I am hugely grateful to be back among the land of the living. I got sick on December 19th, and have been more or less hacking and wheezing ever since. While I still sound like Lauren Bacall after a pack of cigarettes (not a bad sound, that), I actually kept up my energy all day today. No gym till the first of the year, I think, but otherwise, things are getting back to normal.
I emerged from my funk briefly on December 23rd for our complex Christmas party.
No hugs for me - I had to made do with the less communicable (hopefully) elbow bumps, but I was glad to have gone. It was a good group - some old faces, but some new ones too, and it is nice to stay connected with the community, not to mention that I had been going stir-crazy at home.
I went from the party to the airport to pick up friend Peter, who was flying in from San Francisco for his annual Christmas visit, now a tradition. He was hungry on arriving,with a hankering for Mexican food, so we stopped off at Las Tablitas (my current favourite local Mexican dive) on the way home.
And how do we know that Nora is still sick? No appetite, not even for Mexican penicillin, i.e., tortilla soup! Peter enjoyed it, though, and the huge Rasberry Ices Tea I downed at least accounted for my share of " drink lots of liquids" for the day.
The bad news, though, was that our friend Floyd died that night, finally succumbing to cancer after a dreadful 18 months (or thereabouts) fighting it. I did not see him at the end - it felt goulish even hearing about his deterioration - but he had lots of family and friends, and I cannot feel sorry that he is gone - he hasn't been alive for a long time.....
By Wednesday morning, my appetite was, if not 100%, at least respectable, so Peter and I headed off to Don & Sweet Sue's, my current breakfast joint of choice.
(Peter does get carried away with the camera, doesn't he - and this is after deletions!). I do love the place, and made up for not getting Mexican food last night by having huevos rancheros for breakfast. Yum!
After stops for last minute provisions for tomorrow's feast (the turkey, of course, has been defrosting for days, but there is always something....), we spent the rest of the day home napping and reading on the patio, saving up our energy....
And then it was Christmas. I got Peter to stuff the turkey (I don't think I was still contagious, but my hands in and around the bird was more than I was willing to risk) while I set the table. And then the hordes arrived....
(By the way, this is what Christmas day looks like in Palm Springs. Our idea of a white Christmas is golf balls on the lawn!!!)
The hordes were thinned by sickness, and, of course, Floyd's death, but it was a nice group, the food was lovely (both turkey and ham, and all the fixings), and while a bit subdued (ditto the sickness and death part), it was a lovely afternoon with friends.
However, no more. Time for someone else to take over next year. Someone remind me of that next year, will you?
Boxing Day (December 26, for the non-Canadians in the group, and no, I don't know why they call it Boxing Day), Peter and I went over to Geoff's for brunch with Geoff and Tom (they don't "do" big groups, so weren't at my place for dinner).
Geoff (above) has completely recovered from the massive heart attack he had in the spring, and he does make a mean salmon Benedict, not to mention a mean Caesar (aka Bloody Mary).
After another day lazing around the patio (we simultaneously vetoed doing anything more strenuous on leaving Geoff's place), we went out for dinner. (And yes, I know how crazy that is,given that we had both ham and turkey in the refrigerator, not to mention the fixings and the inevitable soup, but hey.....)
We opted for Miro's, originally recommended to me by friends Andrew and Elaine, and since adopted by me as "Best in Show" for Eastern European restaurants in Palm Springs (admittedly, it is a category without much competition....)
Saturday, finally, we actually opted for some culture. After an encore at Don & Sweet Sue's for brunch (after Peter discovered that they did basted eggs, there was no keeping him away), we went to the Galen. a newish (2 years old, I want to say) offshoot of the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, with a small but lovely gallery space. They were having an exhibit of western art, not my favourite or, in fact, Peter's, but it turned out that we were both impressed. The sculpture gallery and gardens were lovely as well.
Altogether a lovely day!
I have been whinging at Peter for, we figure, about 10 years, to have an encore of a lovely dinner he made for me in San Francisco - gorgonzola risotto, a salad, crusty loaf, and a full bodied red wine. Well, on Saturday night, it finally came to pass. A new Whole Foods has just opened in Palm Desert (the first in the Coachella Valley); we stopped in on the way home from the Galen - what a zoo!!! - and got the fixings. Peter made dinner, and neighbor Michael and I were the appreciative audience. It was every bit as good as I remembered, and I think I can to it on my own now, too. Expect it if you come to visit.
And here's a blog first - a wine recommendation. I had tasted a cab sav of a new (to me) label called the B Side. It is reasonably priced wine, very full and rich, and I found it locally. I highly recommend it!
Sunday, Peter and I had our "last" meal (for now) at Sherman's Deli, then, continuing with the culture theme, went to the Palm Springs Art Museum.
I didn't realize the infamous Chinese artist Ai WeiWei had lent us a few pieces.....
.....and then I trundled Peter off to the airport for home. I was not as good a hostess as I might have been, being sick and all - I suspect he was glad to see the back of me! (I even bored myself; it was way too much effort yo be scintillating!) However, I am always happy to see him - he is an easy guest, and will try to be more charming when I see him in April in Houston for the opera.
And now you are up to date.
It is that time. I wish you all a wonderful 2015, full of health and wealth and love and all your heart's desires. As always, I hope to see you in the new year, either in Palm Springs or in Vancouver. The invitation is always open; I'll keep the light on for you!
I emerged from my funk briefly on December 23rd for our complex Christmas party.
No hugs for me - I had to made do with the less communicable (hopefully) elbow bumps, but I was glad to have gone. It was a good group - some old faces, but some new ones too, and it is nice to stay connected with the community, not to mention that I had been going stir-crazy at home.
I went from the party to the airport to pick up friend Peter, who was flying in from San Francisco for his annual Christmas visit, now a tradition. He was hungry on arriving,with a hankering for Mexican food, so we stopped off at Las Tablitas (my current favourite local Mexican dive) on the way home.
And how do we know that Nora is still sick? No appetite, not even for Mexican penicillin, i.e., tortilla soup! Peter enjoyed it, though, and the huge Rasberry Ices Tea I downed at least accounted for my share of " drink lots of liquids" for the day.
The bad news, though, was that our friend Floyd died that night, finally succumbing to cancer after a dreadful 18 months (or thereabouts) fighting it. I did not see him at the end - it felt goulish even hearing about his deterioration - but he had lots of family and friends, and I cannot feel sorry that he is gone - he hasn't been alive for a long time.....
By Wednesday morning, my appetite was, if not 100%, at least respectable, so Peter and I headed off to Don & Sweet Sue's, my current breakfast joint of choice.
(Peter does get carried away with the camera, doesn't he - and this is after deletions!). I do love the place, and made up for not getting Mexican food last night by having huevos rancheros for breakfast. Yum!
After stops for last minute provisions for tomorrow's feast (the turkey, of course, has been defrosting for days, but there is always something....), we spent the rest of the day home napping and reading on the patio, saving up our energy....
And then it was Christmas. I got Peter to stuff the turkey (I don't think I was still contagious, but my hands in and around the bird was more than I was willing to risk) while I set the table. And then the hordes arrived....
(By the way, this is what Christmas day looks like in Palm Springs. Our idea of a white Christmas is golf balls on the lawn!!!)
The hordes were thinned by sickness, and, of course, Floyd's death, but it was a nice group, the food was lovely (both turkey and ham, and all the fixings), and while a bit subdued (ditto the sickness and death part), it was a lovely afternoon with friends.
However, no more. Time for someone else to take over next year. Someone remind me of that next year, will you?
Boxing Day (December 26, for the non-Canadians in the group, and no, I don't know why they call it Boxing Day), Peter and I went over to Geoff's for brunch with Geoff and Tom (they don't "do" big groups, so weren't at my place for dinner).
Geoff (above) has completely recovered from the massive heart attack he had in the spring, and he does make a mean salmon Benedict, not to mention a mean Caesar (aka Bloody Mary).
After another day lazing around the patio (we simultaneously vetoed doing anything more strenuous on leaving Geoff's place), we went out for dinner. (And yes, I know how crazy that is,given that we had both ham and turkey in the refrigerator, not to mention the fixings and the inevitable soup, but hey.....)
We opted for Miro's, originally recommended to me by friends Andrew and Elaine, and since adopted by me as "Best in Show" for Eastern European restaurants in Palm Springs (admittedly, it is a category without much competition....)
Saturday, finally, we actually opted for some culture. After an encore at Don & Sweet Sue's for brunch (after Peter discovered that they did basted eggs, there was no keeping him away), we went to the Galen. a newish (2 years old, I want to say) offshoot of the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, with a small but lovely gallery space. They were having an exhibit of western art, not my favourite or, in fact, Peter's, but it turned out that we were both impressed. The sculpture gallery and gardens were lovely as well.
Altogether a lovely day!
I have been whinging at Peter for, we figure, about 10 years, to have an encore of a lovely dinner he made for me in San Francisco - gorgonzola risotto, a salad, crusty loaf, and a full bodied red wine. Well, on Saturday night, it finally came to pass. A new Whole Foods has just opened in Palm Desert (the first in the Coachella Valley); we stopped in on the way home from the Galen - what a zoo!!! - and got the fixings. Peter made dinner, and neighbor Michael and I were the appreciative audience. It was every bit as good as I remembered, and I think I can to it on my own now, too. Expect it if you come to visit.
And here's a blog first - a wine recommendation. I had tasted a cab sav of a new (to me) label called the B Side. It is reasonably priced wine, very full and rich, and I found it locally. I highly recommend it!
Sunday, Peter and I had our "last" meal (for now) at Sherman's Deli, then, continuing with the culture theme, went to the Palm Springs Art Museum.
I didn't realize the infamous Chinese artist Ai WeiWei had lent us a few pieces.....
.....and then I trundled Peter off to the airport for home. I was not as good a hostess as I might have been, being sick and all - I suspect he was glad to see the back of me! (I even bored myself; it was way too much effort yo be scintillating!) However, I am always happy to see him - he is an easy guest, and will try to be more charming when I see him in April in Houston for the opera.
And now you are up to date.
It is that time. I wish you all a wonderful 2015, full of health and wealth and love and all your heart's desires. As always, I hope to see you in the new year, either in Palm Springs or in Vancouver. The invitation is always open; I'll keep the light on for you!
