Verdict is In

Message on Facebook yesterday from the new walking group, was “Meet at 7:00. We will be running around Badger Hill on the fire roads, so wear your trail shoes so you won't get your pretty road shoes dirty!”

Fat chance thought I and, just like that, it became clear as a bell the new walking group has seen the last of me. The verdict is in. Those folks are waaaay too adventurous.

So, while the walking group is traipsing around Badger Hill in 90˚ weather this morning, no doubt dodging snakes, I’m washing my hair, preparing snacks, packing up to head out to a nice air-conditioned hotel in Orange County, so I can participate in tomorrow morning’s OC Fair 5K.

Looking at the participant information, it appears the course takes us completely around the fair grounds, giving us a minimum of 1 hour 30 minutes to complete (8:00 am to 9:30).

I can probably push myself to finish in just under an hour, EXCEPT ….. I see there are “Detours to Fun” to tempt me to slow down ─ look, see, get in on, take photos. Plus, though I decided not to sew up a pair of cow leggings, this is a costumed event. I expect there will be cute costumes I’ll be wanting pics of.

As for those who dawdle too long and fail to cross the finish line before cutoff time (definitely not me), the word is ─ “If any runners are delayed because of all the detours to fun, starting late, or are just enjoying the view, we will need to divert you to a shorter route to the finish line.”

Dayumn! That’s harsh!

But "Don't worry - we will still give you a finisher's medal! "

Still seems harsh.

The fair grounds are all ours from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., after which the public is allowed to enter and the place gets overbearingly crowded. This being my first time to the fair, that gives me about an hour to explore ahead of the crush, before I head back to check out of the hotel.

Senior Down, Et. Al.

Evidently, there was a fire on Little Mountain yesterday.

I didn’t hear a thing, and it was fairly close. 

Same area as that big fire we had in December 2017, when us seniors were told to standby for evacuation and a former coworker friend, living quite near, had officers driving down her street, with bullhorns, shouting for everyone to “get out now!”

Fortunately, the 2017 fire ─ determined to be caused by homeless living in the mountains, was handled long before it reached us seniors and coworker friend’s home escaped the blaze as well.

Coworker friend also escaped yesterday’s blaze, but it was alarmingly close ─ Having reached the top of the mountain, and fortunately extinguished before it made it down to her home.

I wonder about all that dry brush and lush greenery behind her home.

Is either, or both, a help from or food for the fire?

As for what else is happening around here, work on the Starbucks just steps away continues.

The old guy living in that lot was displaced when fencing was extended to block off the entire lot.

I’ve driven around the neighborhood, curious as to where he relocated but, to date, haven’t seen him in over two weeks.

Cutting through the Community Room, after this morning’s workout, I learned The Baker’s neighbor ─ a nice old guy who so liked my Jeep that he went out and bought the same exact model/color, had a bad fall.

Broke his pelvis.

In McDonald’s.

No word on what caused the fall but I don’t think cause matters, because ..... McDonald’s, so $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Not that $$$$$$$ is going to truly compensate him for the pain and now inability to care for himself.

He was in rehab for a while and, after returning home, The Baker was taking care of him. But now The Baker is slated to have surgery on her ankle.

As to who will care for her neighbor now, it’s unknown. Probably have to get a caregiver, much like Nosey has ─ depending on whether he has a medical package that covers that sort of thing.

I don’t recall what brought up the conversation but, on Tuesday, Trainer asked if getting to a point where I'm dependent on others is my biggest fear.

My answer was “No, I don’t fear that at all” and told him what my biggest fear is, which I’m not willing to share here.

As to why I DON'T fear being dependent on others, that’s because I'm prepared  … I KNOW there is and will be no one I can depend upon.

Never has been.

Never will be.

Not family ─ Twin 1, Twin 2, Granddaughter, who are all too occupied with their own dramas.

Not family ─ Twin 1, the three Grandsons, whom I can’t trust.

This goes back to my now deceased brothers, sister, even my mother.

It’s very hard for me to ask for help, but when there came a time I had no choice but to ask brothers, sister, mom to do something for me, they all came up with excuses.

I remember when Twin 1 was relocating to San Diego, chasing after a man. She was such a handful during that time that I was happy to see her go for whatever reason, but neither of us had the funds to facilitate the move.

I had three strong nephews and asked if they’d help Twin 1 with her move.

No, said they. Their car couldn’t make it that far.

I don’t know how it happened but, on the way to work, the bus driver and I got into conversation about the situation and he offered, on his day off, to move Twin 1 to San Diego.

No strings before, nothing asked of me after.

He was just doing a good deed.

So after Twin 1 was all moved in, she called to say all the boys (the nephews) were visiting.

I don’t think I’ve ever been that angry in my life. Not just that they wouldn’t help her move, but that they had the nerves to visit after saying their car couldn't make it that far, and further angry that she didn't call them out on it.

I’d have slammed the door in their faces.

It was a very hard lesson when I finally woke up, realized I had to accept that, though I’d gone out of my way to be there for family, no one was ever going to be there for me, but it was a lesson I learned. Family taught me well.

Oddly enough, the Universe always came through with so many instances of some mysterious someone ─ like that bus driver, like a woman who had just returned from burying her father, but got in her car, drove me to the hospital when mom declined to do so, and those times I was able to draw up the strength, power through on my own.

That I expect will be my future ─ I’ll power through or some mysterious someone will be provided by the Universe.

Pick Your Poison

And so I did this past weekend when, returning to the complex from Sprouts, needing gas, I stopped at a station just off the freeway, near to a new shopping center.

As the pump was going, I glanced around, checking out all the new stores and spotted a sign indicating “Sees” ─ the candy store.

Of course, if I didn’t want to be sick with nausea and stomach pains for three days, the best course after pumping gas would have been to get in the car, head back to the freeway and go home.

Instead, deciding I could handle three days of discomfort, I crossed over to Sees.

I had no idea it was Milk Chocolate Day, but perhaps that fact subliminally drew me to the place.

Not wanting to die, I stayed clear of anything with peanuts (because of the lectin), and settled for less harmful almond buds, pecan buds and chocolate milk patties.

In celebration of Milk Chocolate Day, Sees was giving out a bag of samples with each order, which I dropped the samples off in the Community Room.

I’d planned to put the bag on the counter for whomever came in but, seeing Older Sister, I asked if she could eat candy (some of our residents are diabetic and can’t). She said yes, so I gave her the bag of samples.

Seeing Sees on the bag, Older Sister looked like she’d just struck gold.

Not sharing with the other two ladies seated with her, she quickly looked in the bag, made a mmmm sound, popped one in her mouth, closed the bag and secured it by pulling it close to her breast as though in fear one of the other ladies would take from her.

LOL.

Did I get sick later?

A little.

Okay, a little more than a little, but with Milk of Magnesia and a Probiotic, it's been manageable and should be completely out of my system by Wednesday.

Was the poison worth the pain?

Heck yeah it was.

Will I choose that poison again?

Probably, but not any time soon.

Slowly I Burn

Outside of family drama, which I am determined not to accept, absorb, acknowledge ... except to announce granddaughter has a new car … preowned … purchased for her by the boyfriend … $7,000 … cash!

Must be love.

Other than that, it’s been a quiet week for me what with working out, trying new recipes, needlepoint, and finally having time to catch up with books I’ve missed by my favorite author.

I thought this one would give me some good late night reading over a period of days.

However, it was so engrossing that I couldn’t put it down. Practically finished it overnight, and now must order the other Mosley book I missed while I was busy reading all those revealing books about No. 45 and his family.

The needlepoint project for Twin 2 is coming along, not taking up much time, and will be finished well ahead of time to present it as a Christmas gift.

Looking for snack recipes that travel well, I tried a recipe for avocado brownies.

It was an expensive epic failure.

·       Hazelnut Flour $13.99

·       Hazelnut Butter $11.83

·       Organic Cacao Nibs $7.99

·       Organic Cacao Powder $10.99

·       100% Organic Dark Chocolate Cacao Chips $13.44      

Mix it all together, along with Stevia, 1-1/2 Avocados, vanilla extract and you’ve wasted a perfectly good avocado that would have been better utilized as guacamole.

The results were a non-sweet dried up mess.

Tasted nothing like a brownie.

I seriously doubt I’ll be using those expensive ingredients in any other recipe, but I’ll hang onto just in case.

A recipe for Avocado Egg Salad with Homemade Flax Seed Crackers was executed successfully and is what I’ll take with me on an overnight, scheduled for next week, to participate in the OC Fair 5K.

Would you believe I’ve never ever been to the fair?

Not sure if this visit will count, as I’m just up Saturday evening, out by 11:00 after Sunday’s event, which won’t give me much time to be a lookie loo at the fair.

Today was an appointment with my primary care physician to discuss the possibility of a tummy tuck for sure, possibility of a boob lift.

Since my request is cosmetic, not medical, she doubts it, but sent in a referral to the Plastic Surgery department nonetheless.

Back in 2017, when I was forced by gut issues to begin a clean eating regiment, I quickly lost 20-1/2 pounds in three months, which was amazing and unusual because weight loss had eluded me for years.

Weighing in today, the doctor remarked on how great it was that my weight continues to come down since that initial 20-1/2 pounds to the tune of an additional loss of 12 pounds in the last two years.

Is she serious thinking that to be great?

All the exercise I’ve done in the last two years, all the clean eating, and a lousy 12 pounds!

Slowly my metabolism burns, and it’s left me with a sloppy roll around the middle I’d like to get rid of. Thus, this morning’s consultation.

We’ll see how it goes once I get an appointment with the plastic surgery department.

If you’ve had skin removal surgery or a boob lift, would love to hear from you as to just how bad is the pain and how long the recovery period.

Heading to the doctor’s office, I saw an interesting sign.

I wasn’t texting, I was playing PokémonGo so their little sign clearly wasn't meant for me. LOL.

Having seen another sign, I stopped by after the visit.

Didn’t buy anything. It was so hot outside that I couldn't focus on the fruit and veggies being offered.

Where’s My Medal?

Set the alarm for 5:00 this morning, so I could get bathed, dressed, face made up, fed and out the door for the 7:00 meetup of that run/walk group.

Five o’clock came, but I lay there trying to convince myself to blow walking off and go back to sleep because I was tired from Friday’s luau, but something wouldn’t let me. I managed to get up at 5:30, check in at 7:03.

I've since learned the group runs are every other Saturday, but a handful show up most Saturdays.

And so it was this morning, with just a few of those I met last week showing up for a run.

“You all look fast, so I’ll just head out on my own”, said I.

“I’m not a runner. I’m a walker”, said a voice coming from a woman not there last week.

So off she and I went, with me saying I wanted to train by walking up to the top of that steep hill that I found so difficult last week.

Once again, I made it to the top.

And, once again, it was a struggle, leaving me out of breath.

“Does this breathing thing get better?”, asked I.

“I don’t have it with me now, but I usually bring an inhaler”, said she.

I don’t think I need that. I’m hoping that, if I continue to challenge myself on that incline, my body will adjust, lung capacity will open up.

That is if the knees hold up because right now they’re killing me, and not just because of the incline, but because the route my walking partner took me on from there was not just down the hill, through the college, but completely around the college for a total of 3.55 miles, at such a fast clip that I was back at the car in 1 hour 13 minutes 49 seconds.

I only work that hard when I’m in competition and there’s a medal waiting for me at the end.

However, if I do say so myself, that time is impressive considering, before working out with Trainer, it was taking me 1 hour 20 minutes to finish the 3.1 miles of a 5K and here I was doing almost 4 miles in 1 hour 13 minutes 49 seconds.

I earned a medal today, so where is it? LOL.

The jury is STILL out on this walking group. I enjoyed walking with this woman but I am a loner at heart and pushing myself as fast as I did this morning is just not something I want to do every week.

Maybe once in a while I'll go to the meetup.

The luau was a major success.

Residents showed up, filling the Community Room to overflowing. Management had to set up extra tables and still it was so crowded that one had to guard one’s spot.

Assistant Community Manager would lei residents as they walked through the door, but so many showed up that a little over an hour in, they’d run out of leis.

To latecomers who approached me, asked where I'd gotten my lei, and complained about not getting one, I said, "You should have showed up on time".

The Seer and Shadow made an appearance … as a couple. So I guess they've come to a compromise, insofar as whatever they were mad at each other over, and it's on again. Which is probably why, Not Dead Nancy is staying in her lane, no longer pushing her walker towards Shadow's area of the complex. And, p.s., I've got to think of a better pseudonym for her.

The Seer's aura wasn't as dark as it had been pre-breakup, so maybe time away from him freed her from being such a witch. Regardless, the "fool me once" philosophy is still in play with me.

The food looked to be sandwiches, slaw, cookies. Residents were not asked to bring anything, but Church Lady made a banana pudding. THAT was the only thing to temp me from eating clean but, not wanting to make myself sick, I headed over to the fruit table.

Maybe it’s just my dirty mind, but the melon and strawberry combo, looked suspiciously like a female body part.

Plucking strawberry's out of it felt weird.

There was a photo booth set up, where management took photos of residents.

Don’t know what management plans to do with their photos, but I myself ended up with over 100 photos on my cellphone, to weed through for posting to the residents’ facebook page, plus about 10 videos of residents and staff singing/dancing.

And yes, I was the only one in a grass skirt and no, I didn’t mind and danced the twist, the floss and did a little hula like no one was watching.

Someone was though.

The Baker taped one such.

It’s Not Looking Good

It’s not looking good for my neighbor across the quad ─ down stairs, corner unit, affectionally referred to in the blog as Nosey.

If you will recall, she fell in her unit, broke her hip back in April, was hospitalized, then went into rehab.

Since returning, she’s just not the same.

No longer looking the jolly little plump lady, she’s now alarmingly thin, frail. The one time I observed the home care aid assisting her to a seat on the patio, she didn't seem to hear well or understand well or reasonably respond when I greeted her.

More recently, heading out for Thursday’s workout, I saw her once cheerily decorated patio is now a dead zone ─ completely bare.

Seeing the home care aid sweeping the area, I asked “Where’s her plants?”

“She gave them all away because she can’t care for them any longer”.

When Nosey was in rehab, us neighbors reached over the railings and watered her patio plants. Any one of us would be happy to continue to care for the plants if she wanted. She knows that. Plus, the home care aid is doing housework, so she too is available to care for plants.

So, I’m thinking Nosey is giving away stuff, not because she can no longer care for them, but because she’s giving up.

Nothing I see coming down the road for Nosey is looking good to me.

Elsewhere on the complex, landscapers have been hard at work trimming trees.

Trust Greedy Grabby ─ always looking for free stuff, to go shopping for olives in the downed branches of the olive trees.

LOL.

From what I could tell, she ended up with a nice haul.

This afternoon is the luau. Will be interesting to see if The Seer and Shadow make an appearance ─ either separately or together.

Hopefully I can find someone to take a pic of me in my grass skirt. I say hopefully because the seniors do not take good photos. They cut off the head, or cut off the feet, or shake in a way that makes the photos come out blurry.

I’m off for a desperately needed manicure and pedicure, since I’ll be wearing sandals, but I’ll leave you with something to think about.