"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.