Tuesday, February 12, 2013

.......and more

Neighbor Michael came over, so I closed off, but the sun is warm  and lovely out here on the patio, and there's another hour or so before happy hour, so I might as well bring you up to date.

Where were we?  Oh, Cardenas, grocery shopping without the flies.  And without pictures either.  I was all set to snap away - they have the store all decorated with flowers and cactus and paintings and it is really lovely - for a grocery store - but they also have a policy (I found out) that no one is allowed to take pictures - get this - for fear that someone else will copy their decorations!  That was the official story, at least.  As Mariah and I  were sitting there eating tacos and trying to puzzle it out, we finally came on what we figure is the real story.  There are so many undocumented aliens shopping there that they would be spooked by a bunch of white folks with cameras!  No?  Well, I like it better than the official version....

Well, shortly after our arrival, Art and Wally took Mariah and me out for dinner at Manhattan in the Desert, previously seen in these pages.




(You know, sometimes I hate Mariah.  I don't think she ever met a camera that didn't like her, unlike some of the rest of us....)

And, of course, the round of parties has already begun, this time, a Valentine's Day (early) feast at the club house, with the usual cast of characters and the usual great food (KFC and pot luck, what could be better?)  We started out on my deck....




Then headed down to the club house....











I tell you, we have altogether too much fun!

So, Art and I are back to playing bridge (off to Phoenix next week for a sectional tournament), and I am  back at the gym  for an hour and a half every day (I had better be, with the amount of eating and drinking going on!), the sun is shining, the top is down (no, not that one, the convertible.....) and the world is turning as it should. 

And, to close off, a very personal Hallmark moment.  I have never liked Valentine's Day - Hallmark moment and all - but this year I find myself  filled with love of friends and neighbors and family, and I wish the same for you.  And if you have a special sweety, all the better!  (And, well, if  he has a brother, you know where to find me....)

XXOO

Happy Almost Valentine's Day!




Dinner at Earl's before bridge



So, the last week in rainy, wet Vancouver (which feels very, very far away right now)  was filled as all the rest were, with dinners and lunches, and, of course, had to get in one final dim  sum  with friends Joyce.....                                                        


.....and Alisha...



and yes, I was there too....



.......as well as time for one more movie, Quartet.  No, it is not the same as the one I described last time, that was The Late Quartet, although it is quite funny that they should both be out at the same time, and both with musical themes and both dealing with age.  Anyway, this was the one directed by Dustin Hoffman, about a home for aging musicians and a concert celebrating Verdi's birthday.  It was full of lovely shots of rural England, and lots of lovely music, but, well, Dustin Hoffman should stick to acting!                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                               


 Finally, the last decisions were signed, the last goodbye's said, and I was off to Palm Springs, by way of San Francisco.  And that little detour came about because Hank was appalled that I had never seen The Who, and got us tickets for the concert on Friday, February.  I got to San Francisco that morning, we had the obligatory by now traditional lunch with Hank and the usual cast of characters (previously documented) at Hendy Hunan's, and then off to the Oakland Arena that night for The Who.  I didn't think I was a fan - after all, I was listening to opera while everyone else was listening to rock music - but apparently  the music was in the ether, because Quadrephenia, Tommy, and a surprising amount of the rest of the music, was absolutely familiar.  Only two of the originals were left, of course, but their current drummer is the son of Ringo Starr, which I thought was pretty cool.  Great concert!

Saturday, I had a decadent lunch at Anisette, in the Hayes Valley with friend Peter, followed by shopping, and an early birthday dinner with Hank at Baker and Banker, a trendy local restaurant...



And then, finally,  off at the crack of dawn to Palm  Springs!  It was wonderful to get here where even if it is chilly, it is at least sunny!  Friend Mariah arrived from Seattle a few days later, so now I have my buddy to play with.  We went to Cardenas first, to stock up on food.  Cardenas is a supermarket which could have been lifted from Mexico - all the Mexican foods but without the flies.  Well, I've got you here....  I'll continue later.....