On the 8th Day of Christmas

Out of eggs this morning, it was like Oh, goodie. I have to go to the market.

I settled for potatoes and a faux sausage patty, made from ground turkey, which I make ahead and keep in the fridge for as needed. Then, after my morning ritual, suited up, headed out to hunt the elf.

Detouring through the office to turn in recertification paperwork, I checked the bulletin board and found an Activity Calendar for this month.

So that’s how it is now. Instead of emailing, as they said they would for those of us who’ve signed up for Rent Café, and instead of posting to our doors as was the previous practice, management prints one copy, posts that copy to the bulletin board.

In addition to saving money by not hosting events for us, I guess they’re saving money by printing only one copy of the Activity Calendar.

Speaking of events, I saw on the calendar that, on Kecia Tuesday, December 2nd, "Hot Cocoa, Cookies".

Today being Crafts Monday, I saw the Usual Suspects in the Community Room and asked did Hot Cocoa, Cookies actually happen.

Not exactly, I was told. There were cookies, but no cocoa. It turned into cookies and pizza.

That’s at least something. A pathetic something, but better than a bag of potato chips.

Scanning the Calendar to see what if anything management was doing about a Christmas celebration, what I found was another Kecia Tuesday thing — "Tuesday, December 16th, 12:00 am – 1:30 pm, Social: End of Year Winter Celebration, Join us for a festive end-of-year holiday celebration with the whole community!".

Yeah, sure, and I’ve got a bridge to sell you.

Of course I’ll check it out for blog fodder but, unless it lives up to the hype, I’m not wasting much time in the room and I won't be signing Kecia’s attendance sheet.

Finally making my way to the market (my regular store), I found they too displayed no signage to say there was an hidden elf.

Nevertheless, just in case, I kept my eyes out as I moved along and VOILA! As I turned the corner by Dairy, there he was.

I hope this lack of signage is not an indication they’re losing interest in promoting this tradition, that they might drop it altogether next year — no hidden elf, but time will tell.

Linda in Kansas: I see Travis is catching a lot of heat. You know I’m not a fan of Kelsie … I sense he’s pompous, arrogant, and I don’t like how he treated his ex-girlfriend; he went Black and then went back. Nevertheless, despite my not being a fan, I just want you to know his latest trials/tribulations are not my doing. I’ve not focused bad things for him, no voodoo doll, my hands are clean. Maybe it’s the ex-girlfriend working her Black Girl Magic or the hundreds/thousands of others who don’t appreciate how he treated a Black Queen.

All in all, sorry not sorry.

On the 4th Day of Christmas

It’s a cool and windy 64 degrees today, but the chill factor has me feeling like I'm freezing, that it's about to snow, so I'm all bundled up in my camo onesie, hood up, to try to keep warm without turning on the heat.

I did redress in warm clothing and headed out to pick up photos I’d had developed at the drugstore, which drugstore is across the street from a branch of the market I frequent.

I really didn’t need anything, but Find the Elf was due back December 1 so, figuring the games afoot, I thought of things I could probably use, just so I could hunt.

I was expecting to see the usual sign with the name of the elf saying "Our Hometown Elf is back. Find the hidden elf around the store and get a fun free treat", but no such sign was posted.

Figuring store management just hadn’t gotten around to the elf thing, I didn’t hunt; just picked up kale, potatoes and headed for the check stand where I asked, "Are you not bringing back the elf this year?"

I was told, "Yes, he’s here. I don’t know where he is, but he’s here".

"I don’t see the usual signs", said I.

"An announcement was made earlier".

What the hell use is an announcement?

What if you’re not there to hear the announcement?

So, anyway, now knowing there was an elf hidden in the store, plan was to go to the car, drop off the purchase, head back into the store to hunt; BUT, waiting for change, I glanced around and VOILA!, there the elf was, staring straight at me from its perch over the security guard.

"There it is", I excitedly exclaimed; whereupon, the cashier turned, looked, didn’t see it until I pointed out "Over the security guard".

Pausing on my way out to capture pics of the find, an elderly lady smiled, asked "How many elves do you have to find?"

"Just the one".

"There’s two in the store", said she and led me to the instore banking area where the tellers had propped an elf up behind their workstation.

It was a different looking elf from the one the store usually hides, kinda cheap looking, so I said, "That’s not the one we have to find. It’s a decoy", causing the tellers to laugh and say, "Yes. A decoy".

So, mission accomplished, I’m back in my unit, trying to stay warm with homemade coffee (not Starbucks, Bob) while redressed in that camo onesie.

Mutual Admiration Society

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas up in here. The Santa Chairs, Boot Stocking, front door and patio decorations are all in place.

There’s a view from the bedroom window of a lighted patio, two other residents on the front side of my building have lights up.

Heading out this morning for the market, I could see one of the residents across the quad has a Santa on her patio and returning, having to drive through the opposite gate, because I’m not sure the gate on my side is fixed, I saw two other patios decked out for Christmas.

So, it’s at least looking good for a festive appearance around here.

While at the market, just as I was turning into the bulk water isle, a young man who looked to have been shopping with another guy — both around 18/19, walked over and said, "I want to say something", so I paused.

"You see that guy over there (pointing to the guy I'd seen standing with him), he’s my best friend in the world".

No idea where he was going with telling me that, so I said what I was thinking …… "He’s cute" (he was).

"He said you’re pretty".

WOW! Mutual admiration going on.

I should have said, "Thank you for telling me", but that was all there was to the encounter, as we went our different ways smiling, me saying to myself, "He's got good taste for a kid".

Stolen Land Eve

While the majority are planning for tomorrow’s feast, having finished conceptualizing covers for Twin 1’s bathroom accessory, my plan for tomorrow is to shampoo the carpets.

Can’t say that I’m happy with the second stab I made at making a cover, but soooooo over the project, I kinda hastily stitched up a teepee like cover, with an open flap that can be closed, just to be done with it.

It’s a lot more functional than the tube cover, but I don’t like it, am not proud of the finished product. However, so totally over this project, I just no longer care. Don’t even understand the need for a cover.

Talking to Twin 1 on the phone last night, where she said she'd just finished handing out 200 turkeys donated to her organization, I explained my reservations that Cover 1 would drive her nuts with the necessity to lift off/place back on, might not fit, and that Cover 2 was not to my liking.

She said she’d searched Etsy (online craft central for anything and everything), couldn’t find a cover, turned to me.

I appreciate that she had faith in my abilities to come up with something, but told her there’s a reason she couldn’t find a cover on Etsy. Reason being people don’t usually cover their standing holders.

After having read Tundra Bunny’s comment about his "metal giraffe", I looked that accessory up, saw how cute it is, how it would suit Twin 1’s Afrocentric ascetics, so I suggested she just replace what she has with a giraffe for TP and another for Paper Towels.

So, we’ll see how it goes — if she tests out my creations or purchases anew; but, however it goes, I’m done, over and out.

Through the patio window yesterday, I caught a glimpse of little Knock Knock on the walkway.

Is school out?

She’s older, more reserved, so I don’t expect she’ll be constantly knocking on my door; but, if she catches me outside, she will run up/give me a hug.

Next Door Neighbor knocked on the door yesterday to see if I was still alive, since she’d not heard or seen me coming/going for a while.

Things are all up in the air with her looking to move to a downstairs unit, due to a planned surgery that would have rendered her incapable of climbing stairs; and last we spoke, both the move and the surgery were on hold due to a new even worse medical diagnosis.

Inviting her in to view the finished 4 Years 4 Months 3,391 Hours artwork, she oohed aahed then asked if I’d had offers to buy it.

After saying I had no intention of working that hard for that long just to sell it, and further that family would be upset if I sold, that I expected they’d fight over it after I’m gone, I began thinking how weird that her mind somehow always thinks dollars/cents, the monetary value of things.

My mind went back to the time she was in my unit for something or other, how her eyes had roamed that time as well; she looked at various figurines, said "That’s probably worth money".

Who thinks that way?

As I was pondering that thought, her eyes began to take the room in. She asked about the cover on the yoga mat.

It was covered. How did she know there was a yoga mat under it?

Then it was, "Is that a sewing machine?"

It too was covered.

Then, "Is that a carpet shampooer?"

Damn lady.

She'd better not ask to borrow it.

Just before she moved to leave, it was "What’s that on the floor?"

It was my walking pad.

Inspecting and observing more than even the State Inspector did, I’m surprised she didn’t check the bathroom and the bedroom.

Weird, just weird.

Cute, But Is It Functional?

Having come up with an idea for covering Twin 1’s bathroom accessory, but not having the accessory to test width/length, I looked up the product description — 7.25 diameter x 23.5 height.

Using my yoga mat, which was the exact correct height, I built a prototype, leaving extra diameter inches to accommodate the overhanging thingies, then tested the prototype to make sure, once a paper towel and toilet paper were added, there was sufficient room.

Looked right, so I went for it.

It’s cute, but is it functional?

It would drive me crazy to have to lift the entire cover off to access the paper; plus, it looks small. I’m not sure that the extra two inches I allowed for the overhanging hardware is enough.

Twin 1 lives in Nevada, will be down this way around Christmas as she’s been requested to service a shelter in this area, might not be down this way again for months.

I’d hate for her to take the cover all the way back to Nevada, find it doesn't fit; so, I thought of a backup design — a skirt like cover with an opening where she can just reach through the flap, grab the paper product, let the flap fall back into place.

Having used up the African print, I headed out this morning to the Knit for Jesus store for more fabric, with a stop into the office to ask management for a new access card to the parking lot because mine stopped working.

Assistant Manager said the problem was not with my card, that the gate thingie wasn’t working, I’d have to enter the lot through the opposite gate.

Fine by me and, as I headed out to the car, Crafty Lady appeared.

It’s Monday, so she was set up in the Community Room for Crafts Day, saw me enter the building, came out to give me that little witch she said she’d picked up for me.

Don’t know what I’ll do with it, but I like it.

Knit for Jesus was, unfortunately, doing a booming business, I guess because they're all that is for crafters.

If you've not done your Christmas shopping for decorations, better get on it. Shelves are emptying already.

Sorry to give them a compliment, but their shopping bags are hella cute.

After picking up fabric, I began walking around looking for letters, so I could pull a Miss Merry’s protest (when she shops at Knit for Jesus, she spells "FTRUMP" and "8647" with the letters).

Employees were working in the letters isle, so no go. However, I did find numbers a few isles over, and had the isle all to myself.

Cuffing Season

Yesterday’s Thanksgiving Event, hosted for us by us, was an almost standing room only success. Every seat in the Community Room was taken, and the organizers had to turn one of the food serving tables into seating space in order to accommodate all who attended.

In order to get a good spot for taking photos, and capture photos of the organizers at work, I arrived about 40 minutes before start time.

I’d asked the organizers to pose like the Rockette …… you know, the famous knee lift.

At our age, all younger than I, this is the best they could do, LOL.

It’s cute though.

Evidently, my arriving early wasn’t early enough as there were seniors already seated at a table, waiting for the main event.

When residents began arriving in force, MAGA would sit at the table where I'd settled.

We get along well enough, but I nevertheless moved because she can sometimes be aggravating and I didn’t want to take the risk of being annoyed.

Turned out the move was from the frying pan into the fire because, as the room began to fill, and there was then no place to move to, I found myself surrounded at the table by the deadly trio — Dream Lover, Upstairs Lady, Lu. But at least Upstairs Lady didn’t set me off again by telling me to move, like she had done previously, so the three could sit side by side.

I was surprised at seeing the trio sitting at a regular table, as there was a High Table (reserved seating). Their names were not on it.

Interesting …… did one or all three fall out with the organizers?

Probably just Upstairs Lady, but the other two would not have wanted to be seated without her, so where I was seated was where they landed.

Lord be praised, everyone was on their best behavior, I got through it.

Of course, Ernie made an appearance. He didn’t stay for the event, just happened to walk by, opened the door, actually gasped upon seeing me seated, made a beeline to grab a hug, kiss on the cheek, now referring to me as "My love".

That started a few days ago, when I was headed out to run errands, had just gotten to the bottom of the stairs, turned to head down the walkway, saw Ernie, chatting and walking his dog with Ruben (the little man whose wife, when she was alive, was assulted by Cat Lady, when Cat Lady went cra cra, walked into their unit, accused them of killing cats, hit the wife, which got her evicted) walking his dog.

Ernie halted his conversation, said, "Hold up. I have to go hug my love".

His what?, thought I.

I don’t even know why Ernie is living here amongst us seniors, as he’s physically fit, looks nowhere near 55 or over even though I know he is.

What I do know is that, this period between Thanksgiving and the New Year is Cuffing Season — a time when singles are moved subliminally to seek a seasonal partner.

Ernie is likely caught up in/being controlled by that atmosphere, without even realizing it's having an effect on him, and will calm down once the season passes.

So, anyway, there were games for us seniors to play while the organizers were preparing dinner, like the following 2-player game where newspapers were taped together, placed on the ground, the goal being who can, using their feet, drag all the paper under the chair first. (The video came out kinda dark so I, dressed all in black, am virtually unrecognizable, appearing as a black blob).

Talker said not only did one leg begin to cramp, causing her to lose, but both legs cramped. Not funny that she couldn't handle those simple movements sitting down, but I nevertheless cracked up.

I won a prize …… Fannie May Chocolates which, of course, I can’t eat, but will use in this year’s gingerbread build.

Once dinner was served, the first to be called to the counter was office staff.

I resented the hell out of that.

We got potato chips while they got turkey with all the trimmings and dessert.

Had I been in charge, I’d not have called them in to be given a plate. If anything, I’d have given them a little bag of potato chips.

The good news is, surprisingly, Kecia didn’t show up to take credit.

Christmas is only 33 days away. I’m not holding my breath expecting management, in return, to do anything for us seniors in return or just because the money is in the budget and it's the right thing to do.