Finally, rejoined my heart!

Left my heart there, I am sure you all got it!

Anyway, the 8 hour drive was easy and uneventful - I tell you, you can say what you want about the Germans, but that Audi is one great ride!  Arrived in plenty of time for the aforementioned dinner at the Alamo Bistro - the recommendation still holds, as usual, the food was wonderful!  And look at that tan!

Goodbye Sun ((for now), Hello Fog

Time to leave sun and palm trees behind, for now.  I'm off to my last afternoon of reading magazines and floating in the pool.  Then it is time to pack up, and head for San Francisco for the road trip part of the adventure.  I will be leaving at the crack of dawn tomorrow (yes, guys, I still get up early and go to the gym every morning, except now it is for an hour an a half!)  to drive to San Francisco.  The Hotel Hank (we're also starting the "Hank" part of the adventure) is open, and we will be having dinner tomorrow night at the Alamo Square Bistro, a restaurant I highly recommend for those of you who spend any time in San Francisco.  More later, from everyone's favorite city!

Rain in the Desert

Who would have thought that I would be excited to see rain?  But out here, with the empty skies and the palm trees and the huge clouds, and the thunder and lightning - it's fabulous!  For those of you who know the layout of the place in Palm Springs, they have closed the road over the wash, as it is flooded - who knew I had waterfront property? - and so we go in and out the back way.  (I tried to get a picture, but you can't really tell the water from the sand.  Just imagine......) 

This Is The New Work

My chore for the day was to learn to upload pictures to my blog.  I was partially successful, I think.  Maybe tomorrow, I will be able to do captions.  Luckily, these are pretty self explanatory!

Palm Springs

Even in the heat, this place is wonderful.  I don't know whether it the great openness within sight of the mountains, or the palms, or the fact that everyone acts as though they were on vacation even if they are not; whatever it is, if makes me - gasp! - calm.  One of the retirement skills I have already developed is getting on my float without getting my magazine or book wet; I floated on the pool for two hours yesterday.  Trust me, there is no better way to read the Economist.  It is great getting back in touch with friends Art and Wally, and neighbor Michael, and meeting new ones.  Only a trip to San Francisco and beyond could make me leave, and only then because I know I'll be back soon.  Who would have thought?

Finally on the way!

After the usually scurrying around and last minute glitches, I am finally underway.  Friends Donna and Hugh drove me to Bellingham for my flight, which leaves tomorrow A.M. at the crack of dawn.  We had a lovely dinner at Dirty Dan's, in the Fairhaven District of Bellingham, the old university district which has been wonderfully renovated.  Ah, a wedge salad and prime rib!  Now I know I'm in the States.  When we got to the hotel, I discovered that my reservation was for October 6, not September 6!  I And you didn't believe me when I said I had blown a brain fuse!  Luckily, they had a room, wakeup call and shuttle to the airport have been arranged, and all is well.  Traveling is so much easier with a credit card, no?  Tomorrow, Palm Springs. 

Still trying to get away

It has been a whirlwind week, and I haven't even left yet!  The rounds of lunches and cupcakes and drinks - all of which were greatly appreciated, by the way - are done, and I am working on closing up here.  Donna and Pellham are driving me to Bellingham on Tuesday night, for a Wednesday morning flight to Palm Springs.  I'll write - and hopefully, send pictures - from there.