Family Is Everything... But, Not To Everyone

 So, our damned Irrigation Rotation is coming at 4:00 in the Morning Tomorrow and The Son has to be at Work by 5:00 in the Morning, which means, I'll have to rely on The Young Prince to help me.  That might not sound like a Big Ask or Big Deal, but it is.   Relying upon a Serious Schizophrenic to be your Backup is a Last Resort Hail Mary kinda Move.  I had a Senior Fall and Slipped on the Mud near the Ditch during the last Rotation of Irrigation and was floating like a Starfish, so, The Son is nervous about me doing it at all.  We were picking Goat Head Burs and tiny Sticks out of my Dreadlocks for Days afterwards!  *LOL*  Luckily I didn't get injured, well, mebbe my Pride, coz I went down Horizontally and like a Ton of Bricks, like a Cartoon Fall!!!  And just laid there in my Jammies, like a Wet T-Shirt Contestant, completely Soaked to the Skin, with my Okabashi Flip Flop Sandals floating beside me coz they came completely off my Feet!  *Smiles*

I have some Rubber Galoshes but I don't think that helps with slippery parts of the Pasture that might get overly saturated to where the Ground just can't absorb any more Water.  We'd flooded some last Rotation coz of the Ditch getting backed up with Debris that floated downstream from Lazy Neighbors who hadn't cleared out their Ditches.  It got stuck at Omar's Ditch coz he has his covered, so the Pipe he installed is narrower than the very Wide Ditch we have.  We have one of the widest and deepest sections of Ditch and I like it that way, great flow, easier to clean out and holds a lot of Water.  Some Neighbors have shallow and narrow ditches or overgrown ones, you're responsible for maintaining your Ditch that runs either behind or in front of your Property.  Ours runs behind and we Share it with the Neighbor directly behind us.  So you really have to cultivate a Relationship with whatever Neighbor Shares your Irrigation Ditch for mutual cooperation of Irrigation and Maintenance.  When Laura moved, it's now Manuel, a Younger Owner whose very nice, Laura and her Boyfriend were in their 70's so becoming limited to what they could and couldn't do.

I didn't have it in me to go to The Desert Botanical Gardens and make the trek across the Valley to get there and Walk around.  So, instead I did Environmental Cleanup and got a whole Bag full of Aluminum Cans.  A lot of Drinkers over this Holiday Weekend.   One of the Food Banks had left a Box in the Park and everything was taken except Two New Simply Orange Juices, which is what we Buy and it was starting to get Warm Outside so I got them so they wouldn't spoil in the Heat if left there untaken all day long.  And, I also found an Antique Table Leg with a Brass and Clear Marble Claw Foot!!!  Odd thing to find, someone had mebbe used it as a Walking Stick or for Protection against any Threat, I dunno, I brought that Home too as I can use the Claw Foot, it's quite Ornate and will easily unscrew off the broken Table Leg it's on.  You do find the Strangest Things discarded.

Nobody else has Accessed The Forbidden Post, so it stands at 17 who did manage The Gauntlet of Sensitive Post Warning status.  *LOL*  The Garbage did come Today even tho' it's a Holiday, no Drama this time tho' early this Morning as I'm taking The Son in to Work I almost shit Kittens coz The Young Prince had overfilled it last Night and I didn't know, so I had to jump out and squash it all down so the damned Lid would close fully lest we get Tagged and not picked up again!!!  So, I had to remind him, don't do that or they won't pick up our Garbage now, they're getting fussy and anal about Lids being tightly Closed or they just Tag it as in Violation and pass it up.  I just don't want or Need more City Services Drama.  I Won the last Battle, but, I just would rather comply with any Silliness they're implementing than Fight with them constantly.  But it makes sense why Illegal Dumping has escalated, now I know WHY!

I made Cinnamon Raisin Brioche French Toast with Maine Maple Syrup and Vanilla Powdered Sugar for The Family this Morning.  I was very Uptown about Breakfast for Memorial Day.  *Winks*  I even used my mini Retro Shenango, Jackson, Buffalo China, and Syracuse Diner Ware Pitchers for the Syrup, they're so Cute and have great 1950's Diner Graphics on them.  I have a small Collection of Restaurant Ware Mini Pitchers and we do use them all of the time.  Some are Military Logo Emblem Graphics too.  Above is a little Sampling of my Collection, various sizes, I have other Graphics, some in Green and Brown on White.  All were either Chazza Scores or I got from our Antique Mall from a Vendor who Specializes in Retro Diner Ware and has good prices on it.  I don't know if they were an avid Collector downsizing their Personal Collection, or just gravitated to that Genre of Merch to Resell?

Anyway, I'm sitting here quietly Blogging in our Bedroom. The Man has taken to watching Jackson Galaxy The Cat Whisperer's Reality Show and the Australian Zoo Show with the now Grown Irwin Kids, Robert and Bindi. Who sound and look so much like their Dearly departed Dad, Steve Irwin, who got Killed by a Stingray of all things he ever messed with!!!  They are following in his Footsteps of Zookeeping, Environmental and Conservation, which would have made him so Proud.  He took a lot of risks, many unnecessary, and it sealed his Fate in the end, but his Kiddos seem more cautionary and sensible around Wildlife.  Of coarse what made Irwin so Famous was how outrageously risky he was and that translates well to Reality TV and those that flock to it to hope they Witness a pending disastrous Moment.  The Shows are both Cute ones and more uplifting than what he usually watches, which is probably better for his Psyche.

LATER: Took The Man out to Estrella Park with a Quartet of Subway Sammies they had a $3.99 each Special on, and a Cooler full of Cold Drinks.  It was a Breezy Day, but Warm, we sat and had a Picnic Lunch at one of the Ramadas and I did Environmental Cleanup while he sat out in the Fresh Air in the Shade and near the Bathrooms.  It does him good to get outside, we practically had the whole Park to ourselves, considering it was Memorial Day Weekend, becoz there is a Fire Ban in effect, so no Charcoal or Wood BBQing allowed, nobody was there.  During the Fire Bans the Parks are deserted but we've had so many big Fires already that they just can't take the risk of having more.  The Man enjoyed the Outing and it was good to be able to do one with him again, I'd missed doing that with him.  He's still having some Breathing Issues, but the Wind and Pollens were likely to blame, it kicks up dust, Pollen and particulates into the Air.  There were some good sized Dust Devils it kicked up too.

I got a lot of Exercise while doing a few Hours of Environmental Cleanup at that large Mountain Park tho', and gleaned a fair amount of Aluminum too.  The Man looked like he'd had enuf Fun for the Day tho', so I could tell it was enuf of an Outing for him already, even tho' he just sat in the Shade and enjoyed Nature with a nice Picnic Meal.  Which is about all he can handle right now, so soon after yet another Hospitalization.  I've got about another Two Bags of Aluminum to take in to the Recycle Center Tomorrow, they were Closed Today for Memorial Day Holiday.  Yesterday The Son had BBQed Hotdogs and Hamburgers coz we had Sayde over visiting The Young Prince and it was just an easy Meal to serve up to Feed a large group without hassle.  The Son LOVES to BBQ, it's a Guy Thing, grilling.  *Smiles*  His Dad used to always do it and then when The Man couldn't anymore, The Son took over and his Dad passed the Mantle and Torch to him to be the Family Grill Master.  *Smiles*  And Memorial Day Weekend just Begs for at least One BBQed Meal.

We're getting Free NetFlix and Hulu now with my Phone Service, we may have always had it, I just didn't know it!!!  Otherwise we never would have been paying for NetFlix like we did.   Anyway, The Son set it up using my Phone's Freebies for it all and I watched a Samuel L. Jackson Movie I had never seen before with Ed Harris, Luis Guzman and Eva Mendes in it too called "Cleaner" {2007}, which was really good, a Crime Thriller, but also Funny in parts.  I was Surprised I never had seen it, thought I'd seen most of Jackson's Movies, usually like anything he's in, and he's been in a LOT of Movies.  He's one of the most versatile Actors in Hollywood IMO... he can morph into so many different and interesting Characters in each.   Hard to Believe he's 77 now and Ed Harris is 75... a lot of my Fav Celebs are quite Geriatric now, but still Working and making good Movies.

The Daughter has gone Off the Grid now for about a Week without contact.  Last we knew she was doing more work for Jason and his Neighbor out on their Mini Farms/Ranches.  I know that they don't always get strong Cellphone Signals out there coz of the Mountains they're up against and both Guys are Older than me so I don't know they use Computers much, if at all?   She has about 7 different FB Pages coz she's such a Paranoid Schizophrenic, so I don't always know which one she's using at any given time, the last entry to one of them was May 18th, which was around the last time she made contact.  You have to get used to this kind of thing with someone who has Serious Mental Illness... they go MIA a LOT.  No answer to any Social Media or Phones I've reached out with... so... will have to wait for her to respond.  I'm sure Jason would have contacted us if something was Wrong, he's the elderly Cousin of our Nextdoor Neighbors.  I know he's had Truck Troubles, so probably can't drop her off.  Those are very nice Mini Farm and Ranch Properties out there with Guest Quarters.

 

She did leave some stuff not Done here so I just went ahead and did it myself.   Allen is sending a lot of stuff to The Young Prince, so, that's making him Happy to receive things being Delivered.  They did discuss that until the Divorce is finalized, Allen is still Legally responsible for Spousal Maintenance and it shouldn't fall on Grandparents totally.  So, I do feel that Allen should provide some Spousal Support since he did knowingly Marry a Disabled Person who cannot Work or Support themselves and was his Full Time Caregiver and Promised to do so 'til the Vows are severed Legally.  Anyway, so, I haven't asked what is in every Package, some have been Groceries from Amazon tho' and they do a good Job at Amazon with the Quality of the Groceries sent and how they Package them. 

 I know I don't buy everything my Grandson likes to eat and he is a very fussy eater becoz he has Eating Disorders brought on by the Schizophrenia.  He often Imagines his Food is Alive and Moving... or that it's Tainted.  He seems to feel confident that nobody at Amazon is trying to Poison and Kill him tho'.  *LOL... I know I shouldn't joke about his Paranoia like that... however... Smiles*  But sometimes it is Dark Humor Funny, Sorry... but, I can't help it... when something just Amuses me that is Gallows Style Humor.  And that Thought just Tickled me... the absolute Trust he puts in Amazon Food Deliveries being not Tainted... but... sometimes any other Food COULD BE???  *Bwahahahaha*  But, whatever... the Amazon Deliveries keep coming and I don't have to Pay for them so I'm Fine with that.  *Winks*

Above is one of the Granddaughters in Mexico blowing me a Kiss.  I hear from the Grandchildren in Mexico and the Grandchildren in Pittsburgh via The Book of Faces and mostly their Photo Shares they send.  They're all pretty good about Posting often on the Social Media that is FB.  Princess T doesn't use FB at all, she considers it very Passe'.  Perhaps it is, I wouldn't know.  *Winks*  I do think the Grandkids all use it more for my sake and my Generation's sake really, coz it's not like they Write Letters or Call you either, so... it's the next best thing to being there in Person and making any actual Contact with Grandparents who are Dinosaurs and not Local.  *Smiles*  They all got used to me always Photographing my Food Porn and now most of them do it too, which is pretty Funny.  It's as if we're now having Food Porn Challenges with one another.  *LMAO*  They all used to Tease me about doing it and now they all do it too!!!  That's what's Funny to me.

Plus they all began to realize if they Photographed their Food when Eating Out, it's Assumed that they're a Social Media Influencer or Food Critic and get the VIP Treatment at all the Establishments.  And there's certainly no Downside to that and it does Promote those Businesses and gives them Free Advertisement and there's no Downside to that either.  Everyone Wins.   I have sometimes been asked and I just say I'm a Blogger... they don't know I'm not a Food Blogger... there are some of those who exclusively have Foodie Blogs and Critique Restaurants and such.  I used to Follow some Food Blogs and had to Stop coz it made me too Hungry at ridiculous Hours that I'd be Online Reading them.  *LOL*  But some of you do have some good Food Porn you Share too and I do always appreciate a good Foodie Photo.  And sometimes it's introduced me to something New I never ate or mebbe never heard of, like Tomato Pie, which I guess is a Southern Thing!?  I still haven't had one coz they don't offer them here in the Southwest, but I WANT to try one now!

Above is a couple of Adorable Pixs of The Young Prince's Paternal Aunt Stephanie as a Toddler.   She was such a Pretty Baby and grew into a Beautiful Young Woman.   Sadly she's on The Outs with The Young Prince, and her Mom {his Gramma Lydia}, right now.  She Married into Money and it did Change her in ways that sadly aren't necessarily Positive towards her own Family Members.   She has a very Nice Husband, he has a very Successful Business and comes from a very Nice Family with Money, so, they aren't the Problem at all, she just began associating more with the Pretentiousness that having Money can sometimes Change those who are Nouveau Rich.  She grew up extremely Poor and Disadvantaged.  She worked very hard to get her Degree in the Pharmacy Career Field and is now a Pharmacist, making good Money herself and I'm very Proud of her for that.  But, I don't like how she's treating her Nephew {The Young Prince}, or her Mom now.  Her Mom is Dying.  She used to be very Close to The Young Prince so it's hurtful to him she doesn't want to be now.  She's been Okay with me so far.

Above, another one of the Granddaughters in Mexico, also blowing me a Kiss.   I get the Three of them mixed up visually sometimes coz they almost look Cloned... especially the Younger Two!  *LOL*  They're all doing really Well right now and I'm so relieved.  I was so Worried about them when Saint Maria, their Custodial Paternal Gramma, Died and left them to fend for themselves and none of them was 18 yet at that time!  The Oldest one, when she finally turned 18, helped Care for, Support and finish Raising her Two Younger Sisters tho' and now each of them has a Boyfriend who also helps them out a lot.  We found out the Youngest and her Boyfriend even have their own House now!!!  That was a huge Surprise and I'm very Happy for them.  Each has a good Boyfriend and all Three of them Work now and have their own Incomes.  Sometimes they'll do Facetime with The Daughter while at Work showing them where they Work, one is Managing a Bodega that her Boyfriend's Mom Owns.  The Oldest is still going to College, Working, and also Modeling as another Side Income Job.  She Inherited Gramma Maria's Home, so lives there with her Middle Sister now.

Another Granddaughter in Mexico, one of Princess T's Older Siblings, with her Daughter, one of our Great-Granddaughters.  She has an Older Son whose a Tween, and has been Married a long time to her Childhood Sweetheart, a really Good Guy.   This Granddaughter went to University somewhere in Spain, where some of Salvador's Paternal Relatives still apparently live.  His Dad was a Spaniard who lived in Mexico and was high up in the Mexican Government, he got Assassinated when Salvador was only 13 and Maria was Widowed ever since then.  Many of Maria's side of the Family are also very high up in the Mexican Government.  We have met some of the Relatives who are Presidente's of their Regions, they have Bodyguards and everything.  When they took us out to Dinner they have the entire Restaurant cleared out for just them and their Guests.  I found that to be terribly unsettling, having a Motorcade and stuff... just never FEELS Safe but high up Government Officials do need that added level of Security.

This is the Young Prince's Paternal Gramma Lydia, who is now Dying of a Terminal Illness she's battled for a very long time and is now succumbing to finally, from what our Grandson has said about it.  It's Hep C and her Husband Joe Died of it many Years ago, he looked Healthy and Fit, but got it when he was a Drug User.  It can be Cured with Treatment, she could not always get her Treatment and had a lot of damage from it due to Poverty, Lifestyle, and poor access to good Healthcare.  Anyway, our Grandson hasn't had contact with her in a while so doesn't know if she's even still among the Living or not?   She hasn't Posted to Social Media since April 13th, which is unlike her to go Off Grid like that on FB, even tho' she does often in Life go Off Grid frequently, her Birthday was April 11th.   He has her thick coarse Hair.  We all Love Lydia, but Relationship with her for our Grandson was always difficult becoz she too suffers from Serious Mental Illness and could be quite volatile.  Lydia is a Handful, much like The Daughter is.  I do think Bobby gravitated to a Relationship with our Daughter becoz she's so much like his Mom, who he Loves Dearly but has a very complex Relationship with.  Bobby mostly Raised himself since he was 13 he's been on his own, while his Mom was in and out of Institutionalization.  Just like The Daughter has been constantly.

  So I was used to Dealing with someone who could be quite unstable like that, but who, I genuinely Like the Personality and Essence of, in spite of their SMI Status and Choices in Life being quite complex and challenging for Family and for Friends who Care about them deeply.  I think I'm the only person she's never gotten into an altercation with, and was always on her best Behavior around me for all the Years we've known each other.   So her Family would always invite me to Special Occasions and Family Gatherings if she was coming, so she'd Behave.  *LOL*  Lydia is a Colorful Character and she Adores The Daughter, and The Daughter Adores her too, even long after The Daughter and her Son were no longer together she kept in touch with our Family.   So she always got along fabulously with both The Daughter and I.  Crazy just Respects Crazier I guess?  *Bwahahahaha*  We never Judged her either, she is Authentically herself.  I do Hope she has Family around her when the Time comes for her to Cross over?  There are Estrangements right now tho'.  I'm sure the Family will let us know when she Passes tho', at least Bobby will, our Grandson's Dad.

The Young Prince and Sayde spent some more time with his Dad and the New Wife, things are apparently better???  His Dad and the new Wife were having Marital problems... mostly coz Bobby is Bobby.  And me thinks the New Wife has Mental Health Issues too... Crazy is drawn to Crazy.  *LOL and Le Sigh*  Anyone whose with Bobby in a Relationship is gonna have "Bobby Problems" tho'.  Most of the Women in his Life have been not as unwilling to put up with his BS as The Daughter was, she didn't take any shit from him.  He'd Trigger The Daughter with his BS when they were Together and she'd try to Kill him... so... it was best they decided not to be a Couple anymore so that he'd remain among the Living.  *Smiles*  He got Clean YEARS before she did too and I was Proud of him, he had been a Heroin Addict since he was a Tween, Living on the Streets since Age 13.  He's had a Hard Knocks Life for sure and Survived it.

 The Daughter once had to be Tased out of his Apartment by Glendale PD and sent off to Mental Health coz she was gonna cut his Heart out with a Knife and was using an Axe to chop into the Door of the Room he Locked himself into!!!  I thought it might make the News.  Bobby and The Man went and Signed the Commitment Papers and before the Ink was Dry the Mental Health Committee let her out and said she was "Restored"!   They had me come get her and she tried to kick the Windshield out of my Vehicle and jumped out while I was going 45 mph and Ran like a Gazelle across 3 Lanes of heavy Traffic!  NOT Restored, clearly.  *Winks*  This is how The Mental Health System tends to go, in case ya don't know, if someone is very, very SMI and yet also very, very Cunning, Clever and Convincing, they can tell the Board everything they wanna Hear and Agree to Everything to get Sprung.   She's Played Judges and Prosecutors in Mental Health Court too, she's very adept at it in fact.

 I've told the Board every time, Listen, she's Crazy, not Stupid... of coarse she Agreed to everything and told you everything you Wanted to Hear... she Played you.  And now if she does something really awful, it's on you Guys for making a very Bad Error and Decision in your Evaluation of her.   Anyhoo... Now they, she and Bobby, are on very Friendly Terms and he knows not to Trigger her Crazy Ass... or Mine.  *Winks*  He has Triggered me only a couple times in all these Years, each time involved the Grandson, each time he realized he's really, really, stepped in my Waters and wasn't near enuf a strong enuf Swimmer not to Drown in them.  *Winks and Smiles*  Now we have an "Understanding"... also, his Son is now a Grown Man.  So they sort their own shit out between each other now.  Only Involve me if you truly need Mediation and a "Heavy" in that Situation.  And it will then BE a Situation, rest assured.  But, we got Stories!  *Winks*  

Bobby at least has tried to be a Parent, even tho' he had no Idea what Good Parenting looked like, he never had any.  Salvador never tried with any of his Girls he had with The Daughter, Four of them, or any of his other numerous Children, I think he has 15 Total!!!!   And Salvador led a Privileged Life with a very Good and very Influential Family, was very well Educated, is very Skilled in his Career Field of Computer Programming, and extremely Charming, everyone Likes him.  And becoz he is Handsome and doesn't look his Age, he is and has been a notorious Womanizer who Fathered too many Children by numerous Women.  He and The Daughter were together a very long time and she followed him to Mexico when Lockheed couldn't renew his Work VISA for him and he got Deported shortly after Princess T was Born.  He went to Work for Lockheed in Mexico when they had a lot of International Contracts.  They had Three more Daughters while in Mexico, the Three that his Mother ended up Raising.  Our Daughter too Mentally Ill to Parent, he too irresponsible to.  

And since he was an Only Child and Maria had him very late in her Life, she didn't mind taking on the Three Granddaughters to Raise becoz they looked the most like her side of the Family.  Maria, tho' Born and Raised in Mexico and only Spoke/Understood Spanish, is originally of French Immigrant Ancestry who came to Mexico Generations ago and got into the Mexican Government at High Levels.  So, she was Ethnically, a European with Blonde Hair and Green Eyes, White skin.  Those Three Grandchildren look like our Daughter, but are Fair like Maria's Family, so they look White and not half Hispanic, with the Mixture of Native American, Welsh, French Canadian and Asian thrown in from The Daughter's Ancestry lineage.   Maria did a very good job with those Kids and they Adored her and she absolutely Adored them... they were and became her whole Life.  The Daughter, in Maria's latter Years, helped with Maria's Caregiving until The Daughter had to come back to America.  In latter Years she and Maria became very close.

Anyway, Families and their Dynamics are often quite Complex... and how you work all that out is strictly up to each Family Unit.  To me Family is EVERYTHING... but I realize for some Families, that isn't their Priority or their Outlook towards Family, for whatever the Reasons.  I never presume to Judge anyone's Relationships coz I'm not them and so I don't know everything they may or may not Deal with or even want to.  But, I sure see a lot of Dysfunction, High Drama and Estrangement between Families... and many of them at least have the Appearance to be more Functional than ours, yet, aren't.  And I think that is a tragedy...

*******

If you can be close with Family it's a Blessing... if you can't, well, it can be a whole other Story... Dawn... The Bohemian

Follow The Money

 So, since Sunday Morning my "Sleeping In" culminated voluntarily just after 6:00 a.m. out of Internal Clock Reset, The Son gave me Money to go out and have Brunch for myself and try to Salvage some of Memorial Day Weekend and get some Me Time while his Dad is Hospitalized.  He knew Sunday is the only Day nobody is Working in the household, so I didn't have to take anyone to Work or pick them up from Work that day.  Nothing on the Calendar.  So, I drove all the way over to the East Valley to have Brunch at "Snooze" and do some light Grocery Shopping at my favorite "Whole Foods" in the same Mall there on 20th Street & Camelback.  And wouldn't you know The Man calls right during my time of Bliss all the way across the City to tell me he can come Home, is getting sprung from Hospital, so could I come get him!?!  *Insert Resting Bitch Face since I could have gotten that Call earlier that Morning so I wouldn't be clear across the Valley!!!*

That meant cutting short the Me Time and getting the most of my Gas Expense to go clear across the Valley, I'd intended to make a Day of it, dammit!  But, him being Discharged meant I had no choice, nobody else to go get him.  I slog all the way back to the West Valley from the East Valley only to get there and he's happily now ordered and eating his Lunch!!!  Even his Male Nurse then had to wait to take the Two IV's out of his Arms until he'd finished eating, but, at least he liked the food and I don't have to Feed him now.  I had my Groceries in the Hot Vehicle, but, nothing was perishable, and Parking was full there, lots of Hospitalizations and Visitors on Memorial Day Weekend Holiday!!!  I met an Old Guy who said he had to drive there every Day from Yuma coz his Girlfriend had been Life Flighted there from Yuma several Days ago.  So it wasn't how he anticipated spending their Holiday Weekend either... and had driven much further, Bless him.

He was holding a Plant and I said, Wow, you been here so long then you grew a Plant!?  He Laughed, he'd looked so somber in the Elevator when we first met and went down from the 4th Floor to the Lobby.  He Thanked me for making him Laugh coz it had been a rough Year for them too already.  He'd had Quadruple Bypass himself... and now this with the Girlfriend.  I told him I'm getting a Free Puppy when my Hospital Punch Card is Full on my 10th Visit, coz we're up to No. Six now already in just Two Months!   He Laughed again, it was good to see him able to appreciate Gallow's Humor during what clearly was a horrible time he and his Beloved have been going thru.  To get a Life Flight from Yuma to Metro Phoenix, she must be very bad off and is on the same Ward as The Man was.  The Screamer was still there hollering his Head off every so often like a Horror Movie Scream Queen with Blood Curdling Screams.  So he and I joked about that Guy too.

The Staff were saying that Guy does it for the Attention mostly, and they do Wish his Doc would just have authorization to Sedate him coz he was working everyone's last Raw Nerve... Patients and Staff alike.  I can only Imagine how it is hearing that all Night long while trying to Sleep or being startled Awake with Blood Curdling Screams, he has some Lungs on him, you could hear it past the Ward they are on!  Even someone in excruciating Agony I've never heard carry on like that!!!  But that's almost like the Nursing Home Ward for Wander and Fall Risk Patients and the extreme Elderly, many of which have serious Health Issues, but serious Cognitive Decline as well and aren't Right in the Head.  It has Alarms on all the Beds and everyone has Colorful Bracelets on for what Risk Factors they Pose.  The Man had them all up his Arm.  *Winks*  He Bled badly again when they took the Two IV's out.

His Meds are changed AGAIN... they have put him on 3 New Ones and off 2 Old Ones.  I'll wait 'til the VA sends him the New Ones before I change everything switched.   And when they told me he should see his VA Primary Doc in a Week, I Laughed, and said, surely you jest?  You're Lucky if the VA can get you in every Six Months, Darlin', so not a Chance we can get him in there within a WEEK.  But, I will get him in to his Civilian Specialist that early if that will do?  They agreed then, since, anyone who knows the VA is aware I'm not being hyperbolic about how hard it is to get Appointments with any Docs there.  Anyway, he's Happy to be Home watching his Programs.  The previous Roommate he had, a Middle Aged Black Guy, had been discharged before him and a new Older White Guy named Willard was there now, with all his Family visiting him.  Seemed like a pleasant Old Man with a very Serious Condition.  I overheard Docs telling him and his Loved Ones that he could Live with what he had for Longer than he might Think!!!  THAT didn't sound Good or Promising for any Recovery from whatever it is?!

They were Walking One Old Pleasant Man up and down the Hallway who looked like he could be a Centenarian... I almost called him a Centurion... Wrong Word... ha ha ha!!!  You'd of been, What?, he looked like he was in the Ancient Roman Army!?   Well, kinda, he looked THAT Old... but, the Right Word for 100 would be Centenarian not Centurion, so, that was Funny.  *Winks*  I was close tho'.  *LOL*  He was joking with the Nurses and seemed to know everyone really well, so perhaps he too has a Punch Card for being a Frequent Visitor???  *Smiles*  He was getting around pretty good for how Frail he looked, they had a Belt around his Waist they held onto tho', like they were Walking a large Dog.  *LMAOROTF*  Mebbe he's a Flight Risk and might Run Off otherwise?  And be Faster than we might Think?!  *Bwahahahahaha*  I was wearing one of my Grateful Dead Tie Dye Shirts and got a LOT of Compliments Today on both my Dreads and my Shirt... all from Younger People who walked up to me to tell me they Loved my Hair and Shirt.  That's always Flattering when they go out of their way to do that.

Two were Young Handsome Black Men with nice Dreads of their own too, but much shorter than mine.  Three were Young Cute Yuppie White Women at "Whole Foods".   To have Five Sincere Compliments from Attractive Young People was very Flattering, kinda made my Day.  *Smiles*  Let's face it, no Youngster had so approach any Senior and tell us how Good we look and give us Sincere Compliments that do not sound at all patronizing.   One of the Young White Gals told me she'd gone to see the "Grateful Dead" at a Concert in Cali... I guess she assumed I'm a Dead Head, which, I'm not, I just always Loved their Brilliant Branding and Graphics on their Clothing and Accessories.  As for the Music, not a Fan, tho' the Instrumentals could be good, it was an Acquired Taste for their Music IMO, even in their Heyday.  They developed more of a Cult Following really of Devotees who went everywhere following the Band, like a Tribe of Nomads not tethered to a Job or Career.  I wasn't that kind of Hippie.

Anyway, there are a lot of the Beautiful People Demographic, and the Affluent, in the Far East Valley, so People Watching can be Fun and different over there.   I like People Watching, and "Whole Foods" has a Wealth of Healthy Stud Muffin Guys and Fit Beautiful Young Women doing their Grocery Shopping.  *Winks and Smiles*   I have a lot of Nostalgia for that Old Mall it and "Snooze" is in, it used to have so many of the Shops I frequented when I was a Teenager, so I've been walking those Cobblestone Brick Paths at that Outdoor Mall for well over Fifty  Years now.  Just walking somewhere you Walked and left Footprints that long ago is rather Sentimental at "Town & Country Shopping Center".   I still enjoy and look forward to going there whenever I can get over to that side of the City.  It's not what it used to be in the 1970's-To the Early 2000's.  The last 20 Years have seen a lot of Closures/Vacancies.

 A lot of the Old Shops and Restaurants Closed over the Years, like "Jutenhoops", "Baby Kay's", "The Bagel Shop", various Import Stores like "Tangs Imports" and "UNICEF Import Store" for Charity, "My Sister's Closet", "Book Star","Chakra 4 Teahouse", and the International Food Court.  There was a good Mediterranean Restaurant too that Closed there.  Much of the Mall has Vacancies still.  But it has some destination Shopping and Restaurants and a Big "LA Fitness" Gym now.   And they have "Trader Joe's", "Whole Foods", "Snooze", "Banana Republic", a Popular Brick Oven Pizza Place "Bianco Pizzeria", "Nordstrom Rack", "The Container Store", a Two Story "Barnes & Noble Bookstore", a fair amount of small Spas, small Boutiques and small Yoga Studios.  

Anyway, I had a little bit of Me Time before I got the Call to come back and pick him up since he was being Discharged Today.  So, he was Home before Noon.  I went then to the Discount Grocery in Peoria since had a $15 Credit there to use from my Frequent Shopper Credits you accumulate and gets you Free Groceries.  And they had Memorial Day Sales, so I got a lot of Food for not much outlay.  I'd intended to go there anyway, so picking him up from Hospital just set me back a couple Hours from that Errand.  I never did get to go back to the Event, usually I go back another time, mostly just to see what else has been put out over the Four Days it runs.  I didn't need to Buy anything else and wouldn't expect to, but it's Fun to attend and to Socialize some... and see if it was a profitable Show for my Friends who Sell there?

Well, I suspect now we know why Donnie Two Dolls was missing his Son's Wedding... he had a previously Scheduled new faked Assassination Attempt Appointment to attend at the WH!!!  He never spends Weekends there, most especially a Holiday Weekend, yet, he just HAPPENED to be there for this newest Staged "Assassination Attempt", how coincidentally and suspiciously Handy.  *Big Eye Roll*  He really wants that Ballroom BAD!  And the sympathetic Press acting like it's legit.  But the whole Staged Assassinations Thing is really getting out of Hand and getting Old and less Believable each time, and of coarse it's all being spun as if it's not really Questionable and is totally Credible. I saw a Cute Meme that said no wonder there's shots ringing out at the White House, ever since they let a Felon move in the Neighborhood's gone to shit.  *LMAO*

 The growing Back his Ear Thing was ridiculously unbelievable enuf, since that can't even happen... ask any Plastic Surgeon and just look at Evander Holyfield's bitten Ear Decades later, it's still Jacked Up, and he was a Boxer Fit and in his Prime... this is an almost 80 Year Old Man who grew back his Ear... really... uh huh.  *LOL... they must think America is beyond Stupidly Gullible!*  And the Insider Trading he's illegally doing, must be pissing Martha Stewart off big time... she was a small Player and did Time for it compared to his Crimes of Wall Street!!!  He's manipulating and Juicing the whole Market to skew in his Favor, blatantly, he's not even trying to hide it, he's bragging about it in fact.  The level of Criminal Activity is unprecedented with this Guy.  Nobody in our Nation's 250 Year History has done no Time for such a level of corruption and litany of Crimes from any Citizen, let alone a President!  Now he and his whole Family allegedly are getting IRS Immunity for past, present and future Audits!  Why would you even NEED that unless you are definitely committing Tax Fraud?  And we all know he IS.

My Solution would be to Seize all his Assets, and those of his Spawn, of ill gotten Wealth, ALL of it, and distribute it back to the American People that he and they've Stolen it from, ALL of us!  Forget about Prison, they're not sending any 80 Year Old in Poor Health to Prison anyway, but, let him and them live out Life Penniless for what they've done.  That would still be Justice Served for the Nation he's exploited and Grifted off of all his Adult Life.   As we finish out Memorial Day Weekend I think upon all of those who made the Ultimate Sacrifice for our Nation that we should be Honoring and ensuring what they Died for wasn't in vain.  For those of us who have Loved Ones who Served, we understand and know firsthand the Personal Sacrifices involved.  Not just for the Veterans Sacrifices either, but their Families who Served alongside them as well have made incredible Sacrifices, rest assured.  Having such Dishonorable Leadership is an insult to all of us.

When my Dad first Enlisted he was barely 17 Years Old, so were his Nephews and Brother who Served.  The Man didn't even get to finish High School when he was Drafted in 1969.  His Older Brother and Dad Served too.  The only reason his Younger Brother didn't get Drafted is the Vietnam War ended before he turned 18.  The same with my Younger Brother.  I am Thankful I have a Son and Grandson who haven't been Drafted and ever forced to go to War.  Especially one not Supported by the American People.  And this Iranian War has virtually no real Support of the American People and was illegally started and unnecessary, we're worse off now, from a Global perspective, for what's been done, than before it began.  There's a lot to unpack right there.

 The replacement Regime is worse and Younger, and the Strait of Hormuz is Closed and Controlled by Iran, when it wasn't before.  We haven't done a damned thing for the Iranian People, so that can't be used as a Humanitarian excuse.  And their Nuclear capacity... well... the speculation was always all over the place on that... not consistent at all between what Intelligence claimed and what this Regime is claiming.  I'd be inclined to rely more on National and International Intelligence about it all coz even the Word "Intelligence" and this Regime being used in the same Sentence would be an ironic Joke.  But, I must say, one 'Success' of said War is it's made SOME a whole lotta Money... and I always Follow The Money when I wanna know Why something corrupt was Done or some Problem has never been Solved.  Take that to Where and Who it Leads you TO... the Trail of $$$ will Reveal the Truth.  Who and What Benefits MOST???

I really NEED to go to The Desert Botanical Gardens since I haven't been this Spring at all yet and it's damned near Summer already.  I usually use my Membership more but I haven't had either the Time or the Resources to drive all over the place now.  Princess T doesn't Work Today so she might be Home all day, she got pretty Sunburned at The Lake with her Gay Boy Posse's Outing.  They had a Big Time but it was a lot of unshaded exposure and she hasn't spent a lot of Time Outside.   So, since she's also not with Mister Wonderful anymore, she'll likely be Home to watch Grandpa for me.  The Son Works Today but I usually just drop him off in the Mornings, he has been Walking Home from Work, it's not far.  I didn't get much Me Time on Sunday due to The Man's early Discharge from the Hospital.  And I Need some Me Time to remain Centered and Recharged enuf to Carry On.  Being out in Nature is the Best Recharge and Reset I can get.

 

I might also get some more good Blog Fodder too.   I got an enormous ornate Silver Punch Bowl for $7 from SAVERS the other day. {See Below}   I use them for Displaying things rather than for Entertaining.  I have one For Sale that's Plain but has all it's Silver Cups, in the Showroom right now too, that I also got from SAVERS.  I was talking to some random Senior who saw me getting this one and she began a conversation with me about how the Younger Generations don't even appreciate or value such things anymore, which is why we find them On The Cheap at Chazzas, she's not Wrong.   She said she'd considered it, but she looked quite a bit Older than me and I think her Entertaining Days are probably drawing to a Close too, so she Passed on it.  I told her I'm not using it for that, just for Displaying things in it, we both Laughed.  The Camaraderie of our Season of Life needs no Words really, we relate to what's Unsaid as much as what's Said, with a Quiet Understanding.

I was Delighted to Score this for only Seven Bucks tho', at the Antique Mall they still usually go for over $100 easily, tho' I didn't Keep the Plain one with it's 12 Silver Cups and am Selling it for slightly under that, should be a relatively Quick Turn and I wasn't into it for much either.  At the Chazzas, some Silverplate is overpriced tho', especially the Trays now or Tea Set Pieces.  The Trays are an easy Resell, but the Tea Set Pieces, unless you do something novel with them, who even uses Formal Tea Sets anymore?  Or even Displays them like my Parent's Generation did?  My Mom had a weighted European Silver Tea Set that she always Displayed and was very Proud of.  My Brother kept it coz I had no use for it and it was so Beloved by her I didn't wanna Resell it, she'd likely Haunt me if I had.  *LOL*  He got all her Beloved Jasper Wedgwood too, she Collected that all her Adult Life. 

 And she J'Adored Fine China and Crystal... I gave it all to my Brother when the disposition of her possessions became necessary.  She'd given me the Special Sentimental Objects herself she wanted me to have over the Years.   He and his Lady are more Old School Hollywood in Aesthetic, so it suits their Decor and Style Sensibilities better than mine.  I'm Quirky and Eccentric with my Aesthetic and Style, my Brother knows that about me, as do my Friends.  So if they've got something Weird and Wonderful or an Oddity, or Ritualistic and/or Exotic, they think of me first and usually Gift it to me.  *Winks*   I'm fortunate that my Spawn are Chips Off the Ole Block and will like Inheriting all this Cargo I have an abundance of.  The Son is a Minimalist to his Core, but the rest of them lean towards Maximalism and Quirky Attractions to the same stuff I always have.  They have an Inheritance laid up for them that is still vast in spite of the ongoing never ending Great Edit & Purge.  *Winks*

And you know what?  I don't even Care if I don't get rid of most of it anymore, I'm not particularly Stressing about it still being a lot of Muchness.  I'm thinking if things get more dire in America, you better have something laid up to be able to hawk or Trade, coz that's looking very likely.   The chasm between the Haves and the Haves Not is widening into a bottomless Abyss we're on the precipice of.  And I really can't say what will happen when Anarchy could set off when the Haves Not just have Had Enuf of watching the Haves rip them off for what little they had left?  Coz the Greed of the Haves is insatiable, once you're into Billions and Trillions, do you really NEED MORE... I seriously Doubt it... you can't spend that much in several Lifetimes, so it's ridiculous and obscene Hoarded Wealth.  Especially when the 99% are more and more not Having Enuf to even Exist or Survive.   I do feel like a Marie Antoinette Moment is looming in America's Future.  And it will be about Time it did.

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Spring is speeding past us... Dawn... The Bohemian