Normal Times

At the end of my walk, grade school kids had arrived on a yellow bus to play in the park, a sight we were denied during the height of the pandemic. Teachers were calling to them to collect their brown bag lunches. Later, I expect they were going to a classroom at the nearby Guthrie.

Snow Disposal

On my Downtown walk snow was being transported to a melting machine. This method decreases carbon emissions by minimizing the use of trucks and driving distances. I appreciate not having to climb over piles of snow.

Monument to Mammon

While Dwight jogged, I wandered around the Palm Springs “mini financial district” with its listed mid-century bank buildings. This monument to mammon is influenced by Le Corbusier’s UNESCO-World-Heritage-listed chapel at Ronchamp, France.

Sunset over San Jacinto

Watched the sun set over San Jacinto from our balcony. The area in the foreground looks like jungle, but it’s residential. An ordinance prevents buildings from overlooking neighbors’ swimming pools.

People in a Gallery

Complex Surfaces: Man and Disk; carbon fiber, automotive paint, Dwight; Palm Springs Art Museum. Elsewhere little kids interacted with art, giggling uncontrollably at breasts in a painting. Some adults walked, talked, oblivious to their surroundings.

Mystery Bus Ride

Paid 50 cents senior fare to ride a city bus to Desert Hot Springs on the other side of Coachella Valley. Walked through a land of strip malls. This honors a childhood tradition: my Aunt and I would ride a bus to the end of the line to see what was there; usually not much.

Early Birds

With my wings (or, more precisely, a knee) clipped on this year’s snowbird trip, planned next winter’s trip. Reservations opened up today for our outbound travel day: used SkyMiles, Seattle layover (much cheaper than nonstop), exit row aisle seats on an otherwise empty seat map.

Turning on a Dime

Climbed above Palm Springs through a desert that had become a meadow. Sprained a knee, leading to an excruciating descent and a knee brace at Eisenhower Urgent Care. Rest is advised for a week, which is a bit like flying Delta One; Dwight reminded me he’s here for my safety.