A Slap in the Face

How many times has a resident asked one of our staff for a problem- such as a leak or help carrying a heavy object from car to unit.?

How many times do residents wait at the managers office door- waiting for Heidi to arrive- and without even giving Heidi a chance to settle in and check her phone messages and emails - go into a tirade about some problem- sometimes trivial sometimes not- but seldom anything that can not wait until Heidi checks in.?

How many people have called Cornel or Billy at home to complain about something, when they should be calling CMI.?

How many times have our staff worked beyond their normal schedule?

Did you know that our staff is underpaid?

Do you know that Cornel has had many chances to leave and make more money . but he has always decided to stay here?
Do you know how many times Billy and Cornel have done favors for residents, without compensation,?
Do you know how many times Carlos has helped people carry their groceries .?
Do you know how many rude and obscene calls Heidi receives on a daily basis?
Do you know that Heidi has been physically threatened more than once since she has been here.

We should be extremely grateful to such a great staff.

They usually get small raises- sometimes just the COLA.
This year they did not get a raise.
This is understandable- neither did most retirees. our staff understands this.

But we could have given them a Christmas bonus to show our appreciation.

Instead- the BOD slapped them in the face and gave them nothing..

This is very wrong-- very very wrong-

Let the BOD know your feelings.

Our staff deserves a bonus.

Warning - Phone scam

To all residents- beware the phone call claiming that you owe money for a non-existent loan,

I have received two calls this wek from a male with an Indian Accent- but an American name- claiming that I took out a loan about a year ago and never paid it back.

He claimed that with court cost and such I now owed $5,000.
He said it was a payday loan.
I have never used a payday loan.
Yet this man had my SS# and knew what my bank was.
He said he would send someone out to my address with papers to sign and I could go to court, or I could pay $500 and settle out of court.

I told him to go to HELL.
If you get a call like this- copy the number and call the loan company he claims you have a loan with- let them know about this fraud.

Do not freak out and become upset- it is a fraud and it is a well known fraud.

It's Halloween, It's Fall and it's Budget Time.

Hey everyone- its my favorite season-- Fall - the air is crisp, the apples are crisp, decent apple cider is available at road stands and the leaves are changing.

I suffer from pulmonary problems and the hot humid air of the Summer makes my life miserable- but now I am feeling good.

I have yet to turn my thermostat to heat- I am enjoying this cool weather-

So lets see- besides the Fall it is also budget crunch time for Americana Finnmark-
I am sure there is going to be an increase- but with the economy the way it is- I hope the Board of Directors keep it low- it may be difficult but it is possible.

I have talked to some members and I understand that CMI has suggested a zero increase- I find this hard to believe- but I have been involved in the budget process in the past and the BOD usually takes CMI suggestion and tweaks it and makes a few changes.
I would venture a guess and expect a 3.5% increase.
Let's see what happens.

Next- It is goblins and spooks time- I have been living here for 15 years- the first year I bought candy and decorated my balcony and windows- no one showed up- and it has been that way for 15 years- so I do not bother anymore--but I do miss the days when I had a house and would have costumers stop by- my house had a skeleton on the porch, decorations on the roof and windows and I would play a CD of haunted house sounds.
Those were the days.

We have a Christmas party coming up- it is a catered affair- but not formal- feel free to bring a dish - and even if you do not-please show up and meet some of your neighbors.

My Mercedes Benz

I received a phone call the other day.
The caller said I won $2 million and a brand new green Mercedes Benz.

They would arrive at my condo the enxt day with my car and a check.
I asled them how I won and they said since I was a loyal Walmart shopper , my name was chosen at random.

For the record- I have never shopped at Walmart.

The next day I waited for their phone call notifying me that they would be in the parking lot.

At 11:45 AM I received my call-

The caller said there was a delay- as there were not enough tow trucks to deliver at the stated time. There would be a two hour delay

Meanwhile-- he stated that we could handle some paperwork- perhaps I could wire him $500
to cover insurance and shipping.
I told him to take the money out of the $2 million.
He gave me the run around and hung up on me.

Oh well= no Mercedes Benz-- I guess I can keep on dreaming.

Pool Party Time

Ok residents- this years pool party is on the 29th of August.
It will be a combination pot-luck and catered.

This means that there will not be much food.
Vincent will provide what food he can- but the potluck idea.

Well from previous history of past parties-Christmas and pool, there is little pot luck and what there is- well it is the same people who bring stuff to the Christmas who will bring stuff to the pool party.

The rest of the participants will be freeloaders- and some even have the audacity to bring containers so they can take food home.

When I was on the Board of Directors- every member of the Board would bring a dish as would the property manager(Julie or Heidi), and CMI would contribute some cash.

Other residents would also contribute food- but not many-but every year the same free loaders would show up with their containers and load up with food and take it back to their condo- they would not even stick around to talk to their neighbors.

Some free loaders came back near the end of the Christmas Party and would take bottles of wine back to their condos- some bottles were still unopened.
You free loaders know who you are- we will be watching you this year-.

Meanwhile- this years pool party is for residents only- no guests- some residents over did the guest thing and would bring all their relatives-Everyone from Grandma Ellen(age 92) to Baby Edgar (age 2)
No wonder we would run out of food.

Also no alcohol-we do not need a bunch of drunks bothering people, falling into the pool, and acting stupid.
So if you are going to be at the pool party this year- bring something to share or don't eat.

Knuckleheads 2

Ok you knuckleheads.

First we had the knucklehead who was using the car wash despite the WSSCandthe County calling for restrictions on water usage.

Today we have a another knucklehead-- or worse more than one knucklehead.

Americana Finnmark has a DOGGY WALK--it is the perimeter of the complex-

It is not the side of the midrise, near the pool, near the tennis courts, near the basketball courts, and it is not beneath my balcony.

Oh you may say you pick the poop up- but that does not mean it is right-- poop will damage the lawn as well doggie pee.

Use the doggie walk you knuckleheads- I know who you are- and I will be taking your picture next time I see you and I will post your pictures on the internet- so shape up

knuckleheads or get rid of the dog.

Earthquake in Maryland.

My phone rang at 5:10 AM.
Usually early morning phone calls mean bad news.
Not this time.
It was my sister- she wanted to know if I felt the "quake".
I am at up at 5:00 AM everyday- but I did not feel the quake.

I guess Americana Finnmark is a sturdy place to live and living on the 2nd floor may have helped.

I hope all the silly gooses do not call the office and CMI with nonsense calls about this "quake".

We have a number of people who tend to call the office everytime something is amiss, even the most simplest of things.(i.e. replacing a blinking light in the hallway, or an empty soda can on the tennis court and the most ridiculous I have ever heard, was a large moth in the laundry room)
Please people gather your wits around you before you call the office with silly calls.
We have a very good staff, that 99.9% of the time is aware of the problems going on in this complex- do not call them for trivia matters.

The Exploding Cantaloupe and the Black Cloaked Apple Thief

I bought a cantaloupe the other day.

I wanted one that a little over ripe as I was attempting to make cantaloupe granita.
Finally found what I wanted, could not wait to get home.

I got the blender out of the cupboard and was all set.
I rinsed off the melon, grabbed the knife and stuck it in the melon.

ZOUNDS!!
The melon exploded- there was pulp, seeds and juice everywhere: my hair, face, clothes. counter top, refrigerator and dishwaher door.
Oh and the smell- My God I could barely breathed.

Was this a terrorist plot-Taliban. Al Queda or some radical pro-melon group.

I called Homeland Security-they laughed- aha the melon terrorist had found a way to forward my calls to their headquarters.
I cleaned up the mess, took a shower and put the clothes in the hamper.
I listened to the radio, watched TV and searched the internet- nothing- no group was claiming the vile act.
Oh well maybe it was something else- but you never know- it could have been a terrorist plot.

The Black Cloaked Apple Thief.
My friend Kevin walks about 2 hours everyday around the complex.
Because he is diabetic he takes an apple, some peanuts and a large bottle of water with him.
He leaves the stuff in a bag and sets it on my car.
The other day as he did his second lap, he noticed the bag was tampered with.
Someone had opend the bag and managed to get the peanuts out, and the apple was on the ground.
Kevin looked around and did not see anyone.
He put everything back in the bag and folded it over so nothing could fall out.
Another lap-and it happend again.
This time it appeared as if someone or something had eaten part of the apple.
Again he put everything back in the bag and continued on his way.
But this time he ducked after the fourth car and watched.
Within seconds the thief arrived- dressed from head to toe in black..
Kevin ran toward the thief- the thief turned toward Kevin raised his head and let loose a loud Ca Caw Ca Caw and flew away.
Who knew crows were that smart.
Not Kevin. Not me.

Hey Knucklehead

On Friday July 2 2010 Montgomery County and WSSC asked the residents of the area to cutback on water usage , so WSSc could repair a damage pipe.

The cutback in usage would would help prevent a drop in water pressue at area hydrants .

This is necessary just in case there was to be a fire- the fire departments would have enough pressure to use their hose.

Simple enough to understand.

The WSSC suggested not watering lawns,, not washing cars, not topping off pools and cut backs on flushing and showering.

What the WSSC failed say is that one certain knucklehead would be allowed to wash their car.
Apparently the rules did not apply to this resident of Americana Finnmark.

Perhaps this resident is someone with special connections to the WSSC.

or
PERHAPS THIS PERSON JUST DOES NOT GIVE A DAMN!!

Pool Manners

Soon the pool will be open.

Everyone should have a copy of the rules by now- the rules are included with your Condo package when you move in.

But there are other rules that are not in the pamphlet.

1.. Do not disturb other people.
2. Do not be noisy- sometimes I hear a lot of screaming and yelling - usually parents trying to control their children.
3. The pool is not a daycare center. Do not leave your underage children at the pool and go off to do something else.
The lifeguards are not babysitters.

4. If you do not have a valid ID do not create a scene when you are denied access to the pool.

Get your pool ID updated.

5. Do not try bringing all your friends and relatives to the pool without first checking with the lifeguards or management.

6. Remember no eating, no alcohol no rude behavior.
7. Act civilize

Baby-its hot in here

Wow the thermometer in my condo says 86 degrees.

Another resident says their condo was 91 degrees.

Her baby is having trouble sleeping and is sweating at night.

Another resident wanted to have some friends over- but had to cancel- it was too uncomfortable in her condo.

I have been living here for over 15 years.

It seems that every year the residents have to suffer through unbearable heat before the air condition is turned on.
The excuse is always the same- even though it might be 85-90 degrres in April the temps will drop in a couple of weeks.
It might be true, but then-like this year- we have to endure more heat and more uncomfortable conditions.

Fans do not help.

It is time to change these rules.
There is no County or State law that says when we have to turn on the a/c.

If the temps were to drop in the last two weeks of April- and it has not dropped to anything close to freezing in years- the residents can put on a sweater or use an extra blanket at night.

Remember some of us lost heat this winter and some residents just dressed more warmly.

It easy to dress to get warm- but there is little one can do to get cool when your unit is 90 degrees and you can not sleep.

I went to a relatives house for a couple of nights.

Let us change this rule and have the a/c turned on by April 15 next year.

We should not have to suffer another year like this.


.

Barbara Carter

Americana Finnmark has lost another resident.

She may not have been well known- she never served on the Board.

She was a very private person- some might say eccentric.

But she was a friend.

I met Barbara Carter when I was the Treasurer on the Board of Directors.

I barely knew her, but I welcomed her input.

Over time we developed a telephone friendship.

She very seldom left her condo- I invited her to mine do go over budget details or other concerns but she insisted on discussing a variety of subjects on the phone.

Over the years we would talk about the danger of mold in the laundry room, the old water pipes, the dangers of using those cloth fabric softner sheets in the dryer.

But perhaps are best conversations were about the movie--"Soylent Green".

It came up in casual comversation and I had mentioned that it was one of my favorites.
Much to my surprise- it was also one of her favorites.

When we talked about the various going ons in the community. our conversation would eventually drift to a discussion of the government and the movie Soylent Green.

She had an interesting outlook on life- she was very private never talked about her life- and I knew never to ask.

If I called her- and she was not home- I would leave a message. Just once.
I knew not to call again- she would call at her convience.

Despite the distance in our friendship- never meeting in person except at a budget meeting or Board meeting- we stayed in touch for a number of years.

I last talked to her in February- she had called me about the water pipes and was wondering if the Board would ever replace them all or continue to do so in a piecemeal fashion.
I do not know what prompted the topic-but by the time our conversation was over we were back on the subject of Soylent Green.

That was the last conversation I had with Barbara- Heidi called me the other day to inform me of Barbaras passing.

I will miss her- even though I had not seen her in about a year-I looked forward to our conversations.

In her own private way Barbara Carter left this world.

I will miss her.

Is it Spring yet?

I finally dug my car out of its winter coat.

Started the engine-- perfect- it started right up.

Now- where should I go--
I had ordered some groceries from Peapod- but I had to get out and drive.

The parking lot was somewhat cleared but it was drivable-- I decided to go to the Giant.

I walked into the store, browsed- I did not really need anything and yet I wanted something.

Then I saw exactly what I wanted- melons-- a variety summer melons-

I purchased a honeydew and a small watermelon.

The minute I walked in my door I started to slice the melon- the aroma of backyard cookouts and picnics came to mind.

They were perfect- ripe, juicy and fragrant.

I cubed them and put them into a bowl.

I sprinkled a little salt and pepper on them- a strange thing to do- but I have discovered that the flavors are more intense when I do this--

As I bit into a cube of honeydew- my mind wandered to 70 degree temperatures, flowered trees and bushes and birds singing- it was Spring in a Bowl.

I looked out the window and reality set in- but for a brief moment I was transferred to a warmer climate- sort of a Garden of Eden.

Spring will be here soon and I can not wait.

Ghost Town at Finnmark

Whoa!

Where is the global warming?
Is Al Gore MIA?
Has someone issued an Amber Alert for Al Gore?

If Vancouver needs snow for the Olympics, let us start boxing the stuff up and mail it to Canada.

I am standing at the balcony door looking out at our beautiful property.

It is a pretty sight- everythig in white.

But it is also a ghost town- no footprints in the snow.
No sound of anything but the howling of the wind.

No one is walking their dog.
No one is out walking.
No sign of Cornell, Billy or Carlos walking around- waving at the residents.
No cleaning crew to say good morning to.
No Heidi to ask how her day is going.

Just the howling wind-blowing the snow up against the door and balcony door.

The only thing missing is the howling of wolves- like in those Dracula movies.

Cold, dark, and the howling of the wind and the wolves.

Where are ther wolves?

What to do on a Big Snow Weekend

Well it appears that global warming has missed this area this year.

Another major snowstorm has hit the area and the Metro area has come to a standstill.

This could be a good thing.

There is no need to run out to the malls, or send the kids out .
Instead this time could be spent doing family things- games. watching television or a DVD together, or how about talking.

How many times have parents sat down with their kids and talked about life in general?

I can see it now, everyone os sitting at the table having breakfast, then helping clean up the house.

Next, the family can sit down and watch television together, perhaps bake cookies, play a game.

Or you could go outside as a family and build a snowman or have a friendly snowball battle.

The best part of being cooped up together is a chance to get to know your children, they in turn get to know their parents and the family can act as a unit.

I recall when I was young my parents would spend this time telling us stories about the snowstorms they had when they were young and this would lead to a further discussion of family history.

So the gist of this blog is-- Get to know your family- relax and have fun.

Good Day.

Fuse boxes-40 years old time for a change

A couple of weeks ago, as I attempted to roast a chicken my oven kicked off.
I tried to turn it on again and it would not kick on.
The electronic ignition just did not seem to have enough power.
I checked the fuse , it did not look right.
I thought maybe the fuse was loose- went to turn it and burned my fingers.
It was very hot.
Using a paper towel, I managed to remove the fuse.
The socket was corroded and full of metal fragments.
Needless to say I did not put the fuse back.
I checked a few other fuse sockets and found similar conditions.

It was time for a change-
I checked out a few electric companies, found one I liked and had the work done.
There was some extra work that had to be done- but I was not charged for it.
Their motto is "your never pay more than the original estimate.
if we need more time or more work we will not charge you."

I am quite happy with the work.

Baby it's cold outside

Man, what a weekend- howling wind. extreme cold weather and no power.

Some of Americana Finnmark residents lost total power, partial power and I believe everyone lost heat this past weekend.

The electrical power problem was a PEPCO problem and was resolved the following day(Monday)
The staff of Americana Finnmark had the hot water problems resolved by Monday afternoon.

Thanks for their quick work.

Now some hints for the future-
1). If there is a power failure call PEPCO first- do not call CMI or members of the Board of Directors or previous members of the Board- there is nothing we can do- we are not magicians and more than likely we are having the same problems.

2).If you call CMI, call them only once- do not keep calling them. They got the message the first time and they know what to do.

3). There is no need to call Heidi after hours or on weekends.
She is not in the office- and she will be getting calls from CMI and probably from Cornel and Billy. There is no need to call her office if there is only a machine to answer.

4). Use your head, do not panic and be polite to whomever you speak to.

5). We have an excellent staff and they will do their best to take care of any problems .

6). When you see our staff walking around or in the office- be sure to "Thank Them" for the work that they do, and thank them for keeping everything in running order.

We have an excellent staff and I am sure they do not get enough thanks from the residents.