Wuh Oh!

Yesterday’s management sponsored Thanksgiving Luncheon for the residents did not happen.

Wuh Oh!

I don’t know what happened, but at least they didn’t leave the residents hanging. What they did was to post a notice to our doors, last minute day of, to say the luncheon is moved to next Tuesday.

Interesting.

Of course I won’t be in attendance, but I’ve asked Next Door Neighbor — who is planning on attending, to take notes for me. Let me know why the luncheon was rescheduled, and rescheduled last minute, plus keep an eye on Manager for another meltdown.

Other than that, Thanksgiving being my least favorite holiday, my plans are to lay low.

Running errands yesterday, I was on the freeway, looked over and saw a couple of apartment buildings, with patios facing the freeway, where the residents had already decorated their patios for Christmas.

I noticed just this afternoon, that some residents have their tree up and have decorated their patios as well.

Seems rushing it, and I’m tempted. However, with so much on my plate right now — catching up on scrapbooking, continuing to work on that never ending needlepoint project (going on 4 years now), trying to find time to squeeze in gingerbread house decorating, the plan is — if it’s not raining, to make decorating the patio my Thanksgiving Day project.

Back in 2018 I’d blogged that the mall boutique of fashion designer Kate Spade — of the ugly overpriced handbags that had people standing in line to purchase, with security standing by, had suddenly shut down. The shut down was shortly after she left this world, by her own hands — bipolar and mental illness was publicized as the cause for taking herself out.

Seems her legacy lives on because, walking into Macy’s yesterday, what did I see right up front was a section devoted to Kate Spade — same ugly over-priced handbags, women gathering around, oohing and ahhing, purchasing, but no security this time.

I must be missing something, because I don’t see myself spending $268 for this handbag.

I think it's supposed to be a sandwich

Or $258 or this one.

A fuzzy toaster perhaps?

I don’t think these two were the least expensive handbags being offered.

Later, popping into Walmart to pick up a gingerbread house kit. (I plan to do the one I won at bingo, but it's mini and basic. I'll do it for practice, but wanted something more challenging, which I found one I liked at Walmart).

While there I saw Martha Stewart on the Mantel and Snoop Dog on the Stoop being offered as options to Elf on The Shelf.

Cute and, if I had the space, I’d go for both of them.

When Next Door Neighbor and I were talking this morning, she said something I don't know if I should be insulted or not.

We usually chat while standing outside our doors but, it being kind of chilly outside, I invited her in.

Her eyes were darting here, there, checking out my unit as we talked about all the stuff going on about Manager's meltdown.

I've mentioned before that Next Door Neighbor has exquisite taste, probably the most beautifully decorated unit in the complex. Inside is literally breathtaking, like a museum, should be on the cover of Home Beautiful.

That’s who she is, except for the same old ugly arsed doormat that belies all the beauty inside.

My unit is more suitable for the cover of Mad Magazine — unconventional, functionally neat, a little southwest, a little feng shui, but it comes together in a collage that makes me feel good/comfortable/peaceful, and I think makes the few that enter feel comfortable as well.

So, we were standing inside as Next-Door Neighbor’s eyes roamed around the room, then she began following her eyes — still talking but walking around eying things in a manner that made me feel the need to apologize.

"I’m not fancy like you", said I.

She was smiling the whole time as she walked around, so that made me think I was not being insulted, she was not judging my tastes, just being interested and putting it together in her own mind as to who I am.

OR was she judging ....... because at the conclusion of looking around she said, "Your place makes me think of college kids".

I don’t feel judged, more like complimented, in a back handed sort of way, that my unit says that who I am is young, youthful.

Maybe she thought later about her college kids statement, thought I might be offended, because she later knocked on the door, gave me a gift.

Scented Candle

THEN, on this second visit, her eyes began to wander again.

She made a comment that the throw rug, wall hanging above the couch, and needlepoint all seemed southwest Indian inspired, asked if I was born in Texas, LOL.

"No, but my people came from Texas/Oklahoma, so I guess it's in the blood", said I.

Then her eyes landed on the Thai figurines Trainer passed on to me when he bought his business partner out of the studio and was getting rid of his partners left behind items.

"These look expensive. They might be worth a lot of money", said Next Door Neighbor.

And just when I was beginning to think for sure nothing she'd said was meant as an insult, that she's just material minded and my collage of "college kid" decor is just not something she's accustomed to seeing around here, or in our age category, she said, "It feels spiritual in here".

She got the vibes, felt the good energy of it all, kudos for that.

So, am I the youthful college kid, a red neck trapped in a Black woman's body, or a guru?

Maybe I'm like my unit, a collage, a mixture of all three.

TGIF!!!

And not just any Friday, but a bingo free Friday. Which meant that, after the morning workout, I did not have to rush back to the complex, waste three hours on bingo.

Instead, I stopped by the market for supplies, returned, locked myself inside, did as I pleased the remainder of the day.

It was difficult to decide what to wear to the morning workout, because it was raining when I awoke.

Thinking long sleeve top, boots, rain jacket, umbrella, I was thrown off when rain stopped and the sun came out.

Just when I pivoted to regular wear, the sun went away and the rain started again.

From there it was rain then sun shining — vacillating off/on minute by minute, and even rain with the sun shining at the same time.

It was wild.

Then came a downpour, followed shortly by the sun shining, outside quickly drying up.

I took it all to mean the Heavens are just as upset, disturbed, pissed off as we are about what’s going on down here.

When all was said and done, I stepped out in boots, a warm hoodie, carried an umbrella and, of course the weather changed. I needed none of that and was burning up in that warm hoodie by the time I walked into the Pain Cave.

Trainer’s class of fighters-in-training were ending their session as I entered and, as usual, I greeted all with "Namaste!". Which, in my world translates to "The Christ in me salutes the Christ in You" and then I added "TGIF".

Trainer looked amused, said "They don’t know what TGIF means".

"Really? They don’t?", asked I.

Trainer took a poll, and many did not know what TGIF stood for.

They’re all young teens and 20 somethings, which may be why. But still, I’m flabbergasted, because TGIF is a universal thing.

So, anyway, it’s been a nice leisurely afternoon of crafting — trying to catch up on photos that need to be added to the Creative Memory book.

This one page I completed today is likely to get me in trouble with the family, as the Playdate Summer of Science photos led me to build a design around them that’s based on an Emmy Award winning TV series.

I tried to go in a less controversial, more kid-friendly direction, but the photos kept leading me to be designed thusly.

I myself am pleased with the layout, it makes me giggle, and though family might not find the layout amusing, it will probably fly over the heads of future generations .... be puzzling, just like TGIF is to this generation.

So it is what it is.

Which of you get it? Know the Emmy Award winning show that inspired me to go in this direction?

The Invitation

Who wants to be my Plus One?

In addition to this prestigious??? event, management is hosting a Thanksgiving Luncheon for the seniors on the 19th.

Color me amazed and suspicious — two events in a row.

Complex Manager has made it clear that events for the seniors are not of her own volition, rather are bones Corporate tosses us just prior to a rent increase, to justify the increase.

We'll know on the 20th what that increase is to be this time around.

How do you like that for timing? .... two parties just prior, with the Luncheon one day before amount of the increase is to be announced.

I guess that's kinder than the year management hosted a Luau for us and, while we were occupied with the Luau, rent increase notices were attached to our doors.

But still …… just the fact that Manager has to do these events, and is expected to host, is obviously traumatizing for her.

Inasmuch as I won’t be able to eat whatever management serves, it’s not worth my time to sign up for the Thanksgiving event just to watch Manager have yet another meltdown. I’ll have to depend on the grapevine for feedback.

If Manager were smart, instead of hiding in her office so staff would have to host the event, she should just call in sick. Staff would still have to work the event without her, but the atmosphere wouldn't be as tense as at the last event, and the optics would fly better than sulking/crying in one’s office.

As for 45/47’s Inauguration, I'm sure I'll have better things to do that day, won’t be watching it on TV, let alone attending as a seat filler.

Old Dogs New Tricks

Turns out old dog can learn new tricks because, arriving at bingo just minutes before the start, I found no one had touched my cards, beads, water bottle.

That doesn’t mean bingo was without drama.

Di walked in, sat at the table with me, as did Name Dropper — the resident that came to us in July and was quick to say her granddaughter is an actress, had a role with John Travolta when she was a child.

Name Dropper said she doesn’t hear well, which may be why she was so LOUD.

Rather than clap, Name Dropper would HOOP AND HOLLER when someone won. In addition to which, she and Di talked when they shouldn’t have, completely oblivious to the disapproving glances cast their way by other players and the organizers.

At one point, I warned them ………… "You two are going to get in trouble", but Name Dropper seemed to take my words as a challenge, finished her conversation with Di with a look in her eyes which indicated she was telling me "You can’t tell me what to do".

It wasn’t too long after, when I’d stepped away from the table to help a winner at the prize table, and saw one of the organizers walk over to Name Dropper, lean in, say something to her.

When I returned to the table, Name Dropper had a hurt expression on her face and said, "I’ve just been told I’m too loud. Am I loud?"

"Well yeah", said I as I nodded in the affirmative.

Guess that wasn’t what she wanted to hear, because she then turned to Di, who had also been away from the table — probably to get a cupcake and, looking to be on the verge of tears said to Di, yada yada yada "I’ve never been so insulted in my life", yada yada yada "I almost got up and walked out", yada yada yada, "I’ll never acknowledge or smile at that woman again".

Di commiserated with Name Dropper, began to advise her saying, "This is what you do when people say things like that to you".

I'd tuned out by then, and didn't catch what Di told her to say.

Name Dropper and Di continued to rehash the audacity of being told to pipe down off/on to bingo’s end.

I also met a new resident who is a returnee — lived here a few years ago, just moved back.

Poor thing is in for a big surprise, as things aren’t like they used to be.

Checking out the prize table when I walked in, I’d spotted a small gingerbread house kit; decided I’d pick it as my prize if I won a game.

My winning wasn’t looking good, until suddenly, with only two more games to go, I won — called BINGO! at Game 8.

Later, when bingo ended — and Name Dropper and Di were still discussing the incident, one of the organizers heard Di say the word "F _ _k", called me over to say how outraged she was.

Big fifing deal …… This woman obviously doesn’t know me, thought I as I said, "I say it all the time".

"But you don’t say it in here, in front of us".

"Not yet".

That’s twice when someone tried to drag me into inconsequential issues. First was when Name Dropper tried to get me to commiserate with her hurt feelings, and then one of the organizers wanted me to be as outraged as she by someone using a four-letter word.

The ladies don't seem to realize we’ve got bigger problems.

After having been on edge for such a long time, dreading the outcome of the election, like I previously posted ……… I am strangely mellow now.

Nothing is fazing me. It didn’t even faze me that The Baker served the cupcakes she made in red/white/blue patriotic liners, which I took to be an indicator of her possibly being a red hat. The liners being the equivalent of trucks I've been seeing, since the election, deliberately driving around with big American flags waving in the air.

She’s never indicated so, I’ve never asked, but inasmuch as her daughters are married to cops and firemen, it makes sense The Baker is more than likely leaning that way.

Oh well, everyone has to be something, so I didn’t make a big deal of it other than to let her know I know by saying, "Um hum, red, white and blue liners".

She laughed sheepishly.

So, that’s the tea on this episode of bingo with the seniors.

The Other Friday

Being a roll with the punches type human, now that the election is over in the worst possible way, I find myself strangely calm, nerves no longer on edge, over it.

Standing on my spiritual training and belief that everything happens for a reason, that the Universe has a plan, afraid to hold onto hope in the first place, once all was said and done I didn’t even cycle through the normal stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression. I went straight through to acceptance and moving on.

I did stress eat last few days. Probably gained 5+ pounds but, other than that, it was business as usual when I awoke this morning, realized tomorrow is the other Friday, of bingo’s every other Friday schedule.

I will say this though ………… Trainer is rather gleeful about the outcome of the election, saying he was better off when 45 was prez.

I’m no political expert, but I do think in an unemotional logical Leonard Spock manner, and think that’s because Trainer was still benefitting from the Obama years when 45 took over. By the time Biden took over, 45 had mucked things up so that the hard times Trainer attributes to Biden were roll overs from 45’s years.

At any rate, Trainer thinks prices will now go down, yada yada yada.

Dream on.

I countered with, "More than likely, you’ll be deported and I’ll lose my Social Security".

"Do you know how hard it will be to get rid of Social Security, all the hoops?"

"They managed to overturn Roe vs. Wade, so …………"

"That was during Biden".

"Sure, but put in place to happen by 45".

At any rate, our back and forth ended with my saying "You do know I won’t be able to afford your prices and will have to opt out of training if I lose my Social Security".

"I tell you what, Shirley. If you lose your Social Security, I’ll train you for free."

"Deal".

Trainer is so sure 45/47 couldn’t dissolve Social Security that he’s bet free training against a raise in his fee — the amount to be decided by me.

Like a fool I said an additional $25.

He said he’d have been good with $1.

At any rate, I’d love free training, but I hope I’m wrong, Trainer is right, that Social Security will be safe from the dark lord and his minions.

Time will tell.

A very short time I’m guessing.

So, anyway, tomorrow's plan is to rush down to the Community Room after tomorrow morning’s workout, set up bingo cards, glass chips and my water bottle to indicate seat taken.

I feel comfortable that, after the week before last’s hissy fit because two old biddies played stupid and took my spot, no one will try that again, though I’m actually hoping someone will, so I can calmly turn around, walk out, make that the reason I’ll no longer burden myself with bingo duty.

Help! I Woke Up

I so didn’t want to wake up to this morning’s news, but here I am, and here we are.

Nothing to do but roll with the punches, do the best we can with the cards we’ve been dealt and the chaos and fleecing of America that’s sure to follow.