It's now 3 weeks of Sacramento living and I have to say I'm so tired of the bad fashion and especially the Ugg-like boots and puffy coats with the faux fur collars. Blech!
As I was wandering into my 4th supermarket (when avocados are $2 each you know food prices are sky-high here) behind some woman in pink stretch pants, white faux-fur topped snow boots and a too-short puffy coat, I patted myself on the back thinking: Thank goodness my license plate says Texas.
I've never been one to say I'm from this place or that. I don't claim any city as my "Hometown". I spent my 1st 13 years in Southern Cali, spent Jr High and High School in the PacNW, 2 years of college in AL, some of my adulthood in NYC and Houston. But after being here for 3 weeks and reading the March issue of Texas Monthly (did you know this the Terquasquicentennial or the 175th Anniversary of the start of a great nation = Texas?) I am really leaning towards claiming Houston as my hometown or at least Texas as my home state (but I will always be a wannabe NYer in my heart).
It's not so much that the fashion is in dire straights here, that the drivers rarely hit 75 mph on the highway, the speaking cadence hurts my ears, that the thrift stores suck, or that this place is super suburban. It just doesn't have that home-like feeling.
But what makes Houston, TX that much better than Sacramento, CA? It's easy to learn - if you can find the malls, then you can find your way around town. I can get my eyebrows threaded for under $10 bucks (here, it's $12). The museums are centrally located and free EVERY Thursday. Discovery Green and Hermann Parks - need I say more? Montrose is within 10-15mins. Titos vodka.
Don't get me wrong. There are some pluses to Sacramento such as 2nd Saturday (akin to 19th on 19th in The Heights or 1st Saturday in the Heights), the outlet mall is only 32 miles away, decent Cuban and Indian food. San Francisco is about an hour drive. The mountain ranges and being close to Yosemite or Reno (when it's not snowing).
So I guess I'm trying to ward off the blues. I didn't think I would miss Houston as much as I do. But being here with The Fella is a the best plus and hopefully we can discover the weird, cultural and fun events that Sacramento has to offer.
