Me ... on the road heading for three-day Pride Festival in Long Beach, where Twin 2 is to be the parade’s Grand Marshal.
Hope not to see the Proud Boys, any other Right-Wing Yahoos, or a plain ole crazy person show up to ruin the fun.
Off the grid until late Monday.
Gas is down to $5.89 in my area. So, after this morning’s workout, I pulled into the station to top off the tank.
It’s all guesswork as to how much money to put down, but I figured $35 would top the tank. But then, when I was paying the cashier, something told me that since gas is down from last week’s $6.15, thirty-five would probably overflow the tank.
"$30 on Pump 2" said I to the cashier and deposited the extra five in my upstairs bank.
Exiting the store, heading back to the pump, a guy leaning against the building asking customers for spare change, asked me.
Without thinking, I withdrew the five from the bank, gave it to him.
Thinking about it later, I figured that’s why something had prompted me to get $30 worth, rather than thirty-five. The extra five was meant to go to that guy.
I’d half expected him to go into the gas station store, buy water or something to eat. Instead, I saw him walk away, head rapidly down the street towards the liquor store.
But no, he didn’t go into the liquor store. He walked right past it and out of sight.
Curiosity got the best of me so, after gassing up, I drove in the direction he’d disappeared and saw him go into a Smoke Shop.
I don’t think he was there to buy cigarettes but, if that’s where illegal substances are sold, how much can one get for a mere five dollars?
There’s a hip-hop song entitled “I Got 5 on It”, which refers to a five-dollar bill kicked in towards the purchase of an illegal herb, so maybe five was enough to meet what this guy felt was his current need.
I don’t judge the guy for not buying water and a candy bar, people do what people do; but his choice does put me in the position of having contributed to the monkey on his back.
Not only did Monday’s fireworks show go on well past midnight, it started up again yesterday around 7:00 p.m., ended after 11:00 and will probably continue nightly until the person or persons responsible deplete their cache of fireworks.
Earlier in that day, sitting at my perch on the couch, I saw a lot of furniture being moved down the walkway, out of the complex, followed by luggage.
The items were being removed from the invalid lady’s unit.
Last time I’d seen luggage being taken out of her unit, I’d mistakenly thought she was either moved in with family or into a care facility. She was gone for a bit, during which time the Marshals had gone in about 3:30 in the morning, taken a look around and then left. She reappeared some two weeks later.
No mistake this time, she’s been moved out — to live with her oldest son I’m told because she said she was "Tired of living alone".
As for why I’ve never seen her in the 10 years I’ve lived here, I was told she has not always been an invalid. That living here some 22 years, she used to attend events, would frequently be seen in the Community Room, but became unable to care for herself and get out and about at age 88.
She’s 98 now, so she became unable to care for herself, get out and about just about the time I moved in. Thus, our paths never crossed.
It’s scary to see and hear about people growing old and unable to care for themselves, but at least the invalid lady had family who cared, looked after her every day of the years she lived alone. Many of us are not so fortunate.
Was the black box removed from her patio railing you ask?
I don't yet know. I'll check next time I'm over that way.
There are 178+ stories on the complex. This has been one of them.
Along about 6 p.m. yesterday, as I was simultaneously watching the Snap Marathon and working on that needlepoint project, now in its 18th month and nowhere near completion, I heard someone calling my name.
It was Red Light District saying the seniors were barbequing, come down and join.
I threw on some outside clothes and headed down.
On the table were hot dogs, steaks, ribs, potato salad, macaroni salad(s), mixed green salad, and all manner of store-bought cakes.
Had I known, I’d have made extra carrot dogs.
At any rate, it was a fun gathering with all the usual suspects and a new to me guy who says he moved in six months ago, was a personal trainer and leads a bible group on Thursdays.
I’m free on Thursdays, but no thanks. However, there was talk of his starting a pool workout group. If that gets off the ground — which I doubt, I’ll give it a go.
The Seer was in attendance. Without the guy I call her "Shadow".
Those days of Shadow following her around are long over. The two now lead separate lives, as she's still trying to once again socialize with us, get back in the good graces of all the friends she dumped and snubbed her nose at when she thought she was somebody just because she had Shadow feeding her ego, calling her "My Queen" and treating her as if her wish was his command.
Dream Lover being a regular part of the group was of course present, along with his girlfriend.
His what?!
Holy fireworks Batman!
Don’t tell Karen but Dream Lover is taken. He’s paired up with another resident, whom I’ve seen at bingo, but did not realize they were a couple.
"Do they live together?" asked I.
"No, he has his unit, she has hers, they’re just girlfriend/boyfriend".
Conspicuously absent from the group was Painted Rock Lady (PRL).
Asking about her, I was told "She’s not speaking to any of us. She’s mad and embarrassed".
Mad because she overheard discussions, purposely positioned for her to hear, about how tacky it was for her to invite Karen to bingo when she knew how uncomfortable it would be for Talker and Dream Lover, and then hiding from, not acknowledging Karen when she walked through the door.
"I even called to her that her guest had arrived, but she pretended not to hear me", said Red Light.
This must have been when PRL put her head down and tried to be invisible when she saw Karen walk in.
Embarrassed because she knows she F'd up, that people are talking about her being the kind of person who likes to start trouble, that "This wasn’t the first time she’s tried to start trouble and is why people have stopped inviting her out to lunch with them".
Wow! I’ve never seen that side of PRL until now. People don’t usually fool me, but I guess she did. No matter, she’s not embroiled me in any of her goings on, so I’ll still waive, say "hey", enjoy her painted rocks, let her save face with me by playing stupid — like I don't know what's going on.
Bingo organizers are worried that because Karen enjoyed bingo she will be returning, which will make it too uncomfortable for Talker and Dream Lover.
Bingo organizers are also worried there might be trouble, which would cause bingo to be shut down because the office has warned that if there are any problems like before, when there were arguments, raised voices, people yelling at each other, that bingo would be over … permanently.
I was also told to beware of a resident named Bill.
I don’t know who that is, but he was described as one of the guys who sits in a group and smokes off the property, outside the gate.
I’ll have to take a photo, ask someone to point him out in the photo so I’ll know who to beware of because his thing, I’m told, is to walk the property at night, expose himself to the women who happen to be out and about.
Red Light said she’s been out at night, has seen him, but he keeps it in his pants because he’s afraid of her. Can sense she'll "Beat the crap outta him".
I’m never out at night, but it would be a HUGE MISTAKE for this Bill to try that crap with me if I ever am out at night. I’m still angry about the guy who pulled out his junk and tried to trap me in the Mail Center a couple years ago, 9 AM in the morning, and would just love to take my anger out on this Bill should he try me, but why is this Bill still living here?
Why does management not do anything about the problem residents, but will follow up on and cause my Ms. Neighbor to not bring her grandkids around again because of complaints about the kids riding their little scooters around the quad?
While the BBQ was going on, some residents and what I assumed were their grandkids, were enjoying the pool and sauna, so it was a nice day on the complex, like the old pre-pandemic days.
After the BBQ, the seniors set up outside to watch the fireworks display that goes on every year in the area. Illegal fireworks I might add, but which goes on for hours. Last night's sights and sounds went on until well after midnight, but at least they didn't start a fire this year as has occurred once in the past.
Most of the display is visible from in front of the building but having opted not to join the seniors out front, I caught a little of it from my patio.
Workout in the AM, followed by carrot dog for lunch.
Third time was the charm. I ditched the GF flour the recipe called for, used brown rice flour and voila, hot dog buns.
(Let's see just how hip my readers are. Which one of you can identify what that Reface dance represents ... where did it come from?)
At the dental office on Thursday, I saw no signs of guilt coming from the receptionist I suspected of hacking my credit card. Maybe because time has passed and she forgot, maybe because she’s hacked so many customer cards that she can’t remember who, and maybe because she’s not guilty.
Who knows, but I did pay cash for the cleaning and will henceforth pay by cash or check to err on the safe side.
Stopping by the market after Friday’s workout, I picked up carrots to make carrot dogs for the 4th.
There must be a plethora of folks in the area with gut issues, because this market carries a complete line of gluten-free products.
Word to the wise …. Not everything labeled "gluten free" is actually 100% gluten free. It pays to read labels, as there's always a triggering ingredient, but sometimes the ingredient is so minimal as to be worth the risk.
At any rate, heading for the gluten-free hot dog buns, which buns are still problematic but worth it to get the taste and feel of a real hot dog, I found they were sold out.
Not wanting to drive out of the area, search other markets, I found a recipe for buns which I’m trying out today.
So far, I'm on my third try at a batter that "clumps" like the recipe says.
If this third batter doesn't work out, then I'm done and will settle for oven baked chicken and potato salad tomorrow.
Heading out to do laundry on Saturday, I paused at the door when I saw a big green iridescent bug hoovering in the open area around the stairs.
What fresh hell is this, thought I to myself as I waited by the door for it to fly away. However, instead of flying away it began flying towards me — probably attracted by my perfume.
I didn’t panic or scream this time. I was calm as I quickly assessed what I had in my hands to defend myself — a laundry basket full of clothes and Shout laundry stain remover.
So, I tried to spray it away with the Shout but, much like that lizard I tried to spray off the patio with water, the bug seemed to enjoy the spray and kept flying towards me, at which point I got mad, and I got serious.
Fortunately, I’d not yet locked the door, so I retreated back inside and grabbed the bug spray. Ordinarily, I don’t bother lizards, bugs, ants outside — outside is their world but, when they come after me, won’t leave me alone, then it’s war. So, stepping outside once again trying to make it to the Laundry Room, locked and loaded with bug spray in hand, I was prepared to do some serious harm; but the flying bug had, fortunately for it, disappeared.
Not to be caught unawares, I held onto the bug spray while going back/forth doing laundry that day.
So, it’s not enough I have to watch for lizards on the stairs, now I have to carry bug spray around to ward off flying bugs — which I’ve research iridescent flying bugs and determined was a June Bug.
On one of my trips to the Laundry Room, I happened to see Karen’s Dream Lover picking up mail.
Lucky for him Karen wasn’t outside, doing her usual picking stuff off the ground. Too bad for her that she wasn’t — missed an opportunity to chase him down.
So that’s my holiday weekend so far — fresh hell, hot dog buns, Dream Lover but no Karen.
Realizing today is the start of the 4th of July weekend, it occurred to me I probably shouldn’t drive out of the area as people will be driving fast, furious, inebriated today through Monday.
My plan was to play it safe — stay within the two-block range encompassing the Pain Cave and the Market and, in fact, it crossed my mind I should probably walk to this morning’s workout.
Too bad I didn’t.
In the car heading for the Pain Cave, I looked in my rearview mirror and began slowly backing out of my parking space, careful to crank my head over my shoulder and look to the right, left, right again because cars come around the corner of the building and also through the gate pretty quick.
I’m not 100% certain if I looked at the backup camera but, no worries if I didn’t because the backup camera beeps when there’s an object close behind me.
Only this morning it didn’t … beep that is.
All of a sudden, I felt a bump and heard a thud, like I’d hit something. Pulling forward, I looked in the rearview mirror and saw I’d hit an SUV.
"Where did THAT come from?" though I; and "Why didn't the backup camera give me an alert?"
Exiting the car, I saw the two occupants of the SUV step out and it was the Talker — my friend/neighbor who parks right next to me. Only she hadn’t pulled into her parking space. Instead, she’d stopped crosswise behind me.
"What are you doing there?" asked I.
"I stopped to drop off my nephew and felt a thump", said she.
Fortunately, there was no damage to her SUV and a barely noticeable indentation on my bumper.
I thought perhaps that waffle looking decorative piece had been broken, but Trainer tells me the break is too straight, too perfect to have been caused by the accident, that it "Must have been like that all along".
I’m not so sure, but it’s nothing a little duct tape can’t fix.
At any rate, it’s a good thing I was pulling out so slow that there was barely a tap.
Next time I have the thought I should probably walk, I’ll be walking.
In fact, the Pain Cave is open until noon on Monday, 4th of July. That means, since my workout is scheduled for 11:30, it’s not a day off for me. I’ll be leaving the car in the carport and walking that day.
