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May you all be Happy Healthy Prosperous and Safe from all the bull crap coming our way.

My Dysfunctional Family

Trainer and I had an argument this morning.

I don’t recall what we were talking about, but the argument started when he said something about today being Friday.

"Today is not Friday, it’s Monday", said I.

"No it’s not. Today is Friday".

"No it’s not", I insisted.

"Yes it is", he insisted.

We went back and forth until I told him to "Stop trying to confuse me!". Whereupon he asked the fighters in the other room to come in for a moment.

With all three standing at attention, waiting to see what their Coach had to say, he asked "What day is today?".

All three responded "Friday".

"She thought I was messing with her when I told her today was not Monday".

They all got a good laugh as I conceded, today must be Friday.

Senior moment number nine hundred ninety-nine.

I don’t know about you, but I will be so glad with the holidays are over and I go back to my regular routine, which I pretty much know by rote.

There seems to be some interest in how I ended up with an 18 year old great granddaughter I never knew I had.

The story of how the trip to Disneyland with granddaughter and the great grandbabies, and the Christmas Eve trip to tour Mission Inn’s Festival of Lights, again with granddaughter and the great grandbabies, also included a newly acquired 18 year old great granddaughter, goes like this ………

Granddaughter has a sister, a granddaughter to me who was lost to the world at an early age. Family members are not in actual contact with her, but word has reached us over the years that she gave birth to a son and because of her "issues" that son, against her wishes, was adopted away from her.

Trust me when I say, it was in the best interest of the child.

I never heard that she later also gave birth to a daughter, who was also taken from her, adopted out.

I became aware of the new great granddaughter back in August, when granddaughter contacted me to say she’d been contacted by her sister's daughter (news to her as well that she had a niece).

I’m not clear on whether the new great granddaughter knew she was adopted. However, after I met her, asked how she found us, I concluded she must have at some point learned she’d been adopted.

Again, I'm not clear on whether she was looking, or it just happened that she ran across paperwork with Twin 1’s name.

She researched Twin 1’s name, found her on social media.

Seeing the resemblance, she was hesitant to contact, find out for sure if related and how when she saw Twin 1 was quite famous due to her work for the homeless.

Telling me she thought to herself Twin 1 "Has so many followers, she’ll never pay attention to a message from me", she took a chance, posted something on Twin 1’s social media page.

Twin 1 responded, confirmed the relationship (grandmother), gave new great granddaughter the names of us all, put new great granddaughter in contact with granddaughter (aunt) and she has since met the boys (uncles) Twin 2 (great aunt) me.

New great granddaughter even researched and found her father, met and spent time with her mom (the extra special dysfunctional one in our dysfunctional family), which turned out to be a mistake new great granddaughter likely won’t repeat.

The rest of us appears to be a breath of fresh air for new great granddaughter, because the woman who adopted her is "Super religious", which has somewhat stifled new great granddaughter's normal natural propensities.

"Super religious" in that, when new great granddaughter began to show an interest in the spirit world and occult sciences, which is as natural as breathing to the rest of us, the super religious lady took her to the hospital, thought she’d become psychotic. ROFLMAO, but not really funny to make that child think something was wrong with her.

It was the same for me growing up. Mom and other family members thought something was wrong with me because I didn't think like they thought.

I wasted a lot of years trying to conform, was miserably unhappy until, in my early 20's I had a revelation ……… there's nothing wrong with me, they are the ones who are crazy and completely turned my miserable existence around by turning off the noise coming from others in the family as to what I should do, how I should act, began making my own decisions.

New great granddaughter tells me that when she was led to Tarot Cards, began collecting, realized she could read them, actually became a reader for those who requested, the super religious one saw it as devil’s work and tossed the cards in the trash.

New great granddaughter obtained new cards and hides them.

This dysfunctional side of the family has embraced new great granddaughter.

When she told me the super religious one had taken her in for psychotic care because she doesn't think like her adopted family thinks, I said, "Aint nothing wrong with you girl. It’s in the blood" and asked her to give me a reading, which she did very well.

For Christmas, her great aunt (Twin 2) gifted her with a set of Tarot Cards, which she undoubtedly will have to hide from the super religious one.

When asking about how her life has been, it’s been okay, normal, no complaints other than having to stifle her spiritual occult side because she lives with super religious church people.

She just graduated from high school and wants to go into nursing.

Merry Christmas

I’m back from an overnight, with granddaughter, the great grandbabies and my new relative (the 18-year-old great granddaughter I didn’t know I had), to tour the Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn.

Knowing the elves would have returned to the North Pole Christmas Day, on the way out of town I stopped by the market where Elf Buddy resides for one last hunt and found him in the Bakery Department.

Lights in and around the Mission Inn were spectacular and, since pictures and videos are worth a thousand words, here you go.

Perils of taping. Didn’t see the curb. Almost fell.

All in all, it’s been a fun but busy, too busy, holiday season. I’m now ready to settle in for a long Winter’s nap.

I Almost Got Runover by a Reindeer

The mechanical reindeer in the shed at Saturday’s Breakfast with Santa were a little too real for my taste, but I survived the photo op.

Twin 2 and I arrived about 15 minutes before the event was to kick off, as I was looking forward to riding the train (like last year), before the area got so crowded that the train could not move safely through the limited space (like last year), but things were a little different this year.

For one, no train.

The ice-skating rink (actually roller-skating rink to emulate holiday ice skating) was now located where the train used to be.

Breakfast was now being cooked in the space where the skating rink used to be (breakfast was cooked offsite last year and brought in).

This way is better ─ hot and fresh, reminding Twin 2 of the tradition, back in the day, when I’d take her and her sister to various community pancake breakfasts.

Instead of the train, scattered around were scenes for photo ops.

Twin 2 and I took advantage of every one of them.

Twin 2 chose to pose inside the giant light bulb.

I opted for the giftbox.

Another tradition, when my girls were growing up, was a photo with Santa. Who knew I'd be taking her for that photo with me at 80 years of age ... 81 in a few weeks, she at 56 ... 57 in eight days.

Breakfast kicked off with the arrival of the Carolers.

While Twin 2 was enjoying her pancakes, I wandered off and came across a reindeer that didn't try to run this grandma/great grandma over.

The Christmas Party Chronicles Part 2

Yesterday's Residents Christmas Party got off to a rocky start.

Manager all of a sudden appeared, threatened to shut us down because Hell on Wheels (HOW) had brought in alcohol ……… eggnog and kalua.

After a discussion with the organizers, we were allowed to continue with the caveat HOW would put the alcohol away.

You all know my interest in getting to the bottom of things by now; so, after Manager left, I asked the question, "How did she know?".

Name Dropper offered that she’d gone to Manager’s office to discuss her oven not working, said Manager looked preoccupied and before Name Dropper could drop her complaint, Manager stood up, said, "I’ve got to see what’s going on in there", and rushed to the Community Room.

I surmise Manager had been watching us on the video setup at her desk because, not only did she know there was booze in the room but, when she burst through the door, she went directly to the person with the alcohol.

Mark my words, Manager will use this incident as an excuse to do what she’s been wanting to do ……… forbid our using the Community Room for activities.

So, anyway, other than that, the party was a hoot.

While I satisfied myself with my homemade gluten free fodmap free chicken tamales and leftover kale salad, the residents had a choice of Mexican Food (enchiladas, tamales, rice, beans, salad) or lasagna and salad. There was also a table of desserts, which included a pineapple upside down cake in the shape of a Christmas tree.

Those little grinch characters the Baker had me print out, turned out to be a hunting game.

Twenty-five of the cutouts had been placed in various places around the room, and whoever found the most won a prize.

I totally didn't notice there were clip outs sandwiched between slats in the blinds.

The other games were Pin the Nose on the Snowman, and guess how many candies in a jar.

How the snowman started ………

How the snowman ended.

Snowman’s "nose" was all over the place so, when I was asked to decide a winner, I picked a nose that was close to the correct spot, as many were, but was pointed in the direction of a nose.

The social experiment I did with the money boxes was great fun, but didn't go exactly as I'd planned.

Second to pick a gift was the guy who won the money box last year, let’s give him the blog name of "Husband".

His wife, who is not all that mobile, told him to pick for her and Husband, recognizing the butcher paper from last year, went straight for one of the boxes.

Problem was, he ended up with the box containing the Star Wars Gingerbread kit, with no chance it would be stolen.

Husband was next to pick — for himself, and chose not to trust the other two butcher paper wrapped gifts, ended up with a purse.

Husband went from bad to worse in the swap.

Two or three more gifts, and it was Dream Lover’s turn.

You can hear Husband in the background saying, "There it is".

Husband had obviously expected money in the box covered in butcher paper but, having been burned by that first box not containing money, passed on the other two, but now realizes he'd missed an opportunity.

Next up was myself. I chose to steal.

I’d seen Agnes unwrap Myth Arts bowls, so not wanting to take the chance of unwrapping something I wouldn’t like, I stole the bowls I’d seen and liked.

Agnes was not at all unhappy with my stealing, because it gave her the opportunity to choose another gift or steal ……… she promptly stole Dream Lover’s money, which he for sure wasn’t happy about.

Having lost the money, Dream Lover had to pick another gift and took a chance on the last remaining box.

No one expected it to be yet another money box.

Dream Lover miscounted. It was $30, not $25, but I did not correct him, because I don't want anyone to know the boxes are from me.

Next was Red Light, who promptly stole Agnes’ money.

Instead of opting for another gift, Agnes then stole Dream Lover’s money with Dream Lover promptly stealing it back.

This being the third time that money had been stolen meant Dream Lover’s cash was safe, could not be stolen again.

I ran into Dream Lover this morning and he was still perturbed at how many times his money had been stolen saying, "What the hell" when he recounted the sequence of who'd stolen from him, LOL.

After Red Light stole Agnes’ money, Talker stole the money from Red Light and that being a third time, that cash could no longer be stolen. Talker ended up with the cash.

What I've learned from this experiment is money boxes are the fun way to do a gift swap, but now that the boxes are expected, to move on from butcher paper, wrap every box different paper, different ribbons.

In fact, next year ……… if there is a next year, I'll probably just buy premade money boxes.

I'd posted previously, when a resident complained about Di using the "F" word at bingo, that I'd said no big deal because I've used the word my own self. "But you don't say it in front of us" the complaining resident replied, and I'd said, "Not yet".

Well, there were times during the event when one of the organizers stood up front to inform us of the sequence of events, etc., and we couldn't hear because people were talking over her.

Others, including myself, would yell for people to shut up and listen.

Still, people were so into their private conversations that they would not stop talking, which prompted me to say, "People won't shut up, What the F$%k".

So there, it's been said in front of them.

It’s Raining Santas, Hallelujah!

Why did I titled today's post "It's Raining Santas, Hallelujah!"??

If you know you know, but I'll give you a clue ……… think The Weather Girls.

So, what had happened was, walking into the Pain Cave yesterday morning, what did I see but another Santa.

One of Trainer's elite fighters had been volunteered, by his wife, to be Santa at their son’s school, so he popped in after to surprise Trainer.

Trainer was not in the mood.

After having had to help fend off a neighborhood crazy, causing trouble for Liquor Store Guy just minutes before, Trainer said that seeing Santa walk through the door, not recognizing him, his reaction was no reaction.

Said, he deadpanned and pondered what fresh hell could this be, until Santa spoke, said "It's me".

My reaction was like it always is when I see the big guy ……… fan girling, yelling "SANTA!!", and heading in for a photo.

This Santa was more than happy to accommodate my photo request, and from his manly proud pose, it doesn't look like he's minding at all that I'm climbing all over him.

Saturday is Breakfast with Santa ……… which will be my third Santa sighting this week, but the atmosphere will be don't touch, keep it PG.

I'll still jump around like a kid and yell "SANTA!!", when he shows up; but otherwise behave appropriately.

Popping into the market after yesterday's Santa sighting, I saw something that should be reported to the SPCE, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Elves ……… Holly hidden away in deplorable conditions.

I protested ……… said to a store employee in the area that the poor thing was freezing to death; whereupon another employee spoke up and jokingly said, "She's from Canada. She can handle the cold".

I wasn’t buying it and walked away mumbling, "The poor thing".

The Christmas Party Chronicles Part 1

I had all kinds of errands to run today, but instead went down to the Community Room to check out the party management was throwing for us seniors.

Glad I did, because the party was a pleasant surprise.

The room was beautifully decorated.

This spot was perfect for photo opportunities except, before any of us could do so, some old biddy, I’d never seen before, decided to play Queen. She planted her butt down in the spot and never moved.

She seemed somewhat handicapped, so I didn’t dare ask her to move, join us at one of the tables like the other handicapped residents had.

So anyway, a record number of residents showed up — around 40+.

It was the usual suspects, residents I’d never seen before — like the old biddy who decided the big chair was for her to play Queen, a lady, a couple, and a guy (none of us regulars knew) who said he’s lived here 3 years.

People need to get out and about more often ... or maybe it's me not getting out, logging in walking miles like I used to.

The meal was catered — a choice of lasagna or chicken alfredo, dinner roll, tossed salad, coffee, sodas, all kinds of cookies and other pastries for dessert.

Of course, I couldn’t eat any of it; satisfied myself with coffee and conversation.

Manager seemed to be having a good day, actually participated with staff in serving.

As the meal was wrapping up, all of a sudden there was a clatter at the door of the Community Room, and in walked Santa (Head Maintenance Guy) and three of Santa's reindeers (Manager, Assistant Manager, Assistant Maintenance Guy).

I don't think any of us even noticed staff had disappeared to get dressed, and Kudos to management for doing that. So fun!

There was a raffle for the many gifts around the Christmas Tree, and once Santa arrived, the old biddy playing Queen was told by the reindeers that she’d have to move so Santa could take the spot that rightfully belonged to him.

Once dethroned and sat in a chair, she looked embarrassed.

Puff!

There were not enough gifts for the many that showed up, but I was one of the lucky ones.

My number was called in the raffle, and I won a cute 2025 organizer (which I'll donate to the bingo prize table as I already have an organizer for next year).

As numbers were called, residents walked up to the front, were handed their gift, returned to their seat; but I broke rank by doing what one is supposed to do when Santa shows up ……… get a photo with the big guy.

Does Santa look stunned?

All in all, management did good. It was a fun party.

Next up is Friday's Christmas Party Chronicles Part 2 ……… the party us residents are throwing for ourselves, which I now don't think can top management's party, what with a Santa and Reindeers making an appearance, but nevertheless will be a good time.

After yesterday’s workout, I ran an errand that put me in the area of a different chain in the market doing the Hide and Seek Elf thing, so I popped in.

Focusing first on what few items I needed, I’d glanced around for the elf but had not yet begun hunting in earnest when, turning away from grabbing a few bananas, my eyes landed right on Buddy the Elf.

Ride ‘em Buddy!

Six to Twelve Seconds

At the drugstore Friday, after that morning’s workout, picking up photos I’d sent to be developed, I looked for Christmas ribbon, because I didn’t like how the ribbon I was using on the White Elephant Gifts was turning out.

The selection of ribbons at the drugstore was woefully inadequate, so I headed on over to Walmart.

While there, a young man stepped in front of me, said "Hello".

I wasn’t born yesterday, instantly put the intrusion into perspective and said, "What are you selling?"

"I’m not selling anything, just saying hello".

"Young good-looking men always have an ulterior motive", said I.

That elicited a smile, but didn’t throw him off his game as he continued by asking me who my cable provider was and trying to lure me over to discuss "deals".

Like I’d assumed ……… Ulterior motive, but I escaped and went on my way to still not finding ribbon I liked better than what I already had.

When all was said and done, I ended up wrapping all three gifts in the same butcher paper and did a better job of using the ribbon I had on hand.

So that project is done, and last year's roll of butcher paper has been depleted.

Also done is my Christmas shopping.

The great grandbabies are not on my Gifting list this year, because 1) they have too much stuff as it is, 2) are too young to expect a gift, and 3) they are still very much enjoying last year’s Christmas gift — the Mickey Mouse Airplane.

Once they outgrow that airplane ……… or destroy it, or get old enough to expect a gift, I’ll add them to my Gifting list and find another big something.

That left me with just the Mail Lady and Trainer to take care of.

So, on the way back to the complex from Walmart, I popped into Starbucks and got gift cards — $25 for the Mail Lady, $50 for Trainer.

Responding to the Barista’s friendly questions as to who the cards were for, he said Mail Lady was going to be jealous Trainer’s got more on his card than she does.

Obviously, that’s not going to happen, but I played along, rationalizing the difference by saying "Mail Lady gets my mail right, but Trainer keeps my body going".

Saying that, about keeping my body going, reminded me of a study I’d read about a few weeks ago.

The study suggested the ability to balance on one leg might be a "key indicator of well-being and healthy aging".

There was a chart attached to the study, which chart broke down by age the length of time one should be able to stand on one leg.

I decided to test it out.

As you can see, I was off to a rocky start, but did manage 6 to 12 seconds at the end.

Those numbers place me a little over what is expected in the 80+ category, but with five years of cross-training, three times a week at the Pain Cave, I thought I'd do better.

Guess it takes practice.

Will you try?

If you do, let me know the results.

Don't fall.

Friday the 13th of Christmas

Second Friday the 13th we’ve had this year — first being in September, but it’s all good because today is a no bingo Friday.

Next week's Bingo Friday is not actually bingo. Instead, it's the Christmas Party we throw for ourselves — three days after the Christmas Party management has scheduled for us.

No contest … the one we throw for ourselves is bound to be better.

The Baker is planning a Mexican Food menu and all kinds of games.

Of course, she’s not taking it all on by herself — one of her daughters, who runs a catering business, will be helping; as will Talker and Red Light (who no longer even lives here) be assisting. Others have donated sufficient monies to cover the cost.

Going to piss Manager off that 1) Our party will be better than the party she doesn't even want to do for us and 2) Red Light is involved in the party that will be besting her.

One of the games the Baker is planning has something to do with Grinch characters she had me print out and cut into 2-inch squares.

Hmmmm? Can’t wait to see what that’s about.

Among the many other games she told me she's planning is the White Elephant Gift Exchange — where attendee, one by one, choose a wrapped gift from the table, opens it; and the next person has the option to pick a gift from the table, or "steal" what another person has already unwrapped.

The reaction to the money box I put together for last year’s Gift Exchange, was a hoot.

The guy's wife stole it from him, then Di (who always needs money) stole the cash from the wife. However, wife was smart. Instead of selecting another gift from the table, she stole the money back and, since a gift can only be "stolen" a limit of three times, wife ended up with the $20.

So much fun to watch that I'm again going with a money box as my White Elephant Gift for the table.

Last year’s money box was a social experiment in that I wanted to see how many would base their choice of which gift to take from the table based on how pretty the outside package was (much like the choices we make in life, based on appearances, only to later learn that what we chose is not all that great inside). So, I last year wrapped a small box in plain butcher paper with Christmasy ribbon.

Positioned amongst the fancy wraps, the plain unassuming gift was overlooked again and again and again, as residents went for big and fancy looking — thinking they held a treasure (when some of those fancy gifts were no more than water bottles and food storage containers).

Plain and simple, which held the actual treasure …… cash, ended up being the next to the last gift on the table to be picked.

I’m sure the folks that needed money were sorry they didn’t choose it.

To see if lessons had been learned to not judge by a plain/simple appearance, I again put together a small money box, wrapped it in butcher paper with Christmasy ribbon.

The extra gift last year was a Christmas coffee mug. This year it's a 2nd money box …… except this box is a little larger to extend the social experiment to whether size will be a factor in choices, i.e., which will go first, the little one or the big one?

In other words, I'm turning my fellow residents into test subjects, lab rats, just to study their habits in their natural habitat.

The small box contains $30, the larger box $20.

I’m taking that Friday off from working out, so I can get to the Community Room early, take photos as the festivities begin.

I also want to get there early enough to sneak my gifts on the table — just in case someone figured out I was the one that brought the money box to last year’s Party and would be watching for a repeat.

I’m actually adding another extra gift …… a purchase I wanted to return.

I wrapped this extra gift in Christmas paper, just because. However, I'm now wondering if I should give it a do-over, wrap it the same as the money boxes, so folks won't equate butcher paper with always being a money box.

Shall I?

I don't know what I was thinking when I ordered yet another gingerbread kit but, having decided I don't want to put this kit together, I filled out the online return paperwork and was planning to take the return paperwork and purchase back to the store. However, the rather quick online reply (automated? a bot?) was that "Your refund is on the way …… Feel free to use, donate or dispose of any unwanted items – no need to return them to the store".

Nice, I get a refund, but who does that …… returns payment but doesn't want the purchase back?

Pondering what to do with it, a lightbulb went off that it would be another extra gift for the table.

I have a sense no one around here is going to want to deal with a gingerbread kit, but at least it's off my hands.

Maybe they can regift it to a young family member that's into Starwars.

Chocolate-dipped Corn Cob

A few days ago, Mitchell — over at Moving With, posted that while walking around his neighborhood, he ran across a churros kiosk that was selling Chocolate-dipped corn cob / Mazorca de maíz bañada en chocolate.

"Whoever heard of such a thing?" Mitchell queried.

I myself had never heard of it, but it sounded pretty tasty to me, so I gave it a try.

After salting the boiled cob, I spread melted chocolate on it and, as I’d expected, the taste was a delicious combination of salty and sweet.

Not something I’d make a habit of concocting. Melting and spreading chocolate was messy work.

In other news, the Elf is back.

At the market this past Saturday, I looked and looked and looked, but had no success in finding the Elf.

I overheard a conversation between a father and his little son …… "We didn’t give up and we found it". So rightly assuming they were talking about the Elf, I asked "Where?"

The father pointed over towards the Deli/Bakery side of the market, said "Over there, sipping a coke. They hid it pretty well. We looked for a long time".

Wanting to get a photo of Holly the Elf enjoying a coke, I walked over to that area, looked and looked and looked and looked. Never found the Elf that day.

I popped into the market after this morning’s workout, and found Holly pretty quick.