Vroom!

It is a tradition in the Provansal household to visit the San Diego International Car Show... most years we make it but this was the first year that I had been down in a long time. We started off the day hanging out at the condo and then over to the convention center to check out the latest and greatest new cars for 2008/2009. If only I had a need for a car!!

Home Sweet Home

It took me two years to realize how great California really is. Don't get me wrong.. I never hated the state but always wanted a change of scenery. Well, moving to New York certaintly gave me that but going back home for Christmas, I realized how great it really is. I wore my flip flops for a week straight. I didn't worry about putting on 5 different layers of clothing and I didn't even mind the traffic! We had a great christmas at home in Carlsbad and traveled back and forth to the condo downtown to celebrate... I'm counting down the days till I get to go back home!

More photos: http://kodakgallery.com/emilyprovansal

A prayer for mi familia

This week has been a devasting week for my home town. The wildfires in San Diego County have been the worst since I was a sophmore year of High School. I pray for Sherri and my father, who's asthma is so bad he can't leave the house even when asked to leave because the smoke is so bad. I pray for my uncle who is the Chief Firefighter helping to put an end to all this. My grandma who lives alone and all my friends back home, their families and loved ones who have evacuated. It's hard being so far away, and so helpless.

Please...I'm from California!!

Because its just that great.. and true!

You know you’re from California when/Californians are better because:


You can wear sandals all year long (Rainbows is a popular brand, not a phenomena of nature).

You know how to effectively carry on a conversation in Spanglish.

You can say "like," "for sure," "peace out," "chill" and "fo sho" and not sound ridiculous.

You know what real cheese tastes like. Happy cows come from California.

You don't get snow days off because there’s only snow in Mammoth, Tahoe, Shasta, and Big Bear. Here, we get “heat days,” where school gets cancelled and everyone heads down to the beach.

The beach is the natural alternative for any activity planned. You average at least 5 visits a week.

You know 65 mph really means 100.

When someone cuts you off, they get the horn and the finger and a high speed chase because we don’t mess around on the road.

Our Governor can kick your Governor’s butt. He is the Terminator.

You can go out at midnight…in fact, your night is just beginning around that time…

You judge people based on what area code they live in, and when asked where you're specifically from, you give your area code with pride.

You make fun of stupid tourists who come and unnecessarily crowd your beaches, wear socks and shoes on the sand, and steal your parking spots. You also want to fight anybody who isn’t a local that steals your waves.

We don't stop at stop signs... we do a "California roll;" No cop no stop baby! We are also experts at getting out of tickets.

You can get fresh and REAL Mexican food 24 hours a day.

All the TV shows you "other" states watch get filmed here. And most reality show personalities are found here. We are simply more entertaining.

We're the Golden State. Not the Cheese State. Not the Garden State...GOLDEN!!!

We have the prettiest girls and the hottest guys.

We have In-N-Out (Arizona and Vegas are lucky we share that with them).

We have the most representation in the House of Representatives, which means our opinion means more than yours, which means we're better than you.

The best athletes come from here; our professional sports teams are the most competitive and entertaining to watch.

We got Disneyland…the Happiest Place on Earth. Sure there’s Disneyworld, but it’s HUMID there.

We call it soda, not pop.

Oh, and no one from California calls it Cali... that's how we know you're not from around here.

The fastest part of your commute is down your driveway.

It’s called the Freeway, not the Interstate, and it consists of at least 4 lanes of fast-moving cars. Anything less than that is simply a highway or a lame road.

Your point of reference for directions =Toward the ocean and away from the ocean.

Eating out is a way of life.

Our monthly house payments exceed your annual income.

You drive to your neighborhood block party.

Your family tree contains "significant others."

More than clothes come out of the closets. We are the most open-minded.

Tanning salons go out of business because we get tan the REAL way. Fake baking is ridiculous.

Big sunglasses, tapered jeans, and vintage clothes are considered fashionable.

Anything below 60 degrees is considered “sweater weather.”

When you can't fit a meeting in with someone because you’re totally booked, you must "do lunch."

“Getting coffee,” “eating Sushi,” and “shopping” are status-oriented activities.

Rather than animal crossing signs, we have signs hosting little families running across the border. Apparently EVERYONE wants in our state.

It's barely sprinkling outside and there's a report on every news station: "STORM WATCH!"

Your coworker has 8 body piercings and none are visible.

Your high school sociological make up looks similar to the United Nations.

You don't care what race people are because you're too busy wondering what gender they are.

You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown and can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian.

A really great parking space can totally move you to tears.

Gas costs $1.00 per gallon more than anywhere else in the U.S.

Regular sightings of celebrities is not a big deal because they live here.

Everyone has lap dogs.

You pass an elementary school playground and the children are all busy with their cell phones or pagers.

Most everybody else comes to OUR state for vacation. We are just blessed to live in paradise year-round.

Padres!

Another great day in San Diego and GC's very first Padres game in SD! Sadly, the Padres lost the game that night but hey at least they gave us a fireworks show! (ha! I wanted the Sunday gift of the lunch box.. please.)

Home Sweet Home

GC and I are here sitting at the airport, not ready to end our trip back from California. Our trip started last week with a trip home to San Diego to see the fam, friends and show GC more of Southern California. We flew out on the new Virgin America... amazzzzing! I don't think I can fly any other airline again (well I guess if they are cheap enough) But that weekened we also met up with good friends for some drinks, laughs, midnight beach run, and good 'ol filibertos!

Home, sweet, home!

I had the chance to come back to Cali really quickly for a work trip. It was sooooo good to come home!!! I got a chance to hang out with my dad & sister chilling at the new condo and taking in the Padres game! Will be back in again in a few, counting down the days!

caaaaalifornia!

I took GC out to Cali for his first ever Thanksgiving holiday on the west coast. A new fan of Disneyland, he couldn't quite get into the whole decorating a palm tree in flip flops. If you really want to see the 103 pictures of the Disneyland Christmas parade, courtesy of Giancarlo Pacheco.. they are up on Kodakgallery.com.