From the Desk of Anthony Riley
I have a cowbell on the garage fridge that rings itself. We’ll come back to that.
The joy and pain of a community is that we all share things in common. Neighborhood safety, power outages (unless you’re in the secret club) and storms with down limbs and the cleanup.
Another thing we share is the age of our houses. Our resident historians will tell us that there were phases, but still within a time frame that kept the structures similar.
This means the pains around the joints come around the same time. We have a new dishwasher, one new A/C unit and have had some re-wiring. Mostly mental. The failure/correction de jour was the hot water heater. But was it?
The initial clue was hot tiles in the kitchen and lukewarm showers. Turns out, the pipe that runs through the kitchen busted under the slab. It could happen to you. Luckily, another thing we share is the experienced knowledge of good contractors and seasoned veterans that will get the job done. We got the entire house re-plumbed. In the attic, PEX (nerd word), minimal invasion with just a couple of incisions in the right place to get the tubing where it needs to go. Wait, I think that’s my Dad’s story too.
To accommodate, lots of things in the garage had to be moved including the fridge that had been balanced with a shim to shut correctly and hum as it should. Once the bull came through, the fridge now rocks and the door swings toward the exit door which is not in the “shut” direction. And. With a certain door tug, the cowbell on top of the fridge rings itself. Clang, clang, like an alarm. Fridge police. Why is there a cowbell on my garage fridge? Good question. Serious digression.
The Neighborhood Night Out happened and if words were to be eaten, no rain would be my lunch and dinner. BUT, the tried and true showed up when the rain stopped and the lines to the rides were breezy. Plus, we got to see a fire truck hit a fire hydrant. There are pictures. And a report. (Overheard from Larry – “come on back”). Beep, beep, beep. Put-put was fun but green fees were totally in season.
We also experienced the General Membership Meeting. The true enthusiasts showed their support by not clogging up the agenda or room with attendance. We take that as a ringing endorsement for the status quo and the effort for continual improvement.
And of course, Halloween was a complete success, I hope no one got lost in the haunted house or the Florida room as we call it here. Candy for all! Boo!
The Winter Woods Fall Garage Sale is November 7th, which might be this Saturday, depending on your timely reading. We expect many bargain shoppers and thank you to all who participated, the thrill of the discerning drive-by at 12:15 is worth every literal penny and the days of a sore back. I may try to sell that cowbell.
Coming up, we will have a Christmas decorating contest on December 20th, not that you are now going to go out and get a 30’ high inflatable Santa, you already have one.
Pay your dues. It is good for everyone. Next meeting Thursday, November 12th. Free tap water and door prizes.