A Midwestern Girl on the West Coast

I've noticed a few things since I've been here. Strange things. Cool things. "What the John?" kinda things. I'll share a few of them now but I suspect this may become a recurring post as weird things happen or I make random observations.

Last post I commented on how the small booklet on the restaurant table wasn't drinks or desserts. There is nutritional information everywhere and it is in your face. I agree that it should be readily available if requested but if I choose to remain blissfully ignorant please let me do so.

It is always sunny. All the time the sun is shining. Glaring in your face as you're trying to drive or walk around. I would kill for an overcast day right now. Yeah, in the morning it is a little cloudy but that's all gone by about 10:30am and then it's all sunny for the rest of the day. Only once has it been cloudy that I've noticed since I've been here (about 3 weeks now). I'm told that it rains in the winter....I don't believe them.

How am I supposed to drive with this?

People here, meaning silicon valley, have money coming out of their knee caps. It's exhausted all other traditional routes (ie. eyeballs, ears, armpits) and is now pouring out the knee caps as well. How do I know this, you ask? By observing the parking lot at my office. There are 3 Tesla cars I regularly see, a super nice BMW with a bike rack on top, and there isn't a car that is more than 5 years old. Seriously?! It's bonkers. 

I know this is a cultural thing, I am closer to Asia on this coast, but there are a million thai restaurants. As someone who doesn't particurlarly enjoy thai food this is problematic. Whenever we go out for lunch in my office it is to one of two thai restaurants that are nearby. I don't detest it enough to ask to go somewhere else, I can always get sweet and sour chicken, but I've had thai food three times in the past week and that is way above my comfort level. 

Californians seem to want you to love everything and they want to help you love everything. When asked if I like thai food and I tell someone "it's alright, I'm still getting used to it" (complete lie, I don't like it and I'm just being diplomatic. I'll probably binge on granola bars at my desk after lunch) they'll reply with their favorite places to get thai food and at least three dishes I should try to help me try different parts of it. For a normal, rational person that's a very nice suggestion. I, however, am not always normal and rational. I'm crazy. I see this as smothering. You may be thinking now, "she's not appreciative of how they're trying to welcome her" I am appreciative, that's why I lie and listen to them, it's just that every. single. person. is that helpful person. There is a point when it just becomes too much. 

Traffic here is insanity. I took a wrong turn and ended up in gridlock traffic on the highway for a half hour just trying to get to the next exit. Also their signage is weird, my mom can testify to this. They don't always have signs parking when the lanes at an intersection are right/left turn only but rather paint it on the road. This is troublesome when there are lots of cars (which there almost always are) and you don't know which lane goes where (how I ended up on the highway in gridlock traffic). And the cycle of stop lights...don't even try to understand because it isn't consistent. 

That's enough ranting for today. One of the cool things about California is that I can grow a lemon tree in this climate!! I've always loved lemon everything and have wanted to get a dwarf lemon tree to have in a pot on my porch and now I have one!! And it's starting to bloom so I'll have lemons in no time!!