"Pistachio eh!"

 The cleaning lady was just doing her job when she found all the elements that spelled TERRORIST spread out over the hotel bed.   A letter outlining the details of a covert operation labelled “Pistachio”.  A book to learn the native language. Electronic video surveillance equipment.  A tasty snack for bribing authorities, and assassin training equipment!  No doubt she thought the Drumheller Spanish consulate could be in trouble.   

I wasn’t worried initially. As soon as I told the authorities that the mysterious package that arrived at the front desk was simply from a group of individuals that were united for a better cause, I am sure they would let me go.

OK, Operation Pistachio was not as dramatic as that, but its arrival affected me just as much.  For Sifu Rybak, and the I Ho Chuan team that was responsible for pulling this care package together, I can’t explain to you how awesome this was.  It could not have come at a better time.  The morning the package arrived I was greeted with 4 inches of fresh snow and blizzard conditions forcing a shutdown for the day.  I was miserable that the project would be delayed while I wait for yet another day away from home.

I never felt outside the I Ho Chuan group, but missing involvement in what the team is accomplishing, I often wonder about my connection to the group.  Receiving a care package as thoughtful as the one that arrived yesterday does so much for an individual.  It reinforces purpose, reminds of commitment, delivers encouragement, and above all, gives me a reason to feed Sifu’s video camera to the worlds largest dinosaur.

All joking aside, thank you guys so much for such a thoughtful care package, it meant a great deal to me, and really illustrates what a great group the I Ho Chuan is.  On another note, the demo looked fantastic, you all should be very proud!  To the Sihing with the wrapped hand and wrist...yes you know who you are...take care of that injury.

P.S. - I am nosing through my "Spanish for Dummies" as we speak.