Little Chill In The Air This Morning

Rainy Days and Tuesdays

There are some people who think that this is a poolside Japanese garden. Let there be no mistake. It is a retention pond that is doing its job after a major rainstorm here today. Marty and the landscaping team have done a terrific job in making this eyesore into a beautiful rock garden. We are lucky to have such a good team working here for us.

Randee

I'm Back

I hope everybody is having a wonderful summer. It's been very busy here at the Grand Coquina, especially the weekends. It's great to see everybody enjoying the amenities which are really the best on our beautiful beach.

It's been a while since I've posted and much has happened in the interim. Larry and I went to Alaska and had a magnificent time. We were there early May and even though it was very cold, we had beautiful, clear weather and were able to enjoy a helicoper ride to a glacier and train ride through the Yukon. Even our few days in Seattle were dry and clear. We had a "whale" of a time before we returned to chaos in our personal lives.

As most of you know who follow this blog or who know me, I was on the Board of Directors for Seaside Music Theater. I urged you all to go to shows and support it financially. It was truly a jewel in our own back yard. Unfortunately, while I was away, a decision was made to cancel the summer season due to financial shortfalls. Layoffs ensued, including my daughter, Nikki, who was the assistant marketing director for the theater. She is now freelancing and has acquired some good clients. About 50% of the staff were let go and just this past week more were let go. It appears that the situation is dire and there doesn't seem to be a lot of hope out there for a financial backer to step in. I have since resigned from the board after some decisions were made by remaining staff that I couldn't agree with, which I won't go into in this post. I still wish the theater well and hope it can survive in this disastrous economic environment.

Most of the problems the theater has encountered stem from the News Journal being barred from giving any financial support to the theater because of the lawsuit they are involved in with Cox Newspapers and their impending forced sale. The News Journal, in an effort to downsize and become more profitable, laid off about 110 of its employees a month ago. Fortunately, Larry was not one of them. He has, however, shifted his workday a bit, so if you see him out and about in the building in the middle of the night, don't worry. He's just doing his job. There will probably be more cuts when a new owner takes over, whenever that is, but whatever will be will be.

On a brighter note, our daughter will be having another baby in December and this time it is a boy!!! We're very excited, to say the least.

The building is looking great. The inside pool area was redone and the landscaping has been updated, both looking spectacular. The second and third floors and elevators were tiled and always look beautiful and clean. What a difference that has made. Many of you have asked me when we're doing the first floor. Even though it has been assessed for, the majority of the Board doesn't seem to want to move forward with it at this time. Quite frankly, I am tired of fighting them. At some point you just have to say, what's the point, and put your energy somewhere else, which is what I am doing. I am continuing to work in the reverse mortgage industry and have recently acquired my certification as a Certified Senior Advisor. This has given me the opportunity to do good work as well as help people. You can't ask for more than that.

I hope more of you will consider posting your experiences here. It's an easy way to keep in touch and learn about others. Have a great summer and see you around the building.

Randee

Into the Wild

Hi All,
It's been a while since I last blogged but I wanted to check in before we leave on our Alaskan adventure tomorrow. Things have really been hopping here at the Grand. For those of you lucky enough to be here, you've had a chance to see the second and third floor tile project. The baseboards will soon be put on. For those of you who voted in the survey, you overwhelmingly have said you want to see it continued on the first floor. I am hopeful that that will happen soon. I can't imagine that three out of five of us on the Board would not like it enough to continue it on the first floor walkways. Please let us know if you like it.

There are other maintenance events that will be going on in the building as well such as work in the garage on the ceiling pipes and clips and replacement of the vent fans. The seawall is going to be painted in May and landscaping around the pool will be completed.

I hope to keep in touch while we're away. Hope to see you all soon around the pool or in the gym. Keep in touch.

Randee

Hungry in Seattle

Hi All,

Does anybody have any suggestions for a nice restaurant in Seattle? We will actually be there on Mother's Day and need to make a reservation.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Randee

Postcard from .......................................????????

Hi All,
Thought it would be fun to find out who's traveling where this summer. We're going on our first ever Alaskan cruise next month. Larry has even talked me into the helicopter glacier tour. I guess it's probably less dangerous than driving on ISB but it still scares the heck out of me. I'll let you know how it went (hopefully).

Tell us about an upcoming trip or even a favorite one from the past. I would even appreciate some tips for our cruise. We are doing an inside passage from Seattle, round-trip. Looking forward to hearing about all of your adventures.

Randee

Welcome

Hi All,
Just a quick note to let you know that Bill Dodd, a board member, and Alice, his wife, have made the Grand Coquina their primary residence. I met Bill yesterday. I am really looking forward to working with him on the board and getting to know him and Alice. Make sure you give them a Grand Coquina welcome when you see them.

It's spring break, as I'm sure everyone who is here in Daytona Beach knows. It seems to be pretty busy, if the traffic has anything to do with it. I love the atmosphere. It's exciting when the beach is busy and crowded. We waited at Our Deck Down Under the other night for two and a half hours. Fortunately, we were with good company and made the most of it. Definitely not the place to go if you're in a hurry. We usually call ahead, order it out and pick it up and bring home. Next time.

Be safe during this busy time here.

Randee

The Revolution is Still Coming

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Below is a letter from Lester Malizia, the Artistic Director for Seaside Music Theater. Please take the time to read it help if you can. Seaside Music Theater is one of the best professional theaters in the country. Right now it is facing hard times and really needs the support of its community in the form of donations and ticket sales. If you've been to productions in the past, please keep on going. If you've never been, buy some tickets this summer. We have a great season ahead and I promise you won't be disappointed. Thanks, in advance, for your support.

Randee


Dear Friend:

Beginning June 12th, Seaside Music Theater, will present the Tony Award-winning epic musical, Les Misérables. Only five theaters in the U.S. were selected to showcase this Broadway jewel, and SMT is one of them!

To produce a show of this magnitude takes the right talent, time, staff – as well as dollars. SMT has secured the first three but requires the help of our loyal supporter AND their friends to make it all happen.

For every dollar donated right now – up to $250,000 – SMT will receive a direct cash match from an anonymous patron. Matching gift opportunities don’t happen often so act now by clicking www.supportsmt.com and donate today. Plus, it’s tax-deductible!

The deadline for SMT’s Les Misérable Matching Gift Campaign is midnight on Wednesday, June 11, 2008. That doesn’t leave much time. So rush a generous gift today to ensure this Broadway quality production makes it to the SMT stage!

With my heartfelt thanks,

Lester Malizia
Artistic Director

P.S. Remember time is of the essence so please act now! I would also ask that you pass along this message to your friends, family and associates today and encourage their support!

Next Best Thing to the Fountain of Youth

Hi All,
I was in the workout room this morning talking to another unit owner who I see in there almost every morning that I am there. He was at the end of his long workout by 8 a.m. He told me that he had just had a checkup and the doctor told him that he is actually reversing the aging process by working out. His bad numbers (and you all know what I mean) are turning into better numbers. More importantly, he FEELS BETTER and STRONGER.

Larry and I have just completed a class which talked about the benefits of exercise as it relates to the aging process. Did you know that you are never too old to start exercising, and that no matter when you start, you will benefit from it. Strengthening exercises and exercise in general can delay disabilites associated with aging by up to ten years. Exercise improves the mind and the body.

I've been told by some of you that you would exercise more if you knew how to use the equipment. We have two workout rooms with state-of-the-art equipment that are just waiting to be used more. I am definitely not an expert on exercise, but I am willing to show anybody who is interested how to use the equipment and how to get started. As with any exercise program, you should check with your doctor first to see what you can physically do, especially if you haven't done it in a while or it is new to you.

Let me know with your comments if this is something you would be interested in and I will set up dates and times to do it. Not only will this be a great benefit to our health, it's a great way to socialize while getting healthy. ***To leave a comment, just click where it says "comment" below and it will take you to a pop-up screen where you can leave your comment. Remember to sign your name.

I look forward to hearing your responses.

See ya at the gym,

Randee

SMT -- Better than Broadway in our own Back Yard

Hi All,

One of the most rewarding things that I get to participate in is as a board member of Seaside Music Theater. I am now serving my fourth year. These are tough times for all non-profits but it is especially difficult for Seaside Music Theater since the death of its founder, Tippen Davidson, and the loss of major financial support of the News-Journal due to legal restraints. "Seaside Music Theater is the only professional theater in the Daytona Beach/Volusia County area. Since 1977, Seaside Music Theater has been bringing the best in professional musical theater to Central Florida and has become an integral part of its cultural heritage. Recognized by Music Theater International as "one of the most adventurous and innovative theaters nationwide," Seaside Music Theater is unparalleled."

Seaside Music Theater needs financial support from the community to keep it alive and well. If you live here full-time, part-time or hope to live here in the future, Seaside Music Theater and other performing art venues are vital to you because without them our community is diminished and less appealing. The cultural segment of our area is at risk now and it needs your support. Make a donation if you can, but even more important -- COME TO THE THEATER. BUY TICKETS. YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT.

Click on the video below to get a preview of what's coming this summer to Seaside. It's professional theater at its best!

If you have any questions at all, please leave a comment or email me directly.

See ya at the theater,

Randee

The Revolution is Coming ......... SMT Coming Attractions

Double-Click Play Button

We Don't Agree -- That's Okay!!

Hi All, Since my last post I've received emails from some of you about your political opinions -- some in agreement and some totally in opposition. The common thread, however, was that you didn't want to post your comments because it would cause too much controversy or unrest. Hopefully, the only thing it would cause is active debate and discussion about matters we all care about. One of my greatest hopes is that we can all AGREE to DISAGREE, both here at home as well as in the outside world locally, nationally and globally. A healthy debate never hurt anyone and I, for one, love to hear other peoples' opinions. I sometimes even learn something new! Randee

Yes, We Will Think for Ourselves

Hi All,
Larry and I were away for five days taking an intensive class during the day and studying at night. We barely got to read a newspaper or turn on the television. At first I missed waking up with Morning Joe and playing hardball with Chris Matthews, but after a few days I stopped thinking about how mad I was that our hotel did not have MSNBC and I stopped worrying that I was "missing" something important that was going on. It was like the good old days when you could decide for yourself instead of these talking heads telling you what to think, the days when every single utterance and stumble wasn't blasted all over the television for all to judge instead of deciding by substance. Make a wrong move and you're caught on somebody's cell phone camera. Hard to believe anybody can actually survive this type of scrutiny. Imagine being under that type of microscope every single minute.

I wish I could say I've learned my lesson and won't listen to the pundits anymore, but now I'm talking back. I send them emails immediately when they say things that are blown out of proportion and meaningless or make mountains out of molehills to make one candidate look bad over the other. I AM NOT GOING TO LET THESE PEOPLE TELL ME WHAT TO THINK, especially since living in Florida, my vote meant nothing anyhow. Why aren't we madder about that?

By reading this post you probably can figure out who I'm for, but I won't tell you to vote for her even though she does have the most experience and will be ready on day one and yes she will. You'll have to figure that out for yourselves.

Glad to be back home at the very Grand Coquina.

See ya,

Randee

Take The News-Journal Home With You

I have exciting news from The News-Journal. We have begun a new service that allows you to read an exact replica edition of your Daytona Beach newspaper when you leave town. It is called the E-Edition for "electronic edition." On your computer you will see the exact print newspaper with many additional features. You can make the font size larger so that it is easy to read. You can e-mail copies of articles or full pages to anyone, anywhere you want. The E-Edition has a search feature that allows you to find what you are looking for without looking through all the pages. And we have archived past editions so you can look back at past editions, eventually up to one year.

If you subscribe to print version of The News-Journal when you are in town you can get the E-Edition for half price when you leave. For full time residents we are offering the E-Edition complimentary with your seven day subscription.

If anyone is interested, e-mail me at work at larry.saffer@news-jrnl.com and I will have one of my staff set you up. Now you have two great ways to keep up with what is going on here in Daytona Beach Shores, Randee's blog and the E-Edition. Isn't life just grand at the Grand Coquina?

Larry Saffer, Unit 1804

Here Come the Bikers

Hi All,
Get ready to rumble. It's that time again when we will welcome thousands of bikers into our community for Bike Week. The weather looks like it will be perfect for the upcoming week. Even though it's a bit chilly today, it's supposed to warm up into the 80s. Eat your hearts out if you're not here and still suffering the cold of the North. It's time for a visit!

Anyway, be safe and be careful this week. Drive cautiously and slowly and be aware of everyone around you. Let's all be safe and sound this week.

See ya,
Randee

Lunch Bunch

There are bright spots in every single day and for me it was lunch with the gals yesterday. The ladies that lunch tried out the new Monterey Grill which is west on Dunlawton. Everyone agreed, it was yummy! Again, I'm dieting, so I can't really tell you firsthand, but the oohs and ahs were abundant. Even more delicious is the conversation and just being able to catch up with everybody in a very relaxed atmosphere.

One serious bit of information did come up that I'd like to share with you and it's something that we all can benefit from. Debra Michael asked if anybody knew about ICE. Other than to cool our drinks, most of us said "no." Well, she told us it stands for "in case of emergency," and it's a program for cell phones. If you are involved in an accident, paramedics or police will check your phone for these emergency numbers to contact. You just program "ICE" just as you would for any other name in your address book on your cell phone. I am including a link here for more information. Click here: USATODAY.com - In case of emergency, put your cell on ICE Thanks, Debby!

Usually every month we try to get together and whoever is around is invited to join. Next month lunch is tentatively planned for March 27th and will include a trip on the water taxi from Ponce Inlet to New Smyrna Beach. More details will follow.

Hope to see ya at lunch,

Randee

P.S. It should be very obvious to everybody that somebody else should be the photographer!

Can Beauty be only Skin Deep? POSITIVELY!!!!

Hi All,

Hopefully it helps because last night in the club room many of us were transformed into real babes during a Chocolate Spa which Shannon and her mom hosted. We were treated to special hand rubs, facials, soothing eye treatments and breathng exercises to the background of soothing, tranquil music. If that wasn't enough, we were then offered very tempting, and I'm told, very delicious chocolate treats. I am dieting -- again! I was really good. But I digress. I'm guessing there will be some very special pictures popping up either on this blog or in next month's newsletter. If you weren't there you can see what you were missing and if you were -- hopefullly no one will recognize you in the disguise.

All of us ladies, and some of you men, have been to these types of things before or tried a new cream or makeup in the store and believed it was going to make a difference. We all did believe last night, as evidenced by the brisk sales. And they all do seem to be really terrific products. Even if just for a short time, we have hope for what we might be and want to be and believe that we can look and feel better. And, if you are diligent enough and positive enough, YOU WILL SEE A DIFFERENCE and so will everyone else.

As the old Bing Crosby song says:

You've got to accentuate the positive

Eliminate the negative

Latch on to the affirmative

Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum

Bring gloom down to the minimum

Have faith or pandemonium

Liable to walk upon the scene

We do live in paradise. Ask anybody who just got here from up North. We live in the best place on the beach. Our building is wonderful and it has never been in better condition. Are there a few aging spots? Sure. But none that can't be fixed by a little bit of magic cream.

See ya at the gym.

Randee

It's a New Day

Hi there,
The new Board meets Monday, the 18th, at 5:30 p.m. Some of the items we will be discussing are the approved tile and lobby project, better utilization of our manager's unit for income and sick time for our employees, all very important items. We will also be discussing current maintenance and some needed maintenance for the building as well as costs for those projects.

Board meetings are open to all unit owners and you are encouraged to be there. As it is not a unit owners' meeting, there are no votes to be held for unit owners but you are given an opportunity to ask questions and speak at the end of the meeting, limiting your comments to three minutes. If you are not in residence at this time or not able to attend the meeting, feel free to leave any comments you have with regard to the above items and I will bring them to the Board's attention. Hope to hear from you.

See ya at the Board meeting.

Randee

Who Knows Their Neighbor's Name?

Hello again. If you missed the annual unit owners' meeting last week, you really missed the most amazing talent I have ever seen. During one of the breaks, our office manager, Shannon, recited, from memory and in order, every unit number with name of owners as well as some other incidental information such as nicknames or where they live when they are not here. After being here only several months, that's quite a feat. I wonder how many of us can name even ten unit owners along with their unit numbers. If you were there, were you as amazed as I was?

Last year's Board finalized plans to tile the walkways on the first, second and third floor lobby areas and elevators. Soon, this year's Board will make decisions concerning choice of carpet and the possibility of painting and paint colors. As we look into the future, what other projects would you like to see this and future Boards consider?

Now it's your turn. Click on comments and start typing.

See ya at the treadmill.

RES

Welcome to Paradise

Dear Neighbors,

The blogosphere is a great place to share thoughts and ideas and get a conversation going with regard to the things that we share in common. We won't always agree on everything, but as a Board member, I want to be able to base my decisions on what I believe most people want as well as is it the best thing for the Association both from a fiscal and legal standpoint and will it maintain or add value and integrity to our property. That is why I want to hear from you. I am hoping that we can get constructive intercourse about what matters to us most and even stay friendly while doing it.

So let's get started, neighbors, at The Grand Coquina. Share your thoughts. I will try to include a "fair and balanced" survey every so often about discussions that are going on where your opinions will be very helpful in the decision-making so don't be shy. Vote!

See ya at the pool.

RES