One for the Team

Waking up this morning, lying in bed trying to figure out what day today was before I got up, it was not a good sign that, upon realizing today is a Bingo Friday that I uttered "Oh NO!" out loud.

There were a million things I’d have rather done after getting out of this morning’s workout than spend time in the Community Room playing bingo — things like needlepoint, scrapbook, continue getting caught up on recorded TV programs, or make a run to the craft store for supplies.

I could have just NOT gone down there this afternoon but, having committed to taking photos, posting those photos to the seniors’ website, it would have been awkward not to show. Especially, since I left them high and dry by sneaking out early on them at the Halloween party. So, I took one for the team and headed down at 12:45 for 1:00 bingo.

Game 1 was already in progress when I arrived.

Though I didn’t win any of the games, I had fun and was glad I’d put on my big girl panties and gone.

The Talker showed up after being absent for weeks and weeks and weeks, and it was evident she’s STILL not speaking to Red Light.

Not only is that friendship over and done with because, per Red Light, the Talker told her she was "too stupid", but Talker tells me she may be moving when her lease is up in March if not sooner.

"Because of your downstairs neighbor?" asked I. (That downstairs neighbor being our Karen character).

"No. She’s actually not been that bad lately", said she. The move is about moving in with her daughter to help the daughter out.

I told her I’ll be sorry to see her go and even sorrier for whoever moves into the unit after she’s gone, because Karen will start her shenanigans all over again with the new tenant.

I was expecting the Pain Cave to be in disarray when I walked in this morning, because I’d seen a video Trainer posted showing the Pain Cave had experienced yet another break in.

Photo captured from Video

And just like the first time, they got in by breaking through the thick glass window and took nothing. The break in was yet again all about getting into the liquor store next door.

Why they try to get into the liquor store in this roundabout way is a mystery when it’s just as easy to get in direct route by breaking the liquor store’s thick glass window.

Unlike last time, the criminals were unable to break all the way through the wall, steal lot and lots and lots of alcohol and the cash register from the liquor store because Trainer had upgraded his alarm system to a silent alarm that went straight through to the police department.

I think Trainer said the alarm alerted around something like 2:15 in the morning.

The criminals must have had a lookout on the outside who saw the approaching cop cars because, by the time the cops pulled up, the criminals were nowhere to be seen — had made a hasty retreat.

Hopefully, now that the criminals know there must be an alarm to have alerted the cops so soon, that they'll have time to do some serious damage, but not enough time to accomplish their purpose, they’ll leave the Pain Cave alone, but two break ins is really going to cause Trainer’s insurance to rise through the roof.

By the time I’d arrived this morning, the window had been boarded up and the walls plastered already.

BTW, the Michael Cohen's Mea Culpa shirt I ordered arrived.

I wore it to this morning’s workout.

It’s a good fit but, if I can work it so it doesn’t ruin the shirt, I’m thinking of adding a press-on stencil to the back that says "Lock Him Up" to piss his supporter’s off coming AND going.

Mildred’s challenge today, Day 26, is "A song that makes you want to fall in love".

Of course, if you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time you know that life experiences have caused me to become completely jaded. That the word "Love" is no longer in my vocabulary.

I don't like the word. I don’t even believe in the concept. But for purpose of meeting the challenge, I’m going with the song from Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 1 where Bella married Edward.

And even there — though I know how the story ends, understand why things had to go the way they did, I still feel Bella married the wrong creature in choosing the cold dead vampire Edward over the warm comfortable werewolf Jacob.

I still even have my Team Jacob shirt.

Lotto Fever and Bad Penny Part 2

And yet again, no one matched all six numbers to win last night’s Powerball, so now the pot has rolled over for like the umpteenth time to raise the pot to a massive $1.5 billion.

I wish someone would win it already so I can stop wasting money buying tickets in the hopes I’d be that someone.

Can you imagine that, when all is said and done, someone will win more money than they can ever want or need.

If I won that much money, I’d keep it anonymous and would be like secret Santa — paying off people’s mortgages.

I’d set up trust funds for nieces, nephews, grandkids, the great grand baby; do something for my twins — purchase homes, set up a business, whatever it is that they want.

There’s a guy in a rickety old wheelchair that I see pushing himself around the area of the market and Pain Cave with his feet.

It hurts me to see him struggling to get across the street and around the area peddling backwards with his feet.

Once, as I was driving back to the complex, I saw he’d gotten stuck on a curb and I didn’t see anyone around on the ground to help him get unstuck.

Not wise for me to stop in the middle of traffic, I drove on, turned into the complex driveway, drove out and went back to help, but saw someone had fortunately helped him out of his predicament. Probably someone driving by on his side of the street, that could just pull over, assist and go.

I’ve often expressed to Trainer that, if I had the money, I’d gift him with an automatic chair. So, that would be on my bucket list for the $1.5 billion.

As for myself, I’m satisfied with my life as is.

Inasmuch as the win would be anonymous, I’d try to stay put where I am, but I would get rid of my current medical provider, have money enough to find myself a caring private doctor, preferably one knowledgeable in the area of holistic cures.

Are you throwing your hat in the ring, buying tickets?

What would you do if you won?

So far, the many tickets I’ve purchased have resulted in nothing, nada, not even a $1 win in return, but a bad penny did turn up yesterday.

Remember that dental office I’d asked to take me off their patient list a while back?

Persistent money hungry buggers that they are, they ignored my no longer wanting to be treated by them and, months later, left a message on my phone to "schedule an appointment to continue your treatment plan".

They must be seriously hurting for suckers, I mean business, because the phone rang along about 5:00 yesterday and "dental office" popped up on the call list.

Thinking I must have messed up and forgotten about an appointment at the new dental office, I answered the phone but, instead of the new office, it was the bad penny turning up again, asking "How are you?"

Irritated, I snapped "I’m fine and I’m no longer a patient at your office".

"Okay. I’ll make a note of it".

No she won’t. If they are so desperate as to reach out soliciting business, they’ll continue to reach out soliciting business, but they won’t reach out to me again because I’ve blocked their number.

Mildred’s Day 25 challenge is "A song you like by an artist no longer living".

I’m in sync with Mildred on this one ….. Janis Joplin.

Coming back from a trip in San Francisco back in the day, I actually saw Janis.

After I was seated on the plane, and just before the door closed there was a big commotion at the door and end waltzes Janis Joplin.

Being a fan, I was like "OMG! It’s Janis Joplin" while those around me only saw what they saw — just another hippy dippy with hair dyed in various different colors, looking like it hadn’t been combed in days, wearing layers of clothing, which made her look fat, topped with a heavy beaded and embroidered coat.

She looked like she might smell bad, but I never got close enough to get a whiff because I was in the cheap seats while she and her crew were led to First Class.

Two weeks after that sighting, I read that Janis was dead from an overdose.

Janis’ Piece of My Heart is raw and gritty.

Faith Hill’s cover of the song is a little easier to digest.

Raindrops Falling on My Head

Is it too soon to declare the drought in California as over?

Asking for a friend, because I woke up middle of the night to the sound of rain drops hitting the roof.

It’s been steady raining since, so maybe the occasional rain we’re beginning to get, after such a long dry spell, signals the end of the drought.

So glad I wasn’t lazy and got the Halloween decorations back in storage before rain I did not expect created a wet sloppy mess, but I wish I’d not been too lazy to retrieve my umbrella(s) from the trunk of the car.

I’ve got three of them and somehow all three ended up in the trunk of the car, making it difficult to get to the car for this morning's workout in a dry state.

Oh well.

This month’s activity calendar was posted to our door late yesterday afternoon. Too late to see a craft session was on the calendar that day … "Thanksgiving inspired craft, 3:00 – 4:00".

The Baker texted earlier that morning to say she’d been in contact with Activity Director and was told there was to be a craft session.

So, though I didn’t get the calendar in time to decide if I wanted to participate, I did have advance notice. Which advance notice I decided to ignore, get busy doing nothing, so I could say I got busy and forgot because Activity Director’s crafts are generally cheap little Dollar Store things that I end up tossing after creating. Not worth the time or energy.

Also on the calendar is a Thankful Celebration on the 15th hosted by management.

Management is beginning to scare me with this having no concern for entertaining us for years and years and years, now all of a sudden there’s a Luau, then a Pumpkin Painting/Costume event, and now "Come to the Community Room to celebrate Thanksgiving with a slice of pie and some hot apple cider".

They raised the rent after the first event, were pushing the Hospice they’re partnering with at the last event, so maybe this time it’ll be a Funeral Home, as I can’t believe management will ever do anything without some kind of ulterior motive.

Stay tuned.

Feeling exhausted and stressed last week and a half, I’d been going to bed very early, missed a lot of my regular TV shows but had the recorder going.

Catching up last night, watching the latest and last Halloween Cookie Competition, I saw something I couldn’t believe the competitor did, being as how we’re still somewhat in a pandemic. Not to mention, it was a nasty thing to do even before it became dangerous.

Did you see what she did?

Did you catch what I think is unsafe to do in the atmosphere we now live.

If you didn’t catch it ...... to help the icing dry just a little faster, she blew on the cookie.

The two judges later picked that cookie from her display, split it and both judges ate a piece.

They must have enjoyed the taste of the competitor’s DNA because she won.

My gut being so sensitive that I can only eat what I cook is a pain to deal with, but it’s things like this that make me see my condition as more a blessing than a curse.

Mildred’s Day 24 challenge is "A song by a band you wish were still together".

The Doobie Brothers, hands down, because I loved the soulful sound of Michael McDonald’s voice, not to mention he was devastatingly handsome.

Michael went on to have a successful solo career and became ever more drop dead handsome with age.

Last Call for Halloween

Yesterday being last call for Halloween, I wore my skeleton leggings to that morning’s workout.

Patio lights were turned on for the last time and today is put everything back in storage day.

It was a fun display while it lasted, only one of a handful of others. That is if you don’t count Painted Rock Lady’s display, which only went up last Wednesday.

"Why now, why so late with Halloween just days away", asked I when I saw her setting up.

She didn’t have a good answer, other than there not being a contest this year.

Whatever.

Her next-door neighbor then made an effort to get in the spirit by putting up a display — if you can even call it a display.

Red Light put her display up in a timely manner, but it was just a wink and a nod to Halloween compared to her last year’s display, which won her first prize in the decorating contest.

Two others got in the spirit without there being a contest.

Then there was the cute little Dalmatian I spotted yesterday afternoon, as he stopped by to show grandma his costume.

My pumpkin held up very well — no rotting, attracted no pests.

Pity to toss it in the dumpster.

I thought about sneaking it onto the college campus for the squirrels to have at, even offered the pumpkin to the Baker to make pies.

She says she’s buying her pies these days, rather than bake from scratch, and campus security would probably catch me in the process and lock my arse up, so to the dumpster it is with the pumpkin.

The skeleton cowboys are staying put as an all-year-round display and, while at the market, I saw another skeleton I could not resist.

This skeleton very much resembles Jane, the Lead Attorney I'd blogged about as being one of three female attorneys who made my working life miserable.

The skeleton carries that same haughty stance as Jane AND even the boney leg peeking out from a slit in the skirt reminds me of the day she wore a skirt to the office that had a slit up the side. Erroneously thinking she looked sexy, she walked around sticking her boney leg out to show the slit off.

She only wore that skirt once, so I imagine she got the message how ridiculous we all thought she looked.

A subsequent visit to the market brought home a sister to sit beside that skeleton.

In the throes of an obsession with skeletons, I would have taken this guy home as well, except he was a display, not for sale.

Yesterday was Day 22 of Mildred’s 30 Songs in 30 Days Competition — "A song that moves you forward".

My long deceased ex-husband tried to trap me in the marriage by attacking my sense of self. Telling me that no other man would want me and I couldn’t make it on my own without him.

Thinking to myself that if no other man wants me, I don't want you!, I managed to escape him and, not only did I attract more than my fair share of male suitors thereafter, but I supported myself and my babies with no help from him.

Now a senior, fortunate enough to still attract male attention — albeit unwanted attention, living on my own, paying my own bills, making my own entertainment, there are too many songs celebrating the independent forward moving woman; but the one that's like a slap in the face to insecure men who try to hold women back by telling them they can't make it without them is one by Runaway Jane that makes me LOL and think of my ex rotting in his grave while I'm still out here doing my thing.

It also makes me think of when my neighbor Handsome Man made his pitch for our hooking up by saying it would make things easier for the both of us.

I was thinking easier how? inasmuch as I'm not lonely or having a problem supporting myself.

Today’s challenge is "A song you think everybody should listen to".

Edwin Starr told us what we needed to hear back in 1970, but inasmuch as there’s one going on now and a possibility we’ll be drawn into it if things go nuclear, Starr’s warning bears repeating.

Goodbye Halloween, Hello Christmas

Judging by the Christmas tree and reindeer I saw during yesterday’s trip to the mall, I guess we’re skipping Thanksgiving altogether this year, jumping ahead to Christmas.

Jumping ahead my own darn self, I pronounced my holiday shopping as "Done!" when I walked out of Starbucks with a gift card for Trainer and the Mail Carrier, to be given out when I get ready to leave for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Making my way to the sporting goods store, though not feeling uncomfortable, I was very cognizant of the fact that, as the only Black female in the crowded store, I stood out like a sore thumb.

The place was the Disneyland of sporting goods stores, with an upstairs and a downstairs, no clerks or helpful salesmen in sight. So, as I roamed around looking for walking poles, while enjoying the country music festival vibe, I’d assumed every security camera in the place was focused on me.

The fun vibe of the store began even before I entered with the footprint of bears leading to the door and antlers as doorknobs.

Upstairs was a Shoot’n Range, which brought back the memory of having been here before — back in 2007 when this sporting goods store first opened in the area.

My oldest grandson (about 10 years old at that time and who is now in ICU fighting for his life after being seriously injured when a car struck his motorcycle) was visiting his aunt (Twin 2) who was living in the area at that time. I’d taken the afternoon off from work to kick it with grandson and we’d ended up checking out the new sporting goods store because I’d read they had a rock-climbing wall.

I remember that I most definitely did feel uncomfortable during that visit. Grandson and I both stood out like sore thumbs, and it wasn’t nearly as crowded as it is now.

He never tried out the rock-climbing wall, but we both spent quite a bit of time playing with the rifles at the shoot’n range.

It wasn’t free — didn’t get close enough to see if it is now, but back then the machine took $1 bills per so many shots.

I wanted to try my hand at the rifle yesterday, but the gallery looked to be the most popular place in the store, so I passed, found the walking poles — which I’ll probably be returning for cash back, as they only had the one middle of the road in price, off brand type, which I can’t get to lock.

Remainder of the time, I roamed around taking photos while enjoying the country music.

I’ll bet the folks monitoring the video cameras thought I was some kind of photo taking geek (which I am) or a BLM spy casing the joint.

Skillet Candle

No shortage of Moon Pies, Yuk!

This mural is the door to the elevator.

Elevator has a glass wall that looks out over the store and into the fishpond.

Not pictured is the Candy Corn concession that was calling my name. I walked away before I hurt myself by indulging.

Weekend Update

I wasn’t kidding when I said I was exhausted on Friday.

Returning to my unit after sneaking out of the costume party, I sat down on the couch to relax, watch TV and, first thing I knew, I awoke from a long nap I’d not planned to take.

I didn’t even keel over.

I napped — more like passed out, sitting straight up.

Then I slept straight through that night and most all of Saturday.

Feeling well rested today, I'm heading out of the area to pick up a package and pop into a sporting goods store to purchase walking sticks.

I’ve determined I can train on inclines until the cows come home, but it won’t help on the trail because the problem is the pressure inclines place on my hips and back.

This year's local Turkey Trot is a week before Thanksgiving, which is genius. Genius because the event, generally held Thanksgiving Day, has been rained out — stormed out actually, so many times that registration comes with the caveat that the race will go on "whether or not". Which places the onus on us participants to risk pneumonia by showing up or opting to eat the registration and stay home instead.

I think there's some kind of curse on the property, like the curse the Serrano Indians placed on the land where the annual Orange Show Fair takes place that it would rain on the fair.

Matter of fact, it has rained nearly every year since that event went national, and this despite the organizers moving the date all over the calendar.

Consequently, moving the Trot a week ahead will beat the bad weather — unless of course, like with the Orange Show, the curse is not fooled by the change of date.

We'll see.

Had the date not been changed, I'd have not been able to participate rain or no rain because I plan to be in Long Beach to spend time with the new baby — my great grandson on Thanksgiving Day.

Looking at what's available in Long Beach, there is a Trot on Thanksgiving Day and another the Day After, but both have indicated parking is a problem, so I figured I’d be missing out on a Turkey Trot yet again this year until I saw the local Trot has been moved up to the 19th.

The course has inclines and not wanting to experience the back, hip and leg pain that took me all of this week to recover from — and probably contributed to my feeling so exhausted, walking sticks seems a simple solution to taking the stress off my core.

They are supposedly lightweight, so I can carry and use only when the going gets tough due to a steep incline.

Yesterday was Day 20 of Mildred's 30 Songs in 30 Days Challenge, and I’m impressed she's managed to come up with so many challenge questions.

Saturday’s "A song that has many meanings to you" is a toughie, because all songs carry some kind of meaning for me, but I've decided — this being Sunday, to take you to church with a song that speaks to me.

My two favorite versions are sung by Kathy Mattea and a duet version by Kenny Rodgers/Wynonna Judd.

I love both versions, maybe preferring Kenny and Wynonna's a tad more, and have them both on my everyday playlist.

It just so happens that today's challenge is "A song you like with a person’s name in the title".

I'm pretty sure two versions of "Mary, did you know" meets today's Day 21 challenge.