Brinn & Dard's Hotel

J.W. Marriott - Palm Desert, California

We made it! After a long, grueling day of travel, we arrived at Palm Springs airport (which is nothing more than a glorified tent). Our car was ready for rent - an old, powder blue, Ford Crown Victoria! I felt like I was in Nana's old car....what fun!

We arrived at the J.W. at about 8:00pm - lost my cell phone (found it again). We had to hike to our room - literally 1/2 mile from the front desk. A nice room though...it didn't take long until we were sleeping like babies.

Woke up on Thursday, June 24th and Brien opened the curtains to our balcony. Oh my! What a view! It was absolutely breathtaking! (See photo inset) Last year I saw the ocean, and this year the desert and mountains. How wonderful!

I presented from 8:00am - 12:30pm while Brien stayed with Sarah the babysitter - they went swimming, toured the hotel, got breakfast, and made crafts. It was worth it...she was great with him.

After, we had lunch with Elizabeth and sent her on her way back to Minneapolis.

We headed to Ralph's, the local grocery store, and stocked up our room with snacks and drinks.

At 5:00pm we went on a boat ride in (yes, in) the hotel. They have small boats that take around the hotel 'campus.' It was fun! Then, the people who paid for my trip wanted me and Brien to join them for a small reception in the Presidential Suite. We stopped up and had the most wonderful California Oranges I've ever tasted. Brien ate four of them and I had two - and I hate oranges. It was like eating candy!

At 6:00pm we headed out for our Desert Adventure Jeep Tour....see the next blog for more on this.