No, I wasn't trying to be snarky, I was trying to play off that "10 Things I Hate About You" which I just now remembered had a very young, extra cute Heath Ledger in it. With....oh god, what was her name that improbably popped up in a Bourney Identity movie - or was it a Mission Impossible movie?
ANYWAY, so here's my "long awaited" Top Ten Things I Miss From Sonomarin; I'm combining the counties coz I lived in Sonoma but worked in Marin.
1) The parking. Sorry SueLin, but my recent hideously expensive towing incident bumps you out of the top spot. I sometimes, maybe had to walk 3-4 blocks when I parked in downtown Petaluma. And of course at home, I had a garage.
2) My friend SueLin. I realized the other night that even tho we've known each other for TWENTY-SIX YEARS now, this past year was the first time we'd lived in the same city since 1991. Although I already knew this about her, it was, of course, awesome to be able to spend time again with someone so smart, funny, generous......excuse me I have something in my eye! :)
3) My friend Lorrie. My only other friend in Petaluma. You could say, "How sad," OR you could say, "Well, how lucky you were to have two such fantastic people as SueLin and Lorrie for friends that you didn't even need any more friends!" I prefer to think of it as the latter.
4) My friend Mary. Mary is a ROCK STAR at Conservation Corps North Bay, and I am lucky that, for my year plus there, I had her there not only for support for my rants about Kyle and Sonomarin drivers, but also as a VERY helpful friend when Kyle and I lost our cat.
Break: the good thing about the above three, is I can still see them - but they're on the list coz I don't get to see them as much!
5) The wine. I mean, I can get wine here, and I'm trying to get back in the habit, but when you live up in Sonoma, you just kind of HAVE to drink wine more often! :)
6) The townhouse I had. Don't think I've ever lived in a place that was three stories before. It was kinda cool just for that, but also had a fabulous kitchen - probably the best I've ever had, and great amenities in the complex. Something that size, with the garage and those amenities, would probably run at least $2700 here. Welcome back to the City!
7) CCNB. Conservation Corps North Bay is an awesome organization doing amazing work and having a significant impact on the earth and our youth. I'm glad I got to be a part of it for awhile!
8) The quiet. While I love the bustle and hubub and vibrancy of the City, and have acclimated to the not-really-so-bad-most-of-the-time sound from the streets, it's still annoying on those nights when more than one siren goes by. Of course, I could live in the Sunset or Richmond if I wantedzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. :)
9) Papa John's. Yes, SueLin, there are some good restaurants in Petaluma, as well as in Marin, but I miss most the convenience of the Papa John's right down the street coz baking it yourself is not only cheaper, but taste better/fresher. Wow, I could do a commercial for them! Oh, wait, I guess I just did.
10) My boy. I saved him for last coz he's really, actually, the most important. Although Kyle still has some, er, life lessons to learn, I still love the little brat something fierce and miss him every single day!
So it may not be a very glamorous list, and of course is half-populated with people, but I did enjoy my time in Sonomarin overall. Word.
Showing posts with label parking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parking. Show all posts
10/22/09
Apoplectic With Rage
Disclaimer: Yes, I made a mistake and understand I should be "punished," but I would really like folks' honest feedback as to whether or not I still have the right, after my stupid mistake, to be so apoplectic with rage after the following events.
So I was excited to find a parking space on Sutter, just on the other side of the street from my apt., when I got home from work yesterday and saw no street cleaning until next Wednesday. I happily parked it there and decided to BART to work today and tomorrow coz I had late afternoon meetings and the bridge is a NIGHTMARE basically any time after 4:30 p.m.
But what I stupidly forgot was that side of the street has NO parking whatsoever every day from 4-6 for rush hour, and so of course when I got home the car had been towed. Because I went and got it wthin four hours, I didn't have to pay "storage," but still had to pay effing $373.75 to get it! There's no way I could describe the rage I am in.
The fees included $155.75 for the "SF Administrative Fee," $174.25 for the towing, and $43.75 for an "Extra Dolly or Flatbed Fee" - and for those who may have forgotten, or may not know, I have an effing MINI. A MINI needs an extra dolly or flatbed?
PLUS there were TWO tickets on it totaling $186, for a grand total of $560! I mean, seriously, can you believe that? And when I'm already so broke. GAWD!
Oh and of course one of the tickets was for "Towaway." I mean, seriously, this is just disgusting beyond belief. I mean, what kind of "human beings" make these policies?
How on earth would anyone with very little income afford something like this?
So I was excited to find a parking space on Sutter, just on the other side of the street from my apt., when I got home from work yesterday and saw no street cleaning until next Wednesday. I happily parked it there and decided to BART to work today and tomorrow coz I had late afternoon meetings and the bridge is a NIGHTMARE basically any time after 4:30 p.m.
But what I stupidly forgot was that side of the street has NO parking whatsoever every day from 4-6 for rush hour, and so of course when I got home the car had been towed. Because I went and got it wthin four hours, I didn't have to pay "storage," but still had to pay effing $373.75 to get it! There's no way I could describe the rage I am in.
The fees included $155.75 for the "SF Administrative Fee," $174.25 for the towing, and $43.75 for an "Extra Dolly or Flatbed Fee" - and for those who may have forgotten, or may not know, I have an effing MINI. A MINI needs an extra dolly or flatbed?
PLUS there were TWO tickets on it totaling $186, for a grand total of $560! I mean, seriously, can you believe that? And when I'm already so broke. GAWD!
Oh and of course one of the tickets was for "Towaway." I mean, seriously, this is just disgusting beyond belief. I mean, what kind of "human beings" make these policies?
How on earth would anyone with very little income afford something like this?
9/10/09
The Return of Excalibur's Parking Spot
Freak show! Exactly one week later, almost the exact same space is open around 8:30 in the evening, on Hyde, right outside my dining room window.
First, this land cruiser kind of thing pulled paralell with it, and deja vu, he was almost exactly the same size as the space--possibly a bit bigger; but it turns out he was just dropping someone off. BUT, rather than being a Highlight's Magazine "Gallant," he was an evil "Goofus," who didn't realize the car sitting behind him wanted the space, and finally, falsely (unfortunately), assumed the land cruiser guy was going to try and cram his thing in there (huh huh huh), so takes off.
And then, right then, the guy drives off. By this point the woman he dropped off could be 4 blocks away. Loser. It's just amazing to me how clueless people are "these days" about anything outside of their own little bubble/world. But it does make life easier for judgmental people like me! So, um, thanks?
So anyway, almost immediately, a smaller, almost perfect-sized-for-the-spot car shows up. And, surprise, surprise, just like last week, ANY decent parallel parking skills are in complete absence--and again it's a stick shift that's involved.
What's different is, this driver mucks it up by being overly cautious. There's no bashing back and forth like last week--it's more wildly ill-timed wheel-cutting that was obviously brought on, at least in part, by an apparent concern for the other cars! I figure, with the crappy driving, and this unheard of concern for something that doesn't belong to you, it's got to be an alien that's "driving" the car.
But, instead, it was a woman. So now we've observed the difference in how men and women try to "finesse" their way in to a parking space. The winner? Me for having this free entertainment slash sociological experiment right outside my windows! :)
And for those of you who didn't get the "Goofus & Gallant" reference (which would mean you never went to the dentist as a child), and for those who just miss the rascals, here's a couple of classics:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/GoofusGallant_Oct1980.jpg
First, this land cruiser kind of thing pulled paralell with it, and deja vu, he was almost exactly the same size as the space--possibly a bit bigger; but it turns out he was just dropping someone off. BUT, rather than being a Highlight's Magazine "Gallant," he was an evil "Goofus," who didn't realize the car sitting behind him wanted the space, and finally, falsely (unfortunately), assumed the land cruiser guy was going to try and cram his thing in there (huh huh huh), so takes off.
And then, right then, the guy drives off. By this point the woman he dropped off could be 4 blocks away. Loser. It's just amazing to me how clueless people are "these days" about anything outside of their own little bubble/world. But it does make life easier for judgmental people like me! So, um, thanks?
So anyway, almost immediately, a smaller, almost perfect-sized-for-the-spot car shows up. And, surprise, surprise, just like last week, ANY decent parallel parking skills are in complete absence--and again it's a stick shift that's involved.
What's different is, this driver mucks it up by being overly cautious. There's no bashing back and forth like last week--it's more wildly ill-timed wheel-cutting that was obviously brought on, at least in part, by an apparent concern for the other cars! I figure, with the crappy driving, and this unheard of concern for something that doesn't belong to you, it's got to be an alien that's "driving" the car.
But, instead, it was a woman. So now we've observed the difference in how men and women try to "finesse" their way in to a parking space. The winner? Me for having this free entertainment slash sociological experiment right outside my windows! :)
And for those of you who didn't get the "Goofus & Gallant" reference (which would mean you never went to the dentist as a child), and for those who just miss the rascals, here's a couple of classics:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/GoofusGallant_Oct1980.jpg
9/3/09
Excalibur's Parking Spot
So tonight there's this small parking spot on Hyde, right out the dining room window where I sit with my laptop. I happened to glance out and saw a van trying to get in it and I scoffed just before they gave up and took off.
It stayed empty for awhile until a jeepish kind of car/thing tried very hard to get in it. Of course, from my vantage point, I could tell they were just this much too big--and I don't mean much. And, in the end, if they had spent another 20-30 minutes, they might have gotten in there, but by gawd they gave it the old college try. I've never seen a Jeep crab like that!
But the sad thing is, if they had finally made it in there, the pickup truck in front of them would have never been able to get out if they tried to leave first--as they were bumper to bumper with the car in front of them. But do you think those guys would have cared if they'd been able to get in? I'm guessing not.
Anyway, after a while, the two jeep boys gave up (and it took them awhile to get back out!), and another car, smaller finally, made the effort. It was a fairly tight fit, but anyone with any decent parallel parking skills (c'est moi!) woudn't have a problem.
This dude had a problem.
A serious problem.
His buddy got out to "help" direct him, but all he basically ended up doing was comically clapping his hands to his head and shrieking when his buddy backed--repeatedly--into the van parked behind. Then, at the end, and for good measure I suppose, he rammed the bumper of the pick up in front of him. Moral of the story: Drive a MINI.
It stayed empty for awhile until a jeepish kind of car/thing tried very hard to get in it. Of course, from my vantage point, I could tell they were just this much too big--and I don't mean much. And, in the end, if they had spent another 20-30 minutes, they might have gotten in there, but by gawd they gave it the old college try. I've never seen a Jeep crab like that!
But the sad thing is, if they had finally made it in there, the pickup truck in front of them would have never been able to get out if they tried to leave first--as they were bumper to bumper with the car in front of them. But do you think those guys would have cared if they'd been able to get in? I'm guessing not.
Anyway, after a while, the two jeep boys gave up (and it took them awhile to get back out!), and another car, smaller finally, made the effort. It was a fairly tight fit, but anyone with any decent parallel parking skills (c'est moi!) woudn't have a problem.
This dude had a problem.
A serious problem.
His buddy got out to "help" direct him, but all he basically ended up doing was comically clapping his hands to his head and shrieking when his buddy backed--repeatedly--into the van parked behind. Then, at the end, and for good measure I suppose, he rammed the bumper of the pick up in front of him. Moral of the story: Drive a MINI.
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