Mar 7, 200810:20 AMThe Life

Palm Springs Entertainment Attractions

It's tough being an assistant editor for Palm Springs Life and the Desert Guide. It's not just a nine-to-five job, you know.

Yesterday, for example, I attended a function after work along with several of my co-workers that was sponsored by the Palm Springs Desert Resorts Convention and Visitors Authority at The Dancing Greek restaurant at 69-900 Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage on the north side of the street.

Imagine, I had to spend time drinking wine with bright, knowledgeable people learning about new and fascinating entertainment venues here in the desert.

As if that wasn't enough to break my spirit, I had to sample exquisite Greek dishes, such as Spanakopita, spinach and feta cheese pie in Filo dough, Melitzanosalata, an eggplant dip served with pita bread; while savoring the delicate mix of flavors ranging from olive to cinnamon.

And then, there were the dancing girls. Virginiah and two of her colleagues performed a series of belly dances (how do they make their hips do that?) to Middle Eastern and New Age music. Of course, I was interested only in the costume design (how do they make their hips do that?), lighting effects (how do they make their hips do that?), and ethnic music (how do they make their hips do that?).

It was a difficult evening.

But it was even harder on one my colleagues.

Desert Guide Editor Kelly O'Connor simply could not take the stress of wine, food, good company and conversation. She snapped and with about 20 other women from the audience, joined the belly dancers on the stage (how did Kelly make her hips do that?).