A California State of Mind

I'm back! Can you believe it? I know it's been awhile. I'll pause a couple minutes for the applause and celebratory cheering.


((Crickets))


What's that?


Yes, I was gone. For a few weeks actually. I'm sure you were just in too much of a post-holiday cookie coma to notice. That's totally understandable. I'm still in a bit of a fudge haze myself.


I know the perfect antidote.


Valentine's candy. I hear it works. Everyone's doing it.


Anyway! So maybe you'd like to hear about my trip. Well, I'll tell you anyway.


I was here:

Where people walk around dressed like this in January:

I was visiting a few of my favorite monkeys:

With Landon, who really got in the LA frame of mind:

I may have felt a little smug that while it was snowy and 7 degrees in Ohio, we were hanging out here:

Then I got sand in my pants and the smugness left.


Here's a few things that we saw-


These, on every woman, paired with spandex yoga pants:

Which was weird because it was 75 degrees. Seems gross if you think about it.


One of my favorite activities was to walk down Santa Monica Boulevard on friday night.


Here's what I did not see there:


Sheryl Crow or good people of the world washing their cars on their lunch breaks. Or Bill or Billy or Mac or Buddy.


Here is what we did see:


Mr. Animation (who apparently will be on America's Got Talent at the end of this month. At least I think that's what he said. 27 times.)

Mr. Animation was nothing if not a savvy business performer. He knew how to manipulate crowd dynamics with the precision of a gold human statue, making us all gather close around to attract other passersby and sending around his tip bag before the big finale. We gave him a tip for his persistence. 


But here's what I thought about Mr. Animation's performance:


Eh. 


It's been done. 


A little farther down the street we saw something else. Hold on to your silly bandz tweeners! It's the next incarnation of the Jonas Brothers.

Except with much less personality and much, much more anger at their parents for making them wear matching turtlenecks. 


Here's something I realized as we walked down the street watching the various street performers: 


There's a lot of mediocre talent in this world. 


Which is comforting for me. Moderation in all things, I say. 


Then we spent some more time hanging out here:

It's a hard life. 




So that was the gist of my trip. It's almost like you were there, huh? I'm sure I can find some sand somewhere in my shoes if you would like a memento. 


Or maybe we can get some pink Uggs. I hear they're cozy. 


Thanks to my awesome brother and sister in law and my super fun nephews and niece for showing us a great time! We miss you guys!