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.