Death Of A Donut

“I think we are at the dawn of a new era in commercial space exploration.”~ Elon Musk

Finally, this day has come.

But why did it take so long?

This morning, I rolled on through to the community room to have coffee and there was a sign displayed that today, there will be NO donuts or fruit.

I laughed to myself when I read it. To be honest, in the past four Fridays, there’s been donuts and fruit only TWICE.

I left that stupid game more than a year ago. I was tired of the violence. Tired of the greed. Tired of it all.

After I got my cup of coffee and was starting to turn into a decent human being, there was some chatter among the other residents in the room about donuts and fruit.

Well… depending on your bend, it is sad or it is a day at last arrived.

Residents were discussing the fact that there will be NO MORE DONUTS OR FRUIT. Period. Done. End of story. I tell you, if I could have done a happy dance, I would have.

If you’ve been with me for the longest time, you’ve read the previous posts about the avarice and the insanity of donuts and the residents that consume them like they are going out of style.

And even though I am glad that the fighting will come to an end, there will be more fighting. For those who want them, they will argue and fight about the decision to get rid of them, and their disapproval. So basically they will take one fight and replace it with another. That’s just how it works here.

Management was not available for comment. But I did go to the social services coordinator and congratulated her on the “smart decision” and told her that now all she had to do was get rid of the Food Pantry distribution and the BINGO every Tuesday afternoon, and this place will turn into nothing but a boring place of business where people will remain in their homes for the rest of their lives and never come out again or for those who will get out, they will leave the property for their social needs.

1 May 2014: Resisting Vegas @ Dirty Dog Bar w/ FILTER

 

“I’m so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark.”~ Muhammad Ali

More Dirty Dog Bar.

I’ve become the rolling version of “Norm at Cheers” at that place as staff and patrons alike both know who I am or who I come for.

Even the guy at the door said to me that he had a feeling that he would see me there last night when I came through.

Man on a Mission.

After taking advantage of the opportunity for a ticket to the show to be brought TO me, and very well discounted I might add, I was getting ready to attend the my third ever show with RESISTING VEGAS. And the second time where I was paying close attention.

In a span of less than two months time, I made friends with the band, they know who I am and they know what I do and they know that I love what they do and I spread the word like your nasty uncle’s STD.

I bumped into the one they call “HOLLYWOOD” and I settled in. It would turn out to be a night of free drinks at the Dirty Dog Bar (too bad I couldn’t get that same deal at Shiner Saloon a couple of hours before!)

At any rate, members of RESISTING VEGAS were already there and waiting and to be honest they saw me first before I saw them.

I finally got my hands on a physical copy of their newest EP that just was released. That made for Dambreaker to be one helluva happy and cheeky monkey.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been growing and learning more and more about lead singer, Maranda Vegas. She’s been quite social with me via Facebook. And I think that is cool. She understands that my favorite song of theirs is “Limbo” although the band outvoted her to change the name of the tune to “Should’ve Prayed.”

Ugh. Leave it alone, guys.

But I would learn more about her and her likes and dislikes. I never thought that I would find a woman who didn’t care for flowers. But I did. So I asked what else she liked. She had no clue that I was actually paying close attention. Or she probably just didn’t suspect that I was.

The social convention for stage performers are flowers. But since she doesn’t care for them, I had to go with the next best thing. And that would be donuts.

She’s got a sweet tooth apparently. But honestly who doesn’t? 

However I got both. Roses AND donuts. I decided white roses so that there was no misunderstanding involved.

Then very quickly it was time for them to set up their stage to perform. It was just so fast. I was trying to take a photograph with Maranda but batteries were dead and now they had to set up. I ran across the street, bought more batteries at more ridiculous downtown prices and ran back across the street to and back in.

So I set up camp. And nobody else came forth. It was strange. I was the only person within miles of the stage no matter from which angle that you measured.

It had to be upsetting for the members of the band. Maranda even just came close to me and simply said “hey thank you for coming!” because it honestly looked like I was the only one there. Anyone else was just there doing their own thing and ignoring the stage.

Of course I sat there, I figured that something had to give and soon both Maranda and Fernando was able to convince about eleven more people to approach the stage and that included lead singer to Black Heart Saints who played first before them.  

After that everything was set on cruise control and the night just rocked itself until the end of the set.

Although I was kind of proud of Maranda. The only thing that matters for her is that I think she’s got a terrific singing voice. I could listen to her sing all day long. And I wouldn’t even mind if she wanted to try a lullaby to put me to sleep. I do think she would end up being successful at it.

During “Limbo” I totally forgot about the shout during the middle of the song by Fernando. He crept up to the microphone and belted it out and I about shit my pants in terror. This is what I get for not paying attention to everything going on around me.

Later, I took the EP that I had and tossed it to guitarist Cameron Stewart. He pointed out that everyone in the band now had stage names and he was intending on autographing the EP with his stage name. The CD was then passed along to other band members with him insisting the stage names be signed. And so there you have it. My first RESISTING VEGAS CD and its signed with stage names.

The night was capped off with band shenanigans. And I got to witness every last one of them. I believe that the members of the band forgot that I have a blog. Or did they????? 

I could list their activities, but then again maybe I won’t. All I have to say about it is that if you are in the area and you don’t show up to one of their shows ….. you miss out. Period.

I laughed so hard that I totally forgot about that one time last week about that one thing that made me sad for a few hours.

I laughed so hard that I totally forgot about the disappointing results prior in the evening at Shiner Saloon.

That’s how hard I was laughing. Nevermind the lack of oxygen, the drool on the corners of the lips, the tears welling up in the eyes, and the skin turning red. I laughed so hard I started forgetting stuff.

The next band that was playing on stage while I was in the midst of ruckus laughter was called Downfall 2012. They finally got my attention when they did a heavy metal cover of the R&B classic “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-A-Lot.

Think about that one for a moment: heavy metal version of “Baby Got Back.”

Yeah, you’re welcome…

It was fun to listen to. Not a single person in the place was NOT singing along to it, even HOLLYWOOD was “Quick to retrieve it.”

I did not stay for FILTER as I made the stupid mistake of deciding to go back to the Shiner Saloon. So I said my farewells and left. Shocked all of the members of the band in the process of departing.

In a few weeks RESISTING VEGAS will return to the Dirty Dog Bar and I am hopeful that I will come back as well. The Dirty Dog knows me and I, it. Is it possible that I am turning into a regular??

Wherever RESISTING VEGAS shall go in town, I shall make quite the effort to be there. Hell or high water.

Donuts Are Dead To Me

“I realize you can’t please everyone.”~Gemma Ward 

I think I’m seriously done with the whole Friday morning “Coffee & Donuts” drama.

I’ve run out of energy to deal with this shit, and I’m beginning to fail to see the rewards in getting up every Friday morning, only to witness the total and complete avarice of people.

This situation is always going to piss off someone. And usually that “someone” is a person or people who got left out for that week’s donuts. Mainly because they didn’t receive any.

The whole idea of having coffee and donuts came from a previous apartment manager who decided to give a reward (and a little incentive) to those residents who would sign up and go walking at the local mall in the morning. We still have the activity of mall walking every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning. But the previous person in charge gave as a reward to those who stuck with it.

But then the coffee and donuts would spread to the rest of residents of the apartment complex. This being the incentive of getting the residents out of their homes and actually participate in some fellowship.

Ever since I have been here, it has always turned into a major FUBAR Fest, and it comes from people who just cannot control themselves.

The biggest issue that we’ve had is the fact that we have some residents who have been taking so much more of their fair share. And these people happen to be bilingual, and they speak English as a second language. They have been most capable of using the excuse that they don’t understand English when they are getting screamed at by others who are behind them in line when suddenly 4 donuts and 10 pieces of fruit are taken by them. Fruit is also presented along with the donuts. Apples, bananas, etc., and this is for those who cannot eat sugar or are diabetic.

One Korean neighbor has been allowed to take more than her share because she has a husband at home. The assumption was that she was going to take a donut to her husband as well. But this destroys the whole idea of having residents come out of their homes to enjoy. At some point, it had been allowed for a husband/wife to take an additional food item for their spouse. This suddenly became the excuse for those taking so much, because their “spouse” was still at home. And it went even further to claim that their spouse “couldn’t make it out” for whatever reason.

This same neighbor always uses the excuse that they do not understand English. Whether or not they do, isn’t the point any more. Their families have been contacted to have it explained to them in their native language that there are rules and that they are breaking them!

So when the other residents see this atrocity continuing to happen, they want vigilante justice done and served. They feel as if staff has abandoned them because they’ve complained so much about their actions to staff. And to be honest, for a while it had calmed down with the Koreans. But then the others who are bilingual took on the same act. And then others who speaks English followed as well. People taking so many donuts and pieces of fruit that they don’t leave shit for anyone else to enjoy.

Some tried doing this on purpose in an effort to be noticed and hoping that others would notice their mistakes and that they would stop doing what they were doing. But it only got others to join the ranks of the eternally and perpetually pissed off.

What does that do? That brings a whole new group of people running to the management office to bitch and complain. And the cycle repeats. But with a new set of people.

Here is the thing that I have witnessed: The groups of people that bitch and complain so much about how others are taking too many, are the same ones who are guilty! And others who bitch and complain about it in general, are the ones that don’t come out of their homes and join the rest of the people. And so I find it totally ridiculous that they are saying anything at all.

I take TWO donuts and I leave it alone. Now I’m being told that I should only take ONE donut (or fruit) and if everyone else who is there has gone through, I can go back again and take ONE MORE. Still, that equals two. I have recently taken TWO and gone back for no more.

I’m sick and tired of this!!!!!!

So now today, I’m told that it is wrong to take two at one time. Even if I do not go back. It was also said that a note would be distributed to all of the residents, reminding them of the “rules” of participating in having coffee & donuts every Friday morning.

I do not know how well that will go over. I DO know that by the judge of characters that live here, it will be something that they will groan about for a long time. Until the next useless thing to bitch about comes along.

But I was told that I was wrong.

Okay… fine. Something I can correct in the future.

For months and years now,  I have seen so much bullshit coming from this activity of having coffee & donuts every Friday morning, only to have it piss off someone because they do not like what others are doing and they can’t keep their mouths shut about it. Or act like an adult.

Someone is ALWAYS taking more than they should when they first go through the line. And even some others will go back the second time through once the first round is over, and do it again!

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over???

Management has time and time again stated that the Friday morning activity is NOT mandatory! It is something that was a special treat for people. And it still doesn’t sink in with these people. Either they just don’t give a flying fuck or they hide behind the fact that they “don’t speak English”.

Those members of staff today were not the ones who were working when this got started. They all understand that this is not something that is mandatory to happen every week. And in fact, I have personally gone to members of staff and begged them to stop having coffee and donuts altogether.

Management no longer likes to get involved with it in the first place. I can see that management doesn’t even want to bother with it anymore because it is not staff’s job to babysit the residents and making sure that they behave. I see their point. I agree with them. And so I have been so encouraging to them to have them get rid of it all.

Staff has not done so yet. Today’s events however was an announcement that residents were to take either ONE donut or ONE piece of fruit and then sit down. Once the crowd had gone through, they can get up and get ONE more donut or ONE more piece of fruit.

But I hadn’t gone through yet. And I shouted out that I still hadn’t gone for the first time, and I could feel the daggers coming in through people’s eyes.

I was busy. So what?!? Now I am going to get a donut. Bite me!!

When I got there, there was plenty left over. Especially the chocolate covered donuts. I took a glazed donut. I always do. That is my preference. By that time, I’ve already had insane amounts of coffee that I don’t need chocolate or decorated pure sugar to help.

There’s been some gossip earlier this week about how there’s going to be a a group of people who will volunteer to distribute the food items to the rest of the people every Friday morning. I see all kinds of wrong in that. There may be someone who can be fair and just in the distribution. But eventually, they are going to feel “entitled” and have a false sense of power and authority.

I COULD abuse that sense of entitlement when I distribute food for Food Pantry Day. And even if it has been allowed by members of staff as a way of saying “thank you for all of your help”, I don’t always take up the offer. I probably haven’t done that in over six months. But this is NOT food pantry… this is coffee and donuts.

I can see how this idea of having a few select people could turn up bad because they just might secretly slip their closest friends and neighbors an extra piece. And they could also argue the fact that they are entitled to another piece of food because they are the ones that have been placed in charged.

Those of whom I know who want to volunteer for this weekly duty… are the guilty ones who bitch and moan and have in the past, taken more than their fair share.

I’ve been caught up in this nonsense for a long time. And I really need to let it go. I think from now on I am simply NOT going to partake in any donuts. Sure, I’ll have coffee like I do every morning it seems. But no more of this donut drama for me! I don’t care if the others kill themselves over this because it is stupid.

I’m done with it all.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!