Mamma Mia!  Here I go again!  Okay it's still running through my head and I have the urge to dance and twirl and sing through the house!  haha! 

Last night my daughter19 and I went to the movies to see Mamma Mia!  It was so fun!  Originally a broadway stage show based on songs by ABBA and now made into a movie starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnon.  Also starring were Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Amanda Seyfried.  Amanda just glowed as Sophie through the movie, beautiful girl!

We got to the theater 5 minutes before the movie started expecting no problem getting in, figuring people were mainly there to see Batman.  Parking was horrible, and as expected, we saw lines of people waiting for Batman as we entered.  We bought our ticket, walked down to our theater and as we walked in were surprised to see almost every seat was taken.  We had to end up sitting in the second row from the screen!  Who knew Mamma Mia! would be as popular as Batman?!?  Go musicals!  woo!

I found the movie delightful!  There is a wonderful mother/daughter theme to the movie and I’m really glad I got to see it with my daughter.  It was so nice to see mature women being portrayed who aren't model thin.

"Escapist and fun, it never takes itself too seriously." USA Today  - Staff

Yes, true.  Don't expect a deeply seriously movie, it's very lighthearted, though I did truly get misty a couple of times and totally cried during the pre-wedding scene (yes, I’m one of those).  No sex scenes, but some sex talk. And wonderful, in my book, to see mature women, who aren't model thin or perfect, having fun with their girlfriends and men!  It was hilarious to watch the actors making music videos to the ABBA songs at the end!  Um, Pierce's voice made me cringe, just a little - in spots, but I still loved it because it was real.  Meryl actually did a credible job singing through it all, who knew? 

This is a movie to see with your mom, or your older daughter.   If you're in the mood for singing, dancing and fun, go see Mamma Mia!  You won't be sorry, and you'll be singing the songs for days!  Mamma Mia!  Here I go again!

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Secondly, I may need a new set of tires soon if I cannot learn how NOT to ram my car into the curb every time I park on the street thus creating the most gosh awful, loud, embarrassing noise for every onlooker on the street to stop and listen to.

Thirdly, the groom now has more guests coming to the wedding than I have.  The wedding is in my hometown, and apparently no one in town can be bothered to drive a few flippin' blocks to come to it.  But his guests can travel hundreds of miles and pay up the Ying-Yang for a hotel room just to see him get married.  Guess who is more loved?  I am now working on my Reception Line Spiel.  It is as follows: "Hi, I'm Sueanne.  No, not Suzanne.  SUE-ANNE.  No, not Susan.  SUE-ANNE.  No, not Joanne... SUE-ANNE.  Like, two separate words.  Like on the Waltons.  You know what?  Just call me Sue.  It's much easier.  Yes, I do know how handsome he looks.  Yes, I'm sure he's your favorite nephew.  Yes, I do know how lucky I am.  Yes, I know he frickin' rocks.  Can we move the line along now?  You're holding things up.  Thanks.  No, I don't mind if you call me Susan if it's easier for you to remember.  Jerks."

Seriously.  I'm practicing my drop-kick in case that happens to me.

Fourthly, I have no idea what this particular post is about.  I think I just feel like whining.  I don't whine much...mostly I just cry.  Lately, it's become like a hobby to me.  Seriously, you could answer with "crying" to any one of the following questions:

"What's Sue up to these days?"

"What does Sue like to do for fun?"

"What is Sue passionate about?"

"How has Sue been keeping herself busy?"

I think Joel is a bit afraid of me.  And rightly so.  There's nothing wrong with instilling a little bit of fear and reverence into your future husband.

I kid, I kid.

Mostly.

If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go practice parking now.

Sometimes we need additional janitorial and valet personnel, sometimes we may even need to arrange off-site parking in cases of large parties at the pool or in the Skyline Room. Additionally, our security team should know in advance who to expect and for what unit.

It has always been and continues to be Skyline policy for residents to notify the management office in advance when having guests arriving in 4 or more vehicles. In these cases, please do the following:

1. Call the Management office as far in advance as possible (at least 3 days) with the number of guests you are expecting. This is to ensure correct staffing levels for valet, security and housekeeping, in advance.
2. Go to the Management office to fill out an application, drop off the deposit and all associated fees, and leave a copy of the guest list for management to distribute to the front gate.
3. Make sure your guests are advised of the parking arrangements in advance.
4. If catering will be dropping off tables or supplies, please be sure to reserve the elevator through the Receiving department. Also please note that we will require a copy of the catering company's license and insurance in advance.
5. Reminder: the BBQ can be reserved with the concierge at the front desk. The Skyline Room is reserved once the application and fees are submitted.

Thank you for your cooperation.

ITEM: I've just been castigated by the same chum (mentioned below) for calling it the "British Open". it's the "Open Championship", and then if you beat everyone, it is indeed a bonus because you get £750,000, and it's all yours. No team mates as in "Foot Ball" (see "Foot Ball"  wikilink below, if you don't know what that stuff is.)

Traffic chaos in town, espec round the Royal Birkdale, where the Open is going on now. Even so, parts of it looked very exciting on the Wireless Tele Vision. (The Golf, that is: not the traffic...)

Golf, although I can't begin even to know how to play it, seems to me a more libertarian game than "Foot Ball". None of this "team" stuff and all that collectivist nonsense, to worry about. You just try to play better and better, and if you beat somebody else, it's a bonus.

It is to be hoped that all our local traders will take the opportunity to make plenty of money.

Oh, and the British Police will just have to go. One made an issue of my waiting (with engine on and flasher lights going) at a pre-arranged rendezvous in Gainsborough Road to pick up my old friend, a golf fanatic, and fined me £30 (about $60 USD.) His Gestapo chum, at the junction, had let me drive down there 3 minutes before. I had the purpose of plastic yellow cones explained to me, in public, in front of 20,000 exiting visitors.

If the Police in the UK have nothing better to do than to issue parking tickets to non-criminals, then they really have served out their usefulness. I think that a "Libertarian administration" - if that is not tautological - would find better things to do with policemen, or maybe it would contract out Law & Order to real householders.

Huntington Station, NY

Nikki also took this at Best Buy. She says it's "just an example of somebody parking like an asshole. It's New York: they're experts at being assholes at parking out here! I'm from Pennsylvania, so even though I park strangely sometimes, it's not because I'm an asshole or a NY native--just an airhead."

Vía: La Opinión de A Coruña

That note was left on our Ford Taurus this morning.  What I find amusing about this note is that our car was parked well within the lines.  Not only that, but we park against a wall, so if we were parked any further away, the driver would not be able to get out of the car.

I guess we should have been more considerate and parked the car so it was propped against the wall.  We're so ignorant of the feelings of others.

At least they said it with a smile, as well as underlining the main points.  That's consideration!

I am convinced some people just enjoy being pissed off about something.  That feeling of righteousness.  That need to triumph over subordinates... it can be heady stimulation.  I don't even think the subject matter is important as long as those people are RIGHT!  Like those hippies who carry on about the Earth and Going Green (both noble pursuits), but they seem to be getting more pleasure hounding you about, oh, I don't know, not reusing zip lock bags.

It reminded me of the days of living with roommates.  Being lectured via puffy pink ink by a 17 year old about how I should realize I live with "other fucking people!!!" and not move an appliance on the counter without asking.  As a note, it was moved so I could reach an outlet for a blender I bought for the both of us.

God, I'm such an asshole.

What's even better is how no matter how many f-bombs are dropped in a note, invariably the note is signed with a smile.  It's even more ridiculous when it's written by a girl.  Cuss words and smileys written in purple and pink inks.  They all seem to have the same handwriting, too.  The kind of writing that makes you think of those notes you passed in school that asked you to check yes or no.

It's a sad fact, though.  People love being right and they love being obnoxious about it.  Some people do this by incessantly correcting grammar.  Others have notes.

These are probably the same folks who help an old lady across the street so they can tell everyone all day about their good deed and how awesome they are.

They should put that in a note. It'll last longer.

The five most expensive parking districts were New York City's Midtown area ($585), downtown New York City ($462), Boston ($460), San Francisco ($350), and Chicago ($310).  Colliers' annual North America Parking Rate Survey predicts that as rates increase locally, use of public transit will rise.

Belgacom is taking over Mobile-for, the company specialized in mobile payments for parking services. Mobile-for offers SMS payment solutions in 7 Belgian cities, allowing people to pay for their parking spot with a simple SMS message. The company was established in June 2006 by parking exploiter Apcoa Belgium and the Estonian NOW! Innovations. A few months later, it teamed up with Proximus to offer SMS parking in Antwerp. Today, 30% of parking places in Antwerp are paid by SMS. Other cities followed Hasselt, Tienen, Lokeren, Wetteren, Turnhout, Diest and soon also Bruges. In december, Mobile-for hopes to activate the SMS parking system also in other locations in Brussels and Wallonia. Mobile-for will become a separate entity within the Belgacom group. The take-over won't affect the existing Mobile-for customers, communicated Belgacom. A price for the acquisition wasn't announced.

Huntington Station, NY

Nikki took this at a Best Buy and calls is a "monkey-see, monkey-do incident" and adds, "what's better than one car parked over the line? TWO cars parked over the line!"

Usher: The real list or the lip-service list?

Deacon: The real one, of course.

Usher: From what I can gather, here's the list:

1. Kid's programs (Sunday School, VBS, youth groups, mission trips)

2. Worship quality and preference (contemporary or traditional / AV quality and crew)

3. Daycare

4. Facilities (gym, meeting space, location)

5. Parking

6. Distance from home - driving time?

7. Preaching quality (Is he funny, smart, punctual and non-condemning?)

8. Coffee and fellowship food quality

9. Are the people friendly?

10: Age of people - are they "our generation"?

Vashon, WA

Carl explains, "It's kind of a sharp turn to get the first spot. So maybe next time they'll go for the other spot. Or as you can see in the background, there's room to parallel park if they are having trouble."

DH: What is your perception of traffic in Bangalore?

PS: It's definitely chaotic. Reason is simple: there are more vehicles. There are over 34 lakh vehicles in the City at present. Road and other infrastructure are inadequate to meet the requirement. The City roads can take the capacity of only 10 to 12 vehicles. Most roads and junctions have vehicles 4 to 5 times higher than their capacities during peak hours and 1.5 to 2 times higher during lean hours.

In the same day's paper, T V Jagadisan, a member of the Governing Council, Malleswaram Swabhimanaa Initiative, expressed his ideas for solutions to the traffic problems in Point Blank. Here are a couple that I really liked.

Enforce heavy fines on haphazard parking or parking on 'no parking' zones.

Enforce basements of buildings to be used only for vehicle parking and not allow any business being conducted there

Laning roads for slow moving and fast moving traffic with particular emphasis on pedestrian crossings to avoid accidents which hold up traffic.

Not allow any political or any other rallies during peak hours on high traffic roads.

He made some really sensible suggestions and our traffic masters should consider implementing the suggestions.

Scenario:
Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1958 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2008 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1958 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2008 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.

Scenario:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1958 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2008 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario:
Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1958 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2008 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario:
Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1958 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2008 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario:
Pedro fails high school English.
1958 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college
2008 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1958 - Ants die.
2008 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1958 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2008 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

This should hit every e-mail to show how stupid we have become!

Think about it !

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¿Te ha pasado alguna vez estar horas dando vueltas para encontrar unaplaza de aparcamiento? Si eres conductor seguro que te has encontrado con esto más de una vez y a más de uno se le habrá ocurrido que su navegador GPS podría indicarle donde encontrar una plaza libre.

Algo similar se está probando en San Francisco, con un proyecto para instalar sensores en 6000 de sus plazas de aparcamiento limitado (similar a la zona azul de la que “disfrutamos” por aquí) y una red inalámbrica que ofrece información sobre las plazas libres.

Esta información podría visualizarse desde un teléfono móvil o desde carteles instalados en las calles que indicarían donde está la plaza libre más cercana. Una idea que parece bastante práctica pero a la que le encuentro diversas pegas.

La primera es la posibilidad de que los conductores se lancen “a la caza” de la plaza libre, provocando problemas de tráfico y de seguridad vial. La segunda es el alto coste de instalación, unos 23 millones de dólares, que repartidos entre 6000 plazas salen a unos 4000 dólares por cada una de ellas.

¿No sería mejor invertir ese dinero en mejorar el transporte público? De esa modo obtienen ventajas tanto los que conducen como los que no, reduciendo el volumen de tráfico y de contaminación y reduciendo el consumo de gasolina. Pero me temo que mientras estemos tan enganchados a la cultura del coche difícil será que triunfen medidas de ese tipo.

Ha surgido, y la verdad es que ya era hora, una agria polémica que incluso viene acompañada de concentración protesta. Todos hemos visto como en los parkings publicos de las playas de Somo y Loredo han colocado limitadores de altura para que las autocaravanas no puedan pasar y acampar, pernoctando y pasandose largas vacaciones en el recinto. Personalmente tengo una camper por lo que puedo opinar con conocimiento de causa, pues además vivo al lado del parking, no tengo una autocaravana, y aunque hay muchas opiniones en contra y a favor de esta medida, lo cierto es que parece acertada pero incompleta.

Doquiera que puedo hablar de este asunto, pues lo vivo en mis carnes por la cercania a estos lugares. Los propietarios de autocaravanas son gente muy tranquila, muy limpia y respetuosa con su entorno. Y puedo casi en este caso generalizar. Además todas las autocaravanas traen de serie baño, con lo que las deposiciones tanto liquidas como solidas se quedan dentro de la caravana. No así las furgonetas camper que, paradojicamente si pueden pasar por esos galibos limitativos. En cualquier caso, si es cierto que muchas autocaravanas han tomado por costumbre veranear en los parkings de Somo y Loredo dias, y dias, incluso semanas, tomandose la prudencia necesaria de desparecer uno o dos dias para luego volver, asi evitando las esporadicas sanciones.

Con todo esto, me parece que la medida es positiva para todos. Y favorecerá a la hosteleria, al turismo excesivo del verano que dura "4" dias, y a los cuatro campings que hay en los alrededores. No se puede hacer demagogia pues no se prohibe aparcar en las calles de Somo, lo unico que se evita es crear un "camping de autocaravanas libre" al lado de la playa, aparcamiento que realmente ocupa muchisimo espacio publico. Sin embargo, y creo que la medida deberia de alcanzar tambien a las camper. Yo soy propietario de una camper, y no concibo como mis "colegas" pueden pasar tantos dias en un parking donde además se está tan incomodo. Sin servicios publicos, ni ducha (en verano si - 2 meses-), donde hay botellones y suciedad acumulada todos los dias, coches derrapando una noche si y otra tambien, y robos mas de una vez. Lo de los desechos humanos y la suciedad, debido a la escasez de letrinas publicas que hay en estas playas, es otro tema peliagudo y que comentaremos en breve en este blog, pues tiene su tela la respuesta que recibimos desde el ayuntamiento cuando les solicitamos colcoar letrinas autolimpiables como las que hay en muchos sitios de Francia o ya en España y que son una maravilla de la higiene y de la tecnica.

Vous serez en congé la semaine prochaine et vous ne savez pas quoi faire pour satisfaire votre insatiable soif de vélorution? Le collectif Montréal à vélo vous propose la solution parfaite à ce pointilleux problème.

Une journée parc(ing) consiste à occuper un espace de stationnement pendant une certaine période de temps autrement qu’avec une voiture. Les citoyens transforment cet espace en lieu convivial pour relaxer en pleine ville et discuter de l’omniprésence de l’automobile dans le paysage urbain. Peut-être pourrait-on avoir plus de verdure dans nos rues et plus d’espace pour circuler à pied ou à vélo si le nombre de véhicules motorisés était réduit? Nous habitons tous Montréal et chaque citoyen a son mot à dire dans l’aménagement urbain!

Ne vous inquiétez pas de voir le nom de la journée épelé de plusieurs manières : parc(ing), park(ing), park-In... toutes ces orthographes se résument en l’art d’occuper une place de stationnement. Le vendredi 25 juillet 2008 de 9 h à 18 h aura donc lieu cet événement haut en revendications cyclistes au coin des rues Mont-Royal et Saint-Denis.

Le même jour aura lieu la masse critique de juillet. Des dizaines ou des centaines de cyclistes devraient donc s’arrêter près de l’espace de parc(ing) pour boire une limonade en toute quiétude en occupant une bonne partie de la rue. Amenez vos jeux de société, venez rattraper vos retards de lecture ou regarder les automobilistes nous lancer des regards chargés d’émotions... variées! Que de plaisir nous promet cette journée!

Infos : Montréal à vélo

Site officiel du mouvement Parking Day

One of the girlfriends then sent an email enquiring if we wanted to brunch and then 'walk' or 'walk' then brunch.. I saw my opportunity and typed quickly to reply that she had left out an entirely viable option which was to brunch then lunch.....

As soon as I hit 'send' I wondered what I was portraying as I DO love being outdoors, I DO love walking, I just don't like blisters! I was just contemplating what I might to do make amends on this urban anti outside image that I was wrongly creating about myself and Matt stepped into my life.

OK, the truth may actually be that I ambushed him, (ah ha..please note the very natural reference to foliage in my rhetoric!...) Matthew Shaffer is the Associate Director of Marketing Services for The Trust for Public Land and an all round good egg for talking to me at such short notice and for doing so without so much of an inkling as to my current goal to fix my image and convey myself as both tree hugger and fresh air loving citizen.

Now the Trust for Public Land are doing some wonderful things and among them is an initiative to support urban dwellers and others not so fortunate to live near a park to reclaim a piece of green for their own. On September 19th TPL are holding a national event to create temporary parks in parking spaces for one day. Now you may be thinking wow that's kind of whacky and cool but why would they do that? Well Matthew had the answers....

Tell me why you are passionate about this initiative and what your personal dream is in regard to the overall impact.

A little space - a little park not much larger than one parking spot - can go so very far to transform a neighborhood, bring people together, and get us a little closer to nature. Parks are vital to a city's health, and Park(ing) Day helps demonstrate their immense value. And the creativity of designing and making all these individual parks happen - and putting them in unique places - is very rewarding.

We're at a tipping point where cities and counties in particular are not just thinking about parks but putting real dollars and muscle behind ambitious park, natural areas, and trail plans. Great park systems - that reach as many families as possible - make cities great places to live. Park(ing) Day can help advertise the importance of these community efforts, especially when the Park(ing) parks reflect local needs.

I am curious, what is your favorite thing to do in a park? Play, read, people watch?
I wish I had an easy answer - depends on the park and the company. So many parks, so many options!

OK so here are some scenarios...just fill in the blank..

You are in Prospect Park, Brooklyn with say....Barack Obama, you would...
Play chess.

You are in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco with something to tell folks you would tell them...
Go to the observation tower at the deYoung.

Finally you are in Forest Park in St Louis with your closest friend, you would....
Get a map (never been) but let's assume there's an arboretum somewhere there - I'd check that out.

Check this video out to see past park(ing) day events.

I love the fact that TPL are forgoing traditional advertising and instead creating experiential teasers for what could be in a neighborhood near you. Want to take part?

If you live in the OC the closing date for entries to design your own park(ing) space is coming up on July 29th just fill out the entry form.

And for everyone else in the U.S please visit Park(ing) day to see how you can take part on Friday September 19th, and for those of you in London and other cities outside of the U.S, I believe that there is a commitment for this initiative to become an international affair with prior years having park(ing) spaces in European locations too, so please investigate what you could do in your own city.

Matthew, thanks so much for your time and your commitment to such a great initiative and for making me look a lot more familiar with our great outdoors.

Personally I am very much looking forward to some park(ing) transformations near me.. no REALLY I am....
Candice

Photo: The Berger Partnership, PS
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New Scooter Parking In Columbus, originally uploaded by Elephants on Bicycles.

Thanks to Mayor Mike and Mary Ellen O’Shaughnessy as well as everyone involved in Scooterparking.wordpress.com and Columbusunderground.com who pushed for this parking. It amazes me that in just about 2 months time the city was willing and able to react to this issue and produce a very workable solution. Kudos all around!

I wish I could take off of work to go watch this, it's at 10 AM today (Wednesday)!  Exciting!!

NBC4 reports: "The city will open its first scooter parking lot on Gay Street between Third and High."

And from a City Press Release:

Mayor to Announce New Parking Areas for Motorcycles and Scooters

Mayor Michael B. Coleman will team with City Councilmember Maryellen O’Shaughnessy and local scooter enthusiasts Wednesday morning to announce the City’s plan to add new on-street and alley parking Downtown, in the Short North and in the Brewery District specifically designated for motorcycles and scooters.

10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2008

61 East Gay Street, On sidewalk in front of Subway

I'm guessing they will unveil the lot on Gay Street, and announce their plans to open similar lots.  Yay!!!  This weekend I will scope it/them out and post some photos.

hat-tip to Walker of Columbus Underground.  CU discussion can be found there too.

The small brick building that houses radio stations WHMP and WRSI fronts on Hampton Avenue, just across from the Chamber of Commerce building. From there, the building looks neat and tidy. But here are a couple of shots of the side door that faces the Parking Garage and the view of the back of the building from Armory Street. Yech!

Off Topic:
Saw this in the Mini2 forum and first thing come to mind is the Monochrome Badge!