So I'm out at lunch today, coming back with my Indian food (chicken makhni and chicken tikka) and my coffee (venti iced americano) and I'm near the entrance to the hotel that's attached to my office building.

 

I noticed a younger-ish guy walking towards me - I didn't think anything of it until I noticed he had turned around almost immediately after making eye contact as we passed. I figured he must be a hotel guest and must have forgotten something. So I walk into the hotel lobby (to cut through like I usually do) and he's now trailing me so of course I think he's a hotel guest and he'll obviously stop once he gets to the hotel elevators.

 

Now here's where things get weird - really f#cking weird. To get to my building from the hotel, you have to go through a small lobby, a really ooong corridor and an atrium. I glance back - he's still trailing me - now, mind you I have a tendency to walk fast so the fact he's kept pace this whole time is freaking me out. We're talking over the distance of a full city block, folks. I get to my buildings elevator bank and thankfully an elevator is waiting. I turn around ... and there across the lobby is him staring at me. Fortunately one of my co-workers was also getting on - even he remarked that I was being either cruised or stalked. What really bothers me is that I've never seen this guy before in my life. There are a few people who are shall we say - less than fond of me, but I KNOW very well what they look like.

 

I'm just glad I have my pepper spray - I'm just hoping it's a case of mistaken identity (which has happened to me before). Yeesh... talk about creepy!!! Has anyone else ever had this happen? Btw, if I'm not at the forum meet on Saturday, call the vice squad!  :-(

That IS freaking strange!  I guess everyone reacts differently in certain situations, but knowing how I can be at times, I am sure I would have had to confront this person and ask what the deal was (when others are around of course).    I haven't had anything to THAT extreme happen, but I have been followed or stared at before...and usually it was mistaken identity.  Be safe out there my UrbanOhio brotha!  :) 

That's the thing - the guy was just far away enough that confronting him would have involved me screaming like a madman. I have no qualms doing that, unless I'm at work and my co-workers already think I'm looney enough  :wink:

When I ran a Cleveland mobwebsite, I had a few things happen like that -- and worse (one time involving cars at high speed). Someday after the statute of limitations runs out, I may write a book about some of those adventures!

hmm i've had people blatantly point at me and say "hey, you're zaceman from -insert message board/blogging site-".  im thinking its the hair tho...

It happened to me on the subway here in NYC...I posted that in the transportation area.

 

I had a man follow me into the bathroom at Higbee's men store.  I was walking down the long corridor and the "sixth sense" alarm went off.  When I went into the stall I turned around and he was right infront of the door..so I thought he was security, and maybe he thought I was a shoplifter. 

 

Next thing I know, he ask me if we could talk.  I was like, I'm not your therapist!  Then I realized he was "unbalanced" because he wouldn't move and kept saying he just wants to "talk". So I was like get away..move, but because of my height I really didnt want to look over the top of the stall cause I couldn't tell if he had a weapon and I didn't have any mace with me that day.  So I started screaming for help, and he was like I'm not going to hurt you and all this weird shit. When I didn't come out right away my boyfriend came in and the guy was arrested.   

 

About a month later, I go to the watermark for dinner....and this nutjobs is the waiter.  :-o 

After I told my parents and my (at the time) future sister-in-law what happened...we hauled ass outta there!

 

 

It's a daily thing for me, but it's tough being a star.

That is freaky.

 

I had a weird situation, though I don't think it was someone following me; it was just strange.

 

I was in the stall in the restroom at work taking care of some business when I noticed a guy come in a peer in through the space between the stall door and the wall to see if it was occupied.  Since that happens all the time, I didn't think anything of it.  The weird thing though was that the two stalls next to me were both unoccupied at the time and instead of the guy going to one of the other two, he left the restroom.  That prompted me to look around the stall to see if maybe he had forgotten anything; there was nothing laying around, so I just assumed that the guy had some weird attatchment to that particular stall and I continued my business.

 

Shortly afterwards, the guy comes back and begins peering into the stall again.  Again, there was no one in either of the two other stalls, yet the guy left the restroom.  He then came back a third time, repeated the same thing, except this time you tell he was a bit irritated.  He moaned and grumbled something under his breath and again left the restroom; again, there was nothing left in the stall and the two stalls next to me were both empty.  When he left the restroom this time, he slammed the restroom door shut.  Again, the only thing I can assume is that the guy had some weird emotional connection with that stall :?  (The sad thing is, I think I could tell who it was; I always want to give him a weird look whenever I see him now).

No matter how much you invest in skin care, the day will come when men will stop stalking you and staring. Then, you'll be sorry! :x

 

:wink:

Bizarre.  I've had a homeless guy who kept coming up to me as I came home late, saying, "Hey, I know you guy!" I told him the last time he did that I don't know him, as I'm fairly sure I don't.  I'm guessing he just wants money, and is using the fact that he recognizes me from around as an in. 

 

Downtown is fun!

When I ran a Cleveland mobwebsite, I had a few things happen like that -- and worse (one time involving cars at high speed). Someday after the statute of limitations runs out, I may write a book about some of those adventures!

 

Or maybe a TV show..the Cleveland Sopranos.

 

Did you ever surf into that Youngstown mob site?  I think its down now, but it was quite an intro for me to a side of Y-town I knew nothing about. 

 

@@@@@

 

I was stalked once from a gay bar....actually followed home on the interstate.  I managed to lose the him but he ended up ringing doorbells to try to find out where I lived or if I would open the door for him.

 

That was my first year in Dayton...after that I realized the queens in this town really have issues.

 

 

Mayday,

 

Sorry. I just wanted to talk to you.

No matter how much you invest in skin care, the day will come when men will stop stalking you and staring. Then, you'll be sorry! :x

 

:wink:

uh, yeah

I wasn't going to say it.

There is a plus to nobody being interested, tho.

:-)

as a women this is all hilarious as any women under 30 years old and 350 lbs  (and many over in both categories) has had all of the above and worse happen...a number of times. Luckily at this pt in my life only the generally deranged bother. At least you get some empathy for women in your experiences. this type of stuff is kind of how I imagine the Cleveland forum meet will go down  :yap:

A 2 da K - I'd guess the dude was looking to take a dump, but couldn't do it with someone else in the room...

this type of stuff is kind of how I imagine the Cleveland forum meet will go down  :yap:

 

Why? Are you hot??  :-o

 

Maybe your air conditioner isn't working right.  :-D

 

Or maybe a TV show..the Cleveland Sopranos.

 

Did you ever surf into that Youngstown mob site?  I think its down now, but it was quite an intro for me to a side of Y-town I knew nothing about. 

 

I have little interest in that world anymore. Watch all the movies like Goodfellas or shows like the Sopranos that tend to glorify "The Life" because that's as good as it gets. The reality is that these guys rob and cheat each other more than anything else. They are psychos with no so-called "honor among thieves." Most of the time these guys mooch off their friends when their schemes aren't "scoring" or times are tight (more often than not). Many are drug addicts and the rest are too stupid to stay out of prison. They have no idea how to function in the real world.

 

Unfortunately, I'm very familiar with the mob side of Youngstown, having family members who have had unfortunate encounters with some of those bozos. I've also written articles about various hoods from Y-town. The sad thing is, the mob in our own city has made a small comeback in recent years, but is very quiet. I won't discuss details here, however. Perhaps at the meet on Saturday.

 

peabody, rest assured any ladies who attend the event would be safe.

 

Believe me - there are so few women on this site, so the ones that ARE here and actually attend meets are going to have a bunch of camera-toting geeks protecting them! And if any of those geeks get out of line, they'll have one bitchy Queen on their ass!  :wink:

And if any of those geeks get out of line, they'll have one bitchy Queen on their ass!  :wink:

 

Sorry, but Miketoronto isn't coming to this meet.

very creepy. i hope with more people living downtown it will help these situations.

 

q: why oh why the overpriced charbucks over local caffeine?

It's a daily thing for me, but it's tough being a star.

 

Inkalein at the Cincinnati meet doesn't count.

That is freaky.

 

I had a weird situation, though I don't think it was someone following me; it was just strange.

 

I was in the stall in the restroom at work taking care of some business when I noticed a guy come in a peer in through the space between the stall door and the wall to see if it was occupied.  Since that happens all the time, I didn't think anything of it.  The weird thing though was that the two stalls next to me were both unoccupied at the time and instead of the guy going to one of the other two, he left the restroom.  That prompted me to look around the stall to see if maybe he had forgotten anything; there was nothing laying around, so I just assumed that the guy had some weird attatchment to that particular stall and I continued my business.

 

Shortly afterwards, the guy comes back and begins peering into the stall again.  Again, there was no one in either of the two other stalls, yet the guy left the restroom.  He then came back a third time, repeated the same thing, except this time you tell he was a bit irritated.  He moaned and grumbled something under his breath and again left the restroom; again, there was nothing left in the stall and the two stalls next to me were both empty.  When he left the restroom this time, he slammed the restroom door shut.  Again, the only thing I can assume is that the guy had some weird emotional connection with that stall :?  (The sad thing is, I think I could tell who it was; I always want to give him a weird look whenever I see him now).

 

I had a similar "bizarre" bathroom encounter. I was in a train station in Munich late one night and was using a one of what must have been forty urinals along this one wall of this bathroom, which was entirely empty. As I am standing there, another guy comes in and chooses to use the urinal directly next to mine-not any of the other thirty seven urinals that would have provided at least one space in between. Odd, I thought. Then he broke guy bathroom rule #1 (at least in my book.) He turns to me and very clearly takes an extended stare exactly where you shouldn't be taking an extended stare. My one thought at that moment was how do I explain to the police why I decked this guy when I don't even speak German. Then, my better reasoning took over and I high tailed it out of there. Later, a German friend explained that it probably wasn't some random perv, but probably a prostitute looking for some work.

Fun times in Deutschland.

"q: why oh why the overpriced charbucks over local caffeine?"

 

Why? As someone who goes way the f#ck out of my way to support local businesses, I'll tell you why I pay a whopping $2 twice a day for my coffee fix - better yet, I'll ask you (rhetorically):

 

Why does Stone Oven at the Galleria make me ask for skim, and why is it handed to me in a gallon jug which is awkward to pour and easy to spill?

Why does Stone Oven at the Galleria not offer Splenda?

Why, oh why do the servers at Stone Oven at the Galleria not understand the concept of "room for cream".

Why, oh why do servers at almost ANY locally owned place get snippy if I ask for a medium in a large cup?

Why does Stone Oven not train its coffee-slingers to try SMILE?  :-D Oh, that's right - smiling isn't cool for the under-25 crowd.

Why did I go to Arabica in the Standard Building three times, and each time the person behind the counter just looked at me rather than saying "can I help you" or "what can I get you?"

Why did I go to that same Arabica and didn't see anyone at the counter, but then when I peeked, the barista was sitting on the floor STUDYING!

Why aren't City Roast, Phoenix, Talkies, or anyone else worth mentioning located remotely close to Public Square?

 

Why did it take the people at Starbucks only three times to remember "my" drink - that's both hot and cold weather, thank you!

Why does Starbucks have Splenda and skim readily available?

Why does Starbucks employ disabled people whose specific job is to keep the condiment counters clean, and they keep them spotless?

Why does Starbucks employ people who are congenial - what does it tell you when I know the names of all the baristas who have been there longer than three months?

Why does Starbucks offer occasional tastings promotions of new drinks along with new pastries?

 

There's one exception - Cork and Beans in the Huntington Building. They're great people, they have great product, they get the "skim and Splenda" thing. However, they are a little out of my way but I suppose I can try to give them my business every now and then.

 

So my friend - I will continue to support Daves (groceries), Great Lakes Brewing (nectar of the Gods), Camera City (photo printing), Frame Center Gallery (framing), Celene's Cuisine (dessert trays/bakery), and dozens of other locally owned spots. Until the other java people in the CBD get their act together, I'll keep getting my required fix at Starbucks. /rant :-)

 

 

 

It's a daily thing for me, but it's tough being a star.

 

Inkalein at the Cincinnati meet doesn't count.

 

Despite the misspelling, this gave me quite a laugh Magyar.

Regarding the local coffee rant - I've seen the same thing here...when I lived on Ludlow and didn't have time to brew a pot, I'd go to Sitwells for my fix.  I'd take my 20 oz mug in and ask to get it filled up.  Nothing difficult here - I wasn't asking for it to be pre-warmed, didn't need any cream or sugar, just a cup of joe in my mug.  And they never charged the same price twice.  A medium coffee there was maybe $1.50, large coffee maybe $2.00...once they charged me $1.50 (girl behind the counter probably wouldn't have bothered charging me at all, but figured she ought to), once $2.00, then the last time I went in the counter person asked the owner, "how much for this?"  She said $3.50.  I said "what?  $3.50?  For a 20 oz mug?"  She said it was 32 oz.  I thought, "why in the hell am I having this conversation with a frickin' coffee shop?"  I said, "er, you can see the marking here, it says, '20 oz.'  And the last time I was here it was $2.00."  And she said they undercharged me the last time, but fine, how about $3.

 

$3, for 20oz of coffee, in my own mug.  So I've never stepped foot in there again.  I love local businesses, do what I can to support them, but fuck those people.  I'll go without coffee before I'll give them any damn money.

Surprisingly, I've found very good coffee and friendly, accomodating employees in an attractively-decorated shop at a Brew-Ha franchise in the very small town of Ossian, mid-point on my frequent drive between Fort Wayne and Bluffton. Add to that Heyerly's Bakery, a popular long-time family business with the best baked-on-site goods in northeast Indiana, and little, quiet Ossian ain't so bad.

it sounds like cleveland and cincinnati don't understand coffee. this is one time i am definately glad i live in columbus now :)

Oh, we understand coffee just fine. There are quite a few locally owned spots that do a great job - the problem is that they're in the neighborhoods. That's great for the neighborhoods but when I spend eight-ish hours of every weekday in the CBD...?

Coffee can go to hell.

Drink tea instead.  :-D

You can diss me, but do NOT diss my coffee  :whip:

Oh, we understand coffee just fine. There are quite a few locally owned spots that do a great job - the problem is that they're in the neighborhoods. That's great for the neighborhoods but when I spend eight-ish hours of every weekday in the CBD...?

 

that's good, a city needs coffee :) .. that is kinda wierd how the downtown doesn't have any non starbucks that are good

 

peabody, rest assured any ladies who attend the event would be safe.

 

Believe me - there are so few women on this site, so the ones that ARE here and actually attend meets are going to have a bunch of camera-toting geeks protecting them! And if any of those geeks get out of line, they'll have one bitchy Queen on their ass!  :wink:

You've got Mayday the "bitchy queen" and Lil Kim the "Queen Bitch"...sound like an MTV show in the making.

 

I think I'm going to start calling you Lil' Mayday.  Wanna rumble with the bee (buzz)...throw a hex on the whole family..

it sounds like cleveland and cincinnati don't understand coffee. this is one time i am definately glad i live in columbus now :)

 

its all about arabica!  We understand coffee in Cleveland...we understand!

I get the coffee thing downtown, plus I do not feel as guilty about S bucks compared to other chains. At least they give their employees a decent wage and even benefits. Further hiring people with disabilities is HUGE in my book.  I think I want to make clear Cleveland has awesome awesome indep coffee houses, but downtown does have a void. Have you tried AJ Rocco's near Gateway? I think they do coffee in the Am. My guess is they would accommodate splenda and skim if asked. The owners are downtown residents (so you know they rock) and want to keep locals happy. 

 

 

 

 

I get the coffee thing downtown, plus I do not feel as guilty about S bucks compared to other chains. At least they give their employees a decent wage and even benefits. Further hiring people with disabilities is HUGE in my book.  I think I want to make clear Cleveland has awesome awesome indep coffee houses, but downtown does have a void. Have you tried AJ Rocco's near Gateway? I think they do coffee in the Am. My guess is they would accommodate splenda and skim if asked. The owners are downtown residents (so you know they rock) and want to keep locals happy. 

 

This place does have some nice coffee, but i like strong dominican or venezuelan coffee.  I don't like to blink  :-o

I prefer energy drinks or making my coffee at home because I don't have the patience to wait 2 hours for it to lower a few hundred degrees :) Rockstar = liquid crack

 

In Cincinnati my favorite coffee shop is Front Porch in (surprisingly) Price Hill but Sitwells is nice...UDF is even nicer.

You can diss me, but do NOT diss my coffee  :whip:

 

Coffee tastes yucky!  It took me 20 years to start accepting the smell of the stuff. But I won't touch coffee.  In liquid, frozen, or solid forms.

I don't like the taste either...I really just drink it for the effect. Starbucks is REALLY disgusting though. I'll take 99 cent UDF coffee over Starbucks any day.

I prefer mud...Indonesian mud...

 

 

This place does have some nice coffee, but i like strong dominican or venezuelan coffee.  I don't like to blink   :-o

MyTwoCents -are you really talking about coffee, or am I jaded...? :evil:

it sounds like cleveland and cincinnati don't understand coffee. this is one time i am definately glad i live in columbus now :)

 

What do you know about Cincinnati coffee?  I have never had a problem at my local establishments. 

  How did the near assassination of Mayday become a coffee talk discussion?  Is he THAT insignificant?  SHEEESH...I don't even know the poor guy but I am feeling bad for him now!  I think you all owe him a cold one! (beer, not coffee!) 

Well I'm never one to turn down a drink but it was hardly a near-assassination (... or should I milk it for all it's worth?)  :lol:

 

I kinda figured the thread would go off on a tangent but hey, it happens!

Don't carry mase, carry a stun gun. They're more fun. When you zap 'em they flop around and pulpitate and its really entertaining.

Call me kooky, but I'd prefer not to get close enough to use a stun gun (or have THEM get close enough)  :-)

^Pretentious bitch.

Yes?  :wave:

This place does have some nice coffee, but i like strong dominican or venezuelan coffee.  I don't like to blink

 

Turkish coffee, hands down.

 

Its cool, but I love my latin coffee I did try this German coffee once...the "high" kicked in after about the 3 or sip!  I wish I could remember the name

Turkish coffee, hands down.

 

After dinner, no doubt.  First thing in the morning?  Too hard to find, and too small a quantity...but you're right, that stuff rocks out.

Don't carry mase, carry a stun gun. They're more fun. When you zap 'em they flop around and pulpitate and its really entertaining.

 

That does sounds fun!  :shoot:

/