Life Goes On

Where did the morning go?

Up at 6:00, I ran a few quick errands after breakfast and, when I began feeling hungry again, looked at my watch and realized it was noon already.

Time is really flying these days.

I wasn’t supposed to be out running errand, because I picked up a stress fracture in my left foot at the Mission Inn Run and the doctor ordered a limit to my activities. But life goes on, and having not the luxury of someone to do for me, I still have to be on my feet to do housework, cooking, market runs and this morning it was off to Walmart to pick up prints from the Mission Inn Run.

When walking on uneven asphalt at the run, I became aware it was causing my foot and ankles to wobble. I quickly moved towards the middle of the road to a smoother area, but I guess it was too late because, over the next few days, both ankles began to feel weak and my left foot began to throb.

Because the world isn’t going to stop for me, “limit your activities” will be giving up PokémonGo hunting for the next few days, while everything else is as usual.

After picking up the prints this morning, I stopped by Starbucks.

The display of Christmas Cups designed by customers is up.

For my Canadian reader, your countryman made the cut.

Is he now famous over there?

You all will be amazed to know this morning was only my third trip to Starbucks since the middle of October.

Cutting back on caffeine wasn’t planned, it just happened.

Passing CVS on the way back to the complex, I recalled SilverWillow suggested I might find a Christmas Money Card there.

Good call, they had plenty.

But wouldn't you know, an event has come up -- an event which is taking me to an overnight in Long Beach on the 10^th of December, and requires yet another birthday money card.

CVS had none.

So now it’s back to the Dollar Tree to see if they’ve more in stock and/or the other locations Silver Willow suggested.

But not today or this week, because I am going to try to stay off my feet next few days so I can complete Thursday’s Turkey Trot, which I am determined to do.

The Turkey Trot is a costumed event. While daughter is planning on wearing Thanksgiving colors, I had no plans of trying to come up with yet another costume, opting instead to wear pretty much what I’d worn at the Mission Inn Run, until I remembered having purchased a Pilgrim Outfit two or three years ago.

After accepting delivery of the outfit, I didn’t like it, didn’t return it, tossed it into a storage container along with tutus, Wonder Woman, Bat Girl and Captain America gear.

Digging through the container, I found it.

You can see why I didn’t wear it. The long apron would have been too difficult to race in and the bonnet would make me look too dorky.

However, the plan now is to cut and sew the apron down to wearable length, lose the bonnet and sexy the outfit up with leggings and a sleeveless tank top, rather than long sleeves.

Looking at the event flyer, there's beer at the end of the 5K. I don't drink, but I just might give beer a try.

Thanksgiving Luncheon

Well that could not have gone any worse.

Fifty residents signed up for the 11:00 to 1:00 event, which event we were led to believe was management’s gift to its residents.

Arriving at 10:15 to get a good seat since so many had signed up, I walked out at 11:15 and drove to El Pollo Loco for a “fresh from the grill” lunch, at which time there were only 18 residents in attendance.

Backing up to the beginning -- arriving at 10:15, I found seven already seated and learned “no” it isn’t El Pollo, it’s a turkey from Honey Baked and “no” it isn’t catered -- the Activity Director purchased the turkey from Honey Baked and now needs to warm it up.

Okay, I can deal with that.

Then I learned Activity Director had forgotten to bring napkins, and there were no sides – nothing but the turkey.

The Baker ran to her unit and brought back a couple cans of cranberry sauce.

Speaking of which, the other resident who’d signed up for cranberry sauce for the event on the 24^th was in attendance and when I told her I’d already signed up and purchased three cans, graciously said, “I’ll bring something else.”

I think she’ll probably forget. Others said not to worry about it, because she won’t even show up.

At any rate, questioning those who’d arrived before I did as to why there were no sides, I was told where we all thought the event was catered, the Activity Director seemed dumbfounded that we so thought and had expected us to bring side dishes.

We didn’t just “think” it, there was no mention of sides on the calendar or sign-up sheet and even the Activity Director herself had indicated it was either El Pollo Loco or turkey -- “It’s something corporate is thinking of doing for all its properties”.

Now she says she didn’t say that, which has seriously damaged her credibility. Where she’d been looking for more participation, she will now end up with less.

To rectify the lack of sides situation, Activity Director took off in her car to the market to shop for napkins, frozen veggies, instant mashed potatoes, canned gravy, boxed cornbread mix.

Residents speculated the cornbread was to take the place of stuffing -- that we could put gravy on it.

I’d never thought of gravy on cornbread, might be tasty but at 11:15, when there was talk of further delay whenever Activity Director returned from her shopping expedition, because it would take time to cook those items, I decided instant mashed potatoes and canned gravy wasn’t worth my time.

I turned on the cellphone, located the nearest El Pollo Loco, drove to and picked up lunch to be eaten in the peace calm non chaotic atmosphere of my unit.

I doubt those who stayed and waited it out were as disappointed as I, their logic being “something is better than nothing".

For me, sometimes that’s true, just not yesterday when I had better things I could have done with my time.

So now the potluck residents have planned for the 24^th is looking better. It can’t turn out any worse than yesterday did and, generally, when we do our own thing the event is successful.

Talking to my next door neighbor later, who had attended and stayed because, “I was hungry and can use the leftover turkey with Stove Top”, about 25 showed up, service began a little after noon, and “The pie from Stater Bros was good”.

Color Me Annoyed

The sign-up sheet for the potluck, slated for the 24^th, was posted in a highly visible place – on the Community Room refrigerator door, directly in front of the entry way to the kitchen, highly visible from the counter where the coffee machine and free goodies are kept.

You couldn’t miss it.

In fact, that’s how I became aware of the event.

There’s always free giveaways at 5Ks which, if it’s not something my sensitive stomach can handle, I drop off at the counter in the Community Room. So dropping off the fruit/nut bars and bags of caramelized popcorn from the Mission Inn Run, I spotted the sign-up sheet.

Evidently, though you couldn’t miss the sign-up sheet, it went unnoticed, because no other name but mine appeared over the last few days.

Checking back yesterday, to see how the sign up was going, I observed still no other name but mine. However, to rectify the situation, the organizers had posted yet another sign-up sheet on the table underneath the big screen television.

To me, this is a less visible location, but it appears to have worked because others have signed up, one for cranberry sauce.

If the organizers were going to go with two sign-up sheets, logic dictates duplicates would occur. What they should have done is to have written my name in as already signed-up for cranberry sauce.

Color me annoyed, especially since three cans of cranberry sauce have already been purchased.

The way I see it, I have three options.

1.       Take my name off the first sign-up sheet and don’t attend.

2.      Ask the other resident bringing cranberry sauce to please bring something else.

3.      Bring something else myself and be stuck with three cans of cranberry sauce I can’t eat -- because the high fructose corn syrup ingredient would cause terrible stomach pains. (I have to make my own chutney from cranberries and an orange).

The Thanksgiving Luncheon management is gifting us residents is today at 11:00. I’ll think on my options, see how today’s luncheon goes, and then decide if I want to bother with the potluck or go with one of the other options. I might also add it's not unusual for folks to sign up for a dish and then not show-up. 

So there's always the possibility that, if I drop out or bring something else, the other might not show and cranberry sauce is off the menu completely.

I feel the potluck turning into a complete cluster you-know-what. 

Say Hello to My Little Friend

Actually, not just a friend, it’s my Great Grandchild – granddaughter’s latest baby, a six to eight week old Chihuahua mix named Ebony.

Someone moving out of her complex said she couldn’t care for the pup any longer and literally threw her into granddaughter’s arms.

At least this person didn’t simply abandon the pup, with no food, no water, which is how my first Great Grandchild came to be.

Two years ago, residents moved out of an apartment, abandoned Patches -- a Jack Russell Terrier mix, then about the same age as Ebony is now. The people moved out on a weekend, leaving him alone in the apartment, to be discovered by management two or three days later.

Granddaughter quickly took custody and, between granddaughter and daughter, he’s become one pampered spoiled pooch.

Will be interesting to see how he adapts to having a sister.

Here at the complex, it appears we’ll be having two Thanksgiving Dinners.

We have the event scheduled by management this Friday, the 18^th, which I’m hoping the menu is El Pollo Loco, and probably is because The Baker, The Seer and Apache have organized a Potluck for Friday the 24^th.

The sign-up sheet reads, “The Turkey will be here. We need sides.”

I’ve been too preoccupied with my 5Ks and PokémonGo to check into the Community Room, spend time with the folks to keep up with the happenings, but I’m assuming they know something I don’t know – that El Pollo is on the menu for the 18^th but they’re bound and determined to bring a turkey into the mix.

The potluck is the same day as the Turkey Trot, but isn’t until 4:00, by which time I’ll be long home and rested.

Ordinarily, I’d make my signature deviled eggs -- designed to look like turkeys, but I’m still miffed that no one had sufficient spirit to wear a costume for the Halloween function, so I’m not putting myself out for these no costume wearing folks. I signed up for cranberry sauce – canned.

Persona Non Grata

Looking at the official results from Sunday’s 5K, I did very well with time, but was too close to last in my age group, only managing to out-walk three others.

I don’t know how many men were in my age group. I’m sure they were in the crowd, but I didn’t see any elderly looking gentlemen. I did see two women who looked to be around my age or older. One was running the race.

That always boggles my mind they can do that. I’ve always wanted to run but, even at a young age, was never able to.

On the other hand, running isn’t the best for the body at any age, often times resulting in hip and knee replacements.

I worked for an attorney -- an avid runner with the lean body I so envied runners, who had a heart attack while out jogging. My dental hygienist, a woman around my age, had a similar experience while out jogging. The list goes on and on, with The Archeologist telling me of a run through a canyon where she always stops at a particular point and looks over to see if any runners have passed out and fallen over the cliff, as it’s where so many have been found.

I think I mentioned in an earlier post about my first year at the Spooktacular, where a runner fell to the ground and began having spasms just after crossing the finish line.

In fact, James Fuller -- the author of The Complete Book of Running, who is credited with “popularizing the sport of running”, himself died of a heart attack at 52 years of age … while jogging.

So though I am in awe of those who run, envy their lean no body fat bodies, I’ll settle for my fluffy body and being able to walk the races.

On another topic, I received the Dealer Satisfaction Survey this past Friday and gave them 4 out of 5 Stars and 9 out of 10 Points on “Would You Recommend”.

Surprise, surprise … the review rolled over into Yelp … with a photo!

Oh oh … it’s one thing to write a review and have just your name associated, but now everyone at the dealership knows my face.

Service Department can’t be too mad about my honesty. Perhaps it will bring about a change.

I’d complained to Corporate years ago about a nightmare experience – where I’d waited for 4 hours, only to discover they’d forgotten to work on my car. How other customers had sat for hours with no notification their cars had long been ready, and how they actually lost one woman’s car altogether.

That’s right … they lost a car, with records showing the car had already been picked up.

They gave her a loaner but, to this day, I wonder if her car was ever located.

It was the first and only time I’d had a bad experience at the dealer, but it was so egregious that I’d murdered them on the Satisfaction Survey, which resulted in a contact and apology from Corporate, and my next service completely free of charge.

This time wasn’t that serious, so I don’t expect anything other than Service might take care of my car sooner rather than later next visit. On the other hand, my face is sure to be recognized and remembered by Sales, which makes me their No. 1 persona non grata.

I have no idea where the photo came from, how it was captured and plugged in, but at least it’s a good shot.

Mission Inn Run

Today’s 5K turned into a family affair.

My youngest daughter (five minutes younger than her fraternal twin from whom we are both now estranged) has been doing the Mission Inn Run for the last three years. This being my first, I let her know I’d registered and would be joining her.

She was excited and took care of package pickup.

My bib number (Two thousand six hundred seventy six) was a clue this was going to be a fun event, with lots and lots of participants.

It was.

Walking to the start line, I ran into two friends from the run/walk group I’m involved with.

These are the same two I ran into at the Spooktacular, where the young lady won the costume contest as Assassin’s Creed.

I also ran into a couple, who were complete strangers, but daughter and I so loved their outfit that we asked if we could take a photo.

The wife said, “Yes”.

Hubby said, “No”.

I said, “She wins” and took the photo, with daughter in the middle.

Hubby was a good sport saying, “This tutu is a one time deal.”

“You hope”, said I.

At the start line ….

Along the course …

That mural was a PokéStop. I took a photo for my Go site and had daughter pose underneath.

Firemen …

Daughter wanted a police officer as her backdrop.

I wanted horses for mine.

Except for one hill, this was a pleasant and fairly easy course – one which, had I not been stopping for pictures and PokéStops, probably could have finished in under an hour. Official results will probably come in around one hour ten minutes.

I get to do this all over again on November 24^th, as daughter talked me into registering for the Turkey Trot at this same location.