Idaho-Montana?-Wyoming

I left Jerome this morning at 7:15. Couldn't have been sooner. The rest of my drive through Idaho was prettier. I somehow found myself in Montana. I didn't take a wrong turn, it's just that the West Entrance to Yellowstone is actually in a little corner of the squiglly part of Montana and I didn't know I'd be there for 10 minutes. So make that 14 states in 5 days.

I paid $25 to get into yellowstone. They price it by car, so had anyone been with me, it wouldn't have been so outrageous...but I definitely got my money's worth. I had originally planned on driving through the park in two hours. But when you start stopping it adds up quick, so I was w/in the park for 3 1/2 hours. All worth it. One of the highlights of my summer. I took about 100 pictures in that time. Got real excited when I saw some buffalo in the distance. Seriously, a mile away. Then some that were 300 yds away. Then 30 yds. Then. Um, 30 feet. I was all up in his grill. But so was everyone else and I was wearing tennis shoes and they were large-sized. So, I was certain my reflexes were quicker and I could run faster, so if there was any aggression, I was good to go. You don't have to be the fastest; you just can't be the slowest. Otherwise--according to the flier I got upon entry to the park--Bison Will Gore You! Or something like that. Maybe it was something less dramatic. It's in the car. We can whip it out later.

Lots of weird sulfur-smelling shit. I love that part the best. I went about 10 years ago and remember that being the coolest part. I got to see some bubbling mud and smelly holes in the ground. Scenic views abounded. I have a tendency to gasp allowed when something impresses me. The first time I saw San Francisco, *GASP*. Seeing the Vegas Strip from my hotel last weekend, *GASP*. Seeing the Rockies for the first time *GASP*. Seeing the buffalo by the bathrooms today, *GASP*. Seriously, my heart was pounding when I got all up in his grill. Apparently none of my pictures will upload. Not on facebook, not on webshots, not here. Grrr. Best Western! Thanks for the high speed LAN. Where's my Wi-Fi? Oh wait, I'm in Wyoming, where I only get cell service in a 4 mile radius of the town I'm in. And even then, it's pretty weak.

After a long day, I'm relaxing and watching the Olympics. My impressions of tonight:

• How pissed is the French Men's Relay Team (Swimming)? Haha.
  
• Is George Bush still our president? Is he on vacation? I guess he's entitled to that, but there's kind of a war in Georgia. (which he probably believes his ancestors are from because of the similarity in their names.) Although, I do enjoy watching him try to play volleyball. Apparently he's all about the U.S. female volleyball team.
  
• NBC loves montages. I don't ever want to see Michael Phelps in a montage again. I'm over it.

Alright, it's time for sleep. Photos to come.

Berkeley, CA to Jerome, ID

Ugh. This town sucks. I hate it here. I'm glad my only commitment to this town is to watch 4 hours of the olympics and sleep. Then I can leave. I'm in Jerome, ID, which is very close to Twin Falls, which also sucks, though not as bad. Riding through Twin Falls, I was behind some souped up hatchback with stickers on the back windshield of shotguns whose barrels crossed. After I realized that those tacky decals were, I stopped riding the guy's ass. Actually, I think it might have been a woman. or man with a mullet. I don't know.

Earlier today, I stopped to use the rest room at a gas station. In Winnemucca. I know I swore I'd never go back, but it was necessary. So when I walked into the gas station, immediately on the left was a room with slot machines. Awesome. But there was also a subway. It smelled delicious, but I had just eaten In-N-Out in Reno a few hours ago and was not hungry. So I passed and vowed to get some later.

Later came when I arrived in Jerome. There is a subway about a mile from my hotel, so I went. Big mistake. Slowest two employees ever. I was there for 20 minutes and there was ONE person in front of me. Granted, he had two subs...but TWENTY MINUTES?!? They should really hire some immigrants, who would actually get something done. These white people sucked. But then again, I don't think there's anyone in this town who isn't white. It sucks. The subway sucked. In addition to the worst employees ever, the tomatoes looked like shit. Later, I found they tasted like shit. They'll be ripe next week, but not today. I immediately removed them. I don't think I'm a food snob and I don't expect perfection. I just expect a decent meal. It's Subway. They're all the same. How hard is it to make the same sub I eat in Carrboro? Apparently, it's impossible.

Enough of that. The part of my day was my hour in Reno. Having spent last weekend in Vegas, it was interesting to do a comparison when it was fresh in my mind. I have been to both before, but this trip only solidified my belief that Reno is a shitty, trashy Vegas. White trash heaven. Also, lots of old people. And fat people. So, in that way, it has it's charm. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at El Dorado. I just sat and played video poker for a little while. I really love that game. I liken it to when I play a million games of solitaire in a row. Except this requires more thinking, but I'm getting good at just doing things automatically. Love it. I can't wait to go back to Vegas. Not Reno.

I also ate at In-N-Out Burger for the last time. I might swear off fastfood cheeseburgers until I return to California. I'm not sure anyone should hold me to that. It would not include homemade burgers or those in sit-down restaurants. Just fast food, which I don't particularly eat anyway, except for Wendy's. But I could switch to the crispy chicken sandwich. I'll think on it some more.

So that was my day. Long and boring. Nevada is boring, boring, boring. As is Idaho. Tomorrow, I'm looking forward to seeing Yellowstone National Park. I've been once before, as a disillusioned teenager who had been taken against my will on a family vacation. I'll appreciate it more this time, I'm sure. Okay, time for watching the olympics and weary break foot due to all the assholes who like to drive slow on the freeway.

One afterthought: the road rage was at an all time peak today. I was at a gas station, driving away from the pump and there was some assclown in front of my who wouldn't move and was blocking me in. So as I try to go around him, he inches up blocking my potential route. And then stops. The details are less important than the fact that I am yelling expletives at him and using lots of hand gestures (not my middle finger though), but I do believe I yelled Goddammit at the top of my lungs. All of a sudden, I hear someone honk lightly and some woman is running at me and pointing at my car. So I realize I left my gas tank open and hop out of my car, thank her politely and fix it and hop back in. I was a little embarrassed that someone would help me out after they just witnessed-and likely heard-me screaming at some old man in a buick. I'm an asshole.

Goodbyes

With approximately 12 hours left in Berkeley, and about 15 remaining in California (at least for this summer), I've been saying "goodbye" a lot lately. Not that I particularly have many friends out here, but there are some people that cross my path on a daily or weekly basis that I've developed relationships with. I've written about some of them, but some I haven't.

It started this morning with Angel, the owner of the coffeeshop at the French Hotel (or maybe the entire hotel, I'm uncertain). Every weekday morning, while I'm in the long line, he greets me with a "Hola, senorita! Coffee? Bagel?" and by the time there's only two people in line, I have a cup of coffee in my hand. By the time I reach the register, there's a sesame bagel (or if they are out, an everything bagel) with cream cheese in a bag. Yesterday, for the first time, I got there about 30 minutes early and wanted my bagel "for here," which totally threw them (he and his employees) off and they had to take it out of the bag when I got to the register. I just like that no longer do I have to wait 5 minutes for them to toast my bagel. It's just there for me. I informed him earlier this week that I was leaving and going back home to North Carolina, so today as I was in line we chatted about home and he told me how he'd miss me. Believe me, I'll miss that place more than they miss me. It's been a bright spot in my morning since I got here and the employees are much nicer than those at Open Eye back home where everyone pretends not to remember me and that they're too cool for school. Damn hipsters. When it comes to barristas, I'll take a Hispanic Californian any day.

After that, work was a flurry of activity with people in and out of the office all day. The vice president of my organization was extremely sweet and complementary and we wished one another well as he left this morning. The good reverend has been one of the biggest joys of my time out here as he is sarcastic and witty and always giving my boss a hard time. We even hugged. It was cute.

For lunch, we had a little going away party. Not really a party, but we ordered pizza and one of my coworkers that doesn't work on Friday actually came into work on her day off to join in on the fun. As we listened to my boss regale us with tales of labor unions in the 30s and 40s (she's 83, if you'll recall). I've gotten a lot more vocal with this bunch (this bunch is two women in their late 20s, one in her early 30s, a former postal worker/labor activist in her 50s, my boss who is in her 80s, and her love interest, who is 89....a motley crew to say the least), and so I talked of my future plans and my love for immigration law. I told of how North Carolina and California are oh, so different. While I wouldn't call any of these people good friends, they are my social group out here. My fellow coworkers and acquaintances. They are all interesting in their own way, and I have to say that I actually will miss seeing them day to day. Richard, the 89-year-old author and my boss's love interest, raised a glass and gave a toast in my honor. He's the silliest 89-year-old I've ever meant. Sharp as a tack. No alzheimers or anything. He's brilliant. He was a contientious objector in WW2 (when that was not popular at all) and while I can't agree with his stance in that war, he is a brilliant activist with a sharp wit who likes to giggle. I think he and my boss are a good fit. He still flirts with her even at his old age and she pretends not to like it. All in all, it's a funny bunch.

At the end of all that, my coworker (who wasn't supposed to be at work that day) gave me a hug and said some very nice things about me. I wasn't sure if she liked me until the final weeks of my job, but she's a cool girl and the only one who worked there that really knew how to handle my boss. She was a godsend this summer and I'm glad to know that she actually admires me and has great hopes for my future.

After lunch, my hippie friend stopped by. He bought me and the rest of my coworkers BBQ last week because he knew how much I missed NC BBQ. It was kansas city style, which I'd never had, but it was pretty decent and I at least appreciated the thought. He's taken to calling me "North Carolina," probably b/c he's too stoned to remember my name, but he's truly a good soul. Good heart, very chill, nice guy. He only came around once a week, usually on Friday afternoons, but I have to say, I'll miss his antics. He likes to call my boss "sweetheart" which is amusing since he's in his 40s and she's in her 80s, but it's cute. As he gave me a hug goodbye, he decided to give me a paternal speech about what kind of men I should avoid (he has no idea I'm in a relationship). I assured him that while I appreciated his advice, I could take care of myself. I'm glad to have met a genuine Berkeley hippie stoner. His final salutation to me was quite fitting, just a simple, "Peace!"

My boss and I had a good farewell too. She shuffled me into the house to see some old newspapers. Her father, in the late 30s/early 40s ran a newspaper in Michigan, focussed on workers rights. She had old copies so I was actually able to read articles in their original form from 1937. One of the headlines was about when the U.S. decided to stop drafting soldiers. Anyway, She is truly an amazing woman and while she drove me up the wall all summer long--today being no exception--I put off leaving for a little longer than I usually do. We chatted about my drive back and I thanked her for the opportunity to work there and learn from her. She gave me one of her books that she wrote on Carol Weiss King, who was a female attorney in the 40s, and a friend of hers. Carol King was an immigration attorney when women weren't attorneys, so the book chronicles the history of immigration law in the 20th century and, i suspect, a good deal of the women's rights movement. As a future female immigration attorney, I think this book will be invaluable inspiration. When I told my boss at lunch that I would like to purchase a copy, she told me to just take one, but that when I won my first immigration case, I owed her $5.75. I happily obliged. I can't wait to pay her back.

All in all, it was a long day of byes, but good ones. I think the best "byes" are ones in which you are not incredibly attached to the people you are leaving, but still will miss in their own little ways. The one person who it would have been hard to say goodbye to left at 4pm to go get the mail and called and said she wouldn't be back for the rest of the day. She was my favorite coworker and the only person I truly got along with all summer long. I will actually miss her and she just peaced out without saying goodbye. I suppose that's a taste of my own medicine since I frequently duck out and don't say goodbye b/c I'm not good at them.


In any case, I am looking forward to heading home, but happy to have met so many interesting people in Berkeley. I really haven't chronicled my whole summer here, but that's okay. There are some things that everyone just doesn't need to know. Suffice to say, I've had one of the best summers of my life and will most assuredly miss California. I can't wait to come back, whether it's to visit of live still remains, but I WILL be back.

Thinking Green

A New York Times article that came out today highlights Houston as the worst recycler in the nation. Only a mere 2.6% of their wasted is recycled. Seeing this, I had to read on, as I am under the impression that as far as big cities go, San Francisco has got to be the best recycling city out there. At least of the big ones. (Let's be honest, Berkeley's totally got them beat.) It turns out that I was right, but I was surprised to learn that SF recycles 69% of its waste. New York City recycles a respectable 34% of its waste.

As a side note: the article features a quote from a man named "Tex" who lives in Texas. Awesome!

I've really been amazed at how environmentally conscious everyone is. I always knew California was like that, I just didn't know the extent. I think I've written about this before, so I'll save the speech. I don't know how or if it will change my habits when I go back home. I'll certainly be diligent about recycling as I have been since I resolved to do so at the beginning of the new year, but perhaps there's another lesson I could take out of living in the land of the hippie. I'll have to think more about it.

----

In other news, I'm heading to Vegas this weekend for a last hurrah before leaving this side of the country. Should be a fabulous time, even if the high on Saturday is 108. Whoa. 108.

The following weekend, I am heading back across the country. I'm taking the northern route this time which I'm sure I'll detail at a later point. It involves the followings states though: California, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, NORTH CAROLINA! I'm doing the whole thing solo at a pace of around 10 hours a day. I think it's do-able. Of course it is.

Pandora for iPhone

This whole new applications thing for the iPhone is a genius idea. So now everyone has access to another way to spend money through their phone by purchasing things from the "Apps store." There's everything from games to books to facebook to programs that will teach you another language. I'm sure this is only the tip of the iceberg. Steve Jobs is an innovator and the creator of a whole new method of disposing of our income.

Thankfully, some of these things are free. Of course, it's mainly the crappy applications. Except for the Pandora application. It's free (at least right now) and it is going to revolutionize my life. Or at least, it would, except the main place I listen to music on my actual phone is when I'm at the gym on campus and unfortunately my internets are pretty crappy in there sometimes. Full disclosure: I have the "old" phone, not this newfangled 3G that I'm not entirely convinced is that much better...except maybe my internets wouldn't be twice as fast, thereby eliminating the problem.

Let this not be an ad for apple, but rather for Pandora. They've got a good thing going there and I like it. There are very few resources better than Pandora for finding good music, except maybe Brooks. She's good.

Best Websites of the Day - Douche and Riches

Wow. Only one of these has to do with California, and even then only tangentially...but the other is the best thing I have ever seen in my life. Ever. No lie.

Dimitri the Douchebag -- A man from San Francisco with serious ego issues leaves creepy voicemails for a woman he met out. I heard about this guy on the radio on Monday, but thanks go to Rob for sending me the link so I could hear it in its entirety.

Jonathan Lee Riches -- I was trolling Abovethelaw.com today and this guy popped up. He caught my eye because he just filed a lawsuit against Coach K, which I naturally find awesome. Little did I know, his lawsuit against Coach K is NOTHING compared to his other lawsuits.
Some background: Mr. Riches is a federal inmate in South Carolina who is incarcerated due to identity theft. If you ask me, he should have pled insanity because I really do think that he believes this shit. Or maybe he doesn't. It could be a desperate cry for attention. No, he's insane. No one would cry out for attention/publicity in this manner who wasn't insane. Unfortunately there are hundreds for which the complaint is absent or unknown. He's not entirely insane, though, because at least he files the suits in many different federal jurisdictions, so has avoided penalties for filing frivolous lawsuits (at least so far)...and trust...they are frivolous.

My favorite suits:

• Riches v. Joel et. al.: Plaintiff alleged that defendant Billy Joel the Singer is his step-father, and sent him to defendant Vision Quest Psychiatric Facility in Franklin, Pennsylvania. Plaintiff alleged that Vision Quest forced him to sleep in teepees with no UFO radar defense system. Plaintiff also alleged that Italian hitmen made him sign an omerta silence oath, Vision Quest made him travel around the country in horse and buggies like the Amish, and "We Didn't Start the Fire" was in the stingrays head when it killed the croc master Steven Irwin.
  

• Riches v. Jena 6 et al.: Plaintiff sued the Jena 6 for "Loss of My White Rights" and sought $100 million in white gold and the White House. Plaintiff alleged that defendants hung a white noose in his cell at FCI Willaimsburg, told the FCI Williamsburg dentists not to fix his white fillings, fed him tainted White Castle hamburgers, turn his cell mate into Snow White, called him the white Suge Knight, burnt him with Great Whites pyrotechnics, made him suffer whiteouts, gave him white phosphorus, subjected him to low white blood cell counts, and that Vanna White won't write. Defendants also allegedly turned plaintiff into a white collar criminal and sent Whitehouse prosecutors after his white skin.

• Riches v. Beckham et. al: Plaintiff sued defendants David Beckham d/b/a "Soccer Player" and Victoria Beckham d/b/a "Posh Spice" for soccer piracy. Plaintiff alleged that Beckham uses satellite precision guided soccer balls that are remote-controlled by British agent James Bond and Pakistani intelligence. These agents allegedly move the balls into the net after Beckham touches them. This supposedly garners defendant more commercials, a key to any U.S. city, and Iraqi national bank loot, which Beckham kicks back to Buckingham Palace. Plaintiff also alleges that Beckham is an illegal alien that did not have to make a stop at Ellis Island, that Plaintiff suffered lead poisoning from a Mattel soccer ball he received from defendant Beckham, that Posh Spice uses Old Spice, and that Beckham told Frenchman Zidane to head butt him last month.

• Riches v. Guantanamo Bay et. al: Plaintiff alleges that the defendants sold half his brain on eBay, but undervalued it as they only received $4,275 from the highest bidder. Defendants also allegedly stole his identity and used his credit to purchase missiles and gas masks on the international black market. Plaintiff claims that collection agencies keep sending him bills. Judge dismissed the complaint finding that the allegations were baseless, fantastic or delusional.

Seriously, I could list favorites all day. Nearly every one of them with a description is phenomenal. Some of my favorite "defendants":

• Terry Schiavo (twice!)
  
• E. Coli 0157:H7
• No Child Left Behind Act
• Michaelangelo
• The Statue of Liberty
• (843)387-9400 (i have no idea)
• Hurricane Katrina
• The Uniform Commercial Code
• Benazir Bhutto
• Roe v. Wade

Also, he apparently hates O.J. Simpson. I've lost count of how many times he sued him. Other trends: he doesn't like Pakistan and you're really not a celebrity unless you've been sued by Riches. Seriously. All the good ones are. Apparently a federal judge in the Northern District of Georgia has had enough and barred all future suits.

Okay, if I don't call it quits now, I'll spend more hours on this than I already have, and that would not be healthy.

Final Note: Jonathan Lee Riches gets out of the pen in 2012. Anyone want to start a pool on how long it takes for him to get sent back? Or get his own realty show?

The People of Berkeley

Specifically, the people that I come across on a day to day basis.

My favorite person is the owner of the cafe I go to every morning. About 4 days a week, I walk in 9:12 and he says, "small coffee, seniorita?" Him and his family own the cafe, which is attached to a hotel called The French Hotel. It's a cute little building and there's lots of seating inside and out. I really love it. He knows half the people that come in there and is always smiling. Sometimes I get a free upgrade and he always likes my earrings. Don't get me wrong, the man is old enough to be my father. In fact, I think the other guys that work there are his sons and probably a few years older than I am. They're a great bunch though and like clockwork, I walk out at 9:18 and continue to work.

Another of my favorites, is Mario. He works at the grocery store. He's very jolly and when he checks my ID, he always puts out his hand and says, "nice to meet you, Elizabeth." And we shake hands and then chit chat while he scans my groceries. He never remembers that he's met me before, but I think that's part of the charm of the whole thing.

Then there's the homeless man who only repeats the phrase, "anything you can. anything you can" as his way of asking for change. He also likes to stand sort of near the ATM machines on Shattuck

As far as characters at work, our vice president, who comes in for about an hour a week is a reverend who curses more than any man of God I've ever met. He calls my boss, "the oracle of justice" though, which I think is cute. He's a hilarious guy though and teases my boss (who is in her 80s), so it's fun to watch her get all fired up.