Well, I'm back home in southern california after spending a week with my dad as he goes thru all the prep work to get a new heart in the va health care system. It's nice to wear shorts again.
Bren tells me that the rest of the country is similar to SLC, I'm not sure if I _want_ to believe her ;-) Here's a short list of SLC observations from a beach bum like me after spending a week taking the bus/walking to the VA from my hotel in SLC...

1. Their daytime high is our nighttime low


2. Half the random conversations I overhear involved going to disneyland - DURRING THE SUMMER! Don't they know that February is the off season?


3. Their big Barnes and Noble book store feels a bit claustrophobic


4. Why the F*** are there seagulls so far inland? Yes, I know - it's the SALT lake - but it's still a bit distant to the sea


5. It's the beehive state - as in honeybees - not the hairdoo


6. Did not see a single mormon missionary in a white shirt and black slacks riding their bicycle around town


7. It's not all mormon! I saw a jewish comunity center, various varieties of chistian churches and a catholic high school bus.


8. Last week they had more smog than in LA! You don't know how many times I've heard people from across the country bitch and moan about the air in so-cal. Pfft!


9. Quite a bit more smokers


10. They have both a City Mayor and a County Mayor


11. Never ever get between a Vet and his or her flu shot


12. what looks like glass/ice chips/frost on the ground could be salt


13. I counted 2 hummers, 5 new BMW's, and 3 new Benz and two out of state license plates durring the ENTIRE week I was there. I could find more in the parking lot of my local grocery store in under 5 minutes


14. 1220 E. 2100 S. is their idea of a street address.


15. I overheard someone remarking "$700 a month?? That's more than a house payment!". It took all my strength not walk over and say "Excuse me, but I couldn't help but over hear that you consider $700 more than a house payment. Bite Me, my little home in OC is $$$$$$" and watch his jaw drop.


16. I had no idea you could hang a full size AC compressor from a bedroom window with wire. (I wish I had my camera out at the time)


17. Lawn Turf/Grass doesn't die when it freezes overnight