Dropout

Yesterday was the 5k I so enjoyed challenging myself on year after year ─ Mission Inn Run/Walk.

According to last year’s stats (if they were correct, which I still doubt I did that well), I finished 49th out of 481 in the male and female all ages category and, breaking it down to just women all ages, I was reported as 39th out of 348.

Since then, there’s not been a lot of training, due to the endless heat and lack of motivation. So, knowing I was not in shape for that course, I did not register this year.

Trainer kept encouraging me, said he thought I could do it, but the words of Dirty Harry were ringing in my ears, with a slight modification ... "A woman’s got to know her limitations".

It’s Trainer’s job to encourage, instill confidence so, to prove to me I could do it, a week or so ago, he set the treadmill at a steep incline for four minutes.

I almost died.

When I left the studio that day, my left ankle and right hip felt out of kilter, and I'd only lasted 2 minutes out of the 4.

I always snap back pretty quick and did, after a good soak in Epsom salt and a day to rest before the next training session.

So that particular 5k was a definite no for this year.

Maybe next year.

In other news, I asked around about the Community Meeting and learned it had been cancelled.

Hmmmmm????

I’m having buyer’s remorse over these Mitts, purchased at Disneyland.

I don’t know what I was thinking, as they don’t go with my Minnie Mouse Halloween costume.

They're cute though, so I'll pass them on to the great grandbabies to play with or use as pillows.

These Nightmare Before Christmas ears also don't go with my costume, but I love the half Halloween half Christmas ears — a Disney gift from the kids, and maybe I can build a costume around them in the future.

They're reversable.

Old Habits Die Hard

Where has the time gone? We’re in the last week of June already, almost time to prepare for Halloween.

However, with no Residents’ Activity Committee — because Red Light moved away, The Baker recovering from knee surgery, no one else willing to step up and assume the responsibility of bingo and events, not to mention we can’t count on management to arrange a Costume Party, I’ll probably not be needing a cosplay outfit this year.

Registration is open for the Mission Inn 5K, but I’m not sure I should register. I may have aged out of that event — unable to handle the hills and mountains this year.

Trainer says I need more cardio outside of the Pain Cave.

Tell me something I don’t already know was my response, but I can’t motivate myself to walk ……… not around the complex, the neighborhood, the mall, anywhere outside, because outside is too peopley.

The Walking Club motivated me for a minute but, when Activity Director didn’t show up that last time, my motivation went back to sleep.

Trainer suggested walking up and down the stairs leading to my unit as good training for the 5K hills/mountains.

Not a bad idea, it’s only 18 steps, but "It’s outside where the people are" whined I and came up with a way to train inside where the A/C has the room nice and cold and there are no people ……… new equipment.

Cardio Climber Elliptical Trainer

When I was in the working world, I used my lunch hour and after work to train on the elliptical in the agency's gym, could do an entire hour no sweat.

Now I can barely eek out 2 minutes but, if I keep at it and can build up the stamina necessary to compete in the Mission Inn 5K, I’ll give that race another go.

If not, I'll close that chapter and be satisfied to be getting in extra cardio in the privacy of my own space.

As for old habits, I’m back on coffee. However, instead of a pot a day (4 cups), it’s one cup-a-day and drinking plenty of water during the day.

Speaking of water, when marketing, I generally pick up six 33.8 fl oz bottles of Smart Water @ 2 for $4.

Buying into the myth it would be more economical to purchase in bulk, I picked up a pack of six — going for $11.99, but then in my head calculated six bottles @ 2 for 4 — a total of $12.00 is less than a penny savings for having to go through the work of bringing down the dolly to load and get the pack upstairs, whereas I can easily climb the stairs with six, split up three in two separate bags.

A penny saved is a penny earned not worth the effort, so I put the pack back and purchased the usual six.

What a racket, but it gets worse ……… Smart water at the drug store is 2 for $7 and 2 for $9 at Sprouts. I’ll have to check Costco next time in the area to see if they offer a better price — single bottles and bulk.

I’m not the only one for whom old habits are dying hard. Talker tells me her downstairs neighbor, the Karen character, is at it again.

No surprise, because you might recall I’d speculated Karen would nut up over Talker having my little Knock Knock and her entire family going up/down the stairs, heading to the pool, walking overhead on that weekend I’d blogged about their being here in force.

Sure enough, Karen accosted Talker, but not about the group, her beef was that the little Knock Knock had awakened her at 1 or 2 a.m. by supposedly running back and forth across the room.

Talker said she told Karen that was ridiculous because little Knock Knock and she had gone to bed at 9:30 p.m. on the night in question. Told Karen "You’re hearing things and I’m not going to go through what you put me through before", that she’ll get management and Corporate involved again and "We’ll see how that works out". Whereupon Karen had nothing else to say and walked away, because she's on the short list with management and doesn't want Corporate to have to talk to her again about complaining/harassment.

I’m proud of Talker, and told her it’s about time she took up for herself, rather than roll over, walk on eggshells, unable to enjoy her place in an effort to continuously try to please Karen.

Stiff and Sore

Though it hasn’t helped that I had to remove everything from the kitchen cupboards, drawers, under the sink — editing out as I went along, and then spending the last few days constantly in motion, testing out where to place items for functionality — more editing as I went along, it was this morning’s 5k ……… in the rain, that's broken Shirley.

It wasn’t raining when I first arrived at 8:45 a.m. It waited until I got in line to check in, pick up my bib and t-shirt.

That gave me just enough time to rush to the car, toss the t-shirt in, check the trunk, hoping to find an umbrella.

Obviously I did, but not the plain small brown umbrella I thought might be in the trunk. Instead, it was the large lacy Scarlett O'Hara umbrella I purchased eons ago, back in my cute era, when I was wearing dresses, high heels, and nylons.

It was a sparce crowd for this morning’s event.

I’m assuming the missing crowd had gotten word of rain, chose not to participate.

I too had heard the weather girl, earlier in the week, predict rain this morning, but only sprinkles.

It was way more than sprinkles, but I soldiered on — umbrella in one hand, walking stick for balance and help getting up the inclines I was expecting on the course in the other.

Not only was the majority of the course an upwards trajectory, i.e. slight inclines, but across a grassy uneven with potholes field (the work of groundhogs?) — where I nearly twisted an ankle, and around the athletic field, where the ground was hard, lumpy, bumpy, causing me to stumble around like a drunkard. Consequently, when I saw an area of the course had taken us near to where I’d parked the car, I made the decision to veer off, go to the car, ditch the umbrella, grab the other walking stick.

I lost the other walkers but, able to propel myself with two poles, I quickly caught up.

I finished back of the pack, drenched, view obstructed by raindrops on my glasses, but not last.

It’s a good thing I’d set my tracker and saw I'd logged in unofficial results of 56:57, because official race results were not forthcoming — "Internet issues" the announcer said.

Had there been official results, I still would have had no idea how I measured up to my peers because the categories were not narrowed down by age, as they were last time. This year we were lumped into "18 years and older".

Also, no finishing medals came at the end. Just that t-shirt, which I’ll use as a sleep shirt.

St. Patrick's Day having passed, I wasn't feeling cosplaying with green lipstick, wore my usual red (Sorry to disappoint you Paranormal John 💋).

No entertainment, no results, no medal and it rained. So, will I do this race again?

Probably, but not if it rains.

I’m off to soak my tired achy body in Epsom Salt.

Not much is going to get done on putting things away in the kitchen for a while, as I’m waiting for storage bins to arrive.

Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head

Other than water nonstop pouring from the sky, not a lot going on around here.

The show must nevertheless go on, so this morning was the usual workout. However, because last few days’ warning to "Prepare now … California’s next storm may bring life-threatening flooding beginning Sunday", I switched marketing to yesterday, before the storm hit, so as not to a have to do so in today’s rain.

Yesterday was pretty much blue skies.

Which meant the organizers and participants of Sunday morning’s event at the airport were able to proceed without a hitch.

There’s always a few diehards who would have participated had not the coast been clear, had the rain started earlier, but it might have put a damper on the after events.

So though the event was a go, I’m still glad I didn’t register.

The predicted storm didn’t hit the area until late last night, raining cats and dogs ever since.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I won’t have to head out again until Wednesday.

It’s predicted to still rain straight through until then, so if anyone is looking for me, I’ll be here — snug as a bug drinking coffee from my pink cup.

Not one of those Pink Stanley Cups in the news lately, the ones folks are going crazy for.

I personally don’t get this craze. They’re sold out at Target, going for $150 on Ebay and, believe it or not, $250 at Walmart.

I’m happy with my years old pink seasonal coffee cup ($10).

LATE BREAKING NEWS ... Red Light telephoned just as I was ending this post. She's talking about not wanting to live here any longer, looking for a place to live, has already requested return of her security deposit from management to facilitate said move.

No surprise, management said "NO".

Not that I'd like to see her go but, if she does go, bingo goes with her. I'll be free without having to put on those big girl panties.

As for why she wants to move, if she follows through and when, more on the details as this story develops.

'Twas a Dark and Rainy Day

This first day of Black History Month has been wet and gloomy, as a storm rolled in to ruin the perfect sunny weather we’ve been having last few days.

I am so glad I didn’t register for Sunday’s 5k at the Runway of Ontario Airport, as it’s likely to be rained out when the second phase of this rain storm hits the area over the weekend.

Desperate for a walking event, I came close to registering but held out because of the parking situation that once the lot closest to the event was full, a lot located a couple blocks away would be made available and registrants would be shuttled to the event.

I once got lost in that airport — barriers and miles to a turnaround area, when I went to pick Twin 2 up from a trip. So I know "a couple blocks" means miles and miles and miles.

No thanks to be stranded away from the event, dependent upon a shuttle.

Even though the event is only a 30 minute drive, I might have sprung for a hotel, so I didn’t have to worry about parking, but there were no hotels close enough to allow me to get to the event without driving.

My only other option was to arrive early, around 5:30/6:00 a.m., to ensure a spot in Lot 1, which would have meant a long wait for the 8:00 a.m. start time.

Last time I did that was 2015 for the Halloween Spooktacular up in the mountains of San Dimas, but I no longer have the energy or motivation to arrive before the sun comes up, so I waffled, didn’t register and, last time I checked, the event was sold out.

I actually was rather relieved that I no longer had to ponder whether I should register or not, because "sold out" meant I couldn't; and now that the weather has taken a turn, I’m glad I didn't waste money on an event likely to be rained out — which has happened more than a few times.

Besides, in my constant search for a 5K nearby, I see the Kappa Delta sorority is bringing the Shamrock 5K back to the university in March.

The college is a stone throw’s away from the complex, has plenty of parking so, barring any unforeseen circumstances, it will be my second time participating in that 5K.

I recall the event being boring … entertainment at the finish line, but no entertainment along the course. However, who knows, this being the first in person race at the college since the pandemic, maybe the sorority will step it up, but even if they don’t, it will feel good to get out walking in a safe space again, even if only for one morning.

Organizers have already opened registration for this year’s Mission Inn October Run, but not being the spring chicken I once was, and the struggle being real, even with the walking poles last time, I’ll have to think about my ability to give it another go.

After tossing those really great walking poles by mistake, I did replace them, but not without going through the same hoops as before.

I couldn’t remember where I’d bought them from, so tried a retailer I thought would have been the source.

Wrong. I ended up with the poles I didn’t like, the ones that wouldn’t lock, so returned them.

Second try, I got the right retailer but somehow ordered the wrong product. I ended up with a cane.

It’s a really good cane, so I’m hanging on to it just in case I one day need it or can gift to someone else.

Third try was a win win — correct poles and, instead of a boring one color, in a pretty ombre coloration.

Looks like I’ll have to wait until March to test them out.

Monday Already?

Time is flying by at warp speed.

It was busy busy busy over the weekend, as I finished the great grandbaby's 3rd Creative Memories scrapbook.

Can't say that meant I was all caught up because, with so many pics of the world’s most photographed baby, I had to start a 4th.

Then, with so many photos of the baby shower/Sprinkle and prenatal photos of the soon to be born baby sister, I decided to start a separate Bump to Baby scrapbook and began toying around with materials for the beginning title page.

Bump to Baby: We're Cooking up Something Special

I really truly need a 2nd bedroom to be used for crafts but, inasmuch as I'm already over income would not be able to effectuate such a transfer.

When residents need more space, transfer from a 1-bedroom to a 2-bedroom, they apply as a new tenant, then go on a waiting list to vie with others around here who want more space.

The fact that I am over income would disqualify me from applying as a new tenant.

In fact, the only reason I'm still able to remain living here is because I'm grandfathered in by reason of becoming over income a few years AFTER qualifying and moving in.

Assistant Manager once told me that I could win the lottery and still remain living here because of grandfathered status. That being said, it bugs me that I still have to go through the annual recertificate process where the office gets into my financials on the basis of deciding if I still qualify, then make statements such as "I don't have what you have".

I technically don't still qualify but, since I'm grandfathered in, why go through the process?

It's illogical.

So anyway, rents being so outrageous elsewhere, annoying as management can sometimes be, I feel fortunate to be in this, currently for me, affordable living situation.

Over the weekend, I also put the almost finishing touches on my Holiday shopping.

Starbucks

Two gift cards, both for Trainer … one for Thanksgiving, another for Christmas.

I passed on the usual gift card for the mail carrier because every day it’s a new face lately. I’m constantly on pins and needles as to whether the key to the lock box, where packages are stored, will get to my mailbox or be misdelivered. So, unless and until we get some consistently good service around here, I’m done with giving gift cards in appreciation, like I used to do for our former carrier.

The great grandbaby — aka Young Skywalker as I like to call him, not yet two years old, already has everything, including a spaceship.

His mom and dad, already pressed for space for the new baby — expected to be delivered soon, will now have to find space for the airplane I’ll be gifting to Young Skywalker.

Fearing the airplane would sell out if I waited closer to the holiday, I purchased it in late September.

The only holiday gift thing left to do is to purchase wrapping paper for the baby’s gift, and then I am done.

I won’t be heading to Long Beach this Thanksgiving because the family unit is now irretrievable broken, no family for me to celebrate Thanksgiving now or any time in the future with.

The grandsons have morphed into manipulative self-centered liars that think the world owes them a living. They no longer get along with their mom, tried to use me until I put the brakes on. The twins no longer have a relationship with each other or with the boys or with granddaughter.

It's just an unfixable mess.

The only folks likely to show up at granddaughter's place, should she host Thanksgiving, would be the youngest of her manipulative lying brothers, my deceased sister's husband ...... Nice man but bores me to tears and always wants to give me a sisterly hug when we meet, which I'd rather not. Also, White Grandpa and White Grandma.

White Grandpa vibes very well, is fine to be around; White Grandma flat lines, is empty, does not generate a pleasant aura at all, so I'd rather not with her.

All in all, a family Thanksgiving get-together is not for me.

I will however head to Long Beach, around Christmas to deliver the great grandbaby’s gift, see his new sister.

Since I now have the Thanksgiving holiday open to do so, I’ve been debating whether or not I want to register for the local Turkey Trot.

Even purchased a cute pair of non-thanksgiving themed leggings to wear.

Wednesday Addams … how could I resist.

At any rate, I’m leaning towards not doing the 5K. Use the day to set up patio Christmas decorations instead.

Backtracking a bit, I’m doubting the results of the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Race Timing System used at the Mission Inn 5K.

No doubt I did do well, but I did say to Trainer that "I was shocked" at how well the system said I did.

Since then, I've learned a much younger client of his saw me cross the finish line AFTER her, and further stated her results did not get posted. Consequently, I’m doubting the validity of the results, that I did as well as the system calculated.

Oh well, insofar as it now officially stands, I remain a 79-year-old 5K beast — at least until next year when I participate in that race again, see if the systems says I'm less beastly.

I wasn’t planning on treating myself to anything special for Christmas, but having learned the Old Gays have published a book, even though I've not yet had time to finish The In-Between, and have My Life at Grey Gardens on the bedside table to get to, I preordered their book as a gift to myself.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Old Gays, they are a group of gay social media personalities and LGBT rights activists that I first discovered on TikTok doing cosplay including ……… what else, the Wednesday dance.

They’ve become enormously popular, and I later saw them as guests on an episode of Ru Paul’s Drag Race.

Like I said, busy busy busy this weekend and maybe, if the weekends were longer, Mondays wouldn't come so soon, I could squeeze in some reading time.

Hold My Beer, Part 2

Well well well … race photos began trickling in yesterday.

I love it when folks keep their word.

Also true to the organizers’ words, the photos — usually priced at $19 for one photo and plus plus plus dollars for packages, are free to all who participated.

I don’t know how they can do that inasmuch as participation in the 25k, the 10k and 5k totaled over 6,000 participants, and I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop as I’m suspect of their generosity but, in the interim, I’ll take em.

It’s not a lot, just one or two as I’m leaving the start line, one along the course (I never saw the photographer) and an awesome looking poster, which I’m using as my official race photo on the side bar.

Looks like I'm approaching the turnaround.
Still looking strong, not sweating

Inasmuch as no additional photos have rolled in, and there’s nothing showing the finish line, I’m guessing that’s the gotcha — the other shoe. If we want more than the three provided for free, we’ll have to pay the standard regular over-priced cost.

I’m satisfied with what’s been provided.

Also true to word, to keep the Black cat from crossing my path, I did indeed walk backwards to the car yesterday, when heading out for the morning’s workout.

Walking up to the trunk of the car, I stood there and banged on the car to make noise so the Black cat would know to move if in the area. Then I walked backwards around to the passenger side door to load my gear; then walked around the car to the driver side, walked backwards to that door and didn’t care if any neighbors happened to spot my new ritual.

If anyone observing is so bold as to ask, I'll say "You don't want to know".

Hold My Beer

I seriously thought about being a no-show at this morning's 5k when, heading out to package pickup on Saturday, a Black cat came out of nowhere and crossed my path.

Having composed myself, pushed through and gotten out on the road, I was just a few miles from the complex when a tire ran over something that flew up and sounded like metal when it hit the ground.

I was anxious about continuing on after a second omen, but told myself, if there was tire damage, I could take care of it once I reached my destination.

Fortunately, whatever bad omens were plaguing me gave up at that point. Hotel check-in was fast, I got a great parking space at the hotel, and there were no hiccups at package pickup.

It was blue skies, perfect weather, good energy and a drone watching us at the Start Line this morning.

I’m over 45, so ...... safe

Mission Inn Museum come to life

Using trekking poles on the inclines, meant I had to pass on a lot of great photos during the race, but I did pause to capture the butterflies going and then coming back around when they pulled way ahead of me and then looped at the turnaround.

If anyone is looking for Waldo, I think I spotted her.

Official race photo, as I crossed the finish line, is supposedly to arrive via email later (we’ll see), but the organizers came through with results in record time.

The Overall shows I finished 49th out of 481 in the 5K — that’s male and female, all ages and 39th out of 348 women — that’s young and old.

Would have been nice had they broken us down further by age groups, so I could see how I did against my peers. But then again, maybe not, because those little old ladies had wings. They were flying, leaving me in the dust.

At any rate, inasmuch as my normal daily step count is between 3,000 and 5,000 and today’s count racked up to 10,926, I finished a little stiff and sore from pounding the pavement, but nothing that a little soak in Epsom salt didn't take care of.

One young lady was unconscious when dragged across the finish line by two big burley dudes.

Dragged instead of carried because, had she been conscious, she would have wanted it that way to get credit for having crossed the finish line.

The two guys whisked her away out of sight rather quickly and I later heard sirens, which I assume was fire department medical emergency.

I was surprised to not see a medical emergency team near the finish line, as is usually done, because that’s usually where the body give out and participants collapse.

The new organizers did a great job this time, but I guess they’d not taken into consideration someone might get hurt.

Hope she’s going to be okay, and I hope the two guys who were assisting her remembered to pause her watch.

That’s not a joke.

The first thing she’s going to do when she opens her eyes is check her watch/fitbit to see how she was doing before she collapsed.

That’s what runners do.

"Because that’s what’s important" said one in the group above, when I complemented them on their shirts.

Note to self: I need one of those shirts.

So anyway, though no photo of my crossing the finish line yet, I did get my medal to go along with a few extras I’d been given on package day.

The extras being Legacy Awards — a hat and pin for having participated in the race for the last three years.

I’ve participate for more than three consecutive years, but three is what the organizers are recognizing.

I don’t wear hats, but wanted the world to know I’m no rooky, so I attached it to my waist band (yellow item in Photo No. 2 above).

I was also entitled to go to the Beer Garden after the race, enjoy the after party, collect a free beer.

I don’t really like beer, but I would have done just to mingled with other participants, except I was anxious to get home to an Epsom bath.

Hold my beer for next time.

Threat or a Promise?

Heading to the car for this morning’s workout, a car pulled up behind me and someone called my name.

It was my little Knock Knock.

She’s been travelling, visiting relatives in another state and, as she was still on the move at that moment said something about coming to see me on the weekend.

Not sure if that was a threat or a promise and inasmuch as I couldn't clearly make out what her little voice was saying from the car, I don't know if she’s talking about this weekend or next.

If it’s next weekend, she’s got me.

If it’s this weekend, it will be a miss as I'm off to the races tomorrow.

After a long dry spell insofar as in person races, tomorrow is package pickup for Sunday’s Mission Inn 5k; and because traffic to the site and parking at the site is so cra cra, I’ll be booking myself into a nearby hotel for an overnight.

If "Mission Inn" sounds familiar to long time readers, it’s because that’s the 5k I’ve participated in several years in a row. The same race that, though it’s been in existence for 46 years, was horribly screwed up last year — in every conceivable and even inconceivable manner, by new people after some of the regular organizers did not survive the Pandemic ……

• Start line was located at the wrong spot, ½ mile from where it should have been and had to be relocated.
• New guy on the microphone failed to call which race was up, so most of us went rogue and just took off whenever.
• My back began to ache on the inclines at Mile 2, muscles in my legs stiffened, I could barely walk and struggled to get to the finish line.
• Mile 3 seemed extra especially long, so I'm not at all sure the race organizers didn't make a mistake in calculations there as well.
• Finish line photographer, for some unknown reason, could not match our bib numbers to photos taken, so there were no official race photos.
• Computers went down so results were not recorded.

The race was a complete cluster-you-know what, yet here I am primed and ready to give the 5k another go.

After a year to examine what went wrong, hopefully the organizers by now will have gotten their act together so us participants can get our official photos and results.

Last year was a wake-up-call for me as well. Now pushing 80 years of age, my aging back, hips, legs can no longer handle the steep inclines on their own, so I’ll be using walking poles to support my body on the trek up the challenging inclines.

I’ll be back online Sunday afternoon, with what few photos I’m able to take when my hands are not occupied with trekking poles.

The OG’s Are Back

Received an email two weeks ago that registration is now open for the challenging 5K that turned into a cluster you know what last year — the race where my back went out on a Mile 2 incline, muscles in my legs stiffened, leaving me struggling to get to the finish line.

Inasmuch as the race isn’t until October, it’s way early to open registration in January, which means to me the organizers caught so much flack for screwing everything up last year that they’re worried few will be interested in participating this year.

I don’t think so. One screwup after forty years of this very popular race isn’t going to result in a boycott.

Nevertheless, the organizers were so worried that they sent us participants a survey a while ago, asking for our thoughts on how things had gone.

I said it was snafu after snafu after snafu and gave the race an overall failing grade.

In the section that asked for an explanation I outlined start location was wrong, had to be moved; new guy on the microphone failed to call which race was up, necessitating most of us going rogue and just taking off whenever; the RFID reader failed to record the time we crossed the mat going out, which meant there was no record of how long it took for us to cross the finish line, and a lack of results in the computers; the measurements on the length of the Mile 3 stretch seemed questionable and, to top it off, the Photographer failed to capture Official Race Photos at the finish line.

The final question on the survey was "Would you do this race again?".

Call me crazy, but I said yes; explanation being that even though it was a mess, I enjoyed the challenge the course afforded.

I’m thinking most respondents said the same.

So anyway, I’ve been trying to get back to training on concrete and asphalt ever since I got the notice of open registration, but have been hampered by rain, wind, lack of motivation.

With the heavy winds gone yesterday, and my energy level up, I finally was ready to jump start my training routine — starting with fast walking a few loops around the complex until I can find a location, with inclines, where I feel safe enough to be out walking on my own and can try out the Walking Poles which I think will eliminate stress on my back during inclines.

On the very first loop around the complex, a guy that looked familiar began smiling, waving, walking towards me.

Holy Crap Batman! It was the husband of the couple I’d in the past referred to in the blog as the OG’s.

They’re back living in the complex — happy and relieved for it as he tells me they’ve been through hell since they moved out.

As a reminder, the OG’s are the battling couple — him now 66, his wife now 74, married for now 37+ years, that moved out just before the Pandemic hit and we went into Quarantine here at the complex, which was probably a good thing because, with them already beating up on each other, had they been stuck inside with only each other during quarantine, two would have gone in, but only one would have come out alive.

In October of 2019, the husband had gotten himself arrested for "bashing his wife’s head into a wall and blackening her eyes".

According to the wife, it wasn’t his first time.

"Why did you stay with him?", asked I.

"I always forgave him", said she.

At any rate, they didn’t move out or get evicted after the bashing/blackening episode. Instead, they stuck around, continued to battle, decided on their own that enough battling was enough, moved away — but not as a couple. The wife moved in with their daughter, while the husband moved in with the son — or so they told us was the plan.

I didn’t see that arrangement of living with daughter and son lasting long, didn’t think they’d even stay separated.

It didn’t and they didn’t.

He now tells me they’d moved in with the daughter together — as a couple, but things got rough when daughter lost her job, rent went up to $1600 a month, and the amount could not be met even with paying their share.

He said they bounced around for a while — found a room somewhere, which didn’t work out. Moved into a cheap motel, where he said they weren’t safe — "people tried to fight me". He didn’t say, but I gather from there they ended up homeless, living in their car. So here they are, back to where it’s safe and they have friends.

He says he feels really lucky to be able to get back in, and he should feel that way because, though others have returned, a few have tried to return and been denied reentry.

As for the OG’s, I liked both of them. Glad to see them back because the wife was the life of every party, but husband tells me her health has taken a decline.

"No wonder", said I. "The stress and uncertainty of what you two have had to deal with", but that his wife will begin to feel better now that things are more stable.

The OG couple are now living on the opposite side of the complex — pretty much close to where they were before.

Evidently, someone I don’t know passed away and the OG’s got that unit.

I don’t know of any other vacant units except the upstairs corner unit in my quad — the unit that’s needs a sage ritual to rid it of bad energy because everyone who's moved in there has had their life fall apart. There’s been no work done on that unit, nothing done to get it ready for a new tenant, otherwise the OG's might have landed there.

Add that to what they’ve already experienced and it would not have gone well had they been placed in that unit.

Hopefully, the turmoil of the last two years has taken the fight outta them, and life will be copacetic between them henceforth, but I doubt it.