If They Build It, I Will Come

After being told, seeing the plans for, and experiencing a Starbucks Effects rent increase back in 2019, only to later be disappointed when the proposed Starbucks on the corner turned into a Seven Eleven, I was skeptical when hearing last year’s rumor of a proposed Starbucks across from the Pain Cave, on the same lot as the market.

Skeptical, that is until, walking out of the Pain Cave back in January, I saw construction had begun.

Since then, though I’m no longer working out in the Pain Cave, I’ve been keeping my eye on construction.

Finally, last week as I was driving by, I saw cars lined up at the drive thru, but it wasn’t until Sunday that, after grocery shopping, I walked across the parking lot to the newly opened Starbucks.

Now that I can literally walk to Starbucks, there won’t be the daily habit I once had. For one, my gut will now only allow Starbucks infrequently. Also, the cost is prohibitive.

The price of a Venti Half-Caf Americana is now $4.75 and, inasmuch as I always leave a dollar tip, plus the quarter change, that would be $6.00 a day.

A treat, once in a blue moon, will suffice.

I’ve got a lot of Starbucks memorabilia — Christmas tree ornaments, tote bags, an apron, not to mention coffee cups up the wazoo, but couldn’t resist the little Lid Stopper, designed to prevent the leaks and burns I sometimes get in transporting.

Sooo cute

It’s so far so good with my sabbatical from Crafts. Other than a text message … "Good afternoon beautiful. I'm just checking on you", when I didn’t show up for Monday’s craft session, it’s been better than good thus far with no contact, no further text messages.

Even my energy level is back on par.

I’d been experiencing an energy drain for weeks. I was going downhill fast, couldn’t manage 10 minutes on the treadmill, and couldn’t determine where the leak was coming from … source of the drain.

Amazingly, as soon as I disconnected from Crafts — being in Craft Lady’s presence, I began to feel like my old self. Just yesterday and today, I was back to 30 minutes on the treadmill, a few minutes on the cross trainer, back to the treadmill for a 10-minute cooldown.

I believe she’s, what is known in spiritual circles as, an Energy Vampire.

In regular secular circles, according to google, "An energy vampire is a person whose interactions leave you feeling emotionally exhausted, depleted, or anxious. These individuals are often manipulative, demanding, and negative, and they may use charm or victimhood to gain attention and control. Symptoms of encountering an energy vampire include feeling drained, physically tense, or emotionally deflated after spending time with them."

I doubt any of the others around her are feeling "drained, exhausted, depleted", as she comes across as just a normal good neighbor and the others aren't very deep, if you know what I mean.

I empath, so I can feel and sense with the others can't … that she's working hard to come across as the lovely, generous, helpful, involved neighbor she appears to be, and I don't doubt that she's sincerely being that. However, I can feel and sense that she's putting in a lot of effort to sincerely be those things, that it's hard work for her as there are underlining issues she's trying hard to keep at bay so she won't be judged, can fit in.

It's my empathing … sensing/feeling/knowing how exhausting this must be for her that's causing her to be a drain on my life force, an energy vampire.

I can't spend a lot of time around her.

It's all good now and looks like I’ll be on sabbatical until Halloween, and then just a drive by through the Community Room to see if Halloween is the dud it’s being set up to be.

Read My Sign

Received a text message just before 7 o’clock tonight …… "Good evening beautiful".

You shouldn't have to think twice to come up with who sent the text.

She says her brother is giving her a lot of scrapbooking supplies, can I find time to do scrapbooking classes.

No, nope, not a chance.

I replied that I don’t have the energy.

It was at last Wednesday's craft class that Crafty Lady was praising the photos I'd posted to the Residents' FB page, asked if I'd taken a photography class.

I'd responded no, that because I scrapbook, I've always taken a lot of photos.

I find it highly suspicious that, after her ferreting out that I scrapbook, her brother all of a sudden comes up with scrapbooking supplies on his own, without her having brought it into being.

I already committed to Crafts tomorrow, but now I'm thinking I'll be a no show AND, if she calls or texts asking if I'm coming down, I'll just say something came up.

I think it best for me to make myself scarce, because she's creeping me out.

Regardless of how others might be reading the situation with this woman, when I put all the pieces together of what she's said, done, all the flattery, constant praising me for one thing or another, that hug, my gut is telling me …… grooming.

It's a waste of her time and, if I make myself scarce, she'll have time to reflect and realize that.

I’ve already got on my calendar to hide from Kesha on Tuesday. Now, I’ll add hide from Crafty Lady on Mondays.

On the premise that a tee is worth a thousand words, I over the weekend thought it would be a good idea to mimic the signs I was asked to make for the fridge and microwave and came up with the idea of putting "Please Note, Do Not Touch the Shirley" on a transfer, iron the transfer onto a shirt.

But then I ran across an image that says it all.

Now, when anyone other than the Baker, the Talker, Family and Blog Friends hold out their arms for a hug, I’ll simply point to the image, say "Read my sign".

Overthinking or Gut Instinct?

The Usual Suspects are nicer/kinder than myself, do not want to put a lock on the refrigerator. Instead, Crafty Lady asked me to make signs — one for the refrigerator, which she herself cleaned on Wednesday …

One for the microwave, which she also cleaned on Wednesday …

Mention of the cameras may be all it takes, but we’ll see.

When Crafty Lady first texted, asking me to make the signs, she offered to donate for paper and ink. I declined saying not necessary, that flyers and such are my way of supporting the community.

She was to have picked up the signs yesterday, on her way to 2:00 bible study in the Community Room …… there’s a group of residents that meet every Thursday to study scripture, led by the Bible Thumper that so got on my nerves a few years back.

When she didn’t show, and I later saw her on the walkway headed to her unit, I figured she’d forgotten.

Sure enough, a little while later she texted she’d forgotten, asked if I would be home today.

I’d replied no, that I had to make a run to Sprouts, but would drop the signs off at bingo (which I figured would be in progress by the time I returned).

She then texted, "Do you go to Sprouts often?"

"Oh, oh" thought I. Sensing she might want to tag along next time and me being a person that doesn't care for tagalongs, I answered without answering, said that Sprouts is the only store that offers products my sensitive stomach can tolerate.

She then texted that she’d been trying to find alfalfa sprouts, could she give me cash to buy for her.

I said sure, no problem, I’d purchase, let her know the cost after.

I was impressed with the Halloween display at Sprouts.

Wish I’d thought of adding a garland of fall leaves to my patio display — intertwined in the railings.

Returning to the complex, I popped into bingo, gave Crafty Lady the signs/alfalfa sprouts, told her to pay it forward (because, inasmuch as she gives us craft supplies no charge, not charging for the alfalfa is the right thing to do).

Instead of saying thank you, she said "Give me a hug", stood up, spread out her arms, wrapped her arms around me, pulled me in for a hug that lasted a little too long.

I found it unnecessary, really weird and strangely uncomfortable.

I feel Crafty Lady is trying to get too close and familiar with me at a level I would not like.

I question her reason for doing so.

Not only did she early on send me a Facebook friend request, which I declined, she always greets me in text and in person with "Hey, beautiful".

I don’t know folks. You can probably guess by now what my gut is telling me, while my head is saying no, you’re overthinking it because she has children, grandchildren, but I’m not so naïve as to not know that doesn’t mean what my gut is telling me can’t still be so.

I’ll still attend Crafts on Monday, hope what I’m sensing and what my gut is telling me is simply overthinking, and if it's not overthinking, that she has the good sense to pick up, understand and respect that I’m strictly dickly before she crosses the line.

Recognizance

Made my way to Crafts yesterday to check on the outcome of no one showing up for No Pizza Tuesday.

Crafty Lady tells me that after Kesha had her text us to come down and we didn’t, Kesha said that if no one shows up next Tuesday, she is going to knock on doors, that it’s part of her job to reach out to residents.

Fine by me if she knocks on random doors, lets the resident know who she is, what she does for the community, encourage them to come down on Tuesdays, but if she only knocks on the doors of us Usual Suspects — which she knows our units from her sign-in logs, then I have a problem with that.

If I hear a knock on the door next Tuesday, I’m going to assume it’s Kesha and pretend no one is home.

Inasmuch as the Activity Calendar had indicated "Fall Craft: Join in the Community Room to create a festive fall craft", I asked Crafty Lady what crafts did Kesha bring.

"None", said Crafty Lady, that Kesha had expected her (Crafty Lady) to use her own personal supplies, lead a group in crafting because, as Kesha said to Crafty Lady, "You’re my craft person".

SAY WHAT! Management won’t give Kesha money for activities she is to perform, gets credit for performing per what’s on the Calendar, so she’s expecting a resident to provide the supplies, do the work for her …… FOR FREE.

Seems Crafty Lady saw it coming, did the right thing to not support Kesha, move Crafts to Mondays and Wednesdays.

I regret what I said about the dirty dick and sandy petroleum jelly.

Other news gathered at yesterday’s Crafts session, is that Manager will be out for a while …… she’s ill, has been hospitalized.

I haven’t wished her any ill will so, if anyone is working a voodoo doll on her, it’s not me.

No info as to what her illness is, but I told the group, "She’s probably just sick of us".

I also learned that Halloween falls on a Bingo Friday. Instead of the games and costume contests we usually have, it's going to be regular bingo, but with Halloween themed bingo cards.

Sounds boring, so I may or may not check in to see if Halloween bingo is more lively than regular bingo, wear my skeleton leggings (from the Mission Inn 5K), and the new matching top.

If I'm the only one in costume so be it. Sometimes one has to make her own music, her own good time.

I was low energy yesterday, watched the others craft, took photos for the Residents’ FB page but, not feeling creative, I did not take part in String Art using beads.

Showtime!

It’s finally the 1st of Halloween.

Skelly is happily on the patio, basking in the sunlight in his cowboy outfit.

I set Skelly up a few days ago, but tonight will be the first night I turn on the patio's Halloween lights.

I’d previously posted how Next-Door Neighbor had knocked on the door, said the skull on the doormat almost scared the life out of her. Well, the day Skully made it to the patio, she knocked on the door again, pointed to Skully on the patio, said, "I don’t care for the company you keep".

She seemed serious, actually looked a little angry.

I don’t know if it’s her illness and worry about how to care for self after her operation that’s causing her to be such a pill, but inasmuch as she knows and has seen me decorate at the Month of Halloween for years, knows I go to the macabre, nothing is new.

I gave her a break because she's ill, let it go with the obvious …… "You should be used to it by now".

She has no idea how I restrained myself …… didn’t put a scary cover on the door, didn't purchase a frightening doormat I’d been tempted to buy.

I'm still tempted to buy that doormat for next year and may yet do so.

Yesterday was No Pizza Tuesday.

I walked through the Community Room last Tuesday, to see if anyone showed up for Kesha, found just one resident — the Upstairs Lady.

Yesterday, around 11:15, a mass text went out from Crafty Lady — "Good morning, just asking if anyone is coming to the Community Room".

Only three of us replied to the text — the Baker, Painted Rock Lady, myself, and we all said "no".

Then came a follow up from Crafty Lady — "Okay, I was told to ask by Kesha to see if anyone was coming. It’s supposed to be crafts, but I’m not doing them, my days are Mon and Wed, see you tomorrow".

I checked the Activity Calendar and, sure enough, listed was "Fall Craft: Join in the Community Room to create a festive fall craft".

It's kinda sad that Kesha was so desperate as to ask Crafty Lady to call folks to come down, and I wonder how long it’s going to take before she realizes she's been cancelled.

Lesson for Kesha here …… notwithstanding the fact that as a Black woman in the workforce, you need to be smart about what you say, do, how you interact with others, tone yourself down, in some cases dumb yourself down is that it's a fact of life that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

As for Crafty Lady doing crafts twice a week, Mon and Wed is a little too much communal crafting for me, as I've got my own projects here in my unit to complete.

However, I do plan to join into Crafts this morning, just so I can gather intel as to what happened after we all said no yesterday …… did anyone else happen to meander down, did Kesha use the downtime to clean out the refrigerator?

To do so would have created some good Karma for her, erased some of the negativity she's created for herself around here by having backed up management's stance when they were hard lining us on keeping the refrigerator locked.

One Step Forward

We got our refrigerator back.

Checking into crafts at 11 this morning, I made a point to check on the refrigerator, found the lock off.

The Usual Suspects verified that "yes", management turned it back over to us, but they didn’t clean it.

No wonder they kept it locked up, didn’t want us snooping around inside, because it looks a bit like they’ve been keeping a science experiment up in there.

Hopefully, the Usual Suspects will toss everything out, sanitize to the umpteenth degree, maybe bring in a HazMat team before placing any of our items inside.

I suggested we get a lock of our own to keep management out.

They laughed, but I’m dead serious.

As for the situation with the pool bathroom, turns out we have two — one for men, another for women. Manager must know the law says a facility must be provided at the pool because what she did was to take over the women’s facility for staff, turn the men’s restroom into an all-gender.

I didn’t go over to check, but the Usual Suspects tell me the all-gender has one of those sliding thingies that indicate when the facility is occupied or available for use.

None of the ladies seemed thrilled about it, because there’s a big difference between a men's bathroom and a women’s bathroom ...... and not just that there are no standing urinals in women’s bathrooms. There’s also the smell and level of cleanliness.

No disrespect to male readers, but us ladies have all had brothers, uncles, dads and or husbands/boyfriends. We know how you guys don’t always shoot straight.

At any rate, there is still a bathroom in the pool area, so Manager wins this one.

Now that we have a refrigerator to hold foodstuff for our events, the Baker says bingo is back on. Not only is bingo back in play, she and her team are already planning the Halloween event.

Woo Hoo! I get to be a skeleton after all.

Baker says she’s still upset with Kesha, as it was not the Assistant Manager who cut her off and said, "NO, THE REFRIGERATOR STAYS LOCKED! AND I'M NOT COMING HERE ON FRIDAYS TO UNLOCK IT!", it was Kesha.

The Baker says, "I’ll not tolerate being spoken to that way". So, though we’ve got our refrigerator back, you piss off the Baker, you piss off all of us.

Kesha remains persona non grata. We won’t be coming to the Community Room on Tuesday, when Kesha is on duty. She’s destined to be like the obsolete Maytag man.

Today’s craft involved stenciling.

We were given a plain board, paint, various stencils, miscellaneous items and let loose.

Results varied.

I have a feeling you readers know me well enough to pick out which is my creation.