Missed Opportunity

So glad I headed out yesterday, when outside was dry, for that lottery ticket to test the theory of luck, as a result of seeing those mushrooms.

Problem is … once inside the market, I got everything EXCEPT the lottery ticket. Didn’t remember it until I was already back in the car headed home.

Missed opportunity; so, I guess I’ll never know unless and until I see more mushrooms, promptly test the theory.

Seeing the heavy rain this morning, my thoughts went to it being a good excuse for not heading outside, down to the Community Room for the 11:30 Halloween Costume Party.

Then, around about 11:15, I saw Buttons (our 86-year-old) headed to the room, dressed as a Hippy, and then Upstairs Lady (the resident who has problems with her legs/Lymphedema) not in a costume, but bearing the weather nonetheless. It motivated me to put on the old Disneyland leggings, add a black top, do the face makeup.

Added a tail.

Head out for the Community Room in rain boots and holding an umbrella.

The place was jumping; about 25 residents and upbeat Halloween music – like Season of the Witch, Backstreet’s Back Alright, etc.

Staff was dressed like a box of crayons.

Soooo Cute

The meal was my favorite … Chinese Food, which has been on the list of foods my sensitive stomach can no longer tolerate for years; and which, if I cheat, will have me suffering weeks of discomfort. So, I settled for taking pictures, enjoying the aroma of Chinese Food while drinking coffee.

Insofar as costumes, in addition to the Hippy, we had an Angel, Priest, Tiger, Rich B-itch (dressed in a fur coat, rings on every finger, handing out fake $100 bills), Walking Dead Zombie. My little Hispanic friend and her husband dressed as Vaquera and Vaquero (Mexican Cowboys), and then there was me.

I'm nothing if not thorough, so I didn't forget Minnie's official gloves.

No surprise, I didn't win ... never do.

The Universe knows I don't need the validation nor the prize.

Costume winners were the Rich B-itch taking 3rd place, the Angel taking 2nd Place and the Zombie taking 1st place.

I expect it will be quiet around here for a while, but you can never tell.

Mushrooms!!

This month of Halloween is moving way too fast. Only three days before the big day and then a few day's grace period to put the decorations away to avoid getting a lease violation.

I didn’t put a lot out on display, so should be prompt and easy work.

Since there wasn't much Halloween decorating going on around here, I last week gave myself something to see by copying spooky nail art I saw online.

This week, I’m trying something less severe.

On Monday, there was a little tap tap tap on the door. It almost sounded like a cat scratching.

It was the now not so little Knock Knock paying me a visit, I guess she’s developed a more mature knock, LOL.

She tells me she’s going to be Ghostface for Halloween.

I generally keep up but had never heard of Ghostface, had to google it.

Seems "Ghostface" is the proper name for what I’ve always referred to as the "Scream Mask".

Ghostface doesn’t seem Knock Knock’s style. She’s usually more creative, like last year she did Wednesday Addams and, the year before, she did the Joker’s Girlfriend Harley Quinn.

What would have been fun would be to see Knock Knock cosplay as Megan, the doll that does a little wiggle dance just before she whacks bad people.

Out walking today, I saw mushrooms growing in the grassy knoll area.

Seeing mushrooms growing in a yard is supposedly a symbol of good luck …… "for the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, and Aztec cultures, mushrooms, called Teonanácatl, were declared as sacred and described as God’s flesh."

It does strike me as odd that I’ve not seen those mushrooms before while out walking, and they look so picture perfect, as though deliberately placed there and couldn’t possibly have sprung up like that, looking so healthy and all, overnight …… unless by cosmic magic.

So, I’m going to accept them as a symbol of good luck, head out tomorrow for a lottery ticket.

I don’t imagine they’ll last long …… someone will harvest them for a meal, or the landscapers will mow over, but I’ll check on them tomorrow afternoon.

The New York Times is considering Twin 1 as an entry in a special category of Times' Person of the Year.

The reporter contacted me today to ask questions about Twin 1 …… just when I was beginning to feel myself returning to Center.

Telling her I am not yet in a place where I can accept my Baby Girl is no longer here …… talk about what kind of child/person she was, I asked that instead of interviewing me on the phone to email me her questions and I’ll see what I can do.

So, there’s that …… always something to remind me of that which I'd rather not be reminded of.

Keep it Simple

Other than the three days of doable outdoor walking weather early last week, it’s been a steady climb and excessive heat warnings.

Summer just won’t let go, so I’ve been pretty much housebound, A/C running 24/7.

News did reach me about an incident in broad daylight about some random guy walking behind one of the old ladies, pushing her down, running off with her purse.

It’s unknown to me if he followed her in from outside the complex, or whether he was already inside waiting for an opportunity to victimize, but I was interested in seeing how management was going to warn residents this could happen here or if they were going to address it at all.

They kinda sorta did address it in wording on this month’s Activity Calendar, issued yesterday … "Safety Reminder: Please be aware of your surroundings and help us keep our community safe. Please keep all pedestrian gates closed at all times. Do not open the gates or provide access to anyone you do not know. If you see suspicious activity or someone attempting to enter without authorization, please contact the appropriate authorities".

I’m assuming "appropriate authorities" to mean don’t bother the office or maintenance guys, call the cops.

So, anyway, more reasons – besides the oppressive heat, to limit walking to the indoor walking pad rather than the great outdoors.

Speaking of which, manager of the indoor walking gym stocked the coffee bar with chocolate muffins yesterday, but made them healthy by adding chopped walnuts.

The resident organizers had me design/print, and they’ve already distributed and posted, flyers for this month’s Bingo Days, plus a Halloween Party on Friday, October 30.

THEN, I find included in this month’s Activity Calendar, a flyer indicating management is hosting a Halloween Costume Party, Friday, October 30.

I’m assuming the two groups will combine their efforts

As you all know by now, I love cosplay and, at the end of Halloween last year, when it seemed I kept running into people who wanted to unload their problems onto my listening ears, I came up with a great idea for this year’s costume that I kept to myself at the time.

That idea was to wear blue leggings, a blue top, walk around with a sign indicating “Psychiatric Help 5¢ … The Doctor is In” ala Peanuts character Lucy Van Pelt.

A lot has happened since last year. I am no longer pumped -- not even Skelly is bringing me the joy it once did. Besides, based on past cosplay around here, clever costumes are lost on this audience. So, if I cosplay at all, I'll keep it simple with my regular skeleton leggings or the red/white Minnie Mouse leggings and Disneyland ears.

Knock Knock Knock Happy Halloween!!!

My Little Knock Knock trick or treated me yesterday, showed me the fake stick-on nails she’d be wearing with her Harley Quinn costume at the school's Halloween event.

Asking if she was going to wear multicolored hair, like Harley, she said yes.

Sounds like a very cool costume. A character I might consider doing in future, except I don’t think anyone around here would have a clue as to what character I'd be dressed as.

In fact, when Little Knock Knock was telling me her character, Grandma Talker asked, "Do you know who that is?" because she herself had not a clue.

Not to be a smarty pants, but "The Joker’s girlfriend", said I, LOL.

So, my cosplaying as Harley would not go over well here.

When at Disneyland, I saw outfits for another character I’d have liked to play, but for the fact no one here would know who that is either.

Jedi

On the 16th of Halloween, Scary Mary asked readers "What’s your favorite Halloween costume?"

I’d commented that I couldn’t remember what costumes I’d worn as a child but that, as an adult, I’d been superheroes, a nun, a tossed salad, Pikachu, a Minion, Michonne from Walking Dead, Wednesday Addams, and this year I planned to be Minnie Mouse.

You’ve seen my latest — Minnie Mouse, and you can see my Wednesday Addams over on my buddy the Catalyst's blog, so today besides being the end of Halloween also being Throwback Thursday, I dug up photos of those past costumes.

I was a nun at the office party in 1976.

In 1978, I was big into Roller Derby, had my own boot skates, wore them to the office, dressed as a Roller Derby Girl, knee pads and all.

I actually worked the whole day at my desk in skates, rolling from office to office as work required.

This next photo is of coworkers and I, heading out to lunch, stopping to show just how brutal those roller derby girls could be .... knocking down opponents, stomping on them.

Being a tossed salad was a fun time.

I was Bat Girl in 2013 and again in 2019.

In 2014, I was Captain America and Wonder Woman a time or two thereafter.

I did a Turkey Trot as a Pilgram.

The Medicare Guy, here at the complex to see a client, put down his clipboard and asked for a photo of my Pickachu character to send to his young daughter, saying that Pokémon character was his daughter's favorite.

I did Walking Dead Michonne from 2014 thru 2016, once with a coworker's son who cosplayed as Rick's son Carl.

Do you still have those costumes, I hear you ask.

Except for the ancient ones — nun, roller derby, tossed salad, and Michonne’s cape, I do still have the making of each costume and can repeat, though I prefer doing costumes I’ve not yet done.

In other news, Talker called yesterday to say that, after I left Tuesday's event, word got around pretty quick about Manager's salty attitude — walking in, walking out, saying "No one appreciates me".

The result being she made a spectacle of herself. A lot of talk went around about Manager's inability to see herself as the problem. Staff is uncomfortable around her, residents hate her, yet she sees herself as a victim — "It's not me, it's them",

I also learned, from Talker, why so few costumes.

It was like those I'd asked why no costume had responded ... "Because of HER!". Many had planned to not attend, but then Talker, and a couple other residents got together, encouraged others to attend, saying that the way our rents had been hiked, we are paying for it. So come just to eat, take food home, leave nothing for Manager to take home for her own use.

Great plan. It worked.

The worms turn.

Low Expectations

Today was management’s Harvest Festival/Costume Contest, described in the flyer as a "Spooktacular Day" from 11am-3pm.

Based on past experiences, I was expecting the festival to be a lot less than spooktacular. So, even though I had a costume prepared, I was leaning towards not being duped yet again into wasting my time with another one of their less than manganous attempts at tossing us residents a bone.

Thinking my time would be better served with catching up on my Creative Memory scrapbooking projects, but curious, I decided to do a drive by. I headed down around 11:05, said a few hellos, took a few photos, snaped a photo of Greedy Grabby at her request, had her take a photo of me, and was back in my unit by 11:25.

The food looked great.

Head Maintenance Man and his new Assistant were behind the kitchen counter and residents lined up to be served piping hot giant pretzels and corn dogs.

On side tables were cupcakes, cookies, popcorn, apple slices, juice, chips, sodas.

It was a great spread ……… unfortunately, nothing my gluten free self could eat, though I was tempted to risk getting sick on one of those giant pretzels.

What tea I caught, just before I left, was about Manager.

While staff was serving, she came in all grumpy like, walked over to the kitchen counter, complained to staff — loud enough that residents heard her, "NOBODY APPRECIATES ME!" Then stormed back to her office.

Guess she wanted us to kiss her substantial arse for throwing us a bone.

That got residents to talking, complaining about how Manager is responsible for the turnover — residents moving in one month, out the next; and that her being mean is why we no longer have a waiting list and now have "now leasing" signs posted all over the front.

At any rate, I did not return for the 12:30 costume contest. So, I have no idea who won, what the prize was — probably gift cards to the market; but very few were in costume during the time I was there.

It’s likely more costumes showed up; but while there, I only saw Di as a Zombie, one of the women who took my seat at bingo dressed as a Witch (go figure), a new resident as ……… I’m not sure, but dressed in a suit, wearing a mask, I'm guessing Phantom of the Opera, Talker wore a monkey mask, Hell on Wheels wore a fancy flowered head thingie, then of course there was Minnie Mouse.

I was undecisive as to wear the ears I’d planned for.

Or the ears the kids gifted me at Disneyland.

I went with the ears I’d planned for.

Minnie’s hands are white gloves that I used a black marker to make the signature three knuckle lines.

I asked two residents, who always wore costumes before, about the lack thereof this year. "Because of HER!" (Manager) they both said.

Interesting that they’d attend, eat the food, but hated Manager so much they drew the line at dressing in costume.

When I asked Dream Lover why no costume, he said "I never wear costumes".

Not true, because he dressed as a Pennywise the scary clown last year, and a Dinosaur the year before.

Whatever.

On the way out, I purposely walked by Manager's office to see if she was sitting there sulking, feeling sorry for her unappreciated self, upset that, for whatever reason, she'd had to throw residents a bone, but saw the blinds drawn so tight, that I couldn't see inside.

I don't think she's comfortable around people enjoying themselves. She a control freak, prefers having people under her thumb — quiet, fearful.

Oh well. Sucks to be her.

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.

You Have the Right to Remain Silent

Our friend the Catalyst has been posting AI images of himself in different roles — his fantasy lives.

My fantasy life would be that of an FBI Profiler.

I imagine that would be a difficult occupation for AI to image. So, I settled for a role where I got to ride a hog, carry handcuffs and give perps their Miranda rights.

"You Have the Right to Remain Silent"

The character in Game of Thrones I most admired, another fantasy life, would be the fierce Brienne.

Also not AI available, so I'd have to settle for a lesser fierce character, Daenerys Targaryen, The Mother of Dragons.

"Dracarys!!"

Other than playing around with AI this afternoon, I’m gagging over the February Activity Calendar, posted to our doors an hour or so ago.

I refer to it as the "Activity Calendar" even though actual activities are rarely mentioned.

There are quite a few interesting notation on the calendar. One being “Friendly reminder only outdoor furniture should be placed on your patio/balcony”.

There’s only one patio that has a dresser drawer on the patio, so no one has to think long and hard as to who this note is meant for.

Why they don’t just call TinTin and tell her to get the damn thing off the patio, I don’t know, but I’ll be on the lookout for if and when she complies.

There's also the notation "Clubhouse is temporarily closed for repairs".

Inasmuch as I didn’t see any repairs going on, just the smell of paint, my guess is Manager is probably stretching the closure out, dragging her heels in order to punish Red Light for so often challenging her and/or as revenge for whatever it was she’d overheard Red Light and Homegirl say about her, that time when she was watching them on video and listening in.

At any rate, Thank the Lord for Manager dragging her heels for whatever reason. Gives me more time to find my big girl panties.

There’s also mention of that intrusive survey — the one where I went rogue, tossed in the trash rather than fill out.

Evidently not everyone went rogue, because management is thanking those that "took the time to complete".

As to how many "took the time", could be just one resident for all I know.

Evidently, there was a bribe associated with completing the survey, because the thank you goes on to say "We would like to congradulate (sic) WD for being our winner!" … WD being the Nice Old Guy upstairs across the quad.

I’d like to take a big red marker, cross off "congradulate" correct it to "congratulate" and surreptitiously drop it off, if I didn’t think they’d surely go to the trouble of checking the document for prints, or recognize my handwriting, or catch me on video dropping it off, LOL.

At any rate, next time I see Nice Old Guy around, I’ll have to ask what he won. I’m guessing a $25 gift card for the corner market.

There’s also a note "Community meetings are coming soon! Dates to be announced".

Long time readers will recall the good old days when we had those meetings where residents could somewhat vent frustrations towards management.

It’s been years, so I can’t but wonder what brought this on but, once again a guess, this time it will probably be more of management going hard, telling us what they’re going to do, less residents venting.

Can’t wait to see how it goes.

On the 3rd Day of Christmas

I completed my entry for the Ugly Sweater Contest.

As previously mentioned, I started with an old green athletic top then, knowing I already have green felt in my craft kit to work with, I picked up two $0.98 cent Christmas stockings from Walmart, to be cut up, used along with the green as decorations in and around the mirror portion I’d removed from the decor thing I won at bingo.

Then, realizing cutting fabric pieces to make a figure would take hours and hours, I pivoted to downloading an elf template, printing it onto transfer paper, ironing the image to the shirt.

What do you think?

I can already tell it’s going to be difficult photographing faces that approach to elf themselves. I’ll have to depend on someone to get behind the individual, capture the image in the mirror.

Problem with that is these old folks can’t take pictures, can’t handle a camera or use their cellphones, other than to take calls, for various reasons.

That extends to even Red Light, who told me, when I asked her to take my photos for the bingo wins, "I can’t take good pictures. My daughter told me" and the Baker has a condition where she shakes.

Fortunately, Homegirl was present, took the photos I posted yesterday. So, unless either she or Talker, who takes great photos, attend the Christmas Party, I won’t have many if any ugly elf photos for the blog.

At any rate, I like the way the project turned out so much that, if I decide to attend the Christmas Party management throws for us, I’ll be wearing it.

While out and about yesterday, I also picked up a cute coffee mug, to be used as my entry into the White Elephant Gift Exchange portion of the residents’ party.

Since I’d originally purchased two Christmas stockings (because Walmart didn't have red felt), thinking I’d use them in the ugly sweater, but only cut a little out of one stocking, I didn’t even have to wrap the White Elephant Gift. I stuck it inside the remaining stocking.

First Day of Christmas

On this, the First Day of Christmas, I saw what I took to be a new tenant preparing to move into the unit vacated by the Smoker, won two back to back bingo games, and got Meat Man’s last name, so I can research whether he’s still living here or not.

On the way to bingo, after this morning’s workout, I saw Assistant Maintenance Man showing a woman the vacant unit.

Heading back to my unit after bingo, I saw the same woman returning to the unit alone, use keys to enter, so I expect furniture to follow and hopefully some Christmas decorations on the patio to add to the festive look of the quad, as only three of us in the quad have decorated.

After a long dry spell of coming close but not winning, I won the 5th and 6th bingo games.

First win, from the prize table I chose a wall décor thingie with a little plastic mirror in the center.

Not my aesthetics, but just what I need to make an Ugly Sweater for the residents’ December 15th Christmas Party’s Ugly Sweater Contest.

The plan is to attach the mirror, maybe the entire thing because it's lightweight, to the middle of an old green shirt, decorate on or around it.

What’s ugly will be revealed when folks look into the mirror see their own reflection.

Based on how few got it when I dressed as Wednesday Addams for the Halloween Costume Contest, I doubt few will grasp the concept, but oh well.

Second win, I choose a cute little coffee cup shaped clock.

Shades of Flavor Flav, the rapper/hype man, that wears big clocks on chains around his neck, and whose catchphrase is "Yeah Boyyyy".

On the way back to my unit, it occurred to me that the Call Box, which allows visitors to make contact with residents by name and Unit No., so they can be let into the gate, might be a source of Meat Man’s last name.

It was, except the fact that his name is still in the Call Box leads me to believe he is still the occupant of the unit associated with his name.

On the other hand, the unit could very well be vacant and the office has not yet removed his name and will not update the Call Box until a new name is associated with that unit.

I’ll have to check back periodically.

Lastly, that same morning I posted a time will tell update on my old buddy Apache, a resident who evidently is still friends with Apache approached, as I was detouring to pick up mail on the way back from that morning’s workout, and said "I just talked to ___. He told me to say hello".

Let’s call this resident "Elvis", because he does a good dance impersonation.

"OMG! I was just thinking about ____. How is he doing?" asked I.

"Not good" was his answer.

My mind immediately went to that ugly rumor about Apache "using ……… tracks on his arm", but it wasn’t that.

Some time ago, while still living here, Apache had an operation on one of his eyes. I don’t recall why the operation, but all this time later the eye is now not doing well.

Asking if Apache is being cared for, I’m told he has a caregiver, but the caregiver is ill, Apache is "all alone".

I was thisclose to letting sympathetic take over, giving the resident my telephone number to give to Apache, but wisely didn’t, even though Apache had asked for my number the few times I’d run into him after he was evicted from the property.

Back when Apache did have my number, he lost or misplaced or let someone use his phone, on more than one occasion, which resulted in problems for those of us on his contacts list. So thereafter, when Apache asked for my number, I hemmed and hawed my way out of it.

I’ve also learned my lesson about getting involved, helping others, only to find myself used, disrespected, stuck with responsibilities so, though sorry to hear Apache was alone and not doing well, I told Elvis to "Tell him I’ll pray for him".

Apache has three sisters with whom he’s close, and at least one nephew I know he’s close to.

"Alone", I don’t think so. He’s got a better support system than I do.