So, How Old Is Too Old?

 Irrigation had it's hitches this rotation, not just coz it came at like 3:30 in the Morning, but, coz I forgot to Wake Up and help The Daughter, she did her best doing it alone and in the pitch dark.  But, the debris floating downstream clogged up again at where our next door Neighbor Omar has his Ditch covered, so The Son had to Snake that before he went to Work coz it was flooding our Pasture.  But, the Front Yard where the Pump feeds Water on the East Side of the Front and the very Front where our Pine Trees are, didn't get enuf Water before The Daughter got Tired, unplugged the Pump and went to Bed to get some Sleep.  So, I had to turn it on again for 1.5 Hours to get enuf Water for that portion of the Property and the amount of Water we are supposed to take on so we don't Flood Neighbors downstream of us by not taking on all our Water assigned to us.  We did get it resolved tho' by 7:00 a.m..  *Whew*  It can sometimes get complicated depending upon what happens unexpectedly.

In Real Time it's The Son's 40th Birthday and a Monday, we'll be taking him out for a Birthday Luncheon at "Crab 99" after he gets off Work at Noon.  We have that Pound of Free Shrimp Won last time, we'll get a bucket of more of their dual flavor of Buffalo Wings... and then whatever each of the Family wants to order.  With his Birthday falling at EOM when we're most financially Tapped Out, it's all we can do for his Birthday as a Family.  But, he's okay with that.  His Midlife Crisis is easing up some as he wraps his Head around turning another Decade Older.  I think if things were going better for him it would have been a non-issue.  But, he lost his Career due to the Owner of the Company Dying and the Widow deciding to Sell it to an Asset Stripper and lay everyone off.  He's living with his Elderly Parents coz Rent isn't affordable.  He doesn't have an operational Vehicle and his License has some restrictions due to a DUI he got a few Years ago.  He's satisfying all the Court's Terms and didn't catch a Felony Charge at least. 

  But he's Single and not Dating right now coz he said who wants to Date a Guy whose 40 and has nothing to offer?  Plus, tho' he's liking his new Job and grateful to finally get one after a Six Month Unemployment Crisis coz nobody was really Hiring, it's only part time and minimum Wage at a Dollar Store, so, he's Underemployed.  That's the American dilemma for a lot of Working Folks right now, not Unemployment, but, Underemployment and yet nobody is Talking about it and they should be.  Americans shouldn't have to be taking on 2-3 Jobs to make a Livable Wage to afford just the Essentials, plus doing Gig Work on the Side too.  I see so many Working Folks the Ages of my Adult Children and Adult Grandchildren being Uber Drivers and Delivery Drivers just to get by.  I even see a fair amount of Seniors doing that or having to take on Minimum Wage Jobs to supplement a Fixed Income just to afford Essentials or their Medical Bills and Medications, they'll have to Work now 'til they Die.

I know our Ends barely meet now so I have to be Creative and Work my Hustle to ensure everything is Paid, on Time, and with something left over to enjoy Quality of Life and not just Exist barely.  You don't wanna run out of Money in your Old Age, but that's a distinct possibility for a lot of Seniors now, their Retirement isn't gonna sustain them if they Live too long and outlive the Retirement Income they set up for when they couldn't Work anymore or didn't want to and thought they'd get to Enjoy their Retirement Years and do stuff they had on their Bucket Lists.  To be sure, some folks are.  I know Retirees who are going on their 60th Cruise and take several a Year, Traveling the World in Style.  Their Health has held up and they either did well when they were Working, or, and, they have a Side Hustle that works out really well for them.  The Cruising Couple Breeds a Miniature Pedigree Breed of Dogs.   They seem to Breed their Dogs a lot, I feel somewhat conflicted about Dog Breeders doing it for maximum Profit, coz there's so many unwanted Dogs desperately needing Adoption at Shelters and being euthanized.

I don't know what Ethical Standards are used and enforced for Breeding Pets for Profit?  Thus I remain conflicted about the Practice... how often is too often to make a Dog produce Offspring if you're making a lot of Money off of it?  At what point is it a Puppy Mill?  They have a steady stream of Puppies they've bred and can charge Thousands per Pup for.  If you have the desired Trending Breeds of Pedigree Dog, it's very lucrative.  Folks will spend $5,000-$10,000+ for a single Puppy!!!  I know, that's insane to me, but if it's Elite Quality Lines of Dogs, and high demand, I guess you have that Client Base willing to shell out that much!  And I know the Cruising Couple gets about 5+ Pups per Litter and have more than One Breeding Female, so the Math adds up quick!!!  But I don't presume to know anything about Dog Breeding or the Ethics of it.

  They seem like Responsible folks and they are Vendors at our Antique Mall who Sell high Quality Merch, and she does Hair, he is an accomplished Silversmith and Sings in a C&W Band, so they've got their Side Hustles in Retirement going Strong and I wanna be them when I Grow Up.  *Bwahahahaha*  Many Streams of Income can have you living your Best Life, for sure.  Of coarse 60 Cruises to me sounds like an excess, but mebbe it's like Vegas where the Frequent Gamblers get Comped about as much as they wanna accept, from the Casinos that know they're Whales?

  Mebbe Cruise Lines do the same thing, with Loyalty and/or Casino Programs earning you Freebies and even Complimentary Trips, I dunno, never been on a single One.   And a lot of the Cruise Lines lately have had some major setbacks with Epidemics breaking out on Ship, serious accidents like people falling overboard, and equipment failures or fires on Ships, severe Weather damage, Wildlife Strike Investigations, Food Borne Illnesses, it makes the News a lot lately.  Even some Murders and Deaths of Passengers have happened, whether on Ship or at Ports visited and on Excursions.  Viking, Virgin and Crystal Cruise Lines have the best Safety, Personal Security and Cleanliness Records to date.   The Budget Lines have the worst Records... which, I guess you get what you pay for... and, some of the Lines that have 5,000+ Passengers I've heard can be chaotic, coz, that is just a lot of folks in one Space Sharing Services and keeping up with the demands of.  Most people I know who are Cruise Addicts having nothing but Good to say and Share about their Experiences tho'.

We did have other Birthdays this Month, this Great-Granddaughter who lives in Pittsburgh, turned Seven, my how Time Flies!   We've got Middle Aged Grandkids and Great-Grandkids now attaining a speeding maturity that I can't quite keep up with or keep tabs on.   I'd need a Spreadsheet to keep track of all the Birthdays now.   With the Great-Grandkids I don't know all their Birthdays, or even all their Names, until I'm reminded by the Grandkids, it was enuf to keep track of Grandkid's Birthdays and Names once you get a certain amount of them.  *LOL and Winks*  This one's Name I do remember coz it's unusual and I'd never heard it before, tho' perhaps it's popular for her Generation coming up?  Her Younger Sister got Named after a Dead Great-Great Grandmother, so has an Old Lady Name. 

 And Honestly, I felt really Bad saying to The Man, when that Great-Granddaughter was Born, Why did they give her such an Old Lady Name, Honey?  I haven't heard anyone with that Name under the Age of 80 or 90!!!  *Smiles & baffled*  Well, then when he said it was the recently departed Maternal side's Great-Great Grandma of the Newborn of the Granddaughter who just had said Child, I felt Guilty and Awful for saying what I did!  It was his Ex's Mother's Name, his previous MIL!  *Oooops!*  It is an Old Lady Name tho' and the Great-Grandchild whose named after the Departed Old Lady is only just Graduated from Kindergarten.  Of coarse I don't think any of her peers EVER will have that Name... that Name fell out of Popularity in the 1920-1930 Era!  And I'm not certain it was all that Popular even back then?!?  *Smiles*  Above is said Little One Carrying and Saddled with an Antique Name for Life.  It might make her Tough, who knows?  *Bwahahahaha*

The one that just turned Seven looks SO MUCH like our Oldest Daughter when she was this Age, that it's like she's been Cloned!!!   None of our Oldest Daughter's Three Girls looks this much like her, so it skipped a Generation and now she's got a Clone in this Grandchild.  *Smiles*  The one with the Old Lady Name looks exactly like our Granddaughter did at that Age tho', so she's her Mama's Clone.  Their Little Brother, whose the Youngest in the Family, looks more like his Oldest Sister.  Once The Granddaughter got The Son they wanted, she and Hubby shut the Baby Factory Down... so no more!  *Smiles*  They are Middle Aged tho' so it was the right time to, you don't wanna be still having Children as you near 40 or you'll be that Senior Citizen Aged Parent at the High School Graduation.  *Bwahahahaha*  

 And as Grandparents who were that Age and Raising a 2nd Generation of some of our Grandkids, it's not 'Natural' to be still Raising Kids when you get that Old and why Old Women are no longer Breeding.  Now, Old Men on the other hand...  *Huge Eye Roll*    But you better have that much Younger Trophy Wife bearing them for ya, coz an Aging Woman don't wanna be still having and Raising Children close to Menopause.  I was 28 when I had my Youngest, The Son, and I felt that was too damned Old and shut the Baby Factory Down!!!  *Ha ha ha and an Eye Roll*   And an appropriate Size of Family is highly subjective and can even be controversial one way or the other.  I've known people who choose to remain Childless getting pressured to have Kids... and people who have a very large Family be condemned for having too many.  And just coz you can have Kids doesn't mean you should, some folks aren't up to the Job of Parenting.  To me it's personal and none of my business how many Kids someone does or does not have.  So long as I'm not expected to Raise them... *Winks*

*******

And we may have a difference of Opinion, but, so, how Old is Too Old for some things my Friends?

Dawn... The Bohemian

World Cup Attendees Remind Us Why America Is Wonderful

 You know why I'm liking that the World Cup being Hosted here is bringing in so many People from around the World who are Soccer Fans?  Becoz World Cup Attendees remind us why America is Wonderful... that's why!  Now, I know we got our problems, for sure.  I Rant about what I don't like a lot, but, I've also been a World Traveler and know that I Love America more than any other Country I've ever visited or lived in.  And some of them have been really nice places, don't get me wrong, but, I was always Homesick to return Home to the U.S.A, the Country that is mine and that I Love more than anywhere else in the World.  I'm so fortunate to be an American, even tho' in this Political Climate I'm also frustrated to be one, Two things can be True at the same time. 

And I'm glad that people who've heard a lot of Bad things about America and are coming here for the 1st time ever, are raving about us in a Positive way, and having a great experience during their visit.  They're in Awe of things we Americans take for granted.  And becoz we're so used to it, don't even realize nobody else has it in the World!  And I always watch Bill Maher coz I just LOVE Bill and his Show.  He always has Guests on that I want to see him interact with and interview.  This Night he had J.D. Vance on... and Raphael Warnock.  Now, I knew I'd like Warnock, I'd like Raphael to be President actually, I think he's a good Man and an excellent Politician... so few of those around that I can say that about.  But, my Surprise was, that I liked J.D. in his Interview with Bill, not expecting that at all!!!  *Gasp! Yeah, I know!!!*  How did that happen?! 

 He came across not so much like a Bullshit Artist, tho' I know he can be one and usually is.  On Bill's Interview he seemed more Authentic.  And my Spidey Senses spiked and I thought to myself, humnnn... seems to me like J.D. be Gaming the Game and the fame... Playing the Player with Donnie Two Dolls to usurp him and replace him???  Gave me a different angle of how he's Playing the Game Politically.  I mean, at one time he did compare Donnie to Hitler, and so when Orange Hitler chose him as his V.P. you couldn't be more Surprised than I was, given how much Smack Talk and Shade J.D. had done against Heil MAGA Cult Messiah.  I do think Donnie may be catching on and why he's got Rubio so far up his Ass now, scheming to replace J.D. and why Donnie is trying to throw J.D. under the Bus now and discard him as a handy Scapegoat.  But, the Interview with Maher did reveal some stuff about Ole' J.D. that was in a Word... veeeeeery Interesting... as they used to say on "Laugh In" as Arte Johnson's Satirical German WWII Character.  *Winks*

Of coarse Bill had also Interviewed Mike Pence, so he's killing it with getting Vice Presidents to be on his Show.   And Honestly, even Cyborg Pence came across a lot more Human during his Interview too.  What bothers me is that Bill can never get the Democrats high up the Food Chain to come on... he's tried... they won't do it.  I have to wonder Why, since, really... if the ReTrumplicans are Game and Brave enuf to face Bill and be in the Hotseat on his Show, it at least shows that they are willing to take some punches and state their case, whatever it may be, and whether or not I agree with it, I can Respect that with whoever the Guest is.  Even if I loathe their current Political Party's way of doing everything.  But I tell you what, as much as I loathe everything MAGA stands for... I'm not liking where the Extremist Democratic Left is heading with the Democrat Socialists.  It's like the Left's version of MAGA, which is disturbing, sans the constant Lying and making things up.  So far anyway.

Have you heard some of these People, like Darializa Avila Chevalier, who was just Elected in NY?!  Christ on a Bike... she's OUT there in Extremist Far Left Field, isn't she!!?  Fuuuuck!  If that's where the Democrats are going, my Vote is really in Question and up in the Air now!!!  Being very Anti-Partisan I don't LIKE either Party anyway, been disenchanted with damned near all of them for a long, long time.   But 2016 and The Cult of MAGA along with their Orange Jesus, who I knew was exactly what he's always been and attracts Weird and Extremists in a way like nobody else probably ever, did make me Vote Blue No Matter Who, coz... well... would have no part of that Insanity and Fuckery.  But, these Democratic Socialist Extremists, swing from one Extreme to yet another, also want no part of that Insanity and potential Fuckery either.   I don't think Socialism is a dirty Word or particularly scary to me, Socialized Medicine for example I'm completely On Board with, as most Progressive 1st World Nations have had it a long time for their People, we're the only ones who don't.

Most of what Bernie Sanders says makes Sense to me and to most Young People I've talked to actually, and Bernie is an Independent, not a Democrat, and I'm an Independent, just more Moderate leaning than Ole' Bernie.  *LOL*  He's the longest Serving Independent Member of Congress in U.S. History and that Staying Power speaks for itself, Bernie has some Common Sense Policies, which if passed and implemented, would Solve and be Solutions to a lot of Problems in sensible ways that are not the least bit Extreme, even tho' he's quite the Socialist.  I didn't Vote for Bernie when he ran for Prez, coz I would have preferred Andrew Yang and was part of the Yang Gang, Andrew left the Democratic Party in 2021 to become an Independent, he's also very Smart, very Common Sense in Policies that would be very Helpful to Solving American Problems. 

 He's more comfortable trying to Fix The System than being a part of it, I Like that.  That's my Tribe of peeps in Politics.  I have zero Hang Ups about an Intelligent Asian Man being President, but I knew far too many Americans would so he'd never Win.   Any more than a Woman would... especially a Woman of Color, so tho' I Voted for Kamala and thought she'd make a Fine President, I knew she would not Win.  I think she came closer to Winning than I thought... and against Donnie Two Dolls she should have Won, but, his abysmal 1st Term had not Taught his Supporters a damned thing.  And of coarse I was Right and she didn't and I do Believe it had more to do with Gender and Race than any other reason and nobody could convince me otherwise.  It stuck in the craw of too many Americans that she was even VP coz she was a Woman AND Black.  I know how biased Racially and how Patriarchal America still is and it won't change in my Lifetime unfortunately.  I always held out Hope it would tho', but, it hasn't and it won't before I'm Toes Up.  We got a tonnage of Evolution and Evolving to go...  *Le Sigh* 

But, back to my Point of this Post, that America is, as a Country, still Wonderful and there's nowhere else like it in the whole World.  It's why so many from all over the Globe flock here and want to become Americans and be a part of the American Dream.  Yes, that Dream is wobbly, but, compared to most other parts of the Globe, it still has the Promise that many other places don't have at all, to do anything and be anyone you want to be.  Sure, some Poor will stay Poor, but some Poor have Made It and Prospered too in America.  My Dad was a Fine Example of a Man with very limited Education and almost no Opportunity, who still made himself a good Life with a successful and Honorable Military Career spanning 27 Years and was also a Master Chef in Civilian Life. He told me I could do anything I wanted to do and be anything I wanted to be, I just had to work harder than any Man or White Person to attain it, so, I did, and he was Right.  

 

  I was an Assistant Vice President of a Bank before turning 23 Years Old. In an Era where it was a Good Ole' Boy Network and the vast majority of other Bank Executives were Old White Men wearing Power Ties with complete disdain for Females in positions of Authority.   And there is a lot still Wrong, and stuff that won't get Fixed, mebbe ever and certainly not in my Lifetime.  But I do think most of America will stand on the Right Side of History and those who stand on the Wrong Side of History will be accountable for it, one way or another.   Karma does have a way of evening things out in The End.  And I just think Public Pressure will go a long way when the Majority get Fed Up and Resist strongly.  There are very few folks I know who want constant Chaos, Drama, Headaches in their Daily Lives that could be avoided and are caused by outside influences that disrupt their way of Life and cause Hardships for them.  And America is still the best Country in the World to Live in IMO.  I try to be Mindful and Grateful of that even when I'm Bitching about our current Political Fuckery and Woes.

Speaking of Resistance, I watched a really good Movie on NetFlix Tonight called "One Battle After Another" {2025} starring an All Star Cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn, well worth watching, it's an Activism Inspired Drama, but also rather a Dark Comedy.  With that Cast I knew it would be good and they play well off one another's Characters.  I enjoyed each Actor's Character Portrayal.  I haven't seen Penn in anything in a long time coz I know he works behind the Scenes in Hollywood now Producing and Directing, I always Loved his Body of Work.  DiCaprio and Benicio also are some of my favorite Actors.  It does have an Activism Theme to it relevant to Today's messy World and Injustices abounding.   Penn is well known for his Humanitarian Activism and he's very hands-on and doesn't mind being Controversial when doing it.  I applaud him for that, it can be risky.

The Daughter Works Noon to Four in Chandler Today, The Son finished all the Yardwork in prep for Irrigation coming at a ridiculous time Monday Morning again.  We've had shitty Rotation Hours the past few times, wee Hours of the Morning where he has to be Asleep to get enuf Rest for Work, since he Works Early Shifts starting at 5:00 a.m., so he can't stay up 'til 2-3 in the Morning to do Irrigation for us.  So, The Daughter and I have had to do it instead and she gets Scared at Night about Scorpions and Paranoid about what might 'get' us as we're wading around in the pitch Black Darkness.  Our Mini Farm Community is very Rural Dark after Sunset even tho' we're in the Heart of the City.  So you can't see your Hands in front of your Face after Dark.

Well, we're back from The Daughter's Gig, while waiting on her to finish the Work I found a GOODWILL Clearance Center in the East Valley.  It's got AC, the West Valley Location in a Warehouse is bigger but doesn't have AC.  You pay by the Pound, like $2.18 a Lb. and they had really nice Brand Name Clothing and Shoes there, so I got some for each Family Member, including a T-Shirt by Versace and a Gay Pride Pair of Overalls.   I had 9 Lbs. worth of Clothing and Shoes, very pleased with my Haul from there and it's near the Antique Mall I always go to there in Chandler.  Also next door to the Clearance Center was a "Dollar General" that was Closing so they had everything marked 30%-50% Off.  I got Eli his Food, Treats and Litter.  I got the Colorful Cheerful Wreath Below for the Front Door for Summer from SAVERS and got some more Fiesta Ware Vintage Coffee Mugs.  Someone must have Donated their whole Fiesta Ware Collection to that Location the Granddaughter Works at?!

One of the Shirts I got at the Clearance Center in The Daughter's Size is Below, Loved the Graphics and what it says, she did too.   And I got me a 2XL John Lewis Good Trouble T-Shirt too.  I got so many good quality and Brand Name T-Shirts at that Eastside Clearance Center even tho' they have a lot of Pickers there who clearly are Resalers.  But, they weren't vying for the Product I wanted, they were all Young Men heavily Tattooed with really nice Trendy Black and Grey Flash full Sleeves, and dressed very Trendy too, you could Imagine them in a Rock Band.  They seemed to all be together but mebbe they just all knew each other, seemed they were Regulars there.  Some Older Senior Ladies were Regulars there too and knew one another, they too looked to be Pickers for Resale of what they were Buying in bulk.

 

Below was my Brunch from "Tipsy Egg", the Manager there now feels like he Knows me and always comes up and talks with me, nice Guy.  He said, you're here late Today, coz it was past Breakfast and damned near Lunchtime becoz her Work Hours were later this time.  I told him I'd gotten to Sleep In and The Daughter had a later Gig.  He'd been there since 6:00 a.m. and I told him usually I keep those kinds of Hours now myself, so it was a Luxury to "Sleep In" until 8:00 a.m. and not have to get a Kiddo to Work until Noon.  *Smiles*  I don't think a lot of folks would consider rolling out of Bed at 8:00 a.m. as "Sleeping In" tho'.  Especially Retired Folk.  *LOL*  He Laughed at that Truth.  He probably came up to talk to me Three different times coz it was thinning out by Brunch coz they Close after Lunchtime, they don't do Dinner there, it's strictly a Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch Restaurant in Old Town Chandler's Main Street.

I had the Acai Bowl, which has Fresh Yogurt, their House Made Granola, Fresh Fruit and drizzled with Honey, with an Acai Sorbet... delicious and refreshing on a very Hot Morning-Afternoon.  I also got another Side of Fruit and an Iced Caramel Coffee.   I sat up at the Bar, it's a Trendy Spot so a lot of Young People go there and it's a good place to People Watch.  They have Seating on both sides of the Bar and the one side is Open to the Outside, I sat on the Inside section of the Bar facing Main Street.  I also went to the Antique Mall again, didn't Buy anything but looked around, they were having a very busy Weekend of Sales.  I didn't Need nor Want anything.  I did take a scant few Pixs for Blog Fodder.  It hadn't been that long ago I was there so I'd taken a lot of the Pixs the last time.

They won't be having their Monthly Event at "Highland Yard Vintage" again until Fall.  They Close it for the Summer Months.  It's in a huge Warehouse Space behind the Antique Mall and perhaps it's not Economical to Cool that thruout the Summer?  A lot of Businesses Close for the Summer Months due to the Heat and the fact Visitors and Snowbirds have left by late Spring, sometimes even early Spring, depending on how Hot it gets early on now.   With Climate Change we're Heating Up even during Fall and Winter Months now.  They'd done their 250th Anniversary Patriotic Themed Event before Closing for the Summer and it was really good and a nice way to Close Out for the Season.   Their Antique Mall does more Theme Decorating Seasonally and for Holidays than our Mall's Vendors do.  I've yet to go to the newest Antique Mall that Opened recently, a lot of my Vendor Friends have Rented Space there already.  So, I'll have to make a Pilgrimage there and check out the Competition.  *Winks*

It's called "America's Antique Mall" and is at 2820 West Dunlap, so, closer to our other Downtown Phoenix Antique Mall's Location than ours.  They Opened in early May.   It's large, 45,000 sf and we're 55,000 sf, our Downtown Location is 45,000 sf so it rivals that one but is 10,000 sf smaller than our Location.   I'm glad it Opened tho' coz we've lost a lot of Antique Stores, Malls and Specialty Shops.   I prefer Shopping for Vintage items and Salvage, so those are the places I become a Regular Customer and like to trawl.  I'm not one to often go to Big Box Stores unless I specifically Need something they have that's Essential.  And I don't tend to look around much at any place that only Sells Mass Produced Merch, it's not Interesting to me, there are no "Deals", and Mass Produced Product has no real Value, so is no Investment Vehicle on the Buy of it.

*******

I do Hope you're having a Great Summer my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian

Moving Bodies

via: Magnolia Pearl

 Okay, so, the Blog Post Hook Title isn't actually as "Dateline" Ominous as it sounds, but, it got your Attention and drew you in, didn't it?  *Winks*  The Bodies I am Moving aren't Human... *Whew*... so no Need to make an Anonymous tip to the FBI or anything.  Tho' what that Drunken Mister-Party-All-The Time Moron Kash Patel would do with it might Amuse the fuck out of me.  *Giggle*  I managed to schlep my 2nd large full Body Antique Dress Form on a hanging Cast Iron Frame out of the Art Studio and into our Boudoir.  What an ordeal, she's heavy as a Boat Anchor or a Dead Body {I am Imagining that 2nd Example, Winks} but she is on workable Cast Iron Wheels.   I just didn't want them in the Art Studio Space now that it's not gonna be my Art Studio, they had Purpose in there and now they didn't with The Grandson living in that Space now.  He was starting to utilize them in ways I wasn't having a Peace about coz they could get damaged and they are expensive, Old, not Props for Cosplay Weaponry and Silence of the Lambs Type Costumes.  

I took a lot of time Saving Up to afford them, they're pretty Rare and hard to Source or replace should something happen to them.  I got good Deals when I bought them quite some time ago, I couldn't get those kinds of Deals now on one or afford what they go for now.  Both of them are unusual in that as Old as they are, they are both very Full Figure Dress Forms for us Big Made Women.  So, when I want to Design Wearable Art Wardrobe for myself, they are the perfect Size too.  Most Antique Dress Forms have Wasp Waists and were diminutive Sizes during that Era.  My 2nd "Rescued" Dress Form is Pictured Above and Below.  *Smiles*  Another Body successfully Moved out of Buffalo Bill's Space, the Adult Kids inappropriately joked.  *Winks*   And now you can see the wee Corner I Blog in of our Boudoir, behind the Door!  *LOL*  

Yes, I've been totally Displaced from having an Office Space now... whatever... I kind of Like my Lil Cubby Corner here... with the Clothing Rack and Mannequin surrounding it,  it's now very sequestered and insulated from prying Eyeballs and distractions.  They can't even get in here to stand behind me now or peek at me from the Media Chair Location!  *Bwahahahaha*  These I have, I don't know if they're European originally, but, could be, and likely are American ones?  In case you aren't familiar with them I Cribbed an Online Image of one very similar to mine only not as Full Sized. {Further Above the Pixs of one of mine.} One of mine has a full Right Arm too.  The Cast Iron Base is usually Ornate and mine actually hang from a Cast Iron "L" Shape away from the Main Pole.  These days the Vintage and Antique Models go for close to $800 or more if you can Source one.  They make Modern versions that are still around $770, so not much cheaper than the Antique versions, even if bought from large Retailers like Wal-Mart.  I don't know the new ones are built as well? 

I had Room in our Boudoir for one, the other one now stands behind me here at the Computer.   Coz I really didn't have Placement for her here, but, I'm not opposed to where she is either.  The same with my Cast Iron Clothing Rack with my T-Shirts that had to move in here, it'll do, we make do with what Space and Room we have now.  There isn't even adequate Placement for all the People, let alone all our Worldly Possessions, all crammed together now indefinitely.  At least now I can enjoy the things I Need, Use and want to Look at, that I Value most of what I've Collected and wouldn't ever Sell Off.  These Dress Forms won't be Sold in my Lifetime anyway, I have serious Attachment Issues to my Collections like this.  *Smiles*  I rescued some of my Jewelry out of his Room too, he'd broken this Rosary coz he had it as part of an Art Installation he'd Created and I had the Vapors when I saw that coz it's an Antique Nun's Rosary!!!  *Argh!*  The Mad Artist struck again!!!

via: Magnolia Pearl

  I always Decorated my Art Studio Spaces with Inspirational Objects Collected and Displayed, but, now I no longer have an Art Studio.  Off and on that's just been the Reality of being displaced when Family had to move back in with us and Occupy what was used as my Art Studio.  For lack of anywhere else to put them and their possessions.  Will I ever have the Time to devote to doing my Art again, I truly don't know?  I'd like to think I will, but it's been long delayed now.  I used to enjoy working on my Art Projects and now it's been so long that I haven't even thought about Creating in ages now.  And it Feeds the Soul, so I know I should get back to it but I can't concentrate well if I don't have a Space designated to do it that I don't have to pick up in between working on something.  An Art Studio gives you the Creative Space to spread everything out and work on it without interruptions and without tidying it up while the Work is still in Progress.  And I do so miss my previous Art Studio Spaces I had at Two previous Properties.  They always were my Favorite part of our Properties.

via: Magnolia Pearl

The RV Garage Mahal is massive, but not a Climate Controlled Space, so utilizing it Year Round is not possible.  And, with Climate Change and every Year heating up hotter and for longer, there's even less Time I can safely spend much time in there now either.  It would cost a lot to Climate Control a Space that large, it's Warehouse sized.  As it is Utility Costs are escalating just to AC or Heat a Home, let alone extra Spaces.  If I Invested a small Fortune in Solar perhaps it could be done, but the Two Major Utility Companies in Arizona have already been Fined and lost Cases in Court for violating Anti Trust Laws concerning Solar and what they have done illegally to Solar Customers.  When I had Solar on the Villa McManse, I fought the Utility Co. we had at that location, APS, and Won a huge Reimbursement from them.  They were Stealing Energy from me at a Discount and then trying to Sell my own Energy produced back to me at a Premium!!!  They are only allowed to Buy any Overage... and we're only required to Sell them any Overage at a Discounted Price.

The way Solar is presently structured, and how they Sell it to the Public, is corrupt still, so I'm not willing to Invest in it again until that is remedied, even tho' it's Cheaper Energy and works very well.  The Sun in Arizona never lets you down and produces a lot of Solar Energy Year Round.  We need to rely less on Fossil Fuels and Traditional Energy Methods that make us Vulnerable Globally and at Home,  And Invest more in Alternative Green Energy like Solar, Wind and Battery... but the Big Oil and Utility Companies spend a lot of Bribery Money to block it in our Politics by being Mega Donors to our Politicians, coz they fear the Competition and Losses it would cost them.  Just follow the Money, as I always say, to know why Sensible and Progressive better Methods are not being considered or Invested in to Solve critical Problems we're already facing.  

This Regime is Bought and Paid for by Oil and Coal, it's why they tout it so aggressively and vilify Green Energy.  With lame excuses like Wind Turbines hurt Birds and Whales, etcetera.  *Eye Roll*  Like that Corrupt Environmentally Unconscious Money Hungry Fucker Cares about Wildlife or the Environment!!!  Does he remotely look or sound like a Guy who gives a Rat's Ass about the Birds, the Bees or Whales?  *Come On Seriously!* And he certainly doesn't Care about the American Public or our Future.  And what he's forcing us to be reliant upon and refusing to give us Options that would be less Costly and less reliant on these Countries supplying Oil and holding us Hostage right now becoz of that reliance on those forms of Fuel and Energy.   China for Example is Developing Alternative Energy on a far larger Scale than the United States.  It is expanding it's renewable Energy Generation capacity, particularly Wind, Solar and advanced Grid Infrastructure.   And at an exponential rate that currently is outpacing the rest of the World combined, they're Smart to be doing that, we're Stupid and Foolish not to be also.

I like the Above Tag but didn't Buy it, I don't think I've been Tamed, pretty sure most of you would concur I'm still Wild?  *Bwahahaha*  I'm not completely Feral Acting tho', like some nasty and destructive Humans prone to Wrecking their whole Environment coz they cannot be the least bit Civilized... or their out of Control Spawn.  Luckily, when I picked up my Check and worked on the Showroom at the Antique Mall on Friday the Ferals hadn't been in there and it was in decent Order still from the last time I ran damage control behind the Feral Humans.  I don't mind a lot of Traffic thru the Space, that's usually a good Sign that it's attracting Interest.  But those that come in and Wreck it are not Welcome and I would rather that the Mall take a firm stance about those vandalistic types who manhandle everything, act the Fool, break things and Steal, just be asked to leave.  Or be permanently Banned if they cannot behave while there.

I think it's a very sad commentary on the lack of appropriate Parenting when even the Chazzas have to constantly make Public Service Announcements over the Intercom for Parents to keep their Children up under Control and with them at all times.  For the safety of the Child and other Shoppers, coz some of them Bebe's Kids {Comedian Robin Harris' infamous skit}, are buck Wild and completely out of Control.   Sadly Harris is no longer with us and taken prematurely, but his Dark Humor about out of Control Spawn lives on and on... and in Public, you still see Feral Children like what his Comedy talked of that were the scourge of his Dating Scene.  A "Bebe Kid" is now Slang term for extremely unruly, chaotic and misbehaving Children.  Our Family uses the Term all of the time when we see those types of Families in Public with Kids who are out of Control, run Wild, have no Home Training and the Parents aren't up to the Job of Managing them appropriately.  *Winks*   And we will say it loudly in Public too, so their Parents and the Kids can hear us, "Them some Bebe Kids!"  *LOL* 

They made a Satirical Movie of it, Cartoon Style, but in Real Life, Kids who Act like that are no Joke and everyone despises them and their Parents.  Especially Retailers coz they can Wreck a Store or Restaurant and cause a lot of disruption among other Patrons who would rather not have to Deal with your Kid misbehaving.   I have been known to give my "Gramma Crazy Eyes" Stare Down to a Kid acting like that, no Words are necessary and the response is immediate.  A Kid knows when an Adult is in Charge and won't take no mess from them.   And most Kiddos aim to Please, Kids Like me in spite of me taking no mess from any Child and expecting them to Behave.  Gentle Guidance and Consistent Training work wonders even on Kids whose own Families fall way short and thus end up with Behavioral Issues.   So, I blame the Adult who isn't being responsible, not the Child, that Child could be Trained to know how to Act and be Socially Acceptable little Humans.  It's a shame for any Child to have Parental Guidance completely absent, it sets them up for some Hard Knocks Life when they grow up and nobody is gonna Deal with them kindly once they're Grown and still act like that.

Discipline is not Abuse, but we have so many Undisciplined Humans running around creating Problems for Society.  I highly suspect many of them were Bebe Kids who were either Spoiled Rotten, or the Parents tried too hard to be a Friend and not a Parental Respected Figure, or the Parents just didn't Care and were Negligent.   There are some recent Commercials on TV that irk the shit out of me coz of the Kid in it.  A VRBO Air B&B one in particular where the Rude, Bitchy, Sassy Teen is so Disrespectful to the Parents, especially the Dad, and the Commercial makes Light of it as if that's Normal Behavior that should be Tolerated and is Humorous.  It's NOT, if a Teenager acted that Disrespectfully to me or in front of me, there would be no holding me back in Dealing with them appropriately and swiftly.  It would be a "Who in the Hell do you Think you are?" Moment for damned sure.  

In the Commercial the Teen is a pretentious precocious total Bitch acting Older Teen Female Child at the cusp of Adulthood.  Oh, she'd Learn FAST who was the Alpha Female and dominant in the equation if she was foolish enuf to try to Square Off.  *Winks*  The Take Down would be fast... it wouldn't happen again.  I HATE how those Parents react in that damned Commercial!   But, I can Guarantee that a Kid that Old whose Acting like that, had a whole damned Childhood of Learning instead that she was in Charge of the Parents and could say or do whatever she liked or wanted without consequences.   And when I Googled why the Ad Makers would chose such a Rage Bait Scenario, I was Right... it's a Marketing Ploy to make it more Memorable.  To feature a Sassy Teen to leverage the "Entitled Disrespectful Youth" Trope as a form of Rage Bait, is a common Marketing Tactic Designed to make the Ad Memorable by sparking Strong Emotional Reaction, both Positive and Negative... and translate to high Brand Recall.  

But, for a Consumer like me, doing so would make me avoid said Brand even if I remember it and Blog about the Commercial.  *Smiles*  One that every time I watch it, is making me wanna jump in that Hot Tub and hold that Bitchy Girl underwater for a Minute... and slap both of her Parents... on the Canvas of my Imagination, coz all Three of them annoy the Hell out of me and make me Hate the Brand I'm Recalling too.  So their Rage Bait did work, just not the way they probably intended for it to and I put VRBO on Blast for making such a distasteful Commercial that I cannot stand watching, so I wish they'd just take it off the air.  I'm not Connecting to that Family in any kind of Meaningful way or commiserating with them.  Coz that would be a Kid who'd never fucking go on a Vacation with me ever.  *Bwahahahaha*  Our Kiddos Learned early on if they couldn't Behave in Public or on Trips, they would be denied the opportunity to come along as a consequence.   And my Kiddos are Special Needs ones, somewhat Behaviorally Challenged due to what's Wrong with some of them, but it was never an Excuse to get away with shit that was unacceptable or disrespectful.  

And, Yes, I've known some very Liberal Parents who think it's Progressive to not Discipline a Child at all and be their "Buddy", and talk to them that way.  *Gak*  And those are typically the Kids I see manipulating the Hell out of said Adult coz Boundaries are blurred about whose really in Charge, the Kid or the Adult???   You can use some Psychology Successfully on a Child that is more effective, Kind and Gentle Guidance, but don't fall into the Trap of thinking your little one should be your "Friend", they Need a Parent, chances are they're all Friended Up already and don't Need any more Friends, especially "Adult Friends". *Eye Roll*   I personally think it could even make them more prone or susceptible to being Victims of Child Predators to assume that an Adult posing as a "Friend" could Earn their Trust quickly coz they've been Conditioned to think that way?   Just sayin'.   And a bratty Kid is generally not endearing themselves to any Adult quite frankly, so their Parents should Wake Up to that Fact.  I don't Like bratty Kids... blame the Parents... but, still don't want that Kid around me disrupting my Calm and Testing my Patience, Period. 

Okay, so enuf of me Ranting about People's Feral Children.  *LOL*  I genuinely LIKE most Children, but the Feral ones need to be Domesticated and Housebroken better to be tolerable to me.  *Smiles*  And if you're Twenty-Something and still acting The Fool in Public, I will ask you how Old you are and if you think that's a Good Look for someone Old enuf to Know better?   *Winks*  I've had College Aged Young Men, in particular, who I do think come in to the Mall after some libations and act like they're 14 Year Old Boys.  Once I had one on our Upstairs level, which circles the entire Downstairs level, dropping Ice Cubes down on his Friends Below!!!  Well, one of them had rang a Locked Case Bell and I was responding just as an Ice Cube was dropped and hit me!  I looked up, The Young Men were now no longer Laughing about the Prank gone awry and hit some Old Lady, and were Shitting Kittens!  Coz I looked up, and sternly told their wayward Friend, as if he was my Adult Grandchild, and loud enuf to draw Attention, get down here RIGHT NOW Young Man!!!  *Ruh Roh*

  

He complied Obediently and his Friends now were somber as Hell, coz they knew I was not Playing.  I had Ice Water dripping down my Face and in my Dreadlocks!  When he got down there I do what all Young People dread, I Called him Out about misbehaving in front of his Friends.  How Old are you?  He responded he was 23.  Are ya'll in College?  Yes Ma'am, he and the others responded.  And this is what your Parents are paying for Higher Learning for... and likely making Sacrifices and going into Debt, thinking you all are Mature enuf now that you are all Grown Ass MEN?  They all looked down at their Feet, shuffling and uncomfortable by now.  I want you all to DO better coz I KNOW at your Ages you SHOULD KNOW BETTER, so Man Up, Okay???!!!  Yes Ma'am they replied in unison. And then I Opened said Case and waited on them pleasantly.  They all Behaved for the rest of their stay at the Antique Mall and the Young Man did apologize profusely and sincerely to me, I accepted said Apology.  

I knew he hadn't intended to hit ME on the Head, and they weren't Bad Young People or total Delinquents.  I've confronted Gang Bangers just as harshly when living in Da Hood, if they Disrespected me or messed with me or Mine.  I'm not Inhibited or Intimidated in the least and I Bow Down to no Man.  The Man doesn't back down to anyone either, he's Calmly and Chillingly told Young Thugs who think they are Bad Asses that he'll rip their Head off and shit down their Throats.  He can give that Deranged Veteran with extreme PTSD 1000 Mile Stare that Chills those Punks to the Bone.   He put one Young Adult Thug who tried to Rob him at a Gas Station thru the Windshield of that Young Man's Vehicle once, he was in his Sixties, the Guy perhaps Twenty-Something.  *Ha haha*   We Give Respect and Demand it.   Anyway, this Young Adult was just messing with his Friends as Young People do... but this was in Public and it could hurt someone, cause a Slip and Fall liability to the Business once the Ice Melted on the Floor, and we have Families and Old People Shopping there. 

  

 Plus, when I was 23 I was already out on my own, Raising a Child as a Single Parent, holding down a Corporate Bank Executive AVP as my Career, Managing Three Departments of Nine People Older than me and a Fourteen Million Dollar Portfolio of Investors Loans, and Owning my own Real Estate.   If I'd of met any of these Guys back then, who were the same Age as me and acting like Tween Boys, it wouldn't be attractive in the least.  And they were all Nice looking Young Men, and Cleaned Up well once they were confronted with Immature Behavior not being Appropriate at their Age and in Public.  Sometimes they just get carried away with themselves and go too far having a good time, but, being a public Menace in the doing of it that gets out of Control.  And I never wanted to get embarrassed as a Young Adult by Acting Immature for my Age.  Yet, I do also try not to get so Old I Forget what it was like to be Young.  So, I can relate to Younger Generations quite well, I just don't put up with any Bullshit and Nonsense, and most of them do Respect that and Respect you more for it.  You Teach People how to Treat you.

In France it reached 110 Degrees and that massive Heat Wave is hitting all of Europe.  All of Germany is under Extreme Heat Advisory Today, they're as Hot as here in Arizona, which is Crazy!!!  Here we are not only used to it, but everywhere has Air Conditioning and mostly, it's a Desert Dry Heat, except during Monsoon Season, where then it's Humid.  I've lived in Europe, numerous Countries there, triple digit temps are not Normal there and probably they will be now with Climate Change.  I don't know they're being proactive enuf about it either to protect their Populations adequately?  Cooling Stations here are plentiful, I don't know they are in Europe?  I don't know that many European Families have AC, I know during the Years we lived there, nobody did, not even in Shops, tho' they might have more AC Buildings retrofitted now?   Google says only 20% of European Households have AC... compared to 90% in the U.S..   Southern Europe does better, with 50% in Italy and 40% in Spain having AC.   But only 6% in Germany do and they are under Extreme Heat Advisories, which can be Fatal.

 It was Windy Today but still around 108-110 all day, I did some Environmental Cleanup, a lot of Drinking had gone on Friday Night so I got 23 Lbs. of Aluminum Cans and traded them in at the Recycle Center.  The Daughter has a Cleaning Job in Chandler Tomorrow, so the day will be spent doing that and transporting her there and back.   Monday will be The Son's 40th Birthday in Real Time, I know this Post will Publish long after that since I'm about a Dozen Posts ahead that aren't Published.  I'm still trying to remember to shorten my Posts, sometimes I even Succeed.  *LOL*  When I went to one of the Major Mountain Parks that I have an Annual Pass to I was literally the only Person there!!!  It's Summertime and the Kids are out of School but most Parks are barren and devoid of anyone lately, it's kinda eerie and unusual.  Usually there are lots of Kids on the Playgrounds, which are covered in Arizona to provide Shade, the Gazebos and Ramadas are usually full of Parties and Picnics, but lately... Nada.  There are Fire Restrictions in effect and No BBQing may account for some of the avoidance.

And nobody should go Hiking in this Heat either, so a lot of the Hiking and Biking or Horse Trails are Closed while the Extreme Heat Warnings are in effect.  Mostly due to Rescues and Deaths already happening when folks are foolish enuf to go do something like that when it's over 110 Degrees.   Usually it's not Locals, it's Vacationers and they're ill equipped to be out in the Desert to begin with and bring a single paltry Bottled Water!   And don't realize that even surrounded by City, sometimes you can't get Cell Service for Emergencies around the Mountain Ranges that surround Metro Phoenix.  There are Dead Zones where you can't get a Signal Out so you couldn't Call for Help if you Needed it and nobody is coming by to accidentally find you either.  Coz most Sane and Sensible folks wouldn't be taking a Hike in the Extreme Heat and wouldn't imagine anyone else would be either.  Unless someone sees a Vehicle Parked near a Trail Head for Days, it wouldn't even arouse suspicions unless someone reports you Missing.

Anyway, I had all of Estrella Mountain Park to myself and it's a very big Mountain County Park, so it was quite Serene and lots of Wildlife apparent when People are absent.  I saw what I think were some Vermilion Flycatcher and Cassin's Finch, which are tiny Birds, that are very Colorful and you don't see too often, the Red Feathers on them catches your Eye and they're Curious when they see you.   And we'll end this Post with a couple of Selfies of one of the Granddaughters in Pittsburgh.   The Young folks take such good Selfies, I totally Suck at it.

*******

I'm finished moving Bodies for now... Dawn,,, The Bohemian