In Real Time it's the Day After Halloween and the First of Two Days of the Dia de los Muertos Celebrations. I'm going to the Desert Botanical Gardens for it. This Post will be a visual of all the fun we had Halloween Night here at Forever Boheme' with Family and Friends. It was probably one of the best Halloweens in recent Memory, much like the Old Days when we had Over-The-Top Halloween Celebrations with all the Adults, many in Costume, and indulged all the Children who showed up. Kids just Loved it and so did their Parents, we had Hay Wagons and Golf Carts Tricked Out with Lights pulling up with the most Trick-Or-Treaters we've ever had. Word had gotten out that we were the Fun House for Halloween. *LOL*
Mando was impressed, it was his first Halloween with our Family and long time Friends who came by told him we always go all out for Halloween and have a Big Time. We didn't shut it down until 10:30 p.m. and still had Kids coming right up 'til then coz we still were handing out Candy & Toys. It amused us that the bigger Kids, the ones who are Tweens, were the most excited about our Buffet Table of Treats we let them all just pick from. The Little Ones were excited too, but not as much as the Teenagers who usually don't get Positive receptions everywhere they might go in their Costumes. To us, if a Teen is out Trick-Or-Treating and having wholesome Fun, they're not out causing Trouble instead, so, we encourage it. Shit, we insist that any Adult in Costume get some Candy and nobody refuses. *Winks*
The Adults coming by in Costume were just as adorbs as their Children, some even dressed the Kiddos as a "Mini Me" of their own Costume, it was Precious. One Young Hispanic Gal dressed as an Incarcerated Gang Member and had her Infant Daughter dressed identically, to me, it was Best Costume of the Night... we told her, get Double Candy GF, you just Won the Unofficial Costume Contest. *LOL* Coz, we were lined up behind the Buffet Table of Treats like we were Judges on some TV Reality Show Competition and except for Mando, all of the "Judges" sitting there behind the Table were in full Costume too! *Bwahahahaha* People coming by were loving it, anyone driving by, even if they didn't have Kids, stopped to take a look. *Smiles*
The Son bought an Assortment of Six Flavors of Hot Wings for the Night from "ATL Wings" down the Street. The Family that Own it are so Nice and they were all in Costume too, they were Mad Busy that Night. It was not only a Friday Night, and Halloween, but a Sports Night too, so Customers were doing one, the other, or all Three combined. *Smiles* They make good BBQ there too but this Night it was all about the Wings, we had an assortment of Savory ATL Style, Sweet Honey BBQ, Dry Rub, Asian, Buffalo Hot Wings, and Mango Habanero. All of them were excellent and we had a roaring Fire Pit going and had hooked up an Old School CD Player playing Halloween Cult Classic Songs CDs I've had since the Kids were little and Halloween Sound Effects CD's.
So, the Kids and the Adult Grandkids were reminiscing that they remember us playing these CD's when they were growing up. Laughing at how Dated some of them sounded, but that others like Tubular Bells from the Exorcists, Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show, Monster Mash from 1962, and Thriller Soundtrack by Michael Jackson, among others, are all Timeless Classics. BTW: Rocky Horror Picture Show Celebrated it's 50th Anniversary, my how Time just Flies, don't it?! I remember going to downtown Tempe in the 1970's, which is a College Sister City to Phoenix, and going to the Midnight Showings of it and doing kitschy things like throwing Toast at the Screen when they'd get to that part of having a Toast. *Smiles*
The Kids remembered that when we lived in the Historic Home that if we played the Spooky Soundtracks everyone would be too scared shitless to come up or even walk on the same side of the Street as that House. Which, was Local Legend it was legitimately Haunted, and... it WAS! We've always Decorated our Exterior extensively for Halloween, but, with The Daughter's Help it was Extreme Halloween this Year, Inside and Out, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. And we took loads of Pixs, as you can clearly see, which is why I've tripled up on this Posts Imagery in between the Story Line. *Smiles* And the Funniest part of the whole Night was that accidental Selfie of me looking frustrated and demented coz The Son had given me his Camera to take a Pix of a group of them.
Well, I couldn't see them AT ALL thru the Screen and was getting angry about it saying something must be Wrong with your Phone Son, I can't even SEE you Guys to take the Picture!!! Just take it Mom, nothing's Wrong with my Camera or my Phone he says, and so I snap one and it Flashes in my fucking Face, it had inadvertently been turned around to be a Selfie and it was so Dark Outside I couldn't see in the Screen that the Camera was pointed at myself 'til it Flashed in my Face and took that hilarious Photo! The Kids were all Laughing so hard they almost Peed themselves!!!!!!! Everyone was doubled over Laughing like Hell, almost couldn't catch their Breath, and I insisted they Post it to FB and that I'd Share it here... coz, I have no Shame and it was fucking hilarious, just LOOK at that, will ya just LOOK at it! *Bwahahahahahaha*
Princess T's Bestie Matthew showed up and had come down from NAU to be with her for Halloween, Timmy was a No Show and she doesn't know how to Feel about that. First Halloween EVER that the Trio haven't been Together for Halloween since they were Tweens!!! Matthew had a car full of Girls, as he always does, the Gay Guys always have the Prettiest Entourage of Young Ladies, it's their Super Power. *Smiles* The Young Prince used to when he was in his Teens and Young Twenties. It's only since he's moved from Metro Phoenix and gotten Married to Allen that he quit having an Entourage of Beautiful Women. Princess T had to Joke, "Well, mebbe it's time to ditch Allen then and go back to your Hot Gal Posse, Bro'!!!" The Son then Joked, "Yeah, and get some Cougars on your Squad so your Uncle and my Friends can be Hooked Up too!" *Bwahahaha and Winks*
Gypsy James had the BEST "Beetlejuice" Costume. In fact, I'd say "Beetlejuice" and "Scream" were the most Popular Costumes this Year, for Adults and Kiddos alike, several folks were wearing those Costumes. In fact, thruout the Night there were Costume Changes. The Daughter had more Costume Changes than Aretha Franklin. *LOL* The Young Prince couldn't decide which of his Two he liked best so he just wore both thruout the Night. *Smiles* We just had a lot of Fun with it all. After the Trick-Or-Treaters quit coming The Son sat out there by the Fire Pit for a few more Hours while I watched Marathon Classic Horror Movies inside and also some of "Ghost Adventures" Halloween Special. Then I helped him put the Fire out and we all retired for the Night. Princess T and Matthew had gone out with their Girl Posse of Friends until the wee Hours. Just hanging out at one of the Girl's Homes watching Horror Movies too and Socializing. They all got Candy from here before they left. *Smiles*
The Cemetery across the Street was gearing up for the Big Dia de los Muertos Celebrations by this Morning. Many people arrive early to spend the whole Day and Night with their Dearly Departed Relatives. Many had Decorated the Graves and made the Ofrendas thruout the preceding Days so it's very Festive looking by November 1st. It will continue thru November 2nd and draw an enormous Crowd to the Cemetery. So a lot of time the overspill Parking comes down our Access Road and we don't mind so long as they don't block our Driveways. A lot of Street Vendors will also set up, up and down our Main Street which runs parallel to our Access Road which has the same Name and runs directly in front of our Homes separated by a very low Block Wall. This Morning The Young Prince and I headed out for the Desert Botanical Gardens to attend their Dia de los Muertos Celebration, pixs to follow in another Post.
When we got there we had a good time coz the Day is Glorious, around 85 with a slight Breeze. It was still in the 70 Degrees Range when we arrived coz we got there early. Too early as it turned out coz they hadn't mentioned it in their Online Advertising, but the Mercado and Celebrations weren't even gonna start until much later... dammit!!! But, they did have the Main Ofrenda up so we took Photos of and with it, walked the Gardens, had a nice Day out regardless that it was disappointing they're doing everything briefly now compared to previous Years and mostly later in the Day only. We were Hungry, and it was Dog Day there again so more Dogs than People, some well behaved and some more unruly, so we decided to leave. The Young Prince doesn't have a phobia of Dogs, but, like me, he does not like intrusive Ankle Nipper Type and is wary of them. The Bigger Dogs tended to be more disciplined and well behaved.
I took him to "Snooze" for Breakfast and he had what he thought was the best Breakfast Choice he'd ever had. I can't recall what it was called but it did look Sublime and he finished it all. That's huge coz he rarely finishes all of any Meal before he feels too full to finish. But, he said he just couldn't stop eating it even after he felt full!!! *LMAO* So, he forced himself to finish it all and I'm the one that took half of mine Home. *Smiles* Like me, The Young Prince enjoys People Watching and talking about the Human Sideshow. *Winks* There are some Interesting Characters of the more Affluent Variety on that side of the City. Then we went to do some light Grocery Shopping at "Whole Foods" coz the 1st is Payday for some of The Man's Federal and Military Pensions, along with his VA Disability Income, which, Thankfully had hit on Time! *Whew* So, all Body Parts Crossed that our Social Security Checks and my County Pension do the same?
The Young Prince was Jazzed that I bought him some Mochi from "Whole Foods" coz he can't get it in Clovis, NM coz they only have 3 places to even Shop for Groceries and they've been banned from One. He said you also can't get things like Lamb, so Allen's Grandpa is bringing down some Lamb and other Freshly Harvested Meats from his Ranch in Texas where he Raises his own Livestock and Butchers them. It's where Allen learned to Butcher all Meat since he was 14, working on his Grandpa's Big Ranch in Texas. His Maternal Grandpa is not only a big Rancher, but also a Prominent Retired County Prosecutor there in Texas. The Young Prince absolutely Adores Allen's Maternal Grandparents and they just Love him too. He has a much better Relationship with them, as does Allen, than they do with Allen's Parents.
With the Grandparents, Allen and The Young Prince being a Gay Couple is a Non-Issue. Them being SMI also a Non-Issue for the Grandparents. In fact, they helped Raised Allen when his Mom was still a Single Parent before she Remarried. I guess Allen's Maternal Gramma was an Old Hippie too and so they say I'd really get along great with her, and I'm sure I would and wished they could have come down for the Wedding of the Grandsons. But, when you are running a Big Ranch, it's not like you take Road Trips very often. Anyway, one of Princess T's Male Friends bought her a Real Labubu as a Surprise and presented it to her on Halloween when they were hanging out together. They're expensive, so he'd spent a lot on it, her Male Friends indulge her like that without wanting to be 'Boyfriends'. This one is a Straight Guy but has been a Bestie since High School.
When I was at The Desert Botanical Gardens it was hard to get a lot of Pixs while we were at the One Ofrenda coz there were so many People there with their Dogs. And often the Dog People were standing around Socializing with other Dog People and their Dogs thus would get bored and wanna interact with everything and everyone they could get close to within length of their Leash. And if their Humans were distracted, then you're there trying to enjoy the Display, take Pixs, etc. and all of a sudden someone's Dog has approached you uninvited and unexpected. I'm an Animal Lover, but I don't want someone's Dog being too close to me without knowing the Dog. I feel the same about People, if I don't know you, I want you to leave some Personal Space between us. Don't roll right up on me, I don't like it and am not comfortable with it.
Luckily every Dog that approached us uninvited wasn't aggressively doing it, they were just nice friendly Dogs wanting our attention. I will briefly give an Animal that, as I would a small Child that doesn't realize they're being intrusive. They don't know any better unless their Adult teaches them propriety of Social Norms and Boundaries. Whether you're a Pet Parent or the Parent of young Children, I do expect you to not be so distracted you don't know what your Kid or Pet is doing. Especially in public and now they're annoying someone who doesn't really want to have to Deal with your Pet or your Child. I don't go to The Gardens to fuss over someone's Dog or their Kids, tho' I Like Dogs and Kids just Fine and don't hold it against the Pet or the Child when they do. The Young Prince has Schizophrenia, so when a Strange Dog rolls up he gets Emotionally startled that mebbe he might have to react defensively.
So, after too many poorly attended Canines came up to us before their Owners paid enuf attention to apologize and make them leave us alone, The Young Prince had enuf and said he couldn't take all these Dogs. I agree, when I go to a Dog Park I expect everyone to have their Dogs in tow. And where folks might go to deliberately be around Dogs, especially Dogs that aren't yours. But, the whole Dogs At The Garden Thing on Weekends makes it great for Dog Owners and not so great for other folks who Paid to get in and try to enjoy it unmolested by people's Dogs. That wasn't happening this Day and there were too many of them that had their Dogs around what we'd gone to specifically enjoy and see and take Pixs of. I don't want People or their Pets in my Pixs and try very hard not to, since, I know I'm Posting the Pixs to Social Media.
Plus, I don't want random People or random Dogs in my Personal Pixs. And it just got so hard to take Pixs without some Person or their Pet jumping in front of you or the Camera as you're trying to take a Photograph. People tend to be in their own Bubbles, and Pets just don't know what you're doing and are oblivious. So, I got very few Pixs and a few got blurred coz a Dog either jumped at me or stuck their Nose in your Butt, Goosing you while you're concentrating on taking the Photo! But, One Sweet Lady did take a Pix of The Grandson and I together with my Old School Camera when she asked if we'd like a Pix Together? I was taking one of just him and she just walked up and offered and then was Surprised it was with an Old Digital Camera. *LOL* She was Old so she knew how to use one but said she hadn't used one in so long, and it's True, nobody does anymore, I'm the last of the Dinosaurs. *Smiles*
We had fun just Walking the expanse of the Garden that had let People with their Pets. But, the more Popular Spots they'd congregated at and wouldn't just move on when they'd seen it. They'd stand around talking and ignoring their Pets on Leashes and be generally in the way of other folks enjoying the Exhibits that people come to see for the Season. I don't understand that, move along and Socialize somewhere more Open and not in the way of folks Photographing or wanting to be in Photos near a Display or Exhibit. There was only the One Ofrenda under a Gazebo, but not a lot of Space around it, so, it just couldn't be inundated with too many people at once, who especially had Animals with them too on relatively long Leashes, and wouldn't move along after they'd experienced it.
Okay, mini Rant about that over, I just felt rushed and crowded while trying to enjoy the specific thing I'd come to see coz of Rude or Inconsiderate People. The Young Prince agreed, it was getting very claustrophobic and uncomfortable, therefore, we spent more time getting there than being there. Bummer. The Restaurant was very crowded too, with it being a Holiday Weekend everywhere was super busy it seemed. But, at the Restaurant we didn't mind, we got a nice table, only a 15 Minute Wait Time, good Food, and all the Children present were well behaved. "Snooze" is more of an Adult destination Restaurant, not one Kids generally like eating at. Princess T, when she was a Child, used to call it my "Pretentious Egg Place" if that gives you a Clue. *LMAOROTF*
And she Hated that they used Paper Straws... which, they don't do anymore, Thankfully, coz Paper Straws suck, they disintegrate before you can finish drinking with them. And now she's Grown she appreciates the more refined flavor profiles of a finer Dining establishment. Kids like Basic Foods, and that's understandable, so when they were Little, we rarely ate at or brought them to finer Dining establishments. We'd go only when they weren't in tow but some folks drag their Kids along to places the Kids don't like nor wanna be at. And only the best Behaved Children behave while there, the others fuss, fume, ruin the atmosphere for everyone else present, which, always Sucks for everyone. If a Kid is acting the Fool and Misbehaving, their own Parents don't have a good time, let alone everyone around them. But, this Day those Kids were Model Children and it was refreshing not to have to Deal with someone's Feral Children ruining your experience. *LOL*
*******
Blessings, Love and Light from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian
