Detroit People Mover Serves Downtown

Closed

2006-07-23T22:23:00.000-04:00

I might eventually open this one back up

2006-05-02T14:40:00.000-04:00

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Final Superbowl sights from Friday

2006-02-05T19:17:00.000-05:00

Well here is possibly the last "sightings" I have to report.

This is a show being done in radio row.

Kurt Warner on the Dan Patrick show. The funny thing is, I heard it was Kurt Warner, and I recognized the name but didn't know who he was. So I started to take pictures only to realize I was actually taking pictures of the producer. So I only have one good shot of him up close. Then I went downstairs and got this other one.

If you ever wonder how they keep that "turf" so clean (ok like anyone would think that;-) They do actually vaccum.

The problem was the vaccuming was to loud for this reporting and they had to ask him to stop.

I was not able to get to the rest of downtown. However my mother in-law Joni and her twin sister Toni went around on Friday night and got some really good pictures. They were so excited to be out there. The atmosphere is really contagious its hard to explain.

Below is Campus Martius where they are holding the annual "Motown Winter Blast" Last year was the first time they actually held the even. There is an ice rink (picture taken by Joni), dogsled races, a big snow slide, and many other things. Apparently you can roast marshmallows too (picture by Toni):-) The third picture is taken outside the Ren Cen at night (Toni). Normally there aren't even that many people during the day and it is completely empty at night (except for maybe a Hockey game).

The Gem theater is where Jimmy Kimmel was being taped. It is right by Ford Field. Although there were quite a few people upset because they had tickets but couldn't get into his show. I really don't think its his fault they really didn't expect the turnout to be so high. The tickets even said it wouldn't guarantee admmitance. Some people are really being big whiners about the whole thing.

Toni took a really nice picture of the Ren Cen. I added an arrow to point out the tower I work in.

I don't know if all the hoopla will be gone tomorrow or if I will get a chance to see some more things. I will bring my camera in for a while. I would like to get some "after" shots to show what it is normally like at work.

And me with nothing to sign

2006-02-03T10:46:00.000-05:00

Finally a good Superowl sighting (well for a girl)!

So we went downstairs and Sue and I forgot to bring anything to sign. I did get my pictue taken with someone though.

This is me and Jay Mohr (From Jerry Maguire and SNL). He was so nice he was joking around with us because everyone was fumbling around with each others cameras. One girl spotted him right away. Then he turned around and started to head to the hotel. But then I noticed he was acutally getting coffee. So after I stopped him and ask for his picture. Then I got some other coworkers pictures as well.

Oh and ...no he didn't touch my belly;-)

I also saw Clinton Portis. I only recognized him because he was wearing a crazy outfit. I had seen him on sports shows but didn't know what he was all about.

Then my batteries started to die. I could have used my back up camera. However I still have to do my actual job and waiting around for someone else to take a picture of gets kind of boring. So I came back up.

On my way I saw Joe Theismann signing some autographs but he was in a hurry and only signed a few.

This morning we went down and we watched some of the "Mike and Mike" show, which is on ESPN Radio. Jack Ham was on and I got some good shots of him.

Beer and Porta-potties

2006-02-02T14:02:00.000-05:00

Are those kegs?????

This place is just getting bizzare. Imagine your normal workplace, or somewhere you are often. I happen to work in a big office building, with lots of common areas. I take my breaks in the big common areas, there are some shops there, a food court, restaurants, oh and a hotel. So its not your normal workplace. However it is usally quite empty, other than GM employees. However we have now been invaded. There is mobile bars set up everywhere selling margaritas and beer for $6-$10. Tourists by the hundreds are walking around taking pictures, and people walk around with plastic cups of beer. Oh and in my parking garage...there are like 10 porta-potties. This in addition to David Spade, Rob Schnieder, Joe Montana, Donavan McNabb.
In taking pictures being short and pregnant has its advantages. People give you more room and you can sneak your way in front of taller people without them caring to much.
I have to say I am a little addicted to celeb spotting. Of course this is once I realize who they are. The traffic in and out hasn't been bad, and unlike what we were warned of security isn't horrible. We thought we would have to go through checkpoints to get to our desk. In reality the Ren Cen has become a great spot for celeb spotting and its all free. Of course there is still actual work to be done somewhere in there.

What I can't bring beer to my desk?

Donovan McNabb

Terry Bradshaw, this is the best picture I could get of him yesterday.

"This experience is totally wasted on you"

2006-02-01T13:48:00.000-05:00

The title of today's blog is a quote from the dad of a girl I work with. He was getting frustrated that she doesn't recognize anyone. Hey I suppose she would be just fine if he came up and did her job for the rest of the week;-)

From this morning 10:30 - 11:15ish

This is James Brown from Fox NFL. I didn't know who he was when I took the picture, then when I was done a coworker turned to me and said...."he's James Brown" after my funny look she then said "yeah not the singer, but I guess that is his name I don't know anything else about him"

The Pat McGee band from Cold Pizza on ESPN
I am fairly sure this is Larry Fitzgerald from the Arizona Cardinals. I took quite a few pictures of him before I knew who he was. He was listed as being on Cold Pizza today, but he didn't really look the same as his picture online. Local news anchor Fanchon Stinger hugging Cold Pizza’s Dana Jacobson. They looked like Sority girls greeting each other. When I looked at their bios online they both went to U of M, so maybe they actually are.
I believe this is Woody Paige one of the hosts of Cold Pizza. We thought he was a coach or someone else when I took this picture.

OK I believe this is Eric Dickerson, a Hall of Fame Running Back. I was far away and really only got a good look from the zoom on the camera. However he was scheduled to be on Cold Pizza and from what I can tell this has to be him

I guess Rob Schneider is down there now. Tomorrow David Spade is comming in. I might get more later today.

OH and I have to add this quote "you elbowed Boomer and didn't even know it?"

Barry spotted at 9:30 and 1

2006-01-31T13:56:00.000-05:00

Well I sent a camera down with a co-worker and she saw Barry on ESPN radio at about 9:30 and I just saw him there when I went down at 1.

9:30 am

1PM

There is a Coast Guard Ship stationed outside the Ren Cen, at least one has been there since Monday.

The ESPN field as see from above.

misc pics

2006-01-30T21:49:00.000-05:00

View from my desk. Looking over

the Wintergarden where ESPN is, and across the river to Canada.

Sirus Radio in "Radio Row". Normally this is GM World where a bunch of cars are on display. However it is home to all the radio people.

Spotted at 10:30

2006-01-30T11:14:00.000-05:00

I saw Gilbert Gottfried being interviewed on ESPN at about 10:30 this morning. I took some pictures of that and soem other miscellanous pictures. I hope to get them posted this evening. Steve Young was spotted this morning.
I am not the best to spot any sports celebrities but I will try to keep my eyes open.

brought into the elevator

2005-12-14T12:23:00.000-05:00

A nicely dressed man carried into the elevator (at 8:15 this morning):

A "Crave Case" from White Castle......

do they have breakfest items there? Or did he really bring in sliders to work?

In the fabric store

2005-12-06T14:47:00.000-05:00

Customer to fabric cutting lady
"Where is the faux fur"

fabric cutting lady after a moment of puzzlement
"Ya Mean the FAKE fur????"

customer (between giggles), after being directed to "fake fur"
"sorry mon francais confused you"

Just heard

2005-11-29T08:43:00.000-05:00

Coworker
"I have to have my fingertips available if I need them"

Ok I am not even going to go further on that one.

Overheard on Monday

2005-11-01T14:52:00.000-05:00

Keep in mind this was overheard on the MORNING of Monday Oct 31st:

"Not ONE Trick-Or-Treater last night!"

My perfect career

2005-10-20T19:41:00.000-04:00

I did a "career" test in case I need to find another job....kind of scary huh?

Your Career Type: Investigative

You are precise, scientific, and intellectual.Your talents lie in understanding and solving math and science problems.
You would make an excellent:
Architect - Biologist - ChemistDentist - Electrical Technician - MathematicianMedical Technician - Meteorologist - PharmacistPhysician - Surveyor - Veterinarian The worst career options for your are enterprising careers, like lawyer or real estate agent.

What's" Your Ideal Career?

Porta Poty

2005-10-18T15:23:00.000-04:00

I just wish I had a camera today. There is this parking garage being built across the way. I guess they are begining to work on the upper floors more because they had to move 2 porta potties up to the top floor.....how did they do this....with a crane of course.....I sure hope it wasn't full.

Interview

2005-10-12T17:49:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is my interview, 8 am....never thought Chad and I would be interviewing in the same week for jobs we really need!

funny story

2005-09-28T09:23:00.000-04:00

I forgot to post this story it happened a while ago. A girl on our team got into the office one morning and said:
"This has already been a bad day. So I was waiting for the elevator when a woman turns to me and says 'honey you have two shoes on"....I looked down and yes I have two different shoes on look at this, the same shoe but two different colors"
Now I am on the other side of the cubicle wall but after hearing the laughter I had to go see for myself. I expected one to be blue and one to be black. No one was black the other was tan. They were the same exact style but the color. She didn't know which one to wear but she thought she decided on the one pair. Apparently she didn't. ONe girl pointed out that at least they both matched her outfit. She handled it very well, but we told her it was to bad she wasn't quick enough to tell the woman
"of course I have two shoes on, that is the new style....haven't you see then latest addition of Cosmo?"
She handled it well and could laugh at herself, we appreciated the laugh for the day. Now she goes by the nickname Dana TwoShoes.

one girl to another

2005-09-22T08:25:00.000-04:00

Walking into my tower, one girl turned to another girl:
"I mean....do I 'look' smart?"

Stinky girl

2005-09-12T13:14:00.000-04:00

In the morning I am at the last stop for my bus. It is a nice comfy bus, but I do like to find the one pair of unoccupied seats. I know there must be at least one set left before our stop. I was the 4th one on this morning, and I kept walking and walking. I began to realize that nope, I would have to sit next to someone, I looked up and there she was....Stinky Girl....I call her that not because of a "bad" smell...its because of her perfume. It smells like pear body spray from Bath and Body Works....which is a fine scent.....but not in the quantity she uses it in. The whole back of the bus smells of it. With all the lurching, and the stuffiness of the bus ugg......it makes me sick. So I think I have officially learned my lesson. Sit in the first available seat on the front of the bus. I may no be able to nap, but I won't have to worry about getting sick on the bus....I would get the nickname then.

Taking the BUS

2005-09-09T14:25:00.000-04:00

So I haven't gotten a chance to post in a while, although I have heard and seen some funny things but can't remember them (although there was a guy who has an eye patch, which I thought was kind of funny, then I remember I had to wear one when I was 5 and 6. Kids always teased me for it so it is mean of mean to laugh at someone else....Especially since his looks so much cooler). I will instead tell you about my latest adventure.

I grew up in Metro Detroit, lived on both the west and east side, worked downtown, but I have never taken a bus. I have been on public transportation in Chicago, and I love the system in Paris.....but I have laughed at the idea of taking a bus to Detroit.
I have taken the "People Mover" but I wouldn't count that as public transportation because.....It goes in one direction and only downtown...It doesn't really transport you anywhere. But with gas prices at $3.00 per gallon and my husband laid off, I decided to take the plunge and get on a bus. I actually was going to try this a while ago. I know there is a bus route near my house, where I can park my car and get on the bus. However it took 96 and well 96 is a mess and I could always drive myself and get there much faster by going another route. Well I found out recently I had another choice. I could get on a bus General Motors provides. It takes basically the same route, and is cheaper per month. However the public bus I can actually pick up closer to my house if I wanted and has a more flexible schedule. So I took the public bus on Monday, and decided the convenience wasn't worth it since I couldn't snooze as easily on that bus as the GM buses (which were comfy Royal Coach buses). So I signed up for that bus instead. The good thing is, if I am late for my bus I can still always take the public bus to or from work. One of the stops is the same one that I need to go to for the GM bus. So far so good....but I would be so much happier if they took a detour around stupid dumb horrible 96 until the construction is done.

no weirdos lately

2005-08-24T09:26:00.000-04:00

So I haven't had any werido run ins lately. However when I first started to work here I notice how gentlemen do still exist today. Men generally let the women off fist on the elevator. Like yesterday as I was leaving two men were in front of me talking to each other. But when the doors opened, they put their arms over the doors to block them and motioned me to go out. Then followed out behind me continuing their conversation. Not all men do this but I would say the majority have. So....not all things on the elevator are weird or strange.

man on the street

2005-08-15T11:07:00.000-04:00

ok I know it's been a while, but it has been rather quiet. Last week I was stopped by an interesting man on the street. He looked like Wally from the comic strip Dilbert: short, chubby, square glasses, balding. I was walking alone to the parking garage, and saw him coming at a brisk pace. He stopped looked at me and began the following monologue:

"I just came back from the dentist, his office is just back that way, good dentist you should go, it's real easy to get to his office, I can take a bus, I live in midtown and work for the Detroit news, I take a bus everywhere, it goes everywhere"

at this point I realized I wasn't going to get out of this conversation any time soon, and he wasn't in any way intimidating but I began to look for other people walking nearby, seeing no one I continued to try and walk away...but he kept on talking, I don't remember what he was talking about during this point, but when I began to listen again he was saying
"a theater there, and there, not everyone knows you can see movies in Detroit but they are all over, once a moth they play movies at the library, and the historical museum plays them in the basement, the Detroit institute of Arts will play them, the Redford branch of the library on Grand River and Lasher, they have movies there too, The IMAX has them this all has been going on for 20 years now, not everyone knows it..."

Ok I had to get going, and didn't care so much about being rude anymore, finally a group of men were also on their way to the parking garage and walked by. I ducked into that group and went on my way. I could still hear him talking. I got to my car and started to drive home. I didn't see him I expected to see him talking to another person, but he must have went to the movies.

Waiting for a co-worker

2005-07-27T07:59:00.000-04:00

We had big organizational meeting in another tower on another floor. So we were going to go as a big group, but just as we got to the elevator lobby one girl ran off to get a pen. We waited for her but the elevator opened and a bunch of other people were still on. We didn't want to leave her behind, so some of us got on while one stayed behind. Of course in this process we looked like bumbling idiots who wouldn't get on the elevator. So the guy in the elevator said

"Hop on in we don't bite"
As we were getting on, someone pointed to the girl waiting and said
"Yeah, that's why she doesn't want to get on"

Kind of lame, but the only interesting elevator story I got:-)

Over the cube wall

2005-07-20T13:37:00.000-04:00

Well nothing in the elevator today, but today in my office I think some coworkers are still on vacation:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Yeah, Today was the day they like.....Discovered the moon"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The rest of the team laughed and kept making jokes like "what's that up there I've never noticed it before, let's call it the MOON"

then about 10 minutes later
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CW 1 "Sandra Bullock married Jessie James"
CW 2 "The criminal?"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I couldn't stop laughing thinking about Sandra Bullock digging up a long dead Jesse James the criminal just to make the news.

School Talk

2005-07-19T10:24:00.000-04:00

Finally back at work after a nice long vacation.....want to be back at home! Anyways here is a conversation I heard sometime last year. I think I have ridden with this guy a few times and he seems like he would be fun to work with. He is one of those people who talks very easily with people. When he has a conversation on the elevator he acknowledges everyone can hear him, and doesn't get all offended when you laugh at his stories.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So my wife got a call from my son's school the other day, she was talking to his teacher about how he was misbehaving in class. The teacher suggested that we talk with him, and my wife responded....'Yes he needs a swift kick in the ass.....OHHH SISTER Mary, excuse me yes we will have a talk with him' I guess she forgot he goes to a catholic school"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought this was original....but I think I have heard this as a comedy routine recently, so now I wonder if he was telling a joke (I caught it in the middle), or was it real. It didn't matter at the time, I heard it at the end of the day, and I got a good laugh.

Heard in a Coney Island

2005-07-16T15:54:00.000-04:00

"I couldn't believe that was her real name......I didn't know what her real name was until you said it and I was surprised....I always called her Cathy, and I knew it was short for something, but I didn't know it was.....Katherine!"

Ok am I missing something.....the lady who was talking was "surprised" to learn a person who goes by "Cathy" had an actual first name of "Katherine"....and she KNEW "Cathy" was her nickname? What first name wouldn't have surprised her?
I guess I would understand her "surprise" if her real name was in fact "Mary Sue" or "Gweneth" or some weird name like "Katadibian".....but with Cathy it is pretty much Catherine (with a K or C), or Kathleen" I am sure there are also other suitable suggestions, but those are most common.

Tragic Day

2005-07-07T13:23:00.000-04:00

I keep reading about the attacks in London and one comment struck me. A man who witnessed it said he wasn't sure what to do, but he had to walk to work, and he figured he should continue on. However once he got to work he realized he had a gash on his head and was bleeding as well as being covered in dust. What terrible shock he must have been in to have not noticed. It also reminds me of the attacks in New York. I was working in Ann Arbor, but stayed at work for 2 reasons 1. Why let the terrorist make me run scared and 2. Why drive home, I lived close to Detroit I just might have been safer there.
It is hard to judge what to do in a situation like that man was in. If he realized he was hurt at the time getting medical attention would have been the first priority. But would it help him to go home and relive those images on TV? Or would it be better for him to go to work? In the end I guess it doesn't matter.

Everyone is gone this week

2005-07-07T12:57:00.000-04:00

Well I really picked a bad time to start this blog. The company I work for (well technically the company that my company works for) is off on vacation for two weeks. However they still want a "skeleton crew" around so amongst my team we have split up the two weeks so there are only 3-4 people working per day. Other groups get the whole two weeks off, and some have to still work both weeks. However the majority of the building is gone on vacation. I will be gone next week. So I will use a conversation I heard on the elevator a couple of months ago.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elevator opens, there are 4 really tall men already in the elevator, it was 4:30 pm on the 9th floor I was going home for the day. Usually when you walk into an elevator and there is a group of people at least two of them already know each other and will be already talking. However today it was very very quiet. I stood at the front and look towards the floor...and waited, 'cause it felt like something was going to happen.

Floor 7: phone rings
Floor 6-4: One of the men behind me answers the phone very loudly in what I would describe a New Zealand accent.
"Ya? OH I Took her out at Sunrise......she's a beaut! WONDERFUL! Yes gorgeous!"
(me trying not to crack up...waiting for the elevator to get to the 2nd floor.....is he talkinng about a woman? a dog? a car?)

Floor 3: "Yes I enjoied it, wonderful lines"

Floor 2: Me walking briskly out of the elevator to get away from the expressive Kiwi. I am pretty sure he was talking about a car......but I didn't want to stay around to hear the rest of the conversation
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So I didn't want to use this conversation originally, it is really one of those "you had to be there" moments. With it being strangely quiet even for an elevator, and not expecting an accent like that form one of these men just made it funny for me. Hopefully I will have more in a few weeks.

Heard what? Where?

2005-07-05T11:36:00.000-04:00

To explain, I am not much into keeping any kind of diary or journal. Keeping a blog for me seems....well just awkward, its not who I am. However I have had a few people ask me why I don't have one. In order for me to keep up with a blog, I need to make it somewhat interesting, my daily routine can be boring, and I just don't think people want to know about how I made a new query in Access or how cute my dog and cat are. So here is my plan.
I overhear a lot of weird things, usually while people are talking on a cell phone in the elevator at work. Business people arguing with their delinquent teenager to people talking about a rash. Of course since I have thought of this idea.....I really haven't heard anything interesting. So to fill in those times, all my blog entries will be a one sided conversation about myself. As if I were the idiot on the cell phone in the elevator.... For example
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey sweetie it's me"
"Yeah it still hurts"
"The left one, the right is fine"
"No it's not bruised, just hurts"
"Well we did spend a lot of time doing THAT on Saturday so I guess I am not surprised I got injured"
"I just hope for this weekend I am back in tip top shape, I need all the strength I can get"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No if you just heard that end of the conversation you could assume some pretty crazy things about what was injured and how I injured it. What you may not know is that my husband and I went Kayaking over the weekend, and now one of my shoulders is injured. So I will see how it goes, who knows I may end up changing the format anyways:-)