Time to make a list

It is sort of late but I am going to climb onto the band-wagon of the media that is so obsessed at the beginning of the new year with making lists of all types of things. It works better than the lame New Year’s resolutions that are boringly repetitive – both in their stated goals and inevitable demise. How many years have I promised faithfully to: (a) go to the gym/run/exercise every day (b) read more books (c) not drink as much (d) lose xxx kilograms (e) do something creative in my spare-time. By the end of January I am sure to have failed at (c) and (d) and (a) and cling at the forlorn hope that I might yet do something, anything to make this year different. Of course making a list may seem excessive from the offerings you see in the newspapers, on-line and on the television – giving all manner of best (and worst) films of the year, best songs of the year, best destinations to travel, best news stories. It is a bizarre cornucopia of lists. But then I am perversely drawn to them. The Nick Hornby book “High Fidelity” is a classic for all manner of lists of a bizarre nature (top ten break up songs, top five songs about death…that sort of thing).There is even a web-site devoted to internet culture called “fimoculous” that has the wildest listings, as well as the usual offerings on best film etc. So here is my list of six of the things that I like…yes…like, about the USA (or San Diego). Six because I can’t (at the moment) think of more, but I suppose it is a start.

(1) The supermarkets

Call it bizarre but the supermarkets are a great way to while away the hours. I have said it before but there is also a weird hierarchy at work. The basic, bread and butter blue collar supermarket is Albertsons. Then there is Vons – which has a wide range of “specials” and coupon savings. Then you have your niche market “Trader Joes” with its own labels (think of the hippy Californian crowd). Not too expensive and the home of the $1.99 a bottle wine (dubbed $2 buck Chuck, but not for the reason that Australians would dub it “chuck” – goes okay too, after the first five glasses). Then there is Ralphs which has a wide range of items and still has the mainstream brands. It has solid middle-class fare but also has aisles devoted to “Asian cuisine” or “kosher food”. Then there is “Wholefoods”, which is the temple of the organic cuisine. Everything is so good for you that it must be bad for you. It stocks an array of good for you and the environment items, from the jars of organic egg whites to the part-skim organic cheese and the non-toxic cleaning substances to the organic and hormone free meat that costs the equivalent of a week’s wages. Finally there is the chic “Bristol Farms” which is the chic, sort of Toorak-type supermarket. Very pricey but we do like it because it has an Australian foods promotion and they stock Coopers Sparkling…you have to like that. There is another which I just discovered “Henry’s Farm” which has huge bins of every type of nut, legume, seed known to humanity and also a fair range of international foods. Not sure where that one fits on the supermarket ladder. The cheaper supermarkets, it should be added, each have their own little cards that you swipe to get discounts. Not in evidence at Whole Foods or Bristol Farms, so your wallet is overflowing with these little customer loyalty tags.

(2) Mexican food
Having spent the student years devouring the chilli stodge of Cha Chis in Nicholson Street or at the Taco Bill’s franchises the food here (particularly in Old Town or on the beach north) is a revelation. It is made all the better when it is washed down with some Mexican beer (like Pacifica) or a nice, big Margarita. I confess my research on the tequila has been lacking…but there is a very nice one called Silver Patron. Certainly not the same stuff we used to drink as uni-students.

(3) The MSNBC current affair shows

I have loved Jon Stewart’s “Daily Show” and Stephen Colbert’s “Colbert Report” for ages. I can safely report that Americans DO have a wicked sense of humour and they had such a good target with Bush and Cheney and his ship of fools. Add to the roster Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow on MSNBC and it made the lead-up to the election a joy. It balanced the pro-Bush bias of the Fox conservative media with its own version of left (well sort of) leaning bias. The two shows are hugely funny, very cruel (but that’s okay because the targets was Bush and his apologists) and a great way to get a handle on the machinations of US politics. Check out Olberman’s countdown site at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/
In particular his take on daily “Worst Person in the World” can be a crack-up, Keith takes a while to get used to. He is sometimes akin to an attack dog, but he is very, very funny.

(4) The coast from San Diego heading north to LA

Everyone from the US has always maintained Highway 1 down the coast from San Francisco to LA is amazing – and they are right. But the little villages/towns along the coast to the north of San Diego are really beautiful too. The beaches here are as good as the ones in Australia. La Jolla (just down from the Uni campus) is like Toorak meets Bondi. The place is ritzy with super-expensive restaurants but there are also some amazing beaches. The sun setting over the ocean is worth driving to see – while sipping on the obligatory beverage.

(5) NPR Radio

Sort of like SBS on the radio and without the nudity, but it has some great shows. Yes it is very progressive and liberal and bleeding heart, but then you need something to balance the tripe that is served up on mainstream radio and television. Some of the shows remind me of 3RRR – there is one that is called “Car Talk” where two brothers who are mechanics (but probably not brothers) take calls from listeners who have car problems. Very funny and it may even help me next time my car breaks down. On second thoughts, scratch that ridiculous statement. That is never going to happen. I was just indulging in total fantasy. I will never, ever be able to fix a car beyond changing a wiper blade.

(6) Being here in the grip of Obama-fever

The biggest and the best for last, the Obama election seems to have inspired the nation. The mood is amazing, particularly given that the US is in a tail-spin towards depression. I am looking forward to seeing what the inauguration brings. It is certainly the closest I have seen to the royalists when Di married Charles or perhaps (before my time) Elizabeth 11’s coronation. More on the inauguration after this Tuesday.