Condo Living

My brother/biz partner and I own some rental properties, one of which is a condo in north Oceanside near the mission. I had put in a request for a rebuilding and remodeling of my patio cover with the architecture committee, assuming it was no big deal and I'd be approved.

I assumed wrong.

Tonight was the review of the application at the every-other-month association meeting. I was informed that my proposal to replace the large timber beam and cover the frame with 2x2s was not acceptable because the 2x2s mean that when the building was painted next the association would spend more than my fair share of paint on the wood since they (according to them) own that structure.

Which stunned the hell out of me since that part of the building is in my fenced off "backyard."

BUT

They offered a compromise. They would remove the entire wooden structure for free. We would be allowed to put an umbrella in the table or we could install a canvas awning over the slider door. So, OK, I guess we'll remove the entire thing, because I can't have the beam in place like that since it is dry-rotted. "Oh, it's our liability" I was told but I know how that goes.

But then the next order of business was the landscaping. Another couple was there (they were Russian, this is important); they were unhappy with the state of their landscaping and wanted to know what the association was going to do about it. The answer was "nothing." The place ERUPTED with people yelling at each other and saying things like "I won't shut up!" "One person at a time" and the phrase I was waiting for, "I grew up in Soviet Union, I demand democracy!"

He even threw in a reference to World War II and defeating Hitler.

Awesome, simply fucking awesome.

After everyone calmed down the 80 year old grumpy Grandpa president wanted to end the meeting but before anyone could move it or second it I jumped in and asked if that was acceptable under Roberts' and was told it was, but I stated that I thought we should finish the agenda since we were all here.

So, we did.

After the meeting ended I told the Russians to wait for me outside because I wanted to talk to them. They turned out to be very nice people and they seemed just as embarrassed about what happened as everyone else should be. I showed them my place and they showed me theirs; they have done a lot of beautiful work on the interior in the few short months they've been there. We commiserated about the state of the complex and they understood the situation a little better.

God am I glad I live in an HOA-free house.

Ocean Swimming

I took my parents to the San Diego Fair on Friday. I went last week with the GF but this was a belated Father's Day present. I wanted to show him the woodworking exhibit and the fine art and photography exhibits, too.

I've been swimming in the ocean the past few afternoons, too. So great to do that.

Watched the US v Brazil FIT NIT final today at a bar in Kearny Mesa. Fun time, good first half for the US, bad second half. 3-2 Brazil final score.

I Guess It Did

OK then!

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Vegas and SD Fair

Went to Vegas for a few days 2 weeks ago for my birthday present. We had a great time. The weather was comfortable; cloudy and warm. It even rained a bit one of the days. Vegas is hurting; even though we were there Sunday through Wednesday the crowds were still exceptionally small. The cabbies asked us if we wanted to ride down the Strip or take the side streets - that's never happened before. Restaurants were 2/3 full, we bought tickets for Cirque du Soleil's "Ka" 24 hours before the show time and landed 4th row center seats. The pool was practically empty and one night we had the entire outdoor patio of the East Side Lounge to ourselves.

I had two photos accepted into the SD Fair this year out of 4 submitted but while the percentage was disappointing the results weren't; both images received "Honorable Mention" awards. We went this last weekend and had beer and brats, walked the fine art and the photography exhibits, she bought some jewelry and we walked the Halls of Crap, too.

Fair Photos and Vegas Getaway

This year I again entered some of my photographic work in the San Diego and Orange County Fairs. This one was accepted in both fairs' competitions, while this one was accepted in the San Diego Fair but rejected by the Orange County Fair.

I also went to Las Vegas last week for a few days as a birthday present. Vegas is dead; lots of empty restaurant tables, empty lounges by the pool and the cabbies would ask us if we wanted to take the Strip or the side roads (in the past the side roads were the only choice due to all the traffic on las Vegas Blvd.).

The guys came over yesterday for a band rehearsal to prep for later this summer's party.

New York City April, 2009

I spent a short but really fun week in New York Ciy last week. Gargoyles, Guggenheim and Gramercy, oh my!