Breathe It All In

There are some little things that are really different here than back in the midwest. The first smell of outdoor California every morning, at least out my door has become an aroma-therapudic way to start the day. Maybe it's because the groundskeepers are constantly cutting and trimming that such sweet smell is ubiquitous, but it is fresh, green and tropical with hints of Eucalyptus. It doesn't really match the smell of wet leaves, wet dog and mud, but it's a close second.

Another difference is the grass. The texture is different. The grass here seems very astroturf-ish to me--the stuff Brett Favre used to not be able to play on. Each blade is thicker and it feels rougher on bare feet. It does make picking up after the dog easier though, so that's a plus. The grass sort of holds things up so dropping your keys, phone or change doesn't have to mark the beginning of twenty-three minutes on your hands and knees hoping to catch a glimpse of something shiny.

One last point for today...people out here don't honk their horns the way people in more challenging climes do. I am amazed at how patient people have been with me going 30mph down streets that are marked 55. I wait for my Garmin lady to tell me which way to turn and people just wait. It's eerily quiet on the roads, and people's arms aren't flailing around as they shout like lunatics through windows rolled up.
Probably the Eucalyptus.