A Stone's Throw: The Comeback Kid: A Roadtrip Though SoCal

Clouds hover on the edges of the Sierra Nevadas on the way to the El Cajon pass down to the lush coastal plains of Southern California.

The overly broad windswept streets were empty. Large houses stood unguarded day and night. I constantly and unconsciously brushed my hand against my wallet to assure myself that it hadn't been lifted by a skilled artist I may have bumped into. It seemed too quiet, yet I was catching snippets of conversations as I browsed large, sterile, fluorescent lit grocery stores. It was simply... strange.
After nearly 8 months abroad, much of that time spent in South America, I was finally back in the suburban sprawl of Las Vegas. I wasted no time (except for brief moments to wonder at the strangeness of it all) to catch up on the day to day admin of a life I had let pass me by. Car registration, oil change, bank visits, unpacking, job hunting. All these things pressed with a fierce urgency, leaving me no time for a soft landing and a gentle transition. But hey, thats no fun anyways right?
I had a plan, which as my friends abroad would likely tell you, was a rare oddity in my life. I had 5 days to settle my affairs in Las Vegas, then I headed out to see my family on the west coast in Santa Barbara for the weekend. It was nice to be welcomed back to the calm and tranquility that I find at my Aunt Trish and Uncle Michael's house. It is a magical place filled with art, music, and the best food you have ever had touch your unworthy tongue. My aunt and uncle graciously put up with my slightly dazed demeanor and constant blabbering about my travels as they proceeded to do their absolute best to restore the weight I had lost traveling through a full rotation of Santa Barbara's best restaurants and my their delicious home cooking.
I reluctantly left with a sad heart and a full stomach, heading down to Los Angeles where I was hosted for a night by my wonderful Aunt Martha Ellen. She is a very talented painter and businesswoman who is in the process of carving out a nice section of the LA art scene, and it was wonderful to get a chance to exchange stories about Paris and Colombia for my far too brief stay. Unfortunately I had to leave the next day and head to San Diego to scope out a prospective job.
I got to San Diego late that night, woke up early, and started my new job. Over the next few days I caught up with old friends, most of whom seemed fairly happy to see me again, some of whom not so much... Like the end to a bad novel, I even got to meet up, again, with Eduardo. We went surfing to close the circle of events (for good measure and good fun) before heading over to see the seal pups that had just been born in La Jolla. My first week back was completely mentally exhausting, and quite a whirlwind. I was finally back in San Diego, ready to make a little money, and with my eye already on my next adventure... You just wait to see where I end up next!