Once Bitten

After hibernating all day yesterday, I made a quick trip outside to take trash to the dumpster today, stop by the mailbox but, before I could head back inside, here comes next door neighbor on the way to her car.

“Are you going to color eggs tomorrow” asked she. “Yep, I’m all ready”.

Then she proceeded to bend my ear talking about the number of eggs she bought, how she only plans to decorate four; then something about having bought Easter baskets, grass and plans to either decorate the Community Room with the baskets or give them away.

I dunno the specifics. I was only half listening.

Then she went on all excited about the plans she has for the complex, the Community Room, yada yada yada, ending with yet again a plea for my suggestions, adding that all I have to do is give her suggestions, that I don’t have to be responsible for instituting those suggestions as a volunteer.

Yea, right. Color me skeptical.

I’ve heard that before.

Flashing back to when I worked at the law firm and a secretary I was not necessarily close to, but acquainted with, was retiring. Her friends were arranging a goodbye get together and asked if I’d like to be included.

“Sure”, says I.

Then it was, “If you can think of something fun for us to do, let us know.”

I thought about it, came up with a fun interactive dinner show that was in town.

Then it was, “Well, it’s your suggestion so why don’t you make the arrangements.”

I wasn’t strong and self-assured as I am now, didn’t know how to stick up for myself, so I ended up with all the coordinating duties.

So no, not this time. Once bitten, twice shy.

It is great, however, to finally see next door neighbor participating, being so enthusiastic, so happy. It’s taken her almost two years to work through being miserable at having ended up here at this simple level of living, with her Master’s Degree in Education, background of being large and in charge as a State Commissioner, being on the go, hanging out at fancy places, attending fancy events, hobnobbing with the rich and powerful.

Now that next door neighbor has taken on the role of Head of the Residents Activity Committee, has the Activity Director on speed dial, the Community Manager giving her carte blanche, she’s happily in her element again …. large and in charge, albeit in a smaller pond.

As far as my volunteering again or offering suggestions, let me just say ... I've made mistakes in my life, but I've learned from those mistakes and work hard to never make the same mistake twice.

So no, stop trying to suck me in.

Unusable Uneatable

All that running around to get my hands on gilding wax and, when I tested it out late yesterday, I found the product unusable because it had dried out.

Looking around on the internet, to see if there was a way to reconstitute, I learned it’s not unusual to purchase new in package only to run into “dried out”, depending on how long it’s been hanging around in the store, and there is no reconstituting.

I’d have returned it this morning except, by the time the un-usability was discovered, I’d already removed the Bright Gold and Bright Silver from their packages, organized them in my new craft carrier (that I lucked into at half price) and had tossed the packaging out with the trash. Consequently, I’d have to eat the cost.

The good news is I’d purchased the small $4.99 tubs, so I’m not out all that much. The bad news is my disappointment at not being able to practice the technique of putting an antique finish on eggs.

Like This

No worries, I concluded, as I should be able to create credible art with the paint pens and metal flakes.

The unusable product I picked up wasn’t the only disappointment yesterday, there was also an uneatable lunch.

On the way back to the complex, I drove some 26 miles out of my way for a veggie fajita at the Mexican restaurant I frequented for lunch before retiring, and which I continue to pop into once/twice a year.

After ordering that veggie fajita to go with “no meat, no cheese on anything, no sour cream on anything”, arriving back at the complex -- planning to make lunch and dinner out of the combo, I opened the lid and found melted cheese all over the beans and rice.

I know the waitress got the order right, because she’s known me and my preferences for at least a decade and a half; yet and still, something made me repeat “no meat, no cheese on anything, no sour cream on anything” at least three times as she wrote out the order.

But it’s my bad because, when I saw it wasn’t the regular guy in the kitchen, but some young guy, not having faith in the younger generation to get much right, I should have checked before leaving the lot.

Too far to drive back, I managed to scoop out a tablespoon or two of rice and beans that didn’t have cheese in it, and ended up tossing everything except the fajita peppers.

I must say, the young guy could cook, because what I did get of the beans and rice, was delicious. It’s just too bad he couldn’t follow instructions.

After a chaotic weekend, and a disappointing Monday, I went to bed telling myself I’ve had enough of the outside world. The plan was to stay close to home today – indoors actually, and not go outside remainder of the week.

Didn’t work out that way, because I woke up energetic, recovered, but craving See’s chocolate.

That meant a drive to Victoria Gardens and, on the topic of “never give up”, I popped into the craft store in that area and picked up two tubes of a different metallic finish product, which is testing out just fine.

All set for Friday’s event.

Now I really am done with the outside world until I stick my head out on Friday for the decorating party.

Online vs In-Store

What an exhausting weekend had I, going from craft store to craft store, one city to another, and back out again this morning in search of materials for Friday’s egg coloring party.

And my list wasn’t all that long or complicated – wooden eggs, chalk paints, paint pens, metal leaf, gilding wax.

The local craft store doesn’t feel the same since new management took over, and wanting to give myself access to other stores if I had trouble finding what I needed, I drove out-of-the area.

That turned out to be a smart move because, even though I’d done my homework online – made sure what I needed was available at Store No. 1, I arrived to find the most important item -- the eggs, weren’t the ones I wanted, but I did manage to get chalk paint and paint pens off the list.

Nothing on the list at Store No. 2, but the correct eggs were located at Store No. 3.

The drive, traffic, heat (it was really hot in Redlands), the parking lots filled to overflowing, lines at all three stores was getting to me, so I called it a day on the last items on the list and headed home.

Now I know why I prefer online shopping, had initially thought about it and would have gone that route, except the event was short-noticed and I couldn’t count on delivery in time.

At any rate, not locating gilding wax or metal flakes on Day 1, I bit the bullet and headed to the local craft store this morning.

What I found was a lot of empty shelves in the particular craft section I was interested in.

I don’t think the new owner knows what she’s doing.

Last time I was there, and learned the store was under new ownership, I’d observed in place of the middle-aged guy who kept the place well stocked and knew the store products like the back of his hands, were young high school types.

When I stopped in today, it was a young guy who seemed lost and uninformed.

He’s either a relative the owner put to work, or cheap labor the owner arranged for through school work training.

He did make a call to someone on his walkie talkie, who said they don’t sell metal flakes.

I doubt that. It’s just that the shelf where it should have been was almost completely void of product, and the person just said no as an easy out.

At any rate, I headed home, got on the internet, and found a craft store where wax and flakes could be ordered and picked up tomorrow.

I’ve seen, heard and read a lot about retailers struggling, that we should “support your local businesses”, but the time, the energy, the driving, the inability to find what one needs is off-putting.

This weekend is a perfect example of why I prefer, delivery time permitting, to let the fingers do my shopping.

So off I go tomorrow for yet another drive, to yet another city, to pick up the last of the materials, and then it’s a veggie fajita lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant.

No Means No

It’s April Fool’s Day, and I was hoping to wake up this morning to learn the orange fellow’s presidency had all been a monumental prank.

No such luck.

Since I don’t plan to see anyone today, I don’t imagine I myself will be pranked, but I just gave myself the giggles remembering how I once pranked the office, by posting a note to the copier that it had been upgraded to voice activated, and caught the boss, standing at the copier, looking perplexed, trying to figure out the right words to say to the copier.

I don’t recall him finding it funny, but he wasn’t angry either. More like embarrassed, caught with his pants down, because it brought attention to him doing something he felt inappropriate – making copies of his daughter’s homework … as if anyone really cared.

The April Calendar of Events indicates a Spring BBQ on the 14^th here at the complex -- hamburgers and hotdogs.

The plan is to bring my own turkey dogs and sign-up for deli potato salad.

Heading to the sign-up sheet in the Community Room, after leaving optometry yesterday, I walked in on a group of about six residents having a meeting, looking to be spearheaded by next door neighbor.

“Come join us”, she said. “I’m collecting ideas on the types of activities we’d like to have”.

Surprised, but impressed that next door neighbor had gotten off her soap box and was actually doing something, instead of complaining, I replied “No thanks. You guys look and sound like a volunteer committee, and I want nothing more to do with volunteering”.

She insisted, “We’re just collecting ideas now and want your input”.

“Unh uh, no, never again”.

“Maybe we can get you to give residents classes on scrapbooking and needlepoint?”

“Did you hear the part where I said ‘Unh uh, no’ to volunteering?”

It was all good-natured back and forth. Others at the table were laughing, but I made it clear that, “After that last Pizza Tuesday, I will never volunteer for anything ever again”.

Finally getting to walk over to the sign-up sheet, I saw The Baker evidently doesn’t want to cook either, because she’d already signed up for potato salad.

After some quick thinking, I signed up for condiments.

That should be quick, simple, easy -- especially since I later found a condiment food hack using a muffin tin.

Clever, isn't it?

After signing up, I headed for the door but, before I could get out, The Seer yelled out from the group, teasing me with “I’ll call you later”.

“If it’s about volunteering, I won’t be answering the phone”.

She didn’t call, but The Baker phoned to let me know of an event not on the calendar, because it was late decided upon – Egg Decorating on Friday, April 7.

After thinking about last year’s Egg Decorating, and how I was stuck with eggs too cute to eat, too cute to toss, and ended up giving them to a little girl I saw walking the property with her grandma, I decided I didn’t want to get stuck with cute eggs again; thus, probably not participate.

But then, out-of-the-blue, something said “wooden eggs”.

Never heard of them before, had never seen them before but, after Googling and looking at a few on Pinterest, I’m all in.

So off I am today to Hobby Lobby for wooden eggs, chalk paint and paint pens.

What Has Two Legs, Eight Eyes

The answer is ME ... still.

This morning’s visit to the optometrist did not go as expected.

Because I’ve never been able to adjust to the options -- that would be split lenses, bifocals, etc., you name it, I tried it, could never get comfortable with whatever, it's been three different pairs – distance, near and computer, six additional eyes.

Last time I had my eyes examined and bought glasses was when Sarah Palin was running for office and her rimless glasses caught my fancy. Costing an arm and two legs, it was a good investment as they’ve lasted all these years, are still fashionable and are being replaced only because I need a new prescription.

But for the fact I may move to Nevada, won’t have access to frame repair – and one pair did need servicing last year, I decided not to use that same optometrist, but made an appointment with optometry through my health plan provider, which has offices everywhere.

Seeing glasses on a Big Brother contestant two years ago (8/8/2015 to be exact), I snapped a photo, and kept the photo on my phone all this time.

Took a while to get around to going out for new glasses, but today was the day.

Would you believe, the provider's optometry department had those same glasses -- in the men’s section.

Pair 1 Distance

I was hoping to get down to one pair but, after discussing my activities, what worked for me in the past, what did not work in the past, it was still three pairs – except the optometrist suggested I ditch the computer glasses I’ve been using since 2007, saying the prescription on the Palin reading glasses would now be suitable as computer glasses, and just purchase a pair for near and a pair for distance.

Pair 2 Near

So it's still six additional eyes for me, but I’m okay with it.

I’m not okay with the optometrist finding signs of cataracts, even though she added it was "beginning stages, nowhere near requiring surgery, check back in two years".

Being a holistic type person, needing to know what I was dealing with so I’d know what needed to be corrected in how I care for myself, I asked, “Can cataracts be avoided?”

“No. If you live long enough, everyone gets cataracts.”

Dayum! thought I.

She was so blunt, so matter-of-fact that, after initially being stunned, I found it funny and started laughing.

Doesn’t mean I’m accepting it happens to everyone eventually, or that it will eventually happen to me because, once back at the complex, I checked my Louise Hay book and learned the root cause of cataracts is “Inability to see ahead with joy. Dark future”.

I try to stay in the moment but admit to having looked ahead and worried about my future because I’d jeopardized myself by putting the need of others ahead of my own. So it made sense the optometrist saw signs of cataracts. However, I feel assured it won’t progress any further because that windfall has given me a whole new outlook on my future. And having learned my lesson, I'm putting myself first, so that now, when I look ahead, the future looks a whole lot brighter.

Bookmarks and More

It’s been a productive few days insofar as rebuilding the most important of what I’d lost when the Vaio died.

A little behind in scrapbooking, I’d been collecting photos to be sent out for development in a folder on the computer and, fortunately, just that morning, had forwarded to Walmart for prints.

Something then told me to backup that which I’d not backed up for a while -- like the budget spreadsheet, a document tracking dates and occasions of those photos, and image enlargements of the current cross-stitch project with the areas completed marked out so I don’t get confused.

I didn’t take the time to do that backup and, later that evening, when I couldn’t open the computer, regretted not doing so when prompted to do so.

Though photos kept in files are lost, I don’t suppose it matters as I do have prints but henceforth, instead of a tracking document, I’m reverting to my mom’s method of writing on the back of prints.

There are quite a few photos waiting to be scrapbooked and, except for the 5Ks where I can identify the occasion by the bib, it’s difficult to recall specifics. That’s where the blog is coming in handy in allowing me to go back, connect photos to occasions and dates.

Inasmuch as I’m only a month into the new cross-stitch pattern, it wasn’t a whole lot of work to re-scan, enlarge, update work done, so that’s taken care of.

As far as the budget, it was only this year’s budget to-date that was lost, as last year’s had been backed up on flash. Rebuilding this year’s budget was doable but tedious, because every dollar spent is meticulously logged into my Franklin Planner on a daily basis, making it a matter of tediously looking through the planner, reentering daily data into a new spreadsheet.

I’ve even managed during the week to locate some of the blogs whose bookmarks I’d lost. These are blogs not on my reading list, but which I’d browsed up on, found interesting, and would occasionally lurk.

Is that the correct word … “lurk”, when one occasionally reads but not leave a comment?

At any rate, I’m now thinking of adding those to my reading list, instead of just bookmarking, so as to not risk losing again.

What’s the protocol on that?

Do we leave a comment asking permission, or do we just add?

There’s one set of bookmarks I won’t be looking to recover -- a list of senior communities to look at should I find I won’t be allowed to recertify for this restricted-income complex end-of-year, because of that windfall.

Online search for an affordable area, that’s not restricted income, led me to Henderson, Nevada.

Believe it or not, until that search, I’d never heard of Henderson. Now, all of a sudden, every time I turn around, I’m hearing, seeing or being given something relative to “Henderson/Lake Mead”.

Beginning to think it a sign, I’d bookmarked several 55 and Over Communities -- some new, some under construction.

No point bothering with looking those up and re-bookmarking now, because I heard on the news the Oakland Raiders are moving from Oakland to Las Vegas.

That announcement is going to push prices up on everything in and around the Las Vegas area, to on par with what’s going on in and around this area.

Henderson still might be a fun area to live if I absolutely must move. I saw the senior communities are close enough to the Strip to be able to enjoy that activity, the University of Nevada if I want a campus to roam for Pokémon, there’s a Costco, Kaiser, Home Depo. So though I don’t want to end up paying an arm and a leg for housing, it may be worth the price.

We’ll see come October, when recertification time rolls around.