Not Even Guardedly Optimistic Now About Our Chances

 Today, in Real Time as I'm creating this Post, it's a Monday the 3rd of August and the Social Security Caseworker had told me she'd be calling me to go over how many other Agencies and Mental Health Facilities The Young Prince has been seen by or Institutionalized in?  It's a Laundry List and I only Wish we'd been able to do all that when we initially went down in Person together and with all the Paperwork verifying it all, would have expedited the decision making process.  But, it's the Beaurocrazy and so what are ya gonna do?  Even Briana, the Caseworker, was perturbed her Co-Workers Downtown had given me Bad Information and been too Lazy to take all the Information she'd need and I had readily available right from Day No. One of the Application Process.  I personally think it's done Intentionally to delay or deny, but I didn't say so.

I got a Letter in the interim from Briana, but probably sent before she and I talked the first time, asking for it all in Writing, I will need to Confirm if that will be necessary now or not?  I do Hope she gives me accurate Information, I may just send it all in anyway, with Copies attached of all the Mental Health Paperwork I've kept on File, it will be a Fat Package and considerable Bedtime Reading for Briana.  *Winks*  From Age 7 to Age 25, it's a Big Fat File of dismal Diagnosis, grim Prognosis, and unsuccessful Treatments, Counseling and Therapist/Shrink Visits, sporadic Institutionalization thru Mental Illness Facilities for Youths and Adults, and Penal Mental Health Incarcerations and Court Decisions, for the most part.  Read it and Weep. 

 If it doesn't Move her to Approve him for Services and Benefits, I don't fucking know what will?   Welcome to America's Mental Health System and Social Services Determinations for the most Vulnerable and Unwell of our Society.   She sounds like a very Nice Young Caseworker, not sounding like she's yet on Burnout, so the Chances are better than usual I'd say for a preferable Outcome this time around?  If not I'll bury their Asses in Appeals and Bad PR coz I do Plan to be a real Pain in the Ass and go all Dark Dawn tenacious, fixated, relentless and Obsessed with making this my Mission in Life now to have this Problem go away and be Resolved in our Favor, if given Nothing left to Lose.  I can become laser Focused and Obsessed with a Fixation that has no Boundaries.  The Gloves will be Off and it'll be Cage Match Time to take Down any Opponents standing in my way as Barriers to my Goal.  My Loved Ones are worth whatever Sacrifices have to be made... Mine... or whoever else I have to Sacrifice to get what they Need?  *Winks*

The Young Prince assessed how it was going when we talked last and said, he really doesn't even think they'll require him to be here?  Tho' he will be if they insist, becoz he doubts they want to Meet either one of us in Person, up close?  If they've even Read our Case File?  He could be Right.  *Bwahahahaha*  I know DES, after they met me ONE Time in Person, with The G-Kid Force in Tow and Unmedicated, with given Nothing Left to Lose... always did our Recertifications after that by Phone.  Saying, Mrs. G., it's Okay, you don't have to come in anymore, we'll just review your Case with a Phone Call and Rubber Stamp that shit.   And so they did for as long as the Kiddos Qualified for the parsing out of minimal Services they provide to Kinship Placements who don't get Paid or Reimbursed for expenses like Foster Families would to have Wards Of The State being Supported by Kin instead of all on the State's Dime.  *Eye Roll*

Listen, I Saved the State of Arizona and the Federal Government a shit ton of Support and Services they never provided already for 45 Years Plus, with Seriously Disabled Loved Ones, so I'm fucking DONE now.  So, Forgive me for going Postal on anyone's Ass who gets Assigned to me and tries to delay or deny Services now.  While Billionaires and Career Criminals in the White House Sphere and their Cronies are allowed to Loot, Rape and Grift The System relentlessly 'til there's absolutely nothing left.  I'm not Playing, I will go to the Mat and that better be the Hill they're willing to risk their Career and mebbe even Die on?  I ain't got Nothing Left to Lose, so I no longer Care.  If they have much to Lose, then we'll both have Nothing Left to Lose by the time I'm finished.  Coz, I'm Generous, so let's just now share that 'Joy' I've been experiencing for Decades now, of Hopelessness and Despair then... Misery fucking LOVES Company, don'tcha know?  *Winks*  I'm getting ours while there's still some left.

Can you tell I'm gearing up for that Phone Call with Miss Briana and have the War Paint handy, just in case it does not go Well or in our Favor?  *LMAOROTF*  I have a large Tote Bag filled with his Paperwork, made a Short List for myself to go quickly over the Hilites in no particular Order:

Aurora Behavioral Health {Juvenile Institution for the Mentally Ill}

Valle del Sol {Shrink and Therapists, Meds}

Southwest Behavioral Health {Shrink and Therapists, Meds}

Adelante Healthcare {Mental Health Adult and Pediatrics}

St. Luke's Behavioral Health {Adult & Juvie Institution for the Mentally Ill}

Jewish Family Services {Shrink and Therapists, Meds}

Chicanos Por La Causa {Referrals, Advocacy for the Disabled and Specializing in Assistance to the Hispanic Community at Risk}

Ombudsman Education Services {Alternative School for Troubled Youth}

IEP's and various Alternative Schools for Troubled Youth in Three different Unified School Districts. 

 Until they finally ran out of places to pass him off to and deny him an Education due to the extent of his Disability and their Inability to find Placement that is remotely Suitable or could meet him at his Point of Need and not just Warehouse him like they do the Severely Developmentally Disabled Kids, some of which don't even know they're there.  So by and before his 15th Birthday, they'd ALL given up on him Academically even tho' he has a 148 IQ.  They tried to even place him in a Reform School coz it was the last option they said was left for "Kids Like Him", which was a very Broad Statement given he didn't have any Behavioral Issues and wasn't a Juvenile Delinquent ever, and wasn't on Court Ordered House Arrest like all the other Kids there.  It had Razor Wire on the Fences like a Prison and they called it Intake instead of Enrollment and all Doors were on Lockdown with Security Card Access or Exit, it was Horrific, Screams down the Hallways... we took a Hard Pass!  No way was I subjecting my Grandchild to that kind of Trauma, being touted and veiled as "Alternative Education" for Kids The System and Society discards!

Even the Warden/Principal and Facility Therapist said it was an inappropriate Placement so they didn't even know why we'd been sent there?   I do, nowhere else to send us, they'd passed him around like a Hot Potato for Years by then and even our CPS Caseworker was getting irritated and appalled with what he'd endured or punishments given him by School Officials.  At one Point, they said at an Administrative IEP Meeting, in front of my CPS Caseworker who came with me, that they withheld FOOD if he didn't "Act Appropriately"!!!   OMG, did they not realize that constitutes Child Abuse, Yes, she Reported it, Heads rolled, but at least we found out coz he hadn't told me for Fear I'd go down there on the Warpath and roll some Heads myself and catch Charges!

Of coarse at the last location he was sent to for Troubled Youth, he hacked their System to "Enhance" it coz they couldn't afford Enhancements and didn't get Grants to.  They lamented this fact in front of the Special Needs Students, which was irresponsibly Stupid.  So, he thought, well, I'll do 'em a Favor at No Charge and Surprise them.  Oh Boy were they ever Surprised!!!  *LOL*  By then we had a Federal Agent showing up and Administrators were shitting Kittens about it and banning him permanently from any Placement, saying he was a potential Threat to School Security.  What "Security", a 14 Year Old Special Needs Child in your Care was so Unsupervised he was able to do this and you didn't even know it?!  I was HOT they were Blaming him, a Child, and threatening us with the Feds!!!  

They claimed it would cost them Thousands to Fix what he'd Done and accessed Sensitive Information of the whole Student Body... with no Malice intended, he wasn't even 15 yet and thought he'd done a Good Thing.   So I made him Fix it in front of them, took him less than 5 Minutes at Zero Cost!!!   Yet, they Claimed he couldn't be "Taught" or "Educated"... go figure.  Actually he Scared them, I can tell.  When folks Fear something they always vilify it and don't want it around.  Remember in the Old Days when they Burned the Witches at the Stake coz everyone Feared the Witches more than they Feared the ones who would Burn another Human Being at the Stake?  Yeah, Society is often like THAT!!!   Grossly misplaced Fears about what is different or they don't understand or don't align themselves with by Societal Standards, whatever they may be at the Moment in Time.    Standards that shift constantly too.

Anyway, while waiting for the SSI Caseworker Call I Priced some Inventory here in our Bedroom, got a Box of Specialty and Band Vintage T-Shirts ready for the Showroom now.  Might go in later to stock them.  Still have to look up a bunch of Pokemon Cards, Labor Intensive but they Sell so well you have to take the Time to do it and price them properly.  Right now I'm focusing on the most desireable ones I know are worth more for sure, then look those up and price them.  I still have a lot of other Genre of Merch but right now don't have the Space for any of it until some clears out and gets Sold.  I do need to get around to going around the Showroom and thru the Locked Case to see what's malingered in Stock too long and either reduce the Price or Donate it to have the Space to put something Fresh.  Anything is only Worth what someone is willing and able to Pay for it.

I think why most Housing has become unaffordable is becoz Richer folk  who already Own Homes, and Multi-Billion Dollar Investors and Developers or Home Flippers, are Buying them up as Investment Vehicles.  Rather than leaving Modest Priced Homes for People who don't currently Own one.  The Government does need to make it so that some Affordable Housing is for Home Buyers who will live in them as their Primary Residence.  So, the Problem will never be Solved so long as Investment Vehicle Home Buying isn't controlled so they are preventing regular folks needing and wanting a Home to compete and be able to Buy them.  Most Homeowners need a Mortgage so simply can't compete with Cash Buyers who don't require a Loan or who have Corporate Funding coz they're so Wealthy they can get Loaned enormous amounts of Cash without the usual Qualifying and Requirements.  Today it's this and Tomorrow it could be something else.

I happen to know folks who are fortunate enuf to have a Primary Residence, a Vacation Residence, and own several other Investment Houses, and yet, don't have any compassion for someone who has None and cannot find Affordable Housing.  Mostly due to having absolutely no Point of Reference.  Since, when you've enjoyed such Privilege, it can often be completely unrelatable to you that Basic Shelter is a Need for some that is completely unattainable in Today's Economy.  That even Landlords are charging such outrageous Rents now that it isn't even Affordable for most people anymore, so they cannot even afford to Rent, let alone ever Own.   Even Seniors I know who are in Subsidized Senior Housing are having their Rents increased substantially every single Year without a Break.   And without regard to whether it will Price them Out of having Shelter or taking up all their Income for Housing and nothing left for any other Basic Needs like Food, Water, Utilities, Medical, Medicine, Transportation!

I just got notification from my Rx Provider, Express Scripts, which is thru our Military Retirement Provider and Insurer, that they're currently out of my Insulin Injectable so can't renew it right now.  Lucky for me I have enuf until HOPEFULLY they get it in for Auto Refill... we'll see how long it takes them to Stock it again?   Kinda Scary when Major Insurance Providers are running out of Life Saving Medications, whatssup with that?  The Bot began the Phone Call notifying me then auto transferred me to a Human Representative who was a very nice Young Woman and an American so it wasn't some outsourced Call Center in India or the Philippines with someone barely able to speak or understand my language.  *Whew*  I'm good with Accents, but if someone's grasp of the English Language is marginal and I don't speak or understand their Language, neither one of us is able to then properly communicate and resolve anything Customer Service related.

It's only Minutes before Noon now so I do Hope the SSI Caseworker Calls me on Time when she said she'd Reserved our Phone Call Time Today?  I just wanna get it over and done with so I can go about the rest of my Day and know that has been taken Care of.  One more thing crossed off the To Do Must Do List.   I need to go to the Antique Mall to drop off Merch and to the Recycle Center to drop off a Truck Bed full of Aluminum Bagged Cans.  One of the White hard plastic Bags had deteriorated so badly in the Heat we had to replace it already, they just either crack to pieces if they're a hard plastic and turn brittle, or melt if they're a soft plastic.  Coz 117 is the Daily regular Temp now and of coarse everything sitting around, and depending on how much Heat it holds and can withstand, gets Hotter.  Metal gets so Hot it can cause Serious Burns... as does the Ground, but especially Manmade Surfaces.

 

So I can't have those full Bags of Aluminum Cans sitting around more than a few Days or they Melt or fall to bits if they're the kind that go Brittle.   I could use the Cash they bring in too.  And my Punch Card is almost full and that will Earn me an extra Ten Bucks.  Every little bit helps.   I haven't ventured Outside much Today and am still in my Jammies.  The Son bought "Whataburger" for himself, The Man and I.  He forgot Princess T was Home but she's a fussy Eater so probably wouldn't want anything from there anyway since she's not familiar with it.   I had never had their Hamburgers or French Fries, both were decent, and, well, it was Free to me since The Son's Treat for us, so I can't complain.  *Smiles*  He was Jonesin' for some Green Chile Hamburger they have.  I had Coupons for what he got his Dad and I, so mine was actually Free to him too, it came as Comped Food for his Dad's Meal with the Coupon.

Okay, so Briana just called and lo and behold, she JUST FOUND OUT that Yeah, now they only require the last ONE Year of History!!!  So it was as much News to her as it had been to me, but she took down info I could provide of anything before that anyway, since, I can't provide much for when he lived in other States receiving Services.  I know in Arizona he hasn't Qualified to receive any coz it took Forever to even get him transferred onto AHCCCS Healthcare and Mental Healthcare for the Indigent and Seriously Mentally Ill... before that he had no Insurance and couldn't Pay for anything coz he has no Income either.  And only going back One Year for a Serious Lifetime Disability someone has had for almost 20 Years, seems Negligent and Lazy.  And I don't think Briana will last coz I think she Cares too much and will Burnout quickly working for Social Security Disability Determinations, I really do. I can tell the ones that will get so discouraged and overwhelmed that they Quit... I'd place Bets she'll be one of those.  No telling how his Case will go now, I'm not even Guardedly Optimistic now about our Chances.

  

Well, just Fuuuuuuck.  I don't even wanna Call our Grandson about it, I'll just wait until after his Birthday on the 8th, so it won't be spoiled with a Pessimistic Update.   I Hate now that either of us got a bit Hopeful.  Now I don't even Feel like getting dressed and going to the Antique Mall and the Recycle Center in 110+ Degree Heat of the Early Afternoon.  Coz I definitely don't wanna drive anywhere or be around People right now.  I don't Feel anything actually about it all... becoz it's so fucking predictable and Status Quo as to be expected.   It's like this Fake News Breaking now about how Donnie Two Dolls just Signed a Bill to HELP Military Families.  No, No he didn't, no HELP is actually coming or happening or even being considered.  They just FORMED A COMMISSION to discuss all the Issues Military Families Face, have Faced, for Generations of Service to Country now.  And why so many of them are among the Poor and require HELP in the first place and need to be on Civilian Social Service Programs.   

 And have Grievances that have been Heard over and over again but nothing Changes. They didn't Need to Form a fucking COMMISSION to find that out, any of us who've Served could and have fucking told them that FOR FREE.  And they've done nothing to Solve it, Nada, Zip.   Yawn.  Families Separated during Deployments where they can't bring their Families means you're now Supporting Two Households on an Income that even couldn't often Support One Household.  Depending on where you're Stationed, the Cost of Living can be High, Low, anywhere in between.  Pretty sure someone in the lowest Cost of Living States of Oklahoma, Mississippi and West Virginia have a lower Cost of being able to Live there than anyone in Hawaii, California and Massachusetts, the highest Cost of Living States. 

 Yet, if you're Military, your Salary doesn't change when they send you to live anywhere in the Country, or the World for that matter.  And a lot of other Countries have a higher Cost of Living than America... so, there ya have it... the Government has always fucking known this Fact that Military Families face... they're not "New".  Plus, most Military Spouse Dependents have to give up their Jobs or Careers in Support of their Military Spouse and that Career.  So, a great many are One Income Families by necessity, we were a rare Couple that I could still hold down and Keep my demanding Careers and made more Money than The Man did in his Military Service at his Top Rank.   So we were Fortunate that I could actually Support us even when the Military was making things difficult for us Financially.  And they did, often.  

 Even when The Man was Medically Retired involuntarily as a 100% Disabled Veteran, it took 18 Months for him to get his first Disability Check!  And I had to Lawyer Up to get it that "quickly" or it could have been longer, and we may not have gotten all the Back Pay they ended up Awarding him becoz our Attorney went Hard to get him everything he was Entitled to without getting Screwed Over.  He was unable to Work at any Job, so that would have been a Year and a Half with NO Income had it not been for mine Supporting us totally.   And he had a LOT of Medical Expenses the VA, and TriCare were not Covering and that's all the Insurance he had at the time coz he wasn't yet Old enuf for Medicare or to Collect Social Security either.  It's also Why I had to keep juggling a Demanding Career even as a Full Time Unpaid Caregiver for longer, so we'd have SOME Income until his Pensions and Disability Checks were coming in regularly enuf.  Imagine Families that couldn't or didn't.  What Losses they would incur?

I took a Nap that lasted 'til 6:29 p.m. so nothing got done, mebbe Tomorrow.  *LOL*  It was discouraging to wait all fucking Day for that Call that didn't get a damned thing accomplished.   The Prescription Fiasco Call about my Insulin being unavailable yielded better results.  Coz at least I MIGHT actually get it?!  *Ha ha ha*  Ah, well, I'm now having Microwaved French Fries from "Whataburger" that The Man didn't eat for his Lunch and calling it my Dinner.   What I've eaten Today is the Diet of a Young Child without Supervision.  *Bwahahahaha*  I forgot to tell you all about my Score of finding a Mrs. Santa large 1960's Era Thomas Dam Troll from Denmark for only $2.50 from the Downtown GOODWILL on Sunday that I got with everything else.  How could I forget to mention or Photograph her?!  *Gasp*  Well, better late than never, my Memory ain't so good or sharp anymore, so, it happens.

The only thing that wouldda been better is if they'd had Santa too, but I guess this Mrs. Claus Troll is either Widowed or a Divorcee coz he was nowhere in sight.  *LOL*   As you can see she's well over 10 Fiesta Ware Stacked Bowls high for Scale.  *Smiles*   Those were just some of the Colorful Score of those I got from The Granddaughter's SAVERS location recently along with a slew of the Colorful Mugs too.  It's been a Bonanza lately of things I Collect being at the Chazzas, Booyah!   I was having very Weird Nightmares while taking that Nap, so I was glad to Wake Up.  There was a big Flood but no Rain with it, more like Rivers overflowing, and we were living in a previous Property we Owned over 30 Years ago nearer the Agua Fria River, and it got up to the Windows of it and the whole Street was a raging River, of Dark turbulent Water, like the Flash Floods bring in Monsoon Season, and come up fast and dangerously unexpected, it was terrifying! 

 I climbed out a Window and only Princess T and The Man were Home and inside, so I had to get them up to the Roof too 'til we got rescued.  I'm assuming we did get rescued.  It was Weird to be in that Property in the Dream, coz that's the Property we lived in when her Mom, The Daughter, was Younger than she was in that Dream, that we lived there, about 10 Years Old in the Dream.  So, Princess T was 10 and never had lived there.  Yet, The Man and I were our Current Ages, which we never lived there when we were Old either.  So getting him at 74 and her at 10, up on that Roof, thru a smallish Window that was already partially submerged, was harrowing and just in time not to drown inside of the House coz the Doors were not gonna open with the Water being that high against them already.  Strange Dream, and we all stayed eerily very Calm and Unemotional thru it, but Flood Dreams generally mean you're overwhelmed by strong Emotions and are facing a loss of Control, usually going thru a Major Life Change.  Well, that would fucking Track, No?  *Bwahahahaha*

Stress, Anxiety and Grief in Real Life are too many Feelings and building up, feeling too hard to Manage and NOT Feel, which is my particular Coping Mechanism, NOT Feeling Emotions.  I do feel dragged down by current Problems and a flooded House generally means Personal or Family Issues are making you feel unsafe or invaded in your Private Life.  Yep, all Tracks pretty accurately I'd say.  The Subconscious Mind is a fascinating thing in how it manifests in the Dream World and I'm always assessing Nightmares or Dreams I Wake Up and can still remember vividly, which, isn't that often and is way different than a Premonition.  I can tell the difference coz Premonitions I know will happen, so they're much more alarming and I pay close Attention to.  Premotions take Action in Real Life when you're Given them.  Dreams and Nightmares are completely different experiences.  I know Premonitions are Warnings or Forewarnings that actually are gonna happen.  Dreams won't happen. This Flood won't happen in Real Life... just in the Dream World, which is Good.  *Ha ha ha* 

I haven't been able to find me a good 8" Porcelain Vintage Tudi Po Grandmother Earth Protection Statue yet, like this one that was on a local Altar during the Floods, but I did get a very nice Tu Di Gong Earth God Protector Husband Statue similar to the one Below that was on that Altar.   My Maternal Grandfather always had Chinese Altars, I didn't know enuf back then to recognize all of the Statuary of the Altars, I know more now.  These are Taoist.  And I align more with those Belief Systems than with Buddhism.  I used to think Gran-Gran was Raised Buddhist, by his Surrogate Chinese Parents who Raised him and Four of his Younger Siblings, while his Widowed Mom, of Didi Kai heritage {Mixed Romani, Didi Kai is a Slur Term, but I don't know how else to call it coz that's all the Welsh ever did}, anyway, she Raised her Older Six Children.   She still had contact with her Younger Five tho', but they lived less like the Welsh or Roma, and more like the Chinese. 

But the more I know about each Religion, I'm pretty sure he was Taoist.  Buddhism focuses on escaping suffering and reaching Enlightenment.  Taoism focuses on living in Harmony with the Natural Flow of the Universe, and Teachings of the Natural Order, the Tao.  This is why my Welsh Gran-Gran and my Native American Dad were always so very Close, similar Belief Systems and ways of Worship in so many ways.  Both had a Goal of living in Balance and Simplicity, going with the Flow of Nature rather than Fighting it.  Tho' Dad became a Christian and got Baptized in order to Marry our Mom, he never really strayed much from his Roots of Belief, which, I am more in Tune with myself even tho' I became a Christian too.  Some Belief Systems are just IN your Spirit Naturally and you don't have to Become, because you just Are.  I prefer living in Harmony with the Natural Flow of the Universe and in complete Harmony with Nature, it is so deep IN my Spirit Naturally, always has been there, that I couldn't NOT live that way, if that makes any Sense?  I wouldn't even know how to.

I don't know what became of this Altar, my Hope is that the original constructors of it took it Home after the Floods were over, and that Parks and Rec didn't just destroy it and throw it away?   No way to know, I would never disturb one myself.   My Tu Di Gong is pictured further Below and I won't make an Altar until I have his Wife, Tudi Po, with him.  You sometimes have to be patient to find the right Vintage or Antique Statuaries of various Religions.  I have Collected them for a very long time and they are among my Oldest Collections and the ones I rarely ever Resell.  I've given some away tho'.  That's more appropriate.  If something has been Blessed, I will not Sell it and it can't be Bought from me, but I will Give it as a Gift.  

  

 Anyway, still looking for Grandmother Earth, one day Tudi Po will show up to complete the Creation of that Home Altar.   Yes, you can Google to find anything For Sale, but I'm very particular about what Religious Statuary I Buy.   She has to be Porcelain, not Resin, she has to be 8" high like my Tu Di Gong, Gilded and a decent matching Mate for how he looks, like the Couple in the local Altar, which were perfectly paired.  I do trawl the Asian Grocers Religious Section often to see if they have her, she'd be a Modern Porcelain there tho', which would be acceptable if she was made by a Quality Producer of Altar Products, so far, no Luck.   And, to be Vintage or Antique, they can be extremely expensive too, so she has to be within my modest budget as well, which is a consideration.  I have found Antique versions of both, often Together, on E-Bay, and those are for Serious Collectors of Religious Antiquities and way out of my League as a Collector.   My Seller was out of Cali and quite reasonable for the Vintage Product in such good condition.

Oddly, SAVERS has had a lot of Vintage and Antique Good Quality Asian Religious Statuary recently and I have bought some of it, tho' not all of it.   Their Prices of coarse reflect that they have no idea how valuable the Donation was by the Donor.   My hunch is that their Pricers wouldn't even know what they were looking for to determine Value, unless they Google Lens it and I don't know they have the Time to do all of that with Donated Merchandise or Care enuf to, which is Fine with me as a Buyer.  *Winks*  You know what you know, and you don't know what you just don't know.  *Smiles and Winks*   Anyway, I'm not gonna waste all Day Tomorrow like Today got wasted.  

I never got out of my Jammies all Day Today.  *Ha ha ha*  But the long Rest from that Nap was probably needed and sometimes you just have to accept a Do Nothing Day.  The Son and Princess T were Home for much of the Day so they could look after The Man while I Slept.  I did get some Inventory Priced, but I never turned on the TV, never ate much, so it was almost a Fasting Day as well.  I got the Chores done around the House, which have to be done daily, and took Care of The Man's Needs, so... it's NOT Nothing really, but as close to Nothing as I can ever get.  *Bwahahaha*   If I could do absolutely Nothing, I don't know how I'd even handle that kind of Day?  *LMAO*  It would be so foreign to me I might not even feel comfortable with it and holding that Space of absolute Nothingness to Do?  *Smiles*

*******

There's always Something to Do, I'm just not always Doing it... Dawn... The Bohemian

I'll Begin On A Positive Note... But It Might Go Downhill From There...

We'll start this Post with Great-Grandbaby Imagery, to begin on a Positive Note.  It might go Downhill from there... but... whatever.  *LOL*  Tomorrow is both Bulk Garbage pickup Day, done only once a Month, and Regular Garbage Day, for usual Weekly Non-Recycle Trash Pickup.   So, I was busy getting both ready to be Curbside, coz both come very early in the Morning, usually before anyone wakes up, so doing it the Night or Day beforehand is crucial.   One of The Daughter's long time Childhood Friends unexpectedly showed up today unannounced looking for her.  They aren't that close anymore, and haven't been for a long time now, since this person has shown she can't be Trusted and is always Thirsty for Attention, like J-Lo {Jennifer Lopez}.   And I don't Trust Thirsty folk, I just don't.  *LOL*

 I have never thought she could be Trusted and have always said so, Gut Instinct about her, even tho' she's been nothing but nice and respectful to me personally, something about seemed disingenuous about her and never Lined Up with me.  But we got confirmation from very reliable Sources some time ago that my Gut Instincts about her had been Right.  So, The Daughter has distanced herself and not had this Gal coming around for a very long time, feeling betrayed.  For her to show up out of the Blue asking for The Daughter was Odd and Suspect, so The Man just sent her away.  The Daughter wasn't here anyway and was with Friends she is still close to.  Nobody Needs anyone who even Smells like Drama and a Headache around.

 I don't even plan to say this Gal came around looking for her, motives being unclear as to why?  This Gal IMO can be Major Drama and a Headache, she Creates a lot of her own Drama, Online as well as in Person.  She is very Immature for a Woman in her Forties, often still acting like a Teenager, when she's got Kids older than that.  She is overly Thirsty to be the Center of Attention, the look at and notice me type, and since she can't keep a Man, tends to go after other folk's Guys.   So none of the Guys we know want her around coz they know she's trouble and tries to make trouble in other people's relationships.  Not many folks want someone around who can't be Trusted or is Deceitful.

Anyway, The Man didn't even remember who she was so just said The Daughter isn't here.  Then came and told me who she said her Name was.  She hadn't been around in so long, I didn't initially even know who it had been, but then, there's only One Person by that Name that it could have been, so deducted it had been her.  The Son agreed, don't even mention it to his Sister, coz this Person, tho' he's also known her most of their Lives, he doesn't want around either and I'd told her some time ago not to be here.   She'd often show up unannounced and with people we didn't know, I don't like that.  Nobody I don't know is Invited here or Welcome unannounced particularly on our Property, so don't even bring Randoms around.  

I don't Care if you know them, if I don't, then don't have them in tow.  We're all Friended Up and even most folks I do know don't come to my Home unless specifically Invited.   And if I can't or don't even Trust YOU, then why would I Trust anyone Random you know?  Exactly.  The Daughter knows how cynical I am and that if someone makes a bad impression on me, it's damn hard to shake it and change my opinion.  Even if I didn't initially have that impression, once you do or say something that Red Flags my Spidey Senses, don't come around anymore.  And I have never particularly even Liked this Girl, let alone don't Trust her and never have.

So, while The Son and I were Working Outside getting everything to the Curb, we were making sure she wasn't still in the Neighborhood hanging around.   The Daughter won't be coming Home for a while, but, still, I don't want this Gal hanging around or showing up on my Property uninvited and unannounced no more, I'm suspicious of her, and it's why I mentioned it here on the Ole' Blog... it was Note Worthy, let us just say.   Just in case something comes up with this Gal?  *Winks*  Some Coincidences are everything but...    Anyway, it was another 116 Degree Day, mebbe Hotter, once my Temp Gauge showed 116, I just didn't go out any more in it.   I did pick up Wild Bird Seed, seems the pricing went way up everywhere, so perhaps there at the Discount Grocer, that was a reasonable price now?  Who knew?  Well, everything's going way up, so, can't say I'm even mildly Surprised anymore now.

 

The Son hadda be in Work by 5:00 a.m., so walked there so he didn't have to wake me up, since, his Niece doesn't work on Mondays so I can Sleep in if I don't take him to Work.  He doesn't mind walking when it's still Dark and Cooler out there and it's not even a Quarter of a Block away, I can see his Store from where we Live if I go stand in the Access Road in front of our Property and look Southwest of us.  Very convenient and handy.  He wants his Sister to apply for a part time Job there and thinks she could Stock Shelves and be an asset, in spite of her Disability.  There's not much contact with other people doing what he does and he knows she's an excellent Worker.  Part Time she could mebbe handle... mebbe... and she needs the steadier income until and unless she Qualifies to get back on SSI after a 20+ Year period of being off of it due to being out of the Country during that time?

I Plan to make an inquiry to The Grandson's Social Security Caseworker about it since, why not, Briana seems like a nice younger Woman and one of the Good Ones as far as Caseworkers go.  I can tell instantly now if we got a Good One or a Bad One.  *LOL and an Eye Roll, since, you shouldn't have that much Experience Dealing with Caseworkers of Social Service Programs and Government Agencies galore, but I fucking do!*  When you obtain and get Assigned a Good One, you really utilize that Person to your Advantage as much as you can coz the Good Ones generally Burn Out and don't last long in those Professions.  They become as overwhelmed and despondent as their Clients about The System.  Most are overworked and underpaid, and definitely not appreciated by their Employer, The Federal Government.  Most, especially under this Administration, of the Best of them, are bailing like the Ship is already sinking and going Down.

To be sure, the very Best of every form of Government, like the FBI, CIA, Military, VA, EPA, CDC, Politics, IRS, FDA, all Social Service Agencies, DOJ, etcetera, are either Retiring Early, Quitting, or being Ousted involuntarily and Targeted for Revenge and Retribution, possibly Prosecution, and definitely Persecution, by this Regime.  They've Purged any Resistance to what they intend to do and who would Protect or Defend the American Public and the Nation from them or whatever their insidious Agendas are.   See, I told you my Positive Post might go Downhill from the initial intent of it, into the Abyss of current Negativity abounding out there in the World, and America in particular.  *LOL but Le Sigh and a Sob*    We've still got ambivalent, oblivious, ignorant or indifferent Americans out there tho'... and of coarse those of the 30% or less, of the Population, who are the Die Hard Staunchest Supporters of it all and always will be.  They be the ones to keep an Eye on.  Coz if they aren't thrown under the Bus and get run over, they're definitely ON the Bus and for the whole Ride.

 

One of my BFF's and previous Roommates, when we were Young Adults and first time Single Moms, has a Brother whose gone Balls Out Extreme MAGA.  I asked her if her Brother has gone completely Mental, and what's Wrong with him now?  He is around 67 now and could be in cognitive decline as a vulnerable Adult?  Coz he's Retired Military, very Intelligent and Successful during his Career Years, used to be a Normal Acting Guy, used to be enormously Popular, I always thought highly of him... but now, just OMG!!!  WTF Bosco, has happened to you Dude?!  Christ on a Bike and all the Saints, his Social Media is totally Mental now and I don't know he has any Friends left who aren't Radicalized anymore?  He's Confrontational and even Cruel or Combative to anyone with differences of Opinion, disagree with him, or who are still Rational Human Beings.  It's Scary and deeply disturbing.  And he's not the only one I know who it's happened to either.  You do have to distance yourself from them by necessity and due to still having a Moral Compass and Basic Humanity!

  

She said nobody knows, he just went Off Rails like that in 2016 and now nobody wants to be around him or interact with him.  Coz he's absolutely Obsessed and Radicalized with his Extreme Political Views and Support and Justification of this Regime.  It is like he joined a Cult or a Domestic Terrorist Organization or Whacko Militia, and they've been unable to run any Intervention or Deprogram him.  He has a Family, so I Wonder if the Wife, Kids, Grandkids, all got on Board The Crazy Train or Bus that is going Wheels Off... or just him?   I knew his Wife, tho' she and I were never Friends, I even went to their Wedding, but he got Re-Assigned in the 1990's and I didn't keep in Touch, just with his Sister.  His Wife seemed to be the type so insecure her Husband couldn't still have his long time Female Friends, mebbe she didn't Trust him, or Imagined shit was happening that wasn't, I dunno, so I bowed out of their Lives.  

 He had a very meteoric rise in the Military well Earned, highly Respected, very Patriotic in a NORMAL way.   So, nothing to have concerns about, so, on FB he reached out, long before 2016 and wanted to reconnect.  He knew I still had long time Contact with his Sister and had been very Close with his Brother-In-Law, who was a Friend of mine before his Sister even Married Mike.   Sadly Mike was blown up in Iraq, so his Widowed Sister really has had a tough time of it since.   So, anyway, he reached out, and I accepted a Friend Request from an Old Friend I did Value the Long Time Friendship of and to catch up with one another.  Everything seemed good, for the most part, we had meaningful exchanges of how our Kids were doing, how many Grandkids we now had, how Retirement was going, Travels, reminiscing, the Usual Stuff.   And slightly after 2016, I had to Unfriend him, HAD to.   Before 2016 it had been Normal, like an Old Friendship with lots of History can be, and catching up with him and The Family was enjoyable... 'til it just wasn't, when he got so Radical and deeply Politically Partisan and Unhinged as fuck.

His Obsession with it was at the exclusion of all else, it's ALL he now talked of and it was Sick... really detached from all Reality and like an incurable Sickness, Defensive to an Extreme, Accusatory of anyone not in The Cult, Hostile, deeply Disturbing.   And that's what the 29%ers, as I now call the Devout MAGAts, have become.  After all that has now transpired, if you're still On Board, you're really quite Sick and it's become like an Illness or even a Deadly Contagion or Zombie Apocalypse of sorts.  You can and will try to Infect or Destroy those who are still Well by any Exposure to you IMO.  I used to think those proliferation of Zombie Movies and huge Populations going Brain Dead was fantastical and could never really happen, unless some Viral Infection mebbe caused it.  Well, MAGA has been like a Viral Infection to the Population and some succumbed to it and few Recovered from the Exposure to it.  It will Destroy the Nation if it spreads too far and wide successfully doing it's damage to the whole System.  It has spread Fear and even Death, like all dangerous Contagions tend to. 

Anyway, mebbe one day they'll make a Zombie Apocalypse or Dystopian Type Movie about it, I dunno, IF we Survive it?   Don't know whether they'd make it a Documentary or a Horror Movie?   *Eye Roll*   People like to be Scared when shit is Pretend, but when it's Real, and Fear is palpable, most folks don't like sustained Fear, it's not Healthy.  Fear is a Normal Response, but sustained Fears are extremely Stressful and detrimental to Well Being.   I guess I'm fortunate that I Shut Down my Fear Responses most of the time and prefer to Feel Nothing.  So that I can remain highly Functional and Adaptive to Situations, whatever they may be, in spite of Scary Shit that might be happening all around me and on a sustained basis I have little, to no, Control over.  As a Problem Solver by Nature, I will find Solutions to overcome anything I'm up against, in whatever ways Work advantageously to me and mine, my and our continued Survival, thru whatever shit becomes unavoidable and just IS the way it just IS.

*******

I do Hope most of you manage to get thru this too without being collateral damage, victims, and expected casualties of some very Bad History playing out in Real Time... Dawn... The Bohemian

Retail Therapy Hauls And More Food P*rn

 

So, The Daughter and Danae got Dolled Up to go out and did a Selfie first.  It turned out so Cute and is a really good one of them both.  Danae does Make-Up and an exceptional Natural Look, to make you appear flawless, brings out the best of your Features, but is very Natural and not overly Made-Up.  It's definitely an Art Form and Hollywood Level Make-Up Artistry.  It actually takes a lot of Skill to look this Natural when you're doing a Makeover.  Same with Decorating, the Skill it takes to make something look effortless, downplayed and Simple when you're Styling a Space, is not as easy as you'd think.   For a couple of Gals in their Forties, who have Adult Kids, they still look pretty Hawt and Youthful.

I took The Man out for Brunch, we were gonna go to "Snooze" but it was a Sunday and too busy, so we went to "5 & Diner" instead and had their Cadillac Meatloaf Dinner, which is exceptional.  So the Food Porn for this Post will be too.  *Winks*  We have plenty of leftovers for Lunch later now too.  The ambiance at the place is very 1950's inspired and it's one of those Silver Bullet Airstream Restaurants.  They have the Individual Jukeboxes on each Table with 1950's Selections of Music, and everything, including the Menu Selections, is Nostalgic Old School Diner.  I couldn't get The Man to eat his Veggies, so he always gives them to me.

 I don't mind, I Love my Veggies, and their Mixed Veggies are the best too, with Pearl Onions, Green Beans, Carrots, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, and Red Bell Peppers.   I should have waited and Photographed mine with the other Veggies in a Bowl he gave me to eat.  It also comes with delicious Garlic Toast, Crispy Fried Onions and Sauteed Mushrooms with the Meatloaf Topping, Mashed Taters with the Skins left on and smothered in a pleasantly rich Salty Dark Gravy you could Bathe in.  Nom-Nom.  The Meatloaf is great on a Sammie later on, Hot or Cold.  The Older Hispanic Waitress there always remembers us, no matter how long it's been since our last visit, she's a Sweetheart.  And they give Military Discounts even tho' it's way Downtown in the Inner City, not near any Military Base.

At Night they have it lit up with Neon, but usually we're there during the day, earlier, around Breakfast or Lunchtime, when they're busiest.  In the Evenings they're less busy even tho' they have great Dinners, which, you can Order anytime, they serve any type of Menu Meal at any time and I like that about the place.  Sometimes I might want Breakfast fare for Dinner, or Dinner for Lunch, you know?  I'm a Food Rebel like that.  And, I rarely keep Normal Hours anyway either.  *LOL and Winks*  So, if I were to want Lunch at 1:00 in the Morning, I like a place that won't balk at letting me order it that way and give me no flack about it being the Wrong time of the Day for that particular Meal.   I've been Grown a long time... I wanna to Eat what I wanna Eat when I wanna Eat it, dammit!  *Smiles*  I can at a place like this with no Restrictions on what to order or when you can order it.

We also stopped at One GOODWILL Downtown and nearby, it's Senior Day and tho' the Seasonal Merch isn't discounted, I still wanted to peruse their Halloween Merch.  They had a good selection of it, I got a Medium New Old Stock Fabric Pumpkin with Bling on it.  Two Smaller Child Sized Vintage Metal Halloween Pails with great Graphics and Lids. Some more Halloween Paper Plates and Napkins.  A couple of Cookbooks.  A Commercial Female Fabric and Metal Dress Form Mannequin Torso on a Commercial Heavy Metal Stand.  Two Sets of identical 1950's S&P Shakers with textured Pressed Glass and Retro Red Bakelite Lids.  A Halloween Coffee Mug.  And a "Boss Lady" Coffee Scented Candle that was called "Hustle & Caffeine" and Scented up the entire Truck with a lovely Aroma of freshly Brewed Coffee on the ride Home.  Most are pictured Below with some more Diner Pixs thrown in.

The Retail Therapy was enjoyable and I got everything at Bargain Basement prices.  The Older Navajo Cashier was doing everything by herself and apologizing for the long line.  She'd not called for Backup coz she said there was no Backup, everyone had Called In Sick or just not bothered to show up for Work without even Calling In!   It happens everywhere now and we get it a lot at the Antique Mall too.   It makes reliable Employees and Good Workers have to Work harder and more due to the inconsiderate unreliable ones who don't Honor their Commitments and Deal with angry Customers who aren't happy with waiting.  It's one thing if someone is legitimately ill or has an Emergency, it happens, but the Cashier told me her Co-Workers do this all of the time and it upsets Customers coz there's only One Cashier, also answering the Phones, and things back up, especially on Sale Days.  Sundays are a Sale Day for Military and for Students to get 25% Off, so it's busier.

 

The Cashier was Senior Citizen Aged and handled it all Calmly, unruffled and Politely, in True Native American Fashion that Tribal Elders always exhibit.  It's hard to fluster them, have them show any Emotional Stress, or disturb their Calm. *Smiles*  She had Beautiful Tribal Silversmith Jewelry on from her Tribe and had her Hair done in Traditional Navajo Style Beavertail Tsiiye'e'l.  In spite of being overworked and overwhelmed by the long line of Customers, she was pleasant and apologetic with us all, which kept everyone Calm that was in a ridiculously long line.  Everyone could see she was doing the very best she could, so, luckily nobody got snarky or ill tempered for the wait.  I had too much Good Stuff to bail on my Purchase *Smiles*, so I patiently waited my turn and then she and I conversed about the Situation while she was ringing me up.  Most of us in Line were Seniors too and commiserated with her plight.

I see more Seniors than Teenagers working Minimum Wage Jobs now... and a fair amount of Middle Aged folks too, which shows how shitty this Economy truly is.  Yes, there are Jobs, but, are they Full Time, do they have any Benefits, are they paying a Livable Wage?   Chances are the Answer to all of that is No, No, and No.   And the reason you're seeing Older People having to take said Jobs is becoz they can't make the ends meet on their Pensions and/or they are grossly Underemployed coz there are not as many, if any, Good Jobs with Full Time Hours, Benefits, and a decent Salary to Live on comfortably.   I know more folks with more Degrees than a Thermometer that are Underemployed or even Unemployed and not Hired for what they got their Degrees for and cannot find Work in those Fields.  A lot of those Skilled Workers in The Trades, with loads of Experience and exemplary Work History, also are not always finding Work, as The Son is a prime Example of.

The Niece said when she comes out to Visit from Texas, she's gonna do Gig Work while here, mostly doing Uber Delivery Work for various big Companies, doing their Deliveries.  She'll have The Daughter help her and Share in the profits they make.   She is a Tech Guru and Computer Programmer and Designer of Web/I.T. related stuff... all way over my Head, coz she's a legit Tech Genius.   But she's been either Unemployed or Underemployed lately and said she thinks A.I. is gonna eliminate a lot of what people like her do.  She's so against A.I. she's even more vehemently opposed to it than I am, and she went back to School to Learn about it and thought she'd migrate into Developing it, but said it's so Dark, so Foreboding, she didn't want to be complicit to any of it or any part of it and dropped out even tho' she was getting excellent Grades and could have made Money exploiting the whole A.I. Bubble that is shoring up the Economy and Stock Market right now.  We both agreed that a lot of the Stocks now seem Juiced... artificially pumped up and boosted, in case you're unfamiliar with the lingo. 

She's doing some Stock Trading, just to make Fast Money at it on a relatively small low risk scale, just to exploit what she sees happening.  So we talk of that fairly often, she knows I've been getting regular Stock Dividends off my Investments for over Fifty Plus Years and mine have performed just Fine and reliably, so I don't Trade a lot.  The Passive Income Flow from it suits me just Fine and is reliable enuf for over half a Century, that I can't complain, coz I got all mine in lieu of Bonuses back when I had Corporate Lives and the Money is as regular as Clockwork.  Anyway, she's hanging in there which is all the Regular Folk who aren't independently Wealthy and Billionaires can do when the Economy is in the shitter and looks not to be Promising of getting better anytime soon and with such Poor Leadership and Corrupt Grifters and Career Criminals at the helm making it what it is.  So long as they make it massively Profitable for them, they Care not who else or what else it destroys.

I deliberately give myself several Days at a time now without turning on The News coz I know it's all Bad.   I want to keep Informed Enough, but not too much, coz, damn, it's so Fucked Up and the level of Fuckery being allowed and left unchecked is unprecedented in our History.  The consequences of which will be far reaching and long lasting, Trust and Believe... likely for Generations to come.   There is still the Lunatic Fringe and Extremists out there too... on BOTH Sides of the Aisle now.  Coz I must say some of the Far Left is looking just as whack and Fucked Up to me as the MAGA ever was.   And if the Democrats allow their Party to be hijacked like the Republicans did, well, we better either have a 3rd and better Option, or my Vote is in Play for Real.  And I don't mean I'd Vote for either Side of the Extremes... and I really do Hate to throw my Vote away and have it mean nothing at all coz there's nothing NOT Extreme and Crazy, to even Vote FOR with the existing Two Party System that's getting more and more Fucked Up on both Sides now!!!

Anyway, enuf of the Political Scene which is FUBAR as Hell.  Let us instead enjoy some of my Retail Therapy in Images now, shall we?  *Winks*  That's way more Uplifting.  Above is my Fabric and Bling Medium sized Pumpkin, still had it's Retail Tags on it from a Big Box Decor Store.   It's a Terry Towel kind of Material and weighted.  I almost Waffled at Buying it coz sometimes I get ridiculously Stupid about what I'll Pay at a Chazza... even if it's really still a Good Deal.  *LOL and Winks*   Finally I knew I'd have Non-Buyer's Remorse if I didn't get it coz it was actually not a Bad Price, just not almost a Giveaway and practically nothing.  *Ha ha ha*   I knew it was New Old Stock from a Good Quality Store and the Retail Price had been High, High, High, so it would have been Stubborn Stupidity to Pass on it at the Price the GOODWILL wanted, even tho' slightly higher than usual for Used Merch that is Donated and not New Old Stock given to them by Major Retailers who clearly are Sponsors of the Organization.

My Pails were my Fav Score coz I Love Vintage Halloween and the Graphics and you don't find it very often, if at all, even In Season.  Plus they were 99 Cents Each, come on, that was almost Free IMO compared to their Value as a Vintage Halloween Collectible in decent Shape.   All of the Halloween and Fall Napkins and Paper Plates I've been Buying and Squirrelling away have been big Bagged Lots at a pittance Price Point, so... No-Brainer to scoop up any and all of them they have so that I don't have to Wash Dishes or Buy Paper Towels, Paper Plates or Napkins at Retail Prices for a long while.  Plus, how Fun is it to eat off of Halloween Graphics all the time?  *Winks*

Here's my Mannequin Dress Form, heavy as a Boat Anchor she is and Commercial Grade.   I Buy any Industrial or Commercial Pieces like this anytime I see them Cheaply Prices secondhand coz whether I Keep them for Display or Sell them, there's no Downside to as many as I can get my Hands on.   As you can see, our Faux Pumpkins never made it off the Front Porch since last Season and why bother putting them away now when in September we'd be setting them up again?  *LMAO*   Below are the Two Sets of Retro S&P Shakers.  They actually had a 3rd Identical Set but the Red Bakelite Top was missing off one of the Shakers so I didn't Buy that Set.   That Downtown GOODWILL always has a lot of Vintage and Antique Donations but I don't get way down there very often.  Since, I'm not Buying much for Resale, I usually just Sell Off what we already have and are Downsizing our Possessions of.  So I don't have current Outlay for much I'm doing Resale on, I Bought mine Decades ago, so my Margins are excellent.

Below is the Candle, I got for only 99 Cents, and it was New, has a very large Wick and Smells Sublime!   And how Cute is the Whimsical Name and Packaging of the Brand?  We were depleting my Cache' of Gold Canyon {now out of Business}, and Votivo {Expensive} Candles quickly, so now when I see any good Quality Candles secondhand at a Chazza, and they Smell Good, and are a Bargain, I snap them up.  Coz we almost always have a Candle or Incense Burning in our Home becoz we Love to have a Zen Atmosphere and lovely Aroma to our Living Spaces.   My Cache' of Incense is still respectable, but the Candle Cache' was dwindling to where I knew I better Scout for and Source some more.

Below is my Halloween Coffee Mug.  Not that I Needed any more Mugs in this Lifetime, I have more than any Sane Woman should ever Own.  But, I don't profess to be Sane and I am a Mug Hoarder, what can I say?  I Sell a lot of them, I use them all of the time {well, most of them, some are Display Collectibles I won't risk damaging with use}, and I just Love them and they make me Happy.  So... whatever... whenever I see another one I simply MUST have and it's the Right Price, it comes Home with me.  With my 5-to-1 Rule in place, anytime 1 thing comes IN, then a minimum of 5 things must go OUT, so that keeps me accountable.  Tho' it does somewhat slow down the Great Edit and Purge continuously to have any ONE thing still coming in, so, there's THAT pesky detail.  *Winks*

Anyway, I Loved everything about the Mug and The Daughter had recently broken one of my Fav Halloween Mugs.  *Le Sigh, it happens when they're used a lot and when doing Dishes sometimes*   So, I justified it's Purchase since I'd had to throw out a Beloved Halloween Mug that was a recent casualty and I can't replace with one just like it, dammit.  *Boo Hoo and Sob*   This is why my most Collectible STARBUCKS Mugs that have some Value to them don't get used coz the Kiddos would surely damage or break them or wear the Graphics out. Plus, use does Devalue them as a Collectible and stains them, and I have some of the REAL coveted Collectible ones that can fetch a LOT at Resale now.  You wouldn't Believe what some folks are Paying for the most coveted ones Issued!!!   So, did you have Fun going Shopping vicariously with me my Friends?  *Winks and Smiles*  I was impressed with Today's Haul and it didn't cost me very much at all... well within Modest Budget.

*******

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of Fall now... Dawn... The Bohemian