Survey Says

Arriving back at the complex yesterday, after a relaxing mani/pedi in the spa chair, I opened email to find a communique from that financial institution where Loss Prevention Raul had given me such a hard time.

“We are sorry to see that you’ve closed your membership at _________, but would love to learn from your experience so we can improve. Your thoughts are extremely valuable to us, so we have contracted with _______________ to conduct a survey on our behalf. It should take less than five minutes to complete.”

Well that’s good news. I had no idea I’d have an opportunity to rate Wednesday’s unpleasant experience. I wonder if Raul’s out-of-control ego ever considered there might be some blowback to his unreasonableness. That, instead of continuing to fax him documents, and wait until he returned from lunch, I'd lose my patience and close the account.

What led to your decision to close your ________ account?

I came in to open a checking to go with an existing savings account. However, due to the unreasonable actions of Loss Prevention Raul, I found it less stressful to not only NOT open a checking but to close the existing account.

What could _________ have done to improve your experience as a member?

Put a leash on Raul. The manager and young lady assisting me went out-of-their-way to be helpful, but Loss Prevention Raul blocked everything they tried to do THEN left us hanging by heading out for lunch.

How likely are you to recommend ________ to a colleague or a friend?

Not at all Likely.

So that’s a wrap and, if the incident was a Cosmic test, I think I did well because I never let my frustration knock me off center.

If this no A/C is a test, I’m passing that test as well. However, I’m not sure I’d have made it this far in (12 days) without losing my religion if the heatwave hadn’t finally come to an end.

Glancing at the clock on the computer this morning, it suddenly hit me what day this is.

I almost missed acknowledging the occasion.

Formerly a workaholic, I don’t miss working … not at all.

Nightmare in Customer Service

Today was a day I’d like to forget. Not because it is now eleven days with no A/C and no word from management as to when the issue will be resolved. I’m at the point now where I almost don't care any longer, and have no intention of continuing to run management down for information. After all, it took 73 days before they handled the swarming termites.

Of course, that was back when the mean incompetent Nurse Ratched was the Community Manager. Problem with the current Community Manager is she’s so obsessed with her personal problems that she is no longer handling business properly. More and more I'm hearing from residents that she's falling down on her responsibilities. That, when they go to her with an issue to be solved, she turns the conversation to her medical issues, her spiraling weight, her thyroid, that she has five children to raise AND, as I recently learned, is having to work a second (part-time) job. Folks are saying it's time for her to find a less demanding position.

The thought of relocating has once again entered my mind, but I like living here and there are currently too many advantages for me to consider moving elsewhere.

So, though this A/C thing is annoying, I keep reminding myself that there’s a Cosmic reason for everything and patiently wait.

And that’s what I said to myself today, after a two-and-a-half-hour nightmare at the new financial institution.

Because of all the negative press about the financial institution I’ve been with for 45 years, I decided to sever that relationship and, on August 8, began a new relationship elsewhere with an electronic transfer into a savings account, and thought no more about it until a few days ago when there was more negative press about the institution I’ve been with for 45 years.

It was then I decided I’d better also begin phasing a checking account into the new relationship.

Arriving at the new financial institution, I was informed I couldn’t open a checking account, or anything else, because Loss Prevention had put a warning on the electronic transfer, and that I needed documentation to show the electronic transfer had come from an account with my name on it. Now remember, the new account has been open since August 8 and this is the first I'm hearing of their not trusting an electronic transfer.

Not believing what I'm hearing, I say “What do you mean? It’s not like I’m taking money out, I’m putting money in. And I told you people when I opened the account why I was doing so, gave you a few bucks to open it, but said a electronic transfer would follow that same day.”

Didn’t matter, Raul in Loss Prevention said he needs proof it’s from an account with your name on it.

“I don’t understand. It’s from one bank to another, so where else would it come from, who else’s account would it be?”

After considerable back and forth, including my saying"Raul evidently doesn't have enough real work to do", I relented. And, fortunately, had the folder with me that contained banking information, including all the paperwork on the electronic transfer, which the customer service person assisting me faxed to Raul.

Then we waited for him to release the warning so we could move on to opening a checking account.

After considerable wait time, we received word, the faxed documents were not sufficient documentation. That Raul wanted further proof and had gone to lunch.

I asked for the manager and filed a complaint “How dare he go to lunch while I’m waiting for this to be resolved.”

The manager got ahold of someone else in Loss Prevention, but it was the same story … show us proof the money came from an account with your name on it.

I pulled out a copy of my account summary which showed where the money came from.

“That’s not enough. We need proof it's your account -- a summary with your name on it”.

In my mind I said, “F you people”, but what came out of my mouth was, “No! I’ve given you people enough documentation. I’m not giving you anything else. I’m done. Send the money back to the institution from whence it came.”

Afraid of electronic transfers at this point, I asked for a cashier’s check.

Would you believe, in order to get a cashier’s check to redeposit in the financial institution I was trying to divorce, I still had to log onto a courtesy computer, print out an account summary that showed my name so they could remove Raul’s warning.

There’s a Cosmic reason for everything.

So now I’m waiting to see what pearl is at the end of the A/C thing (maybe that cute A/C guy will come back with a single brother) and why the Universe led me away from the new financial institution and back to where I was.

I spent the remainder of the day trying to push the earlier frustration out of my head. It’s still with me, so maybe a trip to the spa chair tomorrow, while the nail technicians perform their magic on my feet and fingernails, will make the memory of today, and that idiot Raul, fade into the past.

Pizza with a Side of Zumba

Intel tells me Labor Day's End of Summer BBQ was a major success. The room was packed, the patio area packed, residents brought side dishes to where there was so much food that seniors had to take plates home.

Funny how it is that when a few seniors come up with an event on their own, it’s usually a major success. However, when the paid Activity Director comes up with an event, it’s chaos, not always a success and sometimes doesn’t happen at all.

At any rate, after taking a two-week hiatus from the folks, feeling fully recharged (even though I’ve been without A/C for nine days), I headed down to the Community Room this morning to watch Pizza Tuesday and wait for the Zumba instructor.

It was a good day to be in the Community Room because, in a food coma from yesterday’s BBQ, few residents were in the Community Room. Rather than loud, raucous, multiple conversations simultaneously going on, it was quite peaceful.

Probably most had forgotten today was more food for them.

Since there were so few folks, Activity Director didn’t have to do her calm the wild beasts thing. She just put product on the table and told folks to take as much as they wanted.

Some commented that, with yesterday and today, they wouldn’t have to go grocery shopping for a week.

Of course, Old Guy eventually showed up, but minded his Ps and Qs because he’d been told directly by the new President of the Residents Volunteer Activity Committee, “Look, you can’t be putting your hands all over everyone’s food”.

Old Guy likes to act like he only speaks and understands his country’s language, which I don’t remember what that is, but he got the message. He did still open containers, but didn’t stick his had inside. Especially since the new President was standing over his shoulder with a mean you-better-behave look on her face.

ROFLMAO!

And, yes, there's a new President on the RVA Committee. There was no voting, Older Sister just stepped up and said she wanted to take Next Door Neighbor's former position.

With the success of the BBQ, looks like so far so good.

Even though I was a Zumba Fitness Fanatic for four years, five years ago, today’s Zumba session was tough. I began wearing down at the 30-minute mark and cried out, “How long is this class?”

“One hour”, said the instructor.

“That’s too long”, I whined.

The instructor was fantastic and brought it down to a level us seniors could safely handle, without throwing out our knees and hips, but I felt a little bad for the others trying to follow the steps because, if you had no prior experience, the steps were difficult to follow.

There was only four of us actually working out, while ten/twelve, wanting to see what it was all about, sat around watching.

Actually, five of us, when you count the 90-something resident, in the background, who had a ball doing what she could do from her chair -- kicking her legs, raising her arms.

Which tells me it's something the wheelchair bound residents can also do.

By the end of the session, the observers were talking about getting involved next time. Which I hope they do because, if we don’t get enough residents to sign up, Zumba will not continue.

Happy Labor Day

Day 8 of no A/C, but cooler calmer weather outside downgraded indoor heat from bearable to pretty close to normal.

Question of the day was to mingle with other residents at today’s End of Summer BBQ or not to mingle and, while loading Taylor Swift’s new song onto the iPod, what to do with my day became clear … I headed to the indoor mall, hunted Pokémon and walked 3.12 miles to qualify for the second in the series of hashtag medals.

Front

Back

The mall was an obstacle course. All the stores were open, shoppers showed up in droves, moseying along window shopping, totally unaware of their surroundings -- who they were blocking, who their sudden change of direction was about knock over; whole families stopping in the middle of walk space blocking the isle. Trying to log in a decent pace, I found myself tempted, more than once, to yell “Get out of the way!” or to elbow someone, but I didn’t. I just slowed down, sometimes completely stopped, waited,  and ended up putting in my slowest time ever, but I finished and earned another medal for the board.

With all the shops in the mall being open, and observing so many businesses open on the drive to/from the mall, I began to wonder why we even have a holiday to celebrate workers if so many don’t get to have the day off.

Bearable

Day 6 of no A/C in triple digit heat is a bit more bearable because, before management took off for a three-day weekend, they had the guys bring in another portable A/C.

In addition to a portable in the front room …

There is a portable in the back room …

And though the two combined don’t provide the comfort of central A/C, there’s enough cooling of the unit to where I didn’t experience dizzy spells today.

Also, before heading off for a three-day weekend, management distributed this month’s activity calendar.

There was a breakfast this morning.

I’ve not been hanging with the folks since the 24th, but only because I empath and being around so many people, soaking up so many different energies, so many levels of consciousness for three events in a row had totally exhausted me. I needed time alone to recharge and, other than no A/C, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed keeping to myself. Not sure I was ready for reentry, I passed on the breakfast.

Also on the calendar is an End of Summer BBQ on Monday, Labor Day. My first thought was …. Is it? … Is it the end of Summer? …. It’s been Summer since January … Will Winter ever come?

The thing about retreating into myself, it being so quiet and peaceful, is that it’s hard to come back out. So I don’t know.

I can’t eat the burgers, hot dogs, ribs and desserts the calendar indicates will be provided; but then again, I can bring a veggie or fruit tray and eat what I bring, so we’ll see.

I’ll decide when I get up that morning.

Zumba is also on the calendar.

That's new.

The first session is scheduled for Tuesday, September 5, 1:00.

I used to be big into Zumba. Took classes, worked out with the Beto Perez tapes – which I think I still have, stored away somewhere. That all kinda fell away after retiring and, living upstairs, I can’t be stomping around using the tapes, so I’m tempted to show up on Tuesday.

If I go through the effort of pushing myself to get out of myself, this just better not be another one of Activity Director’s fairytales … an event set up that does not materialize.

Five Days and Counting

No A/C since Monday and still alive.

Mornings are the worst, as my patio window faces east, directly in line with rays from the rising sun. Which is great on a normal day. Not so much in the midst of a heat wave and no A/C. Even with the blinds closed, the heat seeps in.

After breakfast, you’ll find me drained of energy, sitting on the couch, staring at the walls, listening to the television, waiting for the heat of the sun to pass.

Along about noon, I usually take a nap, more like pass out. But when I awake a little after 3:00, the unit is still hot like a sauna, but not unbearably so.

Drinking lots and lots and lots of water.

The portable A/C is little comfort. I’ve asked the office if they have a better more powerful one, but have not yet heard back. Also, no news on when the A/C situation will be resolved.

All I can say is it’s a good thing I’m one of the more active stronger seniors, or I would be dead already.

I could go stay with my daughter until the heat wave is over or until the A/C situation is resolved, whichever comes first, but I’d really rather not.

She’s a good enough daughter, a nice enough human, but her personality is much like my mom's -- the type of personality that I find it necessary to walk on eggshells in her presence, be careful what I say, what I do, so I’d really rather not put myself through that for an extended period.

I’ve also thought about booking myself into a hotel, but then there’s the no soy, no wheat, no high fructose corn syrup in order not to set off a painful gut episode, which means feeding myself away from home would be a challenge. I remembered the hotel in a nearby city, which was the location of a meditation session I attended, had a kitchen in its rooms, but then I got to thinking about how much of a hassle it would be to haul what I needed to the hotel in the form of clothes, makeup, cookware, product.

After I weighed the pros and cons, I decided living in this sauna is the lesser hassle … for right now, but that could change.

My energy started coming back late yesterday to where I was able to do more than just sit or lay on the couch, so I put in some time on the needlepoint project, even got some scrapbooking done. Waking up this morning with energy, I decided to get away from the worst part of the morning heat by heading out to gas up the car and pick up a shipment from Walmart.

Stepping outside the door, it was actually cooler outside than in my unit.

At the gas station, I noticed the new construction across the street, that I’d seen going on for some time, was actually a Starbucks – directly across the street from the Starbucks I usually visit.

Talking to the gas station cashier about how odd it was to have a Starbucks across from Starbucks, she informed me the old one was moving into the new one.

That makes more sense.

I was a bit alarmed at Walmart when the pick-up counter person handed me a huge box, as what I’d ordered was a thin package of half-fold greeting cards for scrapbooking purposes.

Not wanting to get all the way back to the unit before learning the shipment was incorrect, I opened it on the parking lot.

So many trees – all that box and paper, for a ¾ inch thick packet.