Today is our Queen's Birthday holiday in New Zealand (but not technically the Queen's Birthday, which is in April). I am taking an extended break to head overseas, will be back blogging July 4th, Independence Day in the USA. Rather appropriate under the circumstances to span the two holidays.
Part of my time will be spent with friends in Los Angeles and Orange County (Pasadena and Dana Point, to be specific). In the LA Times recently Hector Tobar published a list of ten guidelines on "How to be a True Angelino." Having lived there for over 16 years, the list helps get me in the right mindset for the trip:
- Don't fawn over celebrities
- Use your turn signals
- Barbeque, garden, enjoy the outdoors-at all times
- Be cool with ethnic diversity
- Know your shortcuts
- Appreciate Vin Scully (if I need to tell you who he is, you don't know LA)
- Acknowledge and respect local traditions, like calling the freeways by their names rather than numbers, and events like the Doo Dah Parade
- Don't ever say:" LA doesn't have any seasons," cuz it does
- Don't wear your civic pride on your sleeve (but know it's there)
- Define it your own way
The full article can be found here. While NZ is definitely my home now, I'm excited to be heading across the Pacific for a visit. I've got a knitting project plus lots of books I've been wanting to read to take with me, the Yoga House class schedule printed out, and deep tissue massages booked at Burke Williams.
I'm sure you'll cope without me for this wee short while. And p.s. I still use my turn signals even if I've been driving on the wrong side of the road. Hasta la vista!
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