i like this idea… i could do local errands.. things that need to be done during the day… like waiting for the repairman.. for a small fee;)
Nah, Jo, I think the only thing that would’ve improved it would have been a torch. LOL!
My fantasy was always to buy a minivan and have someone paint some Roger Dean art (Yes album covers) on the side.
Jerald, I think it’s almost impossible to find a cell phone that *doesn’t* have a camera these days! Although that can sometimes be a drawback. My husband had this contract job a while back at a super high-security faciliy where camera phones would be confiscated – risk of him taking photos of proprietary info and sharing it with the world. So he could not carry his cell phone on him during working hours at the facility because of the camera.
digires,
I didn’t mean to imply you were starting an argument at all; however, I have to wonder what you’d win if you carried it on; and I am far from clear what rights are being asserted, and how this provision supports those rights. I just not sure.
JenV.. did you say bookworm? now i know i will be looking forward to meeting you:)
Can’t make the planning session as I won’t be around, but I look forward to the details on the actual event.
I think that you have to take care of it, but you have to have a permit to “prune or remove trees from the right of way” according to city of Seattle’s web site.
[begin quote]
4.30.080 Planting Strip Maintenance
A planting strip shall be maintained by the abutting property owner or applicant.
Soil, bark or other loose material and planting material other than a tree(s) shall not be permitted to intrude upon the street or sidewalk.
A tree(s) may extend over the right of way when kept trimmed to a height of 8 feet above a sidewalk and 14 feet above a roadway.
[end quote]
So…I have 2 trees in my strip that have grown so much in the 2 years I have owned my house – they are no impeding the street parking situation as well as getting into the power lines.
Who pays for the tree trimming – the city? :)
Gregorywade,
The problem is that out pet is not even eliminating on the strip that the neighbor perceives as his own, yet he still takes it upon himself to come out and harass us. I think he finds it easy to pick on his next door neighbors rather than complete strangers. He even yelled at another neighbor for using a weed whacker in front of her yard, because the “dandelion seeds were going to drift onto” his planting strip.
We are not the ones starting the argument or making a fuss, what’s wrong with being clear about what your rights are and asserting them when you are being harassed?
Jerald – I’m fat and use a cane. I still have no problem stepping out of a car onto the CURB and walking a short distance to a clearing. What’s your problem? The regulations say to leave a clearing of approximately 3 feet at both “ends” of the strip. Nothing there about accommodating rude parkers. And the depth of clearing from the rest of the curb pertains to a raised bed or tree.
Some of us like our property to look nice. Also, and this is included in the rules, I get really tired of coming home and finding someone parked halfway onto the strip (illegal). I’m planning on putting in a whole mess of plants to discourage that. And if you “accidentally” mow them over, watch out for the accidental planting spikes I dropped.
Clearly, permits are required, but I doubt it’s common practice. I am fairly certain the provision’s intent is to cover the city backside. If they need to dig up a planting strip, they won’t be held financially responsible for the destruction of landscaping or valuable plants. Further, a permit provides the city with a means to hold a property owner for damage such a trees growing to buckle sidewalks and road ways.
And yes, there is a component addressing spacing from the curb which would provide for doors and passengers. However, if you take that as license to stomp on plants, and tell people what they “better do,” well I am fairly certain my plants are safe, because you won’t be invited to my door soon.
I’m thinking of adding to the Charla Group’s bag of tricks. That’s the LLC under which I do contract writing and book agenting.
I go back and forth to the dread east side at least four times a week. Would you pay someone to do your errands that involve the drive to BellRedKirk and doing something?
I originally thought of this because JoB mentioned, at the geezer brunch, a required trip across the bridge that she wasn’t looking forward to.
I can’t carpool because my schedule is unpredictable and I can’t transit because I can’t walk from the bus stops…but this seems like a virtual way of optimizing gas use. “I drive so you don’t have to.” Sort of a targeted concierge service.
Would you (or people you know) use this service? What would you pay? What kinds of things would you want done? The nice thing about this is there’s virtually NO start-up cost so if it turns out that no one wants to do it, well, I’ll just keep driving.
********
What kind of business would you like to start? Why haven’t you done it??? What would it take? Talk about it here–you might get enough encouragement to Just Do It!
cb
Wow, I was just going thru old stuff and found notes I’d written on a family trip to Boston in the 70’s — I’d written “Legal Seafood” with stars next to it because I liked it. I wasn’t sure what it meant until I read Ken’s post, now it’s coming back to me.
I posted in the other thread- I will be there. Heck, 2 pm on a Saturday- I was probably going to be there with my book anyway!
(i am an unrepentant lush/bookworm) :)
I thought having a camera in a phone was ridiculous, but now I couldn’t live without! I take pics of furniture when I’m comparison shopping, house colors I like, interesting plants & landscaping.
Reading the planting strip rules, I see everyone is supposed to get a permit for changing the strips. And generally you’re supposed to leave room for people to get out of their cars. I’ll step on your plants too, and you’d better leave room for my door to open!
See my response to the other thread–one or both of the charlabobs will be there. I stand in awe again of your organizing — (OK, I’m hurting today — I sit up straight in awe.
Let’s make some kind of flyers to put in store windows around town — maybe some of the businesses that sell handbags would like (!) to donate pieces unsellable junk, ‘er, less popular lines.
People have long realized the synergy of drinking and auctions. Last time I went to a charity auction (for AIDs) I came home with, among other things, an extra appearance on Frasier. I think I bought that after our table’s third bottle of champagne. I’m now not allowed to have custody of the bidding paddle. Ever!
c
Katydid. you might find bells and whistles more useful than you think.
my current cell phone allows me to check real time bus schedules to see how long i might have to wait.. to look up the location of the nearest store when i am looking for something.. to check my google email no matter where i am… and to check google maps when i am lost.. and.. and .. and
didn’t think i would use any of it except if i was traveling.. but i do.
i especially love the note pad. i always have the phone with me and when in a store.. especially a book store.. i can note the titles (or products) i am interested in for later… with books sometimes that means for the library….
it really has made my life simpler… and i am a person who failed at using an electronic personal organizer…
i figured out if i just turn the ringer off i don’t have to be available to any idiot who rings my purse;-> i love that!
Purse. Never heard the word “handbag” in Seattle until Sex & the City changed things.
Sign at least one of the dynamic charlabobs to help with putting together. One of us is a great worker and one of us likes to tell people what to do. I’ll let you guess which is which.
Should we set up a private email of helperbees list to discuss details? I don’t know anything about blog-tiquette, so I don’t know if meta discussions here are OK.
I googled “charity auction checklist” and came up with this. It’s vast overkill for what we’re doing, but it might include something silly that we’d forget otherwise. I did it because I’m still and always amazed at how smart google makes me look. Not smart enough for them to want to hire met — yet. But we’re working on it.
http://www.yoursilentauction.com/samplepages.htm
Hmmmm a serious meeting of guys in a bar — can we expect mysterious bodies wearing cement overshoes to show up in the Duwamish next week? Or have I spent too much time with Sopranos reruns???
Bernicki, that’s a classy attitude. I’m glad you won’t be visiting my place any time soon. I certainly wouldn’t want any inconveniently place plant to suffer your inability to hover, which apparently includes the inability to watch where you step.
As to the parking strip, why argue with the guy? Honestly, the argument that “it’s city property” serves you to what ends? Having the last word?
The City’s provision states “Beautification of planting strips is encouraged” and “A planting strip shall be maintained by the abutting property owner or applicant.” It would seem the property owner would have more interest in the area than your perceived right, or more appropriately the convenience, to allow your pet to eliminate it’s waste.
In my opinion, it makes more sense to simply find another spot, rather than defend the right to make use of it for those purposes. Or, if one needs to draw a little blood, simply pull the dog off the planting strip, direct it to the side-walk to finish it’s business, and say good-day.
JenV.. i started a sepaprate thread for the planning meeting.. but i will be there…
I am really looking forward to meeting you.
I know this is short notice.. but i will be at the Beveridge Place Pub at 2 PM on Saturday… for a planning meeting for the social/fundraising event for the local food bank the following weekend.
I apologize for the short notice.. this is just how it played out.
We can use this thread for ideas/comments on planning as well.. but i need to have a press release ready on sunday to show the owner…
we can have an additional planning meeting if we need to during the week.
anyone is welcome to show up TOMORROW at 2 PM… whether you want to help plan the event or not. We won’t put you to work but would appreciate any ideas.
i will post the consensus from that meeting on this thread tomorrow and you will have the rest of the day to weigh in before i draft a press release sunday morning.
I think the last minute character of this event fits in with the flavor of our forum… it’s our first and we will see how it works.
if it works, combining charity and social events is a great idea and we can do more.
I hope to see some of you tomorrow.
Mission has a decent happy hour as well with drink specials from 5-7 and food specials from 10-around closing time. Cactus is good as well and I think it goes from 4-6 with both food and drink…ideal in the summertime. Talarico’s is great for drinks and $3 slices. Can’t forget Skylark either, probably from 4-6, but I think they may extend it during the summer. So many more, but those quickly come to mind as my old standbys.
I just spoke with the owner at the beveridge Place Pub. He is excited about the idea of an event and we have settled on Sunday, March 16, 2:30 to 4:00 PM…
we will iron out details by email since he had a meeting (looked like “heavy” stuff from the attitudes of the guys i passed on the way out).
But, i think anyone interested in helping put this event together.. or just anyone wanting to get together… should meet this saturday TOMORROW at 2 PM to see if we can get things going.
We can have another meet later in the week, but i am i think i am a grandmother on sunday and nothing disrupts that… and i am generally so tired after that i can’t move.. let alone be sociable.
i will post this planning meeting in a separate thread…
