Condo meeting and other stuff

The condo meeting held this week was not well attended, so I'm told since I wasn't there. It ended up being about the physical state of the building, which appears to be in okay shape. We'll see how this translates down the line into dollars.

Meanwhile, the signs are up to sell two apartments with real estate agents and potential clients a common sight. You know they're agents since they walk around with clip boards and papers supplying important details, which potential buyers need to know. The most desirable apartments, obviously, are those with balconies that overlook the river and are located on higher floors. This is also reflected in the asking price. Yesterday an agent brought someone to what I call the over-look, a small paved landscaped area overlooking a great view of the river and our pool. Problem is the pool is not lat its best since it still requires cleaning and the annual coat of paint. Still, the gardeners have been here and the landscaping is looking good. Always fun to see who buys, what.

Still haven't spotted any substantial numbers of ducks or geese and curious as to where or why they've disappeared. Normally at this time of the year, there would be loud ducky quacks and goosey honks heard everywhere. What has changed this year from last year? The water level is low but that should make the pickings easier. Is there an animal predator that is using them for supper? Very strange...

The Clickety-Clacks have returned from their Florida vacation. That would be our upstairs neighbors, one of whom wears shoes that tell us in which part of the house they're walking. Actually, we shouldn't even hear anything since there are rules indicating that owners are required to install soundproofing material to avoid this occurrence. Obviously, the Clickety-Clacks ignore this reality in the hope that nobody will notice. I notice! At some point in the near future, they will be advised.

And so life goes on in Condoville...

Filling in the spaces

Wow! Maybe this is something our local municipal government should consider implementing given the number of potholes we have.

A frustrated gardener and cyclist, Steve Wheen, has found a creative means in which to deal with potholes in an eye-appealing way. He drives around London, England on his bike and when he spots potholes, which aren't difficult to miss, he fills them in not with tar or cement but cyclamen, narcissus and polyanthus blooms among others. He chooses roads that are quiet with less traffic, which would be perfect for condoville.

Anyway, here is his site for anyone who wants to find out more information:
www.thepotholegardener.com

Speaking of Spring road clean-up, a year ago our municipality embarked on a project to replace one of the bridges that leads to our area. The job took longer than anticipated since there was some type of misunderstanding between the groups participating in the work and now work is about to begin on the other bridge. Actually, as a walker, I can attest to the necessity of a replacement since the surface of the sidewalks are badly cracked and I've tripped on jutting cement on numerous occasions.

A special meeting has been called for next week, topic unknown. Speculation and rumor has it that special building work is planned on the building and we're gonna be assessed to pay for the improvements. If so, we'll see what they plan to do.

The snowbirds have returneth home

Like something out of a sci-fi novel or movie, the mass disappearance of condo-ites that began in autumn ended in April with the return of the "snow birds." Evenly tanned skin announces to the "pale-ers" who stuck it out in winter weather: "look at us you poor, disadvantaged regular, pale people - we spent the winter in Florida!" This year mind you, the tan wasn't that marked due to the miserable weather they had to suffer.

So now they're back home and walking their fashionably dressed mini-sized pooches, who never bark at squirrels or cats or any of the normal temptations that bother most dogs. They are either extra-ordinary dogs with extra-ordinary, easy-going temperment or are rendered bark-less breeds with the help of human surgical intervention if you get my drift. Seems there are regulations set down by the condo board as size limitation of the dogs, hence the miniatures.

Their outfits are something out of a doggie designer catalogue and raincoats, hat and boots aren't unusual for the pampered set on wet Spring days, or heavy jackets, leggings and snow boots to deal with the cold, blustery winter temps. I mean, being normal is just not an acceptable word or option. Makes one wonder, though, given the number of people in parts of the world who go hungry and homeless.

There were signs posted throughout the building today announcing the condo annual general meeting next month. I'm actually toying with the idea of attending to make a point about pool regulations. Seems there is a rule, which is being followed to the letter that one cannot bring any type of toy i.e. floating basketball/volleyball sets, balls, sinkers or rings used by children to dive to the bottom of the pool for retrieval. Nothing. Nada whatsoever. This was discovered when I bought some of the above-mentioned watery diversions at the dollar store and was informed by one of the condo board directors that toys/games were forbidden. I can understand games that take up pool space but sinkers? You throw them, they sink to the bottom and are retrieved. I'm quite P.O.'d about it, actually, and just might express my opinion - or get my husband to do it for me. There are always people who find something negative when the kids are present. "Don"t splash!" is a common complaint uttered by many. I mean - c'mon - it's a pool filled with water for heaven's sake! Don't go in the pool if you don't want to get wet! Heaven forbid they should get their perfectly coiffed hair damp!

I've actually heard Mr. Guy Across the Hall communicating with some of the neighbors a few mornings ago, an indication that he stays there at some point although he sure makes himself scarce. I mean, he doesn't have to mix and mingle with others and he did say hello to somebody. At least he appears satisfied with his floor since there haven't been any work people visible.

Tomorrow I'm going to check out the path that runs along the river - and the ducks and hopefully, the Canada geese. Life in condoville is good.

Spring arrives/ed in condoville

The snow has disappeared for more than a month now and the warmer temps are bringing out the condoville regulars for daily promenades. Actually, the ducks never left if ducks fly off somewhere in winter. They lingered near the bridges where pedestrians stroll and waited for handouts to sustain them over the winter. They got them - and then some.

Around the building the outdoor pool still has the remnants of melted snow in the form of dirty water. Before it is filled with clean, sparkling water, it will require its usual maintenance and coat of paint. If this isn't performed before the really warm weather sets in, there will be grumbles from condo dwellers speculating as to if the pool will be ready for its June opening.

This winter the owners of the condo living next to the garbage chute on our floor complained that people were disposing their garbage too late in the evening, in addition to it making excessive noise allowing the chute door to slam. I can imagine that being a pain in the middle of the night when you're trying to sleep. The problem was solved by adding (I'm told) some type of magnetic device that prevents anyone from disposing trash after 9 p.m. Sounds reasonable to me.

Last year a new owner bought the condo apt. directly accross from ours. He completely renovated the entire interior and laid a new wood floor. For whatever reason he doesn't appear satisfied with the job since the floor guys have been back at least three times that I'm aware of. Actually, visually it looks gorgeous having seen peeks of it whenever the floor guys left the door open. I'm wondering what they could be doing since they're always measuring and there's noise from machinery obviously being used. The owner himself is an enigma. I'm not even sure he lives there. We've passed each other in the hall perhaps twice during the year and muttered the usual social niceties but somehow I get the feeling that he doesn't spend much time there. Perhaps he's planning to flip the apartment, which is his perogative. Weird...

There's an open house today indicating that we're going to have some new condovillers. There's definitely been a change of owners this winter. The best time to see all the newbies is when hanging out at the pool but that's later on. Meanwhile, I'm going to make a point of finding out about Mr. Accross-the-Hall.