The Golden State

I love California. That sentence pretty much sums up this entire blog post, so if you don't want to hear me gush about my home state, then I guess you can stop reading right here. Look at the time I'm saving you! That's why I'm a true friend.

Last Sunday, I was in my room folding laundry as is my unfortunate Sunday evening tradition. There was nothing good on TV, and my husband/children were hogging our main TV (the one with the DVR) so they could play Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii. So, I decided to see if VH1 had some of its customary trash reality TV programming to offer. What I found was the MTV Movie awards. And I left it on, mostly because I was too lazy to bother finding something better.

As a side note, let me say this: for all you fellow thirtysomethings out there, if you want to feel out of touch with America's youth and get in touch with that "you lousy kids, get off my lawn" mentality, I suggest watching some MTV. Because I found myself cringing at the amount of swearing. Hello? Am I really so delicate that I can't handle swearing? Apparently! But seriously, I have seen Friar's Club Roasts that required less bleeping. The phrase, "in my day this would not be allowed on TV" went though my mind a couple times. They can apparently say shit on TV without bleeping nowadays. And America's youth is just in love with the F Bomb. And just when I was feeling like a hopeless old fart, the three main stars of Twilight took the stage. Then I stopped feeling ancient, and started exercising an astonishing measure of self control by not throwing things at Kristen Stewart. I really loathe her. There, I said it. Okay, where was I? Oh yes: my love of California.

So, during the MTV Movie Awards, Katy Perry performed her song California Gurls. It's a ridiculously catchy song that has been stuck in my head all week. It's almost worse than that time I had Taylor Swift's You Belong With Me in my head for a week. California Gurls (that spelling makes me cringe every time) is one of those perfect poppy summer songs. And it talks about how girls from California are awesome. Who can argue with that? Anyway, that song is what led me to this post about my love of The Golden State.

I feel about California the way I think I'm supposed to feel about the United States. You know how there are people who just really 100% believe that the US is the greatest nation on the face of the earth? That no other country could possibly compare with American greatness? I feel that same reverence for California. In my mind, it really is the greatest state in the Union. We have everything. We are awesome. It's pretty much all summed up in the words of our State song. (Did you know that States had songs?)

I Love You California
Written by F. B. Silverwood
Composed by A. F. Frankenstein

I love you, California, you're the greatest state of all
I love you in the winter, summer, spring, and in the fall.
I love your fertile valleys; your dear mountains I adore,
I love your grand old ocean and I love her rugged shore.

I love your redwood forests - love your fields of yellow grain,
I love your summer breezes, and I love your winter rain,
I love you, land of flowers; land of honey, fruit and wine,
I love you, California; you have won this heart of mine.

I love your old gray Missions - love your vineyards stretching far,
I love you, California, with your Golden Gate ajar,
I love your purple sunsets, love your skies of azure blue,
I love you, California; I just can't help loving you.

I love you, Catalina - you are very dear to me,
I love you, Tamalpais, and I love Yosemite,
I love you, Land of Sunshine, half your beauties are untold,
I loved you in my childhood, and I'll love you when I'm old.

When the snow crowned Golden Sierras
Keep their watch o'er the valleys bloom.
It is there I would be in our land by the sea,
Ev'ry breeze bearing rich perfume,
It is here nature gives of her rarest,
It is Home Sweet Home to me.
And I know when I die I shall breathe my last sigh
For my sunny California.

So, to sum up: California rules. The end.