Forgot to say that 3 of us 4 won money at the slots at Agua Caliente casino on Lary's birthday which was really nice. Not a windfall, just a nice amount to cover dinner.
Lary managed to update our Garmin GPS, I had bought a lifetime update for it, for $89, and Lary got it to work and download new stuff. Tuesday we had soup at the clubhouse at lunch.
We went into Palm Springs and got tickets for the Palm Springs Film Festival, it starts on Jan 6th or so, and runs til we leave on our cruise. We bought 6 tix for $54 per person, then we need to choose our films and change the tix for the actual film viewing.
One morning Lary got up and the computer screen was the black 'death screen' only, but a computer guy Brian at Catalina told us to remove the battery, and then put it in again, and voila, that did the trick. It was very scary thinking that our 1 year old computer was dying already.
Lary ordered a wood burning kit over the internet, it arrived but had no pens or nibs, so he then had to order them from another place. That was a bit frustrating for him.
We had ordered 2 Roland Micro cube amplifiers over the internet too, and they arrived. Our mini mikes which you can attach to your flute have been sent, but haven't yet arrived. They are coming from another place, so we can terrorize the RV park. Kidding!!!
Weds. Lary went off to carve, he is at the woodburning stage, and Dave is now carving an owl too. They are tiny, only about 4 or 5 inches high. Lary's is coming right along. But after carving all day from 10 AM til 4 PM or so, he is tired.
Di and Wendy headed out for some more retail therapy, we hit Kohls, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, and the French restaurant for lunch. After that we headed home to meet our hubbies, and had a drink at Wendy and Dave's trailer. Di had done quite a bit of damage with after Christmas sales and the like.
That night there was a Bluegrass music pair from Oliver BC entertaining at CatSpa, and we watched them. He played a banjo he had built, and also played a fiddle. She played the guitar, and they both sang. They were entertaining.
Thursday was coffee, donuts and the usual business meeting at the clubhouse, felt as if we had just been at the last one.
We are very impressed with the food that is offered here at our park clubhouse, this month there have been 2 Saturday dinners and dances, plus Christmas turkeys and gravy were cooked for the owners on Christmas Day, who only had to supply the rest of the potluck type Christmas dinner for their own table at the clubhouse, and now there is to be a prime rib dinner for 100 folks or so on New Year's eve, for $25 per person. Plus a band and dancing afterwards.
And every second week there is soup on Tuesdays at lunch, and the alternate week is burgers. That is huge. And hugely generous of the folks doing it all, largely the 3 Savage brothers and their wives, along with volunteers.
Today Lary and I indulged in some more retail therapy, and also shopped for a new dining room overhead light, which we found at Home Depot. Lary will install that soon, the one we have is ghastly. We are slowly eating through our leftovers from Christmas Day.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Lary's birthday today
Well we had a lovely Christmas, Wendy and Dave came over and had dinner with us, and it was the first day we used the gas oven, it worked perfectly, and Tom the turkey weighing in at 14 pounds got duly stuffed and cooked, and we had a yummy dinner. Wendy supplied all the dessert, and we dined very royally. Lary decided that his paper hat didn't work well with the hearing aids.
Next day we invited Judy and Nick over for dinner, and dined once more on Tom turkey revisited, with new veggies, and delicious shrimp cocktail that Judy brought as a surprise, along with wine and more yummies to be consumed. A nice mellow evening with more nice company from home.
Forgot to say that we 4, Wendy and Dave, Lary and I attended St. Anthony in the Desert on Dec. 24th for a Christmas eve service, we were surprised that it was to last 2 hours, but it didn't quite last that long, they held communion at the end of the service.
Lovely service with lots of Christmas carols, when the minister was giving his sermon talking about all the distractions of the modern era, his own cell phone in his pocket went off, to his great embarrassment, and the amusement of the congregation. A few carols were performed by a soprano soloist with a pretty voice, then we were all invited to stay for refreshments.
We were very surprised that they had pretty well a whole dinner laid out, with cabbage rolls, chicken, tons of savouries, and lots of sweets, and eggnog with whiskey in it. It had been brought by the parishioners, I felt badly that we hadn't thought to take anything ourselves as a contribution.
Today Lary's birthday dawned with bright blue skies, a phone call from sister Sue at Heather's, and we had a nice breakfast here. Later tonight we'll go with Wendy and Dave out to Agua Caliente casino for a shrimp and prime rib buffet dinner, should be great, they are incredibly generous with the shrimp, and lots of them are as big as your fingers, so very very tasty.
I will welcome prime rib, Tom turkey still has some leftovers in our fridge, and lots of veggies, last night's company was too full to eat our special Christmas peppermint ice cream, so we may see what we can do about that.
More rain in the forecast but not the Pineapple Express that we had, it caused nearly $3 million in damages to Desert Hot Springs with the flash floods that it brought, they declared a state of ememrgency or something like that, but it is absolutely amazing how fast the bulldozers come and clear away all the silt and rock from the roads. getting things back to rights once again.
We were delighted to hear from Sue and Jen over the holidays, as well as Georgette. And all our Christmas cards and Christmas and Birthday emails have been so very welcome. We miss friends and family from home a lot, even though we are very happy and comfortable down here.
The painting and blinds project will take place late January, early February, and that will really make this house feel like our own after that. We have a new microwave over our stove, it has a wire shelf in it, which really surprised us, apparently as long as the rack is in the holder which is plastic clips on the wall, there is no problem with the rack and layered cooking.
Next big thing coming up is our cruise to Mexico, mid January. Whoo hoo.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS, AND THE VERY BEST OF 2011 TO YOU ALL.
HUGS.
Next day we invited Judy and Nick over for dinner, and dined once more on Tom turkey revisited, with new veggies, and delicious shrimp cocktail that Judy brought as a surprise, along with wine and more yummies to be consumed. A nice mellow evening with more nice company from home.
Forgot to say that we 4, Wendy and Dave, Lary and I attended St. Anthony in the Desert on Dec. 24th for a Christmas eve service, we were surprised that it was to last 2 hours, but it didn't quite last that long, they held communion at the end of the service.
Lovely service with lots of Christmas carols, when the minister was giving his sermon talking about all the distractions of the modern era, his own cell phone in his pocket went off, to his great embarrassment, and the amusement of the congregation. A few carols were performed by a soprano soloist with a pretty voice, then we were all invited to stay for refreshments.
We were very surprised that they had pretty well a whole dinner laid out, with cabbage rolls, chicken, tons of savouries, and lots of sweets, and eggnog with whiskey in it. It had been brought by the parishioners, I felt badly that we hadn't thought to take anything ourselves as a contribution.
Today Lary's birthday dawned with bright blue skies, a phone call from sister Sue at Heather's, and we had a nice breakfast here. Later tonight we'll go with Wendy and Dave out to Agua Caliente casino for a shrimp and prime rib buffet dinner, should be great, they are incredibly generous with the shrimp, and lots of them are as big as your fingers, so very very tasty.
I will welcome prime rib, Tom turkey still has some leftovers in our fridge, and lots of veggies, last night's company was too full to eat our special Christmas peppermint ice cream, so we may see what we can do about that.
More rain in the forecast but not the Pineapple Express that we had, it caused nearly $3 million in damages to Desert Hot Springs with the flash floods that it brought, they declared a state of ememrgency or something like that, but it is absolutely amazing how fast the bulldozers come and clear away all the silt and rock from the roads. getting things back to rights once again.
We were delighted to hear from Sue and Jen over the holidays, as well as Georgette. And all our Christmas cards and Christmas and Birthday emails have been so very welcome. We miss friends and family from home a lot, even though we are very happy and comfortable down here.
The painting and blinds project will take place late January, early February, and that will really make this house feel like our own after that. We have a new microwave over our stove, it has a wire shelf in it, which really surprised us, apparently as long as the rack is in the holder which is plastic clips on the wall, there is no problem with the rack and layered cooking.
Next big thing coming up is our cruise to Mexico, mid January. Whoo hoo.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS, AND THE VERY BEST OF 2011 TO YOU ALL.
HUGS.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Not that much going on today
We went to Desert Hot Springs today and picked up a few groceries for Christmas dinner, then came home.
We had had coffee and doughnuts at the clubhouse this morning at 9 AM, and they always have a business meeting afterwards, so we know what's going on around here. Then they send out a newsletter to us reiterating what went on at the meeting earlier that day.
Late this afternoon we walked over to Catalina Spa and found Wendy and Dave's new site, and had a drink with them. Then we 4 had dinner at Catalina Spa clubhouse, taco salad, or burritos.
And after that we went down to Palm Springs to the night street market, there weren't that many vendors due to the date so near to Christmas day, but we still strolled along the main street of P.S. enjoying the mellow atmosphere.
After that we went in search of Candy Cane Lane, on Minerva Street in Cathedral City, it was fantastic, one block totally lit up, very detailed and tons of people walking along the street enjoying the lights.
A nice day overall. It is hard to believe there were such huge deluges of rain in the past few days, and now it is almost like it never happened. There is a bit of a mess left over, but it is getting cleaned up overall.
We had had coffee and doughnuts at the clubhouse this morning at 9 AM, and they always have a business meeting afterwards, so we know what's going on around here. Then they send out a newsletter to us reiterating what went on at the meeting earlier that day.
Late this afternoon we walked over to Catalina Spa and found Wendy and Dave's new site, and had a drink with them. Then we 4 had dinner at Catalina Spa clubhouse, taco salad, or burritos.
And after that we went down to Palm Springs to the night street market, there weren't that many vendors due to the date so near to Christmas day, but we still strolled along the main street of P.S. enjoying the mellow atmosphere.
After that we went in search of Candy Cane Lane, on Minerva Street in Cathedral City, it was fantastic, one block totally lit up, very detailed and tons of people walking along the street enjoying the lights.
A nice day overall. It is hard to believe there were such huge deluges of rain in the past few days, and now it is almost like it never happened. There is a bit of a mess left over, but it is getting cleaned up overall.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Whew, flash floods and we were there in DHS
Wendy and I went to KMart in Desert Hot Springs today, and after about an hour we looked outside, and yoicks, there were flash floods happening right outside the store. What had been a quiet road an hour before was now a raging torrent whipping through the parking lot, along the curbside, and across the intersections. Chaos everywhere, and lashing rain still.
A lady in the KMart parking lot begged a ride home as the bus was nowhere to be seen, and she was already soaked, so Wendy and I drove her uphill to her house. All traffic lights were blinking red, traffic was snarled as the curbside lane was now a river about 6 - 10 feet wide and full of muddy water, the stop and go procedure at least slowed down some, but made each intersection a disaster too, to be carefully navigated.
The water was streaming along their brand new landscaping and sidewalk designs in DHS. Pouring down the hill from the desert hills into the town, carving gulleys and leaving boulders, tumbleweed, inches of mud and silt, and disasters everywhere.
The rain brought down huge boulders and garbage including empty garbage cans, and was full of silt, people's homes were getting flooded, and chaos was everywhere. We spied a man and his son walking up the road carrying their shoes, and people would cross the road then not be able to reach the sidewalks due to the heavy flowing puddles, now rivers.
Wendy and I stayed up on higher ground once we delivered the thankful lady to her home, and slowly made our way along silt and debris covered roads, back home. All thoughts of grocery shopping were abandoned, we just thought of getting home safe and sound. I was so glad that our car is a bit higher, some lower ones were much more challenged by the deep water.
The rain gouged out holes and made a real wreck of many roads, leaving so much litter and muddy silt behind, and a real mess on so many roads.
Wendy and I ate lunch at home, and chatted, Lary and Dave were carving on their owls over at the neighbouring RV park.
We 4 had a drink here once they finished and came here, tomorrow Wendy and Dave will move over to Catalina Spa RV park, and become our neighbours here on Corkill Road off Dillon Road.
In KMart today Guenther and Katarina Glaesing had spoken to us, it was nice to see them, as we hadn't visited them since they arrived in late November. They are at Sands RV and Golf park, just down Dillon from us about 10 minutes by car. They had fun in their small low VW Golf, even though it is diesel, it is very low when the water is rising and threatening.
A lady in the KMart parking lot begged a ride home as the bus was nowhere to be seen, and she was already soaked, so Wendy and I drove her uphill to her house. All traffic lights were blinking red, traffic was snarled as the curbside lane was now a river about 6 - 10 feet wide and full of muddy water, the stop and go procedure at least slowed down some, but made each intersection a disaster too, to be carefully navigated.
The water was streaming along their brand new landscaping and sidewalk designs in DHS. Pouring down the hill from the desert hills into the town, carving gulleys and leaving boulders, tumbleweed, inches of mud and silt, and disasters everywhere.
The rain brought down huge boulders and garbage including empty garbage cans, and was full of silt, people's homes were getting flooded, and chaos was everywhere. We spied a man and his son walking up the road carrying their shoes, and people would cross the road then not be able to reach the sidewalks due to the heavy flowing puddles, now rivers.
Wendy and I stayed up on higher ground once we delivered the thankful lady to her home, and slowly made our way along silt and debris covered roads, back home. All thoughts of grocery shopping were abandoned, we just thought of getting home safe and sound. I was so glad that our car is a bit higher, some lower ones were much more challenged by the deep water.
The rain gouged out holes and made a real wreck of many roads, leaving so much litter and muddy silt behind, and a real mess on so many roads.
Wendy and I ate lunch at home, and chatted, Lary and Dave were carving on their owls over at the neighbouring RV park.
We 4 had a drink here once they finished and came here, tomorrow Wendy and Dave will move over to Catalina Spa RV park, and become our neighbours here on Corkill Road off Dillon Road.
In KMart today Guenther and Katarina Glaesing had spoken to us, it was nice to see them, as we hadn't visited them since they arrived in late November. They are at Sands RV and Golf park, just down Dillon from us about 10 minutes by car. They had fun in their small low VW Golf, even though it is diesel, it is very low when the water is rising and threatening.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Teeming, pouring rain and road closures
Got up this morning and the phone rang, the microwave installer would come with the new microwave and install it between 2 and 6 PM.
The blinds consultant lady was to come between 3 and 4 PM. As luck would have it, they both arrived at the front gate together, and Lary went up there to let them in.
We kind of ignored the poor microwave installer, who was done in about 15 - 20 minutes, as the blinds lady had lots of suggestions for us, and plenty of ideas and helpful thoughts.
We ended up ordering mini blinds for the bedroom as we already have some there, and we ordered verticals for our living room/dining room/kitchen area. They will be installed after our painting is all done, which gives them a chance to get them made, and the painter to do his thing without dealing with the blinds. Lary and I will remove the 2 layers of curtains before the painter starts to paint, and the blinds installers will remove the hardware from the curtains.
We decided to get verticals with a bit of a texture, a beige texture.
Meanwhile the weather is quite violent, teeming rain, and lots of closures on the roads throughout the Coachella Valley. We stayed in today, and I don't know what we will do tomorrow.
Lary goes to carve tomorrow, but that's just down the road, a couple of blocks from here, and Wendy and I decided to do something together, but due to the weather I don't know what we'll opt to do.
Having made the decorating commitment about the blinds, it is exciting to think about paint colors, we looked at some with the blinds consultant, she used to do paint colors and has some very good ideas. We don't want to do a paint with any grey in it, we don't want stark white either, but perhaps an off white with a touch of beige in it, would be good. We will leave the valances in place but they will be painted and included in the new paint color. She called them cornices.
That was our whole day, we didn't go out today, just listened to the rain pour down.
Forgot to say that our internet is finally attached and installed completely with Time Warner, Lary had to use a different cable called an Ethernet cable from the modem to the computer due to our operating system being Windows 7, so that was the problem. As soon as he found out that and used the correct cable, voila, we had smoking hot internet. What a relief after years of intermittent coverage in the various parks where we have camped.
The blinds consultant lady was to come between 3 and 4 PM. As luck would have it, they both arrived at the front gate together, and Lary went up there to let them in.
We kind of ignored the poor microwave installer, who was done in about 15 - 20 minutes, as the blinds lady had lots of suggestions for us, and plenty of ideas and helpful thoughts.
We ended up ordering mini blinds for the bedroom as we already have some there, and we ordered verticals for our living room/dining room/kitchen area. They will be installed after our painting is all done, which gives them a chance to get them made, and the painter to do his thing without dealing with the blinds. Lary and I will remove the 2 layers of curtains before the painter starts to paint, and the blinds installers will remove the hardware from the curtains.
We decided to get verticals with a bit of a texture, a beige texture.
Meanwhile the weather is quite violent, teeming rain, and lots of closures on the roads throughout the Coachella Valley. We stayed in today, and I don't know what we will do tomorrow.
Lary goes to carve tomorrow, but that's just down the road, a couple of blocks from here, and Wendy and I decided to do something together, but due to the weather I don't know what we'll opt to do.
Having made the decorating commitment about the blinds, it is exciting to think about paint colors, we looked at some with the blinds consultant, she used to do paint colors and has some very good ideas. We don't want to do a paint with any grey in it, we don't want stark white either, but perhaps an off white with a touch of beige in it, would be good. We will leave the valances in place but they will be painted and included in the new paint color. She called them cornices.
That was our whole day, we didn't go out today, just listened to the rain pour down.
Forgot to say that our internet is finally attached and installed completely with Time Warner, Lary had to use a different cable called an Ethernet cable from the modem to the computer due to our operating system being Windows 7, so that was the problem. As soon as he found out that and used the correct cable, voila, we had smoking hot internet. What a relief after years of intermittent coverage in the various parks where we have camped.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Monday adventures here in wets-ville Coachella Valley
It started raining yesterday, my birthday, it rained overnight Sunday, and continued very heavily at times today. The local wash is filling up, and traffic is getting snarled. People are once more at the mercy of the wild weather as the desert rejuvenates itself after the scorching temps of summertime. It may well prove to be a colorful spring with desert flowers.
We had a wonderful dinner out Sunday evening for my birthday with Wendy and Dave. Trilussa is an Italian restaurant over in Cathedral City near Mary Pickford Theatres, and Imax. Wendy and Dave gave me 4 neat Margarita glasses, whoo hoo, can't wait to use them, and a beautiful beaded hummingbird, all swarovski crystal beads. Gorgeous, it has a long tail. I would love to attach it to a flute, but it's pretty fragile. The restaurant gave me a complimentary Tiramisu dessert, and after dinner they give all their guests either Sambuca with 3 coffee beans in it, or Amaretto for after dinner drinks. And biscotti. Yum. What a great idea.
During the day we lazed around the house, didn't go to College of the Desert, got a couple of lovely birthday phone calls from Sue and Jen, and finally went over to Mathis Brothers in the afternoon and found some perfect end tables for the trailer, they were pay and pack sort of, when we got them home Lary had to assemble them. They are ideal for the space we have, and have both a drawer, and a lower shelf.
I have to confess, our cell phones don't work inside the trailer, the aluminum trailer we think interferes with the reception, so when they ring, we answer and then run outside to talk. Yesterday found me chatting with sister Sue leaning over our patio gate, in my nightie with my hair all scraggy. Hmmmmm. A vision of birthday loveliness.
Monday we took a flutie friend of ours down to San Diego as she is scheduled for a long series of after burn surgeries, she burned both one hand and the other arm on the oven rack months ago, and has been fighting those deep deep burns for months. She wasn't covered by medical insurance either, but her coverage has just been reinstated. The University of San Diego has a special burn hospital, and she had to be there at 7 AM for surgery just after 9 AM.
We got up at 3 AM, headed out at 3:30 AM, spooked our own park security patrol, woke the neighbours, then picked her up, and drove like fury down through the black night, heavy traffic full of commuters at those hours, through pouring rain, past traffic accidents due to the rain and slippery conditions, and arrived there in the nick of time for her admission at 7 AM.
She will have an especially long haul, as the burns need debridement, then sponges applied to encourage new cell growth, then skin grafts on both hands/arms. Long procedure, and a long stay, so she had lots of luggage with her. And I imagine she was somewhat apprehensive too, she burned herself some months ago and has been waging war on the burns since then. Doctors there called them 4th degree, which none of us had ever heard of before.
We ate breakfast at Brian's a local restaurant in San Diego near the hospital, then drove back home and fell back into bed for a few more hours sleep. It is just pouring heavily now, and has been almost all day, the Whitewater wash that runs the length of the Coachella Valley is full and overflowing already, with all sorts of road blockades, and LA has lots of flooding too.
Never accuse the desert of being boring!!!!!
Lary took back the modem to Time Warner here in DHS, apparently our Windows 7 was the problem, we needed a different cable from the modem out to the computer, once Lary added that to the mix we were in business, with smoking hot internet, all for $30 per month. What a difference it truly makes, now I am replying to birthday emails and newsy Christmas cards, it is wonderful to have cable connection once more.
As we are Canadians Time Warner charged us $50 security deposit for the modem which we get applied to our last month of cable rental when we return it as we leave after the winter/spring.
The weather nationwide and indeed even in Europe and the UK seems gruesome, it's always so much more challenging when so many folks worldwide want to move around over the holiday season.
When we arrived back home from our San Diego drive we discoverd a wee plastic bag with a new pair of pretty crystal Christmas tree earrrings hanging on our gate for my birthday from our neighbour Pat M next door. Unfortunately we had woken our other side neighbour Marlene S when we got up and left this AM early, I feel very sorry about that.
We had a wonderful dinner out Sunday evening for my birthday with Wendy and Dave. Trilussa is an Italian restaurant over in Cathedral City near Mary Pickford Theatres, and Imax. Wendy and Dave gave me 4 neat Margarita glasses, whoo hoo, can't wait to use them, and a beautiful beaded hummingbird, all swarovski crystal beads. Gorgeous, it has a long tail. I would love to attach it to a flute, but it's pretty fragile. The restaurant gave me a complimentary Tiramisu dessert, and after dinner they give all their guests either Sambuca with 3 coffee beans in it, or Amaretto for after dinner drinks. And biscotti. Yum. What a great idea.
During the day we lazed around the house, didn't go to College of the Desert, got a couple of lovely birthday phone calls from Sue and Jen, and finally went over to Mathis Brothers in the afternoon and found some perfect end tables for the trailer, they were pay and pack sort of, when we got them home Lary had to assemble them. They are ideal for the space we have, and have both a drawer, and a lower shelf.
I have to confess, our cell phones don't work inside the trailer, the aluminum trailer we think interferes with the reception, so when they ring, we answer and then run outside to talk. Yesterday found me chatting with sister Sue leaning over our patio gate, in my nightie with my hair all scraggy. Hmmmmm. A vision of birthday loveliness.
Monday we took a flutie friend of ours down to San Diego as she is scheduled for a long series of after burn surgeries, she burned both one hand and the other arm on the oven rack months ago, and has been fighting those deep deep burns for months. She wasn't covered by medical insurance either, but her coverage has just been reinstated. The University of San Diego has a special burn hospital, and she had to be there at 7 AM for surgery just after 9 AM.
We got up at 3 AM, headed out at 3:30 AM, spooked our own park security patrol, woke the neighbours, then picked her up, and drove like fury down through the black night, heavy traffic full of commuters at those hours, through pouring rain, past traffic accidents due to the rain and slippery conditions, and arrived there in the nick of time for her admission at 7 AM.
She will have an especially long haul, as the burns need debridement, then sponges applied to encourage new cell growth, then skin grafts on both hands/arms. Long procedure, and a long stay, so she had lots of luggage with her. And I imagine she was somewhat apprehensive too, she burned herself some months ago and has been waging war on the burns since then. Doctors there called them 4th degree, which none of us had ever heard of before.
We ate breakfast at Brian's a local restaurant in San Diego near the hospital, then drove back home and fell back into bed for a few more hours sleep. It is just pouring heavily now, and has been almost all day, the Whitewater wash that runs the length of the Coachella Valley is full and overflowing already, with all sorts of road blockades, and LA has lots of flooding too.
Never accuse the desert of being boring!!!!!
Lary took back the modem to Time Warner here in DHS, apparently our Windows 7 was the problem, we needed a different cable from the modem out to the computer, once Lary added that to the mix we were in business, with smoking hot internet, all for $30 per month. What a difference it truly makes, now I am replying to birthday emails and newsy Christmas cards, it is wonderful to have cable connection once more.
As we are Canadians Time Warner charged us $50 security deposit for the modem which we get applied to our last month of cable rental when we return it as we leave after the winter/spring.
The weather nationwide and indeed even in Europe and the UK seems gruesome, it's always so much more challenging when so many folks worldwide want to move around over the holiday season.
When we arrived back home from our San Diego drive we discoverd a wee plastic bag with a new pair of pretty crystal Christmas tree earrrings hanging on our gate for my birthday from our neighbour Pat M next door. Unfortunately we had woken our other side neighbour Marlene S when we got up and left this AM early, I feel very sorry about that.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday stuff
Today we went over to Westfield Mall, Di got a pedicure and we picked up a few bits and pieces.
We came home and putzed about, then Lary and our neighbour Doug worked on getting the cable installed for the internet. It comes in through the side of the house, they put a splitter on our cable into the unit, and the computer is in the living room, but the cable won't hook up it seems, even though we installed the disc, and followed the instructions.
Doug and Evelyn came over for a drink before dinner, then we did emailing, and laundry, too. Doug works in computers, so he is very helpful. And their unit is pretty nearly identical to ours, but updated already. We enjoy seeing the differences between the units here.
Di practiced some Christmas carols up at the laundry room, good acoustics. There was a dinner going on in the clubhouse, and dancing after dinner.
We have ordered a Pick up the world mini mic which sits right on your flute and feeds into an amplifier, as yet not ordered, so you can torture the neighbours even more!!!!!
It has been quite overcast, grey and rainy, so good to do inside the house type of chores, and think about Christmas etc. When it rains the canopy over the patio doesn't exactly keep out the rain, so we have to move things in from the edges of the patio so they don't get soaked.
Tomorrow Sunday we'll go to College of the Desert street market, and then we'll go out for my birthday dinner to an Italian restaurant, Trilusa, over in Cathedral City, with Wendy and Dave.
Exciting to think of the house here with new blinds, paint and microwave. Lots of nice changes to update it. Other neighbours invited us in to their unit to see what they had done to update their place, very interesting to see how the trailers vary/ and or are similar.
Today our Happy Hour guests showed us a set of lights I didn't know we had, over the dining room/kitchen sort of. Seems they are rope lights I think, they are right up near the ceiling. And they explained what a certain plug and switch do in the living room, we had no idea.
We have Xmas lights on the stair hand railing leading up into the house, and our 3 mini trees outside are up once again as the wind has died down, hopefully for a while. I had laid them down in the high winds so they wouldn't get the lights broken when they fell over.
Fun to see Christmas throughout the park, and we want to go over to Catalina Spa and check out their Xmas lights one night. The malls don't seem to have huge ostentatious displays of lights or decorations this year, but some stores are very prettily decorated, and the sales and reductions are to die for.
That's the latest, don't forget to write, and Merry Christmas to you blog followers.
We came home and putzed about, then Lary and our neighbour Doug worked on getting the cable installed for the internet. It comes in through the side of the house, they put a splitter on our cable into the unit, and the computer is in the living room, but the cable won't hook up it seems, even though we installed the disc, and followed the instructions.
Doug and Evelyn came over for a drink before dinner, then we did emailing, and laundry, too. Doug works in computers, so he is very helpful. And their unit is pretty nearly identical to ours, but updated already. We enjoy seeing the differences between the units here.
Di practiced some Christmas carols up at the laundry room, good acoustics. There was a dinner going on in the clubhouse, and dancing after dinner.
We have ordered a Pick up the world mini mic which sits right on your flute and feeds into an amplifier, as yet not ordered, so you can torture the neighbours even more!!!!!
It has been quite overcast, grey and rainy, so good to do inside the house type of chores, and think about Christmas etc. When it rains the canopy over the patio doesn't exactly keep out the rain, so we have to move things in from the edges of the patio so they don't get soaked.
Tomorrow Sunday we'll go to College of the Desert street market, and then we'll go out for my birthday dinner to an Italian restaurant, Trilusa, over in Cathedral City, with Wendy and Dave.
Exciting to think of the house here with new blinds, paint and microwave. Lots of nice changes to update it. Other neighbours invited us in to their unit to see what they had done to update their place, very interesting to see how the trailers vary/ and or are similar.
Today our Happy Hour guests showed us a set of lights I didn't know we had, over the dining room/kitchen sort of. Seems they are rope lights I think, they are right up near the ceiling. And they explained what a certain plug and switch do in the living room, we had no idea.
We have Xmas lights on the stair hand railing leading up into the house, and our 3 mini trees outside are up once again as the wind has died down, hopefully for a while. I had laid them down in the high winds so they wouldn't get the lights broken when they fell over.
Fun to see Christmas throughout the park, and we want to go over to Catalina Spa and check out their Xmas lights one night. The malls don't seem to have huge ostentatious displays of lights or decorations this year, but some stores are very prettily decorated, and the sales and reductions are to die for.
That's the latest, don't forget to write, and Merry Christmas to you blog followers.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Out with the old microwave, in with a new one
Today Friday Lary removed the old microwave, an over the range type. It gave a big fight, so it was taken out in pieces. It is from 1984, and was failing for sure. It had a very unattractive dead spider inside the glass of the door. ick!!!!! We didn't have the instructions on how to run it either, and weren't sure that it didn't leak as it was so old. Time it went to the garbage dump, so off it went after a noble fight with Lary.
Then we went over to Sears and bought a new one, it will be installed Tuesday by them. Later we called a blinds company that was recommended to us, and they will come for a consult on Tuesday also, and we may even have the new blinds by New Year or slightly after that time. What service on both items. Apparently they take away the drapes and sheers at the same time that they install the new stuff.
Wednesday Lary carved and Judy R and I went shopping, Costco, Walmart and then Westfield Mall. That night we did security patrol from 1 AM to 3 AM, and then got up at 8:30 for coffee, donuts and the usual business meeting at the clubhouse. Later we went to Annie's for our final flute lesson, and stayed for pecan pie and coffee later. It's magic our time with Annie.
After that we had Dave and Wendy S over for dinner and a long catchup, it was super, and we arranged to go out for Di's birthday on Sunday, and have them over for Christmas dinner here at home. We will have New Year's eve up at the clubhouse, 3 brothers and their families make a prime rib dinner and serve it. That should be fun, we don't do enough here at the park, as we have been having friends visit, and doing things with them outside of the park. Dave and Wendy had been away in New Zealand for the whole month of November with Rotary.
Thanks for reading our blog, but don't forget to write us personal emails too, we miss you all so much, especially at Christmas.
Then we went over to Sears and bought a new one, it will be installed Tuesday by them. Later we called a blinds company that was recommended to us, and they will come for a consult on Tuesday also, and we may even have the new blinds by New Year or slightly after that time. What service on both items. Apparently they take away the drapes and sheers at the same time that they install the new stuff.
Wednesday Lary carved and Judy R and I went shopping, Costco, Walmart and then Westfield Mall. That night we did security patrol from 1 AM to 3 AM, and then got up at 8:30 for coffee, donuts and the usual business meeting at the clubhouse. Later we went to Annie's for our final flute lesson, and stayed for pecan pie and coffee later. It's magic our time with Annie.
After that we had Dave and Wendy S over for dinner and a long catchup, it was super, and we arranged to go out for Di's birthday on Sunday, and have them over for Christmas dinner here at home. We will have New Year's eve up at the clubhouse, 3 brothers and their families make a prime rib dinner and serve it. That should be fun, we don't do enough here at the park, as we have been having friends visit, and doing things with them outside of the park. Dave and Wendy had been away in New Zealand for the whole month of November with Rotary.
Thanks for reading our blog, but don't forget to write us personal emails too, we miss you all so much, especially at Christmas.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Got the carpets cleaned today in the park model
Whew, what a topsy turvy day, we had the carpets cleaned today by a guy with a mobile van. We had used him before, he stays in Catalina Spa in his motorhome, and does RV carpet cleaning. Had to take the side tables out of the living room, take the kitchen chairs outside, and then took out the bedside tables.
It cost $95 in all, but got rid of the smell in the carpet, the previous owners had dogs, and the smell of them seems to be gone, along with pounds of dust that we won't miss at all.
We opened windows that hadn't been opened for ages, in order to dry the carpets, and the guy who did the carpets lent us a huge blower, and a couple other items to make moving stuff back in easier. We had had to strip the bed too, there is very little extra room here, so having somebody who knows how to work in confined spaces without complaint is a big plus.
Roger Beauchampe is his name, he did a great job. Even cleaned the outside steps that have a grotty polypropylene carpet on them, and were quite stained.
After that we went into DHS and I got a second pay and talk phone for myself, $19.95 for the phone, and that included $15 of airtime. We added $100 so the minutes should last for a year, along with keeping the same number that they gave me.
And get this, the cost per minute is 10 cents per minute anywhere in the States. We were in a Radio Shack, and then the girl staff member offered to change Lary's phone over to 10 cents a minute from what he had, 25 cents a minute. It was incredible that she offered to do that for us, with no prompting. And then she did it for him. So we both now have AT & T phones, we shouldn't lose each other in malls!!!!!
Tomorrow Lary goes to carve and I go for a bit of retail therapy with a friend from Nanaimo down here for about 3 months or so. Should be fun. She is Judy.
Thursday we have our last flute class for this session, though Annie is planning a flutie New Years party that will likely be fun.
It cost $95 in all, but got rid of the smell in the carpet, the previous owners had dogs, and the smell of them seems to be gone, along with pounds of dust that we won't miss at all.
We opened windows that hadn't been opened for ages, in order to dry the carpets, and the guy who did the carpets lent us a huge blower, and a couple other items to make moving stuff back in easier. We had had to strip the bed too, there is very little extra room here, so having somebody who knows how to work in confined spaces without complaint is a big plus.
Roger Beauchampe is his name, he did a great job. Even cleaned the outside steps that have a grotty polypropylene carpet on them, and were quite stained.
After that we went into DHS and I got a second pay and talk phone for myself, $19.95 for the phone, and that included $15 of airtime. We added $100 so the minutes should last for a year, along with keeping the same number that they gave me.
And get this, the cost per minute is 10 cents per minute anywhere in the States. We were in a Radio Shack, and then the girl staff member offered to change Lary's phone over to 10 cents a minute from what he had, 25 cents a minute. It was incredible that she offered to do that for us, with no prompting. And then she did it for him. So we both now have AT & T phones, we shouldn't lose each other in malls!!!!!
Tomorrow Lary goes to carve and I go for a bit of retail therapy with a friend from Nanaimo down here for about 3 months or so. Should be fun. She is Judy.
Thursday we have our last flute class for this session, though Annie is planning a flutie New Years party that will likely be fun.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Sunday Goings On
Woke to a lovely day. Temps will be in the mid 80s which is way above normal for this time of the year but we'll gladly take them. Lary went for a walk in the desert and took his "C" flute with him. One chap clapped and thanked me for the music and an older lady stopped and listened to me for about 10 minutes. She has a native american son who plays flute and she loves the music. Kind of made my day when she said my playing was just like his.
Went to a dinner/dance at the club house last night. Good food and we had a very jolly table. Music after dinner for dancing. By coincidence everyone at our table had volunteered to help with the cleanup. A big job cleaning and washing pots and pans and putting things away after a dinner for about 100 folks.
Yesterday morning we went out to support Annie, our flute teacher, at an art show at the Visitors Center on Hwy 74 south of Palm Desert. There were three of her students and we all played at various times. The other vendors and patrons seemed to appreciate and enjoy the music. We had a good time.
Went to a dinner/dance at the club house last night. Good food and we had a very jolly table. Music after dinner for dancing. By coincidence everyone at our table had volunteered to help with the cleanup. A big job cleaning and washing pots and pans and putting things away after a dinner for about 100 folks.
Yesterday morning we went out to support Annie, our flute teacher, at an art show at the Visitors Center on Hwy 74 south of Palm Desert. There were three of her students and we all played at various times. The other vendors and patrons seemed to appreciate and enjoy the music. We had a good time.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday stuff
Lary carved Weds all day over at Catalina Spa. I dropped him off and then went over to Sky Valley Resort for a haircut, after getting gas. $3.29 a gallon. Nice hairdresser lady.
Then I put up 3 very mini Christmas trees on our patio area, and read a bit before picking Lary up. Then we went for groceries to DHS.
Tonight was our 2nd shift on park patrol, we had the 11 PM til 1 AM shift, me being a nighthawk, I thought it would be easy, but I kept closing my eyes. Luckily there were no problems, and not a thing to be seen. We have a very powerful spotlight, that plugs in to the outlet in the car, and need to call 911 if anybody bad guy comes into the park. Most people are jamming their cars up against their golf carts more or less, and seem to be becoming more security conscious, too. Small bikes and stuff are being put farther away into the sites, etc.
Falling into bed now, we have a flute lesson with Annie tomorrow and she has arranged for us to go up to Palm Desert Visitor Center up on Hwy 74, beyond Bighorn, and past the area of Living Desert, to play our flutes. That lesson is 1 - 3 PM.
We may also play them there to accompany Annie on Saturday, there is a kind of art event happening that day, and I think that Annie may have a booth, too, for some sales of her shakers, udu drums and moyo drums. It is 9 til 3 at the Visitor Centre Hwy 74 on Saturday.
We are really enjoying the warmer weather now once more, what a pity that Sal and Russ left just as it started again. It's softening, but not turning bad as yet.
Maybe Judy and Nick have arrived from Nanaimo. They are traveling with Bill and Fop.
Then I put up 3 very mini Christmas trees on our patio area, and read a bit before picking Lary up. Then we went for groceries to DHS.
Tonight was our 2nd shift on park patrol, we had the 11 PM til 1 AM shift, me being a nighthawk, I thought it would be easy, but I kept closing my eyes. Luckily there were no problems, and not a thing to be seen. We have a very powerful spotlight, that plugs in to the outlet in the car, and need to call 911 if anybody bad guy comes into the park. Most people are jamming their cars up against their golf carts more or less, and seem to be becoming more security conscious, too. Small bikes and stuff are being put farther away into the sites, etc.
Falling into bed now, we have a flute lesson with Annie tomorrow and she has arranged for us to go up to Palm Desert Visitor Center up on Hwy 74, beyond Bighorn, and past the area of Living Desert, to play our flutes. That lesson is 1 - 3 PM.
We may also play them there to accompany Annie on Saturday, there is a kind of art event happening that day, and I think that Annie may have a booth, too, for some sales of her shakers, udu drums and moyo drums. It is 9 til 3 at the Visitor Centre Hwy 74 on Saturday.
We are really enjoying the warmer weather now once more, what a pity that Sal and Russ left just as it started again. It's softening, but not turning bad as yet.
Maybe Judy and Nick have arrived from Nanaimo. They are traveling with Bill and Fop.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Wow we have central heating now, whoopee
We stayed home today because the man from a local heating company said he'd come, and he did. He arrived at 10 AM or so, and after oiling the unit outside, and unplugging the cold air return in the trailer, and making some refinements to that, told us to turn it on, and voila.
The unit was installed in 1986, and still works. It is an electric heat strip, and works like a charm, and can be turned to cold to cool things off too. And total cost was $55.00 so that was such a relief, as we thought we might have to replace it all in its entirety.
The clubhouse here at our new park was decorated today, we didn't go as we were waiting for the heating man, but we did cut down a very overgrown shrub at the side of our house, with the neighbours help. It made it very difficult for the meter man to read the electric meter, and for the propane delivery service to refill our 23 gallon tank. The propane truck also came today as we had run out of propane, and it was filled up, $93.00 and as it's only our stove and oven that use propane, we hope it lasts a long time.
We had a swim in the lovely warm swimming pool here this afternoon, our temps have risen dramatically back into the 70s and seasonal norms, or slightly above, so that is great. Still the sun seems to go down around 4 ish, and it gets cold almost immediately.
Attended a travel club meeting over at Catalina Spa, we should get our final details for the Mexico trip in early January, at that meeting. They are planning either a trip to Hawaii or to Hong Kong in 2012, but we can't think that far ahead at the moment, and are going to Hawaii ourselves in April.
A nice day and great to feel the sun warming us once more. Such a pity that Sal and Russ had to leave today, just when the weather is improving mightily. Back into shorts in the daytime now.
The unit was installed in 1986, and still works. It is an electric heat strip, and works like a charm, and can be turned to cold to cool things off too. And total cost was $55.00 so that was such a relief, as we thought we might have to replace it all in its entirety.
The clubhouse here at our new park was decorated today, we didn't go as we were waiting for the heating man, but we did cut down a very overgrown shrub at the side of our house, with the neighbours help. It made it very difficult for the meter man to read the electric meter, and for the propane delivery service to refill our 23 gallon tank. The propane truck also came today as we had run out of propane, and it was filled up, $93.00 and as it's only our stove and oven that use propane, we hope it lasts a long time.
We had a swim in the lovely warm swimming pool here this afternoon, our temps have risen dramatically back into the 70s and seasonal norms, or slightly above, so that is great. Still the sun seems to go down around 4 ish, and it gets cold almost immediately.
Attended a travel club meeting over at Catalina Spa, we should get our final details for the Mexico trip in early January, at that meeting. They are planning either a trip to Hawaii or to Hong Kong in 2012, but we can't think that far ahead at the moment, and are going to Hawaii ourselves in April.
A nice day and great to feel the sun warming us once more. Such a pity that Sal and Russ had to leave today, just when the weather is improving mightily. Back into shorts in the daytime now.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sunday brunch with Sal and Russ
Picked up Sal and Russ today and went to IHOP for brunch, the food is good, lots of it, and good prices and service. Thankfully it has warmed right up again, now back nearly into the 70s and should be so for this whole week coming. It's their last day here, they had visited Joshua Tree National Park yesterday and loved it and the surrounding desert scape.
Skies today were grey and overcast, though mild, and tonight we had about 3 cloudbursts, that each lasted about 5 minutes, no more, light rain really, nothing much to speak of though very dark skies near 4 PM or so.
We went over to the Palm Springs Art Museum, and had an excellent docent Denise guide us around, the gallery is totally self sufficient, no public funds of any kind. They are very lucky with very generous patrons and donors. Spectacular works of art, and she had us going all over, and comparing/contrasting things. It was fascinating. They own quite a lot of art and have more promised to them, with some fabulous benefactors that live right here in the Coachella Valley.
There is quite a lot of sculpture, Henry Moore bronzes, some amazingly lifelike statues, one of a pair of average folks sitting on a bench, you just assume they are real. And there is a nude girl lying flat, called Joan, and she is eerily lifelike.
There is another woman artist represented who makes horses out of driftwood, then casts the driftwood pieces into bronze to form, the horses, incredible. Another of her works was a horse lying down that appeared to be made out of bed frame metal or something.
They have some fabulous western art including some by George Montgomery, the actor, he was a cowboy actor, but also carved beautiful furniture, painted and did many interesting things. They have work by Remington and Russell including some cowboy bronzes, and some native indian weaving, baskets and kachina dolls. Some of the desert scenes are lovely. Many of the western art paintings were from the George Montgomery collection.
There were incredible studio glass pieces, some very incredible ones in a special room, and some very modern pieces of work. They appear to have very high calibre work, Andy Warhol, some Picasso and Chagal.
There are 4 floors, and the building itself is very interesting, we didn't see one floor at all, didn't have time, and the lower level has a theatre in it. There were 2 sculpture gardens outside but we didn't have a chance to view them.
A wonderful afternoon.
The first weekend of the month you can get in free if you have a Bank of America card, so that's what we did. Our tour was 2 hours, and so interesting.
We just skimmed through Richard Avedon a fashion, stage and screen photographer, so we'll have to return now that we have discovered yet another jewel of Palm Springs.
Skies today were grey and overcast, though mild, and tonight we had about 3 cloudbursts, that each lasted about 5 minutes, no more, light rain really, nothing much to speak of though very dark skies near 4 PM or so.
We went over to the Palm Springs Art Museum, and had an excellent docent Denise guide us around, the gallery is totally self sufficient, no public funds of any kind. They are very lucky with very generous patrons and donors. Spectacular works of art, and she had us going all over, and comparing/contrasting things. It was fascinating. They own quite a lot of art and have more promised to them, with some fabulous benefactors that live right here in the Coachella Valley.
There is quite a lot of sculpture, Henry Moore bronzes, some amazingly lifelike statues, one of a pair of average folks sitting on a bench, you just assume they are real. And there is a nude girl lying flat, called Joan, and she is eerily lifelike.
There is another woman artist represented who makes horses out of driftwood, then casts the driftwood pieces into bronze to form, the horses, incredible. Another of her works was a horse lying down that appeared to be made out of bed frame metal or something.
They have some fabulous western art including some by George Montgomery, the actor, he was a cowboy actor, but also carved beautiful furniture, painted and did many interesting things. They have work by Remington and Russell including some cowboy bronzes, and some native indian weaving, baskets and kachina dolls. Some of the desert scenes are lovely. Many of the western art paintings were from the George Montgomery collection.
There were incredible studio glass pieces, some very incredible ones in a special room, and some very modern pieces of work. They appear to have very high calibre work, Andy Warhol, some Picasso and Chagal.
There are 4 floors, and the building itself is very interesting, we didn't see one floor at all, didn't have time, and the lower level has a theatre in it. There were 2 sculpture gardens outside but we didn't have a chance to view them.
A wonderful afternoon.
The first weekend of the month you can get in free if you have a Bank of America card, so that's what we did. Our tour was 2 hours, and so interesting.
We just skimmed through Richard Avedon a fashion, stage and screen photographer, so we'll have to return now that we have discovered yet another jewel of Palm Springs.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Monthly flute circle and Saturday stuff
We had the trailer washed yesterday by Nathan, and he also did the windows outside. He did a pretty good job, too. After that we had lots of water everywhere on our concrete pad, so glad we had covered up the outdoor furniture, especially our 2 upholstered chairs.
I washed some of our white vinyl fencing, so it looks cleaner. It's kind of overcast today and not that warm.
Lary got groceries in DHS, and when it was time to cook dinner we had run out of propane in our big house tank. It's a 40 pounder I think. Oops we think they might be 100 pounders. So the spaghetti got boiled on the side burner of the barbeque, and the sauce and meatballs heated up in our aged microwave. Interesting, it's marked 1984 and is still going though I don't like it much, it seems to be a combination one, but we have no book. Still it does the job more or less. We'd like to change it, it's an under the cupboard mounted one, and contains the light above the stove, and a venting fan too. Sal and Russ said they have seen them in places for sale, so that's good, we don't want to sacrifice our smallish counter space for a microwave.
The monthly Coachella Valley Flute Circle met at 7 PM at Annie's house last night, Friday, and now it is no potluck, just pure music. But oh my what music it is indeed. One fellow Al does throat singing, also called harmonic something, and another girl Lesley does something like that too. I am now getting a bit more used to asking the other participants in the circle to play along with me, it's very supportive feeling, and adds such another broader and warmer dimension to your playing. There was a new fellow we hadn't met there, and I think he was Greg. He played Annie's deeper flutes, and really enjoyed them.
There were lots of duets, one of the most spectacular was Annie and Sharon playing 2 ceramic flutes together, it was such magic. Lots of duet playing, and lots of asking for group participation too. Shakers, rattles, Annie's big 2 sided drum, other drums such as djembes, and lots of rattles made out of gourds, some of them covered with shells in a mesh, other gourds just as shakers. It is fascinating. I always feel as if I am flying when I leave Annie's. The music kind of stopped at 9 PM which was the arrangement made, and we pay $10 donation per person to defray Annie's costs.
Lary bought a new C flute made by Al, and an over the shoulder carrying case for it, and I bought a fleece backpack bag for my new drum to keep it out of the light, some percussion sticks, and a small sweet D for Diana flute, blue in color, clay glazed, and made by Nash. It is lovely.
We had a few short hours in bed then got up at 2:45 AM for our first shift on patrol around the park, it was very interesting, we had a radio and a large plug in light, and we had a 3 - 5 AM shift. Changed corners every 20 minutes, and drove slowly from one corner to the diagonally opposite corner, looking for trouble. We didn't find any, and interestingly the time kind of flew by.
At 5 AM we dropped back into bed for the other half of our night's sleep. As we were leaving the park to go to Annie's house we spotted a wee owl sitting on the black driveway, he might have been the pygmy owl that Lary is carving, we're not sure. But he lit on a couple of places before leaving for his night of hunting. Charming to see him in the dark night.
I washed some of our white vinyl fencing, so it looks cleaner. It's kind of overcast today and not that warm.
Lary got groceries in DHS, and when it was time to cook dinner we had run out of propane in our big house tank. It's a 40 pounder I think. Oops we think they might be 100 pounders. So the spaghetti got boiled on the side burner of the barbeque, and the sauce and meatballs heated up in our aged microwave. Interesting, it's marked 1984 and is still going though I don't like it much, it seems to be a combination one, but we have no book. Still it does the job more or less. We'd like to change it, it's an under the cupboard mounted one, and contains the light above the stove, and a venting fan too. Sal and Russ said they have seen them in places for sale, so that's good, we don't want to sacrifice our smallish counter space for a microwave.
The monthly Coachella Valley Flute Circle met at 7 PM at Annie's house last night, Friday, and now it is no potluck, just pure music. But oh my what music it is indeed. One fellow Al does throat singing, also called harmonic something, and another girl Lesley does something like that too. I am now getting a bit more used to asking the other participants in the circle to play along with me, it's very supportive feeling, and adds such another broader and warmer dimension to your playing. There was a new fellow we hadn't met there, and I think he was Greg. He played Annie's deeper flutes, and really enjoyed them.
There were lots of duets, one of the most spectacular was Annie and Sharon playing 2 ceramic flutes together, it was such magic. Lots of duet playing, and lots of asking for group participation too. Shakers, rattles, Annie's big 2 sided drum, other drums such as djembes, and lots of rattles made out of gourds, some of them covered with shells in a mesh, other gourds just as shakers. It is fascinating. I always feel as if I am flying when I leave Annie's. The music kind of stopped at 9 PM which was the arrangement made, and we pay $10 donation per person to defray Annie's costs.
Lary bought a new C flute made by Al, and an over the shoulder carrying case for it, and I bought a fleece backpack bag for my new drum to keep it out of the light, some percussion sticks, and a small sweet D for Diana flute, blue in color, clay glazed, and made by Nash. It is lovely.
We had a few short hours in bed then got up at 2:45 AM for our first shift on patrol around the park, it was very interesting, we had a radio and a large plug in light, and we had a 3 - 5 AM shift. Changed corners every 20 minutes, and drove slowly from one corner to the diagonally opposite corner, looking for trouble. We didn't find any, and interestingly the time kind of flew by.
At 5 AM we dropped back into bed for the other half of our night's sleep. As we were leaving the park to go to Annie's house we spotted a wee owl sitting on the black driveway, he might have been the pygmy owl that Lary is carving, we're not sure. But he lit on a couple of places before leaving for his night of hunting. Charming to see him in the dark night.
Friday, December 3, 2010
It can't be December already, can it?
Wow, with friends here and tons of things to see and do, the time has surely been flying by.
Monday Di and Sal power shopped, not that successfully, at the Outlet stores up at Cabazon, along I-10 to the west. Due to the fact that we shopped at the Premium Outlet stores, which are largely designer stores and we're not really designer girls, we didn't get that much.
Scored a bit of stuff at Liz Claiborne but the stores are really too high end for us both there.
Came home together and had dinner out together, at a nice restaurant called Trilusa over in Cathedral City. It was quiet, we nearly had the place to ourselves, italian food was yummy.
Tuesday we had soup at the clubhouse, then did some stuff around the house, and mucked about.
Wednesday Lary carved and I shopped over at Desert Center, bought some stuff for the house, in particular a new set of Oneida cutlery, and I picked up Lary when he finished his carving at 4 PM.
Thursday after morning coffee at the clubhouse, Lary changed an outside light that needed fixing, and I ironed a new bedskirt, and we put it on the bed making it look nicer.
There is now a security detail overnight, shifts of 2 vehicles with 2 folks inside each one, and the shifts are 2 hours each, from 9 PM until 5 AM. Since they started no golf carts have been stolen, so guess it is helping, but of course it is exhausting for everybody on the shifts, and there is motion all night in the park from the cars, so there is talk of cutting it down to one car, same shifts though, 2 people, and 2 hour shifts.
The opposite corners of the park have both been covered, this other way will mean that only one corner of the park is covered. We will have to wait and see how it develops, Lary and I have a shift from 3 AM til 5 AM on Friday evening/Saturday early. Some 40 people from the park are all together on a cruise, so fewer folks to work those shifts, the travelers will return this weekend, so that's better, but many people will leave for Christmas/New Years, too. It is pretty creepy that our park has been targeted as an easy mark so far.
This afternoon we met Annie, our flute teacher, and Chip another student over at the Palm Preserve, located not that far from us. About 100 palm trees were burned about a week ago, it is interesting that they say they aren't really dead, even though the top vegetation is all gone and the trunks are blackened, they are amazingly resilient, and will likely come back to life in a year or two. The skirts of the palms aren't trimmed, so they are sitting tinder boxes, I kind of wonder at the wisdom of that, on the ground is huge litter, but of course the skirts are home to all kinds of wild critters too.
The oasis there is formed by the San Andreas fault, and the water for the palms is near the surface, so they survive and there is even a body of water there.
We found a picnic table near where 2 ladies were painting watercolor paintings, and we blew our flutes, and really enjoyed ourselves and the natural setting. It has warmed up quite a lot, during the day we are back into the 70s, still cold at night but not so near freezing now. Annie had brought her microphones, and microphone magic cube, and a wee clip on mike for the flutes themselves, so we all explored that, and playing some duets too. It was fun from 1 - 3 PM in between some towering palm trees, with the birds all round. The flute music overall doesn't seem to disturb the wildlife.
Later we went in to visit Sal and Russ, and went to the Palm Springs street night market, we strolled along browsing, and finally had dinner at Ruby's Diner, and then finished browsing, just as the market was finishing up. Seems as if the vendors stayed open for the late comers.
Had a glass of wine at Sal and Russ's place, then came home.
A youngish man offered to wash our trailer and awning tomorrow, so he's supposed to arrive at 8 AM, groan, and he has said he'll wash the windows too. We will see what develops.
Monday Di and Sal power shopped, not that successfully, at the Outlet stores up at Cabazon, along I-10 to the west. Due to the fact that we shopped at the Premium Outlet stores, which are largely designer stores and we're not really designer girls, we didn't get that much.
Scored a bit of stuff at Liz Claiborne but the stores are really too high end for us both there.
Came home together and had dinner out together, at a nice restaurant called Trilusa over in Cathedral City. It was quiet, we nearly had the place to ourselves, italian food was yummy.
Tuesday we had soup at the clubhouse, then did some stuff around the house, and mucked about.
Wednesday Lary carved and I shopped over at Desert Center, bought some stuff for the house, in particular a new set of Oneida cutlery, and I picked up Lary when he finished his carving at 4 PM.
Thursday after morning coffee at the clubhouse, Lary changed an outside light that needed fixing, and I ironed a new bedskirt, and we put it on the bed making it look nicer.
There is now a security detail overnight, shifts of 2 vehicles with 2 folks inside each one, and the shifts are 2 hours each, from 9 PM until 5 AM. Since they started no golf carts have been stolen, so guess it is helping, but of course it is exhausting for everybody on the shifts, and there is motion all night in the park from the cars, so there is talk of cutting it down to one car, same shifts though, 2 people, and 2 hour shifts.
The opposite corners of the park have both been covered, this other way will mean that only one corner of the park is covered. We will have to wait and see how it develops, Lary and I have a shift from 3 AM til 5 AM on Friday evening/Saturday early. Some 40 people from the park are all together on a cruise, so fewer folks to work those shifts, the travelers will return this weekend, so that's better, but many people will leave for Christmas/New Years, too. It is pretty creepy that our park has been targeted as an easy mark so far.
This afternoon we met Annie, our flute teacher, and Chip another student over at the Palm Preserve, located not that far from us. About 100 palm trees were burned about a week ago, it is interesting that they say they aren't really dead, even though the top vegetation is all gone and the trunks are blackened, they are amazingly resilient, and will likely come back to life in a year or two. The skirts of the palms aren't trimmed, so they are sitting tinder boxes, I kind of wonder at the wisdom of that, on the ground is huge litter, but of course the skirts are home to all kinds of wild critters too.
The oasis there is formed by the San Andreas fault, and the water for the palms is near the surface, so they survive and there is even a body of water there.
We found a picnic table near where 2 ladies were painting watercolor paintings, and we blew our flutes, and really enjoyed ourselves and the natural setting. It has warmed up quite a lot, during the day we are back into the 70s, still cold at night but not so near freezing now. Annie had brought her microphones, and microphone magic cube, and a wee clip on mike for the flutes themselves, so we all explored that, and playing some duets too. It was fun from 1 - 3 PM in between some towering palm trees, with the birds all round. The flute music overall doesn't seem to disturb the wildlife.
Later we went in to visit Sal and Russ, and went to the Palm Springs street night market, we strolled along browsing, and finally had dinner at Ruby's Diner, and then finished browsing, just as the market was finishing up. Seems as if the vendors stayed open for the late comers.
Had a glass of wine at Sal and Russ's place, then came home.
A youngish man offered to wash our trailer and awning tomorrow, so he's supposed to arrive at 8 AM, groan, and he has said he'll wash the windows too. We will see what develops.
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