Just received one of the many phone books we’ll be getting. What a nuisance!

Shouldn’t people have to OPT-IN first before the tree is cut down?

East side of Radio Avenue, approximately 160 feet north of Lincoln Court.

The online permit says: Planned to subdivide one parcel into 15 lots for 14 attached single-family houses and one single-family detached residence on a 0.71 gross acre site.

This poor possum was eating tomatoes from our garden moments before running out into the street.

Dead Possum Photo <- rated R (for roadkill)

It makes me sad, and I’ve got to wonder: Where is its spirit right now? Is it with me looking back at it?

Those screechings you may have heard last night at 3 AM were coming from our backyard.  I ran out there with a flashlight and found a couple of raccoons swimming in the pool. The bright light scared one of them into climbing out and up the fence.  The other continued dog paddling in circles nonchalantly in the water.  It had sounded like they were fighting with each other. Maybe just having a good time.

By the time I fetched my camera, this one was off into the neighbors yard.

Remember that 1968 Burt Lancaster movie “The Swimmer“?

San Jose City Council is already giving away public parkland to private interests. Next step is to eliminate open space requirements so that developers can build higher density. This also has the added benefit (to developers) of making more parkland available for development. Everybody happy?

Can you see the park?

Not so long ago the sign read “Washington Mutual”.

Cops seem to be everywhere today.

Wednesday’s presentation at the Willow Glen Branch Library by Dan Mackey, past president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, was very informative. He gave us a list of steps to take before signing a remodeling contract.

Your choice of contractor can make a big difference. You don’t want someone who is never there to supervise the work; just hands it off to his day laborers.

For instance, when adding a room to your home, after the foundation’s been dug, you will find it aggravating to have hired someone who has no care about construction except getting paid.

Safeway Supermarket in the Willow Glen Plaza has left the neighborhood:

To help make up for the loss of convenient grocery shopping, we’ll be planting a larger garden this year. (Did someone mention a chicken coop and fresh eggs?)

Right next to Safeway’s vacated premises is a 24 Hour Fitness that seems to have grown by leaps and bounds.  It was crowded this Saturday evening.

We walked in for a tour and ended up trying out several machines, one of which made us (or at least me) want to keep at it.  I think they called it an elliptical something or other.

The prices for using the gym were all right; around $30 first and last month in advance and a $30 (probably negotiable) initiation fee.  They were unwilling to put this in writing, however.  Don’t know why, all the numbers are on their website.

Anyway, we’re not going to pursue it because there is no hot tub, steam room, or swimming pool.  Bring your own towels and locker locks.

The big advantage, of course, is that it is within walking distance.  But after walking there and back, who needs more exercise?

A: It forces you to get used to using cold water!

Cross your eyes for a stereo view!

Sure, once you are in the shower, there is hot water forever.  But, if you have the habit of tapping the tank or flicking the faucet for that quick spurt of hot water to brush your teeth, wash your hands, rinse off a dish or cup, FORGET IT!  Hot water is just no longer there for you the way it used to be.

We’ll adjust to it.  It’s not that bad; probably a good thing in the long run.

Another major advantage, of course, is that the large tank holding gallons of hot water, and aging ever nearer to its moment of structural failure, is no longer in our basement waiting to burst forth and soak all the old books and magazines we’ve stored down there next to it.  (Now there’s room to store more books!)