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Well, hello there...it's been awhile.

I can imagine that those few diehard "P.U." fans out there have been disappointed when they kept checking in only to find the same stupid picture of Trump on the golf course. My last post was on November 29. Why had I left the blogging game, and would I ever return?

Fortunately there are no tragic circumstances behind my absence, nor was it my intention to stop posting for good. I simply encountered a fit of "writer's block" and needed to take a break. With all the recent changes in my life, I felt overwhelmed and couldn't focus long enough to sit down and share the millions of thoughts swirling in my brain. As you might expect, writing posts as long as mine requires more time and energy than I can sometimes muster.

But I'm back now, and I'd like to get warmed up by sharing some bits and pieces of my life.

Let's start with work. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I cherish my professional identity as an urban planner and that my love for cities has permeated my entire existence for as long as I can remember. I chose to begin this post with a photo of me, circa age 3, surveying a city I had built with toys, items from around the house, and (of course) the power of my imagination. I would proudly call my mother into the room when I made such models, pointing out what everything was (housing, parking lots, shopping malls, etc.). I knew then, as now, that my destiny was to have a hand in how cities were built and how they were to function.

For over four years I have had the pleasure of working for the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning. My first assignment was working as a Zoning Enforcement Officer in the unincorporated Florence-Firestone community in South Los Angeles. I saw my job as far more than going out and citing people for violations of the Zoning Code; I saw it as an opportunity to help turn a neglected and troubled community around by improving its quality of life and making it a better place to live for its residents, who I loved interacting with. It was a tremendous experience I will never forget, and I'm proud to say I feel I did a lot of good in that community -- for the whole story, I suggest you read "The Last Hurrah for Mr. Florence-Firestone."

Last summer, I made the difficult decision to ask for a transfer to a new assignment. As much as I had enjoyed working in Florence-Firestone, I felt ready to tackle new challenges and (more importantly) learn more about different aspects of planning and the many other communities in Los Angeles County that our agency is responsible for. I requested a move into the Advance Planning Division, where I'd have a hand in setting policy with broader implications. More specifically, I wished to work on housing policy, a crucial issue in Los Angeles County.

While management was gracious in honoring my transfer request, I didn't get exactly what I asked for. I moved into Advance Planning, but was assigned to its Countywide Studies branch. "Countywide" is a bit of a misnomer, since at the current time our focus is on the communities in the Fifth Supervisorial District, which encompasses the northern part of the County, including the Antelope Valley, the Santa Clarita Valley, and the foothill communities of the San Gabriel Valley. I was forunate to be promoted to Principal Planner at the time I was transferred, having been promoted to Senior Planner only a year earlier.

As you might imagine, I've had to adjust to a completely different assignment, trying to grasp a whole new set of planning issues while orienting myself to a slower pace. The hardest part has been spending so little time "in the field," as having a compressed work schedule means I spend 10 hours at my desk 4 days a week. I miss working outside and spending time in the community, as it brought me closer to the constituents who pay my salary. Even though some of the people I had to deal with in Zoning Enforcement drove me crazy, I've learned that I really am a "people person" at heart and miss the daily interaction with a wide variety of people in environments I would never have been exposed to otherwise.

It's a big change moving my focus from South Central to North County. Dealing with a broad spectrum of communuities is one of the benefits of working for Los Angeles County, but I faced a steep learning curve. My expertise on urban areas doesn't translate to suburban and rural areas; the issues are completely different. I've had to get familiar with places I'd rarely (if ever) visited and concepts like hillside development, rural communities, and the subdivision of land. Planning for rural areas, in particular, has been one of the most intriguing aspects of my new job.

My first major assignment was working on a Community Standards District for the unincorporated community of Juniper Hills, over 80 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles. A Community Standards District is a "supplement" to the Zoning Code that establishes special standards for different communities based on their unique needs. Juniper Hills is a remote, rural community set against the foothills on the north side of the Angeles National Forest. Its residents want to prevent large-scale suburban style development (like that found in nearby Palmdale) from creeping into their community while supporting the rights of property owners. I had the pleasure of taking a guided tour of Juniper Hills last month and I understand the need to keep its unique character intact. I've been working closely with the community's Town Council and hope to have the Community Standards District adopted by the end of the year.

My other major assignment is "One Valley, One Vision," a joint effort with the City of Santa Clarita. We are attempting to create a General Plan, which is a long-range policy document required by California State Law, that would cover the City and the surrounding unincorporated areas. It is very unique for two jurisdictions to decide on common planning goals and policies, and I enjoy the collobarative aspects of this project. The Santa Clarita Valley is a large area with a mix of unique communities, ranging from Valencia (a master-planned community built over the last 40 years) to Newhall (an older town founded at a train depot in the late 1880's) to Agua Dulce (a rural area with large lots and "estate" homes). The Valley also has beautiful hills and other topographical features that should be protected as well as horrendous traffic, among lots of other issues. I am hopeful that I can help create a General Plan that will satisfy everyone's concerns and end up being considered a model for collobaration across neighboring jurisdictions.

On the whole, I got what I asked for: new areas to help plan for, new issues and concepts to learn about, and a whole new perspective on urban planning and what it means to be a professional planner. I'll keep everyone posted on my new endeavors.

Now for the personal stuff. I'm still in East Hollywood, a community I adore for its diversity and activity. A big benefit of working in the office all the time is getting to take the Red Line subway everyday to work. I was wise to choose an apartment within walking distance of the Hollywood and Western station, since my office is next door to the Civic Center station. I enjoy a 20 minute commute without any of the stress associated with driving. I am currently living in Los Angeles without owning a car -- it's bizarre, but it can be done.

My roommate moved out at the end of September, but I decided not to seek a new one out. It's been a few years since I've lived alone and I'm enjoying it. It gets a little lonely sometimes, but it's liberating to have full control of the TV again! I have yet to utilize the "other" bedroom in my apartment, a testament to the fact that I don't have too much junk. At some point in the future I might seek a new place to live, but I've had my fill of changes for now.

Speaking of changes, I'm still in a relationship with a wonderful girl, Chizi. I remain amazed that my foray into the blogosphere led to me having a steady girlfriend; Chizi first contacted me after reading "P.U." and liking what she saw! Being in love for the first time has taught me a lot about myself and life in general. The two of us have a lot of fun together.

I finally made it back to my beloved hometown of Tempe, Arizona over the holidays. It was great to see Momz, Lil Sis, Thurman, and my dad as well as a couple old friends. Though I've been in Los Angeles for nearly 9 years, the Phoenix area still feels like "home" to me despite its ongoing growth and evolution into one of the largest metropolises in the country. I convinced Chizi to come out for a bit and get acquainited with my family and my past. I took her on a vigorous "Mitch Glaser" tour of the Valley of the Sun. Not only did we experience my past (the schools I went to, the places I lived, the places I hung out), but we went to many malls as well! My passion for malls has been expressed often on "P.U." -- Chizi loves malls too, but for more obvious reasons!

On the whole, things are going well for me. I think I'm ready to start blogging again. Hopefully I'll be up to musing on urban planning, Los Angeles, Phoenix, malls, retail, and (of course) my life on a more regular basis. Stay tuned, cherished readers, stay tuned.