outskirts: life and times in charlottesville

4th Street has almost become a one way road. This is sure to cause a traffic disaster at the intersection of 4th and Water as people try to quickly get to the Belmont area. Instead they will have to drive across railroad tracks which are routinely closed. Accidents will abound. This is yet another blow to the Belmont area, which is rapidly being cut of from the downtown area by Craps (aka Crapshaw).

Despite the limited freedom on the roads, we do have the freedom to show our civic pride on our wall of freedom. This one seemed very constructive. Do you think this is part of the 1/3 of students who will not graduate from high school?

A few more photos can be found on Flickr.

The first few sign posts have started going up for the new road that will run through the downtown mall. I noticed at least four of them. Most of us are predicting a bit of a disaster will be the result, since Virginians are well known as being miserable drivers, and things change very slowly around here so a new road will cause drastic confusion. I’ll try to get a shot of the first accident on the new road. Today there was one about two blocks away, so it looks like drivers are already gearing up for it.

The funniest thing about this new road is the quote from VaVino which said something similar to, “it will be great when the new road opens and will be good for business.” Well, I promise it won’t be good for outdoor dining at that spot, since sucking exhaust from large trucks is not the most fun you can have in this village.

If you ever have some breaking pointless news from the village, be sure to drop me a line.

Looks like Craps has now purchased another chunk of the village. He continues to buy more and more. When I mention this to a few locals the typical response was, “why can’t he go ruin Lynchburg instead?”

One rumor I heard from a rather knowledgeable source said that he is considering converting the old theater to a “whore house and gambling casino.” I don’t know if that would be a bad thing or a good one. I’ll go with good.

Looks like the bloods have decided to make the historic downtown mall the latest recruiting location. Such festivities occurring before bars close down for the evening. Who woulda thunk it. Oh wait, maybe the gang markings that get painted on the mall every weekend have some meaning.

Will the freedom wall solve all these problems? I keep forgetting to see the latest scribbling.

The NFL has decided that Ricky Williams was guilty of failing a 4th drug test. The way the NFL hired this complete situation was exceptionally disappointing. If I were Ricky I would file a suit against the NFL. The NFL view on drugs as compared to murder, hookers, wife beating, and steroids is absurd. I’ve never tried a non-prescribed drug in my life, but taking the job away from an individual for doing a joint in their spare time is ludicrous. How many of you have done four joints in your lifetime? Should you be banned from your profession?

Unfortunately, I’m an android programmed by the gigantic world of corporate media, so I’ll still watch every game this season.

I ate my morning bagel at 8am and then at 11ish I headed off to the dentist for a cavity filling. Twenty minutes tops…then I could head off and do lunch.

I sat on the chair and got all numbed up. Drilling begins. About five minutes in to it he stops and mutters a few words. It seems a bit worse than thought and it was strongly suggested I should get the wisdom tooth yanked. My dentist scheduled me in for the oral surgery clinic right on the spot, but I had to drive over to the other office. I got there at about 12:30.

I was told all their docs leave for lunch at 1. I then sat there filling out the paperwork crap (will insurance companies EVER modernize?) with a numbed up face and a hole in my tooth. Hunger was truly starting to kick in. I then went through all the fun of waiting for additional numbing and then having the pliers come a knockin.

I am now one tooth short of this morning. And am really hungry. I’m not supposed to eat anything solid today, and nothing at all for another few hours. My body wants food!!!!!! My empty tooth region thinks otherwise.

I’m not allowed to brush my teeth today. Is that gross or what?

Update: Eppies will be opening on Tuesday.

As restaurants come and go around here, word through the grapevine has it that the Panera Bread in the lunar landscape (out there by Target) has opened up.

Eppies on the downtown mall seems to be getting ready to open is shown by outdoor dining getting all set up, and hours are on the door.

Although 4th Street isn’t yet opened as a street, one person seems to think it is. Perhaps they are hoping that Five Guys and a Burger open up a drive through in their soon to be location.

In other breaking news, I’ve heard that the founder of the once famous establishment of City Centro will be leaving town to open a new coffee shop elsewhere in the commonwealth. The memory of City Centro will be around for awhile (at least until the Five Guys and a Burger opens up - just kidding!).

I sit here in Belmont trying to relax for the upcoming week. Just like every person here in C-Ville I will put in too many hours, won’t sleep due to stress, and bring work home every single day.

I’d want to relax, but there is a hideous noise emanating from the downtown area. Imagine bumping a possum while driving on the highway. Take that slightly grazed possum and start cooking it like a typical Virginian would (of course it is still alive). If you can imagine the sound the possum would be making, that is the sound coming from the C-Ville Pavilion. It is hideous.

I really wish I could relax rather than listening to it. C-Ville doesn’t seem to care that residents of the area can’t stand the loud obnoxious noises. The village has been bought by Coran Craps. He owns the village. I looked on the web and see that the name of the noise producer is Wilco. They approximate Americana backdrops. I guess here in VA the backdrop sound is that of a possum being cooked alive. Mmm…dinner….

Roger, wilco, over. Please be over.

Sylvia’s Pizza has remodeled and is now open under its new name, Vita Nova Pizza and Pasta Bar. Mmmm…pizza….

Web exclusive…the first shots from the grand opening of the 0.275 million dollar chalkboard.

As the crowd starts to gather the press is everywhere.

Even the funky hats are on the loose.

Look at this crowd! Perhaps the largest in C-Ville since TJ threw a big bash up at his pad. John G. is speaking.