This is a dentist and parking story.
Last few weeks G and I visited our dentist - Western New York Dental Group, in the Statler Towers. They are great! I started going there in the mid 1990's, when I was a UB student living on Amherst campus and didn't have a car, but I could take the Blue Bird (bus) and metro train downtown. (Yep, convoluted but it was what I knew how to do.) Recent years, we have been seeing Dr. Goldberg at this practice, and he is awesome, especially with G (age 6)! The dental hygienists, assistants, and front desk staff are all very professional and friendly.
Parking downtown - I've had the pleasure of using the new pay stations - instead of dropping coins in individual meters, I use credit card or coins to pay up to 2 hours worth of parking privilege (!). The station spits out a ticket/receipt for me to place on my dashboard. Efficient. (I've done this in NYC and Toronto. Hurray, big cities.) We made our dental appointment, which took less time than I expected, and then it hit me - no more leaving "extra minutes" on the meter for the next person.
Mimi's Journal
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08/13/2007 10:07 #40510
downtownCategory: downtown
08/10/2007 17:18 #40479
city analogyCategory: move
Walking around village a little while ago - every store we walked into was packed! Spot, Treehouse, Spoiled Rotten. Sitting in Spot, enjoying iced coffee (overdue, to fight headache, surely not because we just saw "Ratatouille"), sharing the s'mores with G (verdict: hard chewy, sweet), and it occurred to me that our moving to Clarence is ... (analogies follow, please substitute local equivalent)
- moving from Morningside Heights in "the city" to Queens
- sure you can come shop and such in the city, but then make sure you plan out the bathroom locations and commute time, like right now I would be stuck on on the LIE
- you're happy to be part of the special hustle and bustle in the city, but then you have to slink away to your quiet home
- I bet, eventually, the hustle and bustle feels crowded and noisy, and the quiet expanse of lawns feels liberating, and I morph into THAT thing, the suburbanite (G asked me last night, what is the sub-parb?).
Japanese Garden, Historical Society, July 2007
- moving from Morningside Heights in "the city" to Queens
- sure you can come shop and such in the city, but then make sure you plan out the bathroom locations and commute time, like right now I would be stuck on on the LIE
- you're happy to be part of the special hustle and bustle in the city, but then you have to slink away to your quiet home
- I bet, eventually, the hustle and bustle feels crowded and noisy, and the quiet expanse of lawns feels liberating, and I morph into THAT thing, the suburbanite (G asked me last night, what is the sub-parb?).
Japanese Garden, Historical Society, July 2007
08/09/2007 22:56 #40465
worst ofCategory: buffalo
... living in village/Buffalo (in no particular order),
1. public school system, especially bureaucratic administrators
2. parking, lack of, tickets (especially the one time you forget to alternate park on your own street)
3. Elmwood Avenue car traffic, including double-parked cars, waiting for left turning cars, poorly timed lights
4. crime
5. constant sirens (police, fire, ambulance)
6. absence of Dunkin' Donuts
7. lack meaningful public transportation
8. city hall, and I don't mean the architecture
1. public school system, especially bureaucratic administrators
2. parking, lack of, tickets (especially the one time you forget to alternate park on your own street)
3. Elmwood Avenue car traffic, including double-parked cars, waiting for left turning cars, poorly timed lights
4. crime
5. constant sirens (police, fire, ambulance)
6. absence of Dunkin' Donuts
7. lack meaningful public transportation
8. city hall, and I don't mean the architecture
ladycroft - 08/10/07 17:34
you know, i actually miss the sound of sirens. i became so acustomed to those sounds blasting down my street that i had trouble sleeping when i first got here.
you know, i actually miss the sound of sirens. i became so acustomed to those sounds blasting down my street that i had trouble sleeping when i first got here.
joshua - 08/10/07 09:37
After looking at that list I realized that you could remove #7 and you'd basically have Washington DC., and if you remove #6 also then add in shitty people and filth... welcome to NYC. =)
I don't see the absence of Dunkin' Donuts as a bad thing to be honest... thats a bizarre downstate habit. Still though, there are in fact a handful of Dunkin' Donuts establishments to visit around here if you feel the urge. Actually now that I think about it, I drive right by one on a daily basis that was just built - Transit Rd. south of Wehrle but north of the thruway enterance/exit.
Welcome to our gestapo police force and their vigilance w/parking tickets. I used to enter rants all the time about how much I hate the city of Buffalo's police force, but at this point its cliche. Nobody needs to say anything anymore... its gotten to the level where its simply understood. Ha!
After looking at that list I realized that you could remove #7 and you'd basically have Washington DC., and if you remove #6 also then add in shitty people and filth... welcome to NYC. =)
I don't see the absence of Dunkin' Donuts as a bad thing to be honest... thats a bizarre downstate habit. Still though, there are in fact a handful of Dunkin' Donuts establishments to visit around here if you feel the urge. Actually now that I think about it, I drive right by one on a daily basis that was just built - Transit Rd. south of Wehrle but north of the thruway enterance/exit.
Welcome to our gestapo police force and their vigilance w/parking tickets. I used to enter rants all the time about how much I hate the city of Buffalo's police force, but at this point its cliche. Nobody needs to say anything anymore... its gotten to the level where its simply understood. Ha!
mimi - 08/09/07 23:28
I won't bike either street or sidewalk - tried to bike years ago and felt traumatized by car traffic, wore nerdy helmet.
I won't bike either street or sidewalk - tried to bike years ago and felt traumatized by car traffic, wore nerdy helmet.
tinypliny - 08/09/07 23:23
I admit it. I am a wimp and I just can't bring myself to ride on the road. It might be annoying to the other pedestrians, but atleast I won't go sprawling on the road with my bones broken and tendons ripped out - because some hideous car driver decided to door me or came too close because they were talking on the cellphone while driving. :/
I admit it. I am a wimp and I just can't bring myself to ride on the road. It might be annoying to the other pedestrians, but atleast I won't go sprawling on the road with my bones broken and tendons ripped out - because some hideous car driver decided to door me or came too close because they were talking on the cellphone while driving. :/
drew - 08/09/07 23:16
bikes on sidewalks. I hate that. You are supposed to ride bikes on the road, but nobody on the strip gets that.
And neighbors screaming. But that only happens sometimes.
bikes on sidewalks. I hate that. You are supposed to ride bikes on the road, but nobody on the strip gets that.
And neighbors screaming. But that only happens sometimes.
tinypliny - 08/09/07 23:09
hmmmm... I think Elmwood doesn't necessarily run on what the rest of the country does, so that might not really qualify as a "worst-of" point. :)
hmmmm... I think Elmwood doesn't necessarily run on what the rest of the country does, so that might not really qualify as a "worst-of" point. :)
08/09/2007 22:47 #40463
best ofCategory: buffalo
...living in village/Buffalo, (not necessarily in any particular order)
1. friendly neighbors and friends
2. good eats, drinks
3. nice parks
4. sidewalks for walking and gawking
5. historical architecture (commercial and residential)
6. short travel time to and from hockey, baseball, theatre, museums, botanical gardens, zoo
7. sewer system
8. garbage totes
9. gardens and small yards
10. low property taxes, inexpensive housing
11. firemen who look good and fit, in addition to being heroic
12. (e:strip)
Tifft Nature Preserve, November 2006
1. friendly neighbors and friends
2. good eats, drinks
3. nice parks
4. sidewalks for walking and gawking
5. historical architecture (commercial and residential)
6. short travel time to and from hockey, baseball, theatre, museums, botanical gardens, zoo
7. sewer system
8. garbage totes
9. gardens and small yards
10. low property taxes, inexpensive housing
11. firemen who look good and fit, in addition to being heroic
12. (e:strip)
Tifft Nature Preserve, November 2006
drew - 08/09/07 23:18
couldn't agree more. It's wierd, this place scares my suburban family, but its more "small-towny" than my suburban life ever was.
couldn't agree more. It's wierd, this place scares my suburban family, but its more "small-towny" than my suburban life ever was.
mimi - 08/09/07 23:15
Low compared to the 'burbs just to the north and south, like the one I'm moving to.
Low compared to the 'burbs just to the north and south, like the one I'm moving to.
tinypliny - 08/09/07 23:13
Three.. no wait a million cheers for the sidewalks. Cities (including Rochester) have hideously scary stretches without any, but not Buffalo! YAY for being pedestrian friendly!
Three.. no wait a million cheers for the sidewalks. Cities (including Rochester) have hideously scary stretches without any, but not Buffalo! YAY for being pedestrian friendly!
paul - 08/09/07 23:04
Low property taxes compared to where?
Low property taxes compared to where?
08/08/2007 13:45 #40443
house & baseballCategory: move, family
Here is our home, in its summer glory. I just spent an hour talking to our next-door neighbor, who is like my 2nd mom, outside in the hot sun, just because that's the kind of neighborhood it is. She was gardening the island, I was taking this pic, and we started talking, and talking...
In response to (e:leetee) comment about house history, we are fortunate to be friends and neighbors with the family who lived in this house for 50+ years. They tell us stories and even showed us photos of the house. Isn't that awesome?!
We took family trip to Toronto on Monday for Yankees game b/c my father-in-law is huge Y fan, and that's his Father's Day present. Guess what celebrity showed up before the game and is on the big-screen in this pic below? David Beckham! That made my day.
In response to (e:leetee) comment about house history, we are fortunate to be friends and neighbors with the family who lived in this house for 50+ years. They tell us stories and even showed us photos of the house. Isn't that awesome?!
We took family trip to Toronto on Monday for Yankees game b/c my father-in-law is huge Y fan, and that's his Father's Day present. Guess what celebrity showed up before the game and is on the big-screen in this pic below? David Beckham! That made my day.
metalpeter - 08/09/07 18:11
I did hear something about a brawl but don't know any of the details. I have a problem watching baseball on TV. In person it is a lot of fun. There a pitch and you look to see if you what you thought the call was, was what was called. It is a sport where you look all over the field. But on TV it is boaring kinda maybe because on the screen you see everything and don't have any thing to do between pitches, I'm not sure just guessing. I don't know much about Beckham other then that his wife has a reality show and used to be one of the spice girls but no idea who she was. If you want to see more of him I'm sure a sports page on line can tell you when or if he has started playing for the LA team. MLS is on tv if not on any other channel there is an entire soccer channel. In terms of the secret greeting I have no suggestions really :) .
I did hear something about a brawl but don't know any of the details. I have a problem watching baseball on TV. In person it is a lot of fun. There a pitch and you look to see if you what you thought the call was, was what was called. It is a sport where you look all over the field. But on TV it is boaring kinda maybe because on the screen you see everything and don't have any thing to do between pitches, I'm not sure just guessing. I don't know much about Beckham other then that his wife has a reality show and used to be one of the spice girls but no idea who she was. If you want to see more of him I'm sure a sports page on line can tell you when or if he has started playing for the LA team. MLS is on tv if not on any other channel there is an entire soccer channel. In terms of the secret greeting I have no suggestions really :) .
mimi - 08/08/07 21:48
Did not know that - I really don't know anything about him other than he's easy on the eyes and he's a celebrity - I'm easily impressed.
Did you hear that yesterday's (Tuesday) Blue Jays/Yankees game had 2 brawls? (I confess - I don't follow, but I heard guys talking about it.) That would have been interesting to see.
Thanks for the welcome! It's been fun. I was around Elmwood/Auburn today and kept looking at people, thinking, are YOU blogging on estrip? I think we should wear a secret sticker or use a secret greeting or something ...
Did not know that - I really don't know anything about him other than he's easy on the eyes and he's a celebrity - I'm easily impressed.
Did you hear that yesterday's (Tuesday) Blue Jays/Yankees game had 2 brawls? (I confess - I don't follow, but I heard guys talking about it.) That would have been interesting to see.
Thanks for the welcome! It's been fun. I was around Elmwood/Auburn today and kept looking at people, thinking, are YOU blogging on estrip? I think we should wear a secret sticker or use a secret greeting or something ...
metalpeter - 08/08/07 19:35
Since you like Beckham I'm sure you know the reason he was in town was that what ever the LA soccer teams name is was playing Toronto FC. I don't know when exactly or if he was going to play. The last I heard he might not even make the trip, so that was wrong. I was supposed to go to that same Baseball game but plans conflicted so I went to one a couple weeks ago. Welcome to the strip and glad you had fun.
Since you like Beckham I'm sure you know the reason he was in town was that what ever the LA soccer teams name is was playing Toronto FC. I don't know when exactly or if he was going to play. The last I heard he might not even make the trip, so that was wrong. I was supposed to go to that same Baseball game but plans conflicted so I went to one a couple weeks ago. Welcome to the strip and glad you had fun.
That's so cool (e:lizabeth)! :)
Well, you could always take your ticket back to the machine and leave it stuck in the slot, so perhaps the next person would see it and make use of it. But that's a big pain, and it sucks that you can't surreptitiously drop coins into people's meters if you see a parking attendant coming. I did that once, right after she'd given me a ticket - just went down the other side of the block, just ahead of her, and dropped coins in all the expired meters. It felt great.
OH! You are so right about the "no extra minutes" thing. Arrghh. I always took pleasure in that small act of civility and (largely inadvertent) generosity.