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!!