1) Friday morning I woke early and allowed myself just to Start the Day and witness Dawn tint the mountains with her Rosy Fingers. There is a beautiful spot to see it at the other end of the pool. It’s a sight one does not see in New England. At least I haven’t . . .
2) Friday the first of two Big Events was a jovial lunch at 8Four9 with two Interlochen-affiliated friends. We sat on their beautifully shaded patio and there were laughs aplenty.
3) Afterwards I got to tour their beautiful mid-century home. Thank goodness I was able to keep from salivating over their cabinet of Fiestaware. Like mine, they were family heirlooms. Unlike mine, they’re in mint condition. I don’t know what Mother’s family did to their Fiestaware that it is so dinged, chipped, and cracked, but . . . oh well.
4) I got to ride in a convertible!
5) In the evening a surprise dinner of Chinese takeout for Hochmina’s birthday. Most excellent takeout, but I confess that after one of Martin’s cosmos I had a little difficulty following all the conversational cross currents at the dinner table.
6) Saturday, yesterday, there was a pool party here, for which the pool was specially heated starting sometime on Thursday. Roughly 18-24 men, friends of my hosts and a few friends of mine they hadn’t met. A pool party is, in fact, just a waterborne cocktail party, and the same sort of maneuverability between groups is needed — just don’t splash pool water into anyone’s drink.
6a) I got to witness more PS life with a quick trip to Townie Bagels,
7) I remember Fresca from the late 1960s as basically like drinking acid, so it’s sort of a surprise to find it a staple of Palm Springs home entertaining. The Vodka Fresca is quite the popular drink here. And, I’m told, when out and about, the Vodka Press is in demand: vodka, club soda, and a press on the soda gun for Sprite or 7Up.
8) The party hours were 1:30 - 5, so at 6:15 or so a small handful were still on hand enjoying good conversation. Afterwards five of us went off for cheap Mexican food and margaritas, sitting outside at a large tile table and making jokes.
9) Sunday we are going off to polo (!), so who knows what that will be like! I gather it is more casual than East Coast polo . . .