REPORTING FROM RAIN SOAKED TT WILDERNESS LAKES

Friday, Dec. 17 – Wednesday, Dec. 22 – Rain, rain, and more rain. It has rained every day that we have been here. Mark and Chris said it had been raining before we arrived!! And there is another storm coming!! All around us neighborhoods are flooded; roads and houses are being washed away. And we have pretty much been hibernating!!

But, a few of us did brave the raindrops to do a little line dancing in the mornings. We took a moment for a picture.

Cherri, Faye, Dottie, and Marie.


Coming out of the lodge after dancing, I took a few pictures of results of the rain. I had to remove my shoes and put on my Crocks to wade to the car!

Several of the canals that run through the preserve overflowed their banks like the one shown here along the tree line.

Cars driving through one of the main roads that was flooded.

Our rig when I got home. It doesn’t look like the water is about four inches deep.

Some of the roads outside the preserve are closed due to high water. Ken said I should have gotten pictures of the two cars in the ditch just outside the entrance gate!!

The rangers have put out notice of Voluntary Evacuation because of the pending storm. A few people left, but most stayed. We decided not to move.

Tonight is our last night at TT Wilderness. Tomorrow we go to TT Pio Pico near Chula Vista where Ken’s son Richard lives. We will be spending Christmas with them this year.

WINE TASTING IN TEMECULAR WINE COUNTRY!

Man!! It’s been raining for days here at TT Wilderness Lakes. Chris and Mark are here, too, and they are climbing the walls of Phaeton Place!! I remembered that years ago Ken and I spent a rainy afternoon in New York driving around Lake Seneca, pausing at all the wineries for a little wine tasting. Temecular is only a few miles away and it is celebrated Wine Country!!! What to do on another rainy day?? Let’s Go Wine Tasting!!!

Mark drove us to the wine trail. There are some 35 wineries in the area!! We chose Thornton Winery to stop at first.



They, like all the other wineries in the area, charged for their tastings -- from $10for their Sweet Flight to as much as $17 for the Premium Flight tasting. Chris and Mark each selected the White Wine Flight, four white wines for $12. Ken and I each selected the Red and White Flight, two red and two white wines, also $12.

I had printed out two-for-one coupons from the internet which were honored, so the tastings were essentially half price. We had a delightful afternoon sipping wine and munching on beget with goat cheese. I have to say, the tasting servings were quite generous and in no time we were all feeling pretty GOOD!! This was a new experience for Chris. She was soooo funny!! I was glad we had introduced her to wine tasting, California Style!!

As we left, we all agreed that we needed FOOD – no more wine!! Chris and Mark introduced us to Two Guys burgers!!! We agree with them -- UUMMMMM!!

Anyway, the day was a lot of fun. We had found the perfect way to spend a rainy day!!!

WHERE ARE WE NOW: AT TT WILDERNESS LAKES UNTIL DECEMBER 23

It was a good day for ducks (geese) when we arrived at TT Wilderness Lakes on Friday afternoon.

LADDER DAY AT TT PALM SPRINGS, CA

Sunset through the Palms at TT Palm Springs Wednesday evening before Ladder Day.



Thursday, 12/16 – Today was Ladder Day at the Pickleball Courts. Rick started this at the beginning of the season, based on an outline on the USAPA website. Each Thursday when we play we are assigned into a group of four players based on our previous points scored. Everyone plays three games throughout the morning, changing partners within the group for each game. Individual points scored in each game are recorded. At the end of the third game the points are tallied and averaged in with previous scores. That determines your level of play for the next Ladder Day.

The thinking is that everyone would enjoy more competitive play because they would be matched with players of approximately the same level.

Here is some of the action today, showing each of the foursome groups.


Larry and Lynn played against Dottie and Ken for this round.

Judy and Jim P. play against Larry M. and Olan.

Becky and Don take on Mike and Guy.

Ed and Daryl against Dick and Kim.

During the morning's play, whenever some of the guys had a break between matches, they did some Road Work!!! (That's why I have inserted the work pictures in the middle of play.) Rick said they are preparing this area of the road to make a temporary Pickleball court for use when there is a large number of players. It will alleviate the long wait times.

Phil and Neal play against Paul E. and Roy.

Faye and John played against Bob and Jim T. (Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of our worthy opponents!) The second picture is of some of the players waiting to play.

Judy was the fourth player in a second group to make enough players. Here she plays with Rick against her husband Brian and Rick's wife Linda.

It was a good day of play but a lot of wait time. I'll be glad when the temporary court is finished!!

STEAK AND EGG BREAKFAST BUFFET AT AUGUSTINE CASINO

Monday, December 13 – Canadian friends Bob and Muriel told me about the Monday Steak and Egg Breakfast Buffet at Augustine Casino. The price was only $3.50 after applying the $1 discount with the Players Club Card and the $2 Food Coupon given to each person at the Players Club desk. In addition, the Casino gave each person $2 free play at the Slots.

Bob and Pam, Dottie and Larry joined us early this morning for the Buffet. We all checked in at the Players Club Desk. We discovered that we were already members from back in 2005 when we were out West. They updated our Players Club Cards, gave each of us our $2 free play, and the $2 Food Coupon. We were happy.


Then we discovered our friends were all new members of the Augustine Casino Players Club. They each got: the Players Club Card with $7 free play, a $2 Food Coupon, a $5 Food Coupon, AND a free Golden Gamers tee shirt!!! We protested but to no avail!! All the extra goodies were for NEW members only.

The buffet was very good, the steak delicious!! Bob and Pam ended up winning close to $20 on their Players Cards. Our slot play ate up our Free play plus some more $$$, and we ended up with $0!! Not sure how Dottie and Larry did at the Slots!!

Anyway, WHAT A DEAL!!! Thanks Bob and Muriel for the "Heads Up"!!

THOMAS IN HIS FIRST HORSE SHOW!

My grandson Thomas who is 13 years old and lives in Raleigh, NC has been taking horseback riding. He loves it and is becoming a real horseman!!

Here is the link to a video of his First Horse Show!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rl133iYrA8

Great job, Thomas!!

CATALINA SPA WELCOME BACK TOURNAMENT

Saturday, December 11 – We spent a fun day over at Catalina Spa, Desert Hot Springs, where they were having a Welcome Back Tournament. We used to know quite a few people over there and several of our friends were playing in the tournament.

The first people we saw were Steve, Cheryl and Paul who were in charge of Food Services and serving hamburgers and all the trimmings. We would return later for our lunch.

The first matches we watched were friends Jim P. and Linda. We sat with Jim’s wife Shirley as we watched the pair go down to the ultimate winners of the Gold Medal.

Jim and Linda came back to win their next matches only to meet up with their first opponents for a second time in a match to determine which team won Gold.

The Medals were presented: Bronze Winners; Gold Medalists; and Jim and Linda took home the Silver. Great matches!!

Our very good friends Marion and Tom leave just outside of Catalina Spa. Marion came over to visit with us while we were in their neighborhood. We were enjoying Steve’s hamburgers when Marion and other friends joined us.

Jessie, Marion, Frank, Ken, Faye

Tom was refereeing one of Jim and Linda’s matches so we went over to watch. When he was finished, we all enjoyed a beer together.

It was not long before Tom and his partner Ray played their match. It was against none other than Jim P. and Linda's husband Rick!!

(Notice the mountains in the background!)

It was a beautiful day to watch a lot of Pickleball!! Congratulations to everyone who played!!

CATCHING UP WITH KEITH B. AT LAST!!

Saturday, December 11 – Almost from the time we first learned to play Pickleball, we have heard about Keith B. Keith has recruited and taught more Pickleball players than you can count!! I guess about half the players we meet said “Keith taught me to play.” Of course we wanted to meet him but it seemed when we were in the West he was in Florida. And the whole time we were in Florida, he was in the West!! We did meet Keith one time briefly in the spring of 2006 for a couple of games of Pickleball; then he was gone.

Imagine my surprise when Keith B. himself showed up here at TT Palm Springs!! We have chatted often during our time here and I even played a game with him today. Somehow he managed to pull it out, even with me for a partner!! Tells you what a terrific player he is, and a very nice and humble man as well. Another surprise – I found our names in his infamous black book at Verde Valley, Spring of 2006!!

HAPPY HOUR WITH MARK AND CHRIS

Friday, December 10 – Mark and Chris had Happy Hour this evening. About twenty Pickleball players and friends were there for a most delicious and enjoyable time.

Mark was anxious to try out his new “Campfire In A Can”. I think he was very pleased with the performance!!

Here's the crowd!!

Thanks Chris and Mark for a great time.

If you think you would be interested in the Campfire In A Can for your RV travels, click on Mark's Blog (Pheaton Place) in the right margin of our Blog. He tells you all about it!!

MARINE CORPS BAND CHRISTMAS CONCERT, PALM SPRINGS, CA

Thursday, December 09 – The Marine Corps Band from Twenty-Nine Palms held its annual Christmas Concert in Palm Springs tonight. A group of us paid another visit to The Elephant Bar for Happy Hour enroute to the concert. As usual, everything was great!!

Dottie and Larry; Connie and Fred; Pam and Bob; Ken and Faye.

The concert of Christmas songs was very enjoyable, especially the second half when the entire band played. As an encore they played a moving medley of military anthems. When the band stood to play the Marines Hymn as the final song, I felt such pride I could not stop the tears that welded in my eyes.

ANNUAL TAMALE FESTIVAL, INDIO, CA

Sunday December 05 – The Annual Tamale Festival was in Indio this weekend. Whenever we are in California at this time, we go to the festival just because it’s there (although we don’t like Tamales!) I didn’t have a date this year because Ken did not want to go and he wanted to watch the Red Skins Game! I went to the festival with Pam and Joe. They lived in Mexico for years, so they are experts on all things Mexican!! I’d get their advice about Tamales.

Barb and Mitch had gone to the festival on Saturday. At dinner Saturday night Mitch told us again and again to get the Nine Juan, Juan Tamales – they were the best. Pam and Bob S. had gone to the festival on Saturday, too. They said to get the Lucy’s Tamales – they were the best. I decided I would get two tamales this year – two of the best!!

Shortly after we arrived at the festival we saw Lucy’s Tamales. I had one. I thought it was pretty good for a Tamale. Pam said they didn’t like that kind of Tamale because it had white Masa dough. They liked the spices in the other type of Masa. As it turned out, Lucy's was the Best Tamale Winner for 2010 and 2009 and 2007!!


We walked the entire festival grounds before finding 9 Juan, Juan Tamales!! I was getting a Chili and Cheese Tamale when a customer came up and asked for another – “These are the best,” he said. “I’m on my third.” He was having Chicken Tamale so I changed my order.

When I got my Tamale it looked like this.

How do I get into it?? Juan said to hold the ribbons at each end and pull. They would slip off; like opening a present. It worked!! Pam confirmed. Mexicans serve Tamales at Christmas and wrap them like a present. (Side Bar: Lucy’s did not have the ribbons!).

The Mariachi Band entertained while we were eating our Tamales.

I, myself, did not care for the 9 Juan, Juan Tamale. I thought they had less Chicken and more Masa dough than Lucy’s Tamales, and they had other stuff in it – potatoes, onions, black olives, stuff!! Pam and Joe preferred these to others they had tried. They were like Tamales should be!

Thanks Pam and Joe for taking me. Chalk up one more Tamale Festival!!!

BLUE COYOTE GRILL AND FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS PARADE, PALM SPRINGS, CA

December 04 – Tonight was the popular Festival of Lights Parade on Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. The Blue Coyote Grill is located on the parade route. Ken and I had enjoyed their great Taco Salad a number of years ago and our taste buds were just watering to go their again. We invited friends to join us at the Blue Coyote before the parade; the plan being to leave our cars in their parking lot and to move out on the street in front of the grill to watch the parade.

Enjoying dinner - on the left: Chris and Mark. Barb and Mitch (right end) were in town for just a couple of nights before leaving on a cruise and they stayed with friends Moreen and Renny seated at the end of the table. On the right: Joe and Pam; Julie; and Ken.

Here’s that wonderful Steak Tostado Salad!! Note the shell is tinted red. That's because it is a Chipotle Tortilla Shell.

Here I am thanking the waiter for good service with a smile! My appearance is deceiving – I really didn’t have THAT MANY Margaritas!!

It was a lot of fun at the Blue Coyote -- and D E L I C I O U S!!!

THE PARADE!!

The plan worked!! We all moved out onto the sidewalk and watched the parade. The Festival of Lights Parade lived up to its name -- everything and everyone in the parade was covered with lights!

Lots of trucks above!!

A Cupcake with a cherry on top - entry by a local bakery. Very tasty looking!!

Bob Hope Look-Alike entry. Looked just like him.

Joe, Pam and Ken enjoy the parade!!

More and more trucks!!

The Winner of the 2010 Big Rig Category!!

It really was an enjoyable evening!

LINE DANCING AT TT WILDERNESS LAKES, CA

November 26 - 30 – We are back at TT Wilderness Lakes for our time out of TT Palm Springs. I noticed on the schedule that they had a country music DJ at the Family Lodge Saturday night so I decided to go. I was there for an hour and a half and they danced only two line dances that I knew!! Everyone else seemed to know all the dances!! [Torrey Oaks dancers -- guess what one of the dances I knew was. "Little Red Book"!!]

TT Wilderness Lakes has line dancing scheduled every morning. I went on Monday. My new line dance friend Rhonda (met her at TT Mount Vernon 08/2010) was teaching. I learned some of the dances they were doing on Saturday night.

The line dance class. Rhonda is far right of picture, back row.

As it turned out, Rhonda will not be available to teach the rest of the week. I was recruited to teach!! Rhonda gave me the step sheets for the dances we learned on Monday and Mark made a CD of the music for me. I taught the class this morning (Tuesday) and will teach Wednesday and Thursday, too. It was fun!!