Selected PVS Event Reviews:

Fun with the Brits at the Old Time Music Hall

by Bob Knopes

Twenty-three PVSers attended the 43rd British Players Old Time Music Hall held at Kensington Town Hall on June 27. Before the program, we all sang lustily from song sheets provided, helped along by carafes of wine and bottles of beer provided by friendly barmaids. The lively program of skits, songs, dances, and spoofs mixed British and American songs and humor. There was scarcely a break in the program as the talented cast kept us laughing, clapping, and tapping our feet. After the last number, the appreciative audience brought the cast back for five encores.

We thank Betty Lawrence, who organized this wonderful PVS outing.

CRABFEST

by Dave Phillips and tales from Betty.

Hi friends... It’s been a long long time since I have seen my PVS friends...... Jan Marx asked me to write a short article about the PVS Crab Feast.

We had an excellent day for the event, too bad I was without a motorcycle, sure was a great riding day. Now that my Virginia house is sold you will find me back to the PVS events. Many were surprised to see my appearance, some took a double take. Yes it’s me, lost a few pounds but gaining it back every day. By the way, it took over 500 days and 3 Realtors to get that house sold.

The turnout for the crab fest was huge!!!!! Food was great!!!!! Not only the Maryland crabs, other dishes that PVS members provided were exceptional also. I think PVS should do a cooking show sometime? Anyone have a contact with a TV network?

Betty was especially happy (as usual) when Sue Walsh arrived early in the day to assist with last minute details. While waiting for the crabs to arrive, there was a table of delicious hors d’oeuvres, salads and, of course, a number of outstanding desserts.

Betty provided 4 or 5 hefty boxes of cooked Maryland crabs, all were excellent, cooked just right! This kept crabby folks working hard while the others who did not eat crabs had more food in less time. It is good that PVSers seem to adapt very well to the high temperatures and lack of snow.

I’m happy to report no injuries at today’s event. The directions provided mentioned a ‘drop off’ on the street in front of Betty’s house; wow; this sure sounds like a ski report. All either skied around it or tackled it without incident. Does Betty have her own ski slope?

All enjoyed the event, great conversation, great folks, great food, as always. I enjoyed talking to my friends. Many did not know Jan Phillips (Mom) moved back to Silver Spring. She is doing well, traveling once or twice a year and hopes to appear at a future meeting.

(Betty reported that our long lost David Phillips found the bushels of crabs and lost track of how many crabs he ate. He had to have topped the record for devouring the most crabs -- move over Jan, you have some completion. Our most recent new members: Jessica & Dan Wellwood, John Seabold and Donna Hambric, seemed to enjoy the competition. June Reed brought another new prospective member, Sheila Summers, who is a long time skier.)

It was well attended by 35 hungry crabbers and by the end of the day they all left very CRABBY but no one went home hungry. It was a Great Day!”

TELLURIDE February 2006

At 4:30 AM, Thursday morning, 2 Feb 06, twenty bright eyed, bushy tailed PVS members and friends were checking in at Dulles airport for the flight to Montrose, CO. The trip was uneventful, not a hitch, and on the bus trip up the mountain to Telluride we were delighted to see snow coming down. We were later delighted that for the next 6 days, we had bright sunny weather, absolutely perfect for skiing. At Telluride we were joined by 4 other PVS members completing a very cohesive group of twenty-four.

Our abode for the next seven days was the luxurious Wyndham Peaks Hotel with the Golden Door Spa, ski in/ski out accommodations and a most impressive boot and ski valet service. The only criticism heard of the Peaks was weak coffee…but one would certainly not call that a major complaint. Eating, sleeping, walking at 9,545 feet took a little getting used to, but no apparent problems skiing at heights of 12,000 feet or higher. Awesome!

We were met the first day of skiing by the PVS President who was already in Telluride with his long-standing ski group Slopedusters. He encouraged us to take the mountain tour and then promptly set off to take us to where the tour started. Although many in the group had skied at Telluride before, every day on the slopes was an adventure. Some went on the fast-paced, expansive mountain tours; some took lessons to ski powder; others took lessons to test new equipment or to ski double blues such as Upper and Lower Look Out, Palmyra and black diamonds such as The Plunge, Bushwacker, Coonskin more gracefully. Of course there were those who needed no help with the double blacks.

A new experience for some of us was the opportunity to take children from ski school classes up the lift. A ski instructor frequently could not take all his charges up on one chair so he would ask other skiers to help. PVSers took up a 4 year old with an “attitude.” He had skied last year so he could do everything himself—definitely did not need any help—no way—don’t try to keep me from falling off the lift, don’t try to keep me from kicking my skis off—and don’t touch me getting off the lift! We have all admired seeing those little ones following the instructors down the slopes. Well, this was an encounter with one up close and personal! Something else we learned about these little tikes. We overheard two ski instructors in the food line at Big Billie’s, that’s where the kids ate lunch. One stated that the kids, even as old as 10 years, didn’t seem to know their right from their left. The other instructor said that he told his students to point their skis downhill. One pupil didn’t make a move so the instructor repeated the direction to point the skis downhill. The response from the child was “who is downhill? I don’t know who that is.” Who knows, some day these kids may be a Julia Mancuso, Ted Ligety or Toby Dawson, 2006 Olympic medal winners.

Good times were had on the slopes and off the slopes as well. Our group dinners, first at Alfred’s at Sophia stop top of the gondola and the second at Harmon’s in downtown Telluride… both provided excellent meals—great choices by our trip leaders. Everyone looked forward to après ski, especially the one planned for Super Bowl Sunday. We met for drinks, snacks and the opportunity to join the Super Bowl pool and to win each quarter of the game. This après ski extended from the leaders’ room across the hall to a PVS participants room and finally culminated with 11 PVSers at the hotel’s wide-screen super bowl party.

All Trips Party Saturday July 15, 2006

The 2½ year old Virginia country home near Delaplane (VA) designed by our host provided a unique location for the July All Trips party. It is surrounded by hayfields with the Blue Ridge mountains in the background. The warm weather provided an inducement for the 37 participants to hear about the forthcoming PVS ventures into snow country.

This event started with appetizers on the rear terrace (see photo) provided both a delight for the eyes and the stomach. This was followed by the trip leader’s presentations inside and then dinner and dessert. Those who were present could not conceive of a more delightful way to starting thinking about schussing down the slopes.