There Goes The Quiet, Relaxing Weekend…
I really love weekends downtown, as it is usually very quiet in the morning, and stays relatively quiet all day (depending on construction at LAPD HQ- they are allowed to begin work at 8am on weekends). Last weekend, Memorial Day, was like heaven; once I was standing at corner of Main and 1st St and there were NO moving cars as far as the eye could see- beautiful!
I went to bed early last night (10pm) so I could get up early, feeling good, ready to hit the gym. At around 1am I was rudely awakened by concrete sawing in front of my building, while workers were trying to tie the LAPD HQ into the city sewer system. I took some Tylenol “Simply Sleep” (strongest sleeping pill I have) and finally went back to sleep.
Then at 6am I was awakened again, by blasts from a truck’s airhorn. I rub the “sand” out of my eyes and look out and now 2nd St is closed alongside the LA Times building, and a truck is pumping cement into what appears to be the 10th floor window of the building. It appears that the truck driver is communicating with the people inside the building via his air horn- every few minutes a blast or two (or three, four…) from the airhorn is signaling something- to me it’s signaling that my sleep is done and it’s time to get up. Bummer- I wanted to sleep at least until 6:30 undisturbed. I don’t know how they got a permit to do this at 6am, but I’m sure it’s similar to what they did with LAPD HQ and got permits w/o notifying the public. It will be interesting to see how others in my building react, as there are some pissed-off people here with all the construction and movie filming we have to put up with. Developing…
EDIT: Closing 2nd St in the “daytime” was supposed to not be allowed by DOT, according to their rationalization for work during nightime. When I was walking White Dog this a.m. I ended up wanting to walk from Broadway to Higgins on 2nd St, but they had the sidewalk “roped off”. Of course I went under rope and when someone tried to stop me I just yelled that I wanted to see the permit that allowed them to begin work before 6am and that allowed sidewalk closure. He had no answer so I proceded through the site…
it was nice running into you today.. hope I didn’t frighten you to death!
May 31st, 2008 at 7:09 pmHey Meeko- it was a pleasant surprise meeting you while we were both walking the same direction. I hope Isis and I did not scare YOU too much- we were both a little rough-around-the-edges.
I still want to meet up w/ you and Joe sometime- is he going to move soon? I have tons of questions about Hellman, Continental, South Park, etc.
Have a nice weekend (what’s left of it)!
Eric
May 31st, 2008 at 8:08 pmnot sure what Joe is going to do. I hope he doesn’t move.. I would be sorely bummed! Definitely will need to get the bunch of us together sometime!
As for who was scaring who, I thought I weirded you out.. and that comment about you saying you wouldn’t have recognized me or something got me thinking I spooked you! LOL. I’m bigger & scarier in person than a photo(or a catpooh video)! LOL =)
May 31st, 2008 at 10:23 pmI just meant that the photos of you with new haircut do not do you justice; in person you are younger and there’s no way you need to lose 30lbs.
I still think it’s funny that I was about to pass you walking Isis and you recognized her. Downtown is getting a real “small town” feel as I keep running into people on my walks- I love it!
It’s too quiet over here tonite- I need a constant drone to lull me to sleep. Oh well, another night of “Simply Sleep” I guess. Sweet dreams…
May 31st, 2008 at 10:49 pmheh heh yes I do.. (need to lose 30lbs or more actually)
and yes, downtown LA is very Mayberry to me… moreso than even New Orleans ever was,(always running into folks when I lived there). Kind of nice for the most part.
what what? was there no construction (went to Pitfire in the later evening and it seemed inactive but for the queue at the Edison).
June 1st, 2008 at 7:38 amNew Orleans? Berkley? You must have some great stories!
Last night and this a.m. were quiet. I’m sure construction is not done on sewer; they said 3-4 days to complete which means 2 weeks in “city speak”.
I’m off to gym- have a great Sunday as it’s beautiful out (and quiet!)
June 1st, 2008 at 8:20 am