Finally a free weekend

It wasn't long until the Christmas break was well behind me and my head was back into work. This time with double the work load and a part time job to add on to the daily run of things. A work load that included my Thesis, the proposal of which was due yesterday, hence why I've finally got a free weekend. Prior to now, if I did have any spare time I should have been using it to write - not that I was necessarily, but I certainly didn't have time to blog.

It's funny, the things you do when you finally don't have work to worry about. Today I actually did a tonne of washing and cleaning and enjoyed having the freedom to do it. Since when were domestic chores fun? I drank a lot of tea too, but other than that I couldn't tell you what I've done with my day and it's almost over. I suppose this is what happens when your best buddy flies to Texas to play softball (selfish).

The weathers warmed up again here. Despite the snow in various parts of California, we didn't see any of it, and the past week I've been back into my shorts and tshirts. It's a strange thing, being sat outside at 5:30pm, watching the sunset and writing my blog post. I don't think I can say I ever got to do this at home, not so casually anyway. The sun shines in England and everyone rushes out into their back gardens to make the most of it. I just needed a place to sit, and more often than not, outside is a viable option. I no longer feel the very English urge to "make the most of it", when "it" is shining all day every day.

I'm actually sat here waiting for my unis basketball game to start - no, I am not here as an avid supporter of American sport - this is the part time job I mentioned before. Somebody thought I should be given the responsibility of working the personal points and fouls board at games. I assure you, it is as stressful as it sounds, particularly when you're other friends are getting to sit there and answer the phone only 3 times a game. But hey, I can't complain I need the money, and I'm not that bad at it now I understand the rules fully. With that said, I'm starting to understand the Softball stats pretty well after watching the numbers changing online. Perhaps I am getting engulfed into the American culture more than I expected; but then I cringe through the American National Anthem as they play it at every game, so there's plenty of British in me yet.

So this week I got a real reality check of how people in this country really do not walk anywhere. It's a daily task of mine to walk to a local Elementary school, a 10 minute walk away, and 5 of that being to cross campus. It's a tragedy that of the 9 of us required to attend the school, I am the only one who walks there. I'm sure it takes longer to drive, so I don't really understand this logic. Mentioning this to people in conversation, I discovered people will drive from one side of campus to the other which was even more mind blowing. This campus isn't a big campus. What the hell people. My friends genuinely feel guilty when they can't drop me at my office door - I'll walk the 5 minutes across campus! Seriously! It's more than just a walk too. When you take the time to walk somewhere you get some thinking time, time to disappear in your headphones, time to appreciate the things you pass by every day. Today, I walked a route that I am usually in a car for, and I saw the tallest palm tree I have ever seen in my 21 years of life. I drive past that tree every other day, and that's the first time I've seen it since August! Probably California's saving grace is the number of skateboarders around. Sure, the majority of people drive even the shortest distances, but there must be more skateboarders than walkers. Anyway, rant over. That's just reminded me of the leaf blowers here, but I wont get started.

In the last few weeks I've started up a show on my uni's radio station. I needed a creative outlet since I don't have a hockey team to focus on any more, and it didn't take long to come up with the idea. Now every Tuesday I bring 6 songs of British origin to battle with my buddy's American rubbish. I think we got 9 listeners one evening, that's our record anyway. While you're all missing out by not listening, we have too much fun to care whether we have listeners or not, and I am learning. Actually it would be really awesome if you could like us on Facebook! (http://www.facebook.com/kpacbattleofthebands) We do a vote in track each week, UK vs USA, so it'd be awesome if you could like our page and get listening and voting each week. It's an hour long, 7-8pm (Cali time), so if you get the chance you can listen and watch us on a livestream video. It really is awesome and I'd love to start sharing it with more people. We want to hear from people too! What you want to listen to, and if you have any requests that fit in our categories then let us know. Right I'll stop repping my radio show, that can get boring.

I think for now I'm out of things to write about. I've really been too busy to have a life. I know there are some of you reading who I still haven't text back, and so for that I am really sorry! It's been that kind of month I'm afraid, but I promise to get on top of my communication business!

Enjoy February people!