HAPPY HALLOWEEN, GANGSTAS

Ms Ruthye forgot again to tell us how to dress out. So for our Halloween meet, we took matters into our own hands. 

Da Girls

As for the da guys, Ted came as a banker, Leslie as a lawyer, Joe as a piano playing CFO and Jack as The Invisible Man. Bruce was AWOL. Rumor had it he was checking shoe cleanliness at the gym.

And the treats . . . 

Clubhouse Gang health food

. . . they were wonderful!

The puzzlers are getting so good, they are now working on two puzzles at once. Today one was completed.

Bocce is on temporary hold until after the election. We will not meet up this week but will resume on Thursday the 10th.

Be safe trick 'r treating tonight, gangsters. And don't forget to carry a flashlight. We will see you all next Monday when you can share your plunder with us!

In the winter, in the summer . . .

ain't we got fun!

And we'll do it all again next Monday!

Small Crowd, Big Time

Only 11 gangstas showed out this morning but that's okay. We rocked on anyway, making enough noise for 30. Ted, Bill and Jack modeled outfits from the Arthur Godfrey South Florida Fall Collection. What hunks! With a nod to alliteration, Bruce wore his favorite funky Florida flip flops for fall.  

Posing for the cover of GQ

The puzzlers worked with lackadaisical fervor to complete the jigsaw puzzle. Did they? Nah, not even close. Maybe next week when C.J., Donna, Ruthye and Daphne are back in the house.

Sitting Down on the Job 

Don't forget water aerobics on Tuesday at 9:15 at the pool and bocce on Thursday at 9:30 here at the clubhouse (weather permitting). 

Next Monday we will celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving. It's a good thing Ruthye was not here today. She would have insisted that we all dress up as turkeys for the occasion.

Bocce the Way it was Meant to be Played

only missing the chianti 

The B-ballers have decided to meet at the community center each Thursday morning at 9:30 to play bocce. No RSVP's are needed. Just show up to play or heckle.

Hope to see everyone on Monday for coffee, Tuesday for water aerobics, Thursday for bocce, and Friday for knitting. Gangsta's are a rockin' and a rollin' now!  

Our First Autumnal Meet of 2016

And what a meet it was!  Joe and Leslie were present to sign copies of their new award-winning mystery novel. 

Three Hours on the New York Times Bestseller List

Did he steal it in a bus? Did he wrap it in a truss? Did he steal it in a hearse? Did he hide it in his purse? 

He did steal it. It was 88 degrees here in Tuscany, felt like 99.

Jack and Bill mustered up enough courage to challenge Sue-Sue to some bocce ball. And THE BOYS RULED. Of course they had to combine their scores to do so but hey, it's a start! In the Old Country, women were not allowed to play bocce ball. Smart!

AND the puzzle is almost finished. One or two more weeks and that puppy is history! 

Have a good week, y'all.  See you Monday.

AT LONG LAST, IT'S OVER!

We had our last gang meet of the long hot summer. Next Monday will be our first of autumn. Break out your sweater vests and long pants, Gangstas, the temperature could even drop into the 80's. Life is good.

At least nine jiggers crowded around the puzzle table. Good progress was made under Nancy's able supervision. Donna sported a new designer tee shirt and Daphne brought homemade cranberry cookies. 

Again, no bocce ball.  Funny how no one has shown any interest in playing since Sue Sue challenged the guys to a match! 

Today, we tried a new gourmet coffee from the mountains of Honduras. Jack had it smuggled in from San Pedro Sula where they think a pound is 16 ounces. Silly, huh? The coffee was a big hit. We'll brew another pot next week.

Enjoy the last few days of summer. See you this fall. 

You've Got to be Kidding . . .

Fifteen gang members, all RETIRED, came together on Monday to celebrate, of all things, Labor Day. For real? Labor? That's kinda like a group of epicures having a lunch meeting at McDonalds. Or ayatollahs attending a conference on feminism. Just shouldn't happen. But it did and we had a good time. Tomorrow we will begin our year-long celebration of "Laborless Days". 

Ruthye forgot to instruct us to dress up for the holiday, so we all came as senior citizens.

The puzzle is coming along nicely and should be completed in our lifetimes. Assuming, that is, that we continue to eat healthy and take our vitamins.

LABORING Away on Labor Day

Special thanks to Bruce, our "Prez", for opening the clubhouse this morning and to Donna for bringing the cream cheese scones. They were awesome! 

Have a good week, gangsters! Until next Monday . . . .

Abacoa Team Clean Up

Good Morning, Gangsters!

On Saturday morning, Sept. 17, volunteers throughout Abacoa will spend a couple of hours cleaning up our neighborhoods. Not only will they receive breakfast, raffled prizes, and tee shirts but they will also know that they have helped make Abacoa a little better community in which to live.

If you would like to get involved as a team leader or as an individual, you can register with the Abacoa POA here.  The Clubhouse Gang might even want to field a team. 

Saturday, September 17, 2016 JOIN TEAM CLEAN-UP	Registration: 7:30 am Clean-Up:  8 - 9:30 am Breakfast & Raffles following Clean-Up LOCATION: Abacoa Community Park
Abacoa Team UP to Clean UP Abacoa Team UP to Clean UP is a community-wide clean-up operation throughout the Abacoa Greenways and community common areas.   Register as a group or individual and get out for a few hours with family and friends to collect and recycle litter in the Greenway areas.   Become a Neighborhood Team Captain and recruit your neighbors to help.   All volunteers will be provided trash bags, recycling bags, disposable gloves and snacks.  Bring your own work gloves if you wish.   Breakfast and refreshments will be provided after the Clean UP.   Students can earn Community Service credit.   Getting involved is quick and easy.  Register today by clicking on the  Register for Event button on right!

Hurricane Party

Nineteen gang members braved the weather to celebrate this Monday. Okay so it wasn't a real hurricane, only a tropical disturbance. And it wasn't really off the coast of Jupiter but rather somewhere southwest of Key West. And it didn't rain here at all. But it was a party! 

Ava came by to show everyone her new locket, a golden pair of flip flops (Don't call them sandals). The jigsawers put at least 17 new pieces into the puzzle from Hades and Bruce educated us all about flying while buzzed. Ruthye's hero, Ted, was able to wrestle open her overstuffed mailbox and retrieve her mail, bills and all. Just another day of neighbors being neighborly. What a great place to live!

The puzzle is becoming too popular. There were nine gang members at the table at one point. Maybe we should get two identical puzzles, break into teams and see which table could complete the puzzle fastest. We could even give odds and place bets. Or mix up the puzzles for even more fun.

Good neighbors, good times!

See y'all next Monday!

Summer in Callahan's Bubble

Another hot one in Tuscany. Those of us who enjoy good eye-hand coordination worked on the jigsaw puzzle. Those of us who don't sat around and solved the world's many problems. Those of us who don't have good eye-hand coordination and don't have any solutions for the world's many problems ate cookies. All of us had a good time. 

Okay guys, on three!

good times

We'll do it again next Monday!

Ruthye Rocks the Puzzle - Bill Rocks the Vote

Just when everyone was about to give up on the jigsaw puzzle, Ruthye puts in two-dozen pieces. Earlier, Jack had offered to help by making the puzzle disappear. Several of the puzzlers offered to make him disappear. Ouch!

Speaking of disappearing, Bocce Bill was nowhere to be found. Rumor had it he was working early voting. Ted stood up his doctor to attend the meet and Leslie brought his Nook to confound us all.

Bruce, it was learned, pays Michelle to call him into her office each Monday when it is time to break down the tables and chairs. Very smart. Very presidential.

Again no bocce ball. Too much midday sun, not enough Englishmen. Or Englishwomen. Or mad dogs for that matter. Maybe next week.

Speaking of dogs, if you run in to Mark, ask him to tell you the story about Sparky and the bedroom carpet. Oh yes, and ask Ruthye about her new breeding venture!

Hope to see you all next Monday!

Dog Days of Summer

Another Monday gang meet. Another hot and humid summer day in paradise. Dog days for sure.

Dog Daze of Summer

Sue-Sue announced she had come to play, bocce ball that is. She was tired of the jig saw puzzle and had a hankering to beat up on the guys. In the picture below, see if you can count the number of brave men willing to answer her challenge.

Adele, tired of putting up with Jack and fighting with the jigsaw puzzle too, put some flowers in her hair and took off for the city by the bay. No, not Tampa! Pat is heading back to New Jersey tomorrow with Ron and Nancy following her up next Monday. Be safe, guys, we'll see you in the fall. Ted would rather hang out with his doctor than attend our gang meets.

The puzzle continues to confound. "Never in the history of man, have so many done so little for so long."  

See you on Monday! 

Old Greeks and Clean Carpet

In Greek mythology, Sisyphus outwitted Death. For his disrespect to Zeus, he was condemned to eternally push a heavy rock to the top of a steep hill, where it would roll down again. And again. And again!  What does this have to do with the Clubhouse Gang? Well, everything. Just ask the jigsaw puzzle gang! The puzzle is just that hard. The team even called in Helen to help. Barbara, the official Gangster statistician, estimated that at the current rate of 15 added pieces weekly, the puzzle will be completed by May. Not sure, though, if that is in 2017 or 2018.

Puzzled Puzzlers

Recently retired, Tim joined us for the first time and immediately made an impact on the bocce ball court. And Lucy, well she refused to play, choosing to rest on her laurels. Jack decided to visit his dentist rather than lose again. 

Pat is back from New Jersey and Mark is rescuing a playmate for Beanie and Muffin, a two year old terrier mix currently named Sparky.

The clubhouse carpet and kitchen tile has been cleaned.  Looks good.  Thanks, Campbell! 

Have a good week, everybody!

"I've Got to Admit It's Getting Better . . .

. . . a little better all the time." 

This morning we met Christine, our new property manager and Michelle, our new administrative assistant. Michelle will be officed at the clubhouse during the mornings from Monday through Friday. Wahoo! Welcome, guys. It is getting better all the time!

Ron and Nancy returned from the north country. So good to have them back in the fold. And Ron picked up right where he left off with a first-round victory on the bocce court. 

During the second match, Jack and Bill were toying with Jim until Lucy came along. Wow! While protesting that she had never played before, she accounted for most of the next 11 points, beating Bill and Jack 11-5. Next week we will ask her to give a brief clinic before the games begin. Then she can go work on the puzzle or something!

Have a great week. See y'all next Monday!

Where are they now?

Just wondering, where are all of our part-time gangsters? What are they really up to? 

Gunther is somewhere in North Carolina filling some pond up with fish so others can come and remove them. Makes no sense. It's kinda like in basic training where one G.I. digs a foxhole so another G.I. can immediately fill it up. Some things are just a mystery. And Ruth Ann? Whatever she's doing, I bet it ain't cleaning fish!

Charlie, our good neighbor from Massachusetts? He's probably practicing his bocce ball toss and staying far away from the M.T.A. 

Ron and Nancy are most likely at the Jersey shore in sweltering heat and humidity. Romping around amongst broken beer bottles, cigarette butts and used hypodermic needles. Life must be so good! They are rumored to be planning a trip south soon. How can they tear themselves away?

Peter and Flavia are in New York, no doubt telling everyone there about the high-level bocce ball played in South Florida. 

And then there is Pat McGraw. And who knows what Pat is up to!

For those of us here in Tuscany, it was a good morning. Too hot for bocce but the conversation was cool. Bruce told us about the crop circle at the park on San Remo and Greenway. Don't believe it? We have photographic proof:

Lyona and Leslie sang different versions of "Good Morning to You" both at the same time. The puzzlers? They were hoping someone would trash or steal their current puzzle. It's just that hard.

Bill was off doing his civic duty, attending a class for poll workers. He wants everyone to know that the Supervisor of Elections is looking for more volunteers. If interested, let him know and he will put you in touch.

Stay cool and keep out of trouble, Gangsters.  See you next Monday.

Thanks, Andy Haas!

Can Andy write, or what?  With his excellent article in the Abacoa paper about our gang, we have already picked up two new gangsters. And what good gangsters they are. Betty and Noreen fit right in to the coffee klatch, jigsaw puzzle table and the bocce ball court. They both plan on attending the water aerobics caucus on Tuesday and may even help us get a canasta group together. 

Bill and Jack wasted Bruce and C.J. in bocce ball. Rumor has it that C.J. took pity on Jack and let him win for a change. Bill can't wait to get back on the court and defend his victory.

The jigsaw puzzle is progressing nicely and the goody table was filled with sweets as usual. It doesn't get any better than this on a Monday morning. 

A Bang-up Fourth in Tuscany

Fifteen gang members came out for a patriotic meet-up. Red, white and blue ruled - on clothing, cookies, cupcakes and tablecloths. Leslie lobbied hard for the above banner to become the official flag of Tuscany. He plans to start a petition on change.org, first thing Tuesday morning!

The jigsaw table was quite animated. At one point, the jiggers actually broke out in an old American classic, "Itsy Bitsy Spider." Replete with a dance routine that would have brought the house down at Radio City Music Hall. Or maybe even the Abacoa amphitheater. Barbara is right, it is the senior Romper Room.

BTW, be careful on the highways. Lyona is picking up her new Honda Civic on Wednesday - and she had the dealer outfit it with racing stripes. Zoom Zoom!

Bill, tired of losing, brought John the Ringer to the bocce ball court. Both matches were tied at 10 with only one toss to go. We are still not sure whether Ted and Jack choked or John the Ringer simply worked his magic. There is always next week.

The goody table was filled with cookies, cakes and nuts.  Coffee too.  The selection was so tempting, it blew up Adele's South Beach diet. 

Have a great week, Gangsters. See you next Monday.

To die for . . .

Hearth and home? Country? Freedom? Net neutrality? Yeah, sure. Donna's lemon bars? Absolutely! And who knew she could bake? 

The weather was not kind to the bocce ballers. First, it was HOT. Then thunder and rain forced two delays. The gangsters, however, were not deterred. Bill and Ted fought valiantly but ended up losing to Bruce and Mark. Maybe next week, guys!

Did we mention how good Donna's lemon bars were? 

Ruthye has decreed that each of us gangsters wear red, white and blue next Monday, the 4th of July. Bruce will be going AWOL to celebrate with the Mallory Creekers. More treats for the rest of us! 

The Abacoa wiffle ball championship was held right here in Tuscany this past Sunday. The championship team featured two of our favorites, Ernie and James. They were both directly responsible for our gang's free and open use of the clubhouse.
  

But can they play bocce ball?

They both promise to visit with us soon. (Maybe they heard about Donna's lemon bars.)

Daisy stopped by to say "Hi" to Muffin. It made Muffin smile.

Thanks for the memories, everybody. See you on the Fourth!

An Historic Event . . .

It has never happened before. Never. The first day of summer, a full strawberry moon and above all else, a meeting of the Clubhouse Gang - all on the same day! Mark the date, June 20, 2016. It will likely never occur again! 

C.J., aka Thelma, returned from her road trip with Ruth Ann, aka Louise, to North Carolina. Harriett and Bill escaped their exile in New Jersey and Tara and Gail actually came back, after checking us out last week. Lyona wore her crab shirt to reflect her mood and Sue introduced us to the newest Clubhouse gangster, Rudy.  He was adopted on Father's Day. Lucky dog. Cute, too!

Rudy!  Rudy!  Rudy! 

There was plenty of action on the bocce ball court. Harriett joined in the fun, putting the guys on notice that the ladies' bench is deep. Leslie, Jack and Muffin watched. 

Until next Monday . . . .

Noodles and Noodles of Fun!

Nine gang members showed out at the pool this morning for a little water aerobics and a lot of fun. Thanks, Lyona. You and Susan are the best!

From the Omega to the Alpha . . .

A puzzle ends,

A puzzle begins! 

The Jiggers were rather subdued today. We tried to get them to sing their club song, "We are the Champions", to no avail. Maybe it was the weather.

It was too hot for the Ballers to take the field. Meanwhile, while we were all feeling sorry for Gunther, stranded in some rural community in the deep, Deep South, he sends us a picture. Go figure!

Gunny's new community bocce ball court!

Oyster shell surface no less! Bill is already planning a trip to North Carolina.

Gail Ramirez and Tara Fries joined us for the first time. Welcome! Bill and Harriett were still missing. They were last seen two weeks ago drinking hardily at the Abacoa Happy Hour. Dolores was readying herself for her Alaska cruise and Ted decided that a visit to his doctor was more fun than a gang meet. 

Have a super week. See you all next Monday!

Well, maybe not world famous but . . .

Abacoa famous, for sure!  

Andy, a widely celebrated journalist in-the-making, came to our gang meet to interview us for a coming feature article in the Abacoa Community Newspaper. Look for it in the July issue. He was mostly underwhelmed but promised to do everything possible to make us look at least somewhat interesting. Thanks, Andy! 

With our Bocce captain out of town, the balls stayed in the bag. No one won, no one lost. A good day all around.

The jiggers continued to hammer home puzzle pieces. It is a difficult puzzle but we gangsters never back down. Donna returned to the table and immediately lifted our spirits. The ladies were even overheard singing a few verses of Frere Jacques.

Until next Monday . . . .

Another Day in Paradise

Decoration Day or Memorial Day, unofficial first day of summer or biggest sale day of the year. Maybe a welcome three-day weekend. For the Clubhouse Gang, it is another Monday in Paradise made possible by those who sacrificed their lives for our many freedoms and opportunities. Let us never forget our collective debt to each of them. 

Sue brought her ipad and played a video of Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" for the first time on radio. The year was 1938. Bill had just started drawing Social Security.

Lucy and Jim joined us for the first time; Ruth Ann for the last time until November. Have a safe trip, Ruth Ann. Susan had the day off from work and helped out at the jig saw table. Nice to have you back with us, Susan. And hurry back, Donna, we miss you. Bruce is still A.W.O.L. 

On the bocce field, Ruth Ann and C.J. were tied with Jim and Jack at 1-1 when the rains came. Lucky for Jim and Jack!

We'll see all you sunbirds next Monday!

And what a morning it was . . .

The Andrews Sisters stopped by to take us on a trip down memory lane with their rendition of Perry Como's "Catch a Falling Star."  Joe 'Piano Man' O'Connell had already left the building, so they had to sing a capella. It truly brought tears to our eyes. In honor of our grumpy old Marine, the sisters wore full military attire. Give a listen . . . 

On the bocce ball court, it was a different tune altogether. (good segue, huh?) Leslie, the player-coach of team Napoli, got the match off to a great start. 

With the game in hand, he substituted Bruce for himself. It was downhill from there. Team Napoli eventually lost. Ted and Bill were most appreciative. We hear Bruce is leaving town.

See you next week! 

YUM!

Unbelievable!

Today marked a new high in our clubhouse activities. The ladies at the jigsaw table broke out in song. What did they sing? The Romper Room song, of course. In perfect harmony. All together. In seven different keys. Donna came back after a three-week absence just to participate. Do we have fun? You bet!

The ladies returned to dominance on the bocce ball field. Jean stopped by to coach up the guys and toss a few balls. It was too little too late. Ruth Ann and Flavia bedeviled the competition.

Flavia and Peter head back to New York this week. Have a safe trip, you two.  See you this winter. Maybe we will have a real bocce ball court by then.

Sue brought raisin cookies. She will not be invited back.

Everybody else, see you next Monday for another jigsaw concert! And remember, plan to stay for lunch.

Manhood Restored!

What a Monday!  The team of Flavia and Angel won the first of three bocce matches. That gave Flavia 6 wins in a row. The guys had to call in a ringer, Gino, and change the rules to eek out a 2-out-of-three victory. Gino, by the way, is a little-known bocce champion from the Old Country! The ladies rule no more! Flavia was gracious in defeat.

In the meantime, the jiggers were actively punching in pieces to the puzzle. Its days are numbered!

We are planning a pot-luck lunch after the gang meet on the 16th. More info next week. In the meantime, Have a great week. See you next Monday!

Ladies Rule!

The snowbirds have gone home and we still had 18 gang members show up this morning. Wonderful coconut macaroons. Mini cookies. No raisins. Good times!

The jigsaw-puzzle table was rockin'. Ruthye, Sue, Susan, Barbara, Adele, Lyona and C.J. jammed in piece after piece. There was talk of doing the next puzzle blindfolded to make it a little more challenging. 

The ballers finally got rid of Ron and who shows up but Mary. She had never played bocce before yet is now undefeated at 3 - 0. And can she talk her trash! Flavia, her partner, has won 5 games in a row. The guys were feeling a wee bit emasculated. Actually, a lot emasculated.

Have a great week, gangsters. Hope to see you all next Monday. 

A Presidential Dis . . .

The gang was ready. We had a full concert band on standby ready to play "Hail to the Chief." What does the new President do? He skips out on the Clubhouse Gang's Ball (more of a line dance) in his honor. We were all set to lavish praise on him for making the landscaping so lush after only one week in office. Instead, we worked a new challenging jigsaw puzzle, played bocce ball and solved most of the world's problems. 

Charlie flew in from Boston just to try to win back the money he owes Ron O. Now he owes twice as much. Poor Ol' Charlie, he can't afford to get on the M.T.A., much less off. Ron on the other hand is headed to Jersey with his new found wealth. He and Flavia won three straight matches today. Nancy, we will miss you; Ron, not so much.

Susan was initiated into the Gang this morning. A full-fledged member, she will be participating in the water-aerobics, jigsaw and knitting meets. Welcome, Susan.

With the snowbirds flying north for the summer, our ranks are thinning; but then so is the traffic, not to mention the lines in stores and restaurants. Hope to see all of you year-round Tuscans next Monday. 

CONGRATULATIONS!

Puttin' Tuscany on the Map!

First the Jiggers on the Wheaties box, now the Ballers on the cover of S.I. We're making Tuscany proud, guys!

Donna brought some pistachio, chocolate, popcorn things. They were quite good. Sweets for the sweet. Or, is it nuts for the nuts? Can't remember.

Tomorrow Lyona leads the water aerobics members to the pool. Friday is knitting day at the hotel. Life in Tuscany is good. 

See everyone next Monday. 

Clubhouse Gang CHAMPIONS

At last, proper recognition for a remarkable achievement - a Wheaties cover! We are the champions!

Ron O. won two more games of bocce today. Charlie now owes him so much money, Ron is going to garner his Social Security check. The guys wouldn't even let Sue on the court today. The last time she was allowed to play, she cleaned their clocks.

Both Charlie and Gunther will be going back north later this week. Have a safe trip home, guys. See everyone else next week!

First Spring Gang Meet - 2016

Goals met! Puzzle completed and Ron Ron reduced to Ron! (Ron had a good day, Ron didn't even compete. Huh?) The Grumpy Old Marine was a two-time loser. He had his excuse at the ready, sinuses acting up. Sue gave the guys a break and didn't even show.

Ron and Gunther trash talking at match end

The puzzle gang finished another puzzle. You can share their unbridled excitement in the following video clip. They may even appear on a Wheaties box cover soon!

The Finished Puzzle

Stay out of trouble, everybody. See you next week.

Da Doo Ron Ron

Ron and Ron were undefeated in bocce. Don't know who let those two play together but it has to stop. It is just too confusing - Ron, it's your up. No, Ron, not you, Ron! That and they are just too good.

And Charlie's back! He admitted he checked into the hospital last week just so he wouldn't have to face Sue-Sue again. Bruce chose to go to the dentist rather than face her. All was well, however, as Sue-Sue didn't play today. She worked her magic at the jigsaw table.

The puzzle is progressing nicely. When no one was looking, they brought in Marsha, a ringer. Jean was back in action too.

The goodie table was filled with donut thingies, brownie bits and gourmet trail mix (loaded with Combos). Best of all, there was not a raisin in sight. Life is good!

See you all next week! Maybe we will finish the puzzle and knock Ron Ron off the top of the leader board - two solid goals.

Bingo anyone?

Another fun Monday!  There were so many gang members on the bocce ball lawn, we had to take turns. Bruce and Bill were the big winners. Congrats! Now if we can just get a couple of bocce courts built, we can start a league or even challenge Martinique or The Island to a match. The bocce Olympics? Maybe.

With the weather warming up, Lyona is talking about resuming the Water Aerobics group after Spring Break. Jack floated the idea for a Family Bingo night each month. The HOA board is encouraging even more activities at the clubhouse to build community for all residents. Any ideas?

The goodie table was particularly tasty. Ruthye brought her special banana bread and Sue brought a raisin-free, iced marble cake. Flavia brought chocolate chip cookies.

See everyone next Monday! 

HOA Board Meeting on Thursday

Hope to see everybody at the Tuscany Board meeting on Thursday at 6:30. It will be an opportunity to meet two candidates for the Jupiter Town Council, Todd Wodraska and Ben Klug; to thank the HOA board for making the Clubhouse Gang possible; and to explore the possibility of having a couple of bocce courts built. 

Have a super week here in paradise!

Bocce, Bocce, Bocce!

A  record turn-out for bocce. Ten showed out and only 8 could play.  That turned out to be a good thing for Jack.  He didn't play, he didn't lose. Jean joined in for the first time and before long was looking much like a professional. Delores and Bill were the big winners. Smokin'! Bruce got out of jury duty to compete. He would have been better off had he fulfilled his civic responsibilities instead.

Gang members were crowded around the jigsaw puzzle table. C.J. was back and Lyona was on her best behavior. It shouldn’t be long before this puzzle is toast.

Charlie, our resident pro, was absent, something about being under the weather. Or under the table.  Or maybe back on the MTA. Poor old Charlie! Will he ever return?   

The bocce ballers are meeting at Carlin Park on Thursday at 1:00 for more bocce – this time on a real court. 

See everybody next Monday at the clubhouse if not sooner in the ‘hood!

What Kind of People Play Here?

Today we could write about Charlie's bocce ball prowess, having won two more matches with Gunther's help.  We could welcome back Mary and C.J. We could thank Pat and Jean for our new puzzle. 

Charlie's Angels

Gang was Rockin'

We could even comment on Bruce's recent tricycle road trip to Indiantown.  And finally, we could note that 22 members showed out. But we won't. Instead we will share a post from another blog. It follows.

What Kind of People Live Where You Come From?

There is a story sometimes told around campfires about two Native American brothers who set out on separate quests to explore the lands that surrounded their tribal home. After many days the first brother came upon a man sitting quietly by a stream and asked him "What kind of people live here in this land?"

"What kind of people live where you come from?" the brave asked of him.

"Everyone where I live is selfish, negative, petty and jealous. They care only for themselves and often disappoint me."

"You will find that the people here are much the same."

"I suspected as much." Disappointed, the first brother moved on in search of more welcoming places.

Hours later, the second brother came upon the same brave. This brother also asked "What kind of people live here in this land?"

The brave again replied "What kind of people live where you come from?"

"They are generous and optimistic, loving and helpful. They are the best of people."

And the brave again stated "You will find that the people here are much the same."

Hearing this, the brother excitedly continued on in anticipation of meeting new friends.

Throughout their travels the brothers continued to find people just like those they already knew, infuriating the one and delighting the other. Because, as the brave knew, the difference was not so much where they traveled and the people they met, but their different expectations and attitudes.

It is apparent that each member here views the other members as being the "best of people."  Maybe that is why we are!

See you next Monday!

Charlie's Good Day

Living the Dream! Charlie had a double double. First with Rod's help, he pulled off a last minute victory on the bocce ball court. Then he joined the puzzle team which slammed in the last few pieces to the jigsaw puzzle from Hades.

Way to go, Charlie!

Bill Calllahan, on the other hand, had a lousy day. He and Gunther were winning the bocce match with only seconds on the clock. Time for one last throw - and throw he did. He could have dropped the ball on his toe and his team would have won. Instead he hit his team's winning ball, knocking it half way to the pool and losing the game. Some days are like that.

Sorry, Bill.

Gunther wore his black motorcycle boots and taught Jack how to do the pelvic swing - an exercise made famous by Elvis Presley, no doubt!

Boy did we have munchies.  Sue brought pumpkin scones with dead cranberries, Jean brought Girl Scout cookies, Bill brought ginger snap cookies, Donna brought brownie bites and Ruth Ann and Gunther brought a pecan coffee cake. See what you missed Bruce?

Nancy and Ron were off to Cape Canaveral. Word is that Ron went to study “trajectory” in hopes it would improve his bocce ball throw.

See you all Thursday for the HOA annual meeting or Monday for more fun in the Tuscan sun!