Seattle Metblogs » sea_alex

Seattle Rules of the Road

sea_alex — Wed, 20 Oct 2004 00:20:48 +0000

Make absolutely certain that you are going 10 MPH below the highway limit as you enter the highway.
Drive an SUV, even if you have absolutely no use for it.
Always have deep conversations on your cell phone in the fast lane.
Is it raining? Tailgate more.
Stop in the middle of heavy city traffic for no apparent reason at least twice a week.
Do something dangerous and stupid, and if you get honked at for it, flip the other person off.
When gassing up, act like you have absolutely no idea how to use the gas pump. Then forget to put your gas cap back on.
Read while driving (or put on makeup, or shave, or treat your cuticles, or give yourself a shiatsu treatment, or…)
Disable your signals, remove your mirrors, and hey, black all your windows except the windshield. You won’t be using them anyway.
Drive like Metro buses are no match for your Toyota Hybrid.
Minimum Costco parking lot speed? As fast as you need to dodge mega-carts full of bulk rubber gloves and trampolines and still get a spot — right at the front door. Your goal? Don’t walk any more than you need to.

Any more Seattle Rules of the Road you’d like to add? Just comment on this post.

A Warm, Glowing Spot on a Dreary Fall Night

sea_alex — Mon, 18 Oct 2004 21:07:59 +0000

Went to Serafina on Saturday night. It was warm and romantic, abuzz with couples on dates, old friends and people connecting on a cold, rainy, Seattle fall night. The strains of a jazz combo struggled above the din (on this night it was local jazz chanteuse Sue Nixon). The faint mental buzz of the Matthews Cellars Bordeaux Blend enveloped me. It was packed out, even at 11 PM. This was a great night, in a great place. Life was good.

I was sitting with my girlfriend, trying to jam down our sublime desserts after a big rustic Italian meal. If you haven

Beware, the Potholes!

sea_alex — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 00:12:55 +0000

As I trundled my way across from the Eastside into Ballard last Monday, I was again rudely reminded of the pathetically poor pavement in the Seattle area. As I arrived at my counselor’s office in Ballard, I didn’t know if I needed mental help, or backboard to isolate a spinal compression fracture. Alas, I could still get out of the car.

As my head stopped its incessant vibrating (this day, it was not the caffeine), I hearkened back to my past travels to East Germany, prior to its reunification. Sheeeshh! The roads there, frozen in time and disrepair since WWII, were not too far worse then the bone-jarring potholefest we call pavement in Seattle. I ain’t kiddin’. Why is this?

After all, the ticket police are out in force, even slapping me, a hapless Eastsider, with a Zone violation (parking in a residential area after hours). There is plenty of investment into new-fangled, bug-prone new parking systems to streamline the gathering of revenues. Yet, I drive around Seattle like I am in some kind of mad slalom, avoiding gaping holes with jagged edges. And it appears there are no improvements in sight. Though the City of Seattle would have you think otherwise.

My Volvo dealer is thrilled though, selling me all manner of suspension and front end repairs. I wonder if I could bill the City of Seattle?

Seattle – great city, but horrible pavement. Beware, the potholes!