Our Town Part 1

Even a date milk shake from Shields
can't relieve the heat

Palm Springs in summer, especially August, is the best of times and the worst of times. It's the best time to get to know the area. The crowds are down, the locals take advantage of off-season prices in restaurants and clubs that are crowded with season people during the winter months. The local entertainment scene, which is considerable, is in full flower.

And then, there's the heat. You expect that in the summer in the desert. You expect a dry desert heat. This summer, my first summer living here, we've been treated to our own variation of climate change. The locals call it the monsoon, not because it rains, but because of the high humidity. It's normal to have several days of monsoon conditions in July and August. This year, however, we've had week after week of monsoon conditions. The kind of weather where you break into a sweat standing still outside (and standing still is about all you have energy for). At first, I would push through repeating to myself my mantra.,"It's better than being cold. It's better than being cold." As the weeks have worn on and the humidity has persisted, I have decided that travel during the hot months is a good idea in the future – and now I have a new car in which to travel.

The Yellow Mart in Indio which has
nothing whatsoever to do with this post.

Two weeks ago my car was stolen. My 2002, trouble from almost the first day I bought it used when I came back to the States three years ago, Chrysler Sebring was taken from the secured parking area of my building. The blue book value of the car was such that I carried minimal insurance required by law which translated to zero dollars in compensation. To add insult to injury, the kind people who relieved me of my burden, abandoned the car 5 days later having removed every scrap of anything from the interior and trashed the engine. So I had to pay to have the car towed back to Palm Springs. They took the registration too, so I had to deal with that as well.

I call it iCar

It's a cruel wind that blows no good, as they say, and this hot desert gust swept a bit of karma along with it. They found a letter addressed to in the suspected perpetrator's double wide next to the meth cooker (OK, I made up the meth cooker part. I've been watching too much Breaking Bad). That led them to me and my car and evidence they needed to press charges against the miscreants. Now, here's my soap box: Every law enforcement person with whom I interacted was pleasant, professional, courteous, and uncommonly good looking (I think they must hire from Central Casting). Every day in the media I read unsavory accounts of misdeeds by the police but that is polar opposite of my experience. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Another sunset, another show

Occupying the secured parking space where once dwelt the Sebring, is a brand spanking new, white Hyudai Accent SE hatchback that drives like a sports car, comes geeked out with bluetooth, USB ports, XM radio (for which I have yet to see the point), and Eco shift. It gets 30 mpg in town, 40 hwy. It also has a brand spanking new LoJack installed. Definitely not in the short-term financial plan, but provided for thanks in part to my decision to euthanize Ondasia. 

It's the first day of autumn as I finally finish this entry. It's still hot, but the evenings are cool enough now that walking is possible. I feel like I've zeroed out here in Palm Springs. Not exactly starting over, but starting fresh. Next step? Stay tuned. I'm as curious as anyone about what slings and arrows outrageous fortune has in store.