Did You Make an Appointment?

Received an email on Saturday from Debra of She Who Seeks that Michael’s Craft Store was selling 46" Flytrap.

I thought Michael’s had long ago gone out of business, converted to an online store, but quickly googled, learned there was still a Michaels in Redlands — a doable 30-minute drive. So, I headed out in the heat yesterday, to check the plant out.

It was huge.

Fortunately, there was a 36" option.

It even has a spider on one of the bulbs.

There was even a door wreath available.

I passed on the door wreath.

I also passed on the cute doggie by the door, as Skelly the Skeleton already has a dog/Cujo, that I'm thinking of rehoming.

The 36" I chose is potted.

The plant is described as being a mixture of styrofoam, polyethylene, polyester, PVC, iron wire, cement, and labeled "for indoor décor use", but it didn't say "only", so we'll see how it handles outside.

I’m not at all sure that anything, other than the iron wiring, is good feng shui; but I’ve got enough good energy around to counter if the other materials are problematic.

So, anyway, the plan was to free Audrey from the pot it’s planted in, add it to the skeleton planter but, the material holding it in place is immune to the drill, screwdriver and hammer chisel, so I ended up positioning it as is and not liking it.

Reeassessing the arrangement this morning, I realized I could plant Audrey, pot and all, inside the skeleton planter and did.

Maybe the heat of the sun will soften the material, and I can chisel Audrey out of the pot altogether; but the current situation, of placing the plant, pot and all, in the skeleton planter with the little 25-inch Audrey, is working.

Returning from Michaels I found I was blocked from getting up the walkway and the stairs by three dirt bikes, lined up in a row.

I assumed the bikes belonged to people visiting White Haired Neighbor, started to yell up that I was blocked, but instead decided to maneuver my body through, around, between the bikes, careful not to knock one over.

Having made it through the first two bikes, the last bike being positioned right in front of the stairs, was more challenging. However, the way it was leaning, gave me just enough space to squeeze through, plant my feet on the first step.

Having managed the gauntlet, walking up the stairs, WHN’s door opened.

To prevent whoever was planning on coming out from running into me, knocking me back down the stairs I'd worked so hard to access, I said, "I’m coming up". The door closed.

Just as I reached my door, WHN’s door opened again. She and a handsome man, who she introduced as her son, and two young boys, introduced as her grandsons stepped out.

"You made it through the bikes", said her son.

"If my hips had been any wider, I’d not have made it", said I, and they all laughed.

Seeing me holding a 36" Venus Flytrap, WHN said, "I like your plant. Getting ready for Halloween".

"Not really?" said I. "I'm Halloween all year round."

"A lot of people are", said she.

I wish some of that lot of people were living here, so I wasn't the only one with a fetish for skeletons and other oddities, LOL.

Before I got inside my unit, WHN asked, "Did you ever call down and make arrangements to get your pipe cleared?"

"No. It’s like I said, if they don’t care, I don’t care".

"I still don’t understand", said she. "He was here, the equipment was here. It was just mean".

She’s not wrong.

Later that evening, there was a knock knock knock on the door.

Looking through the blinds in the kitchen, I saw it was the Talker.

I was not appropriately dressed for company …… wearing only a tank top and panties. So, I opened the door a crack, went to say, "I don’t have any pants on" and before I could finish the sentence, she said, "I don’t care. I’m mad" and barged right in.

So, there I was not fully clothed and took a guess at what had so disturbed her. "MAGA?", said I.

"MAGA, Painted Rock Lady and Lu", said she; all three now being described as "Those bitches". LOL.

After she’d got some of what upset her out …… enough to calm down to where I could point out the absurdity of my state of undress, I told her to "sit", went to the backroom, slipped on shorts, and let her talk about the girls having let her down, a breakup with that 50-year-old she was dating, and family issues for 2 hours.

She was not only over it all by the time she left, but laughing. So, my work was done.

However, the thing is …… since it seems I can no longer let myself be comfortable in my own space, because folks are knocking, catching me in various stages of undress, I'm seriously thinking about changing my boots doormat to something like this ……

Or this ……

Knock Knock Knock, Day 2

Shortly after noon today, there was another knock knock knock on the door.

It can't be little Knock Knock, because she’d gone home with her parents, thought I; and assumed correctly it had to be my White-Haired Neighbor, once again catching me wrapped in my sarong, because I had no intentions to seize the day.

She said maintenance was currently in her unit. That she’d approached one of the maintenance guys when she saw him outside, he had grabbed his equipment, come up to her unit, was currently addressing the condensation pipe over the tub, clearing the pipe of dust and grime so her tub would not get the rust stains I’d spoken of.

Interesting …… inasmuch as we are warned not to approach the guys when they are out and about, that we absolutely must put in a workorder.

She said that, since he was here, did I want him to clear my pipe as well.

I said sure, quickly dressed in day wear.

Then, she knocked again, had a what the hell look on her face, said she doesn’t understand it but maintenance had said no, they could not clear my pipe, that I’d have to put in a work order.

"That doesn’t surprise me", said I.

"But they are here now, and you’re right next door", said she.

"Yes. I know it doesn't make sense, that it’s petty", said I, "But not making sense is how things work around here".

"Since he’s here, why don’t you call the manager now and request it?".

"I’ve lived here 14 years, have been through the ringer with management and maintenance. The maintenance guys we have now are good, they know me, like me, and I have no problem with them. But the way things work around here are strange. I’ve accepted that, but have learned how to protect my peace from the strangeness. So, for now, I’m accustomed to cleaning the rust, won’t be calling the manager or putting in a workorder. I’m at the stage where if they don’t care, I don’t care."

She said, "I understand because I had problems with the manager over where I lived for 34 years. He had a problem with cats, had trapped two cats for three days, so I reported him to the ASPCA. After that he kept finding issues with me, tried to get me evicted. So, I understand."

She walked away with a look on her face that read she was stunned/couldn’t believe that, since maintenance was here, the equipment was here, why he couldn’t do my unit; and I hope she told him what I'd said, that "If they don't care, I don't care".

Wait until she finds out she’ll have to pay for overhead lighting, garbage disposals, and whatever else maintenance issues management decides to bill residents for.

Plus, because she didn’t put in a workorder, but got one of the guys to come to her unit, handle the A/C condenser pipe, the entire complex will probably get notices to our doors to "Not bother the Maintenance Workers when they are out and about".

Other than that, it’s all peaches and crème around here. We even, at long last, have a management-sponsored event coming up — "Resident’s End of Summer Event, join us by the pool for food, games and prizes, 11am – 3pm, Tuesday, August 25, wear your best tropical attire".

In other news, I received bad news from the seller of the Boot Urn. Emailing my height and weight, asking if ashes would fit, he or she replied, the boot holds "130 cubic inches which is approx 130lbs precremation".

I am considerably over 130 pounds, so bummer with my plan to go in style.

Wazzup?

Still not much going on, except this month’s bingo games have been cancelled, MAGA and Talker had another dust up, the Baker and Di also had a dust up. It went 2.0 …… got physical.

Snug as a bug in a rug under the A/C, working on scrapbooking, cleaning the spice rack of expired spices, reorganizing the kitchen cabinet, I’ve been getting news of the dustups second hand from the parties involved.

Talker tells me MAGA is still following her around, trying to engage/get close and, as usual, has been involving herself in things that are none of her business and aggravating others. Like when she wormed her way into one resident’s life, the resident let her guard down and expressed being depressed.

MAGA feigned worry about the woman’s mental health, called the police, who arrived to check on the woman.

She didn't appreciate it. Expressed to others that she felt betrayed/embarrassed. Withdrew even further because of it.

Then, when Patricia/one of our Usual Suspects passed away, MAGA got involved, feigned being closer to Patricia than Patricia would have allowed, inserted herself into the family’s business.

Another of our Usual Suspects/Louise was out-of-state visiting her daughter, fell, broke a hip and is now recuperating in an out-of-state rehab, staying in contact with Talker and the Baker.

MAGA is losing her mind running around trying to insert herself in Louise’s business, trying to get Louise’s telephone number.

Louise doesn’t like MAGA, would not appreciate a telephone call, we all know this. So, MAGA somehow found out Talker is the point-of-contact, asked Talker for Louise’s location and telephone number. When Talker said she couldn’t give Louise’s personal information to her, MAGA began badgering her for it. When Talker pushed back, MAGA accused Talker of being aggressive and words were exchanged.

Talker needs a restraining order but instead reported the following around, harassing to the office.

Not that anything will be done by management, but so there will be a record on file.

So now, word on the grapevine is to let our families know that if and when we pass away, be on guard for MAGA to try to get involved with our families.

I myself am drafting a text message to granddaughter and Twin 2 to not be fooled by, stay away from, do not be polite to, give no information to MAGA when my time comes.

Speaking of which, I’d previously mentioned Twin 2 gifted me with a cremation package. Since then, I’ve been thinking about wanting my ashes in a cowboy boot cremation urn.

Found it.

At $253.50, I haven’t ordered yet, but I will.

So, anyway, the Baker tells me her dustup with Di occurred when the organizers had gathered in the Community Room to plan bingo, learned the office will be closing early on the days planned for bingo, causing the Community Room to be locked up, decided to cancel August bingo.

At one point, the Baker was on the phone checking something to do with the results of doctor ordered lab work, the results being too high. Di walked into the room, began telling the girls about the woman she testified against being released from prison.

The girls keep doing what they were doing, the Baker on her phone, the others doing whatever, no one engaged.

Di became furious, yelled, "No one f__king cares about what’s happening to me"!

Now let me just say here that, if you haven’t already figured it out from previous postings about her, the Baker is the sweetest, kindest, most generous/patient human being ever …… darn near a Saint.

Di isn’t a bad person, she’s just a basic human …… complicated.

Baker said that when Di yelled no one f__king cares about what’s happening to me, "I lost it. Told Di that no one is paying attention because we’ve all heard a version of it over and over and over"; and, with one of her hands, she grabbed Di by the arm, grabbed her walker (a replacement walker???) with the other hand, escorted Di and the Walker to and outside the door.

"Well, damn", laughed I. "You got physical. Ushered her out the room".

Asking the Baker if she’s seen Di since, she said "She actually returned a few minutes later. Apologized for the outburst".

No one paid attention, no one engaged.

Before and After

A few weeks ago, I gloated about Mother Nature finding her way through the plastic sheeting and rocks to sprout patches of green grass peeking out, saying there wasn’t a thing Management or the Landscapers could do about it.

Turns out, they didn’t have to do anything about it, because the sun and lack of water fried the patches of green to dust.

Before

Before

After

Heading out this afternoon, I was met with a lovely new view when I opened the door.

Before

After

When I blogged about my disappointment in Audrey the Venus Flytrap Sculpture being 25 inches, rather than 10 feet tall, commenter Linda in Kansas suggested, “Is there any way you can raise the skull planter up a bit which would help a lot?”

Good idea, thought I, worth a try, and my mind immediately went to the inexpensive and natural-looking way we used, back in the day, to prop items up, make plant stands ……… bricks.

Like this ………

Then, thinking about how much work would be involved in that endeavor, I quickly dropped the idea, began researching modern day plant stands.

Commenter JanF suggested, "dark and discrete which will fade into the background and thus not distract from the skull etc".

"Discrete …… fade into the background" doesn't exactly match my aesthetics of skeletons, voodoo dolls, braids, bright red lipstick that one can see me coming from a mile away, sporty way of dressing, not to mention the eye-catching bright red flamboyant patio furniture.

I went looking for "dark and scary", saw a few gothic plant stands — none that would add much height, switched to looking at tree stumps, and landed on this 18.9" natural wood hand-carved stump that looked gnarly enough and tall enough to get the job done.

Before

After

Looking at it from the outside, though Audrey doesn't stand out, appears to be a supporting character, at least the skeleton is now visible.

My new neighbor/White-Haired Lady, insofar as patio decor, is showing a maximalist side. Obviously won't be decorating for Halloween or Christmas because there's no extra space. I'm the minimalist ……… holding my space open for Holiday decor.

Oh, and P.S., I later repositioned the skeleton to be facing outwards, appearing to look at those on the walkway, rather than sideways.

Size Does Matter and the $50 Mistake

Color me disappointed that 25 inches wasn’t larger than it was pictured to be.

The metal Audrey Venus Flytrap Sculpture that I ordered middle of June, for the skeleton planter, arrived yesterday.

Why so long for Audrey to arrive, you ask.

Though there were many vendors of exactly the same Audrey that I could have ordered from, received in days, I happened to unwittingly choose the vendor shipping from China …… customs and all that.

No matter as Venus did finally arrive, but I have to say I’m disappointed.

Though all metal Audreys indicate "25 inches high", the images depict a plant so tall and stately, with ferocious looking bulbs, that my eyes were tricked into thinking 25 inches was just that …… tall, stately, giant of a plant.

Alas, unpackaging Audrey, seeing how small she looked, how not ferocious her bulbs looked, I thought there’d been a mistake …… I measured her.

No mistake. Twenty-five inches she was.

What I thought I was getting

What I got

I’ve always heard that the camera adds 10 pounds. Seems the sellers’ cameras also adds 10 feet.

One needs a microscope to see her, but she’s a cute little thing, so I’ll live with the disappointment.

Also in yesterday's mail was confirmation that the medical device Twin 1 had gifted me, when I ended up in the ER last year, was "deactivated/account cancelled" and good riddance to it because I didn’t like how the company ran its business …… the result of a $50 fee I viewed as a mistake …… no way to run an overpriced business.

When Twin 1 first contracted with the company, I thought it not only excessive, but the device severely overpriced at, if I recall correctly $159 per month, when I could call 911 for free. However, if my wearing the pendant made Twin 1 worry less …… you know, I went along with the program.

Who knew I wasn’t the one to be worried about 💔 😭 …… Twin 1 is gone, I’m still here.

When it took no time for the pendant to break, I began to think not only overpriced, but also cheaply made.

Worse still was, when I called Customer Service for a replacement pendant only to be told it would cost Twin 1 an additional $50.

Outrageous, thought I …… an additional $50 when the pendant was cheaply made, so easy to break and the system was overpriced to begin with. I requested a cancellation of the whole thing.

"It's a 3-year contract, no cancellation", said Customer Service. So, I accepted I was locked in for 3-years and, if still breathing at the end of the term, I’d tell Twin 1 to not renew.

When Twin 1 passed away, Twin 2 called to say she was taking over the contract.

Expressing my dissatisfaction with the company’s business practices, I asked Twin 2 not to, that her sister was the only signatory on the contract, she’s no longer here, I’d like to see just how that company could make me, or anyone else, continue to pay, which meant the company was essentially SOL, would have no choice but to cancel.

Sure enough, when Twin 2 declined taking over the contract, Customer Service asked "Is there anyone else that would sign?" and when she said "no", they made arrangements for the device to be picked up by Fed Ex, sent me that confirmation of deactivation/account cancelled.

Now the thing is …… had they not been so greedy, replaced the pendant at no cost, I would not have wanted to cancel the contract in the first place, would not have been opposed to Twin 2 taking over.

So, all in all, because of a greedy business practice, that company lost $5,724 dollars ($159 per month for 36 months) over $50.

So now, instead of continuing with that medical device, Twin 2 has gifted me with something much more practical …… a cremation package, LOL; saying, "The plan is to keep your energy, because you have really good energy and, when I'm ready to let you go I'll plant you under a tree, watch the tree grow into something beautiful" 💗🤗.

Pimp My Tee

I think it was last Friday when, while sitting on the couch, I spotted a patch of red through the patio window.

Made me think of a horror movie I saw where, much like here, the powers that be had removed that which was colorful from the community’s landscape … plus the color red specifically was so forbidden that a monster appeared and someone’s life would be ended over it.

It’s probably just a matter of time before our monster — management and/or the Edward Scissorhands Landscaper, finds a reason to remove the colorful tree.

THEN, as I got out of bed this morning, I spied patches of what looked like green grass peeking out through the rocks below.

They dug up the grass, put plastic sheeting in place, covered with rocks, and nature is still finding a way through.

I find that hilarious and can’t imagine what our monster can do about it.

Yesterday was a hard day due to a doctor’s appointment I didn’t ask for, the doctor’s office schedule the appointment with my primary for no good reason other than to piss me off and piss me off they did by sending me messages, a day or so before the appointment, under the guise of Personal Action Plan, wanting to know the main reason for the visit.

After ignoring the first two messages, only to receive a third, I responded "Hell if I know", because THEY scheduled the appointment and then had the nerves to bug me about the nature of the visit, though I knew the nature was just checking in … a cattle call that I didn’t want to participate in but had to if I wanted to continue getting blood pressure medication, which is about all the medical provider is good for.

Unnecessary cattle call it turned out to be, because all the doctor did was take my blood pressure, stethoscope my chest, send me down to the Lab for a blood test, all of which she usually just sends me a notice to get taken care of, no hassle no visit required.

But the thing was, this appointment, in addition to being a waste of my time, was scheduled for the primary's office at the main medical center, where parking is a nightmare.

In fact, I spent an estimated 25 or so minutes, along with a mass of other vehicles, trying to find parking, got so frustrated that myself said to myself, "Screw it", drove out of the medical center area, hit the streets and began driving back home, but saw a shopping center, pulled in, parked by an Aldi’s Grocery Store, walked down Sierra Blvd to Valley Blvd, down Valley Blvd to Medical Center Parkway, crossed the parking area to the doctor’s building, a 20-minute hike, arriving late of course and just waiting for the receptionist to say "you’re late" so I could explode.

Fortunately, scheduling was behind, no one said anything to set me off until the doctor’s nurse took my weight and blood pressure.

Weight could have been better, but was better than I expected, considering I’ve not exercised or dieted to make up for lack of exercise; but the parking situations and having to hike had so frustrated me that my BP was 178 over I forget.

The nurse said, "I’m going to have to refer you to the blood pressure clinic".

"NO!" I yelled, "IT’S BECAUSE I’M UPSET I SPENT 25 MINUTES LOOKING FOR PARKING, GOT SO FRUSTRATED THAT I HEADED HOME, ENDED UP PARKING BY ALDI'S, HAD TO WALK HERE AND PROBABLY WILL NEED TO CALL A CAB TO TAKE ME BACK TO MY CAR!"

I was expecting a call for "Security", but she instead wisely backed off with "okay" and had me wait another 15 minutes in the outside waiting area before calling me back into a room for the doctor, during which time I took the extra BP pill I carry with me for just in case situations, so I wouldn't have a stroke in the doctor's office or on the hike back to the jeep.

Having calmed down by the time the doctor arrived to prove the visit was indeed a waste of my time, I was down to 152/78, calm and back to my friendly self as the Lab later took blood. It helped that when the Lab's check-in person asked me to verify my birthdate, and said, "OMG You look Great" when she realized I was 82.

Done with the Lab, I hiked back to the jeep and, once back home, the memory of having wasted my time and that horrible parking experience behind me, clocked in at 105/48.

The plan for today was to do absolutely nothing. Just rest from yesterday, because yesterday took a lot out of me; but then Crafty Lady asked me to come down to the Community Room, where Kesha had them playing bingo, to pick up a t-shirt she’d made for me.

The resident’s 4th of July party is this Thursday the 2nd. Crafty Lady has made t-shirts for all the organizers, with logos she matched to our personalities, including one for me as the group’s photographer.

I didn’t dawdle in the Community Room … just took photos of the other personalized logos for the residents’ Facebook page, brought mine upstairs, tried it on.

Didn’t like it — it’s white, and white is not flattering to my body type … It adds pounds to my overall frame and inches to my ta tas, which need lessening rather than enhancing, plus I felt restrained in the tee, couldn’t breathe, so I decided to pimp it. The bougies call it Upcycling these days.

Whether pimp or upcycle, a lot can go wrong … I’ve had more failures than successes and was taking a big risk I’d mess up, not be able to wear the tee on Thursday, would have to admit to Crafty Lady and the others that I screwed it up.

A little scared, I went for it, starting with cutting the sleeves completely off.

from this

to this

That's more like it. Trying it on, the tee felt better already … looked like a muscle tee; but still needing that collar off my neck, I folded the tee in half, cut a little triangle out at the neck area.

to this

Pimped up nicely. However, as soon as I find my marking pen … which I had in my hand at one point in the process, and somehow magically disappeared, I’ll use the marker to mark where I can cut the V into a U.

In other t-shirt news, I've added two new ones to my collection.

Store Bought

Image clipped from internet,
ironed on with Transfer

Here's Your Sign

The no parking signs appeared yesterday afternoon.

I moved the jeep to Painted Rock Lady’s carport and went on with my life.

Heading down to the Community Room this morning, to take photos of today’s craft session for the residents’ facebook page, I saw the painters power washing the carport area, with one car still parked.

Some days are better than others, and I was struggling this morning. So, thinking that car belonged to the neighbor that moved into the upstairs across the quad cursed unit, I had the urge to backtrack, walk up the stairs, alert him to move his car, but my body wasn’t up to it.

I kept going, arrived in the Community Room to find the craft today was Ceramic Tile Art.

I usually just watch the girls work, take photos, because I don’t want a collection of self-made arts and crafts thingies cluttering up my unit. However, tile art looked like something I could actually utilize … in the kitchen as a spoon et. al. holder, even though the tile is not curved for a spoon, so I joined in.

Looking at the blank tile, what came to mind was a southwest desert theme.

While some of the ladies used stencils, I freehanded and created a scene that I like; except, instead of cacti in the desert, I’m seeing more like wooden tombstones in the desert, a cemetery.

Oh well, cacti or wooden tombstones, I’m going to modge podge it and soldier on.

Here’s a pic of what we all created.

Di was in attendance and, when I asked if Kesha had helped her get her utilities turned back on, she gave me an are you serious look, said Kesha is only good for distributing potato chips (she’s not wrong), and that she herself had managed to figure it all out, paid the $1400 arrears from her savings.

Thinking if she had savings, that she must have a bank account, I suggested it might be a good idea to set up automatic payments.

She didn’t seem too keen on that, used the excuse "I don’t have a phone".

"Why don't you have a phone", asked I because people come in here and give free phones to residents …… actual free cellphones to those of extremely limited income.

"I have a phone, but it doesn't work", she countered

Truth be known, she doesn’t need a phone because, just like she went where she went, paid the $1400, she could go there, or to the bank, and set up automatic payments in person; but I didn’t pin her into a corner by saying that. I dropped suggesting anything further to prevent future problems, said no more about it, because she obviously didn't want to hear it. But I’m beginning to think the girls were right when they said, "She creates her own problems".

After the craft session, heading back to my unit, I saw the painters were hard at work on the carport, with that lone care still parked, and they’d not bothered to at least cover it.

Having had coffee and conversation with the girls, my body was now amenable to knocking on neighbor in the curse unit’s door, alerting him.

Turns out it wasn’t his car … he’d moved his car the night before, like I did and said it was probably the car belonging to the downstairs neighbor, next to where Red Light used to live.

I knocked on her door …… it was hers; she quick fast flew out of her unit to the carport, moved it.

My good deed done for the day, I ran an errand to pick up water, modge podge, dirt for the skeleton planter, and a replacement adapter for my Beats Flex Wireless Earphones, cause I somehow returned from the stay in Hollywood without the adapter.

Target is going through a massive store remodeling …… currently no gardening section for dirt, no modge podge.

I walked out with the adapter and three impulse purchases …… a pair of summer shorts and two wicker baskets.

Did not remember the water until I was halfway back home.

I hate when that happens.

Finishing Touches

Painters were here this morning putting finishing touches on my building … the last building to be painted then, after the carport where I park is done, they're gone.

The front door was finished today, which meant I could put the doormat back in place.

Repainting the patio railing was also finished, which means I can put the patio furnishings back in place, but not until the replacement fake grass patio carpet arrives … the sun/wind/rain chewed up the old one and spit it out.

Also on order is a plant that, once planted in the skeleton planter I purchased last year, will survive in the heat of the sun/wind/rain and is also good feng shui — a metal Audrey Venus Flytrap Sculpture.

I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a metal plant until, some time ago, the internet got all up in my business and offered it. Of course, I had to check the chi and learned "Metal feng shui is excellent for your patio because it brings structure, mental clarity, and calming energy to counteract the chaotic, unpredictable nature of the outdoors".

Maybe Audrey will take care of those awful looking lizards, that I'm currently having to chase off the patio with a mixture of water and hot sauce, as I read they don't like spicy stuff.

The internet is also still needlessly trying to tempt me in Shirley Tees with a twist … Shirley's Partner tees.

They're funny though.

Still nothing indicating when those of us in the remaining carport to be painted will have to move our cars, but I no longer have to head out mornings and evenings to check for the no parking sign, because Painted Rock Lady can see that carport from her unit, said she’ll call me when the signs go up and even offered her carport parking spot on the opposite side for when I have to move the jeep.

Of course I accepted, so I don’t have to spend money on a hotel stay … I’ll save it for the next paving job when everyone and their uncle has to move their cars, rather than the dozen or so now being affected, but asked, "Why are you paying for a carport spot when you don’t have a car?"

"Well, I tell the office I need it for my visiting caregiver; but actually it’s for my boyfriend", said she.

Boyfriend!?, thought I. LOL. These old ladies be getting it on.

Over the weekend, I got an update on Di’s situation …… I don’t know the details as to how it came about, but Di's utilities have been restored.

School must be out because, I’ve been seeing Crafty Lady’s two grandsons playing on the grassy lawn and, on Friday, there was a knock knock knock on the door.

Yep! Little Knock Knock is back and quickly growing out of the "little" moniker.

On Sunday, I ventured out of the area to return two of the three items I'd purchased two weeks ago at the Mall, before the return period expired and saw a Baby on Board sign that made me laugh out loud.

I also spotted two Nat C Truck parked side by side in the lot, one on which a bird had left a symbol of just what it thought of the vehicle.