i love green tea! (left)

in CO, i tried "green tea" 

but it was brown tea.

i don't get it...

thanks 

c to the o to the d to the y!

my mom told me if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. 

so, i'll blog it instead. j/k. 

my first day "back" in LA was last friday. 

 first impressions...

about me:

1. food. i  think i'm overly concerned about becoming overweight. but portions out here are crazy. and i gravitate towards icees, slurpees, fruit and mexican food. all of these were scarce in my J life. all of those things are on the fattening side. 

first icee in a year with becky

2. roomies. my new "roomies" are a 62 year-old married couple (aka my parents). a far cry from my 19, 21 and 25 year-old J and Kearny (pronounced Car-knee) roomies. after 2 years of skype phone calls about once a month, i finally got into a little phone tiff with my dad today. ouch! well, it's good to be back! i'm really not used to being around my parents. it's really familiar. they're really helpful and thoughtful. and yet, they also are kinda naggy. 

3. different. even tho you'd think that all is the same because i'm living in the house i grew up in and am driving the same car, it all feels really different. i couldn't even find business envelopes in the house. my parents tinted the windows without my knowledge so i don't really recognize the car. and i keep using my left hand for an imaginary gear shift. 

4. stuff. it's pretty common when you get back from overseas. cleaning house! but man do i have a lot of stuff i don't want and haven't used in 2 years. goodwill here i come. looking fwd to wednesday night for trash day!!!

about LA:

1. gym. my city gym's prices doubled to $163.50. everything went up. so i can't tell when i'm getting a raw deal or not. just like in J. hmm... $4 cheese? $4+ gas? but it's not as expensive as in J. so i'm looking for a gym. 24 hour? bally's? what do you recommend?

2. cell  phone. finally made a 2-year commitment to verizon. it was hard. it was hard to say goodbye to inputting J in my cell phone and inputting smiley faces and hearts and all these other images in texts. but i'm down for texting and got the flip phone with the biggest screen possible.  i apologize in advance if i text you and you don't have texting. 

but i think you should!!! he he

3. toothpaste. i need toothpaste and can't find one i like. wah!!! it's sooooo weird how some toiletries can NOT be found in CA but they're sooooo commonplace in J and vice versa. Take for example, styling water or non-minty toothpaste or compact toothbrushes. 

4. language. i like how i can understand every word people say. i kinda miss the challenge of figuring out what peps are saying, but now my effort is going towards speaking fluently and colorfully and towards asking really basic questions because I CAN speak ENGLISH and ASK!!! yes all my mundane little questions! i'm trying to put back the idioms and little nuances that you live without when you're using a 2nd language.

5. blockbusters. i saw a movie in a movie theatre. not just any movie theatre. a movie theatre with a billion screens and showtimes and all these places to eat around it. i know i'm back in LA when i can see a movie in that kinda environment. i couldn't believe it cost $11 here! ouch! i think there are too many seniors (like my parents) who are paying only $8. or why do you think prices are so high?

--

disclaimer: don't worry.  i am really thankful to be here and know this chinese chicken salad collision is all part of God's good, acceptable and perfect plan. =) if i didn't have anything to say, i think you'd have something to worry about...