Guess Who and What is Back

Yep, that’s the same older panhandler from last week, the one that got that $20 I found.

I guess he had such a good payday at that location that he decided to return.

Later, after thinking about my not giving him anything, I decided it would not have hurt me to help him out. There’s something about the twinkle in the old guy’s eyes. So, I’ve decided to take him on as a project. If I see him again, and it’s no more often than once-a-week, I can afford to spot him the occasional $20.

That’s the Who is back, as for the What ……… remember when Manager tried to lure us into signing up for Rent Café, the third-party portal designed for us to pay rent online, have rent automatically deducted from our accounts at an additional $3.00 a month charge.

She first tried to lure us in by offering a gift card lottery for us to sign up, offering to dispense with the $3.00 a month fee ……… but just for the initial signing up month.

Not getting the wanted response, Manager’s next move was to dispense with the paper form we’d fill out for work orders and tied it into Rent Café …… making it necessary for us to join Rent Café in order to submit work orders online.

Still no takers, Manager’s next move was to tie the Monthly Activity Calendar into the Rent Café — no more paper calendar posted to our doors. We have to access online through Rent Café.

I’m sure Corporate is pushing Manager to get us signed up, and it’s not just that we don’t trust this corporation with direct access to our bank accounts, it’s also that not many here have computers or smart phones to access the portal even if they wanted to.

So, anyway, we’ve thus far been able to get our hands on the Activity Calendar through other means, the last being check the Community Room for a printout.

I did that yesterday, but found no printout.

That’s because I later yesterday received the Activity Calendar through email, from Manager, along with a notice indicating, in big bold letters "AS OF APRIL 1, 2025, THERE WILL BE NO RENT DROP OFF BOX, to make rental payments easier please create an account with Rent Café and pay your rent online".

WTH. She won't give up. Has now blocked us from paying rent unless we sign up for Rent Café.

Is that even legal?

Fortunately, I dropped my check into the drop box a few days ahead of April 1st, but I wondered how those who generally drop off their payments on the 1st were going to pay rent if in fact Manager did remove the drop box.

I went down to check …… the drop box is indeed blocked off.

Talking to the Baker, she said she’s told those who don’t have computers or smart phones to just walk their checks into the office, that management has to accept payment.

I’m not so sure management will allow that, but how else can those who have no access to online manage?

As for me ……… during the no-contact Pandemic days, I mailed my rent check into the office. I’ll be doing that again, making sure to mail it a week ahead of the 1st, giving time for payment to get through the mail process and in management's hands before the 1st.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

Two things happened when I popped into the market this morning ……… well actually three things because I forgot to check with my egg contact, see if he had anything for me, which means I’ll have to stop by the market after Friday’s workout.

The second thing was that the cashier asked, "You staying home Saturday?"

"Why, what’s happening Saturday?"

"The protest, but I understand Black people are not participating".

I don't know which protest she's referring to, but she's right about Black people not participating.

Other than working my voodoo dolls, not patronizing Target or Walmart, I and other POC are not out on the streets fighting this one because we told you so. This one is for those who did not listen to clean up.

I didn't say that to cashier, I just said "I stay home every day except workout days anyway, but Cory Booker stood up, so I’m voting for him as our next President".

The third thing to happen at the market was that behind me in line was Name Dropper, one of the newer residents — the woman who was quick to drop the name John Travolta, said her granddaughter is an actress, had a role with Travolta when she was a child.

I meant to offer Name Dropper a ride back to the complex, but distracted by the cashier’s question about Saturday, I totally forgot Name Dropper was there.

Didn’t remember her until, once in the car, driving out of the store’s parking lot, I saw her walking with her cart.

Pulling alongside, I apologized for not offering her a ride sooner, asked if she wanted one.

She declined, but said she’d just bought a box of wine, we should exchange telephone numbers. "You are so funny. I really love you, you should come to my unit, have a glass of wine with me".

Huh?

I'm glad she declined the ride, because she kinda gave me the creeps.

Seems to be going down, the way of Sue and Smoker Patty

She no longer looks healthy. I assume because she's inside her unit, lonely, depressed that life has landed her in an unglamorous place like this, drinking like Sue and Patty.

Plus, she scared me with that "I love you" crap.

Knew The Job Was Dangerous When She Took It

I yesterday observed TinTin’s belonging being loaded into a U-Haul. Her window still has that junk covering it, so I’m not sure if she’s all the way moved out or just working on it.

I also saw TinTin chatting with Next Door Neighbor, so catching NDN coming up the stairs today, I picked her brain ……… asked if she knew why TinTin covered her window like she did.

NDN had no idea and quickly changed the subject to discussing the complex TinTin is moving to.

Like I, NDN looked into the place online, and like I she found it a great place to live. However, unlike I, after talking to TinTin, checking the complex out online, NDN immediately drove over to the complex for a tour.

Declaring the place as pretty much perfect, including the fact the Fitness Center will soon be adding Yoga, NDN says she’s ready to move as well.

Only thing stopping her from leasing a unit right now is the uncertainty surrounding social security.

She says that as soon as she gets some level of certainty that immigrant president Elon is going to leave our social security alone, she’s outa here.

Good luck with getting a level of certainty within the 1389 days left to go under the current regime.

Whereas I’d been unsuccessful in getting TinTin’s reason for moving, NDN was more successful, saying TinTin said she was bored here, needed a place more lively, active, especially since she’s battling cancer ……… for a second time.

That was a complete surprise, as you’d never know it from looking at her.

She certainly looked healthy on the many occasions I saw her outside smoking with the other smokers — not smart with her condition.

At any rate, I wish her good health as she moves on from here.

In other news, I popped into the Community Room this morning to pick up a copy of this month’s Activity Calendar.

Of course, there were no printouts available.

What I did find in the Community Room was Dream Lover.

Instead of hanging out in Lu’s unit, as he had been doing, he was seated at a table, chatting, having coffee with a few regulars.

It’s still too early to declare the love affair as over and done with — they could be on a break.

Whether a short break or a clean break altogether, I can’t feel sorry or embarrassed for Lu. Fully aware of Dream Lover’s background, she knew the job was dangerous when she took it.