O.K. the Virginia thing. I don't want to be "hatin'" on my new home, but I've got to admit I'm still having a hard time fitting in with the folks here (I've ranted about it on the blog before, so I won't rant here. At least not too terribly much.)

There's not a lot of room for free thinkers here. I was telling D. just the other night that living in our neighborhood is a very surreal-Stepford-Wives-ish experience. There are times I'm tempted to get into certain persons faces and ask them if they've got a clue about what it's like to be real. I try to keep my mouth shut, and be respectful, but it's hard for me not to long for my friends back home in Texas.

Virginia is a beautiful state, but the government here is insane. Absolutely zero common sense.

(end of rant)

Of course, my Alabama state government is rarely enlightened, so I have little room to criticize. Still, all governments should protect civil rights and embrace diversity, not fight it.

I find the "Stepford Wives" mentality everywhere, but especially in suburbia. Too many cookie cutter houses and minds. I've lived all over the country (and a couple of places outside the US) and find people to be basically kind and loving. There have been bright and interesting people everywhere, sometimes they're just a little more hidden.

Don't pass up The Walkmen. They put on a great live show.