Shots from the Lip

 Three days into it, SMDP finally answered and while the dates had to be changed from what they had initially assigned, after a half dozen emails, we got everything straightened out and this morning was the first of three issues where the notification will be printed..... Before SMDP answering, I contacted the Santa Monica Observer, the second newspaper of general circulation where I could place notification. They are a 'shabby' alternative whose publisher called me back after SMDP answered.  They thought I'd need them and quoted me $250 for one printing.....Obviously I turned them down after happily accepting an $80 bill for three postings from SMDP........and later yesterday, the Observer dropped their offer to $189.......I did not even answer. We have Jon Berg on video again - he drove by yesterday afternoon.  WE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING WITH OUR BORDERLINE TREES UNTIL THIS MAN IS CONTAINED!

We paid a process server.  I sent the documentation to the process server this morning. Do I think that this will work?   No. Two mornings ago I called SMDP to place a notification in a local paper of general circulation regarding the 20 August Court hearing.  I never heard back. That afternoon, we went to the SMDP offices - no one was there.  Yesterday I sent the proposed notification and corroborating court documentation to SMDP as an email attachment.  Not having heard back, I called again this morning, only to leave another message on their machine.......will they call me back??   And life goes on........I got a new camera replacement from Mint for my Rollei.  I will watch and re-learn step by step over the weekend.......I like taking pictures!! 

 .....Only today is not a short pants day in Santa Monica.  The temperature at 10:18am is 22 degrees and it looks like yesterday's high of 27 will not even be met today. We went to the Santa Monica Daily Press offices yesterday afternoon.  I called in the morning but a day later, have still not been called back regarding placing notification in the newspaper regarding the 20 August Court hearing rescheduling. And I found the email address to which I emailed SMDP along with a copy of the Notification we'd like a price quote upon......will we get it?  When??  Where's the efficiency that seems so lacking in business here?? 

 How convenient it is - the walk to Retina Partners on the 7th floor of the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf medical building on Santa Monica....especially when I can schedule 7:45am and open up that office, minimizing any form of wait. Three times a year: 3 week sessions;  MWF at 7:45am each week.........and all covered in full under Medicare Supplement.  Will this German derived piece of engineering forestall growing vision impairment from AMD?  Only time will tell....but hope is definitely something to have with a program like this..... We both had medical appointments this morning.  Katherine's, at 9am, was in the building next to the medical building I went to this morning.  After, we took the #43 bus up 26th Street to Brentwood where we dropped off (for consignment) my winter Moncler jacket. Tonight:  dinner with a condo owner in the building where we want a restraining order against one of the other owners........can we get agreement on a strategy???

 I had a nice ride along the beach this morning.......but I had another ride after coming home and having breakfast. The Real Real is a luxury used goods consignments system. There's one in Brentwood.  I discovered where it was and how far it was beyond what we had thought as I pedaled my way to Brentwood and San Vicente Blvd&26th Street where I left 3 Chanel pants for consignment. Coming home was a veritable piece of cake, going downhill a long, long, long way....until I discovered my speed and that scared the shit out of me - I was too fucking fast! Regardless,  on a Saturday morning, I have already been riding, done a primary chore and am ready to read and write some return responses on the porch where it is sunny, with a slight breeze.....and, at 10:55am, 84 degrees F outside....... But I'll also bring my phone outside with me because music while reading and writing makes the day a bit more complete......especially Saturday morning opera on WQXR!!!

 Bingo!  They have started opening up a quarter of an hour earlier, 'on demand'.  I 'demanded' and found that if I schedule all my appointments well in advance, I will get the 7:45am slot.....NO WAITING!!!!!  I obviously like that........ Yesterday was exhausting.  And yet we learned how an overloaded system functions....and how we can work within that system and its initial time frame restrictions........and if we can, there will definitely be benefits!!! Regardless, it is now 9:19am and I've been at it for a while......but I have the ideas needed to proceed with what I've calendared for today......onwards!