Oylmpic Water Polo

I've been really excite to watch some high quality water polo on TV. The olympics is the only time, every four years, where I get to see the world's best play in HD. My problem is that I don't have a TV. So I've been eating a lot of lunches at a bar that is showing the games. They're live around 2:30 most of the time, and the broadcasts are really cool. The other problem is that I am always sitting alone, making a lot of noise, surrounded by people who don't know a thing about water polo. They don't really play it that much in New England, in fact, every member of the US Water Polo team is from California. So I have to explain to everyone around me what is actually happening. And their questions are what you expect from someone who has never seen water polo. Most of the time I have to convince them that they cannot, in fact, touch the bottom, that they do have to swim the whole time, and yes, those silly caps are completely necessary. Once they get the basics they usually come around and start enjoying the games with me. Then when they see the size and athleticism of the players (both the men and women) they realize that it's an incredibly difficult sport and the athletes deserve a lot of respect. So I am sort of advocating for water polo on the east coast. That said, I am excited to see Cal men's water polo team play in the Princeton Invitational this fall. I think most good California high school teams could beat the college varsities around here, so it should be a lot of fun. Also a shout out the former Golden Bears on the US Water Polo teams and the rest of the olympic teams. I hear Cal athletes are leading the Pac-12 in medals. So Go Bears to that!

Summers in New England

Most people expected the winters in New England to be the thing that caused the most culture-shock to two people from San Diego. And to be sure, having to clear snow off your car in the morning is a chore I was not used to doing. But honestly the winters can be kind of great. The snow is beautiful and makes things quiet because it's such a sound insulator. It's cold sure, but you bundle up and you're ok.

In reality, the summers are far harder to acclimate to. It doesn't get this hot in San Diego, and when it does, it doesn't stay this hot for long. But really the humidity is what makes summer here far worse. When it's 85 degrees in San Diego you can sit in the shade and feel fine because the air is dry. San Diego is, along with all of Souther California, no more than a well-irrigated dessert. But here the high humidity means that no matter if you are in the shade or direct sun, you're going to be hot. It means that your sweat doesn't evaporate and cool you down. It means that your towels don't dry out and get mildewy. And this part is especially crappy because you want to take four or five cold showers a day to cool down. Plus you get so sticky and gross. So you actually have to do more laundry in the summer because you're constantly changing clothes and washing gross towels.

I thought when I came here that I would miss San Diego the most in the winters. Nope. This time of year I am supposed to be surfing every day. Having a burrito for lunch. And then taking a nap in a hammock. Around here: no waves, no burritos, no back yard hammock. I love it here, but things are different.

We're moving again. This time instead of going 3000 miles across the country, we're moving two blocks down the street into a smaller, nicer, quieter, cheaper, apartment... with parking! Pics will have to wait until move in day, Sept 1.

First Try

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