Fun, frustration, and full moon

The Cold Moon, a supermoon , and the last full moon of 2025. Photo taken from my hotel window in Palm Springs. 

It was a week of ups and downs...some fun and a couple of frustrations. I've started writing this on Thursday evening from my hotel room in Palm Springs.  I fly out tomorrow to Regina (via Calgary). It will be a long day, though shortened as I'll lose two hours by the time I land in Regina. 

Monday was December 1, so another resident and I started decorating the clubhouse for Christmas. Well, she ended up doing the majority of the decorating as one of the sets of lights on the tree wasn't working.  Of course it was, what I originally thought, the middle set of three. No problem, I'd just remove it, get another set and replace.

HA! Whoever put the lights on the tree didn't want them removed. Each light was wrapped on to the branches: sometimes two or three wraps of the cord to the right, sometimes to the left and worst of all sometimes the cord was split and then wrapped. I worked on it for a half hour before I went to grab some lunch. Back at the hall, S came to help me while D continued the rest of the decorating.  It took the two of us 2 hours to remove the middle and bottom set of lights. We discovered they weren't really two sets as someone had spliced the two sets together leaving both ends of the plugs. We made an executive decision to trash that set and I picked up two more sets of 100 lights at Walmart. 

The next morning the Board of Directors were having a meeting we could attend, though we were asked not to speak until the floor was opened for questions or comments. ( Not that it stopped some). It was interesting to observe the interactions and hear different perspectives about a number of issues.

After the meeting D said we would finish decorating on Wednesday. Hooray, as I'd planned to go to the thrift stores with L and S. We all found something and I was thrilled to find the foam/stuffing I can use for the chair pads. I paid a whopping $3 for three pieces. I also found a cute t-shirt for Eli for 50 cents.

Before we headed back to the park we decided to go for lunch. While there I got a call from Jose. He had been to my unit that morning to check on a leak in one of the water lines. It was a drip and he said he'd be back later in the afternoon to fix it. 

I also had a text from D asking if I was back in the park. I wasn't but said I'd be there shortly.  When we returned I headed to the clubhouse and discovered she had completed the decorating.  She had forgotten our morning conversation which both S and I had with her. I think she was a bit annoyed with me. But she did such a beautiful job! Next year we'll get our timing straight. 

Another frustration: I received an email from Enterprise to check in for my rental car for my trip to Palm Springs. As I read over the info I noticed the return was to Yuma airport...it should have been to Palm Springs.  I checked the email I'd received on booking.. it said PSP airport. So I called and was informed they had changed it because they had no vehicle available for a one way trip. When I asked what I should since I had a flight booked and would not be returning the vehicle to Yuma, the operator suggested I call other rental companies. Wow! Eventually I was able to get a car through Budget...but you can bet Enterprise will get a negative response should I receive a "satisfaction " survey.  Especially because the operator didn't bother canceling my reservation. I had to do that myself.

Meanwhile Jose did not come by that afternoon but did arrive the next afternoon.  He removed a section of the hose and re-clamped it. When he left it was no longer leaking.That wouldn't last. 

After Happy Hour I went for dinner and L and E's. I'd finally used up my leftovers and she invited me to join them for the evening meal. I was home around 7:30 and had climbed into bed to read about 9 p.m. About 15 minutes later I heard a pop and the sound of rushing water. I leapt out of bed and ran outside to shut the water off. After a quick text to Jose telling him the fix hadn't held, I spent some time mopping up the water. I could hear the water in the floor vents and wasn't certain if the furnace might be affected. It wasn't...but I still found it hard to sleep. I was grateful that the hose hadn't failed earlier on the evening while I was out. 

Thursday I was awake about 6 a.m., chatted with D, and was reading blogs when I got a text from Jose. He was there and I wasn't even dressed! I jumped up threw on jeans and a sweater over my nightgown before opening the door. He looked the situation over before heading out to get the supplies he needed to make a better repair.

While he was away I took care of several chores I needed to get done before leaving that morning. Coffee hour was being held in the clubhouse and I had three people text or come by to ensure I was coming.  I explained I was waiting for Jose to return.  He did, just as the third person was starting thr walk back to the hall. I let him in and left him to do the work. He finished up about 15 minutes later. After coffee hour I paid him for the supplies; I had paid for his time the day before. The new piping looks like it should last for several years.  In any event, I left the water shut off as well as the furnace when I left the park.

L and E dropped me off at the airport where I picked up my rental car. It was an easy process as they had everything ready for me. I wasn't entirely thrilled with the car, a Chevy Malibu. After my Equinox I felt the seat was too low, though I was able to adjust it somewhat...that meant adjusting it again when I got out of the car.  Since it was a Chev vehicle it had many familiar features to my SUV. It was an uneventful 3 hour drive though holy cow, Cali drivers like to speed! On most of the highways the limit was 70 mph (112 kmph). I kept my speed just below the limit and vehicles were blowing past me. There were at least two who were stopped by the police that I saw and my GPS told me several times there were "police ahead". 

The hotel I booked, Homewood Suites is close to the airport, just a 10 minute drive. The room is lovely! The best part: it was so good to have a shower with great water pressure.  

I'll drop the car off about 9:30 a.m. on Friday and should be home (at my son's) about 9:30 p.m. With the time difference it should be a 10 hour travel day. D and Eli will pick me up on Sunday. I'm looking forward to hugs from my family and cuddles with the cats....maybe even Sage. I'm not looking forward to the cold weather and snow!

I'm updating this from the airport in Calgary. We were pretty much on time getting here though had headwinds and some turbulence.  That's when things turned. The flight to Regina was initially delayed by an hour, then another 30 minutes. As I write this we won't be taking off for another 75 minutes. I won't be holding my breath we'll get out of here by then. It has to do with crew availability. When delays occur earlier in the day the crews have a limit of hours they can be on duty. No one wants an exhausted flight crew. So they have to scramble to find another crew who have had a shorter day or haven't been on duty. This late in the day the latter is likely tge case. The weather in Calgary isn't particularly cold but it is snowing and blowing.  Depending on where the crew members live, this can delay their arrival at the airport.  I expect we'll get out tonight...but when is another question. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

P.S. My next cruise is 304 days away.

Saying good-bye, time to go home

The heritage dinner on Saturday was both interesting, and delicious. First off, I had no idea so many people where of Italian ancestry. (They're not, but there was certainly a lot of pasta dishes). I wimped out on bringing in my shortbread with the piper. L, G's wife, is originally from Scotland and happily did the honor. 

In addition, there was polish sausage, lazy cabbage rolls, chicken biryani, creamed corn, various salads, and desserts. The local resident who bakes provided carrot cake, and another I didn't recognize. I went home overfed and happy! Then on Sunday, we had a must-go dinner of the leftovers. I was very appreciative of the meals, as I was definitely getting low on groceries.

Monday morning, my landlady C drove me out to the Valley of the Names. Wednesday's photo of the roadrunner was taken as we were headed into the desert. It posed so nicely for me! Here are a few more of the photos I took on our trip.

I had to take this one for Eli - his full name is Elias!

The ocotillo had a single bloom on it. C said in April this area will be awash in colour. 

It is believed that the practice of writing one's name in rocks was started in WWII by soldiers at the Desert Training Center nearby. Later, others found the area and started adding to it. C told me it goes on for about 10 miles! We did not see all of it because the trail is not only rough, but tends to drop at steep angles - at a couple of points I feared the truck would flip on it's side. When C asked if I would like to turn around, I definitely said yes. 

A few of us went thrifting on Tuesday, and I mostly behaved myself. I did pick up a pretty top for $4 and a book for $0.50. We decided to go for lunch out at Paradise Casino, and then drove to Imperial Date Gardens so L and A could pick up dates. Back in the city, we stopped at one more thrift store before heading back to the park. The afternoon was hot! It reached 33C/91F. We started out Happy Hour under the gazebo, but the women soon made the move into the shade on the other side of the clubhouse. There was a wee bit of breeze so it was much more comfortable.

The group had set up a women's lunch on Wednesday at Mar Azul, a seafood restaurant. We met at the clubhouse at 11:15 a.m., eleven of us, and hopped in a couple of vehicles to go to the restaurant. The restaurant isn't large, and we were seated in the middle of it. It took a bit of time for everyone to get water, utensils and to peruse the menu. Meanwhile, some of us ordered drinks as well. I chose a Pacifico beer (a Mexican Pilsner) and it was a good choice. For my lunch I had two fish tacos, which were delicious! Two of the women ordered the garden salad with salmon, and when the portions came out, I think at least three or four people could have eaten just one order! The salads came in large bowls with two pieces of salmon on top! They both took a good portion home for dinner. 

Thursday was my last full day at the park. I had started packing early this week, and left the cleaning to be done that day. I went to coffee hour at 9 a.m. and gave a little speech to thank everyone for their hospitality. You'll likely chuckle at this, but I had practiced back at the unit a few times as I tend to get nervous in front of a crowd. In any event, it was well received.

Back at the unit, I did a thorough cleaning of the kitchen and bathroom, stripped the bed (I'd sleep on the couch that night), washed dishes and the floors throughout, and finished my packing. Even though I would be spending a night at a hotel in Phoenix, I packed things to wear, and toiletries that are permitted on the airplane. My theory is, I don't want to re-open my suitcase unless absolutely necessary.

My next door neighbour had been volun-told by his wife that he would be driving me to Carl's Junior on Friday morning to meet the Desert Bus. The three of us headed out about 9 a.m. and had coffee together while I waited for the bus to arrive. It actually wasn't a bus, but a 9 passenger van (though that was a bit of stretch). There were two of us picked up in Yuma, five in the Foothills, and another 2 at Wellton. At Gila Bend, our rest stop, we played musical seats as many of the passengers had knee or hip issues and needed more leg room. I ended up sitting next to the exit door, happily as I was able to pull out my knitting and finish the dish cloth I'd started. 

At the Phoenix airport, our drop-off spot, I found the lower level for ground transportation and called the hotel for pick-up. Imagine my surprise when I learned I was at the VERY door I needed to be. The shuttle had actually just left the airport, but returned in about 20 minutes. Check-in was easy, and after dropping the bags in my room, I walked next door to the Waffle House for a late lunch. A burger and a sweet tea satisfied my appetite. 

I have the shuttle booked for 8:30 this morning. My flight isn't until 12:05 p.m. but I don't mind being there early, and the baggage drop-off should be open by 9 a.m. I've already checked in for the flight. I'm expecting to arrive in Calgary about 3:15 p.m. and my next flight to Regina departs around 6:30 p.m. That will give me plenty of time to get through customs, have a bite to eat, and find my gate. I'll be back in the city about 9 p.m. (local time). Then it will be a bit of a wait for luggage and a cab ride to my son's - I should walk through the door by 10 p.m. Wish me luck... as delays are quite normal with WestJet. 

Have a great week ahead, everyone!