Feelin’ groovy
I’m here in lovely Berkeley, California. And that’s not just rhetorical, either. It really is lovely.
I mean, here’s where I am a student:
Yes, it’s a redwood grove. On campus.
Down by Strawberry Creek.
Bikes are de rigeur, naturellement.
Wish they all could be California Halls…
Still, I just don’t actually show up in person here that often, in spite of the fact that I really adore my advisor, I think my department is absolutely great, and I have many wonderful friends here. As I think I may have admitted at some earlier point, I don’t really love the city.
Okay, I’ll admit it: I hate this town. I lived here full-time for three years and it never felt like home. I practically wept for joy when Shelley and I got on the plane to go back to the East.
Personally, there was only so much mileage I could get out admiring trees, having my aura washed, drinking exclusively shade-grown coffee, buying organic vegetables, striking a mellow pose, and feelin’ groovy.
So sue me.
However. I am having a wonderful time now. In spite of this:
Tomorrow is, however, Tuesday. Let the wool gathering recommence!
It’s a great place to visit. I mean it. I’m getting to see all my Berkeley pals and their babies (all of whom are beautiful and of well-above-average intelligence), I’m eating avocadoes whenever they are offered, I’m drinking fine wine, and—against all odds—I’m striking a mellow pose.
As you may have noticed, I do not strike a mellow pose easily, but I can fake it for a few days.
I am not what you’d call a naturally groovy person. I am rarely even cool, but—and it gives me great pain to admit this—it is widely accepted among scholars and experts that I have never been groovy.
But dig this! This is the kind of vegetation we’re enjoying out here. In November:
And here’s the kind of mellow, groovy, hobbit-style houses people are living in here on the Left Coast:
And here’s the kind of conversations they have:
Dude One: So, it’s like, dude. Dude! We take all the positive energy in the universe and we, like, channel that energy into, like, recreating ourselves, like, every single day, dude!
Dude Two: Dude, that is, like…dude! So awesome!
One toke over the line, sweet Jesus? Um. Try, like, seven.
And feelin’, as always, groovy.
November 7th, 2006 at 9:37 am
Oh, LOL, Ellen… Ok, I do love the looks of that house. And I admit, I’ve only been to CA about 7 or 8 times, tops – and a good many of those times were mostly spent in hotels at fan conventions. [g] But…in addition to your observations:
1. Live oaks – who in the heck named those suckers, anyway? This seems like a perfect oxymoron. Gah.
2. Cared-for vegetation is great, but when you get just, you know, around, unless you’re in redwood country…brown, brown, brown, and oh look! Brown!
3. California cuisine. Really, I think those people just can’t cook.
4. Over-reliance on Mexican food. (I count this as separate from California cuisine.) It just never appealed, and you can’t escape it.
5. Too much heat.
6. Too many *people*.
7. Too weird. In little ways that catch you off guard. Not, of course, that Oregonians are never weird in the slightest, at all, whatsoever. Hah. And of course fans of a TV show gathering together are considered weird. But still.
As you say – great to visit, but after a week or so? Get. Me. Out. Of. Here.
November 7th, 2006 at 10:16 am
Ellen, in our books, you are at least ten times groovier than the average Berkleyite. Thanks for the tour of your hallowed halls (and grounds).
California can’t be all bad–there’s yarn there. I’m laughing as I remember your yoga story from your stay on the Left Coast.
Glad you’re posting. I miss you when you’re out of radio contact. And all I can say is I hope Dudes Uno and Due aren’t Communications majors.
Love Monica’s comments too.
November 7th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
That hobbit house is seriously cool. As is the vegetation. And I for one am happy to think about wool gathering recommencing!
November 7th, 2006 at 5:35 pm
So glad you’re feeling groovy. Of course we miss you here and look forward to your return. I’ve got to get caught up on you blog…It seems I’ve missed so much.
November 7th, 2006 at 8:17 pm
Oh CRAP! I KNEW I was scheduled to get my aura washed yesterday, but I forgot the appointment!
Damn – now I’ll have to go to the chakra alignment seminar this weekend with my aura dirty. The shame.
November 8th, 2006 at 5:30 am
Gawd, I’m repeat commenting…oh, the horror. The netiquette. But Lorinda, had to say thanks for enjoying my comment. 😉 And especially, to give the same sort of reaction to Jennifer’s comments. ROFLMAO, Jennifer! “Chakra alignment center”…ow, ow, ow…ribs…
(Why yes, I re-check comments on my favorite blogs to see if new ones come in. Doesn’t everyone? ::crickets:: Um…)