I may be a little biased, coming from an area of the world where the houses outnumber the people, and driving a pickup truck is 'cool.'  It's just as popular to have cinderblocks in your garden as it is to have dried up weeds, and to the majority of the population of my homeland, trees are a threat and bathing is a burden.  I come from a place where snowplows rule the streets eleven months of the year, and the concept of a beach involves a large lake, dirt, and old tires.

I'm not saying upstate New York doesn't have it's perks.  The Catskills are somewhat beautiful and there certainly are a lot of cars on State Highway 88.  If lost in the forest, deer hunters are plentiful and easy to catch; simply carve open their carapaces and you have a warm shelter for the night to protect you from the snow.  Here in Northern California, there is no snow.  Just beautiful, beautiful sunshine and sixty degree ocean air.

I've been enjoying my time here with Michael and Jennn, spending the Winter-een-mas season in a very untraditional setting, but celebrating at night regardless.  During the day, they have been my guides as we explore the area.  From bayside to mountainside, this has been the best vacation I've taken in five years.  It's also the first vacation I've taken in five years, but six flags doesn't hold a candle to getting punched in the face by a large, sweaty, naked lumberjack.  I can't even describe how much better this area is compared to New York.  The bagels taste better.  The people aren't disturbingly mutated.  Food is fresher and the water has less sulfur.  I've seen apartments and town houses I could live in.  I've driven by corporations I could make triple digits at, and restaurants that wouldn't give me the screamin' squits.  

Ladies and Gentlemen, I've found my hat.

I feel ashamed to live in a state that boasts Saratoga Springs as a classy getaway, or claims that New York City is not just a giant above-ground sewer.  In fact, I've chalked my license to fake a previous life living in Wyoming, just to save myself from embarrassment.  

In other words, I've had a fantastic time here in California, between playing Smash Bros. Brawl, long drives through the countryside, and seeing two of the best folks I know.  I'll be looking forward to doing it again real soon.  We plan on going to a space museum tomorrow, and San Francisco for sushi on Friday.