A date that will live in infamy. I remember it very clearly.

My experience was years ago; the breastfed child in question is now in his forties. They weren't too keen on giving me the time, but I eventually did get a deferment. I threatened to have somebody bring him to me. I'm glad they seem to have joined the real world.

Torch your house.

Helpful hint: If you live in a row house, it would be courteous to notify your neighbors before torching--at least the neighbor on each side. You do not require a permit from the city.

I'm disabled/elderly. At this point I use a walker as I labor to extract a scooter/motorized chair from Medicare.

I can verify through experience verything Animanalmanac says in this thread--the sidewalks are particularly egregious. You can start across the street and then go for blocks in the gutter looking for a way back up. Ditto the ramps on buses. They'll leave you standing forever. Wheelchair/handicapped seating on buses is unevenly enforced when it's enforced at all. The Mobility buses are easy to sign up for and reasonably priced. They do have scheduling issues and no-shows, and there are times (like Sunday morning church time) when you'll wait hours.

I don't want to make it sound too forbidding. I honestly don't think it's any worse here than it is in any other city. The only thing I could add is do call ahead when going to restaurants, etc. Not all of them are accessible. Life here when you're disabled can be aggravating, but it's not some huge, miserable albatross hanging around your neck and making life miserable. Just a series of irritations.

I should add: You have to sign up for Mobility, but they actually send a car and driver to bring you downtown for your in-person interview.

Welcome to Baltimore, and I wish you success during your time at Hopkins.

Ms. Reddy Utz-Kilowatt.

Bradford Pears. They were planted about 30 years ago in an excess of zeal and have proven to be a real disappointment. The smell is the least of their problems. They are fragile and fall apart, and they tend to crowd out and do away with native local species.

I've been off all weekend and just saw this. Do you have a place to cook/prepare food? I have managed to acquire way too many canned goods (corn, peas, beans, tomatoes, etc.) and could let you have a large-ish supply. Probably have some pasta as well. Drawback is that I have no car, do not drive, and am now in process of prepping for a procedure on Wednesday (ugh!) If you have exhausted possibilities closer to you, let me know and I can meet you downstairs at my building tomorrow with a couple of bags. Be welcome to PM me if this will be any manner of use to you.

ETA: Also canned tuna and canned chicken.

There is an awfully funny, completely clean joke about singing telegrams that comes to my mind every time they are mentioned. I will not repeat it because it is also kind of gloomy for a happy occasion, but the punch line is,

"Da-da-da-dat-dat-dah, your sister Rose is dead . . ."

I certainly like and agree with the restaurant name. More Pita!

I'm not gay, but I have personal experience with two pretty fine neighborhoods around here. First would be Canton, where we lived for fifteen years. I've been gone from there for ten, and I think it has only gotten better in terms of restaurants and shopping. It was simply a place where it never came up in the conversation--nobody really cared one way or another. That may be a long way from being "supportive," but it is nice to think your neighbors can go about their business without great fear of being harmed--all your neighbors.

Second is Bolton Hill, where I have attended church since the year after God was born. (In fact, I pointed out to him a very nice corner lot that would accommodate a very nice Episcopal church...) I am not young (early seventies), and most of my friends are in that age group or lower. For whatever reason, tons of gay friends have settled into that neighborhood very comfortably. I'd guess without having asked that it's more supportive than Canton. It's just a pleasant, agreeable area where you can eat, drink, and go about your lawful occasions without being under too much threat. Shopping isn't great, but it's near Mt. Vernon for that. It's near MICA and within a stone's throw of theaters, concert venues, if you want aht, then the've got aht. I also have friends I can ask who will Know Things if you would l ike me to. Just PM me.

No argument from me. It's always better to make your own anyway.

Not at all! It is inoperable because that's easier for me to write out than "I am a very poor candidate for surgery (CHF)." I am certain they could unzip me and replace the joint, but there's a good chance I wouldn't survive. So I'm going to give a "no" to the Medicaid. Not unless the doctor were a bit overeager.

What intrigued me was your reference to Medicaid. I had Medicaid benefits for two years after my husband's death. At that point, I both qualified for Medicare and was able to retire on my own record as opposed to as his widow. My financial picture changed to the point where I could take care of my own Medicare, and the Medicaid stopped. Fair enough. My recent application for a scooter via Medicare was denied. I felt the physical therapist made a good case.

What is curious is that I have innumerable friends, neighbors, smoking buddies, and partners in crime in this building, and many of them have terrific scooters courtesy of Medical Assistance (Medicaid). I would not begrudge a single one of them. They have worked hard, served in the military, paid their taxes, raised their families, and contributed to our city and society as a whole. In comparing notes, it seems that Medicare wants you to keep your scooter within your own four walls, while Medicaid wants you to use your scooter to get out and do those things you need to do to continue to age in place. Nothing to do with Baltimore in particular, but it is very odd.

Thanks for caring about the city and all of us!

Now I'm going to have to get over to Highlandtown to see the gingerbread man! Happy holidays--keep spreading those smiles around.

Have to agree on Goldbergs, especially their bagels. It's also a good place to inquire if you have a child who's got allergies. (Or maybe you have them yourself.) Delicious allergy-free sweet treats available on request.

Do you live in Canton? Sounds like you're talking about the house we lived in on South Clinton. We had a sally port.

I just saw the OP and dropped by to say the same thing. We did it once, we can do it again.

Thank you, thank you.

To the person who asked, I do run an ad blocker. These get through it.

Toys for Tots is one I've donated to. They don't have much overhead--the donations go to the recipients.

Subscribed

HASA is a good place.

There's at least one vixen fox who runs around here after it gets to be full dark in the summertime. We are just a long block above Northern Park way on Park Heights, where the urban environment begins to turn suburban. I've seen her quite a bit the past couple of years.

The late, sadly missed Peabody Bookshop and Bier Stube on N Charles near Mount Vernon. Front half was an innocent bookshop. Bar to the rear. Was supposed to date back to Prohibition.

A lot of the less expensive row houses were built with a cheaper brick that was soft and permeable. Formstone was added to protect the structures.

Never could figure out why our first home in West Baltimore was a brick row house with a very imposing door surround added in Formstone. I hated it in those days because the rest of the house had a sort of Colonial appearance and then this big, ugly gray fake door surround.

It goes in and out of style. For a long time people didn't want to do anything to change it because it was regarded as a sort of folk art thing like having painted screens or blue window shades.