It has been an exciting week in my old home valley of Santa Clarita. We talked about dumps and trains, plus political aims.

The weather has been a little odd, too. Not as hot, and yesterday we even had a few raindrops. I thought summertime rain in Southern California was outlawed. It has been a little cooler, to go with the raindrops.

I drive a Jeep Wrangler that is painted black. I finally went to the car wash because I thought it had been repainted light brown. It was just a lot dirty. Looked about the same inside since I had taken the top off for the Fourth of July parade. (I got to drive Councilman Acosta, his wife and son, too.)

So the car wash took nearly an hour to get all of the dust, dirt, dog hair, fast-food droppings and trash off and out of the Jeep. They got a nice large tip for all of that work. So if you were wondering what caused the rain drops…

There are some who say washing a Jeep could be an un-American act. Jeeps are supposed to be dirty and mud-covered. Hey, I do it only about every three months. I believe the dust and dirt provide a shield to protect the paint. It might not be true, but it does mean I can save a few bucks when I claim “Jeep Dirt Pride” until I finally get it washed again.

I got to exhibit some of my favorite driving “pet peeves” this past week, too. Just to name a few: Driving from Acton on the 14 toward Canyon Country and someone is going 50 mph in the fast lane next to the HOV lane.

And how about the delivery truck pulling out onto Soledad Canyon Road to try and get into the traffic lane two lanes over, thus blocking the right lanes? Everyone was stopped for the light except for the folks wanting to turn right. They could have moved if Mr. Good Delivery Truck Driver hadn’t blocked the lanes.

I am still amazed at how many new vehicles are not equipped with turn signals. Have you noticed that? I guess they aren’t really needed.

Gas prices have dropped a little. Traffic increased just a little. I was asked if I thought the Newhall Avenue work was ever going to finish. You know what I mean. The work that backs up traffic leaving downtown Newhall headed south toward the 14.

And it was really great timing to have that going on along with repaving Lyons Avenue. Of three, there are two main ways out of Newhall that were blocked up to single lanes. At least the center divider landscaping project along Railroad was completed quickly.

One of the many old friends from Hart High noted that saving water was not in the plans when Valencia was created. We’ve taken the high desert and planted thousands of non-native trees and plants. If we ever really have to completely stop watering those trees and stuff, our little valley is going to be very brown, and not just along our hills.

We’ve been blessed with a lack of fires in our hills this year. Please be careful out there, my friends. It only takes one little spark.

Taking time off to write about the week and not getting into the Val Verde-Chiquita Canyon Landfill issue; high-speed trains; model trains, planes and cars; and billboards has been a pleasant reminder that some days, we just need to take a rest. The Good Book says we should. So this has been an exercise in doing just that.

Really, we’re living in what was “laid back, hip, slick and cool” Southern California. Another cool drink under the shade of the patio as the evening breeze carries the smell of the steaks your neighbor is grilling lets you know: “Sorry, you’re not invited.”

That’s OK. A quick trip to In ‘n Out can solve the hunger problem – but why move? Its Sunday. Sit there drinking in the sunshine. It might be hot, but (wait now), it’s a dry heat.

Now go out, be safe and enjoy a restful day.

Darryl Manzer grew up in the Pico Canyon oil town of Mentryville in the 1960s and attended Hart High School. After a career in the U.S. Navy he returned to live in the Santa Clarita Valley. He can be reached at dmanzer@scvhistory.com and his commentaries are archived at DManzer.com. Watch his walking tour of Mentryville [here].