Among the top manifestations of my late onset OCD -- maybe the one that Wifey finds most humorous, is the fact that I pre-check the mail daily. I have this service from the US Postal Service, Informed Delivery, that shows you each day the mail due to be delivered that day.
I check it, to confirm that it's all or mostly junk mail, and to see if the occasional important letter is coming. Early today, I saw that I was to receive a Certified Letter from our Village of Pinecrest.
Hmm.. I immediately thought -- that nutty Riva, who I told to stop harassing me, turned me in for something -- maybe I left my trash bins out overnight, though my OCD would prevent that, too. We're on the final leg of our daily delivery, and our mail typically comes after 7 pm, and I left the gate open so Belkys could come to the door to have me sign. Alas, as I was out fetching UberEats, a different carrier had already come by, and left the Certified Letter without signature.
I opened it. It was a Notice of Code Non Compliance -- Leaf Blower! A year ago or so, the Village outlawed gas powered lawn equipment, as Coral Gables had done earlier, since they're too noisy and polluting, apparently. Of course, the electric ones work like crap, and so the lawn guys just kept using them -- my guys included.
Well, the "grace period" ended, and the notice said as of last week, HOMEOWNERS would be fined $150 for each violation, even though they know none of us do our own lawns in Pinecrest! I told Wifey to take a photo of the Notice, and send it to Pedro, explaining that we think the law is stupid, but he needs to comply, or we will call ICE on him and his crew. Nah. Just kidding about the last part! Although that will be coming next.
Meanwhile, Wifey and I had a banner time at the Canes game. On the drive up, I reminded her that the first game I took her to, in 1983, was Notre Dame, and here, 43 years later, nothing has changed with us as a couple. She corrected me and said nearly 160 lbs combined had changed, as well as my gray hair and both of our assorted age-related infirmities. She was always good at bringing reality into my romance...
We parked near Mike and Chris, and I drank a decent amount of Stoli Oranj, and monsoon rains came. Paul, Patricia, and Wifey climbed into the back of Chris's SUV, while I stood under the tent, dancing to the wildly inappropriate and wildly loud music from some 20 somethings across the aisle -- with each song shouting the N word, and P words, actually many P words, repeatedly. Wifey had me stop singing along, smartly.
The rain let up, we went to our seats, and watched a great game -- our boys hung on late to preserve a victory -- biggest one since ND visited in 2017. Barry, Josh, Wifey and I lingered in the seats after the alma mater was sung, knowing it would be a cluster leaving the packed stadium. Some ushers of color told us rather brusquely to "Take the party to the Club -- we need you OUT" and I chuckled at this latest reverse racism, which I reminded Josh I found funny and no problem unless it involves the Jewish thing...that I will not abide.
Sure enough, it took FOREVER to walk out of the stadium, and longer to get out -- we made it home at 1 am.
Yesterday D1 brought the boys over for less than an hour, on her way to a Labor Day barbecue, and it was delightful..
Tomorrow I'm meetng my old banker friend Carole for lunch. She was diagnosed with metastatic cancer 2 years ago -- first symptom was broken ribs while on a trip to Ireland -- mets from breast ca -- by the time she saw an oncologist at MCI, she was beyond surgery and beyond chemo. But they put her on immunotherapy, and here she is -- 2 years later -- doing well. Those smart docs really have moved the bar a lot in the last decade or so.
She's a Seminole alum, and this year promises to be a major contest for us -- though the game is in Tally. I'm sure we'll give each other the business about that.
So I'm happy my trouble with the Village is manageable. At past 64, I feel to old to fight city hall anymore.
Hopefully Pedro complies...
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