Happy No Kings 2.0

If you look closely, you’ll see that’s not Little Edie but the reface version with myself playing the role of Edie.

Star Wars Day

I’m Not Built for This

It’s not raining outside, it’s not snowing, but it’s too icy to be outside walking without risk of catching cold.

I’m not built for this kind of weather.

That one day of snow was tons of fun and I wouldn’t mind more snow but, truth be told, I am a warm weather California type, not built for this depth of cold.

Just the few minutes I've been outside in the last week or so, has left me with the sniffles, coughing, sore throat and an earache.

If I’m not mistaken, coughing and a sore throat are signs of Covid. So, of course, I freaked out a little until I realized I haven’t lost my sense of taste.

At any rate, not wanting to risk getting full blown sick, I’ll be spending the weekend indoors.

On Monday, as I was getting dressed for that morning’s workout, checking to see how bad getting to the Pain Cave was going to be, I found outside was raining and snowing at the same time or had snowed during the night, and the rain was washing it away.

Leaving the Pain Cave, snow and rain turned to simultaneous hail and rain.

It's beginning to feel like the end of the world as we know it, but I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Folks a few miles away in the Crestline and Big Bear area are in a dire situation — snowed in, running out of food and propane.

I heard one guy on the news say he made it out of the area (drove) to get his wife’s diabetic medicine, but now can’t get back up the mountain.

My Dr. Spock common sense logic thought him a stupid arse, because ... able to finally make it down the mountain, why did he not take that as an opportunity to evacuate the area with his wife in tow.

People get attached to material things, don’t want to leave their home and possessions behind and, looking at the "Help" sign some residents stranded on the mountain have written in the snow, I can’t but wonder why they don’t just hike outta there for the time being?

BTW, the patio in the first video — the one that the rain had not yet washed away its snow, is the bad energy unit the new tenant just moved into.

First impression is that inasmuch as the new guy is keeping a low profile, has not been out and about since he moved in, he's the quiet introverted type, not going to be providing much blog fodder.

On the other hand, perhaps he's not been seen out and about because whatever is in that unit has already dragged him into whatever portal it comes from.

All I Want for Christmas

I came sooooo close to last year's Christmas Wish becoming true all of 2022 — that family handle their own squabbles and issues without worrying/involving me.

Now it looks like this year's Christmas Wish is the exact same wish as last year — that family handle their squabbles/disagreements with each other without worrying/involving me.

I’ve done my time.

In addition, I'm adding to this year's wish list — a trustworthy dentist that will tell me he or she can find no need for a crown or fillings, and that I win a couple million if not billions of dollars in the lottery.

That is all.

Have a Fun / Fabulous / Happy / Drama Free Merry Christmas / Kwanzaa / Hannukah, Solstice.

I’d Like to Speak to the Manager

Preparing to get out of bed this morning, my hand landed on something sharp. It didn’t stick me, just felt sharp.

Having recently replaced my denim quilt with a new denim quilt, because the old one had become somewhat faded by sun seeping through the bedroom window, knowing the new quilt had a polyester fill, I’d assumed that maybe one of the decorative accent pillows that came with the quilt had been filled with feathers and the end of one of the feathers had poked me.

If you’re familiar with those feather filled decorative accent pillow types, it’s not unusual to feel the tip of a feather poking though fabric. Because my practice is to pull those feathers out by the tip and discard, I tried to pull out and discard whatever was poking me.

It wasn’t budging.

Turning on the light to get a look at what I had ahold of, I could see the tip of whatever was not poking out from a pillow but from the quilt itself.

Getting a firm grip, I pulled and I pulled and I pulled and, as I was pulling, a long white strand of something I didn’t identify at first began to appear.

What the hell is this? thought I to myself thinking it was some kind of cord and I was destroying the structure of the quilt.

Taking focus off the long white strand, putting focus on what I’d grasped and pulled on, I realized it was a needle, which made the long white strand some kind of thread.

I remember once reading about disgruntled auto workers leaving sandwiches, etc., in the engine of cars being put together on the assembly line, but I can't imagine leaving sewing equipment in the quilt was deliberate but rather a seamstress losing track, so I got the scissors and salvaged the needle because it’s a good strong quilting needle I might can use in the future.

But WOW! — A quilt, two matching pillowcases, two decorative accent pillows AND a quilting needle — what a deal!

In other news, would somebody win the Powerball already!

Now up to $1.9 billion, I’ll be buying more tickets this morning, but the lottery officials need to come up with a solution to the obscene amount of money in the pot and come up with a solution soon.

Mildred’s challenge today (Day 29) is "A song you remember from childhood".

Other than the song from the Mickey Mouse Club, I honestly don’t recall a single song from childhood. There was no music in the home.

Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know other than mom was one of those overly religious (i.e., hypocrite) types.

My earliest memory of music was when, in my teens, my Aunt Faye — who was much more hip and fun than mom, gifted me with a Johnny Mathis album.

So, to meet the challenge — and maybe because the name of the song will bring me luck when I pop into the liquor store for more lottery tickets, I submit Chances Are by Johnny Mathis.

Dumpster Diving

Heading to yesterday’s workout, I saw the Maintenance guys were back at clearing out Bonita’s unit.

The furniture the guys piled up at the dumpster looked like the old-fashioned well-built stuff. Too difficult to smash up to fit inside the dumpster, they left it out for pick-up but, in the interim, I was expecting the seniors to cart pieces off to their unit.

Returning from the Pain Cave, with about an hour to spare before Bingo, I saw a couple seniors perusing the offerings.

Painted Rock Lady was zealously guarding a center table.

Her next-door neighbor, the guy who pulled Bonita’s memorabilia from the dumpster — let’s call him He-Man … you’ll find out why as you read on, was busy pulling an end table from the dumpster.

Seeing him dumpster diving had me silently hoping he didn’t find any more photos, because it had been a bit of work tracking down someone to take that first batch.

At any rate, asking Painted Rock Lady (PRL) how she planned to get that heavy table to her unit, she said the one I now call He-Man, her next-door neighbor, would figure it out.

Just then, Big Friendly Guy passed by with a dolly. When asked if he could help, it was excuse after excuse after excuse, even though he had a dolly.

Funny how it is that the big strong looking guys around here turn out to be oatmeal, like now with Big Friendly Guy and like a while back when I asked a tall not bad looking strong appearing guy to help me get a microwave up the stairs.

"You know I’ve got a bad back" said he, when how could I know that since I didn’t even know his name.

He did begrudgingly help me after which he immediately diminished in my eyes — looks not so tall now, less better looking and definitely no longer fits the illusion I had of him being strong when I see him in the market or out on the premises.

So, anyway, turns out Big Friendly Guy and his dolly weren’t needed after all as He-Man, little as he is, managed to perform a feat I’d not have believed had I not seen it for myself.

Amazing, isn't it.

Later that afternoon, seeing other residents having talked Big Friendly Guy out of the dolly and using it to move furniture down the walkway, I was surprised this morning to see quite a few pieces remaining, including an ottoman and vacuum cleaner.

As for the residents who feel they've gotten a bargain, they may have gotten more than they'd bargained for.

I don't know about having things belonging to a deceased person in your unit. That's how discarnate beings/ghosts come into your life — when someone takes possession of an item the deceased person was attached to in life and can't let go of even in spirit.

That's why I was so happy to hear from the mom of the Joling boys and so quickly shipped Bonita's memorabilia off.

Of course, had Bonita been hanging around, she would have understood what I was doing with her stuff, would have been encouraging me on and like commenter Abby said, when all was said and done, Bonita would have been "Smiling at you and clapping" and then moved on.

Super Sleuth

It was not two hours after I’d posted back to the drawing board, as the Seth letter had failed to bear fruit, that the phone rang and up popped the name "W. Joling" which I knew had to be someone related to Seth.

It was Seth’s mom.

I could not get to the post office fast enough to ship the album and photos off to her in Idaho, stopping along the way to fill up the tank with gas at $6.15 per gallon.

YIKES!

Seth's mom offered to reimburse me for shipping.

I suggested she pay it forward.

Turns out Bonita was her dad’s longtime girlfriend some 20 years ago. Dad was no longer on this side of the veil, she somehow had heard of Bonita’s passing, and was sad to learn Bonita passed from cancer and had died alone.

Seth’s mom recognized some of the people in photos I’d attached to the letter but not all. She also did not recognize the name "Taylor" as in "Our Girl Taylor" printed on the outside of the album.

She thinks the ones she did not recognize may be relatives of Bonita.

Inasmuch as she, like I, is very involved in Creative Memories, appreciates the sentimental value of old family photos, she’s going to look through what I’ve sent, remove what is pertinent to her family and since she's obviously in contact with someone related to Bonita to have heard of her passing, will be able to pass on the other photos.

I can imagine her having fun seeing photos of her boys and her dad that she did not even know existed.

So, my hours of internet sleuthing have paid off.

I AM a Super Sleuth.

One thing this experience has taught me is the importance of labelling albums. Had it not been for Bonita filling out the binder section of her album with the names of the two Joling boys, it would have been near to impossible to track anyone down.

I've been doing Creative Memories since 1993, when mom passed away and the twins saved mom's photos from the trash pile my sister would have surely relegated them to.

I had just learned of Creative Memories and seeing the deplorable condition mom's photos were in took it upon myself to give CM a go.

Witness the transformation.

From this

And this

And this

And this

To this

None of the 18 albums I currently have are labeled, nor are the 4 above in Twin 2's possession, or the 50 or so in Twin 1's possession.

I've got to get busy and create a label to insert in each.

Stilettos in the Snow

I’ve been happily doing my own mani pedi since the nail salon screwed up my appointment back in March. They’d failed to book a manicurist, which left the pedicurist to do both. She did the usual bang-up job on the pedi but, bless her heart, manicures are not her thing. So, the job she did on my nails wasn’t up to snuff.

I wasn’t planning another spa day until a few days before a meditation retreat I’m booked to attend next month. In fact, Twin 2 had called on Sunday, suggested a spa day for Mother’s Day, and I’d said no — but only because I’m not feeling Mother’s Day this year. I don’t want to do anything, don’t want to go anywhere, just want to be left alone.

So, anyway, though I was not planning a spa day, had just turned down one, pain on the bottom of my feet dictated otherwise.

Returning from yesterday’s workout, kicking off my workout shoes, I found myself limping because my bare feet touching the floor was painful.

I dealt with it for a few hours but then decided I’d better call the spa before they closed for the evening, book an appointment for today.

I made sure the receptionist understood I was booking a manicurist AND my usual pedicurist, did not feel comfortable she’d gotten it right and was ready to be pissed this morning arriving to find they’d gotten it wrong again.

Woo Hoo! she'd gotten it right.

Pedicurist said pain on the balls of the feet is caused by the dry weather and suggested Eucerin Advanced Repair Foot Cream to keep the feet moisturized. So, I’ll pop into the drug store after tomorrow’s workout.

I was drawn to red polish today and seeing one called Stilettos in the Snow could not resist the color or the name.

Stilettos in the Snow is bold, sassy, makes me feel like doing something wild.

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.

Bad Mom

Do you think they'll notice? I thought to myself when I posted a photo of my twins when they were hours old and wished them a Happy 54th Birthday yesterday morning.

Problem is … their birthday was the day before, and I’d forgotten until something just clicked in my brain that next morning.

They’ll probably rack it up to mom’s old, doesn’t remember things so well. If they don’t, then I myself will play the age card — I’m old, don’t remember things so well.

Which isn’t entirely untrue.

At any rate, onward and upwards.

With yesterday being a free day, I was hoping for a break in the rain so I could drive to the craft store.

There was enough of a break that I headed out with the intent to stop by the drug store for that electrical tape, and then drive on from there. However, when I saw how frantically people were driving, and the drug store had no electrical tape, I decided on batteries to see if I can get an old blood pressure monitor to work, because the one I generally use just kinda got up and walked away, then headed back to the complex.

While at the drug store, a weird little man came out of nowhere, and disappeared just as quickly back into nowhere.

I was browsing the battery isle for the best bang for the buck when he — a skinny little white dude of undetermined age, was suddenly at my side.

Didn’t sound like store security profiling me, because he said "Good morning, ma’am. You can get those cheaper at Walmart".

"Maybe so", replied I. "But who wants to go to Walmart. Too many people".

Then, with him standing too close, I stepped back to look for what I needed from a distance.

He babbled on for a bit about this one was cheaper here, that one was cheaper there and, when I saw what I was looking for, I grabbed it, headed for the register, looked back and POOF he was gone.

Disappeared into thin air.

Was that some kind of hallucination?

A visitation? 

A Dr. Who Tardis thing?

Some kind of weird message and messenger from the universe?

With electrical tape nowhere near, perhaps I should have listened to what he had to say, driven to Walmart.

Hope I didn’t make a cosmic mistake to not listen, opting instead to head back to the complex, order online instead.

Back at the complex, I stopped into the office to drop off next month’s rent check.

The Lobby looked nice. Someone did a good job on the tree.

After dropping off a check in the rent slot, I headed for the mail center, passing the Assistant Manager’s Office, the Maintenance Office and the Tyrant’s Office.

Lights were on and someone was in each office EXCEPT the Tyrant’s.

Lights were off, his office was dark, no one there.

So, I guess that settles it. No Activity Calendar or word on who won the contest until after the 1st of the year.

Is his absence the reason for the hold up?

Is he out just for the day OR has he been out all along?

He’s not one of my favorite people, yet I don’t wish him serious ill but maybe the holdup is that he’s been sick/in quarantine.

If my buddy Apache were still around, he'd have the dirt on what's been going on in the office. But with Apache evicted, and everyone pretty much keeping to themselves (because there are no activities and Omicron), there's not much tea spilling out onto the grapevine.

Oh well, we'll know what we know when we know it.

When I’d initially headed out that morning, I spotted something to file under the category of one of these things is not like the other.

That's Shadow's walker in a quasi-parking stall.

I pay $15 a month for my parking space. Shadow has found a clever way to not have to carry his walker up to his unit, and park it for free.

Inasmuch as everyone around here is not honest, and meth heads, looking for stuff to steal, sometimes make it onto the property, it’s kinda risky — not to mention it's outside, at the mercy of the elements.

My only obligation today is this morning's workout. Once that's over and done with, plan for remainder of this New Year’s Eve is to — even though I don’t drink, to enjoy a glass of champagne, binge watch YOU on Netflix — a thriller about a Dexter like character who stalks women he's interested in, gets rid of the competition.

Because this year has been a different kind of crazy and is now ending with fires raging, homes burning, folks stuck in a travel nightmare, the Variant, it's not looking good for 2022. Makes me reluctant to say Happy New Year. So, I'll leave it at Be Happy, Safe, Healthy, Prosperous.

All I Want for Christmas

It’s raining — storming actually, since early yesterday morning

It’s dark, gloomy, the forecast is for this weather to continue off/on for the next six/seven days, but at least I’ve got today, tomorrow and the next day before I have to leave my unit, interact with the outside world.

I even have tamales in the freezer, left over from when I last made ‘em, while I'm seeing, on the news, long lines of others out in the rain, waiting to get theirs.

With no place I must go, nothing I must do outside of my little unit, three days until I have to interact with the outside world again, and tamales in the freezer, all I want for Christmas is for my twins, and granddaughter, to not call me, not text me, to be able to handle their own squabbles and issues without worrying/involving me.

Wishing every member of my blogging family a Fun Fabulous Happy Merry Christmas, Kwansaa, Solstice.

Okay Monday, Let’s Do This!

I’m finding that, just as Monday was my least favorite day of the week when I was in the workforce (for obvious reasons), now that I’m retired, Monday is STILL my least favorite day of the week.

Why?

Because Monday brings with it the grind of starting all over — things I must do, places I must go; while weekends, when I do get time to myself, are so carefree/unscripted.

I did have Sunday to myself — took a nice long bubble bath, caught up with a few recorded television programs, gave myself a fresh manicure/pedicure.

Then I checked out an app that Mistress Maddie did a post on a while back — Reface, where one can swap their face with faces on magazine covers, in movie scenes, shows, gifs, etc.

After investigating the app, to make sure it was safe, I downloaded and chose to insert myself into the highly popular Netflix series The Squid Game.

Based on the children’s game Red Light/Green Light — which game I remember rushing home from elementary school in time to catch Engineer Bill on television, calling out “Red Light/Green Light” as I tried to keep up while drinking milk or water, the Squid Game takes that harmless game to another level.

Hundreds of contestants who have a financially challenging past, all looking to test their skills and their strength in the hopes of winning a large sum of money, enter a contest — at the helm of which is a terrifying doll that recites the name of the game over and over.

Standing next to a tree, the doll turns its back, whereupon the players can move towards the doll (green light). HOWEVER, when the doll spins around to face the players, the contestants must freeze immediately (red light), or risk getting fatally shot.

I played around with the app and this what I came up with ….

Me as the horrifying doll

Me as a player who (supposedly) did not fare well

Later, seeing a friend had posted that, after viewing Squid Game, she'd never play red light/green light ever again, I'd commented with my doll photo "Don't worry. I'll let you cheat".

That garnered a lot of LOL's, questions as to how I did this, and a request to make myself a player described as “The Crazy Girl”.

There’s not a lot of Squid Game on Reface, but there was that.

So, that's how Sunday ended ... on a high note.

Waking up this morning, I find this .....

Two other friends had joined in on the fun.

So at least this Monday started off with a ROFLMAO!!!

I can't help but wonder how Engineer Bill would react to Squid Game, seeing how his wholesome red light/green light has been turned into terror and horror; but thanks Mistress, for turning me onto this fun app.