Category Archives: Palm Springs

Not So Good Memories…

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This was the entrance to our Palm Springs home of 28 years — inside our courtyard.

The courtyard photo above is inside this big gate.

We do have wonderful memories living there. When we moved in, I was pregnant with our first child. We raised our kids here and it was the only home they had growing up. We had swim banquets in the backyard. Plus, lots of kids over to play hide and seek and a game called sardines. We had several prom dinners and get togethers, too. So much good stuff.

But the last two years, 2019 and 2020, things changed. I was reminded of this with the creepy videos from Nancy Guthries Nest camera.

We had our own creepy guy. This is him. We called the police when we found him asleep in our courtyard on the steps to the backyard. For the first time in 26 years, we had to close our wooden gates daily and at night. They had metal rods that fell into the ground and could only be opened from the inside — or so we thought.

The police said his name was Marco and that he was harmless. But he thought he bought our house and left us notes that he’d physically remove us. My thoughts were that he was harmless until he wasn’t!

The pounding you hear is Marco breaking through the gates. Then he’d move to the steps and archway and pound on that lock.

He was relentless. Once he moved a barbecue into our courtyard. Every time we’d travel, I’d check the Nest feed and there he was. I’d go for walks to the park and when I’d return, Marco was in our yard. We had a friend’s daughter house and cat-sit for us while we were on vacation. She found a pile of blankets and called to ask if they were ours. No. She was terrified and her dad took over.

A neighbor helped us install padlocks on the gate. This is Marco checking out the gate in the daytime.

This was not top of mind until the Nancy Guthrie videos were shown. It’s scary to think there are so many people wandering around people’s houses at night. The police felt sorry for me because I was so frightened. They’d take Marco to jail and he’d be right back within two days. There wasn’t anything the police could do.

I prefer visitors like the bobcat above entering my yard, compared to Marco. I’m happy to be out in the wilds of Arizona with wildlife and not living downtown in Palm Springs.

Have you had strangers in your yard like Marco? If so, what did you do?

What are your thoughts about the Nancy Guthrie story?

Beautiful Palm Springs

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This is a photo of the beautiful backdrop of Palm Springs, Mt. San Jacinto, from Ruth Hardy Park, which was a few blocks from our old home.

Why am I writing and posting photos of Palm Springs again?

Because I was there Friday through Sunday. It’s beyond gorgeous looking out the airport windows to the mountain. I forgot how much I missed that!

The night before we left, one of my best friends called and asked if she could pick me up at the airport. She’s the friend who helped us move five years ago. True friends. I wrote about that move HERE.

I was going to take a Lyft to my dad’s skilled nursing facility, but my dear friend drove me and came inside to surprise Dad. He was thrilled to see her. My dad was hospitalized several weeks ago and sent to skilled nursing to rehab. He realized at age 93 and 11 months that he can no longer live alone. It was a relief that he came to this conclusion on his own.

Friday accomplishments: Dad signed power of attorney to me. Dad listed his home with realtors we met in his home Friday. It was a long day for both of us!

The next door neighbors helped all weekend, too, popping in and out. They’ve looked out for Dad for three years.

Saturday was another long day meeting movers and getting them scheduled for Tuesday. Dad will be discharged from skilled nursing and needs a place to sleep by Wednesday night! I tagged what Dad wants moved including artwork, lamps, bed, dresser, dishes, clothing, etc. with yellow stickies.

I taught my dad how to use Lyft, in the event he decides to sell his car 🙏. Also, assisted living will drive residents wherever they want to go — at anytime without charge.

The realtors will schedule Angel View Thrift Shop to pick up everything left behind and prep the house for photos and to show. I don’t have to be there!

I’m exhausted. But Saturday morning I started the day with a walk and coffee with another Palm Springs good friend. We swam masters together, plus our daughters were friends from pre K through high school and beyond. My daughter was a bridesmaid in Kira’s wedding this past summer.

Here’s a crazy coincidence:

My daughter told me yesterday that she visited Kira on Saturday. On the way, my daughter got off on the wrong BART stop (Bay Area Rapid Transit). My daughter was frustrated with her mistake and was looking down at her phone to figure out what to do next. She looked up and saw Kira’s younger sister standing in front of her! The two got back on BART and went to Kira’s house together.

At the same time I was walking and having coffee with my friend, my daughter was with Kira and her sister (my friend’s daughters!)

What could have been a really tough weekend turned out to be special and possible — thanks to friends.

This was our home of 28 years downtown Palm Springs. Our backyard and French doors face Mt. San Jacinto, so we had great views.

This is Tahquitz Canyon Way. We had great views of Mt. San Jacinto on our morning walks.

Also, a great view Sunday morning of the Tahquitz Witch.

What is the Tahquitz Witch?

Cahuilla shaman named Tquits (or Tahquitz), is a malevolent figure from Southern California Native American lore, often appearing as a fiery ball or shadow in Tahquitz Canyon near Palm Springs, said to steal souls and cause strange phenomena like rumbling or earthquakes, with the legend popularized by stories and books, including a local horror tale about a witch-shadow that scares children. 

The Legend Explained

  • The Shaman’s Fall: Tahquitz was a powerful shaman who used his abilities for evil, angering his people, who eventually banished him to a cave in the San Jacinto Mountains, near Tahquitz Canyon.
  • His Spirit: After his defeat by a chief, Tahquitz’s spirit was bound to the canyon and mountains, becoming a source of fear and mystery, notes the YouTube video and the Los Angeles Times.
  • Manifestations: Believers say he appears as:
    • A large, green fireball or shooting star in the night sky.
    • A shadow or silhouette cast on the canyon rocks at certain times.
    • Causes strange ground shaking, rumbling, or animal sounds in the canyon. 
    • The “Witch” Aspect
  • While Tahquitz is a male shaman, the “Witch of Tahquitz” is a common local nickname, especially in children’s tales, describing a witch-like shadow figure that snatches misbehaving children. –AI OVERVIEW

Links to Tahquitz Witch articles:

Beware of the Tahquitz Witch

The Witch of Tahquitz Canyon: October 2020

When have friends helped you out with something significant or simple?

What local legends do you have for your area?

Five Years Ago

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Cactus Arizona sunset
Sunset in the neighborhood.

Five years ago this week we moved from sunny Palm Springs, California to sunny Arizona!

I wrote several posts about leaving my home of 28 years. It was stressful, sad, yet exciting. We had some snafus along the way. The movers didn’t bring a large enough moving van for all our stuff. They had to rent a U Haul. With everyone leaving California, they couldn’t find one close by. They had to rent one from San Diego.

We arrived in our new home without our stuff. (But we had a sedated Olive kitty, who was not a good traveler.) Fortunately, we had purchased the furniture in the casita from the prior owners, so we had a place to sleep! And I smartly packed bedding in one of our cars, plus overnight bags with changes of clothing.

Our stuff eventually caught up with us.

Here’s one of the posts from five years ago:

Moving On To Excitement

The past month, I’ve been all over the place emotionally. I’ve been through shock, disbelief, sadness, regret and anxiety. But I woke up today and I’ve moved on. I’m feeling the anticipation of a new adventure. I haven’t moved since 1992 and I’m excited for a new experience.

I don’t know what happened to change my point of view. It may be that the escrows are going well and it looks like all will close this week on both ends of the move. So that takes a chunk out of the anxiety. We worked really hard the past two weeks, packing, throwing stuff out and making daily trips to Angel View Thrift Store — and the end is in sight.

I wish my daughter would come and help us move. But with the state in a new COVID shut down until after Christmas, she viewed the flight home and driving one of our cars to Arizona for us as not “essential.” Of course, I viewed that differently. But I do understand. She doesn’t want to get us old folks sick. She doesn’t want to get her brother and significant other sick, either.

We were surprised by one of our dear Piranha Swim Team family friends who offered to help us out. They volunteered to drive one of our cars. We didn’t even have to ask. That makes me appreciate the life we’ve had here, the friendships that are so true and valuable.

We’ve been blessed and I am ready to move on, knowing those friendships will continue.

fountain with plants
Our Palm Springs yard all prettied up for sale.

What moves have you made? Did you experience mixed emotions?

What were you doing five years ago?

PT, Point of View and Photography

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I caught my favorite model taking off in flight. That was exciting for me. Much more so than PT.

I’m going to a Physical Therapy place twice a week. In the beginning, I was fine with it. But by the time I’d get home, which is 20 minutes away, I started to hurt. I didn’t ice the first couple visits because the appointments were during my husband’s work hours and I didn’t want to take up more of his time (which he said didn’t matter.) Oh well.

Now my appointments are in the afternoon, and I’m asking for ice. It’s helping. But what I really miss is the Game Ready machine my physical therapist had back in the Palm Springs area. The Game Ready is a game changer!

My husband asked if they had one and they said they aren’t very common here as they are in California. What’s a Game Ready you ask? It’s an ice machine that pumps cold into a sleeve you wear and it also adds compression. It is amazing. I used one after I fell skiing and had my ACL replaced.

Mrs. in our backyard enjoying bird seed.

I had a bad experience Monday when my assigned PT guy wasn’t there. The PT works my ankles with massage and stretches. I got a sub who did just as fine. When the PT is done, I get passed off to an assistant to guide me through exercises. The day which wasn’t so great, I got passed off two times to assistants and landed with one who was working with five patients at once. Needless to say, I did a lot of sitting, trying to get attention, and not getting any corrections or anyone watching me.

Back at “home” in Palm Springs, my PT office was owned by two former collegiate athletes — swimmers and women — who watched me every moment. That’s my comparison.

And they invested the money to have a row of Game Ready ice machines. Oh yeah.

Red striking a pose.

I was frustrated when I got home. I called two friends and asked about their PT, thinking I might need a change. I called the kids, as well. Anyway, before calling my surgeon to complain, I decided to keep my Wednesday afternoon appointment and go with an open mind. (She had said to let her know if there were any issues with PT). Maybe my Monday appointment was a one off and Wednesday would be fine.

We have two new families of baby quail visiting our yard. They have six babies each!

Fortunately, it was a good appointment. I got attention, corrections and wasn’t left alone. I believe it’s essential to face something with a good attitude and open mind. I could have gone to PT with a negative point of view and my outcome would most likely have been bad.

What are your thoughts about point of view, attitude and keeping an open mind?

The Snowbirds

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I saw this book cover on a blog I follow called Carla Loves to Read.

It immediately gave me a Palm Springs vibe. The pink wall, the palm trees, the pool. Plus Snowbirds. That’s what we called the influx of visitors or seasonal residents from the cold snowy north and east.

I read the review and yes, the story takes place in Palm Springs — where I lived for more than 30 years and raised my children.

I wanted to buy it in paperback, but no, it’s not out in paperback yet. I didn’t want to spend the money — or have the heavy lifting involved with reading a hardcover. I went to Audible and downloaded it. I’ve listened to it during the past couple days and finished it over the weekend.

What I liked best was not the story, but all the details about Palm Springs. The author captured many of my favorite haunts like the Indian Canyons, Smoke Tree Ranch, Melvyn’s and even Revivals thrift store. Although somewhat stereotyped, the author captured the gay community, elderly population and homeless. I also enjoyed how the spirit of Palm Springs was portrayed. Endless sunny days and everyone living as though they are on vacation.

Here’s the notes from Amazon:

INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER! | “A riveting exploration of midlife yearning.” ―People

The Last Thing He Told Me meets Fleishman Is in Trouble in this page-turning story of a couple who flee winter in the Midwest for Palm Springs, where they find their relationship at a crossroads.

Kim and Grant are at a turning point. A couple for thirty years, their “separate but together” partnership is running up against the realities of late middle age: Grant’s mother has died, the college where he taught philosophy was shuttered, and their twin girls are grown and gone. Escaping the bitter cold of a Midwestern winter for the hot desert sun of Palm Springs seems as good a solution as any to the more intractable problems they face.

When they arrive at Le Desert, a quirky condo community where everyone knows everyone’s business, Kim immediately embraces the opportunity to make new friends and explore a more adventurous side of her personality. Meanwhile, Grant struggles to find his footing in this unfamiliar landscape, leaving Kim to wonder if their relationship can survive the snowbird season. But when Grant goes missing on a hike in the Palm Springs mountains, Kim is forced to consider two terrifying outcomes: either Grant is truly lost, or this time, he’s really left her.

Is it ever too late to become the person we wanted to be―and is there still time to change into someone better? The exhilarating, but often confusing transitions of midlife are pitched against the promise and glamour of Palm Springs in this tender, honest story of what it takes to commit to someone for a lifetime. With compassion and humor, Clancy explores the redemptive power of finding ourselves, and of being found.

The only thing I didn’t like about the Audible version was the pronunciation of Mt. San Jacinto. San Jacinto is the dramatic backdrop to Palm Springs. The “J” is pronounced as “H.” The readers on Audible used a hard “J.” I think they need to do a little homework before releasing a reading of a book.

San Jacinto Palm Springs
This is the view of Mt. San Jacinto from the park by my former home.

Do you like audio books, kindles, paperbacks or hardcovers best and why?

Remembering Olive

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Kitten Olive with her best friend Angus, may they both rest in peace.

It’s been a sad few days for me. But I’m forcing myself to go outside and walk. I also spent time going through all the Olive photos on my iphone. I’m sharing some of my favorites here today.

Olive enjoying the Palm Springs lifestyle.

angry kat shreds tp
Olive in a negative mood

Olive found herself locked in the car. I have no idea how that happened. She was deathly afraid of cars and hated them.

A picture taken by my daughter on one of Olive’s first days with us.

Below is Olive enjoying indoor/outdoor life in Palm Springs.

Indoor Arizona life.

My favorite photo of Olive.

Closet cruising.

A stowaway in my suitcase.

My pretty kitty.

One of Olive’s favorite things to do. Harass the quail.

Which is your favorite Olive photo? And why?

It’s the Little Things in Life that Count

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I knew exactly what I wanted to write about for today. But it involved my daughter, so I called her to ask permission. Her response, “Mom, I’m a person. I’m not content.”

Well, so then I didn’t know what to write about. So, I looked back on old posts and found this one from 2017 when we lived in Palm Springs. I find many of these little things in life make me happy –even though my views may have changed.

IMG_3210The view from our pool makes me happy.

I’m proud of myself today, because I started off the week with 5:30 a.m. practice. I’ve been trying to get up, half-heartedly I’ll admit, for the past month but the comfort of bed is just too much for me at 5 a.m. An extra hour of sleep usually wins out. But, today I did it. I made it to practice on time, began my workout in the dark and found joy in watching the views of the sunrise and pink-hued mountain change color during my workout.

I find a lot of happiness and excitement in the little things in my days. Our lives are made of small moments strung together and if we spend too much time worrying or focusing on the past or future, we miss the little bits of joy in the present. IMG_6878

Happiness is my daughter with her puppy.

Here’s a list of moments that make me truly happy:

Hearing the birds sing early in the morning.

My fourth flip turn during my second 200 at practice this morning. I nailed it.

Having lunch yesterday with a good friend and spending a few hours catching up with our lives.

Noticing that a family member got their dish off the table, into the sink and miracle of miracles—into the dishwasher.

Olive the cat honoring me with her presence and stretching out for a cat nap while I’m laying on my side. I have to be careful not to move, so she doesn’t fall off.

IMG_6921

Olive the cat in our back yard.

My kids calling just to talk. They aren’t asking for anything and there’s nothing big going on.

Sitting under an orange tree in my back yard reading a really good book.

Walking with my husband and marveling at the beauty surrounding us on a weekend morning.

Reading a positive comment on one of my articles.

Checking things off my to-do list and feeling productive.

img_7015.jpgBeautiful views of bougainvillea.

What little things in your life make you happy? What little things in your life make your day?