Friendliness

Ok I was in the Topeka library the other day just hanging out waiting for my dad to get done with his appointment at the doctors. I had my headphones in listening to my iPod as I was walking out. And as I was walking a young man was kind of walking beside me. He asked me how I was doing and it really surprised me. No, it didn't just surprise me, it freaked me out. I didn't know how to react. I ended up replying that I was doing fine and kept on walking. I'm sure the guy meant no harm but I am not as trusting as I once was.

The tables have been turned

So I'm back in Kansas for a few weeks. I found myself very confused about how I felt as I flew over Kansas City.

I saw this car driving through... well I don't know what because there were no lights on the ground except the car's headlights. And all I could think is why is this person driving somewhere where there are no lights? I mean is he driving through a field or what? I've gotten so used to seeing street after street of lights. Seeing houses and cars and every crack in the pavement. And seeing the dark and knowing not to walk in those areas. I've gotten so used to it that coming "home" seems strange. I feel weird about feeling weird about it. I feel like this isn't home any more. And I feel like California isn't home either. So I'm stuck in between two places and don't know what to feel any more.

Left turns

There's this crazy thing that happens mostly in south LA but pretty much at any intersection that doesn't have a left turn arrow light. When the light turns red and there are cars still waiting to turn left in the intersection two cars will turn through the red light. Sometimes when someone is really frustrated, daring or impatient a third car will go through the light! Needless to say you never go the instant a light turns green. It's just not safe. The best part is when a semi turns through the light cause it takes extra long.

I have to tell this to every new group that comes to LA so they don't freak out.

Dollar stores

They are EVERY where here in Los Angeles. They're about as common as liquor stores and laundry mats. But seriously I started keeping track of the different names.

1. 89¢
2. 98¢
3. 99¢
4. 1 Dollar Mas o Menos

It's madness I tell you, MADNESS!!!!!

Groceries

There aren't many people buying groceries from grocery stores in LA and the stores are few and far between. It's so bad that if you spend $25 at a local Ralph's the store will give you a free ride home. How crazy is that? I really need to go shopping....

Read an article about grocery store shuttles here!

Restaurant Grades

We noticed that all the restaurants have to post their Health rating in their front windows. We also noticed that most of our restaurants rate a B. The food is really pretty good so we don't think too much about it. That is until a cockroach the size of a mouse runs across your feet. Then you scream and tuck your feet in under your legs and put your bags on your lap. One of my co-workers "Con" actually thought it was a small bird on the floor. She didn't know it was a roach until we talked about it again days later. Thank God none of our restaurants are a C. Who knows what runs around in there!

The best way to hide that your restaurant is shady:

Ghetto

I was at a local restaurant a few nights ago and went in to the women's restroom. As I looked at it I thought about how "ghetto" the bathroom was. The seat enamel was worn off, the mirror was Plexiglas and sitting on a chair, and the sink was in bad shape as well.

I had to laugh at myself when I realized that the bathroom WAS ghetto! I was in the middle of LA!