Friday the 14th Part 2

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I opened the door yesterday and found a Valentine Card.

I stand by previous comments about not being into sending cards and not caring about receiving any, but I’ll take this one because it’s from my buddy Apache, and was filled with cute Star Wars themed notes (he knows I’m a fan).

The handwriting looks like that of a child (or doctor), but the scribbles ─ for those of you who’ve not come across Apache’s history ─ lightly touched upon in earlier posts, is the result of a suicide attempt over a failed relationship, some years ago, that left him with dexterity issues in his arms/hands.

He can manage to clutch a pen, not between his fingers but with his whole hand fisted up, and etched out “Thank you for being a great person. Happy Valentine’s Day. Off to torture the Manager”.

Nice. That is except for the part about torturing the Community Manager.

So V-Day is out of the way and, ordinarily I'd be looking forward to Easter Egg Coloring. However, with the Baker and her great granddaughter bowing out over the hurt caused great granddaughter  (it was their inspired and hosted event), I can't imagine anyone else picking up the slack ... certainly not this girl.

During the week, I’d also learned the seniors had a special movie night. Screened was the Oscar winning "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood".

That movie is on my watch list, so I might have gone ─ not sure because it bugs me residents are having conversations about their dogs, etc., while I’m trying to listen to the movie. But, having been out of the loop for so long, I didn’t hear about the screening.

At any rate, the seniors didn’t like the movie. Said they didn’t understand it … it moved around too much … didn't make sense.

I’m still planning to eventually get around to viewing the movie and will let them know if I like it.

Next on the movie screening list is Joker, also on my watch list.

I’ll take a chance on not being annoyed by talking and go down to the Community Room for that.

I have a sense though that if the seniors didn’t understand Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, that Joker will be way too deep for them. Maybe not talk, but fall asleep during the viewing. LOL.

Keeping Up with the Seniors

Returning from today’s workout in the Pain Cave, I headed for the mailbox, detouring through the Community Room where I found the seniors gearing up for bingo.

That’s their favorite activity around here ─ that and potlucks.

Seeing my buddy Apache in the room, I asked, “You still here … you behaving yourself?”

If you will recall, he was told to cease and desist harassing management at the risk of being evicted.

He laughingly said he was “somewhat” behaving himself, but mostly just hiding because the maintenance guys had been following him, keeping an eye on who he talks to, in an effort to catch him stirring up trouble, and a bigwig from Corporate was on the property, had been for two days ─ which indicated to him that something was up, so he’d been hiding because he didn’t want to risk being seen.

So much intrigue.

The saga continues.

I’ll probably get an ear full on Saturday when I attend the egg coloring party.

Leaving the Community Room, continuing on to the mailbox, I passed the Maintenance Office, glanced over and saw something weird on the desk.

Do you see it?

I'll give you a hint ……………..

Yep, that's Chewbacca. Maybe it’s a disguise for when the guys are out spying on Apache. ROFLMAO!

Walking from the mailbox to my unit. I came across another interesting sight.

Two birds (love birds?) chillin and relaxing on the railing.

I began walking softly so as not to frighten them as I photographed and got up pretty close before they spotted me, then really close as they determined I might be a danger, turned and flew away.

Last thing I observed was when I turned at my walkway and saw, at end of the walkway, in the parking area, a resident’s car appeared to be leaning.

Curious, thinking it might be a flat tire, I walked closer and saw no, not a flat tire. The resident had parked with the left rear tire up against and on the curb.

Did he or she not feel something was amiss when they rolled up on the curb? How about when they exited the vehicle?

Oh well, senior drivers – the ones who cause the rest of us to have to take a driving test after a certain age.

Egg Coloring Party

Yesterday was our annual egg coloring party.

The Galaxy Eggs I’d intended to strive for turned into freewheeling it, as there was just too much going on for me to attempt such an endeavor.

We had children in the room. Lots of them. And somehow I ended up interacting with each in one way or another, from answering questions about painting wooden eggs, to helping paint one or two.

Apache’s helper brought her two girls, The Baker brought her two Great Granddaughters and Great Grandson, and The Seer brought her Granddaughter, Great Granddaughter, Great Grandson.

All the children were very well-mannered, cute and distracting.

And here I really have to commend Dkzody for her ability to work with young children on a daily or almost daily basis and come out alive because, for me, even though it was fun and entertaining, it was also exhausting. After three hours, I was so drained I could barely make it back to my unit.

One adorable little boy sat down next to me and I opened a conversation with him by asking, “How old are you?”

So cute, instead of speaking, he held up five fingers, was quiet for a second and then began to tell me his whole life story.

“I have two houses, two moms and one dad. My dad doesn’t live in my mom’s house”.

Didn’t take me but a millisecond to process that information and understand he meant divorce and a stepmom, but WOW!

Do all 5-year olds just blurt out stuff like that?

It seemed like something he needed to talk about, so I said “Two houses, two moms. That’s a lot. Which mom do you like best?”

He looked very thoughtful as he pondered which he liked best for a little too long, so I surmised and said, “You like them both the same.”

“No. I like the mom at my house best”.

It was just about then that his Great Grandma retrieved him and took him to the kids' table to dye eggs, unaware he'd divulged family dynamics she’s never mentioned in the six years I’ve known her.

One little girl took such a liking to me that she was back and forth at my side, asked her GG to take a photo of us together and even presented me with a special Easter Basket she made.

She referred to her Great Grandma as “GG”, which is a term I’d never heard before and thought very clever.

This little girl seemed quite mature for her age, but confused me when she pointed out her much taller, looking much older sister and said they were two days apart.

“Two days apart, but different years. Right?”

“No same year, two days apart”.

“That’s not possible”, said I.

It was indeed possible. She and her sister, who looks nothing like her, is taller, looks years older, are twins.

Can you image her poor mother being in labor delivering twins two days apart.

My girls are five minutes apart.

At any rate, this little girl spent so much time at my side that late comers to the event would ask, “Is this your granddaughter?” (As you can see in the above photo, this is a little White child, but I imagine her being mine is within the realm of possibility).

“No. This is B___’s Great Granddaughter, but I’m going to adopt her. I want her?”

That seem to make an impact on the little girl that I’d said so because her GG later approached and actually said, “I want to thank you for making C___ so happy”.

Apache made an appearance. His plan was to once again dye eggs using a method he found on the internet. Last year, it was shaving cream. This year it was to be kool-aid, but he ended up not dyeing eggs. Instead, he was eating them. 

That guy I’ve not yet come up with a blog name for was in attendance. Of course, that was because The Seer was there and where she is he follows.

And I just thought of a pseudonym for him. Since his purpose in life seems to be The Seer's shadow, let’s call him that -- “The Shadow”.

The Shadow also did not dye eggs, just hovered around and watched.

The Church Lady was in attendance. (This is the woman who dresses sharp as a tack on a daily basis, and even sharper when headed to church. I imagine her unit looks like a Nordstrom’s Department Store – pearls, diamonds, hats, high-end dresses. The woman who, upon hearing Assistant Maintenance Guy was no longer an employee, announced “There’s more to this. Something is going on. I smell a rat. A big one”.)

At any rate, she cracked me up because, after dyeing her eggs, she went to the refrigerator, found mayonnaise, relish and turned her eggs into egg salad.

As good a use for them as I’ve ever seen, but the fact that she didn’t waste any time admiring her creations, before breaking them down and devouring them, is hilarious.

With so much going on, I only managed to get five eggs decorated.

Before

During

After

Wooden Eggs and One-Eyed Willie

Nothing spectacular going on last few days or, if something spectacular has happened, it hasn’t reached my ears yet because I’ve been busy doing my own thing.

I conquered the S9, for the most part. Taking that giant leap from the S4 wasn’t as complicated as I’d initially thought, thanks to YouTube videos and a manual I found online. Only thing left to do is figure out how to change the ringtone to the one I had on the S4 – Drake’s Hotline Bling.

Other than that, I’m getting closer to completing that needlepoint project and then there’s planning for Wednesday’s egg coloring party here at the complex.

Last year, I worked with wooden eggs for the first time.

Antique Finish

Those came out great and make pretty year-round decorations. This year, I’m going wooden eggs again, but trying for this look, as seen on Pinterest.

Galaxy Finish

Along about 12:30 today, I opened email and learned a Pokémon GO Event was in progress. It was slightly chilly outside, but I needed Poké Balls and thought the event might also net me a character I didn’t already have, so I suited up and headed for the University.

As I drove through the gate, headed for the highway, who did I see standing out on the sidewalk smoking, gazing out into traffic, but the new guy that doesn’t want his face on Facebook because he’s got “enemies” and doesn’t want them to know he’s here.

The highway that runs in front of this complex is a main drag. Due to the university, market and freeway entrances, we get a lot of traffic, so standing out where anyone and everyone could see him didn’t seem like something someone who’s in hiding does.

My Spidey Sense is working overtime, telling me something is just not right with this guy. I’m surprised The Seer, who sees all, intuits all hasn’t also picked up something just not being right. But that may be because her instincts have been blocked by his charming her. Every time I see her sitting in the Community Room, he’s sitting next to her. Every time I see her walking across the complex, he’s walking with her. I’ve seen him coming from the direction of her unit a couple times and, at last week’s Pizza Tuesday, she showed me a sentimental greeting card he’d given her.

The Guy’s a fast worker. He’s only been here just shy of three weeks.

The Seer describes him strictly as being in the friend zone, but I’m not so sure about his intentions because -- also at last week’s Pizza Tuesday, he pulled out his cellphone and took a picture of her.

Why?

The Seer didn’t seem to mind or think it strange. In truth, I knew he'd taken a shine to her and also didn't think his wanting a photo of her on his phone to be strange either at the time. However, now, in retrospect, inasmuch as he doesn't want photos of himself being circulated, it now seems odd for him to be taking photos of her.

I’ve not said anything to her about my feeling something is not quite right, and I won’t.  That’s not my place. Even if I figure out what he's up to, I'll keep it to myself. 

The University was full of Pokémon GO players (technically called Trainers). There was young and old, fathers teaching their young sons, a mother teaching her young daughter, Trainers running in packs. 

It was so invigorating to be out in the fresh, albeit chilly, air that, upon returning to the complex, with 2 miles logged into my Fitbit, I jumped on the indoor bike, logged in a few biking miles, then decided to register for a virtual 5K I’d been thinking about coming up in June to celebrate Goonies Day.

The medal is shaped like One-Eyed Willie’s key.

Copperbones 5K

The Aftermat

Apache sent me a photo of his completed shaving cream dyed eggs and they’re impressive.

However, I do wonder if he’d go through the mess again. For sure, I’ll go wooden eggs again, because they came out perfect and look great decorating the bookcase.

When Easter is over, I’ll mix them in with my rock collection.

My behavior towards Greedy Grabby at the coloring party is weighing on my mind.

I’m not a confrontational person, so my behaving so out-of-character was puzzling, until I remembered, besides her irritating actions on the two/three Pizza Days I proctored, there have been subsequent occasions.

One was Fat Tuesday, when I was passing out Mardi Gras beads.

I’d tossed her a string of beads, just like I did everyone else. She accepted, then reached into the beads I had in front of me, intended for others, saying, “I want this one and this one”, and walked off with two more strands.

I shrugged my shoulders and let it be.

Second occasion was end of last month, when we made Easter Wreaths at Arts & Crafts.

The Activity Director had us pose for a group photo after.

We, the group, decided we wanted two photos – one funny, with the wreaths around our faces, the second regular, just showing off our creations.

When the photos were developed, I noticed she'd posed the funny with the wreath not around her face.

Again, she had to do what she wanted.

And, again, I shrugged my shoulders, let it be, but now realize that subconsciously it must have been building up because, at the coloring party, when she manipulated her way into once again getting what she wanted, doing what she wanted, I couldn’t control my aggravation, disgust, decided I wasn’t shrugging it off any longer and said, “No, these are mine” when she reached and “I’m not giving you any” when she asked.

I’ll probably see her again at this coming Friday’s BBQ. The plan is to do my best to avoid, because I'm not done processing my negative emotions towards her, and I'm stuck at still not wanting to even look at her.

Hopefully, she won't try to engage but, if she does, I’m open to a sit down discussion. I just have to think of how to rephrase, “As a human, I find you irritating and disgusting”.

Coloring Party

Maybe it was too soon for me to come out of hibernation and mingle with the general public at today’s Egg Coloring Party.

My eggs came out great.

Apache tried the shaving cream method on his eggs with questionable results.

What Apache had to say was, “It looked a whole lot easier and neater on the internet”.

ROFLMAO!

At any rate, the event was fun, well attended, but I managed to lose my religion and tick off two residents in the process – one accidently, the other not so much deliberately, more like she aggravated me to where I just didn’t care.

The event was not hosted by management. It’s something The Baker sets up every year, right down to personally supplying the table cover, dye, decorations and tools. All she asks is that we bring our own boiled eggs.

I, of course, had my wooden eggs and craft kit.

Everything was in full swing, going swimmingly. THEN the greedy grabby woman from Pizza Tuesday showed up.

Of course, she showed up eggless and put on a poor performance of “Oh, do I go get my own eggs?”

It’s not like she and her husband are among the very elderly or of those in need, for whom we make allowances. It’s more like a greedy grabby princess, everything is about me, for me, the rules don't apply mentality. Her showing up eggless was her usual modus operandi, and the playing it off as an innocent oversight so disgusted me that I couldn’t even look at her.

Others at the table didn't see through the charade, were easy gullible prey and offered her eggs, which she cheerily accepted as she sat down adjacent to me.

I focused on my decorating.

Before greedy grabby arrived on the scene, I’d identified with another woman’s saying her eggs rotted last year because she didn’t want to mess up her decorating job and kept them around too long. I mentioned that being my reason for going wooden this year and offered her paint, a brush and one of my extra eggs. She’d accepted and went back to her spot at the far end of the table to work on it.

Once greedy grabby arrived, got eggs from others, helped herself to decorations, she then began looking around for what else she could get, spied my paint pens, reached towards them saying, “I want one of those”.

This is where my religion began to slip through my fingers.

I said, “No. These are mine.”

Something in my dead even tone caused her to freeze in mid-grab, consider for a moment, then say, “Oh, never mind.”

Shortly after, the woman working on the wooden egg walked back down and asked about decorating with gold flakes. I gave her flakes, sealant, a sealant brush and showed her how to apply.

Greedy grabby observed this.

After a time, greedy grabby said, “I want gold flakes”.

This was where my religion went completely out the door.

“I’m not giving you any.”

“What did I ever do to you? I’m never asking you for anything again.”

“Fine”, said I.

The rest of the event was me not paying attention to her, while she continued to try to engage. First by asking for something again … “Do you have scissors?”

I reached into my kit and, without responding or even looking up or at her, gave her scissors.

Then she tried to engage by showing me her finished eggs.

I looked up, nodded, went back to ignoring her.

I wasn’t being nice, I wasn’t being spiritually minded, but I wasn't being fake either. She’s just not my kind of person, I want nothing to do with her and we'll just have to let it be that.

So there’s that.

The other woman who probably will never speak to me again is an older deeply religious woman I’ve sat and talked with at several events. She brought up the upcoming Spring BBQ saying she wasn’t going to attend because meat is being served.

“I’m bringing my own turkey dogs” said I.

“That’s still meat” said she.

“Oh, you’re right; but they’ll be other things you can eat that aren’t meat”.

I was still decorating eggs, only half listening and, when she said something about it being “lent ... we're not suppose to eat", I said “I’m not catholic”.

No disrespect was intended. It just seemed the rational thing to say in response.

She got up and walked out. Didn’t even say goodbye to anyone.

Oh well. That’s two for two.

I’d better go back into hibernation until next Friday’s Spring BBQ, so I don’t tick off any of the other 167+ residents.

Once Bitten

After hibernating all day yesterday, I made a quick trip outside to take trash to the dumpster today, stop by the mailbox but, before I could head back inside, here comes next door neighbor on the way to her car.

“Are you going to color eggs tomorrow” asked she. “Yep, I’m all ready”.

Then she proceeded to bend my ear talking about the number of eggs she bought, how she only plans to decorate four; then something about having bought Easter baskets, grass and plans to either decorate the Community Room with the baskets or give them away.

I dunno the specifics. I was only half listening.

Then she went on all excited about the plans she has for the complex, the Community Room, yada yada yada, ending with yet again a plea for my suggestions, adding that all I have to do is give her suggestions, that I don’t have to be responsible for instituting those suggestions as a volunteer.

Yea, right. Color me skeptical.

I’ve heard that before.

Flashing back to when I worked at the law firm and a secretary I was not necessarily close to, but acquainted with, was retiring. Her friends were arranging a goodbye get together and asked if I’d like to be included.

“Sure”, says I.

Then it was, “If you can think of something fun for us to do, let us know.”

I thought about it, came up with a fun interactive dinner show that was in town.

Then it was, “Well, it’s your suggestion so why don’t you make the arrangements.”

I wasn’t strong and self-assured as I am now, didn’t know how to stick up for myself, so I ended up with all the coordinating duties.

So no, not this time. Once bitten, twice shy.

It is great, however, to finally see next door neighbor participating, being so enthusiastic, so happy. It’s taken her almost two years to work through being miserable at having ended up here at this simple level of living, with her Master’s Degree in Education, background of being large and in charge as a State Commissioner, being on the go, hanging out at fancy places, attending fancy events, hobnobbing with the rich and powerful.

Now that next door neighbor has taken on the role of Head of the Residents Activity Committee, has the Activity Director on speed dial, the Community Manager giving her carte blanche, she’s happily in her element again …. large and in charge, albeit in a smaller pond.

As far as my volunteering again or offering suggestions, let me just say ... I've made mistakes in my life, but I've learned from those mistakes and work hard to never make the same mistake twice.

So no, stop trying to suck me in.

Unusable Uneatable

All that running around to get my hands on gilding wax and, when I tested it out late yesterday, I found the product unusable because it had dried out.

Looking around on the internet, to see if there was a way to reconstitute, I learned it’s not unusual to purchase new in package only to run into “dried out”, depending on how long it’s been hanging around in the store, and there is no reconstituting.

I’d have returned it this morning except, by the time the un-usability was discovered, I’d already removed the Bright Gold and Bright Silver from their packages, organized them in my new craft carrier (that I lucked into at half price) and had tossed the packaging out with the trash. Consequently, I’d have to eat the cost.

The good news is I’d purchased the small $4.99 tubs, so I’m not out all that much. The bad news is my disappointment at not being able to practice the technique of putting an antique finish on eggs.

Like This

No worries, I concluded, as I should be able to create credible art with the paint pens and metal flakes.

The unusable product I picked up wasn’t the only disappointment yesterday, there was also an uneatable lunch.

On the way back to the complex, I drove some 26 miles out of my way for a veggie fajita at the Mexican restaurant I frequented for lunch before retiring, and which I continue to pop into once/twice a year.

After ordering that veggie fajita to go with “no meat, no cheese on anything, no sour cream on anything”, arriving back at the complex -- planning to make lunch and dinner out of the combo, I opened the lid and found melted cheese all over the beans and rice.

I know the waitress got the order right, because she’s known me and my preferences for at least a decade and a half; yet and still, something made me repeat “no meat, no cheese on anything, no sour cream on anything” at least three times as she wrote out the order.

But it’s my bad because, when I saw it wasn’t the regular guy in the kitchen, but some young guy, not having faith in the younger generation to get much right, I should have checked before leaving the lot.

Too far to drive back, I managed to scoop out a tablespoon or two of rice and beans that didn’t have cheese in it, and ended up tossing everything except the fajita peppers.

I must say, the young guy could cook, because what I did get of the beans and rice, was delicious. It’s just too bad he couldn’t follow instructions.

After a chaotic weekend, and a disappointing Monday, I went to bed telling myself I’ve had enough of the outside world. The plan was to stay close to home today – indoors actually, and not go outside remainder of the week.

Didn’t work out that way, because I woke up energetic, recovered, but craving See’s chocolate.

That meant a drive to Victoria Gardens and, on the topic of “never give up”, I popped into the craft store in that area and picked up two tubes of a different metallic finish product, which is testing out just fine.

All set for Friday’s event.

Now I really am done with the outside world until I stick my head out on Friday for the decorating party.

Online vs In-Store

What an exhausting weekend had I, going from craft store to craft store, one city to another, and back out again this morning in search of materials for Friday’s egg coloring party.

And my list wasn’t all that long or complicated – wooden eggs, chalk paints, paint pens, metal leaf, gilding wax.

The local craft store doesn’t feel the same since new management took over, and wanting to give myself access to other stores if I had trouble finding what I needed, I drove out-of-the area.

That turned out to be a smart move because, even though I’d done my homework online – made sure what I needed was available at Store No. 1, I arrived to find the most important item -- the eggs, weren’t the ones I wanted, but I did manage to get chalk paint and paint pens off the list.

Nothing on the list at Store No. 2, but the correct eggs were located at Store No. 3.

The drive, traffic, heat (it was really hot in Redlands), the parking lots filled to overflowing, lines at all three stores was getting to me, so I called it a day on the last items on the list and headed home.

Now I know why I prefer online shopping, had initially thought about it and would have gone that route, except the event was short-noticed and I couldn’t count on delivery in time.

At any rate, not locating gilding wax or metal flakes on Day 1, I bit the bullet and headed to the local craft store this morning.

What I found was a lot of empty shelves in the particular craft section I was interested in.

I don’t think the new owner knows what she’s doing.

Last time I was there, and learned the store was under new ownership, I’d observed in place of the middle-aged guy who kept the place well stocked and knew the store products like the back of his hands, were young high school types.

When I stopped in today, it was a young guy who seemed lost and uninformed.

He’s either a relative the owner put to work, or cheap labor the owner arranged for through school work training.

He did make a call to someone on his walkie talkie, who said they don’t sell metal flakes.

I doubt that. It’s just that the shelf where it should have been was almost completely void of product, and the person just said no as an easy out.

At any rate, I headed home, got on the internet, and found a craft store where wax and flakes could be ordered and picked up tomorrow.

I’ve seen, heard and read a lot about retailers struggling, that we should “support your local businesses”, but the time, the energy, the driving, the inability to find what one needs is off-putting.

This weekend is a perfect example of why I prefer, delivery time permitting, to let the fingers do my shopping.

So off I go tomorrow for yet another drive, to yet another city, to pick up the last of the materials, and then it’s a veggie fajita lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant.

Messy Business

Tomorrow is the Egg Coloring event organized by The Baker.

The last time I recall dying Easter eggs was when my girls were too small to do it themselves. Once they were able, they’d color ‘em, I’d hide ‘em, and that has to be at least 40 years ago. 
From what little I recall, the process was rather messy.

So messy, that I’ve been expecting Nurse Ratched to forbid the event.

Thus far, she hasn’t and, just in case a mess is made and repercussions follow, I’ve decided to keep myself separate and apart by dyeing my eggs in my unit today, rather than tomorrow in the Community Room. Tomorrow I’ll set aside for decorating the eggs and taking photos.

I’ve been designated “The Picture Lady” around here because I seem to be the only one that can take a photo. 

I don't know what it is with old people not wanting to take photos of other when requested. I once asked a woman to take a photo of me with an old friend I'd just run into. Her reply was a haughty, "I don't do that".  She was a friend of the person I'd just run into and "I don't do that" sounded like I'd asked her to do something terribly inappropriate.

When I've asked some of the residents in the Community Room to snap a photo, they generally decline stating problems with their hands being unable to grasp, hands shaking, they don’t know how to take a photo, get confused when shown. I’m not sure I’m buying all those excuses, especially since they all seem able to hold cell phones, pets, so it will be interesting to see which of those declining because of so-called problems with their hands and confusion, when asked to take a photo, are able to manage holding, dyeing and decorating eggs tomorrow.

Looking online, decorating Easter eggs has come a long way. Some are works of art and I found that, by using all manner of embellishments, one can create characters. I going to try to replicate something fun, like Minions and Ninja Turtles.

Thus far, the dyeing process in my unit has stayed true to still being messy, the coloring isn't coming out as perfect as I'd like but hey, it’s just eggs. After more than a few fails, I was finally able to get a couple eggs Minion ready (blue bottom half, yellow top half) and, replacing the green kit color with that green food color from St. Patrick’s day, I’ve managed a few eggs for turtles.

The turtle eggs are still not as dark a green as I was going for and, if I had to do it all over again, I’d dispense with the Easter coloring kit, the food dye and try Kathy’s idea of paste food color.

As for the failed to dye correctly eggs, it’s a good thing I like eggs because they will turn into breakfast, lunch, dinner.