Grumpy Old Nevadan Here

I did go to the gym today and about the only thing I accomplished was to tire myself out. Shot some b-ball for a while, did 100+ stomach crunches and 40 leg lifts, and rode a recumbent bike for fifteen minutes. Nothing horrible or noteworthy, but at least I went yet again (small steps).

Carson is gloomy. For a number of days now, there's been a heavy overcast and no sun has appeared in a while. It's times like these that remind me that we are creatures of sunlight: proper exposure stimulates the body and generates vitamins. This arial cloudsoup is depressing and uninspiring. I can hardly wait for warm weather so Dollar and I can hit the road and catch some rays.

Interesting article in this morning's San Francisco Chronicle about the Bay Area's migration to Reno. Longtime Nevadans responded with a big, fat "Duh." We've seen the Californication of the Silver State for decades, notably in new real estate. It's human nature to surround yourself with familiar surroundings, but every new housing development is the same around here: big houses on tiny plots of land. The homes are close enough that you could reach out of your window and flush your neighbor's toilet next door. The new shopping centers have that "special" (heavy sarcasm) adobe look with white stucco walls and tiled orange roofs.

And there's always the bellyaching that makes Californians so special, as the article notes:

"Some complain that there are few good wine stores, places to buy organic meats and vegetables, and even fewer dining choices. Shopping is hardly a strong suit, either: Earlier this year, Bay Area transplants were abuzz about the mere possibility that Nordstroms would open its first store in the area."

Nordstrom's. Right. Yeah, the most exciting thing to hit northern Nevada in the last couple of years was the new In-N-Out Burgers.

Yes, I admit I sound like an old grump and maybe even a little hypocritical, especially since I'm married to a native Californian and some of the most special people in my life still live there. But emotions are not logical and I got tenure in this state and area, so blah. Elko is starting to look pretty darn good.