The Tao Of Paul

Here you go. I firmly believe that every developer with ideas for building in Buffalo assume that there will be a lawsuit involved.

The residents also claim the tower’s facade — a mix of bronze and glass panels — would cause “super heating” of their brick building and adjacent parking lot.

Spontaneous combustion hits Gates Circle….

The suit also charges the sleek, modern tower would diminish the historic character of their building and the entire neighborhood, which includes the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Chapin Parkway.

I’m tired of that song, and I really don’t want to hear it any more. This project cannot help but improve the city. This is what falls into the category, “False sense of entitlement”
They have their sightlines, their breezes, they have what they want. And no one is allowed to intrude.
Hopefully this will be resolved in short order.
Or will we go through a 2 year process so everyone can speak their piece?

I read this, started to watch, then ended up turning it off.
Keane uses the rhetorical “we” a bit much for me. When talking about the buildup of the surplus during the Gorski administration, it almost sounds like he is taking credit for the work of others. If he was bringing Gorski and the leg from that era with him, perhaps it would hold up a bit more. He talked about the progress that would be made on the waterfront and the Peace bridge during his first term.
These are County projects?
And of course, the usual body slams on Giambra.
Note to Keane- you are not running against Joel.

Collins brings up using certain business practices, mentioning 6 Sigma.
A while ago some levels of the public sector experimented with Total Quality Management. Great idea, worked real well in the private sector.
But not so well on the other side. Some things may improve a process, but may not be in accordance with rules the county has to follow. What if the least expensive vendor is a cousin of a legislator? Changes will have to be negotiated with unions, and government does not have the threat of plant shutdown to use as a bargaining chip.
Collins also has to get any idea past the Legislature and the Control Board. Not always an easy task.

Some generic statements, promises from both sides, some personal nastiness from both sides. Typical debate.

Keane did not/does not move me.

Collins may be the one if he realizes that a best business practice may have to be modified to work as a best government practice. If he doesn’t come in with that “Everything changes on day one” crap. If he has learned the fine art of negotiation.

If not, we go to the lesser of two evils routine.

Top o’ the morning to you!
5:30 and I am drinking one of the finest cups of coffee I have made in a while. It tastes great.
But back to business here. The weekend?
Get rid of the Contour. Purchase food, of course. I have a jones for Broccoli. Babysit my nephew’s kids Saturday night. Meet with fine people Sunday about Old Home Week. Bills Football.
If the weather cooperates, perhaps I will take Fedup’s suggestion and check out Caz Park.
Oh, put up a couple of replacement shutters.
How about you?

I have been challenged, and you will suffer. I will make every effort to post daily, no matter how mundane.
On a brighter note, my lovely wife is back, and life is good. I realized that the one thing I missed the most was the laughter. Her sense of humor is a tad on the bizzaro side, like mine. Nothing is better than laughing your ass off in Tops over the dumbest things.
And life is good, part deux - Dan made it to Arizona in 3 days, one piece. Car is fine, apartment is fine, and he is fine.
Part three? Daughter bought me a pair of tickets to a Sabres game in January.
Life is Damn good…

The 1986 Plymouth Conquest pulled out of the driveway at 8:37 this morning containing my son, and all of his earthly possessions.

I am proud, as other fathers who have gone through this must have been, to have a son who is ready to go out and make his own mark on the world. It is also with a touch of sadness that I realize that he will come back to visit, but he will make his home somewhere else in all probability.
Dan:

Be Safe,
Love You,
Dad.

I have about 2 - 4 manhours left in the herculean task of shipping the boy of to Arizona. A few more forms to fill out and fax, a quick trip to AAA for travel stuff and we’re done. All he has to do is pack his clothes, clean out the apartment and put new brakes on the 91 Stealth he’s trying to sell (anyone interested?).
If my wife was here, she’d be a bundle of nerves. As it is, I am doing the anxiety thing for the both of us. But it’s going smooth, and the end is in sight. Sunday morning he’s off, and Sunday night I will be out raising a toast to his good health and good luck.
If I make it to Sunday….

Seriously, the only human contact I have had since my wife left has been my son. (I don’t count store clerks or the guy that made the awful tuna sub). I had figured I would be out doing things, having a beer or two, and nothing. Guess everyone else is out doing the stuff that they normally do. I have had two comments total on recent posts. That’s not counting the ones that were actually links to ads. They should not have made it through since they had no email address, but they did. Gonna have to start watching for that. No emails either.
Anyhow, I have bowling tonight, so that should keep me from going stir crazy.
Oh yeah. I shot a 299 last week. 11 Strikes in a row, almost fell on my ass on the last shot. I am immensely pleased with myself. 1 for throwing 11 in a row, and 2 for not falling on my ass with the last shot.

Thanks to Art of Noise for the title…
Kate left Wednesday for England, so it’s just me the dog, and the cats for a while. It does make for a profound change in the home. From minor things, like making less coffee in the morning. to really big things, like the silence. No morning conversation whilst getting ready for work, no one on the ride in reading the paper to me, no one telling me about her day on the ride home. At home there are zero distractions. No interaction required. That leaves me with my things to do, and my thoughts.
Know how when you are doing something routine, like dishes, laundry, general stuff, you are only paying half attention to what you’re doing? Part of you is thinking about work, the guy who cut you off on the way home yesterday, are you saving enough for retirement? All those little voices going off in your head. Without the background noise, without the input of another person in the house, I find that the mental distractions fade after a while and the whole focus ends up on what I am doing at that specific time. Rather calming, it is. And I enjoy it more. Gives me more time out here in the ozone.
So I am enjoying this little vacation for now. Cats are mellow, dog is still alive, and I am ordering my tuna sub tonight.
Life is good.

Here’s a good reason to get up early Sunday morning.

Cutting the grass. doing a little grocery shopping. If the weather isn’t too nasty, a little window shopping downtown. Maybe breakfast at Betty’s. I got nuthin planned, and all weekend to do it. Well, except helping the boy start packing on Sunday. That’s about it. Maybe go out for a beverage Saturday.
How about you?