The view from 33
3 pm?!?!?!?
I turn 33 on March 30. I'm an old man. An old, cantankerous man. And boy, have I gotten ornery. Things just seem to get to me more than they ever have in the past.
From Pine Hills litterbugs to bankers hours to parking whiners. It all seems to be getting on my nerves more than it used to.
Meteorologists
How much faith do I really put in the folks predicting the weather? I understand, meteorology is a science in its infancy. I'm sure there are plenty of meteorologists that are good people. And I get that the weather is hard to predict with pinpoint accuracy. But do we really need an army of people watching the sky? We're somewhere in the mid-50s for TV markets and there are 5 local TV stations and each seems to have 4 weather forecasters - thus 20 people making snow total predictions. How many suits do we need telling us the same forecast or upping the ante once they hear the competitor's prediction? To make matters worse, if you're like me, when you hear a bad forecast you change the channel or go to weather.com to try to find a less bleak outlook.
Bankers Hours
Let me just say this extends beyond banks. We live and work in a 24/7 world today. Pine for the 'old days' as much as you want, but with the advent of the assembly line, electric lights, air conditioning, and the internet, people have grown accustomed to getting nearly everything they want when they want it. You could certainly argue that something is wrong with our culture because of this, but at least between the hours of say, 9 to 5, we should expect a standard level of service. So it bugs me that my post office closes at three, the bursar's office at SUNYA has calling hours between 10:30 and 3:30, and my bank won't let me speak to a teller past 3pm. C'mon. This is the 21st century!
Paying for the bus
I'm standing at the bus stop, in the rain, with 10 people. I have a swiper card. I see the bus coming, I take out the card, and I'm ready to board. Of the 10 people waiting in front of me 6 of them are paying with cash. The bus pulls up, these people begin to board, and then they start trolling through pockets and purses to get cash, change, their fare cards. "What the (expletive) were you waiting for? Here we are, standing in the rain for 10+ minutes and it didn't occur to you earlier to get out the money so you can get on the bus?! It's not like you don't know how much the ride is going to cost!!! I can't tell you how frustrated this makes me. I wish CDTA would implement a "Swiper First" policy.
The garbage littering the streets of Pine Hills
What the heck went on during the childhoods of the young adults that live in this area? Why weren't they taught, like the rest of us, to use a garbage can? Why weren't they taught not to litter? Don't they have any self respect! After the kegs and eggs riot, there was a vigorous cleaning, and the hills were squeaky clean. But it didn't take long for the pizza plates, solo cups, black liquor store bags, and general litter to return and start blowing around in trash typhoons. Use a trash can and then put a cover on it - it's not difficult! It's enough to make me want to puke, but it would appear someone's already beat me to it. Clean up after yourselves! Ugh!
This. Is. A. Crosswalk!
Don't park in it. Don't enter it with your car when I'm in it. Simple vehicle and traffic law is not rocket science. If I had a dollar for all the times someone has nearly hit me with their car when I was legally crossing in a marked crosswalk, I might be able to afford an injury lawyer to represent me when I am finally hit. Nowhere, and I mean nowhere, in the U.S. can you find drivers as disrespectful to the crosswalk than in Albany.
Parking whiners
Stop complaining about parking. Just stop. Your car is a machine. I'm tired of you moaning about how there aren't enough spaces. Yes, it would seem there's not enough room on the street for your stuff- but bulldozing buildings doesn't result in better neighborhoods. Think of all the neighborhoods where parking is a problem in cities across the US. Why is it a problem? Because people want to be there! That is not a problem - that's a sign of success. Now think of all the neighborhoods where you wouldn't leave your car. There's plenty of places to park, and yet... Hmm. Look, I get it, sometimes lack of parking is a major inconvenience. I've even caught myself complaining about it. But when I hear of people rearranging their lives, and missing out on things they would otherwise participate in, just so they can find a place to put their stuff, it's irksome.
That's all.
For now.
Martin has very appropriate username on Twitter: @daleyplanit.
More of Martin on the Soapbox:
+An Urban Wish List
+ The quintessential Capital Region food
+ Awesome Albany architecture
+ Historic Albany's endangered building list
+ What's your favorite Capital Region building?
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Comments
"Why weren't they taught, like the rest of us, to use a garbage can?" A couple of days ago I was driving on a busy road in Schenectady and came to a red light. It was there that the person in the car in front of me rolled down their window and threw an empty soda can out of it. Right there onto the street! Then they rolled their window back up like nothing ever happened. I couldn't believe it. Back when I was growing up, littering was taboo. And here this person was, doing it blatantly, surrounded by other cars. Does this behavior reflect a lack of pride? Lack of education? Lack of responsibility? I don't know. But it sucks.
... said Arielle on Mar 25, 2012 at 12:01 PM | link
Littering is something new? All those native american tears must have been shed in vain.
... said B on Mar 25, 2012 at 3:22 PM | link
Litterbugs drive me nuts, too. (You think you're ornery at 33?! Wait 'till you're 50!) My street in suburban Colonie is often used as a cut-through between two major roadways, and the amount of litter I find while out walking my dog is unbelievable. I have to be vigilant so that my dog doesn't get into roadside pizza crusts, fast food wrappers, etc. And then there's the mystery person who has been regularly tossing an empty bottle of liquor in the same spot for years. WTH??
By the way, if you've ever fantasized about confronting a litterbug, I highly recommend Carl Hiaasen's novel Sick Puppy. You'll love it.
... said Ellen on Mar 25, 2012 at 3:31 PM | link
Years ago--nine years ago, to be precise--I lived in the village of Clinton, worked at Hamilton College, and walked up the hill every day. A car zoomed past me, and a half-full Slurpee cup from 7-11 in the "ginormous" size whizzed past me, barely clipping my ear. The occupants of the car, headed up the hill to the college, groaned and hooted with disappointment that they hadn't hit me.
So it could always be worse: not just throwing things out the window, but actively lobbing them at pedestrians.
I live on a corner lot on a busy street in Pine Hills, and I think those trash typhoons all land in my yard.
... said Laurie Bird on Mar 25, 2012 at 5:06 PM | link
"You could certainly argue that something is wrong with our culture because of this, but at least between the hours of say, 9 to 5, we should expect a standard level of service. So it bugs me that my post office closes at three, the bursar's office at SUNYA has calling hours between 10:30 and 3:30, and my bank won't let me speak to a teller past 3pm. C'mon. This is the 21st century!"
This is the only place I've ever lived where these are considered normal hours. When I moved here it put me into culture shock. I was used to 7:00 - 6:00 banks (at least for the drive-though) at the worst. I can remember moving here in '91 and having to do all my banking at noon with a block-long queue out the door at a now-gone Central Ave. branch. It's nuts!
--------
"Nowhere, and I mean nowhere, in the U.S. can you find drivers as disrespectful to the crosswalk than in Albany."
True. Let me add a complaint about walkers from the point of view of a former school bus driver in Albany. If the sign says "Don't Walk" and there is a bus coming, it doesn't mean "mosey along like a tumbleweed in a slow breeze because I have no life to get to" either. I can't tell you the times YOUR children were late to get home because half a dozen people at half a dozen intersections just decided to set up camp in the crosswalk in front of the bus and gossip, text, and yes---sometimes just look at the bus and smile at the idea they were making all the traffic hold for no legitimate reason. Get. A. Life.
Ahh....I needed that.
... said James on Mar 25, 2012 at 5:25 PM | link
Couldn't agree more...
Meteorologists: If they cold predict the weather past a 24 hour window then maybe I'd pay attention. But they can't. So who cares. I was the only person in my office one day last winter because everyone thought there was going to be a huge storm and preemptively called in sick the day before. We got a dusting of snow that day.
Bankers hours: They spend the time between 3pm and 5pm counting the the ways in which they screwed this entire country. That takes a lot of time.
Paying for the bus: If they tried taking their time paying for the subway or bus in NYC like that, they'd be trampled and/or yelled at as they should. And they hopefully (for their sake) wouldn't do that again.
This. Is. A. Crosswalk/ Parking Whiners: These two go hand in hand because it's these idiots that ruin urban living for everyone else that actually enjoys living in cities. I escape death by motorist at least twice a day on my walk to work. Am I the only one that thinks a little bit of a parking problem is a GOOD thing?? We shouldn't be planning cities like they plan the construction of a Walmart parking lot for Black Friday.
... said Matt S. on Mar 25, 2012 at 6:05 PM | link
Dead on with the litterbugs, my friend. Walking through the parking lot of Walgreen on Holland Ave, a group of young teens came out of the store, one of the kids through his candy wrapper on the ground, when I called him out on this and told him to pick up his trash, he rolled his eyes and walked past me, one of his friends, a young girl said I should've said 'please', seriously! WTF.
... said CP on Mar 25, 2012 at 8:17 PM | link
I have a major problem with the litter too. I agree with you. I live in pine hills and pick up a bag full of litter everyday when I walk my dog. The amount of litter is disgusting. I wish people would not litter to begin with. What is wrong with people? Dont they care about their neighborhoods and the earth? Also, my dog has picked up chicken wing bones which I had to grab out her mouth before she choked them down.
... said Deanne on Mar 25, 2012 at 8:35 PM | link
It would be great to see neighborhood clean-ups once a month. Educate and encourage a cleaner environment.
Happy 33rd.
... said chasethedogs on Mar 25, 2012 at 9:00 PM | link
I'll see your banker's hours and raise you a "holiday and weekend creep".
What really rustles my jimmies is when you get the auto answer machine that condescendingly informs you of their business hours and says to call back during them - when you *actually are calling during stated business hours*.
It is apparently unreasonable to expect to be able to conduct business after 1pm on Fridays, and before 1 pm on Mondays on regular weekends, and if there's a Friday or Monday holiday off, you can move the time back to the Thursdays before, and the Tuesdays after. Even if they say these are their business hours, you're just a chump for actually trying to conduct some then.
Oh, and all business hours go out the window when there is the threat of snow too, so I guess that would overlap with the meteorologist hate.
... said Gina on Mar 25, 2012 at 9:16 PM | link
And get off my lawn!
I feel your pain, Martin. I'm 31 and I find myself quite ornery lately. I'm wondering if a switch got flipped when I hit the big three-oh.
... said Tim in Waterford on Mar 25, 2012 at 9:56 PM | link
My neighborhood group has started monthly cleanups. Just a couple hours w/ half-dozen people can make a big difference in an area. And it feels good to do something less self-centered and more for the community.
http://capitalregion.ynn.com/content/top_stories/578261/volunteers-gather-to-clean-up-streets-of-troy/
... said Kim M. on Mar 25, 2012 at 11:07 PM | link
Meteorologists
How much faith do I really put in the folks predicting the weather? I understand, meteorology is a science in its infancy
No. We advanced meteorology to the point when we are largely limited by Mother Nature. Weather patterns are inherently unpredictable, that is why forecast can be off sometimes. Teeny-tiny changes in initial conditions (that we have no ways of measuring) can result in huge differences in outcome (aka Butterfly Effect).
I find the quality of US weather forecast simply outstanding taking the account the complex and unstable weather patterns (small continent, huge impact from the oceans and Gulf of Mexico etc)
Weather forecast will not get much better. There are objective reasons for that and it's in no way meteorologists' fault.
... said Lu on Mar 26, 2012 at 3:44 AM | link
good grief. 33 is OLD? then I must be really, REALLY, well...older than 33, let's just say.
... said Rebecca on Mar 26, 2012 at 10:06 AM | link
I hear you on the bus fare issue. I can't tell you how many times I've sat there while some guy/gal searches all of their pockets for their cash or swiper once it's his/her turn. Gah! Once another passenger started swearing at one of them after waiting a good minute. I thought there were going to be fisticuffs.
Re: littering, I live in Center Square, not Pine Hills, but I share your disdain. My hubby and I were coming back from a walk to Ben & Jerry's on a beautiful spring day a couple of years back, and saw a car pause at the Dove St. stop sign, roll down their window, toss a crumpled up McDonald's bag out of the window, and continue down the road. My husband was so enraged that he picked up the trash, wrote a note saying, "we saw you drop this, and thought you would want it back." and left it on their windshield (we saw them pull into the Wilborn Temple parking lot). I wish I could have seen their faces when they saw that.
... said Summer on Mar 26, 2012 at 10:07 AM | link
you actually go INTO the bank? often I enter the bank to find people in the doorway using the ATM when the bank is open!!! No Wonder they have shortened hours. I just wish banks were open on my way TO work - trustco is open on my way home (except for tuesdays which is bank meeting day)
... said Stella on Mar 26, 2012 at 10:28 AM | link
The city bears some responsibility for the garbage on the sidewalks and lawns, through it's refusal to put garbage cans on corners throughout the city. There are some neighborhoods (Center Square, downtown) that are well-serviced, and others (Pine Hills, West Albany) where you can walk for miles without seeing one. Come on, Albany! At least on the main streets, every 1/2 mile or so?
... said Nick on Mar 26, 2012 at 10:45 AM | link
Stop taking the bus. You're 33 years old.
... said bk on Mar 26, 2012 at 1:27 PM | link
Totally with you on already feeling old and crabby at 32 over stuff like this. Other stuff I complain about: Neighbors walking on my lawn, neighbors' dogs pooping on my lawn, people playing loud music onto the street past 10:00, neighborhood kids horse-playing with their bikes on steep hills.... My boyfriend of 26 just tells me to not let it bother me. Sometimes I feel like I am just not a fun person anymore! :-/
... said Jessica R on Mar 26, 2012 at 1:34 PM | link
I love the picture above. It seems they decide to open whenever they feel like on Thursdays. Martin you have keen observation skills and bring up some very good points. If only larger number of people had a sense of responsibility and level of maturity at 33 maybe what you are describing would still exist but at a much lower level. By the way, happy birthday!
... said Bozz on Mar 26, 2012 at 3:56 PM | link
@Ellen
I second your recommendation of Sick Puppy. It was a great book that gave me environmentalist feelings before I recognized that I was an environmentalist.
... said Jay Walker on Mar 27, 2012 at 11:05 AM | link
Sad cranky pants validation in less than a week:
-Someone cut me off in line for the bus and then stood at the fare box rifling for change. There were words from the line and it was not pleasant.
-Immediately after getting off the bus I attempted to cross the street, nearly getting hit by some spaz backing up into the crosswalk from where they were double parked
-The ATM was down this morning at the New Scotland ave Trustco branch (my bank). Needing cash I went to another ATM and was charged $5.75 in fees. In an attempt to rectify I called Truscto, was put on hold and transferred around to 3 different people them eventually told "go to a branch... fill out form... IF the request is approved it will take 3-6 weeks to process." Really? Hit me with $50 in fees INSTANTLY but take your sweet time to refund me $5?!
- The...ahem... jerks down the street from me put their trash out last night. No barrels, bags open. Guess what the wind did. And I'd be in trouble if i dumped it on their porch. Which, I'm now VERY tempted to do...
-A possible "Scattered shower" turned into a downpour this morning. Not that I'm really upset about it.
-Yesterday I had a rental car for work. I parked in the visitor spot out back and someone parked so that they had blocked me in, causing delay and 20 minutes of trolling an office building asking "Do you own a red Pontiac?" Needless to say I was late to my next appointment.
Next post l write a post about things I love. And money will have to be one of them. This way, when I'm validated, some one will make it rain. LOL. Stripper joke.
... said daleyplanit on Mar 28, 2012 at 10:29 AM | link