Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Butt-on Holes And All Fugglered Up



 The Granddaughter's Chazza she works at must stop getting such good Inventory in, I can't always resist!  *Le Sigh*   They had a large articulated Japanese Anime Doll that Retails for around $350 there for under $30 and it was Senior Discount Day 30% Off, so, hadda get it!  They had some Moon Oracle Cards too in the Locked Case, so, le sigh, hadda get them too!  Both of The G-Kid Force Love Anime and have even way before it became so popular and a Fad.  I know how much the Imports from Japan can fetch, people will pay outrageous amounts for them and it's rare to see them Donated to a Chazza, but, it has happened so I keep an Eye peeled for them.  I've gotten The Young Prince and Princess T some Primo ones before, worth a lot, but this is the largest one I've Scored for them, even the Box has a Fancy Satin Pillow to next him in.   Not sure, but he could be the Soul Eater Character?




His Fashionable Leatherette outfit has deteriorated and degraded, it is flaking off badly, so I don't know how old he is and if that's why they Donated him?  He doesn't look played with or abused in any way, so I'm thinking it's just normal Age or Temperature deterioration of the Costume.  I don't Care, the Outfits can be replaced and are Sold Online if the Kiddos wanted to Invest in a new Wardrobe for him.  I wouldn't bother since Pleather does this.  I read Online it's a typical Complaint, since it's a synthetic material that has a plastic-y faux 'Leather' layer glued to a fabric layer and over Time this top layer cracks and flakes off.  So, people have had problems with this as an expensive Collectible deteriorating after they Invested a small fortune in them and having the Outfits degrading badly no matter how much Care they've given the item.  In Collectibles and Resale, Condition is everything.




I also got some New Old Stock Human Hair Eyelashes in a Bagged Lot for only $3 for all, the Eyelashes Retail even at Wal-Mart for $39.99.  I thought Princess T would be Jazzed about them, she wasn't, oh well, mebbe if she won't wear them she can glue them on me?  I need Eyelashes badly, my Old Lady Lashes are practically non-existent and it's tragic coz I used to have long Natural Eyelashes when Young.  I'm getting all the more less Hairy with Age, I'll be like one of those Hairless Cats or Chihuahuas soon, smooth as a Baby's Bum.  *Bwahahahaha*  I'm still Obsessing about the Above Necklace a Vendor Friend had at the Eastside Event and Antique Mall she has Spaces in.  I don't know if she Sold it yet or not and they suspend the Event for the Summer Months, so know I'll have to wait now and ask her come Fall if she still has it in Inventory?   After that Bee Sting has Saved The Man's Life, well, it's even more apropos, No?   *LOL*




I keep wanting to take a Nap and it's only 4:00 p.m., so I know if I lay down now I'll Sleep all the way thru the rest of the Day and Wake at some Crazy Hour of the Morning now!   I'm on my increased dosage of Ozempic as of Today, my Doc bumped me up to double what the initial dose was once she knew I could tolerate it.  So, I don't know if that has anything to do with how Tired I feel or if it's becoz it's damned near 121 Degrees again Today and will stay this Hot all Week?   Could be a combo of both?  *Le Sigh*   Express Scripts just sent me more of it, so there's another $76 I gotta come up with on Payday.  It's a lot more expensive than Trulicity was in co-pay, it was $35 an Order.   But, I am not complaining coz initially they wouldn't even approve it and didn't wanna cover it at all due to the Cost.  I had to threaten the Insurance with intending to be a LOT more expensive when I had the next Stroke or a Heart Attack becoz they were denying me the Meds my Specialists Ordered for me.  *Winks*




They had a fresh Revelation then becoz tho' I stayed Calm for the Phone Call Appeal and Fight with them, they knew I was NOT bluffing.   It's a Pay now or Pay MUCH MORE Later Scenario.  And they're always trying to Save a Buck, so, it made Financial Sense for them to just pay for the damned Ozempic Rx rather than Ambulance, ER, Hospitalization, Surgery, Long Term Care, Lawsuits, or whatever else a Stroke or Heart Attack might end up Costing them otherwise for a Denial.  I told them I'm sturdy enuf, spiteful enuf, and stubborn enuf to be the Type that would Linger a long, long, ridiculously expensive Time, Trust and Believe.   They know how to do a Prospectus on the spot when Threatened like that by a Dead Serious Insured Client.  *Winks*  I'm sure they Deny everyone initially, they just prefer it when you don't Fight back.  But, I'm a Fighter, always good for a Throw Down.  I'll gladly go to the Dirt with you.  I've never started a Fight in my Life, but I've ended many a one with a flourish.  *Smiles*   I don't even Care if I Win or Lose, but I will cause significant Damage.




  I've done it and played their Insurance Co. Game before, not only with The Man, but with The G-Kid Force, with my Mom... sometimes you just HAVE to let Dark Dawn out to Play Russian Roulette with the Insurance Companies and see who Blinks and Flakes Out first... coz I sure as Hell won't.  Don't threaten me with a good time.  Especially if you've made it so that I ain't got Nothing to Lose... coz someone with Nothing to Lose is a formidable Adversary.  You best have Nothing to Lose as well, or you definitely will be a Loser in that Death Match.  Add a layer of Crazy that becomes Evident, and they really would rather Approve whatever it is than have to keep Dealing with you, I can go long and outlast almost anyone, I got Stamina in a Fight.  I always identify who I'm talking to so they become my new "Best Friend" they don't wanna really be.  Becoz I make sure I become their worst Nightmare and they become my absolute Obsession and Mission in Life.  I will Fixate on any Adversary in such a way as us Mental Folks just do effortlessly when a Take Down or a Victory is our Goal.   And if I'm going Down, I'm taking everyone with me. *Winks* 




 So, yeah, the Ozempic got Approved without a Formal Appeal, just a Phone Call. *Bwahahahahahaha*  My Primary Doc, my Neurologist and my Cardiologist were duly Impressed... since none of them had been able to get it pushed thru, and they had tried and tried to no avail and were upset about it.  Coz my Insurances are what they just are and I couldn't afford it Out of Pocket, that's for damned sure.  I let them try first, then said I'd make a Call and get back to them in Minutes... which is all it took to change the Hearts and Minds of whoever had the Authority to push it thru and Cover it rather than have to ever Deal with me again.  They knew I had their Companies Number and nothing but Time on my Hands to be the biggest Headache and intense Drama for their Employees every single Day if I had to be.   It would be like Free fucking Therapy on their Dime as far as I was concerned, so, I didn't Care, play me Hard or Play me Soft, their Choice, choose Wisely.   I'd have relentlessly tenacious Wicked Fun with it, but they sure wouldn't. *Winks*   Hey, it could be Life or Death for me, so, would they Fight as hard really, as I'd be willing to?  I doubt it, they're just Employed there.




 They'll get a Paycheck whether their Company covers my Meds or not... so... which is easier for them... at the end of the Day, if I just won't go away lest I get Approved???  So, yeah, I'll pay the extra Co-Pay now, coz that shit IS Expensive!  *LOL*  It's about $995 to $1,200 Monthly without Insurance Coverage!!!   Trulicity was $987 tho', so... they were OK with covering that, but that didn't Work for me anymore and lost it's efficacy.  And it annoys me when you talk to Insurance Companies after being their Client and on a particular Medicine they have covered for you to be on for Years.   And when the Doc switches you and they Deny your coverage for the New Med and then "Suggest", why don't you TRY the very Med you've been on all that time... as if you never tried it!  And you're like, do you even keep Records, coz I been on THAT for Years now, you sent it to me Monthly for Years now, it don't Work anymore, that's why the Doctors are changing it, after I had a fucking STROKE, you Morons!!!  Coz, I'd prefer not to have another one.  And you know how much this last one Cost your Insurance Company, if ya wanna look that up too???  *Winks*  You have to see the Dark Gallow's Humor in it all.




But, all Dark Gallow's Humor put aside, it is tragic that in the Richest and most Prosperous Country on Earth, we have the most abysmal Healthcare Coverage for our Citizens than any other First World Nation, and even some Third World Nations!!!   Why is that?  It's not coz America can't Afford it.   Big Pharma is filthy Rich, so it's not as if they couldn't provide Affordable Medication for all either, they could, other Nations do and still have a healthy enuf Profit Margin.  Here in Arizona so many Americans go to our 3rd World and closest Trading Partner, Mexico, to get their Medications, and sometimes their Dental and Healthcare too.   And you know what, it's not only Cheaper, it's usually better. The Daughter lived there for almost Two Decades and said when you get Mexican Pharma, it's far Superior to what you get in America and Cures whatever ails you faster and more effectively.   And it's becoz they know most of their Population isn't in a position to pay outrageously inflated costs for any of it, so if they want a Healthy Population, it just makes Sense.  Insatiable Corporate Greed and unchecked Capitalism is America's Problem.




And yes, I've had some folks call me a Populist Socialist, as if that would hurt my Feelings or I should defend whatever Label they Imagine I am.  *LOL*  But I will call them an Idiot, becoz the very same folks will be perfectly Fine with bailing out Big Corporations and Billionaires, while not getting ahead themselves becoz they're part of the 99% like the rest of us and not part of the 1% Elite taking Advantage and Oppressing them too.  The distribution of Wealth isn't in their Favor either, but they feel the Need to defend the insatiable Greed and Capitalism gone amok.   I'm not against folks making Money at all... I'm not against Capitalism if it's working for most of us... but when it's not, I Call it Out.   I think it's absolutely Crazy that 99% of the Population is letting 1% of the Population Oppress them, that's all.  There's MORE of us... think about that for just a Nanosecond, if a Fight or True Resistance should break out, and the shit really hits the Fan, who really would have the Advantage do ya think?   *Smiles Wickedly* 




Okay, so, I'll settle down now until Anarchy actually happens.  *LOL and Winks*  Just know I have no problems being Good Trouble, I always have been, always will be, I make no apologies for it.   Some things are worth Fighting for, Protecting and Preserving, you just have to figure out what that is for each of you???   And if you won't put up a Fight for anything, chances are, someone will just end up taking it from you coz they see you as an Easy Mark and their next Victim, then you won't have it anymore.   The Granddaughter and Rusty just came in with my early Birthday pressy from her.  She knew I Love those little new Fuggler Keychains.  I'd Scored one at a Chazza and had a Collection of the Full Sized Fugglers I've Collected over the Years.  Now "Five Below" has the Keychain ones and she got me Nine of them for my Birthday!  I was like a Kid at Christmas!  *LOL*  I'm such a Big Kid at Heart that an unexpected Gift like this was a Big Thrill and she knew it would be, so she was excited to see my excitement, so was Rusty.  He'd driven pretty far to find these for her to get for me, Bless him. 










This one is called The Cod Father... LOL




It's impossible for me to have a Favorite.  I would have been agonized for Choice if I'd been there and didn't expect her to get me an Instant Collection this good as my Birthday early Surprise Gift!   They have a Butt-on Hole as a little Asshole, it's Adorable.  *LOL*   The Butt-on Holes come in Common and Not So Common or Rarer Colored Butt-on Holes as a Gimmick.




This is a Duo of some Fav Fuggler Keychains that match some large size ones I have in my Collection that I managed to Score together from an E-Bay Seller for my Birthday on a Buy-It-Now Feature.   So it tickled me that my Granddaughter had paid attention to what I would really like as a Birthday Gift, she does pay attention to what you want and like, she gives good thoughtful Gifts like that.   Some other Lurker had put these in their Cart but hadn't checked out so I Ponied Up and snatched them... when you snooze you lose if you just plop things in your Cart but don't Check Out and Pay for them.  You also get a lot of Watchers and the Auction now will tell you how many Watchers/Lurkers are Eyeballing something.  They may or may not be Serious Buyers, I'm a Serious Buyer if I want something, I don't hesitate.  I actually prefer if it's offered on a Buy-It-Now Feature to skip making a Bid and just Buy it, eliminating not only not being a last Second Winning Bid, but, not get into a Bidding War either. 




And how Adorbs is this Home Made Alien Abduction Halloween Costume?

*******

All Fugglered Up in the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian


 

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Hey, You, Get Off Of My Cloud

 


Work called me Monday Morning to ask if I'd fill in, since The Man is doing well and The Daughter said she'd watch him for me, I agreed.  I'd missed my Friday Night Shift due to his Hospitalization and Surgery, so, this will make up for lost Hours.  And give me a break in Caregiving too.  Plus, Mondays are typically rather slow and laid back, so it won't be a hectic shift for me either.   Who knows who isn't showing up and I'm filling in for, they're having a real problem with Call-Ins.  I don't know if I'll get anything Priced and in there coz I don't have a lot of room to, with Sales being Soft, there's not a lot of Turn on the Inventory to put Fresh Merch in it's place.  It's hard right now to gauge what will even Sell best, it's so random and mostly very inexpensive Sales, hardly any best quality higher end Merch is moving.  And, it is an Antique Mall, so we'd rather be Selling mostly The Good Stuff worthy to be in an Antique Mall.




"Church's" Grilled Smokehouse Chicken with the Regular or the Spicy Rub is back so I got some for Lunch when I was making a Bank Deposit.  The Son had given me some Money to get a Month's End Boost to the Household Account.  Usually I earn enuf discretionary income at the Antique Mall to ensure the Ends Meet, but lately that hasn't been the case, Sales are abysmal and I'm fortunate to be one of the Vendors that's even still getting a Check each Payday and not Owing The Mall like so many are.  And I owe that to concentrating on Selling inexpensive Smalls that I know Customers will still Buy, mostly Toy Collectibles, and Vintage or Specialty T-Shirts, which the Younger Customers always will Buy.   I've done Okay Selling off my Vintage Fiesta Ware, which I had in many desirable Colors, but that's the only Vintage Merch that seems in demand right now. 




The Re-Pops do well, but I don't Trade in those, I typically prefer The Real Deal, even tho' I know a lot of Customers prefer Reproductions and to get The Look, but Cheaper and more affordable to them.   The above Doorknob a prime Example as something Reproduced, but not even being Sold inexpensively considering it was a Repop and not The Real Deal.   Some Vendors don't know or can't tell the difference I think?  This Vendor had it priced as if it was Authentic, at another Antique Mall, it wasn't, and Online could be had for 70% Cheaper than this Vendor was asking.  Don't know if the Vendor didn't know and bought it secondhand, thinking it Authentic, or, got it as a Repop and trying to Trick a Buyer, it's hard to tell sometimes and so Let The Buyer Beware.   On Auction sites most of these Repops that are abundant can give a Clue to how many Fakes are out there.  This Knob has been knocked off a lot.  Which is Fine if they Sell it as a Repop and don't overcharge for a mass produced Modern Reproduction.




I got my Laundry Load done before I have to go to Work, we only had the One Load and usually do it when we have just One Full Load.  Everyone does their own, only The Man and I combine ours, each Kiddo does their own Laundry.   I used to Hate having to use a Laundromat.  So many Crazy Laundromat People there... and such a hassle to take your Laundry someplace to do it and have to wait around for it to get done.   The Villa McManse was my 1st Home that had it's own Laundry Room and this one has the Machines in the Hallway which conveyed with the House Sale and were brand new.  So, I have spare Front Loaders I brought with me from the Villa McManse since I didn't convey my Appliances with the Sale of that Home.  The Buyer had their own and didn't want Appliances except for the Stove anyway.  This Home had all Brand New never used high end Appliances the Seller had Bought in order to more easily Sell the Property.





We're still getting the runaround with the VA and it's Pharmacy, we've been transferred to Four different People already, then they wonder why Veteran's don't like even Scheduling regular appointments anymore!  They won't just take the Civilian Specialists recommendation that these are Medications he absolutely requires after having had his Surgery.  But, they want Records released to review and decide for themselves???  WTF would a Pharmacist or Primary Physician dispute or know more than a Heart Specialist would?!   The VA doesn't even have a Cardiologist on Staff, which is why you have to go straight Civilian when you need one or have Heart Issues or require a Heart Surgery of any kind!!!  They simply don't even provide it.  Since the Civilian Pharmacy doesn't take TriCare and Medicare won't cover Prescriptions if you also have TriCare, he has to rely on the VA for his Medications.  It's a lot of Bureaucracy that is convoluted and ridiculous.




Then this Woman with a thick East Indian Accent was the last person we spoke to at the VA.  She claimed we've spoken to her before and neither of us remembers her and The Man can't even understand her!  So, she got very Uppity about him even seeing Dr. Kline now, becoz she felt he should have requested an Appointment last Year and swears she talked to me before in April, which, she didn't!  And then she switched it to she talked to him instead.  Which, I told her it's Notated he has severe Memory Care Issues due to TBI, so EVEN IF she did, which I doubt, coz he couldn't understand her even now, becoz her Accent is very hard for even me to understand and I'm good with Accents, he might not even remember having talked to her.  She really had an Attitude and condescending demeanor about her, not a good People Person as a Point of Contact for Patients, that's for sure, coz she's Argumentative and surly.  Which sets a Tone when someone is that way right out the Gate!




We really like Dr. Kline, and don't want to be assigned another Doctor that The Man then has to get used to and Trust, starting all over with from scratch!  He's a long time Veteran himself, and during Vietnam did Tours too.  He's Older, like us, is originally from Israel, so has the most Charming Yiddish accent, but is easier to understand, so I don't have to Translate for The Man.  I was used to doing that for my Mom all my Life becoz most people, whether Foreign Born or American, couldn't understand my Mom's thick Accent either, and she wasn't good with some Foreign Accents herself.  So, even if everyone in the Room was speaking English, I still had to Translate, it was hilarious really.   Anyway, if someone is Foreign, The Man really has difficulty understanding if they have a thick Accent, but he doesn't want to be offensive about it, so usually would prefer me to talk to them on his behalf.  We use the TBI as the main reason, which it is, but his inability to understand thick Accents is also in Play.  *Smiles*   




This Woman might as well have been talking to us in Hindi, becoz tho' her English was fluent, her Accent was so thick it caused quite a communication barrier!  She must KNOW this, Mom always did, you can't Fault folks for not understanding you!  And her Bad Attitude wasn't Helpful either!  I don't even wanna Talk to someone who Cops an Attitude with me and is condescending, we're Old, we're not Children and don't wanna be addressed as if we are.   She was scolding both of us like we were a Child, it was very Offensive and Disrespectful, so I didn't really want to have to Talk to her.  But, she's the last Person we got Transferred to, and the previous folks were Pleasant, but couldn't get a damned thing done we needed.  So, even tho' she was Nurse Ratchet, if she can get this Done, I don't really Care so much... just get it fucking Done already!  I don't wanna have to go down there in Person to get this resolved and Time is of the Essence coz he'll be having another Surgery soon and we can't be dicking around after Surgery No. One so much with the VA, that it might delay Surgery No. Two!!!  *Le Sigh*




I knew it advance it would be a Dog and Pony Show, it always is, you can put Money on it being a Bureaucratic Cluster Fuck every fucking time!  And then they have the Gall to ask, Why doesn't Mr. Man come in more often... it's been too long since the last time he did... well, becoz this is what he would have to go thru and endure every time and most of the time he's just not up for it, nor am I, that's Why!!!!!!   We don't have the Time or the Patience to be jerked around several times a Year so we keep it to a minimum.   Sure, if they made it amenable to Veterans and their Caregivers perhaps we'd do more Well Checks, but it's enuf of a Pain in the Ass to have to go thru all of this when you're Sick, and have no Choice, so Why bother when you're doing relatively Well?   If my Civilian Doctor made it this convoluted to see her, she'd never see me either unless I was really Sick and couldn't avoid the Drama.





So, then I'm like, what ARE we waiting for now, I don't even fucking remember, since they've made it so complicated and convoluted to just put Three Meds on your Charts and get you in to see your Primary so it can all be Blessed by the VA, Christ on a Bike!?   So we'll see if Ms. Devil's Advocate from India can push thru the Meds and someone from Dr. Kline's Office gets back to us with an Opening to see him before his Meds run out or the next Heart Surgery?!   Jesus, Joseph, Mary and all the Saints, pretty sure this is why some Veterans go Postal!!!???????  I'm doing Deep Breathing just to come back to Center and retain my Calm before I have to go in to Work now.  *Smiles*   The Man was on Hold for over 50 Minutes to just try to Schedule an Appointment!   It was agitating us both so much that The Daughter stepped in and said she's remain on Hold for her Dad becoz she could see it had made us both go Mental.  So, I have a Schizophrenic on Hold now and taking over, let's see how that goes?  *LOL*





The Son was like, I couldn't do it Mom, Sorry, I don't know how you can maintain your Calm with this bullshit all the time.  No wonder they have had to call Security on you before!  *LOL*  I'd make sure those Fuckers HAD to hurt me next time to remove me from the premises, I have no problem making a Spectacle that is Newsworthy at this point.  *Winks*  This is Why The Man would rather we not have to go down in Person to resolve this, he knows I'll Snap and go Mental in a big spectacular way for him.  *Ha ha ha*  FINALLY... it looks like after 59 Minutes on Hold they got thru to a Person who MIGHT be able to Schedule him his Appointment with his Primary VA Doc?!  Yay, got it Scheduled for next Week!  Also she relayed some info we never knew about, there's a 1-800 Line for Veterans who required Civilian ER Treatment that you call within 72 Hours and then if you get Billed, the VA will pick up the Tab!  In all these Years, we were never given this important information!!!  They don't Volunteer Information about many existing Benefits to their Veterans.




This is an important one to have if your other Insurances won't or don't Pay Up when you have an Emergency and go to a Civilian ER.  It's a roll of the Dice if they cover you or not with TriCare and Medicare.  Okay, so far, so good, now just to ensure he gets those Meds covered too, and we'll be Golden.  *Whew*  Princess T just got a package she ordered something from Latvia from!  *LOL*  No idea what, what do they even Import from Latvia?   I had to look up where Latvia even is!?  I wasn't sure, it sounded Baltic, and apparently it is.  *Smiles*  And Believe it or not what she Ordered from Latvia was a "Fast & Furious" Hot Wheels Car that she's gonna make into a Keychain for Rusty, her Boyfriend!  *LMAOROTF*   They had it at "Five Below" here in America for Five Bucks... but she likes not going Shopping at Stores and does most of her Shopping Online so she doesn't have to be around The Public.   So, Latvia it was and came from instead!  *LOL*  Mebbe it was Important for her to tell him it came all the way from Latvia, I dunno?  *Bwahahaha* 




It was 121 Unofficially, which matched the Official highest ever Temp back in the 1980's!!!   But Officially they claimed it was only 116.  I've got my evidence, it's been 120 and 121 already this Year Unofficially.  The Official Temps never mean a damned thing coz they don't take the Reading IN the City, they take it at the Airport, over Grass, in a wide open Space not near Buildings or the Asphalt, which hold the Heat more.  It would be Hotter than at the Airport in the Natural Desert too, just sayin', the Official Readings are misleading as Hell.  So, it was Hot as Hell Yesterday and you felt every Degree of it!   Luckily Work was rather busy and their AC was working good, they'd gotten it repaired last Season.  So, my Shift went well and I enjoy the Two Women Co-Workers that were on Shift, one was a Fill-In like me, so, Two out of the Three Positions were covering for someone!




Tina, whose regular Shift it is, told me that I was covering for Jackson again, coz he's on another Cruise.  He takes about a half Dozen Cruises every Year, he takes so many he gets Free ones now!   I have Cruise Envy, I ain't gonna Lie.  *LOL*  There are many of the Retiree's there who are Vendors who are on the Endless Vacation.  They have good Health and a good Retirement Income, and only have themselves to worry about, so they're Footloose and Fancy Free to have every Indulgence they can Dream Up.  I sometimes Live vicariously now thru their Travels and what they Share with the rest of us who don't have that Freedom or Means to do what they do.  There's several who I Believe were Trust Fund Babies and also own about 3-4 Homes, Free and Clear.  Oddly, they're the ones that pontificate about "The Poor" the most, as if they have any Point of Reference of what that's like to barely make enough to Survive, or be Homeless, or go Hungry!  Also more inclined to be MAGAts.  Not being Compassionate or Kind to the less fortunate attracts MAGA.





There was a tragedy nearby on one of the Construction sites, a Worker got buried alive when the 6 foot deep Trench he was working in collapsed around him!!!   Like I said, it was 121 Degrees Unofficially all day, he got the Cave In during early Afternoon and over Nine Hours later they hadn't even been able to recover the Body safely, becoz the whole area had unstable Earth that kept caving in!!!   There are Sink Holes in Arizona and lots of Earth that isn't stable and shouldn't be built upon or dug into for that reason.  I think they've found such a place there where that poor Soul now lost his Life!   I do Hope the Recovery efforts can retrieve him for the sake of his Family and without anyone else becoming harmed or killed in the efforts to?   What a horrible Death, I just Hope it was a quick one for him and he Died instantly... I cannot even imagine being buried Alive and on a Day that Hot trying to Save him... then know it goes from a Recue Mission to a Recovery Mission.   This Morning they reported they Recovered his Dead Body finally... no info on the Victim 'til his Family is notified.  Most doing that kind of Work are very Young Men.




  I once had a whole Subdivision, in my Corporate Career Banking Days of Protecting the Bank's Interests, that the Bank Underwrote the Construction Project on and had "Bubblegum Soil" that expanded and contracted crazily when it Rained and Dried Out.  All the Homes had to be Abandoned and Foreclosed upon that had been built.  The Geotechnical Engineers had fucked up, or Signed Off on something they shouldn't have, they got Sued, the Structures were so unsound people could have Died.   All the Properties had to be Condemned, but they'd Sold those Homes to People and Stairways were coming away from Walls, everything began cracking and tilting crazily, Windows popped out, Doors stuck and wouldn't Open or Close, Foundations buckled, Roofs caved in, Sinkholes opened up.  It's also why you rarely see Homes with Basements in Arizona, most of the Soil isn't stable enuf to safely put a Basement without shifting.




A Vendor Friend of mine had a Johnny West Figure from the 1960's and gave me a 1st Cousin Deal on him, since I've been building a Collection of that Line.  She had Jane West too, don't know if I'll bother to Negotiate for her tho'?   She did say she has Accessories at Home and if she can find them she'll bring them in, I'll probably Buy those.  Most of the time the Johnny West Figure, that the Line was Named after, has broken Limbs coz Kids played with him the most I suspect and over time his moveable Joints just wore out or Kids were too rough with him?  So, hers was in pristine condition and still had his removeable Vest on as an added Accessory.  I already have a lot of Johnny's other Accessories, Two Canning Jars filled with the Line's Accessories I've Collected.  Buying back the Childhood of my Brother and I has been Fun.  *Winks*  And, it can be a profitable Investment too if you make your Money on the Buy.




My Friend who Sold it to me has her Grown Grandson living with her now too, helping her maintain her Property and make Ends Meet.  Her Dear Husband, who was also a Friend of mine, Died quite suddenly some Years ago, just before he was eligible to Retire!!!  Since becoming a Widow, off and on she's gone out with our mutual Friend Crazy Ed, so I don't know if they're a Thing or not?  He's been a Divorcee for over Forty Years, but they get along so well I think they make a Cute Couple.  *Smiles*   Her Husband was a great Guy, he didn't look or know he had any Health Issues, so, his Death shocked us all... he seemed like a big Healthy Guy in his very late 50's or early 60's.   She spends a lot of time at the Antique Mall now, usually just Hours before Closing, I think she's at a loss as to what to do with herself in Widowhood?   She's such a Dear Woman, as a Empath I just Feel her Sorrow tho', whenever I'm around her, even tho' she gives the Appearance of being Cheerful, her Energy is so Heavy.  I always just wanna give her a big Hug.




She always gets very Emotional when she asks me how The Man is doing, coz she knows it's been a long ongoing Road of Disability, Hospitalizations, Surgeries, Illness, and loss of Brain Function for us with him.   But I think what happened to her Beloved would be harder, becoz you'd never see it coming and would have zero preparation.   Therefore, I'm sure there was much they Planned and had no idea his Time was so Short?   They hadn't made any Arrangements and she had to scramble to even get a Church to do his Service... even tho' she'd been a Member in Good Standing with one we both knew, they let her down and wouldn't do it!!!  So fucking typical with a lot of big Churches, they're all about the Money and putting on a 'Show', not about The Lord's Work with People in Need.  She knew I went thru that with my Dad.  He was a Member in Good Standing of the Baptist Church he regularly attended and in latter Years did a lot of Volunteer Work for and Donated to.




When Dad was Dying I called his Pastor but it was an inconvenient time of the Morning to be Dying so he wouldn't show up or roll out of Bed to be at a Dying Member's Bedside or Comfort the Family!  I was disgusted with him and told him he was a Fake Man of God, a Disgrace to the Clergy, and likely going to Hell!!!  I put a Curse on him too.   Soon after the Steeple on his Church blew right off, I'd like to think that was God's Handiwork?  *Winks and Smiles*  I knew my Pastor and Wife would come from much further away, they ran a Street Ministry in South Phoenix, but would take almost 2 Hours to get to the Hospice, which was in Sun City far Northwest Side.  So tho' they said they were on their way, I snagged a Catholic Priest whose Church was near the Hospice and he gladly came and gave Dad Last Rites and comforted our Family while my Pastor and First Lady were on their way.  So when my Friend told me her Pastor was too busy to fit her Dead Husband in, I can't say it Surprised me.  Some Men and Women of God are truly Called to their Ministry and Authentic to their Faith, others are a fucking Sham and Disgrace to the Cloth and their pretense of being Godly.  




 But I digress, when each Day Alive becomes a Bonus you Live more Purposefully I think.  You don't take any Day for Granted and so you squeeze in as much Life as you possibly can, despite whatever barriers there are due to Circumstances beyond your Control.   The Daughter did a good Job of Caregiving for her Dad while I was at Work, she said he Behaved for her.  *Smiles*   She was wearing her "No Fucks to Give" Shirt, just to make it crystal clear, she wasn't putting up with any Man Drama Nonsense.  And drinking a Mike's Hard just to take the Edge Off in case Dad was being difficult.  *LOL and Winks*   He stays up until I get Home so I'd told her not to try to bother putting him to Bed coz he won't go until he knows I'm Home.  *Smiles*   I think he Imagines I'm Planning my Escape, not that he thinks anything would actually happen to me unforetold???  *LMAO*  




He'd Pity the Fool who would try something with me after Working a Late Shift.  The rest of them will just go to Bed, it's the City and at Night, but they're sure Mom/Gramma will be Just Fine.  *Bwahahahahaha*  She stayed up to ensure Dad didn't Wander Off if I was running late tho'.  *Ha ha ha*   And I did stop by "Sprouts" after Work to pick up some Milk and Eggs, they're not carrying my Zeal Creamery Milk anymore and I wonder Why?   Online it says they still carry it but I didn't even see a space for it now in the Dairy Fridge and they haven't had it the last several visits to both locations nearby!!!  So, I get another Small Dairy Brand that has Cream Top Milk that is very good called Kalona Super Natural that uses Grass Fed Cows from Small Farms for their Milk too.  I do now get my 10% Frequent Shopper Discount on all Purchases tho', whoop whoop!  And my Heirloom Eggs are now a Dollar Cheaper, the price of Eggs has been going down some locally now.




I tried to do a little bit of Work in The RV Garage Mahal, but, even at 8:30 a.m. it's too Hot already.  But, Baby Steps, getting just small bits done over Time makes a difference so I don't discount what little bits we can do daily.  I try to do at least something every day to chip away at the main Projects.  With consistency and mutual Purpose I think we're making headway that is encouraging, albeit a slower Process than the Grandiose Vision for it always is.  *Smiles*  I am one to always Dream Big.  I do have some things Crated Up in the House right now that must be moved to Storage Areas, until permanent placement is found, or it's Sold Off, but, I doubt it will get Done this day and that's okay.  I have become more flexible about giving myself the Space and Time to just do it as we can and not feel as much frustration at how much Time it's taking.




I'm making a Display right now in one of my Cabinets of Curiosities of the Johnny West Toy Line Collectibles along with Native American Vintage and Antique Collectibles, it all looks nice, Fun and yet oddly cohesive together.  I like to have Fun Displaying what I Collect and make it look Interesting in the Vignettes.  No sense having it if you don't have it on Display and the ability to Enjoy it really.  But, I do have some things Crated that don't yet have Placement, it's been a Process to get everything Styled and make Order of the Chaos after a big move to a much smaller Living Space.   And the making of an RV Garage into an extended cavernous Living Space that has Purpose for me and holds the overspill of what can't go into the Main House now and yet, I don't want to Sell Off.  Downsizing can be difficult becoz of Attachments to all you've spent a Lifetime procuring, Investing in and Loving.




I know I still have Too Much, and I don't know that I'll ever get to Just Enough?   I'd like to, but, it's a big ongoing Project to.  What took many, many Years to have, and has Value, can't be disposed of in a Heartbeat, nor should it be.   If what you have is worthless or has no Investment Value, it's easy to just Donate it or throw it out, so can be done more efficiently and quickly.   But I took the Time to Buy the Good Stuff over Time and so I don't mind it taking Time to get a Return on our Investment of what I'm now willing to part with.   In these uncertain Times economically, it's actually good to have something to fall back on for discretionary income.   Becoz the declining Value of the Dollar and what it will Buy, and the volatility of the Stock Market, isn't making anyone feel particularly Secure or holding it's Value.




I have Stocks and they perform consistently, I have had them since my Executive Banking Days, I always took Stock Options in lieu of a Cash Bonus.  It's served me well since I get Dividends every Quarter from them and have for almost 50 Years now and my Heirs will for their Lifetimes as well if they hold onto it rather than Selling their Options.  I Paid Cash for a Home once by Selling a considerable amount of Stock, otherwise, I'd have a Passive Income flow that would have been considerably more Post-Retirement from having a lot more of that Bank Stock.   I'm glad I held onto some tho', in hindsight, would have held onto it all.   Yeah, you always make Money on Real Estate wisely Invested in too, but, Capital Gains... which, I think they should do away with to stimulate Investing in Real Estate more IMO.  I got lotsa Economic Ideas for the Federal Government, but, nobody is asking my Opinion or Advice.  Just willing to Solve the Problems of the Universe, that's all.  *LOL*




Just discovered we have a flock of Wild Lovebirds that moved in to our Mini Farm Community!   They have flocks around The Desert Botanical Gardens and Scottsdale, but have never seen a flock here before.  Beautiful Birds, very territorial, so they're trying to run the Grackles off.  Not Surprised they'd find our Mini Farm Community hospitable coz we have lots of Fruit, Nut, Date Palm Trees and close to major Irrigation Canal, so they'd have a Buffet of Natural Foods and accessible Water all the time here.   They seem to be the Peace Faced Lovebirds.  And I checked on the FB Page that follows the flocks and yep, they've been seen in and around Avondale now from July 11th thru Today, so a Local Flock may be calling our City their Home now, which is great.  Here's some Pixs some other Avondale Residents have Shared.  Our City borders on West Phoenix, I can see the Boundary line to both Phoenix and Glendale's larger Sister Cities from our Home, it all blends together in Metro Phoenix.




I'm grateful these Photographers captured their flock of Bird sightings becoz for now ours are in 60 Foot or higher Palms and Pecan Trees, you can see them flying back and forth, flashes of Beautiful Color, and their distinctive Chatter, they're very vocal and have lots to say.  *LOL*   I'm hopeful they eventually find our Wild Bird Feeding Station.  I want to encourage all the Wild Birds to visit it and will expand the type of Seed provided when I know Lovebirds are showing up regularly to feed there.  There was a flurry of Local FB Sightings since the 22nd thru Today, so it must be a considerable sized Flock to have so many Sighting nearby.  I want to install a better Birdbath near our Feeding Station.  Eventually, when we set up our Vegetable and Herb Victory Garden I'll also grow Sunflowers, Artichokes and other Seed Plants the Birds will be able to enjoy, as well as me getting some cuttings for Floral Displays.  I don't mind Sharing with Nature.  And it was such a Bright Spot to see these Beautiful Tropical Hued Birds flying around our Back Pasture between Trees!!! 





I'm glad I had some Bright Spot News to relay for a change, and Blog about, all the Heavy Dark News is so draining, isn't it?   We need Balance and perspective, since Life isn't all good, nor is it all bad.  I Feel like I have a very good Life and I wish everyone did.  I know so many Dear Folks are in such a struggle right now and aren't enjoying their Best Life.  In spite of obvious challenges I feel we are enjoying our Best Life.  We work with what we have and we make it work.  The Man came out and looked at Lovebirds flying around this Morning once I'd spotted them, they seemed to be vying for their New Territory around here.  I have to Buy new Bird Seed since we're running low, so now I'll look at some more Exotic Seeds to add to what we usually provide our Wild Feathered Friends.





With "Church's" having their Smokehouse Chicken for the Summer I got it again, it's so good and I like their Spicy Rub on it, delicious... and in line with my Restricted Diet.   While we were there the Fire Marshall came in to do his Inspection, they Passed, and I'm sure they never know when those Inspections are coming.   Our Local News always tells you who Passed with flying colors and the location, and who failed and why, along with how many violations were found.  So, it's good Free Advertising for all Restaurants following Health Code Standards, and putting Violators on Blast.   I'm a Creature of Habit so I have my favorite places to Eat and to Shop, so am a Regular at most places I frequent.  It's not that I don't like to try new places, but when I find something I really like, I Support that Business and they have my Loyalty. 





While The Man is recovering from his Surgery I'm choosing to stay Home so he gets sufficient Rest.  He would want to come with me if I went anywhere and I just don't think he's up to it, so, I don't hand him off to the Kids so that I can go do something without him in tow.  It's just easier that way, I know he gets Anxious if I'm not here.  Plus, there's nothing that I really NEED to do other than possibly go to the Gym to do a Workout, and by 9:30 a.m. when I can honor their Senior Restrictions, it's already too Hot Outside and I'm already too far into my Day to bother interrupting it now for a Workout.  I'm the type of person who'd rather do my Workouts around 7:00 in the Morning preferably, or later in the Evening when everything has been done and it would be less crowded at the Gym.  I don't like going there when it's crowded.  Before they put restrictions on Seniors, I was always there either very early or very late when they're never busy, but always Open. 





And here's my biggest Beef with the Restricted Senior Hours, it becomes like a Senior Field Trip Scenario during those Hours with far too many Seniors congregating for Social Hour more than for Working Out.  And that's not Why I wanted a Gym Membership, if I want to Socialize, I most likely wouldn't go to a Gym to do it, you know?   And, when I'm at the Gym doing my Workouts, I want to do so in Solitude and Focus, not have someone interrupting me trying to Socialize.  *LOL*  I'm not really Anti-Social, but there's a Time and a Place for it, and for me, it's just not THERE at the Gym.   And that day I was in there trying to enjoy a Quiet Breakfast at 9:30 when they Opened before I did my Workout, this Hoard of Seniors came in and every conceivable Space was filled with Old People Socializing and playing some kind of Card and Dice Game!  It was bedlam, like a Senior Adult Care Facility, I didn't like it.  And couldn't Exit Stage Left fast enuf once some of them started stopping by my Table and asking me Questions, trying to get me to Engage about trifles.  *LOL*




I know, I know, the Kiddos told me when I got Home that mebbe I should have been more Approachable and I could have made some New "Old" Boomer Friends.  *Bwahahahaha*  But, I wasn't sure I WANTED to either, given the Conversations around me you couldn't help but overhear, becoz most of the folks must be going Deaf and thus were making their Private Conversations so Loud!   And most of it seemed to be Gossip and Negative stuff about whoever probably wasn't there that they were discussing behind that Person's Back, and I'm just not into that kind of dialogue and won't engage in it.  Or, they were discussing their latest Ailments, Aches, Pains, Surgeries... and what a Downer, I'd wanna slash my Wrists if I had to endure that kind of an excuse for "Socializing" every damned Day!!!   Becoz how could or would you then get rid of somebody who thought now you wanted to be Friends... and... you decided... yeah, No, NOT my Tribe of Humans???!!!!  But, I still wanna attend this Gym and they might ambush me while there?!  *Bwahahahaha*




Even at our Antique Mall there is what we nicknamed "The Old Biddie" or "Old Bastard" Brigade and I avoid those folks like the damned Plague!  What a Pain in the Ass they are and what Negative Energy, Drama and a Headache they create.  And the Young Employee Friends tell me that's Why they Like me so much, because I'm not like those Boomers!  Thanks Be to God!!!   If I ever become like that, just Kill me now!! *Bwahahahaha*   I prefer Positive Energy People and the Youthful Spirit that has perpetual Joy of Life about it, regardless of how many Trips around the Sun someone with a Youthful Spirit still has.   And as The Stones so aptly put it:

I said, "Hey, hey, you, you, get off of my cloudHey, hey, you, you, get off of my cloudHey, hey, you, you, get off of my cloudDon't hang around 'cause two's a crowd… 

***

"Get off of my cloud" is a phrase, popularized by The Rolling Stones, that generally means leave me alone, stop bothering me, or give me some spaceIt expresses a desire for privacy, solitude, or freedom from intrusion. The phrase is often used to convey frustration and a feeling of being overwhelmed by external pressures." 


So, yeah, what Mick said... bwahahahahaha.





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Well, not you great Blog folks, you all totally Rock... and can join me on my Cloud any time... Winks... Dawn... The Bohemian 
A life touched by God always ends in touching others. - Erwin McManus

I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars. - Og Mandino (1923-1996)

For creativity to flourish one should try to look at everything as though it were being seen for the first or the last time. - Quote from "A Thousand Paths To Creativity" by David Baird

Is what I'm about to say an improvement on silence? ~ Galen Pearl