Hot & Salty

Since I last wrote a blog entry, I've been chilling in Palm Desert and getting some real quality time with my Granny and Poppi (G&P).  It's been 111 degrees almost daily but I've been surviving...luckily, we've got a killer AC system here at the Marriott Desert Springs.  Some of the  highlights with G&P have been:  Talking to the ducks that come right up to the terrace outside of our room, cutting a tooth on my upper gums, climbing into the fire place and getting soot all over my hands and face, attempting to climb up stairs, learning how to count to 5 and then slapping a high five, and my very first boat ride!  The main hotel here has these boats that you can ride on around the property.  In theory this sounded super fun.  But when we got to the front of the line and some tall man started strapping me into a floatie vest I started to loose my cool.  What the hell are you planning to do with me?  Dump me in the water?  Why do I need to wear this restricting, uncomfortable and bulky vest that looks totally dorky?  I'm trying to pick up the ladies in line...you're making me look bad!  The good news is, the gals who got on the boat with me had to wear the same type of vests.  So at least I wasn't singled out.  When the boat got moving I settled down and started to enjoy the ride.  As the wind blew through my golden locks I felt alive and free like a bird.  When the boat started to make it's way back to dock I got pretty excited and start to cry.  I didn't want the ride to end!

Yesterday we took a day trip over to Palm Springs.  Only a 20 minute drive, it was so nice to ride by the mountains to downtown Palm Springs for a walk and some lunch.  Mom was explaining to me that Boobie Frieda and Zaidy Simon used to rent a condo here every year for about 12 years.  They used to bring my mom sometimes and this is where she learned how to swim.  Lots of memories for the Traub family here.  Boobie F had told us about a place called Hamburger Hamlet.  Used to be her favorite.  So we were dying to check it out.  We quickly found it but unfortunately it had closed :(  The sign was still up on the back of the restaurant so we took a snapshot to send to Boobie F so she would know we tried it out.  We played it off that it still existed...but she's too swift and she figured it out!

Since Hamburger Hamlet was no longer serving food we had to find an alternate spot for some lunch.  So we started walking and found a joint called Ruby's.  It's a 50's style diner and had a train rolling around the ceiling.  Works for me!  Being the yenta (remember from Aruba?  This means one who has to know EVERYTHING) I wanted out of the stroller and into a lap where I can see everyone.  Granny had the pleasure of holding me through lunch since she wasn't very hungry and only ordered an ice cream.  Well big mistake!  Sounded like it would be easy to hold me in one hand and an ice cream in another...and normally it would be easy EXCEPT I wanted that ice cream - bad!  Gimme some Granny - gimme some!  Sorry pal, Mama is not letting me give you sugar...no can do buddy boy!  Ah rats.  Ma - you are soooo lame!  Son, you'll thank me one day she said.  When you don't have rotten teeth!  Whatever.

That evening we went to dinner at the outback.  Once again I thought it would be fun to party with the big kids through dinner and avoid going to sleep.  So to keep me quiet Ma gave me some of the pumpernickel bread that was served at the table.  Not really fair considering she got to eat a blooming onion that smelled divine but I couldn't really argue!

While we ate we got an email from Papa saying he landed in Denver.  He was meeting us in Palm Desert tonight and I cannot wait to see him!  I have missed him terribly!  He got in around 11pm.  I heard him as soon as he walked in the door so I perked up from my crib to say hello.  Shhhh.  It's time to go back to sleep Gavin.  Ma - I don't want to go to sleep.  I want to play with Papa!  So I spent the majority of the night from that point on trying to get Papa's attention.  He was too tired to play with me so instead I started hitting mom, pulling her hair and sucking on her nose.  Good times!

As for today, Papa and I danced on the bed and laughed for a bit and then we continued on our culinary journey.  

Ma has been pretty diligent about finding good restaurants for us all during this past week.  Every restaurant she's chosen has proven to be delicious, reasonably priced and great atmospheres.  A couple of nights ago she and G&P discovered a spot called the Fisherman's market.  They had fallen in love.  King crab legs and garlic cheesy bread.  Amazing.  serioulsy!  They knew Papa would love this food so said they'd take him back for lunch when he gets in.  So that's where we ended up today after a good walk.

After a fun lunch we went back to the room and hang and apparently get dressed up like a monkey in mom's sun hat.  I took a really nice snooze and then hit the bath and got cleaned up.  I later ate dinner and played with G&P while Mom and Papa got ready to go out for dinner.  Mom had found a restaurant called the Purple Palm.  It's located in the Colony Palms Hotel.  The food sounded good and the hotel was supposed to be a cool scene.  So Mom and Dad head over and when they arrive they were taken a back.  Is this the right place?  Mom wondered.  The hotel looked like a total dump!  So they walked in and made their away to the pool where the restaurant was located directly behind.  So they figured what the H let's give it a shot.  They were seated at the table and Papa looked at mom like he was going to kill her.  What's the problem?  She asked.  Well the misters (spraying water very lightly to keep the guests cool) are right in my face and are really bothering me, he replied.  Mom suggested moving to another table, moving the table sideways or bringing his chair next to hers.  Well Papa didn't want to go with any of these options.  Instead he asked the bus boy if he could turn them off.  Mom warned Papa that the heat in Palm Desert right now is very intense and turning off the misters may be a bad idea.  BUT Papa didn't care.  And since Papa was in a very salty mood, Ma just had to go with the flow.

So the misters went off and the air started to thicken.  Damn Ma said it was hot.  Her legs were sweating on the chair so bad she had to put her napkin underneath!  Then...just as we started to see the beads of sweat forming on our heads...there was a table behind us (group of 6 who arrived earlier then we did) who asked if they could move inside b/c it's TOO HOT outside!   They specifically said to the waiter - it was cool out here and now it's too warm - huh?  Well I wonder why?  Maybe b/c my hot and salty husband was bothered by the refreshing air that was keeping everyone well spritzed and comfortable!  Ma was quite amused while Papa just continued to get saltier and saltier with his bitterness.  They ended up having a fantastic meal ending with a bang of a dessert!  It was a home made chocolate chip ice cream sandwich - pretty unreal.  Being the dessert lover that he is...Papa was in heaven!  He let Ma have a few bites.  She doesn't really love dessert and sweet foods but she couldn't resist this one!  Back at the home base G&P got me feed, changed and into bed with a smile on my face.  They are my favorite babysitters!