Tower to be awoken...

It is with great enthusiasm to mention that the downtown Fiberglass Tower will start its revival as soon as next week. According to the story it looks to be the top 11 floors to get the fresh look and turned into 1 or 2 bedroom apartments. I've lived here in Toledo for the past 17 years and I always wondered why that building sat there empty. My wife (a life long Toledoan) informed me of the many reasons why it was vacant. On one of our walks through downtown we stopped by the tower where on Thursdays many food trucks come out and park along N. St. Clair street adjacent to the tower. While eating our food I noticed that the parking garage also owned by the Eydes had what looks to be retail spaces. My wife informed me that at one point those used to to have businesses and people would visit. Now the article and news release does not mention if they will be refinishing the retail spaces but it would add a whole new factor to the area. Especially with Promedica already underway with their construction of their new headquarters. A few retail/restaurants would be promising for the 600+ employees coming into downtown to work for Promedica. Exciting times ahead - so looking forward to seeing this completed. M.R.

Ubering 08/13/2016...

Good afternoon everyone.

First and foremost the following happened at 1:00 am this morning. I was requested to pick up a gentleman by the name of Ben from an excellent restaurant here in Toledo by the name of Sakura. During the ride to his home in downtown Toledo we had shared what's appropriate for a co-workers/partner to discuss when not with the main contributor of the company present. We agreed on so many levels which led us to discuss the partnership of several businesses that are starting to sprout in downtown. There is an old building by name of "The Berdan Building" that is being renovated. Ben informed me that it will have 112 apartments and the first floor will be dedicated to retail and a restaurant. I for one think that would be excellent for any resident in the downtown area living in the building or not.

Here is what the building looked like right before they started the work. Berdan A

Here is the proposed look after the renovations. Berdan B

Even though the artist rendition looks great the building right now looks amazing. They are moving along quite quickly and seeing the way they work it should be done in no time at all. Ben and I had a great conversation during that ride. Driving for UBER is definitely an eye opener in meeting new people.

Have a safe weekend everyone. :)

Tell Toledo » Blog Archive » 2011 Classics Gift Shop Book Sales

Tell Toledo » Blog Archive » 2011 Classics Gift Shop Book Sales
Just wanted to remind Toledoans that the Stuff-A-Bag Book Sale starts today and will continue until the 17th. The store officials will hand you a five dollar bag and you get to fill it with audio books, books and videos from specialty marked carts. So don't be late and get there soon - and if you see any books by Ted Bell please set it aside for me.

:)

Have fun!!

Hope and change...

Hope and change is what the Obama campaign rode on but unfortunately here in Toledo we seem to keep things the same without any strained thought. Once again we have another offer for the docks across from downtown Toledo and from what I've read/heard in other blogs (GCJ) and the many callers on the radio - it looks like we might be turning this down as well and continue to think that the city should be in the business of running a business. This city can't resist an opportunity to keep us in the depths of blight. We will dick this around for weeks, the group interested will change their minds and we will soon see matching plywood panels (like the many buildings in downtown) covering the windows of the empty restaurants and like clock work we will have the same stupid questions from elected officials i.e. "What can we do to better this city?".

Hoping for a change in the politics here in Toledo but I pretty much know the answer to that one.

Just a little concerned...

The other day when I went on my walk I noticed a section of the road I was on sinking on the edges. When I got closer I noticed three orange cones that were laying down near the area. The image you see to the left is that of the section of the road I'm speaking of. I stood the cones up so that those driving on that road would be aware of the possible danger. Would you believe me if I told you that on my way back from my walk I found the cones to be knocked over again and this time they were pushed towards the railing where no one can see them. I retrieved them from the brush and stood them back up, I have not gone back to see if they were untouched yet but if they are I'm going to see if I can get someone from the city to come over and see what they can do to keep these cones from being knocked down or removed. I'll post an update as soon as I get a chance to go on my walk today.

Trying to make some extra money...

Well this morning could not of been any more entertaining. I would like to first mention that I have been collecting a lot of metal materials like aluminum cans and other aluminum items so that I can take them into the recycling center and make some money. Well I have managed to hold on to about 26lbs of cans and about 108lbs of aluminum thus far. Well after getting it all to fit in my Camry I headed out to the center - along the way I happened to meet an interesting character. The character would be an unnamed rock/boulder - it made a really close introduction by scrapping under my car and causing what was a small gas leak turn into an all out gas leak. There I was trying to dispose of all this aluminum and the smell of gasoline can be picked by everyone there which of course had to inform me that I had a leak. DUH! I finally got the cans in one bin and the other material in another.

The cans were 26lbs for a huge payout of $10 (sarcastic face of course)! The other material was not processed because since most of it looked the same the center was cautious and asked me to get a letter head from my employer (they gave me the scrapped pieces) and bring it back so that I can get payed. Now here I was with a slip to fill out and a pocket with a fresh scented $10 bill in it and a huge concern if I was going to make it to the gas station or was I going to have to hike it to get some gas. Well the car did make it to the station but not before giving me some scary moments. That's right, the car stalled twice - once at a light and the other was right before I pulled into the gas station.

I managed to coast it in right up to a pump. The smell of gasoline was of course with me when I got out to pay for some more. I put in five bucks worth in hopes that it wouldn't be on the road immediately - I was able to drop it off at Doug's Automotive on South Avenue in Toledo. There the car sits until Doug looks at it tomorrow. So what started out to be a money maker ended up being what might be a large expense. Moral of the story - don't meet any strange "characters" on your way out because it will cost you one way or another. Your best bet is to swerve away.

Follow up...

UPDATE:

Well the pool is still filling up which I think will continue until about 9:30 or so. My two daughters were in and out of the pool while it was filling cooling off from the hot sun and warm air. Heck the dogs even joined in on the fun. We had to retrain them on how to stay afloat and paddle otherwise they (we have two dogs) will drop to the bottom like a couple of rocks. They were none too happy having to go around with wet doggy hair for about a half hour but they did have fun in the pool even though it was shallow enough for them to walk/swim around.

Out yesterday but in today...

I apologize for not putting something up yesterday - everything got really hectic at work so I wasn't able to put some time aside to post anything that was going on with me. Now today is a different day - woke up this morning wanting to do nothing but chill all day and do absolutely nothing. Well that lasted about two hours before I got bored and started my usual chores around the house. The one task I was not looking into starting today was the re-cleaning of the pool. My wife called me from a picnic that she was attending and asked if I could clean it because it looks like it will be rather warm the next few days.

Upon looking into the pool I really wanted to call her back and say that it was beyond hope but I didn't want this small chore hold me back from accomplishing yet another task. I managed to get it completely cleaned in about an hour and 45 minutes. Now the pool is filling up and my daughter and I are impatiently waiting to jump in and go for a nice fresh swim. I believe that my tan will be nice and dark by the end of tomorrow. Talk to you guys later.

You know it's coming...

YOU JUST MIGHT WANT TO PRINT THIS, FILE IT AWAY AND PULL IT OUT IN A YEAR OR SO.

Here is another warning from a very knowledgeable person from the Hollywood sector that is not a preaching Democrat. His words are spooky.

Grim predictions

The writer of this essay is Jerry Molen, an Academy Award winning Hollywood Producer, who produced Jurassic Park, Hook, Rain Man and many more classy movies, and who won the Academy Award for Schindler's List. Jerry is one of the very few conservatives in Hollywood - but wants to include Democrats. He says:

We are about to make the Mother-of-All-Mistakes, because the Republican Party gave us no reliable alternative. If the conservative movement does not rally behind the only alternative left to us, this country will become a true Socialist State within the next two Presidential terms.

Ladies and Gentleman, this is the most grave situation this nation has faced in my lifetime. We just experienced an over-hyped, outrageous primary election season that has left me wondering where the heads of our citizens are hiding - must be someplace where the sun doesn't go very often.

At one time in my life I was a determined, dedicated and ever-loyal registered Democrat. Then something happened - Lyndon Baines Johnson - that turned my life around and gave me pause for the veracity of a party that lives and feeds off of the most unfortunate among us. Some of them are in their positions in life by their own choosing, others by outside circumstance. But always, always there was a door open to them, to reach for new heights, achieve new goals, change their lives for the better. Similarly, there have always been the bottom feeders, doing what they could to take advantage of those who had not or have not seen better days, nor realized that they in fact were the masters of their own destiny - these unfortunates had come to believe that they were dependent on people in Washington, who would look out for and take care of them. They waited and still wait for all those promised freebies.

Most people don't reflect upon the fact that the Democrats ruled Washington for over 40 years; it wasn't until 1994 when the so-called Gingrich Revolution changed - but only for a while. These same people do not realize that it was the Democrats who created the failed policies of the entitlement programs that are now falling apart before our eyes.

Do not think I find the Republicans blameless in all this. They, too, suffer from the ego and greed built into our system. But in the past few months I have listened with growing horror to the railings of the left, calling for yet more giveaways, more promises of a proverbial 'free lunch.' What sums up my feelings, why I am appalled by those in political power is contained within a quote by basketball legend and talk show host Charles Barkley: 'Poor people have been voting for Democrats for the last fifty years....and they are still poor.'

Now, with our elections, come yet more new promises of 'change:' 'change we can believe in,' 'hope for the future'. But if you really, I mean REALLY listen to what the new messiah is asking for, it is not 'change of policy' or 'change for the better' - this is a warning that he wants our change. And the change you will get will not be the change you expected or wanted.

I leave you my predictions of what will happen if the junior Senator from Illinois becomes President - especially if the House and Senate are veto-proof Democrat:

1). Strict gun laws, though he promised he would not.

2). 'In God We Trust' will be removed from all currency.

3). He will renege on his pledge to Israel and leave them to the wolves of Islam.

4). Hillary Clinton will be named to the Supreme Court.
5). Tax rates will surge to the highest levels in 30 years.

6). Capital gains tax will be at least double current levels.

7). Retired Army General Wesley Clark will be named Secretary of Defense.
8). Our borders will be open to all comers - especially from the Middle East and South America .
9). Amnesty will be granted to all illegals in the U.S, regardless of status or even gang membership (think MS-13).
10). Our presence in Iraq will come to an abrupt end - with tragic results to their citizens and devastating consequences to our military.

My predictions will not sit well with some people - the best we could hope for is that I am wrong.

Any bets?

Council Meeting...

Yesterday had to be one of the most interesting days in Council history. I sat down and watched the recording that my wife had on the meeting. It started out to be normal with the prayer and pledge to the flag. It's what happened after that that had me on the edge. I was watching with a huge concern that was mainly based on the way the group itself behaved with each other. It was business as usual until M. Ashford asked/demanded for a question to be seperated. I know very little on the inner workings and the rules of this group but what I experienced from yesterday's meeting seemed to be that some of them had trouble understanding their own rules and regulations. The only thing I have to say in regards to the meeting is that they should at some point either get together and work out the questionable points in the books and find a way for all of them to understand them accordingly. Maybe a re-education course on them ins and outs of the rules is needed.

Saturday Photo Hunt - Skinny

Seeing that the theme for today was skinny I quickly remembered this shot. What you're looking at is the main builing in downtown Toledo 'One Government Center'. If the name didn't give it away, this building houses almost all of Toledo's politicians. City Council, Mayor's Spokesperson even the mayor himself. I chose this one because if you were ever in need to exit this building during an emergency I don't think through the window is a wise choice because they are too skinny. Click on the image for a closer look. I want to wish you all a safe and fun weekend.


Join in on the fun each and every Saturday!

COSI is gone...

If some of you don't know what I mean by the title, the title is in regards to a Science Museum that had a bit of trouble the past few years. They had a levy for it this past election and it went down in defeat by a large number. I didn't get the opportunity to visit the museum but from what I heard from my friends and neighbors the place was nice to visit every once in awhile but not consistently.

Most of them said that the museum needed to bring some different exhibits for the kids rather then keeping the old ones running. I even expressed that the museum should incorporate Ohio's/Toledo's CSI Unit and have a section in the museum dedicated to forensic technology where they can have either students or parents come in and get an inside look at the steps and procedures taken by the unit. They could of had a weekend program running for about a month showing others how to grid a crime scene and collect valuable evidence that can potentially solve the case in hand.

The picture you see to the right corner is that of the building in which the Science Museum is located currently. I'm not sure if anyone is interested in the spot as of yet but it is a great location for a club/restaurant. Let's see what the city decides to do with it. The blue is the roof of the museum so you can see the size in which would be available to a new business.

Added Source...

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During last night's news broadcast I heard them mention a site where you can go and get detailed information on closed roads and delays due to construction. The site is called Buckeye Traffic. Take a look and see for yourself how it looks like and try out some of their features. I currently use it to see what roads are going to be closed as well as which ones are being detoured. Check them out and have fun with it.

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42 years and growing...

Kecksburg UFO Incident (1965)

Many believe that the large fireball observed in the sky above Ontario, Canada, and six US states was nothing more than a passing meteor. However, residents of the small town of Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, claim that a car-sized, acorn-shaped object with hieroglyphic-like markings crashed in a nearby wood. The military denied these allegations of course. Dozens of others - including fire fighters, newspaper reporters, and a news director at radio station WHJB who was on the scene taping interviews - describe the military presence at the crash site, the cordoning off of the area, and the retrieval of an object transported by an army truck. Many witnesses have provided signed affidavits for investigator Stan Gordon, who has been working on the case for over three decades. Now something like this would be great for the city of Toledo. What I'm saying is that if something of this magnitude happened here it would of brought up a lot of money from tourists looking for the strange and unusual.

A different look at it...

When I watched this video I began to wonder how many restaurants here in Toledo throw away good food in order to make room for the next delivery? What Ruthy Woodring is and has been doing for quite some time now can only be seen as wonderful, not only is she helping those who aren't able gather their own food but she's doing her part to make sure these items don't end up in some landfill. I want to send a special thank you to her and her friends who take the time to make sure that food like this isn't wasted. Actually, if our city officials can talk to local businesses about their daily habit we might be able to decrease the hunger numbers by about 20 to 25 percent. When my wife and I participated in the annual Tent City in downtown Toledo I had the chance to sit down and talk to a gentleman that saw the annual event very uplifting and helpful to those who feel there is no hope for them. If you're a restaurant owner or a worker and you're reading this please take the added time to keep that extra food that you normally throw out and contact your local organization that provides food to the homeless and see if they can distribute that food to people that very same night.
To get more information on Tent City and donations please call 419.349.4969 or email them at hap@taaeh.com
VIDEO at CNN

Citizens On Patrol = COP

This idea is something that I can see myself pushing here in Toledo area. Our police force is a bit slim so this extra help would definitely help keep our neighborhoods safe from those who like to express their "freedom" to speed and potentially kill someone. I support this action as much if not more then the red light camera system that catches red light runners. Both types of ways of catching law breakers are ok with me.
VIDEO

Veteran Ben Israel...

About 44,000 to 64,000 veterans are classified as "chronically homeless" -- homeless for long periods or repeatedly.
Other veterans -- nearly 468,000 -- are experiencing "severe housing cost burden," or paying more than half their income for housing, thereby putting them at a high risk for homelessness.

This past weekend my wife and I volunteered at the Annual Tent City here in downtown Toledo, OH. She and I helped serve many of those very same vets as well as non-vets. The sight of seeing that many homeless individuals brought out a lot of volunteers as well as many organized groups to help out. We intend on donating time, energy and money to help those who need the extra leverage to get back on their feet. Watching the video I can hear it in Mr. Israel's voice that he has experienced one too many rough nights. If you are currently helping those who are in need of help I would like to say Thank You, if you have been thinking about it but haven't found the time to do so please try to make the time, you'll see the difference your help brings to their eyes and hearts.
VIDEO

4 Houses to visit...

I received a flyer today and on it I saw what looks to be a very disturbed clown. It was a flyer for the Chainsaw Creek Haunted Attractions at the Westfiled Franklin Park. I haven't been to a haunted house in years and from the looks of these four types it looks like I'm not going with anyone any time soon. My daughters won't be brave enough to come in with me and I know that my wife doesn't really particularlly care for haunted houses. So my visiting days are not near enough. :)
If some of you reading this end up going please leave a comment here on this post detailing your experience. Oh and if you do go don't forget to print this coupon so that you can save a few bucks before being scared out of you pants.
COUPON

Helping with the bills.

I ran into this site about a week ago and did not talk about it because I thought it was a set up. Although I thought it was fake, it seems that the company is actually legit. They offer you a set amount of money per month to visual present whatever product the company chooses from your selection of items. This would help me out a lot, especially making it a little easier for me to pay my bills. If you want to make a little extra cash for yourself then by all means visit this site today.

Another duct tape moment...

How much will any one of you reading this bet me that one of these clowns will try to go to court and appeal their citation because they had the right to face their accuser. View the video below. My answer would be simply this "Look jerk-off if you hadn't been speeding by these tolls and not paying we might of caught you eventually but because you're a fu*#ing crook and would rather break the law instead of paying now we have to use cameras just to catch your dumb butt". It's just like here in Toledo, we have the red light camera system where they take the a photo of your car when you run a light, some morons here start crying invasion of privacy. My simple answer would be "STOP AT A RED!" If you know you're not going to make it then for god's sake stop and wait for the next green light, don't take the chance of being caught breaking the law. No one will invade your fu*#ing privacy if you obey the laws, it's as simple as that. I need to buy stock in duct tape.
VIDEO