Name-dropping and trying to get into the groove

We then spent Thursday with John and Avril who detoured through Palm Springs to see us on their way to Sacramento. They are returning home after spending six months in Yuma. For lunch we tried Devane’s - an Italian Restaurant recommended by a friendly fellow we had met the night before in the grocery store. He pointed out that he owned a bank and suggested we ask for the chef and drop his name for special treatment. (I assume he is still giving out credit.) The restaurant lived up to his recommendation. That evening we went to VillageFest – blocks of arts and crafts vendors and fruit and vegetable stalls on Palm Canyon Drive. After walking the five or more blocks and stopping to listen to street musicians, we bought fresh bread, new strawberries and asparagus, and headed to a Thai restaurant where the waiter entertained us all night with rude jokes about drooping elephants.
John and Avril left Friday am for a 10 hour trip to Sacramento. After thinking I was suffering from the smog or an allergy of some sort, my stuffed nose turned into a full-on cold and today I am dragging myself around trying to enjoy the heat and bright sunshine.