MORE PICKLEBALL FRIENDS AT TT PALM SPRINGS, CA

October 31 - HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM PALM SPRINGS, CA!!

During our two weeks at TT Palm Springs, we played Pickleball every morning. We tried to get to the courts at 8 AM with the early birds, but never made it that early!! One day our dear friend from the past, Whitey showed up at the courts for a few days with his two sons Dan and Jim. We have known Whitey for years. What’s so fascinating about Whitey and his wife Betty is that they have been driving down and spending the winter in Mexico for the past 30 years!! We often wondered if they were still traveling down there; the answer is Yes!

Dan, Ken, Whitey, Faye, and Jim. It was a lot of fun playing Pickleball with Dan and Jim. Whitey taught them well!! HA HA They just did not stay around long enough.


On Sunday the 24th, another dear friend, Jessie showed up. She was on her way to Buckeye, AZ to play in a National Pickleball Tournament. She will probably win; she always does!!! I don’t think there is a Pickleball player in the US who has not heard of Jessie. She is the Matriarch of Pickleball!!! Good luck in the Tournament, Jessie!!!

Linda and Jessie in action!

Arriving on the scene just a few days ago and all too late for our liking – Rita whom we met in TT Chesapeake Bay; and Bob and Laurie and Ray whom we just met here this past week. We have had a lot of fun playing with them. In fact, Laurie told us her sister was currently at TT Chesapeake Bay. So we immediately called her and told her to be certain to go down beyond the lake at Chesapeake Bay and introduce themselves to Mike and Diane who have a leased site there.

Bob, Laurie, Faye, Ken, Rita, Ray.

When I viewed this picture I discovered it was taken with our motor home in the background!! We were parked right next to one of the Pickleball courts. The other court is just across the road, and the Laundromat!! No wonder we hate to leave here tomorrow (Monday 11/01) to go to Desert Pools about 20 miles away!!

UNBELIEVABLE SUSHI WITH PAM AND JOE

Pam and Joe invited us to have Sushi with them for dinner on Saturday. I love people who plan things!! Not only did they plan the evening, but it was executed to perfection!! They must have worked the entire day to come up with such a spread!! They said Pam did the slicing/chopping and Joe did the rolling.

Look at the stack of rolls they created!!


Joe slicing the Sushi rolls.

And, Sushi is served!!! Can you believe this platter of Sushi???!!! The dish at the top contains thinly sliced Tuna and Salmon which we used to top our Sushi Rolls. UUUMMMMMM!!

There were Salmon and Cream Cheese, Tuna, Tuna and Cream Cheese, Shrimp, California Rolls, etc. etc. etc!! Thank you so much, Pam and Joe!! It was Wonderful!! It was UNBELIEVABLE!!!

SEAFOOD BUFFET AT SPOTLIGHT 29 CASINO – FREE!!

Ken and I remembered that five years ago we used to go to inexpensive buffets at the various Indian casinos in the area. So, we stopped by Spotlight 29 Casino to see if they had any Senior Specials, or specials of any kind. They did not; however, our Players Cards had expired. We discovered if we signed up for new Players Cards, we would receive a FREE buffet!!! And, on Friday night they had their special Seafood Buffet!!

We asked Pam and Joe if they had Spotlight 29 Players Cards. They did not have the card either. We all decided to go to Spotlight 29 on Friday night to get our new Players Cards and FREE Seafood Buffet!!!

Here we are enjoying our buffet.


Of special note were their wonderful Shrimp and Scallops sautéed to order and the delicious Clam Chowder. They had King Crab Legs, hot in butter and cold, but they were so hard they were a major struggle to eat -- not worth the effort. The dessert bar was limited, but we were at our limit by then anyway!! However, I must say the Bread Pudding was delicious!

TRIP TO THE DENTIST IN LOS ALGODONES, MEXICO

October 26 – We were up bright and early Tuesday morning. We had to drive almost 150 miles to Mexico to see our dentist. Patricia Vicente had been recommended to us years ago when we were out west and we really liked her and have great confidence in her ability. Patricia was still in Los Algodones, but had changed her affiliation to the International Dental Group. Her new office is located inside a mall.


I had an examination, X-Rays, and cleaning. Ken had the same plus he had one filling. Total cost = $140. Another successful trip to the Dentist!! Here’s Patricia (center) and her group.

I really liked their Logo – a modified globe.

After Ken’s mouth was feeling normal again, we walked around the corner to a Taco Stand for more fish and shrimp tacos before heading home. This is the Top Chef!!

After our late lunch, it was another three and a half hours' drive back to TT Palm Springs!

TACOS AT MARISCOS MR. CORA, CATHEDRAL CITY, CA

October 25 – Out with Pam and Joe again. This time Pam had found an authentic Mexican Seafood Restaurant she wanted to try for lunch. Sounded good to us – three tacos and a soft drink for $5.95!! We followed them in our car because we were going to another movie after lunch. It was so funny, Pam and Joe were not certain where the restaurant was located. We drove and drove and twisted and turned until we ended up in a shopping center parking lot next to Target!! But no restaurant!!

After a third cell phone call for directions, we found Mariscos Mr. Cora across the street from Targets and Trader Joe’s somewhere in Cathedral City.


Each of us ordered the Special -- either fish or shrimp tacos. (There was no beef or chicken on the menu.) The tacos were wonderful!! Some of the best I have ever eaten!!

Our waitress was so nice and friendly we asked her to be in a picture with us.

Thanks Pam and Joe. It was a great idea. I’m certain we’ll be back!!

DESERT ROCK CONCERT SERIES AT THE CIVIC CENTER PARK

October 21 – Pam and Joe invited us to go to the Christopher Cross concert this evening. It was part of the Desert Rock Concert Series held at the Civic Center Park in Palm Desert. It was sponsored by the Desert Recreation District and it was FREE.

We stopped by KFC for chicken dinners to take to the park. It was a perfect evening for a concert and chicken and good friends in a beautiful park!! All we needed was a bottle of wine but it was not allowed!

Lead-off singer was a kid from Canada, Jackson Cooke. He was good but a little too hard rock for our taste.

Later under a full moon -

Christopher Cross took the stage. (Picture from his earlier days.)

He of course included his hit song from 1980, Sailing. He put on a good concert although it was a bit low key.

Christopher is front far right.

That was a great way to spend a beautiful evening in the Desert!! Thanks Pam and Joe for thinking of it.

NOW AT TT PALM SPRINGS, CA

October 19 – We arrived at TT Palm Springs Monday morning. We were greeted enthusiastically by Linda the Ranger. She said they had heard we were coming and were excited to meet us!! We were happy to be able to park in one of our favorite sites, next to the Pickleball courts. As we were parking, Linda’s husband Rick came over and introduced himself and extended another warm welcome to us. We really felt special!!

Rick and Linda.

While we were talking with Rick, a friend that we had met at TT Chesapeake Bay walked by. It was Joe of Pam and Joe. They are leasing an annual site here.

This morning I went out and played half a game with Rick and a couple other men. Then it started to rain. We stopped playing with a score of seven all.

Ken and I decided to go to the $1.50 Cinemark to see Salt -- A good way to spend a rainy afternoon. We really enjoyed the movie, an espionage thriller staring Angelina Jolie.

We had asked Pam and Joe to join us for the movie followed by Happy Hour at the Elephant Bar. They couldn’t make the movie, but we all had a great Happy Hour!!

On Wednesday morning the courts were almost dry so eight of us played.

From left to right: Lynn, Mary Jo, Ken, Old Friend Paul, Linda, Rick, and Roy another friend from the past.

And, on Thursday morning, we had a few more players.

From left to right: Paul from Wilderness Lakes, Ken, Bill who plays very well but we did not know him, Linda, John who says he plays but recently had hip replacement surgery, Roy, Cindy a new player, Paul, Faye, Dick from the past, and Rick.

It's been great to be back at TT Palm Springs!

KEN’S SON RICHARD VISITS US AT TT WILDERNESS LAKES, MENIFEE, CA

October 15 – 17 – Ken’s son Richard lives in Chula Vista, CA about 85 miles south of Menifee. This weekend, Richard and his friend Marlo brought their four children up to spend some time with us at Wilderness Lakes. They rented one of the rental trailers on a large site next to one of the many cannels.

We prepared a breakfast of finger foods for them on Saturday morning – boiled eggs, sausage links, donuts, fruits, juice and coffee.

Marlo and her two children Emily and Anthony; Richard (center) and his two boys, Russell and Jake with Grand PaPa Ken.


We planned that we would meet at the pool later and then have hot dogs and hamburgers at the campground dining room. Ken and I did not make it to the pool because we were tracking down a fire ring to use for a campfire after dinner. But we did join the group for lunch and CANDY BAR BINGO. The kids had a ball playing BINGO and each of them won several candy bars. It was a great way to occupy the children.

Later we went to the Ocktoberfest German Beer Tasting sponsored by the campground. They offered about 10 different German Beers for sampling (root beer for the kids). A great way to occupy the adults!! We don’t often get anything FREE from TT!!

Ken gets his first beer sample.

Faye had several samples!!

Ken found a beautiful Fraulein that made him happy! Guess she brought back memories of his Army days in Germany!!

Richard’s group arrives.

Ken is going to take Emily’s soft pretzel!! They were really good.

We prepared some of Ken’s Carolina Bar-B-Q with trimmings for dinner followed by Som-Mores around the campfire!!

No pictures of the campfire because my fingers were sticky from toasted marshmallows!!

Sunday morning Richard and Marlo treated us to Home Town Buffet in Hemet. We arrived for breakfast and stayed for lunch!!

This weekend was a great opportunity to meet Marlo and her family and to see how Russell and Jake had grown. Thanks for coming up, guys!!

MORE PICKLEBALL AT TT WILDERNESS LAKES

Saturday morning, we took Richard and Marlo over to the Pickleball courts to show them what the game is all about. Mike, Al, Carolyn and Paul were just finishing up a game.


And Mike and Edie, demonstrated the game very effectively against -

Carolyn and Jim (I guess white men can jump, at least a little).

I loved this picture with Jim and what looks like a Pickleball nose!!

I interrupted their game to get a special picture of Jim and Kim.

Sally and Stan, this picture is for you since we last saw you when we were playing around with Jim and Kim in Michigan!! See, we are thinking about you way out here!!

MORE PICKLEBALL AT DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE RECREATION CENTER, HEMET, CA

October 15 - On Friday morning, a group of us from TT Wilderness Lakes drove over to the Diamond Valley Lake Recreation Center in Hemet to play again. We recognized some of the same group that was there last Sunday, and there were some new players as well.

We met Ruth and her husband Cliff; really good players (previous tennis players). They live nearby and actually have a Pickleball court in their back yard. Problem was, they didn’t have anyone to play with. Then they discovered the group playing at Diamond Valley Lake Rec.


Ken with Ruth



Chuck was here last Sunday. Shirley is a new player.


Mike drove over from Wilderness Lakes. This is one of the first games of Pickleball that Roger has ever played!

Ruth and Chuck.

Carolyn and Mike, our friends from Thousand Trails.

Paul and Shirley.

There is a particular group of four players that have a challenge going all the time. They have only been playing Pickleball for a short time but they play really hard – a bit unorthodox, but really competitive!! I think they have found a new field of battle!! I overheard one of them talking to Paul about Pickleball. He was so earnest when he asked Paul, “Did you ever see the movie Cocoon? It’s where these old people who are all worn out go into a cocoon and they are all rejuvenated! Well, this is like our Cocoon!! We’ve been rejuvenated!!” I thought his analogy was so profound I had to share it. It is true!! Pickleball does change your life!!

Here are the Young Guns!! Ron, I’m sorry I don’t know the name of the second player but I know he is Colleen's Son, Pri, and Dave.

Pri and Ron

Take on Colleen's Son and Dave.

Hey Dave – the net is the other way!!

Ken and Carolyn had to put up a big fight to get Ron and Pri to split after they had won their previous game because they only want to play together! Reluctantly, they finally agreed to split!!

Ron and Ken

Took on Carolyn and Pri

Chuck and Faye

Carolyn and Mike

Our group from Wilderness Lakes!! Mike, Ken, Faye, Carolyn. (Paul left before the picture was taken.)