Days of Petanque: Tim's Gathering, Some Photos

Featuring Maggie the Enabler, Tim the Wildcat, and the the rest of the disreputable cast of Valley of the Moon Petanque Club.
https://carloschavez.smugmug.com/Tim-Wetzel-Gathering/



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Life has meaning only in the struggle. Triumph or defeat is in the hands of the Gods. So let us celebrate the struggle! —Stevie Wonder

Re: Days of Petanque: Happy birthday Tim

OH!  Tim WETZEL!  Okay, so he and Gail are twins then.

On Sat, Jun 27, 2020 at 9:33 PM Carlos <cnchavez@gmail.com> wrote:

Sixty never looked so good.

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"Think where man's glory most begins and ends and say my glory was that I had such friends."
― William Butler Yeats

--

"Different is the condition of everyone, and different the nature of each place."

 - Monastic Rules of St. Carthage
     (He was Irish, you know)

Re: Days of Petanque: Happy birthday Tim

You are amazing! Thank you very much, Carlos. I am touched.

Tim

Sent from my iPad

On Jun 27, 2020, at 9:33 PM, Carlos <cnchavez@gmail.com> wrote:

Sixty never looked so good.

<Happy Bday Tim_1919.jpg>

<tim composit.jpg>

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"Think where man's glory most begins and ends and say my glory was that I had such friends."
― William Butler Yeats

Days of Petanque: Happy birthday Tim

Sixty never looked so good.

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"Think where man's glory most begins and ends and say my glory was that I had such friends."
― William Butler Yeats

Days of Petanque: Big Night

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"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." ―Albert Einstein

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Once upon a time someone unsubscribed. And they lived happily ever after.

Days of Petanque: Carreau

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I did have one blindingly brief moment of petanque perfection. My first attempt at shooting in which Hans held his hands over the target boule and said, "Put it right in my hands. Trust me. I'll move." And somehow, miracles of miracles, I tossed it and it was a carreau! Tim Wetzel said, "Never shoot again. You are at 100%." Too bad I didn't take his advice.
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"I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God's business."
― Michael J. Fox

"Persistence. Perfection. Patience. Power. Prioritize your passion. It keeps you sane."
― Criss Jami, Killosophy

"One minute was enough, Tyler said, "A person had to work hard for it, but a minute of perfection was worth the effort. A moment was the most you could ever expect from perfection."
― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

"Perfection of character is this: to live each day as if it were your last, without frenzy, without apathy, without pretence."
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

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"Nobody's perfect. We're all just one step up from the beasts and one step down from the angels." ― Jeannette Walls, Half Broke Horses. Unsubscribe now and you will move one step higher towards the angels.

Days of Petanque: All you need is love. That and a good shooter.

When I first stand in the circle, I don't even really think about the jack, even if I'm looking at it. I'm feeling the weight of the boule in my hand. Pumping it lightly up and letting  its weight fall back into my curled fingers. With each lift I give it a small spin, feeling for the incised letters that orient my grip. It's not actually a grip so much as a cradle. I'm trying to remind myself to keep my thumb off the boule because if it is touching, my hand will be off center spinning the boule off line and to the left where ninety percent of my misses go. Finally I look to the jack and try to pick a donee. Once I hav picked some random spot, selected for some indicator like a leaf or bald spot, and if I'm lucky a track in the dust for me to follow, I think about how hard to throw it. If it's out past eight meters, I may remember to use some back swing. If it's in close I try to remember to put some back spin on it. The last thing to consider before I release is the arc. Too high and it's a potato. I've thrown so many of those I should have been an Idaho farmer. Too flat and the boule heads for the string like the bathrooms are about to close early. Just right and I should by a Lotto ticket.

And don't even ask me about strategy. I ain't got none.

I've come to the conclusion that this game is way too cerebral for a palooka like me. Maybe I should just stick to sitting in the shade. I have a lot of confidence in my shade sitting.

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For age is opportunity no less than youth itself, though in another dress. And as the evening twilight fades away, the sky is filled with stars, invisible by day. —Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Twinkle, twinkle little bat How I wonder what you're at! Up above the world you fly, Like a tea-tray in the sky. —Lewis Carroll

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Lacking an UNSUBSCRIBE button you'll have to email me asking to be removed from the list. I know it's asking a lot but I have faith in you.

You can do it.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLU_sexiTQw

Days of Petanque: Summer Afternoons

There is a sublime beauty to playing petanque on the long summer days as the sun lingers above the ridge line of Sonoma Mountain well past the time for dinner. Tossed boules seem to float through the warm air seeking the perfect donee or target point and the clack of contact of steel on steel echoes across the nearly deserted terrain. High in the eucalyptus a bird sings a clear three note song and we pause to listen and search the upper branches for its distinctive red breast. It is a very different feeling than the frenetic cheerfulness of a morning tournament or even an afternoon singles match. There is a sensual laziness that rides the voices of gentle trash talking, remembered contests, and the metallics clicks to applaud a well thrown boule. The reluctant goodbyes are eventually shared as we head our separate ways but it is with the feeling that for at least an hour or two this little bit of living we are granted was a meal we enjoyed in full measure.



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"Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."
― Henry James

Days of Petanque: Trying to be Free

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Like a bird on the wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free

Bird on the Wire
Leonard Cohen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JndLXV8JpB4

Days of Petanque: A day at the park burning the candle at both ends

Days of Petanque: How we hold our boules

I wish I had written this poem.

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people used to tell me that i had beautiful hands
told me so often, in fact, that one day i started to believe them until i asked my photographer father, "hey daddy could i be a hand model"

to which he said no way,

i dont remember the reason he gave me and i wouldve been upset,

but there were far too many stuffed animals to hold
too many homework assignment to write,
too many boys to wave at
too many years to grow,

we used to have a game, my dad and i about holding hands cus we held hands everywhere, and every time either he or i would whisper a great
big number to the other, pretending that we were keeping track of how many times we had held hands that we were sure, this one had to be 8 million 2 thousand 7 hundred and fifty three.

hands learn more than minds do,
hands learn how to hold other hands,
how to grip pencils and mold poetry,
how to tickle pianos and dribble a basketball,
and grip the handles of a bicycle
how to hold old people, and touch babies ,
i love hands like i love people,

they're the maps and compasses in which we navigate our way through life, some people read palms to tell your future,

but i read hands to tell your past,
each scar marks the story worth telling,
each calloused palm,
each cracked knuckle is a missed punch
or years in a factory,

now ive seen middle eastern hands clenched in middle eastern fists pounding against each other like war drums, each country sees theyre fists as warriors and others as enemies.

even if fists alone are only hands. but this is not about politics, no hands arent about politics, this is a poem about love, and fingers. fingers interlock like a beautiful zipper of prayer.

one time i grabbed my dads hands so that our fingers interlocked perfectly but he changed positions, saying no that hand hold is for your mom.

kids high five, but grown ups, we learn how to shake hands, you need a firm hand shake,but dont hold on too tight, but dont let go too soon, but dont hold down for too long,

but hands are not about politics, when did it become so complicated. i always thought its simple.

the other day my dad looked at my hands, as if seeing them for the first time, and with laughter behind his eye lids, with all the seriousness a man of his humor could muster, he said you know you got nice hands, you could've been a hand model, and before the laughter can escape me, i shake my head at him, and squeeze his hand, 8 million 2 thousand 7hundred and fifty four."
― Sarah Kay

Days of Petanque: Father's Day

Had a great Father's Day at the park today. Left my camera at home and only shot a couple of pics with my iPhone.
Played a very fun game with Wolfie, September and Wolfie's dad. We'll get our revenge next year.

And thank you to all you generous spirits who wished me a Happy Father's Day. How sweet it is to be among you.



———
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

― Dylan Thomas, Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Days of Petanque: June 21 2020

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Son, brother, father, lover, friend. There is room in the heart for all the affections, as there is room in heaven for all the stars. —Victor Hugo

Days of Petanque: Once

Dave. I'm only gonna say this once so listen up.
Pa pa pa pa
Papa oom ma mow mow
Papa oom mow mow
Pa pa pa oom ma ma ma mow
Papa oom mow mow.

Peter. Di di dit - papa oom ma mow mow
Papa oom mow mow
Di di dit - pa pa pa oom ma ma ma mow
Papa oom mow mow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQrQjNNZCAo

Everybody dance now!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaTGrV58wec

Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) [The 1991 House Dub/Bonus Beats]
C+C Music Factory
Everybody Dance Now ...
Everybody Dance Now ...
Give Me The Music
Give Me The Music
Everybody Dance Now ...
Everybody Dance Now ...
Yeah ... Yeah ... Yeah
Everybody Dance Now ...
Yeah ... Yeah ... Yeah
Everybody Dance Now ...

Days of Petanque: Dave v Peter; Semi-final

All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved. —Sun Tzu

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You wouldn't have to put up with this if you unsubscribed.

Days of Petanque: Too Hot

I stopped by the courts this afternoon to see if anyone would be insane enough to play in this heat.
I'll say no more.

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"The thing with heat is, no matter how cold you are, no matter how much you need warmth, it always, eventually, becomes too much." ― Victoria Aveyard, Glass Sword
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The heat make it too hot to unsubscribe today? Don't worry. Tomorrow is another day.

Days of Petanque: Laughter

In this sport where for every winner there is a loser, it is surprising how much joy is generated in the process.

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"They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for."
― Tom Bodett
"I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains."
― Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

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Unsubscribe and feel the urge to laugh.

Days of Petanque: Shooter's Shorts

Don't bring a bocce ball to a Petanque Shootout.

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Only a heathen would bring a gun to a sword fight.' And only a moron would bring a sword to a gunfight. —Derek Landy

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Don't pack a gun or a sword? You can still unsubscribe to lighten your inbox.

Days of Petanque: June 17 90 degrees

Game on the ground. In the air. In our hearts.





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Heat of blood makes young people change their inclinations often, and habit makes old ones keep to theirs a great while. —Francois de la Rochefoucauld

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If it wasn't so hot I'd unsubscribe myself.

Days of Petanque:

I have pictures of them on my phone. Did you see them too?
Yes. I'm forwarding this to my contacts in Washington. But the president keeps saying they have it under control. He says there are no longer any aliens here and the photos are fake news and must have been created in Photoshop.
Oh sure. That's bull sheets. I say we catch one and UPS it to him.
Oh wait. Now he's saying they're coming up from Mexico and we should build that wall as fast as possible. He thinks they are blue because they're cold and global warming should make them melt, solving the problem. The more petroleum we burn the faster we will be rid of them. He also says not to feed them and they'll go somewhere else.

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Jake Sully: Everything is backwards now, like out there is the true world, and in here is the dream. Sooner or later, though, you always have to wake up.

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Feeling blue? Try unsubscribing.

Days of Petanque: The Boule Sitter

Some days you want to explain how great the game of petanque really is but the rest of the world just isn't ready to listen. What can you do? To achieve something out of your comfort zone you may need to color outside the lines once and a while.

Miss Addie here is thinking about buying a set of boules so she can play guilt-free. I told her sometimes players buy new ones and are willing to sell an old set at a discount. Thought it was worth a shot to ask.

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"Being first to ask for help in a friendship takes courage and humility."
― Afton Rorvik, Storm Sisters: Friends Though All Seasons

"Take the risk to ask for whatever you need and want. If someone says no, you will not lose anything. If someone says yes, you have a lot to gain."
― Abhishek Ratna, small wins BIG SUCCESS: A handbook for exemplary success in post Covid19 Outbreak Era

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If you need help in unsubscribing, just ask.

Days of Petanque: Shiny

Michelle tells me she looks like her grandmothers. Sometimes like one, sometimes the other. I'd have to say, they must some fine looking grandmothers.





You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give. —E. O. Wilson

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You win a few, you lose a few. Some get rained out. But you got to dress for all of them. —Satchel Paige

Days of Petanque: Winning

You don't have to win to have fun, but it helps.



Miyagi: Wax on, right hand. Wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Breathe in through nose, out the mouth. Wax on, wax off. Don't forget to breathe, very important.

Peter: Nice and smooth.

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First unsubscribe. Then Banzai!

Re: Days of Petanque: It hurts so good

Thanks Carlos!

Not sure what is happening. One thing I know is it stinks!

Sent from M. Lane's iPhone

On Jun 14, 2020, at 7:39 PM, Carlos <cnchavez@gmail.com> wrote:

Maggie, on a day so racked with pain she can hardly stand to walk, still manages to to spread a little joy to those around her.

<Maggie3737.jpg>

"It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace."
― Chuck Palahniuk, Diary

"There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.'
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster."
― Dalai Lama XIV

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Just a few stokes on a keyboard and all this will go away. Unsubscribe. What could be easier?

Re: Days of Petanque: It hurts so good

Carlos you are so kind! Thank you my friend!'

Sent from M. Lane's iPhone

On Jun 14, 2020, at 7:39 PM, Carlos <cnchavez@gmail.com> wrote:

Maggie, on a day so racked with pain she can hardly stand to walk, still manages to to spread a little joy to those around her.

<Maggie3737.jpg>

"It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace."
― Chuck Palahniuk, Diary

"There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.'
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster."
― Dalai Lama XIV

———
Just a few stokes on a keyboard and all this will go away. Unsubscribe. What could be easier?

Days of Petanque: It hurts so good

Maggie, on a day so racked with pain she can hardly stand to walk, still manages to to spread a little joy to those around her.



"It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace."
― Chuck Palahniuk, Diary

"There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.'
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster."
― Dalai Lama XIV

———
Just a few stokes on a keyboard and all this will go away. Unsubscribe. What could be easier?

Days of Petanque: Mesozoic

Dino tracks discovered in Temelec. Carbon dating places them at about 2009.



At last we know what led to the great dinosaur extinction. Playing petanque without masks.



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They say we are in another mass extinction period. Best to unsubscribe before it's too late.

———
Zager And Evans - In The Year 2525
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQB2-Kmiic

Days of Petanque: The Eyes Have It

It's a fashion thing. All the best people are doing it.

Subject: Why we are serious about social distancing - PLEASE READ

There are two reasons why VOMPC wants its members to abide by the health restrictions when we play. First, we want to prevent the City from imposing more limits or even acting against our lease. Second, we want to protect our members.

Requirements for social distancing and wearing face masks are spelled out in the county's health order and the city's instructions to us. It may be unlikely that non-compliance would lead to shutting down our use of the courts, or  causing the city to cancel our lease. But it's possible.

Do you want to be the person that causes that to happen?

Protecting our members is even more important. As we all know, the purpose of wearing a face mask is not so much to protect yourself from coronavirus, but to protect the people around you. One-third, maybe more, of people who test positive do not feel or show symptoms. These people can pass the virus on to others. By not wearing a mask, you could be the one who passes it on to another player.

Most people will not get critically ill or die from COVID -19, but some people will. If you're 18 to 44 years old, your chance of dying is 0.8% if you contract coronavirus. If you're 65 to 74, it's 6.5%. If you're 75 or older. it's 14.3%. When you play on the courts, chances are pretty good that other players are over 65 - or may have respiratory problems, diabetes, or heart problems that you don't know about.

Do you want to be the person … you get the point.

Always keeping 6 feet away from everyone else is pretty hard, and most people don't succeed. It's also not enough in many situations - the virus can travel much further than that when the wind is right, and so on. 

While the order doesn't require it, we urge you to wear a mask as much as you can. It's a lot easier to push it aside when you're far enough away from others than it is to put it on quickly when you  get too close. 

We've also seen some people spitting around the courts. Please don't!

Thank you for reading this. If everyone does their best, we can keep everyone safer. 

VOMPC Board of Directors

-- 

Valley of the Moon Petanque Club

Days of Petanque: Who was that Masked Man

There has been some question about whether or not we've been wearing masks while playing Petanque. Here's a shot of masked players practicing physical distancing. I hope this helps.



and one more. It's a telephoto shot.

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"Distance sometimes lets you know who is worth keeping, and who is worth letting go."
― Lana Del Rey
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Now may be the time to let go and unsubscribe

Re: Days of Petanque: In the Time of COVID

Love it!! I feel so empowered!!

Sent from M. Lane's iPhone

On Jun 11, 2020, at 9:16 PM, Carlos <cnchavez@gmail.com> wrote:

I was out working today and looked up to see a con trail near the moon. I had my camera with me so I took a shot. When I got home and loaded onto my computer I realized I could finally visualize the "Man in the Moon." Wait! That's not a man. It's Maggie in the Moon.

<cow moon.jpg>

Chris Denoiya (best guess on spelling) joined us for a couple games. He subbed for Maggie when she left early afternoon.

<chris denoiya 3619.jpg>

With a ping and a pong the fiddle-strings broke!
the cow jumped over the Moon,
And the little dog laughed to see such fun,
And the Saturday dish went off at a run
with the silver Sunday spoon.
― J.R.R. Tolkien

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When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. —1 Corinthians 13:11 — Then I unsubscribed.

Days of Petanque: In the Time of COVID

I was out working today and looked up to see a con trail near the moon. I had my camera with me so I took a shot. When I got home and loaded onto my computer I realized I could finally visualize the "Man in the Moon." Wait! That's not a man. It's Maggie in the Moon.



Chris Denoiya (best guess on spelling) joined us for a couple games. He subbed for Maggie when she left early afternoon.



With a ping and a pong the fiddle-strings broke!
the cow jumped over the Moon,
And the little dog laughed to see such fun,
And the Saturday dish went off at a run
with the silver Sunday spoon.
― J.R.R. Tolkien

———
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. —1 Corinthians 13:11 — Then I unsubscribed.

Days of Petanque: Let's Get Small

Look. That one's me.

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If you feel you are ready to unsubscribe, that's ok. Just know that always, always, always there is at least one person in this roughshod world that thinks of you with the greatest affection.

Days of Petanque: Lost and Found

I think Debbie smiles more when her hair is curly.

This is Stevie D walking around the empty courts looking for his missing bag around 7:30 pm. Anyone see it? Pick it up?

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"My heart is lost; the beasts have eaten it."
― Charles Baudelaire, Les Fleurs du Mal

Re: Days of Petanque: June 7 2020

Beautiful in so many ways! Thanks for capturing this Carlos❣️

Sent from M. Lane's iPhone

> On Jun 7, 2020, at 7:39 PM, Carlos <cnchavez@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Tow events of note today at the park.
> The Friediger (sp) of Durange, CO, but with deep Sonoma Valley roots, stopped by to play a few games and check out our court construction. They recently built a court at their home. Their son made a video of the construction as a school project.
>
> <freidiger_1621.jpg>
>
> And Damien brought Genesis along to play. She quickly overcame her beginner jitters to play a spirited game. Well done. We look forward to seeing her play more often.
>
> <damien genesis 3444.jpg>
>
>

A national treasure

A day on the courts June 6 2020

He may be wearing a bear suit after the shelter-in-place, but the tiger is alive and well inside.

The best strawberries

If the flag is flying the Watmaugh fruit stand is open. I stop by whenever I get the chance.

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And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance

—"I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack

Days of Petanque: June 7 2020

Tow events of note today at the park.

The Friediger (sp) of Durange, CO, but with deep Sonoma Valley roots, stopped by to play a few games and check out our court construction. They recently built a court at their home. Their son made a video of the construction as a school project.

And Damien brought Genesis along to play. She quickly overcame her beginner jitters to play a spirited game. Well done. We look forward to seeing her play more often.

Petanque: Depot Park June 6 2020

If you have a need for speed, this may be just the guy you're looking for.

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There is more to life than increasing its speed. —Mahatma Gandhi

OK, so what's the speed of dark? —Steven Wright

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He's kind of like Burning Man. It's a time and place sort of thing. The world on the outside. His music inside as only he hears it.

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To unsubscribe or not to unsubscribe. There's really no question.

Petanque June 6 2020

If you have a thing for blondes…

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I like to feel blonde all over. —Marilyn Monroe

June 6 2020: Put your mask on and gimme a hug

"It is an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being."
― John Joseph Powell, The Secret of Staying in Love