I lucked out last week, scheduling a technology visit to HSRA Los Angeles during bluebird weather in Southern California. Minnesota, meanwhile, dove into the deep freeze (sorry family). On the day I came back, it was 65 degrees on the beach and -15 when I left the Wild-Ducks hockey game that evening.

Ouch.

It was a productive trip for me, configuring several Windows machines (not fun), installing two new security cameras, running workstation upgrades and finally fixing a spell-check problem that has been an issue since the start of school. I also have a plan for dealing with the data-loss issues associated with running portable home directories on Mac OS X Server. Just waiting for a good time to flip that switch.

The good weather was combined with unusually smog-free views that let us view Malibu across the bay and snow on the mountains to the east. I tried to bike or walk along the beach almost every day and found a nice housing development a block away that would be perfect if I ever hit the lottery. Only $1.5-2.1 million, according to Zillow).

Lots of new food places this time: Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles in Long Beach, the Union Cattle Company in Hermosa Beach (great steak), Hennessey’s Tavern in Hermosa Beach, Mickie Finnz Fish House in Redondo Beach (also owned by Hennessey’s) and Chicago for Ribs in Redondo Beach. No In-N-Out Burger this time–a first!