I've been wanting to update this blog since I've been in California, but I'm loving it here so much, that I've outside as much as possible. When I do get back into my hotel room, well, you've seen what I do then!
So right now, I'm missing out on the sunshine, but I've been really wanting to write something here, so here's a bit for now... I know that there are some of you, (mdguy, you come to mind right away) that like reading blogs, so here's some fun reading...
A 'few' pictures back, I mentioned something in one of my captions about doing jury duty, and realizing as I'm in the line waiting to go through the metal detector at the courthouse, that I've got the ring on, and I'm not going to be able to get through the metal detector, without being 'detected'. OMG. Luckily, I realized this when I was still 4 or 5 people back in line, and the line was moving ever so slowly. So I reached into my Levi's, as discreetly as possible (is that possible? They're not exactly loose fitting) and extracted it from around my genitals, and then put it into my jacket pocket. When it came to be my turn to go through the metal detector, I put the ring into the little bowl, along with my keys and coins and cellphone. The old guy that was working the security looked at the contents of the bowl, but thank goodness, didn't ask any questions. I couldn't believe my luck. I could just picture him asking "What is this? Why do you need it in the courthouse?" I wouldn't have known what to say to him. I suppose I would have had to tell him the truth, because I can't think of any other plausible explanation for that ring.
Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, when I flew from PDX to SFO. I remember that incident at the courthouse all too well, and I sure don't want to chance something going wrong at airport security. That's happened once at San Jose, California, but that's another story all together (M16 pointed at me OMG I want my mommy!). So I left the ring at home... It's been sorta weird, not having it on for the last 2 weeks, but that's a small price to pay, to be in California!
I have to go back home tomorrow, darn it. I'm really liking being here in California. The first week was in Belmont, about 20 minutes south of San Francisco. Then I flew down here to LA (El Segundo is the name of the actual town that LAX is located in). Can you believe that it was cheaper to fly down here ($144) then it would have been to rent a car and drive the 300 miles myself? I wouldn't have ever guessed that. My plan had been to drive myself down, and enjoy all the sights along the way, but I nixed that plan, when I found out it would cost my company MORE to drive, than to fly.
Go on the web, check it out yourself, if you don't believe me. A basic car, $27.99 a day, grand total for one day is around $150. And of course that doesn't include gasoline [that's petrol, for those of you who speak proper English]. I called Enterprise to verify if that was right, because something seemed wrong to me. They assured me that it was right, because of airport fees and whatever, but the total was right. A Kia Rio for one day, $150. OMG. So I called a local Enterprise place in Belmont, thinking I'd avoid the airport fees, and get a lot closer to the $27.99 total. He told me that because the rental would be one way, he's have to charge me a $600 drop-off fee. WHAT? So 12 hours before I wanted to be in LA, I booked a flight on Alaska. Basic ticket price $134, with taxes and fees being only another $10.
I learn something new everyday...