Another day, Another city

When last I spoke, I was feeling pretty punk.  The Springsteen concert in Phoenix cured me.  We did not make it into the pit, but were close enough so that I (Hank always stays in back) got to be just two rows behind the pit, close enough to reach him when he came out on the walkway.....yes, I know I am  too old to be a groupie, but trust me, I was by a long shot not the oldest person in the audience!  It was a great concert, started off by Surprise, Surprise, one of Hank's favourites which Bruce almost never plays in concert, and finished off with Dancing in the Dark, my favourite.  Al in all, a great night!

The next day we were supposed to meet Hank's step parents for lunch.  His stepmother was ill, unfortunately, so Ed, Hank and I had lunch at one of Ed's favourite dives, La Perla, for some great Mexican food.

Ed having volunteered to take Hank to the airport, I just got on the highway and headed home.  As always in the desert, a lovely day for a drive, and I made it home in less than 4 hours.

In our complex, we have a wonderful clubhouse, and every year around this time, we have a party to decorate for Christmas.  And so it came to pass....

There are lots more pictures, but you get the idea....

On Sunday, December 9th, a different kind of party.  That day is Davey's birthday, and, as you know, I have been doing the same ritual since he died.  I go to a restaurant (since I have been in the desert on that day, it is always Davey's Hideaway)

have prime rib (rare) and bourbon (neat, no ice, water on the side), Davey's favourite food and drink, and commune with my husband.  And yes, I feel like he is watching over me, and making sure that I am alright.  His memory is warm and comforting, and I will always be grateful for the time I had with him.

The following week, Artie dragged me kicking and screaming the the Palm Springs Regional Bridge Tournament.  There were - count them - 7,000 players, from 0 to several thousand points, all gathered together for a week of lessons and bridge.

Luckily, the games are stratified, so I didn't have to play with the sharks in the big pool (to mix a metaphor or two), everyone was extradorinarily nice, and, to add icing to the cake, Artie and I came in second on one day, might have placed in another (we didn't stick around to wait for the results), and even earned some red points!  (Don't ask!)

So, where was Wally (Art's life partner, as opposed to his bridge partner) during all this?  Decking the family out for Christmas, of course!

Somewhere along the way, I managed time for a few movies - first, opera in the movies.  The San Francisco Opera is getting in the game, and have filed Puccini's La Rondine in HD.  Not as polished as the Met, of course, but not bad.  I saw the original performance in San Francisco, and the sets and costumes are amazing, as is the singing, of course.  And all of this for under $20!

The other movie I saw was Anna Karenina.  A gorgeous costume drama, again great staging and acting.  All in all, an adult movie.  Not great, but at least one thumb up!

And then off to Puerto Vallarta.  My friend Bobby (or, as he is affectionately known, Brother Bobby) lives hear, and has just founded the first Gay Men's Chorus in Latin America.  I had to come down and support him, didn't I?  However, I can't say it is too much of a sacrifice.....

The top pictures are the Westin, where I am staying now.  The bottom one is a picture of the palapas where Davey and I always came to when we came to P.V.  Ah, I told you, he's everywhere.

Well, I am off to see if I can be of assistance to Brother Bobby before the big Christmas concert tommor.  More after that.

And if I forget to say it later, all the best for whatever holiday you are celebrating this time of year.  I will propose to you my favorite toast:  health, wealth and love, and the time to enjoy them!

Be yourself; everyone else is taken. (Oscar Wilde)

Thanksgiving dinner was lovely.  I adore turkey, and as a single person, don't ever make it.  A group (15, to be precise) of us went to The Four Seasons (no, not the hotel, but the  golf  resort community here in Palm Springs) for Thanksgiving.  (Canadians, eat your hearts out - all you could eat, in lovely surroundings and great service, for $25.00, taxes and tip included, bring your own booze). 

The chef, above, used to be the chef at the Clinton White House (and yes, I asked him  to confirm the rumour).  The bone in ham, with gran marnier  sauce, was to die for.

And a good time was had by all, followed by a party at another friend's place for dessert, as if we could eat anothr thing.

So, aside from  eating, how do I spend my time.  Well, there is the pool.  As some of you know, the first retirement skill that I developed was reading on the float without getting the newspaper or magazine wet, and, well, practice makes perfect.

Driving.....

....to the street fairs, of which there are many...

and, as always, bridge...

(Art, with man-bag, encourages me...)

One way or another, the days whiz by.

Last Wednesday, I drove to LA (about a 2 hour drive) to catch a one hour flight to Oakland for - yes, of course, a Bruce Springsteen concert. 

Laura, above, a friend of Hank's, was coming to her first Springsteen concert.  In spite of the look on her face (it is somewhat comforting to know that even beautiful young things can be rendered plain by the camera), she loved it!

I also managed to squeeze in an Opera in San Francisco, although just barely.  Tosca is one of my favourites, and apparently everyone else's too - there were no seats, rush or otherwise, to be had.  I did manage to get into standing room  though - hell, if I can stand for Bruce I can stand for Tosca - and did score a seat for the last act.  It was a traditional production - the kind I like best, of course, and the voices were lovely, as is just about always the case in San Francisco.  

People sometimes ask how I can go from  Bruce Springsteen to opera and back again.  I don't find it so surprising.  David used to say that every genre of music has good musicians and bad ones, good pieces and bad ones.  The trick is just to find the good ones.  Or, you could just blame it on the breadth of my interests......

Anyway, on getting back to Palm Springs, I found myself sick sick sick, headachey, ache all over, stuffy nose sniffling coughing sneezing kind of sick (hence the delay in writing), and, really, should not have driven to Phoenix yesterday to meet Hank for yet another Springsteen concert - the last of this tour, I promise - but I did.  As I sit here by the pool witing for Hank to arrive for the days activities (we are trying for the pit, don't you know), I am  feeling better, and glad I made the effort.

News at 11 for more details....