Businesses On Blast & A Prolonged Rant

It's good that I had some Comfort Food of Vietnamese Tamarind Soup for Lunch and an Event to attend Today that provided Retail Therapy.  Why?  Coz, I'm Mad at our current Internet-Cable-Landline Phone Provider, not only did we have a whole day of everything being down just the other day, but now they want to involuntarily suspend Paper Billing and force you go to Paperless.  I don't do paperless billing where Online I have to bother with Passwords, PINS, ID Numbers and such that I never can remember coz every one has a different one and my Memory Care now can't Rolodex all that shit in my Brain anymore to retrieve when I need Customer Service.

  To keep Billing by Mail they make you go thru a big convoluted Dog & Pony Show Online and finally when you tell them you either don't have a PIN, ID Number, Password, Magical way to enter their System and verify yourself, you get transferred to a Bot who is AI.  When that fake Associate can't help you, they then transfer you to a Live Associate with a 3rd World Name, who was Raheem Today, who can barely understand you, nor you them, and you get nowhere and eventually hang up Mad and with a still unresolved Issue.  I know they're having a big Corporate Merger, thus all the Changes that I do not like, nor want.

If they want to get Paid, and I'm assuming they will, then I want my Billing to continue by Mail.  I don't want an App, an App Password, or a Special Yahoo E-Mail Account I can only access them thru.  I don't wanna Save A Tree or a Stamp.  I don't want Auto Pay so they can take whatever they want out of my Account whenever they want to.  I don't want to have to go Online and have more shit to try to remember and will always forget, always.  I don't want to Upgrade to Cox Fiber, I'm not excited it's 'coming', tho' eventually they all will discontinue what you had before that was more affordable, so that you have no Choice. 

  Instead, I'll shop for another Server to do business with, if you can't provide the level of Customer Service I want, expect and demand.  If you don't want to retain long time Customers by appreciating them, then you don't deserve to have any.  There are plenty of competitors eager to procure New Customers and their business.  I've dropped other Businesses like a Rock before, where I spend my $$$ is totally up to me when there are other Options.  Granted we all have to do business with some Monopolies like Utility Companies, but, mostly, Options exist for most Services.

I'm always Amused that after losing your Business to another, it's only then that they Reach Out and try to show you they'd make amends, if you'd only come back.   It's very Rare that I ever would, after you've blown it, why would I?  And if they ask why we left, I never sugar coat it, typically it's due to shitty Customer Service... a shitty Product... and forcing things upon Customers that they don't want and never asked for.  Especially when there is a Problem that needs resolution and becomes a Pain in the Ass to the Customer becoz it doesn't get resolved quickly, if at all.  

Coz I could give a Fuck what the Provider wants, they are there to Serve us, their Customers that keep them in Business... or cause it to Fail when we will no longer want to do Business with them.  Sure, you might Sell me something, but, if your Customer Service is lacking, then I definitely won't Buy anything from you ever again, especially if it can be Bought elsewhere.  And, I will put any Business on Blast for shitty practices, Bad Business, having shitty Employees, or a shitty Product.  Cox is on Blast right now and I'm looking at alternatives of other Providers, in case they don't or can't get their shit together really fast.  Rant now over.  *LOL*

I did Need to get that out of my System, Raheem was the last Straw really for me.  Offshoring to 3rd World Countries for Customer Service and trying to then Deal with your problem AND now a communication barrier with a subcontracted Associate of unknown origin, was not happening.  I don't wanna come unhinged on some Poor Soul earning a Dollar and Ninety-Eight Cents in someplace like Myanmar.  Where a Documentary exposed that many of the Help are Captives from other Countries and forced to do what they do, like modern day Slavery. The Country is one of the most corrupt in the World and has among some of the worst Human Rights violations left unregulated and unenforced by their Government. 

 And there's a host of other Countries, to be sure.  We're steadily catching up to having that reputation in America becoz it's not as if we don't have an exploited Labor Force too.  And I get more and more fed up with Businesses practicing Bad Business, or Human Rights Violations, or Animal Cruelty, becoz they successfully have been getting away with it enuf not to change and even treat their Customers Right, let alone their Help or their living 'Product'.  Okay, now the Rant is really over, I Promise!  *Smiles*  I had a LOT to get out of my System, clearly.  *Winks*  And if Cox doesn't sent me a Paper Billing Statement, they won't get Paid until they do.  

I already had this Battle with our Exterminating Company who auto enrolled me in Paperless Billing, while then increasing the Cost of Services with only an E-Mail too.  I rarely even look at the avalanche of E-Mails, I'm beyond fed up with them and now that Server wants more information and to charge for what they used to provide for Free or they will Suspend you!  *Eye Roll and Okay, I guess I'm Ranting On now... ha ha ha*   I still have Juno, the Original Government E-Mail System that The Man had when he was still Active Duty eons ago when E-Mail was New in 1996.  Now they want Billing information, not happening.  Not paying for something I've loathed using for Years now and had for Free since the Nineties.

Anyway, back to the Exterminating Co. that Raised their Rates substantially and then went Paperless without my consent to.  So, they didn't get Paid.  So, then they Called me to ask Why?  Well, never got a Bill, whatssup?  Oh, we enrolled you in Paperless Billing they say.  I didn't consent for you to tho'.  But, I did get a Paper Letter that you did Raise your Rate by a lot, so, now I wanna discontinue Service and if you wanna get Paid, send me a Paper Statement and I shall then Pay it promptly.  Hardly any of our Customers do that they say.  I don't give a fuck says I, Yes, I do drop the F-Bomb when annoyed as Fuck by lack of appropriate response.  *Winks*  I don't Care if someone has to Hand Write out a Bill, and send it, just send it coz I don't Read E-Mails and I don't use Apps either.

Yes, I could have Paid by Phone, but, that's not a Secure way to give your info at all and I was now too annoyed.  They agreed to send me a Statement by Mail as usual for my allegedly Unusual request to.  *Eye Roll*  I know, I'm a Dinosaur, they'll just have to wait 'til we're all Dead, I don't Care if we're an inconvenience and bygone Era nuisance.  *LOL*  Before the Call ended tho' they agreed to try desperately to give me a Sweet Deal to still, please, continue to do Business with us?!  Well, don't want the Monthly Rate you now have on Bug Treatments, too expensive, whaddya got?  There has been massive Termite infestations locally coz of all the Dead Trees the Blight of Bark Beetles has caused.  Termite Treatment initially is very expensive, I'd gotten Quotes before.

So, I used that as my leverage, but, what kind of First Cousin Deal, on the initial expensive Treatment and then the Monthly Treatments thereafter can you offer me to Keep me?  I've been their Customer for Three Properties spanning over 30 Years.  We reached an Agreement which the Owner of the Company Blessed, and gave me really quite a ridiculous Bargain Basement Discount to show how much they Value us as Customers.  Now, that's how you do Business and Keep a Customer after you done fucked up my Friends.  Otherwise... Bye, Bye, Bye. 

 And, now I get Statements, even if I'm their last Customer who requires one and some Office Clerk is Typing or Writing it by Hand, which is what it appears it might require.  And they do a Good Job when they show up... they always have and I liked that about them... and the Minute they don't, it's a Deal Breaker too.  Simple.  Do Good Business, treat your Customers and your Employees Right, you will have a decent Reputation in your Industry or, risk going Under.  I don't Care, it's not my Business so I don't Care how much yours makes or you lose actually, I just want a Service provided, that's all, that's our Relationship, strictly Business.  If you're a Small Business I like, and use, I truly will try to Support you and Promote you tho' at No Charge.

Moving On... since I'm sure you're exhausted with my prolonged Ranting now.  *LOL and Winks*  When I Go Off I really go a bit Mental, Okay, a LOT Mental, I ain't gonna Lie.  *Bwahahahaha*   I go from, "She's the Sweetest and most Darling Little Old Lady...", to, "Oh Shit, is she Possessed by Demons and does she Care if she gets Arrested or put in a Straight Jacket and hauled off?"   *LMAO, insert Maniacal Laughter*  Mostly becoz my Demons are very eerily Calm measured ones. Ones who will, without any Emotion at all, just take you Down and Out swiftly and Mercilessly.  

Coz, Listen, I'm Old, so I ain't got Time for Drama and when I'm actually Mad I don't Display nor Feel a fucking Emotion at all about YOU, if you have now become my Barrier and Obsession to Remove out of my way.  But I will be relentless and tenacious 'til you're Removed.  Then all will be Right with my World again.  *ha ha ha haha*  I'd rather we be Civil and mutually benefitted from any Business we do, your Choice on whether that plays out that way tho', choose Wisely, or accept whatever consequences that brings to you.  Simple.  Karens are a loud Spectacle of Dramatic Theater, and no Substance, they just want an Audience for perceived Grievances.  I want fucking results, Quietly and Substantively. I won't fabricate a Grievance, got no Time for that nonsense.  *Winks*

This Morning it was 57 Degrees when I took the Kiddo to Work, she had layered Clothing on and the Seat Warmer toasting her little Buns.  Now, just a little while ago it was still 105 most Days, so, this is a substantial dramatic Shift in Temps, you FEEL that much of a drop, it's not a gradual adjustment for the Human Body.  There was Frost on the Windshield so I knew it had Warmed Up to 57 tho', and likely dipped to Freezing Overnight!  And it's damp from the unseasonal Wicked Monsoon and Microburst Storms hitting us daily now, very scary Weather, Arizona is in a State of National Emergency Aide requested, even here in the Metro Cities in some Neighborhoods!  Tempe was hit especially hard close by and just East of us.

So, I don't quite know what to wear to the Event this Mortning and will therefore wait a little bit to see if its Warming Up or not?  I could Layer, which might be Wisest and then, peel off Layers as the Morning wears on.  I haven't been staying as long as usual at the Events, they just haven't matched previous Years and I've come away mostly empty Handed and not spent or been tempted to spend.  So, I do understand Why, at the Antique Mall, there's a lot of People and yet there's not a lot of Spending going on.  The current Economy coupled with what Merch is being made available, just isn't cutting it anymore for many Customers.  And Tomorrow is when I get my Ear looked at, so, I'm rather conflicted about how to Feel about that until I know what I'm Dealing with?

LATER: It was a good day at the Event, got good Parking, not big Crowds so it was a mellow shopping experience, and, surprisingly I found some Antiques worthy of purchasing and not wanting to pass up!!!  Plus a Fabric Arts Hippie Top Statement piece made of a Fleetwood Mac T-Shirt that looks Vintage and a colorful Crocheted Afghan made into  where the Sleeves used to be, really unique, hadda have it.  Seemed to be a New Vendor who had a Boutique section in the Warehouse Building of the Event.  In fact, there were several New Vendors and I got a couple more Antique Ornate Metal Receipt Holders from one. 

 And a couple of very large Canning Jars with Zinc Lids from my Friend Big Kenny.  But my Primo Piece was a Black Victorian Era Mannequin Torso with Wasp Waist and Embroidered Store Logo, Silk Puff Sleeves at the Shoulder, from WARNER'S Haberdashery.  It's the Lead Image for this Post, once I got it Home and decided where I wanted to Display it.  The Designer who Sold it to me has had it for over Forty Years and moved to a 600 sf Downsized Home, so, she had to divest herself of a lot of her Primo Decor she's had for a very long time and Loves.  She was so Happy I got it, she knows I appreciated it and I have a very Old Mannequin Display Hand for Rings and Bracelets from Warner's too with their Store Name on it, I'd guess from the 1920's Era.  I've had that Display Piece a very long time too.

I have an Old Santos Crown somewhere that I Need The Daughter to find for me and we'll put it on Top of the Torso.  But, right now I'm so tired, Traffic was insanely heavy on the way Home and I almost didn't make it back in time to pick Princess T up from Work!!!   Getting to the Event I made good time, coming Home it was gridlocked Traffic the more Westside you traveled.  They're overbuilding the Far Westside now and it's causing a lot of Traffic Issues we never had before.  Mostly due to putting in Enormous Apartment Complexes that look like Chinese Prisons, and far too many high Density Residential Homes on every square inch Developers can get Zoning Changed to build them on!

Anyway, back to the Event, coz that part was a Positive of the Day and I did take loads of Blog Fodder Imagery for ya.  There was a little Halloween left over, not much, but some very nice Velvet Pumpkins, Fashions, Jewelry and Accessories for Autumn.  And, more Real Deal Vintage Items and Antiques than usual, which has been how it used to be, so I enjoyed those Offerings very much and Price Points were Fair.  I did notice that a lot of the Regulars that used to always come, don't come anymore tho'.  They haven't for a few Events now and for any of them to miss this many Months in a row is very unusual, so I do Hope everyone is Well?  Especially since almost nobody misses the Holiday Events, and it looks like they are, I have no idea Why tho'?

There's only one Regular whose a Friend that I'd know the Why of missing the Halloween Event, she's a Fundamentalist Christian and so she doesn't Celebrate Halloween or ever attend any Halloween Events.  She doesn't push it in person, but on her Social Media Platforms she's very vocal about how she feels about the Holiday.  To each their own, I'm just glad she is respectful of those of us who do Celebrate and enjoy it and doesn't push her Beliefs in Person.  What you use your Social Media Platforms for is your Business and we all put our Thoughts and Feelings out there about all kinds of things.  I like her, I just don't Share her Beliefs, nor her mine, and that's Okay, we're still Friends and enjoy one another concerning other similar Interests we do Share.  

 

There were some Women behind me in Line before Opening who were complaining about their Teen and Young Adult Children the WHOLE time, and saying disparaging things about their own Kiddos!!!  I got the sense they don't even Like their Children and that's just Sad.  Coz I would venture to Guess the Kiddos Sense that and why they have so much Relationship Conflict that the Moms were complaining to each other of?   I overheard the Ages of their Kids, and thought, did you already get so Old you forgot what it was like to be Young?  Shit, I'm a Grandma of Kids of those Ages, and even Older, but I don't expect them to Act MY fucking Age!  Why would you expect them to Act YOUR Age, they're still so Young and you probably Acted similar at those Ages, so gain some perspective and give 'em some Grace!!!

Plus, the one Mom was really chapped that her 20-something Year Old Daughter gets along better with her Dad and he has a very functional Relationship with his Daughter.  It was her Ex-Husband and I sensed she Dad-Bashes and probably her Kiddos are Sensitive about that too, especially if they get along Swell with their Dad, even if they don't Live with him?!   I could hear the Jealousy and Bitterness in her Voice and thought, No Wonder The Daughter doesn't get along with you, you're sounding like a fucking Shrew, Woman!!!   The Dad apparently also financially is very good to his Children, she even had an Issue with THAT... well, Woman, beats him being a fucking Deadbeat Dad who doesn't provide for them, offer Support, or Care!!! 

I don't pretend to know the Dynamic of that Woman's Family, or the other one, who was still Married but just a tad more Measured about her criticisms about her Children of the same Age.   But if I ever talked that much Smack about my Loved Ones, I wouldn't expect them to Like me or get along with me, those Gals were throwing Shade all over the place about their Families... so I can only Imagine what they were gonna say about their Friends?!   And... sho' nuff, they soon got to that... and OMG, they be the kind of Friends who you wouldn't Need Enemies, that's for sure!

 Lord have Mercy they bashed the Character of Women they mutually knew and one had to Wonder, how do they behave Face to Face with any of those folks they're Back Stabbing??!!!  Yikes.  It was so Toxic just standing close enuf to have to overhear how Negative they were about Everyone NOT present to defend themselves!!!  It was just uncomfortable to have to hear but you couldn't NOT hear, they were talking loudly enuf I could have been several people ahead or behind them and still heard the conversation!!!  I didn't even turn around to see what they looked like, if they looked anything like their Toxic Personalities, their Countenance would be Sour as Hell and Misery personified!!!  So glad when the Doors Opened and I could distance myself from their Bad Energy!!! 

I have good News in that our Social Security Checks hit on time!  *Whew*  I was concerned due to the Government Shutdown, since, people still Working aren't even getting Paid if they get a Federal Check.  The Shutdown needs to End, it's negatively impacting hard working people and Politicians should never use Federal Workers and our Military Personnel as Pawns in their Partisan Disputes between each other.  Liking the Problem more than the Solution seems to be all too common among Partisan Politics and I'm fed up with it all, it's NOT Working for the American People.   We NEED our Politicians to Work for us!!!  And it seems like too many have forgotten who they Work FOR!?!

*******

Happy Autumn from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

Going Out "Extra" Too

 So, the Internet and TV were both down all day Yesterday from about 7:00 a.m. to this Morning!!!   Our provider first told you it would be restored by 5:20 p.m. Yesterday Afternoon, then they just got vague about when if you called back, coz they couldn't get it restored at all for that day!  Our whole area was affected and it might have been due to Storm damage since they had Microbursts that caused as much damage locally as Hurricanes or Tornados, major Flooding too.  Businesses could only accept Cash coz their Point Of Sale Systems were down too.  Luckily, Princess T had Cash coz I don't carry much of it anymore.  She still had a wad of Cash from Birthday Pressy offerings and she never uses Cash, so still had it from September.  *LOL*

The Man and her went thru TV and Internet withdrawal respectively, I just read a Book.  *Smiles*  I could still access Blogs via my Cellphone so I caught up that way and had Pre-Scheduled a lot of Posts that hadn't Published, but would at the assigned times and day.  But, we were spared serious problems due to the Storms.  They had Rescues and State of Emergency declared locally due to the Storms, The Red Cross had to shelter some Families Flooded out of their Homes or who had such severe damage to their Structures it rendered them uninhabitable.  Therefore, just losing Internet and TV Service was just a mild inconvenience compared to what many folks were experiencing.  I'm Thankful we mitigated our Flooding here on our Property with Sandbags and Pumping Water into the Pasture.

I was considering visiting The Desert Botanical Gardens, but that area, including The Phoenix Zoo next door to it, were Closed due to Storm Damage they incurred.  That area and Tempe, the City closest to there, got hit particularly hard by the Microbursts, with 90 mph Winds!!!  I have heard of some Fatalities, but a lot more of hairy Rescues that could have drowned those caught and trapped when their Vehicles got swept up in Waters that rushed in and picked the Vehicles up.  Or had huge Trees fall near them or on their Vehicles and Homes, many had to have Fire and Rescue get them and their Pets out coz they were trapped with the Treefall.  I don't think the Storms are over either, so they've put in for Federal Disaster Relief for some areas of Arizona affected.

We don't usually get Natural Disasters in Arizona, it's really Hot and getting Hotter, but, normally other than Haboobs, we don't get things like Tornadoes or Hurricane force Winds, we did have Two Funnel Clouds that dropped down during this Storm System!!!  Those are anomalous conditions for our State.   But, they are now happening with more frequency with Climate Change happening everywhere.   Anyway, each Storm seems to worsen how severe it is and the damage it's causing now, that's for sure.  Monsoon Season is normally over by now, but, it came late and is staying longer, so the Seasonal expectations have also shifted considerably and aren't as predictable.

What concerns me is that this Administration has gutted most of the Agencies that provide protection to the Public.  Agencies who provide Weather Services that provide Warnings, the CDC, Legal Protection, Food Inspections, Safety Inspections for Products, Workplace Safety, FEMA, Nutritional Assistance Programs, the List goes on and on of what they've gutted so it's barely functioning now for the American People!!!   Why?  Not due to fraud, waste & neglect of providing Services as they falsely claim, nope, it's to be able to provide more for the Top 1% and to Grift Money themselves that should be providing Services to the 99%, that's the ONLY reason they're doing it.  So, they're ripping the rest of us off while also putting us at grave risk in the process.

I got some Adorable Pixs of my BFF on her Birthday, she's Rockin' her Look after she lost her Hair to Treatments she's receiving, she's just as Attractive Bald and looks Stunning and Radiant.  I know it's a tough time for her and for her Family, the Daughter in the Photo is her Youngest Child and the one doing her Caregiving who she lives with now.  This Friend and I Share a LOT of History and some Wild Times.   Below is The Daughter on her Special Day and with her Cake, a Strawberry Shortcake, light and tasty, we're not really Cake People for Traditional Cakes.  Her Birthday is the Day After my BFF's Birthday and their Personalities are so similar too.  BTW: She does have Arms.  *LMAO*  Princess T was miffed that her Gay Boy Posse, tho' they took her out for Dinner on her Birthday last Month, for the first time EVER, didn't make her up a Gift Basket each or do a Photo Collage of HER on their Instagrams!  *Gasp, the Horror of it!  LOL*

She's still Bitchin' about it almost a Month later *Eye Roll and LOL*, coz it has to be all about her all of the time you know.  *Winks*  And so she Texted Timmy to say, since you're not using my Photos anymore to make me a Collage on my Birthday, just send them all to me, since now I'm feeling like just a Side Piece.  *Bwahahaha*  It was a Joke of coarse and he knew this, so sent back a hysterically Laughing Emoji and saying, "Side Piece?!"  I told her there is likely some jealousy his Boyfriend has about how close he is to her?   And with Matthew, he's spending all his Money at College coz he only had an Academic Scholarship to NAU and has to pay for the rest of his expenses while living away from Home North of the State.  He's Native American but I'm not sure his Family still have Family living on the Rez up there or not, or if they are even of the Navajo or Hopi Nations, they all live here in the Valley?

The Son's Girlfriend, after being Laid Off, went back to the Rez so he's been missing her.  She's on Paid Severance Leave for now and has some prospects, so I do Hope she can return to the Valley and find Work?  But, she is a Single Parent of Two Children and all her extended Family still live on the Navajo Nation Rez.  Tribal People on a Reservation will assist one another, that doesn't happen Off Rez and separated from their Tribe.  It's why all of my Paternal Relatives, with the exception of my Brother and I, all live on their Reservation in Oklahoma.  This Administration has also made a lot of cuts to Tribal Benefits, which was to be expected, Donnie Two Dolls initially floated the Idea of making all Indigenous Americans NOT American Citizens anymore!!!  Yeah, that was Rich, since it's their Stolen fucking Country, they're the ONLY True Original Americans!

The Internet and TV just froze, so I don't know that my Words will Save or not coz the Update says 'Fail', but I can't load Images and the TV Screen is Frozen as well, more Cable and Internet troubles, clearly!!!   Well, it was Up for about an Hour anyway, so I got some of this Post Saved and done before it crashed again!!!  And, I didn't lose this Page, so will Hope that I don't lose what I'm Writing right now?  *Le Sigh*  Traffic is a mess out there due to Storm Damages being cleared off Roads and some Roadways got washed out completely and aren't Safe until they rebuilt them.   Some Mountain Roadways actually almost got Washed off the Side of the Mountain they're on, scary stuff!!! 

 The Images of the U.S. 60 going into Globe-Miami, which were Sister Cities hit really hard, are terrifying coz they're on the side of a Mountain or go across enormous Gorges and the Road was seriously compromised!  Like you'd see in an Apocalyptic Movie!   When the Internet is Restored I'll see if I can Crib some of those terrifying Images!  Can you only imagine if you'd been driving ON that section of Road when all this happened?  Yikes!!!   UPDATE:  Internet and TV working again.  The Man and I went and did environmental cleanup and met an Old Guy named Lupe who owns a Historic Home near the Base that has always intrigued me.  Clearly he scavenges for Cool Signs, Antiques & Yard Art, the Home is 1920's Era, nothing out there like it, so I always wanted to know the Back Story.   {Below parts of US 60 Bridges compromised due to Storms/Flooding/Mudslides and Closed 'til they can make it Safe.}

Well, anyway the Owner was Outside when I was taking the Pix Below and doing Environmental Cleanup on his Street and he came out to talk to me.  Turns out he moved the Home there from Historic Downtown Glendale back when they were gonna raze a bunch of the Historic Homes and his Brother-In-Law at the time knew how to move Houses and was trying to Save/Rescue as many of the Historic Ones from there as he could.  The City gave them to him if he'd just pick them up and move them off while finding people who wanted to Buy them and pay for them to be Moved elsewhere.  Lupe had paid Three Grand for a Lot there near his Mom's House, next door to where he grew up.  I actually lived Walking Distance from his House when I met The Man in 1989.

  So, he had it moved there and worked on it for Two Years to rewire, do the plumbing and Restoration of it.  He trained himself to do all the DIY, built a Rock Wall in front of it.  Built the Fireplace and Mantle out of Old Brick and Old Oak Lumber Salvaged, coz the Original One hadn't moved with the House, so he said where it had been was a hole big enuf to drive a Car thru it.  *LOL*  He lived with his Mom while doing all that with his Wife & Kids.  He said Moving the House cost Seven Grand so he only paid a total of Ten Grand, plus Sweat Equity, for it.   We had such a nice Chat that he wants us to come visit again, I could tell he was a Kindred Spirit so we had such a spirited conversation about Junquing, Salvaging, building and Dealing in Salvaged Architecture.

Princess T HATES this Ventriloquist Dummy of Edgar Bergen, she won't be in the same Room with him. *LOL*  I have one that I think is Creepier {see Below}, it's a Hillbilly Character with Red Hair, at The Mall that we're Selling in our Showroom, called Otis O'Brien {1972}.   But I wanna Keep this one, it's Classic looking, he came out in the same Era as the one I'm Selling and was Sold at "Montgomery Wards", that my Dad always called "Monkey Wards".   I remember that Wards always sent us a huge Christmas Catalog and as a Kid it was a Big Deal to look thru it.  I think it's a Perfect Halloween Prop coz they ARE so Creepy.   Otis has never Sold for Two Halloweens now so it he doesn't Sell this Year I may pull him from Inventory and keep him as a Halloween Prop too?  I thought for sure he'd Sell easily, but he's been a Hard Sell.

The Daughter has begun Decorating the Art Studio Space for Halloween now and clearing/cleaning everything she's crammed in there of hers. It's a Hot Mess and it shouldn't be this close to him coming for his Visit.  Had he been Moving Back we'd of Needed to spend a lot of time in there getting it Purged, she's got way too much in there and it's not all that Functional due to it.  I want to Purge it considerably this Fall/Winter since she's no longer really occupying the Space and has moved more into the 5th Wheel.   I want to reclaim my Art Studio Space even tho' we'll likely keep the Double Bed in there for Guests visiting, tho' the 5th Wheel has ample extra Beds for Guests to stay and Sleep in too.   Anyway Below is some of what she's done and I've Edited the Pixs to reduce the Clutter all around being seen.  *LOL*   Sweet Baby Jesus that Girl is worse at being Editorial than I am!  There's a LOT going on, nowhere for the Eye to Rest, but, she's having Fun with it.  *Ha ha ha*

She's had so much Fun just dressing, undressing, re-dressing this Vintage Mannequin... every time I go in there it's wearing something different!  *LOL*  It has as many Wardrobe Changes as she does... or Aretha Franklin did!  *Bwahahahaha*  Every time I come Home from going somewhere she eagerly greets me saying, "Mom, come look at what I've done now..."  *Ruh Roh, LOL*   She and Mando also set up our new Ice Machine and I just Love it, handy spot, it already made almost 30 Lbs. of Ice.   I got it at TARGET recently while they were having all their Ice Machines on Deep Discount After Season.  But, in Arizona, you always Need Ice and we use a lot of it.  

 

                                    Our Icemaker on the Fridge The Grandsons broke back when they were Living here with us and it would have cost too much to Repair, so we just didn't.  I'd already Repaired the Dryer they Broke while here, coz they would always forget to clean out the Lint Tray after using it, that Cost me a fortune, I could have almost bought a new one!   Guys in their 20's are heavy handed and don't know their own strength when using shit, so oftentimes shit then gets Manhandled and Broken.  I can't tell you how many things got Broken during the time they lived with us!!!  The Son and The Man are very careful with everything by comparison.  

But many Men just aren't, at any Age.  I know when The Man's Brothers and Adult Nephews would come to visit, shit got Broken and I Wonder if their Wives were always having to replace shit at their Homes if they Break shit while visiting someone else's Homes?!  Anyway, I digress... Using Ice Trays is what we resorted to and the Family fight all the time over who leaves them empty with just One Cube left in them and puts them back in the Freezer without filling them back up all the way?  Now, the only thing will be to ensure fresh Water is in the Ice Maker for it to make Ice continuously.

We're grilling Marinated Hamburgers Today that I bought from "Albertson's" Specialty Meat Section of Pre-Marinated Meats.  The Man and I worked up an Appetite doing so much Environmental Cleanup all Day and we missed Lunch so are eating an early Dinner.   Princess T was saying none of her Boyfriend's Friends remembered to Wish him a Happy Birthday or do anything for him, it made her Mad that she was the only one who even acknowledged it!   She doesn't even know if his Family did?   We make a Big Deal out of anyone in the Family on their Special Day.  Except for me coz I prefer to have Me Time and they all know just giving me Cash and a Day all to myself unencumbered with an Entourage in tow is the Best Gift of all.  *LOL*   I can be very self-indulgent then without relying on anyone else to indulge me.  I'm Good to me, what can I say?  *Winks*

Too Funny to me tho' that my Adult Kids and my Adult Grandkids always seem shocked at how Old I'm ACTUALLY turning, coz they really never remember my Age at all.   They always imagine I'm Younger, a LOT Younger, and I'm like, do the Math, it would have meant then I'd of been a Child Parent and damned near a Child Grandparent!!!  I guess they all Suck at Math?!  *Bwahahahaha*   They just don't think I behave, seem or appear "So Old" to them and I kinda felt that way about my own Mom actually, so I "Get It".  My Mom was the most Youthful Spirited 80+ Year Old you'd ever meet.  AND she'd add a Decade to her Age when asked how Old she was coz she said Women Lied in the Wrong Direction... add a Decade and be CERTAIN to get a Sincere Compliment of how Fabulous you Look!!!   And what Woman don't wanna hear THAT?!  *LMAOROTF*

Anyway, Today the Temp was only in the 60's or 70's all day long and that was Fabulous to be out and about in, so, we were out until I had to pick Princess T up from Work at 3:30 p.m..   We also did some Grocery Shopping... and the Guys just did the BBQ of those Hamburgers, turned out Sublime, I liked that Marinate used.  "Albertson's" Bakery also had Homemade Buns from their Bakery, which were so good that's all I'm gonna Buy from now on when I wanna Cook Hamburgers!!!  They only come in a 6-Pac of Buns, but, that's all we Needed, coz there was only Six of us to Feed Today, no Extras present.  *LOL*

Tomorrow is the Event at "Sweet Salvage" with a Thanksgiving Bountiful Market Theme.   I've perused the FB Sneak Peeks and I think it'll just be an Inspirational visit for me, not seeing anything intriguing that I would be Tempted by.  I'm still very much in an Autumnal Vibe but more of a Halloween leaning and there's nothing there of that Genre at all, and, there still could have been since it's still a couple Weeks away.  And, since people are Buying Halloween like Crazy at all the Stores right now.  Some are running out or Selling Out, so, they could have bumped up Sales by still catering to the Halloween Shoppers IMO.  If you rush forward to Thanksgiving, most people don't Buy anything but Food for Thanksgiving really.  I can't even recall anyone I know Decorating specifically for Thanksgiving.

I'm probably leaving most of my Halloween on the Interior anyway, up for most, if not all, of November, just to enjoy it longer.  On the Porch I keep the Faux and Real Pumpkins out there and put away the Skellies and Creep Factor Decor.   The Pumpkin Harvest Decorations will last until the Day after Thanksgiving, then, we'll be thinking about Christmas Decor.   I haven't decided yet which of our Faux Christmas Trees we'll put up this Year in the Livingroom?  I am seriously thinking of getting rid of some of my Faux Trees tho', we have a few and used to put up more than one Tree.  I did consider putting the rest up full time in The RV Garage Mahal but I'm rethinking that since, I'm trying to Downsize on what isn't necessary now.  I've been paring down on Seasonal Holiday Decorations for a while now, I don't Need all that I have.  I don't mind parting with some more of it.

The good thing about Holiday Collectibles is that at the Antique Mall, they often still Sell well out of Season when nobody else is offering them.  And, especially if you have Vintage, Collectible or Antique Holiday Decor.  Those that seriously Collect Holiday Decorations are always on the lookout to add to their Collections of it any time of the Year.  We have some Vendors that Specialize in Christmas Decor and that's all they Sell all of the time and they do quite well.  Our Mall has sometimes done a Christmas in July Event, also very popular.  I'd like to see something like that Out of Season for Halloween too, like the Christmas in July thing.  Sales for this new Pay Period started out very slow again tho', very slow.  The inclement Weather wasn't Helpful.  The Storms were so bad few people braved going out in them to Shop, I didn't blame them.

Our VA Nurse who comes on Tuesday now, likes this little Table so we just leave it up now.  When she's not here I just put the Halloween Candy on it.  When she's coming I take it off and she uses it as her Desk to set her Supplies and Log things she needs to for how he's doing.  She so enjoys coming to see us and said we're her most enjoyable Patient and Family, which was so Touching!!!  We really like her too and I can tell she feels comfortable and relaxed while she's here and says she enjoys the Atmosphere and Vibe of our Home, she said it has a Good Energy.   She's Shared some Cultural things about coming from West Africa and one of those is that the Energy of a Space and it's People is very important in her Culture.  

 She said that some Homes and some People just don't have a Good Energy, and I know exactly what she means, they don't and you can Feel it if you are inclined that way.   It was Telling to me that she said when she first met me she knew that I can pick up on Energies like she does. So she knew I'd understand her more than most Americans probably would.   She felt the Cultures of my Family were most similar to the Culture of hers in so many ways, she commended The Man on embracing that.  He did explain it was very different than how he was Culturally Raised, but that, he's come to prefer it and feel a connection to it.  Even tho' it's not at all what he'd experienced before being a part of this Family.  He always felt more comfortable around my Parents than he ever did around his own.  People always felt comfortable around my Parents and I always Hope people always feel comfortable around us too?

I am always flattered when anyone tells us they Love coming to our Home and always feel Welcome and totally at Ease here and comfortable.   Once we've known anyone a long time they become like Family to us and feel like extended Family with us.  I know it is very likely the VA won't extend the Home Nurse Visits beyond October.  But I think both Nurses we've had assigned to visit, have sorted out what we needed the most Help with, so that even if we don't get extended Services, we'll be in much better shape.   This Nurse changed The Man's Dressings and took the last of them off his Arm.  Which now looks perfectly Fine and completely Healed so well in just a Week that it's an amazing transformation.   You may recall by the Pix I Shared of it when it looked so gnarly, that I was very worried about it.

While looking thru my Photo Archives for some Blog Fodder of Halloweens Past to sprinkle in to some of the Posts, I inevitably come across some that are deeply Emotionally Triggering, in a good way.  Especially of the Kiddos when they were Younger and of Beloved Fur Babies we once had.   The hardest part of having a Pet is that their Lifespan is shorter than a Humans.   Unless you get a Parrot or a Tortoise, which, will outlive you and you'll need to make arrangements in for in your Will!   A British Blog Friend had a Tortoise that she'd had since she was a Child and she's a Senior now, he only just recently passed away, but, there was always the possibility he could outlive his Humans.  I think he might have except he had an unfortunate incident where a Predator mauled him and he just didn't recover from it.  Even the longest lived Species do have their Natural Enemies and Nemesis.

Anyway, I Opened an October File Folder from the Past that I apparently haven't Opened in a long time coz I completely forgot I even had those Images.  I now enlarge all File Folder Thumbnails so I can see them better as I'm getting Older and this File Folder hadn't yet been enlarged.  This is how I know I probably hadn't Opened it in Years.  *Smiles*  So, I dutifully enlarged the Thumbnails for easier Viewing and lo and behold, here were some of Princess T with one of her Beloved Fur Babies she grew up with and who Adored her... and her him... Yul.  He came to us as an Adult Stray, so we have no idea how Old he was, just that he was a Siamese Male who came to us quite Thin from Alley Cat Living, but stuck around our Historic Home and Adopted us.  He got HUGE, not in a Fat Overweight way, just that he grew to be an enormous Cat and very protective of Princess T.  Siamese are very Protective Cats and used to be used in Thailand as Palace Guard Cats for that reason.  They will attack a Canine!

These Images were particularly Bittersweet becoz one day Yul just disappeared for Weeks, he'd never done that before.  He was an Inside/Outside Working Cat and very Territorial so stayed on our Property's Acreage almost all of the time and never strayed after having Adopted us.   Since he came to us as a Stray I thought perhaps he'd gotten the Wanderlust, some Strays and Ferals always will be that way and Move On even if they were very attached to you and seem Happy.  Well, he did return, but clearly he was Unwell and I sensed he'd just come back to say Good-Bye.  Our Vet confirmed he had the end stages of Feline Leukemia and if he had remained, he could have and likely would have infected our other Cats.  Its as if he knew this somehow and decided not to get the others Sick, he was great with the other Cats.  Anyway, he was suffering and he's one of the few Cats we ever had to put to Sleep and tho' it was done so Peacefully and Quickly, I felt devastated to have to do it.  I Wish he hadn't been Terminally Ill to require that decision be made.

We have lost Pets in other ways that weren't Ideal as their demise.  But having to put a Beloved Pet to Sleep is particularly Emotionally too hard a decision to Need to make and be responsible for having to Green Light.  I couldn't even Imagine having to make a similar decision for a Human Being, to take them off Life Support for example.   Anyway, I Lost my Mom in October right before Halloween, complications from the Dementia, and Lost my Dad in November right after Thanksgiving and his Birthday {he was Born on a Thanksgiving}.   So, the Holidays for me do have some Emotionally Raw connotations too due to that.   I do Hope when it's my Time that it doesn't spoil a Holiday for my Kids and Grandkids by being too close to one.   They don't like to discuss our Mortality, so avoid the Topic if we do bring it up.   They know we Paid for a Pre-Paid Funeral for both of us.  I need to go in sometime and update our personal information with the Funeral Home, it's near where we currently live.

The Son is the most squeamish about talking about our Mortality or our Health Issues, it really bothers him, so he normally defers to his Sister and Niece to be in Charge of all that stuff.   The Girls are like me and very matter-of-fact about Life & Death Issues, so can not get as Emotional about just discussing it when necessary.   The Man dislikes talking about it or dealing with it so much, that he let my Mom and I handle all of the Prepaid Funeral Arrangements for he and I.  *LOL*   She and I had a Big Time with it, we did everything but climb into the Display Coffins to see which was the most comfortable!!!  *Bwahahaha*

  I picked out one for The Man that I remembered being Oak and Eagles... but when I reviewed the Paperwork, it's actually Bronze and Seagulls... well, it's Birds, what can I say?  *Bwahahaha*  Mine was the gaudiest Gypsified Coffin that Mom and I could pick out, of coarse.  A lot of Hispanics like gaudy Coffins too, so mine has a Big Virgin of Guadalupe and Roses all over it and is White & Grey... can't recall if it's Wood or Metal???  *LOL*   Whether they'll have those exact Models all these Years later I can't say and it won't really matter, will it?  *Ha ha ha*  I just told the Kiddos, if they don't have that one for me, pick out the next gaudiest Model so everyone will be shaking their Heads and Laughing at how "Extra" I went Out too.  *Winks*

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Happy Autumn my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian