Mosh Pit

I read on Facebook this morning that my niece went to a rock concert and was in the mosh pit. I've never been to a concert that had a mosh pit. I can only imagine what it's like being shoved, pushed or nearly crushed by a crowd of loud sweaty people I don't know. I think I would be overwhelmed. That's sort of how I feel right now, which is why I haven't posted for two weeks. Unusual for someone who has plenty to say about everything, like the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, the right wing idiocy that has followed and the complete lack of common sense of Roseanne Barr, who posted on Twitter the home address of Trayvon Martin's killer, George Zimmerman. Or the Supreme Court hearing arguments about the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act and diminishing its importance by equating it to forcing every American to eat broccoli. Or the failed attempts of Mitt Romney to convince voters that he feels their pain...while building a 10,000 square foot home on a bluff in La Jolla, California, with an elevator for his cars ("I love cars!" he has exclaimed on more than one occasion), while hiring a building code "lobbyist" to "walk through" all the city and building codes to be certain his new project is built to his specifications without interference from city officials. And that particular piece of information got me thinking....

Two weeks ago I wrote about the continued Kroger expansion and the new perimeter lights that have illuminated our property, providing daylight 24/7.

We've had some emails back and forth with Bryan Patrick, director of the city planning department. He apparently conveyed our concerns to Dennis Cobb, the senior construction manager for Kroger mid-central region. Within a few days, some of the perimeter lights were disabled except for the two lights adjacent to our property, which have remained lit. A few days later, residential shields were installed on some lights except for the same two adjacent lights. Those modified lights were turned on again and from what we can see, they shields appear to make a significant positive impact. So it appeared that we were on our way to Kroger's compliance with the terms and limitations of the PUD (Planned Unit Development) under which the expansion was approved. So why am I in a mood?

"And let me tell you why..." is a code phrase that Tom and I use to warn each other that a rant is about to take place. If one of us just needs to blow off steam, we call the other and when the other answers, we don't say "hello", we don't say "hi, how are you" or even "do you have a second". We merely say, "And let me tell you why...." and the other knows to merely respond by saying "go ahead" or "what" and the rant will begin.

So, And let me tell you why.... Last Thursday night we received an email from our neighbor simply stating that he noticed that Kroger's perimeter lights were back on and inquiring whether the light was "still as bright in your backyard ?" I sent this response, "It is still like daylight 24/7 in our backyard. Nothing has changed. The two lights at the far end next to Kroger have residential shields on them. Our light and the one behind Rod and Amanda's house do not have any shields. The shields that have been installed appear to make a difference." Our neighbor then forwarded our email to Bryan Patrick, who responded, "I will forward to Dennis Cobb tomorrow. Bryan"

Well, yeah, that's sort of what he did. What Bryan Patrick didn't do was explain to Dennis Cobb that Kroger was not in compliance with the PUD and advise him that the lights need to be turned off until they were in compliance. What Bryan Patrick didn't do was ask code enforcement to come out and evaluate the compliance of the other lights that have been adjusted. What Bryan Patrick didn't do was his job. What Bryan Patrick did was to let Dennis Cobb and Kroger know that the neighbors were complaining again. Yes, complaining, once again, that Kroger is not in compliance with the limitations and regulations set forth SPECIFICALLY to protect our quality of life and minimize the negative impact on the adjacent residential properties. Just what professional vernacular did Bryan Patrick use to convey the necessity for Kroger to immediately comply? He sent this email to Dennis Cobb, "Dennis, FYI - The lights are back on and the neighbors are not happy. Thanks, Bryan"

Reading over Bryan's words again makes my lips purse, my face turn red and the hair on the back of my neck stand up. The only words that come to my mind are What an asshole.

But, thanks to Mitt Romney, I finally figured it out. Kroger has hired their own city code lobbyist in the form of Dennis Cobb. We just need to come up with the dough to hire one of our own to fight for the rights and protections we were given at the outset.

Exploding Eyeballs

I didn't have allergies until I moved to Arkansas. Now, this morning my eyeballs feels like they are going to pop out of their sockets, or maybe just explode. I might be overstating just slightly. But my head is throbbing, my eyes ache and they're weepy and crusty, my nose is running and I feel generally foggy.

Tomorrow is Spring, but the pollen has been thick for over a week. The weather has been beautiful, at least 10° or more above normal for many days now. We've had a little rain, so all the trees are sprouting new leaves, but before the leaves emerge we are treated to those little hanging pollen thingies covered in the green dust. They are everywhere: on the oak trees in the yards that surround us and on the birch trees in our back yard just beyond the pond. With the slightest breeze, those hanging pollen thingies discharge a fine green dust into the air that ultimately settles on every surface. Our patio is covered with a layer of green powder. The hot tub has a green powder ring around the outside edge of the water. Every surface everywhere you look is covered with a thin to thick layer of green, depending on how long the surface has been sitting unmoved and untouched.

Yesterday we sat outside on patio most of the afternoon while Tom smoked a brisket. Each time I'd put my iPhone down face up on the table, within five minutes the screen would be covered with a layer of pollen. We should have gone inside, but no. We were determined to get as much fresh air as possible after being cooped up indoors all winter. Fresh air that's not so fresh. Today I am paying for it and I'll again stay indoors until it rains, which is hopefully tonight or tomorrow, if we're lucky.

Kroger installed perimeter lighting at the end of last week. One huge light pole is behind our fence less than 40 feet from our property. They turned the light on for the first time Friday night and at 8:30pm, well after dark, this is what it looked like from our patio....

Isn't that special?? Who needs patio lighting? Or solar lights on the pergola or around the garden? Not us. Thanks Kroger.

Sarcasm aside, we sent an email immediately (8:34pm to be exact) to the director of the planning department, the director of code enforcement and every single city council member, along with that photo, expressing our lack of appreciation of Kroger's lighting gift as well as detailing the specific points where Kroger's lighting is in violation of city lighting codes AND the terms of the PUD (Planned Unit Development) under which Kroger was approved to expand. Imagine that. Kroger in violation of city codes and PUD regulatory guidelines. Want to see my shocked face?

"
Source: E*Trade Commercial

Saturday afternoon we received an email from one city council member....yes, ONLY ONE out of nine, and this particular city council member does not even represent our ward. The silence from our two ward representatives is deafening. Sunday morning we also received a curt email from the planning director, "I have contacted Kroger."

Ours is not the only property affected. Our next door neighbors have also received Kroger's generous lighting gift since another light pole was erected directly behind their property. Unfortunately, they don't have the tree coverage we do and while our bedroom is luckily situated in the front of our house, their bedroom is in the back of theirs. They are not only gifted with [read: subjected to] a bright as day backyard 24-7, but at over double the allowable height and sans the required shield, the perimeter light easily pierces through their ample window coverings and casts a beautiful orange glow into their bedroom all night long. Imagine never having to use a night light ever again to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night! Now that's special.

You know, if the officials and employees of the city planning and code enforcement departments and the mayor and city council members have decided they just don't feel like doing doing their jobs to appropriately oversee construction of the monstrosity they so recklessly approved, and that we, the neighbors directly adjacent to and adversely impacted by said monstrosity, are going to be required to monitor Kroger's code compliance on their behalf, maybe we should be compensated in some way. A monthly stipend maybe. Or how about free groceries for as long as we own our homes. Then Kroger can make a monthly withdrawal from city officials' wages.

Okay, that's off my chest.

It's Spring Break in Conway. The girls next door are playing out in their driveway just beyond my office window. Laughing, squealing, yelling...."I'm telling mama!" I love hearing them.

Only four more weeks until our trip to Florida! I have a little magnetic white board on the side of the refrigerator that I'm using to make a list of things I want to take with us.



I have my priorities in good order.

Whoops!

I didn't mean to lie to you yesterday. I really did think it was November 29th and I really thought I only had one more day of NaBloPoMo. Maybe it's all the viral mucous invading the very recesses of my brain that is clouding my ability to think clearly.

When I got up this morning, I fully intended to go into the Clothes Closet, but as I sat in a near stupor finishing my coffee, my fever returned and I went back to bed for a two hour nap. Getting old sucks.

So, to clarify, tomorrow is the last day of NaBloPoMo. And today I will provide a quick update on the never-ending Kroger Expansion saga.

When I wrote that letter to the city council, I didn't have any illusions that it would help. What it took to finally get results was a shortened version (305 words) in the form of a Letter to the Editor published in the local newspaper (thank you, Phil) and an email I sent to Kroger headquarters pointing out their blatant hypocrisy for contributing $1.5 million toward breast cancer awareness and their unwillingness to finish erecting a damn fence to protect our children from exposure to cancer causing benzene fumes. I was a little nicer than that, but not much.

Within 72 hours, workers were back and at the end of one full day, the fence is fully constructed. Now we have a backyard that looks like this...

Sometime in the spring, Tom will pull down our old fence and finish the fence on each side to hook up to the new one just a couple of feet away. He also wants to put a gate in the fence so we can walk out our backyard to the grocery store. Isn't he clever?

Now We Know

Well, now, what has transpired in the Kroger expansion saga in the last few days? Here's the update:

Half of the fence is up. Kroger representatives told the fence company to install ONLY that portion of the fence, and nothing further, to satisfy an apparent side agreement between Kroger and Bryan Patrick(? - the mayor? - who else was in on this?) in order to receive their Certificate of Occupancy. And that is exactly what the fence company did in a day and a half. When the fence reached the negotiated spot, the fence company quit...pulled off the job...before noon last Friday. The new partial eight foot fence stops mid-way in my neighbor's backyard. My next door neighbors have three little girls who will continue to be exposed to carcinogenic benzene fumes and at risk for leukemia, as will the rest of the neighbors south of them. Nice work Kroger. Nice work Bryan Patrick, director of the Conway Planning Department. Nice work Mayor Townsell and the majority of city council members.

So, the gas station opened Friday afternoon. The fence installers did not return after lunch, nor are they here this morning, although I will give them the benefit of the doubt because it is raining. But my guess is they won't be back any time soon even though it would take probably all of a day to a day and a half to complete the mandatory fence as required by the Planned Unit Development (PUD) conditions.

We have been very troubled by the urgency to open the gas station. My neighbor even sent an email to Bryan Patrick, director of the Conway Planning Department, asking why the rush to open the gas station without completion of the terms of the PUD. She has not received a response. But she found out on her own. Of course, it's all about money.

She found the following at these two sites: Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT)

Sunday After Thanksgiving is Heaviest Travel Day of the Year

The most traveled day of the holiday period - and of the entire year - is the Sunday after Thanksgiving, when 13.7 million long-distance trips are made (Figure 2). The day after Christmas is the second most traveled day during the holidays, with 12 million trips. New Year's Eve is less traveled than either Christmas or Thanksgiving, with 8.3 million people traveling. There appears to be no increased pattern of travel associated with the celebration of Hanukkah.

While Christmas and Thanksgiving record about the same amount of travel, Thanksgiving's high volume of travel is concentrated in fewer days, which places a heavier burden on the transportation system. During the five days surrounding Thanksgiving, an average of 10.8 million trips are taken per day, nearly double the average number of daily trips for the whole year; the daily average for the five days around Christmas is 9.5 million trips, but more Christmas travelers leave earlier and stay longer than Thanksgiving travelers so that trips are spread out over a longer period of time.

Okay, so we get that corporate greed trumps safety, health and compliance with laws. Kroger Co. is a corporation and greed will prevail.

But what about the city officials and nine elected representatives? Where are they? I've sent no less than six emails protesting the issuance of a COO without the completion of the mandatory protective barrier. I have received three responses, none of them from the mayor (who has never responded to any of my emails, EVER) or the representatives of my specific area (they are called "wards" here).

I will name the people who have at least responded because I want you to know who is attempting to work on behalf of their constituency and who is not. That will be important come election time.

Shelia Whitmore was the first to respond to tell me that she "told Bryan I personally was not in favor of the fuel station opening without the fence in place."

Shelley Mehl did not respond to us directly, but sent a copy of an email she sent to Bryan Patrick stating "I am not in favor of this until the fence is up. The fence was a condition of operation."

Lastly, David Grimes also did not respond to us directly, but sent a copy of his email to Bryan Patrick which states first, "I agree with Shelley. They need to build the fence first," and continues his email by asking the very question we've been asking, "How hard can it be for them to do that?" How hard indeed Mr. Grimes. A simple answer: someone in the city told them they didn't have to.

So, where are the other six elected officials? Their silence is deafening...and perhaps telling.

What conversations are taking place behind the scenes? What are these people saying to each other? How can they possibly justify jeopardizing the health and safety of citizens when all it would have taken to complete that damn fence and protect the constituency was just one more work day, or day and a half maximum, to complete the entire fence. The fencing company could have finished the fence on Saturday and Kroger could have opened on Sunday...a mere day and half delay but still before the big profitable Thanksgiving weekend. What is motivating these people? It can't be money, can it? How much revenue could the city gain in a day and a half worth of gasoline sales.....sales that are not ADDITIONAL sales, but sales drawn from surrounding gas stations whose business saw a drop because of the opening of the Kroger gas station.

As I said in my letter to the city council, there is a blatant enforcement double standard. I've known people to receive citations for using too many garage sale signs (I think we're allowed two) or leaving their garage sale signs up too long. Code enforcement routinely issues citations if you allow your grass to grow too long or leave your garbage bin on the curb too long. We've personally known code enforcement to deny a homeowner a final COO for one single 1/16th of an inch building code violation. Yet, Kroger received a COO without completing the single most safety related mandated PUD condition. How is that equal enforcement?

In early October, one of our neighbors sent us an email to let us know they had called OSHA and Arkansas EPA. The workers at the Kroger construction site had been cutting concrete blocks for days. The dust from the cutting saw, which is being used without water or any sort of dust collection system, was uncontrolled and completely permeated the air in the neighborhood, particularly for those of us who live adjacent to the construction. The dust was intolerable and likely hazardous. The air was so bad that our neighbors were unable to work in their own backyard without respiratory protection, and even then found it too overwhelming and finally retreated into their house for relief. And this was just one of many times our environment became so intolerable because of the construction. My question to Bryan Patrick that day was, "Who is responsible for monitoring Kroger’s continued disregard for and noncompliance with safety standards? How and when can we get this constant dirt and dust under some reasonable control in order to mitigate any unnecessary exposure of the surrounding residents (not to mention the workers at the construction site) from the continued physical hazards."

One of my neighbors sent an email to Tab Townsell, our illustrious mayor, inviting him to their home for dinner so that he could experience first-hand how we are impacted. The mayor didn't even have the courtesy to respond, not even to decline the invitation and apologize for any inconvenience the massive construction project has caused. Deafening silence.

But the mayor happily and quickly responded to a call from an affluent executive of Southwestern Energy, who had been denied a final COO for his newly constructed home because of obvious safety and building code violations. Wanting to be a representative of the people (well, maybe just certain people), the mayor stepped in on the executive's behalf (probably after some back-slapping and vigorous handshaking) and ordered the code enforcement department to issue the COO in spite of the violations. But, but, but...what about the homeowner with the 1/16th of an inch violation? Hmmmmm.

I have been updating my status on Facebook and posting links to this blog so family and friends can follow along. A couple of people joked (or maybe even half serious) that Kroger should provide adjacent residents with everything from a gift card to free gas and groceries for five years.

Then I started thinking. What if it is money? Or gifts? Could it be some elected officials are receiving sizable contributions to campaign coffers? Is Kroger doling out gift certificates for dinners at local restaurants for council members, city officials and a hundred of their closet friends? Or maybe tickets, lodging and dining for sporting events and such. Though, I'm only speculating, one has to wonder and question the motives of the city officials when they refuse to protect the health and safety of the citizens in deference to corporate demands. Just sayin'

A Losing Hand

I feel like I'm deeply entrenched in the card game called Bull Shit.

What has happened since my post yesterday when I reported that the Planning Department was going to issue a temporary Certificate of Operation (is that their job or code enforcement?) and my subsequent 6 or 7 emails of protest and indignation and the Planning Department's wimpy agreement to accept half of a fence, as though that would be acceptable to all of the residents who are at risk for benzene exposure and other carcinogens emitted by the, um, fuel center (because after all, when you're upscale you cannot call it a gas station)?

Just a brief side note. Isn't it interesting that when Kroger has a criteria that must be accomplished that, even in the dark of night, workers are still setting 2X4's to meet tomorrow's deadline. It is just past 7:00pm and the fencing company workers are still working....in the freaking dark.

So, late this afternoon I finally finished the letter the do-nothing, discriminatory, shoulder shrugging mayor and city council. Following is, in its entirety, the letter to the mayor and city council concerning the Kroger temporary Certificate of Occupancy:

November 17, 2011

A Letter to the Mayor and City Council:

Bryan Patrick’s email of November 15th at the close of business day was completely unexpected, considering that we were informed just 10 days prior that Kroger would not receive a certificate of operation prior to the completed construction of the protective barrier fencing. Apparently, someone rattled a cage on Kroger’s behalf.

This last debacle is just another in a long line of half-truths, misleading statements and broken promises.

In response to Mr. Patrick’s e-mail regarding the latest fuel center/protective barrier issue, I would like to bring up two points.

First, when we overheard the information that Kroger was attempting to open the gas station prior to the full completion of the PUD and we made inquiries as to why this would be permitted, Mr. Cobb’s initial response was to innocently claim that his belief was that everyone understood that this project would be done in phases. In our response to Mr. Cobb’s claim, we made it clear that our understanding from the hearings and meetings was that this project would not be given a final operating permit until all aspects of the PUD were completed

Secondly, Mr. Patrick has indicated in nearly all of his email communications that there is nothing in the PUD that says Kroger can’t do ‘this or that’ with regard to full completion vs. opening parts of the PUD prior to full completion.

However, we have read the general guidelines for a Planned Unit Development and cannot find anything within the ordinance that addresses temporary approval to commence operation of any part of the PUD. In fact this very point was brought up at a council meeting by one of the residents because of our concerns about enforcement of requirements and promises. The former land owner and Kroger promised to build a fence when the current store was built, but the fence never materialized. At that same meeting, we were assured by a council member that if a fence and tree barrier is listed in the PUD conditions, Kroger would have to complete every condition prior to being given a C.O.O. Consequently we were led to believe that everything in the PUD would have to be done prior to Kroger opening anything. To our knowledge, a “development phasing and construction schedule” was never submitted with the PUD application, although the ordinance states it is a requirement. The only mention of a schedule was a 14-month build from start to finish.

At the final approval meeting, Alderman Hawkins moved to adopt the ordinance for the PUD with the conditions stated. There was no discussion. Not once in any meeting was the subject of phases or temporary certificates brought up or mentioned. If the phases would have been mentioned, you can be sure that we would have argued that for health and safety issues, the protective barrier must be completed prior to opening the gas station.

I am not a lawyer, but my understanding is that a PUD is basically a contract that states they (Kroger) will build this store and fuel center with the listed conditions and you (the City) will give them a permit to operate. I don’t know many contracts that allow one side to insert, at their will, new time lines or stipulations without everyone agreeing to them.

You signed this contract with Kroger when you approved this PUD. We as citizens took you at your word that you would follow this contract and its conditions for the betterment of the community and the protection of its citizens.

The email Mr. Patrick sent yesterday morning outlined an apparent agreement for the partial completion of the barrier fence. This was simply insulting and laughable. It was also patently false and misleading which we learned inadvertently during a conversation with the fencing superintendent for Arkansas Fence, the contractor hired to erect the fence. In fact, we were told that Arkansas Fence has not been instructed to “build the fence.” They have been instructed to build ONLY that portion of the fence which is outlined in Mr. Patrick’s email and nothing more. There is no intention of “completion of the remaining fence [being] expected shortly thereafter.” Given the history with Kroger this past year, I doubt anyone is surprised.

We are rather weary and well beyond angry at the gross double standard applied when it comes to ordinance and other code enforcement. Ordinary citizens, like us, are given citations for having too many garage sales signs, allowing our grass to grow an inch too long or for leaving our garbage bins at the curb more than an afternoon. Our health, safety and quality of life concerns are either ignored or met with half-truths, misrepresentations, omissions and shoulder shrugs. However, if a citizen is affluent and/or well connected, a final residential permit will be issued in spite of glaring and unsafe building code violations, a church will be allowed to ignore city codes to the detriment of the surrounding community and Kroger will be issued a temporary operating permit for the gas station even though you are not requiring them to complete the health and safety barrier fence and trees to which they agreed even at the risk of potential harm to surrounding families.

What happened to honesty, integrity, compassion and service to the community, a job for which you were elected? Not just a finite segment of the community, but all of us.
You are politicians elected by the people. Someone once said, “Politics is like a game of cards. If you’re well connected or a large corporation, you’re automatically in the game. If you’re an ordinary citizen without resources, you don’t even get table stakes.”

It is not enough to merely shrug your shoulders and say you voted against it. Where is the leadership, concern and protection ~ and, yes, trust ~ we should be able to expect from our city council? As ordinary citizens, we expect our city council to sit at the table on our behalf.

Terri & Tom Powers

Do I harbor any illusions that it will do any good? Nope. But it felt good letting them know how completely useless and inept I think they are.

The Joke

Yesterday at 5:45pm we received an email from the Conway planning department informing us (the neighbors adjacent to the Kroger expansion) that a temporary certificate of operation would be issued to the gas station...er, upscale fuel center...to begin operation today.

Five pointed emails and twelve hours later, the temporary certificate of operation has been put on hold pending the HALF completion of the required protective barrier fencing required in the PUD stipulations.

I concede that the whole thing is basically bull shit. We, as the residents adjacent to the Kroger expansion, have apparently been charged with over-seeing the compliance of the Kroger expansion. This is not by our choosing. It is by default because of the complete inability and unwillingness of the current city council to rise to the challenge of doing their jobs and provide representation to those of us who have little or no power, i.e. gross amounts of money.

Since yesterday evening, I've sent no less than 6 or 7 emails, but none of which address the entire "we're getting screwed" scenario. We're in the middle of writing another email which addresses just that.

My lips are pursed. My teeth are clenched. I'm just pissed off. Stay tuned.

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

Instead I got an air conditioning garden.

I know that doesn't make sense, but, trust me, it will once you see the photos.

But let me back up to the beginning. Well, not so much the beginning but in the middle of the progress.

You see, as part of the requirements of the Kroger expansion, Kroger officials agreed to build an 8-foot fence (big of them, don't you think?) as a barrier to protect our adjacent neighborhood from the view of the expanded store, humungous parking lot, 14-bay gas station, the new road that has been cut which runs the entire length of all adjacent properties and the light, noise and fumes generated by all of the aforementioned.

But let's be realistic. I don't know if you can make it out or not, but look carefully at the photo below. I took the photo from my patio. It is the view my neighbors three and four doors down have from their homes and backyards. See the tan colored mass between the trees that looks like it is in their backyards? That's not a hazy sky. It is a massive 30-foot high and 200-foot wide sidewall for the expanded store.

Eight foot high fence; 30-foot high wall. You do the math and tell me how effective that fence will be as a protective barrier.

So back to the fence building. The gas station...oh, excuse me, we're supposed to call a fuel center because this is an upscale, status project...was coming along pretty quickly and about a month ago Tom overheard the store manager tell another customer that they wanted to open the gas station in a couple of months. But, but, but... while they're working feverishly on the, er, fuel center, what about the fence that is supposed to be the protective barrier? There was no evidence that the construction of the fence had even begun.

Our neighbor emailed the director of the planning department to ask about the fence. The director emailed Kroger (not the store, it's representative). The senior construction manager responded to the director with the following:

"Hopefully everyone had/has the understanding that this project has to be “phased”. We cannot complete everything at the same time or wait until this is complete before doing something else. On most construction projects I have worked on, the landscaping [emphasis mine] is normally completed at the end of the project. Many other activities have to be completed prior to the “final touches”[emphasis mine].

I can assure you that the project will be completed per the PUD, that is, when we are 100% complete."

At the final city council meeting when the project was approved, the fence was a HUGE deal and it was agreed by all parties that it was, in fact, intended as a protective barrier, certainly not as landscaping or a finishing touch.

I know you wouldn't have guessed that I have a propensity for writing curt letters to federal, state and local representatives when I believe they have a responsibility to their constituents. Yeah. Guilty.

I was furious, so I sat down at my computer, penned the following email and sent it to every single person I could think of: the mayor, every single city council member, the planning commission, building code enforcement and the editor of the local newspaper. I am sharing it in it's entirety, except for the construction manager's telephone number...

"Mayor Townsell
Alderman Hawkins
Alderman Grimes
Alderman Vaught
Alderwoman Mehl
Alderman Rhodes
Alderwoman Smith
Alderman Jones
Alderwoman Whitmore

I realize this email will most likely fall on deaf ears. Mayor Townsell and the five council members who voted in favor of the Kroger expansion will have what Mayor Townsell called your “status store.” Construction is well underway.

First let me rant, which will probably negate the perfectly reasonable request I will make later, but as I sit here at my desk at 7:00am listening to roto-hammers, steel saws and heavy construction equipment beeping constantly, I am more frustrated than I can even articulate.

For the last few months, we and our neighbors have endured heavy construction noise from sun up to sun down, seven days a week. Construction noise starts no later than 6:30am and doesn’t stop until 6:30pm, sometimes even later. Friday night it continued until well after 7:00pm. Every single day. As I sit here at my desk, heavy construction equipment is working just beyond my back fence and I can feel my desk and laptop vibrating underneath my hands and I can hear my windows and cabinet doors rattling. The roof for the gas station that we were assured would not be visible from our yards, is nearly fully constructed and now clearly visible from my home in spite of the mature landscaping in my yard and that of my neighbor’s.

I have to wonder how those council members who voted in favor of the expansion would feel if they were my neighbors just three doors down. Kroger has expanded the small market to literally within a few feet of their backyards. Where there used to be a "buffer zone" sits the end of the building that will be the super center, a gray brick wall about 30 feet high and about 200 wide. The 8-foot fence Kroger finally agreed to build will not help my neighbors.

When we moved into our home five years ago, we went to great expense to construct a large covered patio, with lights and fans, and install a spa. When the weather permitted, even when it was raining, we enjoyed quiet mornings on the patio over coffee and quiet evenings over a glass of wine and dinner. Now our mornings and evenings are spent inside because the constant noise is so intolerable and our patio and patio furniture is covered with a perpetual layer of orange dirt, which has also settled on the seats and floor of our spa.

At one point, I believe one of our neighbors contacted the Planning Department at the outset of construction because of the constant huge brown dust storms created by the tractors, skip-loaders, trucks and graders. A water truck was used a couple of times, but not enough to alleviate the dirt in the air, then the water truck quickly disappeared. Now we just pray for rain.

What this expansion project has done and will continue to do to the tranquility and quality of life of those of us most directly impacted is immeasurable. But, for the most part, we have been silent.

A few weeks ago, we (the residents adjacent to the Kroger store expansion) discovered that Kroger plans to open the gas station within the next two months.

When we presented our objections to this project, you, the members of the city council, assured us that all of the conditions in the PUD would have to be completed prior to Kroger being given the final permit. These conditions included an 8-foot high fence and trees to provide a protective barrier from the noise, light and cancer causing gas fumes from reaching the residences. Since the city council included these conditions, we felt that you were at least attempting to address our concerns and protect our health and tranquility.

After learning about Kroger’s plan to open the gas station, we inquired about the absence of the required protective barriers. A Kroger representative minimized our concerns by referring to the barriers as “final touches” and “landscaping”. The text of the email response sent to Bryan Patrick is as follows:

“Hopefully everyone had/has the understanding that this project has to be “phased”. We cannot complete everything at the same time or wait until this is complete before doing something else. On most construction projects I have worked on, the landscaping is normally completed at the end of the project. Many other activities have to be completed prior to the “final touches”.

I can assure you that the project will be completed per the PUD, that is, when we are 100% complete.

Thanks,

Dennis Cobb
Sr. Construction Manager
Kroger Mid-Central Region
(000-000-0000)

Those of us in opposition to and directly impacted by this project did not have the understanding that this project would be phased. At no time during public hearings with the Planning Commission or the City Council, nor anywhere in the PUD conditions was it mentioned that the project would be built in phases and that Kroger would be permitted to open the gas station prior to the protective barrier (the aforementioned 8-foot fence and trees) being in place. To the contrary, at the November 23rd council meeting when the PUD was approved, we were specifically assured that if a condition is specified in the PUD then the builder cannot receive its permit to operate until all conditions have been met. Since the protective barrier was a major item of concern because of the close proximity of the gas station, we are firm in our demand that these items be completed prior to a permit being issued for the gas station.

Bryan Patrick has stated that there is nothing in the final development plan that would prohibit the fuel station from opening prior to the expanded store. This was not our understanding.

Mr. Patrick has also asked Kroger to consider at the very least erecting the 8-foot fence prior to opening the gas station. To my knowledge, he has yet to receive a reply.

We, as your constituents, took you at your word that all of the conditions would be met prior to the facility being opened. However, if this project is to be done in “phases” then we would ask you to intervene on our behalf and withhold permits to operate until at the very least the necessary protective barriers are in place.

Thank you for your consideration.

Terri & Tom Powers"

Not too bad, right? So what transpired? Not much. One council member said it was just a timing issue. Two others agreed with us. I didn't hear from the rest of the council or the mayor. Invisible shrugging shoulders. Wow. Thanks. Impressive. And if you weren't able to guess, that wasn't good enough for me. Hence, the following email to the planning department director:

"Dear Bryan:

I would like to start by thanking you for your continued work on the problems created by the Kroger expansion.

After only three responses from the city council members, I am following up directly with you after the email we sent to the city council earlier this week, a copy of which you should have received. After talking to several of the residents in the Rosewood Terrace subdivision, we would like to stress a specific point.

In Mr. Cobb’s response to you concerning our inquiry about the 8-foot fence and trees, he minimized their purpose and importance by referring to them as “landscaping and finishing touches.” We beg to disagree.

Further, in his response he said, “Hopefully everyone had/has the understanding that this project has to be phased”. We have reviewed the minutes of all the hearings and meetings ad nowhere in those discussions were any references to the expansion being “phased.”

If you have reviewed the minutes of the November 23rd council meeting, you will note that one item specifically was of major concern: the 8-foot fence and landscaping needed to protect the residents from the fumes, light and noise of the gas station. At that meeting, Mr. Robert Brown, on behalf of Kroger, explained that the “fuel center area has also had enhancements to increase the screening elements of this area.” Mr. Cobb presented a drawing of a solid wood fence design that would help prevent the gas fumes from reaching the residents. Mr. Cobb went on to say that these conditions along with the buffering ideas had been proposed in an effort to address the concerns raised about the fuel center fumes, noise and light. At no time did anyone consider these protective measures “finishing touches” or mere landscaping. Clearly, everyone understood and was in agreement as to the purpose of the fence and that was as a protective barrier from the issues and concerns surrounding the fuel center.

Now Kroger wants to open the fuel center a year or more prior to completing the “finishing touches and landscaping”. This would be a complete disregard for the safety and health concerns of the surrounding residences, as well as reneging on the understanding of the purpose of the requirements for the approval of the PUD.

Obviously, we have no control over whether or not the project is to be “phased.” However, since this project is going to be “phased,” it is imperative that the safety and protective barriers also be in place. Everyone agreed and understood the primary purpose of the fence was to act as a safety and protective barrier between the residences and the fuel center fumes, noise and lighting. We believe it would not be unreasonable to require Kroger to complete these conditions prior to receiving final permits to open the fuel center.

Once they complete these conditions, they could be allowed to open the fuel center and continue with their “phased” completion of the project, but not before.

Thank you for your cooperation and please keep us advised as to progress.

Terri & Tom Powers"

Look, I know this is all too much information so I hope you just skimmed through those emails. Except I left out the really curt, smoking ears email I sent to the mayor and every city council member the day of Tom's birthday, about a week after all the other communications transpired. It was short and sweet and clearly expressed weeks of frustration:

"It is 6:20 pm. Today is my husband’s birthday. We planned a beautiful evening outside because the weather is beautiful. But our evening in ruined.

Since 6:30 am this morning we have listened to construction. Now it is 6:22pm and the construction continues. Kroger is pouring concrete, installing roofing and construction equipment continues to ‘beep-beep-beep-beep’ until the constant noise is intolerable. Noise ordinance? What noise ordinance?

So, to those city council members who voted for this behemoth that has invaded our entire lives, tell me how your evening plans are going?. How is your quality of life? Are you able to enjoy your backyards? Of course you are because you do not live here. Thanks so much."

Shortly thereafter laborers started clearing brush along the fence line in preparation for the fence, although we weren't informed of that directly. We talked to the laborers performing the work. When they were done clearing, our view went from this....



to this....



And for the last month, we've had a wonderful, unobstructed view of continued construction. Last week, though, they finally set the posts for the fence and we are now waiting for fence construction to commence.

In the meantime, as I said, we have an unobstructed view, so when their vendor delivered the new air conditioning units last Saturday, their arrival could not be missed.

I said to Tom when he got home, "Look at what was delivered today. Are those construction trailers?

"I don't know," he said. "Let me go see."



They are not construction trailers. They are the air conditioning units that will be installed on the roof ~ the new roof just a few feet from our neighbors' yards ~ of the expanded portion of the new upscale, status Kroger store.



They are still sitting there today because the new roof isn't finished. And they may be sitting there for awhile, so we get a view on construction and ugly.

But my friend, Dorothy, had an awesome idea. For decorative effect, we should paint them. I suggested we paint them to match the Adirondack chairs I'm painting for my backyard: lavender, salmon, yellow and aqua.

I may have to go paint shopping tomorrow.

A Creative Roadblock

Given the number of blog writers who apparently have writers block or have little or nothing to share, I'm not alone.

Today started out energetic. I made my list. I checked it twice. I hit the local Hallmark store, then Walmart, which is in the same shopping center as the Hallmark store.

I hated to have to come home because the construction noise in my backyard started early and continued all afternoon. It was brutal. I wanted to keep the back door open because the weather was beautiful...in the low to mid-70's, but the noise was so overwhelming, I kept the door closed. It didn't matter. All I could hear was construction noise muddling the press conference of Herman Cain's fourth sexual harassment accuser and the guilty verdict of Michael Jackson's former physician.

Before I continue, I have to comment on both developments.

First, the woman who has come forward as Herman Cain's fourth victim of sexual harassment. I just have to say: Herman, you are dead meat....besides being a scumbag. Go home.

Second, Dr. Conrad Murray's guilty verdict in the death of Michael Jackson. Yes, Michael Jackson was most likely a drug addict. However, Dr. Murray is a physician who is bound by medical ethics. The drug Murray gave Michael Jackson was propofol. It is a drug that is used to render patients unconscious for surgical procedures. It has NEVER been used or recommended as a "sleep aid." Propofol is to be administered in controlled, hospitalized surgical situations, not in the homes of pop stars who wish to find slumber relief. In my view, if you have not already guessed, Dr. Murray is completely culpable since he did not follow ethical protocol for the administration of such a potentially lethal drug.

Back to the overwhelming construction noise. This is what we have endured within inches of our back fence for the last several months.

Huge construction equipment. This is just one of several pieces of equipment working...digging...grading...beeping...OMG the freaking beeeping!!!...just on the other side of our back fence. The air surrounding our house is permeated with the smell of diesel exhaust.

I would like to personally thank our illustrious mayor, Tab Townsell, who has a little girl who has, at the age of 6, battled cancer, and yet felt it was completely appropriate to approve the construction of a 14-bay a gas station, which produces known carcinogens, to be built within 200 feet of where at least five children, one known cancer-stricken resident and a half a dozen senior citizens reside.

And, of course, there are the other members of the Conway City Council who also dismissed the documented cancer risks (hmmm, how many of them have children?), rejected the concerns for the negative impact of the quality of life for the surrounding neighborhoods and voted to nullify the existing zoning that provided a necessary buffer zone for all adjacent properties in favor of the construction of their "status" store... Andy Hawkins, an Allstate insurance agent; Mark Vaught, who is more concerned with the city's propensity for additional taxes than the welfare of the citizens; Shelley Mehl, an administrator for institutional advancement at the local university; Theodore Jones, a postal employee; and Shelia Whitmore, a human resources administrator.

I have to wonder if they or one of their family members would have been threatened with being so severely impacted in the manner in which we have, would they have voted differently. I'll answer that for them, without hesitation or equivocation: YES, they would have voted differently.

If Mayor Townsell thought his daughter would be subjected to the possibility or remote chance of consistent exposure to a known carcinogen, would he have supported the construction of such a project within the vicinity of where his child lives? Of course not. And, what of the others who voted in favor of this project? Would they have subjected their children or other family members to those risks? If they would, they are merely ignorant.

Of course, we are not related to any of the council members so we could not expect the same kind of thoughtful consideration, care and protection one would give to those they love and hold dear.

We are merely unrelated, anonymous citizens for whom they hold no particular allegiance, thoughtful consideration, care or protection. They are, ultimately, politicians, so what else could we expect from them.

November NaBloPoMo - Day Two

I picked a great month to do this, didn't I?

I didn't even explain what it was that I was doing. National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) is an annual event where bloggers post every single day during the month of November. A daily prompt (question or thought) is provided, but I'm not required to use them. I believe the prompts are for those of us who are feeling somewhat creatively weary, which I am, as you probably already knew if you read my post yesterday.

So, yes, I'm planning to post every single day this month and for today...well, what I know for sure is that I didn't win the lottery.

I also know that today will be the last reasonably warm day ~ about 74 degrees ~ before we start getting some much cooler weather, which I would prefer to avoid, if it was at all possible.

I know that the construction noise being produced by the Kroger expansion going on behind our property is going to be difficult today...excessive amounts of beeping, pounding and drilling. The noise is already driving our neighbor's dog crazy. He's howling. Poor guy. If I could howl that pathetically, I'd join him. My dog? Well, he's sound asleep on the chair next to me, snoring.

I know that Thanksgiving is coming so I am preparing the menu. I want to do something a little different this year. Maybe try a new appetizer, some different side dishes and skip the usual dessert. But you'll have to read my food blog, Terri's Table this afternoon to see what I've decided.

And I know we will not spend another Christmas by ourselves like we did last year. As I have mentioned before, the downturn in the economy really hit us hard. Our ability to travel to visit our sons and their families has been greatly curtailed. Our trip to Florida to visit Chris, Kelly and the kids was the first time in a year that Tom had spent time with them. He hasn't seen Mike, Kathy and their kids in almost two years, so that's where we will be spending Christmas. I hate having to make those kinds of choices, but at least this year we are able to scrape enough money together to make the trip.

Lastly, I know that I can finally put a chaotic, destructive part of my life completely behind me.

They Paved Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot.....Ooooo la la la la

It is Sunday afternoon, 1:25pm. It's sunny and in the low 70's, with a slight breeze.

This morning I grouted the newly tiled floor in our master bathroom and when I finished - after taking 3 ibuprofen instead of just the recommended 2 - I jumped crawled into the shower in the guest bath and scrubbed the sweat from my body and the grout from underneath my fingernails. When I got dressed, I put on a pair of comfy, but nice yoga pants and a respectable top, i.e. not a t-shirt or sweat shirt. I even put on earrings. Hoo Wee! I'm a grown up!

While I was in shower, Tom made a beautiful plate of sliced tomatoes, basil and cheeses drizzled in balsamic vinegar (the aged stuff, thank you very much) and olive oil (cheap brand).

Tom sliced a small boule I had taken out of the freezer a couple of days ago and made toasted some crostini, and then opened a bottle of red wine. I've had 1-1/2 glasses and I may finish the bottle by this evening.

You see, I am sitting outside on the patio in my backyard and even though the weather is beyond beautiful and the lunch Tom prepared was absolutely perfect, I am seething inside because all I can hear and see is heavy construction.

I can sit on my patio and watch the construction workers build the roof to the 14-bay gas station.


I know in a previous post I said it was an 8-bay gas station. I was wrong. This gas station will be the biggest gas station in the city. Even bigger than any gas station at any Conway exit off the interstate. We don't live near the interstate. We don't live on or near a major four lane artery through the city. Our street dead-ends into a two lane road with a left hand turn lane into ours and other residential neighborhoods.

Five years ago when we moved into this house, our backyard was separated from the existing Kroger neighborhood market by an empty field. The property, though undeveloped, was zoned light office for the intent purpose of providing a "buffer zone." Kroger applied several times to construct a gas station and each time their request was denied, citing concerns for the surrounding residential neighborhoods and increased traffic and noise.

Another request for a drive-through restaurant to be constructed within 100-feet of our backyard was unanimously denied, citing a potential negative impact on our quality of life.

But, on November 23, 2010, an expansion project was approved that would include the 14-bay gas station and more than double the size of the current Kroger to nearly 152,000 square foot, a super mega center. Apparently, the 8-bay gas station and drive-through restaurant previously requested would have been far too intrusive, but the larger fuel center and mega center are not. I have trouble figuring out the city council's logic (I refuse to call it 'wisdom' as I see nothing wise in their decision).

Residents of our neighborhood and others organized to oppose the expansion, but I knew all of the "public hearings" were just for show. Prior to any public hearings or planning commission meetings or city council meetings, the city released plans to expand our two-lane-with-left-turn-lane road into a four lane divided road, with no left turn lanes....oops, actually it include only one left turn lane - a new access road into the Kroger gas station, parking lot and receiving bays. Now that road did not (and as yet does not) exist when the city plans were drawn. In fact, there is currently a house still standing where the driveway is supposed to be. It's this house...



This little house was built sometime around 1946 and is on the National Register of Historic Places primarily because of its unique masonry work done by Silas Owens, Sr., a self-taught African-American mason whose work from about 1938 to 1955 is prominent throughout Faulkner County. The home is of local significance as an example of a Craftsman influenced mixed masonry veneer by Mr. Owen. The simple house prominently displays the clean herringbone pattern of Owens’ superior craftsmanship.

The house sits next door to a bank to its east, and a suburban neighborhood, our neighborhood, built during the 1980's to its west. The front yard faces Prince Street, that same soon-to-be four-lane divided road which is currently an internal artery from west Conway into downtown. The house is scheduled to be demolished and in it's place will be a drive way...the only driveway in about a two mile stretch of road that will be accessible by a left hand turn lane. Imagine that. One left turn lane and it's for Kroger. Hmmmmmm.

When we inquired why the city would include that particular driveway in the plan without a decision one way or the other by the planning commission, let alone, if denied, an appeal and approval by the city council. "Is it already a done deal?" we asked. Oh, no, of course not, came the reply. "It's just a drawing," we were told.

To that I just say..BULL SHIT!

It was a done deal long ago. Long before any public hearings. Long before any planning commission meetings. Long before the planning commission denied the application (yes, they denied it). Long before the appeal was submitted to the city council and before the city council advised Kroger to withdraw their application for rezoning and apply for a PUD (Planned Unit Development) and it's subsequent approval. Long before any of it, a deal was made between the mayor and Kroger.

Drawings for major city projects do not include roads that do not currently exist unless the city (read: mayor) has already decided that the project will be approved.

And why would the city council vote 5 - 3 in favor of such a project when it had unanimously denied much smaller previous projects? Easy. Ego, poor city management and the promise of increased revenue. The city has approved and built parks and ball fields without one thought given to the cost of long term maintenance. They've built overpasses and new roads when they can't even maintain existing ones. They've approved huge shopping centers and installed extra stoplights and roads for them which have created some of the worst traffic bottlenecks I've ever seen. There's no money for employee raises and there were talks of reduced hours. The city has borrowed repeatedly from the city sanitation department funds in order to merely pay its bills.

Our mayor and city council have no idea what planned growth means. They want Conway to be "the envy of other cities" so they continually approve BIGGER and what they perceive to be better projects with no thought as to the impact. They want the revenue because they believe it will solve all of their problems and they won't have to take responsibility for their poor past decisions. All of that tax revenue from the BIGGER and better Kroger is going to fix everything (WHEW!!). They are like spoiled brat teenagers. They want what they want and they want it now and to hell with the consequences, particularly since it's not in their backyard.

I have to wonder how those council members who voted in favor of the expansion would feel if they were my neighbors just three doors down. Kroger has expanded the small market to literally within a few feet of their backyards. Where there used to be a "buffer zone" sits the end of the building that will be the super center, a gray brick wall about 30 feet high and about 200 wide. The 8-foot fence Kroger finally agreed to build will not help my neighbors.

So, here I sit on my patio listening to the constant beeping of heavy construction vehicles, a rotohammer drilling holes in brick walls that were just constructed, huge saws cutting the pieces of metal for a roof I was told I wouldn't even be able to see (but, obviously, I can and so can my neighbors). And it's Sunday. It's freakin' Sunday! We don't even get one damn day of quiet.

We're lucky, I suppose. They didn't start work this morning until 8:00am. They usually start at 6:30am. Most evenings they finally stop working about 6:00 and you can actually take a deep breath and enjoy the quiet, but Friday night they worked until after 7:00pm.

No, there aren't any ordinances to prevent or limit the noise or the dirt storms. And, even if there were, I doubt very seriously if they would ever be enforced. It's the selfish teenage brat thing.

So, I sit in my office every day, listening to heavy construction vehicles beeping constantly because they are traveling backwards and wonder why the hell they can't go forward once in a while. I listen to my windows and cabinet doors rattle and feel my desk, chair and laptop vibrate underneath me and think it's worse than any earthquake I've ever felt because it never stops. So many times I want to just grab my purse, get in my car and get as far away from here as I possibly can just to make it all stop. Many times during the day, I curse those who voted in favor of this project. They have no idea what they have done to my quality of life. Or maybe they do know, but they just don't give a goddamn.

Ommmmmmm......

I don't mind progress. In fact, I think it's inevitable.

But shouldn't voting for progress require some sort of clear conscientious thought and deliberation and a thorough evaluation of the possible negative ramifications in order to determine the best approach?

Our City of Conway Arkansas Council members, in their infinite wisdom (sarcasm intended), decided it was in the city's best interest to completely remove the "buffer zone" provided by previous zoning requirements established for the specific purpose to act as a buffer to protect adjacent neighborhoods and rezone the property behind our house and those of all my neighbors on the east side of our street to allow the neighborhood Kroger grocery store to expand to three times its current size into a 123,000 square foot mega super center, in addition to approving an 8-bay gas station, all of which will be built within 100 feet of our backyards. Access to this mega center will be inadequately provided by two small arterial two lane roads definitely not suited for the 6,000 daily auto trips projected. Whoo Hoo!

In the initial proposal stage, the planning commission denied the application, and rightly so. There are properties all over Conway that are much more suited for a project as large as this. But Kroger appealed the decision to the city council and our honorable Mayor, Tab Townsell, broke the tie with his vote in favor of the expansion. He liked the idea that other communities would be envious. Yes, it had more to do with his ego than what was right for the citizens. Even though, as I mentioned, there are more suitable sites in the city for a project of this size. Although, a couple of those site are fairly close to Mr. Townsell's backyard...and we certainly couldn't disturb his quality of life now, could we?

Kroger is just getting started with the project, so we don't even know what the full impact will be on the surrounding neighborhoods. We're about to find out.

For the last month or so, this has been going on just over my back fence. First the grading of the entire field that buffered the noise and activity from the grocery store...

Then the digging of the access road, which will follow the configuration of all of the backyards of the homes adjacent to this property...


This photo was taken from my backyard at 7:00am this morning.


For this photo, I was standing on a concrete step with my forearms resting on the fence.


They start the behemoth heavy construction equipment at 6:30am every day and all day long my house shudders and my windows rattle as a result of the thundering machinery and this continues until 5:00pm when the air becomes startlingly quiet in comparison and I can hear myself think again.

Tom overhead the Kroger manager tell another customer that Kroger plans to open the gas station in two months. I have two reactions to that timeline.

First, I am grateful to have a time frame for when the construction noise will finally be over and gone.

However, the required 8-foot fence isn't under construction and I don't see any of those "buffering" trees being delivered for planting along the fence line.

Those items were just two of the conditions of approval of the project in order to protect the us, the homeowners, from noise and gas fumes pollution from the new gas station and the traffic activity and noise from the mega super center. Will the city council demand Kroger comply with the requirements to receive their permit to open the gas station? We'll see.

We, the neighbors directly impacted by this expansion, are already in offensive mode (as in aggressive and preemptive) and, upon hearing the news, immediately voiced our concerns about any possible waiver of the conditions to the planning commission, who is charged with monitoring the progress of approved projects. Let's hope our ego-driven mayor doesn't step in the middle of it and decide to override any code or contingency as he has done in the past with other departments, namely building code enforcement. But I won't get into that right now.

In other great news, we brought our little convertible back from Florida and had to take it into the shop because of an "engine error" icon on the dash. It was lucky for us that Chris rented a trailer for us to pull the car back home rather than drive it. The engine error turned out to be a cracked gas tank (can you imagine driving a car with a leaking gas tank 1,000 miles?), probably, the service manager said, because the gas tank had a small undetected defect, which, of course, didn't present itself until after the warranty had expired. My little red convertible has a new gas tank and we can pick it up and bring her home this afternoon after we pay the $1,500 bill. I've never named anything except my children and my animals, including my chickens and sheep. I've never named a house or car or boat or any other inanimate object. But, for the first time, I'm thinking of naming this car...something fairly descriptive, like "F**king Blood Sucking Bitch".

Anyway, my subsequent posts will probably be rather sporadic since I am working on compiling a cookbook of all my late mother-in-law's recipes, many of which she translated many times and in many forms from recipes she received from her mother and mother-in-law. Her handwriting is so distinctive and I'm enjoying reading all of her instructions and side notes. It is like having a conversation with her. It's so comforting to sit with her here at my desk.