WAR, INSPECTIONS, REPORTING THE NEWS

I love technology. Here is a sample of a conversation I had today over the intercom between the front door and my apartment.

GUEST: Ring --- Ring --- Ring (It s phone intercom and it ran three times before I got to it.)
ME: Hello.
GUEST: is tis kghtphd.
ME: Yes (thinking I they most likely want me. My name is by the button they pushed)
GUEST: I haff[h infmotionnnn foooor y.
ME: I’ll let you in. Come on down to my room.
GUEST: Don’t konst weshter U R?
ME: (gave her – I think– my room number)
ME: Buzzzz (door opens with a click)

I’m at the end of the hall so I stepped out of my apartment to see a woman I never met walking toward me. She spoke in perfect English (I wasn’t sure by our intercom conversation). She came to tell me when and where Janet’s memorial service would be. I thanked her and told her I would make up notices to be put on the bulletin boards.

She left and I came in and cursed technology. If I can have a cell phone that calls Europe (not that I have ever tried) why can’t I have a wired intercom with a clear connection? Is that too much to ask? Apparently it is. The building is only 10 years old. Was a clear connection impossible ten years ago? Phone lines worked better than that in the 40’s. Yes I can remember that far back.

Talked to Chas this afternoon and asked about the status of flower wars. We are close to instant reporting at The Home, but different stations report different sides of the news. Coffee break is a collective effort. Individual discussions are decidedly biased reports. I had heard Marias review this morning so I decided to change the station. Chas said, I gave the three potted plants to my pastor who placed them by the church office door. Yesterday I came out and trimmed back the hanging baskets and they hang over there in that tree. I thought you had thrown them away. No, the smaller flowers on the outside of the basket were dying so I cleaned them up. Why were they dying? Didn’t Maria water them every day? She said she was but they were dry as a bone. Hanging plants need to be watered every day. I heard you threw them away because someone poured salt water on them. Ya, that’s awhile back. So did they survive the salt water? There was a small amount of burning, but I cut that out and they were fine. This just proves you have got to check all the stations and mush them together to get to maybe, a…a… 60% of the truth. The real reality doesn’t usually matter that much to me. The stories are what are really interesting. Neither Maria nor Chas can be depended on for a fully accurate portrayal of the truth. Their stories should have a preface, “This story BASED on actual facts.” That way we can choose to see them as the whole truth and nothing but the truth, or we can throw our hands up in the air and call it all fiction. But that’s what makes this place so fun — too me.

There was an inspection in building 2 today. Investors and a bank came through to make sure their investment was being handled well. The inspectors pulled a few emergency cords and the ambulance and fire trucks came running. Apparently management did not advise the fire department of the inspections. They were very frustrated and told they would be billed for these calls. Yikes. They already eliminated too many budgets for our enjoyment. What will they remove now to pay for this? During the inspection Irene was told she had to remove the bird feeder hanging outside her window. Irene popped a gasket. She has had the feeder there fourteen years. Only now are they concerned that the seed shells were attracting raccoons and pigeons gathering two floors down under her window and pooping everywhere. No one ever walks on that side of the building. Besides the real problem is the lot next to us if over run with blackberry bushes and is the home to raccoons, feral cats, squirrels, mice and who knows what else.

While sitting on the porch talking with Chas a friend came by and mentioned that the old man who owned the blackberry field was cleaning it up to sell. He is a former doctor who looks like he lives on the street. He has had conflict with the administration in the past and has purposely let the place go because it annoys them. I guess they tried to buy the property when they build The Home.”

I do have a sadistic mind at time – maybe even most of the time. I really enjoy this last installment of “As The Home Churns.”