Teddles.com

It was a typical Wednesday. I had doctors appointments, my shrink, and lots and lots of errands. At the end of the day, though, we had a treat in store.

We went to JRDN at Tower 23. This is one of my favorite restaurants. The ambience in contemporary and hip. The crowd is both young and more mature. The food is great.

We had arranged this dinner with some old friends, Lauren and Bob Resnik. Lauren was a client of mine 20 years ago and the realtor who represented us when we bought our home. Now her daughter Jamie (who's hair I started cutting when she was 8), Jamie's husband and their kids are all clients. Bob was the head of OB-GYN at UCSD Med Center for years, then dean of the medical school. Now he's back in limited private practice. They are a great couple. We connected again when Steve and I went to see President Clinton speak last month.

The evening was so pleasant because Lauren and Bob are both interesting and fun. JRDN was new to them and they found the menu entertaining.

We had a perfect table on the Sunset Patio, right next to the firepit (table 401-1) and overlooking the boardwalk and the beach. The pier was just to our left. The evening was comfortable and the sunset, while not wonderful added a different dimension to the evening.

I had my old favorite - the spinach salad with 5 toppings and the Lamb Chops. Both were wonderful. Steve had the Ahi with Mac and Cheese. I know that Bob had the Lamb Chops but I have no idea what Lauren ordered. I didn't recognize it at all, but it looked good.

We all enjoyed the evening and decided that after our trip to Greece, we will get together for dinner at another of our favorites, Ortega's Mexican Bistro.

We got up, got cleaned up and decided to get breakfast. The night before we noticed that Plum was open for breakfast and we decided to give it a try.

We headed over and had a short wait to be seated. That was a good sign that they would be making it since it was only 10:00. Busy early is good.

I had a crab omelette and it was delicious. I can't remember what Steve had. I know we both enjoyed our meals and will be back in the fall when it cools off.

Then we headed into town to the Streetbar to see what was going on. We met a nice guy sitting by himself at the bar. You know I'm so shy and it's hard for me to meet people. Brad is a cardiac nurse at Eisenhower Medical Center so he and Steve had things to talk about. Cute guy, and we enjoyed our conversation.

Brad and the bartender helped us figure out where to have dinner. We had invited our friend Hildy Hall to join us for for dinner but had no idea where to go. Brad suggested Azul on Palm Canyon. The bartender agreed and added that is was "Straight Friendly" which I found amusing. Only in PS.

We had Hildy meet us at the rig for a cocktail and a knosh. Then we headed into town and Azul. We ate in the patio and had a cool waitress. That was good as Hildy can be feisty. She has an opinion (and expresses it) whether is it appropriate or not. Part of her charm, but not always easy. And the waitress had some large tattoos. She handled Hildy's comments about them with aplomb.

We had a wonderful meal of Flatbread pizza, Calamari, shrimp, and several other delicious tapas. The price was right and the music on Sunday is all disco!!!! We loved the music!

There was one funny thing that happenned. There was a guy sitting at the bar dead asleep. He wasn't bent over with his head on the bar, he was sitting straight up on his barstool and gone!! Hildy went and woke him up (of course), after which he went right back to sleep.

Then we headed to the Street Bar to catch the end of Fern's set, and have a drink. Then Hildy wanted to go back to her old stomping ground across the street, the Rainbow Cactus. We went in and got stools at the bar. The piano was being played and songs were being sung by, not only the pianist, but other singers in the room. They were all doing a good job too.

Soon it was evident that Hildy had to go home. Especially when she asked me if I thought the bartender was attractive. When I said I thought he was cute she told him that I wanted to go home with him. That was it. Off we went home.

We drove her car to her house and went back to the RV and to bed. We had to get the rig ready to take back to San Diego the next morning. And with the cabinet over the dash board coming loose from the ceiling, we had to take the TV down and secure some things.

Besides, bed felt good.

Once again we headed to Palms Springs for a weekend in the motorhome. We knew that this would be the last chance we had before our trip to Greece. When we get back the heat will be getting to bad to enjoy. So.... here we are.

On the way over I got the idea that we should go to Plum for dinner. I called when we got setup
and our first cocktail in hand. The number had changed so when I got connected and made the reservation I checked to see if they were still on Taquitz Canyon. They told me they had moved to Cathedral City to the OZZ Resort. Great, that was closer.

We found OZZ Resort, the old Desert Palms, and Plum. The restaurant occupies one large inside room, but includes all the area surrounding the pool. We ate outside, near a table of 10 women who were sorority sisters, all celebrating their 40th birthdays. They had a great time and we didn't mind the higher than normal pitch and decibel levels.

We enjoyed our Prime Rib dinners and headed home to the RV. It had been a long day. We could play some more tomorrow.

We got up at 5:30 so we could be ready to go to the airport by 6:30. Not that we wanted to leave. We could stay there for months and be happy. But it was time and we had to get to Honolulu before out hosts wanted to leave. That meant getting to Honolulu at 9:10.

We thought we'd just get a bite of breakfast at the airport and hang out for a while before going to Bradley Pacific where we were to meet the jet. No such luck. There is no food outside the security areas and to be in the security areas you have to have a ticket and go through the security lines. So that was a bust. We walked around to see if there was anything anywhere, and when we realized there was nothing, I called Bradley Pacific to see if we could come early and hang there.

They gave us the address and told us to please come on over and relax. We took a cab over and found a wonderful Hawaiian man at the gate waving us into the secured area. He took us inside and introduced us to the two ladies working at the facility. They had made fresh coffee and had a decanter of Hawaiian juice for us. They had cereal bars too. I thanked them and told them that we had been looking for food at the terminals, so this was wonderful. The lounge was nicely appointed and we felt very comfortable.

We settled in at a table looking out to the runway where the plane was ready and waiting. Within 5 minutes one the the ladies brought in two trays of breakfast foods. Evidently another private flight had cancelled and they didn't take the food, so we lucked out. And porked out too.

We read magazines and the paper and I looked up a couple of things on the computer, and before too long the pilots arrived. I loved it. They were in relaxed clothes, one in a Hawaiian shirt, the other in a tee shirt. They got into their uniforms, got the plane ready and then J called and said that we would be leaving shortly and was surprised and pleased that we were already at the plane.

Soon we were in the air, earlier than planned. I read the USA Today and worked the puzzles. Steve was reading a Motorhome magazine. J and I decided that was the time to shampoo and blow dry her hair. Her husband was napping and it was her usual appointment time with me after all.

We used the sink in the galley and soon found out that hot water was in short supply. Then one of the pilots came to help. He was putting plastic cups of water in the microwave to heat them so we could rinse out the shampoo. She told him that either I had to learn to fly or he would have to learn to do hair. He told me to learn to fly.

We went to J's chair and started the process. We blew her out and then smoothed and shaped it with a curling iron. We combed and fussed and then she looked back to fabulous.

Then the food started again. There was a cheese plate for eight, covered in orchids and grapes, and plate of crackers. We had a wonderful Chicken Caeser Salad. Then J said that her husband was afraid there wasn't enough food so he had the caterers put on lamb chops and potatoes too. I just couldn't eat more than the salad and a bit of cheese. If I flew too much I would be sooo fat!

In no time flat we were seeing sunset and approaching the coast. It only took 4 and a half hours to fly back. So smooth... So sweet.

When we arrived at the hanger there was a swarm of people to meet us. The first thing we noticed was that our car was parked right by the plane, next to our hosts car, with the engine running. People grabbed our bags and put them in the car and did everything they could think of but carry us to the car. What service. Those folks at Jet Source are incredible.

We met the third pilot briefly and greeted those we had met before, then said a big thank you and got into the car, following our hosts out of the airport.

What a great time. How wonderfully generous of them to include us.

I awoke early as usual. But I really didn't want to miss a moment of my time in Hawaii. The chickens had started their usual routine of crowing at 4:00 AM. The sun was just coming up and I went up to the deck to watch the hill and the ocean come alive. It was a hazy morning down by the beach but it wasn't long before the warmth dissipated the fog.

After everyone got up Warren made us some great Latte's from his espresso roast coffee, grown on the farm here. Then we decided how to proceed with the things we wanted to accomplish today. Mainly a quick shopping juncket into Kailua.

We took Warren's truck as he was going to be busy teaching and learning a new dance routine (West Coast Swing) with one of his rehearsal partners, and Edward was delivering a tractor mower to some friends so they were both otherwise occupied.

We made a beeline for CG Tees where we had purchased some shirts 4 years ago. Of course they weren't there any longer so we headed for the Singer Sewing store for some more fabric to make another bedspread for the motorhome.

That accomplished we headed down Alii drive to my favorite Hawaiian shirt shop, Hula Moon.
GONE!!! Hula Moon was gone. I could always count on great campshirts there. Damn. Well there were a few other places where I had found treasures so we started walking and shopping for tees, tanks, and muscle shirts (like we have muscles, right) and hopefully a nice silk or rayon campshirt.

We found them all and headed back to spend most of the time with the guys. We watched while Warren upgraded things in his computer and hovered while Edward cut the fennel for this evenings dinner.

Then Edward started with the macadamia nuts. Yikes. We needed three cups of shelled macadamias for the torte Edward was making. It was sooo good. He ground the mac nuts with a little butter and brown sugar making a kind of thick dough. He pressed it into a springform and baked it just till brown, let it cool and then sprung it from the pan and covered it with a chocolate ganache. OH MY! There went the diet.

For dinner Edward sweated and then caramelized about a pound of chopped fennel root with onion and mushrooms, added cream and some sage, and poured this delicious concoction over some fresh grilled Ono that Warren took of the barbeque. They served dome black Caviar Lentils with it for a taste treat! The meal ws really wonderful. Thank you so much Edward.
Your food was tremendous.

After dinner we decided to go down to the Sheraton Hotel to see the Mantas feeding at night. We rounded up som wetsuits and snorkling equipment and drove down. We walked through the lobby and heard music so we went to the balcony and watched a Luau down below.

Then we headed to the lower level where the hotel had lights shining on the water. The lights bring the plankton which the Mantas feed on, so the Mantas come into the lit waters. There were four rather large Mantas swirling about in the area. It was fun to watch and there was a tourist sightseeing boat anchored on the other side of the lit area with people in the water. We decided we would not join them. No snorkling tonight. Besides it was windy and cool.

Instead we went to the bar and had a drink before goin home and saying goodnight. We were, after all, still on San Diego time and we had to get up early to leave for the airport by 6:30.

We woke up extra early today to be ready for our big adventure. One of my clients has invited us to join them on their Global Express jet for a trip to Hawaii. Wow.

We got to Palomar Airport and the Jet Source building a bit early. The plane will leave at 9:00 and we are there at 8:20. Better to be early than late. When I saw the tail numbers on the big white jet in front of us I realized that this is the plane we will be taking. OMIGAWD!!!

The pilots greeted us and gave us safety instructions and got us situated in our seats with some great coffee and we waited for our host and hostess. They arrived and off we flew. I was in a jumpseat by the pilots for the takeoff and it was smooth and the instruments were fascinating as they have all of the latest safety stuff with gauges and computer graphics everywhere. After the seatbelt sign went off I went back to my fabulous seat to relax and have some more coffee.

Everything got better from there. We flew at 41 thousand feet and the ride was incredibly smooth. No turbulence. And this plane is much quieter than any commercial jet I have ever been on. You can have a conversation in normal voice and be heard! It's hard to know you are flying. There is no sense of movement.

Soon after reaching altitude we began an eating fest. There was a fruit tray, a cheese tray with crackers, followed by a tray of pastries. Then our hostess (I'll just call her J) started heating the cheese omelettes and bacon. More coffee.

I've gotta tell you, I'm not used to being served by someone like J. I'm the service person. It's who I have been for 41 years and I was uncomfortable having her wait on me. She is nurturing and gracious and very much at home though.

After breakfast and reading The New York Times and the San Diego Fish Wrap, Steve and I decided to have a cocktail that we had brought with us. Steve had made a thermos of Cosmopolitans for the trip. Then we put a DVD in the machine and put on the headphones and watched John Water's movie "Cry Baby" with Johnny Depp. By the time we were through it was almost time to land.

A little touch-up on Miss J and we are ready to go!

Funny, but it isn't like travelling. It's like going to someone's house, and when you leave you are somewhere else. Wierd but lovely.

Upon arrival we were greeted by a lady with a lei and a SUV to take us to Go! airlines for our commercial flight to Kona. Man! Are we spoiled.

By the time we get to Kona it is 2:15 Hawaii time and Warren his new man Edward picked us up. We headed to Halualoa to the coffee plantation they call home.

We visited and started to get to know Edward as we hadn't met him before today. Warren's partner of 30 years died two years ago and we haven't been back to Hawaii since then. We are glad to see Warren being happy. Edward seems to be a great guy and a man of many talents, as chef, plant propagator, manager of a Macadamia Nut ranch, and other things. Good for them.

They have two dogs, Diva whom we had met years before, and a boxer named Buster. They were fun to play with and really affectionate. It made me miss my Buster and Namale.

Edward proved his prowess as chef at dinner. He made and enchilada sauce from chili's used it over Ahi enchiladas. My but they were great.

As the evening wore on it was obvious that the time change was stealing our evening. I had to go to bed, as we have to make the best of tomorrow,our only full day in Hawaii.

Saturday night and Pam and Mom met us at our house for a cocktail before heading downtown for dinner at JSix.

When we got to the restaurant Ron and Barb were already at the table. We ordered drinks and then started on an appetizer. We ordered a variety of meats, like duck carpaccio, country pate and something else. The duck was strong and greasy but the pate was delicious.

I ordered Short ribs and they were no where near the quality and flavor of those at Modus. They were greasy and tough. Steve ordered Gnocci and he got 5 in a bowl of sauce. Not an auspicious first experience for a highly rated restaurant. Personally I won;t hurry back.

I didn't ask others about their meals. I just hope they were better than ours.

Didn't feel too bad this morning. I slept fast and hard though. And Steve got up in the middle of the night only to find that we had forgotten to put the stool up for Buster to get into bed, so he was asleep in a chair, feeling left out. Poor little guy.

We went to the store and got all the goodies for the fruit salad and came back to assemble it in a cheap Easter basket. It looked pretty and we thought we did too so off we went. We brought swim suits as we were told, though later we found out this was just a courtesy and not really necessary. (For us - necessary!)

We arrived to find Nick and Jeff and Mitch and Dave busy preparing food and drink.
Ray was there as was Carl, and who else should we see?? The cute young Pino Blanco.

Dinner was Roast Beef, Ham, scalloped potatoes, and salad, with assorted things like deviled eggs and vegetables and dip. And of course, fuit salad.

It was delicious and wonderful to be able to share it with people we are quickly calling friends.







After dinner we headed out to the pool area for more cocktails. The jacuzzi was uncovered shortly thereafter and Steve and I changed into our suits. Others just peeled of their clothes. Oh well.








We all decided to meet up at the Street Bar again to hear Miss Fern do her thing. As usual it was fun. Especially if you have never experienced her. She puts on a great show. There was a few "entertaining folk" around too as Jeff discovered.




Just in the next block was the White Party Tea Dance pounding to the beat. Looked like fun but everyone was so YOUNG! Oh yeah, a few exceptions, but it really is a party for the hearty youth.

We decided to hit Hunter's Bar just before the Tea Dance ended, and while ther wasn't a really ling line. We got right in and headed back to the dance bar area to get a window seat. So much to look at. Man! And who should be there but the sexy stripper from the week before! Of couse he didn't remember me, but who cared. I can still see him in my mind.

We had a couple more drinks with Jeff and Nick, Carl and, of course, Pino, and headed back to the RV for some rest. We leave for home in the morning. This time we remembered Buster's step stool.

We headed back to the desert for Easter weekend. Of course it is the weekend of the White Party so we know the boys will be lookers and they will be thousands strong. Could be worse, right?

We called Dave and Mitch and Ray and Carl to see what was shakin and we decided to meet up at the Street Bar later in the evening. Dave and Mitch had friends from Des Moines visiting them. We met at the bar and really liked Nick and Jeff, the visitors. (They are 6'2 and 6'7 respectively). It's always great to see Carl, that rascal.

Somehow during the evening Carl managed to befriend a really cute Italian boy who lived in London and was just visiting Palm Springs and So. California. He was fun and sweet. His name is Pino Blanco. Really. It's on his card!

At the end of the evening Dave and Mitch invited us to join them for Easter Dinner at their home in North Palm Springs. We were delighted as we really have fun with this group. Our job will be to make a Fruit Salad. Really.

So we went home not realizing we had played until the wee hours. For us anyway. It was 1:30 am. Late for boys who are out of practice and worked all day.

Bed felt good.

Well, I woke up feeling no older, and not so hungover from the evening prior. I didn't have all that much to drink, but it takes little now to make me feel not so good in the morning. Today was a fine morning.

Steve took me to Bongo Johnny's for a light breakfast. I love that place and we even sat in the sun outside. We visited with some friendly musclemen and one muscle woman, and realized that at another table was the star of the porno film Hairy Potter and the Sorcerer's Bone. He is hot, I must say.

We then headed off to look at some open houses, just to see what the market was doing over there. We saw a few good deals and some great expensive properties. We also looked at a 1930's Spanish cottage that used to belong to one of the actors that played Amos and Andy. I guess they both used it as a vacation home. It was kept original which is nice for antiques, but it would need updating for me.

Then we briefly looked at some RV's that were being featured on the corner of Gene Autry and Ramon Rd. There was nothing of interest, Whew. Someday in the not-to-distant future we will be looking seriously, but in the meantime I fear finding just the right one and not being ready. Not today.

We went back to the RV and layed by the pool for a while, then watched a DVD of The Prestige. I liked the movie but it was a bit confusing, dark and the sound was really soft. Of course it's hard to hear with the air conditioner going and it was 92 outside.

Then it was time to get ready for dinner. Steve took me to one of my favorite restaurants - Copley's on Palm Canyon. It was Cary Grant's Palm Springs home, and several uses since including a Morroccan place.

We ate on the patio under amazingly thick Ficus trees. Our waiter was a find looking man and good at his job. We had our Vodka pronto. Steve ordered Ahi Ceviche as an appetizer and I had a Caeser salad with pineapple croutons. Yum. then we both had Oh my! Lobster Pot Pie. Double YUM. What a dinner. Very delicious, and a beautiful desert evening to dine al fresco.

We then headed for the Street Bar for one last drink and who should we run into but Carl from Rainbow RV group. He was there with two friends named Mich and Dave. they were really nice and I think we will get together with them this weekend when we go back to PS.

One last drink, and then we headed for the RV and a hug from Buster and Molly.

We had brought with us two pieces from a Chocolate mousse cake which had been given to me and was from a very fancy French bakery in La Jolla. Man was that good. And again, a diet buster. But they were small and I had really been good with my eating all day long, so..... besides it was my birthday proper.