Parking Between the Lines: A Radical Concept?
I headed to the Regal Palmetto Grande to catch a movie and, before I even made it to the theater, I got today's "parking performance review."
As I was looking for a spot, I came across this previous-generation Toyota RAV4. It wasn't just a little crooked. It was parked right across the access aisle next to a handicap space.
Now, because I'm a right above-knee amputee with a prosthetic leg and I rely on handicap parking when I need it, I pay attention to these things. Before I get out of my own vehicle, I almost always take a second look to make sure I'm centered between the lines. It takes maybe five extra seconds.
Those painted blue and striped areas aren't decoration. They're there so people using wheelchairs, walkers, prosthetics, or other mobility devices have the room they need to safely get in and out of their vehicles.
Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I still think staying between the lines is a pretty good idea.
What's next? Maybe I'll start stopping at red lights too.
Sometimes the smallest acts of courtesy make the biggest difference for someone else.
Thank You for Reading My Internet Garbage
There are moments when I stop and look at the analytics for NielFlamm.com, and I honestly have to laugh a little. When I started this little hobby, I figured the only people visiting would be a handful of friends, family members, and maybe someone who clicked the wrong link.
Instead, something unexpected has happened.
I've started seeing steady movement in the site's traffic, especially through the RSS feed, and visitors are coming from places I never imagined. A huge percentage of readers and viewers are coming from Asia, with China and Vietnam leading the way. The United States continues to be a strong audience, and across Europe, Germany has become the largest source of visitors.
I have no idea what resonates with everyone. Maybe it's the movie reviews, the health journey, the recovery stories, the Nextdoor commentary, the random observations about life, or just the collection of what I affectionately call Internet Garbage.
Whatever the reason, I'm incredibly grateful.
Over the last 30 days, the site has received more than 800 unique visitors, over 1,000 page views, and more than 800 visits overall. I'm still learning what all these analytics mean, but every number represents a real person who took time out of their day to stop by my little corner of the internet.
That's pretty amazing to me.
If you've read a post, watched a video, or listened to a podcast episode, thank you. Your support means more than you probably realize.
I'd also love to hear from you. Tell me what you enjoy, what you'd like to see more of, or what I could do better. This website is a hobby, but like any hobby, I want to keep improving and evolving.
And if you enjoy the content, please share it with someone else. Don't gatekeep the Internet Garbage—spread it around!
Thanks again for stopping by, and I look forward to bringing you even more Internet Garbage in the weeks and months ahead.
See you on the website!
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The Great Handicap Parking Mystery of Mount Pleasant
Today I headed over to Town Square in Mount Pleasant to catch Pressure, the new D-Day movie.
(By the way, if you're curious what I thought about it, check out my movie review at https://NielFlamm.com/videos/moviereview.)
As a right above-the-knee amputee, I usually look for an accessible parking space. It's closer to the theater, the walk is easier, and getting in and out with a prosthetic leg is a whole lot less like an obstacle course.
Then I spotted it.
The same accessible parking space.
The same questionable parking job.
The same blue-haired driver.
At this point, I'm convinced this is either a social experiment or an attempt to see how many spaces one compact sedan can occupy at once.
Folks, this wasn't a monster truck. It wasn't an oversized SUV towing a boat. It wasn't a bus.
It was a mid-size sedan.
A vehicle specifically designed to fit between two painted lines.
Yet somehow it was parked like it had ricocheted off three shopping carts before coming to rest.
I stood there wondering if I should leave a helpful note:
"The lines aren't decorations."
Maybe the parking lot needs bowling bumpers.
Maybe flashing runway lights.
Maybe one of those airport workers with orange glow sticks directing traffic.
To the mystery blue-haired parker: I have faith in you. The engineers who designed your car have faith in you. The people who painted the parking lines have faith in you.
One day, you'll center that car.
Until then... I'll keep bringing my sense of humor.
And don't forget to check out my review of Pressure over at https://NielFlamm.com/videos/moviereview.