Friday, November 30, 2012

SAYING HALE AND FAREWELL AT THE ELEPHANT BAR

Nov 27 -  We moved over to ROD Desert Pools up in Desert Hot Springs on Friday after Thanksgiving.  But, we joined Barbara and Joe, and Clint and Carol at Mary Pickford Theater to see Life of Pi.  The movie was good, visually spectacular, but there was so much hype before the movie was released that I was a bit disappointed.


Farewell -

After the movie we all dashed over to the Elephant Bar where the group was gathering to bid Farewell to Cheryl and Rick who are leaving to go back to Florida!  Have a good trip, guys.  We will miss you.


Hale -

Little did I know that Connie and Matt were back at TT Palm Springs.  Great to see them again!


We were surprised to see Clint and Carol with Barbara and Joe when we were at the movies.  Obviously, they are back in town too!!


Bill and Pat were the ones who instigated the get together at the Elephant Bar.


Barbara and Joe ready to order.


And Ken and Faye glad to be with the group again!


A grand old time was had by all!!!


VISIT WITH MARION AND TOM

We're up at ROD Desert Pools for 10 days before leaving on our trip to Richmond, VA to get Ken's drivers license.  Our friends Marion and Tom have a home in Quail Valley, next to Desert Pools.

We learned to play Pickleball in the spring of 2002.  That was the year we met Marion and Tom in the fall at TT Verde Valley where a group of Pickleball players had gathered for Thanksgiving.  We have been very close ever since.

We get together whenever we can.  Here we are at their place.


The following Monday, Marion and Tom came over to Desert Pools for a few games of Pickleball.

Fun to see you guys again!


Sunday, November 25, 2012

HAPPY THANKSGIVING SIS AND PAUL

Nov 22 - This Thanksgiving our thoughts are with Paul and Sis and all the others who are feeling the results of Hurricane Sandy!!  Sis is a fellow Pickleball player who has played from coast to coast throughout the country.  She and Paul make their home in New Jersey, about 15 miles from Atlantic City!  She said the flood waters did not quite reach their house, but the wind took their roof and they were without electric for about a week.  Nevertheless, she felt they were fortunate because they were able to live in their motor home with full hook-ups behind their house.  And, they ran the generator during the week they were without electric!

Right now, they are replacing their roof and plan to travel to Florida as soon as they can!

We miss you Sis and Paul, and send these Thanksgiving wishes!!

Pickleball Players at TT Palm Springs, November 22, 2012



THANKSGIVING WITH SOME FRIENDS AT TT PALM SPRINGS

Nov 22 - Barbara and Joe invited a few of us to their home for Thanksgiving Dinner this afternoon!!  All the guest made a contribution to the huge meal!!!  Everything was delicious and I, for one, ate far more than I should have!!  What's New??!!

Our hostess and host once again, Barbara and Joe with Rick in the foreground.


Looking down the table while dining - Rick, Cheryl, Joe and Barbara.


Across the table from them, Allen and another Cheryl


Here are Pat, Faye and Ken


At our end of the table - Pat, Faye (Ken is hiding), Bill, Rick and Cheryl


Thanks so much Barbara and Joe for inviting us to share Thanksgiving dinner with you!

EVEN MORE PICKLEBALL AT TT PALM SPRINGS

Nov 21- More fun times on the Pickleball courts at TT Palm Springs!!

Starting off with Bill making one of his powerful overheads while playing with Rick!


And the crowd goes wild!!!


Becky and Jim P.


Roy and Dick.


Richard and Linda.


Dennis with Rick


Paul and Dick!


 Oland and Becky.


Linda and Robert.


Oland and Cathy.


Gary and Oland.


Cathy and Dennis.


Becky and Rick.


Rick and John.


 Robert and Dick.


Roy and Ken.


Paul and Bill making a fancy move!



Robert with a great backhand overhead and Ken.


Gary and John.


Linda and Robert.


 Barbara and Ken.


In the middle of the morning, Tom and Becky stopped by to see Barbara and Joe, but they're our friends too!


Gary behind the paddle and Becky.


Jim P. and Linda.




Sunday, November 18, 2012

ALERT! WE HAVE CHANGED OUR DECEMBER SCHEDULE!!

Nov 16 - Upsetting News!  We just discovered that Ken MUST be in Richmond, VA before his birthday (December 14) to renew his Driver's License!!  We were looking for possible air travel and discovered that on certain days SPIRIT Airlines offers fares at $66/pp one way ($132 round trip).  With fares that low, we decided that I should go with him!!  We selected dates that were available at the cheap rate:  Depart LAX Monday, December 03; Return Wednesday, December 12.  I should point out that the cheap seats come with a lot of "additional charges"!  The fare for both of us round trip ended up at almost $500!!!


We are fortunate that Ken's son, Mike and wife Diane, live in Richmond.  They have invited us to stay with them AND the use of their car while we are there.  So we don't have to get a hotel room or rent a car!!

We have rearranged our RV schedule for a few weeks in December.  Our friend Al, Ranger at TT Wilderness Lakes,made reservations for RV storage with electric while we are gone.  Then, instead of driving to Palm Springs when we return, Al changed our reservations for us to just stay at TT Wilderness Lakes until December 07 when we go to TT Palm Springs.

DAY OF THE WINE HAPPY HOUR

Nov. 16 - Friday, Barbara and Joe planned a Happy Hour at their place.

Our Hostess, Barbara



And our Host Joe


Even though it was Barbara who planned the Happy Hour gathering, I asked her if I could provide the Theme!!  "The Day Of The Wine"!!!   Last year when I first heard of The Day Of The Wine, Ken and I hosted a Wine and Cheese Happy Hour and I introduced the Beaujolais Nouveau wine, released only at midnight on the third Thursday in November from the Beaujolais Winery in France.  Due to the firmentation process, Nouveau is best if drunk within six months.  No aging.  Thus Nouveaut makes a great wine for Thanksgiving!

Although Beaujolais Nouveau wine is classic, I discovered that all Nouveau wine does not come from France!!   I went to Trader Joe's and bought four bottles of Charles Shaw "Two Buck Chuck" Nouveau wine to share at the Happy Hour!

Before serving the wine, I explained the Nouveau story to the group.  Bill is facinated with my disertation!!  HA HA!!


A fun evening of wines, drinks, and snacks was had by all!!

These are the guys!!  A serious bunch this evening!!  Richard, Bill, Rick, Ken, Joe and Walt.


And here are the girls!!!  Sexy group!!  Barbara, Becky, Pam, Cheryl, Faye, and Pat.


Thanks, so much Barbara and Joe for getting us together!!

PICKLEBALL AT TT PALM SPRINGS, CA

 Nov 14 -  Quite a few players at TT Palm Springs.

Larry and Bernard.


Don and Jessie.


Barbara and Joe


Rick and Susan.


Larry and Ken




Rick and Pam


We are putting in a third court in the road near the Pickleball courts for use when there is a large number of players waiting.




Nov 16 -  When we rose on Friday morning, Ken said it was raining.  Oh, No. No Pickleball this morning!!  But when I looked out of the door, the sun was shinning!  There had to be a rainbow somewhere!!!  Surely enough.  Here it is!


Nov 17 -  We did play Pickleball yesterday but no pictures.  This is some of the action on Saturday.

Gary and Paul.


Jessie and a player I have not met yet.


Linda and Larry


I missed the action for this group.  Here are Larry, Linda, Trish and Jim P.


Two new players I have not met yet.


Trish and Paul


Unknown player and Linda


John and Unknown Player


Unknown player and Jessie


Jim P. and Ken