I did it, I made the drive to Palm Springs from Ventura...
I had my new enV phone from Verizon, freshly charged, and off I went. Three hours later, tired, and feeling hot even with AC in my crappy Honda, I stopped to get a cup of coffee before heading the rest of the way in to the desert.
What made the drive three hours and not closer to four was the new 210 East -- goes all the way to Redlands now, which doesn't mean anything to those of you reading this on the east coast but for those of us who go back and forth, or used to, from the desert to the LA area, it means less traffic, and a shorter drive.
Pulled in to Palm Springs, took Vista Chino, a street that used to be a favorite short cut of mine and pulled over to one side near the junior high that son Tod ( todgoldberg.com) attended. My goal wasn't to pick up some 12 year old, but rather to call the realtor to alert him to let me in to the condo I had rented.
DEAD PHONE! Gees, new phone and that was the second time it had died on me after being fully charged. So then, I started the scavenger hunt to find a pay phone. When was the last time you looked for a pay phone or used one? Been years for me and last time I used one, it was 25 cents. I finally found one in a Denny's Restaurant, pulled out my quarter only to find it now costs 75 cents to use the phones. What a ripoff! But, did get the realtor and he said he would leave the key under the door mat for me.
Now, this week, I will go over to Verizon and raise some hell. I had to keep my phone on the charger most of the time and never turn it off. When I turned it off is when it would die. How crappy is that??
What a wierd feeling it was to pull up to Villa Alejo. Know I have told you this before, but that is where my parents rented a condo from about 1962 until 1994 -- so a great many memories associated with that building that is one block from the famed Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.
The floor plan of the condo I had rented from an owner was the same floor plan as the one my parents had, and just a few doors down from their unit. I had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a big living room and kitchen and dining area, plus a washer and dryer and just me to use all that space.
I called my friend Lori -- we've been friends for over 40 years -- and she decided she would pack a little bag and come from her condo in Palm Desert and take a mini vacation with me at my rental.
We laughed about the condo. I swear it hadn't been redone since 1980 -- was like stepping back in time, but you know what, it was a nice step back. I was so totally calm there, so relaxed. I never turned on the t.v. for the entire week, had no computer with me -- I just sat on the deck a lot, read books, took naps, got some energy back.
Want to see a few photos? You really have no choice unless you log off now.
Download condo1.jpg What the heck happened??? No photo. My computer has been acting screwy, let me log off and reboot and I will be back.. try again to get the photos in and tell you more about my little get away.
It would be cool if you had photos of that condo again. Everyone's definitely gonna love stepping back in time, judging by how you've described your place. Not to mention, there are people who love seeing vintage stuff.
Posted by: Colby Moore | July 26, 2011 at 01:37 PM