Back To School Version 18 19 20 21? -Or- Fuck, I'm Never Going To Be Done

After four days of rolling along beautiful Route 80, I'm finally in California. I wish I had some good road trip stories, but 20 hours of corn fields, 15 hours of desert, and a few hours of cities doesn't make for too much of interest. It was all business on the way over. I did get to watch the first season of Community, so there's that. Gotta love Chevy Chase.

Berkeley is, unsurprisingly, beautiful. I've gotten to see a good bit of the city already. It's somewhat similar to downtown Ann Arbor, only about six or more times bigger. Also more hippies, hipsters, hobos, asians (yes, even more), and palm trees. Traffic sucks, which makes me glad I decided not to bring a car here. But I've got nothing to complain about. I mean, I could bitch about it being 65 degrees out instead of the typical 75, or the clouds that habitually hang out over the Berkeley hills until afternoon, but that would make me a terrible person, particularly to those of you stuck in 90 degree heat (which is probably most of you).

I'm holed up at a little weekly rental place in a residential neighborhood. It's pretty nice, and rather cheap, so I'm happy. I have to share common areas with randos, but at least I have access to a full kitchen. The randos are nice, too. Some couple from the Netherlands or Germany, based on whateverthefuck language they're speaking, and asian dentistry dude. The latter is pretty cool, is from Michigan, went to dental school there (post grad work, I think), but is moving out tomorrow. So I'm stuck with the couple, who seem nice, but the dude gave me a douche "oversqueeze" handshake when I met him. I had my hand out first, and he still managed to grab mostly fingers and go all Hercules on my knuckles. So as much as you can read into handshakes, he's a douche.

I managed to get my first bike ride in today. I was fairly prepared to be challenged by the hills, so went in with modest expectations. Needless to say, I nearly threw up. After my first attempt to get some good elevation, I had to sit down for a few minutes, my teeth did this weird thing where they hurt when you breath cold air quickly, and generally proved to myself that I'm a pussy. Things got better with subsequent attempts, and I found some of the roads that don't have 25% grades. But at least I have goals to aim for. Judging from google, I made it up about 700 feet, and the hills top out at 1400, so I'm halfway there

So for now I've got a week to find an apartment and get ready to actually work hard again.

Everyone should post soon. Particularly those of you in new residences should post some pics.
Bill, hope you and Suz are finding married life agreeable.
Jake, make tons of money and live it up in the cultural and financial capital of the world. And pass that last test, or whatever.
James, don't let the impending(?) semesters get you down. Remember that I'll always be your library buddy, even if only in spirit. I'll try to befriend a library security guard to make your life seem less pitiful.
Nathan, do lawyerly things. Also, good luck with internship interviews and what-have-you.
Dukamus, hope you get that transfer soon, or move closer to Bmore, or whatever your heart desires.

God bless and Go Lube!