Super Bowl Breakfast

Friends joined us for our Super Bowl Sunday Morning Breakfast walk to a local dive.  At 7:00 am this morning it was still dark, with lots of fresh snow.

The boys frolicked as if they haven't played in snow for ages.

After a leisurely 30 minute walk, we arrived at a closed restaurant so the boys go comfortable.

Mark's Mid-Town Coney Island has nice big tables in the back, which is where the seven of us parked ourselves for a relaxed Sunday morning pig-out.  We had it all - pancakes, eggs, toast, cheeseburgers, grilled cheese, chili cheese fries, chicken fried steak, hash browns, chicken sandwich, Mountain Dew and copious amounts of coffee.

For some reason, the photos didn't turn out really well today, which is too bad because we had a great time.  Kat had to rush off to work, so she took her left-overs with her for lunch.

It was nice to chatter and stroll through the snow, watch the boys run around, and enjoy a decadent breakfast.

Astrid

A Walk in the Snow

Waiting at the cross walk

The boys were disappointed that school wasn't cancelled this morning as we had a of bit snowfall overnight.  While the neighborhood was still blanketed in white, the main streets had cleared.

I was pleased to see many kids bundled up and walking to school.  There were a number of kids standing behind me who didn't want to be in the picture.

As we got closer to the school and nearer to First Bell, the number of SUV, mini vans, cross-overs and other cars started congesting the street in front of the school.  There were a shocking number of kids dropped off in cars.  We live in a nice neighborhood, good schools, safe streets, complete with sidewalks and school buses.  Why are so many kids getting a car ride to school?

Astrid

Beer Run



Kat and Jake outside Busch's with an ice cream cone

We finished watching the BluRay version of Tremors and decided that the night was still young so we walked to Busch's for some ice cream, a proverbial beer run.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1vRvW3QUys  Todd Snider's world famous Beer Run song recorded at the Bob and Tom studio - a classic!

It was a balmy 23F out tonight so the kids enjoyed their ice cream cone on the walk back home.

We're still laughing about the evening....a funny horror movie followed by a late night walk for a snack.

Astrid

My First Blog Rant - cars not stopping for kids at a cross walk

Crossing Guard with Extras

I walked my two boys home from school yesterday afternoon and was pleasantly surprised how many kids, parents, stroller, and bikes were making their way home via the sidewalk.  At the first intersection, there is a junior crossing guard (5th grader) who's function is to hold back the peds until it is safe to cross, usually letting a car or two go first.

Yesterday, besides all the traffic on the sidewalks, there were also many cars at the 4-way stop. (Who's riding in the school buses?) And a long line of cars barely came to a stop, one after another, rolling through the intersection while more and more walkers and bikers bunched up at the intersection.  Buses made their way through the intersection.  And NO car stopped long enough to let 50 or so walkers have a turn.

I will now humbly point out that the Ann Arbor ordinance requires vehicles to stop fully at crosswalks with no traffic control signals, instead of only yielding as they were required to do in the past. Currently, about 15 percent of Ann Arbor residents walk to work or school, and pedestrians often encounter problems when it comes to the safety of crossing streets, according to a press release from Ann Arbor city officials.

Vehicles must now stop for those not only currently on the crosswalk, but those approaching it as well. 

The ordinance also dictates that pedestrians can’t enter a vehicle’s path when the driver is unable to respond in the proper fashion. Also, if a pedestrian does not cross at a crosswalk, then they must take it upon themselves to yield to vehicles.

Ann Arbor City Ordinance for crosswalks here: http://www.a2gov.org/government/city_administration/City_Clerk/Documents/10-28%20Crosswalk%20Ordinance%20Approval%20Notice.pdf

Astrid

Detroit Ranks Second in Pedestrian Fatalities

Article from Good magazine called Dead Man Walking 

According to a recent study (which I didn't review but read some squishyness about), Detroit ranks second, a hair's breath from number one-ranked Atlanta, in the number of pedestrain fatalities.  See article here
http://struckdc.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/dc-ranked-7-in-worlds-most-deadly-cities-for-pedestrians/

Astrid

Back To School for my Brood

My boys coming out of their first day of class

Today is the start of the new school year for my kids at home.  My kids take their lunch most days and use some form of non-car mobility to school.  The younger ones walk and the older one will either take the bus, bike, or walk.

Preparing lunches (note to self - bake more bread!)

I read an article earlier this year about a suburb near Toronto where a new school was designed and built as a "walking only" school.  Interesting stuff http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/newsfeatures/article/747328--dropping-kids-off-here-better-lace-your-shoes-up

Astrid