Lunch with Helen

We had lunch with Helen today and those of you who know us or those who have read previous entries on this blog will know who she is ... the owners of the hotel in Palm Springs where she stays (The Chase) for 5 months every year insist she's 102. We don't believe it ourselves. 92, yes but 102? it could be true. She talks of a younger sister who lived in Palm Springs from 1935-1939 when there was NOTHING here except a few horses, a Post Office and miles of desert. Of course, the odd film stars home. They had to travel to Banning for the nearest hospital. Where the Desert Regional Medical Center is now used to be the El Mirador Hotel, famous for it's film star clientele.
Helen is always a joy. We took her to Manhattan in the Desert for lunch and those of you who have been there will know of the enormous portions. We thought Manhattan in the Desert might be an appropriate place to take her as she worked most of her life in Manhattan and she is very familiar with deli's. One complaint .. the back dining room is too noisy. We will see her once more before she goes home, March 17th, St Paddy's day. I wonder if she'll be back or if this is the last time.

Forced to buy a big one ..

Well folks, here it is, our new ice making machine, the smallest we could buy to comply with the Riverside County Health Authorities new ruling ... did they offer us a cheap or no interest loan? No of course not ... $4565 we had to find from somewhere to comply else they would close us down. The one under the window is our old (outdated)ice maker which has served us well and is now on Craigs List for $600.we've had a few offers and someone is coming tomorrow to have a look. it's a bargain!!!
As you can see from the first photo, at night we get a light show! Wow give me another gin!!!

Stop the press .... a new picture on our web site

Here it is, a new picture on our web site, "Through the Stocks" looking east (with apologies to Lewis Carroll!). Thanks to Ed Walsh of the Bay Area reporter for the idea. Check out the B.A.R. 28th January 2010 page 9. Thanks Ed.

I've never seen one quite as big before!!!!

Pizza, that is, dirty minds!!!! Three of our guests ordered the extra large Pizza Supreme from NYPD (New York Pizza Delivery) in Palm Springs. Boy, were they suprised ... we all were very impressed. Anyway, by 2am there was nothing left!!! Well, we now know what to order when we have a party .. two of these will feed 50 people!!

Saw a funny thing!!

I just had to share this ... I went down to Smart & Final yesterday to buy some coffee. Taped onto the entrance door there was a printed notice announcing a Coloring Competion for African American!! I kid you not. Our friend Pete has volunteerd to go down there and either steal it or take picture of it. I mean, what were they thinking!!!!

Oh, I nearly forgot!! Somebody who writes an article each week in the Desert Daily Guide (a gay guide to Palm Springs), wrote an article this week concerning all the things we should be grateful for living in Palm Springs. The list includes Michael Jacksons ranch was in Santa Barbara, no parking meters, roadrunners, a very understanding police force when they pull you over for an alleged Driving Under the Influence, hummingbirds, the tram, Stuart and Ian, WHATSAYWHAt?? So, we have no idea who this person is, I mean, nobody is called Caulden Holfield are they??

100% full on a Sunday!!!

Good heavens!!! 100% full on a Sunday night! Never heard of before and it's February. Why? Chub Fest of course ... they are enjoying themselves so much they won't leave but hey ho it pays the mortgage!!

Raining on Chub Fest weekend .. again!!!

It rained here this time last year! I said I would let you know how the Chub Fest weekend is going. Well, just when you think you've seen the biggest man on earth, a bigger one shows up!!! The boys are in from Canada (Montreal), France, Germany, New Zealand and of course USofA. USA is the gold medal winner hands down right now (no suprises there) with New Zealand coming in a close second. I think they've all checked in now. Imagine flying from New Zealand squeezed into a seat with the silver medal winner in the seat next to you!! Oh Boy .. No photos, sorry! One of our guests went down to the gate to let in his gentleman caller and locked himself out, almost bare assed naked. Well, he was bare assed naked as he was only wearing a very short T-shirt!!! Good job this is a very quiet street and not much traffic but I expect it gave the recoving alcoholics opposite something to stare at and break the monotony.

Did you all catch Pink's performance at the Grammys? If not, do yourself a favour and check it out. It's been pulled from You-Tube but it's available on other sites.

Blogging again!!

Well, here I am finally!!! I know this is supposed to be a blog about Chaps Inn but I am going to digress ... I drove into my job at W.M. Creations in North Hollywood on Monday and back here Wednesday. What a difference with the weather (see previous blog). The journey usually takes 1hr 45mins more or less. Coming home it took 3 hours, the longest time in almost 10 years!! Not a bad record I suppose. An accident on the 10 freeway, of course! I went to Jack in the Box in Calimesa for something because I left without lunch, joined the freeway and was sailing along when suddenly a row of stop lights and all 3 lanes ground to a halt. Stop go stop go. The accident was at the Beaumont exit now 3 lanes down to 2. Police, fire, ambulance, you name it I'm sure the lifeguard was there somewhere! Once we got past the accident it was like a burst boil ... everybody now wanting to make up for lost time ... watch out, coming through, me first get out of my way! Madness!!!

Went for dinner at John and Angela's (J&A) Monday night the first after they returned from their Christmas break in England. Yumoh! Turkey lasagne. Tommy and Scott were there and we had a good laugh as always. Good company, good food, good conversation and a few glasses of wine. Who could ask for more.

OK and very briefly (I know how boring long blogs can be talking about burst boils) and if any of my Swedish friends read this, light switch, light switch! When Stuart and I lived in North Hollywood, 3 doors up the road lived a couple of guys, Gerry and Jerry. Turned out that Gerry was a masseur and Stuart and I would occasionally visit for a well earned massage. Suddenly their house was on the market, they sold it for a song (much to J&A's chagrin), and moved. We never knew where they moved to UNTIL I was browsing through the Frontiers magazine two weeks ago and I saw an add for a masseur in Studio City, called Gerry. Could it possibly be? What are the odds?No way! I called and it is the same Gerry! Wow, so I booked myself an appointment, 6pm Tuesday, $70 for an hour.He gave me 90 minutes! I will spare you all the details but he is as delightful as ever and has not lost his touch. Unfortunatley Jerry died last year from a heart attack. They had been together for 29 years.
So listen up gays!!! If you are ever in the San Fernando Valley and feel in need of a really good massage from a lovely bearded and handsome man, Gerry's the one for you. He is the only masseur I know who gets on the massage table with you!!!!!! I don't know how he does it but suddenly he's there!!Call me for details!!!!

Finally, this is Chub Fest weekend and we are filling up and today is only Thursday. People from French France and Montreal are here. I'll let you know how it goes!!