The One Where I Am Acclimating
I don't think I'll ever get to the point where I could be described as "LA," but after three years, I am starting to get acclimated to Southern California, to the point where I think I even like it.
First of all, hardly anyone smokes. There are even smoke-free beaches. Can you imagine? Places where you can't even smoke outside! So that's nice. When we went to Las Vegas, I was reminded how awful it is to be in buildings where people are allowed to smoke. And now that I'm not used to it, my eyes burned and I could hardly breathe.
The restaurants around us are so excellent that Ross and I have become snobs about where we eat. At his office gift exchange, the TGIFriday gift card was the gift most stolen, and Ross and I had a good laugh about how much disdain that we regarded that gift with. We never have to eat at chain restaurants because of all the great Mom and Pop places around us. The South Bay is truly unique in all the unique businesses and restaurants it has to offer.
I have also settled into a pattern. We have a place to spend every Christmas. I have a place where I can buy expensive raw food for my dogs now that I'm into holistically treating them. I have the top thyroid expert in the country an hour from me where I can take Chubbs and buy his medicene at cost instead of paying an arm and a leg for it. I've even gotten to where I can predict traffic pretty well when I actually leave the South Bay to go somewhere. I even got invited to a New Years party for the first time since we've lived here. One of my dog clients is having a 70s-themed party. They're going to have a disco ball and 70s food like hamburger helper and fondue. I think it will be fun, but I've been agonizing about it for weeks because I didn't live in the 70s, except that last five months of 1979, and I'm not sure what to wear. I decided to go as Tom Petty and bought a hat like he wears during "Breakdown" and a suit jacket that looks kind of like the one that he has on the cover of "Damn the Torpedoes." I already have the hair, and I have a shirt that says "Tom Petty 1971" with the heart and guitar.
And I've developed a touch of the LA attitude. I hardly ever make eye contact with people on the street anymore, and I only exchange smiles when the person smiles at me first. I can also hold my own when being harrassed on the street. The other day, I had to protect Muggsy from some construction worker on the street, and I had him more afraid of me than Muggsy. And I'm so proud of the way Muggsy has developed his LA attitude. He's doing so well out here now. He relaxes on walks and can walk right next to someone without lunging, unless they try to pet him...
The South Bay is great for dogs. There are tons of groomers and pet boutiques and dog walkers. It's been great for trying to help my dog training boss build her new business. We left the pet store that we were affliated with and have had to search for new referrals. I've been in charge of the South Bay and have had a lot of luck approaching groomers and boarders. I even got a vet clinic and a new pet store. There's just a multitude of places for your pet and places that accept pets. It makes this a pretty cool area to live in. I guess we might just stay here awhile.
First of all, hardly anyone smokes. There are even smoke-free beaches. Can you imagine? Places where you can't even smoke outside! So that's nice. When we went to Las Vegas, I was reminded how awful it is to be in buildings where people are allowed to smoke. And now that I'm not used to it, my eyes burned and I could hardly breathe.
The restaurants around us are so excellent that Ross and I have become snobs about where we eat. At his office gift exchange, the TGIFriday gift card was the gift most stolen, and Ross and I had a good laugh about how much disdain that we regarded that gift with. We never have to eat at chain restaurants because of all the great Mom and Pop places around us. The South Bay is truly unique in all the unique businesses and restaurants it has to offer.
I have also settled into a pattern. We have a place to spend every Christmas. I have a place where I can buy expensive raw food for my dogs now that I'm into holistically treating them. I have the top thyroid expert in the country an hour from me where I can take Chubbs and buy his medicene at cost instead of paying an arm and a leg for it. I've even gotten to where I can predict traffic pretty well when I actually leave the South Bay to go somewhere. I even got invited to a New Years party for the first time since we've lived here. One of my dog clients is having a 70s-themed party. They're going to have a disco ball and 70s food like hamburger helper and fondue. I think it will be fun, but I've been agonizing about it for weeks because I didn't live in the 70s, except that last five months of 1979, and I'm not sure what to wear. I decided to go as Tom Petty and bought a hat like he wears during "Breakdown" and a suit jacket that looks kind of like the one that he has on the cover of "Damn the Torpedoes." I already have the hair, and I have a shirt that says "Tom Petty 1971" with the heart and guitar.
And I've developed a touch of the LA attitude. I hardly ever make eye contact with people on the street anymore, and I only exchange smiles when the person smiles at me first. I can also hold my own when being harrassed on the street. The other day, I had to protect Muggsy from some construction worker on the street, and I had him more afraid of me than Muggsy. And I'm so proud of the way Muggsy has developed his LA attitude. He's doing so well out here now. He relaxes on walks and can walk right next to someone without lunging, unless they try to pet him...
The South Bay is great for dogs. There are tons of groomers and pet boutiques and dog walkers. It's been great for trying to help my dog training boss build her new business. We left the pet store that we were affliated with and have had to search for new referrals. I've been in charge of the South Bay and have had a lot of luck approaching groomers and boarders. I even got a vet clinic and a new pet store. There's just a multitude of places for your pet and places that accept pets. It makes this a pretty cool area to live in. I guess we might just stay here awhile.
posted by Rachel at
4:57 PM
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