Seen at Caribou

A woman pulled up and parked at the coffee shop. There is a slight slope. She jumped out of the car and dumped the contents of her large thermos cup near the rear tire on the driver's side. On her way back with a full cup, the puddle had started to move. She walked through it and stood in it to get back in the car.

Moral of the story: Sometimes we have to walk through the mess we thought we'd never see again.

Career Yearnings heard at Panera's

"I've always wanted to be, like a, a missionary. I don't know. Like. Why. I'd love to go to Africa or like Asia. . . I'm only 24. I've got time to figure it, like, out."

Hmmm--this doesn't sound like a clear call from God. Maybe just a desire for travel and adventure.

High accident rate at 5 points

Today's paper said the UA police chief didn't see a need for the speed cameras at our intersections. The number of accidents in UA for 2006-2007 rose from 554-574, or 3.6%. The highest accident rate is at 5 points--right where I have my coffee! However, a lot of these must be fender benders, because I rarely see an accident, and if I get rerouted, it's usually near Rt. 33.

Catholic school

The guys at the coffee shop were discussing their Catholic school education and how tough the nuns were "in the old days." One said, "I got an excellent elementary school education, but I did get beat up a lot walking to and from school."

Coming and going

An overweight mama with a skinny girl about 4 and a well-filled out boy about 8 or 9 in a school uniform stopped at the sample table in Panera's on her way to the order counter. She bought each child a sack of goodies and a drink, and herself a bag of something. Then they all stopped at the sample table on the way out to the car for a second dip.

The new Tremont Rd. Starbucks

I tried the new Starbucks today and ran into a former neighbor. He's lived there about 8 years now, moving in shortly before we left, and I think everyone around him has moved. He has one of the more challenging homes in terms of upkeep, but I think they can afford it. I don't know what happened to the family who bought our house--in our opinion they ruined the floor plan (removed the dining room), then divorced and sold it--probably at a loss. As I sat at the table and looked across the street at the floundering, frumpy Kingsdale Shopping Center I did wonder what sociologist/ city planner/ architect came up with the idea of "mixed use, high density" for suburbia. Only a few of these condos have sold, and they are in the $400,000-$600,000 range. It's truly awful, both in design and concept. The 50s ranch style four-families that used to be on this land made much more sense.

Housing bargains in Columbus, Ohio

Three bedroom condos going for the price of a used car at auction. I showed the story to my exterminator consultant at the coffee shop. He knew the property and thought it might be hopeless. Story is in the Columbus Dispatch. This guy knows everything!