More fun in March

 

Company is all gone...so it is back to being a tourist and enjoying the desert.

 

Off to the Living Desert to see the cats again...here's the Puma that was playing "hide and seek" with Allan.  When Allan would walk away...the cat would coming charging.  Glad there was a thick glass between them, or he would have been "Puma meat".

 

...and the jaguar just enjoying the sunny afternoon.

 

Off to polo on Saturday 3-23, for the Polo d'Elegance Charity Match featuring Nacho Figueras, probably the most recognized polo player in the world...

 

...and the model for Ralph Lauren Polo.  I was there with all the girls (and women) when he was posing for pictures.

 

He definitely played to the crowd!

 

Then on Sunday 3-24, I played in the BNP Paribas Volunteer Tennis Tournament back at the Gardens.

 

Okay, so I don't look like Sharapova or Wozniacki...but at least I'm looking at the ball.

 

No meals planned at home this week.  Monday night a birthday Happy Hour at a neighbors...

 

Then the Volunteer Tennis banquet on Tuesday for all the 1,000 volunteers.

 

Lucille, Carolyn and I enjoyed it all.

 

Then Wednesday, Pat & Danae had a group over for "breaking in their new back yard" Happy Hour.

 

On Thursday, it was back to our house for grilled hamburgers for my ladies tennis group.

(They're all Canadians and are leaving soon...boo hoo!)

Here's Leona, Beate, me and Lucille.

 

Had spouses come, too.

 

My gals love the Almond Champagne, too.

 

Ended the evening at another neighbors for more hamburgers...whew...too much partying down here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March is Tennis and more!

The BNP Paribas Open...the tournament is starting.  Ellen arrived 3-3 to usher with me.

Here we are ready for work...we definitely stood out in our uniforms this year.

A very busy two weeks for everyone from tennis to socializing...got it all in.

 

First day in main stadium...watched Maria Sharapova practicing.  Very little grunting going on here.

 

Had friends from Tahoe for dinner, John & Gladys (who were here for the tournament, too). 

Carolyn, Ellen and Allan also.

 

Worked Stadium 2 this day...Kvitova playing and won. 

 

Another day...Roger practicing on neighboring court.

Took the picture from where I was working in Stadium 3...watched Roger more than my match.

 

Looked over to my left and there sat Gil Reyes, Andre Agassi's former trainer.  (The most famous person I met all week.)  He seemed surprised that I recognized him.   Ellen was working in the next section, so called her over to meet him, too.  We had a great time talking to him all about tennis and Andre.

 

Happy Hour (3-8) over at Leona's during the tournament.  (I think she felt sorry for us working girls.)

Here's Lucille, Leona, Carolyn, Beate, Me and Ellen.

Leona and Beate were the only 2 not working the tournament.

Was great not having to worry about eating this night.

The first week was our cool week...we're all sweatered up here!

 

Instead of tennis on Saturday (3-9) for Allan, he was off to his Cowboy Action Shooting competition at the Palm Springs Gun Club.  

Once there, you can only be called by your cowboy name...Allan's is "Tahoe Fats."

Looks like he just came off a movie set, huh?

 

Looked out one morning and saw Sooki trying to get the ducks that had landed in our water feature.

She spent a great deal of time climbing all over the rocks trying to figure a way to get to the ducks without getting wet...finally realizing it just wasn't going to happen.

 

Back to tennis...at the Main Stadium again (got this assignment 4 times)...here's Roger serving...

 

...and Djokovic.  Djokovic lost to Roger.

 

Took in the Radwanska...

 

Kirilenko (Allan's favorite) match. 

He only came to see her play...she won that day, but it was close.

 

Carol stayed out with us that day enjoying tennis.  It was a hot one!

 

Another day...got to see Roger again...

 

...playing Nadal. Unfortunately, Roger lost...Nadal ended up winning the whole tournament.

Guess you know who I was hoping would win.

 

Celebrated Allan's birthday out...at the Cliff House.

Allan thought he had died and gone to heaven having dinner with such pretty ladies!

 

And on Carol's last day in town...headed down to Palm Springs to see Marilyn.

 

She, Marilyn that is, is the main attraction down town.

 

The tennis tournament is over...had a busy two weeks, survived an earthquake, some very cool days where we were so bundled up you thought we were at Tahoe skiing, and some very hot days where we had to keep wet towels around our necks to keep us from fainting.  But it was all worth it in the end.   Ellen and I have already planned our schedule for next year.

 

Before she left we even worked in a Bee Gees Tribute concert. 

Afterwards we all felt like we had seen the original Bee Gees...they were amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Day at Catalina Island - Sat. 3-02-13

Continuing with my Birthday Celebration...

off to Catalina Island.

 

Booked the tour with Cardiff tours...headed out on a luxury bus to Long Beach early in the a.m. to catch the Catalina Express @ 10 a.m. to the island.

 

Passed by the Queen Mary as we were heading out of the harbor.

 

A beautiful day...nice and warm sitting outside on the deck.

 

Looking back onto Long Beach...with Old Glory swaying in the breeze.

 

Santa Catalina is one of the Channel Islands, a string of eight semi-submerged mountains off the Southern California coastline.

Coming into Avalon Harbor...a 22 mile crossing...only took an hour.

 

As we approach, I feel like we're in the Caribbean.  Here's the historic Catalina Casino.  The circular white Casino building, opened in 1929, and is Catalina's most recognizable sight.

Catalina was Hollywood's home away from home, and casino gigs were highly sought after. 

 

Arriving on the island.

 

A beach...are we in the Caribbean?  Beautiful blue waters, too.

 

Strolling over to the Casino...we see this fountain.

 

...and the beautiful gardens at the Casino.

 

 

The building's founder was chewing gum mogul William Wrigley, Jr. In 1919, he purchased controlling interest in the island and Catalina's modern history was sealed. He brought his Chicago Cubs baseball team here for spring training and hired big bands to play at the Casino in Avalon.

 

The Art Deco murals outside of the Casino are quite spectacular.

 

Are we sure we're not in the Caribbean? 

Scuba divers in full wet suit gear...it's got to be chilly in those waters!

 

Strolling back from the casino, we find these beautiful tiled walls.

 

My favorite...of course.

 

Lunch at Steve's Steakhouse...heard it was the best place for fish on the island. 

A steakhouse for fish?

 

The view from Steve's...

 

With four hours to explore the island...we headed up side streets...looks like New England here.

 

...and waterfront pubs...

 

...to the beaches.

 

Ended our stroll of Avalon at the Bison. 

The bison are a Catalina curiosity--14 of them were left here during the filming of a movie in 1924; now a herd of about 150 roam free.

 

Now we want to come back and spend more time on Catalina...there is more to see and explore here.

A great day!  And, I like it because it's like the "islands, mon."