T-SPLOST: Great idea or boondoggle? You decide on July 31

I’ve been thinking about the T-SPLOST referendum set for a vote on July 31. The Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is one of those issues that aren’t attractive to most busy folks who are just trying to make it through the day. Who can blame busy folks? Junior’s little league and soccer games are a lot more interesting than say, where dollars are directed in a proposed sales tax.

Sure, most of the electorate kind of wakes up during presidential election seasons and are nudged by intense media coverage and political ads to get to the voting booths. But, when it comes to primaries, runoffs and referendums, most of the population takes a collective yawn. Translation: Low voter turnout.

So, who votes? It is the engaged who get out on Election Day and vote their conscience. The T-SPLOST issue looks to be no different. Tea partiers and environmentalists alike are burning up talk radio, television, social networks and blogs with their opinions. Strange bedfellows indeed, but when examining how this phenomenon took place, it makes quite a bit of sense. Tea Party members are not too happy about what they perceive as government expansion and more incompetence. Environmentalists do not like the amount of proposed roads in the plan thus feeling that traffic congestion and pollution will continue to get worse.

Despite the “policy-nerd” angle of T-SPLOST, all of us in Georgia ought to care about the July 31 vote. T-SPLOST would fund a mix of major transportation projects throughout the state. After decades of unprecedented growth, projects like the expansion of Peachtree Parkway are much-needed to relieve congestion. Yes, it would be nice to have rail line run all the way up the center of Peachtree Industrial Blvd from near the Chamblee MARTA station up to Peachtree Parkway and all the way to Georgia 400, but I’m dreaming. I would love to never have to get in my car on a daily basis again, but that type of plan is not attainable for a myriad of reasons.

Proponents say that T-SPLOST is a good start, that “something needs to be done” about our bad traffic and quality of life thus possibly jeopardizing the area’s possible future economic expansion. Opponents claim that the plan is a flat-out boondoggle. I’m still reading up on the pros and cons, but the sound of expanding Peachtree Parkway sounds very good.

The ATL’s “Endless Summer”

Is anyone crazy from the heat yet? We barely scratched the surface with the month of May and our poor little A/C units are starting to churn along. Wasn’t it just a few days ago that our own furnace units were on? Now, Mother Nature’s furnace unit is going full blast, breaking records no doubt. Yes, “Spring Fever” is normal at this time of the year, but this feels more like “Summer Beach Fever.” Speaking of the beach, the Beach Boys just played Chastain Amphitheater in Atlanta. Did they leave us with an actual “Endless Summer” in the Atlanta metro area early? Seriously folks, we’re weeks away from Memorial Day!

Really, I hate to whine, but is this a sick joke? I’m writing this post on April 30, National Honesty Day. Please weather experts, be honest and give it to me straight: Will we be sweltering through Halloween this year? I think the experts would give me a full “thumbs up” answer to that query, but they’re too scared that we will bombard Home Depot early this season to deplete their supply of fans and air conditioning window units.

Well, we all know that Home Depot and other home improvement centers will have a nice summer — laughing all the way to the bank with our hard-earned dollars as we seek our respites from the scorching heat. Georgia Power and other electricity providers in the Southeastern United States will also have a great summer as our electric meter counters and spindles accelerate faster than a deer crossing the highway. Car repair centers also have a field day, reviving our already-taxed auto A/C units. To this day, I cannot believe I moved to this area in an un-air-conditioned vehicle. I replace that vehicle with one that leaked Freon. No, I couldn’t catch a break from the heat in those days!

Still, as I expressed in this space before: I would rather put up with the expected high temps – which is our worst weather – than piles of snow for months at a time, which is the worst weather for those who live way north of us. Indeed, I could do without the severe weather which seems to be plaguing the South more these days. You know those events that typically feature heavy downpours, hail and worse yet, twisters. When the severe weather visits the area, you know it is bad when some of the male local television weather gurus pull 18-hour shifts of wall-to-wall coverage with sleeves rolled up as they spot those “animated spinning cells” on their super computers.

Well, there’s not a dang thing we can do about this heat. Buckle up; it’s going to be a long, hot ride. Stay cool Hotlanta. 

Remembering ‘Comrade’

I somewhat have a head for dates. My old friends used to joke about that fact, but I’m far from being like actress Marilu Henner who remembers every single day of her life. Now, that’s amazing. In addition to some useful dates, I tend to remember more obscure ones like the anniversary of one of the Super 8mm films that my friends and I produced during adolescence.

The latest anniversary came to me in March 2012 when the 30^th anniversary of our short re-make of the Clark Gable classic, Comrade: X rolled around. Well, it wasn’t exactly a “re-make;” we just copied the title because it sounded cool… As teenagers we discovered a little something about the Cold War. We were somewhat fascinated by the psycho warfare between the United States and the Soviet Union. Those feelings pretty much ended there since we were typical apathetic American teenage boys. So, my film-making buddy Dan and I set out to film the short with me playing the American hero who battles the Soviets who planned to bomb the White House and put the U.S. under Russian rule. For the role of Stephen Harlowe, I put on my best jacket, cords and boots to play a nerdy hero who stumbles upon the Soviet’s secrets. In the film, the unlikely hero Stephen battles “the KGB” and an evil dictator by the name of Comrade: X played by my other friend Chuck.

I’m not trying to over-analyze a Super 8 film from my youth, but I think our short version of Comrade: X is somewhat telling in retrospect. Like millions of others who have grown up in America, I was a kid raised on the “Clint Eastwood of good versus evil” model. That basic motif plays out in so much of our modern media. No, I wasn’t anywhere near part of that 1950s “duck and cover” generation who were most likely a bit more aware of the U.S.-Soviet tensions, but we had our concerns in the early 1980s. Not terribly far after we filmed Comrade: X, the television film, The Day After was released and it certainly had an impact on me.

After filming that short, my friends and I produced two sequels — both almost 30 minutes in length, quite an expensive feat in those days: The Last Day and The Optimist. The Last Day shows Stephen being kidnapped by the masked KGB and taken to the Baltic Sea to build a Soviet nuclear bomb. The Optimist deals with its predecessor’s fallout.

So, here I am 30 years later reflecting that those issues are quite trivial compared to what the world is dealing with today. My daughter has been producing video shorts for the past few years, some of which deal with current events. I wonder how she will reflect upon those projects 30 years from now.

Crazy April Winds

I’ve seen these winds before many times over my 23 years in the Atlanta metro area, but Sunday and Monday’s winds were extraordinary. I’m always nervous during these windstorms. The winds howl as if they’re playing a practical joke on you. Trees are challenged to stand up to the sudden gusts’ strength. Most pines, oaks and poplars make it through the storm; some do not – like my neighbor’s pine that snapped at approximately the ten-foot mark back in February 2009. Two sections of my fence were taken out. I quickly mended the old wooden and chicken wire barrier that keeps the deer out most of the time. The garage door spring creaks with a sickening sound as if it’s being torture. I hate to be dramatic about a garage door, but during these winds, I’m afraid the poor thing is stressed out and wants to break free of its captivity! Speaking of breaking free, the gutter screens have long blown away – loosened by my old friends, the squirrels who love to pop under them and ride the gutters trying to find ways to get in my warm attic. When will those clueless fur-balls learn that I have done everything under the sun to keep them out? I wish they would pack up their acorns and get back into the forest.

The most disheartening moment during the weekend portion of the windstorm was the loss of my beloved outdoor lawn table. I lost one before – about 18 years ago during a night when a twister skipped through Grayson. I begged the Sunbeam Company to send me a glass replacement. The company had heart at that time and quickly obliged with a nice piece of glass. That same glass surface met its demise on Sunday, along with the table’s legs. It’s a total loss. Other lawn furniture seemed to pull through.

The local television and radio reporters always jump into special overdrive during any unusual weather event that involves inconvenience and destruction. The windstorms are no different. Those dedicated, determined and dependable reporters camp out for hours in front of fallen oaks that landed on electric lines leaving Georgia Power customers in the dark for hours.  

So here we were in late April experiencing highs in the lows 60s (F) with fierce winds.  It’s an understatement to say that the mighty winds and cool temps are unusual in the Atlanta metro in late April. Since when did we become Chicago? As I always say, I shouldn’t complain. I’d love to bottle those mild temps up and release them in early August when the tired squirrels sleep on my fence and my neighbors’ cats seek refuge from the heat under their minivan. Well, I still have some more glass and pine cones to clean up. Something tells me that I’ll be doing this again real soon.

Something funny happened on the way to Athens, Georgia

I haven’t been to Athens, Georgia in quite some time. On that visit, it was for an event celebrating the local Terrapin brewery three years ago. Terrapin is a happening place on this town’s Newton Bridge Road in which Athens has been proud of for quite some time. On this recent visit, I took my daughter to a gymnastics competition. I typically take Caitlin to many of these competitions, gymnastics practices, doctor appointments etc., etc. I’m looking forward to her becoming even more involved in the community since she is becoming involved with the Norcross High JV Cheerleading squad. I honestly confess that I’m proud to do it all.

Athens can be quite confusing. After many miles of driving and enjoying Georgia State Route 316 — also known as University Parkway — something funny happened on the way to Athens. A sign proclaims that if one would like to drive to the University of Georgia, split off to the right on get on the State Route Georgia 10 Loop. I believe I fell into this trap three years ago. Also known as the “Paul Broun Loop,” the route takes the driver – also known as ‘victim’—well out of the way and one approaches the downtown area of Athens from different direction that previously thought. I was honestly following someone’s directions to follow Georgia State Route 10 to the north. At that moment, it came back to me that Athens is a little maze. And it was at that moment that I wished to cease driving or at least cease driving and attempting to follow directions. This is exactly why I learned to be a responsible adult and leave early just in case I got caught in the Athens Triangle.

My daughter, armed with Google Maps, quickly got me right on track. It was a relief to get to the competition right on time! Well, Dad always said to “give yourself cushion time” and that sage advice worked. Indeed, I should have borrowed my girlfriend Camellia’s Garmin GPS directional device which seems to work well for her all the time.

This past weekend’s gymnastics competition was fantastic. It was held in a packed gym located in a local park. Caitlin posted her scores as: Vault- (8th Place 11+ A); Bars- 8.85; Beam- 8.8 (2nd Place 11+ B); 
Floor- (7th Place 11+ A).

Leaving Athens was not nearly as difficult as arriving in this Georgia university town. University Parkway seemed even more pleasant as Athens was in my rearview mirror. I wish I had time to check out nearby Watkinsville and Bethlehem. There is one thing that I learned from the driving experience: next time, I’m visiting with the Garmin.

CIDs are something to be proud of in Gwinnett

Something warmed my heart this past week when I heard about the success of the Gwinnett Village CID. In times when there’s much negativity stalking our newspapers, Internet and other mediums, it’s inspiring to read that when folks of all stripes come together in a community, things happen like the Gwinnett Village CID.

A CID is a community improvement district which is a unique idea whereby business owners and leaders alike pool their resources to build towards transforming an area like Jimmy Carter Blvd and Indian Trail Road.

The Gwinnett Village CID is the brainchild of its executive director, Chuck Warbington, who has been saving this area along with many others. The CID is up for renewal. Warbington and others are confident that the CID’s renewal will pass. Why the confidence? It must be the love and dedication that these business owners and leaders have to these areas. Indeed, they could give up and let the weeds, kudzu and crime grow over the Jimmy Carter Boulevard area. Instead, the CID’s members are choosing optimism over pessimism, cynicism and a struggling economy.

So, those in the CID are conscientious about landscaping and upgrading aging structures. The CID even got the Gwinnett County Police Department’s quality of life unit got involved to increase patrols and enforce numerous codes.

Warbington and fellow CID members are also looking towards the future with an improved Jimmy Carter Boulevard bridge over I-85 and even a light-rail MARTA line servicing the area which is host to a plethora of walkers. In addition to those improvements, some are hopeful of a new gambling complex complete with a restaurant near Jimmy Carter Boulevard and the Global Mall. Imagine a shiny new bridge, rail service and gaming venue only minutes away for most Gwinnettians. For those farther away in the metro area and out of town, this idea would be a win-win with such easy access from I-85. If this happened, think of the expansion with more hotels, restaurants and other shops.

Sure, it’s a risk to put dollars into a CID which doesn’t guarantee returns, but something much bigger is happening in Gwinnett Village. It’s about making this area stronger and even more successful. The Gwinnett CID ought to be a shining beacon to the rest of metro Atlanta’s communities young and old; big and small. With perseverance, hard work and a love of community, people from all backgrounds and persuasions can band together to not only improve and maintain an area, but propose solid business plans that will expand the economy. There once was a water tower proclaiming the county’s success and that motto lives in the Gwinnett Village CID. Yes, there’s much work to be done, but the CID’s leaders and members ought to be proud!

Early April thoughts

I love early April — especially if we’re getting some much-needed rain. I could do without the intense lightning, wind and occasional tornado watches and warnings, but those unfortunate events come with the territory. It’s because of that rain, everything is in full bloom. I could do without the weeds, but those unsightly freaks of nature come with the territory. Speaking of unsightly freaks of nature, the squirrels are quite active. I caught one of the rodents flying from the edge of my roof over to a nearby dogwood. The silly short-haired furry creature nearly missed her branch, almost falling to the ground. She seemed confused by her own shenanigans and quickly composed herself by noshing on what else – an acorn for a change. Silly rodent!

We sprang forward and yes, I could do without losing that precious hour of sleep, but that too, comes with the territory. I’m able to breathe easy as I open the windows to usher in the fresh air after an early April rain. I’m also able to breathe easier on my walks, runs and cycle tours of the neighborhood.

Spring break snuck up on us. Our area held a runoff election during this quiet period. The concerned citizens – including myself — showed up to the polls. It took more time to sign up to vote by filling out paper forms and displaying our identifications to the poll workers, than it was to actually vote.

The schools are in their final weeks as students, instructors, teachers, administrators and support staff — begin to indulge in their own summer dreams. But first, there’s still work to be done until the end of the school season and for some, graduation. The rest of saps in the business world go about our daily lives only wishing to join in the same thoughts as those who are involved in the education sector.

Spring is an excellent time to find old friends. My friend of more than 30 years passed through town recently to perform music at a conference. The gorgeous weather only enhanced our quick reunion. I stress “quick” because I had to quickly see Chuck for a maximum of two hours since I had to get back up to the ‘burbs to get my daughter to cheerleader tryouts. I had to move as fast as one of the bright red cardinals that swoon through my backyard on a warm spring day.

Pollen covers our cars and decks when there’s no rain. But, look at the bright side because golf is in the spotlight with the Masters tournament in full force with all of its green and glory in Augusta. The boys of summer begin their work in the spring as baseball season is upon us. Also, TV season season-enders and finales are forthcoming. People are digging in the dirt. Folks are getting on the rivers and lakes. The birds are singing, the cats are caterwauling, the bees are stinging, the deer are eating our flowers and furry rodents are hopping. It doesn’t get any more “springy” than that. Indeed, spring has sprung.

Spring break 2012

As we head into spring break, it seems like the Atlanta metro area is traffic-choked. Is the heavy traffic happening because folks are tying up loose end before getting out of town? It’s incredible how we can go from one week of insane traffic volume on the roads to what appears to be a ghost town the next. On Friday afternoons before spring break’s start, I wince looking at the Downtown Connector flooded with a sea of vehicles and 18 wheelers at a standstill reflecting the hot Georgia sun off of windshields and roofs. With most school systems out during the first week in April, metro Atlantans mainly head to the Florida Panhandle. I haven’t visited the Panhandle in over ten years. Even back then, the area beaches, restaurants, shops and thoroughfares were crowded. I’m sure that these days, it’s quite packed.

If I had to get out of town during spring break, I would choose a trip to the North Georgia mountains or deeper into North Carolina. I love the beach, but not of the crowded variety. About four years ago, I embarked on a journey to the Raleigh area and points in between. It was delightful!

As the pollen-covered sedans, SUVs and minivans head to places like Florida, does life continue in the Atlanta metro area? I always compared the Atlanta metro area to my old college town of Athens, Ohio where there was always a mass exodus for times like Thanksgiving break, Easter weekend and especially the scorching summer months. After all, no one was really “from Athens” – just like very few are really “from Altanta.” The little town of Athens would become barren on those occasions.

Indeed life goes on here in the ATL with its brilliant pink dogwoods, crisp dew-infused mornings and bright sunny afternoons. Spring break is the preview to our lazy summer months. But, spring break is presenting disadvantages for those who would like to serve on our local city council. The Peachtree Corners city runoff elections will be held on Tuesday, April 3. It’s painfully obvious that turnout will be low. Hopefully, many of those who made out-of-town plans remembered to take advantage of the absentee ballots or voted early.

Still, we are experiencing a challenging economy with its escalating fuel prices. Will this be a typical spring break ghost town this year? We will see the results at the conclusion of the break. I have a feeling quite a number of folks wish to get out of town and get some beach time.

So if you’re headed out of town for the week, take your time, enjoy the scenery and drive carefully.

Faux winter

It sounds like a broken record by now that we did not experience a “real winter” and spring has sprung early. Does this “faux winter” mean that we’ll have an even hotter, buggier, muggier spring and summer? Another thought: could we see a return to drought conditions even more severe than just five years ago? While we all know that a hot summer is always guaranteed in the metro area, will the warmer seasons be unbearable? From personal experience, a mild winter or cold winter doesn’t always translate into a stifling or unseasonably cooler spring and summer. In mid-March 1993, we experienced the Storm of the Century which dumped quite a bit of snow on the metro area just about a week before the start of spring! The following summer was hot. I remember a few triple digits. Likewise, many of us were stuck in our homes for five days due to ice in January 2011. The late spring through early autumn 2011 seasons featured one of the longest series of 90+ degree Fahrenheit days on record.

I scoured around the Web looking for conclusive answers and the result was inconclusive. Many took a cluster of ten warm winters followed by their summers and averaged out the numbers – only to find that warm winters do not necessarily translate into hot summers. And the reverse is true that hot summers are not always followed by mild winters into the next year. Furthermore, there have been instances where March was mild and early April yielded some cold temps. There was one year when March was quite mild. Spring break was held in early April and I came back from my Florida trip to hear freezing temps. I quickly had turn on the furnace as a few flakes were spotted outside.

As I was biking in our pollen-shrouded neighborhoods here in mid-March, a few incredibly obvious thoughts came to mind. The weather mavens can somewhat guess the behavior of our long-term weather patterns, but those experts will never be 100 percent accurate. Even if we are headed for a chilly spring break followed by the hottest summer on record, we cannot do a thing about it. Indeed, we are able to practically deal with the onslaught of 90+ degree and triple-digit days by tuning up the house and car A/C units, stocking up on fans, drinking cool drinks, staying in the shade and wearing shorts, short sleeves and sunglasses. But, are we able to mentally prepare for a muggier, buggier summer? My answer is inconclusive.

Measurements suck

There I was on my birthday sipping coffee and reading newspapers online. All I could hear was the hum of my refrigerator, the buzz of my aging laptop and the chirps from the robins outdoors wafting its way into my kitchen. I needed the day off from work and life in my own special way. I typically never celebrate holidays, so I made this year’s birthday my own holiday. It turned out to be a great day off, but it got me to thinking too much as I was reading and fielding all of the Facebook messages of recognition.

I was thinking that as we mature, we tell ourselves on the one hand that birthdays shouldn’t be a huge deal, but they remain just as important as they were when we were kids. Sure, we replace childhood games like, “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” with subdued adult gatherings filled with reminiscing and sweet treats, but one thing remains: we make a big deal over becoming one year older. 

It wasn’t always like this in my family. My mother’s father and her mother came to America from Russia and Poland respectively and they didn’t know their true birthdays. Papa and Grandma pretty much guessed the year they were born. The birthday ritual was absent in their native lands. Still, when they somewhat settled here in the United States, they joined this society’s devotion to birthdays and celebrated their special days on January 1.

We all perhaps buy into this subconscious notion that we made it over another hurdle.

“Kudos! I made it through another year!” we tell ourselves. Why? Is it human nature? I don’t have the answer to that question.

We measure everything in this life. From our height and test scores to the size of our homes and salaries, we’re trained in this society to identify with measurements. Indeed those facts are a reality, but it all seems so restrictive and stressful. Why can’t we enjoy the moment without so much bother and worry?

Yes, we can forget about life’s measurements through stress relief techniques, but it seems like such a Band-Aid on the very fact that we need life’s measurements. Without measurements, progress wouldn’t have happened. We would all be a bunch of existentialists living in the woods.

I know the key to dealing with the stress of life’s measurements and reducing the worry of them is balance. So, on this birthday, I chose balance and the result was a rather simplistic, joyous occasion – spending much-needed time on my own in the morning and later in the day with loved ones.