I took my dog, Sunny, for a walk this morning. We went up the street, face into the wind and the sun. The air was cool and clean, and the warmth of the sun felt good on my face.

I closed my eyes and lifted my head to the sky and walked blindly, letting my collie guide us. She will be 12 years old soon–old for a medium-large dog like a collie. She tugged at the leash and dragged me forward, just like she always does.

I couldn’t help but think of my travels in Australia. I spent a month there in July (winter in the southern hemisphere) back in 1994. I traveled from port to port all over south and east Australia, starting in Esperance and ending in Sydney. The weather in the coastal cities of Australia is much like the weather here on the California coast–very mild. Australia felt like home, only cleaner. The people were much nicer as well.

But I’m not in Australia today, I’m in Hayward: The Armpit of the Bay Area.

Bah.