Before and After

A few weeks ago, I gloated about Mother Nature finding her way through the plastic sheeting and rocks to sprout patches of green grass peeking out, saying there wasn’t a thing Management or the Landscapers could do about it.

Turns out, they didn’t have to do anything about it, because the sun and lack of water fried the patches of green to dust.

Before

Before

After

Heading out this afternoon, I was met with a lovely new view when I opened the door.

Before

After

When I blogged about my disappointment in Audrey the Venus Flytrap Sculpture being 25 inches, rather than 10 feet tall, commenter Linda in Kansas suggested, “Is there any way you can raise the skull planter up a bit which would help a lot?”

Good idea, thought I, worth a try, and my mind immediately went to the inexpensive and natural-looking way we used, back in the day, to prop items up, make plant stands ……… bricks.

Like this ………

Then, thinking about how much work would be involved in that endeavor, I quickly dropped the idea, began researching modern day plant stands.

Commenter JanF suggested, "dark and discrete which will fade into the background and thus not distract from the skull etc".

"Discrete …… fade into the background" doesn't exactly match my aesthetics of skeletons, voodoo dolls, braids, bright red lipstick that one can see me coming from a mile away, sporty way of dressing, not to mention the eye-catching bright red flamboyant patio furniture.

I went looking for "dark and scary", saw a few gothic plant stands — none that would add much height, switched to looking at tree stumps, and landed on this 18.9" natural wood hand-carved stump that looked gnarly enough and tall enough to get the job done.

Before

After

Looking at it from the outside, though Audrey doesn't stand out, appears to be a supporting character, at least the skeleton is now visible.

My new neighbor/White-Haired Lady, insofar as patio decor, is showing a maximalist side. Obviously won't be decorating for Halloween or Christmas because there's no extra space. I'm the minimalist ……… holding my space open for Holiday decor.

Oh, and P.S., I later repositioned the skeleton to be facing outwards, appearing to look at those on the walkway, rather than sideways.

Size Does Matter and the $50 Mistake

Color me disappointed that 25 inches wasn’t larger than it was pictured to be.

The metal Audrey Venus Flytrap Sculpture that I ordered middle of June, for the skeleton planter, arrived yesterday.

Why so long for Audrey to arrive, you ask.

Though there were many vendors of exactly the same Audrey that I could have ordered from, received in days, I happened to unwittingly choose the vendor shipping from China …… customs and all that.

No matter as Venus did finally arrive, but I have to say I’m disappointed.

Though all metal Audreys indicate "25 inches high", the images depict a plant so tall and stately, with ferocious looking bulbs, that my eyes were tricked into thinking 25 inches was just that …… tall, stately, giant of a plant.

Alas, unpackaging Audrey, seeing how small she looked, how not ferocious her bulbs looked, I thought there’d been a mistake …… I measured her.

No mistake. Twenty-five inches she was.

What I thought I was getting

What I got

I’ve always heard that the camera adds 10 pounds. Seems the sellers’ cameras also adds 10 feet.

One needs a microscope to see her, but she’s a cute little thing, so I’ll live with the disappointment.

Also in yesterday's mail was confirmation that the medical device Twin 1 had gifted me, when I ended up in the ER last year, was "deactivated/account cancelled" and good riddance to it because I didn’t like how the company ran its business …… the result of a $50 fee I viewed as a mistake …… no way to run an overpriced business.

When Twin 1 first contracted with the company, I thought it not only excessive, but the device severely overpriced at, if I recall correctly $159 per month, when I could call 911 for free. However, if my wearing the pendant made Twin 1 worry less …… you know, I went along with the program.

Who knew I wasn’t the one to be worried about 💔 😭 …… Twin 1 is gone, I’m still here.

When it took no time for the pendant to break, I began to think not only overpriced, but also cheaply made.

Worse still was, when I called Customer Service for a replacement pendant only to be told it would cost Twin 1 an additional $50.

Outrageous, thought I …… an additional $50 when the pendant was cheaply made, so easy to break and the system was overpriced to begin with. I requested a cancellation of the whole thing.

"It's a 3-year contract, no cancellation", said Customer Service. So, I accepted I was locked in for 3-years and, if still breathing at the end of the term, I’d tell Twin 1 to not renew.

When Twin 1 passed away, Twin 2 called to say she was taking over the contract.

Expressing my dissatisfaction with the company’s business practices, I asked Twin 2 not to, that her sister was the only signatory on the contract, she’s no longer here, I’d like to see just how that company could make me, or anyone else, continue to pay, which meant the company was essentially SOL, would have no choice but to cancel.

Sure enough, when Twin 2 declined taking over the contract, Customer Service asked "Is there anyone else that would sign?" and when she said "no", they made arrangements for the device to be picked up by Fed Ex, sent me that confirmation of deactivation/account cancelled.

Now the thing is …… had they not been so greedy, replaced the pendant at no cost, I would not have wanted to cancel the contract in the first place, would not have been opposed to Twin 2 taking over.

So, all in all, because of a greedy business practice, that company lost $5,724 dollars ($159 per month for 36 months) over $50.

So now, instead of continuing with that medical device, Twin 2 has gifted me with something much more practical …… a cremation package, LOL; saying, "The plan is to keep your energy, because you have really good energy and, when I'm ready to let you go I'll plant you under a tree, watch the tree grow into something beautiful" 💗🤗.

It’s Too Darn Hot!

Just stepping outside to dispose of trash, check mail be like ……

That is all.

Happy 250th Birthday America

We seniors celebrated the 4th on Thursday with fried chicken, potato salad, slaw, baked beans, pasta salad, deviled eggs, dinner rolls, fresh fruit, chips, sodas, pie and ice cream for dessert (I settled for a few bites of cantaloupe and strawberries), all of which we, as a community, put together for ourselves since Management did didley squat and should be ashamed of themselves.

The event netted 134 photos for the residents’ facebook page, which took me until 10 pm that night to resize, organize, post.

Lu showed up, as did Dream Lover.

Neither gave the other any mind whatsoever …… made a point to act like neither saw the other.

Lu was fine with chill, seemed to be charming another resident I’d never seen before, but who tells me he’s been here a few years. However, I could tell Dream Lover was uncomfortable with the frigid air between them …… hurt.

I have mixed feelings …… Lu has a right to live her own life however she wants to live it and with whom. A right to value her time and attention, put a price tag on it by wanting a man that can occasionally take her out to dinner, not a guy who can only lay around in her unit, keep her company.

I’m reminded of the 1970’s slogan, "Nobody Rides for Free. Gas, Grass or Ass". There has to be reciprocity in some form or fashion, each bringing something to the table or eventually resentment sets in, becomes like what do I need you in my life for.

Though ignoring him is harsh, Lu has no obligation to safeguard Dream Lover’s feeling by not showing interest in someone else.

On the other hand, when I see the hurt in Dream Lover’s eyes, I'm sad for him, but always think back on the hurt I saw in Faith’s eyes when he broke up with her, arrogantly began pursuing others right in front of her, and see his current situation as Karmic Retribution, living it as he’s given it.

So, anyway, Meat Man — formerly Handsome Man, who rarely attends events, stuck his head in the door … lured by the smell of Fried Chicken no doubt; and seeing me, he stayed for the entire — chatting with me.

Coming to the same conclusion I had …… that the rent increase is the result of our paying for the painting redo, he announced this would be his last year living here because of the $94.

Rents are outrageous all over, so I highly doubt it …… that is unless he can charm some woman into letting him into her life and home.

Painted Rock Lady, who has been in/out of the hospital last few years, mostly for hurting herself, and was one of the residents who’d fallen due to rocks on the walkway, had me in stitches over a sign she’s posted on her walker to proudly display she hasn't hurt herself/has been incident free for 32 Days.

Crafty Lady, and the organizers were so busy with running games for the seniors, giving out prizes for winners, and getting the meal together, that no one noticed I’d pimped the tee …… or if they did notice, none said.

I pared the tee with the same old patriotic leggings I made back in 2014, and exchanged my signature gold hoop earrings for the patriotic earrings Talker’s sister gifted me last year.

Hat borrowed from
my Little Hispanic friend for the photo

That’s it for events around here unless and until the next major holiday, or Management decides something should be done with the money that's been budgeted for activities, other than giving it to Kesha for potato chips.