The Porch People and I seem to have a huge communication gap lately.
Not too long after I wrote my last Porch People post, I received a return phone call from my contact and an appointment was set with the master carpenter.
Of course at the appointed time he didn’t show up.
I was fit to be tied. Saying I was pissed was an understatement.
I put a phone call into my contact that very day.
Since the appointment was for last Saturday, my contact and I played phone tag on Monday.
Oh---did I mention that the appointment was set on August 9th? A full nine---count ‘em nine days before the actual appointment on August 18th.
Can you believe that bullshit?
Adding insult to injury, one of the phone messages I received from my contact was that the master carpenter actually was there and left notes on what needed to be repaired or replaced.
We paid that company $90,000 for our porches and the level of communication that we receive on follow up problems takes the form of a note left on a porch?
Are you kidding me?
I was also told that he showed up at our association around 9:25 A.M. because of “traffic.”
Our appointment was at 9:00 A.M.
It was at that exact moment my head spun around.
What happened to professionalism? Moreover what happened to common courtesy?
And at the very least what the fuck happened to calling when you were late?
I took me a full day to calm down so I could clearly and more importantly---civilly speak to my contact.
I informed him that his master carpenter being late due to traffic wasn’t my problem. When an appointment is set---it’s set. And if for some “good” reason you’re going to be late, you at least have the common courtesy to call and let someone know.
Personally speaking I think these jokers are trying to blow smoke up my ass.
I have a feeling that the master carpenter didn’t want to get off of his can and schlep down to the south side.
We have a porch that’s roughly 18th months old and has questionable structural issues and a company that seemingly doesn’t want to do anything to correct their mistakes.
I’m quickly losing my patience with this situation and the Porch People.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Survey?
I went and took the T.W.O. Neighbor survey on Saturday and quickly realized that it may not have been targeted for the working professional.
Then of course I may be wrong.
A vast majority of the questions were aimed at pinpointing employment skill sets.
Do you have a trade? Have you ever been a home health care worker? Do you have office skills?
In light of my looming unemployment, these questions are very pertinent.
Nonetheless I was surprised at not only the skill set questions but the questions concerning the neighborhood quality of life issues, general quality of life issues and affordable housing.
When a list of questions was ticked off about neighborhood concerns and retail and/or services wasn’t among them I found it odd.
I finished the survey and received a $10.00 Target gift card.
That came right on time as I just ran out of laundry detergent.
I mentioned to my friend that in my opinion it seemed that none of the questions were geared toward professionals or the non-existent retail presence in Woodlawn.
He listened and said, “That’s because they want to know about the potential pool of workers in the neighborhood.”
I sat stunned by his assessment.
When I asked why this survey was commissioned and what it hoped to achieve, I was given a stock answer of “community improvement.”
How this information was going to improve the community or what was going to be done with it wasn’t clearly defined or explained.
In fact I couldn’t get any information about the services that the T.W.O. was running out of the former all girls’ Catholic school next door to my building or a contact name for that matter.
When I commented that since Rev. Finney’s church left a few years ago, the upkeep of the property has been questionable at best, I was referred to my alderman and city services.
If you’re thinking what I was thinking at the time---I was a bit amazed by the answer as well.
And now that I’m thinking about it---I didn’t get a chance to interface with my neighbors.
As you came in and signed the sign-in sheet, the survey was administered by a T.W.O. volunteer/representative so you never got to kibbutz with anyone else.
What’s the point of holding a neighbor open house if you don’t get to say hey to the neighbors?
Very curious, no?
So it looks like T.W.O. may not be advocating for a dry cleaner for the eastern part of Woodlawn anytime soon.
Then of course I may be wrong.
A vast majority of the questions were aimed at pinpointing employment skill sets.
Do you have a trade? Have you ever been a home health care worker? Do you have office skills?
In light of my looming unemployment, these questions are very pertinent.
Nonetheless I was surprised at not only the skill set questions but the questions concerning the neighborhood quality of life issues, general quality of life issues and affordable housing.
When a list of questions was ticked off about neighborhood concerns and retail and/or services wasn’t among them I found it odd.
I finished the survey and received a $10.00 Target gift card.
That came right on time as I just ran out of laundry detergent.
I mentioned to my friend that in my opinion it seemed that none of the questions were geared toward professionals or the non-existent retail presence in Woodlawn.
He listened and said, “That’s because they want to know about the potential pool of workers in the neighborhood.”
I sat stunned by his assessment.
When I asked why this survey was commissioned and what it hoped to achieve, I was given a stock answer of “community improvement.”
How this information was going to improve the community or what was going to be done with it wasn’t clearly defined or explained.
In fact I couldn’t get any information about the services that the T.W.O. was running out of the former all girls’ Catholic school next door to my building or a contact name for that matter.
When I commented that since Rev. Finney’s church left a few years ago, the upkeep of the property has been questionable at best, I was referred to my alderman and city services.
If you’re thinking what I was thinking at the time---I was a bit amazed by the answer as well.
And now that I’m thinking about it---I didn’t get a chance to interface with my neighbors.
As you came in and signed the sign-in sheet, the survey was administered by a T.W.O. volunteer/representative so you never got to kibbutz with anyone else.
What’s the point of holding a neighbor open house if you don’t get to say hey to the neighbors?
Very curious, no?
So it looks like T.W.O. may not be advocating for a dry cleaner for the eastern part of Woodlawn anytime soon.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Woodlawn Alert
The Woodlawn Organization (T.W.O.) is holding a Neighbor to Neighbor Open House on Saturday, August 18th, Tuesday, August 21st & Thursday, August 23.
Billed as an information-exchange gathering, community residents are encouraged to learn about T.W.O. and also participate in the Woodlawn Survey.
Personally I think this may be a great way for people that have been living next door or around the corner from each other to actually meet and to also reassess our rapidly changing community’s demographic.
If we’re lucky perhaps T.W.O. will persuade a cleaner to relocate or open in the eastern section of the ‘hood.
Can you tell that my fine garments are piling up by the door?
Dates, times & locations of the various open houses are below:
Saturday, August 18th
12:00-4:00 P.M.
1445 East 65th Street, Chicago, IL
Jackson Parkside Apartments 6040 South Harper, Chicago, IL
Berry Manor Apartments, 737 East 69th Street, Chicago, IL
Tuesday, August 21st
4:30-7:30 P.M.
1445 East 65th Street, Chicago, IL
Jackson Parkside Apartments 6040 South Harper, Chicago, IL
Berry Manor Apartments, 737 East 69th Street, Chicago, IL
WECDC, 950 East 61st Street, Chicago, IL
Thursday, August 23rd
4:30-7:30 P.M.
1445 East 65th Street, Chicago, IL
Jackson Parkside Apartments 6040 South Harper, Chicago, IL
WECDC, 950 East 61st Street, Chicago, IL
Harris Chicago Park District, 62nd & Drexel, Chicago, IL
Billed as an information-exchange gathering, community residents are encouraged to learn about T.W.O. and also participate in the Woodlawn Survey.
Personally I think this may be a great way for people that have been living next door or around the corner from each other to actually meet and to also reassess our rapidly changing community’s demographic.
If we’re lucky perhaps T.W.O. will persuade a cleaner to relocate or open in the eastern section of the ‘hood.
Can you tell that my fine garments are piling up by the door?
Dates, times & locations of the various open houses are below:
Saturday, August 18th
12:00-4:00 P.M.
1445 East 65th Street, Chicago, IL
Jackson Parkside Apartments 6040 South Harper, Chicago, IL
Berry Manor Apartments, 737 East 69th Street, Chicago, IL
Tuesday, August 21st
4:30-7:30 P.M.
1445 East 65th Street, Chicago, IL
Jackson Parkside Apartments 6040 South Harper, Chicago, IL
Berry Manor Apartments, 737 East 69th Street, Chicago, IL
WECDC, 950 East 61st Street, Chicago, IL
Thursday, August 23rd
4:30-7:30 P.M.
1445 East 65th Street, Chicago, IL
Jackson Parkside Apartments 6040 South Harper, Chicago, IL
WECDC, 950 East 61st Street, Chicago, IL
Harris Chicago Park District, 62nd & Drexel, Chicago, IL
New Friends
Say hey to some new blogging friends I made at Hyde Park Progress, The North Coast & The Chicago Bubble Blog.
They all stumbled upon my humble offering and apparently liked what they read.
Coasty has been especially verbal---leaving messages and chatting via the comments section, but Bubbly & HPP have given the love as well.
I added their links over to the left for easy perusal.
When time allows, give them a read. I think that you’ll enjoy or at the very least become informed of the myriad of issues in different 'hoods.
They all stumbled upon my humble offering and apparently liked what they read.
Coasty has been especially verbal---leaving messages and chatting via the comments section, but Bubbly & HPP have given the love as well.
I added their links over to the left for easy perusal.
When time allows, give them a read. I think that you’ll enjoy or at the very least become informed of the myriad of issues in different 'hoods.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Does This Mean I’m Going To Have To Start Closing My Blinds?
I told you the ‘hood is blowing up.
Now it’s a long way from being a done deal but our friends at Hyde Park Progress have let the cat out of the bag about a proposed high rise at 64th & Stony Island.
Naturally I’d like to see more about the tower and its potential impact on the neighborhood.
The proposed building will be a block away from the crib so I need to know if they’ll have parking.
And if they also happened to have a pool that the public could use---that would be great too.
Granted, I’ll probably be married with kids before this project even breaks ground.
But isn’t nice to know that Woodlawn’s getting some love?
South side stand up.
Now it’s a long way from being a done deal but our friends at Hyde Park Progress have let the cat out of the bag about a proposed high rise at 64th & Stony Island.
Naturally I’d like to see more about the tower and its potential impact on the neighborhood.
The proposed building will be a block away from the crib so I need to know if they’ll have parking.
And if they also happened to have a pool that the public could use---that would be great too.
Granted, I’ll probably be married with kids before this project even breaks ground.
But isn’t nice to know that Woodlawn’s getting some love?
South side stand up.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Temperature Gauge
Much is happening in the hoody hoo right now.
It’s real estate-o-rama Woodlawn style.
A unit below me is getting ready to close next week. I can only imagine the (low) price that it’s selling for.
That sound you hear is my property value dropping.
And while I’m on that topic, a building on my block that I thought was a six flat is on the market as well.
Some dumb ass thought it was a good idea to take that beautiful building---which I suspect was built to house people for the Columbia Exposition---and put a bootleg wall up in the middle of the marble foyer and make it into two three flats.
Philistines. Why do these people even exist?
So the western three flat is on the market for $375K.
Note that it’s right next to the a condo “association” that my developer did, but four or five of the units went into foreclosure and have been on the market for almost two years.
Candidly speaking, if I had the money I’d buy a few units myself.
That all being said, there are signs of life that Woodlawn hasn’t given up the ghost real estate wise.
While the Living Green Lofts have yet to break ground, foundations have been poured for what appears to be two new condo developments on the southwest corner of Blackstone and 65th place.
And yes, that head you see peeking from the third floor of the back porches across the street is mine.
65th place and Dorchester seem to be the new building hot spots in my neck of the woods.
Now you can say if you build it they will come, but philosophy and reality are two different things.
I’m interested to see how quickly units will sell.
Moreover, I’ll click my heels if the units sell anywhere near the listing prices.
One word: Equity.
Four more words: I told you so.
I’ve chronicled the ups and downs of my humble existence for almost two years. Despite the drama my neighbors and I have gone through, you’ve never heard me say that Woodlawn wasn’t worth the struggle.
I love where I live. I love my pile of bricks. I love my view and I love the south side.
But don’t confuse my south side love with being a Sox fan.
I have no doubt that all of us will come out on top.
And when we do, whether it takes five years or fifty years, I’ll look like a genius.
In the interim it would be nice if a local dry cleaner would open up to clean a sister’s cashmere sweaters.
So it with some dread and renewed interest that I’m watching the ‘hood around me right now.
While the values may be depressed right now, I honestly believe that they’ll go from zero to sixty and it will take everyone by surprise.
Except for me.
It’s real estate-o-rama Woodlawn style.
A unit below me is getting ready to close next week. I can only imagine the (low) price that it’s selling for.
That sound you hear is my property value dropping.
And while I’m on that topic, a building on my block that I thought was a six flat is on the market as well.
Some dumb ass thought it was a good idea to take that beautiful building---which I suspect was built to house people for the Columbia Exposition---and put a bootleg wall up in the middle of the marble foyer and make it into two three flats.
Philistines. Why do these people even exist?
So the western three flat is on the market for $375K.
Note that it’s right next to the a condo “association” that my developer did, but four or five of the units went into foreclosure and have been on the market for almost two years.
Candidly speaking, if I had the money I’d buy a few units myself.
That all being said, there are signs of life that Woodlawn hasn’t given up the ghost real estate wise.
While the Living Green Lofts have yet to break ground, foundations have been poured for what appears to be two new condo developments on the southwest corner of Blackstone and 65th place.
And yes, that head you see peeking from the third floor of the back porches across the street is mine.
65th place and Dorchester seem to be the new building hot spots in my neck of the woods.
Now you can say if you build it they will come, but philosophy and reality are two different things.
I’m interested to see how quickly units will sell.
Moreover, I’ll click my heels if the units sell anywhere near the listing prices.
One word: Equity.
Four more words: I told you so.
I’ve chronicled the ups and downs of my humble existence for almost two years. Despite the drama my neighbors and I have gone through, you’ve never heard me say that Woodlawn wasn’t worth the struggle.
I love where I live. I love my pile of bricks. I love my view and I love the south side.
But don’t confuse my south side love with being a Sox fan.
I have no doubt that all of us will come out on top.
And when we do, whether it takes five years or fifty years, I’ll look like a genius.
In the interim it would be nice if a local dry cleaner would open up to clean a sister’s cashmere sweaters.
So it with some dread and renewed interest that I’m watching the ‘hood around me right now.
While the values may be depressed right now, I honestly believe that they’ll go from zero to sixty and it will take everyone by surprise.
Except for me.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Didn't I Just Say That
Chicago magazine (and frankly anyone with good sense) has also noted the damage done to property values due to foreclosures in "emerging" neighborhoods.
One way to minimize any condo association's risk is to lock it down and make it owner occupied only.
That's not to say that owner occupied units won't wind up in foreclosure, but it's my humble opinion that you'll be a little more motivated to save the roof over your head vs. saving the roof over your tennant's head.
I'm just saying...
One way to minimize any condo association's risk is to lock it down and make it owner occupied only.
That's not to say that owner occupied units won't wind up in foreclosure, but it's my humble opinion that you'll be a little more motivated to save the roof over your head vs. saving the roof over your tennant's head.
I'm just saying...
Excuse Me?
Would you believe that we’re getting the cold shoulder from the Porch People?
Can you imagine that phone calls or e-mails aren’t being returned---by anyone?
That after almost two years a brand new porch with what was supposed to be constructed of high quality lumber is severely splitting.
And I can’t get a return phone call?
To add insult to injury now the “answering service” is picking up.
This must be a bad dream. Is someone pulling my leg?
Perhaps I’m overreacting. Perhaps they have a European mentality about vacation and they’re taking the month of August off.
Or perhaps we’re getting the shaft.
And if we are getting the shaft do they think that I personally don’t have every step of this process documented five ways to Sunday?
They have to know that I have every e-mail and every contract about our business together.
That I will go to the department of Consumer affairs and the news papers at the drop of a hat.
I hope I get a return phone call soon---like before the end of business on Friday.
If not, I’ll consider the gauntlet thrown down and it’s on like donkey kong.
You’re not taking $90,000 of our money and giving us substandard work.
I don’t think so.
Can you imagine that phone calls or e-mails aren’t being returned---by anyone?
That after almost two years a brand new porch with what was supposed to be constructed of high quality lumber is severely splitting.
And I can’t get a return phone call?
To add insult to injury now the “answering service” is picking up.
This must be a bad dream. Is someone pulling my leg?
Perhaps I’m overreacting. Perhaps they have a European mentality about vacation and they’re taking the month of August off.
Or perhaps we’re getting the shaft.
And if we are getting the shaft do they think that I personally don’t have every step of this process documented five ways to Sunday?
They have to know that I have every e-mail and every contract about our business together.
That I will go to the department of Consumer affairs and the news papers at the drop of a hat.
I hope I get a return phone call soon---like before the end of business on Friday.
If not, I’ll consider the gauntlet thrown down and it’s on like donkey kong.
You’re not taking $90,000 of our money and giving us substandard work.
I don’t think so.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
What I’ve Learned
Believe it or not after months of determined pestering and a lucky break or two, my mortgage mess is finally settling down.
My mortgage company has the foresight to understand that all of a reduced amount is better than nothing at all.
But seriously folks, I’ve dodged a major bullet and am thanking the Lord that I still have a roof over my head.
So as a public service to you kids, I’m going to part with some lessons that I’ve learned about Chicago real estate.
1. Your home is not a piggy bank.
Don’t assume that the value of your home will continue to increase exponentially. Eventually all of these sky high values will shake out and come back down to earth.
2. Just because you got lucky once doesn’t mean lightning will strike again.
Yeah you may have sold your “started condo” for over twice the price you paid for it but that type of success rarely repeats itself every two to three years. Don’t think that you’ll be able to do that every time you want to sell or refinance.
3. Adjustable Rate and Interest Only Mortgages are the devil.
If you ever get one of these mortgages, please read the fine print and fully understand what you’re signing. You know how grandma always said you’ve got to pay the devil his due? Well those cloven footprints in the flower bed weren’t made by the dog. The devil wants you to pay up. Right now.
4. The ‘hood matters.
If you start seeing more than three foreclosures within a half mile radius of your home you probably shouldn’t plan on using your equity to send the tots off to college. As much as it pains me to inform you of this but the value of your home is about to take a nose dive---big time.
The aforementioned ARM mortgages, shady financing and mortgage fraud has hit everywhere but “emerging” neighborhoods where housing stock is less expensive are more vulunerable.
In short, a neighborhood (such as Woodlawn) is trying to turn itself around by attracting middle class home owners. Since the prices are usually lower than a similar unit in Lakeview or Lincoln Park, investors swarm all over newly renovated or newly built condo developments.
If you have an over leveraged legitimate home owner or a shady investor, everyone in the neighborhood will feel the pain of their bad decisions for years to come.
When the shit starts hitting the fan and units (or single family homes) start to get foreclosed upon the financial blood bath begins.
I should know, I’ve been living through it and writing about it for the past two years. It ain’t pretty.
Man, if I knew then what I know now…
My mortgage company has the foresight to understand that all of a reduced amount is better than nothing at all.
But seriously folks, I’ve dodged a major bullet and am thanking the Lord that I still have a roof over my head.
So as a public service to you kids, I’m going to part with some lessons that I’ve learned about Chicago real estate.
1. Your home is not a piggy bank.
Don’t assume that the value of your home will continue to increase exponentially. Eventually all of these sky high values will shake out and come back down to earth.
2. Just because you got lucky once doesn’t mean lightning will strike again.
Yeah you may have sold your “started condo” for over twice the price you paid for it but that type of success rarely repeats itself every two to three years. Don’t think that you’ll be able to do that every time you want to sell or refinance.
3. Adjustable Rate and Interest Only Mortgages are the devil.
If you ever get one of these mortgages, please read the fine print and fully understand what you’re signing. You know how grandma always said you’ve got to pay the devil his due? Well those cloven footprints in the flower bed weren’t made by the dog. The devil wants you to pay up. Right now.
4. The ‘hood matters.
If you start seeing more than three foreclosures within a half mile radius of your home you probably shouldn’t plan on using your equity to send the tots off to college. As much as it pains me to inform you of this but the value of your home is about to take a nose dive---big time.
The aforementioned ARM mortgages, shady financing and mortgage fraud has hit everywhere but “emerging” neighborhoods where housing stock is less expensive are more vulunerable.
In short, a neighborhood (such as Woodlawn) is trying to turn itself around by attracting middle class home owners. Since the prices are usually lower than a similar unit in Lakeview or Lincoln Park, investors swarm all over newly renovated or newly built condo developments.
If you have an over leveraged legitimate home owner or a shady investor, everyone in the neighborhood will feel the pain of their bad decisions for years to come.
When the shit starts hitting the fan and units (or single family homes) start to get foreclosed upon the financial blood bath begins.
I should know, I’ve been living through it and writing about it for the past two years. It ain’t pretty.
Man, if I knew then what I know now…
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Oh Happy Day
Comcast is on it's way out the door!
The Dish/ATT cable guy is here and I'm (hopefully) mere minutes away from 250 chanels for my viewing pleasure.
Oh joy, oh rapture!
The Dish/ATT cable guy is here and I'm (hopefully) mere minutes away from 250 chanels for my viewing pleasure.
Oh joy, oh rapture!
Thursday, August 02, 2007
The City Hates Him Too
Ladies and Gentlemen seeking justice for our beleaguered condo association has been a driving force in my life for the past two years.
It’s why I started this blog.
Well that and I thought I’d go bat shit crazy from all of the association drama.
It’s been a long road.
I’ve discovered that if you pursue it long enough, things may start to change for the better.
I think that’s about to happen with respect to bootleg developers.
After countless months of waiting the City of Chicago is starting (or has started) a joint task force between The Mayor’s Office, The Department of Consumer Services and The Department of Construction & Permits to rout out bad developers and general contractors.
We have been delivered from the wilderness.
Hopefully the process will be smoothed out and properly publicized by the end of the calendar year so the general public will know how to put a shady developer or general contractor on “blast.”
The difference between these proceedings and a regular civil city lawsuit is that the city would be seeking remedies that bar the developer from doing business in the city---EVER AGAIN and to put the property or properties that he or she is developing into receivership.
Nice, huh? I call it the developer death penalty.
Now obviously there will be ways for someone to get around the death penalty, but that means you as the smart informed consumer that you are (after reading this blog) will actually have to perform due diligence.
Better yet, if you see your bootleg developer is doing another project, you have to blow the whistle on him or her.
Find the real estate agents that they list with and follow the paper trail from there. It’s incredibly easy and now that everything’s online all the information you ever wanted to know is at your fingertips.
Literally.
The minute I get word of how you’ll be able to report your ghetto ass developer, I’ll put it on the blog ASAP.
It’s about time the city brings the pain.
It’s why I started this blog.
Well that and I thought I’d go bat shit crazy from all of the association drama.
It’s been a long road.
I’ve discovered that if you pursue it long enough, things may start to change for the better.
I think that’s about to happen with respect to bootleg developers.
After countless months of waiting the City of Chicago is starting (or has started) a joint task force between The Mayor’s Office, The Department of Consumer Services and The Department of Construction & Permits to rout out bad developers and general contractors.
We have been delivered from the wilderness.
Hopefully the process will be smoothed out and properly publicized by the end of the calendar year so the general public will know how to put a shady developer or general contractor on “blast.”
The difference between these proceedings and a regular civil city lawsuit is that the city would be seeking remedies that bar the developer from doing business in the city---EVER AGAIN and to put the property or properties that he or she is developing into receivership.
Nice, huh? I call it the developer death penalty.
Now obviously there will be ways for someone to get around the death penalty, but that means you as the smart informed consumer that you are (after reading this blog) will actually have to perform due diligence.
Better yet, if you see your bootleg developer is doing another project, you have to blow the whistle on him or her.
Find the real estate agents that they list with and follow the paper trail from there. It’s incredibly easy and now that everything’s online all the information you ever wanted to know is at your fingertips.
Literally.
The minute I get word of how you’ll be able to report your ghetto ass developer, I’ll put it on the blog ASAP.
It’s about time the city brings the pain.
On Blast
If my source is to be believed, guess who's rumored to be on the cusp of developing single family homes in Bronzeville?
*Insert Black girl eye roll, neck move and lip smack*
*Insert Black girl eye roll, neck move and lip smack*
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Corny
I was raised by a very superstitious woman.
We never slept with shoes above our head, threw our hair from combs and brushes into the trash or split poles.
Lord Jesus help you if you ever sat my mother’s purse on the floor.
And she wasn’t hardcore about her superstitions. Growing up I saw women actually sweep up their hair in the beauty shop, pull out a plastic bag and take it with them.
Now that my friends is hardcore.
In fact, I remember many of my newly acquired college friends being puzzled about why I would always flush the hair from my combs and brushes down the toilet. It took a nasty plumber bill I received a few years back for me to (kinda) stop the practice.
So it’s a wonder that when things are askew, I look at the occurrence as some type of foreshadowing. A sign from the spirits that something is about to happen.
The appearance of a lone corn cob raised all of my oft seen but close to the surface red flags.
You see it was the second corn cob that had appeared on my section of the back porch this summer. Naturally I thought someone was trying to tell me something.
But I digress.
In my quest for Chicagoland gardening supremacy, I normally put down two separate container gardens; one on my front deck and one on my back porch.
They both usually flourish and by now have the place looking like the Garden of Eden except that this year the back containers look like a bag of ass.
I was mystified why they didn’t take off like normal.
I gave them all of the love and the fertilizer that I normally give my babies. I watered religiously. I talked and coddled them like they were genteel hothouse flowers.
No go---nothing was growing on the back porch this year.
It was definitely a head scratcher.
What made it even worse is that one day when I was watering, I found a full corn cob buried in one of the containers.
Mind you my containers are suspended from flower box supports that extend from our back porch railing.
I know I didn’t include a corn cob in my soil when I was planting this year so obviously someone put it there.
My mind whirled with possibilities: Is someone trying to put roots on me? What significance does a corn cob have? Who in god’s name would put a corn cob in a flower box?
Eventually the other issues of my everyday life took over and the corn cob incident was soon forgotten.
Then last week another corn cob popped up on my back porch.
This time I knew something wasn’t right.
All the same questions popped up---Who’s doing this? What does this mean? Why are they doing it to me?
Add to the fact that a package of mine was stolen out of the mail last Friday, I was beginning to see boogey men around the corner at every turn.
Scant moments later, I happened to mention the corn cob incident to my neighbors across the hall.
Thank god not everyone was raised in a superstitious household.
They explained to me how our friendly neighborhood squirrels would take their prized booty and hide it from other woodland creatures----even if that means digging up a flower box or two.
Little bastards.
Hopefully the rats with good PR will leave me alone when I go outdoors as my neighbors now think I’m certifiably nutty.
Jesus take the wheel.
We never slept with shoes above our head, threw our hair from combs and brushes into the trash or split poles.
Lord Jesus help you if you ever sat my mother’s purse on the floor.
And she wasn’t hardcore about her superstitions. Growing up I saw women actually sweep up their hair in the beauty shop, pull out a plastic bag and take it with them.
Now that my friends is hardcore.
In fact, I remember many of my newly acquired college friends being puzzled about why I would always flush the hair from my combs and brushes down the toilet. It took a nasty plumber bill I received a few years back for me to (kinda) stop the practice.
So it’s a wonder that when things are askew, I look at the occurrence as some type of foreshadowing. A sign from the spirits that something is about to happen.
The appearance of a lone corn cob raised all of my oft seen but close to the surface red flags.
You see it was the second corn cob that had appeared on my section of the back porch this summer. Naturally I thought someone was trying to tell me something.
But I digress.
In my quest for Chicagoland gardening supremacy, I normally put down two separate container gardens; one on my front deck and one on my back porch.
They both usually flourish and by now have the place looking like the Garden of Eden except that this year the back containers look like a bag of ass.
I was mystified why they didn’t take off like normal.
I gave them all of the love and the fertilizer that I normally give my babies. I watered religiously. I talked and coddled them like they were genteel hothouse flowers.
No go---nothing was growing on the back porch this year.
It was definitely a head scratcher.
What made it even worse is that one day when I was watering, I found a full corn cob buried in one of the containers.
Mind you my containers are suspended from flower box supports that extend from our back porch railing.
I know I didn’t include a corn cob in my soil when I was planting this year so obviously someone put it there.
My mind whirled with possibilities: Is someone trying to put roots on me? What significance does a corn cob have? Who in god’s name would put a corn cob in a flower box?
Eventually the other issues of my everyday life took over and the corn cob incident was soon forgotten.
Then last week another corn cob popped up on my back porch.
This time I knew something wasn’t right.
All the same questions popped up---Who’s doing this? What does this mean? Why are they doing it to me?
Add to the fact that a package of mine was stolen out of the mail last Friday, I was beginning to see boogey men around the corner at every turn.
Scant moments later, I happened to mention the corn cob incident to my neighbors across the hall.
Thank god not everyone was raised in a superstitious household.
They explained to me how our friendly neighborhood squirrels would take their prized booty and hide it from other woodland creatures----even if that means digging up a flower box or two.
Little bastards.
Hopefully the rats with good PR will leave me alone when I go outdoors as my neighbors now think I’m certifiably nutty.
Jesus take the wheel.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Random Musings
I know I shouldn't jinx it but----
Why are the Cubs winning?
And on a completely different subject----
Ground has been broken for what looks like a new development on the south west corner of 65th Place. Due west of the proposed Living Green Lofts.
I wonder if those are the Living Green Lofts or a completely different development? From what I understand ground should of been broken for LGL this spring. It's summer already and no activity.
At this point only time will tell.
Since the 20th ward has a new sherrif in town, there's been a flurry of building activity. It's almost like someone wants to spur neighborhood and economic growth.
Go figure.
Why are the Cubs winning?
And on a completely different subject----
Ground has been broken for what looks like a new development on the south west corner of 65th Place. Due west of the proposed Living Green Lofts.
I wonder if those are the Living Green Lofts or a completely different development? From what I understand ground should of been broken for LGL this spring. It's summer already and no activity.
At this point only time will tell.
Since the 20th ward has a new sherrif in town, there's been a flurry of building activity. It's almost like someone wants to spur neighborhood and economic growth.
Go figure.
He Already Had Me With His Cinnamon Rolls
It's not like I wasn't a Tom Tunney fan already.
Prior to being the alderman of the 44th ward, he was the very public face of the Ann Sather's restaurant on Belmont.
Many a time I'd stop off after work too tired to cook, too hungry to wait and too poor to buy groceries. Methinks Mr. Tunney recognized all three and would slip a sister a complimentary bread plate to go along with my vegetable soup.
'Cause you know bread ain't free when you only order a cup of soup.
He was kind enough to chat as well. To make me feel welcome despite the fact I was spending less than five dollars (with tip).
As you can see I've never forgotten the gesture.
So it should come as no surprise that as the Alderman Tunney is leading the way to forge a set of behaviors and practices for developer/neighborhood relations.
Behold another aldermanic rock star.
Prior to being the alderman of the 44th ward, he was the very public face of the Ann Sather's restaurant on Belmont.
Many a time I'd stop off after work too tired to cook, too hungry to wait and too poor to buy groceries. Methinks Mr. Tunney recognized all three and would slip a sister a complimentary bread plate to go along with my vegetable soup.
'Cause you know bread ain't free when you only order a cup of soup.
He was kind enough to chat as well. To make me feel welcome despite the fact I was spending less than five dollars (with tip).
As you can see I've never forgotten the gesture.
So it should come as no surprise that as the Alderman Tunney is leading the way to forge a set of behaviors and practices for developer/neighborhood relations.
Behold another aldermanic rock star.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Phoning It In
I had my day in court last week.
More specifically I had my administrative hearing for my taxicab complaint last Friday.
Despite the attempts of the driver to discredit my story. Justice (and truth) reined supreme and he was found liable of the charges.
But I’m putting the cart before the horse. Let me backtrack a little.
When you have an administrative hearing, you are given the option of either attending the actual hearing or phoning in and giving your testimony. Since we’re soon to be laid off, I thought it better to do this via the telephone than to burn precious vacation time.
I was sworn in by the hearing officer and was asked a series of questions by the attorney for the city which allowed me to tell my side of the story.
Once that was over, the driver was allowed to cross examine me.
If that’s what you want to call it.
He made a rather feeble attempt to discredit me by asking me if I said he picked me up on South Chicago Avenue.
I said no.
He replied, “You just said that I picked you up on South Chicago Avenue.”
I replied, “No---I said that I was standing on the south side of Chicago Avenue with the intent of the cab heading east and having a straight shot out to Lake Shore Drive.”
‘Cause anyone knows that Chicago Avenue which is on the north side and South Chicago Avenue which is on the south side are two completely different streets.
Nice try, homeboy.
He then tried to hammer away that I had a case of mistaken identity.
While I could identify the cab number, the driver asked me to describe who drove me that night and the color of the cab.
I could do neither.
The color of the cab is insignificant as a cab can be one color one month and completely different the next. The cab number on the other hand does not change.
Cab 606 is cab 606 no matter what color the vehicle may be.
Now for a couple of years I’ve been adamant about a few things when I get into a cab.
I either text a friend with the cab number that I’m in or call them with the information and that I’m on my way home. And I make sure that the person who’s driving me home is the same person in the picture of the cab license that’s displayed to the public.
On occasions, if a cab has several different drivers through the course of a day sometimes they may forget to switch out the licenses.
You always want to make sure everything is matchy matchy before you go too far.
So while I couldn’t describe the driver in detail, I could tell that he was a man of color with dark hair who spoke with an accent.
I couldn’t give a height as he was sitting down and it was seven months ago. Like I said, I just make sure the picture matches---I don’t have a photographic memory.
This seemed to satisfy the hearing officer who sustained the objection of the city’s attorney after the cab driver kept on repeatedly asking me if I could identify him.
Asked and answered butthead.
At that point, my testimony was complete. There was nothing more for me to do so I was excused by the hearing officer and hung up the phone.
An hour or so later the city’s attorney called me and said that the cab drive had been found liable of the charges.
As a result he has to pay a $225.00 fine, take a drug test and a physical as well as sign up for cab driver 101 at Harold Washington College.
Did I mention that the cab driver 101 course costs $275.00?
So the driver is spending $500.00, the cost of the drug test and physical. Additionally he will be losing money because he won’t be out making a living.
He’ll be learning, turning his head and coughing and pissing into a cup.
Wouldn’t it have been easier to take me home?
More specifically I had my administrative hearing for my taxicab complaint last Friday.
Despite the attempts of the driver to discredit my story. Justice (and truth) reined supreme and he was found liable of the charges.
But I’m putting the cart before the horse. Let me backtrack a little.
When you have an administrative hearing, you are given the option of either attending the actual hearing or phoning in and giving your testimony. Since we’re soon to be laid off, I thought it better to do this via the telephone than to burn precious vacation time.
I was sworn in by the hearing officer and was asked a series of questions by the attorney for the city which allowed me to tell my side of the story.
Once that was over, the driver was allowed to cross examine me.
If that’s what you want to call it.
He made a rather feeble attempt to discredit me by asking me if I said he picked me up on South Chicago Avenue.
I said no.
He replied, “You just said that I picked you up on South Chicago Avenue.”
I replied, “No---I said that I was standing on the south side of Chicago Avenue with the intent of the cab heading east and having a straight shot out to Lake Shore Drive.”
‘Cause anyone knows that Chicago Avenue which is on the north side and South Chicago Avenue which is on the south side are two completely different streets.
Nice try, homeboy.
He then tried to hammer away that I had a case of mistaken identity.
While I could identify the cab number, the driver asked me to describe who drove me that night and the color of the cab.
I could do neither.
The color of the cab is insignificant as a cab can be one color one month and completely different the next. The cab number on the other hand does not change.
Cab 606 is cab 606 no matter what color the vehicle may be.
Now for a couple of years I’ve been adamant about a few things when I get into a cab.
I either text a friend with the cab number that I’m in or call them with the information and that I’m on my way home. And I make sure that the person who’s driving me home is the same person in the picture of the cab license that’s displayed to the public.
On occasions, if a cab has several different drivers through the course of a day sometimes they may forget to switch out the licenses.
You always want to make sure everything is matchy matchy before you go too far.
So while I couldn’t describe the driver in detail, I could tell that he was a man of color with dark hair who spoke with an accent.
I couldn’t give a height as he was sitting down and it was seven months ago. Like I said, I just make sure the picture matches---I don’t have a photographic memory.
This seemed to satisfy the hearing officer who sustained the objection of the city’s attorney after the cab driver kept on repeatedly asking me if I could identify him.
Asked and answered butthead.
At that point, my testimony was complete. There was nothing more for me to do so I was excused by the hearing officer and hung up the phone.
An hour or so later the city’s attorney called me and said that the cab drive had been found liable of the charges.
As a result he has to pay a $225.00 fine, take a drug test and a physical as well as sign up for cab driver 101 at Harold Washington College.
Did I mention that the cab driver 101 course costs $275.00?
So the driver is spending $500.00, the cost of the drug test and physical. Additionally he will be losing money because he won’t be out making a living.
He’ll be learning, turning his head and coughing and pissing into a cup.
Wouldn’t it have been easier to take me home?
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
The Cake, Revisited
As luck would have it, I saw Patty Cake last Thursday at a social function.
She was resplendent in fuchsia and looked like she had never been pregnant. The baby weight had just melted away.
Naturally I asked her about life is in South Shore.
If I understood her correctly---after all it was a social function and I was drinking---she had taken a few of my earlier suggestions.
For starters, she put on the dog (translation: Got dressed up) took herself and her baby up to her condo development’s management company. Like a miracle from above, half finished projects at her development were fast tracked and completed.
Now I’m sure the other complaining owners were also a motivating factor, but I find it somewhat coincidental that after she did exactly what I told her to do things started shaping up.
I told her she’s using her whiteness for good. Why have power if you’re not going to use it responsibly?
She also stated that she’s been strolling about with her man.
Good work ‘Cake, it’s important to be seen with your man. That way people know that you belong to someone.
While this fact may not prevent anything from happening to her, at least if she goes missing or something happens, her presence---or lack thereof---will be missed.
Plus some guys tend to leave you alone when they know you have a man in your life.
I know it’s sad that in this day and age a woman’s firm “no” isn’t enough to ward off the unwanted attentions of a masher. But as I’ve stated before, I deal in reality.
Interestingly enough Patty Cake also happened to mention that there was a great deal of shootings that have occured since the weather warmed up.
Ironically my friend Rita, South Shore go to girl extraordinaire, also counseled against falling asleep on the south bound 6 bus this summer.
Apparently winding up at the final stop of the 6---South Shore’s Rainbow Beach---and having to walk home may not be in anyone’s best interest right now.
Seeing that I’ve fallen asleep and have had to walk home from Rainbow Beach three times in the past two years I tend to listen to sage advice.
So with all of the shenanigans going on around the neighborhood, Patty was somewhat dismayed by the lack of immediate police response.
At least that was her perception.
Now it also may be just another huge coincidence, but after she started calling 911 response times dropped.
Go figure?
What can a sister such as myself say to that type of effectiveness?
At this rate the ‘Cake may have this whole Afghan, Iraq & Israeli/Palestinian thing figured out by the year’s end.
She was resplendent in fuchsia and looked like she had never been pregnant. The baby weight had just melted away.
Naturally I asked her about life is in South Shore.
If I understood her correctly---after all it was a social function and I was drinking---she had taken a few of my earlier suggestions.
For starters, she put on the dog (translation: Got dressed up) took herself and her baby up to her condo development’s management company. Like a miracle from above, half finished projects at her development were fast tracked and completed.
Now I’m sure the other complaining owners were also a motivating factor, but I find it somewhat coincidental that after she did exactly what I told her to do things started shaping up.
I told her she’s using her whiteness for good. Why have power if you’re not going to use it responsibly?
She also stated that she’s been strolling about with her man.
Good work ‘Cake, it’s important to be seen with your man. That way people know that you belong to someone.
While this fact may not prevent anything from happening to her, at least if she goes missing or something happens, her presence---or lack thereof---will be missed.
Plus some guys tend to leave you alone when they know you have a man in your life.
I know it’s sad that in this day and age a woman’s firm “no” isn’t enough to ward off the unwanted attentions of a masher. But as I’ve stated before, I deal in reality.
Interestingly enough Patty Cake also happened to mention that there was a great deal of shootings that have occured since the weather warmed up.
Ironically my friend Rita, South Shore go to girl extraordinaire, also counseled against falling asleep on the south bound 6 bus this summer.
Apparently winding up at the final stop of the 6---South Shore’s Rainbow Beach---and having to walk home may not be in anyone’s best interest right now.
Seeing that I’ve fallen asleep and have had to walk home from Rainbow Beach three times in the past two years I tend to listen to sage advice.
So with all of the shenanigans going on around the neighborhood, Patty was somewhat dismayed by the lack of immediate police response.
At least that was her perception.
Now it also may be just another huge coincidence, but after she started calling 911 response times dropped.
Go figure?
What can a sister such as myself say to that type of effectiveness?
At this rate the ‘Cake may have this whole Afghan, Iraq & Israeli/Palestinian thing figured out by the year’s end.
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