Homeless to Home Free

Well, we made it back to the States 21 days ago, lingered at my mom and dad's and leigh and nash's so we didn't have to feel too homeless, said our goodbyes, collected our betsy and seth and, after 48 non-stop hours of driving across this enormous country, made it to Los Angeles, and more specifically Santa Monica. Our apartment was a little boughaz when we first came in, but a couple cans of paint and some window boxes and one art hanging session later, it's home. It's hot in the afternoons everywhere but in our bedroom, where we have a window a/c, but I'm finding I like the layer of sweaty grime that acts as a cooling agent. It makes me feel like I've worked out when all I've done is folded clothes and it makes me go outside and take walks when I'd otherwise favor the cooler inside. Apparently Santa Monica has had some blackouts (we've been oblivious to those) and LA is in the midst of one of the worst heatwaves ever (global warming, anyone?... the hottest we've gotten is 85 with an ocean breeze, but it's like 120 in the valley... stupid valley). We've been having fun getting to know our alley weirdos -- we've got the alley mayor, who leaves notes about venus' incessant (never) barking (she really hasn't barked once since we got here, and i'm not just saying that to brag) on our door every night we're gone for more than two hours, and the alley trash patrol, who moves trash from different bins into others and tries to take trash out of people's cars and out from under their projects. Oddly enough, she doesn't do a thing about the decaying body smell coming from a couple of the bins, so every now and then we get a sample from the air coming through the window. One day when she's not looking I'm going to dump bleach into those bins and try to kill the smell at least a little. Mack watched her try to throw someone's hat away that was sitting inside their car, when she was caught red handed and stopped with, "We like to throw our own hats away, thanks." Now those are the neighbors we need to meet. In addition to claiming our territory, I've been applying for jobs, so if any of you get a call, remember, I'm exceptional to work with, dependable, capable, delightful, talented, highly motivated, incredibly organized, and, if you're feeling generous, inspiring. I've got tons of stuff to blog, including pics from our amazing trip, so, to make up for the homeless and internetless absence, you will be inundated with a blog a day until i run out of things to say. in the meantime, here's where i go in the evenings. you can come too.