Twisting strings of lights
Become a city below:
Welcome to LA.
So this was the travel itinerary from hell. Shuttle > train > train > shuttle > SFO > LAX > ORD > IND > car ride > home. LAX sort of fudged the whole thing, but the magic of way too many connection flights and having grandparents living in Chicago kicked in and managed to get me home in time to see my little sister graduate at 1pm today. Now if I could only get some sleep.
It's weird to be away from California. There's, like, weather here.
5.31.2008
5.27.2008
Los Angeles
All roads lead to some
Sort of entertainment, and
Sun and sea don't hurt.
A weekend in Los Angeles! A convertible! A hotel on Sunset Boulevard! A dress bought on Rodeo Drive! The beach! Surfing! The Pacific Coast Highway is unspeakably gorgeous, though chasing it was quite a chore at times. Yet I can't think of a better way to spend my relocation bonus. ;)
Sort of entertainment, and
Sun and sea don't hurt.
A weekend in Los Angeles! A convertible! A hotel on Sunset Boulevard! A dress bought on Rodeo Drive! The beach! Surfing! The Pacific Coast Highway is unspeakably gorgeous, though chasing it was quite a chore at times. Yet I can't think of a better way to spend my relocation bonus. ;)
5.21.2008
The Cost of Electricity
Now that I have moved into an apartment where our electricity bill is not pre-computed and included in our rent, I've had much more incentive to conserve electricity. I turn off lights when I leave the room, I don't use the heat or air-conditioning (this is easy since I spend almost my entire day at Google), and my roommates follow similar patterns.
Today we got our electricity bill for the first half of May: $2. I guess that means each of us owes 50 cents. That's right, we love the environment more than you... ;)
Today we got our electricity bill for the first half of May: $2. I guess that means each of us owes 50 cents. That's right, we love the environment more than you... ;)
Weekending
O, naked people,
Traveling bay to breakers,
I see it's cold out.
Hm. Some people went in birthday suits, but we went in party ranger suits.
Go us.
Traveling bay to breakers,
I see it's cold out.
Hm. Some people went in birthday suits, but we went in party ranger suits.
Go us.
5.17.2008
More of the Valley
Small town festivals
And pretentious campuses
Can be seen from bikes.
So it isn't just computer companies here in the Valley. There seem to be real people, too! Evan and I took a trip to the Mountain View something-or-other Arts Festival and checked out some really nifty artwork by people in the area. One guy had made a Chinese dragon out of a bike chain. The best part of the festival, though, might have been the crepes (three berry and strawberry/nutella) that we had for breakfast.
It was good to just chill today. After the art festival there was some pool chillin' time, and then a trip to Stanford. I was thrilled that there was a set of really pretentious-looking guys in matching red blazers and white pants carrying messenger bags and riding their bikes around campus. I sorely wanted their picture, because that's basically exactly the stereotype I associate with Stanford-type places, but my camera wasn't out, unfortunately.
There were some crazy satellite dishes that we visited, too, up on a lonely hill. The view of the rest of the Valley was amazing, but it was a little bit gross to see the smoggy haze sort of hanging over it. I guess that's the price of technology.
This freak heat wave is throwing me off. I guess there are record highs being set in lots of places in this area. I hope it cools off again... 95 is not good Frisbee weather!
5.16.2008
First payday!
You freaking taxes,
Robbing me of my bonus,
But, still, it's money!
I got my first paycheck in the mail today! It was ridiculous how much got taken out in taxes, though. Boo. Hiss. I lost about a third of my relocation bonus to the Fed and Schwartzenegger. At least I support government programs, I guess... :-\
Robbing me of my bonus,
But, still, it's money!
I got my first paycheck in the mail today! It was ridiculous how much got taken out in taxes, though. Boo. Hiss. I lost about a third of my relocation bonus to the Fed and Schwartzenegger. At least I support government programs, I guess... :-\
:D
Good feelings don't end
Under a cloudless blue sky
Such happy people!
I still can't get over the general cheeriness of people around this place. No one ever looks grouchy. I'd say they must love the sunshine, but no one ever looks tan, either... haha, I kid, of course.
I rode the conference bike. It's amazing. And yesterday was bike to work day, so there were a couple of other "festivities" related to the occasion, including free massages, Google shampoo/conditioner/bodywash/lotion that was all (of course) organic, and rides on a crazy carriage bicycle. Woot!
Oh, and people don't lie. The water here is freezing.
Under a cloudless blue sky
Such happy people!
I still can't get over the general cheeriness of people around this place. No one ever looks grouchy. I'd say they must love the sunshine, but no one ever looks tan, either... haha, I kid, of course.
I rode the conference bike. It's amazing. And yesterday was bike to work day, so there were a couple of other "festivities" related to the occasion, including free massages, Google shampoo/conditioner/bodywash/lotion that was all (of course) organic, and rides on a crazy carriage bicycle. Woot!
Oh, and people don't lie. The water here is freezing.
5.15.2008
Put a Lime in the Coconut
Today at lunch they had a guy who used a power drill to put a hole in a coconut. Then he stuck a straw in and handed it to you to drink! They had already shaved off the outermost layer, so there wasn't any rough shell on it, and they made the bottoms flat so you could set them on the table. It was pretty neat. It wasn't quite the flavor I was expecting, though. It tasted almost exactly like water. I thought it would be a little sweeter.
Adventure
Craziness is great,
With no shortage of people
To follow along.
Our alliteration house is complete! Sam arrived two nights ago now, I guess. Sam Slee, Steven Soneff, Sarah, and Savage reside in Somerset for the Summer. Ouch.
There was a trip to look at stars from the top of the pile of garbage (i.e. Shoreline) behind Google, but, alas, the light pollution here is killer. It's really too bad. There's talk of a biking trip this weekend to find some stars, though. I went for a bike ride yesterday to Palo Alto, and that was nice. It got really hot here, though. :(
The new intern crop seems interesting. I've only met a couple of them thus far, but I suppose it's only their third day today. Maybe one or more of them will be absorbed into the group. That would be convenient. :D
There's so many things to explore! Cafes all over the place, for one. And the bike trails here are nice. It's been a long time since I've smelled salt water, so getting back to that was great, too. It's a wonder anyone gets any work done around here.
With no shortage of people
To follow along.
Our alliteration house is complete! Sam arrived two nights ago now, I guess. Sam Slee, Steven Soneff, Sarah, and Savage reside in Somerset for the Summer. Ouch.
There was a trip to look at stars from the top of the pile of garbage (i.e. Shoreline) behind Google, but, alas, the light pollution here is killer. It's really too bad. There's talk of a biking trip this weekend to find some stars, though. I went for a bike ride yesterday to Palo Alto, and that was nice. It got really hot here, though. :(
The new intern crop seems interesting. I've only met a couple of them thus far, but I suppose it's only their third day today. Maybe one or more of them will be absorbed into the group. That would be convenient. :D
There's so many things to explore! Cafes all over the place, for one. And the bike trails here are nice. It's been a long time since I've smelled salt water, so getting back to that was great, too. It's a wonder anyone gets any work done around here.
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