No Room at the Inn

It’s that time again. Spring has sprung and once again it’s a battle with the birds.

Around this time every year, for the eleven years of living here, I’ve successfully discouraged birds from moving into the highly desirable property which is way too close to my living space and access to the patio storage area — the eaves over to the side.

Though I’ve managed to keep birds from squatting in that prime space, they’ve outsmarted me and moved to nesting overhead, somewhere in the decorative roof tiles where I can neither see or reach, but they leave me droppings to clean up every single day to let me know they’re there.

Nothing I can do about that, but the battle continues to prevent nesting in the prime real estate area they all seem to want. All of last week, I caught birds eyeing that spot and chased them away by opening the screen door — the sound of which scared ‘em off. That is until a particularly stubborn couple kept coming back — determined to nest there.

It was a battle that lasted for days, as I’d opened the screen, scared them away, they’d fly off, sometimes for a few seconds, sometimes for hours, but inevitably return.

They’d catch me preoccupied with crafting inside, away at the Pain Cave or market and start bringing in supplies for a nest.

Not too smart, though I, inasmuch as the screen door opening/closing signaled I’m living much too close to where they were determined to nest, but I guess they figured once they became squatters — built the nest, lay eggs, they could lay claim and that would be that.

I thought about it — let them move in, that it might be interesting to see the nesting process, baby birds popping up, learning to fly; but then again there would be all kinds of bird and insect mess piling up on that side of the patio, plus the birds living there would attract those dreaded lizards, not to mention the annoying early morning cooing the parents would make, the chirp chirp chirp that babies would make, so no. You can’t build there I kept telling them, go nest elsewhere while there’s still time to find another location.

Did they listen?

Nooooooooo.

They just kept coming back.

After a particularly vexing day of chasing them off, I had the bright idea that something was needed to seal the opening so they’d be forced to squat elsewhere. But what to put up there and how to reach it.

What I came up with isn’t pretty — and neither is the fact that the video I’m about to show you is cloudy because the patio window needs cleaning, but with the use of the grabber, that stylish looking walking stick I recently purchased and a couple grocery bags, I managed to end the war with the birds. They’ve not returned these last two days, but it wasn’t like they didn’t fuss and fume, with many flyovers inspecting the hindrance, and try to find a workaround before they realized there was no room at this inn and gave up.

So, there’s that.

Also of note is that around 6:00 this afternoon, there was a knock knock knock at the door.

If you guessed it was my little Knock Knock, you guessed correctly.

"Are you back from San Diego?" asked I.

"Just visiting" said she and gave me a hug — which I didn’t mind since I’d had a couple weeks to breath. Not the continuous knock knock knock.

"Your GG really missed you", I said.

"Everyone missed me", she replied.

ROFLMAO! Modest little thing isn’t she.

Earth Day

That is all.

The Collection

Feeling cheated that No. 45 didn’t take a mug shot, thereby depriving me of a tee shirt with that image, I purchased the next best thing.

It will go well with that previous purchase.

Rather than the usual auto generated thank you at the time of purchase, the seller sent me a personalized note saying she grew up in Highland, a hop skip jump from here.

I thought that was such a nice gesture that I replied how interesting it is that she used to be a neighbor of sort, that I was sure I’d enjoy the cup once it arrived and I was looking forward to the day I’d be purchasing a cup that says, "I love when I wake up and Trump is in Prison".

Her reply …… "That is a PERFECT idea for a mug--Thank you!!!! I will make that one this week and send a note once I have."

ROFLMAO!

It’s a little too soon for such a cup, and there's no certainty it will happen, but if she makes that cup, I will buy and add to the collection just the same.

Sightings

I happened to be in the right place in the unit at the right time yesterday and spotted the new resident (guy living in the bad energy unit) heading for the Laundry Room.

I’d previously asked his downstairs neighbor (Red Light) about him, saying that I never see him out and about, doubted he spent much time there, but she said she could hear him walking around overhead all the time.

If you will recall, Red Light heard someone or some thing walking around in the unit after the previous resident moved out — when the unit was vacant. So, her hearing footsteps was not necessarily meaningful.

After seeing him with my own two eyes, I can report that, after almost three months in, he appears to be hale and hearty.

Thus far.

Talker is conflicted. She still plans on relocating to San Diego to be with the little Knock Knock, but she was sitting in the courtyard last week and saw a woman carrying a box, moving in.

Small Word, as the woman turned out to be Talker’s childhood friend. She says they grew up together, the two families at one time lived together.

So now she’s conflicted. Seeing Childhood Friend’s moving in as a sign has her asking God, "Why are you doing this to me?"

She wants to be with the little Knock Knock but, now that Childhood Friend is living here, she wants to be with her as well.

I’ve not a clue as to how this will all pan out, but I’m beginning to see Talker has a co-dependent personality. She always has to have someone in her life — a best friend in the complex with whom she’s always out and about with, her great granddaughter to spend time with, and now Childhood Friend to add to the entourage.

I've always disliked that song "People Who Need People" because the lyrics "Are the luckiest people in the world" trouble my spirit.

Wanting others in one's life and enjoying the company of others is one thing, but not being able to be alone, enjoy one's own company, and the lyric "You were half now you're whole" speaking of co-dependency, the needing others as a distraction from self does not seem lucky at all to me, but sad.

But that's just me, my two cents, and may be why I like Miley Cyrus' song so much that I'm reposting.

Leaps and Bounds

We’re going to have to start taking reservations for seating, as our little bingo game has been growing by leaps and bounds.

In fact, after Wheelchair Lady took my preferred seat last time, said “I’M SITTING HERE!” even after others at the table told her “That’s where Shirley sits”, Upstairs Lady (the resident who has problems with her legs and should have gotten that downstairs unit) set up a water bottle and miscellaneous other objects to prevent Wheelchair Lady from taking the seat at the opposite end of our table, a seat she was saving for her friend.

To ensure I myself got my preferred seat this time, I changed my schedule of popping into the market after the morning’s workout, then heading to bingo after unloading groceries and instead headed straight back to the complex, changed clothes, headed to the Community Room and arrived not five minutes before Wheelchair Lady rolled herself in.

Looks like she and I will be playing this cat/mouse game again — who’s gets there first, as she didn’t look none too pleased I’d beaten her to where she now wants to sit.

Next time I think I’ll head straight to the Community Room after working out, put my water bottle and bag in my preferred seating spot, then head upstairs to change clothes. However, I won't be surprised if Wheelchair Lady arrives an hour early to foil my plan to outwit her, LOL.

It’s getting to be survivor of the fastest. Battle of the seats.

Truth be known, no one actually wants to sit with Wheelchair Lady. She’s bossy, spoiled, has shown herself to be competitive — as witnessed by the fact that when she won a game, called Bingo, another wheelchair resident simultaneously won, called Bingo and when both headed to the prize table, Wheelchair lady spun her wheelchair away from the table so fast that it was almost a blur, and sped to get to the prize table first. Even gloated to the other wheelchair lady, "HA! I beat you".

As for being spoiled ... because she’s in a chair, we often cater to her — bring whatever is being served at the break to her so she doesn’t have to struggle getting to.

Observing the speed in which she turned that chair around to get to the prize table first, I’m now beginning to think the struggle is an act.

Upstairs Lady did tell us, a few bingo games ago, Wheelchair Lady can walk, that she’s seen her walk and actually used the word "hate" — said she can’t stand Wheelchair Lady, hates her because she uses her disability to play the princess while she, Upstairs Lady, doesn’t ask or want anyone to do for her when, even though it’s a struggle, she can do for herself … just as she says Wheelchair Lady could if she wanted to and should.

I don’t disbelieve Upstairs Lady when she says Wheelchair Lady can walk, so I’ve been on the lookout for signs of that.

I did notice she was wearing pretty nice sturdy looking walking shoes when she rolled in yesterday, which begs the thought that if you are confined to a wheelchair, can’t walk, why would you be dressed in sturdy walking shoes.

So anyway, along with our bingo game growing by leaps and bounds, so are the seedlings Activity Director showed me how to start a few weeks ago.

After adding Audrey to the Wildflower Mixture lineup, the kitchen windowsill wasn’t working for me and my little buddha figurines, so I moved Audrey and the wildflowers to the bedroom window.

Audrey is not doing as well as the other seedlings. She was looking a little peaked and down to her last mouth.

Upstairs Lady was also in Activity Director’s seedlings class and tells me nothing has yet to sprout for her. So, inasmuch as my two wildflower seedlings seem to want to grow here, I’ve decided to keep them and gave a corner of the patio to them ... and Audrey. A corner that won’t interfere with my Holiday decorating and which gives them a little shelter when the sun is unrelenting.

This being outdoors gives Audrey a fighting chance to survive, capture the bugs she needs that I’m not prepared to capture and feed to her.

I hope she gets those little gnats that seem to like hanging around the screen door, pestering me when I walk outside.

My other plants — the vegetable seedlings, also are growing by leaps and bounds.

Though I started Radish, Hot Pepper, Jelly Bean Hybrid Tomatoes, I don’t know which is which because, wanting to be surprised by what grew, I didn’t put an identifying stick in the pot.

Now that I’ve a vertical planter outside, I’m thinking that, before the day is over, I’ll add another layer and move the veggie seedlings outside as well.

In a way, I'm a little sorry I ever got started with these plants as I don't need another hobby and the watering/replanting is a bit of work, not to mention that plant food might be the next issue I have to consider.

But they're here now, so .......................

Catching the Rain … Again

After a week of near perfect weather, here we are again with a dark gloomy rainy day.

I lucked up in that today was not a workout day, so I’ve been able to stay indoors, not go anywhere, do anything outside of the unit.

Thus far, it’s been a quiet week here on the complex.

Except for running into the Talker, Painted Rock Lady and Not Dead Nancy when I was out putting in walking miles around the complex on the sunny days, I’ve not interacted with any of the other neighbors.

Painted Rock Lady has been in and out of the hospital last few weeks, looks pale and weak, Not Dead Nancy has snagged herself a new man — probably met him at the casino and, as I’d surmised, Talker is making plans to move to San Diego.

Talker tells me my little Knock Knock is calling her several times a day, can’t do anything without her and is not happy with her parents.

The constant calls are complaining that mom won’t do this, dad didn’t do that. Snitching because she’s not getting what she wants and asking Talker to "come get me".

That gave me some insight as to why it was the little Knock Knock spent so much time here on the complex. It wasn’t that Talker was babysitting, more like it was Knock Knock, displeased with her parents because they didn’t let her have her way as Talker did, asked GG Talker to pick her up.

So anyway, Talker said she explained to Knock Knock that it’s not like she can just drive over, pick her up like before, because San Diego is too far, but that she will be joining her soon.

The plan is … Knock Knock’s parents have moved into a big house, offered Talker the upstairs, and the handicapped brother Talker takes care of a room.

Talker says she really likes it here, but wants to be with her great granddaughter.

I really admire families like that — families that can co-exist together, pool their resources.

Everybody wins.

I’ve often lamented my not having that kind of family, and not just this generation, but my mother, brothers and sister as well — all of whom transitioned out of this life a long time ago.

We currently have like six individual family members struggling — some homeless, some about to be and none can put egos aside and work together, don’t even like or trust each other — judging by past experiences with and observations of, there are good reasons for the dislike and lack of trust in some instances, not so much in others.

So, anyway, we all are tasked with doing the best we can in navigating our way through this thing called life, so it is what it is.

Tomorrow is a workout day and Bingo Friday, so hopefully the weather will be better as I’ve places to go things to do.