Signs of Fall

Ten points for the leaf that nailed this perfectly executed landing yesterday.

First Sign of Fall

I’d planned to let it stay — because I thought it cute; unfortunately, it flew off during the drive to the Pain Cave yesterday.

Second sign of Fall coming soon was when, in my unit minding my own business, I saw the wind blow a huge object onto the patio.

Instantly recognizing the object as Next-Door Neighbor’s patio umbrella, I knocked on her door, asked if she was missing anything from her patio.

She looked over towards her patio, seemed puzzled, so I said, "Your umbrella is on my patio".

"How in the world", said she.

She came over, strapped it tightly to its pole, took it home.

It was fortunate the top part landed on my patio, rather than the metal pole that might have damaged the screen or broken the patio window because, according to what Manager told us at that boring Community Meeting, it would have been considered damage to property that either I or Next-Door Neighbor would have had to pay for repairs.

One of the items on Manager’s list of complaints at that meeting was repairs costing the company too much. That in the future, us residents will be charged for repairs to our units ……… holes in the wall, the garbage disposal breaks down, the toilet refuses to flush, a lightbulb goes out, our responsibility now.

Holes in the wall, I knew about, made holes anyway, and am prepared to one day be charged for damages or claims to be made upon my family when I die.

Inasmuch as the garbage disposal is "not a food processor", we will be charged for repairs if maintenance determines it died from misuse.

If there is a problem with the toilet, we are to first try to solve the problem with a plunger. If we do not own a plunger (I can’t imagine not owning one), we are to purchase one because, if maintenance responds and fixes the problem with a plunger, we will be charged for the visit.

As far as replacing lightbulbs …… We will be charged for the new bulb. However, if we want to "go to Walmart, purchase a bulb", we have the option of installing the new bulb ourselves or putting in a workorder for maintenance to no cost install for us.

I can already see the lawsuits if some senior takes a fall trying to replace a lightbulb. Only Manager will then lie like a rug, "I never told them to do it themselves".

Third sign of Fall was my taking advantage of the cooler weather, getting off my lazy behind, got up and out walking early this morning — logging in 2 miles, 4,468 steps while listening to a mixture of country and K-Pop on the iPod ……… Morgan Wallen, Dasha’s new song Austin/Boots Stop Working, BTS, Stray Kids.

While out walking, I spotted Manager and Head Maintenance Guy ushering around an Inspector.

It’s that time of year again, when representatives of regulatory agencies inspect "20 percent of our apartments" to verify in compliance with qualification for federal tax credit program, which enables our rents to stay below market rents for this area.

There was only one Inspector, and he was in/out and off to parts unknown in record time.

The Activity Calendar indicated "12:30 – 1:00 Social: DIY Caramel Apples ……… Come to the Community Room to create and enjoy a gourmet caramel apple".

Sounded like fun, so down I went, arriving at 12:20, only to find the Gourmet Station consisted of a small container — empty already, that previously contained sliced apple bites and little cups of caramel to dip the apple bites in.

WTF!!!

Strike One for our new Activity Director.

As for management’s piddly shiz charges ………… bullcrap. If it's not in writing, not in the lease agreement, you're blowing smoke.

Put it in writing or STFU.

KAREN: I saw the TikTok you suggested a week or so ago on John’s Going Gently blog. Loved it then, loved seeing it again and …… If only we could.

Happy Birthday America

Insofar as I know, there’s not a lot going on around here in terms of celebrating, and it’s going to be too hot for me to step outside, check the pool area to see if I'm wrong.

I do know the pool has been busy this week, not only with little Knock Knock’s family, but I saw a couple other groups — children accompanied by adults I've not seen around before, going to/from the pool.

So much for the new pool rule — "residents only and only two guests per resident".

No matter to me the rule is not being followed, because I don’t live over the pool to be disturbed by the hoop and holler of kids. If I did live over the pool, it still would be no matter to me, as I like the sound of kids enjoying themselves.

On Tuesday, I found an Activity Calendar for this month attached to the door.

I didn’t notice it until 10:30 a.m., glanced at it briefly and saw there was a 4th of July event scheduled for the Community Room THAT MORNING — "Social 4th of July celebration: Come celebrate 4th of July in the Community Room and enjoy a donut! 10:00 am – 11:30 am".

Really? A whole donut? Golly gee wow, management went all out, bared no expense.

With such late notice, I figured few, if any, had seen the Calendar posted to their doors: ergo, few would show up. So, I quickly threw on my summer outfit, headed down to check things out.

I was correct — few were in attendance, actually three ladies, one being the Baker.

The one box of store-bought donuts was festive though. Had red/white/blue sprinkles on them, LOL.

It was there, in the Community Room, I learned why we’d had no Activity Calendar posted to our doors last month ………… we didn’t have an Activity Director last month, she’d quit. We now have a new AD.

I do not have high hopes of the new AD getting things up and moving around here insofar as activities for us seniors, not just because though money is budgeted for activities but not always provided to the AD, but because, according to her, she has no experience, doesn’t know what is generally or usually done as an AD.

The Baker has taken it upon herself to work with this new AD, make suggestions. So, we’ll see how it goes because folks around here really need something to do with their time.

This became apparent to me when Little Knock Knock knocked knocked knocked on the door yesterday, and I went downstairs to gossip chat with Grandma Talker.

Hearing voices, Next Door Neighbor actually walked out onto her patio to listen. Didn't say anything, just looked/listened.

I don't know who lives in the upstairs unit across the quad directly adjacent to mine, because in all these years, I've never seen that person open their blinds.

However, not only did NDN come out, as Talker and I were chatting, but I saw the blinds AND window open on that unit.

When all one has is to jump up, run to the patio and/or open the window to see who's talking, what's being said, they really need something to do with their time.

The month of June has come/gone and still no sign of the usual rent increase.

It’s too much to hope that means we’ll not get an increase this year, it will come but, inasmuch as 30-days’ notice has to be given, the longer they delay the bad news is to our benefit of an additional month at the current rate.

The lady that moved into Red Light’s unit continues to get special care by the County, which makes me think she might be ill.

Looks can be deceiving, one never knows what another is challenged with, so though she doesn’t look ill, just appears very fragile, something is amiss because first there was her being personally moved in by the County, with what looked to be new furniture provided by the County and now, a day or so ago I saw a woman in a County car bring her a cart full of groceries.

Compton and I continue to avoid each other, but that means there’s no chance of my getting a photo for you to marvel at ………… him???? that scrawny kid???? all he did was bring in a box, it wasn't like he gave you a kidney, what did he think that was worth in return???

So, anyway, I'll be celebrating the 4th with my usual daily activities of needlepoint, catching up on recorded TV shows, and I'll round the day off with a Carrot Dog, maybe two.

I did, over the weekend, give myself a patriotic mani/pedi.

I leave you with Little Edie’s (Grey Gardens) tribute to the day.

I never get tired of Little Edie's dance and the story/history of Grey Gardens.

Knockety Knock Knock

Along about 6:30 Friday evening, there was a frantic knockety knock knock, knockety knock knock, knockety knock on the door.

Upon investigation, by going to the kitchen, looking through the kitchen window, I saw my little knock knock at the door, and a woman coming up the stairs behind her.

Turned out to be her mom, bearing a box of donuts.

Talker has a bakery hookup — a resident who works at one, brings pastries to Talker who, in turn, distributes amongst us residents.

Knock Knock's mom said she’d been tasked with the duty of distributing the donuts and that Knock Knock wanted to bring some to her "friend" (me), would I like some.

Why, yes, I’d love some donuts but I can’t eat anything made with flour, said I.

So off the two go, offering donuts to residents they happen to see outside at that time.

Knock Knock had caught me completely off guard, by surprise.

I did not see her earlier on the property, did not hear her coming up the stairs, and the frantic knockety knock knock, knockety knock knock, knockety knock was a far cry from the usual knock knock knock, which change I attribute to a sugar high ……… too many donuts.

Knock Knock, her mom and two of her uncles were here all weekend. The big draw being the pool.

I was waiting for our Karen character to go postal, what with so many visitors going up/down the stairs, in/out/walking around over her head in Talker’s unit. That’s in addition to Talker herself and the brother living with her, that she’s caregiver to, that so previously angered Karen over every little thing.

I never saw Karen come outside to glare upstairs, but that doesn't mean she won't be complaining to management.

We'll see.

Fortunately, Knock Knock only came my way that one time on Friday. The remainder of her stay has been going to/from the pool.

On Saturday, I spotted Talker, Knock Knock and her mom having a little pool party with another resident, whose granddaughter was also here for the pool.

Sunday it was one of the uncles escorting Knock Knock to/from the pool, and today it looked like Knock Knock's dad had the duty of not leaving a child unattended.

BTW, we have a new rule for the pool ……… "residents only and only two guests per resident". This two-guests rule comes just after Head Maintenance Guy had a Mother’s Day pool party.

Hmmmmmmm?????

Speaking of hmmmmmmm????? Heading to Sprouts on Saturday, the dash cam captured an interesting looking car on the freeway.

Somebody’s prepared for the Apocalypse or planning to travel safely through a hoard of zombies.

In For a Penny, In For a Pound

Believe it or not, other than that business of skimming equipment at the corner gas station, and possibly the market, it’s been a quiet uneventful week here at the complex.

With Little Knock Knock back in San Diego, expected not to return until March, and with Red Light being careful not to aggravate whatever is wrong with her foot by climbing stairs again anytime soon, there’s been no one interrupting my aloneness, no one knocking on my door, other than delivery personnel.

So, it’s been a peaceful week of the Three C’s — cleaning, cooking, crafting.

Other than the C’s, I’ve been destroying property.

Needing a new vacuum to replace my dying Eureka, and seeing Dyson cordless selling for hundreds off, I sprung for one.

It came with the option to recharge with a cord or to wall mount the charger.

I didn’t care for the vacuum leaning against the wall or side of the refrigerator — too expensive to risk a fall, so I drilled rather large holes in the walls, inserted drywall anchors, screws and voilà.

Problem is, I don’t like the placement so far off the floor or with all that empty space between it and the refrigerator. So, the plan is to tear everything out of the wall, drill new holes, reposition, fill in the old holes.

Next inspection, when management sees the Dyson hanging from the wall, and maybe not so invisible filled in holes, MANAGEMENT IS GOING TO KILL ME. Or at least want to.

They’ll probably reissue the notice reminding us residents will be charged $85 per 1x1 sized hole.

What with medal holders in the living room, various artwork hanging in the hallway and decorative rugs on the walls in both the bedroom and living room, I’m already on the hook for a small fortune with 42 holes — four of which are of the $85 variety, drywall anchors and screws it took to hang two Michonne of Walking Dead swords in the bedroom, and now four more anchors and screws for the Dyson tearing up the walls it’s like that saying ………… in for a penny in for a pound.

At any rate, they can’t charge me until I move or die, at which time they’ll bill the family.

Maybe, along with important papers for family upon my demise, I should include an envelope with cash estimating the cost and a note to management — "sorry about the holes".

Neighborhood Watch

The new Activity Directors’ first craft session was scheduled for 12/6.

This month’s Activity Calendar was posted to our doors 12/7. So, I and others were no-shows.

I hope the new AD doesn’t take it personal, is aware no one knew of the session.

She should prepare herself to get used to it, because late notice happens more often than not.

It was a constant annoyance to the previous AD because, even though she had prepared the calendar for distribution well in advance, the maintenance guys got around to posting whenever the hell they felt like it.

I think the guys don’t care for posting duty, probably feel it’s below their pay grade. But if they don’t like it, they can take it up with Corporate — which would probably get them replaced with someone more amenable.

Looking at the calendar, I saw yet another holiday event — "Annual Holiday Celebration" on the 20th, 12 to 1, hosted by the new AD.

OMG! — We haven’t yet had the White Elephant Party.

I can’t imagine how much celebrating can be done in a 1-hour period, but I’ll go so I can find out. Then, hopefully, that will be the end of these back-to-back to back-to-back parties.

At last week’s bingo, someone said a car had been towed for parking not only backwards — which is against the parking rule but in someone else’s assigned parking spot.

Right away, I thought of the Ghost Tenant’s SUV but later, returning to my unit, I saw the SUV was still parked backwards in its regular spot.

Though parked backwards, it was in a visitor spot, which may have made the difference to the towing company ……… for now.

While I’m at it …… why do people park backwards?

Is it a sign of having something to hide or is it to facilitate a quick getaway should the need arise?

Also at last week’s bingo, the door opened and a woman dressed like a visiting nurse stuck her head in asking for direction to a unit in the M building.

Red Light spoke up and said, "That’s my neighbor. People came by yesterday to do a welfare check on her, but she wouldn’t open the door. Maybe she’ll open it this time."

That neighbor is the one known in the blog as the Smoker, who deteriorated since moving in due to bad luck and whiskey — First hit by a car requiring hip surgery, recovering, then breaking an arm due to a fall in her unit. Then she came down with Covid, then I heard she was struggling with Long Covid. To top it off, she smokes.

Some of you might recall that, back in May, she was threatened with eviction for smoking in her unit — this is a no smoking complex.

Though she still smokes in her unit, causing the smell of smoke to waft into units surrounding hers, she somehow has managed to avoid eviction.

I myself have not physically seen the Smoker since February 2020. That is, except for a brief sighting in August 2022.

I was locking up for the night — closing the blinds, locking the patio sliding glass door, setting up the burglar bar, and saw her out sweeping her patio with the help of an unknown person — picking up trash that she’d allowed to lay there for the last two plus years.

There’d been a patio inspection and, evidently, she got spoken to about the deplorable condition of her patio.

Because she never comes out, that anyone can see, there has been the occasional request for a welfare check — to no avail because she has declined help.

Consequently, I don’t YET know if the Smoker was receptive to the visiting nurse, let her in to assess and help her.

So, I’ve got two mysteries going on in my quad — what’s happened to the regular resident of the downstairs unit beneath Next Door Neighbor, the unit now inhabited by the Ghosts AND what’s happening with the Smoker, downstairs across the quad … is she eating, keeping herself clean or is she living in filth, smoking and drinking herself to death.

You're Welcome

Our painted pumpkins were not dry enough to take with us yesterday, so we left them in the Community Room overnight.

Because we’ve had residents that aren’t terribly honest — will steal anything they can get their hands on, I went down to the Community Room and retrieved my pumpkin the minute the doors opened this morning.

Positioning the pumpkin at the entry door of my unit, I’m hoping it doesn’t attract ants or lizards or any other pesky little night creatures, or it will have to go before the Halloween season is over.

Of course, it is technically a lease violation to have anything on the porch other than a doormat, because management doesn’t want objects on the porch that a resident or visitor might suffer a trip and fall; but oh well. I think I’m safe from getting a notice for now, and I’ve positioned the pumpkin where it would be difficult to trip over.

Besides, if the chips were down, management would skirt around being sued by laying blame on ME for injury caused to anyone, and fortunately I've got rental insurance.

Commenter Paranormal John had requested a railroad spike be driven into that voodoo doll I mentioned.

A railroad spike being not readily available, I suggested a sharp hat pen but, with no hat pen available, I jabbed a rather large safety pin into the replica’s head.

That was three days ago, and today No. 45 was at last deposed in E. Jean Carroll’s defamation suit, which prompted news sources to chime in that No. 45 "likely experienced one of the more rotten days he's had in a while" and that his day "Went from bad to awful" by late this afternoon. And that’s because a federal judge ruled for the third time that documents 45’s former lawyer sought to withhold from the House Jan. 6 committee on the basis of attorney-client privilege must instead be handed over to congressional investigators.

I image that along about now, 45’s head is about to explode. So, you’re welcome.

Mildred’s challenge today (Day 10) was "A song that makes you sad".

John Michael Montgomery’s "The Little Girl" is a real tearjerker, covering the topics of drugs, alcohol, domestic violence and child neglect. Can't get much sadder than that.

Seniors Behaving Badly

So Red Light calls me yesterday afternoon asking, “Did you hear that?”

"Hear what?"

"That yelling?"

I didn’t hear a thing but went to the patio window to see what I could see, which was nothing — didn’t hear anything, didn’t see anyone walking down the pathway. I missed whatever was going on.

Red Light said a resident living on the back side of her building was screaming at the Community Manager.

I interrupted with, "We don’t have a manager".

"A woman from Corporate is temporarily in the position. She and A___ (Head Maintenance Guy) were talking to the yeller about the office getting complaints about her smoking and she starts yelling and screaming at them."

Oh! Oh!, thought I. Yelling at someone from Corporate isn’t smart. Neither is smoking in your unit.

With elderly residents dealing with all manner of illnesses, this is and has always been a non-smoking community. Residents know that and agree to abide by no smoking when they sign the lease agreement.

Of course, there are rule breakers that agree and then go on to do whatever the hell they want to; and, with the smell of cigarette smoke wafting into surrounding units, complaints being made, the result is rule breakers moving out of their own volition or getting themselves evicted.

One rule breaker moved out of her own volition, but not because of complaints of her smoking, but because she was bougie — fancy dresses, expensive jewelry, designer handbags, etc.

She lived here for about two years, constantly expressing how unhappy she was because we were too slow, too normal, not up to her bourgeois standards with our Walmart and Target wear.

Needless to say, after so much of hating it here, I was surprised to see her return a year later, wanting to move back in.

Also surprisingly, management did welcome her back, but wanted her to pay an additional $2500 over the move-in costs to cover what management had to shell out in getting the smoke smell out of the unit … repainting they told her.

Bougie told me she got heated at the amount, said "There ain’t no paint that costs that much" and that’s the last I saw of her. She didn’t move back in.

No loss to us.

At any rate, it’s no secret that smoking is not allowed anywhere on the property. It’s a lease violation subject to anywhere from a warning to an eviction. Residents wishing to smoke are directed to exit the gate, walk all the way off the property to the sidewalk.

Red Light said what she could make out was the yeller shouting, "I don’t want to do that! … I don’t like to smoke outside! …  Someone might get me!"

Sounds like an entitled Karen with a personal problem wanting what she wants with no concern as to how it impacts others.

Red Light said the smoking is so bad that she once complained as it was wafting all the way over to her unit, and she’s worried the yeller will think it’s her complaining again and retaliate, as she did when Red Light made that complaint.

I wasn’t clear on how the yeller had retaliated other than Red Light said the yeller turned around and made complaints about her and had a younger friend, that sometimes visits, who looked tough and had scared her.

I told Red Light to post a sign to her door "It wasn’t me this time"; but she said she’s going to keep a low profile for the time being, stay inside.

So now I’m looking forward to bingo on Friday, so I can get an update.

Red Light also tells me there were three deaths last week.

I do recall hearing sirens a couple days in a row, took a peek out the window but, seeing nothing that seemed to be affecting my quad, thought no more about it.

I didn’t know any of the residents who passed away, even though one lived on the backside of my building.

Neighbor from Hell

Running into the Talker yesterday, I saw how tired and worried looking she's become, as the result of an ongoing problem with her new neighbor.

For purposes of the blog, let’s call this neighbor "Karen". That’s not her real name, but a Karen is what she appears to be — using her frailty and the color of her skin as a weapon.

After the long-time resident of that unit beneath the Talker’s unit passed away, Karen moved in and from Day 1 has done nothing but complain.

She’s complained to and about the Talker — that the Talker and her severely disabled brother make too much noise going up the stairs, down the stairs. She’s complained about the sound of music, the noise she says she can hear when Talker is riding the indoor bike, everything and anything.

Telling the Talker that she is sick, needs peace and quiet, the Talker says she’s been walking on eggshells trying to accommodate and not disturb the Karen.

My take on "I’m sick, need peace and quiet" is that’s a personal problem, has nothing to do with the Talker, and that perhaps Karen should book a private wing somewhere rather than in this community with others.

At any rate, Karen has involved Management in her complaints about the Talker.

Assistant Manager contacted Talker. Talker said, because of the constant complaints, she’s no longer happy or comfortable in her own space, that maybe she should move.

Assistant Manager told her "Oh no. Don’t do that" and concluded that, inasmuch as there were no complaints from the prior resident in that unit, the problem must be the Karen, and that was that.

Running into the Talker yesterday, I asked how it was going, if Management had handled the issue, quelled the Karen.

The answer was "no", that the situation is making her ill and has gotten to the point where she’s thinking of booking time in a hotel so she can get some rest.

She also said there had been an incident at the gate where her disabled brother — who can walk, can say "Hi", but otherwise is like a child, was coming back in. Karen was at the gate, confronted the brother who, being an adult with a child's mentality became afraid.

Fortunately, another resident came along, stepped in, read Karen the riot act, "That’s my neighbor’s brother and how dare you" yada yada yada.

Good on that resident say I.

The incident was reported to Management and whatever the outcome of that was evidently angered Karen, because she used her frailness — "I'm sick, need peace and quiet" and her skin color to get the police involved.

The night before, 10:30 p.m., the police showed up at the Talker’s door in response to Karen calling them about the Talker supposedly making too much noise upstairs — "Stomping on the floor".

I can’t believe the cops showed up on that kind of call.

I also couldn’t believe it when the Talker said the cop chastised her for stomping, advised her "Your neighbor can sue you for what you’re doing".

WTF kind of cop bull crap is that?

I asked the Talker if she set the cop straight about bending over backwards to accommodate Karen — no music, TV down low, no indoor biking, staying away from home as much as possible, walking on eggshells, that the woman was a Karen and she said "No. I just said okay".

That was weak. Can’t respect not standing up for herself, but it’s her way to allow herself to be the victim, a martyr, "You're too nice" is what I told her, and it’s beginning to show in the way the life is draining from her body, how she's now the one becoming sick.

Upon Manager No. 9’s learning the cops were called, she asked the Talker if she would consider moving to a downstairs unit.

She said "no" because she would not feel safe downstairs as she keeps her patio window open at night to get fresh air, to which I pointed out how unsafe that is and outlined all the ways a determined criminal can get up to the balcony, enter that open window.

With the Talker saying "no" to moving downstairs, what with Karen complaining about upstairs, the police being involved, No. 9 said, "I’ll have to talk to Corporate about this".

Oh Snap! So now Corporate is involved.

The rule as I know it is that if two neighbors cannot get along, both are asked to leave or suffer eviction. Consequently, if I were the Talker, I’d accept the offer to move to a downstairs unit and then leave Management to deal with the consequences when Karen began complaining about the next resident — which she surely would. Maybe not, depending on their skin color, but that’s something we can’t know for sure until we see it played out.

There’s to be a meeting between No. 9, Karen, the Talker and someone from Corporate. We should know by end of the week how this will end.

They relaxed the rule for Handsome Man — let him keep his unit (though I’ve not seen him or been able to confirm it to be true that he’s still living here), so maybe they’ll relax the rule and let the two feuding neighbors remain … if one of them is willing to relocate elsewhere on the property.

In other news, Twin 1 has a nice mention in February’s Cosmopolitan.

I was a Cosmo girl during the years of Helen Gurley Brown, but haven’t purchased or even seen the mag for sale since then.

So, unable to find the story online, I went looking for a Cosmo. No luck finding one at three different supermarkets, a couple drug stores, liquor stores, even Barnes and Nobel. I ended up ordering a copy from an online emporium at the inflated price of $18 for a $4.99 mag.

At any rate, it's a good spread, upbeat and just the facts.

When the Cats Away

Us seniors have been a whole week without a Complex Manager and, thus far, we’ve been doing just fine.

Residents, feeling less threatened, are beginning to speak out, express how glad they are to see the Tyrant gone.

One resident, who lives just a little aways, down the walkway, was saying that, on the Tyrant’s last day, the Tyrant approached him saying "Your dog barks too much and I have video to prove it".

That sounds about right, as the Tyrant did concern himself with things that didn’t matter, like freaking out over the painted rocks, instead of focusing on requested repairs.

The resident’s dog does bark but, unlike the dog overlooking the grassy knoll, which dog is a rescue with issues and barks all day from early AM to late night at anything that moves, this resident’s dog only barks when someone stands in front of his family’s patio. He’s territorial.

The resident’s response to the Tyrant saying, "I have video to prove your dog barks too much" asked, "Where were you standing when you took the video?"

Of course, he was standing in front of that resident’s patio, which caused the dog to bark.

Case closed.

I think that must have been the day I caught video of the Tyrant himself, out in the wild, walking back down the walkway from that direction, looking all pompous and triumphant.

I hope he’s not in a position of authority in his new job, where he can threaten and intimidate others.

There had been rumblings on the Grapevine that the Tyrant had also told Handsome Man, because of what his son had done, he (Handsome Man) was responsible for several lease violations and can no longer remain a resident.

I’d been expecting that, but it wasn’t confirmed until I ran into Apache on Wednesday, who said he’d recently spoken to Handsome Man about his being told he has to move.

Out of curiosity, I reviewed my lease and Handsome Man’s situation fall under Section 18 — Conduct and Compliance with Agreement, Laws and Rules (You are responsible for your own actions and the actions of your Related Parties). Also, Section 21 — Crime Free Community (You and your Related Parties: May not engage in criminal activity on or near your Residence or the Property). That section goes on in detail to describe what "Criminal Activity" consists of, one of which is sexual offices as supported by quotes from two sections of the Penal Code.

It’s a pretty comprehensive lease, leaves little to chance. Too bad I never read it before because I learned I myself am in violation of Section E.9 Appliances — turn on cold water before starting the garbage disposal.

Oopsie, I always turn on hot water.

Have you ever heard of this cold instead of hot water thing? 

Do you know why cold?

Thinking about Drum Major's comment that she hoped I didn't get kicked out for being scantily dressed the day I was seminude on the front porch, I scanned the lease and find nudity to be a gray area. Something they can use as a Conduct violation had management seen me and wanted to make an issue to get rid of me, though not specifically spelled out. The closest specificity is Section 49 — Pool/Spa (Don't wear excessively revealing clothing).

Handsome Man is so embarrassed by it all that he’s been keeping a low profile. Thus, he'd not learned the Tyrant is no longer in charge here.

I don’t know what deadline he’d been given — it’s already been over a month since his son did what he did and, generally, once a person has been asked to leave, they only have 30 days, but he’s still here.

Apache is now encouraging him to try to sweet talk Assistant Manager into giving him grace — rescinding the Tyrant’s decree.

Doubtful that will happen, but worth a try.

Arts and Crafts

I thought Santa was early when I was awakened by such a clatter this morning, coming from the roof.

Looking out the window, I saw guys with ladders and remembered there’d been a notice posted to the door, a few days ago, that the annual gutter cleaning and roof inspections were to begin.

I hope they clear the birds’ nest that’s up there somewhere, because having to sweep bird poop off the patio every day is not one of my favorite choirs. But at least, this year, there were no downed fledglings for me to worry about.

There’s been a flurry of activity around here — what with landscapers, maintenance performing a pre-inspection in our units, our patios and in garages. Now there’s gutter and roof work, as management prepares for Friday’s inspection of the property and random units by one of the Regulatory Agency.

Management does take extraordinary care of the property, insofar as how they want the outsides to look. We have all kinds of rules and regulations as to what can be placed in view — like, "only three plants on the patio and must not weigh more than 5 gallons each, approved patio furniture, umbrellas up to 7 feet in diameter, neutral colors, tan, propane or electric barbeque grills with a 1-gallon propane can, and patios are not to be used as storage". All these rules/regulations but, inside the units … not so much care or attention.

Takes days, weeks, months, sometimes years to get management to take care of requests for service.

I’m surprised that, after the patio inspection, the new upstairs neighbor didn’t get a lease violation notice for the junk on her patio, including a bike, mop and some sort of boxed contraption.

Hopefully, her patio will distract attention from the painted rocks — just in case the regulatory folks, like the Tyrant, have a problem with them.

There are numerous patios around here that are beautifully decorated with plants — way more than the only allowed three, a patio that’s got stuff covered with a big red tarp, and other patios that are filled with items I can’t identify. So it’s silly that the Tyrant, or anyone else, would get their panties in a bunch over a few painted rocks.

Elsewhere around here, I think a homeless person found himself/herself a safe place to sleep the other night because, heading for the Pain Cave yesterday, I saw what looked like makeshift bedding in front of where the Talker parks her car.

Even looks like the person found a few rocks to either play with or have handy as a protective weapon.

Thank goodness the person didn’t use the rocks to damage any cars.

I just got back from Arts and Crafts in the Community Room — Activity Director’s first Arts and Crafts session since the shutdown back in March 2020.

Risky though it is, to be in a room full of seniors, I figured if I could survive two trips to the medical center, being surrounded by people of all ages — some with varying illnesses, I can survive attending events in the Community Room once again.

Participants were required to wear a mask. I always do anyway, so no problem I.

Today’s craft was a Stencil Board.

We ombre’d fall colors onto our boards, let dry, chose a stencil, then dabbed though the stencil design with white craft paint.

Activity Director had set up for 12, but only 5 of us showed up, so we got to make two.

The majority of stencils were love and thanksgiving themed. I wanted nothing to do with love and, since the grandsons ticked me off, I’m skipping Thanksgiving, going directly from Halloween to Christmas, so I looked for themes that were tepid, neutral.

I was warmly greeted, when I walked in the room, by Activity Director, Jan (the painted rock lady, scheduled for hospitalization next week), the Baker and Genie (my biggest fan around here). Genie was so excited to see me that, saying she’d not seen me in so long, she began rushing towards me, arms outstretched, to give me a hug.

I felt so bad when I shouted, “OH NOOOOOO! DON’T HUG ME. I DON’T HUG PEOPLE ANYMORE” and gave her an elbow bump instead.

I also didn’t sit with the ladies. I chose the next table over and had it all to myself until, well into the session, the Seer walked through the door.

I heard the little voice in my head say, “Oh God!”

Everyone in the room greeted the Seer, except me. I spoke not a word.

I can be a beoch when the occasion requires it.

The Seer made her way around the room, looked at what everyone was doing, THEN made it over to me.

We did not greet each other. Instead, wanting to engage, after having ceased speaking to me years ago, shortly after she hooked up with her boyfriend, the Shadow — for reasons to this day I do not know, but suspect it had something to do with her boyfriend, she opened up a line of communication by asking me questions about the project process.

I was polite, I answered her questions.

By this time, Activity Director — who’d excused herself from the room to take a call, returned and asked the Seer if she wanted to do a board.

She did.

The Seer went to sit with the ladies but, for some ungodly reason, Activity Director said, “Why don’t you sit over here”.

"Over here" was at the other edge of my table.

I heard the little voice in my head say, "OH SH_T!".

It was cool though. I didn’t feel her usual negative energy in the atmosphere.

I can’t say we chatted. It was more like she’d ask me a question about the project, and I’d answer.

Then, she got nostalgic and brought up the needlepoint I’d made for her years ago — when we were friends. Telling me where she hangs it, how she always looks up at it.

It was almost like she was saying “I’m sorry”, but I wasn’t buying it. She’s too sometimey, and this homey don’t play that.

I did not respond, just listened to her nostalgic rambling. We will never be friends again.

At the end of the session, we took a group photo and it was kind of poetic that, because the Seer arrived late, had not finished her project, she was not in the photo.

Heading back to my unit, I passed the Shadow on his walker (still recovering from back surgery).

I stepped aside, so he could move freely down the walkway and, when he got to where I was standing, he caught a glimpse of my boards, asked, “Did you make that?”

I said, “Yes”, and continued on to my unit.

He’s probably going to tell the Seer that I stopped him, went out of my way to show him my projects which, of course, will cause the Seer to go dark again.

So there’s that.

By the way, the rescued cat came up in the session. Activity Director heard of the incident and asked if anyone had adopted the cat.

When I said, “Diane”, Activity Director said, “Great! She’s good with cats”.

I surely do hope so.

I Woke Up This Way

Had a good night’s sleep ─ mostly always do, don’t recall whether I dreamed or not ─ though I usually do, don’t remember tossing and turning but, when I awoke this morning, the bed looked like I’d been in a fight.

Heading out to pick up a package yesterday, I noticed Head Maintenance Guy’s (HMG) car was back in its parking space.

I’ve not seen him, nor any member of his family, so I don’t know what’s going on with them ─ whether he’s back, upstairs, alone, quarantining without family OR whether family is upstairs, without him as he’s quarantining elsewhere.

Like I said before, because I’ve seen HMG walking around without a mask so often, I always give him a wide berth when we pass on the walkway. Henceforth, when I see him or any member of his family, I’ll be treating them like I treat black cats ─ turn around and run in a different direction.

If that offends them, too bad.

Assistant Manager’s wrecked car is still on the property.

I guess the rules are different when management is involved. I say this because we have so many rules about eyesores. Residents get warning notices when they have one too many plants on their patio, warning notices to wash our cars when they sit too long and accumulate dirt/dust, and God forbid you have a non-working car or a car that leaks oil on the property. Management will give you a warning to remove the eyesore and, if you don’t do so within the time they’ve allotted on the warning, a tow truck shows up and carts your vehicle away.

I’ve seen it done.

Yet, this eyesore remains.

Rule follower that I am, I’ve never been issued a warning. However, if I get one for whatever reason ─ maybe for not removing my Christmas decorations within the allotted time we’re allowed to have them up, and that car is still there, I’ll be pushing back with “you first”.

Though I’ve seen no sign of things getting really bad in this area, pandemically speaking, it was unnerving when, just as I returned to the complex from picking up that package, with a side trip by See’s Candy Store, that the following message popped up on my phone.

It’s pretty difficult to stay at home when the power company continues to threaten shutoffs.

The Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) began coming back less than a day and a half after giving us that last all clear; which means, instead of keeping supplies in the freezer, so I don’t have to grocery shop often, I’m down to nothing in the freezer, shopping more often so as to not lose product.

The winds continue to be high all day every day, but no shutoffs here (knock on wood) thus far. However, the Archeologist has been hit twice more.

Spent remainder of yesterday afternoon watching the final few episodes of Chris Rock’s Fargo, which I’d recorded.

Chris did a bang-up job of acting, as did the crooked cop ─ the one that appears to suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Can’t say I liked what happened to Chris’ character in the end, but I’d like to see him nominated for and to win an Emmy for his portrayal of Loy Cannon ─ head of the African American crime family.