I’ve been harping about the culture shock aspect of being up here, but I’m starting to get used to it now. Still, electric stovetops, ugh. How the hell am I supposed to simmer something when I can’t finely adjust the heat? I have to admit now, that I am a yuppie, albeit with out the income. I’m not caught up with the materialism of it, but living in New York, with myriad choices for just about anything has spoiled me.

Then there’s my own pride. Prete Sr. needs boxes because he’s moving out of this house and into a smaller condo. Instead of buying them, like I would, he goes on a quest to find them any time we’re at the grocery store. Sure, we’re recycling, but he doesn’t care about that aspect; it’s just being cheap. So while we’re in the back of Stop and Shop cutting down boxes so they’ll fit in the truck, I feel like we’re some shitbird hop-heads foraging for scrap metal to sell for drug money.

But on the other hand I’m really enjoying the manual labor that I’ve undertaken. Other than the rain (and I’m in another rain delay right now), the weather has been amazing. It’s mostly mindless work, but there’s still some creative problem solving to be done. Sure as hell beats working at the Battery. There’s something to be said for actually being able to see the fruits of your labors. This working class thing ain’t too bad.

Fine, I already used this ‘joke’ the first night I got my ass to the cape. But I’m still too amused by it to not document it here.

In my continuing ‘culture shock’ observations, it’s hard not to notice how much I’ve stopped walking. Thai food for dinner*, get in the car and pick it up. I drive back and forth from the golf course to eat lunch at the house. I throw the bike in the car to get to the trail when I want to go for a ride. At home, I was walking at least two miles a day, purposefully taking the R train home and walking down Court street. Here, I feel guilty every time I get behind the wheel of my car.

Which is why I’m so happy I can bike. Just did 20 miles round trip up to Eastham, and could have kept going, but I’m still not in full road shape. All my gym work has paid off, but it can’t train my ass, literally, for sitting on a bike seat for that long. I topped my initial 10 mile ride from Thursday when I got in, but I’d like to push it further and see how far I can go.

Bis später, mo chara.

* I was shocked to find out that there is Thai out here. I wasn’t shocked to find out that it was sub-par to my favorite Smith St joint, but it was certainly better than crap pizza.

I’ve always held a rather apathetic stance on blogging. It’s rather self-serving, unless one actually has interesting things to say, or can expend the time and energy to make it truly entertaining, on a frequent basis; two things that I have considered lacking in my own desire to blog myself. But a new era is dawning…

As I’ve noticed in the last 36 hours or so since leaving Brooklyn, I’ve become, in a way, socially isolated from those I know and love. I am living in America now, and I have so much to comment on, but no one to listen. I was planning on blogging while in Sydney about my travels, but as Belkin pointed out after my observational e-mail from yesternight on the mass of Massachusettsians, the time is now.

This blog will get a redesign when I have the time. Probably when I get to Sydney, or at least make some headway with the article. Until then, enjoy its rather fey appearance. Just pretend you’re listening to Belle & Sebastian. And you’re an adolescent girl. Or Notmikeprett.

So expect some more slightly coherent posts in the near future about my adjustment to a life without subways or bodegas. Besides, you know y’all miss me already (It’s Friday night and you’re not drinking with me)!