What the Fork?

I live alone. There’s nobody "visibly" residing in this unit other than myself.

I don’t entertain and seldom have visitors.

So, how is it, pieces of what started off as a 12-piece set of flatware have periodically gone missing, never to be found.

Where did they go?

Who is taking them?

Over the weekend, when I reached for two forks to handle the uncured bacon (because I don’t like touching meat with my hands), I could only find one fork.

Not only that but, taking inventory, I found plenty of knives but I’m down to only two teaspoon and two place/soup spoons.

Again I ask …… Where did all the flatware go?

Looks like I’ll be catching a sale, order only a set of four; but this time, I’m thinking of trying a set in black. Possibly, easier to keep an eye on, not so easy to go missing.

Heading out to pick up photos yesterday, detouring first towards the mailroom, I spied Ernie on the walkway.

Oh No!, Oh No!, Oh No!, I said to myself as I quick fast tried to get into the mail area unnoticed.

Having not succeeded, I got a "Hey beautiful" a hug and "If I was 30 years younger, I’d marry you."

Oh really.

I don’t know how old Ernie is, but he obviously doesn’t know I’m likely waaaay older than he.

By my calculations, if Ernie were 30 years younger, then I — at my current age, would be considered a Cougar. Practically robbing the cradle.

Telling Ernie that he had it backwards; that even at his current age, because I’m 82, he’s more likely to be too young for me (He isn’t. Looks to be a healthy 60 something).

He looked surprised but, other than that, no reaction.

After Ernie went his way down the walkway, I further detoured through the office towards the Community Room.

It being Craft Monday, I wanted to see what those in the room had to say about the $0.00 mistake and the office converting all rental payments to Rent Café, WIPS or Flex Pay.

There was a line of residents waiting to talk to either Manager or her Assistant. I’m assuming to discuss the rental payment changes, LOL.

Rent is due on the 1st, the meeting isn’t until the 3rd, so residents are in a quandry as to what to do to avoid late payment fees.

Or is that part of management’s plan to squeeze even more dollars out of residents? …… Management won’t accept cash, check, money orders on the 1st and residents don’t know what Rent Café, WIPS and Flex Pay are.

One resident in the Community Room looked both confused and upset. The office told her she could pay her rent by going to the corner 7-Eleven, where they could do something or other.

This would be the 7-Eleven where Manager herself got scammed out of her whole paycheck because there was a skimmer on the machine.

Another resident said Manager herself had walked her through the Rent Café sign up thingie, but it didn’t work. The Rent Café mechanism would not accept/connect to her banking institute.

Thus far, it’s all chaos, confusion, one big mess.

So, anyway, while I was getting the tea, Ernie showed up at the glass door on the patio side of the room, peeked in and, when he saw me, he pressed his face and hands to the glass, looking like a lost puppy waiting to be let in.

That door only opens from the inside.

As I was standing, facing that way, I saw him first, but made no move to let him in.

Someone else eventually noticed, got up, walked to the door, let him in.

Evidentally, disclosing my age didn’t seem to slow Ernie’s roll/deter him one bit, because what followed were three or four more hugs, before I headed out to run my errands.

As I headed for the door, Ernie jokingly warned I was not to talk to any other guys, said he’d put a tracker on my phone to keep an eye on me.

I know he’s joking, but interesting thing to say.

A Five Hug Kinda Day

I finally got off my butt and, spurred on by Dawn’s post about Christmas Tamales, instead of thinking I should carve out some time to make tamales, I actually made the time, got it done.

While the chicken filling was cooking away in the crockpot, I headed down to catch the lady mail carrier, give her a Starbucks holiday gift card.

It being Craft Monday, I saw folks in the Community Room making door decorations.

They had Christmas music blaring, and the room just felt so jolly that I stuck around, took photos for the FB page.

The Assistant Maintenance Man came in, gave everyone a hug.

That’s one.

Of course Ernie made his way down, gave me a hug.

That’s two.

With Ernie was a young man, around 19/20, whom he introduced as his son.

The son does TikTok and wanted to take a photo, for his page, in front of the Community Room’s Christmas tree.

Yes …… Management splurged, put up a tree.

I’m just as surprised as you.

Also surprising is the flyer Management posted to our doors this morning, indicating tomorrow, Kesha Tuesday, is going to be a big deal — "Delight in a warm feast and sweet treats … sip on coffee and cozy cocoa … games galore with fab prizes … bingo … name Santa’s Reindeer … Snowball count".

We’ll see but, if so, I’m a shoo-in for naming Santa’s Reindeers as the names Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen are permanently etched on my brain.

I used to know all the names of the Smurfs, but lost that data many moons ago, along with the names of the Seven Dwarfs.

I no longer kid speak, but Christmas speak I can still do.

So anyway, as Ernie’s son was setting up his camera, I engaged the kid in conversation, while his dad off/on took the opportunity to hover around where I was seated, hug me again.

That’s three.

When the kid was finished with what he was doing, Ernie and the kid got ready to leave, Ernie hugged me yet again.

That’s four.

Then the kid walked over, said "Look on TikTok for the photos I took", reached over, gave me a hug.

I wonder where the kid learned that from, LOL, and that makes five.

Back in my unit an hour or so later, it was time to wash/soak the corn husks, mix up the masa.

For some reason, today's masa was giving me grief …… didn't spread as easily as it should, even after adding more broth and oil; but, when all was said and done, I got er done, am set through the holidays and then some.

4 years, 4 months, 3,391 Hours Later

Not yet tired of carrot soup for dinner, I had my third batch cooking in the crockpot yesterday afternoon when the power went out.

We’re having way too many power outages lately, and all the power company can tell us is "analyzing problem".

Luckily, it was only out from 6:00 to 8:30, instead of all night, but the timing of the outage was inconvenient as not only did I have to give up the idea of soup for dinner, switch to kale salad, but I was also in the middle of putting the last few stitches in that never ending needlepoint project when the craft lamp went out.

Retrieving the portable power station from patio storage, I was able to hook up the craft light, get sufficient light to finish.

4 years, 4 months, 3,391 Hours Later.

All that’s left to do is to wash the piece, iron, frame, post the great reveal in a few days.

Tomorrow is Halloween Bingo. When asked if I was attending by Painted Rock Lady, I did say yes but, as time has gone on, I’ve retreated further and further from the Usual Suspects, not so sure I wanted to go back to mingling.

Delivering November flyers to The Baker the other day, she asked, "You’re coming Friday, aren’t you?" So, I guess I’m going.

Billed as bingo, with a Halloween twist, it might turn out not to be as boring as I imagine.

I’ll be in costume, not wearing my "Look but don’t touch" tee, so hopefully Crafty Lady won’t give me any grief by trying to hug me ……… Cause me to create a scene by rudely backing away should it look like she's coming in for a hug or request a hug, like she did last time.

Wish me luck.

Bow Wow Wow Yippie Yo Yippie Ye

Skelly got a dog over the weekend … a Golden Retriever.

Meet Cujo.

I’m currently having a real fixation with skeletons, wish I had more and almost added a skeleton planter, I saw at the market, to my menagerie.

It’s a planter I can leave on the patio all year round but, since the sun kills every plant I try to raise on the patio, I couldn’t justify the purchase.

Also inside the market, I spied a clever way to "carve" a pumpkin … I ininitially thought it was a mask glued on, which would have been a great idea, but painting does just as well as carving.

Leaving the market, I spotted a Rubicon tricked out with a Halloween display, driving in. Of course I turned around, took a few pics as the occupants walked away.

I'll be sad to see the month of Halloween end, because seeing seasonal decorations is so fun.

In other news — knock on wood, I think the angry tree spirit, with a little kick from an old remedy, has left the unit.

I got serious about speeding its exit when the timer on the cellphone failed — another act of electronic vandalism. The timer would tick off the minutes I'd set for cook time but, when the time was up, it emitted no sound/no signal to let me know time had run out, after which an old remedy came to mind.

Back in the day (around 2005), when I was up against the Klan at that racist agency (CEO Klansman, various Klan Department Heads, their Klan secretaries), I’d get to the office early, before the racist arrived, walk around and into various offices with a ying yang mug of Gadatsu Holy Tea, speaking out loud, "Evil spirits, chew on this" as a way to draw their dark energy out of the atmosphere in which I was working, because that’s what Holy Tea does. It’s used in rituals to bring peace and salvation to unrested spirits, effective in purifying negative energy.

One morning, as I was working the ritual, I failed to notice my boss was in her office, saw me, yelled out, "Shirley, what are you doing?"

"Getting rid of evil spirits", said I.

She was cool, knew I was different, liked me, sometimes helped me by giving intel on what the Klan was planning. So, she just accepted what I was doing, like it was normal, went back to whatever it was she was doing. LOL.

I only had to do the ritual a couple times before I felt a shift in the energy … the Klansmen, Klan girls not so sure of themselves, more leery of me because I didn’t seem to react with the fear they’d expected. Instead, I was always smiling, walking around looking smug, like I knew something they didn’t.

I did.

End the end, the racists could never get me or get to me and, eventually, all the bad energy they directed at me bounced off my wall of protection and hit ‘em. The racist CEO resigned ahead of an indictment for financial fraud, the various racist Department Heads, like rats jumping a sinking ship, fled to other jobs. One committed suicide, and those remaining — because they couldn’t find other jobs, went on the downlow with their racism, were no longer a problem for me.

So, anyway, when the timer on the cellphone went out, I decided to get serious about sending the tree being on its way, thought back to the Holy Tea, which has been with me, in the cupboard all these years.

I’ve never had to use it since those days with the racists, but it doesn’t hurt to have such a powerful antidote to unruly forces on hand, so I’ve kept it all these years … when I moved to Long Beach to help Great Granddaughter out, when I moved back to where I am now, the tea was always with me.

On Friday, I performed the ritual, sent the tree being — knock on wood, packing.

In even more news, it appears Lu and Dream Lover are back on; as daily, since trucks arrived, carted Lu’s hoarding stuff away, I’ve observed him heading for her unit and, looking at posts on Facebook, Dream Lover has been gifting Lu with some of his Crafts Day artwork.

That’s all she needs … more stuff.

At any rate, Happy Monday, the game continues.

Carrot Soup for Days

Happy Monday. Let the games begin.

If you look closely, you’ll see that Skelly has acquired the beginnings of a real legit spider web.

At this point, it’s just one thin string, but Skelly and I will take it … so long as it’s outside, not inside my unit.

No news from the office yet over payment for the $15 lightbulb, but it’s early in the game. If they’re efficient, I should hear from them sometime this week.

The lightbulb wasn’t the only thing that had to be replaced because, over the weekend my wall charger, portable charger and charging station all failed, had to be replaced.

Today, I had a craving for, of all things, carrot soup.

I remember many years ago, I was eating such a volume of carrots — raw, juiced, roasted, that my skin actually took on a jaundiced coloration, which turned me off of carrots for a while.

I didn’t stop eating carrots, just lowered my intake — no roasting, no juicing.

It wasn’t until today, when I tossed carrots into the crockpot to make carrot soup that I realized the carrot cravings are back because, last few days, I’ve also been eating quite a lot of raw and roasted carrots.

So long as I don’t juice it, maybe my skin won’t turn yellow this time.

It was after 30 minutes in the crockpot, when the carrots were ready for the emulsion blender, that I turned the blender on and …… nothing.

It was dead.

That’s a lightbulb, three different chargers, and now a kitchen appliance to fail in a few short days.

I had to switch to the countertop blender, which worked just as well.

Carrot Soup for Days

I even made a little loaf of gluten free Artisian Bread, from a boxed mix, to go along with the soup.

So long as the countertop blender keeps ticking, I see no need to replace the emersion one.

After telling Crafty Lady that I’d check into the Community Room this morning, pick up whatever it is she made for me, and then not showing up — as I’d planned all along, I’m beginning to feel a little guilty for ghosting her.

Hopefully, the message is beginning to sink in, she’ll swallow any hurt feelings being ghosted might have caused and, like Corporal Stitch in Heartbreak Ridge said, she’ll not "Go away mad. Just go away".

Tomorrow is No Pizza Tuesday, and I’ve decided not to close the blinds, hide from Kesha.

If she follows that plan to knock on doors and my door gets knocked on, I’ll let her in, tell her don’t take it personal but she and management have given me no reason to come to the Community Room.

She needs to hear it plainly said that, like Scary Mary commented "If they want people to come back to the community center for get togethers they're going to have to work for it".

People Who Need People

End of another week here in La La Land.

I had to make a run by the bank yesterday, where I got a new riddle for you.

"Why don't mummies take time off?"

I'll wait for your guess but, in the interim, Craft Wednesday didn’t happen but, shortly after the time Crafts was scheduled to begin, a group text message went out from Crafty Lady …… "I’m in the clubhouse if anyone wants to come join me, even if it’s just to talk".

All of a sudden, I could hear Barbara Streisand in my head singing People Who Need People.

Along with everything else I’ve deduced about Crafty Lady is that she's reading as one of those …… a people who needs people.

She’s gotten very close to some of the Usual Suspects in the short time she’s lived here.

According to an October 9th post on Facebook, Crafty Lady got together with Talker, Talker’s sister, three others, went out for lunch at Fire Wings.

I’ve seen this scenario happen here before, where there’s all this neighborly involvement quick fast because people seem to NEED people.

Remember Red Light?

She too came in like gangbusters, got very involved in the community.

She, Talker, Talker’s sister and others often met up for lunch, went to Senior Expos, Church Fairs and other events together.

Red Light tried to rope me into that let’s all get cozy and too familiar with each other, but I’d declined turning neighbors into besties.

In fact, when I saw online that the Golden Futures Senior Exhibit was coming to town, I signed up, got my ticket early on.

THEN, Red Light somehow got wind of the exhibit, got a group together, invited me to attend with them. Of course, since I declined, I didn't dare use my ticket, chance the risk of running into one of them, which I surely would have.

Some people just enjoy doing things alone, and being left alone.

There's that old Rudyard Kipling saying from his poem "The Winners" …… "He travels the fastest who travels alone," but those ladies would not have been able to understand that.

Since my teen years, I've often been labled as "stuck up", got bullied for it even, just because I'm quiet, enjoy my own company more than being in the company of others.

So, anyway, as for this current togetherness, think back on how all that previous togetherness with Red Light ended …… hateful text messages, threats, hurt feelings.

Familiarity breeds.

Though a beautiful song, I could never buy that people who needed people were lucky. Seemed more like people who needed people were codependent, not comfortable being alone with their own thoughts, alone with their own selves.

I don’t know that, after the text message, anyone went down to the Community Room, but I do know no one responded to the text.

Time will tell how this saga ends but for now, even though Crafts seems to be dying, I got included in a text message that indicated the Usual Suspects are already gearing up for a Thanksgiving event.

Can we get through Halloween first?

As for "Why don't mummies take time off?"

My guess was because they're all wrapped up in their work.

The teller said, "Oh that's a good one, but the answer is "Because they're afraid to unwind".

BREAKING NEWS. Just as I was finishing up this post, I got a text message from Crafty Lady …… "Good morning beautiful, just checking on you, making sure you're alright. I made something for you. When you're free let me know so I can get it to you."

Instantly, Anne Marie popped up in my head with an exasperated "JESUS F__KING CHRIST!!!".

Why is it so hard for her to leave me alone?

I'm not the least bit interested in what she's gone through the trouble to make for me, but replied that I would check into the Community Room either Monday or Tuesday.

That was a lie.

I'm feeling very annoyed and have no plans to check in with the seniors until the Halloween event.

I don't want to be cruel, hurt her feelings, but when I don't show up on Monday or Tuesday, do you think she'll finally get the message?

Bad for My Image

Having long enjoyed being considered the "Hot Girl" amongst us old folks, the new jewelry Twin 1 ordered is putting my image in serious jeopardy.

After looking into Will Jay’s suggestions to "design some jewelry or fiber art to hide/disguise the Life Alert device" and thus far drawing a blank, I thought maybe I’d just tuck it in.

But then Will Jay’s story about a friend’s mom setting off an accidental alert by tucking the device in her waistband got me to thinking how easily it would be for the device to get squeezed into an alert tucked in such a snug place, not to mention it sometimes gets hot in there and that alone might set off a false alarm.

Maybe I can just shorten the rope, turn the device into a choker, thought I.

Nope! That makes the device even more obvious.

I looked into exchanging the pendant for a bracelet or watch, but Life Alert only offers the option of a necklace pendant with its systems.

So, I dunno but, heading for the market today, I decided to give tucking a try.

Crossing the parking lot, I ran into Next Door Neighbor. The device, tucked inside, she never even noticed there was something attached to the rope as we chatted for a while about what a great job my boyfriend in my head Dark Gavin is doing ("Dark" because, taking a step from blog friend Dawn who, when pushed transforms into Dark Dawn, and now seeing my boyfriend transforming into a version of The Punisher, I've rewarded him with the superhero name of Dark Gavin).

I did have to be careful in placement of the car’s seat belt, because the normal position was right across the device, sure to put pressure on the button, set it off.

I had to position the belt above the device, across my throat.

I can't get a ticket for the awkward, probably unsafe, position as the law only says to wear it, and it's being worn.

While in the market, I did some bending, stooping, reaching. None of these motions seemed likely to result in an accidental alert. So, thus far, it seems tucking is the way to go.

One of the items on my marketing list was kale. I eat a lot of kale, I mean a lot, a lot and saw it today was selling $3 for two bunches, but who do they think they’re kidding.

Kale aficionado that I am, I noticed right away the price is not a bargain, that what used to be one healthy bunch at $2.50 is now selling as two slimmer bunches, i.e., the two smaller bunches at $3.00 is the same amount of kale in one bunch previously sold for $2.50, but disguised as 2 for $3.00 — $0.50 cents more.

No matter. I'll buy kale however bountiful or not the bunch, whatever price.

Not on my grocery list were these Aloha bell peppers, but they called my name. So wanting to see if they taste any different than regular bells, and because they’re pretty, I purchased two.

BTW, under the title of Work Smarter Not Harder, did you know you can dispense with hand massaging, and instead use the mixer to massage your kale.

Fire and Water

Management's End of Summer Fiesta, for us residents, was scheduled yesterday from 11:30 to 2 pm.

Comfortable inside, it took some effort to motivate myself into heading down to the Community Room, but I managed to talk myself into taking one for team …… snap a few photos for the residents’ facebook page, get fodder for the blog.

Arriving at 11:37, I was back in my unit at 11:48. Stayed just long enough to snap 15 photos, grab a quick gossip with Talker.

I'd expected residents to come out in droves, and was surprised by how few were in the room. Mostly, it was the Usual Suspects.

Maybe others came down later, but I doubt it. I know none of my three neighbors gave a hoot, neither did the four residents across the quad.

As for why so few, it's hard to say. There's been a general pall over everyone since Donnie Two Dolls took over. Some have retreated into themselves — don't come out, don't communicate with others, are living in their own private hell wondering what benefits will be taken away, if they haven't been taken already. Plus, we have a lot of new people — many of whom were previously homeless, placed here by the County; and I guess they are not the mingling, get to know your neighbor kind of folks.

No matter, the absences just meant there was more for those who showed up.

The menu indicated "2 items per person".

However, I later saw residents on the walkway, returning to their units after the event ended, carrying paper plates seemingly loaded with food made available because so few attended.

Dream Lover must have proved to management that he was cleared by the doctor, because he was seated and already eating when I arrived.

As was Lu and Upstairs Lady.

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I saw all three were seated together.

I pulled the Talker over to the side, said that I’d heard Lu and Dream Lover were no longer a couple.

"That’s true", said she.

"Then pray tell, why are they sitting together?"

"Oh, they’re still friends. I told her she should have left it at that from the beginning".

"Why did they break up?"

"Oh, I don’t know".

Interesting that Lu is forthcoming to both the Baker and Talker about everything else, including Dream Lover's inability to "do anything" (if you know what I mean), shared that they are no longer a couple, but won’t disclose WHY they are no longer a couple.

Hmmmmm????

And, if the two now consider themselves just friends, why is she still touching him, can’t seem to keep her hands off him, because in one of the above photos (reposted below), you can see Lu is standing, talking to Upstairs Lady, but she's holding on to his hand, like she's afraid he'll flee if she lets go of his leash.

The man is trying to eat, for God's sake!

Closeup

There was something about Dream Lover's body language, while Lu was restraining him, that made me take a closer look at his face.

That is a man who is giving irritated to the umpteenth degree, like he wants to snatch his hand away, but is stomaching the touch because he doesn't want to make her mad, is holding it all in to maintain whatever "just friends" truce they've agreed on.

I saw that same angry look on his face the day before, when he was returning from Lu's area. I also remember seeing, early on in their relationship, a time when he was heading towards Lu's unit, stopped, looked down, shoulders slumped, took a moment as though he was pumping himself up to do something he didn't want to do; and then, once the moment was over, he picked himself up and soldiered on.

I'd even blogged about seeing that moment, as it seemed so strange.

Now seeing this look in his eyes, I'm remembering how it was that his first girlfriend fled to a battered women's shelter, never to return, and I'm now guessing his whole thing is about play acting, working hard to keep his anger issues in check in order to maintain friendships here on the complex, and his image of being a nice guy.

It's difficult to be fake, to play/pretend nice, and this photo is clearly showing how it's wearing on him?

Perhaps that's why neither of the two are saying WHY they broke up.

Did he slip …… do something to Lu, like he did to the one that fled, and they've agreed to keep it to themselves, let bygones be bygones, let's just be friends from now on?

It’s kinda making sense, inasmuch as Lu is Cancer, a water sign and Dream Lover is Aries, a fire sign — water and fire does not mix.

Cancer women are emotional, like to touch, are possessive and can be controlling (No offense if you’re Cancer. I’m just stating astrological facts). Aries men are adventurous, love the chase, crave freedom, struggle with patience and sensitivity — water and fire does not mix, and I imagine it's especially difficult to work through the ying/yang of such a combination when the Aries is not just a normal Aries, but one with anger issues.

Their saga continues …… at least until he blows his top with her or he finds someone else, starts the pattern all over again.

So, anyway, I supported the event by donating 10 minutes of my time, headed back to my unit, posted the photos to facebook, after which I worked out on the treadmill.

Yesterday offering at the Coffee Bar was almond flour chocolate chip cookies.

No News is Good News

I’m still here, still alive, just quiet because there’s been nothing to blog about.

My only contact with any of the residents was Saturday, when Next Door Neighbor, having not seen nor heard me going in/out in some time, knocked on the door to see if I was okay and yesterday, when taking out the trash I ran into Little Knock Knock.

She gave me a hug and, when I asked if she was sad all her summer fun here was ending that she’d be going back to school, she uttered a woeful "yes".

Baker texted yesterday, asking me to do flyers from next month’s bingo and a flyer for a "Labor Day Party" to be disguised as "bingo" because "we don’t want to announce it to everybody".

Labor Day isn’t until Monday, September 1 and we’re still in July, so I don’t understand working so far in advance, but whatever. I’ll of course help the community by doing the flyer, but is it bingo or a party asked I.

"It’s a party, but we just don’t want to put party on the flyer because then we will have like 60 people coming".

Even though the 4th of July BBQ had been moved inside to limit attendees — exclude the homeless/random residents and was a great success (except for Upstairs Lady pissing me off) — I thought that no one, among the 50 or so attendees, that the High Table did not want to be there showed up but, evidently, I was wrong. The High Table wants to limit attendees even further, must have specific targets in mind.

I don’t know who it is they want to exclude this time (though I suspect one may be Judy), but seems to me that instead of all this subterfuge as payback for some grievance, it would be better to be up front about it ... just let the person or persons know they are not wanted and why.

I think Judy because, as previously posted, Judy pissed off the Baker in one or more of the bingo sessions and instead of speaking up for herself as I had suggested, the Baker, as usual, internalized her anger, got others involved, now she and her High Table Squad are ganging up to shut Judy out as payback for the disrespect.

Good luck with that because Judy doesn’t read the room very well or at all, wouldn’t know she’s not wanted. So, all this subterfuge is for naught. If she sees an event, Judy will barge right in.

So, anyway, not my problem. I did the subterfuge flyer.

The office will be closed Labor Day, so the High Table is planning for Friday, September 5.

I won’t be attending.

Other than that, it’s been business as usual for me — working on that never ending needlepoint project, trying to catch up on recorded TV programs, walking on the treadmill, building up my endurance on the step climber, and my latest obsession — viewing (on the laptop) Chinese Dramas with Engish translations.

In the background of a fight scene on Trainer’s Instagram, I caught a glimpse of the treadmill. He’s moved it yet again. This time it’s up front, by the entrance door, in an area that used to be where his desk was.

Not ideal as still there is no privacy, but a workable spot with a view of the outside, fighters behind rather than in front. A work out station I’d not have been as opposed to as I was to being pushed into a corner by the sink and bathroom, but too late now. I’m currently happy with the in-home set up.

The coffee bar had muffins last week — blueberries and walnut.

Rumor is there might be Strawberry Muffins this week.

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

It wasn’t until I returned from running errands on Saturday, and kicked off my shoes, that I noticed something was wrong with the outfit I’d been out and about in that day.

Do you see it?

Hopefully my bright red lipstick detracted folks from looking down at my footwear.

These senior moments are coming more frequently. I had two such moments on Saturday. First was wearing mismatched shoes then, later that day, I found myself searching the unit for my keys, with no success. Something told me to check the front door.

Sure enough, there they were, just waiting for someone to come along, enter while I’m asleep, pillage and plunder or drive off with the Jeep or both.

I guess the lesson that day was to slow my thinking down, pay attention to what I’m doing, stay in the moment.

Linda in Kansas aka DrumMajor was interested in the recipe I used a few days ago for Mini Monkey Bread which, unlike the last time I tried to make Monkey Bread, was a success.

That last time was back in 2015, when I followed the Pioneer Woman’s recipe to take Pull Apart Monkey Bread as my dish for the Valentine’s Day Potluck.

It was an epic fail — the dish came out soggy, not cooked all the way through, so I was forced to contribute Girl Scout Cookies to the potluck instead.

Since then, with my food allergies — which have plagued me since age 18, becoming increasingly worse to where my system can now not tolerate whole wheat and high-fiber flours, Monkey Bread has been off the menu. That is, until I recently came across a recipe for Monkey Bread made with white rice flour.

I gave it a try, but instead of baking in a bundt or loaf pan, as the Frugal Farm Wife’s recipe calls for, I made Minis by baking in a cupcake pan.

Into the muffin tins I dropped teaspoons of dough, followed by drops of filling and continued layering dough/filling until dough and filling were depleted.

Soft on the inside, with pockets of filling throughout, sugary and crispy on the outside, snackalicious with a cup of coffee.

Around 5:00 today, about the time I figured Kendrick Lamar would be performing at the Superbowl, I quickly switched channels, checked in to see if it was Halftime yet.

It wasn’t, but I did see the score and it looked like the Chiefs were getting their arses kicked.

I tuned in about 45 minutes later, just in time to catch the Halftime Show, which was great — I liked the red, white, blue theme, could have done without Samuel L. Jackson, and I’m sure some of Kendrick's songs ruffled the correct feathers, not to mention the patriotic colors.

(I guess Kendrick did indeed ruffle feathers, because the pundits are saying "worst halftime ever". No, that would be Rihanna's snoozefest back in '23.)

According to the score I saw, before I went back to my regularly scheduled programs, the Chiefs were getting creamed.

Now flipping channels, seeing the game is over, and Kansas City was slaughtered, I’m wondering if Kelce would like to eat his words that it would be "pretty cool" and "a great honor" if the Orange Menace were in attendance, because it looks like the Menace brought the team bad luck, not to mention he doesn’t like what he calls "losers".