truth and loathing in the big city

when i asked the property manager if she knew when the repairs to the condo swimming pool would be completed, she told me that everything should be ready to go in two or three weeks. but when i reminded her that she had given me the same estimate at the beginning of july, she looked at me as though as i had just asked her for a loan. and when i reminded her that she had also given me the same estimate at the beginning of june, she looked at me as though i had just asked her for a kidney. "look, what do you want from me? besides, i'm at the mercy of the board of directors."

but when i asked the president of the board of directors (who just happens to share the same name as my old man) if he knew when the repairs to the condo swimming pool would be completed, he told me that everything should be up and running in 7-10 days. and when i advised him that the property manager had just informed me that she thought everything would be ready to go in two or three weeks, he looked at me as though i had just asked him to resign his presidency. "look, what do you want from me? besides, i'm at the mercy of the contractor."

but when i asked the contractor if he knew when the repairs to the condo swimming pool would be completed, he told me that everything should be back to normal by september or october at the latest. and when i advised him that the property manager had just informed me that she thought everything would be ready to go in two or three weeks, and that the president of the board of directors had just informed me that he thought everything would be up and running in 7-10 days, he looked at me as though i had just served him with legal papers. "look, what do you want from me? besides, i'm at the mercy of the weather."

the weather? well, i wasn't about to contact the good lord himself on this matter. but there is one thing that divine providence might be able to help me with at this point. um, why do folks insist on treating me like an idiot? i mean, do they really believe for even a second that i'm buying whatever it is that they're selling?

as a postscript, i also inquired of both the building's superintendent and head concierge as to their estimates on the issue of the much-delayed repairs to the condo swimming pool. their responses? the building's super told me that he had heard the repairs would be completed by sunday (sunday?) of this week. conversely, the head concierge told me that he had heard the repairs would likely not be completed in time to salvage this year's summer swim season.

the moral of the story? if you live in a condo and it's truth that you're after, stick with the concierge.

"we are ashamed to seem evasive in the presence of a straightforward man, cowardly in the presence of a brave one, gross in the eyes of a refined one, and so on. we always imagine, and in imagining share, the judgments of the other mind.” - charles horton cooley

perhaps if the singing career doesn't work out, adam lambert can always land a gig in my building: