Is this rain? I hardly recognize what precipitation looks like anymore

I wake again at 8 am with the realization that after a day in Santa Monica, I think I have come to some solid conclusions about the area:

1. Everyone you meet in L.A. secretly hopes to become an actor/singer/dancer/performer, despite the fact that they currently are working as a waiter/hostess/computer salesman, or a ferris wheel operator and that might actually pay more than this "elusive dream job" they seem to be starving for.

He says "so what are you going to do today? Walk? Didn't you do that yesterday?"

2. 20% of the population appears to be homeless, or they enjoy spending their spare time holding cardboard signs begging for money.

3. It never rains in California (except for the rare moment when it does for 15 minutes) in which people complain the entire 15 minutes about the horrible weather.

4. I will never fit in to the L.A. culture despite my best attempts, since I wear the same polypro clothing everyday, walk not run and I do so without my ipod, I am not wearing make-up, and I might be the friendliest person in this entire city.

5. There is never a dull moment in this town: you can always watch the break dancers, or the people lifting weights at muscle beach, or go see the celebrities on the red carpet, or better yet...just walk around town and try avoiding all the people pitching new products, movie ideas, and tv show promo surveys and keep your sanity!

I hiked a total of 9.5 miles today. I began the day by hiking 4 miles towards Malibu and I got as far as Sunset Boulevard before the acid rain sort of spoiled my day...so I grabbed the first available bus to REI and spent 2 hours perusing the store aimlessly. In the process I convinced a woman who is purchasing her first backpack to buy the Osprey Ariel 65...since I love that pack so much. She tries it on and loves it too. They should pay me for this stuff....hahaha. When I leave REI the rain has stopped, so I walk two blocks to my hostel and eat some salmon pasta with capers...I need the omega fatty acids if my joints are going to survive this walk. I decide to walk south to Venice Beach. I walk 2.75 miles and turn around and walk back to the pier another 2.75 miles. It is 4:45 pm and my feet are exhausted, but I feel better knowing I put some miles behind me. I am feeling good with these day hikes, but I am ready to step it up a bit...so tomorrow's hike is going to be a run.