The Foreign Embassy

Lincoln, Nebraska is actually nicer than you'd expect it to be.

Hotwire rocks, but their rating system needs work. A three-star hotel in aforementioned Lincoln beat the hell out of a similarly-rated one in Reno. But I guess that's to be expected (see below).

Reno, Nevada, the self-proclaimed "Biggest Little City in the World," is quite possibly the sketchiest place in the world. Sketchier even than Atlantic City, which is saying a lot, Reno is like Las Vegas for truck drivers and ex-cons. Don't go there. Ever.

I must admit, however, the roulette table at Harrod's was awfully nice to me.

Denver's got some great scenery, but the traffic sucks, and it seems like about half the city's roads are currently under construction. Boulder is nice. Colorado runs on pot.

Salt Lake City is surprisingly not bad. The Mormons keep things clean, but they suck at naming streets. What kind of a street name is "N 300 W?" And do you really need to throw in a "S 300 W," "S 300 E," "W 300 S," "W 300 N," etc, etc? Get some proper street names.

Man, Reno is SO sketchy.

Berkeley, California is sketchy and full of hippies with no money. The coffee shops have no bathrooms.

Carmel, California is beautiful and full of hippies with money.

Big Sur, California is beautiful and full of hippies with a LOT of money.

Reno = Sketchville.

Anyway, we're here in Los Angeles, we've found jobs, we're sleeping on an air mattress until our furniture arrives, and we're busy getting settled but very happy. And somewhat incommunicado, until our phone and Internet are set up.

I like LA.