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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Welcome 2015

Good Morning. An easy commute on Central Avenue today.  There is no one heading into the city!!  No traffic - I think everyone stayed home to get ready for the festivities tonight whatever they might be.  Dinner, Dancing, partying, noisemakers, glitter, champagne?? 

I am staying home tonight relaxing by the fire with my two dogs.  Well, one dog will stay close to me and the other will go out in the kitchen because she is afraid of the crackling noises coming from the fireplace. 
 
The hound with the white face is the one who hates loud noises.  I guess she won't stay up with me to watch the ball drop either.  And let's hope there are no fireworks nearby which will also set her off.  I will probably set an alarm to wake up to watch the ball drop at midnight since I'm pretty sure that I will be sleeping by then. 
 
Have a safe and wonderful evening and welcome to 2015!! 

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Trending Signs?

Today on Central Avenue - it was a very dicey icy ride in to work.  There was a light drizzle and it was 32 degrees so the road was freezing.  Made for a very slow ride which gave me the opportunity to look around at the buildings up and down "the Avenue". 

There was a barber shop that had a very funny (I thought) sign on their front door.  A sign of the times? I was so surprised when I saw it that I just had to take a picture and share. 
 
I know we've all seen people on the streets with underwear hanging out above the waist of their pants.  Pants not worn on the waist but way below!  I must admit that I really don't understand the purpose of this, especially when I watch them trying to walk while having one hand holding up the pants. 
 
Just another day on Central Avenue. 

Thursday, November 20, 2014

On the Run


 
 

Last night I stopped for some groceries at a fairly large store on Central Avenue.  As I was heading in to the store a guy came out running with a backpack.  I mean really running as if he was going to catch a bus!!  Or something else - maybe he was running away from something or someone? He ran clear across the very large parking lot and kept going down the road. He did not head for the bus stop, there is one at the front of the store parking lot.  What I found most intriguing was the fact that no one was running after him.  As I entered the store I looked around expecting to see someone who might be concerned that this guy had just bolted from the store.  Nope.  Nothing. No alarm, no security, no one giving chase.  I'm not sure why he was running, maybe he was just late for an appointment or a very important date. 

Just another day on Central Avenue.

 

Thursday, November 13, 2014

What are the Chances?

Today I decided to drive up Central Ave. on my lunch hour.  Not a lot of time to shop, but had a couple of errands to take care of.  Traffic can be a little crazy at lunch time, and as we get closer to the holidays it is nightmarish.  Today did not seem too congested, but I did get behind this one car that kind of made me crazy. 

Driving slowly - and I couldn't get around him (I checked).  He would put his blinker on, slow down - and not turn.  This happened a couple of times within a few blocks until I finally did pass him.  While following this particular vehicle I had time to notice the license plate holder and different features of the car and the man driving. 

I motored on and took care of my errands.  Now, returning from Colonie to Albany I decided to take the most direct route which is again Central Avenue.  A bit of traffic and I get behind a car which looks eerily similar to the one that I saw earlier.  Turns on his blinker from the second lane as though he is changing lanes - good - nope - doesn't turn.  Now I'm thinking no way could it be the same person. Driving slowly - seeming to be in a bit of a daze - I look at the plate holder.  Yup - it's the same car, guy, etc. 

So what are the chances of this happening - we are traveling East and were going West before.  Almost an hour difference and he is still driving up and down Central Avenue? Well, so am I!  Guess chances are not that slim. 

Just one of the many perks of driving.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

A lot of pocket change

Last night I went shopping at a supermarket on Central Avenue - picking up a few ingredients to make a cake for the office birthdays celebration.  The area of Central Avenue that I was shopping is close to Everett Road, and for those not familiar with the City of Albany - very close to the city.  There is a very mixed clientele at this particular store - some "uptown" folks and quite a few "downtown" and sometimes "downtrodden" folks.

There was a gentleman in front of me buying a few cans of cat food.  Those small packets that are supposed to be "gourmet" for cats.  I watched as he pulled a pile of coins out of his pocket and laid them on the conveyor belt.  I think it was mostly nickels and so it took the store clerk a while to count it out.  The man buying the cat food seemed clean and not poorly dressed.  I still could not help wondering if the food might not be for the cats, and that the coins were all he could muster to pay for the food.  I truly wanted to think better of it and assume the food was for his cat - and that he just happened to have a pile of coins to get rid of.

Let's leave it at that.

Friday, October 17, 2014

What does it mean?

Halal is an Arabic word that means "permissible." In terms of food, it means food that is permissible according to Islamic law. For a meat to be certified "halal," it cannot be a forbidden cut (such as meat from hindquarters) or animal (such as pork.)

This morning my curious mind decided to find out what "Halal" means.  I've been seeing it every morning on the front of a store on Central Avenue.  I had guessed it was something similar to "Kosher".  It is similar as it turns out. 

I realize that not everyone really cares, or is as curious but when I see something that I don't know or understand - my reaction is to "google" it!!  So - I saved you the trouble of having to look it up!

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Unsafe Load

Today as I was driving to work I was following a truck with lumber in the back.  The tailgate was down and there did not seem to be any type of tether on the load.  All I could think was that if he was ever hit (which is not hard on a busy highway) that the load would come flying out and hit whoever was behind it.  It surely would've gone thru someone's windshield.  !! 

I'm sure all they were thinking was that the wood wasn't going to shift while driving, but did they contemplate the possibility of someone else doing something stupid like pulling in front of them?? 

I stopped following right after taking the pic - which I took at a stop light. 

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Diet Coke-Diet Coke Break


Pink Suit and Guys Gawking

This morning driving down Central Ave I see a bunch of utility workers who looked busy. They suddenly all stand up as if they saw something - stop what they are doing. Turns out it is a woman who walked across the street and was coming by where they were all working. Lots of smiles and chat ensued. Kinda reminded me of the old "Diet Coke Break commercial" - where the women all stop to look at the construction worker. hehe



Also spotted today was a guy in a very nice leisure suit.  What made it really stand out was the color. A very light shade of pink - almost as if it had been a white suit run thru the wash with something red.  Kind of an unusual color.  Give him a lot of credit for wearing it.




Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Aftermath

Today as I was headed to work I was driving next to a fairly plain white van.  On the side of the van was the company name "Aftermath".  There was a sign on the back of the van stating that there was biohazardous cargo.  Wow!

I knew that there were companies that did this type of cleanup - but never had seen this van before.  I googled the name of the company and "Yup" they do crime scene clean up.  Now, that has got to be a strange job to have.

There was a movie made about this also called "Sunshine Cleaning".  It was a very entertaining movie I thought. 

Have a nice day :)

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Bike Rack sans bike

I realize that this may come across as a touch insensitive, but I couldn't help notice the incongruity of this woman leaning against the bike rack.  Maybe she should be riding a bike and not waiting for a ride?
This was today's Central Avenue sighting - and there was a guy on the corner smoking - to add to the unhealthy behavior. 



Friday, August 29, 2014

Today on Central Avenue I saw Elvis!  Very dapper in a tan suit and saw another gentleman waiting for the bus who seemed very eager to talk to him.  Granted this was a slightly shorter version of "Elvis" but the hair and sideburns were spot on!!

We are a "cultural mecca" as one friend told me this morning.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

This morning I spotted a gentleman that I have seen quite frequently on Central Avenue.  The other day he was carrying an electric guitar, strumming along, with the electric cable hanging from his arm.  Hmmm....

Today he was strumming his "air" guitar.  It seemed that he was practicing some elaborate fingering for what I assume will be a big hit someday!

Play On....
At times "The Avenue" as it is called by the locals is not such a clean, pretty, sight.  This morning as I was driving along I spotted this patch of poppies. A warm welcome to the city of Albany.  Thank you to whoever planted these for adding some color to an otherwise colorless patch of pavement.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Today on Central Avenue - I felt bad.  Woman driving car behind me was crying.  She was fairly young - and obviously was not having a good day.  I have days like that - for me - even crying over something simple and many times it is in my car.  I think it is a reflective time for me some days in the car - alone, listening to music, etc. 

I hope her day improved.
Today on Central Avenue - Woman in oncoming traffic stopped at light to turn left and she is in the left lane of opposite facing traffic as if it is a turning lane. There is no turning lane - I wave her thru because otherwise she was about to be in a mess of trouble.
 
I wish I could draw a diagram to better illustrate
-------------------------------   ----------------------------------
-------------------------------   -----------------------------------
_____________Center line__________________________
-----------------------Me->---- --<other car-------------------
--------------------------------  ------------------------------------
 
You get the idea.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Last night during my evening commute on Central Avenue - saw a guy playing harmonica, singing and dancing and carrying a large can of beer.  He was obviously having a good day. 

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Another morning on Central Avenue - I'm driving.  I saw a woman riding her bike with pink pigtails and a stuffed bear in her backpack.  Very cute!

The past week has been hot and humid and I've been seeing lots of guys with no shirts as I drive down "the Avenue" and let me just say not all of them should be shirtless.

Today's Central Avenue sighting...guy doing push-ups at the bus stop
 
Guess there's no time like the present to get your workout on!