Eight the Hard Way

Nothing terribly interesting or exciting going on.

My life has become a pleasant peaceful rut of needlepoint, television, working out.

I’ve lost 8 pounds since working with Trainer.

That’s eight the hard way ─ slow steady through lifting weights, working with pull up bars, suspension trainers, resistance bands, battle ropes, medicine balls, kettle balls, etc., but a solid 8 pounds after no weight loss for over a year of trying, plus an additional 4.5 inches overall (2 on the top, 1.5 in the middle, 1 on the hips).

Who knows, I may one day weight what I lied and said I weighed on my driver’s license.

LOL.

Funny it is how I don’t mind putting my age on blast, but weight is a thing not to be known.

Things are not so pleasant and peaceful for management. We not only lost the new Community Manager (he quit), but we also lost Assistant Maintenance Guy (he quit a few days after).

Head Maintenance Guy (HMG) appears to have checked out. Walking around looking like a zombie, he didn’t even respond to my request for service on the smoke detector.

It’s a good thing the beeping stopped, or I’d have been stuck with it all that day into the next.

At any rate, I caught HMG coming out of next-door neighbor’s unit the next day, and got him in to switch out the battery .... yet again.

Instead of using the batteries management provides, I had him use a battery I myself purchased in the hopes it will last longer than what I assume are their cheap dollar store brands.

Fingers crossed.

My buddy Apache, embolden by getting one of the bosses at Corporate fired, and not being satisfied that the new Community Manager quit, has upped his game by getting elder abuse charges filed against Corporate.

I myself being unaware of elder abuse taking place, asked Apache “What’s the nature of the abuse?”

“The way they treat us. Not taking care of the things we’ve repeatedly asked them to take care of”, says he.

Huh? thought I.

They treat me just fine, and I’m unaware of any of the other seniors complaining of being abused, but somehow it is that when Apache speaks, all kinds of agencies listen, come onto the property, begin following up.

The charges set off a chain of activity. Starting with actual activities once again appearing on the monthly calendar, and movement on the outdoor lights Apache said residents had been complaining about for months .... That some were out, leaving areas of the property in darkness, which allowed crimes to occur ─ cars to be vandalized, garages to be looted, a homeless couple to come in late night/early morning to swim in the pool.

I didn’t see anyone, but I’m told agency representatives did come in to investigate and agreed the lighting was inadequate.

How that equates to elder abuse charges against Corporate, I don’t know but, sure enough, sitting on the couch day before yesterday, I saw some guy on a ladder installing new lights with no one at the end of the ladder to ensure his safety.

The rectangle lights across from my patio were adequate for this area of the complex.

The new lights are so strong that they hurt my eyes if I’m not careful to look away, and the light does seep through the blinds somewhat lighting the unit up at night.

Outside now being like daylight at night and light seeping through the blinds doesn’t interfere with my sleeping and more than likely will deter crime, which I assume will make Apache happy that no one can comfortably lurk about.

As for what the other elder abuse charges were, I do not yet know, except one charge has to do with the new parking rules about visitors needing visitor passes, under threat of being immediately towed by a tow company engaged to check for violators.

Though still not abuse, I’m going to back Apache on this one, because who knows when a visitor will decide to drop by. The office is always closed for one reason or another, so how do we get passes on the fly. Plus, this visitor pass thing is making it difficult for seniors who have care people stopping by to deliver medication, food, etc.

Yet and still, I don’t see how this equates to elder abuse but, as I said, when Apache speaks people listen. If he wants to spend his golden years complaining about management, so be it on him.