Open 24 Hours

Switzerland was an amazing place, no doubt about it, but one of those nagging items that would occasionally get to me, as an American, was the fact that once the sun went down, generally, everything closed.

Normally this was good. A slower pace, more time at home ect, but if it was 3 AM and you were hungery, your options were severely limited.

Now that I am back in California, this is no longer an issue. Many places are open 24 hours; gas stations, grocery stores, check-cashing places and most importantly, restaurants.

Of course, using the term restaurant is being a bit generous here.

I refer to the ubiquitous American Diner. Healthy options don't exist. Its cheap, fast and flavorful. Just what you need in the middle of the morning after a night out drinking and dancing.

The unusual suspects

Last Friday (errr, Saturday morning) after a great night out, we stopped at a well known diner chain and for an hour we ate, talked and enjoyed the early morning.

SOOOOO TASTY!

This is one of those truly quintessential American things. Nowhere else can you do this, even if you wanted to. We have something here that is special. Part of Americana and I am so happy I can experience it again.

Folsom California. Even here you can find a Welsh Flag

Possible New State Motto

Two of the many things in the news recently about California are wind and fire.

No puns about earth please....

So we have just finished quite a 24 hours here in Sacramento with some robust wind and quite a few fires. There were large fires in the Bay Area and a quite destructive fire in the Wine Country, still raging today.

Carquinez Bridge - California Department of Transportation

The region's largest electrical provider PG&E is shutting down power lines before hand to reduce the chance of a falling high tension line starting a fire, again.

It was the same last year when I arrived (yes, almost one year) with fires raging north of here. But this time the fires were closer, much closer. Two freeways were closed in Sacramento today due to a fire, a shopping center suffered a fire in South Sacramento. Brush fires in the River DIstrict, adjacent to downtown, were burning. As well as this, they are trees down everywhere and quite a lot of dust in the air.

The price we pay living here I suppose.

But this leads me to the title of this post.
After fires, wind, (we had a tornado last month), floods, blizzards, drought and earthquakes, I came up with a new motto...

"California, Still Hurricane Free"

Fences down

"Here are you sandwiches, thank you"

One of the things I didn't know I missed was the random conversations you have here in the states.

In Switzerland, people are generally restrained in their interactions with people in public. With the exception of the greeting of the day, there isn't much else said.

Here on the other hand, conversations get personal, quickly.

Todays example....

I went to the store to get some sandwiches. At the counter I said "hello" to the woman working there, whom I have never seen before. By the time I had the sandwiches I was made aware of the following things;

• She has a son
• Her cousin and her just bought a duplex together
• she is moving this week
• She is missing her nieces ice cream social today
• She is divorced
• Has a boyfriend but he "doesn't understand"
• Every month she gets $350 in child support
• Two hours after moving into the new duplex, her son damaged the floor
• The floor is hardwood laminate 
• The boyfriend "still doesn't get it"
• She was very thankful I was there for her to vent to

So there you have it, a MAJOR difference between Zurich and Sacramento.

You don't get that in the Subway on Sihlstrasse.

© Google Street view

Windows to the New World

In the apartment, there is alas, no porch or balcony. 

Not that it matters too much as there are the windows on to the street.

The flat is at ground level on a reasonably busy street in Midtown. As well as decent vehicle traffic, there is quite a bit of foot traffic. Within a few blocks is the Music Circus, the Memorial Auditorium and what is left of the Convention Center (under redevelopment). Since people are generally cheap, a lot of people park in the neighborhood and walk to the venues. It is on these days, the people watching peaks.

The "Porch"

Allow me to explain. Sitting on the couch, we can observe the comings and goings of all sorts of people. The windows are right at upper body level, the screes are dark and we are in shadow, so people just walk by and don't even see us.

On most days, the windows are open and we hear all the conversations of the folks walking by. Even in these sweltering days of summer (over 100ºF/40ºC each day) we still open up the windows and "sit on the porch". There are a few people in the neighborhood that stop by and chat which is nice, but generally we sit, chat, watch and listen.


So, if you find yourself one evening walking in Midtown remember, we might be there, like Statler and Waldorf......

Ah, where have you been?

Yes, I have been absent for a while.
I have been busy!!!
New job!
New relationship!
New me!

So' I am back on the blog. Lots to catch up on and not sure where to start. So for today, I'll leave a hint for the next post.... the highest form of civilization is....

Stand by!

Fastnacht Mardi Gras Pancake day.....

It's all the same.
I have lived in four different countries (five if you count Wales and England separately). In each country the day before Ash Wednesday was celebrated. In Germany it is called Fastnacht, Switzerland it is Fasnacht. In the UK it is Shrove Tuesday and here in the US it is Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday.
The celebrations vary. In the UK, it is a simple affair where people make pancakes on the day thus its common name of pancake day. This was a tradition we celebrated with the kids in Switzerland to celebrate their British side.

In Switzerland and Germany, they celebrate with street parades, loud music and lots of drinking.And here in the US, it's the same. I haven't lived in the US for a long time and last night was my first Mardi Gras. 



I went to my local bar. It was on the parade route for a local brass band and it was wild! Loads of people all in good spirits. It's funny how the same event, celebrated in different places and in slightly different ways, can also be the same no matter what the cultural background is. Sure it was a bit low key compared to New Orleans or Luzern, but it was fun and I really had a great time.

Thank you for....

Something happened in the US while I was away. It's not bad but it affects me and I have trouble reacting to it.

Not too long ago, actually, it was a long time ago, it just doesn't seem like it, I raised my right hand and swore to "...support and defend the constitution of the United States...". Thus I became a soldier, like my father and step father before me.

I did my enlistment, got my DD214 and an honorable discharge, and then got on with my life. That was the end of it as far as I was concerned.

Germany 1993 - Spot the Californian.

While living my life overseas, my military past was never a item of conversation and if it did come up, it was usually just a simple "Yeah, I was in the Army, did my 4 years and got out". Simple and direct. meanwhile, the US has had transformed on how former military service is acknowledged. 

As I am on the job hunt, my military past comes up often. I am very proud of my service but it was a long time ago. So I am often faced with someone saying "Thank you for your service". I honestly am always at a lost what to say. My service is personal to me, not something I want lauded about. When people say this, and I know it is heartfelt and honest, it makes me uncomfortable. I did serve during a war and almost went, but it was generally just a job for those years. So I feel rather disingenuous with the praise as I don't feel it is that big of a deal. Again, this is only my personal feelings. I know a lot of vets and I only speak for myself here.

However, I smile and say something to the effect of "Oh, thank you but really it was nothing". 

A different country now, better for recognizing veterans, but for me, no need for thanks. I love my country, did what I felt I had to and that was that. Carry on.