A new traffic worry this summer in Oak Park, Il

I see that parents are letting their kids run the streets in Oak Park, Il which is nice to have that luxury but unfortunately, these kids are Not paying attention to the world around them. As I drove down East avenue, I literally had to drive 7 mph as two young girls under the age of 10 rode their bikes in the street. I should state that they were trying to ride their bikes. They were riding those bikes really shitty, like they could not maintain their balance on those bikes.

I really did not want to end up on the news rolling over two kids because they were riding their bikes like a bunch of fucking winos. We all know it would end being these “poor children” who had no parents around to Instruct them probably on the rules of the road or how important it is to pay attention to the vehicles on the road with them. And the Driver is some evil person that is destroying some “white washed world” with the morals of a serial killer. Please.

And it wasn’t like these Little girls were alone in riding in the middle of the street, yes not the bike lane, middle of the road. There was a family of four that Did the same, around Washington Avenue and Ridgeland. Then a couple more girls riding bikes on Harvey all just free and riding through I saw the last group almost got hit by a UPS truck. It shook them up but hey what can you do I am not their parent. I did shrug my Shoulders as I drove by them, still shocked in disbelief.

If parents cannot teach their kids the ways of the world, the world will, and its Harsh and a bitch. Never mind I am forgetting an important point there were only a few people on the road so I anything happened. Not that many witnesses to see anything happen or call for help. And all the drivers were aggressive as fuck so who knows what state of mind they are in.

Oh, and let’s not forget the pedophiles out there, and you got these kids out there unsupervised. Smh. I guess if their parents don’t Care I care just as much. All I know this has become another issue that I have to bother friends and family about when they travel to visit me. As if construction on Harlem and Chicago is not bad enough or the choking small two (parallel) lanes that haunt the travelers of Oak Park now drivers you have this extra traffic problem for the summer as well. Good luck.

One question to ask before renting in Oak Park, IL

The purpose of providing a lease is to make sure that it I understood what are the responsibilities of the renter and the responsibilities of the rentee. Basically, as the renter, I do not trash their apartment and the building management provides security and maintenance. I wish that the team here would take that agreement to heart. When I first saw, the apartment was painted white, white I tell you and the light reflected so well, that the place looked twice the size. Then they painted it a middle gray WITHOUT telling me, which fucked up the entire color scheme of new furniture, made the place look two times as small, and is really motherfucking depressing at times if I did not have a great stash of liquor to get me through living here.

When I signed the lease, I was under the impression that the color would remain the same and I would get a cheery place to live, but this is Oak Park, IL, therefore, pardon my ignorance at the time, I did not know that the management company of Oak Park Apartments would go to that extreme of making my new home that “unhomely”. I believe the frustrating thing is that this idiotic crap was one of those things that are never mentioned in any list when creating a list of questions when apartment hunting.

The bright cheerful apartment that was the centerpiece of what I focused my new furniture around then was a total clusterfuck when I moved in. I mean a cherry red loveseat with bland gray walls? Ugh, the place looks like I am colorblind or have no sense, taste at all. I asked about all the ”points” mentioned in an Apartment renting survival guide I found online alas this was one question I did think of: “If you are re-painting the apartment what color will it be?” This seems to be a frivolous question however after living in this bland gray and depressing apartment and understanding how color can affect a person’s mood, furniture choices and other apartment related issues. So definitely ask!

Here is the article that has the guide I discussed previously:

http://blog.apartmentfinder.com/preparing-to-move/the-apartment-renting-survival-guide/

Parking in Oak Park, IL is made to be more complex that it should be.

The crazy thing is, with parking in Oak park, Il is that the village and residents make it more complex than it needs to be. I have scanned a set of directions that the village gave me for parking in the area in which I paid a permit for. Once you paid for the village sticker and the three-month area sticker, they gave you instructions that seemed like some type flight or video game instructions. It just makes things way more complicated why not just have posted signs in the area?

It is bad enough you have to move your car after 10 pm and park in the depot, then move it back to the main area after 8 am. Which if you work second shift anywhere you are in hell, why not just let people who paid for the sticker just stay there?

Then you got residents that act like the village has not pimped out that area in the first place. Coming out and “claiming” parking areas that the permission for parking has already been sold to other parties. Instead of raising hell with the drivers who only rent there, as a permanent resident, it makes sense to raise hell with the village.

Not with people who have no ties to the area, and who hold a grudge like forever. Take a look at the crazy instructions for a good laugh, although other burbs and downtown Chicago have parking rules not as bad as Oak Park, Il.

Oak Park, IL is the asshole Coworker who stresses you out that much that if something happens to them you really don’t care.

I recently heard news about this ex-coworker of mine who died early at 37 due to cancer, wait before you start with the condolences this dude was a dick, much like the boss from office space. The organization that I work for had him in charge of Operations, to Quality Assurance, to Training and Development this fuck was everywhere in the organization because he was a kiss up and yes man.

But the jerk was soooooo incompetent that he did not grasp the essentials to do the job, so he was literally training people wrong and getting them in trouble for not knowing procedures when they came out of training. He is the reason I am studying Training and Development because if his ass oversaw a department for it, then I can do it too, easily. As the director of Quality assurance, he was a fuck up, the stuff he marked people off was head scratching to the point the management staff got pissed off at him. Why? Because the management, in turn, would have to use “corrective measures” on employees to make sure it did not happen again, therefore employees were given verbals, written warnings and even fired due to his asshole behavior.

When confronted that he was wrong on the Quality Assurance reports he would argue it even if you had the policy HE wrote about the how to proceed in that situation which contradicted it. The point is when a friend told me the news I was not even sad, I have lost friends and family to cancer before however they did not go out their ways to be total fucking dicks and in essence, worthy of sentiment.

Fucking with people is the way of Oak Park, IL in the same vein. It is why when shit happens here, people in neighboring suburbs and the City of Chicago, really do not “feel” for the residents or victims of Oak Park, IL. Changing one’s attitude and not imposing your ridiculous standards upon people i.e.: not being a douche bag will most likely get you some sympathy or “get better cards” or even a helping hand. With all the crime that is occurring in Oak Park, IL a change is needed and a helping hand is necessary. But I think much like this ex-coworker the problems here will persist until a major problem arises, and there is nothing that can be done about it. If you gave me a choice of pissing off an entire organization of people and going out at 37 or maybe learn how to work with others to get something done and maybe tack on a couple of years, I would pick the latter. Hopefully, Oak Park, Il will one day choose the latter but I doubt it.

But I think much like this ex-coworker the problems here will persist until a major problem arises, and there is nothing that can be done about it. If you gave me a choice of pissing off an entire organization of people and going out at 37 or maybe learn how to work with others to get something done and maybe tack on a couple of years, I would pick the latter. Hopefully, Oak Park, Il will one day choose the latter but I doubt it.

PS: I own up that it is a shitty attitude, but there are times when organizations or people push you to the point that you have nothing but apathy for them.

My Crappy backdoor lock to my Apartment In Oak Park, IL part 2

With the video, my buddy took of the “moving” lock of my back door which I have posted it on Youtube.com. For the second reason, why I post it was so that those who want to move into any of the buildings in Oak Park, Il can see the lackluster job that that this building management company has done in terms of the security for their renters.

As you can see the door is an old-fashioned wood panel door with half the door made of a window frame inlet. Meaning the construction of this door was great for maybe the 1940’s or 1950’s but in today’s society, such a door cannot withstand the criminal, their intent, and a well-placed kick or rock.

Entry into the apartment is frankly easy, even though there is a piece of plastic (1/4) over the window frame it still has areas of vulnerability that needs to be addressed. That having a moving top (main) lock does not solve or help the situation. In fact, it looks like a couple hits from a hammer and a screwdriver to this lock and anyone can get in. With the neighbor downstairs sanding and causing so much racket, none of the other neighbors or myself would hear a burglar forcing their way through this crappy ancient door.

I mentioned it to the guy who showed me the apartment and they said they would be fixed by the time I moved in, so you see how well that went. I hope this video shows potential renters what they face where they rent in Oak Park, IL or anywhere for that matter when you deal with apartment management company that does not give a shit about its renters.

Click here for the video that I posted on Youtube.com about the shitty lock:

https://youtu.be/OyZ6T2iA6Yk

Oak Park, IL Blog wallpaper

I made a couple more wallpapers for the blog, just logo (text) wallpaper, keeping it plain and simple, but also giving the posts the needed “color” without worrying about taking pictures or hunting for images all day. I find that these simple wallpapers as help when I promote the blog on other sites.

This “branding” not only makes it easier for me to focus on content but also is a great lesson in marketing. I see why big corporations put their names everywhere because it lessens the need for spending money or time on graphics or anything to unnecessary or over the top. I know one of the things I have been critical of oak park, Il about is not focusing upon practical issues and solutions.

Therefore, these simple text wallpapers are the epitome of that belief and strategy. I must say although they will be simple I will add a sense of humor to them as well. Enjoy. https://plus.google.com/u/0/102222691833581930279/posts/jVBFAiJUH91

My Crappy backdoor lock to my Apartment In Oak Park, IL part 1

Well, My pal Ma Pro with the Gene Simmons tongue found the video he took of the “moving” lock of my back door! I have posted it on Youtube.com for two reasons. In this post, I will focus on the first reason so the post will not be so lengthy.

The first reason is in the background, you hear, sanding once again from the downstairs neighbor who has decided to make the public back area her personal workshop. This is the area all of the building’s residents go to access the garbage cans and Laundry machines. Some of the residents use this area to move in and out of their new/old apartments or if they have a lot of groceries this area is convenient to back one’s car into and unload them.

However, little miss important and full of herself has decided that we commoners must give up this right and it is now the workshop of the female yuppie Bob Vila. Can you imagine taking your garbage out and traipsing through sawdust? As you can hear from the video she makes a lot of noise so that too is great when you worked a long day at work and need to study or read for class, or even complete your final project for that all important Master’s class!

Oh, but little miss sunshine is sanding, staining and varnishing her wooden furniture step back peasants of Oak Park, IL she is artist-y and that means she is way above your IQ range to be even given a second thought! Selfish bitch. I rant about this in a couple of my posts I believe but here is more evidence that you cannot do shit without this self-absorbed child forcing herself upon everyone else’s state of mind and peace they might have had.

Click here for the video that I posted on Youtube.com about the shitty lock:

https://youtu.be/OyZ6T2iA6Yk

No lights in Oak Park, Il at night

I don’t think that many people really think about walking around Oak Park, Il at night. I believe they think that the less lighting that is provided, that is a deterrent to crime and everything else. Therefore if you want live life, and do more than just exist on a daily basis you should have a preplanned route from where you park or use public transportation from to your apartment or house.

The lack of lighting in oak park, IL in residential areas, is alarming, and if you move into the area you should take note that you could be taking a chance by going out at night. I think that the trips at night I take to downtown Chicago I feel safer there than on the blue line (no shit) or walking through Oak Park, Il at night.

The last part of the trip to the apartment for me, is the most nerve wrecking, walking through the dark on an empty street with very little traffic. Though it may not be rationale it is a well-grounded fear, one that has been proven time and time again to be well founded. Therefore, if you are a single woman that has an active social life, that leads to at night adventures moving to Oak Park, Il will take more added planning than you think.

Escape from Oak Park (part 1)

At one point around the 29^th I heard all this shit coming from upstairs then I heard a lot of commotion coming from the back area that is when I peered out my back door to see the upstairs neighbor and I guess a bunch of his friends or family moving furniture out in the middle of the night. I mean couches, televisions, and boxes so being the noisy bitch I am I acted like I was taking out the trash.

Oops, I am in the way, “sorry” “Oh you are moving?” that type of crazy. Funny the guy told me “Yeah” he was tired of the shit treatment he received from the building management and was moving out. “Tired of their crap” is what he said, but I fear it is indicative of how this management company runs their business they keep a few select tenants in here, then shuffle a few minorities in here and there, so it looks good. Then those minorities are out in a year or so, usually of a younger generation, making way for newer tenants.

There are only two older tenants who look like they have been in my apartment complex since Moses was in Kindergarten and that is it. There has to be at 20 units in the complex so only 10% of these residents remain long term? Even at some of the places, I walked through before I got this unit was, again, younger people or couples ready to move out or to the next step of their lives. But of all those places I saw (five) there was only one okay tenant who did not have words for the representative taking us through the place.

Just One out of five, the other four individuals/groups all had something to say to the dude walking me through the viewing selections. The weird thing was that ALL five of these tenants remained in the flat while we walked through the majority of the time (one couple stormed out after talking to the representative) otherwise they stayed.

Personally, I do not fucking blame them, let’s establish that point first, but it was not like they did not trust us coming in their living space as it was (second point) to confront the representative. I do not like that fact that by not renewing my lease with these assholes they can just bring people through my apartment and look at my shit. There were times I was in the tenant’s bedrooms, unsupervised by either the representative or the tenant, lucky for them I was not underwear shopping nor a thief. Hell, I could imagine what people would do in my place if given the chance to walk through unsupervised, to look through closets and dresser drawers while the representative is playing on their phone in another room or arguing with the tenant about why no notice was given for the visit.

I just figured if they trust me that much the least I could do is not be an ass, but not everyone is like that. I believe that among other things start the tenants at Oak Park Apartments on that long road of moving out and hating everything about Oak Park, IL, Oak Park Apartments their front office and their representatives. To the point, you are moving out in the middle of the night out of their apartments just to escape this fuckedupness.

Oak Park, IL -Fourth of July: Best place for actual fireworks in this area is in Berwyn, not Oak Park, Il

Oh Man, I as I said in a previous post I hope Oak Park, Il had a better fourth of July parade. Mainly when you think of Fourth of July you think of “fireworks” that is not in the competencies of Oak Park, IL. The video I posted on youtube.com should show it is great for kids and that is about it. Not for drivers, adults (well maybe pedo bears) but not the explosiveness display most people like to see. Well, I did not go this year because of that, in fact, I went to my friend Sarah’s place in Berwyn, because Berwyn, Il has fireworks!

We were on the rooftop of her apartment building watching a clear view of the fireworks from Morton High School on Harlem Ave. I think she took video stingy ass. I was getting lit and trying not to fall off the damn roof. But it was a better alternative than running all the way to downtown Chicago or being with a ton of kids and pedos trying to get my drink on.

Therefore if you want to see a really Fourth of July celebration and see fireworks but do not want to get shot in Chi-Iraq I recommend this avenue of celebration INSTEAD of the one in Oak Park, IL if you are of the grown-up variety, Got kids though? stay in Oak Park, IL

Please note: I do know Oak Park, IL has fireworks at their high school as well, but I am factoring in also the times that were given: 7 pm (Berwyn) vs dusk-ish (Oak Park, IL); then adding the factors of traffic and transportation and things to do in that area afterwards. Oak Park, Il is really lacking in those areas I have mentioned in the latter.