Venture Capitalist Politics

 Just Gellin' on this Saturday, too Hot to venture out there and it's humid too, so suffocating out there and Extreme Heat Advisories in place.  The Man clogged the Master Bathroom Toilet again, but this time with having our own Toilet Snake I had invested in last time he did it, The Son got it unclogged within Minutes.  He and The Daughter have done Plumbing Jobs before so know how to use all that kind of stuff effectively to save on Hiring someone who'll only do the same thing and charge a fortune.  With his Dementia we weren't sure what he's putting down the Toilet and so I go over with him what to use and how much of it to use in case he's just Forgetting?  You don't consider what all they simply forget or get confused how to do without assistance.  And when he was in there a long time with the Door Closed I knew something was up.  *Eye Roll and Le Sigh*

He wouldn't come out of there, so he was like a Child who'd done something naughty and was hiding.  So hadda coax him out of there and say our Son would handle it, don't worry about it.  He hovered around nervously until we assured him it was now fixed and to just use less TP next time, the amount he'd used was ridiculous.  The Son looked at me and Grinned, you have to develop the Dark Gallow's Humor.  I thought we were going thru TP rapidly, now I know Why.   I have even kept a bunch of those Cloths that the higher end Car Washes give out, you find them everywhere discarded when you're doing Environmental Cleanup.  They're usually Royal Blue, some are other Bright Colors and they're like very soft Facecloths.  When there was that TP Shortage during Pandemic, they were invaluable to use and launder in place of TP that wasn't always available.  I now keep a large stack in the Bathrooms and Kitchen for all kinds of cleaning uses, very handy.  So, anyway, another clogged Toilet disaster averted.  *Whew, Sigh of Relief*

I didn't really want another Problem to address with Home Repair Issues.  It's been expensive enough and with Home Ownership, you all know it's always something to keep them Maintained and Repaired.  With the Affordability problem with this Economy and nothing being done about it, it makes it more sacrificial to come up with what the expenses are.  I usually do a lot of preventative maintenance and also Home improvements.  But now, due to Costs and Financial strains, we're barely running damage control behind emergency unexpected repairs and necessary maintenance that we don't have the Money for Saved Up anymore to cover.  I don't wanna take on more Debt.  We already had to have more than I'm comfortable with for necessary Emergency expenses too high to pay Cash for that have to be done and can't be put off at all.  You can only Budget for so much tho' on a Fixed Income and I'm responsible about Financial matters and serious about Budgeting with fiscal responsibility being a high priority.  I try to live below our means.

 

I took a long Nap and The Son asked me when I woke up if I'd take him to his Dollar Store to Shop and to a Super Wal-Mart to Shop and see about getting an inexpensive Phone and Plan.  He has that Free Phone but it is not one to have a lot of Data and really is more for Emergency usage by those who have no Phone.  When he was Unemployed it helped but now he's Employed even how much his Employer calls him on it was using up all his Data.  So, he got a $60 Phone from Wal-Mart that came with the 1st Month worth of Service and is Month to Month.  Doable on his Minimum Wage Part Time Job.   But it took over a hour for them to activate it for him and I started not feeling Well.

I was up near the front of the Store, he was in the back in Electronics, waiting on him.  I suddenly felt like I might pass out and got dizzy, same symptoms Princess T had at Work, it was Weird and sudden.  Like her, I had to sit down immediately, when meant on the Floor.  And I was by the Eyeglasses Vendor, so that Young Woman rushed over to me with a Chair to sit in and the Two Greeters, a Young Guy and an Older Guy, rushed up, one with Water, the other asking if I was Okay?  I wasn't Okay but didn't want them calling the Fire Dept. or Paramedics and just told them I'm Diabetic and would eat something I'd just bought.  That I was just waiting for my Son who was getting a new Phone in the back of the Store.  I called The Son to tell him to hurry up, I was Unwell and needed to get Home, so he had them rush his Phone activation along, he said they were also very nice about it.

 

He used to work at that Wal-Mart about 15 Years ago.  I must say the Trio of Workers there that saw I wasn't doing Well were so quick and attentive to come to my aide.  It was a bit embarrassing, but they kept an Eye on me until The Son got there.  I drank the Bottled Water they'd given me, ate one of the Tapioca Pudding Cups I'd just bought, and drank a Bottled Coffee I'd just bought, which helped so I could drive us Home.  *Whew*  I don't know if it was the Heat, it was 115 and Humid, coz my Diabetic Numbers were 149 and Normal when Tested.  Or, if whatever Princess T has is contagious and not Allergies after all?  She's still Sick with it so good thing her Work insisted she stay Home a couple more days and she has her Two usual days off added to that time, so will have had 5 days off to recover from whatever it is.  She still looks and feels dreadful and so do I actually.  It's a Weird sensation, like you can't stay conscious and feel very dizzy and weakened, so you have to sit down, lest you fall and hurt yourself.

 

The Son made us a nice Dinner when we got Home of Teriyaki Chicken with Jasmine Rice and 3-Cheese Garlic Bread Knots... excellent.  It's some of those prep Meals that takes 3-5 Minutes coz everything is prepped.   The Bread Knots take 4 Minutes in the Oven and are Baked in their Bag, they are SO good and I got them on Sale at the Wal-Mart.  I will remember the Brand and get them again.   The Teriyaki Chicken are some of those Meals I got on Sale at "Fry's" Grocer marked down.  I had gotten about 5 different kinds of them and am so impressed, we'll get them all again, every one has been impressively good and so quick to make.  The Jasmine Rice is the Boil in a Bag that Cooks in 5 Minutes too.  I've been getting more of those pre-prep foods so that even The Man or any of the Kids can make them and in a hurry, with little to no mess either, so clean-up is minimal.   For anyone Young and inexperienced or not a good Cook, or anyone Working, they are invaluable and such good quality that it was surprising.

All of the Meals have been a Brand called "Kevin's Natural Food" and the Bread Knots are by "Marketside", I'd highly recommend both, especially for Seniors or those on a Budget who want a quick and easy Meal that will feed 2-4 easily and quickly, that is as good as a Restaurant Meal.  The Kevin's Brand are all Heat and Eats with Natural Ingredients and I'd never had before I got them on Markdown at my Grocer, but even full price they'd be well worth it IMO.   I've linked to the FB Page of the Brand, I'm very impressed and so is my Family, we'll definitely be trying more of their Line now and stocking our Freezer with it.  There's so many different flavors of Chicken and Beef Meals in the Line, and Breakfasts as well as Lunch and Dinner Product.  We've tried 5 so far and Loved each one so I'm definitely gonna buy all the others and try them out too for variety and see which ones we like best.  The Chicken Lemongrass is heavy on Garlic, so not like the Vietnamese Version that is heavier on the Lemongrass, but it was still very good. 

 

Their Curry Style Thai Coconut Chicken is as good as what I get at our fav Thai Restaurant.  The Teriyaki Chicken was great.  The Man had the Orange Chicken and really liked it.  The Cilantro-Lime Chicken very good.  So I wanna now try some of the other Chicken Meals and the Beef Meals that I haven't bought yet.   And those Bread Knots were a first try and we LOVED those too, got Two different Flavors of them on the Bakery Discount Rack at Wal-Mart for a couple Bucks a Bag, they make 10 good sized Bread Knots and are so soft, fresh and delicious, like Home Baked Bread seasoned beautifully, so they were a big hit as well with the whole Family.  We had the Knot Flavor below tonight, but I also bought the Tomato Herb, but they come in many more flavors and don't need refrigeration, bake in less than 3 Minutes in their Bag!  Don't worry, the Below Image was cribbed from Google, and my Knots didn't expire in 2022.  *Bwahahaha*   You can Thank me later if you find you like all of these Brand flavors of quick n easy inexpensive Meals too.

At The Son's Store he got a bunch of the Canned Reine Energy Drinks on Sale half off in various Flavors.   So they were like 61 Cents each.  All the Women who work with him seem to Adore him and that's good to see how well he gets along with all his Co-Workers, Young and Old ones.  There are a lot of Retired Women working there Part-Time, and of coarse a lot of Young People that it's their 1st Job.   His Manager clearly already relies on him a lot and I think they could end up promoting him and giving him full time Hours when they have the Hours to give.  They are a Fortune 500 Company, but, that doesn't always mean it's Shared high Profits with Employees.  Some of the Richest Companies that our Government Subsidize don't extend any of that to their Workers and many are on Part Time with no Benefits and on Public Assistance.  I think Employers like Wal-Mart and Amazon should not receive Tax Breaks if they're not paying their Workers enuf to Live on and then Taxpayers have to Fund Social Services for those obscenely Rich Companies Employees.

Most Amazon and Wal-Mart Employees are on Public Assistance and Medicaid coz they aren't Paid a livable wage or receiving Benefits, even when working Full Time.   A full 33%-48% of Amazon's Frontline Warehouse Workers rely on Public Assistance like SNAP and Medicaid.  And Wal-Mart won't even release the figures for how many of their Employees are on Public Assistance, we know its in the Thousands tho', for what Data has been Collected.   And I personally know firsthand that every individual who works for them that I have known, has been on Public Assistance, including The Son when he worked for them 15 Years ago.  It's why he never applied there when he was out of Work.  He worked his Ass off at a huge Super Wal-Mart Full Time and didn't make enuf to afford Healthcare or Rent and Food, as just a Single Man... so imagine those trying to support a Family with those Jobs!!!   So, Socialism for the Richest Corporations in America has been going on a very long time already.  It's just touted as a Dirty Word if regular folks receive it.

I think they're doing a Weekend At Bernie's with Mitch McConnell and can't even show Proof of Life.  His much Younger Asian Bride left for China just Days after he succumbed to whatever Emergency Services carted him away for, which, sounds really Odd a Spouse would do that if he was still among the Living IMO.   That slimy Bastard Scott Jennings and some others who are rabid MAGA apologists, who I can't stand when I see them on TV, are pretending they all Talked to him.  All suspiciously for 20 Minutes... exactly... 20 Minutes... ALL of them... what are the Odds that isn't a fucking bare faced Lie they should be Called Out on publicly?  *Eye Roll*   When was the first or last time any 3 or more people ALL just happened to talk to any One Person for exactly 20 Minutes each???  Of coarse, they couldn't Honestly say he Talked Back *Eye Roll coz Dead or Brain Dead folk don't*, and I guess you could talk to a Brain Dead person and say that's not a Lie.  *Bigger Eye Roll*

And if he is Alive still and able to perform any duties of his Position, then why NOT provide Proof of Life and Condition?  Just so the rumors and conspiracy theories don't run rampant, if you have proof and evidence to debunk something, well, shouldn't you just do it?   If there's nothing to Hide, why Hide it?   Why all the Secrecy, Smoke and Mirrors and Parlor Tricks or Political Theater?   To hold onto Power I suspect they would do a Weekend At Bernie's and prop up a Corpse, after all, they're propping up this Dementia addled President who is now falling Asleep all the time on Camera and in Public, at Important Meetings that shouldn't be a Snoozefest to him if he is cognizant and Aware he's even there!  He's wandering off and having to be herded back by Handlers or even other Foreign Dignitaries, it's humiliating, a Spectacle and a National Embarrassment. 

Listen, I have to do that with The Man, coz he's got TBI and Dementia. But he was Mandatorily Retired from the Military as 100% Disabled long before he was even as bad off as he now is and he's not as bad off as Donnie Two Dolls appears to be.   And he was deemed as no longer Fit enuf to keep Serving in the Military and forced into Retirement involuntarily, plus, he's not the fucking President!!!   This Prez should be Mandatorily replaced, period, he's never been Fit to be President and it's only worsening with each passing day that he is President.  Do you really think by any stretch of the Imagination or heightened Delusions that the next Two Years will be or get any better?   Seriously, and he's not the only one, several of the Bench of the Supreme Court and Congress should be put out to Pasture as well and Term Limits and Age Limits enforced, for the Good of All.   It's beyond ridiculous how long some have stayed well past their ability to Serve and make good decisions, they can't even make a good decision on when they should Retire!  So, clearly we have to make it FOR them!  You would for Grams or Gramps!

  

There are decisions I cannot and will not allow The Man to make anymore becoz he simply can't, it's not his Fault, but it could be risky if he did for himself or for other people.   And a lot of times they resist and do resent involuntarily being told someone else has to now do it for them or help them with important decisions and safety issues.   It's up to those around them to discern when an intervention is necessary if they are incapable of making that determination for themselves, it's irresponsible and neglectful if you don't.   When my time comes I do Hope someone Cares and Loves me enough to intercede if I'm incapable of recognizing it's necessary.  It's why we shouldn't have Geriatrics in our Politics well past their Expiration Date of Serving in that capacity.  Even with the best of Intentions, it can be disastrous, and with the worst of Intentions, even more disastrous!!!   We have entered into the Twilight Zone of the WORST of Intentions and how disastrous that is now playing out in Real Time for all of America!!!   And spilling out into the World due to us and that Negligence and Bad, Perverse and Corrupted Intentions!!!

And now for a few Memes you might find resonate with you too?

*******

That's all for Today... Dawn... The Bohemian

Pondering Many Things & Conflicted About Some Things

 It was in the high, high, high Triple Digit Temps so I did take a late Afternoon dip in the Pool.  I'm surprised the Family doesn't use the Pool more, I thought they would.  Just goes to show ya that once you get used to having something you don't utilize it as much as you should or thought you would.  I like having a Pool tho', it's the 1st Property Owned that has had one and I have zero regrets about that, it makes for nice Pool Parties, Cooling Off, Sitting Around, and feeling like Home can be a Staycation.  The Pool, the Old Wood Burning Fireplace, the RV Garage Mahal, as well as the Home being built of those gorgeous Burnt Adobe Bricks and having Acreage were definite Selling Points on my Checklist of Wants.

The Woman who Remodeled this Vintage Home about 4 Years before we bought it from the Young Couple she'd Sold it to, had done a spectacular Job of Updating it to be Urban Farmhouse Style.  I'm enamored with that Look and the choices she made are exactly what I would have picked out for myself if I'd Custom Remodeled it myself.  The Granite Countertop Choice was my Fav Granite, the faux Tile "Wood" Flooring thruout, the Waterfall Faucets in the Bathroom and Subway Tile and Bathroom Tile Flooring, were Perfect choices.  I'm Surprised I haven't burnt anything in the Fireplace in all these Years we've now been here, coz I'm such a Pyro and always used Fireplaces a lot if we had them.  But, I still like just HAVING it. 

We just now had Five little Palm Trees spring up, Four around our Pool Area and one Beside The RV Garage Mahal.  And one Date Palm on the Fence Line of the Pasture.   Not in Ideal spots, but, Nature chooses sometimes where one will Seed and Sprout and I'm just glad some did.  I Love Palms and had wanted more than the Two Magnificent Old ones we have out Front.  Pretty sure the Date Palm Seeded from either Omar's Property or the Property directly behind him that has some.  Both have Magnificent Old Date Palms and I had one at the McManse and I Loved it.   I'd like it to have Seeded not so close to the Fence Line but am hesitant to transplant it lest I kill it, so am leaving it alone.  When I Googled safe Transplant of one it seemed risky to it's survival.

California Fan Palms

Mexican Fan Palms

Date Palm

One of the Palms I have was a Transplant from a Farmer's Field Parameter where it would have been Bulldozed.  I rescued it from that Fate, which happened about a Month later and would have razed it, but, I thought I'd killed it.  It's taken over a Month for it to come back and show Proof of Life so I'm glad I just left it alone and nurtured it even when it didn't look promising that it was still Alive.  Now it's got Two new Fronds and looks like a success.  *Whew*  The other Palms just Seeded themselves, probably from our Palms, which are a variety I really like of Mexican Fan Palm with tall slender Trunks that tower higher than most Palms.  The Transplant one is a different kind of Palm, a California Fan Palm, that can be over a Century Old when Mature. 

Today, in Real Time I got to Sleep In coz nobody had to go to Work.  Princess T being on the Mandatory taking of her Vacation Time for a couple Days 'til she gets better.  The Son just doesn't have a Shift, tho', they have been prone to calling him on Short Notice to come in for Shifts he isn't Scheduled for and sometimes he has to decline coz he's had a few Drinks already.  He won't go in to Work if he's even had one Alcoholic Beverage.   And on his Days off or after Work, he's inclined to have had an Alcoholic Beverage coz he is an Alcoholic.  He just never wants that to interfere with any Work he does and keeps his Professional Life and his Private Life very apart and compartmentalized.   That is often necessary in any Work you do actually, for a number of reasons.  My Professional Life and my Private Life couldn't have been more starkly different and I wanted it that way.   I never Defined myself or Who I am by what I did for a Living, no matter what levels of Success, Financial Standing or Influence Attained.  Careers were a means to an end to me, nothing more, nothing less.

So, Retiring never bothered me, it was a Transition of just doing something different now, perhaps something more fluid and perhaps more enjoyable based.  Or not.  I missed the Money, transition to a Fixed Income is an adjustment if you're not Retiring Independently Wealthy and will have no financial strains whatsoever, it probably is a smoother transition.  Also, forced Retirements like ours became, are different coz you didn't Plan for that Early Retirement.  Him for Health Reasons and level of Disability requiring it Involuntarily, mine was forced to become his and the Grandchildren's Full Time Unpaid Caregiver.  I could no longer find alternative Care for any of them due to the extent of their Disabilities and Medical Issues being too profound.  So, we both had to Retire much, much earlier than we anticipated or had Planned for, it happens.  Shrugs.  Moving On... coz lotsa Unplanned shit was gonna happen after that, to be sure.

 

On the Canvas of my very Fertile Imagination my Spouse would remain Healthy and Independent of needing Care coz I Married a very Strong capable Man who was a legitimate Bad Ass.  Not someone you ever thought would become a Vulnerable Adult and need your Caregiving.  You just don't always anticipate shit like that happening to any Loved One, especially prematurely.   Sure, if we got to be in our 80's and were both still among the Living, that was something more anticipated, but not prior to 2000!!!   We'd only been Married since 1989 and were full of Vitality, Promise, both at the Top of our Games in our Careers, what could go Wrong?  *Bwahahahahaha*   Then in 2000 before we got the last Child Raised, The Grandson was Born and we became Custodial Grandparents.  Ruh Roh, that wasn't Planned.  And he had Special Needs very early on... Pivot.  Then in 2005 Princess T was Born and we became Custodial Grandparents for a 2nd Child and Ditto with her Special Needs since Birth... Pivot again.  

Oh, and The Man was Medically Retired and trying to look after them while I still had my Career, in spite of being Disabled, so there was a lot going on at Home.  But, The Son was a Teenager, tho' a Special Needs one himself with being Bipolar and Autistic, but, he helped with his Dad and the Kiddos as much as a Teen can.  He said he was getting High a lot on Weed by then to Cope... and underage Drinking... we each Cope in our own ways with whatever Challenges are just Hard.   We all develop Coping Mechanisms and sometimes they work out and oftentimes they just complicate things more.  Fast forward to me no longer able to juggle a demanding Career at the D.A.'s Office and all that going on at Home.  Especially after The Man having his catastrophic Accident, Traumatic Brain Injury and then a Heart Attack on top of all that!!!  He is like the Energizer Bunny or a Timex Watch tho'... and keeps going and going.  Tough as Old Boots.  *Smiles*

But having to take Early Retirement meant dumping 60% of my Earned Pension coz I was a mere Four Years from being fully Vested... and too Young to draw what was left of it for many more Years to come... dammit!   Lost the great Medical Benefits my Career provided us with, so then Medical Debts became Insane for him and neither of us Old enuf for Medicare yet and his TriCare and the VA didn't cover a LOT of his catastrophic Medical Expenses.  I had to utilize every Tool in my Toolbox of what I had done in my 1st Corporate Life as a Fixer for Financial Institutions Financial Crisis on Bad and defaulted Loans to Solve our Financial Bad situation and inability to pay the almost a Million Bucks in Medical Debts he'd racked up.   And, well, that was never getting Paid in this Lifetime.  *Eye Roll*  I had no Job now except Unpaid Caregiver, and he was Medically Retired and 100% Disabled and unable to Work anywhere ever again.  We had Two Special Needs Grandkids to get Raised on what Money we had left and they were very Young and had loads of Medical Issues too.  It was messy.

But, every Problem has a Solution, you just have to Find out what that will be and implement it aggressively and relentlessly pursuing Solutions to whatever Problems Life hands you.  I'm Tenacious about that and I do like me a Challenge that folks say can't be done.  *Winks*  Coz, well, mebbe I'll be the 1st one to do it, you never know?  *Smiles*  I did get almost $950,000 of Medical Debt erased by who it was Owed to, their decision and choice after I made it my Obsession and Mission Statement to Solve that Problem and have a Solution.  *LOL*  I'd keep the Debt Collectors on a Collection Call for Hours if I could, Free Therapy on their Dime, it was Therapeutic to me, Crazy for them, oh well.  You wanna know Why I can't pay you, lemme start at A and we'll go all the way to Z.  Coz it will take that long to Explain.  *Smiles*

And, when are you Calling again becoz this Call has really been so very Therapeutic for me, Thank You, so I don't wanna miss a Call?  They usually never made more Calls and Wrote Off the Debt with a Confirmation Letter or they knew I'd be Calling THEM to unload my Burdens Mentally and yet Calmly... like a Session at a Shrink, but on their Dime not mine.  Shrinks are very Expensive.  Collection Agencies almost never have YOU Calling THEM incessantly to Talk about the burdens of the Issues of Life and the enormous Debt it's caused.  *Winks, very Liberating to unload your Cares Calmly upon someone on the other end of that phone.*   And my FICO Score stayed excellent, coz THAT would have been another Problem to get Solved and somebody then would be getting THOSE Calls from me incessantly until they wanted to Quit their Jobs or Need Therapy themselves.  *Smiles*  I am Tenacious about Problem Solving, I will Outlast you if you are The Problem.  You will HAVE to be Solved.  *Winks*

Above is a rare pix of my Paternal Grandma, she was already a Gramma by then, I don't think any Photos of her exist as a Child or very Young Adult.  I mean she didn't have running Water or Electricity until she was almost 70.  It's Surprising she let anyone take this actually, since she was Superstitious about being Photographed.  But, at the time she had been Married to a White Man who was from Arkansas originally, we called him Pappy and I used to marvel at how slow he talked.  *Ha ha ha*  If he said something as Simple and Short as "Ya'll come back now, ya hear...", it would take him Forever just to say that many Words!  I would find it very difficult to be patient enuf with my ADHD to have a conversation with him and cut thru the thick Arkansas Accent he had.  But he was very good to our Grandmother and accepted her Culture and way of Life, which she wasn't willing to give up, ever.  So he lived on the Rez with her in very primitive conditions and it didn't seem to bother Pappy at all.  He was a really Chill Old Guy.

He was also very Tall and Thin, 6'7" so he'd have to stoop down to be in Photos standing next to anyone.  All the Men in Dad's Family were over 6' Tall, and my Brother is 6'4", but Pappy was the Tallest Man I'd ever seen before!   I'd found a Box of my Dad's Old Pixs of his Family and was sorting thru it to Share some Online with my Paternal Cousins in case they don't have these Photos.  Above is one of my Male Paternal Cousins.  I don't know that they take many Photos even now with Cellphones and all?   But Years ago they hardly ever did and neither did our Family, so we're all short on Family Photos until the Generation of my Kids, when I bought my 1st Camera and became a Pathological Picture Taker and Family Historian who wanted to Preserve what little Imagery we had on both sides of my Family.  The Older Welsh, especially the Didi Kai, were not fond of having Photos taken either apparently, so very few exist of Mom's Family either.    I don't know if Future Generations will Care or not... or Preserve what I have?

Without a Written Family History I doubt they will recall who any of the People are in the scant few Old Family Photos of previous Generations?  I was always interested in the Storytelling each of my Parents told of their Verbal History, both not coming from Cultures of Written Language, that's how it was passed along from Generation to Generation.  I'm guessing the Stories got Modified or Embellished along the way, each Storyteller telling their Version of it thru the Generations.  Which, didn't really matter to me how accurate any of it actually was, no way to ever know?  I didn't Care either, it was their Stories to Tell in their own way and their own Version and Interpretation of it.  And perhaps some filled in the Blanks of what wasn't known or verified in any way?  Most of my Friends growing up had Photographs and some Written Family Histories, which I thought was Wonderful.  

The Man's Family are big on Genealogy.  His Mom had Books Published and handed out to Family of his Maternal and Paternal Ancestral Photos and Records going way back.  It was a True Labor of Love and expense on my Mother-In-Law's part, but it was that important to her and she spent Decades compiling it before Publication of the Books.  I Admired that dedication to the Family History and Preservation of it, I Loved looking thru those Books.  I could tell where The Man got his Looks from coz he doesn't look much like the rest of his Family at all.  But, he had a Maternal Great-Grandfather he is almost a Clone of, the resemblance is that Strong.  The rest of his Family all look like they're related, he didn't, not in looks, not in coloring either, they're all very Fair and most had very Light Hair and Light Eyes.  He wasn't Fair and had Dark Hair and Hazel Eyes.   He'd get Teased that perhaps he was the Mailman's Child?  *LOL*

As I was wading thru Archived Photos I came across many of Friends and have Shared those too in case they didn't have copies.  I probably have more Pixs of some people I know than they may have of themselves?!  Or their Kids?!   *LOL*   Years ago for a Friend's Birthday I'd print out Pixs I had of them and their Family that I knew they didn't have and had never seen, put it in a Photo Album and present it as their Birthday Gift.  It was always really Special to them, often making them quite Emotional. Coz some of those Photos went back Years and Years ago.  Most of them didn't take many Pixs of our Kodak Moments, so I'd often be the only one Documenting everything with mine.  I'd get Teased a lot for how many Pixs I was taking and that I always had a Camera on hand, but they appreciated my dedication to capturing those Moments, all those Years later when clearly it mattered more to Preserve Precious Memories in Images that otherwise that would have been Lost or Forgotten.

 

I don't wanna Forget, I like Keeping my Memories very much Alive and Remembered if I can.  I think that is the tragic part of Dementia and Cognitive Decline, the Loss of all Memories and ability to Recognize anyone or anything.  The confusion and disorientation that must cause must be torturous to those afflicted and of coarse it's painful for all their Loved Ones as well, Losing them in Layers as everything Fades to Black on their Memory Banks.   The Man we're trying to slow down the progression of his Dementia, since we can't Stop it or Cure it, and so far it's been working pretty good, we make it up as we go along.  I consider it a Challenge and to Fix a Problem as best as we can find some Solutions for it that might at least slow down progression of it and extend his Memories and Function longer.  I Wish I'd been more vigilant with doing that for our Mom.  But, she lived Independently for a long time and so it crept up without seeing it being as evident and as progressive as it became.

My Brother said then it just seemed to him that one day she just didn't know who the fuck he was anymore and kept thinking he was her Brother instead.  He had to play along lest he really upset her by then. She at least was very close to her Brother and my Brother does strongly resemble the Maternal Side of the Family and my Uncle.  So that did give her some Comfort, since my Uncle was still Alive but Living in North Wales and was now too Old to make Trips to America anymore to see us.   For some reason she never forgot who I was, so I was one of the fortunate Family Members.  I don't exactly know Why she forgot damned near everyone else and yet never forgot Who I was?  I like to think it was becoz we had the most contentious and volatile Relationship in the Family and so perhaps that Helped in some Odd Strange way?  *Bwahahahaha and that CAN be quite Memorable... Winks*

Mom and I were both Strong Willed Women and complete Opposites while I was Growing Up and as a Younger Adult.   And yet, the Older I got the more like her I actually now am!  And so we really Loved each other, but didn't always Like each other or get along and play well together... it happens.  *Smiles*  We spent a lot of Quality Time together tho', Good Times, if we were both Behaving and not Clashing. *Ha ha ha*  In spite of how complex it could be to stay in her Good Graces, it took Work, I was willing to put in the Work for my Mom.  She was worth the effort and unconditional Love, she could be such Fun if she didn't go Dark on your Ass for some reason.  She was a Good Mom.  Dad was a Good Dad.  Dad was just a lot easier to always get along with for me, Dad was always Chill and we were very close and more alike in our ways, our Nature, and reserved in our display of open Emotions.  My Mom was a very openly Emotional person and wore her Feelings on her Sleeve.  She felt she never really knew what I or my Dad were Feeling, or if we were Feeling anything at all, becoz we didn't Show it openly.

When someone is getting Mad or Emotional and you stay Stoic, Calm and Chill about it, they often don't know how to react or what to do?  It can even piss some people off more... and with many, it will halt them enuf to reconsider even trying to Engage you, coz it can be more unsettling to them than you reacting in kind.  You're not Reacting so they're not sure what you might do?   I don't tend to be Reactive to things, not Crisis, not someone's Behavior, you rarely, if ever, get an immediate external Emotional response from me.  Becoz to me, responding to Events, Stimuli, or Problems after they happen is less Helpful, probably not even Helpful at all?  I'd rather Plan Ahead to try to Prevent them.  So I guess you'd call me a more Proactive Person and so was my Dad.

  We didn't wanna constantly be putting out Fires caused by anyone else either.   Reactive folks start a lot of Fires needing putting out.  *Le Sigh*  Immediate Emotions triggered by external events very often just results in impulsive behavior and the blaming of circumstances.  I'm just too Solutions Oriented to want to be part of any Problem or exacerbate one.   I now won't have anyone I'm exposed to often who tends to be Drama or a Headache to me, I just don't want to have to Deal with all that and have it disrupting my Calm.  If my own Loved Ones of Immediate Family are becoming Dramatic and causing Headaches, I confront it immediately and tell them to Dial it Back and Calm Down coz they're disrupting Calm in the Household, which is not okay and not Tolerated.  I want Home to be that Sanctuary for us all, a place to retreat to from this Crazy World out there.

I've been pondering Relationships lately coz there is the decision on whether to make New ones, or... not?   It is harder to make Friends when you are getting Older, Younger folks tend to Befriend one another easily becoz they're all so New.  You get Older you end up with History with folks already, and so many folks are all Friended Up and don't need or want anyone New.   As Friends Moved Away or Pass Away your Inner Circle shrinks, you have less present Friendships that were close and you're not sure any of it can be replaceable at your Season of Life.  Even the best New Friendship won't have the same History and length when you're this Old already.   I've met some wonderful New folks, but I haven't really decided how Close I wanna become?  Losing folks you Care about is just hard, ask anyone whose Lost anyone, it never gets easier.  I can be conflicted about making New Friends, there's so many Great People out there who could be Great Friends.

There will always be a Void left behind tho' for those Lost, coz they were Unique and the Relationship Special in it's dynamic and own way.  Most of the Men and Women I know at my Age Group or Older who aren't in an Intimate Relationship, now don't really want to be in a New One either.  I'm fortunate to still have my Beloved, but we both know that should one of us Pass Away, neither of us is the least bit interested in forming a New Intimate Relationship.  I wasn't even looking for forming a Close New Intimate Relationship when I met The Man actually, so, you can never say never I suppose, but, it's highly unlikely.  I'm quite set in my ways and Value how my Life is and I'm used to the way we're Living it.  I don't want a New Individual altering any of that actually, and I don't want anyone to be a New Project for me either.  *LOL and Winks*  Like I always say, only partly in jest, I don't have the Time or Energy to Train another one.  *Bwahahahaa*  And The Man, he would like to become a total Recluse and go totally off the grid on the Canvas of his Imagination if he were Single again.  *Smiles*

  *******

Pondering many things and Conflicted about some things... Dawn... The Bohemian

Asking For A Friend...

 

Well, by 7:45 a.m. Princess T was calling me balling her Eyes out coz they were not only sending her Home Sick again, but told her to take Two more Days off using her all her Saved Vacation.  Which, she'd been Saving for her Birthday in September, which would be like proper Vacation and not using it for Sickness.  They said in September maybe she can take her Birthday off without Pay.  She had her Urgent Care Letter saying she could return to Work and wasn't contagious, had Medications for what was Wrong, but they insisted she stay Home for another Two Days at least. 

 She said the Boss was snarky with her about it, which made her feel bad, so she's not sure she won't get Fired now?  So of coarse she broke down, feels physically and emotionally now lousy anyway, but was willing to Soldier it out, but, they won't let her.  I calmed her down and said she wasn't looking for a Job when she found this one.  So, there's other Jobs out there in the event they Terminate her for legitimate absences due to Illness.  What else ya gonna do?  Circle the Wagons and Carry On in this fucked up Economy and harsh World.

I bought her a Meal from SONIC with her favorite Blue Hawaiian Slushie from there.  I also took her Grandpa to the Estrella Mountain Park to eat our Breakfast, which I ended up getting off the Value Menu at "Del Taco".  Not many Cans at the Park it has been Deserted every time we're there and has been for Weeks, very unusual, but there is a Fire Ban so nobody can even BBQ at the Ramadas.  The Entry Booth Gal asked if we'd be Hiking, I joked, why, you gonna send the Search and Rescue Team out in Advance?  *Winks*  She Laughed and I said No, our Hiking Days are well behind us and we never did Hike in the height of Summer... that's something Non-Residents of Arizona foolishly do with One bottle of Dasani.  *Smiles, she Laughed again*

I dropped The Man off at Home and went to do Essentials Grocery Shopping.  A whole Fire Dept. Crew of Gorgeous Tattooed Stud Muffins were in there, stopped me and asked if I was behaving and keeping hydrated?  *LOL*  I assured them, Yes, my Darlings, I was.  And they said Good, coz they'd rather come to hang out than to provide ER Assistance, I Joked back to the biggest and most Handsome one, ohhhh, so you do House Calls like that too, Lovely... *He Winked and Laughed*  They think you're a Harmless Old Lady, but we could hurt a Young Man like that.  *Smiles*  We not only know where it's at, we know where it used to be!  *Winks and Grins Naughtily*

  Plus, I could envision him in just a Thong, cleaning my House.  And if I do have an Emergency, I want THAT Crew of Studly Handsome Young Men, they all looked like Chippendale's Strippers... ummm, I mean Dancers.   Or, as Mistress Maddie would dub them, The House Boys... *Bwahahaha*  Princess T giggled when I told her that Story of my visit to "Fry's" and running into the Crew harmlessly flirting with me in the Fruits & Vegetables.  *LOL, she knows how Bad and Shameless I am... ha ha ha*   My Dear Mom was like that in her Old Age, she could get away with anything with any Handsome Young Stud Muffin flirting with them and got so many things Comped coz they thought she was Adorable and Loved her Accent. 

  She'd tell them, "Ohhh, if I was only Sixty Years Younger my Love...", ask them to flex their Muscles for her, and they would, even the Gay ones!!!  Mebbe especially the Gay ones, coz Mom got along very well with her Gay Boy Posse too, just like her Grand-Daughter {The Daughter}, and her Great-Granddaughter, Princess T.   *LOL*   Mom would have The Daughter's Gay Male Friends coming over to visit her, they'd Cook for her, Clean for her, do her Hair and Nails, they Adored her, she was everyone's Beloved Nanna.  She thought it Shameful that a great many of those Young Men had been tossed out and turned away by their own Families, when they were very Young Teens, just for being Gay.  But Proud of them for being Brave enuf to Live their Authentic Life.

Anyway, I digress... the Park was Lovely, but the Humidity was high Today and it was already 102 by 10:00 a.m. so we called it enuf Todaying for Today when it was still quite Early.  Ate our Breakfast there at a Ramada in the Area they named "Navy North".  The Nature Preserve had more Cans to pick up by the River.  An Older White Haired Lady was there trying to round up a Stray Dog she'd been seeing there for Weeks.  She runs a Dog Rescue and said he's been a hard one to get trusting enuf to get into her Vehicle.  She feeds him regularly to get him used to her and stay healthy.  Plenty of Water there, but no Food for a Domestic Pet really.  A lot of abandoned Pets are dumped off there and Lost Dogs go there when they smell the Water Source.

 I was Hopeful she'd succeed this time to coax him into her Car.  He'd come to her but not get in... so I don't know if Today was finally successful or not?  He had a Blue Collar so she was Hoping he might have a Microchip too?   He won't last long in the Heat or with the larger Apex Predatory Animals of the Desert like Coyote and Mountain Lion which do inhabit the area.  Even a large enuf Bobcat or a Feral Hog could be a threat to a weakened Domestic Canine.  He looked like a German Shepherd Mix and was incredibly lean, if she's seen him out there for Weeks he likely doesn't come from any of the Residences nearby the Preserve in the Mini Farms Community by the River.  You do sometimes see some of their Roosters that get out and go to the River tho'.  *LOL*

I've seen a lot of Dead Roosters and Chickens along the River.   So whether they were discarded Corpses left by the Santeria as Offerings, or Fowl that got out and got killed by Predators or were Road Kill getting hit by Vehicles, I can't say for sure?  The Natural Predators will eat the remains tho'.  You never see them but the one time and then everything will be gone next time but some Feathers.  There were Three Dead Chickens last time I was there a few Days ago, just Feathers Today.  But it looked like the County had been out there doing some major Trash pickup too and that was good.  So it was cleaner than usual and they'd left some large Black Trash Bags Roadside by where people Fish and do Recreational Stuff, so they could leave Trash in the Bags rather than throwing it around.

I thought about jumping in the Pool Today coz it's so muggy and Hot, but, I took a Nap, picked The Son up from Work, and just decided to stay in AC Blogging instead.  I don't have the energy now I got a Male Adult Child at Home to get into a Bathing Suit and then out of a Bathing Suit.  *LOL*  When it's just the Gals and The Man Home I Skinny Dip and that's so much easier and I only have to remember not to do it on a Monday when our Pool is Maintained by Brad or one of his Pool Boys.  *Winks*  Don't wanna run another one of the Help off like last time I lost track of what Day it was.  *Snicker*  

 I don't think Brad would care, I don't think Brad is as Young as I thought he was, he's starting a Beard now and it's got a lot of Grey in it.  But he might think I did it deliberate and I wouldn't do that to any Young Man, who can't then Unsee what they Saw.  *Bwahahaha*  Brad is a Hot Pool Guy Owner and holding his Age well, he should probably Shave the Grey stubble off.   Brad pictured Below, he is a Cutie, Married, has Three Young Children and is a Nice Young Man, we like doing Business with him:

I didn't know he'd been a Paramedic before he owned his own Pool Business until he told me when we discussed the shitty Economy recently.   Coz of coarse being a Paramedic is Noble Work, The Man did it too when he was Younger, but doesn't pay worth a shit like it should.  Most Paramedics I have known must have a 2nd Job too to make the Ends Meet!   And of coarse you have to see and Process a lot of heinous shit you roll up on in that Line of Work, Cleaning Pools, no matter what you see, would be infinitely easier to Mentally Process.  In fact, The Man went back into the Military as a Field Medic in the Army, becoz being a Civilian Paramedic for a time, after he came back from Vietnam and was Medically Discharged from the Marine Corps. due to War Injuries, was Emotionally Wrecking him.  He said he decided he'd Hurt someone when he snapped on a Call that a Woman's Boyfriend had Killed her Baby and faked what happened to it. 

The Man said the Baby was Dead, but they aren't allowed to Call It, only a Doctor can.  The Baby's Mom was Freaking Out, his Partner was faking CPR on a Dead Baby that clearly had been Killed and Abused by the Male on Scene. And the Boyfriend was giving a Bullshit account of what happened to the Child.  The Man said next thing he knew he had that Fool up by his Throat and only the Officers arriving on Scene stopped him from snapping the Guy's Neck.  He'd killed many an Enemy in Wartime as a Sniper in Special Forces, sometimes in Hand to Hand Combat, he was very efficient at it and had a high Body Count.  So killing a Baby Killer Civilian would have been easy for him, but Illegal, so he realized he didn't have enuf Restraint not to do it if someone didn't Stop him.  So, he quit and went back in the Military where you can Kill the Bad Guys and are encouraged to.  *Winks*  

But, I digress, another Pix of Handsome Brad at Work from his Stock Photos and one he shared on his Biz Page of he and his Beautiful Wife, they are a Gorgeous Young Couple.  They are what I'd call The Beautiful People and they've made Beautiful Babies, all Three Kids are Adorbs.    Brad agreed that it took too much of an Emotional Toll to continue with that Line of Work too, plus, he has a Lovely Family to Support.   A Hawt Paramedic is what you want Responding to an Emergency tho', No?  *Winks*  I joked with Brad about that, he knows I'm Wicked Naughty and tell him to send the Cute Pool Boys if he doesn't wanna do it himself as my Hawt Pool Guy Owner, I PROMISE not to Swim Naked again and run them off.  *Winks and we both Laugh, he knows I'm an Old Hippie with Zero Inhibitions and no Shame in my Game*   His Company is a smaller Family Owned one and not a National Chain Service, but they do good Work and I prefer to Support Small Businesses.   So, a Link to his Biz Page PRACTICAL POOLS.  

See, you probably will end up on my Blog if I know you or do Business with you, I'm Free Advertising, you're Welcome.  *Winks and Smiles*  Anyone worthy of Praise ends up Praised and Promoted on here and anyone worthy of being put on Blast, well, you know what will then happen as well to ya.  *LMAO*  Cross me and I can become a Nightmare... Pray for me... The Lord ain't done with me yet clearly and I'm still a Work in Progress and sometimes blow my whole Christian Witness when Dark Dawn is sent out to Play, like the Devil and Queen of Darkness that side of me can be.  *Bwahahahaha*   I think we all have our Dark Side, I just acknowledge mine and try not to allow Dominance of that visceral Side of me that is damned near Feral in Nature and pretty vicious and unrestrained when unleashed.  Dawn of the Light is my Better and more Angelic side that I prefer to Be most of the time.  *Winks*  If I end up in Hell rather than Heaven, it might be coz Dark Dawn sent me there.  *Winks*

My Kiddos and The Man all know that if I'm Calling upon Jesus Calmly when I'm really Mad and going Dead Calm with No Emotion evident, everyone better Hope to God that Jesus responds and stops me from what I'm about to do to someone.  *Winks*  Mostly He has, a few times he didn't show up quite in time for some Fool.   I have to then Believe PERHAPS that Person had it coming to them, and so no restraint, no Mercy or Grace was extended to them and I was the Instrument to mete out what they then got and deserved?   That's my logic, you can agree to disagree, I don't particularly Care.  *Bwahahahaha*  The Man too, will sometimes remind me, "Honey, that's not very Christian of you...", if he can see I'm about to Lose my Witness and Lose my Shit and go Postal or totally Mental on some Fool who has provoked or antagonized enuf to meet Dark Dawn and thus Invited her out to Play.  *Smiles* 

 He is a much Better Man... and I am sometimes a very Unstable Woman who can tip into Instability... so I'm glad he's the Yang to my Yin, coz I can be Dark and Cold.  Or... Wonderful... you choose really by how YOU choose to Play me, Hard or Soft?  *Winks*   The Kiddos will sometimes also remind me, "Gramma... BE Nice!"  *Bwahahahaha*   WHAT?!  I'm NOT Being Nice???   "No, No, you're NOT...", and that reminds me that I'm tipping and someone is Triggering me to be NOT NICE to them, and I Need to Dial it Back quick.  Even if that Fool is not realizing they're stirring up some dangerous Waters and stepping into mine, straying out of their Lane and it's gonna get too Deep and in over their Head real damned fast.  I don't suffer Fools, I know I should becoz a Fool is just a Fool and who knows why they are?  But, I Honestly Feel that Natural Selection just tends to take them out, becoz they're Fools, that's all.  Is that Wrong?  Or just Nature at Work?  Asking for a Friend.  *Ha Ha ha*  The Family say if I ever tip over into Dementia, I'm gonna be a real Handful... they could be Right?  *Smiles*

*******

Are you a Friend?  Just asking... Smiles... Dawn... The Bohemian