• Cyburbia is a friendly big tent, where we share our experiences and thoughts about urban planning practice, the built environment, planning adjacent topics, and anything else that comes to mind. No ads, no spam, and it's free. It's easy to join!

Daily things 5️⃣ Five Things Friday

1. If you hang in the left lane for 5 plus miles and make everyone go around you because you're not even going the speed limit; the penalty should be justifiable homicide.
2. Pine straw looks nice when it first goes down but after that, ugh.
3. Aforesaid pine straw does not do nearly the job that mulch does cutting down on weeds.
4. I inadvertently used my city issued credit card to pay for my haircut. :r:
5. There is a lot of drama in dog parks; most of it not caused by dogs.
 
1 - city crew subbed out pine straw for mulch in the tree pits downtown - it doesn't blow away
2 - we have a bit of a saturated market of tract builder homes at the moment
3 - thought I lost my watch the other day, until I found it in the bottom of my golf bag
4 - the answer to your first question MD is YES.
5 - looks like a pressure washing kind of weekend.
 
MD Planner said:
1. If you hang in the left lane for 5 plus miles and make everyone go around you because you're not even going the speed limit; the penalty should be justifiable homicide.
Click to expand...
This especially is true in Arizona where we all do 80 and you're the one guy doing 5 over the speed limit in the left lane. You will cause an accident by everyone trying to get around you.
 
1) Busy weekend. Wedding tomorrow, movie date Sunday, and lunch Monday with a teacher friend.

2) Stars :hockey: Game 2 tonight!!!!!

3) Haven't been sleeping well. I think I need new pillows.

4) Took dad out for lunch earlier this week. He likes trying new places.

5) My sister's new cat decided to show me her butthole when we were talking. Not the cat's best look.
 
1 - the business owner I had the run-in with yesterday is now playing all nice - it might be that she got some backlash postings
2 - store hours being 10-5 and 4 days a week makes you a hobby business in my book
3 - The Girl loves her summer internship & it's only the first 2 weeks
4 - still no job for Mrs. P & I told her to enjoy her 'first retirement' for now
5 - thought about tacos for lunch since they've been in the news lately ;)
 
1. Last plasma appointment of the month tonight
2. $100 day
3. Closing in on $10,000 since starting
4. Tax free
5. Son sometimes hooks me up/disconnects me
 
1) Happy that Cyburbia is back up. I think it is healthy for us to have an outlet to discuss things on a regular basis.
2) I am exhausted today. New puppy didn't want to sleep and spent the night barking and whining.
3) We have a new restaurant opening on our Town Square in a week. I am extremely excited. Their other locations are amazing.
4) It is going to be hot this weekend. I predict a lot of pool time in our future.
5) In April we got 12.54 inches of rain, average is 5.87. In May we got 9.31 inches. Average is 5.24. So far, we have had 10.31 inches of rain... average June total is 4.52 inches, and we still have 10 days. Overall, more than double the total rain fall each month for the past 3 months is crazy.
 
1 - I've caught up on everything after being away at CNU
2 - Providence was a fun time & we spent a day in Newport
3 - the big downtown project is 95% complete but the streets & sidewalks are all open ...whew
4 - there's a couple great private renovation projects in the works that we discussed in detail today with the developer & it's all on go
5 - Mrs. P has 3 interviews set up.
 
1. New gutter quote for $1500 dollars - 80 feet of gutter and downspouts
2. Too hot too soon
3. Setting a few trail cameras tomorrow
4. Installing brake pads on my car Sunday
5. My posse is not on Broadway
 
1) I have 4 work events outside of normal work hours this week. But they are all enjoyable, so that is good. Wife is coming to the one tomorrow night. There will be alcohol at that one!
2) My weekly allergy shots have made a heck of a difference.
3) After 11 months, wife turned in her letter of resignation at the hospital that she is at, taking a step down and pay cut to go to a different hospital. She said she cannot deal with the unsafe practices at the current place and even though she has pushed like crazy to get them to improve their protocols to keep patients safe, they haven't. This included keeping a doctor who had a clear malpractice issue.
4) This weekend I intend to do some gardening, some painting, some woodworking, some pool relaxing, and smoke a brisket. On and the soft-open for a new restaurant.
5) Our pool water is currently 83 degrees... Wife is saying that it is starting to get warm enough to swim in. Given the 95+ temps, it still feels cooler than the air, but if it gets any warmer, I am going to start pouring bags of ice into it.
 
1- this has been a better week since major construction is done, just punch-list items which include rebuilding about 25 feet of sidewalk.
2- bought a new mosquito repelling device & it seems to be working
3- I usually don't use my AC in the car, but I've had to this week
4- will be working on an art project this weekend, but other than that not much
5- Mrs. P did not get a job offer (yet).
 
1 - we postponed our downtown concert last night due to potential severe thunderstorms...which showed up @ 8:45 exactly when we would have begun teardown
2 - there's a feral cat in the hood (think it lives in the drainage pipe @ the park) & my neighbor can't stand it - we hear him yelling at it occasionally when we're outside
3 - we've tried to befriend the cat, but it always stays about 20' from us
4 - we have a lot of dog walkers downtown, but Parks & Rec are against the city having a dog park due to "liability & maintenance"
5 - plans for Saturday night, but nothing else right now due to high heat forecast.
 
1. Mowed the lawn early this morning (sorry neighbors) and then clocked in at 7:45 WFH
2. Morning glory is a tough weed
3. Will need to paint each weed with roundup to kill
4. Takes birds at least a day to come back to a full feeder
5. I see the need to replace several 22 year old sprinkler heads
 
1) We had a heck of a storm yesterday. Early results say that we got almost 3 inches of rain in 45 minutes. I had to redo the chemicals in the pool when I was home for lunch.

2) In anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence next year, I am digging deeper into some of the less popular participants of the revolutionary period. I decided to start with the guy who they say really started it all, Samuel Adams.

3) Hotel booked for Anniversary Trip. Wife wanted something with a balcony overlooking a street and a bar in the hotel. I am also going to find a really nice restaurant and make reservations now.

4) I am going to RJ today.

5) A new person came into my office confused the other day. My office has one window, but each of the division leads that I oversee have 5 windows. However my office is centrally located. Being new, I don't want to take anyone's office.
 
1. Someone is cleaning carpets at the daycare across the street - the kind where the machines are outside in the back of the truck. That means that I get to listen to the loud noise until they're done. I want to enjoy peaceful time on my porch.
2. Friends and I are taking a bike ride tomorrow.
3. I made buckwheat crepes for lunch. I filled one with cheese, ham, and an egg.
4. PA is experiencing 911 outages today. My phone keeps beeping with alerts.
5. I put my tent up. I think I'll sleep in it a couple of nights.
 
1) Wife's last day at her current job. Some coworkers bot her a bottle of liquor that she loves. Knowing that place, they might try to write her up for having alcohol on hospital grounds.
2) I need to decide of I am going to lower the pool level a bit (to the point were we will not be able to use it) to fix a couple if tiles that popped off, or should I just wait until late fall when we make some much needed repairs and updates.
3) It is going to be more than $1,000 to replace the windshield on my wife's vehicle. It is the glass and the recalibration of all the fancy sensor stuff that she has going on.
4) I want to find some butterfly bushes for my back yard. I also need to put together a landscape plan for an area next to the fence that gets just enough shade to exclude some plants, but also enough sun to exclude others. It is going to be an very interesting site.
5) Wife is into watching "Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol".
 
^^^#3 can usually get fixed for $0 with your insurance. I've used that twice.
Check it out with them.
 
1 - it's hot, very hot & did I mention it was HOT
2 - travel plans in flux & will need to be worked out soon
3 - I wonder if the neighbors would be upset if I mowed the grass @ 10:30 pm (to avoid the heat)
4 - I fell asleep during the All-Star :baseball: game about the 7th inning & did not get to see the new ending
5 - huge :soccer: match tmrrw for our local team
 
1. As usual, court today
2. Just got a complaint from a resident excoriating city staff for "promoting" homelessness. Huh. Must have been the 'summer homeless skills' class we offered kids through our Parks programs
3. I am SO ready for this workday to be done
4. Harvested 3.2 lbs of green beans this week. Will have to can them this weekend
5. Radiohead. I get it.
 
1. Work schedule is 6 AM To 5 PM. The sun is hot and the air will be 94º.
2. I'm going to a Christmas in July party tomorrow. It benefits Make a Wish. I'm taking my tent with me.
3. Today is a good day to work on reports in the car.
4. Traveling for work has pretty much eliminated my desire to take road trips.
5. Working with men, I learned to stand shoulder to shoulder when we talk. One guy here likes to stand face to face with a respectable distance between us. It's awkward for me.
 
1 - the contractor on our big downtown project is complaining that we haven't finished signing off on the punch list items for 2 weeks - I guess they forgot they drug the project out 6 months longer than contracted
2 - staff is not doing this on purpose but people do take summer vacations
3 - love the smell of a crock pot meal cooking all day when you walk into the house after work
4 - The Girl did an 8-mile paddling trip yesterday FOR WORK & today is the science lead on a lake sampling trip - she has enjoyed her summer internship working for the riverkeepers
5 - the minor league :soccer:team is playing in the national semifinals this weekend!!!
 
1. Itty Bitty is big! She grew 4 inches since last year!
2. Hoping to have Korean food for dinner tonight. Yum!
3. My cats don't like to cuddle and it vexes me so. I want to get more kitties in hopes that one will cuddle with me.
4. Hubby is not on-board with my crazy cat lady fantasy.
5. Looking at volunteer vacations where you get to help sea turtles including hatchlings! I would not do well with the "don't interfere with nature" rule.
 
1) Still looking for work.

2) Spending a lot of time indoors, as it's HOT here in Tx.

3) Took dad to dr appt this morning. Later, after lunch, he decides to scare the crap out of me and fall on the sidewalk! Old men with canes and on blood thinners should not be bleeding on the side of the parking lot.

4) No major damage except to his pride, but it took a while for my pulse to get down after spiking.

5) There will be wine with dinner tonight!
 
dandy_warhol said:
3. My cats don't like to cuddle and it vexes me so. I want to get more kitties in hopes that one will cuddle with me.
Click to expand...

[clears throat]
1753703486588.png
1753703497874.png
1753703540339.png
 
1. Sundance dinner and Summer Theater tomorrow night - Wizard of Oz.
2. Taking in-laws and FiL has sundowners...this should be interesting.
3. Mrs. finished up her BSN - reservation made at Ruth's Chris to celebrate.
4. Son took my car on his honeymoon and left me his truck.
5. I want a truck.
 
1. I still want to be a Jaguar

2. I need to get in shape. I have come to really admire Kyokushin, the full contact no pads, no helmets, just balls style of Karate that Sean Connery, Georges St. Pierre & Jean Claude Van Damme trained in. But the closest dojo to Buffalo is an hour away in a suburb of Rochester, and I don't want to drive that far tri-weekly for ass-kickings. So I'll probably just join a BJJ gym in North Buffalo that my grappler friend recommends. I am also getting a used road bike (gave the one I had downstate to my Dad). Again, if I was a Jaguar; life would keep me in shape.

3. I will be spending the weekend in Allentown, Buffalo's artsy chic district that is actually very charming and not terribly aloof like Bushwick, Brooklyn or Lawrenceville in Pittsburgh. I'll be there for my homie's big 45th birthday bash, it feels weird that 1980 is 45 years ago.

4. If I found a 1980 Ford Fairmont still alive for a reasonable price, it would be hard to turn down, even though I am a Volvo/GM/Toyota guy.

5. The biggest danger to Jaguars in Latin America are A. other Jaguars and B. Humans
 
SlaveToTheGrind said:
High school had two 1980 Fairmonts for driver's ed. Thankfully, I was assigned the 1985 Chevy Celebrity. Better, but not my much.
Click to expand...
Thing is, they shared the RWD Fox platform with the 1979-93 Mustangs. So even though Fairmont's in their day were the epitome of boring car, they are infinitely modifiable.

If I ever found a holy grail manual Fairmont, I'd rip out that 2.3 Lima (which would probably be ded anyway) and put in a 5.0 or a 351 Windsor. For an automatic, I would do a full Electric conversion. Problem is finding them, they all got junked, demolition derby'd and crashed in the 1990s.
 
1 - a simple rezoning has turned into an election fight issue
2 - no real plans for the weekend except my brother coming in town on Sunday
3 - my other brother is coming up mid-week which is rare because he barely leaves SEFlorida
4 - a friend of mine back in the day had a Fairmont - she sold it after a gallon of milk spilled in the trunk & could never get the smell out
5 - there's some glitch in goggle or apple maps - it shows the license plate agency at our business address.
 
The Terminator said:
Thing is, they shared the RWD Fox platform with the 1979-93 Mustangs. So even though Fairmont's in their day were the epitome of boring car, they are infinitely modifiable.

If I ever found a holy grail manual Fairmont, I'd rip out that 2.3 Lima (which would probably be ded anyway) and put in a 5.0 or a 351 Windsor. For an automatic, I would do a full Electric conversion. Problem is finding them, they all got junked, demolition derby'd and crashed in the 1990s.
Click to expand...
Likely applies to the Zephyr and others?
 
1) I have a craving for cold weather foods... but it is still way too hot for those dishes.
2) A business owner that I know is upset that an org hired someone who they think is too young. Personally, I think they are extremely qualified, have worked for organizations that we would want that org to replicate, and I think their youth might be a good thing for the community.
3) Thanks to the AC, our power bill this month was a little scary.
4) The number and value of all the 'fees' associated with classes and programs at our HS is unreal. We have spent well over $1,000 just on our oldest.
5) Wife got "Doggy DNA" tests for our dogs. They are 100% mutts. We were surprised by the mix of our oldest because she does not really have those personality characteristics.
 
michaelskis said:
4) The number and value of all the 'fees' associated with classes and programs at our HS is unreal. We have spent well over $1,000 just on our oldest.
Click to expand...
My stepdaughter went to a private school because of residency issues related to custody. I was shocked by the $500-1500 fees for some extracurriculars but assumed it was due to being a private school. I was recently talking to someone at the high school our younger daughter will attend in a 4 years and they mentioned that things like show choir and band were $500-700 in fees, not including travel expenses.

My high school growing up was well funded and we still had to fundraise constantly, but I don't think we had to shell out that much for band or sports.
 
1 - went to see Book of Mormon in the big city last night (HAHAHA)
2 - been a fun week since Monday's meeting - when a decent development plan collides with election fodder
3 - my oldest brother is up from Fla (a rare occurrence) & staying in the mountains - we've kept the weekend open to meet him but have not heard from him yet
4 - preparing a presentation for a conference & looking through pictures to include - there are soooo many to choose from my eyes are starting to cross
5 - the summer festival kicks off this weekend with a car show, street concerts during the week & the parade on Thursday.
 
1. Trying to get my 22 year old refrigerator repaired. Pain. In. The. Butt.
2. at least I have this afternoon to make some calls
3. The garden is winding down. I suppose I could harvest potatoes this weekend
4. Also need to harvest the dwarfish surviving onions
5. I have a craving for classic Christmas sugar cookies
1755268609874.png
 
1. Love the new job, the team, and the community I am working for.
2. The 28 mile commute is not bad so far, some traffic on the bridge over the Columbia into Oregon this AM though
3. Contending with "just having the divorce talk" with my wife, long road ahead but I am ok.
4. The family is flying to Florida right now, I am staying behind. (see note above). Having some awkwardness in the house so far-it'll be 9 days on my own.
5. Trying to lean in on part-time solo life per the direction of my therapist and planning some things with friends this week.

(Not sure if 5 Things needs to be all positive... I have been on here in a while)
 
I'm sorry you're going through a rough time, z.

I don't like coffee cake. Never have. I don't care for coffee, either.

I've been in a cabin in a state park this week. I've been thinking about some things, and I'll be making some changes.

I also slept a lot.

I'm driving to a diner in the country that also sells authentic Mexican food. I'd love to know the story about how selling Mexican food in the middle of Pennsylvania came about.
 
1. I have never had a craving for classic Christmas sugar cookies. Reminds me of the fellowship hall at church growing up and doilies and red punch.
2. If you think about it, there is also a story about how selling German food in the middle of Pennsylvania came about. And Mexico is closer!
3. There is a Woodstock type band at the bandshell tonight in the community. Going to check it out.
4. I started a drainage project in the backyard 2 weeks ago. It has rained 12 out of the last 14 days so no progress has been made.
5. Attended the groundbreaking for I-95 widening project yesterday. $728MM - biggest contract in state DOT history. Includes 13 bridges.
 
1. Jaguars in the Caiman Ecological Reserve in the Pantenal are actively monitored by Brazilian government ecologists and a non-profit called Instudo Onca Pintada. The scientists can tell the cats apart by each of the animal's unique rosette patterns, and give the cats names like "pirate", "ginger", "scarface" and "gatuna". Its really cute! However the tours cost an arm and a leg: https://www.caiman.com.br/en/ (Caiman, Pantanal: conservation, comfort and adventure)

2. Jaguars make horrible pets. Especially when their bite force is around 1500 PSI. "play time", even with even a "tame" Jag can get you killed! Do not support "Safari Sammy" or Single Vision "sanctuary" in Florida. In all the videos they make of their Jaguar for social media, the cats are drugged! Follow real wildlife orgs not Florida sketch backyard zoos! https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/which-big-cat-has-the-strongest-bite

3. A new Jaguar that has been popping up since 2021, has been spotted in Arizona again! I support Jaguar reintroduction in the Southwest: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2025/08/11/jaguar-arizona-sighting/85607690007/ (A jaguar was spotted in Arizona. Here's what to know about the elusive big cat)

4. In Playa del Carmen, some Jaguar's have become adapted to urban environments and eat out of landfills and dumps. These cats tend to be smaller and less aggressive than their Brazilian counterparts, although you still don't want to try and "pet" one! https://latinamericanscience.org/mexicos-urban-jaguars

5. Jaguars dont meow like domestic cats or howl/screech like Bobcats. They ROAR like Tigers and Lions. But it is a unique roar that Biologists commonly refer to as a "saw" because it sounds kind of like wood being cut.

 
1. Ruth' Chris for dinner tomorrow night.
2. September trip to the parents scheduled; driving with my oldest brother.
3. Son picked up a welding job - no more Lowe's.
4. Golfing this weekend and next.
5. Fall is just around the corner.
 
1) Booked a trip to visit my sister next month.

2) Also plan to "run away" to my cousin's place while she's traveling to help take care of 4 dogs.

3) Still looking for a job.

4) Hubby supports my trip to my cousin's place (30 miles away), but is not so happy with my trip to my sister's.

5) I am so ready to actually be working. Being laid off in this economy sucks.
 
1) Assembling documents for a pitch to a new use what we want to go after.
2) Looking forward to attending the first home HS football game.
3) A lot of moving parts going on at work right now. All good stuff!
4) I wanted to have a good workout this morning... by body and other thoughts. I worked out, but the energy and strength just wasn't there.
5) I had some really weird dreams last night. The kind where you wake up trying to remember if you did LSD or mushrooms before bed or something. Please Note: I don't do drugs *
 
1 - we ate curry tofu last night for dinner & both of us had weird dreams
2 - yesterday was parade day here & I took the day off to go see my brother
3 - election crap has been pretty nasty already, but its getting worse & more personal towards the city manager
4 - lots a very positive comments about how the downtown looks after streetscape completion
5 - I need to work on my upcoming presentation
 
1) Slow Friday here - just finished a library book and have dinner in the crockpot.

2) Next week has several events, and hopefully one of them will lead to a real job.

3) My sister ordered some things for me to bring when I visit. Because of that, I have to take a suitcase (rather than just a backpack).

4) I went to the fancy grocery store earlier this week. Didn't buy much but it was still an interesting stop.

5) I wish my trip to my sister's was sooner.
 
1. My 1999 Camry isnt as fooked as I thought. Got the power mirrors and my 12v lighter charger port to come back with new fuses. Also got under the car, and I'm fairly confident I can fix the exhaust with zip ties, a heatshield and one of 3 bolts on the catback flange are missing. I thought it was a bad gasket seal or rust holes. Rust in general underneath isnt ideal, but hasn't eaten into the frame of the car yet.

2. Clouded Leopards are soooooooooo cute. But you shouldn't keep one unless you are a registered wildlife rehabilitator or sanctuary. But they are exponentially less dangerous than Jaguars and generally do not harm humans but still illegal in NYS. Clouded's are also significantly more endangered than Jaguars.

3.
4. Newish job is going v well, I feel valued and like im doing good work.

5. I may go to a Bisons game tomorrow in Buffalo
 
1) I hate automated messages. They either can't pronounce my name correctly or they have some sort of glitch that makes them hard to understand.

2) Long weekend! Alumni event and lunch with friends.

3) Have some books due at the library. Need to get them dropped off.

4) My sister's made plans for my visit, so I won't be sitting around eating bonbons.

5) I'm ready for a nap.
 
1 - it's quiet here, except for the election crowd
2 - no big plans for the weekend, except for a day trip out of town
3 - both the federal & local politics are wearing on me, except I'll know about the future of this little town come this November
4 - is it wrong to take some small amount of pleasure when you hear bad news about someone who has wronged you in the past, except its not but...
5 - I keep looking, but I have yet to see a leopard in the park next door.
 
1 - found out today I'm being tapped to chair our firm's Futures Committee. I'll be the first non-engineer. I'll also be leading a presentation on integrated resilience planning to the C-suite next week

2 - taking my 5 year old to her first real concert this weekend... we went with Fitz and the Tantrums since it us usually a good crowd experience

3 - tomorrow is probably the final water park day of the year

4 - my garage+ADU in the backyard is scheduled for final+CO inspection on Tuesday next week!

5 - family movie night tonight is a classic - Honey I Shrunk the Kids
 
Back
Top