Walking Club Related News
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An adventure triggered by
Sue Kuuskmae
Benjamin Button and the four 'Walkers and Talkers'
In July 2007, four of our Walkers and Talkers
(Bob
Lynn,
Jacques Goffeau,
Mati Kuuskmae
and
Lou Pisacane) were invited by Sue
Kuuskmae to go to Digital Domain in Santa Monica to participate in the making of
special effects needed to make the movie
The
Curious case of Benjamin Button,
directed by
David Fincher.
Sue's daughter Lisa works for Digital Domain , the special effects company that
worked on the movie, and Lisa suggested that some of the Walkers and Talkers
could be used in the movie to age Brad Pitt . The movie will be released by
Paramount Pictures on December 25th, 2008.
I was born under unusual circumstances. And so begins The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. We follow his story, set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918, into the 21st century, following his journey that is as unusual as any man's life can be. Directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with Taraji P. Henson, Tilda Swinton, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas and Julia Ormond.
Benjamin Button, is a grand tale of a not-so-ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds, the joys of life and the sadness of death, and what lasts beyond.
b
Turkey's Magical Hideaways (2008)
Ephesus • Istanbul • Cappadocia • Antalya • Turquoise Coast
• Istanbul, Turkey
On October 13th, 2008 four members (Louse, Sue, Joyce and Mati) of our Walkers and Talkers left New York for a trip of 23 days across Turkey. The following information was provided by Cengiz, the trip tour guide:
My name is Cengiz and I will be your tour guide during your visit in Turkey,
There will be
14 people altogether (for the base tour), 6 of whom will be coming to Istanbul
(I will be meeting you all in the airport with OAT sign on my hand if you are
visiting the eastern Turkey ) then on the same day we will fly to Adana for the
pre trip. Now here is some advise for you, regardless you are visiting the
eastern Turkey or not you better bring some warm clothes due to the weather in
this part of the world starts getting cooler from second half of September,
especially around Adana and in Cappadocia regions.
Your hiking
boots, walking sticks for the hikes, a beach towel for the gullet cruise, sun
cream and glasses will be needed as well.
If you are taken some medicine please remember to pack them with your passport in your hand bag which will be with you at all times.
My cell phone
from the U.S. is
011
90 536 685 0902
if you wish you can give my cell number to your
friends or relatives and they can reach you at all times (this is the cheapest
way for you)
All the best
Your tour leader Cengiz
It is only a goodbye my friends - Rosmarie's Bon Voyage Party
A party organized by
Sue Kuuskmae
This last Tuesday, September 23, about two dozen Walkers and Talkers met at
Tapa Meze Bar & Grill in Manhattan Beach
to say good bye to our friend Rosemarie Klusmeier who is returning to Switzerland, her
homeland. We celebrated the memory of her longtime friendship, including
her happy times, and her times of pain. We rejoiced in her happiness of being
able to walk on one of the nicest beaches in California and in joining many of
our fun events and trips over the years.
We joined her in sharing the joy of the friendships and the sadness of her
departure. We wish her joy in this new era of her life.
During
the festivities she shared some thoughts that showed her fondness for our group.
She remembers that: She first walked with The Walking Group on December 6th,
1995, and has never forgotten the date because she had been welcomed so warmly
that it made a unforgettable memory similar to a wedding date.
The walking group has meant a lot to her and has given her many friends that she
will never forget. She wants to stay in touch with us and will be on
e
A bit about Rosemarie’s Fete: Most everyone gathered around the bar right
on time, and when Rosemarie
appeared we collected around her as
she radiated with joy as she chatted with the participants. The dining table was
a single and long affair, and we quickly chose places and placed our
orders. The tapas were very popular, and were generously shared. All
the choices were good. At the end of the dinner, a gorgeous, tasty, layered
cake was presented and more well-wishes were expressed. Oh!, and let’s not
forget the delicious wines that flowed so generously and helped establish a
festive mood!
A special message from
Rosmarie:
“Thank you all for your cards and messages. They will go with me to Switzerland
and I will have a special place for them, and also the sympathy cards you sent
to me previously.
You have been wonderful, true friends. The party was on the anniversary of
my husband’s passing and it was memorable to be with friends at that time.
I had a small moment of sadness on Thursday at
coffee, after walking, because this is the end of this nice part of my life and
the start of a new part. It is really bitter sweet.
Anyway, I want to say that anyone going to Europe - go to Switzerland. I
have an extra bedroom so get in touch with me and please come to visit. I
would like to share my part of that country.
by
Donna Lock
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A Walking Club Island Adventure!
An excursion organized by
Corky Holt
On
September 10, a group of 17 Walkers and Talkers left the Macy’s parking lot at
6:30 a.m. for the ride up to Ventura Harbor where they boarded the Ferry for
Santa Cruz Island. The excursion boat,can accommodate about 150,
but since it was off-season only 80 were aboard,. It was large and, paneled in wood.
Half of the people on the boat were school kids going for a 2-day camping trip
and the rest were day hikers or kayakers. After a one hour crossing, Mati, Sue,
Louise, Michele, Clara, Corkey, Tom, Margo, Wayne, Al, Audry, Pearl, and Kaye
arrived on the island ready for adventure.
Our
destination was Santa Cruz island
(see
National Parks website:
http://www.nps.gov/chis)
home for
centuries to the Chumash Indians and then ranching from the mid-19th
C. through the early 1960’s. Now the multiple islands are a national
park or Nature Conservancy.
The
crossing was in calm waters, and we met the Conservancy volunteer guide on
board. Once ashore, they had a guided hike of the island. It was
informative, detailing the history of the island and the flora and fauna. He
related information about the history of the island, the Chumash Indians, and
the ranching background.
It’s
a 60-minute high speed boat ride over. Thankfully, they had calm waters because
they are usually very rough.
There were picnic tables near the dock under some trees. Also forming a
scenic backdrop was an assortment of ancient rusting farm tractors and trucks
which had been there some 50 years and resembled sculptures of a sort. The boat
dropped us off at 10AM and would come back to pick us up at 4PM. It actually
left at 3:45 since we were all there. Latecomers would be stranded until the
next day..
Lou and
Wayne went off on their own and did 9 miles. After our lunch, which we brought
along, people went off in different directions, some to seek the
abandoned oil well(which never pumped oil, just water), others headed for
Smugglers Cove harbor. Some of us got into an exciting Poker game with Lou
dealing the cards; that was good for many laughs.
The
island sky was overcast, which lead to an easier hike. Since there are few trees
on the island, it was nice that it was not a hot day!
Once we
returned to Ventura harbor, we had dinner at a seafood and ribs restaurant at
the harbor and we were home by 8 PM.
By Sue Kuuskmae
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A trip organized by
Sue Kuuskmae
Monday April 21st, 2008
Welcome to Liu Fang Yuan, the Garden of Flowing Fragrances at the Huntington Library where nature's artistry and the spirit of poetry blooms in Harmony
Inspired
by the centuries-old Chinese tradition of private 
gardens designed for scholarly
pursuits, Liu Fang Yuan, or the Garden of Flowing Fragrance, combines the scenic
beauty of nature with the expressiveness of literature to give deeper meaning to
the landscape. A walk through its paths enriches the mind and spirit alike.
True to the authentic nature of a Chinese garden, the design respects the site. Sheltering woods were left undisturbed to create a sylvan backdrop. A man-made lake shimmers in the same deep spot where water naturally collected on the Huntington property after heavy rains. Chinese architecture and rocks from China’s Lake Tai, placed around the water’s edge, are balanced with native features such as California oaks. .
The garden’s name, Liu Fang Yuan, has both literal and symbolic meanings. The words liu fang, or “flowing fragrance,” refer to the scent of flowers and trees, including the pine, lotus, plum, and other native Chinese plants found here.
Layers of meaning and symbolism like these add to the enjoyment of a Chinese garden’s beauty. As you explore Liu Fang Yuan, you’ll discover that there is much more to this beautiful landscape than meets the eye. (copied from the Library site)
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Ocean Star Restaurant in Monterey Park was the scene of a delicious dim sum luncheon for 19 walkers and talkers who were on the way to visit the Huntington's new Chinese Garden. The dim sum carts visited our two tables. We put our fingers up to signal how many dumplings, pot stickers, broccoli, or mango puddings we wanted. It was all washed down with pots of excellent tea. For some it was a new experience and as usual most of us loved it.
Afterwards we continued on to the Gardens where we walked along the
various pathways of the Chinese Garden which included a lake, bridges, and
several specially built pagoda style houses.
We enjoyed the beautiful weather, the roses in full bloom, the cactus garden,
the Japanese garden, and lastly a visit to the gift shop. All lovers of nature
got their spirits renewed. (by
Sue Kuuskmae)
A slide show of the event can be seen by Clicking Here
An event organized by
Joyce Goffeau
Funny Girl
Sunday, March 30th, 2008
The Walkers and Talkers Walking club were well represented at Funny Girl , a musical play presented by the Norris Theatre in PVE . We were there in support of one of our own “Funny Girl”, Joyce Goffeau, a member of the Norris Prime Time Players cast.
Everyone enjoyed this musical, which recounts the life of comedienne Fannie Brice, from her early days in the Jewish slums of the Lower East Side, to the height of her career with the Ziegfeld Follies, including her marriage to and eventual divorce from her second husband, Nicky Arnstein.
We were able to meet with cast members after the show in the lobby and Joan Balzer surprised Joyce with flowers. After the show, most of the participants enjoyed a delicious Chinese dinner at Fu Yuan Low, which is within walking distance of the Norris. This gave everyone an opportunity for merriment and wild conversation.
(Click pix to expand)
Pictures and Videos
A slide show of the event can be seen by Clicking Here
A real video clip (#1)made by Ron Young can be seen by Clicking Here ( 2 minute wait with Broadband)
Click here to see The Easy Reader Play review
An event organized by
KelliYoung
March 20th, 2008
Rancho del Descanso
A natural "bowl" in the San Rafael hills provides a secluded setting for Descanso Gardens. The first inhabitants of the area were the Los Angeles basin's Gabrielino Indians. They relied on the native oaks for the mainstay of their diet, pounding acorns into meal for mush and bread.
In 1769, the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola arrived in San Diego and traveled northward along the route now known as El Camino Real ("The King's Highway"). He claimed the area which includes Descanso Gardens for the King of Spain. Governor Fages in turn deeded the site as part of a vast rancho--over 36,000 acres--to Corporal José Maria Verdugo in 1784, probably as a reward for loyal service ,,,(more)
On Thursday March 20th three car loads of walkers headed out to Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge. Contained in the vehicles were Chet, Audrey, Al, Margo, Jean, Diane, Clara, Susan, Tom, Bob, Elaine and Kelli. Joining us at the gardens were Jacques and his daughter Michele. The gardens were beautiful, as usual. We saw quite a few plants and flowers that we were all unfamiliar with. There were many, many camellias of different colors in bloom. And the lilacs were heavenly. For some of us it had been years and years since we had been able to smell their beautiful fragrant clusters of flowers. They were absolutely wonderful. We also enjoyed a walk through the Boddy House which was open to the public. After we covered all the pathways, we left the gardens and we all headed to the Dish restaurant nearby. We all had a very good lunch and then departed to head back home. Many, many thanks to Diane for making the reservations for us all. It was a great place, the food was very good and the prices were reasonable. All in all, we all had a wonderful day. (by Kelli)
Click here to see a photo
show of the Walkers and Talkers visit to the beautiful
Lilac
garden!
(pictures by Kelli and Jacques)
A trip organized by
Sue Kuuskmae
RIVERBOAT TRIP ON THE RHINE AND MOSEL RIVERS
SEPTEMBER 3
– SEPTEMBER 17 2007
Once upon a time, the best way to travel through the heart of Europe was by river ship. And once you voyage along Romance of the Rhine & Mosel, you'll see that it's still the best way to discover the region. Delight in Belgium's diverse Old World traditions ... cruise in the wake of ancient explorers in the Netherlands ... enjoy Rhineland vintages in Germany ... and discover a unique side of France.
On
September 17th seven members of our walking group (Bob Lynn, Lou and Val
Pisacane, Chet Brand, Marilyn Shaw, and Ron and Kelli Young) along with Bill
Rowe from Santa Barbara and Chuck and Marsha Franklin from Vancouver,
Washington, departed from LAX. After a short stop in London, where we were
joined by Bruce and Bette Berman from New York, we flew onward to Basal,
Switzerland where we met our other walking buddies, Sue and Mati Kuuskmae, and we
all boarded a river boat for a two week tour on the Rhine and Mosel Rivers
passing through France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium.
click on pictures
Kelli click here to open the trip page
A trip organized by
Sue Kuuskmae
Sue & Mati K. and Hilde & Carl K. Northern European Barge & Cycle Trip!
Carl,
Hilde, Mati and Sue decided to take a very different two-week vacation biking
around Holland via barge connection beginning in Amsterdam, touching the North
Sea island of Terschelling, and continuing into the northern land of Friesland.
There are two biking groups with the slower group covering 24 miles and the more
experienced group lasting for around 35 miles. Carl, Hilde and Mati are part of
the first group and Sue is content to ride on the barge and is biking on her own
for shorter distances when it is safe to do so (without traffic). The barge
experience is fairly rustic with bunk beds, communal meals, and no TV. Luckily
the captain is quite computer literate so does have computer access when in
port.
As the trip progresses, Sue/Mati & Hilde/Carl will send us emails that will allow us to follow their adventure. To read their emails and see their pictures CLICK HERE!
Best wishes to all of them
July 8th 2007
Northern Trip to National Parks - June 10 - 26, 2007
Click here to enter the report page. Can also be entered from the Home page!
Click here for an experimental test of the video, now stored on this site. This may take an long (2 min the first time) amount a time with a broadband. Good luck! Don't forget to set your View selection to Full Screen or push F11
An event organized by
Sue Kuuskmae
July 3rd 2007
Click Here for a Slide Show of the Walkers and Talkers viewing of the movie and post-dinner!
Click here for an experimental test of the video, now stored on this site. This may take an long (2 min the first time) amount a time with a broadband. Good luck! Don't forget to set your View selection to Full Screen or push F11
As you might know, our walking friend Sue Kuuskmae is the mother-in-law of Brad Bird, the movie's Screenwriter/Director, who also made the recent movie, The Incredibles.
Plot
The film tells the success story of an unlikely hero; a rat
named Rémy who finds himself in a Parisian restaurant made famous by an
eccentric French chef, Auguste Gusteau. Rémy is not only a gourmet (so quite an
outsider among
his kinfolk), but aims to become a fine chef. This far-reaching
ambition leads him to travel to the City of Lights itself and make a small meal
for his family. Unfortunately, this is witnessed by Linguini, the new garbage
boy for the kitchen staff. Chaos ensues, and the villainous Main Chef, Skinner,
orders Linguini to dispose of Rémy in the French River. But at the River, Rémy
manages to convince him to let him survive, as he can help Linguini become a
good cook. Now formed in an unbreakable alliance and friendship, Rémy and
Linguini set out to fulfill their dreams. But Skinner quickly becomes jealous of
Linguini's talent, and plans to demolish the rat-man team personally.
Click Here for this trip Slide Show
05/15/2007
A wonderful day at the Descanso Gardens
Sun under
cover
we discover Descanso Gardens
Like being in
the country
myriad hues, enchanting views
beyond a path turn lies
a lake, ducks, geese, butterflies
A delightful
lunch
under old oak trees
shared with charming company
Thank you WAT and Mr. Boddy
Poem by Joyce
Walkers and Talkers visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk
GRAND CANYON WEST, ARIZ. — Perched over the Grand Canyon close to a mile above the Colorado River, a massive, multimillion-dollar glass walkway just opened for business as the centerpiece of a struggling Indian tribe's plan to lure tourists to its remote reservation.
During Easter 2007 week, your
Walkers and Talkers Webmaster, Jacques and his daughter Michele took a five day,
one thousand mile, trip to visit
Skywalk. This just opened attraction located,
at Grand Canyon West, Arizona looms out 70 feet
(see and click side picture)
from the top of Eagle Point. Eagle Point faces a
rock formation that looks like an eagle spreading its wings from one side of the
canyon to the other. Looking downward through the glass of this U-shaped bridge,
one stares 4,000 feet to the canyon floor. Red and beige rocks and walls meet
you. Crows stretch their wings beneath, riding the air currents.
Created as an economic booster for the Indian Hualapia Nation of Arizona, Skywalk is just one part of Grand Canyon West. A $75 tour package consists of: a walk on Skywalk, a lookout point, a Wild West Ranch, lunch, a cultural show and a narrated canyon rim story. The day we were there, the cultural show consisted of a dance honoring the eagle. Though very busy, due to its recent opening, the Skywalk operators and all those at Grand Canyon West were helpful and courteous. They wanted to be sure we had a good time.
The Skywalk can be reached from Las Vegas, Nevada, or through Kingman, Arizona. Since we were staying in Laughlin, Nevada, we took the Kingman route. Part of the road to Grand Canyon West is unpaved however. 14 miles of it! Some small cars were covered in dust and all drivers had to drive carefully, as clouds of dust were thrown up by traveling cars!
A video slide show of our trip can be seen by Clicking Here
An event organized by
Joyce Goffeau
Sunday, March 25th, 2007
The Walkers and Talkers Walking club were well represented at the 70, Girls, 70, musical play presented by the Norris Theatre in PVE . We were there in support of one of our own “Gang,” Joyce Goffeau, a member of the cast.
Everyone had a few chuckles at this comic play which celebrates having joy in life no matter one’s age. The trouble with the world today is "coffee in a cardboard cup," which is a line from one of the hit numbers. Our Walkers' remedy this with real cups at Bonaparte’s, thanks to our friend and owner Gabriel.
We
were able to meet with cast members after the show in the lobby and
surprised Joyce with flowers. After the show, most of the participants enjoyed
a delicious Chinese style dinner at Fu Yuan Low, which is within walking
distance of the Norris. This gave everyone an opportunity for more merriment
and wild conversation.
(Click pix to expand)
If you missed the
performance, you have another chance to see it next weekend.
A video slide show of the event can be seen by Clicking Here
And a real video clip
made by Ron Young can be seen by
Clicking Here
This video can only be seen if you have a wideband connection and a proper
video player.
To listen to the show "Old Folks" song performed by Joyce! Click Here
Swan Lake: Joyce was lucky to have a role in this ballet, which was also performed at the Norris theater during April 13, 14 and 15th. A fuzzy video clip of her entrance on the stage can be seen by Clicking Here.
See Joyce singing and dancing All that Jazz (click) during the European School of Music and Art,Spring 07 recital
Sue and Mati K. visiting Italy via Zurich!
Sue and Mati will be flying to chilly
Zurich, Switzerland (current temperatures:
32 -44 F) where they will stay for 2 nights
and then take a 6-hour train ride through the Alps to Florence, Italy. They will
be in Florence for 4 nights and have already booked museum reservations for the
Ufizzi and Bargello online. Florence temperatures range from high 50's to high
60's depending on the amount of sun.
Departing Florence on Monday, March 12 in a rental car, they will wander around in circles in Tuscany seeing the hill towns and then straighten out somewhat and head northwest to Lucca, Pisa and the Italian Riviera. They have no hotel reservations in this area until they arrive in Milan. (That ought to be fun, driving in Milan and attempting to find both our hotel and car rental return).
Milan will take up 3 days and 2 nights and they hope to tour La Scala Opera House and see the historic center of town.
As the trip progresses, Sue and Mati will send us emails that will allow us to follow their adventure. To read their emails and see their pictures CLICK HERE!
Best wishes to both of them
An event organized by
Tom Chester
February 15th 2007
HAPPY WALKERS
VISITED THE NETHERCUTT MUSEUM
(The J.B. Nethercutt Collection is an
outstanding display of dedication and passion for "functional fine art". Beyond
the realm of the automobile, the collection houses superb examples of original
antique furniture, and a colossal display of automatic and reproducing musical
instruments.)
On February 15th, ten of our members visited the Nethercutt museum located in Sylmar about 40 miles north of the Hermosa Beach pier!
This beautiful and enchanting adventure was organized by our dear friend Tom Chester.
The weathe
r was gorgeous
and the place a delight to the eyes, ears and the soul. Unfortunately, Jacques
and Ron forgot their cameras and only Bob L. was able to take some pictures. We
received Bob's pictures and you can see them and others by
clicking here for video
slide show!
(Click on pix)
The Walking Club tour participants were: Bob, Dianne, Carol , Chet, Jacques, Jean, Kelli, Marilyn, Ron and Tom.
Official Internet pictures of the Museum and its tour can be seen by clicking here.
After the docent guided
tour, seven
of the club members (and Carol's husband
Chuck) went out for lunch to a little
Italian place that they thoroughly enjoyed. The food was wonderful , very
reasonable and o
f
course, the companionship and conversation was a topper.
The Museum will present free Spring Organ Concerts on Feb. 20 and 21st, 2007. Maybe some of you are interested in going? Reservations can be made by calling 1 (819) 364-6464
(Click)
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