This morning it was cloudy although now, as I am back home and writing this, I see a lot of blue sky out there. So no pictures today. I took some but I have no confidence in their quality, not even enough to look and see. We've had more than the usual number of cloudy days this winter. I'm tired of them. Here the saying is..... "I didn't move to Palm Springs for rainy, cloudy weather", and that's exactly how I feel. Yesterday the National Oceanic (something) forecasted increasing cloudiness with chances of 1-3 inches of rain early in the week. That means flooding and flustered geriatric drivers. Oh boy, lucky us.

Actually I spent my morning cruising the few neighborhoods around the western side of the Salton Sea. I always enjoy that as a back-up "gad-about" (God bless Vicky). The area was partially developed about 30-40 years ago when some real estate companies tried a big push in that area. What you have today is spotty development tracts about 20% full. A house here, a house there. Today property is cheap there. Your about thirty miles from good shopping which isn't cool when gas is $3 to $4 a gallon (you get to spend $10 just to get to where you can spend your money in an already pricey area).

However the real deal killer at the Salton Sea (other than it being a salt water lake) was a water condition that happens on a cyclic schedule that brings some type of flora and or fauna up from the bottom which releases a strong sulfur-like odor. (which stinks for miles down wind). Few people will buy or build there. The three or four existing neighborhoods probably total an average population of 6,000 people. But those people seem hardy and highly individualistic.

To me it's a treat to drive their sparsely populated (and poorly maintained) streets and see what many of them have done with their homes. If there were ever any restrictive covenants they're long gone now. Next to a conservative ranch style home with a nice yard you'll find a prefab shanty with a picket fence with every picket painted a different color. But in some instances the craziness actually has a certain STYLE (as Gallagher would say) and it's those that I enjoy. Maybe I'll do a picture essay someday. (when the sun is shining).

Bye for now.