DSC01171This is our 51st trip in our GMC since we bought it in November 2006 . We are in our 9th year of ownership. This time our destination is Palm Desert, CA for 7 nights. The first 5 nights are totally wrapped up in the rally and the last two are to “celebrate” my 71st (ouch!) birthday.

The rally really occupies my time while it is going on. I am sure they could get along without me if I am not here but, since I am here, I get involved in lots of things in addition to the two seminars I volunteered to lead. At most rallies (including this one) I am also the sound guy for the club so I set up and operate the audio/video equipment for almost everyone else, and, on one night I am the KJ – karaoke jockey – for our karaoke/singalong sessions. We have a bunch of karaoke music, all searchable on my laptop, and play it with a software package that the club bought. That has been a hit at every rally since we started it about 4 years ago.

I am writing this on Thursday, the fifth day of the rally – going-home day. There is only one other couple out of 43 still left here with us. Everyone else has gone home – mostly to Southern California.

Tomorrow is my 71st birthday so we decided to extend our stay at this really nice park that we have stayed at several times before. They have a really nice pool and spa, great meeting facilities, a large kitchen that we or caterers can use, and nice concrete pads. So far the place is still green – in the middle of the worst drought in California history they are still acting like nothing is wrong – strange. The plan for tomorrow is to take the tram (some sort of cable car) to the top of the mountain in Palm Springs and either take a short hike, have lunch, or both – depending on the weather. It is very cold and windy up there.

Here are some photos of our week so far: