“Italians don’t make good hermits.” - Mark Helprin

After a heavy week of staring at a computer screen and grinding out reports and coding, I am SO grateful for the weekend. Having a grand Santa Monica day so far. Made it to my first REI garage sale this morning.  Arrived at 7am and stood in line until 8:45 for my 15 minute chance to shop for deals.  Snagged a couple good ones.  Then headed to a coffee shop to take care of some Yale business then to Farmers Market, home, and shortly to the beach!  Took some pictures of my place this week-

Here's the walkway up to the little apartment in the green house, and the backyard.  That tiny blob at the end of the sidewalk is the neighbor kitty who loves to blend in to the ground at night and then jump out at me.

Here's the kitty, who I've named Carlos.  He's like the California version of Charlie, with his longer, sun-kissed fur and much more aloof attitude. 

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Carlos is something of a mystery to me, unlike his owners who live next door. Our front doors and kitchens are four feet apart and window are permanently open, so I know lots of stuff about them.  When I first got here, I would wake up thinking that they were IN my room, which they basically are when they are standing on the porch.  I know that he goes rollerblading every morning from 6-6:45 and she likes to tap dance in the garage. No matter, now I've gotten used to it.  On the days I sleep in, he works as a back-up alarm when he returns from 'blading.

Here's the place. I'm the first roommate here so much of this has been added since I got here. For example, the curtains. And the desk. And the table.

Andddd here's the kitchen/science lab/disaster area. We've since added another fridge to the room that has helped with storage. I guess it comes with the territory when you live with a chef who makes products-to-order out of his house.

And finally, thought I'd share the youtube video of the week that made me laugh.  Farming+LMFAO song+great shoutout to water in the middle = success.