Living Mi Vida Loca And Reading The Room

 

This Morning I'm getting my Crown done on that Cracked Molar I had a bit of sensitivity of and found out that's the reason why, when I had my Teeth Cleaned on Tuesday and he noticed and Photographed the Crack for me to see it.  He said I'm grinding my Teeth, likely due to Stress.  AS IF I have Stress... or any reason to gnash my Teeth... Bwahahahahahahaha... my Dentist has a Twisted Sense of Humor like me so we both Laughed about that Dark Joke of Mi Vida Loca.   I have to pick my Prescription Mouthwash up at FRY'S Pharmacy too.

I found out on Wednesday Night why the Antique Mall feels like they don't have to do anything Special for Vendors anymore, they have a Two Year Waiting List to Rent Spaces!  So, they don't feel they Need to cater to any of us if they have so many waiting to be Tenants.  Of coarse turnover is still high so they almost require a lot of prospective replacement Tenants rather than trying to keep Loyal Tenants who'd stay long term and be good for the Reputation of the Mall, so it's still a Bad Business Model IMO.  Customers get disappointed if their fav Vendors are always leaving and going someplace else, to then try to locate them elsewhere.

We're constantly getting asked where a Vendor went that left the Mall and honestly, we almost never know if they even went somewhere else or just got out of the Game?  Lots of good Vendors left the Industry or have scaled way back now in Rental Space and Inventory they carry.  I'm glad I got all my Anime Plushies into Inventory before my Dental Work, just in case I don't feel up to it afterwards?  it was risky to take on a Shift the Day After having the Work done.  But I like keeping more of my Profits during the Holiday Season so build up as much Comped Space Rent as possible since my Rent is up to $604 a Month now for the Showroom and the Locked Case in the most Ideal Locations in there.

  But even the Smallest Booths are well over $250 a Month now and Cases are $108 a Month, so less than $500 a Month for a whole Room is more reasonable and a better Deal IMO.  Plus Scoring a Showroom is hard to come by, I waited Years to get one, and Locked Cases the same, Years wait to get one.  Which is why I don't consider giving either of what we have up.  We did at one time have the benefit of Two Showrooms, which is almost unheard of, very few Vendors have been that Lucky, but with Pandemic, we let a Showroom and a Booth, plus some Art Walls, and Open Shelving Upstairs, go. 

 I could move more Merch and Downsize faster with more Real Estate. But wanted to reduce Overhead Costs after Pandemic and with an iffy/shitty Economy and Bad Leadership in the White House.  Until we have better Leadership the Prospectus for any Business Moves Long Term is really hard to calculate and gauge.  He does such Crazy irrational shit all of the time and Grifts, to only be for the benefit of enriching himself and his Spawn or Cronies, or Extortion schemes, to the detriment of all others trying to make a Living.  This level of Corruption is unprecedented and abnormal in a Democracy.  We've gone into what I call Democrazy now, heading rapidly towards total Fascism and Authoritarianism. 

I'm not sure what can of Business Model you can set up successfully in that kind of an Environment?  And the Stock Market is Juiced, so it's all an Illusion and tied too closely to the AI Bubble, which, will burst very soon, and go totally Sideways, I Predict.  I'm usually not an Alarmist or Pessimist, but even Guarded Optimism at this juncture is a stretch, I ain't gonna Lie, I got Serious Concerns about the direction we're heading Wheels off the fucking Rails under this Regime and it's Cabal of Vulgarians and Insane Stable Genius Psychopath at the helm!  The fact the WHOLE of the Country isn't Worried about that is even more Alarming actually.  We're really Dumbing Down Nationally the Critical Thinking ability and discernment of our Populace it seems, with still over 30% seemingly acting like fucking indoctrinated radicalized brainwashed Zombies!!!

 The Elections really Concern me, ICE already said they're gonna Flood The Zone, but mostly Blue and Purple States. Yeah, if that ain't highly Partisan Political Intimidation and Voter Suppression Tactics from the Top of the Food Chain in Power, in order to try to hold onto it, I don't know what is.  We Vote by Mail but they are trying to compromise that too.  Ironic to me that every Republican in Power got Voted in by this Alleged Voter Fraudulent System they Claim all of the time, yet, they control the House, Senate and White House, but, it's all supposed to have been so fraudulent... how does that even fucking Square?   If it's been SO fraudulent, how did you then Win again after Losing?  *Shakes Head*  Frankly I think he wants to eliminate Voting altogether so he can just install himself and his Spawn/Cronies for Life.

 And their Base that thinks the Election was Stolen from them, then how did their Side get into complete Power and Win if it's not been a Free or Fair Election?  It is the classic Tails I Win, Heads You Lose Mindset they seem to have.  Definitely Voter Fraud if we Lose, but still claiming something is still Wrong with the System even when they Win???!!  And Down Ballot even when Donnie Lost the Presidency, lots of his Party didn't and Won their Elections.  Anyway, I think every Future Election is likely to have high Drama and the potential for some January 6th Type Violence.   And Losers not accepting defeat or a Peaceful Transfer of Power that we've always had before this whole Shitshow came down the Golden Escalator and hijacked everything and Acolytes plus Sycophants enabled it all.  If they can all have Lifetime Appointments and be Above The Law, it's what they all seem to now want and expect.

My Dental Work went well, no Pain while having it done, had to be numbed Twice, which isn't unusual for me, I don't respond real well to numbing agents so they usually had to give me more to have the desired effect.  I don't know why?  It is said Biological, Anatomical, Chemical Factors and Stress that change how our Bodies process Pain and Drugs is likely the reason, which, makes sense.  I have a high threshold and insensitivity to Pain and I don't respond Normally to most Drugs.  And frankly, the numbing agents don't last as long as they should for me either so I knew it would wear off prematurely as well.  Which, it has.

 In fact, Sleeping Pills and Anti-Anxiety Meds tend to make me feel quite Wired, and Caffeine Calms me and makes me Sleepy, which is opposite to what they should do when taken.  Anyway, I didn't feel anything and got the temp Crown installed, permanent one in about 2 Weeks from now or sooner.  The Novocaine hasn't worn off yet so I was able to get a Meal eaten of Pork Belly with Seasoned Potatoes once I got Home and get all my Morning Chores done and some Grocery Shopping, pick up my Prescription Mouthwash from the Pharmacy at my Grocer.  I know I'll be sore when it completely wears off so I wanted to get everything done first.

We have the AC folks we have on Contract and Prepaid Retainer coming to do our Winter Maintenance between now and 2:00 p.m..  I also got all the Bills Paid for the 1st of the Month.  I may take a Nap just so I can recoup a bit before picking the Granddaughter up from Work later this Afternoon and then make a Deposit at the Bank.   We just had the AC Guy call both my Cellphone and the Landline, The Man was blocking the Hallway with his Walker and getting him out of the way to answer either Phone before it quit ringing didn't happen.  So I then had to call the Main Office to confirm that we are here.  The Man in that Walker can be so frustrating when he's blocking the way around him in a Room or Hallway.

He gets so flustered and confused and then he's agitated, as you're trying to move him out of anyone's way or your way.  But he's so slow in the damned thing and I swear sometimes he'll wait to go into a Room that already has people in it, rather than waiting 'til they are out of there, and there's no room for him to bring that into the Room too and fit or not obstruct people.   He'll do it when people are in there trying to Cook or Wash Dishes, or put Groceries away, and it's obvious he's getting in the way and has no urgent need to be in there right then too!

My Mom got a Motorized Wheelchair when she was no longer ambulatory and she was a menace in that thing too once she got Dementia.  So I do know it can be part of the Disease/Condition to do contrary things with their Medical Equipment in a sort of demented entitlement kind of way and figuring everyone else and everything else should not be in their way.  Even when they don't have the Right of Way or won't fit thru, they'll attempt to anyway, crashing into things and sometimes people, or getting stuck.  I know that now he needs the damned thing so as to feel stable on his Feet, but it grates on all our Nerves, sometimes your Last Nerve when he's misbehaving with it or always in the way with it.

Okay, small Rant over.  I know he can't help it really, dealing with lots of Medical Equipment in the Home is a Given at some point and it just means a lot of adjustments for everyone, not just the person requiring it all.  My Mouth is Sore from being held open for over an Hour and having the series of numbing Shots in my Jaw, plus the trauma of the Work done, so I'm Emotionally a bit Raw right now and why trying to get to Two different Phones unsuccessfully pissed me off when he's blocking the way entirely and standing there like a Deer in the Headlights when I'm trying to shoo him in one direction or another so I can get to a Phone!  *LOL*

I had to call back and be on Hold for a long while then, and was hoping the Tech wouldn't cancel the visit if he didn't get confirmation in time.  Luckily he won't coz the Office said they'd contact him FOR me.  *Whew*  They give a Six Hour Window for when they come so I've had to not leave the House during that Window in order not to miss the Tech arriving.  No way I can leave The Man in charge to handle that visit.  The Son wasn't feeling good when he got Home from Work, said he was really Tired, so went to Bed by Noon, he's been in a Depressive Funk lately and quite morose.  I didn't realize 'til later why he was so Down, but he couldn't talk about it right away, he'd almost Died that Morning in a Pedestrian/Vehicle Incident on his way Walking to Work!!!  OMG!!!  His Mortality had really hit him hard at how Fragile Life is and a Near Death Experience narrowly avoided!!!  Too Soon after Mando's Vehicular Homicide being a Pedestrian Killed by someone Driving Crazy!!!

Things at his Work are really good so that's not problematic, but I think Life in general for him is not going well, and just Mortality is General has been a consideration too often lately.  When he had his Friend Jeremy show up to visit, seeing Jeremy looking like he very likely is Dying, was hard, Jeremy is his Age, only 40.  Mando just Died tragically, in his 50's. And several of The Son's Friends also in their Age Group have recently Died, so it gives someone Middle Aged Pause of Mortality isn't just for the Elderly.  The Son knows he Drinks too much and drowning your Sorrows with alcohol doesn't really Work.  He has only Healthcare for Medicaid folks who can't afford Medical... so he never gets Preventative Care for anything, not Medical, Dental or Mental Health... and he needs more Care of all Three.

 He doesn't earn enuf to Support himself anymore coz cost of living is too high Locally, and doesn't have his own Transportation either.  Just about all of his Friends are also having Personal Crisis, mostly Economically, no matter how hard they Work, everyone is only One Paycheck or Crisis away from disaster anymore it seems.  And, it becomes disheartening I'm sure.  The Niece was reminding him how fortunate they all are to have here to be and what a Blessing and Privilege it is, she has a different perspective of the Luck of it and being Mindful of that.  Not everyone has a Safe Space to Land, she reminded him.  She just got her 1st Paycheck Today from the New Job.

She's been doing Gig Work Deliveries to get by until she started getting her Paychecks from the Career Work.  She'll still do Gig Work and play Poker to supplement her Income and try to Save Up for her own place by Winter.  She'd like The Son to consider being a Roommate, but his lack of Transportation would be an Issue if he wasn't Walking Distance from his Work like he is right now.  I can take him or he can Walk to and from Work right now.  There aren't many affordable Apartments in this area with a good Walk Score.  He doesn't want to live in some shithole in Da Hood and be far from his Employment too.  He said that's barely better than being Homeless.

Where the least expensive Apartment Rentals are is in areas as dangerous as being on the Streets Unhoused.  And would take up more of his Income than he can outlay on Part Time Minimum Wage Employment.  So he doubts he is a candidate to be anyone's Roommate and be able to go halves on Costs, especially since Utility and Water Costs have soared.  This Month's Bill came in for Utilities and we used less than the same time last Year for the Month and yet the Bill was just under Twice as High to use that much LESS!!!  It's not sustainable for most Americans to have those kinds of massive increases unabated.

I just had the AC Tech change all our Filters for me, so now I don't have to.  They always have some new product they try to upsell you on, not interested, no Money and I don't need/want another thing to have to be Financed in this Lifetime.  *LOL*   The Techs are always Young now, I think this Guy might be 30, if that.  Nice Young Man, has a 2 Year Old Daughter... I always seem to have these Young People tell me their whole Life Story before they leave.  The Man always says I'd make a great P.I. or Detective coz folks just open up and tell me stuff voluntarily and spill all the Tea.  *Ha ha ha*  I just must have that Grandmotherly Confidante' Look about me I Guess?  *Winks*

The Bulbs on our UV Light installed to keep Molds out is up to $500 to replace now so we won't be having that done if they've burnt out.  You only get about Two Years out of them and Mold hasn't been a problem for a while now so I'll hold off on replacing the Bulbs at that price point.  Replacement Parts for anything that can be replaced rather than needing a whole new Unit are Crazy expensive now... as are whole new Units when they can't be repaired with replacement parts.  And they don't build a damned thing to last anymore 2-7 Years, 10 if you are Lucky, is about the absolute Max Life of anything anymore, no matter how much you Paid for it or being Top Of The Line!!!  Doesn't matter, might as well just Buy the Cheaper Model coz the High End Model won't last either.

The Son almost got run over in the Crosswalk at 5:00 a.m. this Morning Walking to Work!  A Big Ford Truck tried to beat the Light and almost made a Right Turn into him, missing him by only a couple Feet, but only coz he jumped back just in time!!!  He was Walking on a "Walk" Right of Way Pedestrian Light and was in the Middle of the Crosswalk, so he had nowhere to go and was in the Middle of the Street Legally Crossing, so yelled loudly, "You fucking Asshole!"  So the Truck's Driver stopped! And The Son then thought, here we go, Today's the Day... and figured now there would be a violent confrontation.  But, he was so Angry at almost being Run Over by some Asshole willing to Run Over a Pedestrian, coz if he hadn't seen the Headlights in his peripheral and jumped back, the Guy would have hit him at a high rate of speed!!!  Killing or seriously Injuring him!!!  Vehicle versus Pedestrian never Ends Well for the Pedestrian!  And someone willing to run over any Living Thing shouldn't be behind the Wheel of a Vehicle!

  Thoughts of what had just happened to Mando ran thru his Head and he was so Mad he walked angrily towards the Truck and the Driver thought better of it and took off.  His Boss Witnessed the whole thing coz it was at the Intersection of where his Store is!  She said she thought for sure she'd see her Employee get Run Over and Killed right in front of her Eyes!  It shook them both up a lot, not a good way to start their Shift or the Day, too damn Close a Call.  Thank God for The Son's quick Reflexes and peripheral Vision Saving him.   We definitely don't Need another Homicide so close together.  But people do drive Crazy, Carelessly, Distracted, Recklessly, Impaired, it's getting ridiculous how bad it is.  Every Day is almost a close call, whether you're in a Vehicle or a Pedestrian, your Head has to be on a Swivel!!!

Anyway, the Young AC Tech had 'bonded' with me enuf that he did $300 worth of Work and Comped me it and said he won't even tell his Employer he did a Complimentary Service of some items that were problematic with the Old Unit.  *Whew*  It needs TLC, I know this, it's over 10 Years Old but I can't afford a 2nd New Unit or another Loan right now.  It's rough, at some point shit needs Repairs or Replacement and there's no avoiding it, but for now it's limping along on a Wing and a Prayer.  Arizona is hard on Units, we have excessive Heat and even excessive Cold in the Evenings during Winter.  Desert Temps can fluctuate like no others, being high triple digit Heat during the Day and dropping to near Freezing at Night on the same day!!!  So your Units work overtime all of the time.  But Maintenance Costs are so astronomically High now, and Labor.  Keeping Pace is a Challenge when you're on a Fixed Income.

Saw a good Movie "The Family" {2013} with Robert DeNiro, Tommy Lee Jones and Michelle Pfeiffer, among many others in an All Star Cast.   Yes, it's Older but I hadn't seen it before, there's a lot of Movies I haven't seen yet.  I don't get out much.  *LOL*  My Mouth finally quit hurting like Hell, so that's good, I took some Tylenol and a Nap, which helped.  I did finally get to the Bank and make my Deposit and Mailed all Bills for the beginning of the Month.  The Social Security hits late this Month, on the 21st, which is the latest all Year wouldn't ya know.  So, a good thing I'm making some side Money to cover what needs to get paid by Mid Month and can't wait 'til the Feds pay us our Money.   It hits all Year anywhere from the 15th to the 21st, that's quite a spread IMO.  But whaddya gonna do, Right?  Hurry Up and Wait.

The Son got a Free Concert Ticket from his Friend Garrett coz he couldn't make it and had already bought the Ticket, so just sent it electronically to The Son to use instead.  He hadn't expected to go out Tonight so I felt he'd had more to Drink than he would have had he known he'd Score a Concert Ticket.  He worked something out with The Niece to take him and pick him up after it was over at 11:00 p.m..  He wanted to give her Gas Money but she insisted he Buy her Cigarettes with it instead.  He was concerned that Buying the Cigs then she might not have the Gas to come get him but she insisted on the Cigs and he Bought them as the Agreement to get him there AND pick him up.  Well, when it was time to pick him up she said she didn't have enuf Gas now and he'd have to spend Money for an Uber, so he was really Mad.  He told her he'd wanted to put Gas in so she'd have enuf to get him there and back... now he's Paid and only gotten a One Way Ride and 10 Miles to Walk Home, when she knows he has Work in the Morning!

So, he knew I'd gone to Sleep early coz of hurting from my Dental Work, which the Pain had made me very Tired.  But he had to blow up my Phone coz by Midnight he'd only been able to Walk 3 of the Miles Home and knew the rest of 7 would take him 'til 1:00 in the Morning and he'd have to call in and miss Work!!!  Luckily he called 3 times and I finally heard the Phone and woke up to go get him.  It was understandable he was Mad, since, he'd spent the Money they'd agreed upon for the round Trip, she got her Cigs and knew she then would be short on Gas and wouldn't be able to go get him as agreed upon.  So a lot of Drama ensued when it was time to pick him up and he made the Phone Call and she rescinded picking him up even after he'd already spent the Money agreed upon Buying what she insisted to use the Money for rather than Gas!  And probably why she was blowing up my Phone earlier, but I was Asleep.  She knew he'd have to Call me for a Ride and was trying to get out Ahead of what had transpired I Suspect?

  Getting an Uber would have cost him the Trip Twice if he could even get one to pick him up, sometimes too late, especially on a Weekday, you can't always to some locations.  And what was the Point of accepting a Free Concert Ticket if it cost him $75-$100 for a relatively short ride there and back by Vehicle?  At least he did get Home safely, he was gonna offer me Gas Money, but I said it was Okay 7 Miles there and back wasn't that much driving and the Roads were deserted coz they're under construction and it was really late.  I don't blame him for being Mad at her but told him, No Drama, Okay?  He agreed not to have a Dust Up with her over it but he's kinda Done, coz apparently Arguments have been initiated over differences of Opinion and I know how she can be like a Dog with a Bone about pushing her Opinion.  For me I end any potential for a difference of Opinion with a Simple, "You could be right..." and just End it there... so my Peace isn't disturbed or disrupted.  *LOL*  I don't Care enuf about anyone's Opinion to Argue about it Honestly, if I don't Agree and they can't seem to Agree to even Disagree.  *Smiles*

She has a Strong Personality and he's kind of Done with her tho', the reasons are mounting, and she needs to know if you give your Word to someone you should Honor it and not rescind it.  Especially after they've already Honored their part and Paid you.  And now you alter the Arrangements.  The Arrangement was never to Pay for her Cigs, it was to Pay for her Gas to ensure she had enuf Gas. Anyway, so now she's on the Outs with him, and with The Daughter apparently, she's burning her Bridges with them and neither of them wants to be around her.  They're finding her too difficult to get along with and understanding why her own Family may be having a hard time getting along with one another too perhaps?  Especially if they're all like this, Argumentative and Opinionated to an Extreme?  I'm getting along with her Fine, and she has Honored the Agreement we had and Paid me Today what we had Agreed upon once she got Paid.  So, I have no complaints about that aspect of our Arrangement.  

I told her if it doesn't Work Out, no hard feelings, make other Arrangements is all.  But, she has to learn how to better get along and play well with others around here or she's going to continue to have Relationship Problems with those closest to her I think.  She's burned Bridges with her Family, but, they are quite the Train Wreck so I can't fault her fully for that whole dysfunctional dynamic they've always had.  I have discussed this with her already about how she's likely messing up her Relationships on her end.  Like my Friend Tina used to, she tends to become Argumentative and have Strong, often Stubborn Opinions that not everyone will Agree with.  And then even Argue that they're not Arguing!  *LOL*  People do get fed up with regular conversations becoming Arguments, or even Debates all the time, for no good reason, it's exhaustive Emotionally and Relationally.  Everything doesn't have to be confrontational or a Debate over everyday discussions.  Do you wanna be Right or have Peace?  I personally always choose Peace.  Opinions are like Assholes, we all have One and nobody wants to be Exposed to someone else's.  *Winks*

My Adorable Friend Minnie just turned 51 and she's still Fabulous and I swear that Woman is Ageless, she looks the same as she did in her 20's, I Kid you not!!!  She posted a couple Birthday Pixs {Above and Below} and apparently had a really nice 51st and is totally Rocking her Fifties.  She's also a Beautiful Spirit on the Inside as well, the Sweetest Gal, a Great Mother and Wife.  She was Adopted and is wonderful to her Adoptive Parents and has a great Relationship with them.  She doesn't know much about her Birth Parents other than her Mom being a Native American Tribal Member and that she was Born at the Indian Hospital and given up for Adoption at Birth.  So, she too is a Registered Tribal Member even tho' her Adoptive Parents are not Native Americans.  She has Three Adorable Kiddos.  The Oldest she had by a failed 1st Marriage to an abusive Asshole, but her 2nd Husband is a Good Man and Adopted her Oldest and Raised her as his own, the Two Youngest are theirs together.  They are a Lovely Family.

Anyway, I'm Hoping that Tomorrow The Niece doesn't go on about trying to sway me about what happened between her and The Son and try to Justify what she did.  My Opinion will definitely not Square with hers, he Honored what they Agreed to in front of me before they even left the House and she didn't Honor her part, period.  He spent the Money and had it been for the Gas, and she used it for Gas and not Cigarettes, she'd of had enuf to go get him too, as AGREED upon.  Not Stranded late at Night 10 Miles from Home on a Night he has to be up early for Work the next Day!!!  And then have to Wake me up to go get him coz he was exhausted after Walking 3 Miles coz he'd gone to Work that Day at 5:00 in the Morning and will have to be at Work by 5:00 a.m. Tomorrow Morning too.  He never likes to call in to Work unless he's actually Sick and make lame excuses to a Boss over something other than Illness to miss Work.  At least it was an excellent Concert and he appreciated Garrett giving him the Ticket so it wasn't Wasted.  

I have to Work Tomorrow Night myself so the last thing I want is any Drama and a Headache between any of the Kiddos.  *Eye Roll*  So, I Hope she doesn't engage with The Son and just leaves him alone and stays in her own Lane and drops it, so she doesn't set him off again.  He doesn't want to discuss it anymore, but he also doesn't want anything to do with her now either.  And until he feels differently, and The Daughter, I think she needs to just respect that the estrangement is due to something she's either said or done that has caused a Rift.  Perhaps it can be resolved later, but right now it can't and that's gonna be somewhat awkward.  Allen learned that the hard way too when he couldn't always get along and play well with others.  Now he's trying much harder and we all saw that and so everyone let him know we are willing to work things out, but he HAS to do his part or we're just not having it.  So far, so good, with Allen.  Some people do have problems in their Relationships and if it's ALL of them, they really do have to see and Own that the common denominator is THEM.  

If every single one of your Relationships is failing or faltering, your Estrangements are with everyone you know, then chances are that YOU could be the Problem.  *Smiles and Winks*   Being introspective can be hard to face sometimes and make necessary changes.   Allen and The Niece are really decent people and have Good Hearts.  And usually have the best of Intentions... but the Road to Hell is paved with Good Intentions.  If you just are Socially awkward and don't Read The Room, then it really becomes problematic in Life tho' and in interactions with other people.   I think they both tend to lack the Ability to Read The Room.  His is due to Autism mostly, that's obvious, I know The Niece struggles with Mental Health Issues, most of her Family does, I don't know what her Formal Diagnosis has been.  I do know it seems to interfere with her ability to function optimally tho', she's wicked Smart, but being Brilliant can sometimes be at the expense of having Normal Relationships.  A lot of Brilliant Minds are quite Weird, different, and Socially Awkward in how they relate... it Isolates them.

Anyway, since she and my Kiddos have been like Cousins their entire Lives, I'm Hopeful they can manage reconciliation, but I'm not getting involved in them working it out, or not.  It's up to them what they do and who they want to be around, or not be around if it's too difficult or too high maintenance.   I have told The Niece her intensity can be overwhelming so try to Dial it back some and perhaps that might make for easier interactions with other people?  I Love her dearly so want her to be able to sort out problems she's experiencing with people that I know she genuinely Cares about.  But, you can't have Relationships FOR other folks, that's on them to work out for themselves as best they are able to.  People in general are complex Beings, each Unique and different in their own ways of just Being. 

 

I accept that with each Individual, but there are some that I don't want a lot of contact with if it's too draining for me too... so, I Get It.  I'm more blunt about telling someone when they're Too Much and to just Dial it back or we can't spend too much, if any, Time together if they can't.  *LOL*  I made it clear to The Niece, no Talk about Religion, especially Jehovah's Witness stuff, not Interested in Cult Religions or Religions being pushed.  I think all the formative Years she spent being one really Mind Fucked her and deprogramming may take a Lifetime now to get it out of her Head.  That Cultish Mentality persists even after they leave, and how pushy they always are about everything, not just their Religion.  She was only about 15 when she separated from her Family and the JW's encouraged that.  It was like Child Abduction coz one let her move in with their Family, and I remember it put her Dear Mother thru a lot.  She even tried to press Charges that a Cult was Brainwashing her Child and she wanted to get her back.  The Family had a similar Situation with the Youngest Daughter, but by another Family, that they thought were Friends.

That whole thing with the Youngest was actually legitimately illegal.  They befriended Two Families, I even met both Families and spent time with them, I never even imagined they'd do what they did!  One Family had a Daughter Dying of Brain Cancer who was a Young Teen and the Best Friend of their Youngest Daughter.  They had an Older Son who was Grown and my Friends Youngest Daughter had a Tween Crush on him, she was a Minor, only 14, he was in his 20's.  Well, both of these Families moved to Georgia and invited my Friend's Youngest to come spend the Summer with the Dying Daughter, coz it was to be her last Summer.  So, my Friend allowed it for Dying Christina's sake.  Well, her Daughter never came back Home!  Even after Christina had Died, it was like Christina's Family replaced her with my Friend's Daughter, very fucking demented and Creepy as fuck!

 And it was discovered that their Adult Son was having relations with her! Which, was Statutory Rape and Child Abduction, since they had taken her across State Lines and allowed this illegal Relationship!  Under the pretense of having her come to spend time with their Tween Dying Daughter, also Age 14, deceiving her Family to get their permission for only a brief Summer visit!    Which constitutes Child Sex Trafficking coz they knew their Son was having intimacy with a 14 Year old in their Care and was their Responsibility her Family had entrusted them with her Safety and Well Being.   And were evading her Family trying to get her back!!!  Of coarse the Tween thought she was in Love, so was resistant now to leaving. Their Daughter Died and frankly I thought they intentionally 'took' her as a replacement 'Daughter'! 

 She eventually Married their Son and had her Two Children by him, giving them Grandchildren!!!  Quite the Drama, they're now Divorced.  And that Youngest Daughter never did reconcile with her own Family and saw nothing Wrong with what happened and that she'd been exploited.  And the Dysfunction in her own Family didn't help matters.  I never realized the levels of Dysfunction even tho' I'd been Best Friends with their Mom for Years.   She never confided about the problems behind closed doors with her Husband, tho' I never liked him and thought him to be a Strange Person that I didn't particularly Trust.  But I totally Trusted my Friend and didn't think she'd put any of the Children at risk, mine or hers.  I also had no idea she was dealing with Domestic Abuse, she was 6' tall and her Husband smaller, shit, I could have kicked his Ass and he was Afraid of me, and of The Man once we got Married... she was Head and Shoulders Taller than me!   The Man also had no idea their Family was such a Hot Mess behind Closed Doors!  Sometimes you just never know.

  My Kids and their Kids were very close from practically Birth, so we were like extended Family and still are.   They knew me when I was Unmarried and Single, when I was Married to my Psycho Ex 1st Husband, and knew I kicked his Ass to the curb when the Relationship became Toxic, Unsafe and potentially dangerous becoz tho' Charming and Popular, he was a Psychopath as it turns out.  It happens, even to Careful People, so I'm not Judging.   Many Families don't let on the Darker Side of their Family Lives, they hide and are ashamed when the Illusion of a Functional Happy Family is just that, all Illusionary or goes Bad.  It wasn't until my Friend Died that her Oldest Daughter and even MY Daughter told me things they didn't want me to know becoz they were fearful I'd go Mental on my Friend's Husband for being an abusive Asshole in Private, and that he drank a lot and was Mentally very unstable.  The Daughter knew I wouldn't allow my Kids over there if I'd known, so, all the Kiddos kept it a Secret, like my Friend did.  Perhaps she thought our Cherished Friendship would End? 

 The same with another very close Lifelong Best Friend who was a Single Parent and The Daughter spent a lot of time with.  Coz our Daughters were also Best of Friends growing up, and her Kiddo was an Only Child.  I even allowed The Daughter to go on Vacations with this Family, thinking all was Well, perfectly Safe and in Order!  In all the Years, Decades, I never knew that when she'd have my Child over for Sleepovers or on Vacations, she'd often leave the Girls alone and go out all Night!!!  Sometimes not even coming Home!  They were apparently told not to 'Tell' coz she knew I'd lose my shit if I knew she was leaving the Kiddos Unsupervised and Alone, when I'd entrusted my Child to her Care!!!  I'd rather she had asked me to Babysit her Kid instead, if she needed or wanted to go out!  But some Parents don't think leaving Kids Unsupervised or Alone is Wrong, or Justify it being 'necessary', Latchkey Kids do abound.  Sometimes you just never fucking know the Secrets people keep, even if you think you 'know' them, you can't always know everything about them and their habits that aren't acceptable to you!   

The Daughter... and even The Niece... only told me fairly recently about all this, seemed all the Kiddos knew, but never 'Told'.  Mostly coz they knew I'd go Postal if I Knew or mebbe wouldn't be Friends anymore with their Parents?  And, to be Fair, I would have gone Ballistic!   When I found out this Single Parent Friend and her Daughter are estranged now and I couldn't understand Why, coz I'd imagined them to have always been very Close, an only Child raised by a Single Mom who seemed to dote on her, from what I'd SEEN.  It puzzled me and I brought it up to The Daughter and asked her if she Knew the Friend and her Daughter weren't close at all?  But, it was what was UNSEEN that apparently was the Issue, and my Daughter said, Oh, I KNOW Why!!!  And then spilled the Tea and said, Well, it's so many Years ago now that I figure you won't go on the Warpath, but I always knew you definitely would if you'd of Known Mom, so we didn't "Tell"!  But she left her Kid Alone a LOT, and I was just the Companion so she'd have someone else there when her Mom always went out to do whatever with whoever!!!  OMG!!!  It has since led me to Believe this Person has been leading a Double Life of some kind, Secretly?

 You're damned straight!  Nobody is a Perfect Parent, but, we all have Parenting Boundaries not to be violated or Trust Broken.  Especially with or about our own Precious Kids!!!  And Kids shouldn't have to Keep Secrets about Adults misdeeds.  So, if you have Littles still, make sure they know that no Adult should insist or threaten that they keep "Secrets".  We're only ever as Sick as our Secrets and that's too much to burden any Child with, ever!   It really can make you Distrustful when you realize how much you don't Know about people, no matter how long you've Known them tho'!   The deceptiveness can be shocking, and Misplaced Trust can blindside you sometimes.  I've always thought I was perceptive, discerning, and a decent Judge of Character and someone's Moral Compass.   But there's a lot of folks who Clean Up Well in Public and in Private you may discover are a fucking Hot Mess, Unstable or Unsafe in their ways, or an absolute Train Wreck.  And Who knew... or... didn't "Tell"???

*******

Sometimes Real Life has the Scariest of Stories... Dawn... The Bohemian

Haunted Mansion Renovations & Tales Of Discount Dawn

 Well, it looks like the Roof of The RV Garage Mahal has held from leaking but we did get some Water in beneath the Doors.  Some of the Wood does look Stained but no Water came in, so we really need to get that Replacement Roof started and finished ASAP.  Which, the Door Jamb not always preventing Water getting in is usual when too much Rain hits at angles and seeps past the Door Jamb Barriers that try to Seal underneath Doors.  Mando had replaced them so they're new but I did have some leakage that got in thru the Side Door again, which has always been problematic since some of the Roof runoff hits that Door if it Rains hard enuf that the Roof runoff is like a Waterfall. 

 I've now put a Shower Curtain up against the Exterior, which I probably should have and could have done before the Storm hit, Hindsight being 20-20. *Le Sigh*  I just put Towels down to sop up what did get in and have an Outdoor Jute Throw Rug near the Interior of that Door which also soaks up a great deal of Water like a big Sponge, if it Floods into there, which, it did.  I do Hope most of this Storm is done now?  It's too Stressful to have catastrophic Storms all the time now that are capable of so much damage to Property and can be dangerous too as it takes down huge Trees, blocks Roadways stranding Motorists, and has had Hurricane Force Winds along with the Flooding and zero Visibility when Driving.  Emergency Vehicles are all over the place during these Storms, responding to Emergency Calls.

The Son said his Store's Roof Leaks in areas so he'll be responsible Today for insuring they put Buckets down, protect Customers and Merchandise.  The Granddaughter says their Store's Flat Roof leaks too but there's a 2nd Floor where the Offices are so it doesn't get into the Retail Space.  Lots of Flat Roofs have leakage Issues from heavy Storms, our Antique Mall does too but my Showroom is below the Upper 2nd Floor so I don't have to worry about it.  And Locked Cases have protection too.   But many of the Booths do have to Worry about it.  They've had repairs done over the Years but it is an Older Building and a very large Commercial one.   Ours is 55,000 sf of Space and then there's some Smaller Shops in between but connected to us and then a huge LOWE's Home Improvement Store at the other end of the same Commercial Building.

Nurse Remi will be coming soon and after she leaves I can head out to my Dentist Appointment.  He's always happy to have her visits and its good for me to have her Professional Opinion about how she thinks he's doing?  I'm not a Medical Professional so mostly I just go on my Gut Instincts about when I don't think he's doing well and anything that doesn't seem Right to me.  But having him regularly monitored by someone Trained is beneficial since his Health has been particularly Fragile and often turned on a Dime.  He doesn't always present like a Textbook Case Medical Emergency either, so he's had very close calls and my Gut Instincts or Premonitions have Luckily Saved his Life on several occasions already.  But, that's a lot of Stress on me to have his Life constantly in my Hands without the Opinions regularly enuf from the Medical Community.  Now we have that and the VA is covering it, which I appreciate.  They didn't resume his OT and PT tho' at Home, I thought they would after he couldn't do the Cardiac Rehab at the Hospital.

 

But, I know what the Therapists had him doing, he just doesn't do it with the consistency he would if they were coming regularly like his Personal Trainers and he wanted to Show Off for them.  To get the Respect of and Impress the Young Stud Muffins they send he'll try harder to do the Exercises and have them Praise him.  With me he just Complains when I'm making him do it, he's not trying to Show Off or Impress me.  *LOL*  And if he doesn't have an Audience, he just wont' do it at all now, he's already Bored of doing it with any consistency and I don't always have the Time to Watch him and be a Cheerleader for him doing what he knows he should do Daily.  It's like when your Kids wanted you to watch every little thing they did and Praise them for it when they're really Little, which, even then, gets tedious and rather patronizing to pretend you're THAT Interested in every little thing they're doing.  Now, Imagine if you will someone 74 wanting you to watch every little thing they're doing so they have a captive Audience.  Yeah, No, coz it gets Old real fast.  *Le Sigh and Laughs*

As it is I have Two Younger Generations here of Adults that will ask me to Come Look at what they've just done.  *Bwahahahaha*  And, it's obligatory for Mom/Gramma to go Look, just Look at this, will you just Look at that, well, just LOOK at it!  *LMAOROTF*  If you haven't seen that hilarious Satirical Viral You Tube Ed Bassmaster Video of the Guy pretending to Look at a Vintage Vehicle Hooptie and saying that over and over, with the Guy Owning it not seeming to realize he's being taken the Mickey out of, coz he's going on and on like a Proud Vintage Car Guy would... you simply MUST LOOK at it!  {See Below coz they have Memes of it too.}  I never get Tired of seeing it when I want a Laugh and it's an Inside Joke with all the Kiddos now.  Especially when they want me to come Look at something, and I didn't really want to, so... I go right into the Skit with it when I go Look at it... Well, will you Look at that... just Look at it... and then we all start Laughing, it's Silly, but always Funny.

Well, my Tooth Cleaning went well even tho' I was quite late on getting it done, he said they were quite Clean and commended me.  But, we did find out why one of my Molars had been sensitive at times, it has a crack and will need a Crown.  So, October 1st I'll go in and have that done now, my Insurance thru Medicare should pay for it since I haven't had any Dental except preventative Care so haven't use much of what I'm allowed annually by Medicare and HUMANA.  I'll have another Cleaning in February of 2027.  My Teeth always feel a bit on edge after a Cleaning now, but they settle down after a while.  They gave me some complimentary Products that are new and help with sore or Bleeding Gums.  With having Diabetes my Gums sometimes are sensitive when I floss now, they don't often Bleed, but this will also help if they do and is prescription strength Mouthwash.

Tonight is that Renovation Show Contest of the Haunted Mansion, I enjoyed the first Two back to back Episodes and wonder if they'll have Two more Episodes Tonight too?  I really Hope this Show succeeds so that perhaps more Historic Homes get Renovated/Restored by these competing Designers.   A lot of people who own these Homes don't have the means or can't get Contractors to do the Work, and it is a Labor of Love and can be very expensive, but well worth Preservation measures to bring these wonderful Historic Properties back to Life and use.  LATER:  They only did One Episode and repeated Episode Two.  I thought they were harsh on the Designers coz I liked what they did, but, they didn't eliminate anyone either, so perhaps they were just being critical in ways that would be beneficial to paying more attention to Detail and Editing, which, I had to agree with some of what they didn't find acceptable. 

 With having a deadline some things get rushed tho' and aren't as meticulous as they probably would be with no tight deadline.  They do a lot in just Two Days to transform a whole Room per Team.  The bold Creativity is impressive tho', I wouldn't think of some of the higher risk things the Designers come up with that are so ambitious and hard to do in such a tight time frame.  Floor Art, Ceiling Art and Wall Art in just less than 48 Hours of actual Work Time is high risk to do really well, but, they've pulled it off each Episode with few exceptions.  And what didn't work was easily remedied and not permanent, so could be done away with.  Anyway, still thoroughly enjoying this Show.  I like the one Designer's Ideas whose a Bully, but, she's impossible to work with on a Team.  Coz she wants to dictate what the other Designers do and so nobody wants to work with her or have to stroke her Ego so they won't end up just arguing and impede the work.  They're not her Minions, they're in competition with her, and she is Arrogant and thinks she's in charge of everything on the Team. 

And I think the one remaining Male Contestant and the Young Black Female Contestant that are left are a Double Threat to her and she doesn't even see it coming coz she underestimates both of them.  The other Female Designer has some good ideas but she lacks being Editorial in her Styling.  I can relate to that weakness and see it in her outcomes, the Judges have warned her about it but I can see where she's struggling to Dial herself back when it comes to excessively Styling and cluttering up the Rooms with Too Much, especially Furnishings.  In Victorian Era Homes they were built at a time when Furnishings were much smaller than Modern Furnishings so you really can't put a lot of Modern Furniture in a Room of one without it overwhelming the Space.

Before

After

  I lived in a Historic Home of Circa 1920 and Believe me, I Learned the hard way when Buying Modern Furniture to put into it that was too oversized for it and a Mistake.  She's done that too, Twice already, and put too many Tchotkes on Beautiful Built-In Shelving she Designed and built from scratch, risking elimination.  Bihl's Manor Renovation is going well tho'.   They rotate Guest Judges and have had Jack Osbourne on already Judging.  They also have a well known Gay Male Black Designer named Michel who is a Mentor to the other Judges and gives advice along the way, I like him, his suggestions should be heeded and he does help Judge each time too, he's Cute Eye Candy as well. *Winks*   I should have known the one Older Black Female Designer who Quit Day One was gonna coz she wasn't even in the Promo Pix Below that they used on Social Media to Promote the Show.  She seemed terrified of the Home's Haunted Reputation, so got Scared off easily. The Young White Female Blonde in the Front is the Show's Host.

  The Older White Female with long Red Dreadlocks in a Bun and Glasses is the Bully Designer, Great Bold Ideas and lives in a Home like this one, is in Tune with Spirit, but, a little bit of her goes a long fucking way and the other Designers have to stroke her oversized Ego to keep her out of their way.  The Older Black Male Gay Designer beside her was really good and I liked him a lot, but he got eliminated when he bit off more than he could chew on the Challenge of Episode Two, with a Piano he fussed with too much and didn't really get finished.  The Young White Gay Male Designer in the back is very good, I like everything he's done, he's a bit of a Diva, but Funny with it.  The Young Black Female Lesbian Designer with dreadlocks to the far Left is a Wild Card Threat, she fusses with her Challenges but has pulled off some spectacular Ideas, she doubts her abilities too much, she's better than she thinks she is IMO.  The Older White Female Designer beside her in the bright Shirt I think could get eliminated, she's the least Editorial one, good Ideas so far, but has Greatness mixed with lack of Restraint.

 

Okay, so that's my Critique of a New Seasonal Show tied in to Halloween Contest Shows that I really Like a lot and Hope doesn't get Cancelled.  I think America could benefit from a Show like that in Restoring Historic Mansions rather than having them Lost due to Neglect and inability of Owners to Fund or Complete their own Renovations/Restoration of them.  I know, we couldn't finish ours either, even 15 Years of Living in it, the Labor of Love is quite an Investment in all ways, but, well worth it IMO.  I'd Save and Restore them all if I were filthy Rich.  *Smiles*  I actually Weep and it Hurts my Heart every time one gets Razed or left to become so ruined it cannot be Saved.  So few left around Metro Phoenix and we used to have an abundance of them when I moved here in the early 1970's, but, even before then, many were razed in the 1950-1960's Eras.   What was Lost is obscene and tragic!!!  Greedy Developers were responsible for a lot of it.  They're like Locusts when they swoop in destroying everything in their Wake just to make a quick Buck, seeing everything as a Commodity and not as a Community.

 Phoenix had a LOT of Elite move out here at the turn of the Century, so in the 1800's Mansions abounded in and around Phoenix Metro, spectacular ones, that they just kept tearing down rather than be forward Thinking about Heritage Tourism Potential.  And, how many folks would really want to Buy a Home like that and Restore it rather than these poorly built Cookie Cutter Modern ones.   The Cities have done nothing to promote Restoration either, some Cities have, to their Credit, Phoenix and it's surrounding Cities absolutely have NOT, to their detriment and it's maddening.  Every Historic Property usually has a lot of Land and there has been the Issue with it's demise.   Coz a Developer will want it to cram in high density Housing or a Commercial Property where a Grand Historic with lush Landscaping on Acreage once stood, for maximum profits.  It's damned near Criminal, but happens all the time and is still happening to the few Holdouts left.   Three more have succumbed just in the past couple Months, I was Heartsick.

 Cities are too inclined to change Zoning just to give Favor to the Greedy Developers and Billionaire Elite.  I'm sure they Buy the Right People to get that done, even if Communities protest about it and don't want it.  Like the Data Centers Billionaires are funding and they're forcefully putting right by Neighborhoods that definitely NONE of us wants by us.  Nobody ever consulted any of the Community before building them either, which is just Wrong since it will impact us, our Costs, Environmental Hazards they pose to us, the Noise from them, we get no benefit from them directly, so I think those Companies ought to be Taxed heavily and distribute those Funds to those whose Lives and Neighborhoods it's Negatively impacting, at the very least, to compensate us for what it's exacting upon us all. 

 They're not building them in affluent Neighborhoods, or in their own Back Yards where these Tech Giants Live and Raise their Families, I can tell you that much, and there's a reason for that!  They know how harmful they are, so, it's intentional negligence and harm for profits.  They'll likely get Sued for Millions, but if they make Billions or Trillions, they don't Care.   Anyway, this Morning when I went out to do some Yardwork coz it's only 65 Degrees and very Cool Outside, there were about 8 Turkey Vultures circling overhead.  Either something is Dead nearby or it's Mating/Breeding Season?  They will congregate in huge Flocks when it's time to Mate and it looks Scary as Hell when you get that many Vultures, sometimes Hundreds of them, Flocking and covering the Trees, coz they are BIG Birds!  *LOL*  Google says they may be Migrating to Southern Climates in the Fall.  But Turkey Vultures are highly Social too, so they may just be communicating and interacting with each other in Groups of the Size I saw.  Impressive Sight all the same, a little unnerving when they're Circling above you.  *LOL & Winks*

I spent too much at SAVERS Yesterday getting some Inventory of Anime and Pokemon Plush Figures they had.  All were New Old Stock with Tags still attached and the profit Margins will be spectacular, so I had to Invest in Buying all of them they had, foolishness not to, since those Sell easily at our Antique Mall and are in high demand.  I only Paid about $3-$4 each, but they had so many, all different Characters too, various Sizes.  Looking each up I was astounded at what some are fetching and have Sold for Online, Wow!!!  I don't know that much about all of the Popular various Anime to know Value, I'm more familiar with the Pokemon Characters Value.  But, damn, some of these Anime are fetching a Fortune, and I got some of the coveted ones apparently, one Sold Online several times for around $50 and it's some kind of Japanese Chicken or Rooster Character and not that large or particularly impressive looking either!!!  Who knew?  *LOL*  This is why you have to look each one up to determine Selling Cost.  Some are real Cute and it's not just Kids Buying them, Adults do too.

I'm actually now having Fun with Selling such things and Learning more about them from those who Collect and Love it.  As a Collector myself I'm always Interested in someone's Collections and Learning more about them, even if it's not something I'd personally Collect or have an Attraction to.  And, a lot of this stuff is Money!!!   The problem being it all has to go into my Locked Case for the reasons of Loss Prevention being Higher on such Merch unfortunately.  And not just coz Customers might be Tempted to Steal such things, but other Vendors too, I've had problems in the Past with Vendors Stealing, especially Toy Collectibles and Display Pieces they could also use in their Spaces.  I once caught another Vendor who'd Stolen a complete Mannequin Torso from me!  She got Caught and we had a big Public confrontation, in front of Store Manager, coz I'm not Shy about confronting anyone foolish enuf to try to Victimize me. 

 So I did get it back and felt Management should have Banned her for getting caught Red Handed Skimming Merch from other Vendors, she's a Thief and can't be Trusted.  And she was Stealing bigger Money items too. But she Rents a LOT of Space, so they haven't bounced her.  I still keep my Eye on her and tell other Vendors she Steals, she steers clear of me now too.  I told her if she ever Stole from me again, coz that had been the 2nd time, but I couldn't prove the 1st time, I'd Press Charges or... fuck her up!!!  I think the latter Scared her more actually, she's a mousy little Retired Librarian and looks the part.  She's also rabid MAGA, Sells a lot of MAGA Merch too, so, that spoke volumes about her too and her lack of a Moral Compass or Ethics.   And frankly, if Police failed to do anything about her Stealing, I'd risk catching Charges or going back to Psyche Lockdown, just to beat the shit out of that Woman.  *LOL and Winks*   

My Family of coarse would prefer the Police to actually do their Job... but with Theft... often they fail to unfortunately... and so Vigilante Justice meted out to Thieves targeting the Wrong Marks, might happen more often and I'm Okay with that.   We all pay the Cost of Theft when we Buy anything that has to be marked up to offset Loss Prevention, which now is so rampant that Thieves almost can get away with hoists of Thousands or even Millions/Billions of Dollars, including this President and his epic Criminal Activity that is unprecedented, and our Society is doing absolutely nothing about it.  They're having "Hearings" and "Investigations" and yet no consequences even when Evidence, Proof and the Truth comes out, so, why even bother with the pretense or Illusion of Justice and wasting our Time and Taxpayer Dollars even more? 

 I want Indictments, Incarceration, and Huge Restitution or Seizure of their fucking Assets to compensate Victims of their Crimes.  Leave them Penniless and Locked Up, all of them, it's the only real deterrent and makes the Right Statement it won't be Tolerated or Acceptable EVER.  Or mebbe give Donnie Two Dolls a Public Marie Antoinette Moment on Live TV so that no aspiring Criminal Politician or President will ever try to Rape the American Public again like that Predatory Career Criminal Rapist Pedophile Motherfucker has.  I would promote Public Executions of Convicted Pedophiles and their Child Abduction and Trafficking Rings, since Society has no place for those Perverts and it is the only way to keep our Children Safe from them.  Eliminate them, period.   And anyone who would Support them and their Cause, is highly Suspect and probably very Twisted and abhorrent themselves IMO and not a Safe Person for our precious Children to be around either.

I was Sad that the above Button-Up Sweatshirt at Savers was only a Medium, I'd so want to get it and wear it myself on Halloween Night and during the Season when it gets Chilly.  I thought about Buying it anyway and Reselling it, I'm still waffling about it tho' coz it is Halloween Specific and if it doesn't Sell I'd have it for another whole Season.  But, I guess I could put it on a Mannequin, so I may Cave and just get it Today if it's still there?   The Graphics on it are Awesome!!!  They had gotten in so much Good Stuff that a lot of it was Tempting.  I did get myself Two Pair of New Old Stock Capris in nice Cheerful Colors, Tags still attached.  A big wrap around Beach Towel with great Colorful Graphics for only $2.  They were finally putting out their Halloween Merch, later than most places, Staff had been telling them that Corporate was running late to put it out on the Floor coz Customers already wanted to see it out there, and had been asking when they would, but Corporate stubbornly insisted on holding off, who knows Why?  When Staff and Customers are telling you something, mebbe you should Listen.

Lord knows those who did strategically put it out prematurely easily Sold Out quickly and made their Money already.  I made my Wal-Mart Run this Morning for Groceries and to pick up more of those Halloween Air Freshener Night Lights, just in time, coz they were almost Sold Out of them.  *Whew* I got 3 more in different Designs than the Ghost I bought earlier and now have them all over the House so it smells Divine like Maple Spiced Apples and Cinnamon.  I put a Crockpot of Chili on too since I Work Tonight and the Manager just called to ask if I'd work and Fill-In for Susan this Friday Night, so I agreed to.  Means more Money for me during the Holidays to have some discretionary Income, no downside to that.  He Thanked me profusely for last Friday, since it had been a mix-up to even have me there but it became necessary so Rachel didn't really mess up asking me to, even tho' the whole Friday Night Shift of people were there.  I enjoy working with my Friend Yolanda on Friday Nights and she's glad to have me coz the rest can be difficult at times.

Most being very nice enough People overall, just not conducive to always being able to work alongside for a variety of reasons, personality clashes, and habits.  And who needs Drama and a Headache when you're not actually receiving a Salary for the Work, just some comped Space Rent not even at Minimum Wage per Hour, you know.  Seldom does anyone spar with me coz most know how I am.  Even if I Like you, be Mindful to stay in your own Lane and don't step into my Waters to cause me any Drama, friction or disturb my Peace, unless you're a mighty strong Swimmer.  Coz once there's Blood in them Waters, it's gonna be Yours, not Mine.  *Winks*  I have had a few Dust Ups with a scant few over the Years, they only do it Once tho'... Lesson then Learned.  And they know that I won't hold a grudge just coz you fucked up once and challenged me foolishly.  I've become Friends with some who initially brought Dark Dawn out to Play with them.  You'll get Dawn Of The Light if you behave and don't Act the Fool, or Think you're Hard and Scrappy enuf, then find out you're not, that's just how it is.  *Ha ha ha*

I won't ever Start anything with you, ever.  I don't Like confrontation or being unkind to anyone, even if I don't particularly Like you as a Person.  I'll still treat you in a dignified way with mutual Respect for your Humanity and extend Grace for your flaws and weaknesses, whatever they are, coz we're all a Work in Progress.  You don't even have to Like me, I'm not anywhere to Win Friends or Influence Enemies actually and I'm all Friended Up.   I just am my Authentic Self 100% of the time, take it or leave it, I barely Care which your Choice is.  But if I become your Friend then I am Ride or Die with you and Loyal to a fault.  And I know a lot of People and even my Acquaintances, I Value the Friendship of, they may not ever become Close and in my Inner Circle, coz I'm Nice to all, but Close to few, but they're Good People and I Cherish each one of them in their own way.

I got this lovely Industrial Rolling Cart from SAVERS for $14, I'm using it to price Merch on the Front Porch and will use it on Halloween Night to Hand out Candy too.  Since the Weather has turned so nice now I like sitting out Front while Pricing my Inventory.  Got all my Anime Plush and Pokemon Plush priced this Afternoon to take in Tonight and put in our Locked Case.  Every single one was New Old Stock with original Tags attached and most were from Japan and had Japanese Tags.  I was shocked at how much some of them go for, Wow!!!  Several were Sold Out Online and so I know they're Madly Popular if you can't even find any For Sale Online coz everyone is Sold Out of them, both Retail, even Internationally, and Resalers!   So those should Turn fast.  I did go back and get that Medium Halloween Button Up Swearshirt Top... it was now Half Off so it's a good thing I waited a Day!  And I got a Medical Cadaver Training Skull for Five Bucks half off too!!!  Booyah!!!

 We're finding our Niche to stay relevant and be able to be a Vendor the Demographic coming in to our Location wants to Shop with and Buy from as a Favorite Destination.   All the Young People at SAVERS who work there now Shop at our Showroom and Locked Case and some never came to our Antique Mall before that.  They tell us how much they Love our Spaces there.  It's Flattering coz they Like me too and tell Princess T what a Cool Gramma she has, awwwwwww, to get that kind of Sincere Compliment from those in their Teens, Twenties and early Thirties is very unexpected at my Age.  I tend to get along well with Young Generations tho', my Mom and my Maternal Nanna did as well, we may have Aged but we kept a Youthful Spirit we're told and that does make a difference in bridging Generation Gaps that often otherwise would exist and alienate the Generations.

So, these were my Three New Nightlight Air Fresheners, I liked each so much I couldn't choose a single One so just got all Three coz I felt the whole Home smelling like the Aroma would be pleasant for Autumnal Vibes and Ambiance.   The Tombstone is in the Dining Room, The Black Cat is in our Master Bathroom, and The Haunted House is in the Kitchen.  The Ghost one I got originally is in the Guest Bathroom. {See Below for that one in case you missed it in the previous Post I Shared it in}  The Ghost one Sold Out first so I'm glad I got their last one when I initially bought one, the Tombstone was almost Sold out, they still had some of the Haunted House and Black Cat.  They also had a Black and Mercury Glass Skull and a Cauldron, but I wasn't fond of those Two.   Oddly, people had snapped off and Stolen some of the Figure Parts on some, which makes no sense since now they aren't a Night Light or a Room Diffuser without the rest of it, so they just ruined the Product being for Sale and it's now a total Loss to the Seller and more like Vandalism.

The Youngest of the Trio of Granddaughters in Pittsburgh is going to a Ren Faire and sent me some new Images.  {See Below}  Her new Shorter Extreme Hairstyle is growing on Gramma Dawn, coz tho' I Loved her luxurious long Hair and was originally aghast at what she'd done, she's Rockin' this Look, which isn't an easy one to pull off.  So, you Go Girl!!!   When your Gramma has Dreadlocks down to her Ass she really can't be too Critical of her Grandkids Hairstyles, or Sensibilities, now can she?  *LOL and Winks*  And this one has always been a rather Bold Child and very different, she's the Black Sheep of our Oldest Daughter's Family and doesn't quite fit in and knows it... but she does fit in with the rest of us here in Arizona of the Family and knows that too, so we've always Understood each other more than her Parents did/have, or her Siblings.  She's the Lil Weirdo and our Oldest Daughter would often call me to ask what to do with said Child?  *Bwahahaha*  Which is hilarious to me coz The Oldest Daughter... and The Daughter who lives with us... were both Buck Wild, Girls Gone Wild, in their squandered wayward Youth!  *LOL*

This Granddaughter is a Year Younger than The Young Prince but they behaved almost like Twins and Why The Oldest Daughter often called for Parental Advice coz she knew I was Raising the Male Version of this one.  *LO*  Well, sorta The Male Version... since, well, The Young Prince is quite Gender Fluid and not exactly Male or Female, but a blend of both.  *Smiles*  This Granddaughter is Bisexual but presents always as Female and right now has a Male Boyfriend.  The Young Prince totally Gets this Cousin coz they are damned near Identical and of the same Mind, same Sensibilities, even the same Artistic Abilities and Geniuses IQ Wise who did poorly in Conventional Schools so couldn't Graduate from one.  This one had to finish her Schooling Online and then went on to a School for Theatrical Makeup and Special Effects, so that's what she does now for a Living and excelling at it.  She felt her Cousin should have enrolled in saidsame Schools to further an Artistic Career he was Born for... but the Schizophrenia gets in his way of Mainstreaming in any Classroom environment or being around a lot of other Students/People.

The Chili turned out real good and the Aroma of it is wafting thru the whole House now it's been simmering all Morning and part of the Afternoon.  It will feed them all while I'm at Work and can keep Warmed until I get Home from Work to have some then.  I had Kung Pao Beef with a Spring Roll and Steamed Jasmine Rice for Lunch from "Dragon Garden" coz the Chili wasn't ready yet and I was out running errands.  Their prices are so low you can't beat their Lunch Specials and the amount of excellent Food you get for a low price.  It's Family Owned and they're an Elderly Couple who have probably been doing this all their Lives so all their Menu items are Family Recipes and Superb.  Some of their Family of Younger Generations Works there too.  Their one DIL is Hispanic and her Little Girl is precious and speaks Three Languages Fluently even as a Toddler, Chinese, Spanish and English.  She's tiny like a little Doll and so well behaved, her Mom is a Sweetheart and often brings her to Work so she can spend time with Grandma & Grandpa at their Business. 

The Older Grandson, looks Amerasian, so another of their Kiddos must have Married a White Person, coz he's definitely not full Chinese.  He's an extremely Handsome Young Man, even tho' neither of the Grandparents are Lookers, Bless 'em, he's probably in his very early 20's.  I've seen One of their Sons and I don't know if that is his Son or not, or if he's the Father of the Little Girl?  The whole Family are so Nice and I enjoy going there, the Parents don't speak great English and are therefore very hard to understand, but they are a Lovely Older Couple and are there Seven Days a Week with no Days Off.  That is not unusual for Immigrants who own a Business, they will work long Hours every Day of the Week with no Days Off.  Their Kids or Adult Grandkids have to beg them to take Days Off or a Vacation and tell them that in America that's how it should be.  *Smiles*   Their Kiddos lament to me all the time that Mom/Dad or Grandma/Grandpa who Immigrated here, just won't take any Time Off even tho' they have more than Earned it... and made a great Life and the American Dream for their Kids and Grandkids already. 

Well, I went quite Long on this Post so I guess I'll save the rest of Imagery and Stories for the next one... *Winks*   There's been an uptick in things to do and Write about or Photography, so I don't mean to dump the Whole Bale on ya all at once... *Smiles*  But the Editorial Version Posts probably will come much later when there's less to Photograph or Write about I guess... *Ha ha ha*   Princess T was saying she "Needed" the Accessories Below... Nope, I didn't take the Bait and even Ask... but perhaps Rusty has been a very Naughty Boy???  And remember her Sexy Dominatrix Officer ensemble back when she was Dating Isaac?  And he dressed as a Perp who got Excessive Force exacted?  {See further Below the Images I dredged up out of the long ago Archives of that Halloween during the Pandemic Years.}  *Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha*  She's well over Isaac now even tho' he's been a High School Sweetheart and First Love, and she said he got Fat, she likes lean Young Men who are Thin like her.  Rusty better not ever get Fat I guess?  *LOL*

A lot of Young Men like her and are interested, but, she's not been one to have a lot of Boyfriends, there's been Isaac, Jon Carlos and now Rusty, that's it.  She stays in long term Relationships too, but is one to not put up with any nonsense or you'd be kicked to the Curb no matter how long you've Dated her or how Serious you thought it would be to start Acting the Fool, you'd be sorely mistaken.  Both Isaac and Jon Carlos found that out and Rusty has come close a couple times in the 3 Years they've been together.  *Smiles*  In so many ways she's like a little Mini Me and perhaps why we get along so well?  *Ha ha ha*  I never put up with nonsense from any Relationship, be it a Romantic one or a Friendship.  I could be perfectly content on my own so don't Test me.  Princess T is very much like that too, she's quite comfortable with her own company if you're not around, so don't become problematic to her.  *Smiles*

Work went very well, I enjoy working with Michelle and Jackson, we're turning out to be a good Team.  Michelle and I have become pretty good Friends now so we have a good time Socializing when it slows down.  It was busy off and on but Sales have sagged for the past Two Days and weren't all that Strong on Sunday either.   Looks like folks are getting worried again about Economics and Finances, and rightly so.  Gas here for Diesel is barely below Seven Bucks a Gallon now and for the rest of us it's right around Five!!!  I picked up everything marked down at the Grocery Store and stuck it in the Freezer so we'd have some good Proteins at a reasonable price.  Otherwise Meat was really high, but Oddly Eggs and Milk were really low right now, very low in fact!!!  

 I got 18 nice Brown Eggs at Wal-Mart for just barely over $3!  And Milk was barely over $2!   Cheese is real Cheap right now so I picked up Bags of Shredded Cheeses to Freeze for $2 each!   So while Meat is high, Dairy is low, go figure!!!  Becoz Meat is so high they have to mark it down when it's not Selling tho', so in swoops Discount Dawn then!  *LOL*   We're Two Down right now since The Young Prince and The Daughter aren't here.  The Grandson's won't return until October 11th. She's still conspicuous by her absence, staying with Friends, so I think she's not sure she can or wants to cohabitate in the 5th Wheel harmoniously, I dunno?  She has been Emotionally Raw since Mando's Homicide so hasn't been quite herself and that is totally understandable even if she were a Well Person to begin with Mentally, and she's not.  She hasn't even picked up her New Free Phone that arrived over a Week ago now!!!  But, if she's doing Okay where ever she's staying, I support that, it eases my Caregiving by Two less People who are both Schizophrenics.   And I know both are doing Okay where they're at.

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Happy halloween from the arizona desert... dawn... the bohemian