Tues 3 Mar. Day 52

                                                        SHEILA’S BIRTHDAY

The sun is back! It was cold at night and by 10:10 was only 56 F.  Today was Breakfast Club day. We went with Larry & Judy to the Seven Hills Golf Clubhouse for their breakfast--$10.80 for the 2 of us incl. tea, coffee & sales tax! It was a big breakfast too. Then back to GVP & into the pool for VB.  When we got back from the pool at 12:30 it was 64 in the shade under our awning and the RV inside was up to 76 with the windows closed.  We didn’t bother with lunch because we were full from breakfast.  We left GVP with Larry & Judy about 3 PM heading to Temecula.  Sheila wanted to walk around the old town a bit before supper.  So we did.  We discovered that Old Temecula was established in 1859 as a depot for the Butterfield Stage line. Temecula is an Indian word meaning, “sunlight through the mist”.  The entire valley was given that name by a chief of the local Indian tribe.

After our walk & picture-taking, it was off to Red Lobster for Sheila’s Birthday feast. We had a great dinner.  Sheila wanted to take a bottle of Champagne to the restaurant because the champagne that all restaurants mostly stock is a dry one and she likes it sweet.  She phoned them to see what the rigmarole would be to bring it & the cost.  The answer: no problem, no cost.  So into the restaurant we went, plunked the bottle on the table, and asked the waitress for 4 champagne glasses which they brought over. I undid the wire on the top of the bottle in prep to getting the top off and set it aside. Several minutes later there was a loud “POP”; the cork flew up, bounced off the ceiling, and landed on the floor, startling everyone around us.

 We had a wonderful lobster dinner--both Sheila & I had Lobster Bisque soup followed by the “Duelling Lobsters” dish which was 2 lobster tails, one topped with crab meat & one with shrimp both with a nice sauce. Sheila even got a free dessert – her pick from the dessert menu.  She chose Apple Cobbler with ice cream. It was served on a large platter with “Happy Birthday Sheila” written in chocolate with strawberry hearts, it was a really nice presentation. The waitresses were all very nice and three of them sang Happy Birthday to her, (with us accompanying them). It was a nice evening. And between Sheila, Judy & Larry the champagne was finished and then I drove everyone home.  We got a SKYPE from Michael, Adeline & the kids about 9:45 with everyone, even William, wishing her a “Happy BD”.  Then Sheila got to open her present from them that I had set on the table before we went out, tantalizing her with what she hoped it was.  It was more than just photographs—it was 4 placemats with 4 different photos of the family—something she had put on her “wish lists”  a couple of times.  She was flabbergasted at the detail & clearness of the pictures on the place mats and was thrilled to get them. She said it  was one of the best birthdays she’d ever had. The Skype call and their birthday gift were definitely the “icing on the cake” of  a wonderful day! 

Table set for company

Table as we have it for just us

In Temecula in old town area

The champagne toast on Sheila's birthday

History of the name and the town

Sheila Judy Larry in front of a old building

More of old town, might have been the old Butterfield stage station

Mon 2 mar Day 51

It was 52 F  at 9 AM and the sun is  coming out.

It looks a lot better this morning so off to the pool I go for the 10 AM start.  Sheila went up for the early morning Zumba at 8:00 and she set up with the office for a propane delivery today sometime, so after she got back from Zumba and I left for VB, she stayed in the RV to wait for the delivery.  We had over 20 people out for Volleyball.  About 11:15, more or less, it started to sprinkle and got heavier.  We played right to our noon stop and then some of us sat in the hot tub in the pouring rain.  It isn't a cold rain so rain drops on your head, (hat actually), aren't cold. Even walking over to the change room it isn't cold.  (Bren’s opinion—probably wouldn't be mine.—Sheila)  Back at the RV we had lunch then Sheila went out for a nail polish change.  By 2 PM it stopped raining and the sun is out with a mix of blue sky & some thin cloud.  The propane truck arrived about 3 PM & put in 11.3 USG.  The gauge was reading on the E for empty but everything still worked. One day, I will run it right out to see what the usable tank capacity actually is.  Because of regulations it only gets filled ¾ full so the capacity in the manual is meaningless.  I went to the crib tournament in the evening.  We played 6 games each with a different partner and logged our scores. There was a $1 entry fee which went to the prizes.  I didn't win anything.  I won 3 of the games but the ones I lost were by a big enough difference to keep me out of the money.

Sun 1 Mar Day 50

rain in AM, on & off drizzle, spotty rain all day but mild, 60F

Got up to a light but continuous rain so we did not go up to the pool, first day in over two weeks we haven’t been in the pool.  We did laundry and assorted jobs around the RV. Sheila phoned Paul & Yvonne & got through OK. We watched a DVD movie in the afternoon - Robin Williams in RV - which we had seen but it is a great movie, plus the DVD has all the extrs on it.  Then went out to Carl Jr’s for supper using the coupon book I bought off Neva, (a fund raiser her granddaughter was selling).  Then Bridge with Sally Brown as my partner in the Swiss pairs. (Sheila wanted to stay in the RV to watch “Downton Abby” but turned out we don’t get that station).  At Bridge Sally & I weren’t in the top 4 but close.  Then back to the RV.  It’s really cold, down to 50 at night, (temps 50 to 54 are equivalent to the low teens Celsius), and looking like more drizzle tomorrow but the forecast is for hot weather later in the week

Sat 28 Feb Day 49

cloudy, overcast, 56 @ 9 AM, 60 @ 10.   It hit 62 or 63 in the PM but that was it.

As I opened the door to go out to the pool it started to sprinkle so I came back in but it stopped after 10 minutes and was looking bright out with the sun coming through the clouds.  So, up to the pool I went.  By 11:15 enough people had arrived to split into the other pool for 4 teams of 6 or 7 each.  Sheila stayed in the pool for an extra 20 mins after noon swimming & doing water exercises then joined me in the hot tub. After the hot tub it’s back to the RV for lunch. Temp is  just over 60, but there is no wind, no showers so it is nice with a bit of blue sky showing here & there.  In the afternoon Sheila had a nap while I puttered around doing odd fix-it etc jobs.  Late afternoon I went out to Winco to get one of their roast chickens for supper, ($5.48), plus some other stuff. Back at the RV after supper, we got ready to go out to the dance in the ballroom here.   They had a western group called ‘Trail Mix Band’.  They were good musicians and played good music, (not enough Rock & Roll for Sheila), but they did play some & did it well. It was drizzling a fine mist as we left the dance and headed back to the RV.  I wonder if we’ll get the rain predicted for tomorrow.

Fri 27 Feb Day 48

outside thermometer is 60 F @ 9 AM, 68 by 1:30

Sunny in early AM then cloud came in and a slight breeze.  It was fine in the pool which is heated to 88 F, (hot tubs are 104, 101, & 100).  We had a good game and I had a long hot tub because I waited a bit too long--the men’s showers were closed for cleaning 12:30 to 1:30, so I waited in the hot tub.  Then back to the RV for some snacks.  Overcast all afternoon, cooler but no wind, down to 60 F by 4:30 but here you don’t have the dampness to make it feel cold when the temp drops a bit. Sheila went out to Walgreens drug store while I stayed home to catch up on computer stuff. We made an egg scramble for supper, (without a good broiler in the oven I can’t make one of my omelettes so it gets to be a scramble as I have to turn it over to cook), and then went to the Wine tasting starting at 6:00.  They had a singer Bruce Glover and he brought a girl singer with him.  They sang & performed really well together and were very entertaining---good enough for Vegas Sheila says.  The cool Jazz & Motown songs were a refreshing change from Country & Country Rock which is so popular down here.  The wine was de-alcoholised wine so Sheila suggested I should try some. They were serving, it free, (no charge at all), in 1 ounce or less, plastic shot glasses. I tried one that I couldn’t find any mention of alcohol content on, the others said “less than ½ of 1 % alcohol by volume” so I didn’t try them.  One was really good, nice & sweet, and Sheila went up to ask for an empty bottle so she could ID it and buy some - - they gave her an almost full bottle, it was a white Moscato.  When we got back to the RV I discovered some very small white printing on the white label that said “contains less than ½ of 1% alcohol”.  Too bad, it was delicious!  We came back to the RV after the entertainers finished about 8 PM.  While at the patio for the tasting they had propane heaters set up & we sat under one & were quite warm & comfortable, it wasn’t that cold out anyway, (my opinion—not Sheila’s).  However, looking up--the clouds were going past the moon at a good clip, so who knows what might blow in during the night!  Back at the RV, the LA news broadcast featured a long segment on the resurgence of vinyl records. They are being produced & sold as more stores open. Our old records are coming back and may one day be valuable!

Thurs 26 Feb day 47

clear & sunny, but cool, (low 60’s)

Up & off to the VB game, Sheila came about ½ hour late.  After the game & hot tub session Sheila stayed to watch a bit of today’s singer, Ricky B. and I came back to the RV for lunch.  I tried again to figure out the phone & finally did.  I called Ken to check & it worked.  I re-wrote the instructions so they were clear.  Then we headed out with Larry & Judy to Emilio’s for the Thursday afternoon happy hour, giant margaritas $3.00 & free nibblies, with several people from GVP.  We left there about 4:45 & headed back to the movie theatre for the Thursday senior day special, ($5.50), for the movie “McFarland, USA”.  It turned out to be an interesting movie and I quite liked it.  Sheila loved it!  It’s based on a true story of a PE teacher who recognized the talent & determination of a group of Mexican boys from poor families, turned them into a winning Cross Country Running team, which gave them the confidence to go onto college & a better life.   After the movie, we went to Angie’s Diner again for their Thursday BBQ rib special, Even Sheila had the ribs. Then home to the RV in time for “Blacklist” on TV.