Read My Sign

Received a text message just before 7 o’clock tonight …… "Good evening beautiful".

You shouldn't have to think twice to come up with who sent the text.

She says her brother is giving her a lot of scrapbooking supplies, can I find time to do scrapbooking classes.

No, nope, not a chance.

I replied that I don’t have the energy.

It was at last Wednesday's craft class that Crafty Lady was praising the photos I'd posted to the Residents' FB page, asked if I'd taken a photography class.

I'd responded no, that because I scrapbook, I've always taken a lot of photos.

I find it highly suspicious that, after her ferreting out that I scrapbook, her brother all of a sudden comes up with scrapbooking supplies on his own, without her having brought it into being.

I already committed to Crafts tomorrow, but now I'm thinking I'll be a no show AND, if she calls or texts asking if I'm coming down, I'll just say something came up.

I think it best for me to make myself scarce, because she's creeping me out.

Regardless of how others might be reading the situation with this woman, when I put all the pieces together of what she's said, done, all the flattery, constant praising me for one thing or another, that hug, my gut is telling me …… grooming.

It's a waste of her time and, if I make myself scarce, she'll have time to reflect and realize that.

I’ve already got on my calendar to hide from Kesha on Tuesday. Now, I’ll add hide from Crafty Lady on Mondays.

On the premise that a tee is worth a thousand words, I over the weekend thought it would be a good idea to mimic the signs I was asked to make for the fridge and microwave and came up with the idea of putting "Please Note, Do Not Touch the Shirley" on a transfer, iron the transfer onto a shirt.

But then I ran across an image that says it all.

Now, when anyone other than the Baker, the Talker, Family and Blog Friends hold out their arms for a hug, I’ll simply point to the image, say "Read my sign".

Spa Day Approaches

After a week of literally hibernating in my unit, seeing no one, talking to no one, getting up and put together late, catching up on recorded television programs, needlepointing, meditating -- even passing on this morning’s Mother’s Day Brunch Potluck here at the complex, the plan for tomorrow is to be up and at ‘em early in order to be ready by 9:00 when daughter arrives to spirit me off to Mother/Daughter Spa Day, followed by lunch.

Nails still broken/cracked, recovering from last month’s manual labor of putting together that bib/medal board, and the trauma of the gel removal process of the month before, I’m somewhat embarrassed to be heading to the nail salon.

It’s like when one calls for a housecleaner. You don’t want the service to think you’re a complete slob, so you clean the place up a bit before the cleaners arrive. Not me, because I do my own housework, but I’ve heard about it, seen it done and understand the need to straighten up first because it’s what I would do.

Doesn’t make much sense, but it is what it is.

Likewise, I’ve been waiting for my nails to get better before scheduling a mani/pedi, so the girls won’t talk about how bad my nail are, but Spa Day is arriving long before nails are back to normal, so I’m just gonna have to suck it up.

Mother/Daughter Spa Day is also landing on the same day as Rancho Cucamonga’s Open Streets event.

My kind of thing with streets on Town Center Drive, between Haven and Spruce, transformed into a car-free environment for walking, biking, dancing, food, games, prizes but oh well, Spa Day is higher on the scale than a block party, so no contest there.

The wardrobe for tomorrow is the tank top I’d blogged about on the 30^th – the one I said that, after having seen a woman in the market with a graphic I admired, unable to find it in my size, I was going to search the internet for a graphic, capture, print to a transfer sheet and iron-on to one of my Duluth tank tops.

Found it.

The tee didn’t come out exactly as I’d hoped.

The edges failed to blend in, they came out grayish and distressed looking.

Whether the cause is an old printer or an old transfer sheet, it works for just kicking about. Besides, people are paying a fortune these days for the distressed look, so technically I’m on point.

On tap for today?

I don’t know.

It’s surprising how quickly one can adjust to staying indoors, doing nothing, so I’m trying to motivate myself to break the cycle, get up and out, at least for a short walk about.

The Day After

Woke up raring to get the day started at 5:00 this morning -- early enough to beat the heat and do a mile or two of slow walking to limber the body up from yesterday’s 5K, only I had a hard time moving because I hurt all over.

Thanks to the epsom salt soak, my feet were no longer burning, but every bone in my body felt like it had been hit with a hammer. I’m thinking I probably need to add Dr. Scholl’s Air Pillows for extra cushioning to my athletic shoes.

There is a 69 year old grandmother I frequently see at these 5Ks, also named Shirley. She doesn’t walk, she RUNS. The top runners, age 26 to 31, generally finish a 5K in 16 to 25 minute. Grandma is right behind them, finishing in 33 minutes.

Talking to her yesterday, I said, “I don’t see how you do it. You must have been an athlete.”

“No ... I’ve never been an athlete. I didn’t start running until five years ago.”

What?!

Amazing!

As the two oldest in the group, I should have taken a selfie with her.

Next time.

At any rate, I passed on getting out any time today for any reason.

With nothing to do, other than housework and needlepoint, I thought I’d tackle the last piece needed to complete the Minion Halloween costume I’m working on – a yellow top.

You would not believe how long I’ve been working on that yellow top, nor the expense.

I started with a bleaching a lime green long sleeve active top I already had. It turned just the right shade of yellow; however, the heat had me rethinking long sleeved.

It’s not the right season for yellow, so trolling the internet for days looking for a yellow short sleeve active top went nowhere until I lucked up on a yellow Danskin Now top on sale.

However, once received, I saw it had ruching along the sides.

Didn’t like it for the costume, but decided to keep as might come in handy for something else.

Next I tried dying my white short sleeve active top. Being as how it’s 100% Polyester, I wasted time and gas going to the two craft stores which the internet indicated sold poly dye.

They didn’t, so I ordered poly dye from Amazon.

I did something wrong with the dye bath and the item came out splotchy.

Heartbreak.

I gave trolling another shot this morning, landed on Ebay, found and ordered a yellow cotton v-neck short sleeve tee. I prefer the polyester spandex fitted active tops but, at this point, I’ll settle for a cotton tee.

I think it’s going to work.

I just have to transfer the Minion Logo onto the front, costume completely done and onto whatever comes next.