In the Twilight Zone

So, I grew up on the East coast and moved to California seven years ago. Of course, there are LOTS of things that are different between Maryland and California. 

For one, the people in Maryland are just a lot nicer. On one of my first trips back home, this girl held open the bathroom door for me and smiled. I didn't even realize the absence of that sort of thing in California until that moment. That's not to say that NO ONE in California is nice. There are  PLENTY of super nice people...but in general, the stereotypes of people being more self absorbed in L.A. seem spot on to me. And I clarify with L.A., because California is a BIG state. 

For two, I'm preeetty sure that no one in California learned that the left lane is meant for passing. I've asked around about this being taught in Driver's Ed here, but I mostly get blank stares. I'm not sure they even go to Driver's Ed. ;) It would actually explain A LOT. I think they just hand out BMWs and say "go at it" before releasing total driving novices onto 8 lane freeways. I think they all need a semester in Germany to find out how it's really done. Or maybe they just. don't. care. See point 1. "la la la. I'm the ONLY person on the road! Oh, happy day!"

For three, the weather. Duh. :P The weather and the beach is what drew me to L.A. (and if we're being perfectly honest here...I'd have to say probabbbbblllyyy also the Sweet Valley High books. Thanks Holly and Amy! :D). Maryland has the classic 4 seasons. L.A. has seasons of its own, but they are not classic. It's more like: sort of rainy-ish (tho it rarely actually rains) and foggy, hot and dry, cool and gray, sunny and warm in the sun, sunny and cool. These 'seasons' sort of cycle all throughout the year. But, in general...May/June are gray and cold. They call it 'May Gray' and 'June Gloom'. Sometimes it can be very warm randomly in January. Sometimes it can be cool. I haven't found any real consistency other than TYPICALLY--it's somewhere around 70 degrees and mostly sunny here. ALL. THE. TIME. Can't complain :) Tho I would say that the season I miss most is SUMMER. There's no REAL summer here. It's almost always cool at night. And I'm a freak that likes humidity, which is non-existent here. The season I miss second is Fall. Ahhh, Fall. It's so wonderful with its cool nights, and changing leaves, and warm sweaters, and crackling fires outside. I do NOT miss Winter or even Spring. Boo. Whatever. No one needs you. Although, I suppose L.A. is in eternal spring. Somehow, it's just less cold here for that.  My favorite season in L.A. is winter. Go figure. It rains more and it's not too cold and it's lovely.

I just wrote an entire paragraph about the weather. Slow blog day much? 

The point of this post, really, is to point out a VERY weird phenomenon that I've found here in California. I got to thinking about it doing a little 4th of July shopping. 

Some of the foods that I grew up with on the East coast have TOTALLY different names here. Huh?? It's SO weird. EVERYTHING is the same except for the name. 

Exhibit 1:

This is what I grew up with. 'Bring out the Hellmans and brinnng out the beesssstt!!'

What the heck is this impostor?! 'Bring out the Best Foods and bring out the beessst!!' What?! WHY?!

Exhibit 2:

Ok. In Maryland, we have this. Everyone feels comfortable.

What?! What is this? Who is Dreyers?? 

Dreyers just makes me confused about Breyers. Are they related? Do they have Breyers here? Did the Dreyers kill the Breyers in a feud type situation?

Where am I?!

'There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone.'

Doooo dooo dooo doooooooooooooooooooo. 

See ya on the flip side! Happy 4th. :)