Wander Life

Nice?

Just thought I'd share this encounter that I had with a clerk today.  I find it to be an interesting commentary on what qualifies as "niceness" in California....

Me (stepping up to purchase my items):  "So, how's it going today?"

Cashier: "Oh, the usual Sunday crowd." 

Me: "Oh, really.  What's that like?"

Cashier: "Oh, you know...just a lot of grouches."

Me: "Ah.  Well, hang in there.  Just a couple more hours to go."

Cashier: "Thanks.  Ok, can I see some ID?"

Me: "Sure, here ya go."

Cashier (upon seeing my out-of-state license): "Washington, huh?  I knew you weren't from around here - you're way too nice to be from California!"

Guess it doesn't take much, ay?  : ) 

I mean, seriously, is it just me, or wouldn't this just be considered normal chit-chat in most parts of the country?  Hmm...guess this "California nice" thing will have to have a little more research.  I'll keep you posted.....   

Do they wear jeans in Colorado?

At work on Thursday, we all dressed in orange (which kind of gave me flashbacks to something my college soccer team called "skittle day" during which we dressed like, well, skittles; I often chose orange for some reason - possibly because it clashed so well with my hair...), walked down to a pumpkin patch (which, somewhat oddly, was also a petting zoo) at lunch and had pie in the afternoon. 

It was fun enough, but mostly (ok, second to the pie), I enjoyed the fact that we got to wear jeans.  Since Fridays are already "casual" days, that made two jeans days in one week.  Of course, I have no special affinity for Halloween, but...getting to wear jeans at work two days in a row?  Yeah, I'll celebrate that.  : )

Also, noteworthy this week: on Friday, I signed my official acceptance letter for relocating to Colorado (Ft. Collins, to be exact) next August.  Which means I only have nine months left to explore my current environment here in Southern California....

Well, anyone who knows me knows that A) signing commitment papers is a pretty big deal for me (and that'll make a two-year commitment all together: a year in Cali & a year, at least, in Colo), B) exploring an area in a short amount of time is something I rather enjoy, and C) despite the fact that I like exploring said new places, I have very mixed feelings about moving again...and again...and again. 

But I'm not going to get into any of that.  The fact of it is, I'm here for the time being, and hopefully, I'll make the most of it.  And it's nice that I don't have to make any more big decisions for a while.  They're made; it's done; Happy Halloween/Harvest Day.  : )       

Butterflies & Waterfalls (no fires for me)

Well, for those of you who might have been worried about me...don't be.  : )  If you've been seeing the news at all, you've probably heard a thing or two about the fires going on down here in Southern California.  And, truth be told, they are horrible.  People losing their homes and all that - I always think that's extremely sad.  But, as for me, I'm north of harm's way - just a little ash and smoke in the air where I am - nothing to be alarmed about.  Thanks for your concern, though, and do keep my neighbors to the south in your thoughts and prayers....

And, in other news, well, I see that I missed my normal Saturday posting time.  But, seeing as how I posted on Monday last week, I think I'll forgive myself.  Plus, I had a good excuse for not being at my computer on Saturday - I went to a play! 

It had been a while since I had been to a good ol' exhibitions of the theatrical arts (not counting some mighty classic skits I witnessed being performed by my students in China), and it was as enjoyable as I remembered.  Probably because my sister was always involved in drama, I really have a great appreciation for a well-done play.  And this one was.  It was called "Butterflies of Uganda" and was about what's going on with the kids having to become children soldiers over there.  Obviously, it was sobering.  But, you know, sobering is ok.  Sobering leads to thinking, and thinking (hopefully) leads to action.  That's my opinion, anyway. 

I'm actually not the most knowledgeable about the situation - my friend, Daphne (or "D;" or, for those of you who prefer the Russian style, "D_____"), is much more savvy regarding the topic, so if you're interested, check her blog (often) to see some issues that she brings to light now and then.  Hopefully, she'll be writing about the play in more depth soon (and remember, that's not laziness on my part - that's teamwork!).  : )

Anyway, that was Saturday.  Then on Sunday, after church, D & I resisted the call of the autumn weather no longer and, putting off to-do lists, went for a hike.  Here's me, whining at the offset.

But then I cheered up once I saw that there was a waterfall involved (as small as it may be, it is still a waterfall).         

My excitement, though, was pale in comparison with Daphne's.  As you can see, she could hardly contain herself! 

As with life, sometimes you just have to drink it all in.  : )

So, anyway, that was the weekend.  Oh, and for those of you wondering about the ankle...well, it didn't stop me from hiking, so that seems like a good sign.  And I'm resting it now and then (with a picture to prove it), so I'm sure it'll be ship-shape in no time.  Thanks for all the concern...but I'm good now.  : ) 

     Hope the week is going well - footloose and fire-free....

Ouch

Well, I suppose it was just a matter of time.  I'm actually not at all clumsy - I just seem to get my fair share of injuries one way or another.  The nice thing about them (the injuries that I usually sustain, that is) is that they're not usually the kind that send me limping to a doctor.  Instead, they just send me limping.   

And that's what I'm doing this evening, unfortunately.  After work, I went off for my usual run on the nearby canyon trails, and...I biffed it.  There's not really any story to tell - I just stepped wrong and...now, an hour later, I'm in my apartment, icing, cringing (though not crying, of course) and taking the strongest pain pills I can find....  Good thing sprained ankles build character, right? (she says with a doped-up chuckle and a wince....)

Hope everyone else is having an injury-free start to the week.  : )      

Autumn in SoCal?

This is the view from my apartment balcony.  Usually, it depicts blue skies and sunshine.  Today...it's overcast.  Finally, a real autumn day. Nice to know that even Southern California gets 'em once in while.... 

And how am I spending it?  The best way a nice overcast autumn day can be spent: sleep in, go for a run, do errands (and I was going to take a picture of the laundry mat for ya, but...there were people there, so...I chickened out : )), e-mail, drink coffee and enjoy a good book (which, luckily, I have - here's the picture to prove it).    

And last night was even better than overcast - it was raining.  'Twas a great evening altogether, actually.  My pal D made some excellent chicken curry, and then we enjoyed Pasadena "Art Night."  Basically, it's an event that the city has a couple of times a year when museums and music houses that usually charge entrance fees let everyone in for free...which pretty much means that they take away everyone's excuse for not getting a little culture now and then.  Quite clever, in my opinion.

So, we listened to some jazz and visited some art exhibits (one of which was a "stripe room" - which, yes, is just what it sounds like: a room decorated in nothing but stripes) and even saw some...interpretive dance?  I'm not sure if that's what you would call it or not - it was actually pretty impressive (physically - I mean, as physical as you can be in a museum room, I guess), but I'm not sure if there was any kind of "message" or "interpretation" going on.  It was sort of similar to those floor routines they do in the Olympics...but without all the flipping and springing.  Anyway, it was art and expression to them, and it surely took a lot of training and practice, so...I think can respect that.  Plus, did I mention it was free?  : )

And what better way to top off an evening of culture than by watching a movie (which was unfortunately not free...but worth it just the same).  We saw the newest Wes Anderson film (who brought you, among others, "Bottle Rocket" [still my favorite] and "Rushmore" [still my next favorite]).  This one takes place in India (which makes sense since it's called "The Darjeeling Limited), and much of it happens on a train (which I like 'cause it reminds me of China).  If you don't like his other stuff, you probably won't like this (which is why I'm not giving a broad endorsement), but regardless, the cinematography capturing the sights and sounds of India is pretty cool.  Makes me want to drink chai tea.  : )

Anyway, I guess that's it for this weekly (actually, this week it was bi-weekly - yay me) : ) installment of life in SoCal.  Enjoy your autumn day...rain or shine.   

Missin' Chiner

Just so I give credit where credit is due, I did not take this picture.  But I got it today from my friend, Kevin, who's in China, and I just had to share it. 

Not being a super emotional, "sharing"-type person, I don't always (or often) come out and say what's on my mind.  But every once in a while I guess I should let it out, so...I'll just say it: I miss China.  I mean, come on, look at this picture - wouldn't you?  : )

Not that life here doesn't have its own randomness, I guess.  Just yesterday, in fact, I was sitting in the park, minding my own business, reading The Kite Runner, when, all of the sudden, this squirrel comes running over and proceeds to hover just feet away, flicking its tail and squeaking (squawking?  chirping?  what is that sound?) at me, like I did something to offend it.  If only I spoke Squirrel, I might have been able to clear things up.  : )

Anyways, just thought I'd share a glimpse of China and SoCal with ya.  And since we're on the topic of pictures, here's one from Saturday's riveting flag football match (provided by D to the aphne - thanks, by the way).  Although it doesn't look like it, there were other people there, I promise. 

Ok, that's it for now.  I know it isn't Saturday, but, hey, gotta mixed it up every once in a while, right?  Blogging on a Monday?  Talk about living on the edge!  : )   

Nothin' Special - It's Just Saturday

Well, I noticed that I've been putting a post up every Saturday (and only on Saturdays, for that matter) for the past few weeks, so I thought I should continue to uphold that tradition.  Unfortunately, I don't have any new pictures.  ...Which doesn't mean that I have been doing stuff - I just haven't been documenting it, I guess. 

So...I don't have anything great to ramble about - I mostly just got tired of seeing "Something Fishy" up there.  The week was fine and dandy - I spent a day and a half at the Chinese consulate in LA (it was super backed up 'cause it was closed for three days for a Chinese holiday), so that was interesting.  I rode the metro there and back two days in a row and one day waited there from 9:45 am until almost 2pm.  Luckily, I'm reading the Kite Runner (an emotionally hard book but super well written and engaging), so I was set.  And on Thursday night, I went with D and some of her peeps to see a couple members of the band Nickle Creek play.  I wasn't really familiar with their music, but it was a good time.  A good, bluegrassy-type time. 

And what else?  Well, running is going well.  D went with me yesterday, and we saw deer (again), so that was cool.  But still no pictures.  My bad....  And this morning I joined D (that is D to the aphne, by the way) once more to play some flag football.  It was an inward battle for me to go because A) I'm addicted to sports but B) it was at 8:30...a.m.....on a Saturday.  But in the end, sports won.  This time.  I tell ya what, though, it's a beautiful day for doing just about anything outside - another beautiful, sunny day in Pasadena.  : )

Anyways, guess that's all I got.  No big plans for the coming week.  Or even for today.  Mostly, I think I'm just going to think of excuses to be out and about.  I think I need to get some Wheat Chex at the grocery store, actually....  Reason enough, right?  : )

Ok, hope all is well with all o' ya - enjoy the day....