California Curiosity - Houses & Noise Barrier Combo

Yep, Californians are retarded and will place houses anywhere.
Even utilizing highway noise barriers as the structure's back wall.
This small development is adjacent to I-405 (or "the 405" in the local vernacular) in Westminster. I've past it a few times while traveling from L.A., but never had a chance to snag some shots of it.

(sorry about the blurriness, I was traveling at ≈50 MPH when I randomly snapped the shots)

At least the last one has some natural light coming in from one point on the back half of the house. One of these days I'll have to check out the houses from the other side. Oh wait, there's Google Maps for that.

Overhead view:
And from the street (and via teh innernets at least), you'd be hard-pressed to tell that the houses have no back yard.
Still, I bet it's loud and that it smells.

California Curiosity - Prop 65 Warning Labels

When I first started visiting California with any regularity about ten years ago, I started noticing that virtually every hotel, retail store and parking garage seemed to have some sort of a warning posted. These warnings stated that "This property has chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer or birth defects." Naturally curious, I had to know what kind of nasty chemicals were in use. Well, it turns out that run-of-the mill stuff like bleach and solvents.

See, these signs were posted in response to California's Proposition 65. This voter-led initiative was designed to keep toxic substances out of consumer products, making us all a bit safer. Unfortunately I don't think it's really done much aside from reinforce the fact that we live in a nanny/litigious state with thinks we're stupid enough that we'd try to drink the battery acid or gasoline from our autos. Which brings me to this:

I've seen hundreds of cars here in California with this warning decal still in place in the driver's side window, people either don't know that they *can* be removed or don't care. Yep, when a car or truck is sold here, the dealer and automaker needs to inform the consumer that it has all sorts of nasty parts and fluid. Don't huff the brake fluid, kids!

California Curiosity - Jeep Full o' Pot

As seen in Carlsbad on the way to work this morning. Bring your Wednesday Weed to Work Day? Another plant is sitting shotgun.

California Curiosity

When shopping at the local Home Depot over the weekend, I discovered a section that's not found in Midwestern home improvement stores.
Yep - the "Earthquake Safety Center". Consisting of primarily straps to keep your furniture and electronics in place during a seismic event.
I've felt a couple of small tremors here, it's quite exciting and odd all at the same time. Thankfully San Diego County isn't known for devastating quakes like L.A. or the Bay Area. Or St. Louis, where a several 8.0+ magnitude earthquakes in 1811-1812 caused severe damage to the lightly-inhabited land. Maybe the Midwest Home Depots should dedicate an end cap to the same wares.

California Curiosity - Neighborhood Banana Tree

I never thought I'd live somewhere with a climate so mild that there'd be bananas growing in my neighborhood.

But this banana tree is just a block away. Although the taste and smell of bananas are completely nauseating to me (the reason I call them "Satan Fruit"), I enjoy living in an area with such interesting plants.

California Curiosity - Critters!

So I was reaching into the modern caveman TV set the other night, preparing to fire it up for my parents to enjoy (and for Celeste to roast marshmallows on) when my hand became encased in the strongest and stickiest spider web that I have ever encountered.

Knowing that this was not a "normal" spider web, I decided to take a second look. When opening the access door my eyes caught a black critter running down the side of the tank. Pulling the tank out of the base I came across this beauty.

Why it's a mature female Latrodectus hesperus*, better known as a Western black widow spider guarding her small clutch of eggs. I was able to snap a few shots of her while also acting like a 10 year old boy and poking near her with a stick. She didn't budge. With the black widow being the most venomous spider in the US, sadly I had to exterminate the little girl and remove the egg sac.

*Latin name listed for the benefit of Canoelover.

California Curiostity - Tenting for Termites

No, the circus is not in town, just a neighbor with a termite problem.
I used to see tented homes undergoing fumigation from time-to-time when flying in to LAX or John Wayne/Orange County airports. In the past eight months (has it really been eight months??) three of our neighbors have had the process done. Kind of funny seeing an enormous yellow and orange tent in a row of otherwise plain suburban stucco homes.

California Curiosity - Bee Poop

Ever since we moved out here, I've been finding little mustard yellow and brown colored spots on the cars. Figuring it was just some sort of palm sap, I really thought nothing of it.
Turns out, it's bee poop. Really. We must have a lot of bees around here, as the spots are everywhere outside.

On the car

On the bathroom skylight

On the grill

Thankfully they wash off rather easily and don't eat into the paint like bird shit can.