Getting used to California

I want to write, but I'm not sure I have anything to say. It's true that ever since I got to California, I've been trying to build a routine, and settle down, which means that I've had no routine, and too many things aren't settled yet. But all of these things feel like little whirlwinds that only exist in my life- I'm not sure they're things that are interesting second-hand. But let's give it a try, anyway.

There have been plenty of "holy shit, I'm in California, and it's a different country over here" types of moments. I met my first surfer-bum yesterday. I was waiting for a train, so that I and all of the scantily dressed locals could go to Love-fest in San Francisco. The first train to show up was already kind of stuffed with costumed pot-smokers, and the police wouldn't let us pack in (what the hell kind of big city is this? Sure, don't let people hang out of the windows, but come on . . . ) So I had to wait for an hour for the next train, which wasn't full, luckily. Well, it wasn't full until my stop, when the festival-ers filled it with Coors lite and pot and cigarettes and whoops, and requests to see girl's titties.

It was funny- I accidentally met another Chicago alum, so we sat at the back of the train car feeling slightly under- (well . . . over-) dressed, and a bit too old.

And there have been plenty of times when I'm really pretty happy. People here are silly and funny and friendly. I haven't been around silly people for over a year, now. Or, I probably have, actually, but I just didn't understand. Oh, yes. Having people to hang out with, where I don't have trouble understanding what they're saying, is also a big plus. It's relaxing.

Also, it's not hard to get people to do things that aren't math. There are people who like to cook, and people who like sports. A group of us goes rock climbing on Fridays, and I'm taking a ping-pong class. One of the guys has a Wii, and tons and tons of games.

Other than that, my life has been consumed with a Quest. The US Postal Service is zealously guarding a package. It was meant to deliver it to me almost a week ago, but it liked it so much that it stashed it in its lair. When I try to approach, to take my package back, it breathes fire at me (well, fire, or unanswered phone calls and confused shrugs, whichever you prefer to call it). I counter with a vicious attack of nagging, and it backs into a corner, trying to keep me away by saying it will try to track down the delivery man. I shall keep nagging, because it seems to work, at least slightly.

The only thing I have to say about this, is that it's kind of incredible how cheerful and care-free Californians sound when you show them that you're distressed because they can't find your stuff. Maybe cheerful and care-free are the new professional?

So yes, life here is different, and I'm slowly settling in and getting used to it. But in a good way, because for all the things that frustrate me, there are many more things that make me hopeful that life here will turn out well.