Just wanted to make sure you know that not ALL Californians are like this (I was born and raised in SoCal, but I enjoy other areas of the country a lot....why else would I go somewhere for the snow in the winter for school? :) )

Re: "Out East", I think that happens with the "older" native Californians (my step-dad, for one). Both of my parents were born and raised in the midwest, so I have a healthy respect, and large amount of knowledge, about the benefits of being a midwesterner and lifestyle of those living in the midwest (regarding manners, morals, and beliefs about life)

I never call any state a fly over state, because I've actually driven through quite a few of those states, and they have beauty that isn't really seen here in CA.

And I don't think I'm better than anyone for being born in San Diego county....just lucky! :D

Besides the weather and geography, the best thing California has that the rest of the country doesn't... IN-N-OUT! Ahhh, by far the best hamburgers in the world.

Just another example that God loves Californians more than anyone else.


Stan, I right there with you about "The O.C."...please can we alert the country that Orange County is nothing like that. Sure, they like to think of themselves as this utopian upper-crust community but please, anyone who has visited Anaheim or Norwalk will tell you it's not all BMWs and beachfront mansions...

First of all, I grew up in Orange County my whole life...There ARE parts of orange county that are like that show, mostly rancho, coto and newport...They have houses like that and they actually try to somewhat model the show after the area and the companies and things going on in orange county..i.e. the newport company on the show = the irvine company in real life, this company dominates most of orange county property and development...there are most examples but i dont want to go on for hours about it...

There's south orange county and north orange county...south is rich, north is middle class...depends on where u grew up...and some of us DO call it "the OC"

Oh, and my family is from southie, so sorry about the remark...

Oh, and socal ppl are superior to all ppl in america, look at fashion across the country, everyone is 2 years behind socal....

"you must chill! you must chill! i have hidden your keys!"
 

i was just making light of the ever-present, seemingly frequent natural disasters of cali. it's a jokey-joke.

people, this is not an open-ended quiz. stop making up your own answers. although, i'm sure cali's got delicious hamburgers at a place called In-n-Out and exquisite style in THE O.C., i don't care. i don't care that it's warm in socal.

it seems like socal doesn't even consider itself part of california. so what are you stressin about? you're obviously cleaner (from bathing more than once annually,) smarter (from book learnin and the tv,) and purdy-er (from THE OC, subtle socal style, and moisturizing.) don't you fret none over my awful, awful quiz.

So cal has good looking people, but it's just a giant craphole unless you're lucky enough to live in an area with houses worth at least 1 million. Northern California is beautiful but the people look strange and dress in the ugliest things ever.

As for clothing, Hollister is crappy imitation A&F wear targeted to younger teens (not even older ones).

-Rudey

That was pretty much on the money.......

to answer the orginial a through f choices. I would chose f becuase that is what it is doing logically right now

Well I guess I will go put on the ugliest things ever in my closet and try to hide my strangeness with some makeup and head out into my beautiful city. Thanks for telling me Rudey I thought I was pretty sylish... but I guess I should go get some fashion help asap.. :D

It's not like I'm saying anything about you personally. From Marin to walking around downtown san francisco, the people are not the prettiest and do not dress that nicely. Maybe it's just a matter of presentation. SoMa is different because the people there are different, but on the whole that's Northern California. I'm not even touching the hicks you have in the small towns around, twice the amount of homeless people than santa monica or how ugly oakland is. Palo Alto is different a bit...but eh.

-Rudey

I know you weren't saying anything about me personally.. hence the :D at the end of my post. I don't live in Palo Alto anymore... but it is a bit different... and I agree Oakland is pretty ugly unless you're in the hills. Every state has it's Hicks.. if it wasn't for those hicks a lot of people would be without produce... so I say lets' leave the Hicks alone ;) they aren't even part of the bay area.

LMAO it's a wonder why they all come down here.

It's like New Englanders and New York "Leafers".

No matter what, Southern California cannot survive without Northern California. There was a debate a few years ago...

The reason is that So Cal uses more water from Nor Cal than Nor Cal uses!

Also, on top of that the people that are jealous of CA because A. the cheese :D and B. we can go 250 miles and go from beach to snow :)

Sorry for the late response, but I haven't been on GC for a long time! That bridge was the Carquinez Bridge. They just constructed a new bridge going north on I80 called the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge. An ex lived in Vallejo and I had to cross that bridge a lot!

I love California! I can't imagine living anywhere else! :)

I have a confession. As a San Diegan I feel guilty for admitting it. I do not like In N Out! I hate their fries. The burgers are gross. And, I don't understand the fuss about the shakes.

PLUS you have to know the "Secret Menu" to get anything that's not boring. :(

Move.......























jk

Well ladyj39...i will forgive you this one time but im not sure about anyone else...when did they build the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge...my aunt didnt say anything about that...is it where the carquinez bridge was????

An ex...hmmm i love those...LOL....

I have annoucement for all...im moving back to the west coast for grad school...or what is left of my grad school....i will be a northern cal girl once again...i was out there this past weekend signing my name on the dotted line for a town home in pleasanton...I will be starting UC Berkley in August with my masters program....So for all of you girls and guys in California watch out im taking my California...LOL...actually is there anyone from the alaska region???? My dad is going up to dutch harbor and i would love to know what it is the weather and what it is like up there...

Ciao para Chicago

MS

WooHoo Pleasanton... okay maybe not. But I have a lot of sisters from that area and I grew up in Hayward. So it's about 30 minutes away. I would tell you some cool places to go but I left that place before i turned 21.

Berkeley is sweet though. Lots of cool shops and hang outs. And you are super close to San Francisco.

Good luck on the move.

InNOut has a secret menu???? Seriously... i never knew that. Of course the nearest InNOut here is about a half an hour away. If I have to resort to eating fast food, I need it closer than that. That's probably why I don't know about it.

pleasonton is a nice place. how long is the drive to berkeley from there? i've never driven from pleasonton to berkeley or vice versa. pleasonton does have a nice mall there :)

it's not too much of a secret menu.

The double meat: has two patties obviously
The 3x3: 3 patties and 3 slices of cheese
The 4x4: 4 patties and 4 slices of cheese
Grilled cheese: 2 slices of cheese, no patty
Protein style: the hamburger wrapped in lettuce. no bun.
Animal style: a mustard cooked beef patty (?), add pickle, extra spread and grilled onions.

Don't even consider driving to Berkeley. If you can afford to buy parking, you won't be able to find any. Let alone the cost of gas, and the nightmare commutes in the morning. The traffic will randomly back up for no reason all the time. You can take BART from the Dublin/Pleasanton station, transfer, and get off in downtown Berkeley. It will take you less than an hour, and since Dublin is a terminal station, you can get a seat and study on the way. When I lived at home and attended Cal I took BART everyday from the city. With gas, bridge toll, and parking it would cost more and take longer. Driving in the Bay Area is a nightmare, BART runs pretty late, and you can go into the city, and to both the airports. It runs under the bay under the water, fun times!

www.bart.gov

However, plan to arrive early because Cal has a huge campus and it can take forever to go all the way up the hill. There is a shuttle that runs from the BART station, but it costs money. Walk and enjoy the gorgeous buildings, amazing foilage, and stop for coffee on the way so you can leisurely walk. There are plenty of places to eat and shop on Telegraph, which ends campus at Sproul Plaza. For some reason one of the most anti-establishment, activist student campus has a GAP across the street from Sproul Plaza and the Cesar Chavez Student Union. I find irony in that juxtaposition. The Sather Tower and Gate are gorgeous, and usual for any campus there will be construction. Be aware of protestors, often they will block entrances and be so loud it disrupts class. The naked guy is long gone and I think all the germs from his butt crack have long died. You had to show your ID to get into the undergrad library, but the Bancroft Library is far superior. There are overstuffed velvet chairs, marble busts, and oriental rugs so you can leisurely read on a foggy day. There are many bookstores that are private and off campus, double check there to get the best prices.

Have fun there!

Congrats mshoole! Welcome back to California! :) My aunt used to live in Pleasanton. Now she lives in Danville. It's nice, but can get so hot!

I love Berkeley! My favorite place to eat was Smart Alec's on Telegraph. It's mainly known for vegan food. I'm not vegan, but they have amazing sandwiches and yummy bread! Plus, the shops are great.

Are you still going to be pursuing AI? There are some wonderful groups on that campus and they have beautiful houses!

The Zampa Bridge opened in November 2003. The pedestrian lane just opened on May 16th. It was crazy to see it being built. There's more info here: Zampa Memorial Bridge

On another note, I love InNOut! I actually like their fries more than any other fast food fries (especially the little crispies at the bottom) My BF's old roommate is a manager there and he used to bring home burgers all the time. Plus, he knows anything and everything about that place. He went to "Burger University" and gets offended if you say anything negative. ;) He once told me that they can make sloppy joes by chopping up the patty with the spatula and adding ketchup, but not every store does that. I don't think I'll ever try it though. He had a customer that ordered a 10x10 and ate it all in one sitting! :eek:

co-sign on taking bart to berkeley. It will be a lot easier.

Thank you all for tips. I will still be pursuing AI, as I feel that with me getting my masters it doesnt make a whole lot of since to join a collegiate chapter, mostly because I am going to be a grad instead of a grad..Logical thinking there..LOL...Jeff (my accident prone finace) is getting rid of the second car and we will keep his pride a joy (i thought i could be a good soon-to-be-wife) and let him keep his truck becuase I am moving him to a state he doesnt know a sole in, a state where he will be in more danger and becuase he loves his truck. Boys ( I mean) MEN!!! So Yes, BART will become my life. I acutally am going out in July to move everything that I need to start school with (a bed, clothes, some furniture) and then he (Jeff) is moving the rest out in August while I start my classes.

Thanks for the tips agian.

MS

Hey anyone on here know of any good groups in Northern Cal to get in-touch with for AIing?