Vaccine! Finally!

Starting on June 1st, my age group will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Yay! I was leaning towards the Chinese vaccine but, I do not think it will be available. The country just received a large shipment of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine and that will probably be my only option. I will know better on June 1st though.

I am so looking forward to this because the idea of being hospitalized and being entubated is not appealing. Once I receive both of the doses, I will schedule my health-check appointments that I have been postponing for a long time. 

Tomorrow I am taking my car for an overdue inspection. I need to get up early. I haven't planned the rest of the day yet. 

Alcoholism or any other Substance Abuse

Yesterday night, I woke up to a very loud swearing and screaming. It was also echoing through the apartment complex we live here in Antalya. This went on for about a half hour. That guy must have some lungs! 

Finally, I got fed up with it and looked to see if I could see the person. There were two of them, one causing the trouble, other trying to get him inside the building next door. I noticed other people at their windows and balconies. 

The guy was extremely drunk and was naming names, swearing and loudly yelling. I expected police to arrive for a while but, when he started saying things like taking his own life or murdering people, I decided to call the cops. As I was talking to the police hotline, 155 in this country, my uncle woke up to the noise. 

Meanwhile the second guy was able to push him into the building and take him to his apartment where he started throwing things on the floor and breaking glass. He came out to his balcony, then got dragged bck in by the second guy. I taped some of what he said just in case, he actually killed someone. My uncle was surprised that I did, because, it never occurred to him. I told himw I watch way too many cop shows.

I called the cops a second time to make them hurry and finally, as soon as the 3 police cars and one ambulance arrived, his apartment went black and we could not get to see or hear him anymore.

It took the police to get into his unit at least a good 40 minutes. I was hoping they would kick the door down but, I am not sure about the law. They tried to convince the guy to open up but finally, they kicked it down. I was worried about the second guy who was trying to control him because, from what I could see, he was skinny and had a hard time controlling the drunk guy.

I listened to the police and a medic trying to reason with the guy to take him to the hospital but, he did not budge. This went on for about an hour and I think, they left one officer with him when he calmed down. I am not sure though. All the police cars and the ambulance went away and it was peaceful after that.

Since my uncle lives here, he knows the person and told me his story. The guy is an alcoholic and he used to have his family, a wife, a son and an elderly mom living in the same apartment. When he started getting extremely drunk and abusive, the family had to leave him. His son kept on living with him for a while but, after he graduated College, he moved out too. Apparently, these episodes happen from time to time and when he does this, he feels ashamed afterwards, locking himself in, sleeping during the day and drinking at night. He seems to be well off on his own so, even though he does not work, he lives on whetever income he has and drive a luxury car.

It is so sad to see lives wasted like that due to substance abuse. Imagine how his family felt when they had no choice other than leaving him. Imagine how his son feels when his father got so out of control that he caused episodes like last night. I am sure he does not want to be who he is either. Just sad...

So, it was en eventful night. Oh well...

This weekend is the last under curfew and the Government will issue a new set of rules for gradual opening. I am hoping my beach will be opened too. So, there is something I am looking forward to.

Being Nice or Not: Part 2

This is a slightly different story than yesterday's. 

Before I moved to my current apartment, I used to rent an apartment in the same neighborhood not too far from where I live now. There were two buildings and a short driveway between them for us to reach the parking lot behind the buildings. As usual the parking spaces were scarce and people used to park on the driveway and on the street as well. The management kept telling the residents to use only the right side of the driveway to park coming towards the parking lot and not use the left side because, larger vehicles such as ambulances, fire department trucks could not turn into the parking lots where the building entrances were located. They put up signs for it too.

There was this one guy who almost always parked on the left side. Nobody else but, this just one person. The building management asked him kindly, warned him, the neighbors pleaded with him but no! The stubborn idiot kept parking his car at the same spot no matter what. Walking 50 meters at most was too much for him.

One day as I was sitting at the kitchen table having dinner, I saw an ambulance with lights and sirens coming our way. I then noticed that the ambulance was trying to turn into the parking lot but, because of the car blocking it's way, it could not. The paramedics had to get off and run into our building. Meanwhile everybody was trying to get a hold of the guy to have him move away his car. A few minutes later, the paramedics had to carry the patient on a stretcher all the way to the ambulance and took off.

The next day, I have learnt that the guy who kept parking on the left side had a heart attack. It was him who needed emergency care. When the ambulance arrived, out of panic, his family could not locate the car keys and could not move the car. He passed away right then and there. I do not know whether he could have been saved or not, even if the ambulance could go to the building entrance. I do not know if the few minutes the paramedics lost would have made a difference. 

All I know is, I am glad it was him who died, nobody else.

 It must have been Karma, I guess.

Being Nice or Not: Part 1

I am generally a nice person. I smile at people, thank them, hold the doors, park my car so that others can park theirs too. I do not listen to loud music in order not to disturb my neighbors. In short, I treat everyone as I like to be treated.

However some people do deserve to be treated badly. A facebook post of a friend reminded me of a problem that happened may be 10 years ago.

As you know, I live in a gated apartment complex that has 9 buildings, a very nice garden, cameras and security. The only shortcoming is, we do not have enough parking spaces for all, given that some families have more than one car. So, we sometimes need to park on the streets on the perimeter of the complex. There is one emergency gate for emergency vehicles to enter the complex. There is a huge "Do not park" sign along with another that specifically says the gate is for emergency vehicle entrance..

So, one night, I came from work late and parked my car further away from my apartment. As I walked back, I saw a car parked right in front of the emergency gate. I called Security but, they did not know who the owner was. I opened the windshield vipers and closed the mirrors of the said vehicle so that, the owner would know something was wrong. The next day, I saw the car there again but, parked differently so, I knew that it was driven off and parked in that same spot again. I took out a paper from my notepad and left a kind message saying that the very spot he is parked at, is for emergency use and please park elsewhere like the rest of us. 

You would think the problem was solved, right? Well, it wasn't. On Friday night I had gone out with friends and came home around 2 a.m. in the morning after dropping off all my drunk friends (yeah, I am nice like that), only to find the same car in the same place. My note was crushed and tossed not too far from the car. I recognized the paper because I was using a blue notepad those days. I went home, took out a marker and wrote "You asshole! Park here again and see if you can find your windshield wiper and mirrors!" on a few printer papers. Took my packaging tape and went out. I stuck the papers on his windows while using the packaging tape all around the car, twice no less. 

As you might have guessed I never saw the car in that spot again. Not only that, I saw it parked on the opposite side of the apartment complex after that incident for a long time.

Now, I could have chosen to do the last thing I did, the first time. I did not, and I never will because, I am a nice person. I thought, may be the person who parked there did not notice the sign, may be he had some emergency to attend to etc. at first. I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

Why can't people choose to be kind and nice in general? Why can't they be considerate and civilized? There are things in life, I will never understand.

There has been another incident which I will tell you in tomorrow's post.

Apartment living has different rules and the sanity of the people living in apartment buildings depend on others a lot.

A day that almost felt normal

Today was extremely windy so, I decided to do some shopping.  I went to a gigantic mall to hit a couple of stores. Then I went to IKEA to pick up  few items needed around this apartment. After that, I hit two different grocery stores. It took me more than three hours. It felt good to stroll around. I lmost felt normal despite the mask and the constant use of sanitizer.

I realized I missed doing this in a relaxed manner. All my grocery runs were in a rush but, today was different. The places I went to were not crowded at all. So, I did not feel threatened the way I feel these days. 

I had to warn some people to keep their social distance while waiting in line for cash registers though. Some people have no idea about personal space, social distance etc. It is amazing how they never learn. Rolling my eyes...

It is getting hot and I am still not enjoying the sea as I like. I am looking forward to June 1st for my favorite beach to open. My sister and BIL will try to take days off to spend a week with us. I am hoping they can. They are expecting to be transferred to different branches this year so, they want to take a vacation before that happens.

I have finished two of the seven books I brought with me. Yay me!

Antalya!

I came here last Monday evening after a very pleasant and much needed drive. I do love driving long distances. I missed it. A lot.

Tuesday and Wednesday were very windy and I decided against swimming. And there is a bummer: My favorite beach is closed till June 1st. There is a pebble beach very close to home but, I do not like it much. Besides, the umbrella and lounge chair rental places are also closed till June 1st. So, you have to carry your chair, your own umbrella and etc.

Anyway, I went to that beach yesterday and opened the swimming season of 2021. I could not stay long at the beach because, I did not have an umbrella. After coming home and showering, I headed to a Home Depot style store to pick up one and a few other necessities like a toilet seat cover. 

Today is not a great day and it is windy with the possibility of rain showers during the day. We are not supposed to go out over the weekend till June 1st. So, tomorrow and the next day, we are home. I will go for a long walk by the sea in a couple of hours and come back by dinner time. The beach is 7 km. (4+miles) long and there is a nice walk-way and a bike-way right along the shore. 

The shower cabin is in bad shape and I decided to change it. Uncle protested that he did not want to deal with contractors but, it is leaking and falling apart. I told him, I will deal with them. I will go check out a few contractors in the area.

Here are  a couple of pictures of the pebble beach I mentioned above called Konyaalti Beach:

Traveling!

Tomorrow at 5 a.m., the travel ban is going to be lifted and I will be on the road to Antalya to my happy place, the Mediterrenean. Until June 1, I will not be able to go out during the weekends but at least, I can swim during the week.

The only problem is, the weather is now warmer than I like. We'll see how long I will be able to bear the heat.

My sister and BIL left about a couple of hours ago. We all had a good time and it was nice to get together. Now, I am packing my suitcase, leaving behind cold weather clothes. There are a couple of things my uncle wanted. I will pack them as well.

19th is a National Holiday so, I will not be able to go out on Wednesday but, I am hoping to hit the beach and swim on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. So, I hope anyway....

I have plenty of books lined up for all summer. 

One of my childhood friends suggested that we could rent a bungalow or a cottage at the end of summer together and I could drive us both. She does not drive long distances. I like the idea. Now, we are looking for places to go. However, this friend of mine cannot make up her mind so easily so, if we do not go together, I won't be surprised or let down at all. "Keep the expectations at a minimum so as not be disappointed" is my new motto.

I gotta go hang up the laundry and finish packing. I will take my duffle to the car today and will take the flower pots tomorrow. 

Here is where I love best:

Wonderful News!

My sister and her husband were able to get a travel permit so, they are coming over! I am doing the happy dance! 

I haven't seen them since October. We will maintain our distance because they work and I have been feeling under the weather during the last few days. BUT, before they leave, I will put a giant plastic bag on my sister and hug her. Lol!

My sister is a bit of a neat freak so, although I am not feeling perfect, I did a bit of dusting and vacuuming. I feel like I am moving in slow motion but, it's not so bad.

I also did a couple of loads of laundry and hung them. Told the kids to call me when they approach home so that, I can brew them some tea. 

If you have a few minutes, I am sharing a video about tea and Turks:

Vacuum Cleaner Dilemma

With all my good intentions, I decided to vacuum the apartment today. There are two old VCs at this apartment. One heats up and shuts itself down after a while and, the other has a damaged top cover.

I decided to use the second one and of course I managed to break the handle of the top before I even started vacuuming so, it cannot be used.

The first thought that came to my mind was to get rid of both and buy a new one. My sister and I started exchanging messages as to what to get while I kept sending her my "finds" online. Then, I remembered that I am generally a frugal person so, I spoke to the Customer Rep and found out that the top cover is available as a spare part and can be delivered to my doorstep. If I wanted them to install it, that would cost extra.

I went to check to see if I can replace the cover myself and found out that, it is very easy. So, at a fraction of the cost of a new VC, I will be able to make this guy work. Isn't frugality fantastic?

I vacuumed most of the apartment with the other VC and I got tired, heated up and shut down before it did.

So, both VCs are staying. One will be patched up and the other will be used as a backup. My sister agreed that buying a new VC for an apartment that is barely used is a waste. Besides, we do not want to add to the landfills.

Then, the not so frugal side of me told me to order dinner instead of cooking tonight. Thinking about how much money I ended up saving, I decided to treat myself. Earned it, right?

Stupid!

 I do not post political content but, I am sure I have said that I am an opponent of this Government and I just hate the President.

They announced a lockdown with so many exceptions that, they cannot control it. People like I am are obeying the rules but, many people are not.

Mosque going is still allowed. Alcohol sales are banned during the lockdown. What the hell? Does COVID-19 distingusih between muslims and drinkers? They are trying to take this country 100 years backwards and trying to turn it into an Iran. I HATE THESE PEOPLE!

They lied about the vaccines. There is a shortage now. Can they do just one thing right? At first, even I believed they were doing well. Such liars! Enough with them...

Anyway, today is Day 2 and I am cleaning the balcony. It is covered with tall glass, sliding panels. They have not been cleaned in quiet a while and you won't believe the amount of dirt. I want to pour water from the outside and wash it out but I have to think about the neighbor downstairs. I will leave that to a rainy day. So, aım just washing the glass panels and mopping the floor. When I am done, I will post a picture.

I am also trying to walk at home. Yesterday I managed almost 5,000 steps but I should do better.. I think I will go back to doing Leslie Sansone's "Walk Away the Pounds".