ON THE WAR PATH

If the Indians don’t revolt and start attacking the soldiers, it will be a miracle. Something must be done. CW (not me) flew off the handle again and this time with the largest audience he has had to date.

The tribe had finished playing bingo and many were leaving the dining room to go back to their apartments. He tore into Chas with the longest string of foul words imaginable. He threatened to kill him and beat him to a pulp. Again Chas kept his mouth shut saying only “bring it on.” He then let him rant. When Chas finally got free and out the door, CW stormed down the hall from the entrance to the elevator yelling and swearing and threatening anyone is sight … , well I’m not sure that’s right. Maybe he was just yelling at the walls.

What he did do was frighten a large group of women who did not know where to go and hide or if they were safe. He was ranting and raving and coming right at them. They stayed in the dining room and a few backed into the kitchen. Most women are afraid to walk into the halls as it is. They look out their door to see if he is there before they leave their apartment. If he is getting off the elevator when they want on, he is given a wide berth.

It is laughable that CW called the police to report that Chas is stealing his girls. The whole issue is so ridiculous and absurd to everyone but CW. He is serious. He takes every opportunity to tell anyone who will listen about Chas stealing his girlfriends. It never happened and no one can figure out how he even got that strange idea. I was there for the very first encounter and Chas did nothing and said nothing. CW has got it in his mind that Chas is taking his girlfriends and will not let it go. No one will ever take his girlfriends. No one believes he will ever have a girlfriend. We all know he has mental issues and should never have been let into this facility in the first place. If he isn’t removed soon there will be more move outs.

At the last resident meeting to celebrate birthdays, people wanted answers to the problem and all discussion was shut off. They owe us an explanation. I don’t care how hard it is or frightened they are to listen and talk to us — it must be done. A written note taped to our door will not satisfy or answer the questions. Residents are angry.

I suspect the Housing Authority would like to wait until they can say they have found a place for him and he will be moving on such and such a date. I don’t care if he is moving tomorrow, many others, and I want and explanation as to why his language and threats are being and have been tolerated. He wouldn’t be the first mentally ill person on the street. I know that is hard and cruel and I would prefer he had a place to go. But our women deserve a safe environment. They were promised one as well. Where is it?

GROCERIES, BBQ'S, CLEANUP

GROCERIES

I swear there are times I should be hit over the head or at least slapped. Everyone here at The Home all talks about Alzheimer’s and almost every time any one of us forgets something, or can’t remember some minor issue — it comes to mind. The question I have is — does someone who has Alzheimer’s know it? Maybe one or more of you nurses will help me here.

The fact is that I have struggled to find a word, a name or an object most of my life. It just seems worse now. Many of us cannot remember something but someone nearby always finishes the end of the sentence. It’s almost like a game. I may trademark the game. I’ll keep it simple and call it “Finish My Sentence” (cleaver, right!). It could be fun. I doubt anyone here would buy the game as we play it everyday without a game board or sentence cards.

A couple of friends of mine found a great grocery store with excellent prices. They waited to go after I got my monthly allotment of food stamps. That way I could save a little on the total bill. As I paid the bill and started to leave, Gail asked if I used my EBT card. I gasped, hit my head and said, “I forgot.” Gail hit me with a paper. The whole point of going when we did was to help me save money. Duh!

SUMMER BBQ’s

We began our summer BBQ’s last night. It was a little cool so we actually ate inside. Rocky had moved the grill to a new spot and I could not get it out. A car was parked to close to a wall and the grill would not pass through the space. It took time, but I found the driver and the car was moved.

When I got the grill out of the narrow space I nearly blew a gasket. It was filthy. They have a new policy granting anyone the right to use the grill whenever they like. They need permission from Rick. Whoever used it last did not clean it up. Neither did they get permission to use it. I’m interested in a lynching. That’s probably not acceptable. Cleaning that grill is hard work. The exterior was actually the worst. There was grease on the side shelves that was caked on. The grate was also caked. I hate that. I refuse to clean it up for others to use if they will not clean it up for me. Of course, how to make that happen is — well I don’t know! Maybe I’ll try to figure out a way to lock it up. If that doesn’t work, I might try revenge. Any ideas!

CLEAN-UP

Everyone seems to be angry about our “cleaner-upper.” This woman is a personally a hoarder. I’m not kidding. There is no place to sit in her living room. She can get to her bed and there is a chair there. Her kitchen is still useable. But outside her apartment she complains about plants that she thought were not being cared for correctly. She eventually threw them away. She is upset about a corner where our unused puzzles are stacked. They are neat and not very obvious until you are almost on top of them. She never does puzzles and I want her to mind her own business. She keeps getting worse. Her way is the only way. How do you break that kind of habit?

She announces on a regular basis that she knows all about plants since she is a master gardener. On the way back from the grocery store we found a hill that needs color. I suggested we turn it over Nancy. She could walk to it from here and the hill extends for nearly a mile. That should tie her up for a long time.

RESPONSE

I love hearing from your who read my blog. I have had helpful ideas, fun comments and great observations. Thanks. I hope to hear from more as the blog progresses. You can argue with me, encourage me. You can agree or disagree. I respond to most comments so be sure to check back on the comments you have made.

LINES

I am tired of lines. I’m even more tired of being in lines behind talkers and women from another world. I don’t care if it’s a grocery store, bank or art supply store. I don’t want to be behind anyone who is personal friends with the cashier, working on dating them or becoming their best friend. All I want to do is pay for my things and leave. My patience had never been terrific and it almost disappears in lines. Haven’t they learned anything about lines from their trip to Disneyland? Keep it moving.

The talkers have their elbows on the counter are laughing and smiling and having a grand old time. They never once turn to see the crowd developing behind them. In this case I also blame the cashier. They see the line building and refuse to do a thing about it. They would be fired at Disneyland. They could tell their friend about the about the person in line who appears to be fainting because of how long they have been in the line. Then there might be understanding. But that never happens. Both of them are oblivious to anything but their own conversation. If the customer pulls out pictures of any kind, I am going to scream. When they get to the list of their relatives and how each is doing I want to tackle them out of the way. Can’t they see that steam is coming out of the top of my head?

While the talkers are the worst, the daydreamers are right up there at the top. These are the people who have no idea they will ever be asked to pay for their purchase. They watch the cashier total everything or stare off into space, see it all completely bagged and wait until the total is announced before they even begin looking for how they will pay. These are usually the women from another world. They carry purses that have everything in them including the kitchen sink. They have to unpack their suitcase and begin to look like they are preparing for a strip search to find the missing wallet or check book.

If they are paying with cash, they are going with pay with the exact amount down to the very penny. That means dumping their coins onto the counter and counting it at least twice to make sure it is correct. When the customer has completed the process of counting it out. The cashier takes over. Thankfully, she is somewhat faster.

The ones paying with their credit card are just as bad. Am I the only ones who keep my cards to a minimum? Has it not occurred to them to begin the search for the elusive card before they even left home? Is it really necessary to have a choice of 30-50 different cards? Do they not know they need both a stores discount card and a credit card? Do they not know they can’t use Safeway’s discount card at Albertsons? Don’t they know that it is the after work rush and every till is open and has a line down every aisle? Are they blind? Have they ever thought ahead about anything in their lives? Get a move on it and get out.

But the absolute worse line stopper is the one who will pay by check. They need to go to a remedial course on paying by check. I look forward to the day checks are gone for good. Find the checkbook while the cashier is checking through your items. Fill out the date, the name of the store and sign it while you are waiting. How hard is that? Do you know haw annoying you are? Do you have any idea what those behind you in line think of you? Have you completely given up being concerned about other people’s opinion of you? Maybe you have. Then think about this. Care about those behind you. Care about what you are doing with other people’s time. Care about the tantrum I am about to have. Care about the names I am about to call you. Care about the scene I am going to create because I blame you for my complete breakdown.

All right. I admit I am a very self-controlled human being. But I have bad thoughts and they are about you and your self-centered ignorant ways. You are a selfish, thoughtless sub human being and I would scream and yell and make a humongous scene if I weren’t the only one in the line that isn’t in a hurry to go anywhere. I’m retired and have all the time in the world. You are lucky I am the one right behind you. Now, just move along and get out of my way.