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1. MBarrettMiller
   Member Profile

   

   The accompanying photograph is of Dzunuk’wa, a shy hairy giant found in the forest within the Kwakwaka’wakw territories, towards the northern end of Vancouver Island. Some view her as a fearsome creature that can be the source of great wealth.
   When Duane Pasco completed this carving in 1973 he probably never envisioned how it could represent wealth pouring into Seattle city coffers. The carving now resides in Occidental Park looking away from the water. When all is as it should be the pole would face the water, as they did when such things mattered.
   If you are a resident of Seattle you have noticed that parking meters are appearing faster than mushrooms in our rain soaked woods. Not only are meters appearing overnight but also the hours of payment have been extended to eight PM in a number of neighborhoods. More meters, longer hours combined with the increased cost per minute is inviting many to stay close to home nodding to the redundancy of their TV machine.
   Recently I weathered buckets of rain to spend the afternoon with Woody Allen and invited guests romping around Paris in the middle of the night. I cruised the neighborhood deciphering all the posted instructions on how long I could park and in which geographic direction the car must not intrude into while I was enjoying the film.
   I thought I had it all figured out.
   I parked about five blocks from the theater, as I knew any meter would expire leaving me indebted to the city for yet another parking violation.
   Surprise, surprise! When I returned to my car, after spending $10.00 to get in the film and $5.50 for popcorn, I was welcomed with a $48.00 ticket for enjoying myself for way too long. I missed the part about not leaving your car past six PM on days beginning with any letter in the alphabet.
   I long ago gave up going downtown as there is no longer any there there that justifies the parking rates in the garages. Am I going to have to consider staying even closer to home?
   I get it. You want us out of our cars though you are not offering good alternative methods of getting from neighborhood to neighborhood in a timely manner. I just wanted to see the film, not spend half a day dedicated to the getting to and the getting from logistics.
   At $63.50 per film I’m thinking about increasing my indebtedness to Netflix, who somehow finds me within a day-

   Posted 11 months ago #         

2. skeeter
   Member Profile

   I wish West Seattle had a first-run theater. But I don't see it happening. Until then I recommend the Southcenter theater if you want free parking.

   Posted 11 months ago #         

3. flowerpetal
   Member Profile

   

   Gee, I get that you're mad. I would be too... with myself. You say that you were "deciphering all the posted instructions" and then you tell us " I missed the part about,,"
   If you are in West Seattle, seems to me there are lots of busses that go downtown at regular intervals, especially in the afternoon.

   Posted 11 months ago #         

4. Elizagrace
   Member Profile

   MBarrettMiller, I totally feel your pain. All the neighborhoods have different parking and zoning restrictions and if someone is in a rush the wording is really confusing. I got myself into that expensive confusion last night and will pay the price. $48! Yikes!!
   I wish there was a better system and Flowerpetal, while there are buses they are not always going to the place you are. For example, there are buses going downtown but maybe not to Queen Anne as frequently. Offering some empathy for your neighbor who was just trying to enjoy an afternoon and catch a flick is always a good route to take.

   Posted 11 months ago #         

5. DP
   Member Profile

   

   What flowerpetal said, BUT . . .

   Thanks for the colorful post anyway, M-B-M. Hope to see more musings like this.

   

   Look me up if you need help getting images into your posts.

   Posted 11 months ago #         

6. yarncore
   Member Profile

   Meh, I'm with flowerpetal. Going somewhere you know parking will be an issue? Take a bus. There ARE buses to most places within Seattle (Eastside - whole other ball game), people just don't want to take any extra time. I don't own a car and know it can be done.

   Also, when I get reprimanded for breaking a rule or law, I never automatically jump to the conclusion that it is someone else's fault.

   Posted 11 months ago #         

7. JayDee
   Member Profile

   OP: last year the city evaluated the parking situation in West Seattle and I fully expected them to put parking meters here to. But they didn't much to my surprise.
   -
   The City Centre garage, among others, offers evening parking for $7 or so. Better than trying to deal with the crappy city parking meters. Sorry that you had to pay so much for your night out.

   Posted 11 months ago #         

8. 2 Much Whine
   Member Profile

   

   I got a ticket once for parking in a residential neighborhood near Seattle Center without the proper "Zone 2 permit." I didn't feel the need to complain on a blog, I paid the ticket, thought that it was pretty dumb of ME not to look closer at the sign and that was pretty much the end of that except now I always check all the signs and don't get tickets so my movies only cost me about $10. Hopefully that will work for you too. I must add that part of the reason I don't get tickets anymore is because I rarely go downtown and prefer to visit our local establishments. I feel your frustration but you'll just have to move on to something important like the speed limit on Admiral Way or children in restaurants.

   Posted 11 months ago #         

9. Yardvark
   Member Profile

   

   Why the rant, Miller? The bus only costs a couple bucks. If you can't be bothered to read the parking signs then you definitely need to take the bus.
   Or maybe take some advice from 2 Much Whine.

   Posted 11 months ago #         

10. MBarrettMiller
    Member Profile

    

    Hey guys,
    I admitted I didn't read all the postings carefully enough to see I was in danger!!!!
    I was trying to tease the system, and myself, for the challenges-not whine, I hope!!!
    Check out what Chicago is considering
    http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/fail-parking-meters-lease-deal/Content?oid=1098561

    Posted 11 months ago #         

11. MBarrettMiller
    Member Profile

    

    >DP
    How are you adding photos?

    Posted 11 months ago #         

12. DP
    Member Profile

    

    Use this code:

    

    --where "my website" is a Web site you control or one you can link to where there's an existing photo at that location.

    You can practice with this one:

    

    Make sure your photos are 500 pixels wide or less, or they'll crowd the screen. If they are over that width, you'll have to shrink them using some kind of graphics software.

    Posted 11 months ago #         

13. MBarrettMiller
    Member Profile

    

    Thanks DP,
    I'am a drag and drop or attach kind of guy. All my photos are in iphoto or on the desktop....
    I'd need to go to a class to follow what you suggest.....
    I thought I'd uploaded a photo of the carving for my posting? So it goes...

    Posted 11 months ago #         

14. DP
    Member Profile

    

    E-mail me the photo (or two) if you like. I'll size and upload here in this thread.

    DP_Editor at comcast dot not

    Posted 11 months ago #         

15. DP
    Member Profile

    

    

    Photo of Dzunuk'wa by M. Barrett Miller

    Dzunuk'wa . . .a shy hairy giant found in the forest within the Kwakwaka’wakw territories, towards the northern end of Vancouver Island. Some view her as a fearsome creature that can be the source of great wealth.

     

    Posted 11 months ago #         

16. chinook
    Member Profile

    

    I'm completely with you on this one, MBarrett. The signage about which hours, permits, and nautical directions constitute proper, legal parking have become even MORE obtuse in the past 6 months. We also recently were awarded a $48 ticket on Queen Anne under similar circumstances after checking the signs closest and on either side of where we parked AND paying the meter. The sheer volume of signage and often conflicting information is simply out of control.

    Posted 11 months ago #         

17. MBarrettMiller
    Member Profile

    

    I'm with you Chinook. Recently I got a $75.00 ticket for parking in a friends driveway in San francisco because my rental car didn't have a tag for the neighborhood.
    I am afraid that Seattle is moving in that direction.

    Posted 11 months ago #         

18. HMC Rich
    Member Profile

    

    Would this be a good time to ask for my money back from the Monorail fiasco? I mean, the city didn't deliver. I heard they made a profit on re-selling the land too. By my math, I should be able to illegally park about 200 more times.

    As a matter of fact, I think parking meters should have check in and check out times. If I don't stay the full two hours, I should get a bit of a refund, right?

    Just kidding.

    Sorry to hear about the ticket. See you in the fall at Soccer.

    Rich

    Posted 11 months ago #         

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