooing in delight.
Interesting tidbit... Orhan Pamuk writes in his native language, Turkish. I was told by more than one person while in Turkey that the English translations of his books are better written. Le Clezio, Kadare, Toer, Kawabata, Tolstoy... on and on... beautiful voices even with English translations.
But I think it does to an extent depend on the original language. I know that much is lost when reading English translations of Chinese and Japanese books... but some is also gained. It's a trade off. I'd rather read a translation of any 'world' book than not at all.
I possess a language deficiency. I've tried many. I've only mastered caveman talk and I'm still learning English.
When I'm dead I'm going to write a kick ass novel. Can't wait!
Short answer... I love world lit. I only understand English. So I have no choice.
I think it has wifi too :D and a washing machine. I'm bringing a sleeping bag in case I want to star gaze before passing out.
I hope to be there by 2:00pm on Sunday with the keys. I'll share the map with everyone once Pennie sends it to me. If anyone gets there before me, just chill a bit. I'll have Ben, Mo, Martyn, and Lorraine with me.See, even from distant planets things can happen. Thanks JE for starting all of this!
Her latest for your further information. From Pennie, the owner...And I've also attached a copy of a recent Craigslist ad, because it contains the new pictures of some of our new furniture, which I think you will all enjoy.
You haven't been there before, but you've seen the "old" pictures.
Most notable changes:
On Loft Level, instead of a white trundle bed, we have a custom hand-made log-style sofa futon/bunk, and a custom game table and chairs; there are also 2 convertible beds.
In BR#3, instead of just the queen bed, there is now a Twin-over-Queen log-style bunk, plus a convertible bed.
There are convertible beds in the 4 largest bedrooms, and 3 others in the LR's, although we don't expect them to be used as beds, just for seating. (We have plenty of sleeping space!)
The convertible beds are each double-sized leather ottomans that can each seat one or two people; when not used for seating, each can open to a twin bed, although it is probably more comfortable for children or small adults.
Maybe the others in your group would enjoy these pictures.
I'm not sure when our Webmaster will be posting them on our Website. (Jay and I were there for about 10 days 2 weeks ago, getting everything settled for a very busy summer season, and he took new photos, long overdue.)
Ah, one other local attraction for some: The Chimposium at Central Washington University in Ellensburg (about 30-45 minutes away). See link on last page of our Website, at the bottom.
Thank you again!
And do let us know if we can assist with anything while you are at our Cabin!
Regards,
.... Pennie and Jay
http://NearSuncadia.com/
Just thought I'd squeeze this in here... Pennie is the owner of the house we'll be gathering to. It will eventually be her retirement home. She's been a really sweet lady and we've had many emails flying across the ocean to each other. Just note this one excerpt from her..."Roslyn Beer and Roslyn Root Beer: The latter is only sold in kegs for some reason, but the beer is available in individual (bottles? cans?) and kegs.
(Please don't overdo the kegs at the Cabin, so that no neighbors are disturbed! We don't want to be run out of town before we've fully gotten geared up! ;-)
And "The Brick" is a real burger joint that also had a prominent spot in the Series (Northern Exposure). They have at least one burger with bacon, if I remember correctly."
and she suggested this "You might all want to consider a group outing of river rafting".
My bold... she's been a great lady and I think we can all respect that request. Kegs are mobile if we feel a need to howl at the moon. Hell... I'm thinking of inviting her neighbors over to share in the fun.
Just about ONE month away!!!! My happy shoes are dancing.
i've been practicing :P
embrace it. it feels good.
it'll just happen... kind of magically, shel. really. don't worry about getting back to the airport. if need be, i'll start a shuttle service. i'll serve cheetos and coke too.
