The magic worked again. I drove for a mere 19 hours and found myself in the glorious desert: cloudless blue skies, warm sun, wildflowers in bloom – what more could I ask?

Well, there was one hitch in the gitalong. My car went crazy at 2 a.m. yesterday morning. The alarm went off every hour or so and the denizens of Palm Springs Tennis Club were not amused.

The desk called me at 6:20 and politely asked me to do something about it. I unlocked it, thinking that would solve the problem. Not.

So, I drove down to Indio and sat in the dealership for three hours while they fiddled around. After wasting that much time and spending a bunch o’ dollars, they told me that my car is old enough not to be computerized, so they can’t be sure they fixed it.

The mechanics were all 12 and computer-savvy, but hands-on savvy they are not. So. Fingers crossed. It was silent last night. Could be just sulking because it was called “old.” I can sympathize.

Random observations: If Hawaii is Asian, California is Hispanic. It is apparently true that immigrants are the ones who do the work that white Americans eschew. At least that’s my observation, based on recent travels.

The Gabriel Thompson book, Working in the Shadows, chronicles his experience working alongside immigrant laborers. His appearance at Clatsop Community College was very well received and Cannon Beach Book Co. still has copies on hand. Yes, I slipped in a commerical there, but it is an important subject, so thought I should mention it again because it has certainly been brought home to me of late.

California really is in all the fiscal trouble they complain about. The roads are dreadful. My small car can barely o’erleap the potholes. Road signs are ancient in places. Some of them are the old reflector bulb type that were used when I was a sprout.

This year, I got off Interstate-5 and took old U.S. Highway 99 through much of central California. Not quite as much dreck. Only one prison; fewer feed lots, which improved the ambient aroma considerably and, best of all, those glorious old oak trees gracing both sides of the highway. Also, once again, no snow on the Grapevine, up or down.

I’m in a swivet about this Cannon Beach Elementary School powwow. First, the council asks the Seaside School District to resolve to close the school, then they withdrew the request.

What’s going on? Has the tsunami danger passed? Was it all a chimera dreamed up in someone’s fevered brain? Or, is it simply that no one has the will to apply the necessary logic to the problem?

Further, in this village of retirees and second-home owners, is anyone serious about finding the money to build a new CB Elementary? If we were all willing to sell our homes for $50K, thereby enticing young families to buy, then get them here and tax their socks off, maybe we could pull it off. In what alternative universe is that going to happen? This is worthy of a huge rant, but I’m on vacation.

On a much happier note: Don’t forget about the Yoga Festival of the Arts from March 2 through 4. Christen Allsop does a marvelous job on this event, from the logo and the brochure to the superb teachers invited, to the flow of events. She brings that Zen sensibility to all she does. Then, when you are relaxed and noddle-y, get ready for Savor Cannon Beach and the Wine Walk, March 8 through 11. Gary Hayes is the maven here; another innovative, well-organized impresario who has grown this event into a four-day treat for your gustatory pleasure. And … the Wine Walk benefits the Children’s Center.

“Get Lit at the Beach: A Gathering for Readers” will take place from April 13 through 15. Four bestselling authors in various genres will be present to talk, answer questions and sign books. They are: Elizabeth George, well known for her mysteries and the Inspector Lynley series on PBS, will be the keynote speaker at the Saturday night banquet; Terry Brooks, our very own neighbor with too many bestselling fantasy books to contemplate and without whom this event would not have come together, Jamie Ford, author of the dynamite debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, and Susan Wiggs, romance writer and more. For details and tickets, call (503) 436-2000.

It’s is a mixed up vacation this year. Leaving here for Arizona for two weeks and then back to PS for a three-plus week stay in my condo. Would that it were …

Now, it’s time to grab my book and head for the pool.

Valerie Ryan owns Cannon Beach Book Company and writes a column every other week, wherever she is.