Notes to self...
1. If your house is located in an area that at one time was the natural habitat and feeding ground for deer, do not plant 100+ tulip bulbs in your yard. The deer that still wander in your neighborhood will be delighted with the wonderful treat that you have provided them. You, on the other hand, will have nothing to show for your efforts. No, tulips, nada, zilch!
2. Resist the urge to answer the phone at work two minutes before you have to leave. You will get stuck on the phone helping some elderly man try to navigate the church's website. Umm...this isn't part of my job description or have anything to do with Public Affairs. (I helped him anyway.)
3. As much as you are delighted to have all snow melted and signs of Spring every where, don't forget to stock up on hay fever medication. I am so looking forward to the next two or three months of sneezing, itchy eyes and throat. Guess it's a trade off for not having to negotiate icy sidewalks, wearing multiple layers and keeping the heat cranked up in the house.
4. Be happy that you get to work another week in your temp assignment. Now you have a legitimate reason why you can't go on a road trip with your BIL and SIL. The idea of sitting in the back seat of a car while your husband speeds down the highway on his sport motorcycle is not my idea of fun.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Unbeliveable!
I'm sorry to bring up the Nimbys again. But what happened after last night's general HOA meeting is almost beyond belief.
Quick update - since the failed mediation, my husband approached Mr. Nimby in an effort to try to come to a resolution between us. Of course, Mrs. Nimby quickly became the person that he has had to negotiate with. Email discussion has been going by and forth between them for almost 3 weeks. Mrs. Nimby requested that the emails not be shared with HOA board and my husband has respected that.
Last night, the general HOA meeting went forward with little discussion on agenda items. New board members were accepted by general affirmation of the homeowners in attendance. A brief (3 lines on the agenda) overview of the failed mediation was presented (no discussion) and a brief description of a homeowners (the Nimbys) claim against the HOA for alleged damage to their yard and the unauthorized removal of landscaping materials from their yard. There was even an opportunity for open comments at the end.
The meeting was over in about 45 minutes, with no rancor or accusations. I was in attendance, my husband was not (he had a conflict). Also Mr. Nimby and his attorney were in attendance. Mrs. Nimby was not.
I arrived home before my husband. When he came home a little later, he has his iphone in his hand and begins to read me an email that he had just received from Mrs. Nimby. She said that her husband had just come home from the meeting and told her that one of the emails my husband had written to her was put up on an overhead for all of the homeowners to read. Unbelievable! There were no emails posted, nor were the Nimbys even mentioned by name on the agenda.
Nothing the Nimbys do or say really surprizes me. But it seems plain stupid to me to make such a statement, and put it in writing, that can easily be refuted by the other 20 people who were at the meeting. But then, Mrs. Nimby is just delusional enough to think that everyone was forewarned to deny that an email was posted. Yea, right. We are all in cahoots against her.
Quick update - since the failed mediation, my husband approached Mr. Nimby in an effort to try to come to a resolution between us. Of course, Mrs. Nimby quickly became the person that he has had to negotiate with. Email discussion has been going by and forth between them for almost 3 weeks. Mrs. Nimby requested that the emails not be shared with HOA board and my husband has respected that.
Last night, the general HOA meeting went forward with little discussion on agenda items. New board members were accepted by general affirmation of the homeowners in attendance. A brief (3 lines on the agenda) overview of the failed mediation was presented (no discussion) and a brief description of a homeowners (the Nimbys) claim against the HOA for alleged damage to their yard and the unauthorized removal of landscaping materials from their yard. There was even an opportunity for open comments at the end.
The meeting was over in about 45 minutes, with no rancor or accusations. I was in attendance, my husband was not (he had a conflict). Also Mr. Nimby and his attorney were in attendance. Mrs. Nimby was not.
I arrived home before my husband. When he came home a little later, he has his iphone in his hand and begins to read me an email that he had just received from Mrs. Nimby. She said that her husband had just come home from the meeting and told her that one of the emails my husband had written to her was put up on an overhead for all of the homeowners to read. Unbelievable! There were no emails posted, nor were the Nimbys even mentioned by name on the agenda.
Nothing the Nimbys do or say really surprizes me. But it seems plain stupid to me to make such a statement, and put it in writing, that can easily be refuted by the other 20 people who were at the meeting. But then, Mrs. Nimby is just delusional enough to think that everyone was forewarned to deny that an email was posted. Yea, right. We are all in cahoots against her.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Division of Labor
I'm currently working 8 to 5 in a temp assignment. The other day, after putting in a full day "at the office", I came home and did the following:
1. Wash, folded and put away 3 loads of wash
2. Did a quick clean up of two bathrooms
3. Fixed dinner
4. Cleaned up kitchen after dinner
5. Swept kitchen floor
6. Pulled the full garbage bag from the kitchen can. Replaced the trash bag
7. Checked my email
Other the other hand, my husband, who also put in a full day's work did the following:
1. Watched the news
2. Channel surfed
3. Ate dinner
4. Put his plate on kitchen counter
5. Went to a short meeting
6. Carried kitchen garbage to outside can
7. Did some work on his lap top
I guess since I've been doing the majority of housework for all of our married years, I shouldn't expect things to change just because I have a part time job right now.
1. Wash, folded and put away 3 loads of wash
2. Did a quick clean up of two bathrooms
3. Fixed dinner
4. Cleaned up kitchen after dinner
5. Swept kitchen floor
6. Pulled the full garbage bag from the kitchen can. Replaced the trash bag
7. Checked my email
Other the other hand, my husband, who also put in a full day's work did the following:
1. Watched the news
2. Channel surfed
3. Ate dinner
4. Put his plate on kitchen counter
5. Went to a short meeting
6. Carried kitchen garbage to outside can
7. Did some work on his lap top
I guess since I've been doing the majority of housework for all of our married years, I shouldn't expect things to change just because I have a part time job right now.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Opportunity Lost
There's a home in our neighborhood that we had considered buying several years ago. At that time, the home was owned by a single guy who maintained it in immaculate condition. He had done some upgrades in the bathrooms and kitchen - but nothing extreme. Everything he had done inside was in keeping with the architecture and period of the home. This guy also maintained the yard meticulously. The entire setting was like a wonderful oasis within easy walking distance of downtown.
The home has been for sale twice since our initial look/see about five years ago. Since we drive by the house just about every day, we were curious what the new owner was doing to the home.
In the name of updating, renovating and remodeling, the new owner has completely destroyed the charm and architectural integrity of the place. Beautiful period fireplaces and mantles have been replaced with stock, manufactured cheap stuff. The original hardwood floors have been replaced with weird, dark manufactured planking with ripples in it. Original moldings and door casings have been torn out. The new moldings look more like something meant for a mountain lodge rather than a 1920 city house. In the one room where the original hardwood floor had been retained, the owner cut out about a 6 x 6 section in the center of the flooring and laid carpeting. Only the original leaded glass windows remain. Some of those were broken. The yard has been neglected as well.
I realize that there may be buyers out there who think what's been done to the house is terrific. You know, all modern and fancy.. But my husband and I are sick about it. The house has been forever changed and not necessarily for the better. Well, at least in our opinion.
I know, we should have bought it when we had the chance.
The home has been for sale twice since our initial look/see about five years ago. Since we drive by the house just about every day, we were curious what the new owner was doing to the home.
In the name of updating, renovating and remodeling, the new owner has completely destroyed the charm and architectural integrity of the place. Beautiful period fireplaces and mantles have been replaced with stock, manufactured cheap stuff. The original hardwood floors have been replaced with weird, dark manufactured planking with ripples in it. Original moldings and door casings have been torn out. The new moldings look more like something meant for a mountain lodge rather than a 1920 city house. In the one room where the original hardwood floor had been retained, the owner cut out about a 6 x 6 section in the center of the flooring and laid carpeting. Only the original leaded glass windows remain. Some of those were broken. The yard has been neglected as well.
I realize that there may be buyers out there who think what's been done to the house is terrific. You know, all modern and fancy.. But my husband and I are sick about it. The house has been forever changed and not necessarily for the better. Well, at least in our opinion.
I know, we should have bought it when we had the chance.
Friday, March 7, 2008
On The Job
I have a part-time job in the On-Call department at the LDS Church headquarters. It's been a nice little arrangement. I've been doing this for a few years and have figured out in which departments I like to work. So I very much pick and choose my assignments. The only benefit to this job, besides the little bit of income I get when I actually work, is a parking pass to the underground parking garage at the Church Office Building. In fact, to keep my parking pass, I only have to accept one on-call assignment at year...I digress.
Anyway, for the month of March, I accepted an assignment in the Public Affairs Department. So, I'm an 8 to 5, punch the clock, employee for awhile. I'm working at the main receptionist desk and never know what kind of caller may be on the other end when I pick up the phone.
Here's a few phone calls I've had this week:
1. Father wanted to know what the Church's policy is about girls between the ages of 5 and 8 wearing fingernail polish. There is no policy on this one, in case you're wondering. Parents are on their own.
2. A woman calls about everyday incensed about a book set in Germany in WWII that has been recently published that has a character who is an LDS SS agent. She calls so frequently that I recognize her phone number on caller ID and I've only been on the job 5 days. I'm not really sure what she expects me to do about it.
3. I answered the phone today and a caller asked me if I could tell her how to spell "Brigham Young". If it was a test, I'm pretty sure I passed.
4. Several people have called asking random questions that I quickly found the answer to by "googling" the subject while talking to them. Most of the questions had absolutely nothing to with Public Affairs, or the Church. Makes me wonder if there are still people in the world that don't have access or use a computer.
The way things go here, I think that I'll have some material for posts over the next few weeks. Stay tuned.
Anyway, for the month of March, I accepted an assignment in the Public Affairs Department. So, I'm an 8 to 5, punch the clock, employee for awhile. I'm working at the main receptionist desk and never know what kind of caller may be on the other end when I pick up the phone.
Here's a few phone calls I've had this week:
1. Father wanted to know what the Church's policy is about girls between the ages of 5 and 8 wearing fingernail polish. There is no policy on this one, in case you're wondering. Parents are on their own.
2. A woman calls about everyday incensed about a book set in Germany in WWII that has been recently published that has a character who is an LDS SS agent. She calls so frequently that I recognize her phone number on caller ID and I've only been on the job 5 days. I'm not really sure what she expects me to do about it.
3. I answered the phone today and a caller asked me if I could tell her how to spell "Brigham Young". If it was a test, I'm pretty sure I passed.
4. Several people have called asking random questions that I quickly found the answer to by "googling" the subject while talking to them. Most of the questions had absolutely nothing to with Public Affairs, or the Church. Makes me wonder if there are still people in the world that don't have access or use a computer.
The way things go here, I think that I'll have some material for posts over the next few weeks. Stay tuned.
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