Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Oops - I let 10 days go by.....

The days just run away from me.

More bridge (Monday with Robin at the Club, Tuesday with Nancy at the Temple and Thursday back at the Club with Art).  Wednesday evening was the encore of the Metropolitan Opera in HD's production of The Merry Widow.  Mariah and I met friend Robin (she of bridge fame) and husband Grant at the theater, got good seats (although it ended up packed to the rafters), and enjoyed ourselves immensely.  It is a piece of fluff, of course, and Renee Fleming is getting a little long in the tooth, but it is one of those times when Broadway musical director (and one actress/singer) and opera were a match made in heaven.  The costumes (belle epoch) and choreography were great too.  Loved it, and so did my guests!

Meanwhile, I had been busying around getting the cleaning lady in, stocking up on beer and wine from Trader Joe's, and even making a Costco run, and finally Friday, the big day, arrived.  The bridge boys (also known as Tom, John and Dennis) arrived from Vancouver on Friday morning, for our now annual bridge marathon.  (Oh, and eating too.  We did a lot of that, between rounds.)

Friday night, we actually cleaned off my BBQ, and Tom (who is an excellent cook - I acted as his sous chef, John was the bus boy, and Dennis - well Dennis was the taster) grilled some of those fabulous Costco rib eye steaks and baked potatoes on the grill.  Add a spinach salad with home made dressing, and, of course, some wine (Have I ever mentioned BSide cab sav?  It is a very good, reasonably priced - at least in the States - wine), and I deemed it a success.

We made breakfast at home every day too.  It was actually fun cooking with Tom - and having an appreciative audience as well.  I hope to get in the habit of cooking for company more often (hint, hint....)

Saturday night, though, we went out for dinner at Shame on the Moon, previously mentioned here.  It really is a very classy place; I like the decor, the service is attentive without being cloying, and the food is always wonderfully retro - a veal chop, veal meat loaf, duck, stuffed pork chops, macaroni and cheese, you know the sort of thing.  And the martini, well, it unfortunately went undocumented (I had forgotten my camera) - but it must have been 8 ounces of pure booze (Bombay Sapphire, to be exact), beautifully presented, and filled to the rim at the table, so I could be the one to do the spilling, not the waiter. So, no camera, so no pictures, but let me assure you that a good time was had by all!

I did remember my camera on Sunday night, though, when Art and Wally, Mariah, and friends Pearl and Rick (here on a brief visit from Nanaimo, and no, not staying at my place) went out for dinner at Billy Reed's, not as high tone as Shame on the Moon but nonetheless, great atmosphere, great waitresses, and great, raucous fun.

From the top:  Art. John, Dennis, Pearl and Rick...


...the ever handsome and perpetually 39 Wally.....


....John and Dennis...


....Tom and Mariah....


.....Dennis and your humble Scribe....



.......and, the stars of the show, the manager, and, to the right, Billy Reed himself, who says he still makes all the desserts himself....


(Yes, I know it is blurry, but it is the only close up I got of Pearl and Rick....)





I was trying to show the size of the desserts here, but you can't really get it from the pictures.....



And a fitting sendoff for the boys, who left on Monday morning, after breakfast and more bridge, of course!

Believe it or not, I had contracted to play bridge with Art on Monday afternoon, at the Unit Game.



We had sixty five tables, a huge crowd for us, and Art and I managed (just barely, I admit) to score some points!  (Have I mentioned that at this rate, if I get to be a Life Master - and that is a big if -  I will be 92 years old and it will have cost me $47,000 - US!  These bridge games aren't free, you know!)

So back to the gym on Tuesday morning, for an extra long workout, I can tell you.  Ditto for Wednesday - that it, today.  Mariah's going to the same gym, so it is more fun, and today we stopped after the gym to indulge in one of our other favourite pastimes - sitting on someone's patio and shooting the breeze, this time, Art's, which is in our complex about 2 minutes from my place.





And that is us up to date again.  Oops, I forgot the new blog feature, the book list.  I've been reading, of all things, Chic Lit - books like The Misaltoe Promise, by Richard Paul Evans, and Beyond The Pale Motel, and yet another Alexander McCall Smith, The Saturday Big Tent Wedding, all fun, without much serious content at all.  I will try to better next week.  At the very least, in addition to the Sunday New York Times, I have all the Economists that John brought me in his backpack!

Ta ta for now!

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Potential Visitors Take Note - This is the Best Time to be in Palm Springs

It really is glorious - high 70's during the day and 50's at night.  Eat your heart out Vancouver - and just about any place else for that matter.   And yes, I know, given that, I spend altogether too much time indoors.  But, in my defense, I do spend a lot of time outdoors on my patio - and, of course, driving with my top down.

I left you playing bridge with Robin last Monday.  I will pick it up on Tuesday, playing bridge with alternate partner. Nancy, a really good player, but with a fuse a little too short for my liking.  It remains to be seen how long the partnership will last, but for the moment, as long as we are earning master points, all is forgiven.

Wednesday, neighbor Michael wanted to go see Into the Woods.  I am not, generally speaking, a big Meryl Streep fan (yes, I do know that I am the only person in the universe who is not a Meryl Streep fan!) but I wanted to see the movie as well.  I first saw the play, oh, it must be 30 years ago now,on Broaday, with Bernadette Peters as the witch.  Have you guys seen it?  I thought the movie was charming, and can see why Streep got an Oscar nod.  Two thumbs up on this one.

On Wednesday, I picked up friend Mariah from the airport (see, more outdoor time, waiting in the cell phone parking lot with the top down).  She is here from Seattle for 6 weeks, and, as her place is just 5 doors down from mine, we will, hopefully, be seeing a lot of each other.  We started, though, as we always do, with breakfast at Sherman's Deli.



(Yes, even their salads are huge!)

We spent the rest of the day, and the following one, trying to get the old PT Cruiser (once mine, now hers) in running order, and with all the paperwork ducks in a row.  It took all day on Thursday, and included a drive to the Cabazon Outlet Mall (had to drive the car at least 50 miles so that it would pass the smog test).  Oh darn, I was forced to buy a Coach bag to make the trip worth while!  What I won't do for friendship!  But, mission accomplished.  Smog test passed, registration changed to Mariah's name, California title on the way.

For those of you who don't know the story of the PT Cruiser, I got it a the time of David's last illness, because it was a car he could get into and out of from the wheelchair.  He loved me to take him for a ride in the car, which could easily hold the wheelchair and all the other trappings of illness.  I was facilitated in keeping it in the family by another friend, who purchased it from me after David died, with the promise that he would return it when he no longer needed it.  That happened last fall, and now it is with Mariah, a soul if not a blood sister.    It makes me think of Davie every time I am in it.  And, even with 300,000 clicks on the odometer, it seems to be running fine,

The weather remained fine, and so Saturday was a pool day.  Rather than being on my own, though, as I usually am (although in theory, it is a community pool), Mariah joined me, so the chatter continued.

Saturday evening, there was an "event" at the Galen Art Museum to which I, as a member, was invited.  It was a reception and "no host" bar in honour of the opening of a new exhibit, called "Personalities"Fantasy and Identity in Photography and New Media".




No pictures allowed inside the exhibit - not that that I particularly wanted to take any pictures (wasn't hugely impressed!!).  As for the reception, well, I didn't know a soul, and after several vain attempts to strike up conversation, and having had my fill of canapes and sparkling water, I left.  It is definitely a class of people I should be cultivating, but, you know, I just don't have the patience (or, probably, the jewelry) to do it.

So, Sunday.  My usual early morning walk to Starbucks for the New York Times was followed by my usual lazy Sunday reading it, with the help of a number of cups of coffee, and some freshly squeezed grapefruit juice (the best reason for not taking cholesterol medication, that grapefruit juice!)
We ("we" being Mariah and me) finished off the day by going to the movies (hey, it is Oscar season, and I only have 4 weeks o see all the nominees!).  We saw The Imitation Game, and it is a wonderful movie.  Who would have thought that someone with the name of Cumberbatch would be Oscar material?  He sure is, though.  Wonderful film, wonderful story, wonderful acting.  Another two thumbs up!

So, what else have I done since last we spoke.  I finished a number of books.  Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr, is a mystery, of sorts, but set in New York in the 1890's so its very - atmospheric, I guess is the word I'm looking for.  Carr's other book, which I read some time ago, was "The Alienist"  - his "detective" is the 1890's answer to today's "mentalist" (a la the t.v. show).  I liked both books, but I am sure that these books wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea.  Also finished a book called Empress Dowager Cixi by Jung Chang.  It was a fascinating book, about the Empress Dowager of China who basically, from behind the Emperor's throne, brought about the modernization of China.  It was a fascinating book, which managed to make both her and China sympathetic.  And, to finish off the week, a piece of fluff by Alexander McCall Smith, called the Uncommon Appeal of Clouds.

You know that question, "...if you could have dinner with one living author, who would it be?"? My answer would definitely be McCall Smith.  He writes a number of series of books, The Number One Ladies Detective Agency (warm, light, positive); The Isabel Dalhousie Series, of which "Clouds" is one (more thoughtful, philosophical); The 44 Scotland Street Series (darker, more pessimistic about human nature).  It is almost as if he has a split personality.  I would love to meet him.  I have a few more of his books on the nighttable; that's the best I can do for the moment.

Well, so much for this week; more anon.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Movies, movies and more.......

It was cold this week - for Palm Springs, that is, and there was snow on the mountains....



As promised, I scouted out the film festival on Tuesday.  Not only did I find parking (free - eat your hearts out, Vancouver), but when I got to the box office, someone had turned in a ticket for the movie I wanted to see, so it too was free.  So, first at bat was Beloved Sisters, a German film about the famous German author Friedrich Schiller (another one of my father's favourites) who had a long standing love affair with two sisters.  I rated it a five, for story, acting and production values.

It was a morning movie (I squeezed it in after the gym and before bridge).  I was obviously on a roll on Tuesday, because Nancy and I scored points at bridge too!!!

No movies on Wednesday (for me - there were lots on tap, of course, but the ones I wanted to see that day were sold out), so, instead, had breakfast with friend Gerry.  He has been in town (from Vancouver) since December 24, but has been with his partner Katrina, who was deathly ill with whatever it is that is going around.  Anyway, she is back in Vancouver, and Gerry suggested Billy Reed's for breakfast, previously mentioned in these pages (upscale diner type, a Palm Springs tradition, etc.), where I am always game to go.  we had a good time catching up.

And, in the afternoon, finally, some pool time.....


(just in case you forgot what my pool looked like....)

Between being sick, the cold weather. and the fact that the pool heater has been broken for a while, there haven't been too many pool days.  It was, as always, a little piece of heaven.

Thursday, it was back to bridge, this time with Art (no points, but lots of fun), and then off to an evening movie.  Here's me, and a small portion of the extremely long line...






The movie was called Lucky Stiff, and it was adaptation of a Broadway musical for the screen.  As to be expected, the plot was silly, but the cast - which included Jason Alexander of Seinfeld fame - was great, the music delightful, and it was altogether charming.  And, it being Palm Springs and all, there was a Q & A afterwards, with the director and some of the case (although, alas, no Jason Alexander)



I gave this one a three.

Two films on Friday, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon (there were five venues, by the way, but all reasonably close to one another, with lots of parking everywhere, and a million volunteers to make lines and seating go smoothly - absolutely a five for organization).  Friday morning was, perhaps the weirdest of the six films I saw.  It was a Croatian film called The Reaper,  It won best actor and cinematography for the festival, and I agree.  But I have seen paint dry faster than this film, and it was a depressing film about not ever being able to escape ones past.  It is hard for me to rate this one - I am still digesting it.  On the other hand, I suppose that is the sign of a good film.

Friday afternoon's offering was not very cheerful either.  It was a film from Luxembourg called Never Die Young, and buzz has it that it might get the Oscar for best foreign language film (the other Oscar nominees in this category were also here, but I didn't get to see them).  It was about the life of a heroin addict, who becomes paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 20.  It was fascinating - you never once saw him after his childhood (lots of pictures of the empty wheelchair in various places), and yet one cared what happened to this man.  It was brilliant.  I gave it a 5.

Saturday morning was perhaps the best of the films I saw, Effie Gray.  Dakota Fanning played the lead, playing the wife of Victorian art critic and writer John Ruskin, who caused a scandal when she left him for a painter, John Everett Millais.  The script was written by Emma Thompson, who also played a role, and it was as lush a period piece as I have ever seen.  Loved it!

 But it couldn't last.  After a Sunday snuggled up to the New York Times, I headed off to my last movie, something called Good Night Mommy.  It had good buzz - I picked it on the basis of someone else's recommendation.  The Hollywood Reporter said "The story's acceleration from anxiety to panic to hellish chaos is expertly managed..."  Maybe, but I didn't stick around to find out!!!

Altogether, though, the festival was a great experience.  I will definitely go again - and to more movies - next year.  As  mentioned, very well organized, and lines - which I am not a bit fan of - were made part of the experience by the star sightings, the volunteers and the great people sharing their experiences while waiting.  Lots of fun.

And so we start another week.  I'm back to full speed at the gym (1 1/2 hours per day), and Robin and I scored some points at bridge today as well.  I dashed off to the library today, as my last book, The Hand of Justice (a medieval mystery) got finished in the off hours last week.  So, I am ready for my week, including some more movies, of the general distribution variety, more bridge, more books, and, weather permitting, more pool time.  

Monday, January 5, 2015

2015 starts with a whimper, not a bang.....

A whimper indeed.  I didn't manage to find the energy to attend the new year's party here in the complex, so just raised  a glass here at home, and went to bed.  Insofar as I made any conscious resolutions at all, it was to try - however late in life it may be - to develop the milk of human kindness this year.  And I don't just mean being nice to my friends - that is too easy.  I need to try to remember that even the great unwashed have a back story, a reason why they are the way they are, and to behave accordingly.  Let's see how long that lasts.

On New Years Day, I took what I am calling a Master Class in bridge.  One of directors is taking one of the relative novices (with only 50 points, that is what I am, really), to play in the Open Pairs, where the Life Masters and beyond play, and discussing the play afterwards with a view to improvement.  I love Janna to pieces, so not only did I learn a whole bunch, I had a great time to boot.  She did too, and has asked me to play again.  I am honoured and thrilled.

Still lacking in energy, so laid low most of the weekend. Picked Robin and Grant up from the airport, and we did our now traditional lunch at Sherman's Deli.   Friends Geoff an Tom came over for drinks on Saturday night.  I was too busy playing hostess to take pictures, but I think they were suitably impressed with the place - really this is not what people expect when one says "trailer"!!!!

Sunday was what is called a Unit Game at the bridge center, where the Unit provides lunch and festivities as well as bridge, so Art and I went to support the unit, and had a grand time.  And today, I struggled back to the gym - finally! - for at least a partial work out.  I am feeling more and more myself; it looks as if I might actually live.  Bridge this afternoon with Robin, and that's us up to date.

So, I have to ask - in addition to the expected audience for this narrative from the US and Canada, I also have followers this month from France, Germany, Norway, Poland and Australia.  Fess up, who are you?????

I will try to get some culture in this week by way of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and have something a bit livelier to report next time.

And it has finally warmed up again, so all is right with the world, or at least my benign little corner of it.