State Differences

It's weird to be trading constant sunshine for rain, beaches and deserts for forest and mountains, and palm and eucalyptus trees for pines and maples. The only real bummer about cold weather right now is that I can't have any coffee while I'm nursing, and I can't have hot cocoa because of my dairy allergy. So instead I'm enjoying herbal teas in a "Beware the sleep deprived mommy" mug, given to me by my good friend Amber.

I’m trying to learn some of the subtle differences of living here. For one thing, you’re not allowed to pump your own gas: the attendant has to do it for you. And you can’t make U-turns unless specifically indicated by a road sign. It rains a lot more here, which is why everything is so green. And speaking of green, it seems strange to me that an apartment complex in one of leading states for “green” living has no gas appliances (only electric), and doesn’t offer recycling bins next to their dumpsters.