Edward Scissorhands and Other Tales

Heading to the Community Room to take photos of today’s Craft Class for the residents’ facebook page, I caught Mr. Scissorhands in the process of giving buzz cuts to the remaining greenery.

Oh Oh! He caught me taking pics

Didn’t stop me from taking more pics.

The Usual Suspects made bracelets from tongue depressors today.

Crafty Lady soaked the depressors in water, manually molded into shape and the ladies embellished with fabric and stick-on decorations.

One of these bracelets, posed atop a display in Vanity Magazine, is a tongue depressor bracelet. Can you tell which one?

Today’s tea involved one of our Usual Suspects — Di, who tells us her utilities have been cutoff because she forgot to pay, couldn’t remember last time she actually paid a utility bill, didn’t recall getting any notices warning of being $1400 in arrears and of impending cutoffs until utilities were turned off.

That got her attention.

Di is one of the residents that doesn’t make much money, pays about $150 in rent and has a hard time coming up with that. So, she’s really in a pickle, which she’s hoping Kesha can help her resolve … show her how to work out something with the utility company or put her in contact with an agency whose mission is to help seniors in situations like this.

$1400 is a lot of misremembering. I’m thinking about over a year’s worth of forgetfulness because, looking at my budget sheet, I last year paid a total of $892.89 in utilities ($491.37 to Edison Electricity and $401.52 to SoCal Gas).

So, I can’t imagine how long it took for Di to get to $1400 in arrears.

Di is easily confused and forgetful due to a brain injury suffered in an automobile accident. Before that she was a brilliant chemist and still occasionally will have moments of brilliance where she will say something that speaks of quantum physics while misremembering simple things.

I dunno. My spirit is telling me to pay the bill for her, but I myself am not rich and don’t want to step into something that might cause her to depend on me in the future.

Part of Kesha’s job is to help the seniors out by connecting them with resources for medical and rent and utilities. So, I think I’ll wait to see if Di can resolve this issue through other means before involving myself.

Worry Worry Toil and Trouble

Today’s Memorial Day BBQ went off without a hitch and was the success it usually is when it’s an event us residents set up for ourselves.

There was tons of food and about 35 residents in attendance.

I arrived early, took the table in a back corner where I could see everything, get up/down easily to take photos, and hoped I’d be mostly to myself.

Instead, I ended up feeling trapped and suffocating with too many people surrounding me, as my table filled up first.

MAGA chose to sit at my table and, for once, didn’t do or say anything that annoyed me. She performed just like a regular human, even spilled some interesting tea about residents I don’t know; information she’s gleaned from walking around with her dog, attaching herself to others like she’s been trying to do with Talker, in order to get all up in their business.

Dream Lover manned the BBQ and, when all the chicken and hotdog were done, came inside, sat first at one table then, when Lu came in later, ended up sitting next to Lu.

Lu didn’t handle him like she used to ……… hands possessively all over him. So, it wasn’t clear to me if they were just friends or back on again.

I couldn’t resist ……… at one point as I was passing that table, seeing Lu engaged in conversation with someone on the other side of her, I stopped, quickly leaned over Dream Lover, whispered in his ear "Are you two in love again?"

He shook his head a resounding "No".

I was quick, already moving to walk away when something, or someone at the table, alerted Lu to something going on between Dream Lover and I.

She quickly turned around, only saw me walking away, but I can imagine someone at the table will tell her about the whispering, and she'll wonder.

Let her wonder; I'm not worried about that, but I did do something at the BBQ that does have me worried.

Sometimes I can be abrupt to the extreme, and this was one of those times.

Crafty Lady brought her two grandsons to the BBQ.

I said before that I’m not good at guessing ages, so I can’t tell you how old the boys are, but maybe around 9 and 10.

The boys were playing games, starting with chess. I happened to be walking by when I saw they’d switched to checkers.

"I’ve not seen a checkerboard in eons", said I; whereupon, the elder boy asked, "Do you play?"

"I don’t know, it’s been a long long time, I don’t even remember how to start".

The younger said, "I’ll help you", so I sat down across from the older boy.

As the younger began instructing me on how the game is played, I looked up and found Crafty Lady removing the elder from his seat across from me, sitting her own self down to play against me.

Here’s where abrupt took over ……… "HEY! What’s going on? I’m playing with the boys. Get up. Give him his seat back".

She did, and disappeared to help with serving food to the seniors; but now I’m worried that I came across too strong, that she will have a delayed reaction, think about it and decide to be offended at the way I spoke to her, if she hasn't already.

I have no plans to apologize. I'll just worry that I did a wrong thing.

As for how the game played out, he won of course; but I had him on the ropes for a while, as the game moves began to come back to me.

I’m also worried about something else that happened today.

First was a message I received at 10:17 AM from a former co-worker friend, not in the habit of sending me messages …… "You've been on my mind all morning. Just sending you love through Instagram".

I replied, "Thanks! Insofar as I know I'm good, so don't know why you're picking me up".

She replied, "I'm not sure why either but it felt like I needed to tell you I was thinking of you. You are truly one of kind and I'm glad I know you".

I was getting eulogy vibes, pondered it for a bit, then pushed it out of my head.

THEN, at 5:24 PM, a message from Trainer arrived …… "What's up Shirley just checking in on you hope all is well".

So now I'm worried again but replied, "Still alive".

I don’t know what to make of the two telepathically picking me up. On the other hand, I do know, but ………………

The Week That Was

The last five days have been a blur.

Except for Wednesday and Sunday, I have no memory of the other days.

Wednesday stands out because of what our MAGA neighbor was reported to have done.

I’d popped into Crafts on Wednesday to take photos of what the seniors were making for the FB page.

Readers might remember Hubba Hubba Awooga Silver Fox …… the guy who had been traumatized by women in the complex chasing him.

He hated it, said he was sick and tired of women knocking on his door, bringing cakes/meals; sick and tired of women always chasing him …… period.

Though there’s been no mention of Hubba Hubba Awooga in the blog since September, when he was depressed at having been in the hospital "a couple of times", suffering from diverticulitis, I’ve caught occasionally glimpses of him on the walkway from my patio window; and once, when I was on the parking lot as he was driving out of the complex, he’d waved and asked from his car’s window if things were good with me.

Other than that, there’s been no actual contact as he’s even more of a loner than I.

Insofar as I can tell, he looks no longer depressed, so maybe his health issue has been resolved.

He also looks not quite as Hubba Hubba Awooga Silver Fox, as he formerly appeared to me, because he cut his hair …… the man bun is gone, remaining silver hair looks gray.

So, anyway, I guess others still find him Hubba Hubba Awooga, because Talker said MAGA was tailing her one day, trying to engage in conversation, when Hubba Hubba Awooga Silver Fox appeared, heading for his car.

He doesn’t talk to anyone around here except myself and Talker. So, seeing Talker, he said "Hey" and moved to approach to talk to her.

Talker said MAGA was in awe, watched him approach, whispered "Do you know him …… is he new here?".

"Yes, I know him. No, he’s not new. He’s been here two years".

As Hubba Hubba Awooga got to where Talker was standing, before he could get a word out, MAGA still in awe, blurted out, "You are a good looking man".

Was she flirting?.

I don’t know.

I don’t think so.

I think it was a spontaneous statement of fact, a compliment.

However, with Hubba Hubba Awooga having been traumatized by women overly appreciative of his looks, it was the wrong thing to say.

Talker said his reaction was to stop in place, then turn and walk away without saying a word.

MAGA supposedly looked confused, whereupon Talker said to her, "You just did a no no" and explained how Hubba Hubba Awooga hated what she'd said, found it annoying.

I told Talker that should MAGA bring up Hubba Hubba Awooga again, she should tell her that even if he had not been annoyed, MAGA would not have had a chance because he wouldn’t touch a supporter of Two Dolls Donnie with a ten-foot pole.

Talker said she’s going to work that into their next conversation.

LOL. I hope she does.

Venturing outside on Sunday to do laundry, I ran into the resident that lives across the grassy knoll, upstairs, next door to Upstairs Lady.

Let’s call her the Lady with the White Dog (LWTWD).

LWTWD was good friends with my former Next Door Neighbor, even helped her box-up for the move, and was telling me how happy former Next Door Neighbor is in her new community.

No surprise, I knew where she was going, would be happy with the move.

LWTWD also said she’s visited twice already, would be interested in moving there as well, but cannot afford the $2,375 a month rent; that because former Next Door Neighbor is on the County, her portion of the rent is only $400.

WOW! $400 A MONTH AND ITS A NICER AREA, HAS A FITNESS CENTER AND ACTUAL ACTIVITIES …… THAT'S A GIFT!

LWTWD will no doubt be a frequent visitor.

I myself did not visit when former neighbor lived next door because she bored me; so, even if ever invited, no way will I travel 20 minutes to be bored.

On the Activity Calendar for today, Kesha Tuesday, is "Social: Bingo and a Picnic (Sandwiches, Chips, Beverage)".

I'll pass; but I do have to go down, deliver flyers to the Baker.

Hopefully, I can get in and out before Kesha runs up, pushes her clipboard in my face, asks me to sign.

Rain Sticks

Yesterday was chaotic.

Along around 10:15, Painted Rock Lady telephoned, asked "Are we meeting this morning?" (to discuss the flyers she wants).

I said, "Thursday at 11:00".

"Today is Thursday, and I’m already down here waiting for you".

"Oh crap!", said I. "Let me throw on some clothes and I’ll be right down".

It’s not unusual for me to get my days mixed up, so I accepted yesterday was Thursday and I’d somehow missed a day … Wednesday.

Arriving at the Community Room she was looking at her phone. Said, "I just checked the date and today IS Wednesday, not Thursday".

So not only did she call me down on the wrong day, it was also the wrong time; but whatever. I was there, so we worked out designs for her flyers.

While the two of us were in the room, Crafty Lady (having a momentary retrieve from her heart issues) and some of the Usual Suspects set up a table to work on Rain Sticks, which turns out to be closing off the end of a paper towel tube, inserting rice, closing off the other end of the tube, embellishing the tube and Voilà … rain sticks.

I didn’t make one, just stuck around to take photos for the seniors’ Facebook page, listen to the latest tea, which was that the last two Usual Suspects who moved away are now sorry.

Both moved to be closer to family. One is installed in a box style senior building — rows of rooms, hotel corridor set up, everyone in their own little space, walls paper thin, not the open areas to roam around like here, all of which she says is making it difficult to make friends, not to mention she’s not getting the care and closeness with family she’d expected.

The other moved out of state to be with family, and now says it was a mistake to leave the community, that she can’t get along with her daughter.

I’ve seen that happen a lot over the years I’ve lived here. Some former residents move back, others try but, for one reason or another, management won’t allow them back.

Red Light comes to mind. She was immediately regretful of moving, kept coming back to visit/involve herself in our activities, until she was told "You're no longer a resident. Not allowed to participate".

Whereupon she had a hissy fit. Made harassing telephone calls, sent harassing text messages.

I was worried she'd apply for a unit and return but, due to the harassment, she's blown any chance of returning.

Though the community and management would welcome the other two back with open arms, I doubt I’ll see either of the other two return, even if they wanted to. One is not healthy enough to handle another move, the other is in Texas; the logistics of moving back to California would be too difficult.

No way will my former Next Door Neighbor regret moving. She never liked it here and is now in a community that meets the bougie vibe she craved.

I sat with the ladies in the Community Room until their crafts were completed and they tried out their rain sticks.

Kinda reminds me of the Shake Weights that Suzanne Somers was hawking back in the day, LOL.

At any rate, the rain sticks fortunately did not work. Today, April 30th, is a sunny 81°.

Tomorrow ….

Don’t Sh!t Where You Eat

The Activity Calendar indicated today, Kesha Tuesday, was to be "Easter Celebration, fun arts and crafts session".

There was no fun arts and crafts, but the tea was banging.

To start with, I wore the Lock Him Up tee to see if it would trigger our MAGA neighbor.

Walking into the room, I was met with the smell of fresh pizza and Kesha running up to me, clipboard in hand, before I’d even got to a seat, asking me to sign her attendance sheet.

I was tempted to pass on signing, pretend to be writing and not do it, but it was just the Usual Suspects in the room, not enough residents to get away with that.

Had others known Kesha would actually show up, no arts/crafts but there would be fresh pizza, others would have come.

MAGA did not attend. However, at one point, I checked mail, saw I had lots of mail and packages — because I’d not checked the box for a while, went to the car for a bag to be able to get the haul back upstairs.

Heading back to the Community Room, I heard someone call my name.

It was MAGA.

Coming up on the rear to greet me, she had to have seen the back of the tee, which depicts her Lord and Savior's August ’23 Booking Photo.

No reaction.

I made a point to stop, turn around, so she could see the Lock Him Up front.

I mentioned there was pizza in the Community Room, but she said she was on her way to take another resident to pick up medication and continued on with still no reaction to the tee.

DAMN! She’s good at holding it in.

Arriving back at the Community Room, I told Talker I’d just run into her stalker, and that MAGA had no reaction to the tee.

Talker said she too had recently tested MAGA ……… walked up to her and said something about Two Dolls not being Jesus or the Pope, and got no reaction from MAGA.

Interesting.

I don’t think MAGA has reformed. Just knows that, thanks to all that’s going on, she no longer has legs to stand on in supporting him, has wisely decided to sit down, keep her mouth shut, opinions to herself.

Checking with the ladies as to how Crafty Lady is doing with her heart issues, it’s still not good. Looks like she’s going to have an operation … something about putting a watchman in her chest to help with blood clots heading for her brain.

Lu did not attend the event, but Dream Lover did.

In chatting with him about nothing in particular, he suddenly blurted out "I'm no longer with the other".

I knew he meant he and Lu are no longer a couple.

"For now", said I.

"Forever", said he and went on to say the relationship was like a light switch … turned on and off, off and on, on and off, off and on, and that he couldn’t take it any longer.

"Which of you turned it off this time", I asked.

"She did", said he; and went on to describe a situation where she broke it off because of money, that she is a "gold digger", that he had a heart to give her, but not the money.

The straw that broke the camel's back was her wanting to celebrate his birthday by taking him to dinner; whereupon he'd said, "For someone who is always complaining about needing money" he didn't think it was a good idea, after which she telephoned and broke up with him.

At this point in his story, he kind of slumped over and seemed on the verge of tears.

He was obviously hurt/hurting.

I told him how sorry I was; that I didn’t realize Lu had meant that much to him.

He admitted that she meant a lot, that he’d given her a ring and was thinking of marriage.

GEE WILLIKERS!

DREAM LOVER WAS ACTUALLY IN LOVE !

I didn't know old people did that kinda stuff …… hearts, flowers, courting, love.

I asked how he’d handle it if she tried to lure him back.

He’s all heartbroke. Says he can’t take any more, is working hard to stay busy, move forward, and stay away from relationships period, "especially around here".

Anything can happen when you screw around where you work or live, said I. It creates problems if there’s a breakup. You still have to see the other person, deal with it when you see them with someone else. It’s why we are told, "Don’t eat where you sh!t".

That brought him out of the doldrums. Dream Lover laughed and laughed and laughed, told me of having heard that phrase before but put in different words.

"She has demons you know".

WHAT?!

"Her daughter told me she has demons".

Good Lord! I was shocked to learn Lu was a hoarder, now I’m even more shocked to learn she has demons.

"What does that mean …… how does it manifest itself?", asked I.

"I don’t know", said he. That he had never seen her when that was happening.

I guess he's lucky she broke up with him, rather than have an episode and sacrifice him to some demon.

Church Lady used to live in the unit next to Lu. Church Lady complained of bad spirits/demons being there, and got away …… relocated to the opposite side of the complex.

I wonder if what Church Lady felt was coming from Lu.

So anyway, after having been a shoulder for Dream Lover, lifting him out of his doldrums, I told him to take care of himself, said goodbye to everyone and returned to my unit with a full teacup.

I Wonder

Seeing the above meme on facebook this morning, I wondered …… Do the ones that got us into this mess really have the decency to be embarrassed …… admit that, for no good reason, they supported a man that has a history of business failures and debauchery.

I don’t think so.

My old buddy Apache comes to mind. He’s stubborn, which I sense many supporters are …… stubborn, will make excuses for the man, refuse to have been wrong.

Then there’s our MAGA neighbor.

I don’t know what she’s thinking these days about him. I haven’t heard of any political conversations going on, so I may have to bait her, see how she reacts when his name comes up.

Easter was on Sunday, April 5. The Activity Calendar for April indicates "Easter Celebration, April 21 …… fun arts and crafts session".

That’s a lot late to celebrate Easter, and I highly doubt there will be anything other than a bag of potato chips, if that; but it gives me an opportunity to find out if Kesha is still around, plus an opportunity to bait MAGA by wearing my "Lock him up" tee shirt. See if her jaws tighten, LOL.

Speaking of MAGA, when last I spoke of her, Talker was full up with MAGA trying to get too close, be Talker’s bestie, asking too many personal questions, "interrogations" Talker describes it. Talker was going to find a "nice way" to tell MAGA she’s doing too much, making her feel uncomfortable and, if that didn’t work, "I’ll have to take it to the next level".

Yesterday, as I was going back/forth to the Laundry Room, I ran into Talker, who tells me "nice" didn’t work. That she told her becoming besties is not something that can be forced, it’s something that happens organically.

MAGA is not only not hearing it, but is also now targeting the Baker, asking pointed questions, interrogating; which prompted Talker to tell the Baker to be careful of responding to MAGA’s interrogations.

"Nice" not working, "Trying to Avoid" not working, Talker’s next move might be losing her sh!t, screaming "leave me alone!!".

Stay tuned.

Today was the first day in a while where I didn’t feel like emotional and physical crap. Maybe it was because instead of reheating last night’s leftover baked potatoes in the microwave for breakfast with an egg, I made stovetop potatoes from scratch and didn't feel sick after eating. (See Mike’s very illuminating post on reheating certain foods).

I even had enough energy to suit up in walking gear, head out for a stroll around the complex.

Coming back to life is slow going. I could only handle 1 mile, and it took me 32 minutes to do so, 14 minutes longer than my previous personal best, but it’s a start.

Easter Luncheon

After saying I had no plans to attend yesterday’s luncheon, I went; but only because the Baker called that morning, said "I don’t know if you’re coming down for the luncheon, but someone wants to say hello".

I assumed (correctly) it was her great granddaughter, whom I’ve watched grow into an accomplished young lady over the years, coming to give me a hug because of that thing I can’t allow myself to think or talk about.

This is she back in 2013 at our Cookie Decorating event.

This is she in 2019, scrambling eggs for the Community Breakfast.

This is she now, getting ready to graduate high school, already college bound …… accepted into a prestigious Baptist University, focus on the aeronautics program (plans to be a commercial pilot because she was told she’s too small to pilot for the military).

She’s packed quite a few accomplishments into her back pocket. Just to name a few …… in 2024 she got her pilot’s license, driver’s license in 2025 (she was certified to fly planes before she learned to drive a car), played violin in the high school band, was on the cheer squad, has travelled to England; and, backtracking to cars, she drives a BMW, which I assume is a graduation present.

When I graduated high school, I got a bus schedule. Not a pass, just the schedule.

I hadn’t planned to stay any longer than it took to receive the hug, but the Baker announced an Easter Egg Hunt.

Several residents brought their grandchildren to the luncheon, plus we had the Baker’s great granddaughter, teen great grandson and a teen friend of the two.

Believe it or not, young and old got excited at the idea of hunting for candy filled plastic eggs.

I myself began looking under my chair, then decided just to watch/take photos for the residents' FB page.

There were no eggs under tables/chairs; Instead, plastic eggs had been hidden in the Community Room blinds ……

Hidden along the corridor to the Game Room behind planters, inside the pamphlet holder, on the top edge of picture frames.

That's MAGA

Inside the Game/Library/Computer Room.

On the outside patio in corners, in planters.

One adult found an egg on the patio inside the BBQ grill.

It was a fun thing to watch, after which I headed back to my unit.

The Baker looked exhausted, told me "I have to slow down" as the responsibility of hosting bingo and events is wearing her down. Then, in the next breath, said she’s planning a Memorial Day BBQ.

She had a team to help her but, with team members moving/passing away, it's basically she, Talker, their family members doing the work.

Crafty Lady was a member of the team, but the Baker tells me "She’s very ill". Something about having her heart shocked to get it on rhythm, a medical device that I recall the Baker said was now not IN her chest, but ON her chest to monitor heart rhythm, and it’s not going well.

Nurse Linda in Kansas: You can probably tell me more about what that device might be. I want to say defibrillator, but I’m not sure I’m remembering what I was told correctly.

Painted Rock Lady, not in the best of shape her own self, has helped the Baker with things and MAGA, still on her campaign to redeem herself, has stepped in to help, as have others, including Dream Lover, because they know the Baker loves doing this.

So, even if it eventually kills her, the Baker will drag her worn body around to provide the seniors with bingo and events.

Speaking of Dream Lover, I haven’t seen him in weeks. I’ve seen Lu plenty, but no Dream Lover.

Is he hospitalized …… away on vacation …… found another sweetheart …… or has he once again tired of Lu's constant touching/rubbing and is taking a little break?

My inquiring mind wants to know, so I may have to pop into Kesha Tuesday to get the tea.

Vacancy

SIGNAL BOOST for Blogging Buddy Mary Kirkland of Dark Thoughts: Mary’s daughter Lizzie is currently hospitalized with double pneumonia, sepsis, has been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, will be on oxygen for the foreseeable future and could really use some help with medical expenses.

If you would be so kind, Lizzie’s best friend Savanna has organized a GoFundMe for Lizzie HERE.

This is awful for Mary. My heart goes out to her and Lizzie.

Next Door Neighbor finally moved.

She’s gone, but that ugly assed tacky doormat remains.

Now askew from having been trampled on during the move.

I'm tempted, but don’t dare be so presumptuous as to toss the doormat in the trash myself. I’ll wait for management to discard. However, now that it's askew, I see there is an actual doormat under that red cover. So, if it looks like management is not going to toss it I will, under cover of darkness, make sure the red cover gets to the dumpster.

Why I say NDN "finally moved" is because, with a team of three/four male relatives (plus, when our downstairs neighbor’s son Compton …… the kid that wants to be my Boy Toy saw the move happening, he jumped in to help), it took 3 days, all day — morning, noon, night. Sometimes as late as 11:30 pm to complete the move.

I wasn’t annoyed by the noise during the day or late into the night; doubt any others in the quad made a stink about it. Instead, I was impressed with the dedication and amazed at their stamina — up/down the stairs to the U-Haul, load, drive 15 miles to the new place, unload, drive back to this complex, repeat.

I told NDN it was exhausting for me just to see how much work was going into the move.

Before leaving, she chastised me …… "You've never come to visit".

Yep. She went there.

Meaning, I never knocked on her door, hung out with her for coffee, conversation, play cards.

I wanted to say, "I've got better things to do than bore myself listening to your mundane conversations about things I have no interest in", but what I actually said was, "I'm not the visiting kind", to which she nodded affirmative, like she already knew that.

So, anyway, the days it took (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), with the number of people NDN had helping, brought back when I moved out of the apartment in Long Beach to this complex. As I recall, it only took a few hours with a team of two.

The difference is Next Door Neighbor has soooooooooo muuuuuch stuff — expensive, heavy, museum quality furniture, artwork, artifacts, memorabilia from when she travelled with her then military officer husband to countries where she had servants. Material objects that she says, though she can’t take it with her when she goes, she’s going to enjoy it while she’s here, let others worry about it when she’s gone.

I get it, and though I don’t have expensive museum quality stuff, I do have things that are hard for me to let go of — things that have no value, can’t be sold or donated after I’m gone; but things, like NDN, I enjoy surrounding myself with while I’m here.

I think I’ve done fairly well in decluttering the place, to not let the things I hold onto reach the level NDN has but, now looking around, I suddenly feel there’s still too much unnecessary stuff.

Time for me to do another decluttering/deep dive death cleaning.

On Saturday, when I walked into the bedroom to pull paperwork from a drawer, through that window I spied Talker sitting on the bench with a nice-looking guy.

Talker recently dyed the gray out of her hair to prepare for a blind date.

Seriously …… a friend is setting her up with a blind date.

What!? thought I when she told me.

A blind date????

At our age????

"Brave", I told her.

So, anyway, seeing her sitting there with that guy, I texted, "I’m looking out the window at you. Is that your blind date?"

I watched as she picked up her phone, looked at the text, bent over laughing, looked over, saw me waving from the window; whereupon, she called me on the phone, said, "No, it’s one of my granddaughter’s uncles. He’s a fireman".

I think I previously mentioned that Little Knock Knock has some eye candy looking uncles.

"He’s handsome", said I to which, listening to the telephone conversation, he responded, laughingly, "Thank you Miss Shirley".

I am so sure it’s not the first time that fireman has been complemented on his looks; and won't be the last time.

Talker is going to get good mileage on the retelling, to everyone she knows, possibly including the blind date when she gets to know him, that I was watching her through the window, getting all up in her business.

In other news, the seniors are throwing themselves an Easter Luncheon this Wednesday, April Fool's Day but no fooling.

There's likely to be a crowd.

I'm not yet ready for hanging with the folks. Taking a pass.

The More Things Change

The more some things remain the same.

It’s been a while since I’ve venture out, so long that the jeep had to be towed by a pimped-out tow truck and battery replaced from having not been driven for weeks and weeks and weeks.

Emotional wreck that I was, having gotten through that inconvenience, finding myself able to handle contact with the tow truck driver and the dealership’s sales manager, I saw on this month’s activity calendar "Tuesday, March 17, Social: St. Patrick’s Day Paint and Sip, join neighbors in the Community Room for painting, festive snacks and refreshing beverages, 12:00- 1:30 pm".

Is there really going to be a paint and sip or is this another one of Kecia’s scams?thought I.

Do I dare try to get through a social?

You won’t know if you don’t try so baby steps .... not wearing green lipstick or the annual four-leaf clover top, I headed for the Community Room this morning.

Though I didn’t see Kesha or anything that looked like paint, canvasses, festive snacks or refreshing beverages, the handful of usual suspects I encountered said Kesha was on the premises. None had a clue about painting but said refreshing beverages was going to be juice.

To me, a refreshing beverage is coffee, but that's just me.

So, anyway, I stuck around/waited for about 20 minutes before deciding some things never change, that it was another scam and headed out to Starbucks, for a refreshing beverage.

At least I got to see the cute tree management set up in the lobby.

End of Cuffing Season

Life has been pretty sweet last few days — no Ernie, no Crafty Lady.

Cuffing Season generally ends between February and March, so not seeing either of the two around may indicate the season is winding down early.

In fact, I've had no irritants other than the Clown in the Oval Office, but I’m more and more convinced the end is near for him.

In fact, he may be gone already and what we're seeing is A.I.

Posts on facebook last night were all about the Danes wanting to buy California.

I myself am flattered that out of all the states to choose from, they chose us Californians.

No surprise, others expressed wanting in on the deal. Comments were along the lines of …………

"Can Oregon jump in on this? Maybe like a free gift with purchase?"

"Missouri is worth 7 cents ………… please buy us, it's a bargain and we'll be taking offers".

"*Raises hand in Austin, TX*".

"The pastries sealed the deal".

"Great Danes: Will you take Oklahoma?"

"Alabama will be cheaper. Where do I sign".

"Do the residents already living in California get Denmark citizenship? I will literally move to Cali immediately!"

On and on and on, with one commenter pointing out — "Craziest part is they technically can. Because California doesn’t technically belong to the US. It was an island that smashed into the U.S.A. and it just kinda became one of the states".

That being the case, give me the signal and I’ll start learning the language.

In other news, the Activity Calendar indicated "Winter Crafts" for yesterday’s Kesha Tuesday.

Busy doing nothing, I didn’t even bother to go downstairs to check. Instead, I called the Baker, asked if she was in the Community Room.

She was and evidently couldn’t talk freely, just kinda grunted yes that she was in the room, grunted no when I asked if there were crafts.

After moving away from where she was seated, so she could talk freely, she said Kesha had stayed long enough to give them bags of potato chips and then disappeared, that it was not worth my time to get dressed, come down.

I wonder if, when we become Danish territory, we can get a better Manager and Activity Director to go along with "universal health care, fact-based politics, and a lifetime supply of Danish pastries".

Late Saturday night, I got a sweet message from ex-Trainer.

He went to the trouble of putting that compilation together.

I think he misses me.

He could talk to me on a level he couldn’t with any of his other clients, nor even a level his wife could understand.

I miss him too and, if he ever moved to a different location, where he once again had space dedicated to personal training, I’d go back because, though I have exercise equipment up the wazoo in my unit, what I don’t have is motivation to get off the couch and workout.