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[odcchaz]

Man I don't have much to update about anymore. School is seemingly on the downhill I guess, though I still have some papers and projects to do. I have a lot of down time now, which makes me happy, but worries me too, cause I often end up wasting it foolishly on LJ or trying to get a girl's attention...and then subsequently both, haha

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[rageundersilk]

I went on a mini-road trip that started with a flight out to Vegas and went on a drive up the (seemingly) entire length of California to a stop at San Francisco, then back. Spent a couple days at each place in nice hotels. If you haven't seen Vegas, I'd suggest it. It's like no where else I've ever seen. The ground is so barren and there's this sudden fungus of concrete buildings in the middle of bright sun colored sand all bedecked with lights every color of the rainbow flashing at you from every direction. There's a freestanding TV billboard so big you can watch it from miles away. I kind of liked it, though i spent most of the time indoors. The heat actually isn't too bad, it's a dry heat (yes, that matters, i didn't believe it till vegas) and if you can find some shade there seems to be a relatlively good breeze most days that'll help. If not, just loiter in the casinos, they'll never kick you out, they want your money.

The road trip up through california was interesting. We drove through some desert (part of death valley, pretty sure) and there'd be nothing for miles. Then suddenly you'd come upon this tiny little town with seven or eight houses, a gas station, a light, and a couple minutes later there's nothing again. It was eerie. Everything out there seems sand colored. I'm not sure if it's the reflected light, the sand build up, or just a skewed perspective. The interior of Califronia was pretty lush though once we hit parts that got enough rain for it. You pass orange groves and i think some with strawberries and grapes as well. Maybe lemons too, I don't know. There's big green mountains with seemingly no trees on them, they're just green. It was very pretty. That was on Interstate 5, it runs the length of california. You'll know you're nearing SF when you start seeing huge windmills on top of those mountains. They're enormous and white and come in a surprising variety of sizes, shapes, and designs. Some of them have three blades, some have five. Some are on long stork-leg stands and some seem more squat with structures at their base.

Eventually you'll drop down into San Francisco and it's amazing. (Though, stay away from the Oakland side.) Spend a day there in the city and you'll understand why there's such a huge homeless population. It stays damn near the same temperature there all the time. I think between night and day it only changes a few degrees. Felt that way anyhow. Even in August you need a sweatshirt in the evening cause the air is so moist. The breeze is constant. (guess that's why they have so many windmills...) It has an entirely different feel to it compared to D.C. For one thing, you don't need a car. Trolleys, busses, and trams run throughout the whole city. It has, in my opinion, more flavor as well.

But anyhow, enough reminiscing. You should go there, if you're out that way. There's also forest just outside SF that has the second largest variety of trees in the world. Not the ones you drive through, but rather, the ones you can walk through. They're plenty neat, trust me. Oh, and I almost forgot and feel bad for having done so. Drive Route 1 along the coast for at least an hour, if you can. It's fucking amazing. California has enacted laws to make sure that it can't be gobbled up by hungry hotel and housing developers and turned commercials. There's tiny beach towns and huge cliffs. You can watch entire clouds of fog roll off the water, up the mountain and over the other side.

[odcchaz]

WOW thanks Rage. I'll deffinately include your suggestions in my trip. As a photographer I can't get enough pretty landscapes :P I wonder if I can shoot the windmills at night. Anyhow, See ya 'round.

[rageundersilk]

Well, if you really want a chance at some amazing photographs, I definitely suggest Route 1. It's fucking amazing. I've never seen anything more beautiful (besides a woman or two). Also, you can get an interesting shot or two of the golden gate bridge. The fog rolls in like a cloud and obscured the main part of the bridge except for the two orange peeks sticking up in the sky. I took a photo and it totally looks photoshopped, but I swear to god it's real. It looked like the Golden Gate was poking up out of a cloud.