I
left St. George later than intended, but savoring the last days of hotel stays
because holy shit money. On the other hand, I also knew I was driving five
hours down boring as balls I-15 in California to meet up with my friend/Seattlehost in Banning – as I had promised when I left last month. I passed through
Vegas…again then then made my way back into California – for the third time.
But
first! I stopped in San Bernardino. Because, oddly I was early in my arrival –
and also not since there is exactly nothing to see off the coast of California –
and the Steelers playoff game was on. I haven’t seen any football and I miss it
in a nostalgic sort of way. What I wasn’t expecting was becoming some sort of
mini-celebrity simply because I am from Pittsburgh...in Cali.
I
walked into Buffalo Wild Wings off of the highway and towards the bar. Another
perk of solo travel is that it’s much, much easier to find a place to sit in a
crowded place for one v. multiples. I nestled myself in between two middle aged
men and quickly the bantered between themselves about if I was a Steelers fan
or not, and if not perhaps I wouldn’t be allowed to sit there. Half in jest –
but as a Steelers fan myself – probably half not in jest. Quickly they spotted
my Steelers keychain on the bar and decided I was okay.
We
started to chat. I explained that I was from Pittsburgh; showed my Pitt class
ring and we watched the game. I had two glasses of cider and unfortunately
watched the Broncos beat the Steelers. Afterwards, I schooled another
middle-aged man about how not to be a sore winner – he apologized to the three
of us. The gist: “We want to root for your team, but not if you’re being a dick
about it.” “Sorry.” My new friend to the right left me his number and said that
if I decided to settle in the area, to give him a call.
Then
I was on my way to Banning. I was still a bit early so settled into a Starbucks
down the road from my friend’s hotel to connect, have a coffee and write a
little. Dave, my friend, showed up a bit later and we then went to dinner a
Sizzler. Which, up until this point, I had always assumed was a fake
establishment people made fun of on television. BUT IT’S NOT. It’s magical and
an oasis for a vagabond.
If
you from SW PA, think Hoss’s – on steroids. You order an entrée. And then there
is a self-serve food bar. Unlike Hoss’s that offered a salad bar and self-serve
soft serve, Sizzler has a fucking taco bar and pasta bar and salad bar and self-serve
soft serve and desert part. HEAVEN. I wish I hadn’t shrunk my stomach startingin the Dakotas.
I
ATE ALL OF THE FOOD. And asked for a box for my entrée. This would be dinner
tomorrow.
After
dinner we headed to Palm Springs. Out of curiosity and something to do. We went
to a bar; we chatted and had a drink We walked around the ‘town.’ Palm Springs
makes me think of those women that put on all of their costume jewelry, miss
their actual lips when lining them, and have shirts that will blind you if the
sun hits them the wrong way. It was a mix of tacky and over entitled. There was
a man at the bar who clearly thought he was someone; he looked like and 80s has
been.
Like
that time I saw Eddie Money in concert at a rib fest in Pittsburgh and he
mostly just talked about all of his stints in rehab – except not Eddie Money. He
still wore a balls ton of eyeliner and bleached his hair. And maybe like he was
the drummer, not the lead singer.
The
following day, Dave and I woke up and drove up to Idyllwild. Which was like a
2.5 hour drive exactly north – and not like directionally north, like we’re
driving into space north…because, technically it Is southeast. But I’m pretty
sure we were halfway to the moon – and the temperature change proved this hypothesis.
Dave
had heard of this place and wanted to go. I’m just along for the ride of
whatever. Suffice to say we were both disappointed in the area, but the ride up
was pretty. It was clearly a tourist town that wasn’t nearly as tourist nor
town in the off season. Perhaps it’s poppin’ during Coachella. We had a way
less than mediocre lunch that I’m still salty I spent $12 on and then back down
the mountain. We had left my car in a strip mall parking lot; so we said our
goodbyes there. Perhaps we’ll see each other again when I move to Bellingham,WA – it’s on my list. But that rain, man.
the way back down |
MORE POSTS! YAY!
ReplyDeletelocal sizzler location you are making for that protection many enjoyable factors right here that I to hand your article multiple technology. Your perspectives are according inside the midst of my very own for the most proportion. this is permissible content in your readers.
ReplyDelete