"What are you doing out here?"

That's by far the question I get most from other people (not college-related) throughout my travels. I guess it surprises people so much when they find out I'm from the West Coast. Most people go the other way, they say. Why would you leave California for here (especially now that temperatures haven't been out of the 50s in two weeks)? Then, since that's apparently the most interesting thing about me, the conversation about California begins. They'll talk about how they have a relative in LA ("No, that's nowhere near where I'm from), how they've visited in the past ("Why did you go to LA?") or how they'd like to visit ("Come to San Francisco, not to LA). Despite all of my vanities, I really don't like always talking about myself to everyone I meet. The joke goes that people don't like tourists but once they find out you're from California you're a god. I guess it's kind of true. Not the god extreme, but once they find out where I'm from it's hard to get them off of the subject.

Also, I should apologize to anyone who may have been offended by my comments about New Jersey (if any were). I should clarify that I do not enjoy driving so much in New Jersey, and my comments should be seen as in no way a reflection upon the people who live here. It can also be a quite pretty state in many places (mostly those where no one lives).

I'm back in New Jersey this week for travel in Central Jersey, if there is such a distinction (as opposed to North or South Jersey). The weather has been getting colder, but I've kind of enjoyed that. Fall on the East Coast is everything everyone said about it and more. The trees have been beautiful for the past few weeks, and I do enjoy the crisp air. There is something nice about putting on a sweater and a jacket and heading out. I probably won't be saying the same thing in two months when I need to put on several sweaters, a jacket, a scarf, a beanie, long underwear and boots just to head outside, but for now I've loved it. And call me crazy, but I'm looking forward to the first snowfall here (maybe this weekend!) - so long as I don't have to drive in it!

Where it was absolutely beautiful was Syracuse, which I visited for the first time this weekend. I got to see Mary, which in itself is worth any drive anywhere, but I also got to see where she lives and meet all of her roomates. Taking her words the first time she saw my apartment in the city, it made everything "real" for me. For two months as we talked on the phone she would talk about where she lived and who she lived with. Now I am able to visualize her life there. Friday night we had a great dinner and then went to a brewery in downtown Syracuse ($2 beers!). Saturday Mary and I went for a hike and then a nice drive through some very pretty areas. Saturday night was calm and relaxing, and it was sad to say goodbye on Sunday. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving where we will have more than 2 days to spend with each other.

There were a few more things I wanted to post about but I can't really remember them right now. After the travel season I think I'll probably start a political blog to 1) speak my mind freely about current events, about which I am still passionate and 2) keep my writing skills honed should I ever try to return to journalism. For now, my current event is Barack Obama saying that he is considering running for president in 2008. I was quite excited to read that news. I think Obama, despite the lack of experience (although neither Abraham Lincoln nor Woodrow Wilson had much experience before being elected) represents the type of politics Americans are looking for. He is liberal, but there is more of a "common-man" liberalism about him. People seem to respect that he understands their concerns on a genuine level. He is also not a polarizing figure like Hillary Clinton or even John McCain. I just hope he pursues this goal.