On the 15th Day of Christmas

Cancelling this morning’s workout turned out to be a smart move as, not having to rush around, I was rested and in a good frame of mind when I went down to the Community Room for the Ugly Sweater Christmas Party, prepared to once again be robbed, as I was at our Halloween Costume Party when I didn’t win Most Creative.

Walking into the room, first thing I noticed was the seating configuration.

As previously mentioned, Community Manager rearranged the tables and chairs to where we were separated into pairs — gone were the big tables pushed together to allow for group seating.

Why?

No really good reason. Just because she could, and wanted to flex her power and control.

In addition to her new configuration, the Community Manager ordered us to not unarranged her configuration, rearrange to make it more copacetic for our use.

Walking in, I was surprised to see the tables had been rearranged to suit our needs after all.

Asking the Baker how the organizers (herself, Red Light, Homegirl) were able to get this by Community Manager, she said "I got into trouble".

She would not elaborate but, from the flash of fire in her eyes and the way her mouth tightened, it’s a fair guess that she’d had enough and went toe to toe with Community Manager (CM) — said what she’d needed to say, threatened what she needed to threaten to get CM to cut the crap.

At any rate, the room was how we needed it to be, and the refrigerator had been unlocked.

Whatever the Baker said or did, it probably shocked CM, because the Baker is not one to get fed up, lose her temper. She's all meek and mild, let's people walk all over her, but everyone has a limit and the Baker evidently reached hers.

I'll bet it ended in a compromise — CM backed down, allowed the refrigerator to be unlocked just for this occasion, with the tables and chairs to be rearranged back to her configuration at the end of the party.

The party was a hoot and a holler. We had so much fun.

Residents were feted with Tacos (a choice of beef or chicken), rice, beans and tamales (tamales provided by the Baker’s daughter).

Dessert was German Chocolate cake and jello shots, minus the liquor.

After the meal was The Saran Wrap Christmas Game, where prizes were enclosed in layers of saran wrap, forming a big ball.

The ball was given to the first player to unwrap, try to get at the prizes, while the person seated next to him/her/they/them tried to throw doubles with a pair of dice. Once doubles were thrown, the person with the ball was considered timed out, the person that threw doubles got at the ball while the next person tried for doubles to time that person out, take a turn at unwrapping, getting to a prize.

Folks took the game seriously, unwrapping as though their life depended on it before being timed out.

Others got a bit upset when they'd barely touched the ball before being timed out, because the next person got lucky and quickly threw doubles.

It took some doing to get to the levels where candies, lottery tickets, money and small bags of chips began falling out.

At the end of the ball, last prize to fall out was a gift card.

Next was the White Elephant gift exchange.

Having run into the next-door neighbor of my old buddy Apache at Walmart last week, I’d asked if she was coming to the party.

"I’m broke", said she.

I said for her to come anyway, that she didn’t have to participate in the gift exchange.

Later, I thought to come up with an extra gift for the exchange, with the intent that she’d be able to participate.

Great minds think alike, because a couple of us brought extra gifts so those not able to bring a gift would not be left out.

Most everyone seemed happy with the gifts they’d unwrapped, but there were a few less than thrilled faces and steals where folks liked what someone else had chosen, opted to steal it from them, rather than choose a gift from the table.

This stealing forced the person stolen from to select a different gift from the table.

With sufficient extra gifts to choose from, Apache’s neighbor did not end up with the extra gift I brought. Instead, she unwrapped a gift, and found inside a set of four Rubbermaid food storage containers.

She didn't look all that thrilled.

The Bite Me coffee mug I’d wrapped and placed in a Christmas stocking went fast — was the third gift to be chosen — chosen by Homegirl who seemed happy with it and though others thought it cute, no one pulled a steal.

The extra gift I’d donated was kind of a social experiment for me — a money roll.

I’d strung 18 one-dollar bills together, added a two-dollar bill at the end, placed them in a box with a pull tab at the beginning of the roll.

Where the social experiment comes in is ... you know how we sometimes in life make choices based on how pretty the outside package is, only to later find out that what's inside is not all that great?

Well, I had a sense that, with so many struggling for cash around here, $20 would come in handy, but I wanted to see how long it would take and who would select a package that was plain ..... in terms of life again, the package that looked basic and humble on the outside, not so prettily wrapped.

So, though I had pretty Christmas wrapping paper, I wrapped the gift in plain butcher paper, but added a colorful ribbon to make it Christmasy.

Sure enough, it was almost end of the game before someone selected the gift that was not all glitz and glamour.

It was stolen twice — once by the guy's wife, which forced him to select another gift.

Then, someone stole the money from the wife.

However, she was smart. Instead of selecting another gift, she stole the money back.

I don't know if that was a legal maneuver in the game rules, but it was hilarious!

Inasmuch as a gift can only be stolen twice, the wife — no longer in danger of having the money stolen a third time, ended up with the loot.

That was so much fun that I'll do a money box from now on.

Maybe next time, folks will think twice about being lured by colorfully wrapped packages — end up with four Rubbermaid food storage containers instead of needed cash.

I myself didn't have to pick a gift because, early in the game, I saw my friend Jenne open a gift that was a cozy little blanket and santa mug.

I told myself then and there that, I was going to steal it from whoever had it when my turn came and did.

Try as we did, I came away with not a single elf photo to show you.

Folks did look in the mirror, some screamed, but even with someone standing behind the person looking in, the camera could not capture the image.

So stinky poo on that, but you could have knocked me over with a feather when I won Most Creative.

Prize was $10 Walmart Gift Card, which I’ll use to purchase candies for the gingerbread house I plan to build.

I also walked away with a bag of goodies from Homegirl — earring's she'd made, a blinged out coffee cup filled with candies that I'll pass on (the candies not the cup), and a painting kit, including brush and an easel, to paint a drawing she herself sketched.

She's so creative.

Bless her heart. It was nice of her to think of me, but I don't know what gives her the idea I can paint. LOL.

I will however, give it a try ..... that is if and when I can find the time.

On the 13th Day of Christmas

At 8:15 this morning, as a result of the planned maintenance power outage, the television turned off.

Based on Trainer’s wife saying the projected three hours extended to all day when her outage occurred, I’d duly planned for a day of quiet and cold foods.

Lo and Behold, an hour later, the television restarted.

Trainer called "bulls*&t" on our getting preferential treatment, probably because we’re a senior complex, when I informed him, at this morning’s session, that my outage had lasted only an hour.

"Age is entitled to some privileges" countered I.

I’ve three seasonal coffee cups to choose from.

Week before, I was centered and drinking from Cup No. 1.

Last week, I was dancing around, feeling like the middle cup.

This week, running out of steam, it's been Cup No. 3, which should have an additional check mark for "exhausted".

Exhausted before I even headed out for today's workout, I decided this morning was my last workout of the week.

Us seniors are having our Christmas Party at noon on Friday. I had planned to rush back from Friday’s workout, quickly change out of workout gear, head down to the Community Room. However, deciding not to further stress or exhaust myself, be too exhausted to enjoy the party, I gave Trainer and myself Friday off.

So essentially, having the next few days to myself — except for the time I spend in the Community Room at the Christmas party, instead of catching up on my reading, I think I’ll knock out a few tamales.

I ran across a recipe for Salmon Tamales. I do love salmon, so worth a try.

The recipe calls for diced raw salmon, but I think I'll cook it off a little.

Last time in the market, the Elf wasn’t front and center, just inside the door, in my face.

However, it wasn’t seconds later that I turned the first corner, saw Sparkle appearing to be playing basketball with a strawberry.

Better, but still not all that challenging, thought I.

After posting that find to Instagram, Twin 2 commented "I was just there and didn’t see jack diddly".

Debra over at She Who Seeks may have hit the nail on the head, when I complained about how easy it’s been to find the elf, commenting "maybe the market got complaints last year that the Elf was too hard to find" because, there she was in plain sight, and Twin 2 missed her.

On the 12th Day of Christmas

I’m beginning to worry about me because, since last Friday, I’ve had three senior moments.

First was when, cleaning out the car at the coin car wash, I tossed the second pair of trekking poles that turned out to be useless.

The first sets I purchased wouldn’t tighten. Returned ‘em.

The second set tightened, but kept coming loose and collapsing. I made ‘em work by using crazy glue, but the glue didn’t hold for long.

The third set were keepers — got me through the rough terrain of the Mission Inn 5K. So, cleaning out the car at the coin wash on Friday, seeing the useless second set still in the car, I tossed them in the trash, went on my way.

A day later, when I went to use one pole from the third set, because I felt a little unsteady on my feet, I realized I’d toss the wrong ones — the third set of poles instead of the useless second set.

Next senior moment was when I addressed the Talker by another resident’s name.

Third senior moment was when I arrived at the dentist this morning for my 10:00 cleaning, only to learn my appointment is for 10:00 Thursday not today, Tuesday.

Luckily for me the 10:00 cancelled, so they were able to take me in her place.

I caught a break and it worked out for me but, with three senior moments so close together, I’m thinking I need to slow down. I’m closing in on 80 years of age and need things to slow down.

A meditation retreat would be appreciated — not like at that cold dreary location where a session was held last year, but something at the beach, like was held back in 2018.

I'm not holding out hope for such a session, as the seers/gurus/spiritual teachers have passed on. So, meditation retreats are now as rare as in-person live 5Ks are becoming.

Things will slow down tomorrow, as that’s the day we have a power outage for maintenance. However, Trainer’s Wife tells me they had the planned outage at their place last Wednesday, and 8:00 to 11:00 am turned out to be 8:00 to 3:00 pm.

So, with no TV and TikTok to distract me after tomorrow’s workout, I may be able to finally finish reading The In-Between get started on The Old Gays.

Though I really hate having to go to the dentist, the fact that Umbrella Alley is at the backside of the office made me feel a little better about having to go.

I offered to take a photo for the couple and they accepted, so that’s my good deed for the day.

On the 11th Day of Christmas

Get your tea ready for another episode of Tales of the Complex.

The resident who just moved into the vacant unit of the quad last week — the evicted Smoker’s unit, is already trying to move out.

Let’s call her CCAB for Can't Catch a Break.

Though I’ve not yet met CCAB, but seeing a dresser drawer on the patio since the day she moved in, I’d begun to think we’d been stuck with another wackadoodle, like the girl in the unit beneath mine.

So, running into Red Light over the weekend, figuring she'd probably knocked on CCAB's door to welcome her to the quad, I inquired "How's your new neighbor working out?"

"She’s nice but trying to move out already".

Turns out, CCAB is not entirely new. She’d been living on the opposite side of the complex, asked to be moved because one of the residents in that building was a hoarder, which hoarding resulted in a roach problem, not only in CCAB’s unit but in her furnishings as well.

Thus, the reason why her dresser is on the patio, rather than inside.

However, if she fears the dresser is infected, she should just throw it in the trash, not bring it anywhere near any of us.

Red Light is worried. So worried that she has been setting traps around her own unit, so nothing can creep in from furniture CCAB brought with her, or from the dresser on the patio.

As for why CCAB has requested to be moved — evidently, management did not do a good enough or thorough enough job of getting rid of the toxic odor of cigarette smoke left behind by Smoker.

It’s a situation of from the frying pan to the fire for CCAB. She fled a roach infestation, now she’s subjected to breathing toxic air.

Pest Control is on the property once-a-week, spraying stuff outside around the buildings, and is available to spray inside upon request. Knowing this, I asked Red Light how the roach problem was allowed to get so bad for CCAB.

"They won't" (meaning management wouldn't send pest control to the hoarder's unit).

I find that hard to believe, but inasmuch as I had the same problem with former manager Nurse Ratched when termites were swarming, it could very well be true.

I forget how many weeks it took for that dumb beoch Nurse Ratched to get Termite Control up here, but I do recall it took weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks of my badgering, complaining, and her lying about Termite Control will be here date specific to take care of the issue, only to learn she'd lied, had not scheduled them.

It ended with her, frustrated by my persistence, sending Head Maintenance Guy up here to "vacuum up dead bugs", with his reporting back to her that termites were swarming, her showing up to see for herself saying, "I thought they were ..." I don't recall the stupid response she came up with what she thought.

At any rate, Termite Control showed up pretty quick after that, handled the issue.

So, it is entirely possible management is not handling, and does not care about the infestation caused by the hoarder.

Moving out is not looking good for CCAB, as I’m told she’s on the county roll and the county has refused the request, telling her the rule is she has to stay in one place for a year.

A year of breathing toxic air can result in serious health issues so, if management and the county won’t help, and she has no other options, I’d invest in a gas mask to tough it out, maybe get rid of the dresser on the patio, set up a tent, do most of my daily living outside, in fresh air, embarrassing management.

Having seen CCAB being shown the unit by Assistant Maintenance Guy, I asked "Didn’t she smell it when shown the unit?"

I don’t know how true it is but, according to Red Light, management didn’t let her see the unit before she signed the lease.

I just don’t know about not letting her or her being so anxious to get out of the other building that she just went ahead, signed, is now stuck with.

Not only is this a problem for CCAB's health, but because she's using the heater, further stirring up the smell of cigarettes, that smell is travelling through the vents, reaching the unit on the back side. That resident is already complaining of feeling ill to management.

It’s a mess and not looking good for those being affected.

As an aside, it might help if, instead of keeping the little kitchen window and patio sliding door — the only sources of fresh air for that unit shut tight, that she at least leave these areas open during the day, air the place out.

On the 9th Day of Christmas

How I rolled into the Cave yesterday, for the last workout of the week.

I’m way more reserved, with a simple "Namaste", when I walk in on Mondays and Wednesdays.

This morning was the Miracle on Court Street Breakfast with Santa event.

Just in case my Little Knock Knock was going to be around this weekend, I’d mentioned the event to the Talker. Painted Rock Lady overheard the conversation, was interested, so she joined me in this morning’s adventure.

Little Knock Knock was in San Diego this weekend, so Talker went there for breakfast.

I did learn the answer to the question of whether or not Little Knock Knock is enrolled in school, since she seems to always be here. She is in school, and though she appears to always be on the complex, it’s weekends and school days off.

So, anyway, breakfast was pancakes, eggs and sausage.

I passed, enjoyed the hot coffee, took photos instead.

With Painted Rock Lady's encouragement, I got in line for a free ice skating lesson, got thisclose to carrying through, thought better of it and chickened out.

I did, however, ride Santa's Train.

On the 8th Day of Christmas

I awoke to a message that "High winds and dangerous fire conditions are forecast from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon. We may have to shut off your power to decrease risk of dangerous wildfires".

Are you serious?

Especially when you’ve already notified us of a planned maintenance power outage scheduled for Wednesday.

This is a senior complex. We should be exempt from these.

Color me annoyed as I work out a backup plan for tomorrow morning’s ritual — the morning I’m planning to attend the local Breakfast with Santa event, should I awake to an outage.

Down to my last Canyon Bakehouse bagel, I yesterday put in another Walmart pick-up order and saw they’d learned from the day when the pick-up line extended out of the full parking lot, down the street to the corner of the intersection. The system now requires reservations. Customers pick the time they plan to pick up in hour increments.

I chose between 11 and noon, because it’ll coincide with this morning’s workout ending at 11:30.

Good system, and the fact Walmart came up with it ???? …… I’m impressed.

Needing nothing in particular from the market yesterday, but out and about passing, I pulled in to find the elf.

Whoever is in charge of hiding this year — probably a lazy manager, is making it too easy.

Sparkle was once again in plain sight as one walks through the market doors.

You’d have to be blind to miss her.

Lastly, have you seen the latest photograph of Kyle Rittenhouse and the thread going around on X, formerly known as Twitter about his appearance?

It appears his little pathetic crybaby pudgy self (and yes, that was a body shaming thing to say, and I don’t regret saying that about him) has exploded to twice its previous size.

My favorite comment on his appearance being "I am loving this for Kyle".

His turning to food for comfort reads to me as guilt.

He can pose as the poster boy for the Proud Boys, go on talk shows, write a book, enjoy the celebrity, enjoy and laugh about having evaded consequences, but that something inside that we all have — the voice of reason and conscious, will one way or another have its way with us.

Kyle's Karmic Consequences are showing, giving us an idea of the turmoil going on inside.

UPDATE: According to another blogger, and various other sources I see online, the photo is thought to be altered. Whoever altered it did a good job, and nice to think Kyle could one day ballon up like that out of guilt.