Personal Odds and Ends

Just a few things that have come up lately that you may or may not be interested in …

• We are thinking of switching credit card companies and before applying for a new one I thought we should check our credit report. As much as we should know our current score I just wanted to make sure there were no mistakes on the report itself. We used annualcreditreport.com which allows you one report from each of the three major bureaus, once a year for free. Of course I couldn’t pull up H’s for one reason or another so I filled out a form and sent it off to Equifax (it’s happened before, not worried). However mine came back saying I had close to $750,000 of outstanding debt! They listed our primary mortgage on my report three times, our auto loan three times and our HELCO three times. I called their customer service line and the guy on the other line assured me things were only listed once. When I told him I showed it being listed three times he said I must have made a mistake when I downloaded the information from the website. Excuse me? I made a mistake when I hit the save button? Nice try buddy, and I know your real name isn’t “Andy” either with that thick accent of yours. Anyhow, a new report was sent to me yesterday and everything appears correct. Finally.
• We are listed with a new Realtor, I may have mentioned that. There have been a few visits in the last week and one more today. We can’t do anything except sit back and wait but we would love to have this over and done with.
• Carter got a hair cut on Tuesday. They kind of messed up his head, taking more off than they should have but it was the first time he was there and they didn’t know any better. When he got shaved back in the winter his head had more hair than his body so at least it is evened out now. Overall it’s nice to have him squeaky clean and the hair out of his eyes. I do find that he looks at us more lately, almost as if he forgot what we looked like.
• H’s contact lenses have been bothering her, probably because you are supposed to wear them only for two weeks and she stretches that out into two months (what a trooper!). She called the insurance company and can’t get in to see someone until October as per her health plan. They directed her toward some online companies for an order but they are too expensive and she can’t wait that long. A quick call to her eye doctor back in Chicago and they confirmed she can’t see anyone until October, but did fax her prescription. After we spent $200 on lenses last year we noticed you could buy them at Sam’s Club cheaper so we are heading there this afternoon to see if we can pick up a few. H just called and the person on the other end said they are ‘disbursing lenses from 1-6 pm today’. Hmmmm, that is an interesting way to put it so this could be interesting.
• It’s hot here! I mean 100 degree farenheight hot! This might get old quickly and it better not be like this all summer long. Especially since the central air seems to kicking in every 10 minutes and we can’t afford to be that comfortable.
• Remember when the moving company lost our shelves and damaged our couch? We’ve had the paperwork to submit for more than two months now but I have to get estimates on repairing the couch. Every place I call around here will only reupholster, and they won’t do a repair. The places I have been told to call that may do repairs don’t speak English all that well. So I will either submit the claim forgetting about the couch or just saying it’s damaged and I can’t get estimates and we will have to replace it.
• When we moved in the owner had a palm tree in one corner of the unit. It looked really nice actually, and you see it all the time when you sneak a peek into other people’s units. Well of course the thing was dying and there was no way to save it. It sat dead in the corner for two weeks until the ‘branches’ started drooping down and hitting you when you sat on the couch so we finally threw it out. We plan to replace it with a lamp I think, but do you know how expensive a nice floor lamp is?!?!

May Gray? June Gloom? Give Me a Break

In the past week I have heard about the California phenomenon know as May Gray and June Gloom; early mornings are foggy with occasional drizzle, giving way to sunny skies in the afternoon.

It’s a lie.

Okay, calling it a lie might be a little harsh on my part but I don’t buy the “Gray” and “Gloom” parts what so ever.

The topic of weather came up this past Friday night while H and I were at dinner with her colleagues. A few of them visited Chicago recently and we were asked about what is different here in LA. Inevitably I mentioned the weather and how strange it is to have bright, sunny skies every single day. I further clarified my statement by discussing how Chicago would have days when it was just cloudy and dark; days when it rained constantly for hours on end; and here in LA it just isn’t like that.

Shortly after those words flew out of my mouth two people began to talk about May Gray and June Gloom.

“You’re going to love the June Gloom then!”

What the hell are you talking about?

The woman went on to explain how the mornings are cloudy and rainy, and eventually in the early afternoon it breaks and becomes a sunny day. After listening to the explanation I asked when all of this was going to happen, I’d love to see it. I was informed that it took place during “May Gray” and would continue through June.

Since Friday I have awoken each morning waiting for the change in weather. Bring on the gray! Where’s the gloom? Doesn’t exist people, it’s a lie.

I just came in from outside, around 9:30 a.m., and it’s 70 degrees with sunny skies. Sure there are a few clouds in the sky, but fluffy white clouds kids paint in pictures. No gloom. No gray.

On Monday night we had the blinds open in our place and there was low cloud cover amongst the buildings downtown. It looked really cool with the core all lit up and clouds rushing pass the U.S. Bank tower. But I don’t think this is the May Gray/June Gloom thing people were talking up the other night.

Since Friday I have leaped rolled out of bed to see what the weather is like outside. Before I can open the blinds the sun is beating its way through the shades, and when pulled back they reveal blue skies, and a sun drenched downtown. And not a drop of rain/drizzle either.

I think the names should be changed to any of the following:

• May Sunny
• June Sunny
• May Hot
• June Hot
• May Clear Skies
• June Clear Skies
• May No Rain
• June No Rain

You get the idea here - there is no gray or gloom in Los Angeles. Only when the Lakers lose.

Reasons I Like Los Angeles

The other day H and I were discussing some reader comments and I asked her if I came across too negative about Los Angeles and California. She was very polite in her answer and noted I was simply pointing out the differences between the Midwest/Chicago and living in the West/Los Angeles … but she could see how things could be taken the wrong way.

After plotting thinking for a minute I talked about how California is so different than what we are used to, not bad and not good, but just different. I also rationalized that downtown LA has a long way to go if it is to become the place everyone talks about and says it is going to be.

And then I uttered the phrase, “… but there is plenty that I like about living here …” and I realized I should probably share those thoughts.

• Weather - I have talked about the weather on a number of occasions here. I mean you have to look good and hard on the Interweb to find someone who is going to complain about it not being windy and grey; wondering where the thunderstorms are and hoping and praying it will rain. I await those things because it’s what I am used to and have become accustomed to seeing and experiencing. Of course the flip side to all of this is the bright and sunny days and nights we experience each and every day here in LA. We dread taking Carter out because it is raining or snowing (both weather experiences he loves immensley) and thus we never worry about that here - it is always sunny and warm when you head out the door for a walk. Want to head to the beach? Go for a hike walk? Head to Pasadena and do some shopping? Many things will factor into your day but most likely weather will not be one of them. Friends and family will come out here over time for a vacation or a visit and we will never have to worry about a day being spoiled because of the weather. You know when you go on vacation and hope that you don’t get any days of rain or hope it isn’t cold, because you are on vacation and want a great experience? Well that is what it’s like every day here.
• Pacific Ocean - I was going to say water but someone might think I was talking about the strong flowing Los Angeles river and therefore concede I was nuts. I love the water, always have. I don’t like to swim and I don’t like to fish really. But I love the sight of water, the smell of it and the sound. Where I grew up you could walk a half-dozen blocks and be at the harbor. Go for a drive there and most likely you have to make your way around the lake. Back in Chicago we would walk along Lake Michigan all the time. I would go out of my way to drive along Lake Shore Drive so I could see the waves crashing on the rocks in the fall. And here in Los Angeles you have the ocean. The chance to walk along the beach and see the waves crash against the shore; the ability to look out and see dolphins making their way across the horizon. I love it, and can’t wait to experience it more and more.
• So Much To Do - I know that isn’t a great sub-title but hear me out. Here in Los Angeles there is so much to see and do. You can go hiking in the hills, head out to the ocean. You can get in the car and visit San Diego in just a few hours. You could head north and visit San Francisco and Seattle. And in-between there are so many things to take in. H and I keep thinking about all the places we want to see out here and know that we have a couple years at least to take it all in.

So there are things we like about Los Angeles and California, there really is. And both H and I can’t wait to experience everything we can.

But I can’t promise I won’t have some differences or questions to point out along the way.

So Much To Choose From, But Let’s Talk About the Weather and People

Honestly I don’t know where to start … Today I could talk about the weather, our stimulus check from the government, more rude people in California, the inability for people to parallel park here in Los Angeles and of course everything fashionable.

I guess I will knock out two subjects in this post: the weather and more rude people in California.

The Weather:

It’s hot - un-seasonably hot according to everything I have read recently. The temperature was in 90s all weekend, reaching the 100s if you take into account the heat index. As I write this it is already 86 degrees outside and we are still an hour away from the noon. I have to admit the heat isn’t terrible because there is very little humidity. However, 90 is still 90 and 100 is still 100.

They say (When I say they I am referring to the good people at the National Weather Service) it is going to work its way through the 70s the remainder of the week, beginning on Tuesday. I’ll believe it when I see it though.

Carter never liked the warm weather back in Chicago and guess what? He doesn’t like it here either. On more than one occasion this weekend he went out to do his business and wanted to come back in immediately. I am sure he will get used to it …

More Rude People in California:

Let’s get something straight off the bat: We have met some very nice people here in California so far. The guy we rent from and his assistant that takes our calls and e-mails have been great. A few of you have talked to us via the blog from the downtown L.A. area and again, great people. Some people in the neighborhood and others from the dog walk the other day were outstanding and we look forward to seeing you all again.

But just like anything it is spoiled from time to time by a select few that think they are too good to say thank you or perform a kind act. A few cases in point …

• You know when you hold the door for someone, either walking directly behind you or a few paces back? You stop and hold it for them, just to be polite and to help them a little so they don’t have to get the door as it closes. Well here in L.A. people don’t find the need to say thank you when you do that. Young or old, female or male, they seem to take the door and walk through it. No thank you. No I appreciate it. Nothing. It happens all the time but the one that got me was the other night when we were leaving our building. A guy is walking in as we are walking out, and the three of us pass the door and I stop and hold it for the guy. He walks past me, into the building and keeps on going. Doesn’t say a word. Of course I gently shouted out to him “You’re welcome” but I am sure he didn’t care. It happens all the time.
• Back in Chicago traffic is crazy on the highway, just like it is here in Los Angeles. But back in the Midwest we have a little custom you see - when you let someone in front of you getting on or off a ramp, you are in traffic and someone needs to get over, whatever the case … generally the person that the favor was granted to will give a little wave, they may even mouth “thank you”, just as a gesture of gratitude. Here in L.A.? No way. We were out in the car more this past weekend than usual and were amazed how people assumed they had a right to cut in front of us or it was our job to defer our right of way to them. C’mon people, seriously? It happens all the time.

Some of you may read this and say “Man, this guy hates L.A.” or “He expects too much” and to those people let me say a couple things.

1. A blogger recently told me to keep it real so to speak. That one of the purposes of a blog is to tell the truth, to call people out when you have to and to share your true feelings. (Thanks Eric)
2. We love L.A.! We really do! The weather isn’t too bad, the area is ‘interesting’ and there is plenty to see and do. For us it stills feels like an extended vacation but in all honesty we like it.
3. I don’t think it is too much to think people can be polite. It takes little effort but the gestures go a long way.

So I have to head out now, to Target as a matter of fact. Two Macy’s within three blocks of us but I have to travel ten miles to get to a Target. Here is hoping someone doesn’t slam a door in my face and cut me off on the freeway in exchange for the karma from writing this post.

It’s Raining!

It’s raining in downtown Los Angeles!

Well okay, let me be honest - it ’sprinkled’ outside for no more than 5 minutes. There are no puddles of water anywhere and it wasn’t strong enough to get any of the dirt off our blacony railings.

Attention Residents of Los Angeles

Attention residents of Los Angeles - Today the temperature reached a high of 68 and was in the mid to high 60s throughout the day. Therefore, the following are not required:

• Wool coats (guy sitting outside Coffee Bean)
• Wool hats (same guy outside Coffee Bean)
• Leather jackets, zippered all the way up (Wool-man’s friend outside Coffee Bean)
• Full-length wool coats (lady at the deli counter in Ralph’s)
• Wool scarves (guy crossing Olympic and Grand with girl)
• Gloves/mittens (girl walking down Hope)

I will let all of you know when winter arrives. For now, please store those items until at least November.