Tuesday morning and I watch the two soccer games and am really enjoying the combination of a few hours of work watching soccer and not doing much in beautiful hot but desert heat weather. After the soccer and a quick lunch off for my eye examination which goes very well. No macular issues, none of the normal diabetic spots and only a minor change in my vision. Interestingly they don’t dilate the pupils any more they have a machine which can completely map the retina and rear of the eyeball.
I order one frame and two sets of lenses for less than my last frames alone cost and about 30-35% of what the package would have cost in Australia and equally importantly excellent results.
I meet Graeme for lunch which is hard as he is all over the place. I asked him what happiness looked like for him and he was unable to answer which was sad. Anyway I am mildly confident that it may get worked out as Penny is certainly committed to it happening. She is an angel and while I am sure she is part of the problem as is always the case she just wants him back. Anyway…….
Back for a short nap and then to Penny and Graeme’s where Penny has made lovely salsa, guacamole and chicken quesadillas which really hits the spot. I watch US Masterchef with Gordon Ramsay and back to the hotel.
Wednesday morning and another two soccer games after which I go to have a haircut only the sixth time in 37 years that Joseph has not cut my hair and after my haircut I remembered why I am so loyal. Not bad but…..
I go to a few stores and buy a few odds and ends and wind up at the Stingray Sushi at Scottsdale Commons.
Frighteningly I know my way around most of Phoenix without my GPS or maps but I have been here maybe 6 or 7 times so not too surprising. Also streets are laid out in an easy grid pattern with street numbers punctuated every 10 or so with a major 3 lane each way road. No traffic issues at all in Scottsdale. Food was good especially lobster tempura.
Next morning but today only one soccer game Italy/Croatia before I head out for lunch with Penny. A great salad of greens, pecans, blue cheese, grapes etc – very yummy. Penny and I drive around and mooch including a Judaica shop.
Back to the hotel for a teleconference and then Dominic’s for dinner.
While on my computer I book a restaurant for lunch on Saturday and notice:
LOCAL OYSTERS
Cocktail Sauce, Mignonette, Horseradish
Half Dozen 15
One Dozen 35
Think I will have two half dozen serves. Anyway that’s for another day.
Friday is driving day. It is a six hour drive from Phoenix to Los Angeles – boring as.....
Drive goes smoothly with a drive through Palm Springs which I quite liked to the look of. The contrast of the rocky desert mountain with the lush green gardens and beautiful houses is interesting. While there I stop for a lunch at a Mexican Restaurant with a Mariachi Band. I ordered the small serve of Nachos – yeah small, I managed to eat less than a quarter of it don’t think my three dogs could have finished the rest between them.
I stopped at a 130+ shop factory outlet but didn’t buy anything but I would have been interested in the Armani Suit reduced from $1195 to $300 if they had my size – Oh well I know the solution for that. On that note I feel heavy but don’t think I have put on any weight. Haven’t eat much crap like chocolate or such at all but have eaten well at some great restaurants.
David is having an interview for a sound engineering course he would like to finish and the interviewer has come from San Diego especially to meet with him. David keeps messaging me to come and rescue him but after 2.5 hours we meet up for dinner at Farmers Market. It has been maybe 20 years since I went to Farmers Market so I walk there (1.3km) and we have a light meal at a French Eatery. There is a lovely looking precinct around the market called The Grove which I wouldn’t mind exploring some time - lovely looking shops, live bands, movie theatres etc.
Home for some much needed sleep after a long drive. Next morning I pick David up from his place in Torrance (30kms) and we drive down to Laguna Beach (40kms) to help a friend of his a Priest move house to Huntington Beach. I love doing things like this because I get to meet new people. He is a 53 Priest at a gay parish in North Hollywood and has just split up from his 26 year old boyfriend and is moving out of their apartment. I learn about the breakdown of his relationship which is quite interesting.
He knows an awful lot about Judaism and jokingly says the Borucha for wine before his drink at lunch. He explains that he was brought up in Michigan where the church was opposite the Shul. One day there was an arson attack on the Synagogue and the Priest at the church raced over and managed to save the Torahs before firemen arrived. They then allowed the Synagogue use part of the church for two years while they were rebuilding.
We lunch at the Montage at Laguna Beach while watching Greece beat Russia and advance, with Czech Republic to the knockout stage of Euro 2012.
Back to the hotel to change where David picks me up and we go to see Iris by Cirque du Soleil. Dinner was a very poor excuse, nay the worst possible excuse for a Chevre Chaud (warm goats cheese salad) accompanies from a Tomato soup (from a can) – worst meal for a long time.
I thought I was over Cirque du Soleil but this got good reviews so I was keen. The show, the athleticism and the themes were awesome. I would certainly recommend it to anybody visiting Los Angeles.
We then head to WeHo (West Hollywood) and a nightclub called the Abbey, a mainly gay but somewhat mixed nightclub. Apparently Beyonce and Lady GaGa had just left. Mercifully I am not the oldest person there as the crowd is VERY mixed, older younger, male female. I am guessing a drug raid would have proved very fruitful.
I estimate that there are 2,000 people, maybe more, partying hard to loud electro style music which was enjoyable notwithstanding that it was totally impossible to speak with anybody. How did I know it was mixed – there were male AND female lap dancers having $1 bills stuffed into their G-Strings – how did I know mainly gay – One female and maybe four male such dancers.
Back to the hotel where I order a Caesar salad notwithstanding that it is 01:00 and off to sleep.
As I am leaving the USA tomorrow night and don’t have much planned this will be my last blog for this trip.
I really enjoyed almost everything about this trip. Being with friends throughout was really good - Nye/Ally, kids and Alex in St Petersburg, David who has been very generous with his time in Los Angeles and Penny/Graeme in Phoenix. This is quite rare for me so it was a lovely change.
The beauty and history of St Petersburg, the new to me gay scene in Los Angeles as well as exploring wonderful new Parts of the city that I had heard of and had never visited and the relaxing desert heat (40 degrees every day) all added to a trip that turned out to be much better than I had planned.
The only thing I wish I had done this trip – learned better and earlier how to use the StP metro system – oh and avoided the tinned soup and crappy salad.
Next trip is in 30 days when I spend 3 days in Shanghai, work (ok I call it work) for 10 days at a bridge tournament 60kms outside Shanghai, 3 days in Paris followed by two weeks work (again I call it work) at the World Bridge Championships in Shanghai followed by three days where I am thinking of driving back to Paris through the Loire Valley and then home for the rest of the year.
Yes you doubters I will not bother locking my passport away as that would be a wasted effort as I have a possible week in Bali in October/November but no plans for a major trip. Well I am considering South America in January including Peru, Columbia and maybe even Venezuela where I have a bridge friend Perlita Sultana a lovely Jewish Lady who I am sure would love to show me around.
Next year bridge will likely see me do Las Vegas/Phoenix in May and World Championships in Bali in October but who knows what lies around the corner.
Thanks to those of you have followed my blogs and sorry for any boring bits and pieces.
Love to all
David
I order one frame and two sets of lenses for less than my last frames alone cost and about 30-35% of what the package would have cost in Australia and equally importantly excellent results.
I meet Graeme for lunch which is hard as he is all over the place. I asked him what happiness looked like for him and he was unable to answer which was sad. Anyway I am mildly confident that it may get worked out as Penny is certainly committed to it happening. She is an angel and while I am sure she is part of the problem as is always the case she just wants him back. Anyway…….
Back for a short nap and then to Penny and Graeme’s where Penny has made lovely salsa, guacamole and chicken quesadillas which really hits the spot. I watch US Masterchef with Gordon Ramsay and back to the hotel.
Wednesday morning and another two soccer games after which I go to have a haircut only the sixth time in 37 years that Joseph has not cut my hair and after my haircut I remembered why I am so loyal. Not bad but…..
I go to a few stores and buy a few odds and ends and wind up at the Stingray Sushi at Scottsdale Commons.
Frighteningly I know my way around most of Phoenix without my GPS or maps but I have been here maybe 6 or 7 times so not too surprising. Also streets are laid out in an easy grid pattern with street numbers punctuated every 10 or so with a major 3 lane each way road. No traffic issues at all in Scottsdale. Food was good especially lobster tempura.
Next morning but today only one soccer game Italy/Croatia before I head out for lunch with Penny. A great salad of greens, pecans, blue cheese, grapes etc – very yummy. Penny and I drive around and mooch including a Judaica shop.
Back to the hotel for a teleconference and then Dominic’s for dinner.
While on my computer I book a restaurant for lunch on Saturday and notice:
LOCAL OYSTERS
Cocktail Sauce, Mignonette, Horseradish
Half Dozen 15
One Dozen 35
Think I will have two half dozen serves. Anyway that’s for another day.
Friday is driving day. It is a six hour drive from Phoenix to Los Angeles – boring as.....
Drive goes smoothly with a drive through Palm Springs which I quite liked to the look of. The contrast of the rocky desert mountain with the lush green gardens and beautiful houses is interesting. While there I stop for a lunch at a Mexican Restaurant with a Mariachi Band. I ordered the small serve of Nachos – yeah small, I managed to eat less than a quarter of it don’t think my three dogs could have finished the rest between them.
I stopped at a 130+ shop factory outlet but didn’t buy anything but I would have been interested in the Armani Suit reduced from $1195 to $300 if they had my size – Oh well I know the solution for that. On that note I feel heavy but don’t think I have put on any weight. Haven’t eat much crap like chocolate or such at all but have eaten well at some great restaurants.
David is having an interview for a sound engineering course he would like to finish and the interviewer has come from San Diego especially to meet with him. David keeps messaging me to come and rescue him but after 2.5 hours we meet up for dinner at Farmers Market. It has been maybe 20 years since I went to Farmers Market so I walk there (1.3km) and we have a light meal at a French Eatery. There is a lovely looking precinct around the market called The Grove which I wouldn’t mind exploring some time - lovely looking shops, live bands, movie theatres etc.
Home for some much needed sleep after a long drive. Next morning I pick David up from his place in Torrance (30kms) and we drive down to Laguna Beach (40kms) to help a friend of his a Priest move house to Huntington Beach. I love doing things like this because I get to meet new people. He is a 53 Priest at a gay parish in North Hollywood and has just split up from his 26 year old boyfriend and is moving out of their apartment. I learn about the breakdown of his relationship which is quite interesting.
He knows an awful lot about Judaism and jokingly says the Borucha for wine before his drink at lunch. He explains that he was brought up in Michigan where the church was opposite the Shul. One day there was an arson attack on the Synagogue and the Priest at the church raced over and managed to save the Torahs before firemen arrived. They then allowed the Synagogue use part of the church for two years while they were rebuilding.
We lunch at the Montage at Laguna Beach while watching Greece beat Russia and advance, with Czech Republic to the knockout stage of Euro 2012.
Back to the hotel to change where David picks me up and we go to see Iris by Cirque du Soleil. Dinner was a very poor excuse, nay the worst possible excuse for a Chevre Chaud (warm goats cheese salad) accompanies from a Tomato soup (from a can) – worst meal for a long time.
I thought I was over Cirque du Soleil but this got good reviews so I was keen. The show, the athleticism and the themes were awesome. I would certainly recommend it to anybody visiting Los Angeles.
We then head to WeHo (West Hollywood) and a nightclub called the Abbey, a mainly gay but somewhat mixed nightclub. Apparently Beyonce and Lady GaGa had just left. Mercifully I am not the oldest person there as the crowd is VERY mixed, older younger, male female. I am guessing a drug raid would have proved very fruitful.
I estimate that there are 2,000 people, maybe more, partying hard to loud electro style music which was enjoyable notwithstanding that it was totally impossible to speak with anybody. How did I know it was mixed – there were male AND female lap dancers having $1 bills stuffed into their G-Strings – how did I know mainly gay – One female and maybe four male such dancers.
Back to the hotel where I order a Caesar salad notwithstanding that it is 01:00 and off to sleep.
As I am leaving the USA tomorrow night and don’t have much planned this will be my last blog for this trip.
I really enjoyed almost everything about this trip. Being with friends throughout was really good - Nye/Ally, kids and Alex in St Petersburg, David who has been very generous with his time in Los Angeles and Penny/Graeme in Phoenix. This is quite rare for me so it was a lovely change.
The beauty and history of St Petersburg, the new to me gay scene in Los Angeles as well as exploring wonderful new Parts of the city that I had heard of and had never visited and the relaxing desert heat (40 degrees every day) all added to a trip that turned out to be much better than I had planned.
The only thing I wish I had done this trip – learned better and earlier how to use the StP metro system – oh and avoided the tinned soup and crappy salad.
Next trip is in 30 days when I spend 3 days in Shanghai, work (ok I call it work) for 10 days at a bridge tournament 60kms outside Shanghai, 3 days in Paris followed by two weeks work (again I call it work) at the World Bridge Championships in Shanghai followed by three days where I am thinking of driving back to Paris through the Loire Valley and then home for the rest of the year.
Yes you doubters I will not bother locking my passport away as that would be a wasted effort as I have a possible week in Bali in October/November but no plans for a major trip. Well I am considering South America in January including Peru, Columbia and maybe even Venezuela where I have a bridge friend Perlita Sultana a lovely Jewish Lady who I am sure would love to show me around.
Next year bridge will likely see me do Las Vegas/Phoenix in May and World Championships in Bali in October but who knows what lies around the corner.
Thanks to those of you have followed my blogs and sorry for any boring bits and pieces.
Love to all
David
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