Plot Twist

The only one I disagree with is Thao. His actions towards concerned bystanders and that first responder — an off-duty firefighter who walked up on the scene, identified herself, asked to be allowed to provide aid to Floyd, disturbed me just as much as Chavin’s actions.

Thao had responded, "If you are who you say you are, then you know not to get involved".

WHAT?!, though I at the time. A first responder should know better than to try to respond to a person in distress?

Well, I hope it hasn't escaped Thao that he's the one going to prison for not getting involved, rather than the first responder getting in trouble for trying to get involved.

Three and a half years is nowhere near what Thao should have gotten, but it’s more than the other two so, evidently, the judge must have also thought Thao deserved more.

I actually would have liked Kueng to get the same two years as Lang, but it is what it is.

Returning from Wednesday’s workout, I ran into Jan heading for a doctor’s appointment.

Asking how she was, she said she was fine.

She looked fine.

"You had us worried with police, fire, ambulance. I was expecting the National Guard to come through the gate next".

She laughed, said "That was my ex-husband’s fault. I told him 'Thanks a lot'. He said, 'Well, you should answer your phone'".

Evidently, he’d called, she didn’t answer, so he asked for a welfare check.

That doesn't explain why the ambulance took her away but, inasmuch as she looked quite well, I didn’t inquire further.

It amazes me how it is she and her ex get along so well, live separately, care for and take care of each other.

Makes me wonder why they bothered to get divorced.

We have a divorced couple living here. They share the same unit, live as if still married. I’m assuming the divorce is paperwork that is somehow benefitting the both of them financially in some way.

I was asked a question at Summer Social. A question to which I answered instantly, without thought, right off the top of my head.

While Bible Thumper (BT) was off getting a third, maybe a fourth helping of what was being served, a lady at my table and I were talking about how nice of management to give us this treat. Then she questioned why … "Why do you suppose they’re doing this for us".

"They’re probably going to raise the rent” came out of nowhere.

She said, "Oh! Oh yeah!" and we laughed and laughed and laughed because we thought we were joking.

Plot Twist!

Guess what happened yesterday.

Yep, a "30-Day Notice to Change the Terms of Your Rental Agreement" was attached to our doors — one day after the Summer Social.

An increase of $75.

Management could have at least waited a few days, so it wouldn't have been so obvious.

In my mind, I should be exempt from the increase because I didn't eat anything at the Summer Social. They didn't have anything I could digest, so I just sipped on coffee I myself brought.

This exemption should also apply to those who did not attend, those who did not fall for the trap.

I don't think this logic is going to fly with management but, in a world where rent increases are escalating into hundreds of dollars a month, $75 isn’t bad. Fortunately, at least not for me.

However, for residents on severely fixed incomes, those that are not being subsidized by the county, $75 is going to seem like hundreds of dollars.

I hope this doesn't put a damper on future events, make folks afraid to participate thinking management might be up to something.

One other thing that happened at the Summer Social was that when BT returned to the table, with his third/fourth plate of what was being served (He really stuffed his face. Had even asked that, since I wasn't eating, for me to go make a plate and give it to him to which I replied, "Get it yourself"), he tried to impress us with his knowledge saying, "You know why they’re doing this for us. It’s because they have so many vacancies".

That didn’t even make sense, because how would giving us a party have an impact on vacancies. Plus, someone just moved into Bonita’s old unit, and management has finally relented and has an outside crew getting the unit that used to have the black box quick fast ready for new tenants, AND we have a waiting list.

All of which I told Mr. Know It All Bible Thumper, adding that the other lady and I had another theory — a rent increase.

Of course, he shook his head, said I was wrong — we don’t have a waiting list and we have a lot of vacancies.

Well look who has a rent increase attached to his door.

The man's a fool.

What's sad about it is .... he is completely oblivious to the fact that he's a fool.