Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Stuck in Neutral

Several things are going on, related to the painting job being done on the complex; one of which necessitates I get out of dodge for an extended period of time, because I’ll have no place to park the jeep for however many days.

Back in ’23, there was the great paving project that uprooted my parking spot for an entire week. To avoid the chaos/trauma others were experiencing in finding places to park, I booked the jeep into a car park that would only allow parking by the month @ $360.50.

Though fairly nearby, the trek back/forth wasn’t fun because the area was sketchy, inside the facility didn’t feel safe for a woman alone to be wandering around in, but I managed.

Though convenient, I really don’t want to car park again. I thought instead I’d visit Twin 2 in Murietta. However, Twin 2 tells me she not only had not gotten the guest room set up (no mattress), she hasn’t even unpacked from the move.

So that visit not working out, not wanting to book the car park, not wanting to face that harrowing drive back to the Long Beach area, book a hotel to visit the great grands for a week, I decided on a Residence Inn a few cities over, that I know to be attached to a shopping center, which will make it easier to care for my weak stomach as there’s a kitchen, cooking appliances, a refrigerator — it’s like home away from home, but with a gym and safe areas to walk.

I just returned from that road trip to Hollywood, will soon have to hit the road yet again, but I’m stuck in neutral — my now vintage Diane Von Furstenberg suitcase, that I purchased back in the 70’s when it was affordable, still out of storage ready to repack, but I can’t book the hotel until the signs go up detailing what days are involved in no parking.

I know it’s soon because notices were posted to our doors just yesterday, indicating painters were ahead of schedule, would start today on my building. In fact, the building is being power washed as we speak. However, insofar as parking, no such notices have been forthcoming.

From what I’ve seen in other areas, no parking signs just mysteriously appear; but logic tells me that if they’re starting on my building today, the parking area will be next and soon. However, without proper notification, I’m stuck in neutral … constantly having to check morning and night to see if the no parking signs have been posted, so I can make hotel reservations.

Of course this stay is going to cost more than $360, so any thoughts of helping Di out with her situation are off the table, as I’ll need to apply those $$$ to my stayaway.

I haven’t seen any of the Usual Suspects since I returned from Hollywood, probably won’t see anyone until next week, so news on Di and whether Kesha has been able to assist is not yet known by me.

Speaking of Hollywood … this was the photo I took of two dolls' star the day before Pride.


This is the photo, I saw posted to the internet, the very next day .... after the Pride Parade.





24 comments:

  1. I'm sorry for all the inconvenience you are going through - and the cost. The star photos do brighten my day!

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    1. There's always something to inconvenience us around here. Thank the Universe I currently have options ... expensive, yes, but better than a medical bill for when management's screwups cause me to stress myself sick.

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  2. well poo! Kind of a weird neutral / limbo. Is there any other tourist spot nearby that you'd like to visit? We have weekly tornado warnings around the KC metro if ya wanna come watch 'em. Toto is here too. Stay safe. Linda in Kansas

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    1. I thought about Disneyland, but that's too expensive and it would be difficult to feed myself as there are no cooking facilities, not even a microwave, in the rooms.

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  3. Good luck with the arranging. A stay in a hotel next to a shopping mall sounds kind of nice. Thank you so much for sharing the star on the walk of shame. That makes me so happy!

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    1. That star has probably been cleaned up by now, but there will be another attack by the next day, and the next, and the next, ad infinitum.

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  4. I was stunned by the first photos of the Star of Cankles because I thought it would have been defaced, and then you show me the actual star and it's just like I imagined and like I hope it stays.

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    1. I probably captured my photo after the guy assigned with removing vandalism from the star had done his job. I understand it's vandalized daily. In fact, TikTok @johnnypalmadessa follows the star, captures the daily vandalism and the cleaner whose job it is to clean and remove the multitude of warranted disrespect afforded to that star.

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  5. Replies
    1. If you're talking about management, isn't it always.

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  6. I think they should take his Star off the Walk of Fame. But funny none the less what was done to it. I wonder how many people took a wee on it??? LOL!!!!

    A stay-away....I bet it will also give you a bit of a nice change too Shirley.

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    1. I'm surprise it hasn't been removed, considering how much money is being spent on someone to clean away the vandalism on a daily basis. As for the wee, there's a video of a guy having his dog pee on it, LOL.

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  7. So sorry to hear you have to go out of Town just to be able to have somewhere to put your vehicle, the Complex should reimburse Residents, at the very least, offset the Rent for the period of time they're making it impossible to stay there. I'm glad Donnie Two Dolls Star was defaced, I hope it happens again and again and again and again to the point they quit trying to clean it away, just leave it that way, that's how the majority of us feel about him and you can't erase that Fact and Feeling/Sentiment of the majority of the American Public and all of our Friends and Allies Abroad. I've been trying to hold onto Sanity coz honestly, all the fuckery and coupled with personal issues, is sending me right to The Edge of tipping into Insanity, which, might actually be preferable.

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    1. They should offer something, especially since there is no street parking, but offering anything that won't net additional monies for them is not how this management group rolls.

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  8. Thanks for sharing @johnnypalmadessa . I am following him on Instagram now.

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    1. I'm on my way now to see what Johnny has posted about condition of the star today, LOL.

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  9. Oh my god, we have our parking lot painting coming up and I haven't even thought about it. Thanks for the reminder that I need to be proactive about it.

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  10. I'm surprised there isn't an elephant sized pile of shite on the Trumpenfuhrer's "star", especially since it really should be a star of shame! Hope your mini-vacay goes well -- sometimes the price of peace & stress avoidance is well worth it, LOL!

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    1. I wouldn't be at all surprise if 💩 hasn't been done ... many times.

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  11. When our apartment complex was painted a couple of months ago, they didn't put out any sings. Maintenance just covered all the cars that were close to any walls they were painting with large sheets of plastic. lol Good luck.

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    1. Covering the cars would have been a good idea .... less disruptive.

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