Eating out

Thursday Night:
Mike texted me about 12:30, but it was 2:30 before I got to the message since I was in class. He invited me to dinner at a local Mexican food place with his friend Candy. I didn't have plans- we said we would meet at 6:30, but that later turned into 7. I heard all about Candy and Mike's excursions over the past several days including Hearst Castle, Disneyland, and some Top Chef's restaurant in LA. The restaurant was awful. Hearst was interesting. Disney was pretty good with the exception of Tower of Terror where Candy was so scared. We talked about all of the "flair," or Disney pin collectors. We had to spend $100 at this Mexican food place since Mike had a restaurant.com gift card. We did a round of drinks, the main courses, and then dessert. Our total was $101, so then after the gift certificate it was about $24 a person. The food was not good, although Mike and Candy were of differing opinions.

Saturday Afternoon:
I ran around Saturday morning with Linda and my parents. We went to the bank, a cafe down the street we had never tried that was disappointing. Mike texted me asking if I was still going out to Palm Springs with him and Candy. I texted back yes.

We meet at his place at 2 and drive out there. We stop at the A&W Rootbeer outside of Casino Morongo for rootbeer floats. We get out to Palm Springs about 3:30 and spend about 30 minutes driving around lost, trying to find the couple whose house we were going to. These were good friends of Mike and Candy whom they met and took a couple cruises together with. I am sitting in the back of the car laughing hysterically to Mike's horrible Spanish. Calle, or street, he pronounces it as cal-lee. Mike swore the condos we were looking for were white, but there were no white condos on the street we were passing. Candy said it was probably dark when he was there last. Mike didn't deny that. We finally found the condos after peering in old ladies windows and discovered the condos were beige.

So I meet Mike and Andy- former Disney workers, an attorney, and a school administrator. Mike, Candy, Mike, and Andy talk about the cruises, cruises they took recently, and things like that. We talk about the weather here and New Jersey where Candy lives. We debate about where to eat dinner- Fisherman's Market, but one person didn't want fish or tacos of any sort. The dark place, Wang's of the Desert came up, a Chinese food place. Roscoe's and Dinks also came up. Candy said she didn't want Mexican, and we told her how anti-Californian she was since any true Californian would never turn down Mexican food. Mike, my Mike, mentions how great Cipolline Italian on Palm Canyon is. We all pile in Mike's car and head on over. We hear all of the Disney stories about the submarines and other rides. The restaurant itself was alright. The service left much to be desired. The food was alright, but with most Italian, I can make better at home. Andy and I talk during dinner un poco- el habla Espanol también y nosotros estamos gringos- hablamos de los ventajas especialmente en la escuela. We both speak Spanish and talk about the advantages, especially in the school setting. We go back to their place and drop them off. Everything sort of trailed off...

Mike joked we should go meet his boss who lives in Palm Springs and how shady he was. Candy vehemently protested. Mike called the boss, and Candy gave me the lowdown. I'm sort of glad we missed that one... LOL.

We decided to go bowling. We tried to go to Morongo, but there were 1000s of people. We ended up at an AMF in San Bernardino. It was pretty fun. We did the cosmic bowling. It wasn't quite 10p.m. when we arrived, so we sat in the bar drinking. I had a Dos Equis. We got our balls. I got a 14 pound ball and Mike did too, but later he went back to an 11 pounder. LOL. He said to bowl he needed alcohol. He kept us well supplied. Un dos Equis turned into cuatro Dos Equis. WOW. I'm not sure the alcohol helped us bowl better, but let's just say the 3 of us were very touchy feely, and were probably disturbing the "white trash" family next to us. 2 guys and 1 black girl all touching and feeling each other. The most drunk moment probably had to go to me- and I wasn't drunk- I was a little tipsy, but one of the white trash kids screamed, I turned around to look, and my ball went falling backward. The best I bowled was a 96. The best Mike did was a 122. Candy did about 83.

After our little adventure Candy wanted In-N-Out. Mike harassed her about wanting and needing that. We sang along to the songs on KOLA 99.9. Candy said The Commodores sang "September," and we got into an argument. I told her it was Earth, Wind, and Fire. She thought someone weird- I want to say John Mellencamp sang "Wild Night," but I informed her it was Van Morrison. I informed the 2 of them I had KOLA as my #1 preset, which made me a pretty good source in music. Then Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons came on with "December 1963," and again I knew who sang that. Candy got her burger and got her Ben, Ben was the sweet man helping us in the drive through.





We get back to Mike's and I use the bathroom in his room. When I walk out Mike throws me some pants and so I change into them. We watch Candy dance 3-4 Michael Jackson songs. Mike sits on the couch next to me and he takes the controller and plays one of the backup dancers just moving his arms, and does pretty well. Shortly after we head to bed. It is 1:20a.m. We sleep pretty well. I did have an icky coughing spell in the middle of night. We wake up to Mike's alarm and tickle each other and some other things.

We shower and get dressed. Mike asks if I'm wanting breakfast. I said sure. We drive to McDonalds and talk about teaching and the primary grades. We go to Wal-Mart also for a few things. Candy is up when we get back due to Mike's false alarm where he left without her. He makes her food while we watch "Red." I had every intention of going home before the movie, but instead we head to CPK. The one in San Bernardino closed down apparently, so we drive out to Victoria Gardens. Candy drove. Mike has a business trip he is leaving on tonight, and Candy is taking him to the airport. He wanted to be sure Candy could drive his car. She was having a few issues, but she managed. I guided her to Victoria Gardens. At the Pizza Kitchen the topics of conversation included: child leashes, how high maintenance Candy is/isn't, and locking your bedroom door. Mike offers to take us to Cheesecake Factory for dessert. I have the most disappointing tiramisu cheesecake.

When we finally get back to Mike's I use the bathroom and then take off so he could get ready for his trip.