11/21/15 04:28 - ID#60340

Trip to University Heights

For lunch on Saturday, (e:paul) wanted to go to Sato. He refused to ride a bike and I refused to drive a car, so we took the metro rail to the new University Heights location. I used to take it everywhere before I had a decent bike (I would still refuse to drive with people then) but I haven't taken it regularly in over two and a half years now.

Despite most of the stations looking worse than ever, the red subway tiles are still just as awesome.

The Sato menu at this location has new stuff like rice bowls. I had one with fried tofu and spring rolls - it was really good except for the ranch on it. Still not a fan of gross condiments.

Paul and his comically oversized ramen

The restaurant was very cute. I think I like it better than the Elmwood one, less fancy and more smiling food.

Paul wanted a shopping spree so we walked down a few blocks of Main Street, with a stop at Parkside Candy.

And this tiny shop (probably 10x20ft) called MerMaid and Weasel. It was supposed to be a shop for nerds. They didn't have much in the store but the owner was in there knitting little fox faces, which I liked. Paul got (e:mike) some candy cigs.

Why is a car dealership allowed to steal the sidewalk to sell their shitty machines? Pretty sure we

On the way back we took the Lasalle station home. It looks like water must be leaking in the tunnel at the top because some areas had a shit ton of paint peeling off the metal panels. Good thing we can get $40 million dollars of federal funds to put cars on three blocks of Main Street, but can't spare any for the NFTA!

Permalink: Trip_to_University_Heights.html
Words: 322
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/22/15 11:47

Category: allenst

11/21/15 02:10 - ID#60339

Allen Street Consulting out for business

Wednesday was the gay business meeting at Bourbon and Butter. It seems impossible that the Hotel Lafayette was ever a flop house with how fancy it is now.

The event was sponsored by (e:terry) and (e:heidi) via Allen Street Consulting. I've only mixed with people I didn't know at one of these before when I went to the one sponsored by Roswell (before I worked there) and it was definitely not business related.

(e:paul) and I got there late after work but they still had some amazing bread snacks.

After the event everyone came over to eat some pizza.

Permalink: Allen_Street_Consulting_out_for_business.html
Words: 105
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/21/15 02:21

Category: halloween

11/20/15 03:31 - ID#60336

Goodbye halloween

Just like people at our Halloween party, pumpkins stick around until they're drooling pumpkin juice on the floor. Until next year.

Permalink: Goodbye_halloween.html
Words: 23
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/21/15 02:21

Category: paul

11/20/15 03:24 - ID#60335

Paul's eye surgery

I'm really behind on posting. Last week I took (e:Paul) to get LASIK out in Amherst. it was really insane to watch.

I had gotten it myself three years ago because it was free, but I obviously didn't watch it. I saw them laser the flap in Paul's eye, down to the lens, and then cut around it then. When the doctor cut both eyes, they made Paul get up and walk to the actual ablation machine. it looked like he had cataracts.

the second machine had a TV so I watched the flaps get raised and smoothed. A second laser reshaped his outer lens in progressively smaller circles. 10 minutes later he was done. I still think he was cute with glasses but maybe he can ride bikes safer now ;)

Permalink: Paul_s_eye_surgery.html
Words: 138
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/20/15 03:24

Category: house

11/12/15 02:52 - ID#60327

Solar panels are installed

Much to the hate of the probable hate of the preservation board, we now have solar panels! 17 panels are mounted on the south facing side of our house. 14 on the sloped roof, and 3 on the flat part. So long rooftop parties ;(. The installer, Solar Liberty upgraded the panels from 305kW to the newer 310kW panels, for a total of 5.3kW. We would have had 20 panels at 6.2kW, but the preservation board stupidly denied three. Now it's not symmetrical for the 30 feet you can see it.

The electrician will be here tomorrow to replace our panel box, add a ground, and connect the panels to our house. Old house, new technology!

It's so windy today, 60 mph gusts. (e:paul) is afraid the panels are going to blow off. I think it's a good first test.

Permalink: Solar_panels_are_installed.html
Words: 142
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/12/15 10:30

Category: house

11/12/15 02:50 - ID#60326

Metro Rail room

We started painting the brown room with the new yellow paint.

It looks amazing in the sun. At night the lighting isn't great - it looks a little more like the old Metro Rail colors. Maybe we should get those plastic chairs to line the room.
I kind of like the scheme but (e:terry) and (e:Paul) would like it to be a less intense yellow.

Permalink: Metro_Rail_room.html
Words: 72
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/12/15 03:13

Category: house

11/08/15 08:09 - ID#60325

Painting Pt 1

Second day of work done on the brown room. It's now all primed and ready for a yellow paint, with orange baseboards that (e:terry) has painted. It's crazy how much better it looks already with the stains covered up and some of he unevenness patched over.

Now we are at Sato for a ramen dinner.

Permalink: Painting_Pt_1.html
Words: 58
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/08/15 08:54

Category: house

11/08/15 01:15 - ID#60323

Brown room redo

Since the tortoise is now gone ? to warmer climes, we now have an extra room. like we didn't have enough. BT since there's no other bed furniture (e:Paul) and I wanted to have a computer work/hangout room. It gets so much light.

First we had to unhoard all the computer boxes, booked, and knock knacks in the room. Can you believe (e:Paul)'s PowerBook still boots? Some sugar gliders peed in it at some point so it smells now. It still contaons whatd you expect for Paul Visco circa 1999.

Paul wanted to get rid of the closet so we demolished it. I love drywall a million times more than messy plaster. It turns out there's a ton of illegal wiring to this room, including unsecured lines hanging in the basement.

Obligatory crack shot when doing housework

Permalink: Brown_room_redo.html
Words: 145
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/08/15 08:58

Category: walk

11/08/15 01:12 - ID#60322

Brunch and a walk

We went to brunch with (e:Mike) and (e:libertad) on Saturday morning. We tried Betty's which was amazing. I got a raspberry casserole with almonds and cream cheese and split it with (e:Terry)'s bean and cheese breakfast.

Later we walked around the downtown ghost town and did some exploring. First at the carpet store on Delaware with its crazy expensive rugs. then some back alley of an empty bar.

Permalink: Brunch_and_a_walk.html
Words: 78
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/08/15 09:02

Category: walks

11/06/15 11:51 - ID#60315

Dog Island

Did you know there was an entire island dedicated to dogs in Ellicott Creek Park? It's paradise and definitely the highlight of Niagara Falls Blvd (it's at Creekside Drive on the west side).

I walked around while (e:Paul) was at his doctor's appointment, even though I had no dog with me. There are all these WPA era structures from it being the first county park, including a crumbling castle of a boat house. It's very well treed too and I didn't see any dog suprises on the ground ? .