Saturday, July 12, 2008
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
A Bargain and a Blessing
I’m being fed by Black Episcopalians.
Thank you Jesus.
Rather I should say Angel Food Ministries is feeding me by way of the Black Episcopalians.
The Ministry started in 1994 as a sort of a food pantry in Monroe, Georgia in response to plant closings in the area.
According to Angel Food’s website “Over the next few years, other churches wanted to get involved and Angel Food began feeding hundreds of families across the southeast. Now, Angel Food feeds over 500,000 families a month in 35 states.”
And boy am I ever grateful.
Say what you will about faith based initiatives but this one is allowing me to eat without spending insane amounts of money.
I’m sure you good folks have seen the effect of fuel prices on the cost of food.
You just wait until the effects of the recent Midwestern floods.
When you all can’t afford to feed yourselves or your families and beat a path to Angle Food’s door you can send me a note of thanks.
The concept is simple and quite straight forward---you pay $30.00 for a basic box of food (heavy on the meat) that is intended to feed a family of four for about a week or a single person for about a month.
Once you purchase the basic box, you can purchase one or more of four specialty boxes that range from a 7 lb. assorted meat grilled box to a fresh fruit and veggie box. In fact, check out what you can get for the month of July:
JULY SPECIAL #1
7 lb. Assorted Meat Grill Box - $20.00
(1.5 lb. New York Strip Steaks (2 x 12 oz.)
2.5 lb. Boneless Netted Boston Butt Roast
2 lb. Meaty Beef Ribs
1 lb. Mild Italian Sausage)
JULY SPECIAL #2
4.5 lb. Steak and Chicken Combo Box - $20.00
(1.5 lb. Kansas City Strips (2 x 12 oz.)
1.5 lb. Bone-In Ribeyes (2 x 12 oz.)
1.5 lb. Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Filet (4 x 6 oz.))
JULY SPECIAL #3
10 lb. Breaded Chicken Breast Tenders - $18.00
JULY SPECIAL #4
Fresh Fruit and Veggie Box - $16.00
6 ears Corn
2 lb. Carrots
2 lb. Yellow Onions
1 Cello-Wrapped Lettuce
1 Pineapple
4 California Oranges
1 Seedless Watermelon
6 Russet Potatoes
Not bad, eh?
And the best part is that there are no income verifications or forms to fill out. They don’t want your personal background---well at least the Black Episcopalians didn’t give me the third degree---all they want to know is what you want and how much.
Like I said, simple.
Now that’s not to say that there isn’t what could be described as tracts or at the very least inspirational messages placed in every food order. While I don’t have a problem with it, those of you who do it’s a small price to pay to be able to eat.
Plus the way the world is going today, perhaps we need to revisit our relationship with a higher power.
I’m just sayin’.
So to paraphrase the Blues Brothers I’m going up north to put the word in the street.
I’m giving you the hook up the same way I gave it to my friend and former co-worker who got laid off with me after getting it from my sister.
Now that I look back on how she and I got on the subject of Angel Food it’s quite comical.
My Sister: Yeah, I need to marinate my T-bones before I put them on the grill.
Me: (Sputtering) T-bones? Heffa, even though my income has been
severely cut, I know I still make more money than you. I can’t
afford a can of Spam but your trifflin’ ass is eating T-bones?
What gives? Did you get a better job?
My Sister: Oh, did I not tell you about the hookup?
Me: Hell no---spill it.
My Sister: Let me hip you to the deal---Angel Food Ministries.
And from that conversation I went to the website and found the Black Episcopalians.
Who, might I add, are a hoot.
More on them later.
Go feed yourselves.
Thank you Jesus.
Rather I should say Angel Food Ministries is feeding me by way of the Black Episcopalians.
The Ministry started in 1994 as a sort of a food pantry in Monroe, Georgia in response to plant closings in the area.
According to Angel Food’s website “Over the next few years, other churches wanted to get involved and Angel Food began feeding hundreds of families across the southeast. Now, Angel Food feeds over 500,000 families a month in 35 states.”
And boy am I ever grateful.
Say what you will about faith based initiatives but this one is allowing me to eat without spending insane amounts of money.
I’m sure you good folks have seen the effect of fuel prices on the cost of food.
You just wait until the effects of the recent Midwestern floods.
When you all can’t afford to feed yourselves or your families and beat a path to Angle Food’s door you can send me a note of thanks.
The concept is simple and quite straight forward---you pay $30.00 for a basic box of food (heavy on the meat) that is intended to feed a family of four for about a week or a single person for about a month.
Once you purchase the basic box, you can purchase one or more of four specialty boxes that range from a 7 lb. assorted meat grilled box to a fresh fruit and veggie box. In fact, check out what you can get for the month of July:
JULY SPECIAL #1
7 lb. Assorted Meat Grill Box - $20.00
(1.5 lb. New York Strip Steaks (2 x 12 oz.)
2.5 lb. Boneless Netted Boston Butt Roast
2 lb. Meaty Beef Ribs
1 lb. Mild Italian Sausage)
JULY SPECIAL #2
4.5 lb. Steak and Chicken Combo Box - $20.00
(1.5 lb. Kansas City Strips (2 x 12 oz.)
1.5 lb. Bone-In Ribeyes (2 x 12 oz.)
1.5 lb. Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Filet (4 x 6 oz.))
JULY SPECIAL #3
10 lb. Breaded Chicken Breast Tenders - $18.00
JULY SPECIAL #4
Fresh Fruit and Veggie Box - $16.00
6 ears Corn
2 lb. Carrots
2 lb. Yellow Onions
1 Cello-Wrapped Lettuce
1 Pineapple
4 California Oranges
1 Seedless Watermelon
6 Russet Potatoes
Not bad, eh?
And the best part is that there are no income verifications or forms to fill out. They don’t want your personal background---well at least the Black Episcopalians didn’t give me the third degree---all they want to know is what you want and how much.
Like I said, simple.
Now that’s not to say that there isn’t what could be described as tracts or at the very least inspirational messages placed in every food order. While I don’t have a problem with it, those of you who do it’s a small price to pay to be able to eat.
Plus the way the world is going today, perhaps we need to revisit our relationship with a higher power.
I’m just sayin’.
So to paraphrase the Blues Brothers I’m going up north to put the word in the street.
I’m giving you the hook up the same way I gave it to my friend and former co-worker who got laid off with me after getting it from my sister.
Now that I look back on how she and I got on the subject of Angel Food it’s quite comical.
My Sister: Yeah, I need to marinate my T-bones before I put them on the grill.
Me: (Sputtering) T-bones? Heffa, even though my income has been
severely cut, I know I still make more money than you. I can’t
afford a can of Spam but your trifflin’ ass is eating T-bones?
What gives? Did you get a better job?
My Sister: Oh, did I not tell you about the hookup?
Me: Hell no---spill it.
My Sister: Let me hip you to the deal---Angel Food Ministries.
And from that conversation I went to the website and found the Black Episcopalians.
Who, might I add, are a hoot.
More on them later.
Go feed yourselves.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
The Big Bad World Doesn't Owe You A Thing
A reality check and attitude adjustment courtesy of the Eagles.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Inferno
The inside of my oven was on fire.
I was literally watching my life go up in smoke.
Nearly paralyzed by fear, at least I had the presence of mind to turn off the gas.
Who knew that dripping margarine could cause so much damage in so little time?
In a quest to “get my life back on track” I’ve taken to preparing my meals at home; when you work in a restaurant you tend to get lazy about cooking.
I decided to make my variation of the Weight Watchers frittata recipe I found online about a year ago.
Except I add Milnot got rid of the skim milk and use smoked cheddar instead of part skim cheese.
I guess that doesn’t make it very weight watchery, does it?
While the frittatas turn out quite well, I do have a problem with them sticking to the bottom of the pans.
Despite buying new Caphlon non-stick muffin pans, the problem persisted.
So I thought if I added butter to the egg/milk mixture my sticking problems would be solved.
Except I used some margarine that was already open in the freezer.
Six of one, half dozen of the other---right?
So I melted the margarine and added it to the mixture.
I put together the frittatas, poured in the egg mixture and popped the whole kit and caboodle in the oven.
A few minutes later, I noticed that my oven was smoking. The margarine had bubbled over and had started dripping on the oven floor.
No worries----that happens all the time. Smoke adds flavor, right?
So I opened a few windows, disabled the smoke detector and took the frittatas out of the oven when they appeared to be done.
It was difficult to tell through all of the smoke rolling out of the oven.
I thought that if the source of the smoking were gone, the smoke itself would eventually disappear.
Wrong.
Then the white smoke that had been billowing out of the oven vents suddenly turned black.
There was a full fledged fire in my oven.
I froze.
My oven is powered by natural gas so fire reaching that gas line would have meant big trouble for everyone in my building.
I ran and turned off the gas and dialed the fire department.
I had a fire extinguisher but didn’t know how to use it.
I did on the other hand need to let my neighbors know that they might need to get out of the building.
I banged on my neighbor’s door across the hall and told them what was going on.
The panicked look on my face probably relayed the seriousness of the situation.
Thank God someone took action.
One of my neighbors ran back to their kitchen, grabbed the fire extinguisher, ran back to my kitchen and put the fire out in my oven.
All the while her husband stood there with a dazed look on his face.
Not to be anti-man or anything but I know who I’m gonna ask to hang cabinets when the time comes.
Way to “man up.”
Not soon afterwards, the fire department showed up.
While certain scenes in Backdraft play over and over in my head, I was hoping to meet hot firemen in a less taxing manner.
I.e., not professionally.
After they checked out the oven and made sure the fire was out, one of the firemen asked me why I didn’t put it out with baking soda.
I couldn’t give him an answer.
The firemen went away but the knot in my stomach didn’t.
The thought of another major thing happening in my life was enough to make me take to the couch until my queasiness passed.
I’m working very hard to keep things together but am barely managing to keep my head above water.
When I was telling this story to a group of people, someone mentioned that fire symbolized anger.
And it’s no secret that I’m pissed about this unemployment situation.
Here’s to hoping that all of the fires, physical and spiritual, have been extinguished.
I was literally watching my life go up in smoke.
Nearly paralyzed by fear, at least I had the presence of mind to turn off the gas.
Who knew that dripping margarine could cause so much damage in so little time?
In a quest to “get my life back on track” I’ve taken to preparing my meals at home; when you work in a restaurant you tend to get lazy about cooking.
I decided to make my variation of the Weight Watchers frittata recipe I found online about a year ago.
Except I add Milnot got rid of the skim milk and use smoked cheddar instead of part skim cheese.
I guess that doesn’t make it very weight watchery, does it?
While the frittatas turn out quite well, I do have a problem with them sticking to the bottom of the pans.
Despite buying new Caphlon non-stick muffin pans, the problem persisted.
So I thought if I added butter to the egg/milk mixture my sticking problems would be solved.
Except I used some margarine that was already open in the freezer.
Six of one, half dozen of the other---right?
So I melted the margarine and added it to the mixture.
I put together the frittatas, poured in the egg mixture and popped the whole kit and caboodle in the oven.
A few minutes later, I noticed that my oven was smoking. The margarine had bubbled over and had started dripping on the oven floor.
No worries----that happens all the time. Smoke adds flavor, right?
So I opened a few windows, disabled the smoke detector and took the frittatas out of the oven when they appeared to be done.
It was difficult to tell through all of the smoke rolling out of the oven.
I thought that if the source of the smoking were gone, the smoke itself would eventually disappear.
Wrong.
Then the white smoke that had been billowing out of the oven vents suddenly turned black.
There was a full fledged fire in my oven.
I froze.
My oven is powered by natural gas so fire reaching that gas line would have meant big trouble for everyone in my building.
I ran and turned off the gas and dialed the fire department.
I had a fire extinguisher but didn’t know how to use it.
I did on the other hand need to let my neighbors know that they might need to get out of the building.
I banged on my neighbor’s door across the hall and told them what was going on.
The panicked look on my face probably relayed the seriousness of the situation.
Thank God someone took action.
One of my neighbors ran back to their kitchen, grabbed the fire extinguisher, ran back to my kitchen and put the fire out in my oven.
All the while her husband stood there with a dazed look on his face.
Not to be anti-man or anything but I know who I’m gonna ask to hang cabinets when the time comes.
Way to “man up.”
Not soon afterwards, the fire department showed up.
While certain scenes in Backdraft play over and over in my head, I was hoping to meet hot firemen in a less taxing manner.
I.e., not professionally.
After they checked out the oven and made sure the fire was out, one of the firemen asked me why I didn’t put it out with baking soda.
I couldn’t give him an answer.
The firemen went away but the knot in my stomach didn’t.
The thought of another major thing happening in my life was enough to make me take to the couch until my queasiness passed.
I’m working very hard to keep things together but am barely managing to keep my head above water.
When I was telling this story to a group of people, someone mentioned that fire symbolized anger.
And it’s no secret that I’m pissed about this unemployment situation.
Here’s to hoping that all of the fires, physical and spiritual, have been extinguished.
Monday, June 30, 2008
A Perfect Ten
10 long months.
That’s how long I haven’t had corporate employment.
That’s how long I’ve been paying for my own health, life and dental insurance.
That’s how long I have been searching for a job.
And let me define job as being one that pays as much or more than I was making at my other gig. A job that doesn’t involve serving or servicing anyone, has built in sick days and vacation time.
It would be nice not to say, “Would you like that house salad to come out first?”
It’s beyond frustrating.
I’m tired of worrying about working multiple jobs, sweating making the mortgage every month.
Make no mistake the mortgage comes first; much to the detriment of everything else and my credit rating.
Almost 40 years old and having to rebuild my credit rating---great.
Shouldn’t I be alfresco dining in Paris right now? Not worrying about coordinating my three jobs so I have enough money to keep my utilities on.
Paying the utilities these days is a series of Faustian deals with Com Ed, Peoples & AT&T.
I’m tired of having my friends help either via employment or funds.
My two of my three part time jobs are with close friends. The other is in the office suite of a close friend.
It’s not that I don’t appreciate everything that everyone has done for me, but I’m of the mind set that no matter how much someone likes you, there comes a time you have to stand on your own two feet.
It seems like my attempts at standing have been met with a massive ass kicking.
Plus no one needs to know every last thing about your life---no matter how much you like them.
It blurs the lines of friendship and we all know how tricky that can be to negotiate.
The fact of the matter is that apparently my best job hunt efforts aren’t good enough.
I’m trying to figure out how to correct and redirect my efforts so I don’t have to choose between groceries and paying my condo assessments.
Not that those are up to date but a girl can dream can’t she?
And then to drive the unemployment point home, one of my part time jobs (yes I had four) shut down about two weeks ago.
My main part time gig at Pottery Barn on Michigan Avenue is no more.
Jesus take the wheel, I’m the great job killer.
I know I’ve done a few of these posts over the past ten months but it just seems like everything is going into a downward spiral despite my best efforts.
I seriously want my life back.
Like right now.
It really takes fortitude to get out bed these days.
But knowing that the alternative is homelessness has served as motivation enough but now even that isn’t the kick that it used to be.
Frankly the cat meowing for his breakfast is what gets me to move my ass in the morning.
And yes, I’m not feeling too confident these days but I tell myself that I have to refocus and redouble my efforts. I also try to let go of the things I can’t control and deal with the things I can control.
So to pull me out of my funk, I’ve committed myself to making my little nest as tidy as possible.
While my place is still not completely spit and polished, things were progressing nicely.
Until the grease fire that happened on Saturday.
That’s how long I haven’t had corporate employment.
That’s how long I’ve been paying for my own health, life and dental insurance.
That’s how long I have been searching for a job.
And let me define job as being one that pays as much or more than I was making at my other gig. A job that doesn’t involve serving or servicing anyone, has built in sick days and vacation time.
It would be nice not to say, “Would you like that house salad to come out first?”
It’s beyond frustrating.
I’m tired of worrying about working multiple jobs, sweating making the mortgage every month.
Make no mistake the mortgage comes first; much to the detriment of everything else and my credit rating.
Almost 40 years old and having to rebuild my credit rating---great.
Shouldn’t I be alfresco dining in Paris right now? Not worrying about coordinating my three jobs so I have enough money to keep my utilities on.
Paying the utilities these days is a series of Faustian deals with Com Ed, Peoples & AT&T.
I’m tired of having my friends help either via employment or funds.
My two of my three part time jobs are with close friends. The other is in the office suite of a close friend.
It’s not that I don’t appreciate everything that everyone has done for me, but I’m of the mind set that no matter how much someone likes you, there comes a time you have to stand on your own two feet.
It seems like my attempts at standing have been met with a massive ass kicking.
Plus no one needs to know every last thing about your life---no matter how much you like them.
It blurs the lines of friendship and we all know how tricky that can be to negotiate.
The fact of the matter is that apparently my best job hunt efforts aren’t good enough.
I’m trying to figure out how to correct and redirect my efforts so I don’t have to choose between groceries and paying my condo assessments.
Not that those are up to date but a girl can dream can’t she?
And then to drive the unemployment point home, one of my part time jobs (yes I had four) shut down about two weeks ago.
My main part time gig at Pottery Barn on Michigan Avenue is no more.
Jesus take the wheel, I’m the great job killer.
I know I’ve done a few of these posts over the past ten months but it just seems like everything is going into a downward spiral despite my best efforts.
I seriously want my life back.
Like right now.
It really takes fortitude to get out bed these days.
But knowing that the alternative is homelessness has served as motivation enough but now even that isn’t the kick that it used to be.
Frankly the cat meowing for his breakfast is what gets me to move my ass in the morning.
And yes, I’m not feeling too confident these days but I tell myself that I have to refocus and redouble my efforts. I also try to let go of the things I can’t control and deal with the things I can control.
So to pull me out of my funk, I’ve committed myself to making my little nest as tidy as possible.
While my place is still not completely spit and polished, things were progressing nicely.
Until the grease fire that happened on Saturday.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Sourbelly Trio
As of yesterday I've been unemployed for 10 months.
Needless to say I'm in a shitty mood but those particulars are for another post.
This little piece of my childhood is helping to lift my spirits today. I don't know what's scarier---the fact that the male characters always fall for Bugs Bunny in drag or that I remembered the actual name of the clip (Hillbilly Hare).
I do love my Looney Tunes.
Needless to say I'm in a shitty mood but those particulars are for another post.
This little piece of my childhood is helping to lift my spirits today. I don't know what's scarier---the fact that the male characters always fall for Bugs Bunny in drag or that I remembered the actual name of the clip (Hillbilly Hare).
I do love my Looney Tunes.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Frank---The Back Story
Yes, that is a picture of a squirrel with a chicken wing in his mouth.
And no it wasn’t photo shopped.
But I’m getting ahead of myself----let me introduce you all to Frank.
Frank is mainly seen in the Washington Park neighborhood but no one knows exactly where he (or she?) resides.
My friend who lives across the street from Washington Park encountered Frank about four years ago when he started digging up the container garden that I worked so hard to plant.
At the time I didn’t know that those cute furry woodland creatures commonly known as squirrels were garden destroying rats with a fluffy tail and good PR.
Both my friend and I were extremely pissed.
Frank tore out my hard work to bury one of his many prizes----a corn cob, half a snickers bar or perhaps some other delicacy he found amidst the urban landscape.
Motherfucker.
So over the years during the warmer months, a battle would ensue between us and him.
At first my friend would leave his three dogs on the back porch where the flower boxes were located.
Frank merely kept out of their reach while he proceeded to rip apart another flower box.
Then at the start of last planting season we heard that blood meal would keep squirrels away from your flower boxes. So naturally we grabbed a few bags.
It seemed to work, yet Frank still came around to tease the dogs.
It seemed that Frank had upped the ante. It wasn’t about the flowerboxes anymore.
If my friend didn’t keep up with his blood meal application Frank would merely come back and we’d find plants on the floor of the back porch the next day.
That flipping squirrel was (and is) a sadist.
So it was no surprise when I got an excited phone call one day about his outrageous behavior.
“Woody, you won’t believe what I just saw!”
“Good God, what happened now?”
“The dogs were going crazy on the back porch barking at Frank.”
“Alert the media.”
“He was carrying a hot chicken wing in his mouth.”
“Shut up you liar. I should hang up this phone right now. Since when do squirrels start eating chicken wings?”
“I don’t know but he has a chicken wing in his mouth right now----I have a picture to prove it.”
“Bullshit.”
“No really, I have a picture.”
“So let’s see it, homeboy. Send it to me.”
And so he did.
At this point, all I can do is shake my head.
And no it wasn’t photo shopped.
But I’m getting ahead of myself----let me introduce you all to Frank.
Frank is mainly seen in the Washington Park neighborhood but no one knows exactly where he (or she?) resides.
My friend who lives across the street from Washington Park encountered Frank about four years ago when he started digging up the container garden that I worked so hard to plant.
At the time I didn’t know that those cute furry woodland creatures commonly known as squirrels were garden destroying rats with a fluffy tail and good PR.
Both my friend and I were extremely pissed.
Frank tore out my hard work to bury one of his many prizes----a corn cob, half a snickers bar or perhaps some other delicacy he found amidst the urban landscape.
Motherfucker.
So over the years during the warmer months, a battle would ensue between us and him.
At first my friend would leave his three dogs on the back porch where the flower boxes were located.
Frank merely kept out of their reach while he proceeded to rip apart another flower box.
Then at the start of last planting season we heard that blood meal would keep squirrels away from your flower boxes. So naturally we grabbed a few bags.
It seemed to work, yet Frank still came around to tease the dogs.
It seemed that Frank had upped the ante. It wasn’t about the flowerboxes anymore.
If my friend didn’t keep up with his blood meal application Frank would merely come back and we’d find plants on the floor of the back porch the next day.
That flipping squirrel was (and is) a sadist.
So it was no surprise when I got an excited phone call one day about his outrageous behavior.
“Woody, you won’t believe what I just saw!”
“Good God, what happened now?”
“The dogs were going crazy on the back porch barking at Frank.”
“Alert the media.”
“He was carrying a hot chicken wing in his mouth.”
“Shut up you liar. I should hang up this phone right now. Since when do squirrels start eating chicken wings?”
“I don’t know but he has a chicken wing in his mouth right now----I have a picture to prove it.”
“Bullshit.”
“No really, I have a picture.”
“So let’s see it, homeboy. Send it to me.”
And so he did.
At this point, all I can do is shake my head.
Progress In Pictures
Pictures from my cell phone of Mt. Carmel's turf replacement project. Note the brand new sidewalk in the corner of picture #1 and in picture #2.
Hotness.
And yes, I finally figured out how to download my Blackberry so don't be surprised by the flood of pictures on the blog.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
True Progress
It's true. We now have a sidewalk.
On the north side of my street between Stony Island and Dorchester is a new continuous two block stretch of sidewalk.
Part one was done by the city last fall and part two was just completed yesterday as a part of Mt. Carmel's turf replacement project.
After years of looking at an unkempt and crumbling parkway and sidewalk, the school across the street has finally come through.
It looks absolutely wonderful.
Pictures are forthcoming.
On the north side of my street between Stony Island and Dorchester is a new continuous two block stretch of sidewalk.
Part one was done by the city last fall and part two was just completed yesterday as a part of Mt. Carmel's turf replacement project.
After years of looking at an unkempt and crumbling parkway and sidewalk, the school across the street has finally come through.
It looks absolutely wonderful.
Pictures are forthcoming.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Additions
I just added new links to the South Side/Woodlawn section of the blog.
Three of the new links; Darius Williams, The Sixth Ward and Really Boring have been kind enough in the past to mention yours truly in their blogs. But don't think that praise, recognition and vanity swayed my decision making process.
Once these site got on my radar I actually sat and read them. These cats have a great deal to say and I'm proud that fellow south siders continue to represent in the blogosphere.
Plus I just dig Hyde Park Urbanist.
For those of you who read my humble offerings on the regular, may be the surprised that the fourth link is to Mt. Carmel High School.
For quite awhile they were simply known as "The School Across The Street."
But then the straw broke the camel's back and I cleared up any misconceptions about who really resided across the street.
I've had issues with Mt. Carmel's true commitment to our neighborhood in the past and very well may have some issues in the future.
For now it seems that they're doing right by the 'hood by stepping up and installing a new sidewalk from Blackstone to Dorchester and seeding the parkway.
So in the interest of moving on, Mt. Carmel has finally made the cut.
Being in Woodlawn for over 100 years, surviving the lean times and continuing to thrive has to count for something.
Three of the new links; Darius Williams, The Sixth Ward and Really Boring have been kind enough in the past to mention yours truly in their blogs. But don't think that praise, recognition and vanity swayed my decision making process.
Once these site got on my radar I actually sat and read them. These cats have a great deal to say and I'm proud that fellow south siders continue to represent in the blogosphere.
Plus I just dig Hyde Park Urbanist.
For those of you who read my humble offerings on the regular, may be the surprised that the fourth link is to Mt. Carmel High School.
For quite awhile they were simply known as "The School Across The Street."
But then the straw broke the camel's back and I cleared up any misconceptions about who really resided across the street.
I've had issues with Mt. Carmel's true commitment to our neighborhood in the past and very well may have some issues in the future.
For now it seems that they're doing right by the 'hood by stepping up and installing a new sidewalk from Blackstone to Dorchester and seeding the parkway.
So in the interest of moving on, Mt. Carmel has finally made the cut.
Being in Woodlawn for over 100 years, surviving the lean times and continuing to thrive has to count for something.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Dorchester Is Killin' It
Seriously, what's with the emergence of the hardcore gardeners on Dorchester between 63rd and 65th?
I know it's only two blocks but the explosion of color, the variance of plants, the mix of perennials and annuals create such as beautiful tapestry it's litteraly jaw dropping.
The now mature parkway garden in the 6400 block of Dorchester looks amazing with the addition of new perennials. Hopefully I'll be able to download my Blackberry pictures so you can enjoy the full beauty of this garden.
A few doors to the north, the newly built condos have some stunning lawn borders.
A lilly may just be a lilly but when you live in a neighborhood that has many vacant, trash strewn lots; that lilly represents progress.
Hope, even.
But the ones who are absoulutely killin' it on the gardening tip is the Apostolic Church of God.
Yeah, the one that the Obamas are probably attending as I write this post.
Note: Do not go near the corner of 63rd and Dorchester. The traffic will be nightmarish.
I schlepped past Apostolic yesterday and was stopped in my tracks by the vibrancy of their parking meridians.
Personally, I love the use of common household annuals----petunias, impatients. begonias, geramniums----in uncommon (and large bold) pairings.
Once again, if I ever figure out how to download these friggin pictures from my Blackberry I'll show you the visual feast.
Small steps make a big impact for a stronger neighborhood.
I know it's only two blocks but the explosion of color, the variance of plants, the mix of perennials and annuals create such as beautiful tapestry it's litteraly jaw dropping.
The now mature parkway garden in the 6400 block of Dorchester looks amazing with the addition of new perennials. Hopefully I'll be able to download my Blackberry pictures so you can enjoy the full beauty of this garden.
A few doors to the north, the newly built condos have some stunning lawn borders.
A lilly may just be a lilly but when you live in a neighborhood that has many vacant, trash strewn lots; that lilly represents progress.
Hope, even.
But the ones who are absoulutely killin' it on the gardening tip is the Apostolic Church of God.
Yeah, the one that the Obamas are probably attending as I write this post.
Note: Do not go near the corner of 63rd and Dorchester. The traffic will be nightmarish.
I schlepped past Apostolic yesterday and was stopped in my tracks by the vibrancy of their parking meridians.
Personally, I love the use of common household annuals----petunias, impatients. begonias, geramniums----in uncommon (and large bold) pairings.
Once again, if I ever figure out how to download these friggin pictures from my Blackberry I'll show you the visual feast.
Small steps make a big impact for a stronger neighborhood.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
It's Not Just Me
A few weeks ago one of my neighbors texted me near the end of my waitressing shift.
Since it was late, I was rather taken aback that I received a message that didn’t involve a dire emergency.
I pulled up the message, it read:
“Carlton was on Ch 7 hiding face coming out of court! Funny!”
I peed on myself a little ‘cause I got excited.
Hiding? Coming out of court? WTF is going on?
Despite my aching feet and crabby disposition, I rushed home in enough time to catch the rebroadcast of the Channel 7 news.
And just as I locked the door and turned on the TV what story should appear but the big splashy corruption investigation probe named Operation Crooked Code.
This time I about popped a boner.
As I watched the news report, a few of the indicted individuals were named but a complete list wasn’t made available.
That was a head scratcher.
I didn’t want to shout the joyous news from the rooftops until I saw my developer’s name in a federal indictment.
In short I needed to make sure that the T’s were crossed and the I’s were dotted.
The more I looked, I just couldn’t find any evidence that Carlton had been rounded up in the sting.
No peeing. No boner.
I’m glad I listened to my inner voice.
It turned out that the person who was covering his face coming out of the Dirksen Federal building was not Mr. Knight.
When I broke the news to my neighbor she was deeply disappointed.
And when I say deeply disappointed I mean buzz kill disappointed.
As much as I’ve chronicled Mr. Knight’s dealings with our association, I’m simply the smoke---the rest of my neighbors are the fire.
There's more than one owner who would like to see him get his comeuppance.
I’m just the one who happens to write about it.
While he wasn’t indicted, the city did file two new civil lawsuits against him. I also have to find out what’s going on with the Dixie Highway foolishness in Harvey.
Unfortunately my 12 part time jobs mean I don’t have the same amount of time to go sleuthing like I used to but I’ll eek out some time next week to go to the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office.
Because as you should know by now, the saga is never ending.
Developing...
Since it was late, I was rather taken aback that I received a message that didn’t involve a dire emergency.
I pulled up the message, it read:
“Carlton was on Ch 7 hiding face coming out of court! Funny!”
I peed on myself a little ‘cause I got excited.
Hiding? Coming out of court? WTF is going on?
Despite my aching feet and crabby disposition, I rushed home in enough time to catch the rebroadcast of the Channel 7 news.
And just as I locked the door and turned on the TV what story should appear but the big splashy corruption investigation probe named Operation Crooked Code.
This time I about popped a boner.
As I watched the news report, a few of the indicted individuals were named but a complete list wasn’t made available.
That was a head scratcher.
I didn’t want to shout the joyous news from the rooftops until I saw my developer’s name in a federal indictment.
In short I needed to make sure that the T’s were crossed and the I’s were dotted.
The more I looked, I just couldn’t find any evidence that Carlton had been rounded up in the sting.
No peeing. No boner.
I’m glad I listened to my inner voice.
It turned out that the person who was covering his face coming out of the Dirksen Federal building was not Mr. Knight.
When I broke the news to my neighbor she was deeply disappointed.
And when I say deeply disappointed I mean buzz kill disappointed.
As much as I’ve chronicled Mr. Knight’s dealings with our association, I’m simply the smoke---the rest of my neighbors are the fire.
There's more than one owner who would like to see him get his comeuppance.
I’m just the one who happens to write about it.
While he wasn’t indicted, the city did file two new civil lawsuits against him. I also have to find out what’s going on with the Dixie Highway foolishness in Harvey.
Unfortunately my 12 part time jobs mean I don’t have the same amount of time to go sleuthing like I used to but I’ll eek out some time next week to go to the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office.
Because as you should know by now, the saga is never ending.
Developing...
Monday, June 09, 2008
In Case You Were Wondering
A few updates:
The cat's ass dandruff is clearing up nicely. Apparently I can't feed him cheap cat food, he has to get the good stuff. God, he's such a high maintenance divo.
The basil is flourishing since I took it inside. Now I think the birds are attacking the impatients in my flower boxes.
Yowsa.
I know I've been promising to learn how to download pictures from my Blackberry Curve but it still hasen't happened. But now that Mt. Carmel is stepping up to the plate, I have to record this photographically for all to see.
Sidewalks, cats and basil oh my!
The cat's ass dandruff is clearing up nicely. Apparently I can't feed him cheap cat food, he has to get the good stuff. God, he's such a high maintenance divo.
The basil is flourishing since I took it inside. Now I think the birds are attacking the impatients in my flower boxes.
Yowsa.
I know I've been promising to learn how to download pictures from my Blackberry Curve but it still hasen't happened. But now that Mt. Carmel is stepping up to the plate, I have to record this photographically for all to see.
Sidewalks, cats and basil oh my!
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Saturday, June 07, 2008
West Side Opinion
Aparently someone else in Woodlawn has an opinon about one of their institutional neighbors.
For all of the issues we've had with Mt. Carmel, at least their presence discourages violent activity.
That's a good thing.
For all of the issues we've had with Mt. Carmel, at least their presence discourages violent activity.
That's a good thing.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Wait A Minute
As I was schlepping down the street this morning, I noticed that the crappy sidewalk running from Blackstone to Dorchester had been broken up as a part of Mt. Carmel's turf installation.
What the hell?
It would stand to reason that if the crappy, uneven sidewalk is no more that it will soon be replaced with a brand spanking new smooth and even sidewalk.
Right? It does stand to reason----correct?
Is it possible that our little hood will have a passable sidewalk for walkers, runners, seniors, dog walkers, stroller pushers and our neighbors in wheelchairs on the north side of the street?
That is so money.
Now the older wheelchair bound man who shamelessly flirts with all of the women in neighborhood will be able to give a more spirited continuous chase for two blocks.
Damn.
I'll keep an eye on the progress and post what happens.
Now if Mt. Carmel could only spring for some Turf Builder our shit might just be the hotness.
What the hell?
It would stand to reason that if the crappy, uneven sidewalk is no more that it will soon be replaced with a brand spanking new smooth and even sidewalk.
Right? It does stand to reason----correct?
Is it possible that our little hood will have a passable sidewalk for walkers, runners, seniors, dog walkers, stroller pushers and our neighbors in wheelchairs on the north side of the street?
That is so money.
Now the older wheelchair bound man who shamelessly flirts with all of the women in neighborhood will be able to give a more spirited continuous chase for two blocks.
Damn.
I'll keep an eye on the progress and post what happens.
Now if Mt. Carmel could only spring for some Turf Builder our shit might just be the hotness.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
The Block Is Hot
The fallout from the subprime crisis has been all over the news since last summer.
Faithful readers will remember how I wrote about my own personal drama in this forum with my own adjustable rate mortgage.
It would have been easier for me to get into a size ten pair of skinny jeans than to refi nance my mortgage last year.
I know that things are still bad.
I predict that the market won’t straighten out until late ’09 or early 2010.
Despite those grim predictions, I get a feeling that things are looking up for the old hoody hoo.
Realtor’s trying to get rid of excess inventory in this market shouldn’t come as a surprise.
But it seems like there’s a breath of fresh air in recent listings. And when I say breath of fresh air I mean new condo construction.
Not only are there newly built inventory on 65th place, Dorchester and Kimbark but methinks there may be a real estate turn around lurking amidst this downturn.
Obviously it’s not over until the units sells but as a nearly seven year resident of Woodlawn, the price points of the current condo inventory thrill me to pieces.
The new condos behind me are listing from the high 200’s.
For someone who bought her humble little cold water flat for considerably less, when the market does turn around ,those of us who saw Woodlawn’s potential and bought in early will reap the benefits.
And when I say reap I mean raking in the scads of cash when I finally choose to sell.
While I’m not a fan of our city’s Olympic efforts and I don’t think we’ll get the games---if we did, the real estate market for the south east side is going to blow off the map.
But for now it’s all just speculation.
I feel it coming though---change is afoot.
Faithful readers will remember how I wrote about my own personal drama in this forum with my own adjustable rate mortgage.
It would have been easier for me to get into a size ten pair of skinny jeans than to refi nance my mortgage last year.
I know that things are still bad.
I predict that the market won’t straighten out until late ’09 or early 2010.
Despite those grim predictions, I get a feeling that things are looking up for the old hoody hoo.
Realtor’s trying to get rid of excess inventory in this market shouldn’t come as a surprise.
But it seems like there’s a breath of fresh air in recent listings. And when I say breath of fresh air I mean new condo construction.
Not only are there newly built inventory on 65th place, Dorchester and Kimbark but methinks there may be a real estate turn around lurking amidst this downturn.
Obviously it’s not over until the units sells but as a nearly seven year resident of Woodlawn, the price points of the current condo inventory thrill me to pieces.
The new condos behind me are listing from the high 200’s.
For someone who bought her humble little cold water flat for considerably less, when the market does turn around ,those of us who saw Woodlawn’s potential and bought in early will reap the benefits.
And when I say reap I mean raking in the scads of cash when I finally choose to sell.
While I’m not a fan of our city’s Olympic efforts and I don’t think we’ll get the games---if we did, the real estate market for the south east side is going to blow off the map.
But for now it’s all just speculation.
I feel it coming though---change is afoot.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Nature My Ass
Who knew that the local wildlife loved fresh Basil so much?
Those motherfucking birds have practically picked clean my container of Basil I had out on the back deck.
And before I caught a clue, they started working on my Rosemary.
I took the two flower boxes that contained the Basil, Rosemary and Chives inside yesterday to sit on my windowsill.
So I have to worry about urban ills AND scavenger birds?
That's just bullshit.
Those motherfucking birds have practically picked clean my container of Basil I had out on the back deck.
And before I caught a clue, they started working on my Rosemary.
I took the two flower boxes that contained the Basil, Rosemary and Chives inside yesterday to sit on my windowsill.
So I have to worry about urban ills AND scavenger birds?
That's just bullshit.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Well Damn
The grass across the street on the new parkway is growing in nicely.
Nonetheless weeds are everywhere amongst the new blades. And when I say weeds, I mean that there are just as many (or more) weeds than grass.
Don't get me started on the seeds that the trees are dropping.
Mt. Carmel's landscape crew cuts the parkway every week so it doesn't look like we live in a third world country.
With the presence of the weeds it doesn't exactly look like we live in a leafy suburb either.
But I find it somewhat ironic that Mt. Carmel is replacing the sod on their football practice field with permanent turf and those of us who live on the "other" side of the fence can't even get a bag of Scot's turf builder put down to prevent the weeds.
The parkways in front of the school on 64th Street are absolutely beautiful. They look like a lush living green carpet. Not a weed in sight.
'Cause being a good neighbor means that you're proactive.
Not treating your neighbors like they're an afterthought.
Nonetheless weeds are everywhere amongst the new blades. And when I say weeds, I mean that there are just as many (or more) weeds than grass.
Don't get me started on the seeds that the trees are dropping.
Mt. Carmel's landscape crew cuts the parkway every week so it doesn't look like we live in a third world country.
With the presence of the weeds it doesn't exactly look like we live in a leafy suburb either.
But I find it somewhat ironic that Mt. Carmel is replacing the sod on their football practice field with permanent turf and those of us who live on the "other" side of the fence can't even get a bag of Scot's turf builder put down to prevent the weeds.
The parkways in front of the school on 64th Street are absolutely beautiful. They look like a lush living green carpet. Not a weed in sight.
'Cause being a good neighbor means that you're proactive.
Not treating your neighbors like they're an afterthought.
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