You Can Make A Difference, Just CHOOSE To!

 

Our Oldest Daughter celebrated her 30th Wedding Anniversary recently, doesn't seem that much Time has passed.  We don't hear from her hardly at all now, but Two of her Three Adult Kiddos are pretty interactive Online via FB, so I know what's going on and they Share loads of Pixs.  The Youngest of the Trio of Granddaughters back East isn't real active on FB, she's still Single, no Kids, but has a long time Boyfriend.  She and I used to be closest, she's got my Aesthetic and Interests, just doesn't use Social Media that much, nor does Princess T so it's not so unusual for some of the Younger Generations now to refrain from Social Media.  But, since it's the primary form of contact for those who don't live near, I would like them to use it more so I know what's going on in their Lives from a distance.  But they know what's going on in ours due to my FB Page... none of them are Bloggers or Readers of Blogs tho'.

I don't mind that few people I know in Real Life read or write Blogs anymore, some used to, they dropped out.  It's a shame coz some had decent Blogs, some had good or even impressive loyal Followings, but, they quit, for whatever their reasons were.  Many were Industry folk who dropped out of that too, for whatever their reasons were, it happens.  In fact, when I went in to the Antique Mall Today while The Man was in his Cardiac Rehab, I noticed the Vacated Booths, a lot of them, and others that clearly are in process of Closing Out and bailing.  Sales tanked this Pay Period, so, tho' a Strong showing last Pay Period, it's not consistent enuf to be sustainable for those not doing it merely as a Hobby or Downsizing their Possessions.  If they're relying on the Income for it, they are floundering and thus, doing the Right thing by throwing in the Towel.  

We're losing some of the Best Vendors with the Primo Merch tho', I was saddened to see some of the Best have left or are leaving again.  The Crap Hawkers remain, coz they Sell Cheap Crap and folks buy Cheap Crap with consistency.  And Quality or Merch of Value with less consistency.  What can I say?   It's the Sign of our Times I guess, can't say I Like it, but it is what is just is.  And if you're Selling the Popular Stuff that folks Collect, you're doing alright right now, Pokemon is a prime example, anything Pokemon is Selling like crazy, I've Sold almost all of it I've brought in thus far, you can't go Wrong with it.  I'm not opposed to Modern Collectibles that folks just dig, some endure, others are a brief Fad, Pokemon has endured and gets hotter all the time now.  Our Son and our G-Kid Force always Collected it and still Love it.  Princess T has a lot of the Pokemon Plush Characters she's Keeping and Displays in her Room.

I'll buy anything Quality Pokemon I find at a Chazza for her to Keep, or to Resell in our Locked Case and Showroom coz it's a No-Brainer Quick Turn and Profitable.   It's helped keep the Rent Paid at the Antique Mall, what can I say?  Rental Space is expensive, sometimes Vendors don't consider that aspect of Selling out of a Shop or Antique Mall.  The overhead erodes your Margins considerably these days.  And hardly anyone pays with Cash now so then you have the Fees when they use Credit or Debit, and Commission, and whatever you Paid for your Merch, so, you do have to factor that all in and decide if it's Profitable enuf for you... or not?   Most Collectors didn't always consider Resale when they were Collecting whatever they were Passionate about, especially Serious Collectors.  So, some didn't make their Money on the Buy.  And sometimes something is an Investment only until it's NOT.  What the Market bears is always shifting and changing with the Times, something is Hot until it's NOT.  And Repops or Mass Produced items can be more Popular with Buyers than the Real Deal.

I'm always Observing the Metamorphosis of the Industry and those who are Re-Inventing themselves to stay relevant in it and not have to Close Shop.  Some are quite Clever and Brilliant about it and the Marketing and Showcasing of whatever they're hawking.  I'm not working as hard at it as I should be, I haven't had the Time nor the Priority and Inclination to actually, which, could be why Sales aren't as Strong... but... mebbe not.  I see some Excellent Vendors working Hard, providing the Best Inventory, Showcasing it Expertly, Pricing it well, and still not thriving, so you just never know.   I can commiserate with how hard it's becoming as any Small Business Owner to keep going becoz all the Bailouts and preferential treatment goes to the Billionaire Corporations and Big Business, not the Small Industries, tho' they are the Backbone of America and probably employ at least half of the Workforce.  The most profitable Big Companies get Corporate Welfare, preferential Tax structuring, and Taxpayer Subsidies while still being allowed to exploit their Workforce shamefully.

 

 

Do you know that a good percentile of our Active Duty Military are on Public Assistance Programs coz they can't afford some of the Cost of Living in places they are involuntarily deployed to Nationwide or Overseas in defense of our Nation and Democracy?   That's shameful, but they have to move often, don't get to choose where to, often the Non-Military Spouses have to give up their Employment and Income in support of their Active Duty Spouse, and they don't always get Base Housing so have to live on the Economy where affordable Housing may not even exist.  My Parents had to live in some substandard Housing during my Dad's long Military Career, and often we were considered among the Poor when Dad was still low ranking Enlisted.  I got Rickets from malnutrition and food deficiencies at one point... when I was very Young and my Dad was a lowly A1C.   

It is a fallacy that all Poor don't have Employment or are too Lazy to Work to Earn enough.  Many work very hard, my Dad always worked Two Jobs all his Life to make the ends try to meet and give us Opportunities he never had.   I know many folks with Degrees that are grossly Underemployed or even Unemployed for prolonged periods, coz there are no Jobs hiring them for what they earned those Degrees for.  I know many Seniors still Working coz their Pensions and Social Security aren't enuf for just basic Essentials now or to afford their Medications and Medical Expenses that Medicare doesn't or won't cover.    And if they get real Sickly or require Long Term Care, they're screwed.  And if they are Aging but not yet eligible for Medicare, Social Security, or Retirement, and get real Sickly or Injured, or lose their Jobs/Careers, they're screwed.   And the Safety Nets have been gutted now and are not there to catch most.  

Just the DOGE cuts alone are said to be responsible for over 800,000 Deaths abroad from USAID being slashed by Elon.   And over half a Million of those Deaths are Children!!!  The Mortality Rates last Year are the worst in 35 Years, with 200,000 more Children Dying due to cuts in Services, which on average cost about $10 per Child to have retained those Services and prevented needless and preventable Deaths.  That's a disgrace and unconscionable.  Yet the World's 1st Trillionaire is responsible for it and refuses to acknowledge those Deaths are the Blood on his Hands and he's made the decision for those Cuts in Services that causes such staggering Mortality of Human Beings.  If a Child isn't worth Ten Bucks to anyone, then they have simply lost their most basic Humanity and hardened their Hearts to a level they should be ashamed of.  I've continually Sponsored 3rd World Children since I was only 13 Years Old and used my Babysitting Money and what I earned at my 1st Jobs at European Flea Markets to fund doing so.  It's not so sacrificial.  Small things done with great Love and Compassion make a difference.

When I was only 13 and decided to do that, my Parents encouraged me, mostly coz I worked a lot, Saved a lot, and even some of my Relatives on the Reservation had been Sponsored by this same Organization.   So, Poor Children in America are included in Sponsorship, we have always had the Poor with us too, some living as if in a 3rd World Country, even in the Richest Country in the World.   And I'm reminded of something I heard when a Tween that impacted me profoundly, of a Boy who ran along the Beach throwing stranded Starfish back into the Ocean.  There were clearly too many for him to Save them all, so someone asked him why he even bothered, coz he couldn't possibly make a big Difference.  And as he threw yet another back into the Ocean he simply said, well, it made a big Difference to THAT ONE.  I have Sponsored mebbe a Dozen Children now, my current Sponsored Child is turning 13 soon.  So I've made a big Difference in over a Dozen and their Families, just thru that Organization, a small thing done with great Love and consistency over Time still matters.

The Cycle of Poverty thru being able to continue Education and stay in School for the Sponsored Child, especially Girls, broke the Curse of Generational Poverty for them.  The very 1st Child I Sponsored, Wilhelmina, became a Nurse.   Another I Sponsored, Charro, became a Teacher.  Theresa was able to stay in School and then support her Ailing Father, who was a Single Parent and became too ill to Work to support them, becoz her Mother and Younger Brother had Died, leaving just the Two of them.  Her Brother had been The Son's Age, both were Infants at the time, it impacted me how much higher Infant Mortality was in many Communities where most Children never survive to Adulthood.  Even my Dad lost Three Brothers to Child Mortality, Indigenous Children still have a higher Mortality Rate in America.  Only the strongest and luckiest Survive to Maturity.  Just some Inspiring Stories of what a Monthly Sponsorship provided that Changed Lives in a meaningful and often Profound way, altering their Future in Positive ways, probably for Generations to come.  You can make a Difference, you have to just CHOOSE to.

I'm not in the Mood to re-read some of my Posts that are Publishing and have been sitting out there awaiting Publication, so excuse any typos or what isn't making sense.  The partial Aphasia from the Stroke I had last December still sometimes has my Brain scrambled for Words I'm wanting to convey and what comes out in Speech or the Written Word.  Those 'replacement' Words can be totally out of context, so it can be Funny coz I don't even realize I've said or written a completely different Word.  *LOL*  I see the Dark Humor in it probably only becoz I mostly came back Online in my Head recovering from the Stroke and the re-wiring is just a little crossed and not a lot crossed to where I can't successfully communicate.  *Whew*  Still no word coming from the Doc's Office, so, still in Limbo about the Physical 'Mass' Tests discovered that I didn't even know I had.  I'd like to know what it is, the sooner the better.  Not a Fan of vague diagnosis that has more Questions than Answers or could be in error.   I'm Thankful they found it if it is something Wrong, coz I wouldn't have otherwise known at all... no alarming symptoms.

  

I'm fatigued is all and let's face it, my Life, plus my Age = Fatigue.  And may actually have nothing at all to do with what they think they've found?  And I also wanna know what else I gotta go thru to be a lot more conclusive about what it is too?  I can't Plan out much when there's a looming big ole' Question Mark with mebbe an Exclamation Point in my immediate Future!?   I am trying to be proactive about getting things here at Home squared away in case I have some Down Time coming?  The Son has been walking to Work when he has to be there by 5:00 a.m. so he doesn't have to Wake me that early.  Otherwise he'd be getting me up around 4:30 a.m..  Even tho' I still have to be up by 5:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and 6:00 a.m. on Wed-Sat for Princess T to get to Work on time anyway.  And, I'm slowly becoming a Morning Person now, who knew?  That this Old Vampire Late Night Person would completely switch like that so late in Life?!  *Ha ha ha*

I watched a disturbing Documentary, well, most Documentaries are disturbing... anyway, this one had some parallels to something we went thru when The Young Prince was only 14 too... only, he didn't Die like the Lovely 14 Year Old Boy in the Documentary!!!   But the parallels were chilling of Predatory Grown Men using Online Gaming to Groom underaged Youngsters to prey upon.   Very long time Readers may even remember our situation when our Genius Grandson, at the Age of 14 was heavily into Gaming Online and meeting who he thought were other Kids his Age who were Gamers.  Well, one was 18 and acting like this 18 Year Old in the Documentary, who was a Sexual Predator and utilizing Gaming to Target his Victims and Groom them for exploitation and nefarious purposes.   Kids are Trusting, Naive and vulnerable, even if they're not Special Needs Kids, who are just more vulnerable than most and easier Prey.

 The Mom in the Documentary, like me, knew this was no Child interacting Online with Children and she did everything Right, just as we did.  But, sadly, her Child got in too deep and ended up Dead and Authorities didn't do their Job correctly about this Guy, who had serious Priors, had they only Investigated him.   I remember this Mister Wonderful our Grandson encountered promised the World to our Grandson and wanted him to move across Country to come live with him!   Luckily for us our Grandchild was still a Ward of the State, coz I didn't get the Adoption Finalized until he was 15, and I alerted his Caseworker, Miss Robin, about this Older Teen and my suspicions he was a dangerous Predator... and we'd encountered Predatory Behavior before, about a Year earlier, a lot of Gay Children are Targeted quite early and Socially want to fit in more. 

  Unlike this Family in Gt. Britain in the Documentary, we were taken more seriously by Authorities, they weren't, the Authorities blew them off and thus their Child met up Secretly with this sick perverse Murderer and was horribly Killed.  And I know how it is not to be taken Seriously by Authorities becoz the time before we weren't either.  It was Miss Robin, our CPS Caseworker, who filed Complaints with and against our Local Police Dept. for how they handled that Episode of Sexual Minor Exploitation.   Our Grandson is still traumatized by what happened to him as a very Young Tween at the hands of Sexual Predators much Older than him, you cannot undo the damage done to Children who are Victims of Predatory Adults who Targeted and exploited them.  It's a very real Danger with Social Media since even Adults can be fooled by whose on the other end of a Computer or Cellphone. 

 Children don't stand a chance.  At the time our Grandson was exploited, he wasn't even allowed by us to own a Cellphone, but they used Computers at School and almost all other Kids had PC usage at Home and Cellphones.  So, no matter how careful you are as a Parent, and I felt this Mom in the Documentary had been a vigilant Parent and tried to seek Help when she realized her Child could be in Danger, you can't insulate them from the whole World around them.   The Documentary had more than one Case but that Case resonated with me coz we had a similar Experience but with a better Outcome Thankfully.  Another Victim covered was also 14 and a Female who an Adult Male met Online and formed a 'Relationship' with.   That ended up with DV and then escalated to Murder when she got Old enuf to finally realize he was dangerous and tried to end their Romance, that put her at grave risk.  Trying to leave an abusive Relationship puts the Victim at high Risk actually for Murder.

 Becoz she was a Poor Hispanic Child from Compton, when she was Killed at only 19, her Family weren't taken Seriously and her Murder not covered.  Women of Color don't receive the same attention as Victims. Everyone realizes Cases like Gabby Petito get huge Media coverage coz she was White, and had an Online presence, that piques the Interest of Society and "Values" her Life more.  Anyway, for this DV Murder Case one of the Girl's Friends turned to Social Media in that Case via TikTok. Since Police were doing nothing to Solve it even tho' it should have been an Open and Closed Case coz the Boyfriend was a Prime Suspect, but, they never even picked him up to interview him.  Due to the TikTok doing it's Thing and going Viral, it did eventually cause enuf Pressure on Authorities to catch the Perp and solve the Case. 

 Becoz Internationally the Case blew up in their faces, a Tipster saw the Guy in Rosarito, Mexico {The Daughter lived there many Years}, Video Recorded him at a local Bar and sent it to the Family to give to Police.  Mexican Authorities then Arrested and Extradited him to the U.S. for Prosecution.  Otherwise she and her Family never would have received Justice or attention.   Anyway, the Documentary was going over the Benefits and the Drawbacks and Dangers of Social Media, how it can be used for Good... and for Bad Purposes.   It was called "Hash#Murder".  I haven't watched all the Cases, those Two kind of Emotionally drained me.  But it's a good Documentary to bring Awareness to the Public, especially Parents, and to Young People in particular, what can happen.  I Worked many a File at the D.A.'s Office like those Cases, so I'm not Unaware, and perhaps why I never let my Grandkids use Social Media as early as most Families, or even own a Cellphone early.  But, you can never be too Careful to Protect a Loved One from this World and who they'll meet in it. 

I do watch a lot of Forensics and True Case File TV, kind of Force of Habit from being in Criminal Law for so many Years I guess.  I like to see what has improved in catching Criminals, mostly in the way of Forensics Advancements and Improved Police Work at Solving Cases.  Every Victim and their Families deserve Justice be Served.  Pretending these things don't happen and trying to Sanitize Society and Dangers out there is not Helpful for your Safety or the Safety of your Loved Ones and Friends.  People always assume it could never happen to them or someone they know, but, it does.  I've had Friends who ended up Murder Victims or Victimized in other ways.  I was a Victim as a Young Teen, some of my Family have been Victims of Crimes... it happens with more frequency than most people realize it does.  And there is no such thing as a "Victimless Crime" either.  Every Crime committed has Victims of said Crime.   All Criminal Behavior should be Prosecuted and there should be consequences of engaging in Crimes.  Nobody should be Above the Law or Devalued as a Victim of a Crime.

Below, one of the Acai Tropical Mango & Fruit Bowls at "Robeks", which is a Juice Bar and I'm becoming rather addicted to.   It has Acai Sorbet, Mango, Coconut, Strawberry, Banana, Bee Pollen and Honey... OMG, so refreshing on a really Hot day.  Oddly, the location near us gives a Military Discount and the one really closer to the AFB doesn't!   I could make these kinds of Bowls at Home, you can use Sorbet or Yogurt to make these Smoothie Bowls and they're visually so stunning as well as tasty.  I had just gotten back from The Gym, too many Old Men hogging the Machines I use Today and not doing the 10 Minute Session on the Hydrotherapy Bed then getting off if there's people waiting to use it.  So, I didn't get to use that, but did get my other intended stuff in during this visit.  I'll just have to go earlier, if I get there around 7:00 a.m. I don't have that problem, but this was around 8:30 a.m. and it had more Old People, tho' not the Medicare Paid Crowd, which is restricted to after 9:30 a.m..

I had done some Environmental Cleanup earlier or I would have been there early enuf.  But with it being 117 Yesterday and already 100 at 7:00 a.m., I knew if I wanted to do anything Outside, it had to be as early as possible.  The Gym is at least Air Conditioned.  I did some Grocery Shopping after The Gym and my Smoothie Bowl Breakfast, then took a short Nap once I got Home, until Noon.  Then I took another one that last until Bedtime!!!  I know, Crazy!  But I'm needing that much Sleep so I'm taking it as I'm able to.  I priced some Inventory to take in to the Showroom since The Man has his Cardiac Rehab on Wednesdays.  Mostly Specialty and Band T-Shirts, which is what is Selling well.  I have some that are Pokemon and Anime Graphics, which will be a Quick Turn. I do still have some Pokemon Cards to look up and Price, but that takes time to look each one up.  They're the ones the G-Kid Force told me I should look up coz they have more Value and they've been Right so far, coz whatever I put on them is what I'm easily Selling them for out of our Locked Case.

At Home I've been in Reorganization Mode.  I want to make things more Functional and Accessible.  Right now some things aren't and could use improvement.  Every so often I go thru this Mode, especially with Cabinets, Drawers and Pantry items.  My Fridge, since it's New, is a thing of Beauty on the inside still and I'm striving to keep it that way.  I just Love this new Fridge, even tho' paying it off is a crunch financially, coz I only have the 0% Interest Loan for a Year, so, wanna pay it off earlier than that coz those deferred Interest Loans are Predatory and I know this about them.  But if you beat them at their own Game and use their Money at No Interest for several Months, it thwarts the Game they're running on Borrowers.  I really despise the Banking and Credit Card Industries now, even tho' I'm a Retired Bank Executive, coz it's all become some Predatory and committing what used to be called Usury... and now somehow has become Legal for them to prey on Borrowers and Victimize them.

I still Love my Country, but a lot of the Practices now of who holds the Money in this Country is Criminal, and they're getting away with it which is what bothers me more than the Crimes themselves, and it really bothers me.  Since my 2nd Corporate Life after Retiring from Banking, was the D.A.'s Office, I'm also very frustrated right now with our Criminal Justice System and how corrupt it's become as well.  The Corruption across the Board now abounds in every aspect of our Society and we're quickly becoming Lawless and Rewarding those who are Criminals and Victimizing People.   While Penalizing those who do the Right thing and even going after them to Intimidate them and try to Criminalize doing what's Right rather than what's Wrong.  It's why all the Best and Brightest, the most Honest and Knowledgeable, are quitting those Careers in droves now, they don't wanna be a part of it and complicit.  It is threatening our National Security and our Democracy holding up, a LOT, and we should be concerned about that.

Well, have a Coke and a Smile... as we ponder what we each can do to be part of the Resistance and a successful Activist against it all?   We may not all be able to be Prominent Civil Rights Activists and Human Rights Leaders.  But we each can do something to Resist and be part of the Solution, rather than part of the Problem, and make some Good Trouble.   A lot of the Prominent ones of the past didn't intend to be Famous, they just were Passionate and Brave enuf to do what they could at their Point in Time, being on the Right Side of History and being Historically remembered and revered due to the profound Difference they made.  Many others also made a Difference, they just didn't become as well known for it, but its just as Important to the Causes.  We just Voted early in our Primaries and by Mail. Arizona's are a little complex coz they aren't totally Closed, everyone can Vote, but you have to "Identify" as something to get a Ballot.  Which makes it not only confusing, but a different Ballot depending on what you Identify as.  Which I think is some bullshit.

 

I don't want a "Political Identity", I just wanna see whose ALL running for Office and choose whoever is best up to the Job for Representing and Serving THE PEOPLE.  Someone whose not up the Asses or in the Pockets of someone who was a Big Donor or so Partisan they put Party above Country and above the Good of ALL Americans.  I don't even Care what you "Identify" as, be it Politically, Religiously, Sexually, Ethnically, Culturally, whatever... you deserve equal and fair Representation by your Government and your Leaders, Period.  You deserve your Human Rights be Preserved and Honored, whether I agree with you or disagree with you, our diversity can be Respected and need not be vilified, persecuted or marginalized.   These divisive times bother me becoz it's pitting Countryman against Countryman and is exploited and weaponized by the unscrupulous who are in Power and Manipulating those divisions among People, as a distraction to what Criminal activities they're doing to us ALL in the Victimization of America's Citizens as a Collective.

*******

Stay Strong America and make a Positive Difference... Dawn... The Bohemian

When There's No Bottom

 The Bulk Garbage comes Tomorrow so we've got a lot at the curb for pickup, we've been purging junk that can't be donated and can't be used.  Most of it is crap Mando brought over coz he did creative repairs on stuff so repurposed parts for Projects.  But, none of us does that and I don't need a stash of random parts I wouldn't even know how to use.  Scrappers have been picking up a lot of it as I put it out each day, so, only about 1/3 of it remains curbside now.  Which is fine and I appreciate it having Purpose for someone else.  If someone has use of it, I'd rather it end up being taken than Landfill bound.  The Man has Cardiac Rehab in the Morning too.   I hope he can actually do it this time and his BP is in range to?  If they won't let him do it too many times, I'm gonna ask his Cardiologist if we should just cancel all of it?

I don't wanna be billed for Rehab that isn't even happening coz they think he's too Medically Fragile for the Program.  We see Dr. Pham on the 15th and I do plan to ask him about it.  The OT and PT at the Home went well, his VA Nurse Home Visits went well, I'd rather stick with what's going well.  Plus, that Woman at Cardiac Rehab rubbed us Wrong the last Visit when she blamed us for her Administrative fuck up of Scheduling him when she shouldn't have.  Then wouldn't let him do anything but sit there and have his Vitals taken, it was pointless and made him feel Bad, which, I don't Need that Emotional turmoil for him.  He struggles enuf with the Depression and despondence now, without adding to it from external forces which aren't mandatory and I feel are optional to participate in. 

Since he has around 33 more Visits I just don't wanna be wasting our time or theirs if he's not up to doing this.  It got Approved by our Insurance and I don't know how they Bill it to get Paid when they didn't even have him doing anything on days they feel he shouldn't?  But I don't want any Insurance Fraud either where it's looking like he's doing Rehab and isn't, just showing up and being sat in a Corner being Monitored isn't doing anything Positive for his Cardio or his Rehab.  And he was really on board with it until that happened and now he's souring on going already.  I don't blame him, so am I coz nobody called me to say he wasn't in any condition to be there, they could have taken his BP in the 1st Five Minutes and just sent us Home and Cancelled that Session, so we'd preserve it for when he could do it.

So, speaking of potential problems, ever since the Police came here looking for Mando, The Son is suspicious that mebbe he's sneaking around here again?  If he's evading Authorities, for whatever reasons, I'll call them on him if I see him hanging anywhere around our Property coz he has no reason to be around here.  He's not Welcome here anymore and never will be, The Daughter knows that and I told her if he's making contact with her, she should not encourage it and definitely make it clear it's too late for him to even try to make amends with me.  When you've crossed a Boundary with me once, you're ex-communicado indefinitely.  He crossed more than one in rapid succession and foolishly Tested me when he definitely realizes now he shouldn't have.  He became Threatening to Male Family Members, Verbally Abusive to The Daughter, and brought Drugs onto my Property... Strike Three.

I knew he was on strong Prescribed Cancer Meds and Painkillers, since he does have Stage 4 Bone Cancer, of which I have the utmost compassion and sympathies for anyone suffering like that.  But, he's also apparently Self-Medicating and I'm not Okay with him bringing anything Non-Prescription onto my Property. I found it when I tossed his stuff out after he and The Son got into that Physical altercation the day The Man had his Heart Attack and Surgery.  And he's been confrontational with The Grandson too, they don't Like each other, mostly due to how he was treating The Young Prince's Mom.   I think Mando's Brain has been Negatively impacted by his Disease, or his Drug Use and Addictions he may also be battling, but I didn't want any of that around my Family.  The Son has been Clean from Drug Use for 5 Years, The Daughter for 4 Years, The Grandson for less than that, mebbe about a Year give or take... I don't want them backsliding or compromising Sobriety from Drugs, by being around anyone Using.

The Alcoholism is enuf to Deal with for both of them.  Neither has been able to get Sober from Alcohol and they Self-Medicate still with that when they're Mentally Feeling Unstable.   Which is often, their Serious Mental Illnesses have no Cure and are Forever.  Neither The Daughter or The Son is on Psyche Meds, only The Young Prince is right now, as well as he's on his Anti-Seizure Meds too, I'm glad he's agreeable to taking both.  Both Adult Kids have been on Psyche Meds for Years and it really didn't do a lot of good frankly.  And does a lot of Physical Damage to the Body and Major Organs like Kidneys and Liver long-term, so, it's one of those Catch 22 decisions to make.   I don't take them either so I can't Judge someone else who won't.  I had very Negative side effects from them so I just don't manage my Bipolar Episodes, Adult ADHD or OCD with Prescription Meds.   So sometimes I Feel like a Nut, sometimes I don't.  *Winks, insert Almond Joy and Mounds Commercial Ditty, LOL*

Well, we caught the Little Mouse too and set him Free in the Wild where he won't be a nuisance.  It was a Young one and fell for the Trap within an Hour of us catching and releasing the Big one.  We haven't seen any more, but here in the Mini Farms, with all the Fruit, Nuts, Livestock, you're gonna have Vermin and other Wildlife, it's like an Oasis in an Urban setting for them.  And, the Commercial Agricultural Farms got Developed as Subdivisions now so displaced a lot of these Animals, they had nowhere else to go but our Community.  I feel badly for Wildlife displacement as Urban sprawl encroaches upon their Natural Habitat.  They have less and less places to Exist and so a lot of them have no choice but to become Nuisance Animals as we take over their Habitat.

It's why I prefer to Humanely trap and release them into the spaces that are still Natural and not Developed yet.  They have a Right to Exist and live their best Lives too IMO.  Yep, I'm a Sentient Being Activist, Environmentalist, and Tree Hugger from way back.  *Smiles*  I make no Apologies for it, we are piss poor Stewards of the Planet as a Species.  Most Humans are Environmentally Unconscious and think Mother Earth will just suffer in Silence as we mistreat the Natural Environment and exploit it, she won't.  And she's a Powerful Force when the reckoning comes to show her Awesome Power over Humankind.  It was 104 in Philly on the 4th of July, do you think that isn't Climate Change becoming very apparent and trying to Wake Up those Asleep about Environmental Crisis?

I guess our Antique Mall had a 4th of July Sale all Weekend, so I do Hope that may have stimulated some Trade?  I had packed Fresh Merch in there and foofed the Showroom by making Fresh Vignettes and moving things around.  I've got more to do in there, but it's a start.  I may Purge some Old Merch out of there in order to bring Fresh Merch in.  I don't usually do that too often as I don't wanna bring stuff Home and Store it, so, what is Purged and didn't Sell, I usually just Donate to some Charity instead.  I'm to the point now where if it's stale and hasn't moved, then it's taking up valuable Real Estate and losing Money for me, so, I'd rather just rid myself of it and keep the Downsizing moving along faster and more efficiently.  Come Fall, when it's somewhat Cooler {we Hope}, I plan to really put the Great Edit and Purge into Overdrive.  The Daughter never did Host her Yard Sale this Weekend, I don't think it would have done well anyway.

There is a Vision I have for how I want to move forward with the disposition of Objects I no longer intend to Keep.  I'm detaching more easily now and you do build a momentum of clearing things out as you practice doing it with consistency.   And it Feels Good, every time I've cleared out more Space and have more functional Space or more Placement for what I wanna Keep and Display, it Feels better.  I'd like to get to Just Enough, or what I consider Just Enough and not Too Much, which is highly subjective of coarse.   I don't mind having a lot of nice things, I've spent a Lifetime Sourcing and Investing in them.  But, we're Downsizing as we Age Out and I know our Heirs don't wanna have to be the ones to dispose of it all even tho' it's their Inheritance and they can make Money doing so.  It will be a lot of Work to do so, yet, it will Sustain them too if they're Smart about it coz they have few Attachments to most of it and didn't pay anything for it.

But I know how Foolish and even Lazy some Heirs can be. They'd rather Inherit a pile of Cash to blow thru rather than have any Work involved in making Money off of what was Invested in as their Inheritance that they didn't have to Work for.   And Cash devalues all the time and isn't worth what it used to be worth in Purchasing Power, so, it's not the Wisest Investment Vehicle to pile up.   If I had Billions of it then the Interest off that much would be profitable, but I'm no Billionaire and Interest Rates for Ordinary Folks is ridiculously low.  And Interest Rates they're allowing Loans and Credit Cards to Charge is what used to be Usury in the Past. 

 It used to be Illegal, has always been Unethical, and an Immoral Practice of lending Money at exorbitant or unlawfully high Interest Rates.  It exploits vulnerable Borrowers by taking advantage of financial desperation, yet, now it seems to be the Norm of Financial Institutions and Credit Card Companies.  Used to be only Loan Sharks did that shit.  And since it's State Regulated, most Credit Card Companies are Based in States with lenient Usury Laws or no Caps on Credit Card Variable Interest Rates allowed Legally.   I chose to exit the 1st Corporate Life I had as a Bank Executive becoz I could see how much Predatory Lending was escalating in that Industry and how much blatant Corruption and pandering to the Wealthy and Elite Class. 

  Since I was the Fixer of their Bad Loans and Defaulted Big Loans, those Loans that I consider "Golf Course Deals" to the Wealthy in the Good Ole' Boy Network {which Donnie Two Dolls was a part of BTW}, and Predatory Loans to the Working Class, was bothering me too much to be a part of that World or Industry anymore.  I preferred Criminal Law as my 2nd Corporate Life even tho' it Paid way, way less.  I could Sleep with a Clear Conscience that at the DOJ and being a Public Servant with a Conscience was worth more than all the Money the Banking Industry was willing to throw at me.   Now that the DOJ is being Corrupted so much, I don't think I'd want to be any part of the Industry anymore either.

   The Courts are a Hot Mess right now all the way up to the Supreme Court and the Good Judges, Prosecutors, FBI, CIA, Top Tier of Military, and other Public Servants, are being Persecuted who are trying to Hold the Line.  The Revenge and Retribution is evident, and this Regime inserting and infiltrating their Minions and Lackeys into all of it.   The frivolous Lawsuits brought by this Regime is cluttering up the Courts and Resources at Taxpayers Expense.  They know they'll Lose the majority of these ridiculously Cases they're bringing, but that's not the Point.  And even if Convictions are made against the Criminals who've done this Regime's bidding Illegally, they're getting Pardoned, or Buying Pardons if they're Rich enuf to Bribe in this Pay to Play Administration as he's set it up now to enrich himself shamelessly, immorally and illegally.

The last Two Pixs were Princess T when we used to Host Mad Tea Parties, which was her Favorite Thing to do.  A Blog Friend of mine at the time made Hollywood Props and sent her a huge Box of Mad Tea Party Hats she Designed for her, some China Teacups and some Teas, it was so Sweet.   Back then the Blog Community was bigger and tighter knit than now, tho' some closeness still exists.   She'll be turning 21 this Year, my how Time just Flies!!!   And Yes, I do miss our Mad Tea Parties, she doesn't even drink Tea like she used to... she was Mad for Tea as a small Child, she'd drink Tea more than anything else you could offer her.  And she'd make a whole Ritual out of Teatime.   I have a lot of very fond Memories of that.   She Loved going to the Local Tea Houses in the City like "Chakra 4", which was a beloved Hippie Tea and Herb House that no longer exists, Sadly, coz I miss that place a lot.  Most of the Tea Houses have Closed.  Pandemic related challenges were cited, we Lost so many wonderful Shops during COVID.

I got The Man ready for his Cardiac Rehab early, we've got a few Hours but this way I'm not struggling to get this Show on the Road just before.  He gets so discombobulated now that it's like getting a Toddler ready for going somewhere and keeping them on Task.  *Le Sigh*  It's precisely why I have to keep on top of my Game cognitively and physically or we're doomed.  I Think I Can... I Think I Can... *Winks and Laughs Maniacally*   I didn't Feed the Wild Birds Yesterday and so this Morning they were waiting on me like a scene from the Alfred Hitchcock Movie "The Birds".  *Bwahahahaha*  It's all manner of only Doves, including a few local Sky Rats which really Pigeons are a Dove Species too, just a more Urbanized one that successfully interacts with Humans to thrive and not be displaced from Habitat.  We only consider them Nuisances coz they stubbornly resist us displacing them.

Anyway, so now the Wild Birds are fed and Eli The Cat is next, he hasn't began Singing The Son of his People yet, which usually when he hears me here on the Keyboard he begins Wailing forlornly.  *Smiles*  His Human won't be Home 'til Tomorrow, she spent all Holiday Weekend at Rusty's and sometimes Eli gets Cross with her and will Piss on something of hers in retribution for her not being here for him.  *Yeah, he's very naughty and vindictive like that!*  He only allows me in her Room and will attack any other Family that ventures in there, so he's also her Attack Cat who keeps her Room secure from Intruders.  *Bwahahaha*  And it's probably a good thing since she doesn't like anyone in the Family borrowing her things or pawing thru them, which her Brother and Mom would be prone to doing otherwise if Eli didn't go Feral on them entering her and his domain.  *Winks*

The Daughter is an Animal Lover and most Animals Adore her, so she's Grieved that Eli Hates her.  Why doesn't he LIKE me, she wails?  He doesn't Like anyone but his Human, is my response, he's a One Human Cat.  He Tolerates me coz I Groom, Feed him, make sure he has Water and a Clean Litterbox, Play with him, and I do Talk to him when he's Lonesome.  Princess T isn't great on Animal Care so it's a good thing she doesn't want Children.  *Bwahahahaha*  Eli also seems to have reverential Fear and Respect for me coz he won't attack me like he does everyone else.  A couple times he didn't think it was me and went into Attack Mode and skidded to a Stop when he realized, oh Shit, it's HER... ooops!    And then as he slides in to where my Feet are, he's turned over mid-roll to expose his Belly... his way of showing vulnerability and that he's not a Threat... so that I won't go equally Feral on his Ass!  *Winks*  It's Comical, and he's very Vocal with me too, for my Benefit coz Cats without Human Contact don't Talk, that's exclusively for us. 

Oooops, forgot it IS Monday, so Eli's Human is Home now and why he was so quiet!  *LOL*  Lost track of my Days there, sometimes I forget what day of the Week it is.  I like to think it's coz I'm on Retirement Time and not due to Memory Care Issues.  *Winks*   LATER:  Well, even tho' his BP was Borderline this Morning they didn't turn him away, and his Cardiac Rehab went well.  That's Good coz if they hadn't let him participate again I would have asked what the Point is in showing up if they're not letting him participate in actual Rehab?  I'm thinking of pinning a Note on him saying "I'm supposed to be in Cardiac Rehab" coz each day he turns in the Wrong Direction at the Entrance to the Hospital and I have to ask the Valet to let me just Park there and go get him and point him in the Right Direction to get on the correct set of Elevators.  *LOL*  The Young Man Valet knows me now.  *Ha ha ha*  He lets me Park right there coz I told him otherwise he's helping me with a Silver Alert Situation.  *Winks... and we both Laugh coz he Thinks I'm Kidding.  LOL*

I got everything done in my Showroom that I'd intended to do while there.  Ran into my Friend Ken, whose Showroom I am now Occupying.  Ken Downsized Rental Space considerably after a horrific Senior Fall and Heart Attack sidelined him some time ago.  He's up to Nine Stents now which is some kind of Record he's shooting for and we joked that even The Man has some catching up to do coz he's only got about 5-6.  *LOL*  Ken is a Big Strong Senior, about 6'4" and Powerfully Built for an Old Guy, so he doesn't look as Frail as he clearly is Internally and its been a Bitter Pill for him to swallow to have such limitations now.  He had a lot of the Good Stuff and a lot of Mantiques, he'd go to those Amish Auctions in Pennsylvania all of the time and be the only one there that didn't look like he just stepped out of the 1800's.  *Smiles*  But the Amish Auctions have great Product and the Amish still use it all, so there's an abundance of it and when one of them Dies... there's the Estate Auction.

So, Ken was asking me how it was going and if I was having any Loss Prevention Issues in Showroom #140?  He used to have a lot of Theft but we really haven't there, minuscule amounts compared to when we were in Showroom #114 in the Back of the Mall, more Traffic down the Aisle our current Showroom is in near the Front and a Main Aisle.  I didn't do well this last Pay Period, Seriously, after Expenses I Cleared Seventy-Five Cents, I Kid you NOT!!!   I mean, at least I didn't Owe, but the 1st Week had started out Strong and then Week 2 it flatlined in spite of Father's Day and the 4th of July Weekend being in that Pay Period.  Ken said it's coz the Mall doesn't do a damned thing anymore for Holidays and he's Right, they did really nothing Patriotic Themed for the 250th and they could have and should have... other Antique Malls did and they were swarming with Customers buying and feeling Celebratory.

{The one that got away... too expensive, so I waffled.}

Ken and I were standing in our Aisle and looking towards the Showroom and he said, Look, the only Flag even in here is the one I left up for you outside your Showroom Dawn!!!   And, it is.  He left me a lot of improvements he'd made with Vintage Industrial Piping Racks, extra Lighting, Signage, and such, so that he didn't have to take it down.  He wouldn't let me pay him for any of it so I slipped him $50 and insisted he take it, I knew he had so many Medical Bills at the time and I was truly worried about him Dying actually, he looked dreadful back then, he looks way better now even tho' his Heart is not functioning well and his BP is practically bottomed out.  I think he is probably on Borrowed Time.  I do Hope he beats the Odds which are stacked against him.   But clearly he's in decline and there's not a whole lot they can do to keep him piping along, Medically speaking. 

{The Score on E-Bay, great price, now mine.}

 We worked Shifts together for Years and I enjoyed it.  We busted each other's Chops all the time coz he's very ultra Conservative and even Voted for the Orange Conman who hijacked Ken's Party of Choice and perverted it, I'm an Old Hippie, so, tho' we're good Friends, we rarely agreed on anything.  *Ha ha ha*  I still bust his chops now about "His Boy"... coz I know True Conservatives lament what's become of their Party being turned into a Cult.   And he's disgusted with our Healthcare System coz he's having trouble with United Healthcare, but at least they didn't drop him like they did all us Veterans in Maricopa County coz we "weren't Profitable".   But, Ken isn't one to support Socialized Medicine coz where would the Money come from, Dawn?  Okay, then he knew it was ON and we were gonna have our Touche' Moment of Agreeing to Disagree strongly, but in Good Humor.  *Winks*

Well, same place they find it for Vanity Projects costing Billions and Trillions, Ken, like Ballrooms, Gold Plating Statues, making Swamps of the Reflecting Pool, and Cage Matches on the Front Lawn of the White House.  We both Laughed coz he knows I'm Right about the Fact we CAN afford it as a Nation.  It's not about not having enuf Money at all, never has been, we're the Richest Nation on Earth and every other 1st World Nation has Free or Affordable Healthcare, even some 3rd World Countries like Mexico, it's all about Priorities and where they Spend the Money here in America.  And that if someone is handsomely Profiting off something not Working, they will CHOOSE never to fix it.  Why?  Well, coz it's Politically Convenient to leave it very Broken and rile up the Public about it Year after Year, Administration after Administration, while Promising to Fix it and doing nothing significant after they're Elected.   In Real Time, Yesterday, July 5th would have been my Mom's 95th Birthday if she had still been on this side of Time and Eternity.  Above is her and I at her Nursing Home here in Arizona, before we moved her out to Cali where my Brother lives.  

 And my Brother and Mom, Above, in the Nursing Home in Cali she lived out the rest of her Life at, coz they had a wonderful Hospice Ward too that she eventually Transitioned to when it was Time and near The End.   And his Celebrity Friends were able to pull Favors to get her in the best Facility under CalCare, so she was very Happy there and made a lot of Friends.  In fact, when you'd go to visit her she had such a busy itinerary of things to do and Friends to meet up with, she'd kinda blow us off so we didn't interrupt her Schedule. *LOL*  But Mom, Dawn and Family came all the way out to see you from Arizona!  *Ha ha ha*  She had full blown Dementia by then and didn't know who most of the Family even was, so we didn't personalize it at all.  Just so Glad to see how Happy she was and all the New Friends she'd made that could stick in her diminishing Memory.   I even think she went to look better while there coz she was so Happy, she had a Radiance about her that wasn't evident while here and Hating the initial Transition to a Long Term Care Facility, however Fancy it was.  And I got her in the Fanciest one by pulling my own Favors with folks of Influence.   I think she looked Radiant and Lovely in this Pix.

I really liked these Retro Hot Dots Plates by Corelle, never seen that Pattern before and the Vendor's Price was Fair compared to what they fetch at Auction sites.  My Parents always had Corelle for everyday Dining, it holds up very well over time.   I'm so opposed to Washing Dishes or using the Dishwasher, which we just use to Store Pots and Pans, that we mostly use Paper Plates.  We do use our Fiesta Ware Cereal Bowls and Mugs a lot tho'.  And I have a whole Collection of the original Jadeite by Fire King, which, I just Love.  I was mortified when my Mom gave hers away, not realizing it had Trended, coz back when she got hers they were Giveaways for filling up with Gas or a Premium given when you Bought something else like Dish Soap.  *LOL*  So she considered it worthless and thus I didn't Inherit it and wish I had.  *Le Sigh*  Her "Good China" from Famous European Makers, is what turns out to be worthless these days, nobody will Buy it at Antique Malls.

And that Vendor who hawks mostly worthless crappola in her unlocked Case, made another Creepy Prim Doll, so hadda have it.  *LOL*  It's the only thing she ever has worth Buying.  Tho' once I famously Scored a very early Magnolia Pearl Bag from her for under Twenty Bucks and to this day I wonder where she Sourced it to not know how much she could have Sold it for?   My Heart almost stopped when I spied it in her jumble of Crap piled in her small unlocked Case.  Which is always a Hoarded Hot Mess of worthless shit crammed in there, thinking NO WAY... and when I saw the Price, coz I knew it was Authentic the Moment I spied it, I was like *Squeal* like a Little Girl!  *LOL*

And becoz I'm such a Child, and probably full on into my 2nd Childhood now *winks* I also got this Guy to round out my Set of them from  2018, called Grumblies Tremors.  The Vendor had him really Cheap and is the Vendor I usually get my Cheap Vintage Trolls from, she has the best Vintage Toys at low prices.  Below are the other Two of this Line that I bought before from Two different Vendors at our Antique Mall.   They still function, Vibrate and say things.   They Look and have the Expressions of how I Feel most days.  *Smiles*  You can find the Green One quite often, I've seen it several times and the Vendor had one of those too, but the Red and Blue ones you can't Source as easily.   They remind of the Gonks of Europe I used to Win at the Gypsy Carnival Midway Games.

 

If you poke them you piss them off and they Tremble and say shit.  I think there is still the Purple one I do not have, never seen it except Online at Auction and the Shipping cost more than the Purchase, so, I'll keep looking for it locally unless I find one with Free Shipping.   Do I really NEED the Purple one?  Why, of coarse not... but... still... do I NEED another Object in this Lifetime and has that ever stopped me before?! *Bwahaha*   The Purple one has my least fav Expression anyway, so if I never find it, I'm Good... and, it would have to be at around Ten Bucks or less too.   Oh, and shit, now I've seen a Turquoise one on E-Bay too... didn't know that one existed.  *LOL*  I do like the Expression of the Turquoise one, so will have a Quest to Source that one as well now.  *Winks*   The Turquoise one has Free Delivery... so, that settled it, I bought it right now off E-Bay to save me the trouble of looking for it and the Seller is right here in Arizona, in San Tan.  *LOL*   My Rational Mind never Wins Out with my Irrational One that does Girl Math to Justify any Purchase.  *Winks*

And the Troll Vendor had New Old Stock {Below} of a Boxed unopened still Sealed Commercial Packed Norfin Trolls Trading Cards of all of Series 1.  These would have been Sold Individually, no idea how many are in this Commercial Boxed Display, excited to open it and see how many Pacs of Trading Cards are in it and Open every single one to see how many of all 50 I can get?  *LOL*  What I get duplicates of I will Sell for more Individually for each Card than I paid for this whole Boxed Commercial Package of them coz I had a large Store Credit I used with my Earned Purchase Points, that made it practically FREE.  So, I will definitely make a Profit off of the Purchase and get something for my Troll Collection that I didn't even know they made.  I had no idea they made Trading Cards.  Online the individual Pacs Sell for around $3 each.  And the Factory Packed 36 Card Pac Series Online Sells for around $25.  They were made in the 1990's apparently.   Some Sellers have all 50 Cards of Series 1 going For Sale at reasonable prices.  I saw the complete Set and there are some Cards I have no Interest in.  But, with only going thru a few Pacs I ended up with all 50 Cards and 4 of the 10 Stickers.  The rest of the Pacs I can Sell unopened now and any duplicate Cards I got, Sell those individually.

The Son bought us Two Pizzas for Dinner so we didn't have to Cook coz it is 117 Today.  *Whew*  We're now gonna be up in the stratosphere of Triple Digits so any reprieve we had over the Weekend is over now for sure.  The Daughter has been MIA since getting Paid, I do worry that some people she knows take advantage when she has some Money.  It seems they always come pick her up when SHE has Money and then drop her off when she's out of Money.  Not that she earned that much, and she claims the same folk spend Money on her when she has no Money, and perhaps they do, I couldn't say since I'm not there.  But when you have a vulnerable Adult you do have concerns that they can be easily exploited by anyone who would take advantage.   She's Grown and she's not deemed incompetent despite Serious Mental Illness, very hard to get someone deemed incompetent actually.  So, you try to look out for them and discuss your concerns with them if something looks exploitive to you that's happening and you have concerns about.

Well, Donnie Two Dolls now has managed to corrupt and pollute the World Cup, Splendid, the one Positive thing that's been happening and he can't refrain from fucking it up for everyone!  He's addicted to outrage and pissing people off apparently, either that, or he's so supremely oblivious and ignorant, that he doesn't even acknowledge how divisive and corrupt he makes everything he touches and fucks it up.  Now, no matter what the American Team does, it will be said they cheated due to his interferance overturning that American Player's Red Card.  The irony being, that Nigerian/American/British Tri-Citizen Soccer Player on the American Team, one of their Star Players apparently, is everything that Donnie seems to despise and be against.  Such Irony, you can't make this shit up.  I don't know enuf about Soccer to know whether the Foul the Player got Red Carded for was a Good Call or a Bad Call, I don't really Care.  But an American President pressuring FIFA to overturn it is reeking of corruption and manipulation, cheating and Bad Optics.  And Soccer is madly popular Worldwide and Fans are rightly outraged.

And I'm glad Donnie's Rape Victim, E. Jean Carroll will get her Five Million Plus Settlement coz Judge Kaplan made the Right Call awarding it to her.  I personally think every adjudicated Rapist should be Imprisoned, but we know that's not gonna happen to Donnie Two Dolls, whose not only a Rapist and Sexual Predator of Adult Women, but Underaged Girls as well coz he Paid Off the Family of his 13 Year Old Rape Victim some time ago... so he's a Pedophile too and protects other Pedophiles and was Besties with them, like Jeffrey Epstein.  What I Believe should be done to Pedophiles is Capital Punishment coz there's nothing more depraved, deviant and abhorrent than Sexually abusing a Child IMO.  And Sexual Predators ALWAYS re-offend, it's not a matter of IF they will, just WHEN.  At the D.A.'s Office we kept Sex Crimes Files indefinitely for that reason.   Even a Homicide File eventually gets Purged, unless they are a Serial Killer, and in almost all Cases a Serial Killer is also a Sexual Predator anyway.

 *******

There seems to be no bottom to this Administration's levels of corruption... Dawn... The Bohemian