Mystery Solved

It’s rocks.

The landscapers returned yesterday, began placing tarp over the dirt that used to be grass.

They returned this morning, began placing rocks over the tarp that used to be dirt that used to be grass.

Other than that, it seems my life of quiet and reflection has returned after a week of twice waking up at 3 am and once at midnight to let Twin 1 into the gate, attending Tuesday’s Management hosted Christmas Party, Friday’s Residents’ Hosted Christmas Party, and manufacturing needs from the grocery store so I could hunt for the elf.

I’d actually planned to attend Saturday’s Breakfast with Santa, but couldn’t pull myself together in time.

With no plans to get on the road, travel to Long Beach, spend time with the Great Grandbabies, for all intents and purposes the hoopla of the Holiday season is over as I return to my regular schedule.

Though I managed to keep my hunts for the elf current on FB and Instagram, so much was going on that I didn’t get to post the hunts here on the blog.

On the 16th Day of Christmas, I was in a hurry, had just popped in for celery, as I was making potato salad, didn't put a lot of effort into hunting and just happened to spot Holly as I was about to leave without finding.

Evidently, elves need TP just like us humans.

On the 18th Day of Christmas, I was working the perimeters of the market, recording section by section, when I finally spotted Holly.

Do you see her?

On the 21st Day of Christmas, store management got tricky with it.

In case you missed it, the first video captured Holly fishing over the fresh fish.

That was cute.

The second video finds Holly hanging on for dear life over Produce.

That's probably it for Holly. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I doubt I'll be making another trip to hunt before she has to pack her bags, meet up with the other elves to help Santa prep for his midnight run.

On the 13th Day of Christmas

Time is moving way too fast. Before you know it, the elf will be headed back to the North Pole.

Today, asking my Checker Friend why no signage this year. She said, "There’s a sign up front".

I checked and the sign didn’t immediately stand out because, instead of being at the outside entrance to the store, it was on the inside, pushed up against the wall with other distracting items in the same area, but my eyes did eventually land on it.

Especially easy for me to have missed because the hunt for me begins the second I step inside, where I can see a panorama of a portion of the store — see if anything red pops out against the back wall, in decorations at the immediate checkout stand, or near the security guard or the area I’m standing in.

Seeing nothing in those areas today, I started to hang a left towards produce, hunt along the way.

The cart I’d chosen seemed rusty, was taking a lot of effort from me to move, so instead of turning left, I set the phone to video so you can hunt with me, and hung a right past the Bakery.

Did you find Holly?

Do you need a minute?

In other news, Twin 1, on the way from Nevada, to do what she does, this time for the homeless in Compton and on Skid Row, stopped by Thursday for a brief rest and breakfast before completing the journey.

She arrived at 3:30 in the morning, which meant, because the gate code doesn’t work, hasn’t worked for years, I had to slap myself awake, head down to open the gate for her to drive in, park the van.

She laughed when I said, "This is the only time I’ve been outside at this hour since the 90’s" (my party days).

She slept on the couch and, when I got up from the bed around 7:00 began my day, she switched to the bed.

My soul almost left my body when, later that morning, I was reading blogs when this tall figure wearing a black hoodie suddenly appeared in the hall doorway.

I'd forgotten she was here and she had made no noise, just suddenly appeared.

Taking photos of the finished cross stitch

I’ll probably see her again if she stops for a rest on the way back to Nevada next week.

On the 8th Day of Christmas

Out of eggs this morning, it was like Oh, goodie. I have to go to the market.

I settled for potatoes and a faux sausage patty, made from ground turkey, which I make ahead and keep in the fridge for as needed. Then, after my morning ritual, suited up, headed out to hunt the elf.

Detouring through the office to turn in recertification paperwork, I checked the bulletin board and found an Activity Calendar for this month.

So that’s how it is now. Instead of emailing, as they said they would for those of us who’ve signed up for Rent Café, and instead of posting to our doors as was the previous practice, management prints one copy, posts that copy to the bulletin board.

In addition to saving money by not hosting events for us, I guess they’re saving money by printing only one copy of the Activity Calendar.

Speaking of events, I saw on the calendar that, on Kesha Tuesday, December 2nd, "Hot Cocoa, Cookies".

Today being Crafts Monday, I saw the Usual Suspects in the Community Room and asked did Hot Cocoa, Cookies actually happen.

Not exactly, I was told. There were cookies, but no cocoa. It turned into cookies and pizza.

That’s at least something. A pathetic something, but better than a bag of potato chips.

Scanning the Calendar to see what if anything management was doing about a Christmas celebration, what I found was another Kesha Tuesday thing — "Tuesday, December 16th, 12:00 am – 1:30 pm, Social: End of Year Winter Celebration, Join us for a festive end-of-year holiday celebration with the whole community!".

Yeah, sure, and I’ve got a bridge to sell you.

Of course I’ll check it out for blog fodder but, unless it lives up to the hype, I’m not wasting much time in the room and I won't be signing Kesha's attendance sheet.

Finally making my way to the market (my regular store), I found they too displayed no signage to say there was an hidden elf.

Nevertheless, just in case, I kept my eyes out as I moved along and VOILA! As I turned the corner by Dairy, there he was.

I hope this lack of signage is not an indication they’re losing interest in promoting this tradition, that they might drop it altogether next year — no hidden elf, but time will tell.

Linda in Kansas: I see Travis is catching a lot of heat. You know I’m not a fan of Kelsie … I sense he’s pompous, arrogant, and I don’t like how he treated his ex-girlfriend; he went Black and then went back. Nevertheless, despite my not being a fan, I just want you to know his latest trials/tribulations are not my doing. I’ve not focused bad things for him, no voodoo doll, my hands are clean. Maybe it’s the ex-girlfriend working her Black Girl Magic or the hundreds/thousands of others who don’t appreciate how he treated a Black Queen.

All in all, sorry not sorry.

On the 4th Day of Christmas

It’s a cool and windy 64 degrees today, but the chill factor has me feeling like I'm freezing, that it's about to snow, so I'm all bundled up in my camo onesie, hood up, to try to keep warm without turning on the heat.

I did redress in warm clothing and headed out to pick up photos I’d had developed at the drugstore, which drugstore is across the street from a branch of the market I frequent.

I really didn’t need anything, but Find the Elf was due back December 1 so, figuring the games afoot, I thought of things I could probably use, just so I could hunt.

I was expecting to see the usual sign with the name of the elf saying "Our Hometown Elf is back. Find the hidden elf around the store and get a fun free treat", but no such sign was posted.

Figuring store management just hadn’t gotten around to the elf thing, I didn’t hunt; just picked up kale, potatoes and headed for the check stand where I asked, "Are you not bringing back the elf this year?"

I was told, "Yes, he’s here. I don’t know where he is, but he’s here".

"I don’t see the usual signs", said I.

"An announcement was made earlier".

What the hell use is an announcement?

What if you’re not there to hear the announcement?

So, anyway, now knowing there was an elf hidden in the store, plan was to go to the car, drop off the purchase, head back into the store to hunt; BUT, waiting for change, I glanced around and VOILA!, there the elf was, staring straight at me from its perch over the security guard.

"There it is", I excitedly exclaimed; whereupon, the cashier turned, looked, didn’t see it until I pointed out "Over the security guard".

Pausing on my way out to capture pics of the find, an elderly lady smiled, asked "How many elves do you have to find?"

"Just the one".

"There’s two in the store", said she and led me to the instore banking area where the tellers had propped an elf up behind their workstation.

It was a different looking elf from the one the store usually hides, kinda cheap looking, so I said, "That’s not the one we have to find. It’s a decoy", causing the tellers to laugh and say, "Yes. A decoy".

So, mission accomplished, I’m back in my unit, trying to stay warm with homemade coffee (not Starbucks, Bob) while redressed in that camo onesie.

The Christmas Party Chronicles Part 1

I had all kinds of errands to run today, but instead went down to the Community Room to check out the party management was throwing for us seniors.

Glad I did, because the party was a pleasant surprise.

The room was beautifully decorated.

This spot was perfect for photo opportunities except, before any of us could do so, some old biddy, I’d never seen before, decided to play Queen. She planted her butt down in the spot and never moved.

She seemed somewhat handicapped, so I didn’t dare ask her to move, join us at one of the tables like the other handicapped residents had.

So anyway, a record number of residents showed up — around 40+.

It was the usual suspects, residents I’d never seen before — like the old biddy who decided the big chair was for her to play Queen, a lady, a couple, and a guy (none of us regulars knew) who said he’s lived here 3 years.

People need to get out and about more often ... or maybe it's me not getting out, logging in walking miles like I used to.

The meal was catered — a choice of lasagna or chicken alfredo, dinner roll, tossed salad, coffee, sodas, all kinds of cookies and other pastries for dessert.

Of course, I couldn’t eat any of it; satisfied myself with coffee and conversation.

Manager seemed to be having a good day, actually participated with staff in serving.

As the meal was wrapping up, all of a sudden there was a clatter at the door of the Community Room, and in walked Santa (Head Maintenance Guy) and three of Santa's reindeers (Manager, Assistant Manager, Assistant Maintenance Guy).

I don't think any of us even noticed staff had disappeared to get dressed, and Kudos to management for doing that. So fun!

There was a raffle for the many gifts around the Christmas Tree, and once Santa arrived, the old biddy playing Queen was told by the reindeers that she’d have to move so Santa could take the spot that rightfully belonged to him.

Once dethroned and sat in a chair, she looked embarrassed.

Puff!

There were not enough gifts for the many that showed up, but I was one of the lucky ones.

My number was called in the raffle, and I won a cute 2025 organizer (which I'll donate to the bingo prize table as I already have an organizer for next year).

As numbers were called, residents walked up to the front, were handed their gift, returned to their seat; but I broke rank by doing what one is supposed to do when Santa shows up ……… get a photo with the big guy.

Does Santa look stunned?

All in all, management did good. It was a fun party.

Next up is Friday's Christmas Party Chronicles Part 2 ……… the party us residents are throwing for ourselves, which I now don't think can top management's party, what with a Santa and Reindeers making an appearance, but nevertheless will be a good time.

After yesterday’s workout, I ran an errand that put me in the area of a different chain in the market doing the Hide and Seek Elf thing, so I popped in.

Focusing first on what few items I needed, I’d glanced around for the elf but had not yet begun hunting in earnest when, turning away from grabbing a few bananas, my eyes landed right on Buddy the Elf.

Ride ‘em Buddy!

Chocolate-dipped Corn Cob

A few days ago, Mitchell — over at Moving With, posted that while walking around his neighborhood, he ran across a churros kiosk that was selling Chocolate-dipped corn cob / Mazorca de maíz bañada en chocolate.

"Whoever heard of such a thing?" Mitchell queried.

I myself had never heard of it, but it sounded pretty tasty to me, so I gave it a try.

After salting the boiled cob, I spread melted chocolate on it and, as I’d expected, the taste was a delicious combination of salty and sweet.

Not something I’d make a habit of concocting. Melting and spreading chocolate was messy work.

In other news, the Elf is back.

At the market this past Saturday, I looked and looked and looked, but had no success in finding the Elf.

I overheard a conversation between a father and his little son …… "We didn’t give up and we found it". So rightly assuming they were talking about the Elf, I asked "Where?"

The father pointed over towards the Deli/Bakery side of the market, said "Over there, sipping a coke. They hid it pretty well. We looked for a long time".

Wanting to get a photo of Holly the Elf enjoying a coke, I walked over to that area, looked and looked and looked and looked. Never found the Elf that day.

I popped into the market after this morning’s workout, and found Holly pretty quick.

On the 23rd Day of Christmas.

Yesterday was my last time to hunt for Sparkle the elf before she heads back to the North Pole on Christmas Day.

With plans to head out for Long Beach tomorrow — spend a relaxing night in a hotel, drive over to granddaughter’s place Christmas morning to watch the great grandson open his Christmas gift, meet his new weeks old sister, yesterday’s grocery run was built around what I could eat so as to not get sick ……… meals I could fit into the hotel’s little refrigerator, heat up in the microwave. Consequently, I needed a few food storage containers to replace those which had outlived their usefulness.

Last few times I checked the corner market, they only had those heavy glass containers in stock. So, after yesterday’s workout, I drove a few miles over to the next nearest store in the chain, hoping to kill two birds with one stone — do my regular grocery shopping and also find the needed lighter microwave safe containers at that location.

Not only did I find what I was looking for, I was able to elf hunt in unfamiliar territory.

Interesting name for an elf.

After two passes through the market, even checking what I could see of the check stands — which was the back, and not seeing anything, I got in line to pay for my purchases, telling myself that, before I left, I’d check the front of the check stands.

Sure enough, there he was.

Had Elfonzo not been so tucked in with all those decorations, I’d have spotted him when I first walked in, because I did initially scan that check stand.

I’m a little disappointed — not because of how Elfonzo was hidden, but because, with a name like Elfonzo, I’d expected more than the normal elf character. I was expecting something with a little more character, outfitted more rico suave befitting the name, like Snoop’s elf fits its name.

So, that’s it for the 2023 Hometown Elf Hunt. Christmas and the elf hunt will be a distant memory when I return on Tuesday.

Happy Holiday Y'all.

On the 18th Day of Christmas

So few days remaining before the market’s Elf Hunt comes to an end.

Popping in, after this morning’s workout, I checked the immediate area, no Sparkle.

Looked high and low through the Bakery, Deli, Diary. Still no Sparkle.

Thinking they’d hid her pretty well this time, I began walking through the isles, picking up needed groceries as I thread my way in a manner where I could also see the walls and counter near the Meat Department and the check stands.

No Sparkle.

Finally, I’d thread my way over to Produce.

No Sparkle, and by now I was somewhat in disbelief that I’d been stumped, could not find her.

Determined not to give up, I walked the perimeters of the market twice more, taking care to recheck the isles, high and low on the walls, with no success.

Stopping to regroup at the end of Produce, I said to myself that the only place I’d not checked was Liquor and rationalized that, because of children searching, they would surely not lure them to the Liquor Department, but I nevertheless mosied on over to Liquor.

Still no Sparkle.

Dang it!

At this point, standing at the edge of the Liquor Department, having pretty much given up, I saw the Security Guard coming towards me.

Not the hugging guard, but the cute little lesbian guard who so enjoys my statement t-shirts … the Lock Him Up one, the Alabama Slammer folding chair shirt, and the one that says It’s a Great Day to Respect Other People’s Pronouns that now, when she sees me, her eyes light up, she either smiles or gives me a knowing nod.

I sometimes wonder if her knowing nod is her connecting with me as a kindred spirit or her gaydar misreading me as also Gay, rather than an Ally, but I'm not bothered by whichever it is.

So, anyway, when she approached, I said, "I give up. I’ve searched the entire market three times and can’t find the elf. Where is she?"

"I have no idea, but let me check".

Just as she picked up her walkie talkie, went to make a call, I said "Never mind. I just found her".

Talk about being in the right place ..... had I not been standing where I was standing — not IN the Liquor Department, but on the edge, and turned just so, I’d have not seen her as I’d passed that area several times, looked at that tree, but she was hidden on the far side.

Kudos.

They did a really good job of hiding her this time. Made me work for it.

"Did you get your treat?", the little security guard asked as I exited the market.

"Not this time. I just like to find her".

Talk about being in the right place at the right time, just as I stepped out of the market doors, who did I see but Dream Lover walking towards the market with a cute tiny little old Black lady.

We greeted each other, and he engaged me in conversation — asked me a question that, for the life of me I can’t remember, because my mind was so focused on the elephant on the lot.

Sizing up the elephant, she seemed a proper little church grannie, but I doubted he’d met her in church. Far more likely that he met her at the senior center where he works as a volunteer.

She stood pleasantly by his side as we talked. Finally, I interrupted the conversation to ask about the elephant.

"Is this your lady friend?"

He said yes and introduced us.

I lied in saying to her "You have yourself a really nice man".

"Thank you", she replied, and we all went our separate ways.

How interesting, especially since it hasn’t been that long since Dream Lover and Boebert exchanged telephone numbers, and now Boebert sticks her nose in the air and won’t even look his way.

This fortuitous sighting begs the question …… how long has this little lady been Dream Lover’s lady friend?

He must have had her all along, even while he was trying to hook up with Boebert.

Was he trying to trade up or two time?

I try not to judge, but I've almost been fooled by, and actually fooled by too many married men, especially that one guy who chased me for over a entire year, got the office involved, my boss involved, all wanting to know why I would not date him with he being "such a nice guy".

Only to discover, a year into the relationship that developed — with him ultimately falling in love with me, me falling in love with him, that he was the whole time a married man.

Consequently, it really chaps my hide that men feel it's okay to have a bird in the hand and one in the bush .... if that's what he's doing.

Too bad Dream Lover didn’t transfer from the opposite side of the complex to the Smoker's old unit across the quad, where I can’t keep an eye on what he’s about.

He’d be a much more interesting neighbor than the new tenant who, by the way, continues to demonstrate the same behavior as the Smoker — doesn’t come outside, windows shuttered, blinds closed, breathing in bad air.

On the 13th Day of Christmas

At 8:15 this morning, as a result of the planned maintenance power outage, the television turned off.

Based on Trainer’s wife saying the projected three hours extended to all day when her outage occurred, I’d duly planned for a day of quiet and cold foods.

Lo and Behold, an hour later, the television restarted.

Trainer called "bulls*&t" on our getting preferential treatment, probably because we’re a senior complex, when I informed him, at this morning’s session, that my outage had lasted only an hour.

"Age is entitled to some privileges" countered I.

I’ve three seasonal coffee cups to choose from.

Week before, I was centered and drinking from Cup No. 1.

Last week, I was dancing around, feeling like the middle cup.

This week, running out of steam, it's been Cup No. 3, which should have an additional check mark for "exhausted".

Exhausted before I even headed out for today's workout, I decided this morning was my last workout of the week.

Us seniors are having our Christmas Party at noon on Friday. I had planned to rush back from Friday’s workout, quickly change out of workout gear, head down to the Community Room. However, deciding not to further stress or exhaust myself, be too exhausted to enjoy the party, I gave Trainer and myself Friday off.

So essentially, having the next few days to myself — except for the time I spend in the Community Room at the Christmas party, instead of catching up on my reading, I think I’ll knock out a few tamales.

I ran across a recipe for Salmon Tamales. I do love salmon, so worth a try.

The recipe calls for diced raw salmon, but I think I'll cook it off a little.

Last time in the market, the Elf wasn’t front and center, just inside the door, in my face.

However, it wasn’t seconds later that I turned the first corner, saw Sparkle appearing to be playing basketball with a strawberry.

Better, but still not all that challenging, thought I.

After posting that find to Instagram, Twin 2 commented "I was just there and didn’t see jack diddly".

Debra over at She Who Seeks may have hit the nail on the head, when I complained about how easy it’s been to find the elf, commenting "maybe the market got complaints last year that the Elf was too hard to find" because, there she was in plain sight, and Twin 2 missed her.

On the 8th Day of Christmas

I awoke to a message that "High winds and dangerous fire conditions are forecast from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon. We may have to shut off your power to decrease risk of dangerous wildfires".

Are you serious?

Especially when you’ve already notified us of a planned maintenance power outage scheduled for Wednesday.

This is a senior complex. We should be exempt from these.

Color me annoyed as I work out a backup plan for tomorrow morning’s ritual — the morning I’m planning to attend the local Breakfast with Santa event, should I awake to an outage.

Down to my last Canyon Bakehouse bagel, I yesterday put in another Walmart pick-up order and saw they’d learned from the day when the pick-up line extended out of the full parking lot, down the street to the corner of the intersection. The system now requires reservations. Customers pick the time they plan to pick up in hour increments.

I chose between 11 and noon, because it’ll coincide with this morning’s workout ending at 11:30.

Good system, and the fact Walmart came up with it ???? …… I’m impressed.

Needing nothing in particular from the market yesterday, but out and about passing, I pulled in to find the elf.

Whoever is in charge of hiding this year — probably a lazy manager, is making it too easy.

Sparkle was once again in plain sight as one walks through the market doors.

You’d have to be blind to miss her.

Lastly, have you seen the latest photograph of Kyle Rittenhouse and the thread going around on X, formerly known as Twitter about his appearance?

It appears his little pathetic crybaby pudgy self (and yes, that was a body shaming thing to say, and I don’t regret saying that about him) has exploded to twice its previous size.

My favorite comment on his appearance being "I am loving this for Kyle".

His turning to food for comfort reads to me as guilt.

He can pose as the poster boy for the Proud Boys, go on talk shows, write a book, enjoy the celebrity, enjoy and laugh about having evaded consequences, but that something inside that we all have — the voice of reason and conscious, will one way or another have its way with us.

Kyle's Karmic Consequences are showing, giving us an idea of the turmoil going on inside.

UPDATE: According to another blogger, and various other sources I see online, the photo is thought to be altered. Whoever altered it did a good job, and nice to think Kyle could one day ballon up like that out of guilt.

On the 6th Day of Christmas

I received the medical provider’s check in the mail — the one reimbursing me for paying out-of-pocket for that covid booster because they stupidly refused to authorize the charge at the outside pharmacy, even though they themselves don’t provide Moderna.

So that’s behind me and today, when I popped into the market after this morning’s workout, I saw the hunt for our Hometown Elf is back on.

Before I began the hunt, I paused to take a look around, make sure she wasn’t hiding somewhere near the front entrance or hiding in decorations at the check stands.

Lo and Behold, something caught my eye and there she was.

Can you see her?

How about now?

Say hello to Sparkle

Isn’t she cute?

And what did I get for a successful hunt you ask?