Hey, Slow travelers, hang loose on the Show and Tell game! It's just for FUN ! If you don't have anything to share, there are 47 more of us that do! We'll be there all night! Can just go to breakfast together from Palma and Brad's!
Palma, I notice on Jerry's weather link that the wind is blowing at 22, gusting to 29 mph. It's been blowing like that all day here in SB, too. Hope it stops before we get to Palm Desert! I'm so tired of the wind this year. Keeps upending my potted plants on our balcony!
Folks, hang onto your hats!
Charity
Posts: 1750 | Location: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: 11 May 2003
We've had a little wind this week (which will END by tomorrow), but wherever it is blowing from, my yard seems to be protected. I keep hearing "high gusts" and "wind advisory", so I run outside, and there is barely a gentle breeze!
It will be perfect! And no hazardous driving on 10 from those coming from southern CA!
Hi Eden, Thanks for that suggestion. I rarely go to the Strip (all that traffic!) and never thought about doing that. If I can out there tonight after work I will. Now that I know others are also stumped it isn't so bad. I guess I could bring Mario our pizza man who says he learned to make pizza from his Italian granny....only he couldn't eat or drink because he would be #49 to attend. And I think his granny is from Texas and not Italy. OH, well, something will come to mind. The wind is really blowing here in Vegas and I hope it isn't going to be that way driving down tomorrow. Eden, how was the Renaissance Faire? We meant to go but both Bill and I have been down with a flu/cold thing. But we will be better for this major event. Is anyone else staying at the Desert Villas? It turned out to be cheaper than Residence Inn or Courtyard so I am happy. See everyone tomorrow. Wow...tomorrow, after waiting a whole year I finally get to meet all of you. Beth
I was at the Ren Faire in Vegas last Saturday. It was totally PACKED with people, to the point that it was almost impossible to walk around. There were so many people lined up to get tickets at the entrance near Sunset, that they made a bunch of us walk all the way around the Faire to go in the other gate (and it was a long walk) .
And to top it off, I apparently got some kind of food poisoning eating at a fast food place in Barstow on the way to Vegas Friday night (that'll teach me to eat fast food!). My husband and I had to go back to our hotel after only being at the Faire for about an hour. Our friends stayed for a few hours longer and then we picked them up at the Faire later in the afternoon. They said it got so crowded later in the day that there was literally no place to sit to eat or see the shows.
So Beth, you really didn't miss much this year by not going to the Ren Faire.
Tery
Posts: 254 | Location: Mission Viejo, CA, USA | Registered: 18 May 2003
We arrived at our house in Palm Springs last night. Today is perfect weather! Santa Anna winds are suppose to start up on Friday, so might be a tad bit windy but not getting the drift it will be real bad. Saturday looks wondrful! See everyone on Saturday.
The bad/good news is that my video camera is broken!!
Now that IS good news!
The video camera is working!! The battery was not getting charged - but I wiggled it and now it is fine!!
We leave tomorrow afternoon for Palm Springs - flying on ExpressJet direct from Albuquerque to Ontario CA. I have never used this airline before and I think the planes are tiny, but the flight is direct!!
Just packed the car...well, put in the roller bag and coke zero. And we will be off in a hour. I was going to get gas yesterday after work, and it was $2.73 but I was beat so came home. I went out just a bit ago and it has gone up to $2.93! Wonder if they are ticked because they aren't going to the GTG. I also finally looked at the map, after saying for two weeks, "don't bug me I know where we are going". Gulp, we don't turn left at Barstow, but go another hour toward Riverside and then head toward San Diego. A little adventure. So we will see the dinner people tonight, and I guess I better go back through the forum and find the directions. My travel brain must have fizzled. I am one of those types that always has the route mapped out months ahead. My trip to England in May is already marked out and I have the side trips all planned. But just a few hours from home and I am lost and confused. But so excited to finally meet all of you.
Palma, I just went back thru all the messages to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything and want to make sure you have us down for tonight's dinner. I think we were on one list and not the next...also think when I did a PM to you I said to please but us on the list, but maybe I only thought I did. We won't be at breakfast as football calls and then we have to get back home. Anyway, we are leaving soon and I will call you from Desert Villas to see if we are ok...also if you want to use our empty frige there, it is yours. Beth
As an update for those of us driving to the Desert GT from various places in California or Nevada, please note that there is a high wind watch in effect for the drive home Sunday. The winds may not be as bad out in the desert areas, but they probably will be bad in the passes and canyon areas closer to the coast.
Here's the latest info from the U.S. Weather Service:
High Wind Watch Statement as of 2:37 AM PDT on October 19, 2007
The National Weather Service in San Diego has issued a high wind watch which is in effect from late Saturday night through Monday afternoon.
Santa Ana winds will develop late Saturday with areas of northeast winds increasing to 25 to 35 mph with strongest gusts to 80 mph below passes and canyons. Strongest winds will be below the Cajon Pass and near the coastal foothills of the Santa Ana winds. Strong Santa Ana winds will continue at times through Monday. Weaker Santa Ana winds will continue at times Monday night through early Wednesday.
A high wind watch means there is the potential for a hazardous high wind event. Sustained winds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or stronger may occur. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.
The winds will make driving difficult especially for motorists with high profile vehicles. Areas of blowing dust and sand could reduce visibility to near zero. Watch for broken tree limbs and downed power lines.
So, everyone please be very careful driving home on Sunday!
Tery
Posts: 254 | Location: Mission Viejo, CA, USA | Registered: 18 May 2003
Hello from Palm Desert! The weather here is wonderful and the party preparations are well in hand. There was a slight cutlery 'crisis' that was resolved by Palmabella and now it looks as if we are good to go.
For those who are getting together for dinner tonight to kick off the weekend - see you tonight!
Jerry
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. ~G.K. Chesterton
Today is the big day! I think I am going to starve myself until I get to Palma and Brad's.
I have been looking forward to this for, well, a year. It is better than Thanksgiving, better than New Years Eve. Thanks in advance, Palma and Brad, for the fun I am going to have today.
I'm reporting in from Desert GTG Central... here at Palma's house.
Terry (teaberry) and I flew into Palm Springs together yesterday, arriving at noon. We met up in Chicago and talked non-stop for four hours on the flight. Sandi (bugalu) met us at the airport and drove us to the condo we're sharing. We spent the afternoon with a small group at Palma's (getting ready for today) and then joined up with a group of about 20 for a very enjoyable dinner last night.
Preparations are well underway here now. The menu is amazing, and Palma has done a fabulous job planning everything and cooking for the last few weeks.
We can't wait to see everyone in a couple of hours! (I think Jerry has posted an update already on his blog.)
I can't believe I'm the first one up this morning, maybe just the first to find a computer.The GTG yesterday was unbelievable. Palma and Brad, you didn't forget a single detail. Your house is amazing, the food indescribably delicious, and of course, as always, the company second to none.
I always count my blessings to have found the slowtarv community many years ago. And, as of last night, I have many more to appreciate.
Travel well, all .....che veddiano doppo
Sue (and) Alessia
"When you find yourself tired of Italy, you are tired of life"
Posts: 148 | Location: Santa Barbara, CA | Registered: 04 April 2002
Good thing we did not anticipate going to breakfast ...since i got up once at 7:30 and let dogs out and then crawled back into bed! I NEVER do that! LOL Was still in a food coma!
On another note...the fire in Malibu looks awful. I sure hope no one is threatened by it. We personnally have the horrible experience of being evacuated by the threat of fire 3 times where we live in Orange County so i am always glad the dogs are with us and don't have to worry about them! We were in San Francisco one of those times and the neighbors called to make sure they where with us!
Stay safe and drive careful today everyone. The winds are pretty bad going back to the beach area. We are not headed home till Monday afternoon.
Thanks to Palma and Brad for the fantabuluos get together!
There should be lots of photos and videos posted in the next day or two. I didn't even bother to take out my camera as there were so many others there!
I really enjoyed meeting everyone and the food and hospitality were incredible! Thank you so much Palma, Brad and all the others who made this GTG happen.
I am back home now. I am sorry not to have made it to breakfast this morning but I awoke with a nasty sore throat. So I thought it best to head home (rather than expose others to what I be coming down with).
Driving was pretty tough through Riverside and Corona because of the Santa Ana winds, and downright FRIGHTENING on the 261 Tollroad through the Southeast Orange County. But once I got home to Mission Viejo, there was hardly any wind at all - very strange.
Hope all those traveling back home today or tomorrow have safe and pleasant trips.
Tery
Posts: 254 | Location: Mission Viejo, CA, USA | Registered: 18 May 2003
And what a weekend it was! We never got out our camera with all the cameras popping away, I rather think there will more shots than one might imagine posted soon.
We have just arrived home to the madness of fires, after a fairly windy and dusty drive from the desert. Reality is sometimes not so cool.
But it was quite the weekend, excellently hosted by Palma & Brad, and their supporting cast (you know who you are). David and I were happy to reunite with old friends and happy to meet new ones, putting faces to names from the board. At breakfast this morning there were lots of "See you in Paso, see you in Savannah and see you all soon!" Great times.
And now to unpack, read a weekend's worth of newspapers and mail. And start thinking of our next GTG, the Santa Barbara winery picnic on November 3.
It sounds like everyone had such a good time. I was so looking forward to attending but woke up with an awful sore throat, aching, generally feeling awful. I spent the day in bed thinking of you all. Looking forward to the pictures and hearing from more of you who attended.
And put me on the list first for next year!!!
Tracey
Posts: 178 | Location: West Covina, CA | Registered: 19 February 2007
I just got home. It was another great party at Palma and Brad's.
It was so beautiful in the desert this morning that I did not want to leave... but leave I did because I wanted to hit up the outlet shops at Cabazon. But, the wind was so insane and the sand in the air so dense that I gave up after two minutes. It was BAD. Driving home was scary, what with the insane winds... and then coming over the hill into Escondido I drove through a massive amount of smoke. There is a big fire burning southeast of here and there is smoke everywhere, even here at the beach.
Apparently the Malibu fire is really bad and there are also fires in Camarillo. I hope everyone gets home safe and sound and that the winds die down soon because this is really a frightening situation.
Maybe I SHOULD have stayed in the desert.
Many thanks to Palma and Brad - it is not easy to pull off a party like that. I had a great time, and everyone else seemed to as well.
We have just gotten back to Vegas. It was a wonderful evening. At last I got to meet so many of the people whose lives I’ve shared over the last few years via Slowtrav. The house was wonderful, the kitchen is to die for and Palma and Brad are the greatest hosts. The food….just can’t describe it. I am awaiting the posting of the recipes. The ride home (the back way to miss the Riverside traffic) was scary as others have mentioned. We started getting hit by the winds and then that dust. We were on a two lane road and thought to pull off but couldn’t see well enough to do so. Thank goodness Bill was driving and not me. After about twenty minutes we were out of the dust but the winds continued right to our house. If next year’s list has started, please reserve us a spot. Beth
My hands are sore from gripping the steering wheel so tightly through the nasty wind and smoke on my drive home. However, it is beautiful here in Carlsbad. I didn't make breakfast this morning, after arriving back to our Desert Springs Villas at midnight and finding the front door wide open, I didn't manage to get to sleep until 3 AM. Nothing in the villa was disturbed, and security is investigating the incident, but it was a bit creepy!
Let me add my kudos to Brad and Palma for an absolutely wonderful weekend. Everything was perfect, right down to the last ultra creative detail! You two really have perfected the art of beautiful living, beautiful Italian living, actually. It was such fun putting names to faces from all the lurking I do on this board. Slowtravelers are a delightful group of people, and thank you all for allowing me to share in a perfect weekend. Thanks also for the contributions to the fabulous variety of wines. I enjoyed tasting it all.... from the Prosecco at the beginning to the treat from Pauline and Steve (can't remember the name of it)at the end of the evening, and all the beautiful wines in between!
Kathy
Posts: 115 | Location: San Diego area | Registered: 16 March 2006
Palma is the consummate hostess! What an evening--well, weekend--she and Brad gave us. Beginning with dinner Friday night among sparkling trees, alongside a "river" at a nice restaurant with a wonderful waiter, followed by THE Hansen extravaganza at their incredibly Italian and lovely home and then breakfast this morning at an old-time diner,we all had a memorable time of it.
It was fun seeing the variety and originality of the Italian show and tell items--some really had us laughing.
The food was unbelievable in creativity and abundance--very, very good--at least a Michelin 3 star. And--we all got to see a sampling of the 5000 dishes that Palma has.
The weather followed Palma's instructions and was perfect.
It was a good time. And..of course, the best was meeting so many wonderful ST people--we sure are a fantastic group of compatible, like minded souls--so fun.
So--we missed all of you that weren't there--maybe next year. Oh--and--the Slow Chicks may go on the road now.
What an amazing feast!! I'm still in a major food coma after Palma's Michelin mega-star dinner. Everything was perfection -- the food, the wine, the setting, the decor, the entertainment and especially the warmth and friendliness of the ST crowd.
Palma is ST's own personal Martha Stewart and Brad is her perfect partner tireless working behind the scenes in his unassuming way. Mucho thanks to Palma and Brad for hosting this GTG of all GTGs.
Carole and Roy
Posts: 1376 | Location: Laguna Beach, CA | Registered: 09 February 2006
It sounds like it was another fabulous GTG hosted by Palma and Brad. I'm going to have to make it one of these years. But until then, I want to see pictures. I've set up a GTG catagory and it is waiting for the pictures. Hint!
Wow, it's 6:30 Monday morning and I am almost the last one to post! I echo the comments everyone else has made; the GTG was all that I had expected and more, and it was really, really fun to see everyone and meet new faces. Thank goodness for the name tags, even though I know most of us generally dislike wearing them. Palma and Brad, I don't know how you managed this huge group. THANK YOU!
After breakfast Sunday I also went to the outlet stores in Cabazon. I was going to look for Shannon, but had to keep my head down and my eyes slitted because of the grit blowing everywhere. I found a few small items I liked, but I found this mall to be overrated, as I find most outlet places to be. By the time I was done shopping Keith was finished with his "navigation noodle" up in Joshua Tree and he met me and we caravaned home. I'm glad he was back there, that drive home was truly scary in places.
Dave -- THANK YOU for the tip on taking the 30 to the 210! I heard the 15 north was closed because of a fire, and backed up before the 10. Keith and I would have sat in a major traffic jam if not for your tip.
Okay, everyone...one last word. PHOTOS!
Beth
Posts: 963 | Location: Southern California | Registered: 17 July 2006
Oh my, I'm still recovering from the most incredible and memorable party. Palma and Brad "Grazie Mille" for this extravanza. It was so exciting to meet everyone (this was our very first GTG) and what an intro to a wonderful group of people. Palma you set the bar really high! The food, the ambiance, the fun and laughter and most of all the incredibly wonderful company of all the slow travelers. To each person there may I say it was such a pleasure. I could go on and on but must dash off to teach now. I hope this is the beginning of many wonderful encounters. As I said to some at the end of the evening, "I felt as though I was dancing with the "Stars!" Thank you Palma and Brad for this stellar night!Barb and Mike Cabot
OK folks--I'm getting old and need help. There were so many of us at the extravaganza of all exgtravaganzas, making so many people to meet and enjoy, that I am now having problems labeling some of the pictures. Then, when I click on names there are no pictures on the profile page. Not good!
It is always fun to see the faces of ST people and now I really need them. So--if you haven't uploaded a photo and don't have an objection to doing so, how about now?
Just a note to the SoCal and other Cal folk - if you are having GTG withdrawal, don't forget that we are having a winery picnic up in Santa Ynez on November 3rd .
I imagine our eastern guests are getting quite a glimpse of those horrific winds on their way to Ontario airport this morning. I'm wondering if the trip up the Palm Springs tram ever happened yesterday afternoon?
Beth, I will pass on your thanks to David. Mr. Fwy is pretty darned good.
Yes, it is pretty awful here in SoCal - the fires have hit in 7 counties, and as of 5:30 this am the tv news reported that there are at least 10 sites, with major fwy closures, many houses burned and at least 1 life lost.
But again, it was a great weekend, from Friday night's Italian restaurant patio dinner, where we introduced some easterners to the grilled California artichoke to breakfast at the folksy Keedy's diner. Hospitality as Casa Hansen was once again an amazing thing to behold.
As everyone has already said, it was another incredible Desert GTG. I had a fabulous time -- and what was not to absolutely love -- the terrific company, wonderful entertainment, and fantastic food!
Palma and Brad -- you are such amazing hosts. Thank you for all your hard work, your warmth and generosity. And Palma, you truly are the GTG queen!
--Sharon
Posts: 288 | Location: Silicon Valley, California | Registered: 08 November 2003
It's Monday morning and I'm still thinking about what a fabulous time we all had at Palma and Brad's. It was really an amazing GTG.
On the drive home, like the others, we battled the wind and the smoke. As we were driving through Oxnard, it was as dark as night and the sky was blood red, I tried to capture it in this photo.
Hope everyone made it home quickly and safely. And I really hope they can get control of all these fires soon.
Another great GTG!! We had a wonderful time and are happy we managed to go even though I double-booked our weekend. We flew home Sunday and had a lovely evening with our visiting friend in Santa Fe. We drove through a dust storm between Palm Springs and Ontario that was amazing!
Wonderful to see old friends again and meet new friends. I will try to get some of the video uploaded this week.
Big thanks to Palma and Brad!! And the Slow Chicks!!
I am probably the last one to post! I got home yesterday and eventhough the winds were howling and kind of scary, I still had to sleep for hours..food coma or maybe hypoglycemia. Palma, the food was unbelievable, the ambience delightful and the company the best! Thank you to both of you for opening you home and inviting us. And I really enjoyed meeting everyone.
Hugs ValerieB
Posts: 83 | Location: California | Registered: 19 September 2006
Originally posted by Shannon: They aren't getting control of them here Krista. But I don't want to be a downer on this thread so I am going to post a new thread on the EE board.
I can not post on the EE board so feel free to move it but here is a good link showing where all the current fires are. I am dreading going home since our home is near the Santiago Canyon fire. We are not threatened but it is smokey and lots of ash. Thought about going to our Big Bear cabin but now there are fires up there and the roads are closed! Dang....wish i had not rented the PS house! Fires map.
Slow Travel Talk 
! If you don't have anything to share, there are 47 more of us that do! We'll be there all night! Can just go to breakfast together from Palma and Brad's!
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There were so many of us at the extravaganza of all exgtravaganzas, making so many people to meet and enjoy, that I am now having problems labeling some of the pictures. Then, when I click on names there are no pictures on the profile page. Not good! 
