Mixed Bipolar Episode Flipping To A Manic High Finally?

 Having Insomnia again Tonight, but, I had Napped off and on thruout the Day, so that's probably Why, I've thrown my Internal Clock all out of whack with Napping?!  I fell Asleep watching the Boomerang Channel which has Vintage Cartoons.  I particularly enjoyed old Episodes of "The Jetsons" {1962-1963}, always a favorite when I was Younger.  A lot of what they had in that Cartoon has come to pass now and has been Invented!!!  It had a very short run as a Classic Cartoon tho', just Seven Months, late September of 1962 to mid March of 1963, but they did produce New Episodes from 1985-1987.  The Futuristic Year it was set in was 2062, it will be Interesting then when 2062 rolls around, how much more of what that Cartoon had will have been actually Invented?  Something so short-lived in Production to become so Iconic and Timeless, is really something tho'.  Even the Mid-Century Mod Furnishings of the Cartoon came to pass!

It turned out to be a beautiful Day on Tuesday, but I only went out to pick up The Granddaughter from Work and make a short Essential Grocery run down the Street, that's all.  But inside I did go thru my entire Closet and purge Shirts I no longer will Keep and will Sell in our Showroom.  I only had one not worthy to Sell that will just be Donated.  My Clothing never looks Worn Out coz I have an extensive Wardrobe of T-Shirts, so could wear something different every Day of the Year really.  I have less in the way of Pants and Dressy Clothing now, Purged a lot of that a long time ago after Retiring from the Corporate Grind.  Have so few places I'd ever go to need Business or Fancy Attire now.  I don't go to Weddings and actually don't like attending Funerals.  Can't recall last time I had to go anywhere that requires Formal Wear.  I still have to go thru my Racks of T-Shirts in The Art Studio Space.  Our Closets in this Home are not large and we're Sharing a lot of Space too.

So, anyway, so far, just out of my Closet, I got Two Banana Boxes full of nice T-Shirts that either weren't a good fit anymore or I hardly wore, so might as well Sell.   I Suspect the Racks in the Art Studio Space, Two of them, might glean another 1-2 Banana Boxes of Inventory to Resell.  So, we'll be Good for Fresh Merch now for a while and our Clothing in the Showroom is a Top Seller.  It was a good Call of Princess T for us to move in that direction since the Antiques Market is Deaded, and only Collectible Toys and Clothing are moving easily there now. We have more of a Demographic Shopper that is under 25 tho' so that makes perfect sense.  I like that we have more Younger Customers than Older ones, it bodes well for the Future and they tend to spend more and don't make Offers, they just pay what you're asking.  And, they happen to like our Aesthetic and say so all of the time, that our Space is one of their Favs and a Destination when they come to the Mall.  

You know, it took me a Minute to realize MY Customer was mostly now the Age of my Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren!  *LOL*  The only Middle Aged Customers I have now buy the Crafting and Paper Arts Vintage Supplies that they can't find in the Major Craft Stores.  Most of the Rubber Art Stamps I Sell are from Retired Lines and haven't been Produced in a very long time, so, qualify as Vintage Supplies.  I didn't even realize there were Collectors of Vintage Art Stamps, but, there are.  I've been a Collector of them for Years, I didn't think it was a 'Thing' tho' and I used a lot of my Collection of Art Supplies to Create stuff.  But, there are folks who just Collect it and aren't Artists or serious Crafters, who knew?  They are like little miniature Works of Art tho', so, I can see the Appeal.  And some could qualify as Cross-Collectibles by what Characters or Images are on the Stamps.  I Sell a LOT of Rubber Art Stamps on Wood, and the Silicon Art Stamps too.

As more Paper Arts Indie Shops Closed Up, and even some Big Box Crafting Stores have now Closed Up, I've Sold even more of that kind of thing and have more than even a "Hobby Lobby" or "Michaels" offers.  I recall when the Indie Shops for Crafting abounded, Antique Stores too, now so few are left that it's a shame.   Some Big Chain Antique Malls are Opening this Year tho' Locally, and some Vendor Friends have already Signed Up for Space there.  And the more Popular ones still seem to be thriving and have no shortage of Tenants.  So, I don't think the Industry will fold, but it will continue to evolve and morph with the Times, as it should, in order to remain relevant and carry on.   As Tariffs might squeeze the Markets on what is being Produced Abroad, and not much is Made in America anymore to speak of... I think Resale might do better than ever?

While I was on the Sleepless Bender I Purged my Two Racks of T-Shirts in the Art Studio Space and ended up with another Banana Box full of what I'll Resell, so, Three Boxes of Tees Purged.  Now everything left either is much worn or not ready to part with, AND fits, I feel quite accomplished getting that done in a Day.   I do have some Non-Casual Wardrobe to look thru next, but it's not a lot I have of that genre of Wardrobe anymore.  It has Sold Well tho' when I Purge any Dressier Wardrobe coz it's very Boho, which is Trending right now.  And, most of it is One-Size-Fits-All and are those Open Knee Length Tops that fit over a Solid Tank-Top, Dressier, yet comfortable and not so Casual.  I do still wear that kind of thing from time to time when I wanna play Dress up.  *Winks and LOL*  The Daughter has washed all the Clothes that belong to The Grandson, not knowing if they were Clean or not?  He didn't show up with much so was wearing my Shirts mostly, which, he likes.

Now that I got all that Done, I do feel Motivated and Energized to do more!  So, mebbe my Mixed Bipolar Episode is Flipping to a Manic High finally?  *Whew and LOL*  I NEED for it to after this prolonged Funk of a Bipolar Depressive Bipolar Episode Low hit me like a Ton of Bricks!  Ugh, HATED it!!!  *Smiles*  I don't do the Lows real Well... not that I think anyone does actually???  *LOL*   It's a tough Space to Hold.  And not knowing when you'll snap out of it gets tedious and makes me Restless, coz, I'm still fucking ADHD and Hyper, yet, also Despondent and give No Fucks... so that's a raging Internal Battle going on.   ADHD works Well with Mania, they're copacetic.  *Ha ha ha*   Now there's a Word from the Sixties if ever there was one we overused back then... copacetic.  *Winks*  I was thinking back on Hippie Slang of the Era that you just never hear anymore... and Dates you terribly if you do.  *Winks*

And... Okay, so The Man LOVES the New "Hawaii Five-O" TV Show, but, they happened to have an Original "Hawaii Five-O" on while he was binge watching it.  The one with Jack Lord, from the Sixties and Seventies, I think it was a Wrap by 1980, "Book 'em Danno", and all that.   Funny they called it a Classic "Drama", coz it's fucking hilarious to watch now.  And SO NOT PC, you'd never do Today what they were doing on that Show that would get you Cancelled for damned Sure now becoz it's so inappropriate and offensive.  I had forgotten that rather than hire Asian Actors, they often had White Actors with their Eyes Tapes and Makeup to make them Crazily Appear "Asian"!!!   OMG, Yeah, as Offensive as Blackface, and that Episode had it, it was Awful, and I'm Gasping, yet, also LMAO, coz, you'd never see that these days as Serious and being remotely Okay, Thank God!!!   Now, Growing Up I was used to seeing Native Americans always depicted by Non-Indigenous Actors and very Offensively too, HATED it and found it Offensive!

My Dad had a Dark Sense of Humor so it never bothered him and he wouldn't 'Take' the Offense offered by such inappropriateness of the Times.  In fact, he thought it hilarious that the "Most Famous" Native American on TV "Iron Eyes Cody", was actually a Sicilian!  But made his entire Career out of playing and portraying himself as an Indian and having that Commercial with the Tear about being Ecologically Saddened.   His actual given Name was Espera Oscar de Corti, born to Italian Immigrant Parents.   He claimed Indigenous Heritage tho' right up to his Death, but his True Ethnicity and Origin was revealed near his Death.  My Dad always looked at that Actor and said, "He's no Indian, he looks Paisano to me."  *LOL*  Dad was Right and spot on about the True Ethnicity of the Actor.   The hilarity being, at the time we lived in a Predominantly Sicilian, Italian, Portuguese Community, but they all thought that Actor was actually an Indian!!!   How ironic, huh?  *LMAOROTF*

As you can see I'm still relying heavily on mostly Cribbed Images, but, not all, hoping to get some Pathological Picture Taking done this Week when I attend an Event and have some Fresh Imagery of my own to Share instead.  I Love Photography and taking Pixs, so always have a Camera on me, but lately, haven't had anywhere to go to indulge in Photography.   Yeah, I could go poncing around the House, RV Garage Mahal taking random Pixs of my Stuff, but, haven't done much of that either.  Haven't done much of anything while in my Funk, so glad it seems to be lifting finally.  I'm finally even feeling Sleepy and may actually catch a couple Hours of Z's before having to Wake Up and take Princess T to Work.

I slept until past Noon, from having Insomnia 'til about Four in the Morning, so, I did get my Z's in AFTER taking Princess T in to Work.  She doesn't have to be there 'til 7:00 a.m. on a Wednesday, so I got about an Hour of Sleep before taking her and Five after taking her, that's quantifying as a full Night's Sleep, No?  *Bwahahahaha*   I've got my "Sorry About Our President" T-Shirt on that's in about 14 different Languages, people always tell me how much they like this Shirt when I'm out and about wearing it.   After Purging my Closet I found lots of good Shirts I forgot I even had!!!   Do you ever do that too?  Have some Shirts or other Clothing that you tend to default to within easy reach and habit, yet a lot of great Wardrobe you aren't wearing and will, once you are reminded they're even there!?   I sorted it all when going thru it to be more Organized by Color and Graphics, coz I'm OCD like that.  *Winks*

I know I've rehashed the above Photo before of a piece of Art that always makes me Smile and I just Love, by an Unknown Master, who Signed it but is probably some obscure Artist nobody will ever know of, even tho' they're very good and likely a proverbial Starving Artist, as most are.   The countenance on the Face is how I often Feel on the Inside, so I can relate to the ambiguity of the Expression, which conveys a lot more than one Sentiment to me personally.   I do Wonder if the Artist had a sitting Model of a Real Person they Painted?   And I do Like what the Artist captured in the Essence of his/her Subject matter of a Proud Old Indigenous Warrior, whose seen and probably endured too much to have any other kind of Countenance and Expression really when being asked to Pose.  The Kiddos Joked that hey, that Guy has your Nose, Squared Off Jawline, Lips, Eyes and Cheekbones, is he a Relative?  *Bwahahaha*  Could be, who knows?  *LMAO*

And this one of me is always a favorite coz it's how I Feel most Days!   And that Boulder represents the insurmountable Obstacles the Issues of Life put in my way all the fucking time, so I gotta find a way over or around them some kinda way?!   *Smiles and Winks*    Princess T has been getting off Work way early, they're no longer getting Full Time Hours.  They just don't have the Work for them to do for a full shift now!  And, she and I noticed, when Goodwill Hunting, that the Two "Goodwill" Stores we went to were extremely low on all Inventory.   Half the Shelves and Racks were empty!!!  So, Donations must be way down? So, we were picking her up before 1:00 p.m. and usually she's supposed to get off at 3:30 p.m., so that's considerably reduced Hours daily and makes a difference to a Minimum Wage Earner.  She lives at Home but some Employees are trying to support themselves independent of Family.

   One of her Favorite Co-Workers, whose become a Friend and we often give Rides Home to, just found out she has Brain Cancer!   And they lost their Townhouse, she doesn't have Transportation to and from Work, and the Husband is already acting like he's not All In.  She's really concerned for this Friend, a really Sweet Young Woman, it's a lot to be dealing with all at once, I had no Words.  It was so tragic to learn of since I'd given this Young Lady rides Home after work from time to time so she didn't have to Walk when Weather was bad.   We bought a Pizza for Brunch, since none of us had eaten Breakfast or Lunch yet by the time I was picking her up.  We laughed at the above Pepper Shaker with One Hole!  Saying we Need one of those for Grandpa's Salt, you get One Grain at a time!!!  *Bwahahahahaha*  We'd seriously never seen a One Hole Shaker Top for Salt/Pepper Shakers before!!!  When she tipped it, sho' nuff One Grain of Pepper at a time comes out!!!  *LOL*

While we were there The Son and I were noticing that Two Young Fat Girls sitting at a nearby Table were throwing Princess T some Serious Shade coz she had on a Cute Crop Top on and looked Adorbs in the rest of her Outfit.  And the Guys who Work at the Pizza Parlour were flirting in jest with her, as they always do.  Princess T noticed it too, the Hard Looks they were giving her and then overhearing them throwing Shade out of Jealousy with snarky comments.  *LOL*  I just said, rather loudly as we exited with our Take-Out Pizza, "Well, if they didn't eat a whole Pizza, they could look Cute too...", as we left... and both The Son and The Granddaughter burst out Laughing coz they knew those Two had heard me Fat Shame them.  I intended for them to, don't throw your envious Jealous Shade at my Grandbaby just coz you can't control your intake of Food, or I'll Snap right back at ya and hurt your One Bitchy Shade Throwing Little Feeling without giving a Fuck.  *Winks and Cackles*

Anyway, I got one Slice and then it got devoured by the hungry Hoard here at the House, everyone had someone over so the X-Large didn't last long.  *LOL*   The Man and I went out to do Environmental Cleanup coz it was a lovely Weather day all day.  We found a bunch of Old Vintage Yard Equipment, Shovels and Hoes, with fancy engravings on the Metal like they used to make them back in the Old Days.  I think we Scored 7 of them from an illegal dumping site near someone's Agricultural Field that we do a lot of Cleanup at coz it's near the River where People also come to Fish and sadly, also trash quite often.   We Scored a Collection of big and small Baseball and Pool Trophies and Medals someone had dumped too. {See Below}  Not really Vintage, but quite nice ones and Trophies Sell well for just Displays.  I personally Collect Antique Loving Cup Trophies in real Silver and Bronze. 

 

It was enjoyable but after 3:00 p.m. The Man starts having Sundowners and fading fast, so I brought him back Home before he deteriorated and wasn't having Fun anymore.   He got enuf Cardio in for the Day and it got him up and happily moving around for a couple Hours of Exercise, that doesn't seem like I'm Exercising him, so he's enjoying it.  *Winks*  I did have Humana send me literature on which Gyms take their Silver Sneakers program but it's not a Gym I want to sign up at so I won't bother, I'll keep my Paid Membership at Lifetime and The Man doesn't even want a Gym Membership anymore, he didn't really utilize the one he had enuf to make it worthwhile.  At least I know I can get a Membership Paid by Medicare Advantage if I want one anytime I can't pay for one, if that ends up Budget-Wise too challenging.

Anyway, Princess T and Rusty left to go do their Thing, each holding the last Slices of Pizza.  *LOL*   The Man came out of the Kitchen with the Empty Box just after we got Home and Rusty helped us unload everything out of the Truck, and said, "Hope you weren't hungry Honey?"  *Bwahahaha*   The Daughter and Mando had a Guest too, a 7 Month Preggy one, so, I hadn't expected that Pizza to last 'til we got back and The Man had One Slice too before we left, that's all I figured we'd get of it anyway.   Ah well, I have Salad in the Fridge and usually something like a Slice of Pizza is enuf Food for The Man and I a Day anyway as a Major Meal, we have very little Appetite being both on Ozempic now for the Diabetes Management.   It's no Wonder Weight Loss is a handy Side Effect and Bonus of taking that Drug, and some folks take it only for Weight Loss, coz you never feel Hungry while on it and have to remember to Eat!!!

I'm almost under 200 Lbs. now, with a Goal set to get to 160, and don't wanna get below 157 if I can help it or I'd look too Fragile at this Age.  Too much Weight Loss on the Elderly makes them look Frail and Unhealthy, plus, Older looking, coz no Fat to fill out the Wrinkles and mebbe too much loose Skin.   Who wants Bat Wings, Turkey Neck and Hound Dog Tits, not I!  Yuk and Shudder!   Right now, I still look perfectly well Maintained and Tightened Up Naked and I'd like to keep it that way, Thank You!   *Bwahahahaha and Winks*   Sorry if that Visual is now seared into your Psyche... like it did for that Poor Young Pool Boy who quit, when he accidentally showed up whilst I was Skinny Dipping and got The Full Monty!   Brad the Pool Company Owner, tho' Hot and Young too, now has to Clean our Pool coz of that "Incident".  *Bwahaha*

Listen, Nudity doesn't bother us Hippies, Young or Old, and we have Zero Inhibitions or Hang Ups about it.   But American Society has always been quite Uptight about Nudity, while not as Uptight about Violence, go figure!   I think the Europeans have it Right in that they Censor Violence more strictly than they do Nudity.   My Welsh Nanna thought it very Strange that Americans seemed Okay with exposure to Violence while Clutching their Pearls about Nudity.   Nanna and Mom were very Bohemian and not at all Ashamed of the Human Body, if not Pornographic, they didn't think Natural Nudity was the Big Deal that most Americans made it out to be.   When I go to The Gym, in the Ladies Changing Room you can always tell the Hippies, the European and Asian Gals, coz like me, they have no Inhibitions and don't Hide in those little Closets to get Changed.  *LOL* 

I remember during Orientation at the DA's Office, you had to Tour the Jail also and the Medical Examiner's Offices, which both are right across the Street from the Prosecutor's Offices.  Well, a lot of the Inmates try to Shock the Newbies doing the Tour by flashing themselves, especially the nastier uncouth Guys.   It would shock a lot of the Newbies and make them very uncomfortable, and I personally just Smiled and Laughed, which always prompted them to then just put it away, not getting the desired effect.   It conveys, I'm not "New", just a New Hire and I've seen it all before and yours ain't that Special Henny.   So, you're just looking Thirsty and desperate for Attention, why, didn't you get shown enough Attention as a Child?   So, Act like a Man instead of a Naughty Child!   Of coarse mebbe some of them Needed or might Like a good Spanking? *Winks and LMAOROTF* 

  And at the ME's Office we had many Newbies Faint or have to go into the Bathroom and toss their Cookies.   But, if they couldn't get used to all of that, you just knew they weren't gonna last at the DA's Office either and what you will See and Hear on a Daily Basis.  It takes a lot to Shock me or that I haven't seen or heard before.   Mebbe that's why None of this Administrations depravity, abhorrence or Cruelty is Shocking to me, just that they're allowing them to get away with it.   When we rid our Government of these Fuckers, I want every one of them to be Prosecuted for their Serious Crimes and get what they deserve.  Some of them should be Prosecuted Internationally at the Hague for War Crimes in fact, like we did to the Nazis after WWII.  Coz they're no better and the World shouldn't tolerate any of them and needs not be Charitable to any of them for all they've done Wrong, thinking themselves Above any Laws.

So, in Real Time it's Thursday Morning and I should be getting ready for "Sweet Salvage" but it's only 48 Degrees out there and I don't wanna arrive early and stand in Line when it's that Cold.  They don't Open 'til 10:00 and Princess T may get out around Noon again, and it's a One Hour Commute One Way to the Event, so, I'll be cutting it tight to both go, and pick her up from Work.  *Le Sigh*  Last Night I did Price Two Banana Boxes full of my Purged T-Shirts for the Showroom as I watched "Destination X" with The Man.  Sometimes that Show is interesting enuf for me to engage with it, they were looking for Skunk Apes in Florida and were in Europe's fabulous Castles doing Paranormal Research during these Episodes.  They were in Czech Castles this day, from the 1200's and still standing and Decorated!!!  Like stepping back in Time to see how the Elite Lived in the Years of the 1200's!!!

Did you know that France has 45,000 Castles, Italy 20,000, then it drops down to 3,481 in Germany, 1,820 in Czechia, 1,500 in the United Kingdom, 1,459 in Spain, 1,240 in Belgium, 802 in India and drops way down from there.  So, you can see which Countries both held most of the Wealth and were the ones needing the most Fortresses like a Castle.  We do have what can be quantified as Castles in the U.S. but of coarse they're not that Old as the rest of the World, by far... and certainly not Medieval, which are the most Stunning looking IMO.   When I think of a Castle, I think of Medieval Structures rather than a Mansion, Historic  Fort, or French Chateau, which can be still impressive, but, don't conjure up 'Castle' to me.   Some Historic American Prisons look the most like European Castle Architecture, but haven't held up as well even tho' they're only a fraction of the Age.   Syria boasts the Oldest Castle and it's still being continuously used.

So, enuf about Castles, tho' viewing them on TV or in Person is quite a Treat.   Sometimes I do Wonder why I'm so drawn to Old Buildings as Passionately as I am?   They seem strangely more Familiar to me than anything Modern ever has and I have Zero attachments to, no matter how Nice a Modern Building might be.   I don't even mind if they're not Modernized and I have to live with the lack of Modernization, like I did in my Historic Home, which, was kinda stuck in the early 1920's in the way of Conveniences and hadn't been at all Modernized.  Mr. Avila is Modernizing it some now for his Tenants that occupy it, by necessity since he's using as Income producing Properly now.  But, had I remained, I would have continued Restoration, but NOT Modernization of any of it, on purpose.   The Kiddos concurred that we didn't have NEED of any Modern Conveniences while living there, so, we were Fine living like it was 1920.  We're Weirdos like that.  *Ha ha ha*

I Woke with a splitting Headache, which isn't going away, plus Princess T whined that she may get off by Noon and if I'm at my Event, how is she gonna get Home?  *Le Sigh*  So, I'm thinking of aborting the Event for Opening Day of it and waiting to see if I can attend on one of the later of the Four Days like I did before?   I had to do that last Month, for similar Reasons of not feeling 100%.   And I do have a lot of Inventory to work on for my own Showroom.  I only have One more Banana Box of Shirts to Price and then all Three will be ready for when I have room for Fresh Merch in the Showroom.     It's not enjoyable or relaxing of me to go to an Event if I feel Rushed.  The whole point of going is to enjoy and relax.  With her reduced Hours it's sucking coz I never know when she's getting off Work now and it impacts my planning and Schedule.  Plus, she's earning less and at Minimum Wage, that's frustrating her too.

 
*******

Ah well, Curses, Foiled Again... Dawn... The Bohemian

Beating The Funk Of The Bipolar Blues

 The Son Streamed some Dark Comedy from his Phone to our TV, better than NetFlix and Free, so, now we'll probably resort to using that and other Freebies rather than a Paid Subscription.   I like watching various Comedians and their Routines, especially the edgy ones, like this Young Comedian is, Anthony Jeselnik, who has a very Dark Comedy Style.  If you'd be easily offended or a Pearl Clutcher, he wouldn't be for you tho', ironic misdirection and amoral stances is his schtick.  Of coarse we appreciate inappropriate Dark Humor more than most, so thoroughly enjoyed it, hadn't seen this Special before of his.

I was gonna price more Inventory and get more done Tonight, but got sidetracked watching the Comedy with The Son, The Daughter, and Mando.  The Man was watching his NCIS reruns, which he can never get enough of.  He rarely wants to watch something he's not already seen before now.  I think his Brain now has difficulty processing New information, so it's comforting to have anything repetitive instead and self-soothing.  But I can only watch something mebbe Twice before, Enough already for me.  But, he really does enjoy his reruns and since I don't watch much TV, I'm Fine with him monopolizing a TV while I do other things.

His VA Nurse comes to the Home Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., we still don't know how long we'll have her, Twice a Month now is what has been Authorized at least thru January.   And that's been good, the Home Nurses sorted out a lot of things I Needed more Help with, especially getting his Medications sorted out and taking his Vitals with better equipment than we have at Home, which avoids him having to be dragged to Doc Appointments more often, which can be upsetting to him and agitate him.  He likes his Nurse and tho' he does Wind himself up some with a measure of Anxiety each visit, it's less than if he had to go to the VA Clinic more often.  Easier on me too.

The Kiddos will once again have to take him to see his VA Doc on the 19th, coz I have to take Princess T to her Dental Surgeon for her consultation to remove Wisdom Teeth that same Morning.  Our Calendar has begun to get very full again, so I'm glad I have backup from Home to cover some of it for me, I can't be Two places at once.  My own Appointments are less often, but I do have some.  We're trying to pack in most of Princess T's Appointments before her State Provided Insurance from the Adoption might run out when she turns 21 in September?  I don't know if she'll then have to re-apply for herself?

While we were having our Girl's Day Out I was looking for a Winter Jacket for myself and by pure Serendipity found this Black Air Brand Varsity Letterman's Style Jacket with Bones down the Sleeve for $16.  Princess T did a Google Lens of it, she didn't like the Jacket but we both sensed it had Resale Value, it Sells for around $75-$90.  But, it was in my Size and I thought it Quirky and Warm enuf to Keep for myself, it fits like a Glove and is so Warm and comfortable too.  I was Jazzed to find one so quickly, in my Size, affordable, and unusual enuf I'd Like it. I wasn't familiar with this Brand, they seem Popular Online tho' and have a good looking Men's Line.  You get familiar with various Brands that are New to you, but popular with the Younger Generations, when you have a Multi-Generational Household.  Otherwise most of these Brands would remain unknown to me.  *Smiles*

 I don't wear a lot of Winter Wear coz here in the Desert, it's rarely necessary, you can wear Sandals Year Round here and Short Sleeves and Summery Pants most of the time.  The Man never wears long Pants anymore.  I don't know he even owns a Jacket that fits?  He never feels Cold... he runs Hot Naturally.  I quit trying to dress him for the Weather coz I thought to myself, why should I make him wear a Jacket coz I'M Cold?  *LOL*    Anyway, I've got to go thru my Wardrobe and purge some items I hardly ever wear and just Sell or Donate them.  Princess T is in the Process of doing the same.  We already did The Man's Closet and Purged his excess, he has his few favorite things and to get him into anything else becomes a Battle I don't wanna wage daily.  I choose my Battles wisely.  Unlike this Prez whose Fighting with literally everyone!  What's Wrong with that Guy that he's so Angry, Hateful and Hostile?

I swapped out some Front Porch Decor now for a Seasonal Change.  I didn't really have any Valentine's Day or Easter Wreaths and such in mind, so just hung a Wreath with faux Lemons on it and an Antique Bronze Patriotic looking Figure on the Outdoor Entry Table, which is a converted Vintage Striped 1920-1930's Era Suitcase.  It'll do.  I'm getting The Man Showered and tidied up for his Nurse's Home Visit so he'll be Fresh as a Daisy.  *Smiles*  That's the other Battle often waged, to get him to practice his appropriate hygiene now he has Dementia, it wasn't as challenging with the TBI, somewhat, now it's always met with resistance coz he thinks he does things regularly that he has not. 

 So when you have him to do it, he'll say he JUST did and doesn't wanna do it again and resists.   But Hell, it could have been Days ago he's recalling something he thinks he JUST did.  An Argument then ensues unless you Finesse the Situation.  I ease into it rather than Argue and say, well, another Shower with a different Shirt might make you feel even better and isn't that a good way to start our Day and you'll Smell so good and look so Handsome?  So, he's in the Shower voluntarily and without resistance, and I Spirited away the Shirt he had on and sometimes swap out a Shirt he hasn't worn in Ages as if it's from his Favorites pile.  *Winks*  That way he's not always wearing One of a few and looking like he doesn't own an actual Wardrobe of options that can't last a full Week without doing Laundry.  *Smiles and Shhhhush, our Secret!*

Why Yes, I DO have to be Sly like a Fox around here to get cooperation, that they think is their Idea now, and so they'll go along with it sometimes.  Princess T and I were discussing it candidly on our Girl's Day Out coz she's my Wingman most of the time with her Grandpa since he is reluctant to give her any Mess either.  *LOL*  She thinks sometimes he does it with me more for the added Attention, and she could be Right about that, I sense he sometimes does it too for that reason.  Like Kids will, they don't Care if it's Positive Attention or Negative Attention, so long as it's extra Attention.   And he Likes my Attention and if it's focused on something else or someone else he starts Acting Up more.   We've all noticed it and the Kiddos will say, we think he wants YOU... and Princess T Laughs and says she often does it too when she only wants ME.  *LMAO and Le Sigh*  Sometimes it's not a Positive to be so WANTED.  *Winks*

I don't think I'd be as Wanted if I was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted fucking List!?!  *Ha ha ha*   Anyway, since The Man is becoming resistant to having his Beard Trimmed and Groomed now, I told him I might start Braiding it up for him.   I was watching an "American Pickers" Older Episode and there was a Quirky Character named Bobo who had thick White Hair and a long White Beard down to his Bellybutton and in a single Braid, it didn't look Bad.  I could Live with that just Fine, doing that with The Man's Whiskers to keep it Tidier and him from pulling the Hairs out when he's Anxious, by tugging on it.  He gets Anxiety a LOT now with the Dementia and I'll have Beard Hairs everywhere he's pulled out.  He can't pull on it when it's trimmed Shorter, so, he doesn't want it Shorter.  So a Braid might Work, we'll see?  *Smiles*

We got Great News for The Daughter, her State Approved Healthcare just notified her they will cover Dental!!!   Hallelujah!   She needs a lot of Dental Work and of coarse with no Income or ability to Work, can't have it done otherwise.   She used to have gorgeous Teeth that I shelled out a lot of Money on when she was Younger, with Braces and Corrective Dental for a Jaw Issue she had and at the time I was a Corporate Executive with good Benefits.  So, could afford the very best for my Kiddos and pay out of Pocket for what wasn't Covered.  About Six Grand of her Dental back then wasn't Covered and I Paid it and she had the most Amazing Teeth and Beautiful Smile.  Of coarse, Decades of Homelessness, Serious Mental Health Decline, and Drug Abuse, destroyed her Teeth and Health.  So, she's very self-conscious of that and embarrassed, regretful.

Now perhaps she can get deferred Dental Work taken Care of properly and have a better Smile again and be able to Eat Foods easier too, which will improve overall Health and Well Being Physically and Emotionally.  Dental Work can be so prohibitively expensive, but I've always kept up on mine and now Medicare Advantage gives me a very generous amount Annually to pay for Dental Care and any Dental Needs or Emergencies I may have in my Old Age.  Cosmetically I always wanted Whiter Teeth but my Teeth aren't Naturally very White.  And I had my Dentist explain to me that your Teeth never should NOT match the Whites of your Eyes {Sclera}.  The Whites of your Eyes and your Teeth should Naturally be about the same, I didn't know that.  Now I look for that and realize, Wow, that's True!  People with Naturally very White Teeth also have very Whites of their Eyes as well that Match!!!

I do drink a lot of Coffee, Teas and Soda, so, that isn't Helpful I'm sure for Staining Teeth.  But I practice vigilant Dental Care and always have, even as a Child I was Fanatical about my Teeth and my Skin Care too.  It just seemed Important to me, even as a Child, and, that's been beneficial over Time, of coarse.  And quite Honestly, I've always vigilantly Exercised as well and enjoyed Fresh Foods more than Junk Foods, Fried Foods, or Processed and Sugary Foods.   I like Savory, Salty and Sour over Sweetness every time as a Flavor Profile.  

Anyway, The Daughter was Jazzed and now she can set up some Appointments and get her Dental Work Done while it's covered.   She's still not ready to venture to DES or Social Security to receive Benefits... it's intimidating to her and she gets very Paranoid about The Government out to 'Get' her.  Paranoid Schizophrenics have those Sentiments and Distrust about many things.  And let's face it, our Government right now isn't Helping quell those Fears in anyone!  Seems making Americans and Visitors to America Afraid is the New Administration's favorite past time, instilling Fear, Chaos, Uncertainty, and not feeling Safe on American Soil anymore!!! 

I don't Like it and this isn't what we should be all about or Represent, not here, not Worldwide either.  The Newest ridiculous Restrictions on Visiting the U.S. is gonna Kill Tourism Deader than Hell.  So, if you're in an Industry or Locale that relies on your International Tourism, you're gonna feel the Negative Impacts of all that nonsensical requirements they're imposing for us to Host International Guests.  I know during the Holidays we saw less International Visitors than ever and usually Arizona attracts Visitors from all over the Globe and it really stimulates our Local Economy with the infusion of a LOT of Cash spent by them.   About 10 Billion PLUS in Revenue has been Lost, due to the Pandemic and this Administration's Policies since 2020 in Arizona alone.   And the U.S. could Lose as much as $21 BILLION this Year alone, due to Negative impacts of what's going on now coming out of our White House. 

The next Event at "Sweet Salvage" with the Theme of "Refresh" is January 15th-18th, so, this Thursday.  They had a few Sneak Peeks on the Book of Faces Biz Page.   I virtually have no Budget for Shopping for any Non-Essential still, but will usually go for the Atmosphere and the Inspiration, plus visiting with Industry Friends.  I feel quite Out Of The Loop lately since I haven't even been going in regularly to our Antique Mall and spending Time Socializing there either.  I should, but I just haven't been able to squeeze it in, and when I could, haven't had the inclination to wanna be Social.  I've been in that Funk lately that isn't my Best Self and I know it, so have remained more Solitary until it Passes, which, it will, eventually.   Beating The Funk of The Bipolar Blues has to just be a Process for me tho', that I Move Through for however long it takes.   Days, Weeks... usually no longer than that for me... but it can be a Wild Ride of Highs and Lows.

Bipolar Lows happen and there's no 'Cure' for the Lows {Clinical Depression} or the Highs {Mania and being Manic} really.  I have more Mixed Episodes now I'm Older, I used to almost exclusively be on Manic Highs when Younger.   So the Bipolar Lows are not as Familiar to me to handle or move thru, I'm not as used to them, so they hit me harder than any Manic High ever did.  I don't mind the Mania, you can get so much done even tho' you will be very Intense and a little bit of you will go a very long way.  *Winks*   But the Lows make you harder to be around, IMO.  Coz I don't want People around me when I'm in a Funk and Feeling quite Negative and Agitated, coz I know I'm not Being my Best Self and being Solitary is better for everyone when I'm that way.  I can get quite vicious and intolerant of anything or anyone!  But I will Blog!  *Bwahahahaha and you all know which Posts THOSE are on a Bipolar Low Bender!*

You've probably noticed I'm on the steep Bipolar Low trajectory lately, by my Posts and Attitude?  *Winks*  The Family know it too, so nobody is inclined to wanna misbehave coz Manic Dawn is more Dawn Of The Light and on a Bipolar Low I can't as easily prevent Dark Dawn from coming out to Play and being more Dominant.  *Le Sigh*  Usually it just takes a Look and absolutely No Words from realizing, Ruh Roh, Dark Dawn is in Control and Dominant right now, let us not Go There with her.  *Smiles*  But, usually I remove myself voluntarily so nobody has to Deal with me until I get back to Center and Balanced somewhat, or at least, if not Balanced, on a Manic High that is much, much better for me and everyone else involved.   I much prefer that Side of myself and so does everyone else.  *Winks*  My Dark Side, NOT gonna be Pretty.

 

I'm having a nice Hot Cup of Coffee as I Blog and wait for The Man's Nurse's Visit.  I had intended to Price more Inventory so we could take it in to the Antique Mall too.  I might get around to it when I decide which Block of 15-20 Minutes Today I will Devote to it?  *Smiles*  Sometimes I go longer, depending on how I just Feel after a 20 Minute Stretch seems like it could be extended?  And that way I don't overwhelm or bottom out either, nor have Sensory Overload happening if I can't Focus and the Big Picture is too daunting to confront on The Panoramic Fisheye Lens of seeing it all and taking all that in?!  *Bwahahahahaha*  Trust and Believe, the Panoramic Fisheye Lens View around here is still way Too Much for anyone, even if you're quite Well.  *LMAO*   I watch a lot of Episodes of "American Pickers" coz most of those folks they Pick, are way worse off than me and that makes me Feel, mebbe I'm not so far gone?  Well, Mebbe?  *Bwahahaha*  That would be a highly Subjective Opinion.

My levels of Dysfunction and Weirdness is Visually evident as Abnormal, I ain't gonna Lie.   I happen to Like how I am, but want and Need to curb my Muchness.  It is very difficult and I'm a huge Work In Progress to attain that lofty Goal.   I'm doing a big load of Laundry right now, Blogging, and got the House Tidied, all at once, doing everything and nothing all at once is a Strength I possess in how scattered and ADHD/OCD I am all of the fucking time.   Even on a Bipolar Low, I'm very frenetic and my Mind still Spins like a Top that is Spinning Out of Control!!!  *Ha ha ha*  The Stroke of last December helped a little bit to slow some of that Down, but as I continue to Recover and my Brain is apparently Rewiring itself around the damaged Parts of my Brain from the Stroke, it's all coming back.

The Son is making Loaded Baked Potatoes and Jalapeno Cornbread for Lunch.  The VA Nurse is running a bit late and I think she's still coming?  We haven't had any Phone Cancellation anyway and it was Calendared for Today at 11:00 a.m..  So, we were trying to work Lunch around that and if she's too late she'll be here while we're eating, which, I can't help that.  Normally I wouldn't eat around a Visitor being here unless I invited them to join us in the Meal.  The one problem with Home Visits is you do have to work your Home Activities around such a Visit.  But, it's still so much easier and more convenient than going to Doc Offices, transporting someone whose difficult to take on The Road, and exposing yourself to potentially Sick People there during Contagions Season especially.  Keeping him as Healthy as possible, and myself, is a challenge now.

 

 

The VA Nurse left, I gave her some Holiday Tinned Belgian Cookies as a Gift, she was quite Moved by it.  We just Adore her and she said she always looks forward to our Visits.   I guess some Clients have an Issue with her Color and her Accent, and she told us that Today.  She's an African Immigrant from Nigeria, who fled Nigeria due to Religious persecution, Christians in that Country are often Murdered horribly.  Her English is fluent and perfect, but with her charming Native Language lilt to it of coarse.   A lot of our Nursing Home Caregivers, Nurses and Doctors now are Immigrated from Africa, India, Eastern Europe, and other various Asian Countries.  Not enough Americans are gravitating to those Fields anymore, so a lot of Hospitals actually Recruit from other Countries.

 I've always had excellent Experiences, so no Complaints of the level of Care and Expertise given.  But, I suppose if someone has personal prejudices and biases, it would explain why she Thanked us for NOT having an Issue with her Color or Accent.  It makes me Sad that she has had those Negative Experiences with Clients, she's professional, competent, and a Lovely Person who genuinely Cares about her Clients.  The Man has great Numbers again Today, 2nd visit in a row where he has, she was delighted and said his VA Primary Doc, Dr. Kline, also an Immigrant from Israel, with a Delightful Yiddish accent, will be pleased.  He sees Dr. Kline later this Month.   Dr. Kline is an Older Doctor and we Hope he never Retires.  *Ha ha ha*  You don't wanna Lose a good Healthcare Professional you've had a long time.  My Primary Doc is Transferring and I was distraught to hear it on my last Visit!!!  *Sob*

I could still see her but would have to commute to another one of their Offices in the Far Northwest Valley to do so and we're way Southwest here in the Valley, so, I don't know I will find that feasible or not?  The Problem being, she's also The Daughter and Princess T's Primary and they JUST got used to her and Like her!  *Le Sigh*  So, all Three of us would have to Hope any replacement at the Office we go to nearby would be a good fit, if we agree to change our Primary???   I'm feeling quite conflicted about changing my Doctor, when you find a really Good one, you don't wanna let them go.   She knows the Three Generations of the Women of our Family very well and our Healthcare Needs, she's also very Kind about those who have Mental Health Issues as well.

  Some Docs aren't as gracious, and have bias, if someone is SMI they wanna chalk up EVERYTHING Physically Wrong with their Mental Status, which is bullshit.  If someone has Mental Illness or Developmental Disabilities, they can still get fucking Sick Physically!!!   And it's not all imagined in their Head that they're Physically Unwell or can't convey what is Wrong if they're Non-Verbal or Mentally Challenged in any way!!!  And it should be taken as Seriously as with any other Patient.  They shouldn't be left to Physically suffer or Medically Neglected, just becoz they have a Mental Disability, it's Cruel and Inhumane.  But, it happens.   And you will get some folks who value the Lives of those with extreme Disabilities less than they value the Lives of those without that unfortunate Hand Dealt them.  It's a Monstrous bias to Devalue any Life as being less Worthy of Care.   But, Monstrous folks live among us and don't Value ALL Life.  And may not Value Yours?!!!??!

Anyway, our VA Home Nurse concurred that Medicare is all messed up, she's having trouble with her own Medicare now not wanting to Cover one of her Needed Medications anymore!!!   She has to have it, so is trying to Appeal the decision.  I told her I'm under Appeal right now for that Monthly Penalty Medicare is trying to Illegally impose upon me for not having Medicare Part D, when I'm ineligible to even have Medicare Part D, due to being Covered by TriCare For Life!!!   And Medicare knows full well I'm Covered by TriCare For Life, it's already in their damned System that I've been on it since I became Eligible for Medicare... and even before then!!!  I've been on TriCare Coverage since early 1989!  And you can't have Two Federal Programs!!!  So, it's just ridiculous incompetence at an Administration level going on it seems and they can't get it put Right.  Or mebbe they don't want to and are not trying to?

And she was saying many of her Clients are too Old or too Unwell Physically and/or Mentally, to Cope with or Deal with Medicare Problems that arise in their Coverage.   I have all my Faculties, know my Rights Legally, and still it is a Nightmare for me to Wade thru it all, so I can't even Imagine if you weren't Capable of it or well Informed enuf to Advocate for yourself appropriately?  It's not as if anyone is gonna do it FOR you, in most Cases, if you don't have Family or Friends who assist, or can Afford a Legal Advocate to Represent you, you're just Screwed.  I'm glad that so far, I can Advocate for myself and my Loved Ones sufficiently to get desired results and hound the Hell out of The System until they do the Right thing and what we are Entitled to Receive and be Approved for and Covered for.  Pain in the Ass tho', and Stressful.

I had intended to do some things after his Nurse left and so far haven't felt up to it.  I know we should, lots we could be doing and he needs to get out of the house and from in front of the TV Screen.  Now it's almost 1:00 p.m. tho' and I don't know when Princess T will get off Work?  Tuesdays she never knows, she goes in an Hour Earlier on Tuesdays but their release time is all over the place lately and I'm her Transportation.  There's a Park nearby her Store that sometimes I take him to do Canning at, so, we might still do that to get him moving and doing something he enjoys doing.  It's not too Cold outside and it hasn't Rained Today, but, is only 66 Degrees, which, for Desert Rats, still pretty Chilly.  I don't like being out in Cold coz my Bones hurt to the Marrow, so do his.  And I'm achy even being Inside all day and don't want him Catching Cold either or God Forbid, getting Pneumonia.   So, may just wait for the Grandchild to call us for Pickup and have him walk around where she Works as his Exercise for the Day?  *Smiles*

 

I'm told my Two Mermaid Lures I Won at Auction in a Buy-It-Now Feature have Shipped, excited to see them when they get here.  The Bid I have on the Mermaid Lure Below, I'm still so far the highest Bidder on it and it's got 22 Hours Left in the Auction before it Closes, but a lot can happen in the final Hours of anything being Bid on.   I won't be Sad if I don't Win it since I did get the other Duo without having to Bid, just Buy It on that immediate Winning Feature, which is how I prefer to just do it if I really Like and Want something and they offer that Option instead of Hoping you're the Highest Bidder and risk getting Outbid.

 

I'd like to Score one like the one Below, but she's in the Stratosphere at Auction, so I imagine her to be Rare?   I'm Activating The Laws Of Attraction tho', so you just never know when the Universe will oblige and one will just Miraculously Turn Up?   That happens so often as not to be mere coincidental IMO, especially after I've Voiced my Desire and then Whallah, it Turns Up somehow and I'm always left in Awe no matter how many times it happens, as if it's Meant To Be.   We'll see.   I can't Imagine these were Created more for the Fish than the Fishermen.  *Winks*  As a Novelty Lure, but, every one I've seen, except New Old Stock, look quite Used and not just from Age, but from Fishing.  

 And, most Fish aren't that Smart, so anything that Moves and catches their Eye and looks like Food that they can fit into their Mouth and Swallow, is probably Fair Game?   After all, most Lures don't look all that Realistic, not in Color or Appearances, yet, they Work.  I remember catching Catfish in Michigan's Lakes and using those Flip Tops {Pop Tops} Cans used to have 'til the 1970's!  With no Bait on them!  And they were big Catfish that still thought, humnnn, that looks Tasty!!!  An Aluminum Flip Top shining as it hung on our Fishing Line coz we couldn't afford proper Fishing Gear.  *LOL*   We all know that Noodling Exists for catching Catfish with your Bare Hands and using your Fingers as enticing "Bait". 

 I was never Brave, or perhaps Foolish enuf, to try that Method tho' and reach in any Hole underwater, no Sir!!!   Snapping Turtles could take your Finger Off and get quite Large!!!  And various other Lake Critters have formidable Teeth!  They had an Invasive Species of Asian Catfish we called "Walking Catfish" coz they can Walk and Breathe on Land!  And, if you've ever seen a Northern Pike up close, it looks positively Prehistoric like it should be on a Jurassic Park Movie, Scary as Hell!  I once caught one and was terrified, we cut the Line and let it go back, I wasn't getting near that Mouth full of Teeth!!!  And they get really Big.  Of coarse I was a Tween at the time and something looking like the Above Pix of a Northern Pike coming up out of the Water on my Hook was absolutely Terrifyingly Traumatizing to catch when I was Fishing for Bluegill, from the Shore!!!  *LOL*  My Dad cut the Line and set it Free.  BTW: Above isn't our Fish, it's a FB Pike someone caught that reminded me of that incident when Tranquility turned to Terror!  *Shudder and Laughs*

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Blessings, Love and Light from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian