Long Beach, California, doesn't have a beach – that I know of, anyway. Good name, then.
The second-largest city in LA County, I believe. Which is really saying quite a bit, since LA County must have at least 20 cities over 100,000. And it's bigger than Minneapolis, anyway. Whatever – I've always liked it there, sorta – it smells of the sea, unlike most of LA, and it is gritty, without being desolately poor.
Why in the world did I go to LB? I had a job interview, which went really well. Intriguing position, as a DBA and Data Analyst (at the same time, overlapping – no room for boredom, there) at a small healthcare company (runs a few hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, etc.). Fascinating data problems – like at Paradise Corporation, my alma mater, but with a more clued in management, one hopes.
Check this out: the CIO of this company spends 30 minutes interviewing me, and asks these really detailed, complex SQL coding and system admin questions. This is a CIO who is profoundly nonclueless. He knows stuff. Amazing… and compelling. If they make an offer, I will accept.
Clear and almost smogless today: southern California at it's best. I think… hmm, is this place finally growing on me, a little bit? I've always had a love-hate relationship with this place, intriguing giant city, yes, but a grotesque climate for the most part. Hot. Boring. Hot. Boring.
But then it offers up a lovely cloudscape, or a sweeping urbanized swathe of green/brown/grey with a brisk taste of sea air that charms me, on a not-unbearably-hot day.