TheLionRampant.net

At the Talent Show during Parents’ Weekend at Providence, there was a skit lovingly imitating all of the professors. I guess my scarves must be famous.

Here’s Niesje being me:here and here. Because I can’t figure out how to put the picture up on the post, you’ll have to click the links for a laugh.

So, Bryce called about our things from Scotland as we had heard that the ship was due to arrive in LA on September 29th. The movers said that because it had to all clear customs it would be another week or perhaps two. Now that it has been more than two weeks since the ship docked, Bryce gave them a call, figuring we’d have a date for the movers to come drop off our things this week.

But nope. Not at all.

It appears everything has just now cleared customs and it will take them a further 2 1/2 weeks to get our things to us! Let me just reiterate that we’re only about 15 miles from Los Angeles and just 33 miles from the Port of Los Angeles! So why, might I ask, does this take 2 1/2 weeks?!

I guffawed when I heard that some English friends of my sister-in-law said tea just wasn’t the same here in the US. However, I must confess, that it is very, very true. I haven’t been completely satisfied by a cup of tea since we moved back to the States more than 2 months ago.

There are a few possible reasons for this sad state of affairs. I’m likely to go with the argument between soft and hard water. Scottish Blend, which always made for Bryce’s favourite cuppa, proudly advertised that the tea was made for Scotland’s soft water. So it made sense coming to an area where even filtered water still is hard that Scottish Blend just wouldn’t taste the same. So we bought a big pack of Irish Breakfast at Trader Joe’s hoping for something better. Alas. It just doesn’t have that added umph, that makes you smile to yourself, while drawing the mug toward you as it warms your fingers.

Not that you even need a hot beverage in LA since it really never gets cold. That said, I’ve still had a cup every day. Today I was hankering for a nice big cup of black tea and milk, instead of my usual decaf varieties, so I went to the cafeteria here this morning to get my fix. The water tastes of coffee because they use those coffee pots (like the one you see what’s-her-name pouring in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) not only for coffee but also for hot water. I guess I’ll just have to go back to Britain occasionally to get a proper cup of tea.

Saturday Bryce and I hopped on the Gold Line and went to LA”s Union Station. We then took the Red Line downtown to be a part of Loftapalooza, a realtor-led walking tour of downtown LA’s loft scene — both for rent and for purchase. It was exciting!

As many of you know I tend to be pretty good at visualizing things and being creative when I can actually *see* things; for instance, I saw this funky peacock feather wreath at Z Gallerie and thought how great that would be in a funky chunky square frame (no glass) on a brick wall. But I had to see the peacock feathers to be able to come up with the idea. It’s the same with LA — not having a whole lot of experience being downtown, I was sort of scared of the big city that is sort of taking off and yet plagued by poverty and a clash of races. However, when we were walking around, I was elated. I loved crossing city street blocks. I loved walking generally. I loved that my feet were tired from walking. I loved that I could take public transport. I loved that there were people who self-consciously want to make LA a great city again. I love that community seems to be happening there.

We took a few pictures (hopefully they’ll be up soon) and were able to find out what areas of the city in which we’d prefer to live. Monday we might even get to take a hard-hat tour of a new loft building, Rowan Lofts.

I just wanted to tell you a bit of our dreams and a bit of what we’ve been doing lately; Bryce will undoubtedly have more to share about LA. We plan to spend much more time downtown to get to know the city. We’re excited what may be in store.