I fuckin miss NY

[Godsmack 361]

I was looking on CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/07/09/cleveland.luck.lebron/index.html?hpt=C2) while I am stuck on mail detail. I was reading up on how Cleveland is always getting the shaft in sports, and other things. Then below we multiple responses from people who know the city. People talking about how it isnt that bad, or how great it is. Some just saying LeBran leaving is not the worst thing to happen to them. Not even in just sports either. This had me start thinking alot.

I fucking miss the Western New York area right now. This specific time of year mainly. Buffalo specifically, but the whole thing. It got me thinking about driving around on the I-90 and 190. Driving past the general mills plant at 2 am doing 75 with the windows down, feeling chilly beacuse of the lake breeze and smelling the fresh baked cereal. Walking down Chippewa and visiting the bars. Going to my favorite dive bar in Kenmore (which was my brother's favorite too be for he moved) Grey's Place. Spending time with my family behind my paternal grandparents house and BBQing and swimming. Going to Delaware Park, and the Albright Knox art gallery, just being in Buffalo, is so relaxing for me now............Its fucking odd. I guess its everything in Buffalo that I love. From the archetecture, to the culture, to the people.

Driving outside the city and enjoying the scenery, taking 'shortcuts' to drive out by the dairy fams and smelling that 'plug your nose, make you wanna puke god awful' baking cow shit smell. Seeing all the trees and the little farmer kids running around with no shirts on, cut off jean shorts and no shoes. Seeing the Amish drive by in their buggies taking fresh grown organic produce to town. The cheap strong drinks at places like City Limits, the Elks lodge, Roadhouse, Phil-n-Station, and Youngers just to name a few. Having food at the plentiful 'greasy spoon's' we have all over, and even the 'high' class resturants. Its all fantastic. Its why the WNY people are so pudgy. But we are the friendly warm caring 'lemme buy you a drink' pudgy types though.

That being said though, I mainly miss the people. Unless they are drunk as shit and the pricky drunks most people in the are are nice, kind and caring. They sit down and will have a nice long talk with you. Enjoy your company, hear what you have to say on ANYTHING and really listen. Act like adults and be good to you and anyone you have with you. The street musicians play such awsome music and its accurate too, very comforting. Very WNY.

The thing is though is the stuff I miss now is all shit that up until about 2 years ago I could of given a fuck less about (except the food and booze). And now I would give my left testicle to spend and hour back in Buffalo today. I feel like a little emo kid for saying all this, but I miss my home. And yes as my job goes, I have to make 'home' anywhere I am, but its not easy as some people think it is. And just like the onel who got away, you always miss your home and everything about it. Even the bad stuff isnt so bad when you think about it. Especially when its summertime. When its summertime everything is so much prettier, full of life and out there for everyone to enjoy, and it just consumes the bad things and makes them so minor you forget all about them.

Jordan

[Robert.Metzel 4]

I hear you! I'm from Chicago and I now live in a tiny hick town in the middle of Wisconsin. Came here for college when I was 25. I have since had a kid and now there is no going back since his mom and I don't get along anymore and separated. I can't leave my little man behind. So now I pretty much just work and sit home. If you don't hunt, fish, wear camo, drive a beat-up truck, and get drunk every night you are an outcast! lol Especially me since I have a system, and I'm a Cubs and Bears fan and proudly show it. I get heckled every time I go out by some jackass for reppin those teams via a shirt or hat. I mostly think they don't like me because I am educated, own my own business, and have all my teeth!

[ssh 924]

I hear you! I'm from Chicago and I now live in a tiny hick town in the middle of Wisconsin. Came here for college when I was 25. I have since had a kid and now there is no going back since his mom and I don't get along anymore and separated. I can't leave my little man behind. So now I pretty much just work and sit home. If you don't hunt, fish, wear camo, drive a beat-up truck, and get drunk every night you are an outcast! lol Especially me since I have a system, and I'm a Cubs and Bears fan and proudly show it. I get heckled every time I go out by some jackass for reppin those teams via a shirt or hat. I mostly think they don't like me because I am educated, own my own business, and have all my teeth!

I just got back from driving through several towns as described, some were cool and everyone knew everyone and were quite friendly and welcoming, but you could tell in some towns that the people didn't exactly want me there haha

[eggyhustles 33]

NY

The best state in the country

[sandt38 448]

I'm from Buffalo too, and I know what you mean. I left because of the weather and miss the people, the food, the Bills and Sabres. I miss the festival of lights, and the Falls. ANCHOR BAR! Broadway market and perogis. The pink flamingos in the front yards of the Polish folk in Cheektowaga. Blowing out of class and smoking bowls in the pines. I am an old dude, I remember seeing Nabissco Shredded Wheat when you crossed the Grand Island bridges, my grandparents both worked at Moore Business forms right up the street. The smell of those storage tanks right there by the bridges. I spent several years in LaSalle after my parents divorced... we lived with my grandparents while mom went to school for he pharmacy degree, and I remember when they raised the gates and set the guards up outside the Love Canal, just a few blocks away... do you remember that? The biggest toxic waste dump in the history of the US, and I lived right there, watched them dig it up, I remember the hate commercials of Hooker Chemical who sold the land to the city of Niagara Falls for a dollar so they could build a school on a toxic waste dump. Midnight fishing off the breakwall, bars open 'till 4 AM. Partying at Big Tree before the games or for the weekend when the Dead showed up... whip-it balloons all over the place and the sound of nitrous tanks filling them up. Riding down to the family property in the southern tier and being blown away by the colors of the fall leaves on the hillsides... and ohh, the roadside stands with maple syrup... remember the big fat fresh maple leaf shaped chunks of pure maple sugar candy? The Blizzard of '77... I remember the drifts up to the second story windows of the house... THAT was a Buffalo winter... shoveling the driveways and as soon as you're done the plow comes by and pushes that heavy bank of snow and ice right into the end of the driveway... Drunken nights riding around pulling people from ditches in our trucks with cases of beer shoved into the snow in the beds of our trucks. The Peace bridge, the "Canadian Ballet" and duty free cases of Labatts at the bridge. Heading up to Toronto and getting kind black Lebanese hash. Younge street bars FTMFW!

Growing up in Western New York is a privilege, and the people were the best in the country... and I have been all over the country. I feel your pain. I miss it too. But then I remember the weather, and I become a little more comfortable about my life now. The seasons were a big reason I moved to where I am at now, in Central NC. I get winter (4 whole inches of snow a year!) spring, summer, and fall... not like SoCal where we got summer 24/7/365. I got depressed in the fall with no leaves, and at Christmas wearing tank tops and shorts... Christmas is time for cold and snow.

It has been about 25 years since I have been back, and I plan on taking my family there next fall for a Bills game. I am hoping we can work it out where we can catch a Bills game and a Sabres game... It is going to be weird going to the Raplh, and not the Rich. I plan on going to places I worked, my old school, maybe seeing if Brennans is still open on Union road in West Seneca. I used to throw league darts for them so many years ago. I am looking forward to riding on the Skyway, and the Scajaqueda (I never could spell that).

[KU40 173]

You're just maturing. Teenagers and young 20-somethings take things for granted. Basically everything, in fact. It's easy to get comfortable and used to a nice place growing up, so much so that you don't realize how nice it is and how sucky parts of the rest of the world (or even the bad side of town if you have to live there) are. Those are just the things kids grow up with, so they don't think they'll change. Plus, yeah, your're stuck in a bit of a shithole so bad winters or whatever else don't seem so bad anymore, just to be in a familiar place.

[Godsmack 361]

I'm from Buffalo too, and I know what you mean. I left because of the weather and miss the people, the food, the Bills and Sabres. I miss the festival of lights, and the Falls. ANCHOR BAR! Broadway market and perogis. The pink flamingos in the front yards of the Polish folk in Cheektowaga. Blowing out of class and smoking bowls in the pines. I am an old dude, I remember seeing Nabissco Shredded Wheat when you crossed the Grand Island bridges, my grandparents both worked at Moore Business forms right up the street. The smell of those storage tanks right there by the bridges. I spent several years in LaSalle after my parents divorced... we lived with my grandparents while mom went to school for he pharmacy degree, and I remember when they raised the gates and set the guards up outside the Love Canal, just a few blocks away... do you remember that? The biggest toxic waste dump in the history of the US, and I lived right there, watched them dig it up, I remember the hate commercials of Hooker Chemical who sold the land to the city of Niagara Falls for a dollar so they could build a school on a toxic waste dump. Midnight fishing off the breakwall, bars open 'till 4 AM. Partying at Big Tree before the games or for the weekend when the Dead showed up... whip-it balloons all over the place and the sound of nitrous tanks filling them up. Riding down to the family property in the southern tier and being blown away by the colors of the fall leaves on the hillsides... and ohh, the roadside stands with maple syrup... remember the big fat fresh maple leaf shaped chunks of pure maple sugar candy? The Blizzard of '77... I remember the drifts up to the second story windows of the house... THAT was a Buffalo winter... shoveling the driveways and as soon as you're done the plow comes by and pushes that heavy bank of snow and ice right into the end of the driveway... Drunken nights riding around pulling people from ditches in our trucks with cases of beer shoved into the snow in the beds of our trucks. The Peace bridge, the "Canadian Ballet" and duty free cases of Labatts at the bridge. Heading up to Toronto and getting kind black Lebanese hash. Younge street bars FTMFW!

Growing up in Western New York is a privilege, and the people were the best in the country... and I have been all over the country. I feel your pain. I miss it too. But then I remember the weather, and I become a little more comfortable about my life now. The seasons were a big reason I moved to where I am at now, in Central NC. I get winter (4 whole inches of snow a year!) spring, summer, and fall... not like SoCal where we got summer 24/7/365. I got depressed in the fall with no leaves, and at Christmas wearing tank tops and shorts... Christmas is time for cold and snow.

It has been about 25 years since I have been back, and I plan on taking my family there next fall for a Bills game. I am hoping we can work it out where we can catch a Bills game and a Sabres game... It is going to be weird going to the Raplh, and not the Rich. I plan on going to places I worked, my old school, maybe seeing if Brennans is still open on Union road in West Seneca. I used to throw league darts for them so many years ago. I am looking forward to riding on the Skyway, and the Scajaqueda (I never could spell that).

I was born when you left, ironically enough. And yet not much has changed. The roadside maple syrup,maple candies, and apple cider are still there. The leaves are still bright and vibrant but every year the amout of colors seems to go down.

I definatly remember all the booze, the Canadian drugs (before the military), the school plays, the bikers donating at toys for tots while riding if there wasnt snow or slush on the ground. The sounds of kids making snowmen and the parents who would smile at them..........

I am going to be home before end of the year (hopefully) and if so a Bills game is in order and either way my wife needs her 1st Sabres game too!!!! She has already experienced real wings. BTW Duffs far surpases Anchor Bar. Try them when you go home. You will notice the difference and appriciate it.

You're just maturing. Teenagers and young 20-somethings take things for granted. Basically everything, in fact. It's easy to get comfortable and used to a nice place growing up, so much so that you don't realize how nice it is and how sucky parts of the rest of the world (or even the bad side of town if you have to live there) are. Those are just the things kids grow up with, so they don't think they'll change. Plus, yeah, your're stuck in a bit of a shithole so bad winters or whatever else don't seem so bad anymore, just to be in a familiar place.

This 'shit hole' wouldnt be so bad if the people here appriciated the architecture, the history, and the beauty that this place COULD be. But instead they fuck around we blow it up, and rebuild it for them.

And yea I guess I am maturing....................But I have always missed WNY since I left in 2005.

[sandt38 448]

I was born when you left, ironically enough. And yet not much has changed. The roadside maple syrup,maple candies, and apple cider are still there. The leaves are still bright and vibrant but every year the amout of colors seems to go down.

I definatly remember all the booze, the Canadian drugs (before the military), the school plays, the bikers donating at toys for tots while riding if there wasnt snow or slush on the ground. The sounds of kids making snowmen and the parents who would smile at them..........

I am going to be home before end of the year (hopefully) and if so a Bills game is in order and either way my wife needs her 1st Sabres game too!!!! She has already experienced real wings. BTW Duffs far surpases Anchor Bar. Try them when you go home. You will notice the difference and appriciate it.

Hells yeah, I forgot about the cider. I loved the hard cider at the cider mill in West Seneca... Down off of Transit... I wish I could recall the name of it.

Anyways, I enjoyed reading and reminiscing. Thanks for the rant.

And KU40, it isn't really an issue with maturing. I am twice Jordan's age, and still miss it. There is a certain atmosphere, attitude and the personality of the populace as a whole. We would do anything we could to help out other people. If a buddy lost his job and couldn't pay the rent we would throw a kegger and gather enough cash to help him pay the rent, or go up to the Rich (I guess I should clarify, The Rich is what we called Rich Stadium, which is now Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Bills) and collect the bottles and cans in the lots just to help them out (at 5 cents per empty you could get a big payback real fast). We were all like a family, maybe that comes from being snowed in all winter... all we did was hang out indoors and party every night. We were always there for each other, all the time. I have lived and visited all over the country, and have spent time overseas, south of the border, and north of the border... I have never seen that level of commitment for others like we had in Western NY. It is the best place in the country... except for the damn snow in the winter.

[Godsmack 361]

I was born when you left, ironically enough. And yet not much has changed. The roadside maple syrup,maple candies, and apple cider are still there. The leaves are still bright and vibrant but every year the amout of colors seems to go down.

I definatly remember all the booze, the Canadian drugs (before the military), the school plays, the bikers donating at toys for tots while riding if there wasnt snow or slush on the ground. The sounds of kids making snowmen and the parents who would smile at them..........

I am going to be home before end of the year (hopefully) and if so a Bills game is in order and either way my wife needs her 1st Sabres game too!!!! She has already experienced real wings. BTW Duffs far surpases Anchor Bar. Try them when you go home. You will notice the difference and appriciate it.

Hells yeah, I forgot about the cider. I loved the hard cider at the cider mill in West Seneca... Down off of Transit... I wish I could recall the name of it.

Anyways, I enjoyed reading and reminiscing. Thanks for the rant.

And KU40, it isn't really an issue with maturing. I am twice Jordan's age, and still miss it. There is a certain atmosphere, attitude and the personality of the populace as a whole. We would do anything we could to help out other people. If a buddy lost his job and couldn't pay the rent we would throw a kegger and gather enough cash to help him pay the rent, or go up to the Rich (I guess I should clarify, The Rich is what we called Rich Stadium, which is now Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Bills) and collect the bottles and cans in the lots just to help them out (at 5 cents per empty you could get a big payback real fast). We were all like a family, maybe that comes from being snowed in all winter... all we did was hang out indoors and party every night. We were always there for each other, all the time. I have lived and visited all over the country, and have spent time overseas, south of the border, and north of the border... I have never seen that level of commitment for others like we had in Western NY. It is the best place in the country... except for the damn snow in the winter.

The place you speak of rings a bell but I too have forgotten its name. I was more than happy to bring back the memories for you. God knows they are near and dear to my heart.

As for pitching in to help. I definatly can remember doing 'can and bottle' detail after the games. Along with 15.00 an hr snow shoveling to prep the stadium for games, any amount 'Shovel you sidewalk and driveway mister such and such?', and the always amazing Might Taco after Sabres games.

[sandt38 448]

Mighty Taco!

We would close the bars and head to 7-11 and get those hot dogs... then smother them with that nasty ass cheese sauce they had. Those nasty things were likely the reason I got colon cancer