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We Are Off And Running!

A flower blooming in the desert proves to the world that adversity, no matter how great, can be overcome!

Speaking of desert, we are off to Palm Desert to see Barry Manilow’s, Christmas Show.  We departed about noon after spending some time at the Apple Store, where Mary got a new phone, I got a new watch, and I selected another laptop for me to use in the garage.

On our way, we stopped at the mall and visited the Apple store to get Mary’s new phone activated.  While there, I saw the current “fashions,” and it was hard to believe women have gone from stylish and beautiful to wearing torn jeans.  What are they thinking!

Hard to believe!

The mall was decorated for Christmas, and the statue was over three stories tall! I have no idea how they put it together, but a crane was involved somewhere!


They must have colossal storage facilities nearby!

Two G-scale trains were running around the base of the tree.  It was amazing.

Three stories inside the Crystal Court!

Peter, who was in his 70s, did the transfer, and he also got my new Apple watch activated.  I was going to buy a new MacBookPro for the garage, but alas, they were fresh out.

They were hard at work transferring data!

We were hungry, so we stopped at the entrance to the mall and had a quick brunch at the Mediterranean restaurant.  It was, as usual, very good.

Into the car, we went and off for a two-hour drive to Palm dessert.  I realized we would be driving by Annie’s, so we called and made a quick stop!  It was a good visit, and it kept us from going back down to Banning on Thursday!

Mary and Annie

We checked into our hotel at the Marriott and met up with Vicky, Yollie, and PAt for dinner.  Vicky found a five-star Jewish deli; it was a fantastic place.  I had a pastrami and corned beef sandwich a mile high.  We all shared the borsch soup!

Chowing down!

We had great seats at the theater and Mary took her life into her hands and snapped a picture of us.  We have lost many good cameras when the lenses cracked. You know ladies, “Christmas has me feeling extra Santa-mental.”  I also added, “Santa cleans his sleigh with Santa-tizer”

Fun with friends!

Set stage and set were bright and cheery!

He performed for two hours straight and kept the audience moving and groovin’.

Barry Manilow (born Barry Alan Pincus, June 17, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, musician, producer, and actor with a career that spans seven decades. His hit recordings include “Could It Be Magic,” “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs,” “Can’t Smile Without You,” and “Copacabana (At the Copa).”

The lights went down, and everyone broke open their hand-help lights and swayed to his songs.

The sets were spectacular, and his orchestra made the evening; they were terrific!

Reds and more reds!

The little ol’ iPhone takes pretty good pictures from the back of the auditorium.

He sounded freat for 78!

We returned to our hotel and crashed!

About Paul

Just an old retired guy trying to finish out my last years on this planet. I lost my best friend and wife in early 2020. I was blessed again by reconnecting with Dr. Mary Côté, a long-time friend. Mary and I got married July 28th, 2021, and are enjoying life together and plan to spend the rest of our lives being a blessing to our friends and family.
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