HAPPY 4TH!

(good thing the table war is over)

Table War!

So, I was told that a couple of residents had a protest the other day bcuz they didn't like the tables & chairs placed too close to their homes.  So in order to get the board to move the t&c, they wore t-shirts saying NO FAIR, MOVE THE TABLES AND CHAIRS! and sprawled out on the tables preventing other residents from using them.    According to my sources, they brought trees to help alleviate the scorching heat and ten of those gargantuan coolers stocked with budweiser. They even pitched a tent and had night vision goggles!  Them babies were ready for war!

They held those poor little tables hostage till the board called in the FBI negotiation team! They wanted the t&c moved 12" further away from their wooden fences but the FBI struck a better deal!  A whopping 10 feet!  

When I heard all this, I was on the floor dying of laughter.  My tummy hurt so much, I almost had to call 911.  I didn't know the t&c were such an big deal.  Couldn't they have achieved the same results with a less dramatic approach?  Seriously, bringing the trees was a bit too much.  

Now, I'm not saying that I disagree with their plight.  I actually prefer the t&c in their new position cuz next time I grill, I ain't got to keep an eye on who's lurking behind my back pretending to be on they cell phones eavesdropping into my conversions.  It's creepy when you catch one of them staring at you through the cracks of their fences.

I'm not the type to go to such extremes to get stuff done.  I just get it done.  But, to each his own.  YOU GO GIRLS!  

Grillin' Away

Q'd yesterday and had me some chicken, shrimp and crab legs.  So yummy for my tummy.  If you ain't got access to a balcony or terrace, it can be a bit difficult to get your grill on.   Finding a place to grill is half the battle.  The other is finding the right grill.  

BBQ

Interesting explanation from a blogger :

The concept of "Barbeque" as we know it today was invented out of necessity in the south by a group known as "poor people." These "poor people," had very little of what we affectionately call "money." Due to this fact, they needed to either purchase inferior cuts of meat, or in the case of farming poor, sell off all the good cuts and keep the aforementioned inferior cuts. This of course gave rise to such gastronomical horror shows as pickled pig's feet, pork rinds, chit'lins (which, despite their benign sounding name, are fried hog's intestines), and all sorts of other ghastly feet and/or organ meat concoctions. 
However, it also gave rise to (drum-roll please) "Barbeque." 

Many Americans in their American ignorance confuse Barbeque with grilling (i.e. "I'm going to a barbeque at Rob's house Memorial day weekend.") The process of Barbequing is only similar to grilling in that fire is used and it is sometimes done out-of -doors. Barbeque is the application of indirect heat to usually marinated or spice rubbed meats, done over a relatively extended period of time, which breaks down the components of meat that cause it to be tough. Thus our friends, the poor folk down south, magically and inexpenively transform cheap tough cuts of meat into delicious tender ones.  Awesome.

Health Care Reform-Nat'l Day of Action

Saturday, June 27th is a National Day of Action for Health Care Reform--come out and support President Obama's agenda for affordable, quality health care, right here in Harlem! Join us from 11AM to 3PM for canvassing, phone banking, and FREE testing for HIV, TB, STD, and Hepatitis--or just bring some food for our local volunteers. African Services Committee, 429 West 127th Street, btwn. Amsterdam & Morningside Aves., 212.222.3882

Window Screens

The endless rain brings all these nasty insects into my home.  I'm bit all over!  I smashed one the other day cuz it got the nerve to get some of my fresh blood.  Damn mosquitos!  

Couldn't take it anymore, so I called one of the window screen companies that our building manager suggested thinking it'll probably cost me $200 max.  It was A-Screens or something like that.  I can't remember the name.  Anyhow, they got the audacity to quote me $165 for my big window ( approx. 52 x 48) and $150 each for the smaller two windows( 52 x 30).  That's over $500 for three windows!!!!!!  This city is OUT OF CONTROL.  Who charges $500 for 3 screens??  Who is stupid enough to spend$500 for 3 screens???!!!  Now, I know why most windows don't have screens.  

I'm an Okie.  I married an Okie.  Okie men don't sit around looking pretty.  They do what REAL men do--build things, fix things..etc.   My wonderful hubby went across the bridge to home depot on FATHER'S DAY, bought the supplies and built 3 beautiful screens.  That's what you call a good husband and a GREAT father.  Father's day is not just for fathers to take, take, take.  It's also about giving too!

AND you won't believe the total cost of the 3 screens:  $67  (NO JOKE!)

Funny, he was on the elevator and a lady asked about the screens.  He told her that she can spend $500 to have them made or make them herself for less than $100.  She asked if $500 included installation.  HAHAHAHAHA! 

Now I know why I came here to make money.  Heck, I charge an arm and leg for my design services.  

Kids have tables to sit and eat their snacks!

"Geeze, this building ain't so "family friendly" like how they promote it huh?  They don't even have a table out there for kids to sit and eat if they wanted to take a break from play and have some snacks!" -  Who tattle tells on kids?

I guess, the Langston Board is trying to make our building as "child-friendly" as the sales agents claim this building to be. They bought tables and chairs!!!!!  Finally, they used our money for something worthy. Now the kids can sit and eat their snacks, color their books, read...etc...

Surely, we will see more kids having their birthday parties on the terrace now.  

All we need now is a couple of swings.  

A small fenced off section for bbq-ing would be good.