Oh Dear, I Upset a New Neighbor

I moved into the last available apartment in my building on 3 July 2015.  I was informed there was one assigned parking spot for each apartment, and mine was number 50.  There are 30 covered parking spaces, where folks park their cars behind an apartment on the first (ground) floor and under a second floor apartment.  I have a second floor apartment, and I thought my parking spot would be one of the four underneath it.  I was wrong.  My spot is uncovered, in the middle of the parking lot, but at least I can see it from my balcony.
  The only trouble is that the architects, or planners, have the parking lot sloping back to the middle of the lot.  That means that all the rain and all the snow melt runs right into those seven spots, including mine.  And during the winter, when we have temperatures and sun enough to melt snow, all the water flows to those parking spots.  And then the temperature drops to the teens and twenties during the night, and all that standing water turns to - you guessed it - ICE.
   Last Sunday, a week ago, we had 8 inches of snow fall on top of freezing rain.  On Monday, one of the neighbors moved out - I helped him load a few things into his truck, and he had a covered parking spot.  Usually, it takes the management company one to two weeks to clean and rehabilitate an empty apartment, so I asked the building manager if I could park in John's old spot until a new tenant moved in.  Andy, the manager, said, Sure! So, starting Monday night, a week ago, I began using the covered parking spot.  I spoke with Andy this past Friday, and he didn't say anything about a new tenant in John's apartment. So I continued to park there...
   Saturday evening, as I left to feed Pip and Squeak, I found an irate note taped to the driver's window of my borrowed car.   The paper itself was about 6 inches square - but clear packing tape had been used to attach it to the window, and the tape covered the window from top to bottom and side to side. - I guess that was the best way for the writer to express his/her outrage. -  The note read: This is my parking spot.  Because you have been parked here, I have had to move in at night parking further away and crossing ice.  Moving in was not a happy experience.  So thank you very much! -  It was written in a magenta marker, and was not signed.  It took quite an effort to remove the frozen tape from the window....
   However, I have parked in my assigned spot ever since.  I also immediately wrote an apology note, which I had planned on placing on the car which next parked in spot 59, John's covered spot.  No car has yet parked in that space...  I am sincerely sorry that I made the new tenant's move harder than necessary - but it bothers me that I haven't been able to apologize, either.  -  There has been a new addition to the parking lot; a burnt orange car with an equipment pod on the top, but it might belong to someone visiting friends....
   In any event, I am sorry, but I wish I could express it to the new tenant...   *** sigh ***

A Fallen Woman, Again

I slipped and fell twice yesterday - walking along a sidewalk, and there was an angled bit for a driveway to a home.  There was a thick layer of smashed snow and ice on that part, thanks to a usual thaw during the day and freeze over at night weather...  I had walked over that section on the way to walk the dogs, and I didn't give it any special thought on the way back - even though I was treading carefully.  I somehow landed on my belly with the first fall - realized I was suddenly on the ground with my arms trying to encircle a small trash can that was frozen in the ice.  I took a few breaths, and slowly got into a four-point crouch, straightened up, and took a step onto what looked like slush with crushed ice underneath.   Appearances can be very deceiving on a bright sunny day with snow and ice all around you.   I fell sideways that time, landing on my left side with a good impact.  My left shoulder, breast, ribs, and my head took the most punishment.  I was out cold for a few seconds, I think.  I suddenly realized that I was lying on something hard and cold and that I couldn't see clearly, and I tried to think why I'd be in that condition.  Then I remembered falling, and realized my poor vision was due to a lose of my glasses.  I found my glasses about 2 feet from my head and put them on - discovering that the left arm had broken off.  I felt my face and found a few scratches, but because of the cold and ice, they hadn't bled.  I inventoried the rest of me, and decided everything was in working order, so I crawled to an area where the sidewalk was again level and stood up.  I was in a residential area, but no one was home - they were all at work.  So I brushed myself off, and went to the bus stop.
     Visited the Urgent Care Center and was told I had a concussion and a cracked rib.  Then toddled on down to the Vision Center, where I had bought the glasses, and was lucky to find a replacement arm in stock.  Got home, took a long hot shower, and took a 30 minute nap.  Then took another long hot shower.  Discovered my teeth had cut the inside of my cheek when I fell.   I didn't feel too badly last night when I went to bed - but boy howdy, was I stiff and sore this morning.  My left shoulder is nasty and I awoke with hiccups that hurt my ribs.   Otherwise, I'm A-OK.   Spent today puttering around the apartment - made pumpkin waffles for breakfast, had turkey breast and veggies for lunch, had pizza for supper.  Making homemade marinara sauce and meatballs tomorrow....  and, maybe, a chocolate cake with vanilla icing...   We'll see.  Cooking always makes me feel better.

This and That

Well, at least I've calmed down a bit from the craziness in California.  I was so upset that I ground my teeth together so hard that I dislocated my right jaw for the second time, but other than that, I'm OK.  After my diatribe the other evening, please let me make one thing clear:  I am not in favor of total gun control.  I believe that we Americans should be able to own hand guns and rifles.  If I lived by myself in a rural area, I would, personally, want to own both.  My problem is allowing the regular population to own assault-style weapons.  One doesn't need an automatic machine gun for hunting game, or scaring varmints away from the house or farm.  I believe that assault-type weapons should only be in the hands of SWAT teams and members of the Armed Forces of the United States.  I don't think there is any reason for a member of the general public or population to have an assault-style weapon.
   The coop seems lonely without Gladys.  Alcy, Io and Copper are not as friendly or gregarious as Gladys was.  Gladys and Vega were quite a pair - but Vega decided to wander away from the house one day and didn't return.  Gladys, thankfully, was a "home body."
   There is still snow on the ground, and it was 25 degrees when I left home at 7:15 this morning.  The street in front of Rosie's house is still heavily iced, as are parts of Emerald Road.  Some sidewalks are still under a coating of compacted snow, but the majority are clear.  Beatrice and I are going to take the grocery basket out and do our heavy-duty shopping today.  Kitty litter, canned cat food, toilet tissue, cereal, oatmeal, soup, crackers, nuts, juice, soda, and our Christmas turkey are all on the list to buy. She'll continue on into work, and I'll bring the groceries home and put them away.
   I just scheduled my annual check-up for the 16th - my medications will run out on the 20th, so I was lucky to get an appointment.  Have to go in fasting, for the blood draw, but other than that, it's no problem.  My  Medicare will pay for the annual visit and most of the lab-work.