As I near the end of this trip I’m still in a bit of culture shock ( strange given I am from the East Coast). First off folks here in Philadelphia tend not to be as warm as I am used to, at least not until they know you. In LA I am greeted with endless smiles almost all of the time . I now find myself not smiling directly at folks on the street to avoid the scowl.
Secondly I haven’t had an avocado since being here. Subway offers I grey mass that they call guacamole but I have resisted.
But most conspicuous to me has been sugar consumption ; across the board, across cultural lines I have witnessed what seems to me insane amounts of sugar intake . My morning ritual includes an excellent cup of joe at Old City Coffee. Consistently high quality coffee, that in my opinion needs only a splash of white stuff . But just this morning as I waited my turn, I witnessed a sweet faced Amish girl sweeten her iced caramel sugary whatever with three packets of added sugar ; the working class fellow after her put NINE packets of raw sugar in his small coffee; and the business man ahead of me poured an endless steak of agave into his Americano.
I was taken aback, I don’t think I have ever seen anyone use actual sugar in LA, fake stuff once in awhile ,in the most furtive fashion, but goodness …
Anyway, soon I will be home, to David, the pups, smiles and avocados.
Closing down my borrowed studio, rolling up the paintings and filling my time with drawings and people judging – I mean watching.
Boondocks Babylon 
Sounds like you’re so going to appreciate home 🙂
In the words of Sarah Palin, ” you betcha!”