The Red Invitation

On Wednesday, I got through the last of the hard parts and finished the book written by the Great Granddaughter I never knew I had.

Available on Amazon

It ended on a high note, with her doing great things … a non-profit, podcasts, a goal of connecting with other adoptees/foster youths, create safe spaces.

How was I depicted in the book you ask?

"My GG (great grandma) does voodoo". LOL.

She’s not entirely correct, but she’s not entirely wrong.

Also on Wednesday, through the kitchen window, I noticed something red posted to White-Haired Neighbors' door.

If she had something posted to her door, it was likely I also had something. Opened the door, checked and sure enough … it was an invitation from management to attend "Let’s Give Thanks – join us for a Thanksgiving Lunch, Tuesday November 24th".

WHAT!? Now I’m getting scared.

First, management threw that Halloween Party on the 30th of last month, and now they’re hosting a Thanksgiving event just weeks later????. Like, why are they suddenly being so good to us?

No question, I won’t be attending because it’s a purely eating event, and I can’t eat anything they are likely to serve. Plus, and too, there’s likely to be that annoying bullshite ceremony where they go around the room, everyone says what they are thankful for.

That's a little too hokey for me. So, if photos are to be taken for posting to the Residents’ facebook page, one of the Usual Suspects will have to take them, forward to me for posting.

I had been considering heading to Long Beach for the Thanksgiving Holiday but then, I remembered how boring Long Beach had been during a former Thanksgiving visit. Not to mention, reviews on my favorite hotel in the downtown area, with a view of the Queen Mary, seems to indicate the hotel and area have gone down considerably, because the area has been taken over by the unhoused.

Confirming with granddaughter, she tells me it has gotten bad, for that reason … you can’t even safely walk in the area, the noxious smells, sidewalks littered with animal and human feces.

So, if I go, I’ll have to switch to a hotel she suggested that’s near the airport.

There’s also to consider that, if I go for Thanksgiving, I’m likely to run into White Grandma (whom the great grandbabies call "Pink Grandma" as opposed to Twin 1, whom they referred to as "Brown Grandma"). I’m just "GG", no color assigned, LOL.

I’m thinking, I’ll save the visit for closer to Christmas when I can do "Breakfast with Santa" with the toddlers at the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Lastly, on Wednesday … the day when she who shall henceforth remain nameless on this here blog because she told me there would no longer be crafts on Wednesdays, those days supposedly reserved for doctor appointments and then proceeded to have sessions nevertheless, leaving me out of the notification process, the seniors had crafts. They made decorative plates.

What Time is It???

Before I get into how challenging the week started off …… when I went to the bank last month, the riddle board displayed, "What kind of monster loves to Disco?".

When I popped into the bank this morning, the riddle was, "What is an Alien’s favorite place on a computer?"

While you ponder the answers …… Skelly and his dog Kujo went back into storage on Monday, so the patio is back to normal, nothing to see. However, Christmas comes out of storage the day after Thanksgiving, so only 22 days before the patio becomes fun again.

Monday was challenging timewise. Not in the sense of not having enough time to do what needed to be done, which was a trip to the medical center for a blood pressure check, but in the sense that I was so confused as to what time it was, because every clock in the unit displayed a different time.

Morning BP check at the medical center are scheduled 9:00 to Noon, and I had planned to get there around 11:30. However, at some point, looking at the clock over the refrigerator, seeing it was already 11:45, I realized that I’d somehow missed the time I should have left.

Confused at how that could have happened, thinking maybe something was wrong with the clock, I checked the clock on the microwave. It also indicated I’d missed leaving in time.

Still unsure/not trusting either clock, I checked the time on my phone. It indicated around 10:45 – plenty of time to arrive at the medical center before the cutoff, and the Guide on the TV also indicated 10:45.

I could have made the cutoff, but I was so confused as to which clock was correct, that I gave up. I didn't want to take the chance I’d be wasting my time by driving to the medical center, based on time as shown on my phone and TV Guide, only to get there, learn that time was incorrect, I’d missed the cutoff.

Somewhere along the way, as I pivoted from getting a BP check, to clearing the patio of Halloween, it occurred to me that there might have been a time change. That some of my electronics had switched to the new time, while others required manual resets.

I double checked Google (did time change?) and, sure enough, "Daylight Saving Time in 2026 ended on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks fell back one hour".

Please tell me I’m not the last one to know … that others were just as confused as I.

So, anyway, there was no confusion, on my part, when I headed out yesterday for that BP check at the medical center but, when I left at 11:15, the dashboard in the Jeep indicated the time at 18:28, which isn’t even military time, while the Garmin GPS I use instead of the Jeep’s GPS, because it’s not reliable, was still on 12:15 spring forward time.

Make it make sense.

As for the electronics requiring manual resets …… no way am I putting myself through that. I’ll just wait until time springs forward to when time is in sync with those devices.

Other than that, as I’d expected, not a lot going on around here right now, except management continues to push Recertification now/stat, even though it’s months early.

White-Haired Neighbor just moved in, and my recert date isn't until February, but both of us received second notices to get ‘er did.

I don’t like it. My thinking is the more time management has to get all up in my business, the more they’ll get all up in my business.

However, like commenter Miss Merry suggested, I’ve been monitoring my accounts – actually set up a spreadsheet to track when bills are paid, what the account balances show every week during this recert period.

Having to do so is an even bigger pain than the recertification process, but I don't want a scare like last time that there's too much money in the accounts. That level of tracking needs to be done until this is over.

Right now, the balances are looking good for qualifying as sufficiently poor. So, I’ll aim for next week to get management off my back.

I'm gonna lose it if I get down to the office and, after two notices, they tell me I'm too early.

Trust me. They're likely to do something that ridiculous.

What is an Alien’s favorite place on a computer? …… The Space Bar.

What kind of monster loves to Disco? …… A Boogeyman.

Just for Fun ……

Missed Opportunity

So glad I headed out yesterday, when outside was dry, for that lottery ticket to test the theory of luck, as a result of seeing those mushrooms.

Problem is … once inside the market, I got everything EXCEPT the lottery ticket. Didn’t remember it until I was already back in the car headed home.

Missed opportunity; so, I guess I’ll never know unless and until I see more mushrooms, promptly test the theory.

Seeing the heavy rain this morning, my thoughts went to it being a good excuse for not heading outside, down to the Community Room for the 11:30 Halloween Costume Party.

Then, around about 11:15, I saw Buttons (our 86-year-old) headed to the room, dressed as a Hippy, and then Upstairs Lady (the resident who has problems with her legs/Lymphedema) not in a costume, but bearing the weather nonetheless. It motivated me to put on the old Disneyland leggings, add a black top, do the face makeup.

Added a tail.

Head out for the Community Room in rain boots and holding an umbrella.

The place was jumping; about 25 residents and upbeat Halloween music – like Season of the Witch, Backstreet’s Back Alright, etc.

Staff was dressed like a box of crayons.

Soooo Cute

The meal was my favorite … Chinese Food, which has been on the list of foods my sensitive stomach can no longer tolerate for years; and which, if I cheat, will have me suffering weeks of discomfort. So, I settled for taking pictures, enjoying the aroma of Chinese Food while drinking coffee.

Insofar as costumes, in addition to the Hippy, we had an Angel, Priest, Tiger, Rich B-itch (dressed in a fur coat, rings on every finger, handing out fake $100 bills), Walking Dead Zombie. My little Hispanic friend and her husband dressed as Vaquera and Vaquero (Mexican Cowboys), and then there was me.

I'm nothing if not thorough, so I didn't forget Minnie's official gloves.

No surprise, I didn't win ... never do.

The Universe knows I don't need the validation nor the prize.

Costume winners were the Rich B-itch taking 3rd place, the Angel taking 2nd Place and the Zombie taking 1st place.

I expect it will be quiet around here for a while, but you can never tell.

Mushrooms!!

This month of Halloween is moving way too fast. Only three days before the big day and then a few day's grace period to put the decorations away to avoid getting a lease violation.

I didn’t put a lot out on display, so should be prompt and easy work.

Since there wasn't much Halloween decorating going on around here, I last week gave myself something to see by copying spooky nail art I saw online.

This week, I’m trying something less severe.

On Monday, there was a little tap tap tap on the door. It almost sounded like a cat scratching.

It was the now not so little Knock Knock paying me a visit, I guess she’s developed a more mature knock, LOL.

She tells me she’s going to be Ghostface for Halloween.

I generally keep up but had never heard of Ghostface, had to google it.

Seems "Ghostface" is the proper name for what I’ve always referred to as the "Scream Mask".

Ghostface doesn’t seem Knock Knock’s style. She’s usually more creative, like last year she did Wednesday Addams and, the year before, she did the Joker’s Girlfriend Harley Quinn.

What would have been fun would be to see Knock Knock cosplay as Megan, the doll that does a little wiggle dance just before she whacks bad people.

Out walking today, I saw mushrooms growing in the grassy knoll area.

Seeing mushrooms growing in a yard is supposedly a symbol of good luck …… "for the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, and Aztec cultures, mushrooms, called Teonanácatl, were declared as sacred and described as God’s flesh."

It does strike me as odd that I’ve not seen those mushrooms before while out walking, and they look so picture perfect, as though deliberately placed there and couldn’t possibly have sprung up like that, looking so healthy and all, overnight …… unless by cosmic magic.

So, I’m going to accept them as a symbol of good luck, head out tomorrow for a lottery ticket.

I don’t imagine they’ll last long …… someone will harvest them for a meal, or the landscapers will mow over, but I’ll check on them tomorrow afternoon.

The New York Times is considering Twin 1 as an entry in a special category of Times' Person of the Year.

The reporter contacted me today to ask questions about Twin 1 …… just when I was beginning to feel myself returning to Center.

Telling her I am not yet in a place where I can accept my Baby Girl is no longer here …… talk about what kind of child/person she was, I asked that instead of interviewing me on the phone to email me her questions and I’ll see what I can do.

So, there’s that …… always something to remind me of that which I'd rather not be reminded of.

Same Thing

Out walking this afternoon, I ran into the Lady With the White Dog – building in front of the grassy knoll, upstairs unit, diagonal to my line of sight, and a close friend of my former Next Door Neighbor.

Asking how NDN was doing, she said she’s going to visit her this week, asked if I wanted to tag along.

She looked surprised when I declined, asked why.

"I’m just not a person who visits", said I. "NDN will tell you that herself, because I never visited with her when she was living next door".

She seemed a bit stunned … "You didn’t talk to her!?".

"We talked all the time. I just didn’t visit with her in her unit. That’s not who I am".

I’m not sure she understood, but she let it go saying, "I probably should stop visiting her myself, because I come back mad. She has it so good over there … the area, the grounds, her unit, the people are so friendly, and I just don’t understand why some people get all that she has and I don’t".

Now, it was my turn to be stunned.

"You get jealous?!" asked I.

"No. Not jealous. I just don’t understand why some people have that kind of luck and I don't".

Don't Understand/Jealousy …… Sounds like the same thing to me, but I didn’t say that. Instead, I said, "We’re not chopped liver over here. We don’t have it bad. Everyone has a fit, and I personally love it here …… It’s affordable, clean, no one bothers me, it’s near to everything I need. I’ve lived in worse. I’ve lived in better; but I’ve been content wherever I was because it’s in me to be".

She didn’t look convinced, but said, "I guess you’re right. It’s better than being homeless”.

Fortunately, another neighbor walked up, giving me an opportunity to excuse myself from the conversation, continue on with my walk. However, the conversation stuck with me, as I found it so interesting to run into a person who actually coveted what someone else had in that manner …… got upset/"mad" because …… "Why can’t I be that lucky to have what she has".

The Universe gives us what we need.

Other than that, all’s quiet around here …… not a lot of Halloween decorations going up, which is bummer, nothing to see on my walks.

The Baker is doing well …… actually held Bingo for the seniors this past Friday, and the room was packed.

I know because I had to deliver flyers for November bingo games to the room.

I didn’t linger. I was just in, handed Baker the flyers, and was gone. But she texted me today to see if I felt better.

WHAT?!!

"How did you know I wasn’t feeling well?", I texted back.

"When you came in with the flyers, I could see in your eyes that you didn’t feel good and you didn’t stay. You didn’t walk around and talk to everybody" and that she thought it might have something to do with her husband’s Celebration of Life.

She’s partially correct, as that was how it started, and it’s pretty darn amazing that the Baker could see that just by looking in my eyes, put it together.

She’s deeper than I thought.

At any rate, I let her know "I’m just working myself through some emotional trauma" and no, I don’t want to talk about it, I’m better working through it on my own.

Friday is Management’s Halloween Party. I’m tempted not to go, but inasmuch as I’ve got a costume already thought out, think I’ll go just long enough to catch a few photos.

Book Review

The book written by the 19-year-old Great Granddaughter that I never knew I had – available on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback, started off as a quick read.

I don’t think she knows what a Blog is, but it reads somewhat like one -- reporting that this happened on this day, that happened on that day.

The first half of the book is raw, the portrait of a dark era when she didn’t know who she was, had little control of self and "I felt like nobody understood me".

This era was a revelation to me as it disclosed a side of ghetto life I myself have never been exposed to, with words I’d never heard but understood to be urban language … like "dukes" meaning "adopted parents/family".

The next half of the book is more lighthearted … details how she searched, located, connected with her biological family and, once again, this era was a revelation to me as I read about things happening in our dysfunctional family that were never disclosed to me.

Not all that surprising, because Twin 1 and Twin 2 both have always been very guarded as to what I was allowed to know, did not want me to be upset or disappointed in them. Would tell the grands, "Don’t tell grandma"; and, when someone would slip and tell me something I wasn’t to know, it was always with, "Don’t tell I told you", LOL.

Life is about choices and, as difficult as it is at times to have to stand to the side and let people make choices that look to be leading to hard lessons, we have to accept it's how growth and waking up works.

I’m just glad I didn’t know about the things I’m reading about now, and not all that happy about knowing it now; but I was okay/handling it until the book got to Twin 1’s passing … the press, conspiracy theories surrounding how/why she passed, cyber bullying of family members, and then the funeral.

Having not yet made peace with the loss of Twin 1, having not allowed anyone to bring it up, having bypassed all news and videos relating to a funeral happening, treating it almost as though it hasn’t happen, this is where I broke.

I’ve had to put the book down. Don’t know when and if I’ll pick it up again; but, next time I see Great Granddaughter, I will have her sign it.

Looking at what Great Granddaughter is doing with her life now, how she's come through what she had to experience, seems to have had a decent adoptive family, has been taken into the fold by her biological family (with two abstaining), I’m just going to leave things as they are, stay in the moment.

I don't know if I can say this book is for everybody, as I think, just like a blog, Great Granddaughter has written it for herself with the hope it reaches her tribe -- "adoptees, foster children, people who have been separated from their families, and anyone who has ever questioned where they belong".