The First Full Day

Well, the day I was most "dreading" -- due to stress and relative importance -- seems to have gone pretty well. We met the parents and she liked them and they seem to like her. Yay!

The day didn't start so well; M had a hard time sleeping her first night here. Lots of new noises and things to get used to, plus the time difference was skewing her internal clock. She hardly slept at all. Also, after phlegmy guy and whatnot, she woke up not feeling completely well.

However, she persevered. I think the Krispy Kreme helped a bit, and then finally making it to the desert and the heat, being able to walk around, and getting a good sandwich at Ruby's all perked her up and she was running smoothly.

Meanwhile, mom navigated us all around Palm Springs and nearby cities. We saw many star's homes, a lot of swanky places, and some neat shops.

One bad note-- after we left Ruby's M realized that she had left her camera at the table. We happened to be driving by the restaurant on our way to other destinations, so I pulled over the vehicle, mom jumped out and hustled inside, while we circled the block (no parking along that road). As we came back around, there was mom with the camera. Tragedy averted! Mom's a hero! M is relieved.

Dad remained mostly quiet, just enjoying the drive, the stops, and learning about M.

Anyway, we saw the desert, we saw the houses of the rich and famous, we saw the River (an outside mall), and we saw mom's school.

Everything went as well or better than I could have expected.

*big sigh of relief

The little adventure on the way back to the apartment occurred when the Gas Warning Light came on in my truck and I decided to push it the last 35 miles to see if we would make it. M was a bit worried, as I learned that was something about which she always worried as a child, but she trusted my confidence. Sure enough, we were on fumes as we pulled into the gas station a mile from the apartment, but we made it.

I'll let M fill you in on the woman in Albertson's with the bread.