This was an active week. Monday we were watching TV, gearing down for the day when all of a sudden, Danita jumped out of her chair and said “OH SH–!” This is the very first time she ever did anything like this, which made me extremely concerned. It turns out it was Danita’s turn to close the pool, and she forgot to do it. Of course, the pool is residents only during the week this time of year. Every resident who uses the pool knows when it closes. Closing consists of checking chemical levels and putting up some “Pool closed” signs. Danita sure got my blood pumping for a short while.
Tuesday (almost a full day later!) was the presidential debate. We watched the first half of it, then turned it off. I noticed that neither person actually answered the question that was asked. They simply pulled out the practiced answer that was reasonably close to the question. We found it boring. But that was the second debate of the day. The first one started at 7 PM in the clubhouse. Our HOA finally concluded that all of our buildings need new roofs. There’s obviously a lot that could be said, but the most important point is that we just finished a major rebuilding effort to address water intrusion. The cupboard is bare. It looks like we will have a $7500 special assessment. This issue is much more interesting to all of our residents. I expect we will pay our assessment later on this year.
Wednesday we had our Mediterranean food truck. Their food is quite good and not too expensive. We had our food truck dinner with the Jonses.
Friday we had the last grilled hamburgers and hotdogs party for the year. We had a nice selection of sides and deserts.
Yesterday we went to a concert offered by the Columbia Symphony Orchestra. The highlight piece was Antonín Dvořák’s “Symphony No. 9, From the New World”. It was nice, but for me the outstanding highlight was Duke Ellington’s “New World A-Comin” with piano soloist Russell Wilson. This is a piece for piano and orchestra. Russell Wilson is the pianist for the President’s Own Marine Corps Band. In fact, he is performing at the White House today. In preparation for our concert, he listened to an old recording of the Duke playing it at Carnegie Hall. He figured out the exact notes and fingering Duke used, and that’s what he played for us. Then he offered a spontaneous second piece, an Ellington rag. Who knew the Duke did ragtime? Russell Wilson knows a thing or two about tickling the ivories.
All week the weather has been perfect. Last week the bike was in the shop. I got it back Monday. I spent the week putting some miles on my bike.
Today we’re doing nothing (other than me counting for our Church). We could use a day of rest.