The Power of Positive Thinking

So I'm back in L.A. after a glorious four days in England, that served to confirm just how much I miss the motherland. I always know how much I miss my family and friends, how self-centered I find a lot of people here, but I forget how truly inspiring it is to live in a city as beautiful as London. And, yes, London is beautiful in its chaos*, and one doesn't even really notice it until one is transplanted to a city** where everything is modern and organised and washed out and grey - and just plain same-y. (Sorry, it appears that eloquence is evading me today - I think I'll blame it on the jetlag.)

It was lovely to see so many friends, although a little heart-breaking that by the end I was fitting people into half-hour timeslots. Four days is not enough. Of course, everyone asked me how I was finding life in America, and I found that the tone of my answer tended to depend mainly on proximity to the husband. Much as I may moan and bitch about life in the land of the free and the home of the brave, having to try to find positive things to say about my adopted homeland in front of Scott did make me realise that there are - genuinely - some things that the U.S.A. does a lot better than in England. As you will see, these are important US achievements that more than make up for the lack of a free healthcare system and such.

Here, in no particular order, are the top 5 ways that living in the US is better than the UK.

5 - Walk-in closets in every bedroom. A teenage fantasy come to life, taking the pain out of outfit selection.

4 - "Two-buck chuck". A bottle of wine for the equivalent of a pound. I was initally reticent to try this, as it seemed impossible that a company could actually produce wine this cheaply - surely it costs that much for the bottle?!? Surprisingly non-disgusting. Not great but, you know, drinkable.

3 - Butter. Not the product itself, which is much the same, but the fact that inside the initial wrapper the creamy goodness is sub-divided into wrapped strips. These strips are printed with a measuring chart, which tells you where to cut for different weights and measurements. I realise this is of limited excitment to those who don't bake, but I was amazed! My mother informs me that British butter used to come the same way - why on earth has this been stopped?

2 - Edible fast-food. Don't get too excited, all the usual fast-food hellholes still rule the roost. However, there are also a proliferation of mexican fast-food places (Baja Fresh etc...) that are both scrummy and cheap. Probably score better on the global deforestation and exploitation of workers front too.

1 - Liquor store delivery service. I remember being involved in a long conversation back in the uni days about how great it would be if after the local shop had closed/it was cold, one could order takeaway wine and cigarettes. People, I am pleased to report that the shopkeepers of America listened to this plea and, for the princely sum of a dollar, the local liquor store will deliver whatever you want to your door - 24 hours a day. I'm still too embarrased to actually use this service, although the girls downstairs tell me I will get over this. They're now trying to get over the fact that the store now recognises their number when they call up, and asks whether they'll be wanting the wine or vodka tonight.

There you go. There's also the cheap cosmetics and the sunshine, but they seem a little too boring to list. Will update on further good things as I discover them. Maybe, just maybe, one day I'll be able to think of more good things than bad...

*Yes, I'm aware that its sounds wrong here. I have a vague feeling that cities are probably feminine, or is that just boats? Is there some kind of gender rule here, or does it depend on the city in question?

**I am still loath to describe Los Angeles as a city. Yes, it's a big, but in my mind true city-status requires some sort of central downtown area and people wandering around (sitting in cars doesn't count, even if you are mainly in traffic jams). It also requires some sense of unique character and charm. There is little about Los Angeles that one could describe as charming. Unless you get turned on by freeways and car wrecks (and if a David Cronenberg movie says you can, then it must be possible). In character and architecture L.A. is nothing more than a giant suburb.