2025 Now Loading

Here it comes.

May you all be Happy Healthy Prosperous and Safe from all the bull crap coming our way.

2024 Now Loading

Have a Happy Healthy Safe Problem Free Prosperous New Year!

Starting Over … Again

Happy New Year!

How’s it been so far?

A rainstorm came rolling in late Friday, and it literally did not stop raining until yesterday afternoon. Just long enough for a little someone to come knocking on my door to give me a hug.

I was peacefully multitasking — working on that needlepoint project, while simultaneously catching up on recorded TV shows when, all of a sudden, I heard a little "knock knock knock".

"OH NO!" I heard myself say, because I instantly knew who was at the door — Talker’s granddaughter.

She gave me a hug. I gave her candy and off she went.

At some point, Talker is going to ask if I mind the intrusion and, truthfully, I kinda do; but she’s a child, and beside their being some kind of unknown cosmic reason she feels the need to hug me, the fact is I’m not about being unkind to a child, so I’ll grit my teeth and lie to Talker — "Oh No. I don’t mind at all".

Putting patio decorations away on New Year’s Day did not go as planned because the steady rain left the patio and decorations drenched. Decorations will need a few days to dry out, but I don’t think there will be a few days, as rain is expected off/on until Saturday.

In fact, I was lucky to have made it to the new dentist — the all-female office, and back before the weather turned dark, gloomy and more rain came.

That all-female dental office had a cancellation, called to see if I wanted to come in today, rather than tomorrow. It meant I had to miss this morning’s workout, but I was anxious to have them look at the tooth the other dentist (let’s call him Bozo) said had a vertical break and needed a crown.

Guess what.

There is no broken tooth.

I have no need of a crown.

There is a slight grove in the tooth, but not a break.

There also were not the cavities Bozo said needed filling.

I was suspicious of that in the first place because I couldn’t understand how it was the dentist Bozo replaced had just done fillings a few months prior, and now Bozo was finding more.

Like Judge Judy always says, "If it doesn’t make sense, it’s usually not true".

It’s looking like this new dentist is going to work out. She and the hygienist did everything right, said everything right, including saying I still have a lot of silver in my mouth but no problem unless there’s leakage, which is contrary to what Bozo had to say and the Bozo he replaced had to say and the Bozo that took over Dr. McDreamy’s patient list had to say.

I had to start all over again — x-rays, client information form, yada yada yada.

Unlike the last three Bozos, the new dentist was thorough — did the periodontal probe to measure depth of gum pockets, took photos of each tooth, even showed me the x-rays as she discussed what looked good, what might need work.

No pressure. No frightening theories.

So, thus far, I am relieved and happy with this office.

Hopefully, this is the last change in dentist I’ll have to make in what remains of my lifetime.

I'm hoping I won’t outlive her, as I’ve done with past dentists/hygenists, and she won’t sell the practice or retire, because I don’t want to have to start all over yet again.

According to the hygienist, the dentist is in the process of buying her own building and moving the practice to a different area, because where she is now located has changed drastically.

I believe it about changes in the area, because I know the area and was pretty shocked at what I saw.

Arriving early, with time to kill, I drove around to see what I could see and spotted a lot of unhoused people.

Never saw that before in this particular downtown area.

Deciding to park in the CVS lot, a few blocks away from the dentist’s office, sit in the car, read Fawn of Grey Gardens, I'd barely become settled when I heard a voice come over a loudspeaker saying, "This property is under 24-hour surveillance. No loitering is allowed".

Having seen no other Black people in the area, I thought the message was directed at me — that security was watching, saw I’d parked but not gotten out of the car, so I played it off — got out of the car, went in and bought a few things I didn’t need to buy — because I don’t need any more clutter, but they were cute and half price.

While in CVS, I overheard a worker say some guy he had asked to leave just took a swing at him and the police were looking for the guy.

Leaving CVS, the voice again came over the loudspeaker — "This property is under 24-hour surveillance. No loitering is allowed" and I saw an unhoused person on the lot turn round and walk away.

So, it wasn’t about me. It must have been for an unhoused person the camera had spotted on the property while I was sitting in the car.

The dental office is located in an artsy fartsy district previously known for its comic book store, art galleries, art walks, etc.

The actual building the dentist is located in is beautiful — reminds me of buildings one would see in film noir, like the famous Bradbury Building, with the old stairs, elevators, ornate wood and ironworks.

Problem is, the unhoused have taken over the area, making it unsafe for businesses, visitors.

The building itself is locked up at night, but the unhoused have somehow found a way to bypass the lock, been found sleeping in the lobby.

It’s an epidemic, is everywhere, a growing social problem, and no solution in sight.

At any rate, my search for a new new dentist has come to a close. Now if I could just find a physician that gave a damn.

2023 Now Loading

Have a Happy Healthy Safe Prosperous New Year!

The Adventure Continues

One glass of cheap champagne, and I was in bed, continuing to binge watch YOU on my phone, but so falling asleep that I shut the phone down at 10:00 and it was lights out for this party girl.

I vaguely recall hearing fireworks, or gun shots, indicating the year changing from 2021 to 2022 but, thanks to the champagne, it was a momentary awareness and I went right back into REM state.

After Trainer said, "Let’s take a selfie to commemorate last training session of the year" a lot happened yesterday.

I think I discovered the secret of how to look skinny in a photo.

Hide half my body behind another person and strike a pose. LOL.

Once back at the complex, first happening was we had a 3.5 earthquake. Only I didn’t realize it was a quake.

I thought it was Next Door Neighbor either having something heavy hauled up the stairs or down the stairs and, being nosey, took a look outside, but saw nothing.

Shortly after, I saw the Archeologist had posted about an earthquake.

Then, not able to get the idea out of my head that I was to go to Walmart for some unknown reason, and realizing I’d forgotten to pick up bubble wrap for decorations I’d planned to put back into storage today, I googled Walmart hours, learned they were open until 11:00 that night.

I set the DVR to record Judge Judy and headed out before it got dark … before I started in on that champagne/binge watching and hightailed it over to Walmart.

Once reaching the parking lot, I said to myself Okay, I’m here. What am I supposed to see? Who am I supposed to run into?

Nothing happened, saw and interacted with no one … except the guy at the door who checked my receipt for bubble wrap and electrical tape.

He quipped, "I’d like to take your bubble wrap, wrap some of these people in it, toss them out the door".

Okay, Dexter, thought I.

Arriving back at the complex, I saw someone had done something hilarious to the gate's card reader.

Googly Eye added

That was pretty funny, but I didn’t think, the opportunity to capture a pic, was the reason I’d had to go to Walmart, be outside at that particular time.

But then, in the driver side mirror, I saw a figure approaching the car.

It was my old buddy Apache!

He was in the process of helping a long-time resident move, saw me pulling into the driveway.

He looked good — well rested now that he’s not filled with anger and frustration at the Tyrant, having to deal with being harassed (for years) because he spoke up for the seniors.

Now keep in mind, Apache not only does not live here, he's not allowed (by the office) to even be on the property.

I've heard he meets friends from here down the street, they take the bus to the Casino, but he doesn't visit them in their unit.

He was on the property this day only because he knew no one was around to enforce his not being here.

So, keeping in mind Apache no longer lives here, is not allowed on the property, he's not finished with tormenting the Tyrant. He restarted the resident's facebook page — which Tyrant can now do nothing about, and Apache knows more than I do about what’s going on.

For instance, that Big Linda took a fall and broke her back.

I didn't know that, but Yipes!

These falls.

So Deadly.

So Scary.

Apache didn’t know if the fall happened here or elsewhere, whether Big Linda was recuperating in her unit with help, or if she’d been placed in a facility.

I also didn't know that three long-time residents are moving out — one of which was the resident he was here helping to move.

With a waiting list, the Tyrant won’t have a problem getting new tenants in, but it evidently was a blow, and not a good look for him, that three long timers have all given notice at the same time.

It prompted the Tyrant to say to the lady Apache was helping, "I don’t know what I did, but I’m sorry".

Yeah, sure, you (the Tyrant) don’t know why long-time residents are moving, you cheap, incompetent, no response arse.

Evidently, the Tyrant tried to make some sort of amends, win friends, influence people, by giving gifts to a group in the Community Room at a bingo session.

The gift was a bag of Doritos and a Candy Bar which, I'm told, instead of winning friends just further pissed the group off as to how they feel about his cheap incompetent arse.

If I know him, the Doritos and Candy Bar were left over from his home's Halloween giveaway.

Asking Apache if he’d heard about the Patio Contest and had any information on winners. He didn’t know who 1st and 2nd place were but, would you believe he, who doesn't live here, knew who'd won 3rd Place.

It was a patio I’d mentioned as having seen when taking the long way out of the complex, but never in my wildest dreams imagined it would actually place.

Will be interesting to see, once the announcement comes out ... IF the announcement comes out, what other residents, with patios I was sure were more likely to rank than this one, have to say.

So, anyway, talk about being in the right place at the right time.

Isn’t it interesting that had I not been outside at a time I’m never outside, but was there only because I kept hearing that weird guy saying "Walmart", I’d have missed that reconnecting with Apache, get the tea on what’s going on here.

Coincidence?

I think not.

Bad Mom

Do you think they'll notice? I thought to myself when I posted a photo of my twins when they were hours old and wished them a Happy 54th Birthday yesterday morning.

Problem is … their birthday was the day before, and I’d forgotten until something just clicked in my brain that next morning.

They’ll probably rack it up to mom’s old, doesn’t remember things so well. If they don’t, then I myself will play the age card — I’m old, don’t remember things so well.

Which isn’t entirely untrue.

At any rate, onward and upwards.

With yesterday being a free day, I was hoping for a break in the rain so I could drive to the craft store.

There was enough of a break that I headed out with the intent to stop by the drug store for that electrical tape, and then drive on from there. However, when I saw how frantically people were driving, and the drug store had no electrical tape, I decided on batteries to see if I can get an old blood pressure monitor to work, because the one I generally use just kinda got up and walked away, then headed back to the complex.

While at the drug store, a weird little man came out of nowhere, and disappeared just as quickly back into nowhere.

I was browsing the battery isle for the best bang for the buck when he — a skinny little white dude of undetermined age, was suddenly at my side.

Didn’t sound like store security profiling me, because he said "Good morning, ma’am. You can get those cheaper at Walmart".

"Maybe so", replied I. "But who wants to go to Walmart. Too many people".

Then, with him standing too close, I stepped back to look for what I needed from a distance.

He babbled on for a bit about this one was cheaper here, that one was cheaper there and, when I saw what I was looking for, I grabbed it, headed for the register, looked back and POOF he was gone.

Disappeared into thin air.

Was that some kind of hallucination?

A visitation? 

A Dr. Who Tardis thing?

Some kind of weird message and messenger from the universe?

With electrical tape nowhere near, perhaps I should have listened to what he had to say, driven to Walmart.

Hope I didn’t make a cosmic mistake to not listen, opting instead to head back to the complex, order online instead.

Back at the complex, I stopped into the office to drop off next month’s rent check.

The Lobby looked nice. Someone did a good job on the tree.

After dropping off a check in the rent slot, I headed for the mail center, passing the Assistant Manager’s Office, the Maintenance Office and the Tyrant’s Office.

Lights were on and someone was in each office EXCEPT the Tyrant’s.

Lights were off, his office was dark, no one there.

So, I guess that settles it. No Activity Calendar or word on who won the contest until after the 1st of the year.

Is his absence the reason for the hold up?

Is he out just for the day OR has he been out all along?

He’s not one of my favorite people, yet I don’t wish him serious ill but maybe the holdup is that he’s been sick/in quarantine.

If my buddy Apache were still around, he'd have the dirt on what's been going on in the office. But with Apache evicted, and everyone pretty much keeping to themselves (because there are no activities and Omicron), there's not much tea spilling out onto the grapevine.

Oh well, we'll know what we know when we know it.

When I’d initially headed out that morning, I spotted something to file under the category of one of these things is not like the other.

That's Shadow's walker in a quasi-parking stall.

I pay $15 a month for my parking space. Shadow has found a clever way to not have to carry his walker up to his unit, and park it for free.

Inasmuch as everyone around here is not honest, and meth heads, looking for stuff to steal, sometimes make it onto the property, it’s kinda risky — not to mention it's outside, at the mercy of the elements.

My only obligation today is this morning's workout. Once that's over and done with, plan for remainder of this New Year’s Eve is to — even though I don’t drink, to enjoy a glass of champagne, binge watch YOU on Netflix — a thriller about a Dexter like character who stalks women he's interested in, gets rid of the competition.

Because this year has been a different kind of crazy and is now ending with fires raging, homes burning, folks stuck in a travel nightmare, the Variant, it's not looking good for 2022. Makes me reluctant to say Happy New Year. So, I'll leave it at Be Happy, Safe, Healthy, Prosperous.

And Just Like That … We’re Back

My three-day hiatus from the world flew by. Here I am at another Monday, very much relating to what a recent new commenter posted on her blog — that Every morning my 2 year old sits up in her bed and yells "HELP, I WOKE UP".

I may adopt that phrase as my tagline for future Mondays — "HELP, I WOKE UP AND IT’S MONDAY".

At any rate, it’s back to my usual weekly routine, except for back-to-back workouts this week, because Friday is New Year’s Eve.

Talk about silent night, holy night, I don’t know how holy things were on the complex, but the silence late Christmas Eve/early Christmas morning was eery.

Not a creature was stirring — no voices of residents, no doors opening/closing, no dogs barking, no street traffic, no nothing. It was like the first few days of the Quarantine. You could have heard a pin drop.

There was a break in the rainstorm Christmas Day, so sights and sounds returned to the area, and the sun actually showed up for a few hours on Sunday, so I ventured out to take trash to the dumpster.

Other than those few minutes on Sunday, I did not step foot outside the front door.

Did I get what I wanted for Christmas, you ask.

There was an anxious moment every single time I got a ring or a ping on the phone, whereupon I’d send up a prayer, "Please God, don’t let it be one of them" (Them being Twin 1, Twin 2, Granddaughter) and I was relieved to find it was notification of an email, something from a Facebook friend, or a call listed as "potential spam".

So, did I get what I wanted for Christmas or not. The answer is mostly, nearly, kinda sorta.

Nothing from Twin 1, Twin 2, but I had an oh crap moment when, on Christmas morning, granddaughter’s name popped up in a ping.

Fortunately, it wasn't anything too too heavy, just a message wishing me a Merry Christmas — which was sweet of her except it morphed into a discussion of Omicron when she mentioned she and hubby were staying in because she's worried about catching Omicron and how it would affect her unborn son.

All of a sudden, I found myself having to reassure her that, though it’s being said everyone will eventually catch Omicron, that because she is young, healthy, has no underlying conditions, she and her baby probably won’t suffer ill effects.

I’m not Fauci, so I don’t know any of that to be true but, evidently, it was what she needed to hear, said "That’s a good point", and went away somewhat reassured.

Granddaughter is somewhat of a drama queen so, if it wasn't Omicron and pregnant, it would have been something else. Consequently, I learned a long time ago to remain detached, not get caught up in whatever worry, concern, drama she's manufactured, so I came away unbothered/unworried from that interaction.

THEN, when there was a ping the following day (Sunday) and granddaughter’s name popped up again it was like fukkkkkkkkk, until I saw it was just a photo.

Much like Kathy, over at Second Half of My Life, and I did back in 2015, someone was performing Random Acts of Christmas Cheer in granddaughter's neighborhood park.

After that message, I was home free.

So, all in all, it was an okay holiday for me — time spent catching up on recorded television programs, scrapbooking, needlepoint, lots of naps and swapping my face on the Reface app.

Welcome 2021

The New Year started off on a good foot.

That good foot being, I found the book and doll I’d intermittently searched over a year for.

The items turned up when I’d given up and wasn’t even looking for them.

Isn’t that always the way.

Instead, on Christmas Eve, while reorganizing and decluttering — making some hard decisions about letting go of items no longer of use to me now or in the future, but which I’d been holding onto because letting go is so tough, I was moving a container of craft items and spotted a container of books I didn’t know I had, did not see in all my other searches.

Lo and behold, the book and doll, both items I’d searched for all year because I wanted to display in October for Halloween, were right on top.

Too late for Halloween now, but at least they’ve been located and can be put on display October this year.

I’d purchased the book in 1969 and, when I learned the author — Louise Huebner, the Official Witch of Los Angeles at that time, was making an appearance near my workplace, I used my lunch break to walk over, make her acquaintance, ask her sign my book.

I’ve no idea what those symbols mean, but maybe Debra at She Who Seeks and/or one of her knowledgeable friends can decipher and let me know.

The symbols could be wishing me good fortune or thanking me for paying full price for the book because, oddly enough, that was one thing the author asked, “Did you pay full price for this?”.

Evidently, she wasn’t selling many copies back then.

I don’t remember what full price was 50 years ago — it can’t have been much compared to book prices today, but turns out it was a nice investment because, researching the author to see what she’s up to, I find she died in 2014, published several books that sold well, and this particular book is considered rare. So rare that —a used hardback copy is listed on one site for $70, another for $110.

Inasmuch as those prices are low, I’m assuming the books are not in good condition.

There being a resurgence of interest in this particular book, there's been a mass reprint, and a new hardback on Amazon can be purchased for a whopping $768.57! Strangely enough, two used copies are available through Amazon for $884.44. 

They must be in better condition than those going for $70/$100.

My copy is used, has a 1969 publishing date, is in excellent condition AND autographed, so who knows.

The book was my anchor during some very hard times, so I’d never sell it, but I’d better let the twins know it’s rare, don’t toss it in the trash when I die; and to check, with reputable dealers, for other rare books in my stash, as I’ve got everything written by or about Edgar Cayce, Joel Goldsmith and a few other new age teachers from back in the day.

Me being such a generous employer, I gave Trainer today off. That means with another three-days (Friday through Sunday) of no training, no off-premises errands, nowhere to go until Monday, in between binge watching episodes of Dr. Who, I’ve been tackling a few to-do’s on my list, including reorganizing the bibs and medals area.

I tossed the wooden boards, put up a new medal holder for future 5K.

Bibs have been relocated to a bib folio.

Cover

Inside

Medals previously hanging from the wooden boards are now on a tabletop medal display, and the area looks a lot less cluttered now, more feng shui compliant — though not exactly.

Before

After

The floor plan of this unit doesn’t give me the option of exactly. Instead of medals in what feng shui designates as “the Fame corner”, they are located in the Wealth/Prosperity corner, but it must be working — giving me chi that draws in abundance and harmony, because I've been blessed with both.

In fact, placement of everything in this unit, because of the layout, is a little off, feng shui speaking. However, I’ve a lot of wood furniture, and with the help of stones and candles to balance, the rooms feel comfortable and peacefully Zen.

On tap for today is needlepoint, while watching more of Dr. Who on BBCAmerica until the marathon ends this evening, or until it’s time to switch channels to the new season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

If the wind dies down, I might head out onto the patio and begin the process of putting Christmas back in storage.

So far so good, how's it going for you?

The End is Near

 Or is it?

The C-Word

Looking at this month’s activities, I see the C-word is back on the calendar ─ CRAFTS.

Listed as “Winter Craft”, I can’t even guess what that is, but slated for the 14th, 9:30 to 11:00, it’s early enough that I can attend before heading for the pain cave.

EXCEPT, the office does not open for business until 10:00, doors to the Community Room are not unlocked until 10:00 sharp AND I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if Activity Director EVER shows up as early as 9:30. We’ll be lucky if she shows up at a timely 10:00.

Nevertheless, I’ll show up for crafts, but not until 10 and see what happens.

Another C-word showing up on the calendar is Community Meeting on the 28th. Formerly titled Management/Residents’ Meeting, we’ve not had one of those since June of 2018 because, after they fired the manager we had at that time, it took an entire year for Corporate to find another sucker. That sucker quit a few weeks in, the one after that came all the way from Texas, but also soon quit. So now we have this new manager ─ with us only since mid-November. Hopefully he’ll last long enough to pull this meeting off.

He’s nice enough, respectful, cute but Apache and he have already crossed swords and, running into Apache this morning, they’re getting ready to cross swords yet again.

Evidently, Apache has been emailing new manager about complex issues, but it didn’t really hit the fan until just before Christmas, when Apache emailed the new manager about our needing security at night, because a car was stolen from the back lot and another car had been used for parts ─ someone stole the front grill off a Honda Civic. Also, Apache discovered a hole had been chopped in an empty garage, against a back wall, where entry could be made by an individual or individuals (to sleep perhaps). Apache had taken a photo of the hole, saying having such a way to enter the property from the mountain side was not safe for us.

Manager’s response was to say, “Don’t bother me anymore with what’s going on around here”.

OH SNAP!

Management can’t talk to Apache like this. He’ll take it from me and other residents, but management must tread lightly.

Inasmuch as this property is certified “Crime Free” and there are certain standards to be met in order to keep that designation, Apache contacted the agency issuing the certification about “crimes” occurring on the property ─ stolen car, vandalism of automobile and garage, need for security guard.

Sure enough, a representative from the agency showed up, did a walk through on the property, made some notations, and I expect some of what happened with that inspection will be discussed at the Community Meeting.

Corporate and management can’t be too happy about Apache reporting them, putting in jeopardy the crime-free certification, and whatever tax breaks comes with it.

The other thing likely to be discussed on the 28th is the New Year’s Eve Party.

I think those that attended are in trouble, might be forbidden to have another such party because there was alcohol ─ tequila and Rémy Martin (cognac).

There are seniors here who can’t drink. There are seniors here who shouldn’t drink. That would be, the 81-year-old who has the hots for Apache who, after taking a shot of tequila, ended up disrobing in the Community Room.

She took off her top. She took off her bra. Apache says he grabbed for his phone to take a photo by which time someone had rushed up and covered her with a wrap.

In a way, I’m glad I didn’t go. I won’t be one of the seniors on report. In another way, I’m sorry I missed it. Drunk seniors would have made some interesting fodder for the blog.

An Ominous Beginning

New Year’s Eve started off a business as usual day with a mid-morning workout at the Pain Cave, and plans to bring in the New Year with the seniors at a party in the Community Room, slated to begin at 5:00.

By the time five o’clock rolled around, I was way too comfortable to bundle up against the cold and head for the Community Room. I instead opted for a quiet night in ─ working on the latest needlepoint, watching the Twilight Zone Marathon.

THEN, along about 6:00, the cable services went down ─ no television, no internet.

The evening became a lot quieter than I’d bargained for.

At least the lights were still on, so I could spend the evening needlepointing ─ not like the day after Christmas when we had a complete outage first thing in the morning. Not only no television, no internet, but also no microwave, no stove, no lights. There was enough light seeping in from the outside that I could dress myself, but putting on makeup in the dark was challenging.

That outage was short, lasted a few hours. This latest outage lasted through New Year's Eve, and looked to be continuing all day today, with no end in sight and me with no access to information as to why it was happening and when will it end.

Along about 3:00, I decided to drive out of the area for bubble wrap and got cellphone access there to the internet. Able to log in, call my provider, make a complaint, I saw the outage was listed as system wide and caused by someone having damaged a fiber optic cable, whatever that is.

Whatever it is, the timing of it doesn’t sound like an accident or happenstance. More like the work of a disgruntled employee of the cable company or homegrown terrorist looking to ruin much for many.

I hope they figure out who, otherwise we can expect this kind of disruption again.

Expecting another night with no television no internet, about a half hour or so ago, I was pleasantly surprised to see lights once again blinking on the modem. Television and internet restored ─ too late to catch Judge Judy, but in time to catch tonight's episode of Vikings on the history channel.

Turns out the culprit cut the cable in two places between San Bernardino and Los Angeles.

Definitely someone with knowledge of the system's infrastructure.

At any rate, life will catch up with the culprit, if the authorities don’t, and karma will kick his arse. So though the start of 2020 seems ominous, it’s onward and upwards.

Seven Days In

I don’t know which is worse about living in the Inland Empire ─ the triple digit soaring heat or the freezing cold.

We don’t experience four seasons here. Instead, it’s Summer or it’s Winter and, with one extreme to the other, it’s either too hot to go out and be active or too cold, wet, windy.

Other than bemoaning the weather, using weather as an excuse for turning into a couch potato, it’s a whole lot of nothing going on. With nothing on my plate, nothing to do, nowhere to go, I’ve been able to put in 10/12-hour days into that needlepoint project.

At this rate, I might be able to complete this project by end of this year rather than 2020.

Looking at the January activity calendar, it doesn’t appear any senior activities will break into my needlepoint time as there is not a single activity listed.

The position of Community Manager is still advertised as open, applications being accepted on Corporate’s website. It’s been up since November, so the fact there appear to be no takers might indicate people are getting wise to the perils of working for Corporate.

It behooves one to do due diligence, research before submitting an application whatever the agency.

It’s also a good idea, in the interview, to ask about previous holders of the job ─ how many have been in the position, how long they held the job, why did they leave.

If the interviewer looks uncomfortable with answering those questions, run.

If the answer sounds like the job is like working at the current White House ─ a revolving door, run.

Looking at the photos my buddy Apache finally got around to posting on the community’s Facebook page, there was indeed a New Year’s Eve celebration. Didn’t seem like much celebrating went on with only four photos and what looks to be a handful of seniors, maybe six ─ The Seer and Shadow included.

Glad I didn’t waste my time going to that.

I did spend some time trying to work out how I could fly to New Orleans, spend a week there without getting sick because of my gut issues.

Unable to figure out how to manage taking my own food and cooking equipment on the flight and/or how to get what I needed in New Orleans, I had to turn down the opportunity to accompany Twin 1 as she presented what she does for the homeless at an event.

I’m not sorry though, as I’m not fond of travelling, especially by air now that there are so many restrictions.

I did think about driving the 1,845 miles (28 hours), with planned stops, the Instant Pot and safe foods in the trunk of the car. 

Having had the Jeep since February of last year, and only 3856 miles on it, I do need to put in some drive time. The event isn’t until March, so a road trip is still an option. Except, I’m not getting a good feeling about the organization hosting the event, don’t wish to go to so much trouble for them and feel Twin 1 should also say thanks but no thanks ─ even though they’re paying for her flight and hotel.

The farthest I’ve ever driven in my life is straight through to Sacramento (around 8 hours, 500 miles) through a scary stretch of highway known as The Grapevine. I was driving a Toyota back then, only had to make one pit stop.

Back then, the sign of a safe clean place to stop was a golden arch. There being no such logo along the route when nature called, I pulled into the only place available, another easily recognized chain known by its bright yellow five-pointed star, which should have been okay.

It wasn’t.

Because it was the only sign of civilization on a long stretch of mountainous road, many others had pulled in for the same reason as I. There was a long line and staff cared nothing of making sure the facility, so close to where food was served and eaten, was clean. It was disgusting. The experience scarred me for life.

Now the sign of a safe clean place to stop is a circle with a mermaid/siren in the center.

Looking at the route I’d be taking, it appears I’d be travelling through Arizona, New Mexico, crossing into Texas, and there are Starbucks along the way, some in malls, but I'll pass on this trip, wait for something that has a better feel about it ─ like a faraway meditation retreat or 5K.

Speaking of putting on miles, while the Jeep isn't getting much drive time, my body has been on the road racking up miles at a fast pace because, according to science, on an undisclosed date, because I don’t celebrate, the body reached the 75th time travelling 584 million miles around the sun.

Same route 75 times ... and I’m still not bored. Always an adventure of one kind or another.

New Year, Business as Usual

Twenty eighteen was a good year for me. No major complaints. Nothing I desperately wanted or needed to change this year, so I didn’t lock myself into any resolutions per se.

That’s not to say there are not things I need to improve ─ like train/walk more, maybe go to the gym, it’s just that I no longer set those as goals because, now that I'm retired and my time is my own, I know I can’t go back to a schedule, a regiment. I’m more free flow now ─ listening to the Universe and going with the flow.

However, it did cross my mind that I should rein in my shopping.

It’s a good thing I didn’t set that as a goal, was only thinking about it, because by 7:00 I’d made my first purchase of the year ─ not a need, but a want.

As seen on Debra's/She Who Seeks site

The year’s still young, so I’ll reset and think harder about reining in my shopping … that is after I order the same shirt for Twin 2, who will love it.

I want to wait until mine arrives and I can test for size before I order for Twin 2.

Second order of business for today was to tackle the patio’s Christmas decorations — box everything up, get things back in storage.

The wind was blowing so hard last night that I thought there’d be no patio decorations to store, that I’d awake to find everything gone with the wind.

Checking the patio around 6:00 a.m., I found nothing gone, someone’s empty fast food bag added, the chair, decorations, rug jumbled and shoved into a corner.

At any rate, by noon, the patio was back to pre-Christmas condition — everything neatly stored, not to be seen for another year.

I’ll have to find out how yesterday’s New Years Eve party went — that is if there was one.

My buddy Apache texted me in the morning that instead of 2:00 PM to 1:00 AM, the festivities had been rescheduled — 5:00 to 7:00, because “the replacements don’t know how to set the code”.

What apache meant was that what staff we had on the property New Year’s Eve were temps working half day and none knew how to reset the code on the Community Room doors to remain unlocked past 7:00 PM.

That didn’t explain why the event start was moved from 2:00 to 5:00 but whatever the reason, I lost interest, decided it wasn’t worth the effort to brave the cold wind and stayed warm and comfortable in my unit.

Apache is not one to have his plans thwarted by management, so I expect his not being able to have the room past midnight is going on his list of grievances. And the fact he didn’t post any photos to the resident’s Facebook page means it either didn’t happen or no one showed up.

I’m expecting the worst because I can feel how angry he is ─ not at me, or the residents, but at management.

Figuring the market would be closing early yesterday, I made a quick trip for black bean soup ingredients.

The market was crowded and not much fun now that it’s back to business as usual with hide and seek over. Since hide and seek was so successful, hopefully they’ll bring back the elf next year.

Because the market parking lot was crowded, I’d parked way off in a corner. Returning to the car, I discovered that parking spot was pinging on a Pokémon GO Gym, under the control of Team Yellow (Instinct). I being Team Red (Valor) decided to hon my skills by engaging in a battle with the three Team Yellow creatures in the gym.

I won!

First time winning a battle and I won all three!

Not knowing what to do after winning, I shut down the game and returned to the complex.

Upon booting up the computer and researching what come next, I learned I missed an opportunity. After winning, I should have claimed the gym for Team Red and left a creature behind to fight off opposing teams that tried to claim or reclaim the gym.

Now I just have to figure out how to claim.

Living and learning. That should be my goal for 2019 ─ keep living and learning.

Countdown to 2019

Except for fending off an invitation to join in on feeding the homeless this past Saturday, on the streets of Skid Row in Los Angeles, the past week has been totally absolutely completely uneventful as I head into a new year.

There’s a superstition I’ve been careful not to test that what you do at the end of one year, the people you are in contact with, as you go into the next year, is a portent of that next year.

I can remember not answering the phone on New Years Eve, because I didn’t want my last contact to be the person I knew was probably making the call. A certain someone I didn’t want to be the last person I spoke with because I didn’t want that person in my life the next year.

So, the idea of standing for hours in filth and squalor, no place to sit, no bathroom, surrounded by the downtrodden ─ many who are so sick and unappreciative (hurling insults, calling you all kinds of beoches) and so dangerous that a motorcycle club has to stand guard as security while you put yourself out to help. No thanks!

I didn’t want or need that experience and the images of Skid Row in my head as 2018 ends and 2019 begins, so I opted to spend this past week being quiet, reflective, meditative, listening to the thoughts running through my head as I was being quiet, reflective, meditative.

The seniors are getting an early start (2:00 today) to their New Year’s Eve party.

Because I’m on the verge of no longer qualifying to live in this limited income community, because my income is not all that limited any longer, I don’t want to jinx myself that the superstition of no contact means not taking this community with me into 2019, so I’ll go down to see what’s shaking just so I can hopefully lock myself in for another year. However, looking at all the hugging that went on when I dropped into the party last New Year's Eve, I’ll be certain to lie and say I’m coming back when I slip away.

I can no longer cap off the year with my favorite indulgence, Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia, because of gut issues.

Fortunately, I’ve learned the gut likes champagne and I’ve got a stash of those little Martinelli’s, so I’ll spend tonight being quiet, reflective, meditative, drinking Martinelli, toasting to a Happy and Prosperous New Year to you all.