We had a good weekend, mostly. Saturday, we got up early and prepped lunch to take with us on our outing day. I knew it was going to be a long day, and I also knew that we have like NO extra money at all, whatsoever. I aligned my expectations for the day. Knowing that we were not going to be able to buy ANYTHING at the maker’s markets made things a little hard. But I truly don’t need anything. I was just looking forward to making introductions with people I have met on Threads. Window shopping was just an added bonus.
I cut, washed, and packed a very simple green salad, because that was all we had. Lettuce, carrots, croutons and dressing. I told you it was simple, lol. We got the mini cooler out, and packed it up. I got dressed and took a dose of Wellbutrin. First time back on it in two months. Daniel, my psych warned me about certain side effects- sweating, increased energy, etc. I put it at the back of my mind, and we were off!
We arrived at the first event, which was being held at Geeky Teas and Games. HUGE space with a gaming store, that had replicas of a Tardis and a Dalek just inside the entrance. I was intrigued. They had a tea shop that sells a tea my brother had purchased for me FROM THEM. That was cool! The place was like a very large labyrinth, with rooms and alcoves full of people playing RPGs.
We finally found a room that had the maker’s market going on. A VERY enthusiastic vendor greeted us, and gave us an excited presentation and tour of the space, but walked us into an additional room with even more vendors. We strolled through the first room, talking with the artists and collecting business cards. Once we made it to the second showroom, I immediately found one of the women that I had been talking to on Threads and introduced myself. She makes beautiful Gothic and Victorian accessories using reclaimed materials from mostly unusable vintage and antique garments. When Rick started talking, we realized that her husband would get along great with Rick, so we exchanged business cards. While Rick and Tatiana were talking, I began to feel icky.
I was sweating SO MUCH that it was pouring down my thighs, and it was then that I realized that in my hurry to get everything else done that morning, I had forgotten to put panties on! It’s okay if you laugh at me, I laughed after the fact, too. I excused myself to go to the restroom and mop myself off. It took me TEN MINUTES to find the restroom in this expansive building! Once I had completed my mop up, I rejoined Rick and Tatiana, but asked Rick if we could step out for a few, so I could reclaim my composure.
Rick reached for my hand and knew INSTANTLY that I was not okay. “Sweetie, you’re all clammy. You okay? You want to go?” Despite REALLY wanting to do an entire loop of all the vendors, and the store itself, I knew I needed to wave the white flag.
As we were leaving, we noticed that the store had an entire office like space dedicated to rescue cats! THEY HAD CATS! I also grabbed a free ICE OUT whistle at the cash register. I left feeling a bit defeated. I had not really participated in any meaningful way, didn’t take any pictures of allllll the cool stuff we saw. But when I got to the car, I remembered what the mission was: making actual introductions with people I met online. THAT was the mission.
We knew we had time to kill before the next event, so Rick said we had just enough money to get the two burrito special at Del Taco. Eight bucks for two chicken, rice and bean burritos with green sauce. We ate while we drove to the area where Rick works. He wanted to show me the Grocery Outlet there. He said they had a really cool selection of frozen Indian food and other things that our Grocery Outlet doesn’t carry. We did a quick loop of the sections, and I decided to rob Peter to pay Paul, so to speak. I could borrow a few bucks from the utility bill in order to get a few things.
We found a package of almond butter filled pretzel bites for 1.99, protein and prebiotic bacon mac and cheese for .88 a box, Barista blend no sugar oatmilk for .99, a good loaf of sourdough for 3.89, and something else that I can’t remember.
Rick insisted we go through a specific line because that was the checker he usually deals with when he stops off on the way home to grab what we need.
The checker did not disappoint. He remembered Rick and they got to bantering briefly. We had planned to go check out the Dollar Tree next door, mainly to get much needed toothpaste, but my body was not cooperating, and I mostly forgot about the side quest. So we headed over to the next event, which was being held at an animal sanctuary.
When we arrived at the next event, I took note of the length of the walk from the car to the animal sanctuary, which is set WAY back from the street, and we walked the length of a city block before reaching the sanctuary itself. Boy, was I glad that I had brought my largest thermal cup of ice water and a floppy hat with me. It was about 80 degrees out, but I was determined to see some farm animals and meet another new friend.
We made a ten dollar donation to the sanctuary, which gave us access to the barnyard and bird area. Thus began a two hour journey through joy with Rick, a few pigs, very friendly goats, a painfully timid mini horse, that had been used as a child’s reluctant play thing before coming to the rescue, and a pair of roosters that had zero idea about personal space.
They warned us that the roosters like to stand on people’s heads, but when it actually happened TO ME, I was both surprised and elated to interact with another living creature. One rooster, Bob, even let me hold him. The pictures are FANTASTIC.
After spending almost an hour in the barnyard, we headed over to the bird area, which is where they house hens of all types, doves, and turkeys. We had thoughtful and insightful discussions with the volunteers as we sat and watched the birds living their best lives. Rick took a liking to a male turkey, and the turkey most definitely loved Rick. Rick sat on the ground next to the turkey’s enclosure, and they “talked” for over half an hour.
We knew we had to drive about half an hour to the Kaiser pharmacy in Pasadena by four, and it was pushing 3 p.m. before we went looking for the vendor I wanted to meet. When I approached her table, I simply said, “Hi Val, I am Sam.” It took her all of ten seconds before she recognized my name. She JUMPED up and ran around the table to embrace me excitedly.
We talked for a bit before she made a comment about my photography. “You’re SO GOOD. My husband told me to ask about your pricing because we are definitely interested!” I hemmed and hawed for a few seconds, and then asked if she was open to trading services. She is a psychic and animal communicator, and I would relish a chance to have a reading, and maybe get a message from my dog, Gracie, who died two years ago. She said she’d be HAPPY to do a reading, but also added that her husband could build me a complete website for my photography, including an AI “secretary” that answers calls, makes appointments, and screens potential clients.
What a score. While standing there, the profuse sweating began again, and given our time limit, I decided it was time to go. Once we started the very long walk to the car, I realized that I was out of water, and my body chose to betray me. My knees began buckling and I felt like I had a 100 pound weight on my shoulders. By the time we made it to the car, I was whining and crying.
We drove the canyon road to the pharmacy and had a quick chat with Rick’s mom while we drove.
I spent the rest of the afternoon/evening resting, as moving, even through the apartment became a very painful venture. We watched a few episodes of Wonder Man, parts of which were filmed in our neighborhood!!! After finishing the series, I was medicated and well on my way to slumberville at just 9 p.m.
Sunday, we had planned on doing laundry, but really did not have the funds to go to the laundromat and do the three large mesh bags of dirty clothes we’ve been collecting for a month. We counted out the quarters we had on hand, and Rick raided his stash of change in the car and we found enough for TWO loads.
I told Rick to do one load of just his stuff, and I would do MY load and maybe one fitted and one flat sheet, so we could have fresh linens. I asked him about lunch, and he said he was hungry. I went to the kitchen and discovered that the fresh loaf of sourdough we had purchased the day before was not usable, and it had a very large hold running through the entire middle of the bread, and we only had two slices of bread from an old stale loaf left. I went to the cupboards- NO CANNED GOODS, NO SOUP, NOTHING.
Having lived so long in a state of lack and survival up to a year ago, not having food at the ready stresses me GREATLY. Me being me, I threw a mini tantrum in the kitchen. Rick took that as he was not a good enough provider. Maybe it was the second dose of the anti-depressant playing games with my brain, but that launched a two hour period of us both taking space from one another.
I felt like he was putting words in my mouth about our woeful lack of pantry food, and making it an attack on his ability to provide. He felt hurt by my words, even if it was a commentary about my own lack of ability to help more financially. We talked it out, and I sincerely apologized to him that my words caused him worry or hurt.
Working with the company he works for is basically paying for his medical insurance, and the trade off is dealing with a nasty owner. I told him that it wasn’t worth it to struggle. He said they probably have half a week of work left, which will mean he’ll be home and available to take me around to food pantries in order to procure some food.
Until then, we will survive on a big batch of chili that we froze a month ago, along with salads, and rice, to bulk it up a bit.
When we do have the time to go to a food pantry, we will focus largely on vegetarian options, with fish being the only animal proteins that we will take in from now on. The health benefits and the costs associated, will help.
I am going to spend the week learning to make my own tortillas and bread, with a few treats thrown in, as I have five bags of flour, numerous baking mixes, and other baking essentials. I have an abundance of sauces, dressings, seasonings, and bouillon in the cupboards that can be used to enhance simple ingredients.
We had hearty portions of veggie filled chili and rice, with a large addition of grated cheddar I had on hand. There was enough left to provide a big portion for Rick’s lunch, along with dinner tonight, and maybe his lunch tomorrow. I am going to add the chili to macaroni for dinner tonight, and I’ll make some cornbread or corn cake.
We’ll make it. We always do.
I am hoping to complete the crafty cookbook for Zoe’s Valentine’s Day care package. I hope to have just enough money left over to ship it to Seattle this week.
We’re poor, y’all. But we’re scraping by, which is more than some people have. I am grateful for what we can provide. Things can only get better, right?
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