Labor Day? It’s Still Monday

It’s been dead as a doornail here on the complex, and I don’t think it merely seems so just because I’ve morphed into a recluse, and thus out of the loop, but is an actuality.

Nothing interesting even popping up on the window cam, except I did see Gandalf showing up earlier in the week, performing that "this far and no further" ritual of walking to the edge of the walkway by the stairs, looking to his left then returning to the unit. However, strangely, he showed up just that one time.

So, is he still living down there with his mom or not? Who knows for sure, but I surmise so.

His brother Compton is no longer parking on the property, so I guess Manager got what she wanted — him gone …… or thinks she got what she wanted because he’s still on camera heading to/from work, but it’s during hours when the office is closed, no management personnel around to know any different.

He must be parking/hiding his car nearby.

All in all, it appears Ms. Neighbor's two sons are on the downlow, keeping a low profile, staying away from prying eyes and out of the crosshairs of management.

With the resident known as Red Light having moved and no one willing to take over her self-motivated job of planning BBQs for us residents, it’s not going to look much like a holiday around here today, except for the absence of staff.

For me, it’s just another Monday anyway — a workout this morning and a grocery run after.

I did however manage to have a three-day weekend, because Trainer rescheduled me beastmode last week (back-to-back workouts Wednesday and Thursday), so he and his team could travel out-of-town Friday for a weekend Muay Thai fighting event.

Unmotivated, and the weather still too hot, I did not leave the unit, train for a 5K that might be coming up at the University. Instead, it was three days of needlepoint and prison break. In addition to which, a great deal of time was devoted to putting out fires, as I received notification sensitive data had made it to the Dark Web.

Back in May, when I returned from Pride Week in Long Beach, I received a fraud alert on my credit card, which alert necessitated cancelling the card. This latest breach seems to have stemmed from that incident, and I have a sense it was a bank employee, the one that assisted me in cancelled the card, who leaked/sold other even more sensitive data he collected during that conversation.

At any rate, all I could do this time was to put a lock on everything it was possible to lock, change passwords, and cross my fingers the scammers will find I'm not financially worth the effort.

It boggles my mind that there are people whose job it is to run phishing scams, find ways and means to defraud/take advantage of others.

If the scammers plan to use the information to file next year’s taxes in my name, reap the reward, they’re in for a surprise — find themselves liable for a bill to pay rather than a return, LOL.

Speaking of jobs, this Labor Day also marks the 14th year of my sliding the chute, or close enough as I officially retired on September 7.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again ……… Time flies when one is not having to deal, on a daily basis, with functionally insane employers, various forms of racism and abuse of authority.

Though the flashbacks and trauma lives on, I consider myself one of the lucky ones to have gotten out alive, as I once thought I’d be like the 60-year-old Wells Fargo employee who was recently found dead at her desk, four days after she’d last clocked in.

I fully expected to be a little old lady keeling over dying at my desk, but would have hoped my death would have been noticed before people were alerted by the smell, as was the case with this employee.

A worse fate would have been coworkers trying to get rid of me by taking me on a hike and leaving me behind, as was the case for the insurance underwriter on a work retreat, who also made the news this weekend — rescued after a night stuck on 14,230 foot Mt. Shavano during a freezing rainstorm after being left behind by his 14 coworkers.

If I understand the story correctly, those coworkers did not report him missing for 8 hours, which was after the guy miraculously survived the night, managed to get a cell signal and call for help his own darn self.

Just goes to show, though the struggle to retirement is real, and leaves one with lingering trauma, it's better than dying at one's desk or being downsized out by coworkers.

Three Day Weekend?

Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there AND dads/moms who did double duty — raised children without partners.

This is a three-day weekend for management, because Monday is a federal Holiday — Juneteenth. However, for moi, tomorrow will be business as usual because Monday is a regular workout day.

There is a celebration tomorrow at the University but I’ve not the energy to workout then attend the festival. Besides, it doesn’t look very interesting.

Even though the list of activities includes Food (I can't eat), Fun, Kid Zone, they completely lost me at Seminars and Gospel Hour.

There are festivities within driving distance, but again, no energy.

I’ve been experiencing an energy drain since Friday — a sign there’s a disturbance in the family force, most assuredly Twin 2, which is where the drains have been coming from for quite some time.

Nothing to be done but hope for the best for her — Divine right action and ride the waves.

Other than that, not much going on around here except crafting.

Insofar as residents, the only one I’ve run into the few times I've gone out to toss trash or pick up mail, was Head Maintenance Guy returning from an outing with his wife on Saturday.

He actually smiled and said "Hello, Shirley", which was surprising because it was the first time he ever said my name.

I got the distinct impression he is totally unaware of the "real plumber" comment.

He’s not clever enough to fake it — come across as agreeable while fuming inside, so I can only assume he’s completely clueless as to how I and other residents feel about his skill level.

It must be nice to be clueless.

There have been times when I’ve envied those who travel through life at a surface level, people that don’t feel, sense, know, empath; people that go through life all friggin la de friggin da like, just totally clueless.

So, anyway, HMG is the only one I saw in person, but I did see Red Light playing poor me on facebook again.

You may remember, back in March, when she had that passive aggressive meltdown — posted a host of poor me, people are so mean cryptic messages.

Well, on Saturday, she posted a poor me, I’m so bored plea.

She has everyone’s telephone number, could have easily called those in her posse, asked if they wanted to get together, but nooooo. She wanted the world to witness her pity plea.

I'd be bored too if I was as spoiled as she, didn't do anything but sit on my behind and issue orders … or try to, like "send me the photos".

For some reason, she doesn't have to lift a finger for anything, not even write a check because the County pays her rent. Her daughter is like her indentured servant — here every day, cooking, cleaning, doing Red Light’s laundry, helping her set up for bingo.

We have residents on walkers and wheelchairs who manage to do their own laundry. The resident with the problem legs — the one who propells herself from here to there by leaning left then right, does her own laundry and here Red Light is being waited on like a queen.

Red Light seems to get around extremely well when she's out gathering intel (gossiping) and running the bingo games — both of which I appreciate, but I'm just saying.

No idea if she ever got out to "do something", but I didn’t see any responses to her plea.

So, anyway, even though tomorrow is just another Monday for me, it being Black Independence Day is an opportunity to wear that Blackity Black Black shirt.

Trouble Trouble Boil and Bubble

It’s a tough job, so thank you for doing it
and ousting that idiot No. 45

I actually didn’t realize today was a holiday until, heading for the mail center after this morning’s workout, I saw a group of residents sitting on the bench by the Laundry Room.

They usually only sit there when waiting for the mail carrier to finish sorting, so I asked, "Is the mail carrier not yet finished?"

"No mail today, it’s a holiday".

That explains why I’d seen Head Maintenance Guy, whom I thought was slacking off, heading out and off with his two boys and daughter, thought I.

Though I’ve seen quite a few residents out and about today and during the week, enjoying the weather, I’ve not seen the Baker — which makes me think something might be seriously wrong with her ailing husband.

If I don’t see her at this coming’s Bingo Friday, I’ll know it’s bad.

Trouble trouble boil and bubble.

Thankfully, I’ve not seen hide nor hair of my little rug rat Knock Knock.

I did, however, have an interesting interaction with a child about little Knock Knock’s age at the market on Friday.

I’d parked the car, began walking across the parking lot, spied a man putting groceries into the trunk of the car with two little boys that looked like twins standing in the cart.

One of the little boys was staring at me, but I didn’t think anything of it until, as I got closer to pass by, the kid yelled out "HI GRANDMA!"

Not sure I’d heard correctly, I paused when I got to where they were and asked, "Did you just call me Grandma?"

"YESSS!" was his overly enthusiastic response, causing me to think he’d had too much sugar.

"Do I remind you of your grandma?"

"YESSS!"

"Do I look like your grandma?"

"YESSS!"

"Do you like your grandma?"

"YESSS!"

"Well then it’s cool".

His dad was cracking up during the interaction, and dad wished me a good day as I continued on into the market.

Then, while the cashier was scanning my groceries, I saw a baby staring at me from his carrier in the isle across.

Seeing him staring, I smiled and gave him a little wave which made him smile.

His little sister, seeing him staring, took his head and turned it towards her.

The baby wasn’t having it. He turned back and kept smiling at me.

Finally, his mom and grandma began looking to see what he was smiling at, whereupon I finished paying for my groceries and said to the baby, "Stop flirting with me".

Mom and Grandma began laughing and also wished me a good rest of the day as we all began to walk out.

I left the market feeling like the frigging Pied Piper of children in the Inland Empire area.

What is it that my little rug rat Knock Knock, the kid that called me grandma and the baby see?

Are they all souls from past lives recognizing my soul in its current skin suit?

The week was a heavy one for me due to worrying about a family member who is thisclose to being jobless then ultimately homeless.

I’ve occasionally helped this family member out financially, but it’s reached a point where I can no longer do so without hurting myself and thus will have to accept it’s not going to end well for her.

Trouble trouble boil and bubble.

I’ve seen this family member travelling down the road she’s on for many years and can see why — though she’s a nice person, caring, thoughtful, in the end she causes so many to not like her, not want to even be around her but I have never been able to tell her what I see because she gets defensive, shuts down, goes into denial mode.

Not just with me, but with anyone who tries to get through to her.

It was the Chinese Philosopher Lao Tzu who said, "A tree that cannot bend will crack in the wind". When thinking of this relative, of what I've seen for as long as I can remember, the root cause of her issues is that she's a person who is rigid, controlling, cannot bend and those that don’t bend will break.

I think she’s at that point now and I can’t keep carrying the burden of worrying or bailing her out of financial difficulties. I’m going to have to say no next time and let whatever befalls her befall her.

Her latest situation, and her history of causing people to not like her, got me to thinking of my own history with people.

I've always had decent relationships with neighbors, coworkers, ex boyfriends — some of whom might have been mad at me because of this, that, the other, but can't think of anyone who wouldn't smile and give me an unwanted hug should our paths cross.

I’ve had people in and out of the workforce who hated me because of the color of my skin, but even these racist types couldn't help but like me once they got to know me, even while continuing to try to destroy me.

What I've never had is anyone to hate me for the person I am, people to not want to work with me, even be around me.

So, the fact this is a frequent reality for this family member, one would think she would by now have done some self-reflection and adjusted accordingly, but nooooo, she just gets angrier, more stubborn, more self-destructive.

Oh well. Knowing I was going to have to let this one go, and that it’s going to be bad — trouble trouble boil and bubble, sent me out for a nice long walk to clear my head on Saturday.

I walked the college campus, then tackled an incline, known as Devil Canyon Road — an incline that far exceeds the elevation of anything I’ll be facing at the 5K I’m looking forward to in October.

It was tough going, even with the trekking poles. I almost turned back just feet from the top but persevered.

At any rate, training on this incline a couple times a month — weather permitting, and I'll be able to ace the October 5k, no problem, no injuries.

BTW, the crazy glued trekking poles held up, but I carried an extra tube of glue just in case.

Happy Wonder Woman Day

Don't worry ....... the banks are open today and mail is delivered, because it's only us nerds that recognize today as a holiday.

In celebration, there's an ongoing Virtual 5K in progress, but I paid homage to the day by dressing as Linda Carter this past Tuesday at the costume party.

Besides, the Mission Inn 5K is this Sunday and my days of going beast mode ... back-to-back 5Ks, are beyond me.

Because traffic and parking are so bad, due to package pickup and three different race start times, I’ll be making it easy on myself by heading out Saturday, staying overnight in a hotel.

After my final straw over the screwups at the nail salon where I'd been a customer for over ten years, I did find a new nail salon, and it's just a hop skip jump from the complex, over by the college.

This salon came highly recommended by Trainer’s wife and Twin 2 but, with no time to squeeze in a mani/pedi, I’ll be doing my own — in Halloween colors (orange and black).

I’ll also be wearing skeleton leggings, because a replacement for those I’d returned — the ones that were stockings not leggings, luckily arrived in yesterday’s mail.

I’m not happy with the fit.

The fabric being more Polyester than Spandex, the leggings are loose, not form fitting; but beggars can't be choosers, so they’ll do for the race.

If you can call it a race, because I plan to be more of a stroller, enjoy myself, rather than focus and push myself to beat out others in my age group. Especially, since my 5K Walk time has been moved from early AM to 9:00 — when the sun is up, to make room for the 10K Runners and 5K Runners to have the course free of us Walkers.

Runners are considered the elite by race organizers and sometimes act it.

Taking themselves too seriously, thinking they're soooo special because they're fast, they can be openly rude. The endorphin kicks in, and they've been known to run up behind us Walkers and yell, "Move! … Get out of the way!"

When I did this race last year, the 10K Runners were scheduled ahead of us Walkers, the 5K Runners after and, while I was standing on the sideline waiting for the start signal, a young 20 something came over, asked which race I was waiting for.

When I said the 5K Walk, she kinda turned up her nose and made a snooty remark about being in the 5K Runner group. Unfortunately, I got the start signal before I had time to make her feel bad about being snooty by alerting her to my being at least 50 or so years older than she.

With both category of runners scheduled ahead of us this year, these elites will be well ahead of us by 9:00, some finishing the course already. So, us Walkers won’t be in anyone’s way.

As for Runners thinking they're soooo special because they're fast ..... Fast is great, but they don't think about the fact they'll eventually be having knee and hip replacements, while us Walkers will be chugging along with no need of replacement parts.

Mildred’s Day 11 Challenge of "A song you never get tired of" had me stumped.

Originally stumped because I misread the challenge to be a song I’m tired of, and I don't get tired of songs, just TV commercials that play too often and some people.

Once I understood the challenge to be a song I NEVER get tired of, it was still tough to pick one song from a list of so many.

So, I logic'd it out this way.

Let’s say someone was trying to drive me insane by playing one song over and over and over. The one, among the many that would fail to push me over the edge, is the song I sang to granddaughter when she was little and sang to her baby — my great grandson, when I spent time with him while I was in Long Beach for the Pride Festival.

Watching the lyrics scroll across the screen, I just realized that, in all the years I’ve been singing this song, I was singing "Tea, a drink with Jan and Ray" when the correct lyrics are "Tea, a drink with jam and bread".

Oh well.

Happy Columbus or Indigenous People’s Day

My trust and belief is in the Native American version of who discovered what but either way, it’s still a Monday.

No tea to report coming out of Friday’s bingo because I got my days mixed up. Bingo isn’t until this coming Friday.

I’ve been doing that a lot lately … getting my days mixed up. Which confusion can easily be avoided by checking my daily planner but, thinking I know what I’m doing, I forget to check it.

Oh well, there being no bingo this past Friday was a gift because, after that morning’s workout, I was so stiff and sore that I probably would not have made it down to the Community Room.

Trainer not only continued with incline training that day but had me doing pull ups for a full body workout in between sets.

It’s not as easy as it looks and, when I say full body, I mean FULL BODY. The movement is designed to reach and tone everything everywhere — ergo, stiff and sore.

Trainer has also warned me to not expect the treadmill to be in the same location when I show up this morning.

I’ve lost track of how many times the treadmill has been relocated, but whatever.

Over the weekend, I spotted Karen out gleaning the grassy knoll for tree droppings.

I didn’t see her cat, which means she’s complying with management having pointed out complaints and possibility of a lease violation for allowing her cat out without a leash.

I did notice she’s dyed her hair black.

Big mistake.

The dark color makes her look like the witch she is.

After more years of being dormant than I can remember, it appears my metabolism has mysteriously returned to life.

It was a few weeks ago, seeing my leggings sagging a little in the butt area, I decided to get on the scale. Lo and behold, I was down pounds and inches when I took my measurements. This morning’s scale check indicates weight is continuing to fall off.

However, looking at the down to skin and bones condition of my legs, I’m wondering if I’m losing too much weight.

But seriously, I was planning to wear skeleton leggings to the upcoming 5K. However, this purchase was misleading — they are not leggings, they are stockings and arrived with a run in them, so I’ll be returning these and participating costume less unless I can get skeleton leggings elsewhere, quick fast in a hurry.