R&R Report Two: In the California Sun
It's sunny again today. And hot. Very, very hot, despite the assurances of our family and locals that we're experiencing unseasonal coolness. More random notes from a vacation in paradise:
1) Long night time trip to La Quinta via Twenty-Nine Palms and Desert Center. Stars shine brightly though our rented minivan widows. The dark desert highway gently undulates beneath us, mimicking a slow ocean swell. As we get nearer the base, young men in nice cars begin to pass us, swiftly. Marines, enlisted, doing what all young elisted do: spending almost the entire month's pay on a nice, nice car.
2) Suddenly in familiar territory, on I-10 heading for Highway 111. We gape at the growth since our last visit. Home Depots abound. Houses abound. Unlike in the winter months, there are no Saskatchewan or Alberta plates, though a few lonely Maple Leafs flutter over the occassional trailer or condo.
3) We arrive at the home of family. We are welcomed in casually, as if we've never been gone. Feels great. The next morning: pancakes with real maple syrup and the Los Angeles Times. Hugh Hewitt's being too nice; the Times is a bloody mess. Headline the first day we were here was something about Bush's foreign policy "changing" to a policy of liberty and democracy promotion in the Middle East.
Er...that's been the policy since (at the latest) early 2002. Beyond pathetic.
The next day's Times brings word that National Security Advisor Hadley is too nice. Bolton is a meanie; Hadley is too nice. Senator Biden is juuuuuuuuust right.
Like we said, beyond pathetic.
4) On the patio, kids in the pool. Water-wings are holding. Sky is blue, the sun is blazing, the Coronas are cold, cold, cold. Perfect.
5) Sour note: old perceptions are being changed, perhaps forever. We can't quite shake the feeling that we are somewhere a bit foreign. Cruel stereotypes turn out to be sadly true: most of us (we included) are too damn overweight. And the dress! We have become a nation of slobs, uncaring about the image we present to the public sphere. Does this mean something, or is it insignificant?
6) Took in a Dodger game on TV last night. New ownership should be shot for what they have done to Dodger Stadium. Note to Red Sox fan who owns the Dodgers: our colors are blue and white. Inexplicably, walls and railings are now black and orange. The fact that we're playing the Detroit Tigers (interleague play.....pleh!) adds to the illusion that the Dodgers are on the road. Took comfort in the following: Vin Scully was calling the game, Farmer John was advertising, and 76 was back on the globes above the twin scoreboards. Dodgers looked damn good, by the way.
7) More culinary treats: P.F. Chang's, Del Taco and a home-grilled New York Steak over the past two days. Wow.
Turned on the radio and heard Dion, the Spinners and Sam Cooke all in a row. Turned on the TV and watched Animal House. It's good to be home....
Next Stop: The O.C.
1) Long night time trip to La Quinta via Twenty-Nine Palms and Desert Center. Stars shine brightly though our rented minivan widows. The dark desert highway gently undulates beneath us, mimicking a slow ocean swell. As we get nearer the base, young men in nice cars begin to pass us, swiftly. Marines, enlisted, doing what all young elisted do: spending almost the entire month's pay on a nice, nice car.
2) Suddenly in familiar territory, on I-10 heading for Highway 111. We gape at the growth since our last visit. Home Depots abound. Houses abound. Unlike in the winter months, there are no Saskatchewan or Alberta plates, though a few lonely Maple Leafs flutter over the occassional trailer or condo.
3) We arrive at the home of family. We are welcomed in casually, as if we've never been gone. Feels great. The next morning: pancakes with real maple syrup and the Los Angeles Times. Hugh Hewitt's being too nice; the Times is a bloody mess. Headline the first day we were here was something about Bush's foreign policy "changing" to a policy of liberty and democracy promotion in the Middle East.
Er...that's been the policy since (at the latest) early 2002. Beyond pathetic.
The next day's Times brings word that National Security Advisor Hadley is too nice. Bolton is a meanie; Hadley is too nice. Senator Biden is juuuuuuuuust right.
Like we said, beyond pathetic.
4) On the patio, kids in the pool. Water-wings are holding. Sky is blue, the sun is blazing, the Coronas are cold, cold, cold. Perfect.
5) Sour note: old perceptions are being changed, perhaps forever. We can't quite shake the feeling that we are somewhere a bit foreign. Cruel stereotypes turn out to be sadly true: most of us (we included) are too damn overweight. And the dress! We have become a nation of slobs, uncaring about the image we present to the public sphere. Does this mean something, or is it insignificant?
6) Took in a Dodger game on TV last night. New ownership should be shot for what they have done to Dodger Stadium. Note to Red Sox fan who owns the Dodgers: our colors are blue and white. Inexplicably, walls and railings are now black and orange. The fact that we're playing the Detroit Tigers (interleague play.....pleh!) adds to the illusion that the Dodgers are on the road. Took comfort in the following: Vin Scully was calling the game, Farmer John was advertising, and 76 was back on the globes above the twin scoreboards. Dodgers looked damn good, by the way.
7) More culinary treats: P.F. Chang's, Del Taco and a home-grilled New York Steak over the past two days. Wow.
Turned on the radio and heard Dion, the Spinners and Sam Cooke all in a row. Turned on the TV and watched Animal House. It's good to be home....
Next Stop: The O.C.
