September 2019 

Everything You Wanted to Know about Pacific Tower 

But Were Afraid to Ask 

Even people who have lived here years don’t know everything about the building, so here’s a handy list of facts you can save, plus a few cool phone numbers and websites. Rules listed aren’t the ONLY rules, but these are the most frequently misunderstood. Vendors and tradesmen listed are some we use but you are always free to choose your own.

Please visit our blog http://www.PacificTowerHOA.org for a free digital copy of our Rules and Regulations as well as other forms and helpful articles about the building. Download all our forms. Please see, call or text on-site Building Manager Joseph Arellano, with any and all questions, no matter how trivial at 619.339.3490.

AFTER-HOURS BUILDING EMERGENCIES: Menas Realty Emergency line 619.744.9883

BALCONIES: No smoking, rugs, laundry/wetsuits, towels, storage, BBQs, decorative string lights or
plants without plastic plates underneath them.

CATWALK: No smoking, party-ing, loud yakking, running, noise, music, wet towels, wetsuits, rugs.

CONSTRUCTION: 8 AM to 5 PM Monday –Friday. Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM.

ELEVATOR RESERVATION FORM: Required for use of the elevator for delivery of furniture or removal of remodeling debris etc. $50 per day. Available on our blog, website or in the Lobby Office.

GARBAGE DISPOSALS: No Drano, celery, artichokes, etc. and please run lots of cold water while grinding.

HANDYMAN: West Coast Repairs (Doug Peters) 619.760.7975

KEYS: Your large square key opens the Front Lobby doors, the Dumpster Room, The Exterior stairway doors, Lower Garage Lobby Doors, Pool and Rec Room. You can get a second key for a deposit of $75.

LOWER GARAGE GATE REMOTES are $35, available in the Lobby Office by check or money order.

LAUNDRY: You can use the machines on any floor. Leave washer door open after using to prevent mold. Empty lint filter after using dryer. Do NOT prop open Laundry Room Doors by order of the Fire Department.

LOBBY OFFICE HOURS: 8 AM to 5 PM weekdays. Call or text 619.339.3490.

LOCKSMITHS: If the Lobby Office does NOT have your spare key you will need to call a locksmith. Never leave your spare key in your laundry room locker as they are easily broken into.

Dup-a-Key 858.750.2224 (local in PB), Mike Grizzly Keys 858.444.0437.

MAID/CLEANING SERVICES: Please tell maids not to throw boxes down the trash chute. (Boxes clog the chute.)

Spanish: Por favor no tire cajas o bolletas por el ventedero dobasura.

French: Ne pas jeter de boîtes dans la goulotte.

Please don’t shake mops or beat rugs on the catwalk or balconies.

Spanish: No sacuda los trapeadores ni golpee las alfombras en la pasarela or balcones.

French: Veuillez ne pas secouer les vadrouilles ni battre les tapis sur les podiums ou les balcons

Don’t dump water on or over the balcony.

Spanish: No tirar el agua en el balcon.

French: Ne jetez pas d’eau sur le balcon.

MOVING IN, OUT OR LARGE DELIVERIES: Absolutely forbidden on weekends and evenings. The reason is because there is no staff here to unlock the lobby double doors or to lock down and pad the elevator. Violators may be fined $250, so please take a weekday off work for this purpose and always fill out an elevator reservation form. For last-minute deliveries, text the office at 619.339.3490.

PARKING: You can rent out or swap your parking place only temporarily. It is deeded to your unit.

PEST CONTROL: Dewey Pest 858.272.3611.

PETS: Dogs must be on a leash at all times. Anyone can download Pet Rules from http://www.PacificTowerHOA.org .

PLUMBERS: Report any plumbing question (sink, toilet, or water where it shouldn’t be) to the

Building Manger so he can see the problem before it gets worse.

JC Plumbing 619.477.5001, Emory 858.483.6880, THA 858.284.4753

POOL: Hours 8 AM to 10 PM. Don’t dive, smoke, shout, play loud music or have glass bottles or food.

RECYCLING BINS: For paper, plastic and washed and dried cans. No garbage or containers with food particles on them. Flatten all cardboard boxes. Really large boxes should be flattened and left in the upper garage next to the Dumpster Room doors.

REMODELING: Architectural Rules and forms are available in the Lobby Office and for download at http://www.PacificTowerHOA.org. Know the limits and get written permission from the Board before making revisions to your unit.

STREET PARKING: No parking 1St Wednesday of the month, Wilbur St. (North side) 10 AM to 2 PM and Cass Street (West side) 7 AM to 10 AM. No Parking, 1St Thursday of the month, Wilbur St, (South side) 10 AM to 2 PM Cass St. (East side) 7 AM to 10 AM.

TRASH CHUTE: No cardboard boxes of any kind, EVER! No glass. Put garbage in a sealed plastic bag.

TV/CABLE: Free basic cable plus SHOWTIME and INTERNET from Spectrum comes with your unit. If you want AT&T, premium channels or hi-speed, you will have to contact them and pay for it.

WIFI: In the gym/RecRoom.  Password is posted on the refrigerator so you can Tweet while you stay in shape.

CONTACT INFO: On-Site Maintenance Office, Joseph Arellano Cell 619.339.3490. Land. 858.272.0860 Joseph.PTCA@gmail.com

Menas Emergency After- Hours 619.744.9883. Menas Daytime Non-emergency 858.270.7870

Community Association Manager (at Menas) Aysen Erbil. Email aerbil@menas.com

The Landlord, The Renter and the HOA

90 days is the shortest lease Pacific Tower allows. Airbnb and all the others of its ilk are on our naughty list. Why? Because vacationers don’t know they’re not supposed to swim after 9 PM or hang their dripping wetsuits over the railing or smoke outside or party like it’s 1999!  We’re not a hotel. For most of us, this is our #1 and only Home Sweet Home. Bevis and Butthead think if they’re shelling out the big Benjamins to be here, they can do whatever do what they want. Wrong!

We have renters who have been Pacific Towerites since the Reagan era and newbies who just moved in. The number fluctuates, but out of 118 units we have around 40 renters. What rights do renters have? For instance, what if renter wants the HOA Board to take action because his upstairs neighbor is clog dancing on the concrete? The renter would have to ask his landlord to file a Violation Report with the HOA in his behalf. Renters are not invited to monthly Homeowners Meeting because they are not homeowners. Them’s the rules.

Let Us Know, Let Us Know…We hate being last to know that someone new moved in. How embarrassing, asking a stranger where they’re going and finding out they’ve been living here for two months. New tenants should check in asap by texting the Building Manager at 619.339.3490. Karyl will be happy to show renters which keys are which and give them a personal 4-digit intercom passcode. New renters should know they cannot move in on a weekend or during the evening. Reason why: there’s no PT Staff to unlock the wide lobby double doors, no one here to magically transform an elevator into a padded FREIGHT elevator and to lock it down. Lastly, the landlord is required to give us a copy of the lease.

If you’re a San Diego landlord and can maintain your unit yourself, good for you. If you’re an absentee landlord and your income property is a state away, you might need a property manager. The Building Manager can’t be expected to be your  property manager. Nuff said.

An absolutely free copy of our wonderful Rules & Regulations is just waiting for you to peruse. Please gaze upon its sumptuous list of Things You Can’t Do! It can be found on our website PacificTowerHOA.org. Happy reading!

No Sweat Exercise!

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION

No Sweat Exercise!

All You Do is Sit!

Wanna start the New Year out by creating a band-new you? You HATE gyms? No prob!

With this exercise, you only have to lift a finger (well ten fingers, to be exact).

The exercise is brain only, with the goal to become MORE computer literate.

Wouldn’t it be great NOT to get frustrated because your basic computer knowledge is so limited?

Wouldn’t it be great NOT to have to grovel before your ungrateful kids and impatient grandkids for computer help? Don’t you hate calling Tech Support and being treated like a dummy?

San Diego Community College Continuing Education Spring 2018 FREE computer classes are starting. The North County Campus is brand new and beautiful and has parking right there for only $10 for the entire year. School is at 8355 Aero Drive, which is across the street from Montgomery Field.

EXAMPLE: Beginning and Intermediate WORD classes (3 Mondays) begin Feb 5, Feb 12, and Feb 26 from 1 to 5 pm.

There are many other computer classes, so search online http://www.sdce.edu/schedule#/computers

or call for their catalogue schedule of classes. Pacific Tower Lobby Office has a printed-out schedule for some of the Microsoft Classes. Just ask.

Looking for a computer class closer to home? Wesley Palms has FREE Computer Classes every Saturday at 9:30 AM.  2404 Loring, Pacific Beach.  Join for the year for $15.  You’ll thank yourself!

  

The Royal Flush

If you have a dog, the toilet is their favorite drinking fountain.

If you like to post nasty Tweets, the toilet is the ideal setting for this nefarious activity.

And of course, there’s the toilet’s main purpose: perusing the Victoria’s Secret Catalogue in private.

Short history of the toilet, per Google:

Hole in the ground, outhouse, the indoor flushing extravaganza! Yay!

At Pacific Tower our toilets originally used massive amounts of GPF or Gallons Per Flush.

Then politicians became enlightened and agreed it was important to reduce sewer flows and decrease the amount of potable water the City had to import, and the Water Conservation Movement was born.

In 1994 all toilets in California were required to switch to low-flow using only 1.6 GPF.

In 2017 all toilets in California were required to be only 1.28 GPF.

IN PACIFIC TOWER: If you bought or sold your unit between 1994 and 12.31.16, that transfer required your toilets be updated to 1.6 GPF either by the seller or the buyer.

If you bought or sold your unit in 2017, that transfer required replacement of your toilets to 1.28 GPF either by the seller or the buyer.

You have 90 days to comply with these state regulations, as stated in Pacific Tower CC&Rs.

How do you know if your toilet is compliant? Open the top of the tank. Most low-flow toilets in Pacific Tower use the Sloan Flushmate air-assisted device that makes a lot of noise and forces the water down (and with so little water in the tank, you need the device to make the brown go down. Otherwise you have to flush twice – which defeats the entire purpose). The sticker on the device states the GPF. (See photo)

Flushmaster Conversion info

Out-dated toilets use the familiar gravity system where there’s a rubber ball floating in a sea of water and chain that opens a hole that lets the water out of the bottom. These are antiques that use way too much water and are ineffective in a high-rise building.

In conclusion: If you care about the environment and you want to be compliant with the Pacific Tower CC&Rs, you need to check your toilet. If your toilet needs to be swapped out, the Building Manager can provide a list of several plumbers who can do the job.

Soon you will receive a special mailing regarding the Pacific Tower Water Conservation Policy and new Rules and Regulations concerning that policy.

Water Conservation Policy

The following was adopted by the Board at its meeting on November 21, 2017.

Pacific Tower Community Association

Board Meeting November 21, 2017

Report From Legal Committee

Re: Considerations for Water Usage

· WATER CONSERVATION – in Southern California – semi arid desert area – everyone needs to be aware and helpful as it is a major social and environmental issue.

· POLITICAL AGREEMENT – even the politicians have agreed by passing legislation to encourage and require conservation of water especially in the use of toilet flushing. The law says its purpose is to reduce sewer flows and decrease the use of imported potable water in the City.

· REDUCED STANDARD FOR USE - since 1994 the law has required installation of toilets that only use LESS water per flush

o From 1994 ……….only 1.6 gallons/per flush (gpf) until 12/31/2016

o From 2017 ……….only 1.28 gpf

· LEGAL OBLIGATION – State and local law since 1994 has created a legal obligation applicable upon the transfer of any unit in PTCA on the Seller or, if agreed, by the Buyer to install toilets that comply with the applicable usage standard. If not done by the Seller, escrow documents usually provide for the Buyer to assume that obligation. So the Buyer (new Owner) has the legal obligation to make the change in compliance with the law.

· NON-COMPLIANCE with the law- if the toilets in a transferred unit were not changed within 90 days then the unit is NOT IN COMPLIANCE with the law.

· VIOLATION of CC&Rs – Sec 16.3 states as follows:

Section 16.3. Violation of Law. Any violation of any state, municipal or-local-law, ordinance or regulation, pertaining to the ownership, occupation or use of the Project or any part thereof is hereby declared to be a violation of the Governing Documents and subject to any or all of the enforcement procedures set forth herein.

· PTCA CONCERNS – our Association has self interests to protect for the common welfare in assuring the integrity of the building by compliance with the LAW as well as its own economic benefits through lower expenses for water and the perceived value of the toilet upgrades in the Building.

· USAGE – in the region toilet flushing uses millions of gallons a day. In our building, “old toilets” that do not (or did not) comply with the applicable usage standard when last purchased may be using perhaps 5.6gpf or 3.6gpf instead of the standard of 1.6gpf (applicable for many years 1994 - 2016) or the new current standard of 1.28gpf. Every day – every time - those “old toilets” are flushing more than 4 times or almost 3 times the amount of water currently allowed as the desirable water conservation usage.

· PTCA COSTS – the cost of all the water in the building is an Association cost because it is not separately metered for each unit. Our regional water resource agencies try to limit usage through conservation efforts and must also increase costs in the cycle of supply / demand. Our assessments have had to cover INCREASING COSTS for the building water usage as follows;

o HOA Budget Year Amount Increase

o 2015 $44,400 $5,100

o 2016 $52,200 $7,800

o 2017 $61,600 $9,400

With non –compliant toilets our building is using more water than we should and we are facing increasing water rates. We are also subject to public criticism and adverse reputation as non-complying with public law.


· BOARD ACTIONS – when brought to its attention, an issue that involves enforcement of a clear provision of the CC&Rs (Sec 16.3), some actions by the Board may be expected as a matter of performing its duty. Perhaps the Board should consider the following program of steps to act in behalf of the general welfare of the Pacific Tower Community:


o Resolve to recognize the law and the benefits of enforcement to the Pacific Tower Community as a matter of urgency.

o Effectively communicate the requirements of the law -- PAST AND PRESENT -- to all member/ owners so there is no misunderstanding of the legal requirements by authorizing a newsletter and / or a general letter to all members.

o Within a 120 day grace period, request voluntary compliance of affected Unit Owners whose unit toilets do not comply with the standard applicable at the time of their purchase and require compliance with the current standard.

o After the 120 day grace period has ended, the Association may make an inspection of each toilet in a unit and require compliance as a condition of approving any Architectural Application for a Unit, or as a condition for making any unrelated entry into a unit for any reason requested by the Owner.

o If a Unit Owner needs such work to be done, the Association will provide the names of plumbing businesses that are familiar with the Building and are capable of completing the kind of work needed to comply with the applicable plumbing standards.

· CONFLICTS OF INTEREST – If it appears that a Board member has a unit with non-compliant toilet(s) and feels that any personal obligation to comply should affect a decision in behalf of the community interest, then that may be a matter of conflict of interest to be considered seriously.

· LEGAL COUNSEL – our counsel has provided the legislative history of the progressive efforts in the State and local laws to conserve water as they apply to the PTCA building since the 1994 Ordinance. Copies attached.

Addendum: Although the applicable law does not specify the use of an air assisted device with the required lower water volumes, their use is highly recommended by toilet manufacturers, toilet distributors, and all plumber organizations as a practical matter for an optimal flushing effect.
Tom Ward

The Drain You Clog May Be Your Own

Ever had that sinking feeling when you jam two dozen corn husks into your sink garbage disposal and it REBELS? It just grinds and grinds wimp-ily and you know it’s dead and YOU KILLED IT?

Newsflash: The HOA is NOT going to pay your plumbing bill. You dood it, you pay for it.  Save yourself some money by learning about the care and feeding of a garbage disposal.

Google: What Not to put down your Garbage Disposal or Disposer which is what the experts like to call it even though nobody else does. Or check the million YouTube videos on the same subject - (not as fun as funny cat videos but will save you mucho dinero in the long run.)

List of Nos

Drano or any caustic drain cleaners! This stuff totally wrecks the pipes and there’s a 100% chance you will STILL wind up calling a plumber.

Grease - solidifies inside your drain like plaque in your arteries and gives our pipes a heart attack.

Pasta and rice – uncooked expands with water, causes big clog-oramas.

Coffee grounds, apple cores, pits, and seeds get caught in the drain.

Eggshells – membrane can wrap around the blades.

Bones -  use your common sense.

List of Yesses

Cold water for at least 20-30 seconds before and after grinding food.

Liquids and soft foods, chopped foods.

Liquid dish soap.

Ice cubes  - grind lemon flavored cubes for a nice smell. Don’t you want a sweet-smelling disposal?

Use your common sense and if you have none, trust Google!

                                                             

KIDS!

           

August 24.  Home after an exhausting day at the office, I parked my carcass on my couch when the Lobby Door rang on my office cellphone.  “Can you buzz me in?  My mom’s visiting her friend and I don’t remember the number,” said a teen girl’s voice.

               “Who’s the friend?  What unit?”  I asked.

               “I don’t remember,” she said.

               Having been the mother of a juvenile delinquent, I was suspicious.  “Can you tell me something about the friend?  Do they have a dog?”

No dog. “What floor?”  I asked.

               There was a pause, then, “I just know where it is!”

               Call me cynical but I didn’t buy it, “I don’t know who you are, so I’m not letting you in,” and I hung up.

               About five minutes later I was enjoying my pre-dinner snooze when I hear screams.  “No!  Stop!  Don’t do it!  I don’t want you to die!”

               That got my attention.  I scramble out onto my balcony and there, dangling over the 12^th floor catwalk railing is a teenage boy doing his best Cirque du Soleil for the audience of six terrified teenage girls.  “Hey kid!”  I yell, “Get back over that railing NOW!”  I take this photo.  He climbs back.

Soon he’s scrambling away with his gaggle of female fans.  I pressed the button on my floor and hopped on the elevator with the young perps.  “What the hell were you thinking!” said the Mom voice coming out of my mouth.  No answer.  I pulled out my camera and started shooting video.  They instantly buried their faces in their phones.

               The voice of the Lobby Door Girl sing-songs, “Don’t you know it’s against the law to take videos of minors?”

               “DON’T YOU KNOW IT’S AGAINST THE LAW TO TRESSPASS!”  I barked.

               Soon we were in the lobby and they high tail it down Wilbur.

               I ran the security camera back.  Sure enough, just minutes before, they were calling me from the Lobby Phone. The girls went around trying the other lobby doors but the acrobat stayed behind trying every intercom button.  Soon, someone exited the building and the sly miscreant quickly tossed his backpack in the opening and motioned his rat pack in. 

               My reason for recounting this story is to warn you - if you see strangers in the outer lobby, please don’t let them in.

You might be saving a life!

Karyl Miller, Building Manager

Is Your Garage Remote Naughty or Nice?

See the photo below? If your remote has a number on it, you are good to go. If your remote is bad and does not have a number on it, please visit the Lobby Office for a free swap upgrade to nice. Thanks.

Fire Inspection

June 15 we had our building’s annual fire inspection and are happy to report we passed with flying colors and with only a few tiny corrections to be made. Important to note again and again, – even though Pacific Tower is solid concrete so that flames seem unlikely - smoke can kill you. Smoke is the reason all laundry room and hallway fire doors must be kept closed, so that if there is a fire, the smoke won’t travel through the building.

Cleanest Pipes in Town

The HOA would like to thank everyone for their wonderful cooperation in tackling the task of entering their units for Hydro Jetting the sink drain lines. People who were at work, out of the state, or had a dog all contacted us and helped make special arrangements.

Safe Storage

The Lobby Office now has an actual safe for storage of your keys, if you would like the Office to keep one for you in case of an emergency. It also stores remote codes in the safe for those who have keypads.

Bye Bye Bye

Someone is always moving in or out at Pac Tower and we’re sad to see anyone go (usually).  Typically moving takes place during working hours at the end of the month.  The itinerant person reserves the elevator to load up their worldly possessions and has a professional mover come to take them away.  We LIKE that person and are sorry to see them go.

However, that is not always the case.

WORST CASE SCENERIO: A person moves out without telling the Lobby Office in advance.  They don’t reserve the elevator.  They move out on a weekend (not allowed).They move out at night (not allowed).They move out DO-IT-YOURSELF style.  Allowed, but not always appreciated and below explains why!

Since it’s too late to call Goodwill, they jam their lava lamp, antique hope chest, rocking and wooden spinning wheel down our preciously small trash chute (which is for FOOD trash).  This sets off an ear-splitting cacophony and ultimately creates a Mt. Everest pile of junk in our dumpster that will quickly and easily block the entire trash chute – sometimes going all the way to the 12^th floor.  And on a weekend when there is no staff here to fix it!

Next, they use our gorgeous, brand new shopping carts to schlep their last incidentals to their car which is parked way down on Wilbur and Bayard.  Then they leave the cart on the curb for it to be adopted by its next owner, not Pac Tower.

So, owners or renters or owners who rent to people, please, we beg of you, please hear our cry when you kiss us good-bye.

Karyl Miller, Building Manager

Fire!

                      

Don’t you just hate it when you’ve given yourself permission to take a little well-deserved nap in the middle of the day (even though you hadn’t done anything all that tiring) and you’re 30 seconds into that deep, luscious daytime dreamland when the screeching fire alarm starts ceaselessly jack-hammering in one of your ears and out the other?

On April 15, I was just about to take a little Saturday snooze, when HONK, HONK!  HONK!  Since we had had our annual Fire Alarm testing just the day before, I assumed it was a false alarm.  Nevertheless, I scrambled downstairs to head off the Fire Department (who come automatically).

In the lobby I read the Fire Alarm Panel, (which I had just been taught how to read) assuming it would say “low battery” or something, but NO, it said the dreaded words “Boiler Room.”  Then I instantly remembered our shower was not that hot that AM.  OMG, I thought, “Did 2 and 2 make fire?”

Heart pounding, I grabbed my keys and ran toward the Boiler Room, smelling burning metal.  Hearing a roar and feeling the heat, I threw open the doors and saw actual flames coming out of the boiler.  I could already hear the fire trucks approaching, but in my panic, I called 911 anyway.  No law against making sure, just in case that siren I heard wasn’t headed elsewhere.  My next panic call was to John McLean, our former trusty Building Manager who is my constant mentor and moral support.  Like ex-presidents, only John knows the tremendous responsibility of running this building and he remains a loyal friend to Pac Tower.

While everyone milled about on the sidewalk, the Fire Department examined the building from head to toe, making sure we were out of danger.  An energetic female fire fighter didn’t hesitate to scale 12 flights of stairs (two stairs at a time, no less). It made me feel proud and old at the same time.

The plumbers came quickly, accessed the damage and by evening, had disassembled and hauled off chunks of the charred metal thing affectionately known as “our boiler.”  It served us many years but now it was time for new.

AND YOU THOUGHT, “TAKING A COLD SHOWER” WAS JUST AN EXPRESSION?

So now the heat was on to get a new boiler (because cold showers are considered a torture by the Geneva Convention).  We needed a new boiler STAT!  No surprise, you can’t get a giant, room-sized industrial-strength boiler at Home Depot.  No!  It’s a SPECIALTY!  It has to be ORDERED and ASSEMBLED and TRUCKED to San Diego from the exotic location of OXNARD!  A FORKLIFT is going to be involved!  AFTER that, the entire operation is going to have to be piped and connected and heated up.  

As we patiently waited for the undertaking to be over, all of us became more and more demoralized and disgusted with ourselves, as we smelled more and more like Mount Everest hikers.  Finally the day came when we could all enjoy (although separately!) the luxury of a soothing hot shower.  It was a good thing!  Yes the showers were imperfect, but a part was ordered and tweaking will have taken place by the time you read this – so SHOWER ON!

Karyl Miller,  Building Manager

It’s Getting Hot in Here! AGAIN?

Just as we were putting this newsletter to sleep Tuesday May 9 at 6:30 PM, Beep!  Beep!  Beep!  - Our fire alarm went off – AGAIN!  Our wonderful fire fighters from Engine 21 put it out  - a very small dumpster fire in no time.  Did someone toss out a still-lit cigarette in there?  So please remember this if you’re throwing things down the chute:

1.     Make sure your trash is NOT on fire.

2.     NEVER leave your laundry room door open. Propping open or hooking your laundry room door open creates a genuine fire danger.  Staff will shut every laundry room door every day but we need you to do it too whenever your neighbor ignores this rule.  Thank you.

Five New Shopping Carts

               Guess what?  We got FIVE beautiful, brand new shopping carts!  They say “Pacific Tower” on their bright red sides, and “Return to Lower Lobby” on their handles (because that’s what we want you to do).  We want to keep most of the unused carts down there (and not all over the neighborhood).  These carts are for taking our groceries from our cars to our units, NOT for contractors to fill with debris or to use as mini moving vans when you move out. ‘Nuff said.

HELPING HOMEOWNERS HELP HOA!

                   
Dear Homeowners,

You are the Board’s eyes and ears.  We don’t notice everything in the building that you notice.  

So if you see something, say something.

Typical comments given to board members on the elevator

“The blue and green doors aren’t masculine enough.”

(Join the Interior Design Committee, have your opinions count.)

“My neighbor is making loud orgasms.”

(Tell them the honeymoon is over.  File a Noise Violation.)

“My neighbor yodeled in 1997.  The Board did NOTHING!”

(Problem must be current.)

PROBLEMS COME IN FOUR FLAVORS

Questions

“Can I throw a small pizza box in the chute?”  NO!  “Is construction  allowed on a Saturday?”  Yes.

Suggestions

“We should build a Jacuzzi by the pool.”  “Catwalk units should have picture windows.”  “There should be Wi-Fi in the gym.”   (We’ve got Wi-Fi!  See rec room refrig for channel and password.)

Complaints

“Somebody is smoking cigars somewhere!” (Details, please!)

Upkeep

There’s graffiti on the alley doors.  (Take a photo, send to us.)

A good way to send the Board a message is to:

A.    Scream at them as they’re getting in their car (least effective)

B.    Tell Marvin in the OnSite Office (He LOGS every complaint)

C.   Leave a note in the OnSite Office (Sign it, add your #)

D.   Email 

karyl.ptca@gmail.com

YHernandez@Menas.com

                        E.    Bring it up at a Board Meeting (No need to stay for the entire meeting)

F.    Drop a line in the PacificTowerHOA.ORG website Suggestion Box           

It Makes Census to Us!

(COUNTING ON EVERYBODY)
Are you now or have you ever lived in Pacific Tower? If you live here now then we need to know how to reach you in case there’s an emergency. If you rent your place out, we need to know who lives there and how we can reach them.

A few years back we started a fresh collection of this data and we have to admit we had to twist a few arms to squeeze the info out of some naughty owners. We even had to issue $250 fines to a few owners for not turning in the info in a timely matter. We did it before and we will do it again.

REST ASSURED: NONE OF YOUR INFO IS PUBLIC AND IT NEVER WILL BE. That said, there is now a new California State Law stating that an HOA MUST take a census and we have a couple of months to complete this task.

What do we want to know? Your name, phone number, email, names of renters, their phone numbers and emails etc. If you have an agent for your rental we need to know who they are and how to reach them.

There are other things we’d like to know that will be asked in the new Census Form (which we are creating now). For instance: Do you have an animal? (Yes, we know there’s a separate form for animals. See below). If you filled out a census form a few years back, we STILL need you to fill out the new form. We promise the new form will have more space for you to fill in your details so if you like to write bigly, that’s fine!

Doggone It!

Several years ago Pacific Tower HOA drew up new rules for those of you who have an animal. When you moved in or got a new dog, cat or bird, you were supposed to have been given a two-page list of animal rules and also a one-page form to fill out about your animal. A photo of Fido was also required. You were also supposed to give the HOA a $250 dollar deposit for that animal (in case that animal wrecks the common area carpet, floors, walkways or plantings). $125 of that deposit is refundable when you move out. Because of employee absences and turnover in our OnSite Office, a few bow-wows and meows slipped through the cracks. Please drop by the office and register your animal. If an Office employee asks you if you have filled out a form, please don’t be offended, that person is just doing their job.

Attention All Bikers

Got a bike in the basement? If you do, you may have noticed we are overrun with bikes! Did you buy a bike as a New Year’s resolution with all good intentions of getting in shape and then decided it was easier just to buy bigger pants?

You’re the person we are looking for. Soon we will be sending out a notice asking everyone with a bike to identify their bike. They will be given 60 days to do so, after which time unidentified bikes will be donated to charity. Hopefully that will free up lots of space for people to get their bikes in and out of the designated bike areas and for people now keeping their bikes in their units, to park them downstairs.

Stuff It!

Dear Boardie,
Q. What should I do if I stuff an artichoke in my disposal and it gets stuck in there?
A. Call a plumber. While you’re waiting Google “What Not to Stuff in a Disposal” or see our blog PacificTowerHOA.org for tips and links.
Q. Will the building pay for a plumber?
A. No. You stuffed it, you pay for it.
Q. What if the stuffing was my neighbor’s artichoke? I don’t even like artichokes.
A. Sinks (and the pipes) are back- to- back in every stack except for 05, so it’s not always easy to assign blame. 10 -11 stack are mates, and so on.
Q. What should I do next time I have a stuffing or a leak of any kind?
A. Contact your neighbors next door and above and below immediately. They could be effected. Call a plumber. Pay the plumber or share the cost with your neighbor if they are also stuffed.

Boxes, Boxes Everywhere

Dear Boardie,

 Q. What should I do with my giant TV cardboard box from Amazon?

 A.  All boxes (pizza, shoe) should be flattened and put in the recycling bins in your laundry room.  BIG boxes (TV, moving) should be flattened and taken downstairs BY YOU,  to the upper garage dumpster/trash “Generator” room.  Thanks in advance.

Dear Doggies

Dear Doggies

Why are you peeing in the Pacific Tower flower beds when there’s beautiful luscious green grass growing just a few steps beyond our building?

Signed,

Just Curious

Volunteering Cures Depression

Recent articles have appeared on the internet extolling the virtues of helping others as a means of curing depression.  And as everyone knows, everything written on the internet is true and factual.

Pacific Tower Board of Directors is eager to assist anyone wishing to turn their dismal lives around!  We are in the unique position of needing more helpers to assist in various duties in the building.  If you’re not depressed, that’s okay too.  Our jobs are always changing: Are you available to sometimes put a notice on each door?  Can you look up something on the internet and forward the links to the board?  Can you canvass the building and report what needs to be cleaned?  Right now, almost every job is done by two or three members of the board, mostly one, Carol Foreman.  You do not have to be a member of the board to volunteer to help the board.  You don’t have to go to a boring Board Meeting.  All you have to do is tell the office downstairs that you are available and leave your phone number and email. A board member will lovingly contact you.  Thanks in advance!

A Day at the Office

OR: Nutty HOA Prez Walks a Mile in John McLean’s Shoes OR Going from Zero to 60 after age 60.

Fact # 1 John was out with a bad foot

Fact # 2 Marvin was on vacation

Fact # 3 Every time I have looked into our Maintenance Office, I have cringed.  Why?  I can’t stand the sight of cardboard boxes in an office.  I also can’t stand an office that can’t go in Architectural Digest, so I admit my standards are probably too high.  I’m a certified neat freak.

Monday, with John and Marvin conveniently out of the way, I seized the opportunity to organize the office.  And the first thing I was gonna do was GET RID OF THE goddamn CARDBOARD BOXES!  

That’s When the Fun Began.  I enlisted our new employee Andy Noel for my partner in crime.  Our Mission, which we accepted, was to find space in already overstuffed cupboards, to store the stupid boxes.  It only took three days but we are proud of tackling this daunting task.  Office looks neater.  We pray John will forgive us our trespassing.

But here’s what I learned while cleaning: John’s office is a beehive of epic proportion!  And John is the incredible ringmaster of this buzzing circus!  If you don’t believe me, here’s a list of one day

• Movers asked to have elevator padded and shut down
• A very guilty resident broke a hallway light while demo-ing his tennis swing  – glass everywhere
• GYPSY the dog needed a hug
• Elevator company comes for monthly inspection, wants to shut down the OTHER elevator
• A friend of the Board collects the meeting minutes to distribute
• BENDER the dog needs a head scratch
• Somebody’s mailbox won’t lock
• A vendor needs to be walked around to make proposal on a repair
• TAZZIE the dog needed loving reassurance
• Someone’s cleaning lady needed a key that was left for her
• The office printer ran out of ink - no spares on hand
• BUBBA the dog needed help making snorting noises
• Somebody jammed the entire trash chute with bubble wrap
• Signs needed to be printed and posted for Board Announcement
• LANA the dog needed a smooch right on the kisser
• Fed Ex man reported a dead bird on somebody’s doorway
• A listing Realtor called with 50 short questions
• A contractor tried to get an 8 foot mirror in a 9 foot elevator
• BISQUIT the dog needed an emergency back scratching
• Somebody stole somebody else’s parking spot – but who?
• Somebody wanted to borrow the hand truck
• RUSTY the dog needed his ears rubbed
• Somebody got locked out, sans cell phone – needed a locksmith
• Somebody ELSE got locked out.  What are the odds?
• LUCY the dog alone in lobby, leash caught in the elevator doors (owner going UP) – and needed to be unleashed, Pronto!
• Somebody going out of town wanted to give office her key
• A balcony needed to be cleared for the spalling scaffolding
• Contractors left a trail of dry wall dust footprints  
• Truck blocking dumpster room, garbage men threaten to leave w/o garbage
• Complete strangers introduced themselves, said nice things about the Board.  I didn’t disagree.

There was so much more, but you get the idea.  It was fun, but I’m tired just talking about it! 

Karyl Miller

Game of Thrones Man Cave?

Dear Boardie,

I’m planning on remodeling my condo into a Game of Thrones Man Cave. I own it so I can do whatever I want, right?

Signed, Homie

Boardie: Thankyouforasking and nooooo, you cannot do whatever you want.  You have to follow our HOA Architectural Guidelines.

Homie: “Architectural Guidelines?!  I have to conform?!  Bleech!  I’ll have you know Game of Thrones is considered visual candy of the highest order!

Boardie: Will there be a moat?

Homie:  Don’t worry, the alligators will be battery operated!  Why do you have to have so many rules?

Boardie: We have rules to protect everybody in the building from everybody else in the building.  What if your upstairs neighbor installed a wood or worse, a tile floor without the required regulation thickness of cork or cork-like lining under it and you started hearing them clopping around 24/7?  What if, even barefoot, their calluses sounded like the Russian Army was doing the Mambo on your noggin?

Homie: Filling out forms is bor-ing!  What if I just go ahead and do what I want and your rules be damned?

Boardie: The Board will and its lawyers could demand and possibly make you remove any unauthorized improvements at your expense.

All because the owner didn’t get architectural 1.  Guidance and 2.  Permission.

Homie: How can I protect myself and still make home improvements?

Boardie: John’s office is just itching to give away free copies of the newest Architectural Guidelines (only 2 pages!) plus a king’s ransom of blank Architectural Forms for owners to fill out and submit for board approval.

OR

Download the Architectural Guidelines now at  PacificTowerHOA.org

Remember that old saying …

‘Tis better to seek permission than to seek a jackhammer.

Hey Board, What Have You Done Lately?

That’s a fair question.  So, here’s a short list (just the Highlights) of what your Board did from June 2015 to June 2016:

Approved all spending including: employee’s salaries, all maintenance, all repairs, upkeep and renovation of the common areas, purchasing of office equipment and supplies - ALL for $400 a month.  Yay!

The Board reviewed all Architectural Plans and Violation Reports

Hired our new employee, Jeff Jacobs-Levardo

Created a new Excel database of owners/renters, their cell #, emails

Wrote and edited your monthly Newsletter

Added to our BLOG: PacificTowerHOA.org, posted all Newsletter articles and our Rules and Regulations

Repaired spalling (concrete cracks) on every stack and balcony, pool deck, and garage

Remodeled both Gym bathrooms

Upgraded to new pool furniture and umbrellas

Upgraded to a new Rec Room fridge

Upgraded to new light fixtures for catwalk and all balconies (plus 200 lightbulbs)

Upgraded to a new cigarette disposal system for the front entry

Upgraded to a new doggie poop disposal station for the front entry

We thank our Board Members: Tom Ward, Carol Foreman, Kathleen Morgan, Bob Weber, Trish Mylet and Antoinette Hamilton

We also thank our Menas Manager Kristine Bermudaz

Thanks to all!

Karyl Miller

Boardie's Imaginary Suggestion Box

(A few neighborly ideas Pacific Tower-ers might want to try.)

Laundry Room – what if everybody marked their baskets so if you forgot to collect your laundry from the washer or dryer, your neighbor could knock on your door to remind you in the nicest way possible, that OTHERS ARE WAITING!  Believe me, they will thank you for not having to rifle through your laundry, searching for clues and wondering if those tiger-printed Calvin’s belong to you or the dude down the hall!

Lobby – What if puppy owners carried a roll of paper towels under their arm on their way to their walk?  It’s not unusual for happy puppies (who are being gushed over), to make it inside BEFORE they make it outside.  Totally understandable.  But leaving a puddle in front of the elevators while you race Fido out to make #2, creates a slippery slope of yellow.  Papering over that puddle and cleaning it up when you get back will win you one guaranteed ticket in Doggie Heaven (after you die, of course)!  

Pool Umbrellas – What if the last person leaving the pool area cranked down the umbrella and tied it shut so it doesn’t take off in the wind and poke somebody in the eye?  Wouldn’t you be nice?

Gym Men’s Room Toilet seat is ALWAYS UP.  Why? Q. What’s the first thing you see when you walk into our lovely redecorated Rec Room?  A. The Men’s Room door wide open and the bare-naked toilet seat up for all to see.  This image of an open toilet is beautiful only to a dog, and ironically, dogs aren’t allowed in the Rec Room.  So how about it, macho men?  

Wet Wetsuit.  Dear Boardie, if the Rules and Regs say I can’t hang my wet wetsuit over the railing of my balcony or on the catwalk railing, how the heck am I supposed to dry the damn thing?! A. Hang it on a hanger in your shower, then wait.  Haven’t you ever heard the saying time is the great dryer?  Important Reminder: Don’t shower during the drying process or you will set yourself back AND no doubt, be mad at yourself squeezing into a damp/cold/clammy wetsuit tomorrow.

Ka 

Rules and Regulations

Official listing of all the Pac Tower Rules and Regulations
click here Rules and Regulations

I'm So Board!

Your seven HOA board members are volunteers dedicated to this building and the residents for which it stands.  The board supervises our maintenance staff, oversees each and every dollar going out of this building (be it regular maintenance, repairs and upgrades), all while holding our assessments at $400 a month.  Board members also head and serve on various committees (you’re invited, by the way!) like Architectural, Executive, Building, Human Resources, Landscaping, Leasing, Legal, Repair and Remodeling Committees. If you’re interested in being a board member, you’re welcome to nominate yourself when you get your ballot in the mail.  Four board positions are up for grabs in June.

Speaking of repairs and upgrades, remember our stained, rusty, dark and creepy-looking gym bathrooms?  The ones you wanted to shower with your boots on?  Gone!  Banished.  Finito! They have been upgraded to gorgeous new light and bright!  It almost made me want to work up a sweat -- just to take a shower!  I said ALMOST.  But feel free to avail yourself after your workout. Singin’ allowed and encouraged!

This was a long way around to thank a board member who pulled the entire bathrooms remodel all together – Carol Foreman.  Carol has been a devoted building volunteer for years.  She is also a past president of our Homeowners Association and has worked tirelessly for our benefit.  Do you love the new snazzy pool furniture and umbrellas?  Thank Carol - she picked everything out and made it happen.  She was a leader in the remodeling of the entire building hallways and rec room two years ago. The list of her contributions goes on and on!

                                      

Designing the bathroom upgrade and supervising it to its completion was a very time consuming and often frustrating task.  Millions of decisions had to be made.  Teams of tradesmen had to be coordinated and supervised.  Thanks to Carol from everybody! Your efforts are appreciated! 

Karyl Miller

Pac Tower Going to the Dogs?!

Fido may be really cute and fun for the owner, 

but we’ve noticed lately quite a few dogs going naked and BORN FREE – in other words, going leash-less on the elevator, lobby and hallways. Most people don’t like strange dogs jumping up on them and sniffing them.

At Pac Tower it’s against the rules to have a loose dog anywhere in the common area. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE POOL area where dogs are NEVER allowed at any time. One man’s Best Friend, may not be another’s. ‘Nuff said.

Swimming in Winter?!

We’re so blessed to have El Nino bringing us these summer-like days where we get to have a pool party in the middle of winter.

BUT the rules seem to have been forgotten. There are lots of pool rules which are listed on the South wall of the pool. Here are the three biggies:

· No glass bottles
· No dogs
· No loud music

If you live here it’s your responsibility to know the rules and to keep your guests in line. If you violate the rules, you can be brought before the HOA board and possibly fined $250 for the first offense, so learn the rules. Your neighbors will appreciate it.

Tap Dancing on Wooden Floors

Everybody wants wood floors nowadays. Even though
The Pac Tower Architectural Guidelines insist a layer of cork
goes under the wood, wood floors can still be noisy. If you love your
neighbor as you love yourself, and you have wood floors, think
about removing your shoes and doing a sock dance.

Love Your Plumbing

Thanks to longtime resident Azita Aparicio, here are some handy Internet tips on caring for your plumbing.

Clean your drains once a month. However, some drains will need to be checked on more regularly, particularly bathtub or shower and bathroom sink drains because that's usually where hair becomes a problem. Hair loss while shampooing or shaving is a natural everyday occurrence, but it doesn't take much to block a drain pipe. When you add to that all of the soap and toothpaste you're using, it's easy to see why clogs can happen so quickly and be so stubborn.

About Once A Week
Lift up pop-up stoppers in the bathroom sink, remove any debris and put it in the trash, then rinse the stopper off and put it back in the drain.
Remove the drain cover from your shower or bathtub drain and use a bent wire or a hair catching brush to clear out any debris that has accumulated there.

About Once a Month
Clean your garbage disposal with a sturdy disposer brush or grind up a few cups of ice and some table salt. This helps to cut the grease and slime off the sides of the disposer. Then flush it out with cold water followed by half of a lemon or lime to deodorize.




The Big Giant List of All the Stuff You SHOULDN'T Put Down Your Drains...
Grease, fats, or oils from cooking - they congeal and cause other items to get stuck, creating clogs and massive blockages. This is a really broad category that includes meat fats, lard, vegetable oils, shortening, butter, margarine, and many dairy products.
Coffee grounds - they pretty much do the same thing grease does.
Meat, poultry, and fish bones, as well as egg shells - garbage disposals aren't meant to grind bones or egg shells, so the shards often go down the drain to form clumps with other items. The fat from any meat left on the bones only makes the clog worse.
Pasta, rice, and breads will expand with water causing blockages. And even if the water eventually drains, these foods are most likely still stuck to the inside of your pipes to cause another blockage next time.
Gum…it seems fairly obvious that something that is basically a sticky ball will get hung up somewhere.
Stickers - often people will pull the label stickers off fruits and veggies and simply toss them down the drain during washing. These can clump up with other things to cause clogs.
Hair. Human, pet, doll, fuzzy pillow, or stuffed animal hair - it doesn't matter - just try to keep it out of your drains.
Baby wipes, napkins, paper towels, and other paper products. Even some toilet papers just don't dissolve quickly or thoroughly enough to be handled by septic or sewage lines.
Tampons, maxi pads, other feminine hygiene products, including the packaging they come in.
Cotton balls, cotton swabs, cigarette butts, fabric softener/dryer sheets, or similar fibrous materials - including fibrous foods like celery, carrots, and potato peels which your garbage disposal cannot chew up.

Cat litter, even the flushable kind.

Other "flushable" products - including toddler wipes and sanitary products. Most often these things don't break down as well as the manufacturer claims, especially if you have a septic system.
Band-aids and dental floss – these both tangle up with small clogs to turn them into big clogs.
Razors, blades, syringes, needles, etc. – these can cause serious injury to municipal sewage/wastewater workers and to wildlife. Contact your local pharmacy or public health authority for safe ways to dispose of this type of item.
Condoms, balloons, or rubber gloves will inflate and can be a fairly destructive obstruction.
Prescription medications, lotions, and cosmetics. While anything that goes in or on your body might seem safe, these items can be potentially toxic to wildlife and/or leech into our drinking water. Many pharmacies will “take back” leftover medications, or check with your doctor or local public health authority for similar disposal programs.
Glue. Do we really need to explain why this is a bad idea?
Bottle caps, whether metal or plastic, will not only ruin your garbage disposal but can also get stuck in smaller pipes.
Toys are a common culprit of toilet clogs. Teach kids about what is and isn't okay to flush, and make sure they understand the toilet isn't a jacuzzi for Barbie and G.I. Joe.
Soap can clog drains faster than you might think - mostly when the residue builds up and catches other things. Try using less detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. when you can, and from personal experience we recommend trying to keep the kids from dropping a bar of it down the toilet...
Paint, paint solvents, nail polish, or nail polish remover harm our groundwater and in many places are illegal to put down drains. Check with your local paint or hardware store for information about how to dispose of these items properly.
Motor oil, transmission fluid, anti-freeze, etc. Your local auto parts store can tell you how and where to dispose of these substances, and some even have programs to dispose of them for you.
Bleach and other anti-bacterial cleaners. This one is mostly for those who have a septic system since anti-bacterial agents can kill off the good bacteria that are keeping your septic system functioning, although there is mounting evidence that these cleaners are detrimental to municipal sewage systems as well.

How's Your Plumbing?

Here's a New Year's Resolution for 2016 you may have not thought of:

BE KIND TO YOUR SINK, YOUR TUB AND YOUR TOILET!

Thanks to longtime resident Azita Aparicio, here's a list of links to make your pipes sing!

- how to keep plumbing free of buildup with proper and regular maintenance (kitchen and bathroom):
https://www.plumbingsupply.com/how-to-prevent-clogged-drains.html

http://www.lnsturnkey.com/blog/plumbing-tip-keep-your-pipes-and-drains-clean.html

http://www.applewoodfixit.com/blog/2012/11/5-tips-for-keeping-kitchen-and-bathroom-sinks-clean-clear.html

- commercial plumbing cleaners that should NEVER be used (despite their claims of opening clogged drains):

http://www.thorntonandgrooms.com/media/entry/the-effects-of-caustic-drain-cleaners

This concludes Part One of your lesson for today. Part Two will include these topics:

- a list of items that are NOT allowed to be flushed down the toilet
- recommended detergents to use for laundry and bathtubs that are low sudsing
- actions to take and contact information if unit is flooded or if you have plumbing issues (both during and after business hours)

Christmas Elves Caught on Security Cam!

By now you have all seen the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in our lobby. Were you wondering who decorated it? The tree was selected from Green Gardens by our staff. John McLean and Marvin Mendez added the lights. Elves, caught by our security cam did the trimming while humming Christmas Carols. Here’s the photo from our security cam.

Giving Thanks

At year’s end we thank our staff John McLean, Marvin Mendez and Gerry Gutierrez for keeping our building clean and repaired, for giving out forms, getting quotes, emailing vendors, and the myriad tasks they undertake throughout the year. This is John’s 15^th year at Pacific Tower and Marvin’s 11th!

We also thank our Board of Governors who meets monthly to discuss and vote on all issues having to do with the building, as well as exchanging untold numbers of emails every day.  Thanks to VP Kathleen Morgan, Treasurer Tom Ward, Carol Foreman, Trish Mylet, Bob Weber Antoinette Hamilton and little ole me. Lastly, we thank our Menas Manager Kristine Bermudez for all she does for our building.

Dead Christmas Tree?

                         Dear Boardie,

Q. Now that Christmas is over, what do I do with my dead Christmas tree?

A. Thanks for asking.  1. Please wrap your tree in an old sheet before you take it out of your unit to minimize the horror of a bazillion dry pine needles piling up in our hallways and elevator.  2. Drop it off at Kate Sessions Memorial Park (corner of Soledad and Loring), which is accepting old trees for disposal. 

PASSING PARADE Passes by Pac Tower

12.11.15, 100 Santas walked by and you missed it? You’re welcome.

CORRECTION

Homeowners who received their November newsletter in the mail got a typo that stated the opposite of our intention:

WRONG
"RULES FOR RENTERS
Owners must supply their renters with a copy of our Pacific Tower Rules and Regulations. If your renters know the rules then they know the pool is closed at 9 PM, not to throw towels over their balcony railings, etc. etc and YOU, the owner will not be fined when your renters disobey the rules.

RIGHT
CORRECTION: Owners WILL be fined when your renters disobey the rules.

The Scourge of the Pizza Box

Is there anybody who doesn’t like Papa Johns?  Of course not!

Okay, maybe you’re a Dominos person because they give you extra fattening brownies in case your pizza isn’t caloric enough. Fine. No crime committed.

But the point is - that on any given evening, somebody in Pacific Tower is getting a pizza delivered. Is that a problem? Well, the pizza isn’t a prob, but the box is.

Q. WHAT do I DO with my pizza box after I eat my pizza?

A. Empty all the crumbs and cheese bits out and then put the box in recycling bin

Q. WHAT should I NOT do with my pizza box after I eat my pizza?

A.Do NOT throw it in the garbage chute! Even though the box may seem smaller than the chute, once it starts its downward spiral, it can become wedged in the chute.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?  People start throwing their garbage down the chute and it starts to pile up on top of YOUR wedged Pizza box. 

Next thing you know, when you open the chute, there’s garbage jammed in and backed up all the way to the 12^th floor. Not a pretty picture, especially if it happens on a Saturday night when Maintenance isn’t on site to unblock it.  ‘Nuf said. Now enjoy your pizza.