Of painted balconies, flowers and the pool

Summer is at the mid-way point and there are signs that preparations are afoot for the oncoming autumn. All the condo-villers were advised that the cement ceilings of the balconies are to be painted. Really, visually they look okay to me, as does their neutral beige shade but obviously there must be more to it than visual appeal. Perhaps the coats of paint protect the cement or something. Anyway...this means that we have to take down our three hanging plants and hooks. Mr. Don't-Hold-My-Legs will be standing on a chair and doing the honors as I watch and offer helpful suggestions like "don't you want me to hold on to your legs?" and "be careful - you could fall!" Important things like that. Speaking of flowers, this was truly a bumper year for all my plants including those in the flower boxes and urns. They all have to be moved to allow for the ladders and balcony painters. The hanging plants don't like it when their hanging parts are squished on the ground level so some will succumb and break off. Oh well - won't be long before they will meet their maker so-to-speak since the plants and earth are emptied on to the bank of the river. There's something very poetic about that act me thinks.

Divine day at the pool. Perfect weather for lounging with gusty winds that allowed for short periods of tanning. Didn't go in the water but everyone who did says the water temperature was fantastic. I'll take their word for it. Finished my Monday New York Times crossword puzzle. Monday is a "do-able" puzzle as is Tuesday but by Friday, I'm at the dozen word stage. Sometimes I don't even understand the clues, never mind fill in the squares. Listened to music on my ear phones and heard one of my all-time favorite songs, "Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel. I like! Is there anything better than the summer time and listening to oldies music by a swimming pool?

Once August rolls around, preparations get under way for the autumn version of the party in the park. This time 'round they will be serving up freshly boiled corn, hot dogs, wine/soft drink, dessert. The fall party is always better attended than the Spring one, for one reason or another. The usual DJ will do his version of Barry Manilow's greatest hits and break out with an occasional Lady GaGa, along with many Latin dances, always popular. Hips will sway, bums will wiggle and feet will go along for the ride.

Will be checking out the ducks tonight during a walk on the path near the river and hoping for a woodchuck sighting. Life is good.

Lounging by the slippery pool

It's been a sweltering run of hot weather that has drawn condo-villers to cool off in the pool that was newly painted last month. Thing is the condo board for whatever reason - saving money springs to mind - decided to change the pool company servicing the pool. Not such a smart move. This is the same company that took forever to show up to re-paint the pool interior, which resulted in a late opening. As if this wasn't bad enough, the company used a paint that left the surface slippery. Think of walking on wet tiles and you get the idea. Now the pool is filled and the slippery situation was brought to the attention of the condo administration, who in turn responded by adding large black mats at the bottom of the pool in the shallow end and all along the wall. Looks kind of - well - dumb-ish. Thing is, the rest of the pool surface is still slippery and one can only hope that they won't line the entire pool with black mats. Anything is possible...

Some kids visiting the pool unaware of the pool rules one assumes, and who inadvertantly brought water toys in the pool, were quickly advised by an administrator that this was a no-no. Their protective grandmother who happened to be watching nearby, took personal umbrage and proceeded to express her unhappiness loudly and vociferously to the administrator in no uncertain terms.

"What kind of pool is this?" she yelled out so that everyone could hear, going on a rant for a good five minutes. "Children have to play! This isn't a jail!" In the end it didn't do any good and they played with those syrofoam noodles for the remainder of their stay in the pool. I think it bothered the grandmother more than it did the kids.

There are only three round tables with umbrellas, located in primo locations. The thing to do now especially given the strong summer sun is to arrive early at the pool, plop towels and other pool-related accessories on the table and chairs to reserve the spot early as in 1:00 p.m., before people start arriving. So far no one has challenged the reserve-ists as to their practice but we'll see if anyone says anything before the season ends. It's not really fair.

As always the pool temperature is a hot topic in the true sense of the word. Some people prefer the water temp on the cooler side at 79(!)F while others want it kept at 83F. Given the air temperature, which has been hovering at 9oF, the pool water has been a constant 84F. Everyone has an opinion ranging from, "too warm - it's like taking a bath!" to "perfect temperature!" I tend to fall into the latter category.

Nothing like lounging on a noodle while listening to the speed boats race by on the river and to people quibble about the water temperature. Life is good.

Sappy days of summer

This week a tragedy struck the condo-villers. To most people it's a minor inconvenience but for the morning group who swim laps, the break down of the pool heater was intolerable. Being that the temperature was on the cool side having to swim in cool-ish water in cool air temperature did not go over well.

There was a sign posted near the elevator advising everyone of the situation.

"The pool heater is broken" was all it said. So the topic of conversation in the elevator was speculation as to when it would be fixed. For the die-hard morning group, swimming in an unheated pool wasn't a deterrent and in fact it became a badge of courage.

"Did you hear the pool heater is broken?" a member of the group commented, as the elevator ascended to our floors.

"Downer," I commented. "You swim every morning so it must be really bothersome."

"Oh no - that doesn't stop me!" she replied proudly. "I swim anyway. Once you're in - the water is fine."

If you don't mind numb body parts, the water was acceptable, but I told her I would wait until the heater is fixed.

It took a week for the heater to be fixed and now everything is back to normal. The aqua fitness gang do their thing twice per week although I'm not sure if it's Ms Aqua Fitness Cruela de Ville is leading them into sessions of pain, since there is no sign of her melodious voice bouncing off the condo building walls. Have to check that out. During the afternoon some of the "regular" condo-villers drop by for a quick tan and gossip updates and a dip in the pool.

The big topic under discussion these days is the road work going on in the area. They're re-surfacing the access roads and driving is limited to cars having to share one lane on one side of the bridge. As expected, some people end up driving on the wrong side with cars facing each other. Lots of complaints but the job is almost completed at least in one area. Meanwhile, the other bridge is scheduled to be demolished and re-built this fall and winter. Makes for good complaint material for discussions.