Beastmode

Other than seeing Next Door Neighbor’s son going in/out of her unit yesterday and early this morning, nothing new to report.

With son's own family to care for, his two jobs and a wife that doesn’t like his mother, this taking care of his mom’s wants and needs has to be a heavy burden.

As of yet, no one has asked about NDN’s whereabouts. I don’t think anybody knows she’s not here, in her unit.

The only person likely to know she’s not and wonder about it is the Nice Old Guy upstairs across the quad. Let’s call him Mr. W.

The windows of Mr. W's unit are directly in line with NDN’s windows and, from the way he draws his blinds to allow for viewing, I’m sure he peeps her and probably watches me as well, but his vantage point only allows seeing me when I’m going up/down the stairs, entering/exiting the unit.

NDN and I are his television program, and he peeps us from two channels.

His favorite channel is the bedroom, where he can tune in early AM while still in bed.

Bedroom

During the day, he tunes in from his main room.

Main room

He’s old, nice, the grandfatherly type who struggles getting around with a cane, so I don’t think either of us minds the peeping and though his peeping isn't doing NDN any good right now, the peeping sometimes makes me feel comforted to know someone is watching and can call for help if he sees one of us fall on the stairs or get accosted at our doors.

NDN did intimate once that Mr. W had been a little flirty in an old fashion way ……… when they passed on the walkway and she asks how he’s doing, he’d said "Better now" with a sly grin.

I think she was flattered, but then she learned he used to be Church Lady’s special friend here on the complex, which made him look somewhat less harmless, just another player.

So, anyway, I’m sure Mr. W is wondering where NDN is and who is that man going in/out her unit. If we pass on the walkway, he will ask.

Because NDN is so private, I don’t know if she wants me telling folks she’s in the hospital. I’m not offering that information, but will be in a bind as to what to say if asked.

Yesterday was a false alarm and a waste of my time.

The notice posted to our doors a week or so ago, the same notice I pulled from Next Door Neighbor’s door on Monday, directed us to be prepared as early as 8 a.m. for "inspectors" to enter our units, test fire sprinklers.

I set the alarm for 6:00 to give me time to perform my morning rituals, be dressed and ready.

It was a False Alarm. No one showed up. I could have awakened at my regular time.

Red Light called a few days ago to tell me there was to be a "Health Fair and Bingo" in the Community Room, then tried to sell me on attending by saying the group coming in did bingo differently.

The event wasn't on the activity calendar, so how she, who is moving for certain on May 2nd, came to be privy to this information I do not know, but it appears she’s still involved in activities up to the very last.

Because I’d been noncommittal, Red Light sent me a text around 10:30, reminding me.

Inasmuch as the inspectors were nowhere in sight, I went downstairs to check out this health fair.

It was busy and noisy, with residents getting blood pressure and blood sugar checked. Raffle tickets were given out to those signing up to be cuffed and pricked.

I passed and pretty much just did a less than 5-minute walk thru — in one door and out the other when I saw nothing that interested me.

Returning to my unit, I did see Head Maintenance Guy escorting the inspector ……… not "inspectors" but one lone guy into the building across the grassy knoll.

Expecting the inspector would be escorted to my building soon, I waited and waited and waited and, but for the fact it was a one-day inspection, I’d be waiting still.

Like I said ……… false alarm, waste of my time.

Going beastmode this morning made up for yesterday’s inactivity.

The little Spanish lady that doesn’t speak much English ……… the lady with the disabled husband that I and others, who don’t speak Spanish worked at helping learn how to play bingo, had invited myself and the Talker to her Zumba fitness class.

Talker declined but I, even though Zumba is on the same days of the week as my workouts, decided to push myself and go beastmode — Zumba at 9:00, Pain Cave at 11:00.

It was an entire hour of high energy high impact movement, complete with disco strobe lights.

I thought I was going to die.

I was careful to not injure myself by jumping around, kept my movements within a manageable safe range but, even so, I sweated like a whore in church, felt dizzy at times and had to lean on a wall for support.

So, though it was tough getting up and out early for the class, and even though my favorite part was when the moderator would announce "One, two, three, stop" in between movements, and even though most of the music and spoken words were in a language I do not understand, and even though the sessions are on the same days as my Pain Cave workouts (M W F), I plan to go back, try to build up my stamina ……… and possibly my language skills.