Every Accusation Is A Confession

 I woke up Saturday Morning to a Sick Kid, Princess T doesn't feel Well and will be calling in to Work.  She said it shouldn't be High Drama that she is coz she has Sick Time, but, usually anymore it's still High Drama if anyone misses Work no matter how Sick they are.  I'm one of those who feels Human Beings should have the Right to take time off to Heal from Sickness and not risk spreading whatever could be contagious to their Well Co-Workers and make everyone Sick and missing Work.  People come to Work often Sick for fear of Employers retribution for getting unwell, as if they had a choice not to.  You should never fear reprisals for legitimate illness.  Of coarse the fakers and those calling in to Work and taking Sick Days for bullshit I don't approve of, they make it hard to discern whose legit and whose abusing Sick Time.

Anyway, she'll be Home all day and since she doesn't Work on Sunday and Monday, will have Three days to recover from whatever is going on with her.  She's had frail health since Birth and has less Sick days now than when she was younger.  She has a lot going on with her immune system and her gut, always has.  She missed a lot of School due to Sickness too and they were just as fussy about it, sending me Warning Letters if she missed too many Days, even when we brought in Doctor Letters verifying her illnesses or treatments. A Sick Kid can't focus on Learning when they're not feeling well and they could get other Kiddos Sick if what they have is contagious.  When you have a chronically ill or seriously ill Child the last thing you needed was pressure from the School System as if you were a bad Caregiver for keeping them Home when they were too Sickly to attend.

 I had a Friend named Gail once whose Teen Daughter was Dying of Cancer and she said School did the same while Christina was missing School!!!  Even tho' they knew what she and her Family were going thru and that the Child was likely not going to Live.  Why make it more stressful for them?  Her form of Cancer didn't have a good Survival Rate and was aggressive.  So, was her Education all that critical really... I thought not.  She Died as a Tween, I would have just kept her out of School to enjoy what Life she had left, School was tough on her as she was undergoing invasive Treatment for the Cancer.  The Social aspect of School was the only reason Gail even sent her.  Some of her Besties even shaved their Heads Bald in support when she lost her Hair while having Chemo.  But I felt the Adults at the School were less compassionate than the Kids during her Fight for her Life, which she sadly Lost.

Of coarse with Employers I think this is why they embrace AI and won't mind replacing Humans with Machines, they don't have to show Humanity to a Machine.  They don't have to give it any time off for anything, they can work it hard 'til it breaks down from overuse and then just repair or replace it.  No benefits need be given, no time off need be given, no livable Wage is necessary, Machines don't have Families or Feelings.  And for most Employers their Profits mean more than their People even now.  I get that any Business is meant to make Money, but to lose touch with extending any Humanity towards your Human Employees is Sinful and Shameful IMO.  Human Beings are not disposable assets to throw away like Garbage once you've used them up or don't have use for them anymore.  How we treat our Sick, Disabled, Elderly, Young, and the most Vulnerable of our Societies is Telling about us as a Society.

We shouldn't have to Feel like Gladiators in the 21st Century just to stay Alive and Survive our Work!!!  I didn't expect this Post to go in this direction, but I Hate it when my hard working dedicated Grandchild, who they say all the time is an exemplary and well liked Employee, has to be worried at all that her poor Health will get her in trouble with her Employer, Written Up or Fired. As if she's done something Wrong.  She is a Special Needs Adult and I made that clear when her Employer kept imploring me to have her come work for them.  Coz I knew it was potentially going to be a problem either with her Learning Disability and Anxiety Issues, or her overall fragile Health and chronic Sickness.  But, she needed work and we were transparent about her condition, so, we Hoped it wouldn't be problematic in a big way if she did exceptional Work and proved herself a valuable Asset in spite of her Disabilities.  But, it doesn't matter... and it wouldn't with any Employer actually, I KNOW this.  They're all the same anymore.

Que sera sera, whatever will be, will be... and all that.  Yesterday, White John the OT told us that the VA will provide The Man with one of those Ellipse Fit Stationary Floor Machines to use to strengthen his Legs.  John brings his own and it's been really helpful for The Man so I was gonna order one but didn't have the Money for it yet, even on Sale they're almost $300 for a good quality one.  That's when John told us his 100% Disabled Veterans can usually Qualify to receive one at no Cost from the VA, just tell them the make and Model he's been using that his Home Health Brings and we'd like to have one to use when Home Health isn't here or isn't coming anymore, to keep his Mobility and Strength up.  So, I'm going to inquire at the VA Hospital and his Doctor about getting one Ordered for him. 

 You won't get info like this volunteered to you by the VA, so you just have to find out by accident and other Sources or Patient Advocates/Civilian Social Workers what he could be or should be Entitled to receive.  White John used to be a Social Worker.  I've bought some Medical Equipment for him, usually at a Chazza secondhand, that I later find out I could have received from the VA at no Cost!  So, now if he's deserving of something they should provide, I will save us the needless expense when I find out about it, and ask if they will provide it for him.  Dr. Kline has been really good about ordering things if he knows The Man would benefit from it.  The problem being, getting in to see any Doc at the VA often takes Months, so it's not as if you see them that many times no matter how Sick or Disabled you are.  The waits are long.  And Funding for the VA is getting cut all the time.  This Regime doesn't Care about our Military or their Families at all.

Moving On... it's shouting into the Wind to complain about our Healthcare System or the Employment Issues and Economic Woes that plague our Nation.  So, I'll now save my Breath.  *Winks and Sighs*   The Son goes to Work at 8:00 a.m. and then The Man wants to go with me to one of the Mountain Parks while I do Environmental Cleanup, he'll sit at one of the Ramadas with a Breakfast and dine alfresco in the Fresh Air, it will be good for him to get out and move around just a little.  He gets bored just sitting in front of the TV and misses doing things with me, so I try to manage outings for him that won't be too much for him.  Before it gets Hot and while he's still fresh as a Daisy early on, it's usually a good time he enjoys.  *Smiles and Winks*  By Sundown, everything begins to deteriorate now, so we do everything earlier now.  I didn't used to be a Morning Person but it's a necessity to be one now.

I feel better too if I get an early start and get a lot accomplished before Noon, it feels good and sets a Positive Tone for the day.  I'll also trade in our Aluminum Today and get my extra Ten Bucks for filling up my Punch Card with them for 10 Visits.   I'll have about 3 Bags worth by the time we do the Park, coz it's a large Park and we swing by the Nature Preserve nearby it too and tidy that up as well gleaning discarded Aluminum that can be Recycled.  We usually average around 15+ Lbs. Daily, my Record is 50 Lbs. gleaned in a single Day, but 15-20 is the Average really, it's still a lot when you think about it.  Of Aluminum that otherwise would litter the landscape or end up in a Landfill coz it was just put in a Garbage and not Recycled at the various Parks people frequent.  Anything Environmentally Positive that I can do I will always do, I just wish more people would be better Stewards of Mother Earth and sensitive of Nature and their Negative impact upon it.

The Man joined me to go to the Park, we had Breakfast there and spent Four Hours, it was pleasant and we were the only ones there the entire time.  Which was odd since it's a Saturday and School is now out so usually you see Families there Picnicking and letting the Kids use the Playground area.  But, it was deserted.  I got a full Bag of Cans there and we traded them in at the Recycle with the other Two Bags I already had, got my extra $10 Bonus $$$ for filling up my Punch Card.  Stopped by the Nature Preserve too and did some light cleanup there at the River.  Ran into a Nice Young Black Man and his Grade School Aged Nephew, who said he does Environmental Cleanup there too, he Thanked me for doing it, since he rarely sees other Volunteers participating.  We talked for quite some time.  He lamented we can't keep pace with the litterers and illegal dumping, which, we can't, but every little bit helps. 

 He said he's trying to get the City or County to give him a Grant to set up a Volunteer Non-Profit Program to do Cleanup there regularly, and Buy a Commercial sized Truck to haul the Trash out and have Money for Bags and Landfill Charges.  So far no Luck being Sponsored, funding to even Pay Workers has been slashed for Parks & Rec Services, so I can't say I'm Surprised.  Every Non-Profit and Social Services Program I know of has funding issues now coz this Administration doesn't Care about such things and pretends it's all fraudulent and wasteful or abused.  While the only fraud, waste and abuse going on is by THEM, for sure!!!  Every Accusation by this Administration is a Confession.  It's one of the Tells I've always noticed about them, when they're Accusing anyone else of doing anything, you can rest assured it's actually what they're doing or have done, every single time.

I stopped by the Antique Mall and put in the 1972 Doll, she's all I'd Priced to put in to Inventory.  It was busy, but not a lot of Buying going on, just becoz a lot of people are there is no actual indication anyone is spending Money and Sales are flat.  Real flat, Today is the Close of the Pay Period and unless I Kill it before 9:00 p.m. I'm not even sure I'll break even, Sales are abysmal and only about Three things of Value have Sold, the rest is inexpensive Smalls.  The Showroom wasn't too messy, but there were Customers in there so I didn't get in the way, I tidied minimally outside of the Showroom entrance, put the Doll there and just left coz I had The Man sitting outside in the Truck with the Windows down in the Shade of a Tree and with his refreshments.  It's too much trouble to unload him, his Walker, and slow walk him inside and Hope there's somewhere open for him to sit down and wait.  Then load him back up afterwards.

But, since we had to take The Young Prince into the City to go visit his Dad and Siblings, The Man and I went out for a late Lunch at "Snooze" just before they Closed.  We won't need Dinner now, and they had something New on the Menu that The Man liked, a Three Cheese Grilled Cheese Sammie on Rustic Bread with Fire Roasted Tomato Soup... a Favorite of his.  I had the Bennie Duo with Fruit, Bacon But Different and an Iced Lavender Latte.  The Food there is always exceptional and very Editorial for Blog Fodder Food Porn Imagery.   It was a nice unexpected Outing and end of the day for us, since, I didn't know that The Grandson would need a ride to his Dad's.  I guess it's Karaoke Night at a favorite Club and also he's going to do some Art with his Younger Brother and Sister at the Apartment.  I think Bobby had the Kiddos for the Weekend.  I'm glad The Young Prince and his Younger Siblings are getting to spend some quality time together still, in spite of Angie and Bobby no longer being together and him having a Wife now.   I guess all the Kiddos Love the New Wife, I haven't met her yet. 

The Oldest Granddaughter in Pittsburgh sent some Pixs of her Middle Child's Sports Pixs, I guess she's very Athletic, that one.  I'm not Surprised, since she's the one of the Trio of Great-Grandkids of our Older Trio of Granddaughters back East that is full of Piss and Vinegar.  *LOL*  The Middle Granddaughter has Two Kiddos who are still too Young to be in Sports yet, she was actually the one who was very Athletic of our Oldest Daughter's Trio of Girls.   So this one is following in her Auntie's Footsteps by being a Bad Ass in Sport.  *Smiles and Winks*  I Love seeing the Photos since we're missing it all in Person due to distance and being unable to Travel.

The Middle Great-Granddaughter in Pittsburgh just Won her first Medal in T-Ball.   She's so Tiny that her Jersey fits her like a Dress.  *LOL*  But she's a Lil Firecracker.   Below is the Middle Granddaughter back East with her Oldest in the Backseat with his Shades on too.  *LOL*  This Granddaughter and The Young Prince, I swear, have a different Hair Color every Week!  *Smiles*   The Young Prince has cut a lot of his Hair even shorter now.  He already shaves 3/4 of it but the Mohawk section he grew longer was very long and now it's Medium long, I like it better.  I actually like him with Short Hair coz he has a good shaped Head and Face.  He likes to experiment with Style so he's pretty fearless about changing it up constantly.   If he doesn't like the results he just changes it again.

 

When he left to go to his Dad's his Ensemble was very flamboyant, as was his Makeup, and he was wearing one of the Santos Type Crowns I used for my Mannequins!  I just told him, don't lose it or damage it.  *LOL*  In the Melrose Club Scene, he probably doesn't even stand out looking as flamboyant as he often does.  He affectionately calls that part of the City where his Dad lives "The Gayborhood" and it is Pride Month, so loads of Festivities Celebrating Pride are going on.  I had some very gaudy blingy Kicks I'd bought and never worn and he just Loved them and so now they're his, so he had those on too.  We often Share Wardrobe, it saves us all Money to, since he has very little Money ever to buy anything, even Essentials, and it would cost me to Buy him Clothes, and he likes all of mine and they fit, so... it works for us to just Share.  I didn't get a Nap Today and I'm starting to Feel it now that it's 5:00 p.m..

 The Young Prince came Home early, I guess he got an Uber or something, he said he had an Episode and had to leave prematurely.  So, I don't know what happened?  I know he wasn't there very long, coz we only just got back a little before him!!!   I took about an Hour's Nap and feel more Rested now.  I have to give The Man his Night Meds at 6:00 and take my Evening Antibiotic, which I'll be on for 10 Days to rid myself of the Infection that sent me to Urgent Care earlier in the Week.  I'm feeling much better but you can't quit taking them just coz you feel better, you have to take the entire 10 Days worth.  And of coarse on the 16th I'll have that Ultrasound and hopefully find out what's going on too with the sketchy Ovary mass???   I'm hoping it's nothing to be concerned about, I don't need any Negative Health issues right now.  We're overwhelmed already with all of The Man's.

Loved these Bird & Cactus Pixs that showed up in my algorithm Feed Today so thought I'd Share them, the Photography is stunning.  Our algorithms sure know what Images we'd like, don't they?  *LOL*  And the Internet is loaded with fabulous Photography.  Some, like these, are telling you who the Talented Photographers are that Shared them Online and are Credited with the Work.  Many are Anonymous tho' and probably not Professionals, but still are good Quality Photos nonetheless.  Some of us Amateurs now can take pretty decent Pixs with the newer Cameras, which are exceptional Quality and can make anyone's Pixs look almost Professional Grade.  I think that's why so many Photography Studios are going out of Business?   They used to charge so much too and so it got to be not so affordable to have Professional Photo Shoots done.  Even the School Mug Shots got to be pretty expensive, and the School Yearbooks.

My Friend whose on the European Cruise sent some more Pixs too.  It was her Oldest Daughter's Birthday while they were on the Cruise and the Staff did this for it with her Daughter's Towels on her Bed.  How Sweet is that?!!!!  I know that Towel Art is sorta like Origami.  She also sent some more Food Porn from Italy {See Below}.  She was at some Winery in Rome I think.   This is a pretty long 7-Day Mediterranean Cruise and looks like a spectacular one.   I guess it runs $700-$1,500 per Person.   I think it's the one that goes to Italy, France and Greece.  That's actually less expensive than I thought it would be, you could spend that much just going to Vegas anymore and wouldn't include Meals.  By comparison a 7-Day Trip to No. 1 on my Bucket List is Bora Bora, and I know that can cost around $5,500-$20,000 per Person... which is precisely why I'll probably never cross it off the List unless I Win the damned Lottery.  *Le Sigh*  And even a 7-Day Cruise to Hawaii is $900-$$2,500 per Person, so the Mediterranean is Cheaper and more of a Bargain.

 

The Son woke us up from Sleeping In on Sunday Morning with Breakfast in Bed which was Sweet.  However, he thinks of the Craziest shit to serve you for Breakfast and a cut up Hotdog for the Protein I just couldn't do this early in the Morning, tho' the Sunny Side Up Eggs with Cinnamon Raisin Toast was edible.  *LOL*  He tries... Bless him... and I never wanna hurt his Feelings when he serves up something really Weird that I just won't eat.   I do Hate to waste food but that cut up Hotdog is gonna be an exception and quietly disposed of.  *Winks*  It was boiled and not grilled so, that made it even less appetizing to me at 8:00 in the Morning, and slathered in Pepper!!???!  I dunno, he doesn't watch the Food Network very much.  In what Universe is a cut up boiled Hotdog slathered in Pepper a requested Breakfast fare?!  *Bwahahahaha* 

 Of coarse he'll eat anything, he's been my Human Garbage Disposal since he was little... he used to eat his Sister's LIVE Goldfish as a Toddler, we thought it was the Cat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  *Ewwww, I know, and Freaked Out when I realized it was my then Two Year Old Son!!!*  I used to have the Poison Control Hotline on Speed Dial when he was Young coz no telling what he'd eat or drink if he got his Hands on it, Aftershave, Perfume, Potpourri, Soap... you could not allow him in a Bathroom alone when he was a Toddler to about Age 5 coz it was like a forbidden buffet to him!!!  Luckily he never consumed anything harmful, but, he would have been that Kiddo who would have so I had Child Safety Locks on everything and Little Houdini, which was his Nickname, would figure out how to bypass all Child Safeguards... by Age 7 he could hack into Computers and was viewing forbidden sites... I once turned on my PC and "Farmgirl Sluts" popped up!!!  *Bwahahahahaha* 

 And by about Age 14 I found his hidden Playboy Magazines under his Mattress.  Which my Childless, but Wise, Friend Bess, who I worked with at the DA's Office, told me to just leave there and don't say anything.  I told her, but he shares a Room with his Nephew, The Young Prince, who I didn't want finding that, since he was a Toddler at the time and getting into everything.  Which caused a lot of contention between him and his Teen Uncle, the Room Sharing, coz of the Age and Generational difference.  They grew up more like Brothers.  By the time The Son was 18 we now had inherited his Niece, Princess T, to Raise, so had a Newborn in the House sleeping just outside their Bedroom in another Room of the Historic Home.  Well, The Son yelled one day, "There's too many Kids in this House Mom!" and without missing a Beat, The Young Prince deadpans, "Well, you're Grown now... so... LEAVE!"  *LMAOROTF*  Now I wasn't gonna Argue the Point, there WERE too many Kids in that House for Old Folks our Age to still be Raising.  We wanted them all gone... but, here we still now are!!!   *Winks*

 But, the Grandson had been surveying and Eyeballing that Room back then they Shared and deciding, yeah, I could Inherit my own Room with his Ass Moved Out and Gone, that would be a Splendid idea!  *LMAOROTF*  They still covet each other's Space and vie for it should one or more of them Move Out!!!  *LOL*  Three Generational Living has been going on a long time for us, it IS an Adjustment in order to go smoothly.  *Winks*  Granted, all the Adult Kiddos except for Princess T did move out in their Teens and get their own place, as a lot of Young Adults are wont to do and assert their Independence.  Then they'd move back, move out again, move back, and now I think they're all here to stay.  Princess T is the only one with no delusions about Independent Living being not within her bandwidth to make work on her income, the rest of them roughed it, each even being Homeless off and on when they couldn't afford Rents.  Our Door was always Open for them to come Home, so long as they were Clean, that was non-negotiable.  So, if they weren't Clean they had to figure their own shit out on The Streets since an Addict belongs to The Streets.  And I have a zero tolerance Policy. 

 Now that MJ is Legal, that's Fine with me, so all the Kids partake of that and their Friends know I don't Care if they all partake.  Arizona has been cutting edge about Legalizing Marijuana and even when my Dear Parents were Alive they Signed the Petitions to Legalize it and I do Believe both used it actually near their End of Life when faced with mounting Pain Management challenges.  I've never had a problem with Pot, even tho' I don't partake and never have.  But when it was Illegal of coarse I wouldn't allow it in my Home back then, but now, it's a non-issue.  I think it has therapeutic benefits far beyond what it's being used for and why Big Pharma is afraid of it... it Cures shit and there's less profits to be made in Cures and Good Health than keeping folks dependent upon their addictive Medications made Legal and often more dangerous than MJ will ever be.  And speaking of MJ Products, Princess T and Rusty were so Sweet, they showed up Yesterday with Dispensary "Medicines" for my Arthritic Feet and Hands. 

 They know I don't partake with Edibles or Smokes, but had queried how I'd feel about a CBD Relieve Cream, Relief Rollerball CBD Pain Essential Oil, and Professional Grade CBD Drops in Strawberry Flavor, which, they'd just bought for me and given as a Gift.  She Hated to see me in such Pain and it was affecting my Mobility in a Negative way, I ain't gonna Lie.  My Doc really didn't have any good News about the Arthritis getting this Bad in my Fingers, Knees, Hips and Feet, so, I was ready to try the Dispensary Products.  I haven't been able to even wear my Wedding Band anymore coz that Finger on my left Hand is so jacked up and swollen twice it's normal size.  The Tops of my Feet are agonizing some days and tho' I have a very high threshold for Pain, it hobbles me, and I'm down to very few pairs of Flip Flops that I can even wear.  I haven't been able to wear Closed Toed Shoes for Years due to the Pain and rubbing it causes.  Insulin dependent Diabetics can't risk any Foot injuries from blisters or open wounds on Feet.  Or you lose your Feet.

So, that was Sweet of the Granddaughter and her Boyfriend, they were so excited to Surprise me with the Gift and I have no idea what they spent, they wouldn't tell me or let me pay them back.  Awwwww.  I know just the Pot of this brand of Relieve Cream Online can be $70 tho'!!!  The Rollerball $25... and the Drops 350 mg are $40!!!   So the Kids spent a lot of their own Money to give me some Relief and Rusty had to Buy it coz she's not gonna be 21 'til late September.   She's excited that then she can Buy her own, coz it helps with her extreme Anxiety and a lot of the Health problems she's had since she was Born, she's Sick a whole lot less often since using MJ Medicinal Products.  Her Brother uses it for his Schizophrenia, as does the Daughter for her Schizophrenia.  The Son says it helps with his Autism, Adult ADHD and Bipolar I condition.  

I'm a Witness to all that and I've been told it could help with The Man's Dementia.  Israel has been using it for Alzheimer's with proven results, I watched a Documentary, it was fascinating.  Some Stage 4 Cancer Patients have used it and enjoyed Remission too.  It is helpful for those with extreme Seizures.  Anyway, even if the Feds never Wise Up, I Hope all States eventually will and Legalize and Regulate it everywhere.  Funny thing tho', becoz I have long Dreadlocks, people have always assumed I partake and even at the Dispensaries, have never Believed I don't whenever I took any of the Kiddos there to Buy theirs.  They'll ask me, if I come in with the Kiddos, are you coming for Recreational use or Medicinal use and the Kiddos will say, Oh, she doesn't partake... and Staff will Smile slyly and say, "Yeah... RIGHT..." sarcastically, not Believing that AT ALL.  *Bwahaha*  

 The Stereotypes of Dreadheads abound and you will be profiled just due to your Hairstyle.  There are those who are even convinced we don't wash them!!!  *Ewwww*  All of my Dreadlock Products are wonderful and infused with Nag Champa scent, which layers with my Essential Oils I've always used, tho' they come in other delightful scents too.  The Products I use are by "Dollylocks" and last a long time, a little bit goes a long way and I keep a backup stock in case they ever discontinue the Nag Champa Scent, which is the only one I use.  I'd rather have a stockpile of what I have always used, plus over the Years prices or sizes change due to inflation.  You used to be able to buy 16 oz. of it, now 8 oz. is the largest size for about the same cost that 16 oz. used to be almost a Decade ago.  I probably have a Lifetime supply stockpiled. 

 *LOL*  I'm ordering a Dreadlock Hook this time around tho' coz my Grandkids wanna practice learning to do the Crochet Method to do my Maintenance gratis for me and Loc in my stray new Hairs to look tidier and not so Wild.  *Winks*  Above is what newly Crocheted Dreadlock looks like, when mine were still Baby Dreads.  I want the Kiddos to Crocket brand New Dreadlocks of any New Hairs I'm growing coz getting down to 15 Locs from 60 was too condensed I realize now.  Over 9 Years I let a lot of them Congo coz they didn't stay Microdreads and now they're very thick and long I needed them to be phatter, stronger, and not so many of them.  But I let them Congo too much and would rather have around 20-25 Locs if I can get the Kiddos to Crochet some new Dreadlocks among the Mature ones now.  I've been taking Supplements to prevent Hair Loss so I've got lots of New Hair Growth now that hasn't yet Locked In to any Dreadlock and could form their own Loc instead.  The Kiddos can't mess up, the Hair will still be there whether the experiment works or not.  *LOL*

I started out using a few different Products specifically for Dreadlocks, which is important so you don't build up residue using regular Hair Care Products.  I settled on "Dollylocks" Liquid Shampoo, Refreshing Spray and Bar Shampoo as all I'd ever need, didn't need an Itch Product as it turned out, coz I've never suffered from that, and "Lockin Up" Product was good but hard to Source and now I can't even find it Online anymore.  I think it was a small Cottage Biz to begin with, but, an excellent Product, too bad it didn't last.  Most Local Stores don't carry Dreadlock Lines, just Black Hair Care Product Lines and that doesn't work with Type 1 Hair even when you have Dreads, I don't have Type 4 Hair so it wouldn't be best for my Hair Type and Texture.  My Hair Dreadlocks exceptionally well tho' and close to the Roots, which was unexpected.

My Mom always used American Black Hair Care Products tho' and thought they were Wonderful.  She couldn't get them in Europe and used to Iron her Hair Straight, coz Mom had very coarse and nappy Hair Texture.  My Grandson, The Young Prince, does too, his Great-Grandpa being a Black Puerto Rican, so Black Hair Care Products worked best for them both.  I got my Dad's Native American Texture Hair, my Brother got Mom's Texture of thick coarse Hair.  And his turned Silver like hers did by the time they were in their 30's.  My Dad still had Blue Black Hair when he Died at 74 and my Hair has stayed mostly its Natural Color in Old Age.  It's gotten Lighter as I've gotten Older, going back to the Color I had as a Child, which was unexpected.  I still get a lot of Young People telling me they Love my Hair, Dreadlocks tend to be very popular among Young People as a Hairstyle they just Like, regardless of what Race they happen to be, I get equally complimented by Young People of various Ethnicities.  I never got compliments on my Hair before having Dreadlocks, so it was New to me to receive compliments on my Hair.

*******

I think I did too much on Saturday coz I felt quite spent on this Sunday Morning, so it may end up being a "Recovery" Day... Dawn... The Bohemian

I'm Not Non-Partisan... I'm Anti-Partisan

 I know that some of our Monthly Events will be Closed for the entire Summer now, just "Sweet Salvage" continues their Shows thru the hottest Months.  The next Theme for this Month is "Summer Lovin'" and kicks off on the 18th of June with a Summer Vibe and 4th of July Holiday presence in some of the Vignettes.  With it being the 250th Anniversary of America I figured there might be a heavier than average Patriotic Theme.  If we had better Leadership I'd feel a whole lot more engaged with it.  But with this Evil Regime, I am SO NOT feeling all that Proud of America's behavior right now... and Global reputation the worst it's probably ever been with our Allies and Trading Partners particularly.  It's embarrassing and something to feel ashamed of how this Administration is treating our Friends abroad and cozying up to Dictators and Human Rights violators becoz Donnie Two Dolls admires them and lusts after their type of brutal Power grabs.  I still Love my Country, but I Hate and don't Trust this present vile Government.

I will attend the Event, tho' budget doesn't permit me to indulge.  That's okay, it's always Inspirational and Uplifting just to be around a popular Event, meet up with and Socialize with Friends, get out to a destination for a respite from the daily grind and Life's stressors or challenges.  The intense Heat is now here, as it usually is in June, so I'm not getting Outside as much now with the Heat Warning Advisories in full effect.  I haven't been to The Gym and I need to get back to a Routine of going really early, after dropping Princess T off at Work at 7:00 a.m..  I'm going to make it a point to Tomorrow Morning {Friday in Real Time}.  The Man doesn't have OT until probably later that Morning or Early Afternoon, The Son doesn't go in to Work until Noon either.  So I could do a Workout from around 7:00-8:00 a.m. and be Home in time for anything else on the Calendar consumes my Time and Energy.  I haven't been in to the Antique Mall to tidy up our Spaces for the Weekend, so may drop by there too when they Open at 9:00 a.m..

Early Mornings there are generally still quiet and I could get everything foofed and duck out before anyone interrupts what I'm doing.  I haven't been Socializing as much at Work since I just haven't had the Time to, so I've been rather conspicuous by my absence.  Most know The Man has been very Sick tho' and that I haven't taken on many Shifts either due to that, or come in to Work our Spaces.  I haven't brought a lot of Fresh Merch in either coz I haven't had the Time or Energy to devote to that in earnest either, or the Space to put too much in until more Sells.  Sales have been softer, which happens every Summer, with just a few exceptions in the Past, Summers are our slowest Season, all Tourists and Snowbirds have left Arizona when the triple digits arrive.  And frankly, even when they were here they weren't spending like they used to and the International Visitors stayed away completely from the U.S., which, I don't blame them.

Some Americans I know have Traveled Abroad, some wealthier Americans I know have become Ex-Pats due to this Regime.  They already owned Properties in other Countries and decided to live there full time now until we get rid of this Shitshow here in America.  They are saying there are more Americans leaving America than ever before while they still can get out.  They estimate that around 405,000 Americans have voluntarily Moved Overseas since Donnie Two Dolls became President!!!  That has contributed to Negative Net Migration in the U.S., the Government doesn't comprehensively Track emigration.  The recent surge is driven by High Costs, rises in Digital or Remote Nomad Work, and Political or Social disenchantment.  Around 50,000 applied for Irish or British Passports.  And Citizenship renunciation has risen from an average of only 400 Annually to about 5,000 Americans annually now giving up their Citizenship!!!  Sadly America is feeling irreparably Broken to many Americans.

Mexico Hosts the largest U.S. Expat Community, now totaling over 1.6 Million.   The Daughter knows numerous wealthy American Expats who live full or part time in Mexico now.  The Man and I have been invited by many Expat Americans and Mexican National Friends to think about relocating there, half our Grandkids are Mexican Nationals Born and Raised there.  I can't say I haven't thought about it, now that Mexico has National Health and we don't, it wouldn't be a bad decision and a lot of Seniors we know live there part or full time and Love it, they can live much better there than here.   I have dual Citizenship with having been Born in Wales to an American G.I. when my Dad was often Stationed abroad and still in the Military, so was my Brother, he was Born in England during a Tour of Duty.  A lot of Military Kids happened to be Born Abroad if their Families were deployed outside of the U.S. while their Active Duty Parent was Serving in the Military.  Most of those Countries recognize your Birthright Citizenship even tho' you're also an American Citizen.

I enjoyed being a Global Nomad during our Military Service Years, you experienced so much of other Cultures and got to see the World and appreciate it all.  Exposure is everything, it really is, it broadens perspective and makes you appreciate diversity and Cultures other than just your own.  Our Experiences Overseas were Enriching and Host Countries were Beautiful and we made so many International Friends while in their Countries.   But, even here in America, if you've lived in or traveled to various States, which we have, you see the diversity here as well, and I've enjoyed that tremendously too.  Each Region has their own Culture within the Nation... each State has it's own History... it's own Specialties... it's own attraction and it's own ways... often it's own topography and weather... which are varied and quite diverse and broad.  I happen to have an affinity for the Desert, but every State has it's own Climate from Tropical to Cold Weather, from Arid and temperate Seasonally, Prairies, Mountains, Coastal Regions, to having all Four Seasons and lots of Rain or Snow with lush Vegetation.

I'm Hopeful that America moves past a lot of what's going on now and recalibrates for a brighter Future for ALL, not just for the elite few.  The distribution of wealth is widening exponentially and AI will create more job losses than ever, so, I think a lot of White Collar jobs will be done, not by Humans, but by Artificial Intelligence instead.  I'm not sure how they plan to retrain the people who will find themselves having to scramble to do something else all of a sudden?   I'm not sure our Education System is adequately preparing Students even now for what is coming, and quickly.  We've got Students in debt with College Degrees that will do them no good soon and were a waste of their time and resources, becoz those positions won't exist for them anymore.  We're not even absolutely certain what AI will replace for sure and how quickly that will be implemented in the workforce?  Strategies for making a Living are going to have to be a priority very soon in different ways than Society is used to.

  

I'm not so much Non-Partisan as I am Anti-Partisan, I think that's part of what's Wrong with our Politics, Party Loyalty above Loyalty to your Country and in-fighting between Parties just creates so much division, blaming, and nothing getting done cooperatively for the good of the Country and all the American People. And I Hope our Constitution holds up against the current onslaught this Regime is creating to make it null and void?   Since Legalities seem not to matter anymore and consequences are conspicuous by their very absence by the Crimes being committed at the top of our Food Chain and anyone doing their bidding, we're quickly becoming a Lawless Nation.  Having worked in Criminal Law for my 2nd Corporate Life, I know the System was never perfect, but, the DOJ was functional and there were consequences if you broke the Law and committed Serious Crimes.  Now it's become totally weaponized by a Career Criminal President to commit more Crimes and go after whoever he wants to by using it and Trumping Up charges. 

 The very phrase "Trumping Up" is interesting since it's always been used and is part of his actual Surname!!!  Coincidental?  *Winks*  It means to Dishonestly Invent, Fabricate, or concoct a False Story, Excuse, or Accusation.  It typically implies that Extra Made-Up Details are used to Trick others, Mask the Truth, or Falsely Incriminate someone.   Faked, Forged, Fraudulent, Spurious... yep, that's so descriptive of HIM, isn't it?  He's got the appropriate Family Surname defining what and who he is!!!  *LOL and Winks*  You can't make this shit up, it's For Real!!!  He's had like Four Cognitive Exams in 18 Months... that's highly unusual for any Senior to have that many so soon, and usually is a Sign they're monitoring a Dementia Patient!!!

White John the OT just left and The Man did 3x the amount of Cycling as before and wasn't even winded this time, which is fantastic endurance improvement.  I'd gone to The Gym this Morning and did 17 Minutes Biking in "Bali" via the Screen that takes you to International Locales of your choice.  *Smiles*  I did Two Hours of Workout and then went to "First Watch" again and had that Summer Menu French Toast I had before and shared it with The Man, I ate half and gave him the other half.  The Presentation at the other Location nearer Home was slightly better I felt, but they make a better Specialty Iced Coffee at the Location nearer my Gym.  But the Weirdest thing was at both Locations I had a Waitress who was allergic to Bananas!!!  Both Young Women, I had never before heard of anyone allergic to Bananas, so to meet Two within a Week, who happen to both be Waitresses at the same Restaurant Chain was a crazy coincidence!  I told the 2nd Waitress about it and she said she never met anyone else like her allergic to Bananas either! 

The Waitress near the Location by my Gym said she wasn't always allergic to Bananas and developed the allergy just a Year ago, and broke out horribly and thought she was gonna Die, so she'd not eaten a Banana since.  I looked it up and it's a rare allergy affecting only .04% to 1.2% of the total population.  So, that makes it an even rarer coincidence to meet Two Gals in a Week, working at the same Restaurant Chain, with such a rare allergy!!!  So, they each said they'd love to try this new French Toast, coz it looks and smells so good, but can't due to the Banana allergy.  The other Gal was also allergic to Mangoes.  There's a "Trader Joe's" Grocery Store by the "First Watch" Restaurant so I did some Essentials shopping too coz their price on Cheese, Milk, Eggs, Pre-Made Individual Specialty Salads and Fresh Fruit is better than anywhere else.  It's a brand new Store and I love it being so much closer to Home coz I like "Trader Joe's".  Can't wait for the Westside "Whole Foods" to open soon too.

I got a little carried away at SAVERS coz they had so much good quality Merch hitting the Floor.  For Resale I got a 1972 Cathy Quick Curl Doll in her original Outfit, her Bloomers were missing but her Panties weren't.  I'll make about a $40 Profit off her.   I got Three Black Leather Binders filled with Music CD's for only $7 each, many of the CD's Signed by the Artist, the Leather Binders are worth far more than that and each holds about 40+ CD's and there's so many good ones in there of Music I like.  I still play CD's even tho' sadly, newer Vehicles no longer have a CD Player built into them.  Otherwise I'd be listening to them while driving.  Instead now I have to pay a Monthly Fee for Sirius on my Radio which has various genres of Music streamed.  They did away with my fav SPA Music Station this Year so now I've had to find an Easy Listening Jazz Music Station to listen to while driving.  Personally I'd rather go back to listening to my CD's for Free and Songs of my own choice.  The Binders originally had been Sold at "White Dove Thrift Shop" in Phoenix.  And what's Funny is at first I thought it said "White DAVE Thrift Shop"!   And thought, what an unusual Choice!  *LMAOROTF*

I got a local 1976 High School Yearbook for about $3... a 1950's Era Book all about Hawaii and the Products of that Era from Hawaii's various Islands for about $2... and one of the "Then & Now" Books covering the City of Atlanta for about $2, those "Then & Now" Books Sell well at the Antique Mall, I have a Las Vegas one to bring in to the Showroom too with this one of Atlanta.  I'm Keeping the 1950's Era Book about Hawaii, it's got so much good Imagery in it of Hawaii back then and also the Hawaiian Collectibles Market of that Era, Cartoon Graphics of Hawaii from that Era, Tiki Style which was very Popular during the 1950-1960's Era.  I got Princess T an oversized Pokemon Sleeping Jigglypuff Plush and her Brother desperately wants to talk her out of it so he can have it.  *LOL*  Even if neither of them wanted it, I could have easily Sold it for around $20 or more, anything Pokemon Sells.  {She gave it to her Brother, she already had this one as it turns out, so now he's happy. LOL}

Below is that Book of 1950's Hawaii, loaded with Cute Kitschy Graphics and Hawaiian Collectibles, Old Photos from that Era taken of Tourism and the Islands.  I haven't been to Hawaii since the late 1980's and would Love to go back, not only to Kauai, where we Honeymooned, but also to other Islands we haven't visited yet.  We came in to Oahu, too Urban where we were, preferred Rural Hawaii in the less crowded Island that was very Natural and Tropical still.   Now Kauai has around 73,000 residents, the population was around 49,000 when we were there in the late 1980's.   I'd like to visit Maui too and perhaps the Big Island of Hawai'i.   Kauai actually exceeded my expectations of what a true Paradise looks like.  I have wanted to go back and spend more time there on a Vacation now I'm Retired. 

Princess T cooked our Steaks when she got Home from Work, they were buttery tender and delicious, they're the Filet Mignon I got 50% Off recently.  With Beef being 30% or more higher priced, people aren't buying it, they're buying cheaper proteins instead, so then they have to mark the Beef way down to get rid of it in time.  So, for those Carnivores among you who are lamenting they can't afford Steaks now, look for the markdowns of Beef that wouldn't Sell at the inflated prices, especially the best cuts of it, you might be pleasantly surprised that it will be cheaper marked down than it was prior to the increases.  You can Thank me later.  *Winks*  I'm strategizing how best to feed a Family of Six Adults now on our Fixed Income and the only Two working having only Minimum Wage Part-Time Hour Work.  

 

I'm frugal but it is a challenge and we have to pool our resources to ensure good nutrition doesn't fall by the wayside and lasts the entire Month.  We'll be Okay coz we aren't among the Poor or most disadvantaged in America,  many of whom may be going Hungry and not have enough to eat.   Both The Man and I Retired from Successful Careers and Invested well while we were Employed.   I do still eat out, I Budget for that and usually pay for it with my Recycling Money from doing Environmental Cleanup.  I just know now everything is costing much more and so it is a hardship upon every American Family to have to pay that much more for Essentials.  We're not talking about Luxuries, discretionary items or Vacations, but ESSENTIALS: Food, Water, Housing, Utilities, Hygiene items, Gas and Transportation, Clothing, Healthcare, Medicines prescribed to stay or get well or even keep you Alive.  All have increased dramatically due to Man Made Problems caused by this Administration and their poor, Egocentric, or reckless decisions. 

Tho' I did get my Workout done Today, and some Shopping done also... I never did get to the Antique Mall to foof our Showroom for the Weekend. I didn't get any new Merch Priced to put in either.  I meant to, but it's 108 Degrees again and it sapped my strength and stamina to be out and about in it, high Heat Advisory Warnings are in place, so I paced myself and prioritized what was more essential to do.  A few times my Truck's Temperature Gauge read 113, the "Official" Temps are always much lower than the actual Temps around the City... so the "Official" was 108, I knew it felt Hotter than that even without looking at my Temperature Gauge Reading telling me it was.  There's actually a significant Wind, but being it's that Hot, it's like standing in front of a Hair Dryer on High and isn't the least bit Cooling.   However, Arizona is pretty Year Round and we have some of the most gorgeous Sunrises and Sunsets I've seen anywhere else in the World that we've lived.  Below are some Pixs Talented Local Photographers took of a Rare occurrence the other day:

There was a "Blue Moon" the other Night, but I missed seeing it and was glad some local Photographers captured it magnificently thru the Eye of their Lens.  I've included a Trio of my Fav Pixs a Local and very Talented Photographer took of it and Shared on Social Media.  I don't know why it's called a 'Blue' Moon coz it looks more Bright Silvery Yellow to me?   But I guess the term isn't literal or by color more than by rare occurrence, thus the Phrase coined "Once In A Blue Moon".  So, that settles the Mystery for me when I Googled it so my Inquiring Mind would know Why.  Now I know.  *Smiles*   Tomorrow both Kiddos have to Work but other than that I don't have anything on the Calendar so I may go to one of the larger Mountain County Parks really early to enjoy being out in Nature before the Heat of the day hits, do some Environmental Cleanup, mebbe have a Picnic Lunch alfresco.

I Loved these Pendants made out of Old Silverware Handles.  The addition of the Stones and Bling was a nice Touch, I'd Buy something like this, especially those Three with the larger Oval Turquoise Stones.  It was just on my algorithm Feed on FB and didn't link with the Artisan who makes them, which is a pity, I'd of liked to have gone to the Link to see what they're charging and which ones they have For Sale.   It was just a FB Craft Ideas Page it linked to so I guess they were just giving Ideas to make these yourself, which, that ain't happening.  *LOL*  It's not that I probably couldn't, but, I just never will is all.  So, I'd just wanna Buy one from an Artisan who does this... and give a small Business or Crafter my support.  My Friend Lilia Creates Jewelry out of Old Silverware, so I sent her this Pix coz it made me think of her Creations and if she makes some, I'd Buy one.

This is a sweet little Statuary from my Friend Myko's Collection, I miss her Spaces at our Antique Mall, she has the most amazing Merch.  She moved back Home to Washington State.  I miss so many of the previous Vendors, we were more connected back then than Vendors seem to be now.  And they Sold the really Good Stuff back then too... so you had more to talk about the Industry than with current Vendors, many of whom Sell just anything and not always Quality.   Plus the Newbie Vendors generally don't stay long like the previous ones did, so you don't get to really know any of them before they're gone already.  Most of the previous Vendors now have either got out of the Game and aren't in the Industry anymore, Moved away, or Passed Away now.  So few of us long time Vendors left who were there in the Beginning or have done this for Years now.  Even here in The Land Of Blog there's fewer Antique Mall Vendors and Pickers Blogs now, covering what we do and the Events.  I miss that too.

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Happy Summer my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian