NIGHT SWIM SILLINESS

Us, post night swim. It wasn't too cold but California water is a little funky.

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Me inside the Starbucks in my boat and scarf. I have found that it is often colder inside than outside. CRAZY.

I've Been Infected

Of course it isn't that dramatic. I have been infected with the Palo Alto state of mind. I was headed out to study this afternoon and figured I would drive. It was pretty cold in the house and the sky looked dark and possibly rainy. I packed my bag, took the car keys and headed out. Well, mere moments after getting outside I realized it was actually a pretty OK day. There was no need to drive, I would ride my bike to my destination which was less than two miles away. I had a rack to hold my PC and even though there is a long and steady incline, I could walk that part. Well that's what happened folks. THEN when I got to my destination I realized that I did not have the keys to lock my bike. Oh, the silliness of it all. So, I sat outside at the coffee shop beside my bike and did some work with an actual pen and paper. It worked out just fine.

A second initiation. I had something stolen off of my bicycle yesterday. Since we started looking in the area and were aware of the bicycle mentality we were told how rampant theft of bicycles is and how folks will just lift any old thing off of your bike. (There is a similar culture around motorcycles in Philly but I always assume that people with think my bike belongs to a big scary dude and leave it alone ~ that has worked so far). Well, my snazzy Starbucks water container was lifted right off the bike on campus yesterday. The bike and I were on campus almost all day and the best that I can tell the water jug wasn't lifted until after dark, the scoundrels. I am not too sad, while the container was sweet ~ and I do mean sweet, it was my color and the perfect size ~ I did get it on severe clearance. If that is the worst thing that happens I'll be OK.

A third initiation (isn't this exciting??). I secured a CA license earlier this week. As you know, it took me many times to pass the motorcycle portion of the written test but it happened!!! Turns out all the answers were in the book, who'd a thunk it?!?!?!? I read the book at the DMV, the new book, because a kitty yakked all over my first book. I read the book, took the test and passed easily. They will mail me my license. Yes, mail it. Weird, huh?

I also had a job interview yesterday. We'll see how it goes. Next step is to find a school with a suitable nursing program, oh and I'll have to get into it as well, I suppose. :-)

I took some time today to send note to all the folks that sent me notes last month. I hadn't really been ready to open or even look at the cards. I woke up this morning and somehow knew today would be the day to open them. It was pretty sad. I haven't really lingered in the sadness. One, well certainly nothing good would come of it and two, I don't really know how to do that and then recover from it. It's a process is what folks tell me, and I know that. Of course it doesn't make it any easier.

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You can't actually see the leaves falling because me crappy resolution, but they are falling and it is lovely.

Back in the Groove

First ~ How awesome was that election!!!! We still have no television at the house so on election night we checked updates on our phones. When there was word of a concession speech on Fox, I thought, I am watching the acceptance speech online. I watched on The Girl's Mac, there was so much hooting and hollering from just me in the room full of boxes that The Girl came up at least twice to make sure I was OK. (Perhaps there was an avalanche of boxes?) Awesome! Insert Happy Dance Here!!!!

Second ~ California Livin'

Well, I have been on my bicycle nearly every day this week. I have ridden the bicycle more times in the last 10 days than the entire time I was in the Small Wonder state. I have a helmet and a lock and a rack for my water. It's cool. The Girl and I took a spin together yesterday for the first time. We went to a neighboring town, Menlo Park. It was an easy ride, no big hills, and we weren't exposed to traffic until we actually got to the town. The down town is quite lovely, it reminded me a lot of Collingswood in New Jersey. There is an independent pet food store that sells the food the kitties eat, so that is very handy. Of course there were tons of eateries and independent coffee houses along with a traditional hardware store. Oh, how I love those traditional hardware stores!!

Something that is humorous in a not at all funny way. I can't seem to pass the written test for my motorcycle license. Yes, California makes a girl or boy take a written test to transfer a license from another state. It is very responsible albeit a little annoying for me. I share this snippet because it is embarrassing and hysterical all at the same time. I have been riding the darn bike for 5 years. 5 years. I took the written test for the car, no problem. I took the test for the bike and my percentage of accurate answers was too low (read: I failed). I thought well, this sort of thing happens. So, I got the book that I should have read before I took the test and sat down and read it, not cover to cover, but I thought I had the highlights. This wasn't the first time I had to think in a motorcycle frame of mind. WRONG. Failed again. I took the book home. I have been reading it for a week. Of course one night this week, and I don't know which kitty, one of the cats yakked all over it. Nice. So, I'll be getting another one tomorrow. Hopefully in the next few days I have a California license with motorcycle classification. I have not yet inquired about what will happen if I fail the test a third time, because folks, "Failure is not an option."

University Adventures:

The Girl and I went to an on campus movie last Sunday. Very fun. The movie was not that good Pineapple Express. It is supposed to be a hijinx movie about a couple of pot heads. Well it was way to violent for a pot movie. It was free.

On Wednesday night we went to see a lecture by author and Stanford professor, Robert Saplosky. The book is called Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers ( http://tinyurl.com/zebrabook ) it is all about stress and health, it's pretty interesting. I saw the listing for the event in the local paper and thought it was neat, The Girl, however actually understands the science behind all of it and ended up buying the book. Oh, but we never got to hear the lecture. We got there a few minutes before the event started and the place was already packed. Standing room only even in the balcony and the audio visual crew had about 100 people standing around them in the hall. It was supposed to have been posted but I haven't gotten around to looking for it yet. We are going to another lecture this Wednesday on teaching and how surprise can factor into it.

I got the pictures together from the trip across the country. I will try and include the link. Report back if it works - or doesn't work http://tinyurl.com/6m6xzn The photos are on SnapFish so you'll have to log on to see them. I don't know if it lets you peak without having an account. If the link doesn't work, and you want to see the photos, just send me a note.

A photo or two of Zig Zag enjoying his Left Coast location.

Making Good

The Girl's Boom Box circa 1993 has been providing a surprisingly good sound. I mostly harassed her about it in the East, it's ROCKIN' now! This is my public apology.

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Coffee at the HOUSE!!!!

Time for Bed

Gorby wonders where I'll be sleeping as she has already cozied into my side of the bed.

Vote

Be sure to vote.  Now I certainly won't name names but when you go to sleep at night embrace the warm thoughts that you voted and that it wasn't for THE DEVIL!!!!  I won't say vote early and often because no one is in Florida but do vote!!!

Little Things

Horay for filtered water!! 1 thing down, 4,587 to go.

Really, I Got Here Safely

Hey, we arrived on Friday evening.  Zig Zag was surprisingly not pleased to be home.  He had not nice things to say to the other cats.  By Sunday though, he had cozied up to 70%, it wasn't just like old times but they are getting along better.  

There is lots of unpacking to do and I have a questionable computer situation so pictures will come when they come.  I will most likely post a link to SnapFish.

It was rainy on my first full day.  Really rainy, I didn't think it got that rainy here.  On the upside, the car is just as clean as ever.  Sunday was what a California day should be, sunny and bright!  I went to the Starbucks at Palo Alto mall to study and take an online quiz for school.  Remember how I said all the people were normal here??  That Northern California is sooooo not Southern California.  Yeah, I was wrong.  The folks (men and women) at the mall were dressed to the NINES.  It is an outside venue, given the weather, the anchor stores were giant and typical but the other stores are connected by an outside walk way.  Gals in heals, guys in fancy pants clothes, people had their dogs, entire families dressed like they were heading to a a young Kennedy outing.  Naturally, I had on track pants and Crocs ~ I was styling, you don't have to tell me ~ at least I had showered.  But didn't get any coffee!!!  The outrage.  The line was never shorter than 15 to 20 people.  15 TO 20 PEOPLE!!!  I wasn't waiting in that, I had to stop at a different store on the way home to get coffee.  Something isn't right there.  I won't be studying at that location any more.  Once I get the lay of the land I will be trying out those independent stores.

Of course I did just get a frequent addict card from Starbucks that gives me a discount on nearly every beverage I get.  That is a little hard to walk away from.  But the high volume and the internet thing can be a little irritating.