No Fooling

Today is April Fools’ Day, but felt more like Friday the 13^th ... a comedy of errors.

I was holding my breath that the belt buckle I’d ordered would make it to my mailbox. It arrived yesterday. Whew!

Even though the mail carrier got it right this time, I still have plans to open a post office box for deliveries because I went shopping for a belt today, exhausted myself driving in heavy traffic and arrived home with a headache.

This is why I prefer online shopping.

The belt I previously had was western style, so I did my due diligence last night, looking up the nearest Boot Barn. What came up was an address only 6 miles away, a 20 minute drive.

That 20 minute drive turned into a couple hours of chaos and confusion. First with the heavy traffic in that direction, only to finally arrive at the destination to find no such establishment at that location.

Businesses really need to keep their locations current on the internet, because this happens more times than not with in-store shopping. I’ll look up an address, arrive and find whatever was there before to be long gone.

Next was to set the GPS to ignore the address -- just take me to the nearest Boot Barn, which turned into more heavy traffic for another 6 miles and no establishment where the GPS announced “You have reached your destination.”

However, I knew the business was somewhere in the area, because I’d seen the sign from the freeway. So for a time, Mr. GPS played me the April Fool -- continuing to give me instructions to turn around and go in the direction where there was no such place, effectively sending me in circles. After a bit, I ignored the prompts, chose to drive in the opposite direction, look for the sign and finally located the building.

I don’t shop well when I’m tired and frustrated and, by then, I was tired, frustrated and hungry.

Once inside, I found they had the belt I was looking for but, of course, not in my size, so I settled -- which is never a good thing.

As soon as I drove away, I felt buyer's remorse, and knew I’d probably bring the belt back tomorrow.

Sure enough. After arriving back at the complex, pulling myself together, I went online, found and ordered an exact replica of the belt I had before. Tomorrow, I’ll be returning today's purchase; but at least now I know where the place is.

So here I am once again holding my breath the mail carrier gets it right.

To top it off, I saw a notation during checkout that the place I ordered the belt from does not ship to post office boxes. Assuming other businesses also protect themselves by shipping to addresses only, a box isn't going to be worth the expense. 

All That Glitters is Not Gold

After granddaughter doctor’s appointment yesterday, and my walk that only netted 1.67 miles before her appointment was over and she was ready to leave, we headed for Souplantation for lunch. It was such a nice pretty day that, instead of the freeway, we decided to take the scenic street route.

However, about a mile from the hospital, heading in the opposite direction, what I thought would be more of the nice clean pretty area I’d just walked around suddenly turned into seedy motels, industrial buildings, trailer parks, run down properties.

In the midst of this downtrodden area was a big beautiful under construction, almost complete, new building.

Suddenly realizing where I was, the exact address, I exclaimed “Oh my gosh! That’s the new complex my neighbor is moving into!”

“It’s nice” said granddaughter “But there’s nothing here.”

Very true. It was miles and miles and miles of driving before we even saw a market. There were liquor stores, donut shops, multiple fast food places that looked like they’d get the lowest possible health score rating, and the area did not look to be a safe place to walk day or night.

Where we’re living now isn’t exactly paradise, but that has more to do with issues with management. The area itself is a nice place to walk, there are elementary schools in the area, a college university, A and B rated food establishments, a market within walking distance, drug stores, nail salons, another market a short drive, and two Starbucks – both short drives, we’re on a bus route … practically everything a senior would need.

I fear neighbor is making a monumental mistake.

She doesn’t even drive, so I can’t imagine how she’s going to get out of the area to that market we saw in the nicer part of town.

Thing is, she’s coming across as so cocky, pleased with the move, pleased with herself about being accepted into the building.

She has no idea how new and pretty is blinding her to practicality.

When she was telling me about the building, first thing I asked was, “Is there a market?”

She never answered the question. Looked like she was so enthralled she didn’t even hear the question.

Hopefully, others in the complex planning that move will not be mesmerized, when checking out the building, and think before they commit, find themselves trapped in the building, having to order pizza delivery for breakfast, lunch, dinner, because there’s no market and it’s not safe to go outside.

Speaking of glitter, Nurse Ratched has implemented her own glitter plan to lure in new tenants. Just like the wicked witch lured Hansel and Gretel in by decorating her house with gingerbread and things that captivate, Nurse Ratched had beautiful new landscaping added to the front of the building.

Looks just like the kind of place you’d like your elderly parent to reside, and it would be … but for the wicked witch.

But even with our wicked witch, it’s far and away better than the new complex.

Thunder Lightning Hail

There was a trickle of rain around 5:00 yesterday, followed by a humongous clap of thunder, then lightning, then ….. hail!

Having not seen hail since I was around 13 years of age, I geeked out -- threw open the patio window, moved the screen aside, proceeded to take photos and videos.

(I don't seem to be able to post videos through this medium, so photos will have to suffice.)

It looked kinda like it was snowing outside, which would have been exciting as well because I've never seen snow. Closest I've been to snow is seeing it on top of cars coming down from the mountain when I'm at Starbucks.

On tap today is acting as granddaughter’s uber driver to a medical appointment. Sun's up, her appointment is in a location where I might be able to log in some miles, rather than sit and wait, so that's the plan.

Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall

I'm late on the greeting, but better late than never.

After Sunday’s perfect weather -- even though I didn’t take advantage of it, get up, get out, instead I opted to sit on the couch all day, cross-stitching, catching up on recorded television programs. At any rate, after Sunday’s perfect weather, I couldn’t believe waking up yesterday to a dreary rainy Monday morning, but that’s not the kind of rain I mean.

After following up with a vendor about why it’s taking so long to receive an order, only to find out the order was fulfilled and delivered three weeks ago, it occurred to me that I’m having these odd recurring instances -- package deliveries going haywire, items being pilfered from my unit right under my nose.

First, it was a delivery of makeup.

Second, it was the 12x12 photo album.

Third it was items pilfered from my closet, by a woman from Corporate no less, during that inspection.

Fourth is an unmentionable that, last I heard, was on backorder. Now the vendor tells me tracking indicates was delivered on March 4^th.

What is going on?!

No one is breaking into the mail boxes, so the fault must be that of the mail carrier himself.

Performing the same rote activity day in day out, he must be spazzing out, mind drifting, thinking he knows what he’s doing but not paying close enough attention and dropping things in the box next to mine or above mine.

Same dishonest neighbor each time?

That I don’t know, but I’m assuming yes, that the mail carrier is making the same mistake in the same box over and over – even though he tells me he’s infallible, doesn’t make mistakes.

There are no names or unit numbers on the boxes, so I can’t tell who is receiving and keeping my packages.

When a package is oversized, as was that 12x12 photo album, the item goes into these larger boxes.

The key to unlock the larger box then goes into the recipient’s mail box.

So it's a good system, a secure system; BUT, if the mail carrier is dropping the key and/or packages into the box next to mine or above mine and that person is dishonest, as it appears such is the case, then "secure" goes out-the-window and I’m out-of-luck.

There’s no way of knowing which neighbors are in the boxes surrounding mine -- to enable me to speak with those individuals to discover the culprit, and there’s no point going to the office for help.

Since getting packages has turned into such a crap shoot, I’ve been ordering a lot less online -- opting to go without if I can’t find it in stores unless it’s something special -- like that replacement belt buckle is coming from Canada. I’ve also been paying closer attention to usps delivery dates, heading down and waiting for mail so I can check the box before the carrier leaves the premises. (I did not get a usps delivery date on that last item).

Yet and still, the losses keep racking up.

I just don't get it. This has never happened to me before, now it's back-to-back-to-back-to-back.

There are worse things to rain on people’s lives, so I’m grateful it’s just material objects. But it’s beginning to feel like Chinese water torture, drip, drip, drip, drip. 

Maybe I should open up a box at the post office for deliveries.

Egg Coloring Party

Today's Egg Coloring Party was a blast.

The Baker did a good job of organizing the event and setting up the work space so that the mess I expected never materialized.

 

Gold and Diamond egg, made by one of the ladies.

Because there are so many residents with grudges against management and grudges against other residents, there are people who will not set foot into the Community Room, not under any circumstances. Then we have the crotchety bitter old folks who set foot into the Community Room, but only to spread negative energy … look down their noses and scoff at whatever activity is in progress. Big Linda, one of the worst troublemakers on the complex, would come into the Community Room and “hush” people. Sometimes, she’d just sit there and put her fingers in her ears to indicate how displeased she was with others talking.

Fortunately, Big Linda stayed away today, probably because we don't let her bully us; we just ignore her and keep enjoying ourselves with whatever we happen to be doing when she makes her presence known, but we did have two of the other worst offenders in attendance -- sitting over at a corner table, later joined by two other crotchety bitter old women.

They looked resentful that we were having so much fun and spent their time watching and listening to us have fun. Fun is infectious so, after a time, I figured they individually probably would have liked to get off their high horse and join us, but were afraid to step out, be separate, go against the grain.

If this were high school, they’d be the mean girls -- not really wanting to be mean, but trapped in a group mentality.

When I first walked in and we were setting up, one had asked, “What’s going on today?”

“Egg coloring … join us” said I.

One old lady’s response was the same as the woman whose response to a request to take a photo sounded like I’d made an indecent proposal. She gave me a haughty, “I don’t do that!”

Her crotchety friend nodded in agreement and said, “I don’t even like eggs.”

I didn’t care. I was just being polite and inclusive; and her not liking eggs was a blatant lie because she attends all the food events and I’ve seen my deviled eggs on her plate.

But, whatever.

I myself don’t ever want to be the kind of old person who doesn’t enjoy music, laughter, joining in on creative endeavors, encouraging others to have a good time, happy to see others having a good time even if I don’t join in.

I did notice, however, none of the crotchety old ladies had a problem helping themselves to refreshments … cupcakes and hot cross buns. 

I guess the rule of their club is we won’t play with you, but we will take advantage and eat your food.

I’ve been off sugar last few days and, after making myself sick as a dog last weekend, motivation to stay off sugar is strong right now, so the refreshment table didn’t even tempt me.

It was a good thing I colored my eggs in advance because decorating was a lengthy process, not near as easy as I’d envisioned, plus I had to cut my time short because granddaughter called, needing me to act as her uber driver -- pick her up from where she was returning a rental car she and her friends used for a trip to Disneyland and drive her back to her complex.

I had just enough time to finish the turtles and a few minions.

By the time granddaughter was deposited back in her complex, the event was long over; so I finished up in my unit – completing the minions and adding Mike from Monsters, Inc. to the collection.

I don’t have the heart to crack them open and eat, before they go bad. So, I guess they’ll just sit in the refrigerator looking pretty until they do go bad -- unless, on Easter Sunday, I see children with Easter Baskets visiting their grandparents. In which case, I’ll run down and ask if I can put eggs in their baskets.

BTW … only one individual who, in the past, has declined my request to take a photo showed her true self. She’d told me she didn’t know how and got confused, but I saw her snap a photo of her colored eggs. Two of the others with bad hands, sat with us and observed only, because of their hands, so they were truthful. The one that shakes and all her photos come out blurry asked me to take photos with her camera for her, because she really does shake and her photos come out blurry. There was no one available to take a photo of me and, I was so busy decorating eggs and taking photos of others that I forgot to take a selfie of me at the event for my scrapbook.

Messy Business

Tomorrow is the Egg Coloring event organized by The Baker.

The last time I recall dying Easter eggs was when my girls were too small to do it themselves. Once they were able, they’d color ‘em, I’d hide ‘em, and that has to be at least 40 years ago. 
From what little I recall, the process was rather messy.

So messy, that I’ve been expecting Nurse Ratched to forbid the event.

Thus far, she hasn’t and, just in case a mess is made and repercussions follow, I’ve decided to keep myself separate and apart by dyeing my eggs in my unit today, rather than tomorrow in the Community Room. Tomorrow I’ll set aside for decorating the eggs and taking photos.

I’ve been designated “The Picture Lady” around here because I seem to be the only one that can take a photo. 

I don't know what it is with old people not wanting to take photos of other when requested. I once asked a woman to take a photo of me with an old friend I'd just run into. Her reply was a haughty, "I don't do that".  She was a friend of the person I'd just run into and "I don't do that" sounded like I'd asked her to do something terribly inappropriate.

When I've asked some of the residents in the Community Room to snap a photo, they generally decline stating problems with their hands being unable to grasp, hands shaking, they don’t know how to take a photo, get confused when shown. I’m not sure I’m buying all those excuses, especially since they all seem able to hold cell phones, pets, so it will be interesting to see which of those declining because of so-called problems with their hands and confusion, when asked to take a photo, are able to manage holding, dyeing and decorating eggs tomorrow.

Looking online, decorating Easter eggs has come a long way. Some are works of art and I found that, by using all manner of embellishments, one can create characters. I going to try to replicate something fun, like Minions and Ninja Turtles.

Thus far, the dyeing process in my unit has stayed true to still being messy, the coloring isn't coming out as perfect as I'd like but hey, it’s just eggs. After more than a few fails, I was finally able to get a couple eggs Minion ready (blue bottom half, yellow top half) and, replacing the green kit color with that green food color from St. Patrick’s day, I’ve managed a few eggs for turtles.

The turtle eggs are still not as dark a green as I was going for and, if I had to do it all over again, I’d dispense with the Easter coloring kit, the food dye and try Kathy’s idea of paste food color.

As for the failed to dye correctly eggs, it’s a good thing I like eggs because they will turn into breakfast, lunch, dinner.