Monday, January 16, 2012

We awoke to a day when the wind was having its way across the entire Coachella Valley.  It is actually the second day we’ve had wind since we arrived in California.  In itself its an unusual situation to have wind on so few days.

Phil and Joyce Bach came back from Yuma yesterday and we’ve got a date for Breakfast at the Cottage Too this morning.  We left our campground about 8:45 o0n our way over to Catalina to pick them up and got a surprise.  In the week they were in Yuma they purchased a “new” car for themselves.  It was a Honda CR-V with low mileage and the same color as the motorhome. 

We left almost immediately headed for the restaurant.  It took a few minutes to get there, and the restaurant was relatively busy by the time we got there.  We had our usual Breakfasts and the food was good again.  The standards of food and the price are quite good at the Cottage, and we weren’t disappointed at all today.

By the time we got back we gave the Bach’s car a good looking over.  It has a couple of nice features that are not found on our Escape.  But then we’ve got a couple of features not found on the CR-V.

Sharon informed Phil and Joyce that she was NOT going to the pool today because of the wind.  However, after she had a little nap she had an attitude readjustment that allowed me to talk her into it.  It didn’t require much convincing.  We got to the pool and we didn’t know a soul in there.  Obviously the wind had scared a lot of people off including Phil and Joyce.  They never did come over even though a couple of regulars showed up after about an hour or so.  We stayed until about 4 and then made an early exit.

We came home to a supper that was really already made.  Sharon made up a Tuna Salad this afternoon and the Sloppy Joe’s were already made from a previous meal we had.  It was a very good “snacky type” supper.

On TV tonight was a two hour premiere of a new show called Alcatraz that we watched.  It was very confusing at first but as it got into it had the potential of a “24" or a “Prison Break”.  Other shows that Fox brought into the mix at mid-season and turned out to be very good serials.  We also had a couple of other original programs on tonight.

We were entertained tonight for a change, for the whole night.  We lasted until 11 tonight before we folded up our tents and headed south.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

The wind had pretty much subsided today and the sun was out and a nice day had arrived.

Today was a “move” day for us.  While normally we would have spent yesterday getting ready to make our move, we were only traveling a mile down the road back to our home park, Catalina Spa.  I had already dumped the holding tanks a couple of days ago, so all we needed to do was pick up our chairs and tables.

We had already arrived and settled in by 10:30 in the morning, and were ready for business.  We had found an empty site across the street from Phil and Joyce, while rejecting the site right next to them, that was too narrow.  We ended up a “campground block” from the pool which is just fine with me.

After lunch today we both took a little snooze before we headed off to the pool for the afternoon.  We got there about 2:30 and all the usual gang was there.  The pool was pretty crowded today, with strangers, along with the regulars.

It seemed as though somebody flipped a switch today as everybody headed toward the Hot Tub at the same time.  We must have intimidated the people who were already in there, as they started to leave as we piled in.

We got home tonight and played our usual game of Jeopardy, with peanuts and coke, before we sat down for Supper.  Sharon decided we would be having Tortilla Soup along with a Toasted Ham and Cheese Sandwich.  It was quite good as a “change of pace” Dinner.

After Dinner we called Phil and Joyce to see if they wanted to get together tonight to play cards or Dominoes.  They had just gotten back from the MASA Dinner and didn’t feel up to it.  So we just camped out in front of the TV for the night.  We had plenty to watch tonight and didn’t have a problem getting to almost 11 before going to bed.  Sharon had given up the ghost a little earlier.  When I finally went to bed I plugged in the heaters for the night.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

We awoke to a very nice sunshiny day that was promised to be warm and non-windy.  It wasn’t all that when I got up, but as soon as the sun came up it turned out that way.

It was Patio Sales day in the park with people putting out their wares in front of their RV’s.  Sharon went for her walk this morning around the park and reported back that all the stuff that was out was “man stuff.”  But she didn’t say that any of the stuff she saw I would even be remotely interested in.  Since we’re parked across the street from Phil and Joyce we saw that they had a few things out here.

By lunchtime we were ready for “Taco Wednesday.”  Phil was driving today so we got a chance to ride in their new car.  By the time we got to the VFW it was very crowded and we needed to sit at the bar for a few minutes.  I did something stupid to get the bartender’s attention and he chided me for it.  Enough said about that.  We finally got a table and sat down to order.  Phil ordered a Tostada that he was very disappointed with, and the rest of us ordered our usual fare. 

After arriving back home I made the mistake of sitting down in my recliner instead of getting ready for the pool.  After a medium-sized nap it was finally time to get ready.  We actually made it into the pool before Phil who had decided to play pool today.  But he won a discounted Sirloin Burger on Sunday.

We were only at the pool for a short period today but we did have a lovely nap to show for it.  We came home a little late and immediately went to Phil and Joyce’s for a post-pool beverage.  It was getting a little chilly before we opted to come back home.  As soon as the sun goes down in the desert, it cools off immediately.  And tonight was no different.

We set ourselves up for a night of TV watching even though there didn’t seem to be anything original on tonight.  We ended up the night by watching a taped movie.  Sharon wasn’t interested so I watched it by myself.  It barely got me to the bewitching hour and bedtime.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Today dawned as another beautiful day.  The weather has really been unbelievable since we arrived in California.  We’ve had two mildly windy days since we got here, but the rest of the time has just been sunny and warm.  It’s nice to wake up in the morning knowing you can do anything you want throughout the day because of the weather.

After completing my entry in the Journal this morning, I decided that I would write a couple of stories for the Newsletter.  I think most of the Newsletter this month is going to deal with what we’ve done and enjoyed over the past 10 years here in California.  With the membership campgrounds closing all around us it may be the last time we make this trip.  With gas prices rising to their present levels, and the membership campgrounds closing, our only other option may be to rent a spot for a month at a time, instead of spending time in our homepark. If we opt to do that, there would be no point in driving the 2600 miles to get here.  Everything is, at present, all up in the air for next year.  We’ll definitely settle it before we get home.

In the meantime we’re making plans to go home through Oregon and Washington this year since we haven’t been to those two contiguous states.  We’ll decide just before we leave here whether we go north or east.

After lunch today I sat in my recliner and my eyes nodded off.  Mostly out of boredom as opposed to necessity.  We were staying home today until 3 o’clock so we could sing Happy Birthday to Stella, our granddaughter, back home.

After the Happy Birthday wishes were extended, we left for the pool for a couple of hours.  There weren’t many people in the pool when we got there.  At least not the familiar faces that we’re used to.  The Michigan folk showed up later than usual today.  Apparently it was an Augustine Casino lunch day today.

We came home tonight and Sharon grilled up some Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and a mixture of Cauliflower and Broccoli.  It was not one of my favorites but Sharon likes meat.  So I just go along.

We had a ton of shows on tonight including a Republican Debate which we watched, that saw Newt rip John King a new a_______hole.  Man those reporters never learn.  We had plenty of shows to take us up to bedtime and beyond tonight.  In fact I’ve got a couple of taped shows still to watch tomorrow.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Another fine day dawned again this morning.  Sharon got off on her walk and I guarded the fort until her return.  As soon as she got back she took her shower and then headed out for town.  She had to stop at the Post Office and do some grocery shopping for tonight’s Supper.

By the time she got back it was lunchtime and she suggested Scramble Egg sandwiches for the two of us.  We had previously thought about going to Mike Thompson RV with Phil and Joyce for lunch but opted out at the last minute.  I didn’t think my back would allow me to look at many RV’s before it collapsed, and we’re really not into a “free lunch.”

After lunch we went to the pool early today and most of our friends were there.  We figured that we’d give today a good shot because the win tomorrow is going to put white caps on the pool.  Some reports have it gusting up to 65 miles an hour.  I would be surprised if it gets that bad but who knows.  It’s such a refreshing situation just to spend a couple of hours in a nice warm pool and then finish it off with a short soak in the Hot Tub.

As soon a we got home Sharon starting whipping up Supper having done all the chapping of vegetables this afternoon.  We were having a Cajun specialty for supper tonight.  Sharon makes a real mean Shrimp Etoufee’ and she was complimenting it with Chicken Egg Rolls.  This does happen to be one of my favorites.  She always manages to reward me after forcing me to eat Pork Chops the night before. Most people wouldn’t think Grilled Pork Chops was any kind of punishment.

We were in store for our usual Friday night TV fare tonight plus a couple of shows that were taped last night.  The regular Friday night shows were repeats but we watched them anyway, along with American Pickers, Impractical Jokers and Fringe.  We had plenty to take us to our usual bedtime.  In fact we even caught a little Craig Ferguson with Larry the Cable Guy tonight.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

          The official start of the wind was going to happen today.  We’ve had 3 + weeks of warm windless weather for the most part, but today they’re actually threatening gusts of up to 65 miles an hours.  65 miles an hour is hurricane force winds so I doubt we’ll get that down here in the valley.

We left at 9 o’clock for the Agua Caliente Casino for their Buffet Breakfast this morning.  It’s be en at least 4 years since we’ve been there because of their rise in the Breakfast price.  They’re food has always been excellent but we shied away because of the cost.  Over th last 3 years we’ve been going to the Spa Casino in Palm Springs, but since last year they have now raised they’re price to the same price as the Agua Caliente.  We used to always go during the week for our Breakfasts but now they’re only doing the buffet on weekends.  But they do it really well.  The food was still excellent and there were no complaints about food.

By the time we got back home the wind was starting to blow.  It continued all afternoon and increased in strength as it got later. I believe there may have been white caps on the pool today so we opted to just stay home.  It was playing hell with our dish and the reception was spotty to say the least.  We even lost power sometime during the afternoon.  Our receiver reset itself a few times irritating the hell out of me.  By suppertime it was impossible to watch anything the reception was so bad.  I was tempted to go out and plug in the cable, but opted not to.  Finally about 8 Pm the wind started to die down and our reception improved radically.  For the rest of the night we watched the West network since those shows always run later.

Sharon sat with her wrist wrapped up with an Ace Bandage tonight.  She’s been complaining of constant pain in it for the past month or so.  She’ll probably end up going to the doctor for a carpal tunnel problem.

We lasted until 10:30 tonight before we finally ran out of stuff to watch.  When there ain’t nothin’ to watch, there ain’t no reason stay up.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

We got up with a plan to make waffles in our old Snackmaster Sandwich Iron for Breakfast this morning.  I got up late  and one of my Sunday morning shows was already over with.  So when Sharon got up we immediately got the stuff ready for waffles.  Everything was coming along beautifully until we tried to take the “waffles” out of the snackmaster.  They weren’t having any of it.  They clung to a the iron like a survivor hanging on to a lifeboat. It was a nice idea but one that didn’t pan out.  We decided that we’d just make the rest of the batch into pancakes.  That worked out much better and neither of us was the worse for it.  We also had some of the Elk Meat Breakfast Sausage that Dennis and Mary Ceshker gave us while we were in Phoenix a month or so ago.  It was very good.  We had never had Elk Meat before.

By lunchtime we were ready and willing to go to the pool for the afternoon.  We waited until about two but we still made it before Phil and Joyce which is really unusual.  The pool certainly wasn’t crowded today even though the weather was perfect.  With all the wind we had yesterday we expected it to be a little cooler today, but it was nice and toasty.  We left early today so we could get ready to go for the Sirloin Burger at the Upper Clubhouse tonight.  It had been a couple of years since we had tried it so we decided that we would go with Phil and Joyce.

The Burger Crowd also didn’t seem very big tonight.  We’ve seen at least another 20-30 per cent more people at this Dinner.  But I guess it is what it is.

Tonight was a perfectly lousy night for TV, but we managed to surf ourselves to bedtime. We’re getting used to watching repeats and lousy programming.  The DVR is a temporary salvation for the repeat programs, but certainly not a resolution.  We made it to 10 and then retreated to the bed.