The Week That Was

What a week this has been …… the unrelenting hot weather, a Covid scare, Lu no longer interested in continuing that kissy kissy hands all over his body relationship (that so gagged me) she had going with Dream Lover.

Speaking of which, I yesterday saw Dream Lover yet again on the walkway headed towards Lu’s unit; and, yet again, he came back down the walkway pretty quick. Only this time he looked hella angry.

Are things going to get ugly …… turn into harassment, stalking?

Time will tell.

Now I hear that, during the week, Hell on Wheels (HOW) was placed in a nursing home.

It’s temporary. She’s expected to return to the complex, but looks like it’s not going to be as soon as she had anticipated. Due to sciatica, her legs will now not allow her to stand erect, not even with the assistance of nursing home staff holding her up.

HOW has and has always had home caregivers for whatever condition that is the cause of her being in a wheelchair, but seems it was sciatica that necessitated upgrading from home care to specialized nursing home care.

I know nothing about sciatica, but I wonder if the wheel chair is what’s either causing or aggravating the condition.

At any rate, HOW asked the Baker to tend her plants until she returns, gave her a key to the unit.

Upon entering, the Baker said she was "shocked" …… there’s "stuff everywhere, the place is a mess".

"Don’t the caregivers clean?", asked I.

"I don’t think she lets them touch or move anything", said the Baker.

From what little I know of HOW, that sounds about right, and probably one of the reasons why she’s gone through so many caregivers — she’s rather spoiled, wants what she wants when she wants it the way she wants it …… do what she says no more no less, but how can she herself manage in a wheelchair with "mess" all around her?

Baker went on to say she encountered a HORDES of flies in the unit, that they seemed to congregate at and around the window, some trapped inside the screen and glass, like they were trying to get in, join the party.

She searched for bug spray, couldn’t find any but, finding Febreze, she tried to kill the inside flies with scented room spray.

LOL, I almost had tears in my eyes from laughing as I said, "You gave the flies a spa treatment".

The idea of a hordes of flies in the unit, and the congregating at a window seemed very horror movie to me, a sign of some kind. So, I later researched the phenomena: Spiritually speaking, a hoard of flies "Can symbolize negative influences, decay, or even demonic presence".

Again, from what little I know of HOW, that sounds about right. I nicknamed her Hell on Wheels for a reason.

In other news, the Covid scare seems to be over. Though I’ve not yet seen Lu and Upstairs Lady out on the walkway to say for sure how they tested, no one else who came in contact with Dream Lover last Tuesday has been reported as having testing positive.

The grapevine tells me Dream Lover himself is saying he’s been back to the emergency clinic, given the all clear, but I’m not trusting his word on that as it seems to me that he went through the episode too fast.

Twin 2 is still working herself through Covid Episode 4, but says that her friend picked up her Rx for Paxlovid, and it’s made all the difference, she fels better now (Linda in Kansas, you were right about Paxlovid).

Today is the End of Summer Fiesta, which to me seems to be premature as Summer is showing no signs of ending anytime soon. Weather next week is predicted to reach triple digits.

I anticipate everyone and their uncle will turn up for free tacos and, if Lu and Upstairs Lady don’t show, I’m going to guess they are not doing as well, after the Covid scare, as everyone else.

If Dream Lover's ban on entering the Community Room is lifted by management, and he makes an appearance, I’ll be worried for what unsuspecting resident or residents sits with him.

Dumb Women, Stupid Choices

The new Activity Director (Kesha) did not show up today, and no one knows why, not even the office knows why.

Did she quit already?

Talking with the Baker, as we waited in vain for Kesha to show, I learned that even though Management did not put out an alert that a resident tested positive for Covid, they did ban the resident (Dream Lover) from entering the Community Room.

That’s not much, but it’s something.

Does this have something to do with the Activity Director being absent today?

The way the office found out Dream Lover had tested positive and subsequently banned him was because he called for maintenance in his unit and did not tell the arriving maintenance worker until after the worker was already inside the unit — like, BTW, I have Covid.

As my mother used to say, "There is something wrong with that boy".

The maintenance worker now having to test is bad news for me because, before I put my mask on to enter the office building, I ran into that worker at the entrance and, while standing close, face to face, teased him briefly about the new lips tattoo on his neck.

So now I have to test and worry that even though I dodged a bullet and left the Community Room last Tuesday before Dream Lover entered, he still might have got me through the maintenance worker.

In fact, all of a sudden my throat hurts.

Do signs appear that quickly?

Seriously, answer on a postcard because I want to know if I’m being super paranoid.

So, anyway, I further learned today that the day Dream Lover walked into the Community Room, he did not know he had Covid, just told everyone, "I don’t feel well".

So, if you don’t feel well, why did you even come into the room, put yourself in the position of making others also not feel well, even if you didn’t know why you didn’t feel well?

There is definitely something wrong with that boy.

It was after that when Dream Lover walked to the emergency clinic down the street, was told he tested positive, RETURNED to the Community Room, gave them the news, whereupon everyone worriedly scattered.

I actually saw dumbass on the walkway yesterday afternoon, heading towards Lu’s unit. He wasn’t wearing a mask. So, had anyone passed him on the walkway, stopped to chat, he’d have exposed them.

Lu must have sent him packing, probably didn’t even open the door, because he pretty quick came back down that walkway.

As I was talking to the Baker, our voices a fairly normal low, because we were gossiping off in a corner away from everyone, Greedy Grabby was sitting at a table with friends almost clear across the room, watching us but somehow heard us say Dream Lover’s name.

I kid you not, she jumped up from the table, ran over, asked "What about M____ (Dream Lover)?".

Since it was none of her business, the Baker just said, "He’s sick". Whereupon, Greedy Grabby went into a monologue about what a nice guy he is ... he's this, that, the other, slyly throwing in at the end that, "He seems to be close to L____ (Lu)".

Maybe she thought she was being sly, but I’ve been around the block enough times to know she was on a fishing expedition …… wanting to know just how "close" Dream Lover and Lu were for her own purpose (Greedy Grabby's husband passed away three/four years ago. She's not accustomed to being without a man).

As I was thinking to myself that Greedy Grabby obviously doesn’t know Dream Lover’s history with women, that he is constantly in motion, jumping from woman to woman, I heard the Baker reply "Not anymore" to Greedy Grabby’s "He seems to be close to Lu".

STOP THE PRESSES! …… HOLD THE PHONE!

After all that kissing last month, the "My handsome man" from Lu, the "Hey, gorgeous" from Dream Lover, Upstairs Lady pissing me off over the seating arrangement so they could all sit together at the 4th of July BBQ, the love affair is now over????

The Baker said she doesn’t know the actual reason for the breakup, Lu being "too touchy, too clingy" and "other women" were words mixed into the conversation but, all in all, the Baker summed it up as, "I don't know if she got tired of him or he got tired of her", just that it's over.

Obviously, if I’m seeing him on the walkway heading for her unit, he’s not tired of her; however, if I’m seeing him turned away, it is she who is tired of him.

Greedy Grabby wasn’t privy to the conversation. As soon as the Baker said, "Not anymore", having heard just what she wanted to hear, Greedy Grabby headed back to her seat — probably to plot how to swoop in to be Dream Lover’s next girlfriend, ultimately end up another ex-girlfriend.

Dumb women, stupid choices.

Super Spreader

Nothing to see here .... partly due to the heat keeping everyone inside, A/C running 24/7.

Another reason for the deserted walkways is that those I usually spot are on lockdown, testing for Covid.

After twice testing, the Baker and her husband are negative, Talker is negative, but I’ve heard nothing back on Lu and Upstairs Lady — the two most vulnerable as they are the closest to Dream Lover, and others who came in contact with him last Tuesday.

I’d like to say I’m surprised Management hasn’t put out a bulletin, alerting residents to the situation, but I’m not surprised at all.

I’m assuming that, with no alert notices, tomorrow’s Pizza Tuesday is still on, which means Activity Director Kesha is probably going to find herself pretty much alone in the room, not knowing why.

I don’t want her to take it personally, think she’s failing already, so I’ll mask up, head down just long enough to clue her in on what’s happening.

Management has planned an End of Summer Fiesta for this coming Friday — "Event will be held in the club house. All residents are invited come have some tacos".

This is the kind of event that will bring everyone and their uncle down to the Community Room. It’s going to be over crowded, a possible Super Spreader.

I think I'm okay to mask up, run in but keep my distance from the crowd by standing halfway in/halfway out at the door, take a few pics, run out.

Twin 2 is still in the thick of it with her 4th go-round with Covid, and scared me nearly to death when she didn't respond to my text this morning asking if she was better yet.

When I followed up with a telephone call and she didn't answer, I began thinking of requesting a welfare check.

It was then I realized I didn't have a key to her apartment ... how were the welfare check people going to get in?

Both girls have keys to my place — for obvious reasons, but it never occurred to us that I might be the one to need keys to their place.

Fortunately, Twin 2 finally did respond, said her fever has not yet broken, but not feeling as bad as the first two days.

Once she gets through this, I want a key to her apartment and Twin 1's place.

Just When You Thought It Was Safe

Yesterday was my appointment with the doctor. On the way to the appointment, this happened.

That was some dangerous driving, and would have gone sideways for me, stopped at the red light, had one of those vehicles been hit by moving traffic that had the green light, causing one or more to crash into me.

I got a good look at the driver of the nazi car as he made the turn, and surprise surprise, it was a Brother, I’d say in his mid 30’s; and not a richy rich snob type Brother, but a common every day normal casual Brother, wearing a white t-shirt.

So, what was he doing driving a cybertruck?

The dangerous move was all for naught, because I knew the route the cars (looking to be a convoy of three or four), were taking would get them to where I’d soon be had they just cooled their jets, made the turn at the next intersection.

So, anyway, the doctor tells me I’m basically healthy, doing all the right things — eating healthy, exercising, but cholesterol is too high and I need to get my BP down, which was 160 when I arrived at the medical center — in spite of having taken the morning’s medication, and 163/71 after the nurse had me sit and rest for a while for a retake.

Go figure.

Doctor’s diagnosis "not diabetic, take 2 tablets for hypertension, but if BP is under 120 systolic, then take one), hydrate hydrate hydrate hydrate, lab work every six months (as they’re keeping an eye on kidneys filtrating a little slower than should)".

So, that’s that.

Today is bingo for the seniors and, after all that rigamarole over that ever-changing bingo flyer, today’s bingo is cancelled. The session scheduled for Friday the 22nd is probably also cancelled and, who knows, there may never be bingo again.

No matter to me, as I’m not involved in bingo, but a huge blow to those that are involved — organizers and participants.

As to why bingo is cancelled until further notice, I received a text from the Baker yesterday afternoon, "Someone came in the clubhouse on Tuesday with Covid, so most of us are just staying inside and testing".

F_CK!!!

I WAS IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM ON TUESDAY!!!

That was Pizza Tuesday, the morning I went down to check out the new Activity Director.

Just when you thought it was safe.

Heck, I didn’t even know Covid to be still a thing.

How are people still catching it?

Remembering how it was that Di hugged me in the Community Room that morning, and I had hugged our former Activity Director Christine, and how some of us had taken a group photo with the new Activity Director Kesha — all standing close, arms entangled, my first thought was to check on when I should begin testing. Learned that, if exposed and don’t have symptoms, wait at least 5 full days before testing but, if one develops symptoms, test immediately.

Not experiencing any symptoms, but needing to know just how worried I should be, I queried the Baker, "Was the person who brought Covid into the room someone who was in the room when I was there or came after I left" and was much relieved to find it was Dream Lover, as he was not in the room when I was there, had come later.

Fortunately, neither were Activity Director Kesha, or her new boss Christine. They headed for their cars just as I was walking out.

Unfortunately, Talker, Little Knock Knock, Lurch, Upstairs Lady, Lu, the Baker, her husband and a handful of others likely came in contact with Dream Lover.

I’m 99.99% certain I’m good but, since Dream Lover’s girlfriend Lu and best bud Upstairs Lady were in the room when I was there — even though, since I'm keeping Upstairs Lady on the does not exist list, kept my distance from her, the fact remains that both Lu and Upstairs Lady are stuck like glue to Dream Lover, so who knows which of them might have caught what. I’ll take the extra precaution of testing.

Isn’t it interesting how things sometimes turn out ……… Upstairs Lady has that little click of hers (Dream Lover, Lu, herself), a little click inside of the big click, that resulted in my moving away from the High Table at the BBQ, away from them, and now one has Covid, two are testing, all three are on lockdown.

Plethora of Gnomes

Today was the wrong day to go to the craft store.

Running 40% and 60% off sales on Christmas items, the store was packed.

I think I’ll start back to wearing a face mask when out and about because, though I only saw three people wearing masks, two of the three coughed towards me which made me think what I could have been exposed to had they not been wearing masks, that I’d better do so just in case someone coughs my way who is NOT wearing one.

That’s how Twin 2 caught covid — some old biddy coughed directly in her face (on purpose I surmised) while Twin 2 was wearing a face shield but no mask.

I only had a few items to pick up today, but the store was so beautifully decorated, had so many cute things to see, that I roamed around looking and taking photos.

They had several checkout lanes, all looking to be a mile long and not moving because folks had so much in their carts.

After half an hour with no progress moving forward to the cashier, listening to Mariah Carey sing All I Want for Christmas is You, I abandoned my cart.

I’ll go back on Wednesday, when things have calmed down, because that coffee cup is calling me — even though I need another coffee cup like I need a hole in my head.

Mildred's Challenge today (Day 27) is "A song that breaks your heart".

There are two songs that never fail to turn, even those of us who have the hardest of hearts and/or no heart at all, into a crying sniveling mess.

One of which was Day 10’s John Michael Montgomery’s The Little Girl, covering the topics of drugs, alcohol, domestic violence and child neglect.

The other is The Christmas Shoes by a Christian group called New Song about a little boy counting out pennies at the counter to buy his mom a pair of shoes for Christmas. When the clerk tells him "Son, there's not enough here", the boy turns to the next person in line, asks if the shopper can help him buy the shoes because his mother had been sick for a while, there wasn’t much time, and he wanted her to look beautiful if she met Jesus that night.

This that I’m posting is not New Hope’s version, but a cover by an unknown singer because I like this singer’s voice better.

I’m meeting today’s challenge, but I caution that if you don’t want to be reduced into a crying sniveling puddle, best to pass on listening.

Raindrops Falling on My Head

Is it too soon to declare the drought in California as over?

Asking for a friend, because I woke up middle of the night to the sound of rain drops hitting the roof.

It’s been steady raining since, so maybe the occasional rain we’re beginning to get, after such a long dry spell, signals the end of the drought.

So glad I wasn’t lazy and got the Halloween decorations back in storage before rain I did not expect created a wet sloppy mess, but I wish I’d not been too lazy to retrieve my umbrella(s) from the trunk of the car.

I’ve got three of them and somehow all three ended up in the trunk of the car, making it difficult to get to the car for this morning's workout in a dry state.

Oh well.

This month’s activity calendar was posted to our door late yesterday afternoon. Too late to see a craft session was on the calendar that day … "Thanksgiving inspired craft, 3:00 – 4:00".

The Baker texted earlier that morning to say she’d been in contact with Activity Director and was told there was to be a craft session.

So, though I didn’t get the calendar in time to decide if I wanted to participate, I did have advance notice. Which advance notice I decided to ignore, get busy doing nothing, so I could say I got busy and forgot because Activity Director’s crafts are generally cheap little Dollar Store things that I end up tossing after creating. Not worth the time or energy.

Also on the calendar is a Thankful Celebration on the 15th hosted by management.

Management is beginning to scare me with this having no concern for entertaining us for years and years and years, now all of a sudden there’s a Luau, then a Pumpkin Painting/Costume event, and now "Come to the Community Room to celebrate Thanksgiving with a slice of pie and some hot apple cider".

They raised the rent after the first event, were pushing the Hospice they’re partnering with at the last event, so maybe this time it’ll be a Funeral Home, as I can’t believe management will ever do anything without some kind of ulterior motive.

Stay tuned.

Feeling exhausted and stressed last week and a half, I’d been going to bed very early, missed a lot of my regular TV shows but had the recorder going.

Catching up last night, watching the latest and last Halloween Cookie Competition, I saw something I couldn’t believe the competitor did, being as how we’re still somewhat in a pandemic. Not to mention, it was a nasty thing to do even before it became dangerous.

Did you see what she did?

Did you catch what I think is unsafe to do in the atmosphere we now live.

If you didn’t catch it ...... to help the icing dry just a little faster, she blew on the cookie.

The two judges later picked that cookie from her display, split it and both judges ate a piece.

They must have enjoyed the taste of the competitor’s DNA because she won.

My gut being so sensitive that I can only eat what I cook is a pain to deal with, but it’s things like this that make me see my condition as more a blessing than a curse.

Mildred’s Day 24 challenge is "A song by a band you wish were still together".

The Doobie Brothers, hands down, because I loved the soulful sound of Michael McDonald’s voice, not to mention he was devastatingly handsome.

Michael went on to have a successful solo career and became ever more drop dead handsome with age.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

The return to normal everyday life started off with a notice posted to the door, by the office, alerting us to the fact a resident has tested positive for Covid and is self-isolating.

Insofar as I know, Bingo Fridays is still on, as is the July 26 Summer Social Luncheon with "property management and Activity Director" but, for sure, we’ll be required to mask up again.

It's two steps forward, one step back with this thing, but Fauci said as long as we keep up with vaccinations, we should be okay.

We'll see.

"Property Management" still consists of the two maintenance guys and Assistant Manager, as there have been no takers for the position of a 10th Community Manager for us.

My buddy Apache got himself in trouble while I was gone.

The Assistant Manager called this afternoon, said she was calling all of Apache's friends to let them know he was no longer allowed to visit any of us on the property, visits would have to be off-site as he’s been told the police will be called on him should he henceforth be seen on the property.

Asking what he’d done to get himself completely banned, she said there were a group of residents out on the front lawn, Apache had approached and came close to getting into a physical fight with one of them.

I didn’t have to ask who because I knew the only people Apache did not get along with was management and Bicycle Boy. He and Bicycle Boy have this alpha male thing going, came close to blows on many occasions and, at one time, had restraining orders on each other.

So, anyway, if Apache wants to communicate with me, he'll have to catch me at the Pain Cave, but I’ve no doubt Apache will push the envelope, creep his way onto the property when management is not around.

THEN, Red Light calls a little while ago to tell me that shortly after 10 p.m. last night, Talker made a noise when a tray of CD’s fell from her hands onto the floor, whereupon Karen promptly called Security on her.

Security are the two guys hired to drive through here nightly, check that everything is okay, which doesn’t seem effective to me to just ride around the complex, ride out, but Security did respond, knocked on Talker’s door.

Now get this …. Talker’s brother is ill. Talker said he’s showing signs of Covid, but won’t let her test him, so she’s staying locked up inside just in case. (She’s not the one mentioned in the notice posted to our doors. That’s someone else we don’t know who).

So, when Security shows up, they tell her to open the door, they need to speak with her about a noise complaint. She says, "I can’t open the door. We possibly have Covid".

I guess the guys decided they don’t get paid enough to catch Covid, so they said "Okay, ma’am. Thank you" and left.

Karen has been warned about further complaints, so I wonder if management will finally get off their butts and carry through on what they said they’d do if she complained again. They certainly had no problem moving on my Buddy Apache.

There’s also the situation with my downstairs neighbor across the quad, the Smoker. She’s still smoking.

It also turns out she’s had Covid and has been suffering with Long Covid since. (They say long covid, but I think it might be the smoking). The office won’t let her near them, not even to pay rent, so she’s been giving her check to my Next-Door Neighbor (NDN) who has been dropping it off for her.

While I was away, she asked NDN to pick up medication for her at the pharmacy and also to purchase liquor.

NDN picked up the prescription but failed to bring back liquor, whereupon the Smoker was so upset that she threw something at NDN.

She then called an Uber, had the driver take her to the liquor store, thereby jeopardizing the driver's health if she does have long-covid.

Long-covid aside, it seems she has no problem getting out and about to get liquor, but not to pick up medication or smoke outside like the other smokers. 

I don’t think NDN is going to help her again.

While Red Light was telling me all this about the Smoker, I remarked that I’d not seen the food delivery truck drop off her meals in a while, that I wasn’t sure she was eating and suggested we contact someone to check on her.

Red Light said she’ll called Protective Services, that I am to expect to see people coming to the Smoker’s door.

I hope they wear masks and I hope she answers and lets someone help her.

A lot happened in the short time I was away and during reentry.

Think Fast

Didn’t make it to the Farmer’s Market on Saturday after all. Experiencing some trauma from the last two workouts, I ran what errands needed to be run, returned to the complex and lathered the sore areas with an ointment that would get me arrested at Disneyland, then chilled until the pain lessened.

I’m assuming you heard about the great grandma who was arrested at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, ordered to strip naked, bend over for a body cavity search, banned from returning to Disneyland, because she carried on her person an ointment her doctor had suggested she use to treat her osteoarthritic pain.

Since she obviously was using the ointment for pain relief, was not the Heisenberg she'd been profiled to be, she’s suing for $18 million.

Hope she wins, but don’t think she has a beggar’s chance of coming out on top against the mouse organization.

At any rate, the incident cautioned me about carrying pain relief with me or going anywhere after lathering it on my body, so I decided to stay inside reminder of the weekend.

Today, Sunday, I decided to give myself a Skittle Nails mani/pedi in colors to fit this week coming up on Easter.

I’m happy with the outcome, but think it looks — and correct me if you see differently, more like pre-Pride Week than pre-Easter.

Either way is fine by me because the mani/pedi is bright, cheery, pleases me.

Returning my nail kit to the bedroom closet, I looked over and who did I see out and about through the bedroom window but our Karen character.

Telling myself to Think Fast, I jumped into the closet, hid behind the closet door, peered out to observe without being seen.

Didn’t see her pick up any tree droppings — she might have already done so by the time I saw her. She just followed her cat around, looked up this way a time or two — seeing nothing, I’m certain, but that lamp and the sun bouncing off the window — because I was in the closet so to speak.

After a while, she grabbed the cat without luring it with tree droppings and went back inside.

Tomorrow it’s back to the start of another week and dueling Bingo Games.

Red Light tells me the Bingo Game indicated on the Activity Calendar is being run by Activity Director, 12-12:45 Tuesday the 19th. The one she and Talker are hosting is 1:00 April 14 and, mysteriously, is not included in the calendar of events, but is mentioned as a blurb on a back page.

Consequently, she and the talker are walking around, alerting us to Thursday’s event.

Sabotage?

Is Activity Director jealous?

Does she feel her position is being threatened?

I think Activity Director has been here too long.

She joined us during the tenure of Community Manager No. 2, has been here since and a couple times said or done something that made me think she’d become too comfortable, too sure of herself and her position.

Like that time she was so rude to the residents that did her job for her when she was late arriving on pizza distribution day. Upon arriving, instead of thanking the Baker, the Helpful Little Lady and one or two others who'd stepped up to the plate, did her job for her, she yelled at them saying, "No pizzas are to be distributed until I get here!"

Then, as I recall, still mad, she instructed those same residents to take over an event that immediately followed pizza distribution, while she spent the afternoon in the computer room.

I can't stand a bully so I'd suggested to the ladies that unless and until she apologized that they walk away, don't continue to help her.

Of course, they were nicer and more forgiving than I. Allowed Activity Director to get away with her bad behavior.

Just two/three days ago, I ran into D, the sex assault victim. She looked quite pretty, having dyed purple streaks into her hair.

I complimented her on the look, telling her it was flattering, very hip, very now.

She thanked me saying that Activity Director had made her feel bad about it saying, "Who are you trying to be".

Sounded like a bitchy put down to me and D took it that way.

Activity Director is early 30’s, dumpy, so I said "How would she know what’s a good look. You look great. Do you".

At any rate, I've nothing else to do on Thursday. So, even though Bingo is not my thing, I’ll be going just to stick it to Activity Director, support Red Light and the Talker. Hope they get a larger crowd than she.

I’m not worried about the event turning into a super spreader because I’m so tired of Covid, variants, vaccinations, being careful, and life in general, that I no longer even care.

Moderna Part 4

News last week was no need to continue to wear masks.

I have to say, I was tempted; but something inside said "nope, keep the mask on", so I’m still wearing mine.

A day later, I turn around and there’s news of a surge in China — a portent of what might be coming our way perhaps.

Then came news of a new variant — BA.2.

Now comes this morning news of a possible 4th Moderna booster, and reimposing of the mask mandate.

The powers that be can’t seem to get their shitz together, and it’s giving me whiplash — all this back and forth.

I’m not liking the idea of a 4th booster but, if it’s to be, I’ll of course get the shot.

Yesterday's BP readings were all over the map. 

Starting off at 145/61 — even though I’d abstained from coffee that morning, I’d managed it down to 137/69 by the time I left the unit headed for the medical center.

By time of the nurse’s first reading, it had jumped to 149 — probably because I was trying to deep breath and she kept interrupting with questions … do you exercise … how often … what kind … how tall are you … how much do you weigh.

Ignoring her questions during the second reading, I posted 113/57.

So that’s off the to-do list, but I’m sure the doctor will next request a blood draw — hopefully a non-fast.

Because I don’t want to waste the gas, I’ve no plans to go anywhere do anything this weekend. Besides, with the Breaking Bad Marathon to begin running this Saturday, for five consecutive Saturdays, I’m blocking off the next five weekends for this event.

Speaking of breaking bad. Maddie, over at A Day With the Mistress Borghese, will appreciate this, my latest Reface.

Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish

Heading out to walk the college campus this morning, I ran into the Baker as she was walking her dog Fancy.

"Have you heard the latest?", said she.

"No, what?"

"J___ (Community Manager aka The Tyrant) turned in his resignation".

"Good … but what finally made him leave?"

"All this time we've been on lockdown, the office closed and no activities, he's been taking classes online. Got a degree in something to do with taxes and is leaving for a better job".

So now I know why he never responded to email requests for work orders. He was too busy using the company time to go to school, but serves Corporate right that he used them like that.

"Well I for one am glad to see him go, but hope we don’t get someone worse", said I.

As for where the information came from, the Baker said she’d gotten a call from Apache.

How does this guy know these things ... Finds out what’s going on around here before we do? LOL.

At any rate, once I returned to the complex, I double-checked Corporate’s website to see if the job of Community Manager was again an open job opportunity.

It was.

Qualifications are listed as "Must have at least two (2) years of experience in on-site property management, with Tax Credit knowledge".

Additionally "Computer skills in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Knowledge of YARDI Voyager, Management of on-site staff and resources, successful track record of meeting property goals, Low Income Housing Tax Credit experience, must have a valid CA driver's license and reliable transportation" and, most important of all …… "High School Diploma or GED required".

While sitting peacefully on my perch on the couch this past Friday, thinking to myself as I looked out the patio window, watched a tree blowing in the wind, I saw the Tyrant doing something he usually does not do — come out of his office to be seen out in the wild.

He was heading down the walkway.

Something told me to get my phone ready to capture a photo of this rare sighting when he returns.

Sure enough, I got it, captured the moment — a rare and probably the last sighting.

I don't wish this guy ill, but I don't wish him well either. My wish for him is that the Universe do what it do with him, as it does with all of us according to Karma and the lessons we need to learn.

I seriously doubt we'll fare better with the next one, but that's only because Corporate won't allow management to do right by us. It's all about spending as little as possible to keep things going.

Plans to walk the campus went awry once I got out on the road.

When I reached the intersection to turn right towards the campus, I decided I was not in the mood and turned left to check the market by where Trainer lives for the frozen Alexia Roasted and Ready Potatoes my gut is so fond of, and which I’ve only been able to locate at this store.

They had none, had none for some time and had no idea if and when they’ll be able to restock.

I settled for a package of fresh Petite Gold potatoes to roast my own.

Since I was at the market, I decided to pick up the eggs my gut likes — Eggland’s Best Organic.

Guess what …. They didn’t have those either. I settled for Simple Truth Organic — a good enough brand.

Then I headed over to the meat section for a package of uncured bacon and got the shock of my life.

The Supply Chain thing has hit this market's meat, deli and Hot and Ready sections hard.

Of course, I’ve not been to my regular market since I made a run on the 14th, so I don’t know if they too are now in bad shape.

Things are getting iffy for us borderline Celiacs, so I’d better pop into the regular market after tomorrow’s workout to see how it’s looking, and if I can score a package of uncured bacon.

Free Stuff

Did you get your free N95 masks?

I popped into the drugstore after this morning’s workout and, while checking out, was asked, "Do you want your free three masks?"

I’d not paid much attention to the news that the government would be issuing N95’s for free distribution at various pharmacies, because I’m quite happy with my many bling masks, but thought why not, so I said yes.

I’ll keep them in the car for just-in-case situations.

I was thankful the clerk had asked because, in the short time I was at the register, their phone was ringing off the hook. It appeared to be people wanting to know if the masks were in.

Judging by the number of calls, their supply isn’t going to last long, nor will their patience at fending off phone calls.

I’d also registered, last week/week before, for the government’s free at-home testing thingies. Again, for a just-in-case situation.

Walking into the Pain Cave this morning, turned towards Trainer just inside the door, asking if he was okay — because he’d been in terrible pain on Wednesday due to a toothache, he said he was fine and then said, "Turn around".

Thinking I had something stuck to my back, I turned around, looked over my shoulder, asked what he saw, which was "Nothing. Turn around".

So, playing into whatever game he had going, I began turning full circle around and that’s when I saw it.

He’d relocated the treadmill for like the 6th or 7th time.

Running out of places to relocate the treadmill, he's now moving it around to where it once was. This time, where it was in July of last year, two moves ago — front of the studio, just inside the door.

From here ...

Overnight to here ...

It’s an okay position insofar as Feng Shui, because it faces the Wealth/Prosperity position, with the Family and Physical Health side to my left, and an open view to the outside on my right.

The move this time wasn’t just because he’s a Leo, moving things around because he can, but to get rid of the couch he’d located in this position — which couch seemed to encourage parents dropping their children off for the Kid Boxing Class to congregate on the couch, chitchat with each other, sometimes bring younger disruptive children with them.

Trainer’s thinking is no couch, no parents, no disruptive youngins — not to mention Omicron. So parents dropping off their children will now see a treadmill where the couch used to be and be encouraged to congregate elsewhere outside the studio.

Whether that works for him or not, after so many treadmill moves, I have no doubt there will be a 7th or 8th move. He can't help himself :-)

Signage

Arriving at the spa this morning, I saw the big Super Sears store in the shopping center has gone out of business. Possibly, one of the retailers that fell victim to the Pandemic.

Looking at the workers on the roof, and on the ground, I couldn’t determine whether the building is being revamped to house another facility or being torn down.

At any rate, things went well at the spa. The pedicurist did a dynamite job on returning my feet to normal, gave me the polish I requested, as did the manicurist.

At first, the manicurist tried to pressure me for gel and, when I said no because it’s too difficult to remove. She said "No, it’s easy".

"Easy for you because you use grinding tools" (which I don’t think can be good for the nails, not to mention gel can't be removed at home by me). So no to gel.

Instead, since I couldn’t decide on a color, I asked "Can you do French?"

"White tip? I do for you".

So, I kicked it old school with a French — on both nails and toes.

Everyone in the salon was masked — clients and employees alike, so I’m fairly certain I walked out of there with nothing but what I asked for.

My only complaint would be the signage on the outside.

It gave me pause, because I couldn’t figure out what "racial Waxing" was or could possibly be.

Was it the old Michael Jackson thing of making dark skin light?

It took me a second to figure out the bulbs had burned out, turning what was probably an "F" into an “r”. What should have shown as "Facial Waxing" now reads "racial Waxing".

I didn’t point it out to staff. I’ll let someone else police that issue.

Will be interesting to see if that signage is still there when I next go in, which I’m not going to risk going back to regular manicure/pedicures, even though I felt safe in the spa. Until the Pandemic is over, appointments will only be for medicinal purposes — for when my feet need attention.

Another interesting sight was the signage on a spa for guys.

Cute name, but it too looks to be a victim of the Pandemic — now abandoned.