California Adventures

Although I have visited California several times since I started law school, this will be my longest stay since I left in 2006. I actually felt disoriented today upon realizing that I would be here for the next three months. I had reset my laptop, cell phone, and internet settings to Pacific Standard Time because I would be here for more than my usual one-two week stay. It was weird thinking that most of my friends and the life I had grown accustomed to would all be three hours ahead. Even though I woke up fairly early today, it seemed like the rest of the country had already started without me. Thank goodness for the Sling Box though, I can still watch Top Chef on Eastern Time.

My blogging will probably be sporadic for the next few days, as I will be enjoying the state from top to bottom. Tomorrow I am heading down to San Clemente (which is between LA and SD for those not familiar with CA geography), Friday we will be driving up to the Bay Area for my brother's graduation, and then Monday we will head back down to Santa Barbara so I can get settled in and start work on Tuesday.

But in the words of our Governator, I will be back. For now, you can just imagine that my life is like this:


(I do not know if they play these commercials in CA, but I would actually get a tiny bit homesick when I saw them play these in DC)

Home Sweet Home

Signs that I am back in Southern California . . .

• Walking out of the airport to see cameras filming a commercial
• Sitting in LA traffic for over two and a half hours to travel forty miles because I made the mistake of arriving during rush hour
• People driving raised monster trucks and Hummers even though gas is over $4 a gallon here
• Grown men dressed like jr. high skater boys with sagging pants, spiked hair, and clunky skater shoes
• Overcast skies that are still bright and not gloomy (which makes all of the above worth it)

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

I could think of no better way to spend my last night in DC than with some of my favorite boys:
Alex, David, Mitch (not pictured), and of course Teddy Roosevelt. Before this picture Teddy was harassing some Philadelphia Phillies fans. As David pointed out, we would expect nothing less from a Rough Rider.

Before heading back to California, I went shopping Downtown today and then went to the Nationals game. I have never been a baseball fan but the Nationals have grown on me--there is no team with more political nerdiness than the Nats. I must be their lucky charm because they have won every time I have gone.

Cannot wait to grab some games when I come back; I already have tickets with my friend and professor for the Dodgers v. Nationals game. I will have the summer to figure out who to cheer for.

Fun with Faith

Dinner with Faith visiting from Arizona and Alex
+ Deviled Eggs, Fondue, Roast and other delicious dishes (but no 9 hour pork shoulder) at Firefly
+ Dishing on the all the reality tv that Faith and I both love
+ Hunt for ho's--pantyhose for Faith's interview
+ Crazy homeless men & vigilante justice by the locals at CVS
= Good times with a good college friend (my favorite Bruin Republican)