Remember Abundance?

This is the second time I have written this blog entry. 
A few days ago I wrote what I thought was The Best Blog I Ever Blogged & when I clicked, 'Publish Post', the pictures stayed, but the text disappeared.
I was crushed & didn't know if I could write another one.
But, after watching almost half of a revolting reality show called 'Millionaire Matchmaker' featuring the 58 year old surgically altered owner of 'The Chippendales' (not chipmunks, but Dancing Male Strippers),  I'm giving it another shot, hoping against hope that I haven't missed the moment which I probably have because I arrived back in Sydney yesterday morning & I'm about to go back to school tomorrow which was rather a nasty shock because I thought it wasn't until next Monday.
How's that for a Long Sentence? I just couldn't decide where to put the full stop.
So, let the Travelogue begin.
As some of you may remember, I'm always watching for Helpful Signs, particularly as I tootle along the freeways sitting in the beautifully warmed passenger seat of Marge's Hybrid. The sign above, on the road to Pasadena, really summed up my whole holiday.

My least favourite Beach Boys (or is it, Jan & Dean) song has always been 'The Little Ol' Lady from Pasadena'. I wonder if any of you remember it? It's awful.
Marge is nothing like the subject of that song as she poses outside The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena.
She looks like Real First Lady Material in her new aubergine leather driving gloves she freshly purchased from 'Banana Republic', a shop that I failed to purchase anything in spite of a up to 70% off sale on Certain Items.
Jackie Kennedy, during her time as First Lady loved to appear in white gloves which always created the impression that she may have been Germ Phobic.
Luckily, Marge isn't.

I'm certainly not afraid of catching germs from that rather Dark Looking Gentleman created by Rodin, who regally stands in the entrance to the Museum.
If there was ever a competition for people wearing the Most Layers, I would have won it in the above outfit:
Layer1: Black Bonds Singlet.
Layer 2: Silk Animal Print Carla Zampatti blouse that once belonged to Marge's 97 year old Mother, Aileen, who sadly died last year;
Layer 3: (actually, technically it's Layer 2, but I couldn't be bothered changing it) Black Wool Old As the Hills Trent Nathan dress;
Layer 4: Cream linen 'Ralph Lauren' jacket thrifted last week at the Jewish Women's League in Santa Monica'
Layer 5: a long black scarf.
I felt so weighed down, it was an effort to move.

Marge is examining our almost favourite painting that we saw - some house that Cezanne might have lived in, or summered in.
I only know two things about Cezanne: 1. Woody Allen lists Cezanne's Apples as one of his favourite things in his film, 'Manhattan;
2. Cezanne chucked out most of his paintings. Thank God he didn't chuck the one above out. It's so adorable, I was fantasising about living in it.

When I visit Art Galleries, I'm always fascinated with the other patrons are doing. Sitting/lying in front of a little gaggle of Impressionist Masters is a fantastic place to declare your Everlasting Love to somebody, don't you think?

No trip to Pasadena is complete without a visit to their Monster H&M & Forever 21.
In fact, we shamelessly spent more time in both of those shops than we did inside the Norton Simon Museum.
I bought a great big green Toy Tusk & a bejeweled & enameled turtle pendant & some bracelets that I'm aching to wear & will probably wear to school tomorrow to remind me of my trip.

If you were ever wondering if you should wear Heart Shaped Sunglasses, look below at Marge in them & you'll immediately know the answer.
Absolutely Not.
NO one above the age of two & a half ever looks any good in them.
Good, I'm glad we've cleared that one up for once & for all.

Next, we move on to a Candy Store in Palm Springs, where we spent two nites (not in the Candy Store, but in the oldest continually running accommodation in Palm Springs - Casa Cody, originally owned & operated by Harriet Cody, the niece of Buffalo Bill, an associate of Tough Girl Annie Oakley, who I really wanted to be like when I was a kid.
Small World.
You can see Marge peering over the trays of Assorted Chocolate while I wait outside, not daring to enter in case Temptation Struck.

And here I am below waiting for a v. large Margarita to arrive at an outdoor restaurant in Palm Springs. It was freezing cold, which is absolutely no excuse for wearing a Polar Fleece scarf in Lavender. 

In my defence, I must say that it isn't mine (it's inexplicably Marge's).

Oh, maybe the offensive Polar Fleece scarf was actually Baby Blue & not lavender as you can see under the v. bright lights in a shoe store that sold these Sequinned Ugg Boots.

The next day, we consulted Marge's new iPad for the best Thrift Shops.
First up was Angel View, a huge Charity Conglomerate that supports Crippled Children.

It took us quite some time to adjust our eyes to the light in the shop as we were almost blinded by the colourful clothes, none of which tempted us.
I, of course, was on a Relentless Search for Navy.

It turned out that the Darker Items were hiding up the back of the shop. You can see us both, relentlessly surveying the scene as if we were in Darkest Africa in search of Wild Animals.

Marge was bedazzled by a Shiny Golden Ski Parka with a Made in Japan sign on it. We both smiled when we remembered our childhoods when 'Made in Japan' was a guarantee that you were buying junk.
My, how things change. Or something.

In my desperation, I finally picked up an oversize Louis Feraud jacket but you'll be relieved to know that I wisely put it back on the shelf not long after the photo was taken.

Surprisingly, I ended up making a couple of purchases from Angel View -1.  an old rotting huge Starfish which I didn't bother to declare when I went through customs yesterday. I felt quite The Renegade.
2. A linen Michael Kors jacket again in linen. I've always eschewed linen because it looks a little too much like what all the other Middleaged English Teachers wear & also because of its crushability which is always a consideration for me as I lack Proper Ironing Facilities.

Next stop on the Thrifting Trail was Revivals, a charity of the Desert Aids Project, entirely staffed by Creative Volunteers who create store displays worthy of Barneys New York.
I felt quite at home with the Porcelain Wild Animal Store Dummies.
Note I am wearing Green Pants, freshly bought from H&M, Pasadena. But they look like leggings. But they're not.

At Revivals, Marge bought a whole gaggle of earrings, mostly clip ons. I am beginning to prefer Clip Ons which I hope is Not a Sign that I'm gradually turning into My Grandmother.

Finally, look below at my little cache of Palm Springs Thrift Purchases:
1. A Ralph Lauren striped turtleneck, $10. I wore it out to dinner last nite at a v. hot restaurant in Sydney & my neck sweated to death.
2. Giant Starfish, $3.
3.Two Pairs of Fabulous Ferragamos for $8 for two. I don't care if they're a little Dignified, I'm still wearing them.
4. One pair of red & white Bruno Magli shoes, $35, which I thought was a little steep.
5. A Michael Kors Jacket, $20.
6. A cushion that says, 'Men, coffee & chocolate, the richer the better', $2. What a steal.

When I was walking out of the Customs Hall yesterday at the airport, I couldn't help but notice a big sign right at the exit that said 'G'day, Welcome Home'. Surprisingly, I found myself getting all teary as I lugged all my bags out the door & down the ramp & into the Taxi Rank.
I had the Best Time, though.
Thank you LAX, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Santa Monica, Malibu, Sycamore Cove, Hidden Hills, Pasadena, Montecito & of course Palm Springs.