I'm Not Your Best Gatekeeper

 

I've got to Work Tonight, no idea who I'm covering for, but it's probably Jackson, he's been out a lot during the Holidays.  It's the time of Year that he and Wife Jeri usually go on numerous Cruises.  And, a lot of Vendors don't wanna work Holidays or want to Travel for the Holidays, so, you get asked to fill in more than usual if you're On Call.  I prefer being On Call to committing to a Regular Shift, so I dropped being available for Regular Shifts on a specific day.  It got to where I dreaded when that day would roll around and not wanna go in.  I think trying to fully Retire just does that to you?  *LOL*  It's not that I'm opposed to Work, but, I want it on MY terms now as to when I FEEL like it.  Some days I do, some days I don't.

If it came with a solid predictable Paycheck perhaps I'd feel differently and incentivized?   But, just comped Space Rent isn't incentive enuf, it's well below Minimum Wage per Hour we get Comped and feels more like just being a Volunteer.  I used to Volunteer around 20 Hours per Week even when I had a Full Time Career, for various Ministries that Served our Community, so I'm not opposed to Volunteering my Time and Resources either, but, Paychecks are nice.  *LOL and Winks*  I don't miss my Careers, just the Money made off them, but I must say I do miss the Volunteer Work I did that I knew helped our Communities.  When we both were Younger and The Man was Well, I guess we were both Workaholics.

I'm easing in to being comfortable doing nothing and feeling fine about doing nothing if I want to.  *Smiles*  It used to be hard for me to do nothing, I'm hyper and have Adult ADHD, so being Still is difficult, even now, I get restless easily.  But, I'm told by Family and Friends that my idea of Nothing is not everyone's idea of doing Nothing.  *Bwahahaha*  I'll be busy doing something, and when asked what I'm doing I'll say it's Nothing.  And even when watching something on TV that I Like I have to give myself breaks from it coz it's making me restless to sit and watch anything too long even if it's good.  Binge watching is just hard for me from an internal perspective of being Still enuf to actually do it.  I want to watch it all but I also want it to be over!  I'm getting Antsy even tho' I'm enjoying it!  Just imagine if it was Boring me?!  *LOL*

I almost ruined Princess T's Surprise for her Mom's Christmas Pressy, The Man said a package had come from "Bath and Body Works" and he didn't know who it was to?  He can't Read small Print and rarely knows where his Glasses are.  I looked at the Label and it was for Princess T and since he had the Box, and Eli will attack him if he goes into her Room, I told him to just sit it in the Hallway, not thinking that thru.  Well, The Daughter coasts by, with her Eyes like a Rat, that misses nothing, and pipes up, whose Box is that from "Bath & Body Works"?  Ruh Roh, instantly I knew I shouldda put that in her Daughter's Room outta sight!  Shit!!!  Oh, it's hers, leave it alone I snapped, a bit too aggressively, which to me sounded like a total 'Tell'.  *Le Sigh*  I'm not your Best Gatekeeper, I ain't gonna Lie.  *Smiles*

I hadn't wanted her to SEE said Box and consider it could be her Pressy, so she instantly got MORE Curious about said Box now.  The Son had to intervene and now she's REALLY Suspicious about said Box.  Why are you Guys so protective of the Box?  I wasn't gonna do anything with it, I'm just asking about it.  And then we didn't know Mando had later moved the Box out of The Man's way when he was helping him down the Hallway to Bed and put it in the Guest Bathroom!   Now I thought she had the fucking Box!!!  She got defensive and said she hadn't touched or moved it and I must say I didn't Believe her 'til we discovered it in the Guest Bathroom and concluded how it even got THERE, across the Hall from Princess T's Room.  Nothing to see here... not acting Suspicious at all!!! *Eye Roll and Smiles*

When I told Princess T when she got Home from Rusty's, she laughed, saying, yeah, you Guys were pretty obvious that she wasn't even supposed to SEE the Box!   Well, at least she doesn't know what was in it from "Bath & Body Works", so, there's still that.  *Bwahahaha*  Both The Daughter and her Son are Snoopers, nothing gets past them, and they will spill your Tea on you, and know all about everyone's spilled Tea.  *LOL*  If there's Word and The Streets are Talking, both of them will know ALL about it.  And, they always "Know a Guy" or know a Guy that "Knows a Guy", if there's a Guy to be Known to get anything done on the Down Low.  *Bwahahahaha*  The Network they cultivate is pretty fucking amazing!!! 

 Princess T isn't snoopy like her Mom and Brother, and is rather reclusive and anti-social, but, she too seems to know all the latest spilled Tea about everyone, all the same.  I guess folks Volunteer what they know to her even tho' she's the Quiet one.  Perhaps she is just approachable even tho' she's not very Social and is Introverted.  People do just Like her, and she is very Likeable and protective of people who are having a hard time Socially.  If there's a Newbie at Work, she will go out of her way to be inclusive and helpful 'til they know what they're doing.  Some Employees anywhere can be hard on Newbies or act exclusive, annoyed and unwelcoming.  It's hard to be the New Hire on any Job.  Unless you already have Friends there, or even a Friendly Face, that have your Back.

Above are my Industry Friends Punky and Minnie.  I'm glad as a Retiree I don't have to go Job or Career seeking now, not just due to Ageism, which would definitely be a barrier at my Season of Life.  But at my Age I wouldn't have the Time or the Patience to Deal with problem Co-Workers in a Professional and Dignified appropriate way.  *Winks*  We'd have us a 'Situation' real fast when I go Ham on them... which is not conducive to staying Employed.  *LMAO*  And I used to be so Professional in my Corporate Lives, but Age caught up with me, and the Line is Thin now that folks just can't cross before I Snap on their Ass.  You just have less fucks to give once you're Old, perhaps that's why they are reluctant to Hire us?  *Ha ha ha*  BUT...

I went into a New "Goodwill" we'd never been to and every Employee there was Geriatric.  I mean REALLY Old, I'd say in their 70's and beyond, looking way beyond, some of them.  But keeping busy as Bees and Working like The Greatest Generation always have.  In spite of their most advanced Age, it was the most Organized and Tidy "Goodwill" with a Welcoming pleasant atmosphere we'd ever been in!!!  They were pleasantly interacting with Customers, had all the Clothing by Size AND Color, immaculate presentation of all the Merch, priced appropriately too. It was a thing of Beauty to behold that Store's Location, compared to all the other "Goodwills", they should be the Face of that Company and the Role Model to emulate!!!  Becoz of their more Mature and Experienced Workforce there.  But, mebbe a bit Sad that they may HAVE to still be Working at their advanced Ages.

 It impressed me so much so that I said something about it to Two of the Employees and both Thanked me for noticing their Pride in their Work and how their Store presented to Customers as a first impression.  And said they want to give their all coz they have such a Great Manager there and enjoy their Customers!  Now, you just don't hear that from most Employees these days, but in their demographic and Era, it was commonplace.  The combined experience and knowledge those Old Women had would equate to Hundreds of Years worth, no doubt. That's Valuable to any Employer.  I know my Parents Era were not Lazy and really took Pride in everything they did and were pleasant with everyone, some in my Generation were Raised that way and mirrored it in our Work. 

 I will say my Kiddos and Grandkids do too coz I Raised them that way as well.  Employers always tell me they Work like nobody their Age they've ever seen.  It's a high compliment, my Kiddos thank me for instilling it in them.  I know my Kiddos are Workers and will do a good Job when given the opportunity.  They're quick Studies too and catch on to how it should work and will have good suggestions to make things work even better.  I Raised them all to Make it Work and figure shit out if it's not Working optimally, be Solutions Oriented so you don't become part of any Problem.  Fixers add Value, Fix a Problem and you can monetize that Skill providing Solutions to what people NEED.  I'd say Inventors are the Top Tier of Fixers.   Mando impresses me with his ability to Fix anything, he's our Mexican MacGuyver!!!  It's the Nickname I've given him. *Smiles*

I enjoy the majority of the people I've met and become close to in the Industry, it's a really tight knit Community of Kindred Spirits, so I like Working in it still.  Too much so to give it up, so we ride out the Storms of the Economy together as a Collective and try to keep it relevant and interesting enough to abide.  I've been including Pixs of my Industry Friends and Co-Workers to put Faces with who I Blog about so often and interact with in my Life beyond just Family.  Some of them have become like Family to us actually, like an extended Family of folks you truly Care about and want to spend time and Life with.  I Like People and tend to be a People Person, part of the Family here at Forever Boheme' are like me and Extroverted {The Son and The Daughter}, the others are less Social and Introverted {The Man, Princess T and The Young Prince}.  The Introverts always Joke with me that where ever I go, EVERYONE seems to Know me or Remember me.  *LOL*

We literally can be and often have been far from Home and yet I'll still run into someone I Know!!!  *Smiles*  Once we went to the Ghost Town of Jerome, which is the Disneyland of Funky Places that Tourists like to visit now.  We hadn't been there Five Minutes when someone called out my Name and a previous Co-Worker I hadn't seen in Years was running up to us to give me a big Hug!   The Family said, what are the Odds that would happen to ANYONE ELSE but me!?!  *Bwahahahaha*  Almost any place I Shop, I know some of the Employees by Name and they Know me enuf to Socialize with me while I'm there.  And sometimes, now I'm Aging, I don't recall where I know them from, if it's not where they're Employed, and are somewhere else when I run into them, or that I even ever knew them, but, they seem to Know me!!!   Above are some of our Young Paid Staff that work the Registers and help us out... my Young Stud Muffin Friend Anthony is 2nd from the Left and helps me with anything heavy.  Cameron on the Far Right is now our new Night Manager, he's a Dear too.  They're all great Young People.

 I was at CAVA getting a late Dinner To Go.  And a Group of Six Handsome Young Men about Princess T's age at a Table there were waving like Hell to me to get my attention, like someone you Know would.  Smiling and seemed so Happy to see me, talked to me, I still don't know who the Hell they were, didn't recognize a single one of them!  *LMAO*   I'm thinking to myself, these Young Men seem to Know me from somewhere, but I drew a complete Blank.  I figured, probably Friends from School that my Granddaughter knew???  Not sure, but they were about her Age and I don't know where else I'd know Guys in their 20's from otherwise, to where they recognize me and want to interact just randomly in Public???  *LOL*  I keep it Generic and just call them all Darling since I sure as shit didn't dredge up a Name for any of them.  *Smiles*  Above is my Friend Dave, he usually dresses up for every Holiday with the most outrageous outfits, he's a Delight and so is his Husband.  They used to be Customers for Years, then became Vendors.  I'd Sold them many a Handmade Quilt before they began Selling and talked them into perhaps Renting Space.  I'm glad they did.

I'll often have Kiddos the Ages of my own Grandkids interact with me in Public even if I don't know them, I must have that approachable Gramma Vibe or something.  The Young Man waiting on me at CAVA was absolutely Adorable and Cute as he could be, with Dimples and corkscrew curly gorgeous Blue Black Hair.  He was telling me when he was getting off Work and asking me how it was going, it was Late to be getting Dinner To Go and everyone else there on a Sunday Night was the Young Hipster Crowd, so I did kinda stand out more than a bit.  *Ha ha ha*  I told him he had Great Hair as I was leaving and he Beamed at the Compliment, he did have GREAT Hair and was like a Model Guy Abercrombie Cutie.  His Good Looks being wasted at CAVA Serving Hippie Mediterranean Fare.  *Smiles*  Above is my Friend Richard who is recovering from a Quadruple Bypass AND a Liver Transplant!!!  He and I both Worked for and Retired from "Valley National Bank" back in Da Day before it had a Corporate Takeover by "Bank One" in 1992, and then "JP Morgan Chase" in 2004.  We both were Bank Executives by the end of our Banking Careers and went on to other Careers, mine in Criminal Law.  Two Old Hippies who became Bank Execs, who'd of thunk?  Richard used to have fabulous long Hair down past his Hips in the 70's!  *LOL*

I'm making a Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs in the Crockpot for the Family's Dinner, The Daughter can cook the Pasta when it's ready, I'll be at Work.  It's been a Full Moon so everyone has been Raw Emotionally, Lunar Cycles do affect Mood and especially if someone is SMI or has Dementia.  The complications of poor Physical Health and Unemployment doesn't Help, they bottom out completely Emotionally during a Full Moon.  So, Comfort Food is in order.  The Daughter is still waiting to be Approved for Nutritional Assistance, the Processing is taking way longer now to Qualify.  Mando gets around $280 a Month, but Nutrition is important when you're battling Cancer.  I make sure he eats healthful Meals that will aid his Body to battle the Disease.  Mando, The Son and The Man are all having a tough day today it seems.  The Daughter and Princess T seem to be doing okay.   Above is one of our Newer Vendors, I might bother to remember Names if they stick around long enuf?  For now I just call all the Nameless Ones To me, "Darling".  *LOL*

 

The Young Prince finally responded, he's not Okay or doing Well, but he did get Home safely.  He hasn't addressed stuff with Allen yet and so still doesn't know how that will Land?  He simply can't do a Move on his own and there's nobody else there to help him, he has no Friends or Family in New Mexico, just Allen.  And right now that dependency being exclusive is not good.  He's already missing us and Arizona, things were looking Hopeful for him here and he desperately wants his old Life back.  The Stability, Support System, sense of Security, Safety, and being treated well is important.  If I could just go down there with a U-Haul with The Son and load everything up I just would.  We may have to discuss that and figure out the Cost.   Above is my Friend Patrick, and Brigid, who I often Work with and have mentioned in the Blog.

The Grandchild getting to her Job would have to be on Mando and The Daughter, and watching The Man in my absence.  I don't really have the Emergency Savings to do all it might take, but I don't want the Grandson to feel trapped either.   Winter isn't the Ideal timing to be doing any of that either between here and New Mexico nor does The Grandson want to leave all his possessions and Art behind, I Wish he'd just kept some of the most important possessions here and Stored them.  I had a Sense things might not work out in New Mexico and the longer they lived here with us the more I was seeing a side of Allen that concerned me as well.  Mostly it was the Autistic tendencies that made things difficult with Allen and I've Raised an Autistic Child who is now a Grown Man, it never gets easier just coz they Grow Up, challenges of Autism are permanent, no Cures.

  I didn't wanna vilify the Guy, but his Anger Management Issues seemed unresolved and not Managed, he was estranged for Years with his own Kinfolk.  I met them, and was leaning more towards the Issues being with their Son primarily.  He has a very nice Family and comes from a good Home, his Mom is an esteemed Doctor.  Autism can manifest in ways that make it hard to maintain or sustain Relationships or Mood Regulate appropriately.  The Son has it and can sometimes not Mood Regulate well, but Allen has worst Autism, the spectrum is wide for those who have it.  Some aren't even Verbal or Functional, he was high Functional but can't relate well with People and seems quite unaware he's the common denominator in why relationships aren't working out for him and conflict arises often.  It's Sad, but he's too Grown, Big and Strong to NOT have Control over himself.  If you've ever managed an Autistic Child it can be challenging, an Adult, multiply the challenge.

It was a relief to know he'd arrived Safe but I won't have a Peace until he's back Home here with his things that he cherishes and wants around him.  I don't have an easy Solution for his complex Problem and finances is definitely a barrier at the moment.   But, I know it is for most of America right now, ours isn't an isolated Case of folks having to tighten things up in this shitty Economy, struggling, and with all the National Fuckery going on unabated with no End in sight.  We don't Feel like the Lone Rangers and we've got it so much better than most so I'm Mindful of that Blessing of not being in a place of Hopelessness or Desperation.  Above is my Young Hippie Friend Aliyah, she used to work at our Antique Mall when she was Younger, and now works at "Sweet Salvage".

Above is the Demographic of Customers that likes our Showroom the most and who I therefore Appeal to when I'm Selling now.  I just Adore the Young Hipster Customers and their Aesthetics, they're such Fun, always interact with Princess T and I, tell us they Love our Showroom a lot, and they are the Serious Buyers now.  They like my Aesthetic and bond with me about it easier and more effortlessly than my Peer Age Group, who probably just think I'm a total Weirdo and Outlier?  *LOL*  So, I have more in common with these Young People than with most other Seniors, who don't 'Get' me for the most part.  My Grandkids just say it's coz I'm not your Garden Variety Old Person, they could be Right? *LOL*  I know I should be Pricing some Inventory to take in with me Tonight but I'm not in the Mood to knuckle down and do that.  Yet, I did, so I have a full Box of Merch to take in that should do well for the Holidays, but, you never know anymore what will do well if it's not Pokemon???  *Le Sigh*

  LATER:  Well... Work!!!  OMG, we were supposed to have an EXTRA Person Working the Shift with us who couldn't be there due to recovering from Food Poisoning from Sammies that The Mall had brought in over the Weekend!!!  WHAT!!!!????  She'll be Okay but it was wicked Sick it made her!!!   Then, Eve, who should have Worked with us, got an Emergency Call from Home about one of her Dogs so she left.  The Dog should be Fine but had to go to the Vet.  That left my Friend Tina and I only.  Which meant, one of us has to cover the Greeter Desk in 30 Minute intervals and that the other one had to cover the whole Customer Service Responsibilities with Floor Assists and Opening Cases all by ourself, 55,000 sf of it!!!  And it was MAD busy!!! 

Luckily neither of us left screaming from the building or ripping our Clothes off and going Mad.  *LOL*  And Customers were polite and patient about us being so short staffed, so we managed to keep it together and hold it down.  But... I never wanna go thru that again lemme tell ya for only Ten Bucks an Hour being Comped Space Rent as a Fill-In for someone else who wasn't there either!!!  They couldn't get anyone else to come in to cover for who had to leave or wasn't there, so instead of Four they only had Two, definitely not enuf coverage for a NOT busy day, let alone a Holiday busy one!!!  Sales were Strong but I don't know that I Sold a lot... lots of Pokemon going out the Door in massive amounts tho' for Christmas.   Quite a few of my Markdowns had Sold last Pay Period so I will Thankfully finally get a Check after Two Months of NOT getting one.  *Whew*  Not a big one, but, it's something for Christmas.  For it being the Holidays and usually the busiest time of Year for Sales, it's falling Flat tho'.

  

Someone had brought in Homemade Chex Party Mix, it brought back fond Memories and what I miss of when my Dad made it for all of us every Christmas.  It also Triggered me to want to make some and look up a Microwave Recipe for making it and going to the Grocery Store after my Shift to pick up Supplies to make it.  The Microwave version takes 5-6 Minutes -vs- One Hour and 15 Minutes Baking and Making it the Traditional way.  The Daughter has to Work Today so I'm taking the Quick N Easy Method way to make it instead and will hit a Dollar Store to find a big plastic Container to Store it in.  My Dad used to put it in those big Tin Popcorn Holiday Containers with Holiday Graphics on the Tins to hand out to all of us.  Now you can buy pre-seasoned Butter so I did that to save Time also, the Butter has Garlic and Herbs already in it for making Garlic Bread too.

The Chex Cereals were on Sale, $1.99 a Box if you bought Three and I needed the Corn, Rice and Wheat, so that was quite a Savings.  I got Pre-Seasoned Pretzel Sticks as well, also on Sale.  I have the Nuts, other Seasonings, Double Roasted Rye Chips, and Cheez-its already at Home.  Gardetto's is my fav Store bought Chex Mix, so I fashion my Homemade Chex Mix after theirs more.   Those Rye Chips are my Fav Ingredient.  I can usually find a Bag of just those at our Convenience Store "Circle K".  So I do have to pick up a Bag of those still and find some.  Below is not MY Party Mix, but I hadda include some Cribbed Images off Food Porn Pixs from the Web, now we're talking about Holiday Chex Party Mix.  

Might as well get you all Fixated on making some too now!  You're Welcome.   And can Thank me Later... or, Curse me out! *LOL*  Easy Microwave Method is you melt your Butter with your Worcestershire Sauce and Spices, pour it over your Dry ingredients and stir to coat, pop in Microwave 2 Minutes, Stir, 2 Minutes, Stir, then 1-2 more Minutes and Done.  Drain on Paper Towels if you have too much Coating that didn't soak in... Eat and Enjoy. 

Below is the Holiday Pix of our Lifelong Friends Dino & Yolanda who I've often mentioned in the Ole' Blog over the Years I've been Blogging.  Way back when we lived Southside in the Barrio they lived across the Street and all our Kiddos grew up together and are still close to this day.  Dino is a Die Hard Raiders Fan and The Man was a Die Hard Steelers Fan so they always watched the Football Games together and then we'd throw Super Bowl Parties, BBQ's and Holiday Parties at each other's Homes.  The Barrio was deep in Da Hood, but a very tight knit Community and all the Neighbors became Lifelong Friends we still have to this day.  Even tho' we all Moved On Up like "The Jefferson's" Old TV Sitcom.  *LOL*

Dino and The Man even had their Double Bypass Surgeries together at about the same time, since both had their Health Tank almost simultaneously and have to take early Medical Retirement.   And Yolanda, tho' much Younger than all of us, has had a very tough row to hoe with her Health, Bless her.  Once, when The Man was Hospitalized, Dino pretended to be his Brother so the Hospital would let him visit in ICU, since only immediate Family could see him.  *LOL*  We got a kick out of that coz the Hospital never Questioned that The Man might have a Mexican Brother and wanted to be PC and Dino knew that.   So, after that they called each other Brothers of other Mothers.   *LOL and Winks*  We Share a lot of History with their Family and Wish we all still were Neighbors.  They bought Land out in Rainbow Valley and have talked about moving back here to the City and Avondale, where they Live is Scenic, but quite Rural and remote, only a "Dollar General" way out there and they're getting Older. 

I was so busy making sure The Man took his Meds Yesterday that I forgot to take all of mine!!!  I felt Fine, and it's not the 1st time that's happened, but I try to be vigilant and remember what everyone is supposed to be taking, including myself!!!  I'm getting more Pixs of the Great-Grandkids for the Holidays, so glad our Grand-daughters take loads of Pixs and are Pathological Picture Takers like Moi.  They won't regret having taken so many, the only Families that have regrets are those that didn't take enuf.  I have so few Pixs of my Family growing up coz my Parents never owned a Camera and always borrowed one to take the few Pixs we have.  Neither set of my Grandparents ever owned one either so there's even fewer Pixs of them.  

None of my Dad growing up, I have no idea what he looked like until he had his Military Pixs taken as a Young Man when he joined the Air Force.   And even then, the 1st Military Pix he had taken that I own, was Five Years after he joined the Military, taken in North Wales when he was Stationed in my Mom's Country and when he was 21 by then.  He Married my Mom when he was 23, she was 21 and that was very late in Life for a Welsh Girl of her Era to Marry.  So, my Grandparents were thrilled.  *Bwahahahaha*  My Mom's Older Brother, my Favorite Uncle, brought my Dad and a Black GI Friend of my Dad with him Home to Dinner.  First 'Yanks' they'd ever met in person, definitely the 1st Native American and Black Man they'd met.   Ernie was actually half White, so about the same complexion as my Dad, but way both Darker than Europeans. 

 

My Dad and his Friend Ernie told my Mom's Family they were American "Night Fighters" coz they were harder to see at Night!!!  Naively my Mom said her Family didn't realize it was a Joke and Believed them!  *Bwahahaha*   My Dad knew the Family were on Ration still, so the first time my Nanna fed him a Watercress & Butter Sammie he thought they were so Poor they were eating Grass, and he started sneaking Food to them from the Mess Hall on Base he worked at!!!  *LOL*  He'd grown up in Poverty on the Rez, so he knew what it was like to be Hungry and he had a Brother who Died of Starvation.  But Mom said he didn't know that Watercress Sammies is a Welsh delicacy and was something Special they'd Served him, not born out of Poverty, so they thought that was funny.  

They were on Ration tho' so the Americans had a lot more to offer.  The Big Joke with my Gran-Gran was that the only thing wrong with the Americans was that they were Oversexed, Overpaid, and Over Here.  *LOL and Winks*  The Welsh didn't like the GI's messing with the Local Gals coz a lot of the Men were actually Married and had Wives Stateside, sometimes pretended to Marry the Local Gals, got Welsh Girls Pregnant, and then left them high and dry.  In Welsh Culture of that Day, that would mean the Girl might never be Married due to the Stigma of being an Unwed Mother and having had Relationships with an American.  So, my Dad said every Date he went on with my Mom, was Chaperoned by her Older Brother, to protect her Virtue.  My Uncle was his Best Friend anyway, so he didn't mind and wanted to Honor the Culture, unlike many Americans, he even learned some of their Language and Customs.  So, my Grandparents really liked him.  And, my Gran-Gran's nickname for Dad was Magwah.  

  

My Gran-Gran liked to drink Jamaican Rum and didn't know Native Americans should not drink, it's a Scourge to Indigenous Cultures to this day, it's why I don't drink.  In fact, in those Days, where Dad was from and up until the early 1970's, it was illegal to Serve an Indian Alcohol.  So, the first and only time my Dad got Drunk was when he tried some of what my Gran-Gran was drinking, to be Polite and not offend the Family.   Mom said, after that, no more Rum for my Dad!!!  *Smiles*  Dad was a quiet, stoic and docile Man, but apparently on the Fire Water, he was NOT!  Scared the bejesus out of my Mom's Family and they felt bad for offering it to him after he explained why he shouldn't partake.  They just didn't know.  This Vintage Pennant is from the Cherokee Nation Rez my Dad and Family are from in Oklahoma.   Just about all of my Paternal Relatives still live in Tahlequah as far as I know.

 

Today The Daughter has a Housekeeping Cleaning Job in Chandler so I'll enjoy trawling some fav Shops while I wait on her to finish up Working.  I'll go to "Ivy & Sage", LOVE that Shop.  And to my Fav Mediterranean Restaurant for Lunch too.  The Man will stay Home and The Son and Mando will watch him for me and Mando will pick Princess T up from Work too.  He's just been too unwell lately for me to risk dragging him around or along even if he'd really like to Tag along.  His Blood Pressure has lately been either very high or very low to the point it's dangerous either way.   He is taking all his Meds so there's not much more we can do to keep him piping along, he's now doing everything prescribed to do, it's just not working so well anymore.  I am concerned about him, so want him to take it easy.  It also gives me a brief respite from Caregiving when the Kids fill in for me with him.  I need that sometimes too, to restore myself and catch a Break.

I thought the Above Grapevine Tree festooned with Vintage Kitchen Gadgets as a Display in a Vendor Booth was Clever.  They'd put it in a heavy Garden Urn and that would make a lovely Apartment sized Tree that is Unique.  If you have that many Vintage Kitchen Gadgets to Decorate a Grapevine Tree with, that is.  I'd think it would have cost a Fortune to Buy the whole thing from this Vendor?  They had everything priced separately and not as a whole Display, but, perhaps they would have worked something out for a Bundle Buyer that wanted it ALL?  It made a great Booth Vignette and Display to hawk the Gadgets and Urn with tho', I must say... drew your Attention and looked Festive since all the Gadgets had Green Handles... I suppose you could have done the same with Vintage Red Handled Vintage Kitchen Gadgets, or a mix of both.

I indulged in some light Retail Therapy at Work when I saw this large Anna Lee Doll in a Christmas Stocking that matches the Two Anna Lee Kid Dolls in Christmas Jammies that I already had, same size.  I made an Offer to the Vendor and they Accepted.  Their price point was high for me, and Online I could have gotten it for less, but would have had to pay for Postage, so I took a shot to see if they'd Accept my reasonable Offer instead.  They had a lot of Anna Lee and it is getting close to Christmas now so a lot of Vendors want to Sell Off their Christmas Seasonal Merch so they don't have to take it back Home if it doesn't Sell and hold it for another Year.  It was a single purchase but I was thrilled to get it... I'd never seen one like this and this Size of Anna Lee is harder to Source and usually quite expensive.  It's not that the Vendor had the highest prices for this Size I'd ever seen, but I knew what I was willing to pay and had Budget for.

********

Merry Christmas from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

The Lazy Holiday Decorator

 Okay, so, the Exterior clearly now reveals that I'm the Lazy Holiday Decorator.  *Smiles*  I decided, all Pumpkins will remain, real and faux.  And I just added some Christmas Wreaths, Balls and Garlands, Done Son!!!  *LOL she drops the Mic on Exterior Decorating completed in less than 10 Minutes!*   I'm Happy with the results and it was the least amount of no Work involved, which, is my current Styling Sensibility these days.  I'm keeping it Simple, it Works for me now.  I have the Help of other Generations and if they wanna do more they can, so long as they take it down and put it away too.  *LOL and Winks*  

We had such a Full Day Yesterday and until our Social Security Checks and my Pension hit, hopefully on time this Month {???}, it's in Stall/Hold Mode financially now.  It's about half our income and hasn't been on time since this Administration took Office, since, they've pretty much wrecked the Federal Government, which then Negatively impacts County and State function as well, it's a Dominoes Effect, like a House of Cards falling in upon itself and going down.  If they're on Time they should hit around the 17th, so, we'll see.

There is some Grocery Shopping I want to do but don't need to do right now and it can wait.  We're not sure Mando will get his Food Stamps or not... or on time either.  But, I have enuf of our Food bought that him contributing is just extra to ensure it can provide enuf for a large household of this size.  Otherwise, just more Water in the Beans.  *LOL*  The Son isn't getting Unemployment, he got Screwed out of that by a Sleazy Employer, as I mentioned in a previous Post.  His Car also isn't in great Working Condition and now he has no funds to keep it piping along or to make Payments on one and trade it in.

The Daughter and Mando have been doing little Side Hustle Jobs to keep his Car on the Road and bringing something in to contribute.  She's got a Housekeeping Job in Chandler on Tuesday.  It should have been Monday but I'm Working Monday and Wednesday Nights filling in for Co-Workers, so those Dates were booked for my Work Commitments.  Mando will pick Princess T up from Work on Tuesday, since we'll still be way over in Chandler.  Her Mom's Gig will be Working until 4:00 p.m., Princess T gets off Work at 3:30 p.m. and I Work Nights starting at 5:00 p.m..   So, we have to logistically coordinate who can do what and when.  The Daughter has permanent Driving Restrictions and Princess T doesn't Drive yet.   City Buses aren't reliable nor Safe.  It can become complicated to get everyone where they need to be.

 

Uber and Lyfts aren't vetted well enuf I'd put a Single Young Female in one not knowing who the Drivers are.   And those Driverless Cabs by Waymo have been doing all kinds of illegal maneuvers around stopped School Buses, stalling on Railroad Tracks when Trains are coming, and had Passengers trapped inside!  Those Driverless Vehicles make me nervous and malfunction too often to be Safe.  Yes, Drivers do stupid and illegal shit too, but you can prosecute a careless or irresponsible Driver.  This is why I don't like AI, and surveys show most Young People don't like AI either.  But, we wont' go deep into those Weeds on this Post.

My OCD Kicked In when I saw that flat side of that front Wreath when I downloaded this Image... so, I fixed it immediately and took another Pix... better now, huh?  *LMAO*  Having OCD Impulses and Urges is hard coz you can't ignore the little things and trifles that wouldn't bother anyone else.  In my Corporate Lives it made me lots of Money and Promotions tho', to focus and immediately zoom in on anything that isn't exactly Right or glaringly stands out to me and everyone else misses completely, so it ain't all Bad.  *Winks*

That Side probably got a little flat being Stored in The RV Garage Mahal against something else and just needed fluffing out again.  I am a Wreath Lover and pick them up anytime the Chazzas have a good one or After Season when they go on Markdown Sales.  I have Wreaths for every Season and Holiday.   All of my Wreaths were Scores like that, Retail a nice Wreath could otherwise set you back quite a lot and the ones made from Real Pine Boughs, in Arizona, are expensive, just don't last, Dry Out too quick and become a Fire Hazard.  They smell Divine, and in a Colder Climate might be worth Investing in Seasonally, but, not here.  I do have Real Grapevine Wreaths tho'.   And you can do Real Succulent Wreaths with Living Succulents or Air Plants here successfully.

I had my Air Plant Obsession Phase when we lived at The Villa McManse, long time Dear Readers might recall my Phase?  *LOL and Winks*  I had them fucking everywhere, but, tho' they allegedly survive on Air, they are more complex to keep Alive than that really.  I was only moderately successful in that endeavor and don't like Killing any Living thing even accidentally and unintentionally.    So, we did go Grocery Shopping coz Mando's Food Stamps did hit and they made a List of what to pick up and what we were low on.  We went to the Discount Grocer coz I had a $10 Off Coupon from last time we were there.  I didn't know they give  you an additional $20 Discount if you're paying with Food Stamp Assistance... so that really helped a lot to stretch what it gets.

As a Single Man he doesn't qualify for that much, but, he's ineligible to Work due to the progression of his Cancer so he isn't on the Work Requirements for Single Adult Males.  Before we got Home The Man wasn't feeling well at all, so we immediately took his Blood Pressure and this time it was dangerously LOW instead of dangerously High like before.  So, he's on Bedrest again and why I don't like to drag him along becoz tho' he wants to come along, he's often not Well enuf to right now.  It's not that I'm being Mean, it's just not Wise to have him getting ill in the middle of whatever you are doing, whether Recreational or needing to get done.

When we pulled up the Guys got him to Bed and took his BP, while The Daughter and I unloaded the Banana Boxes full of Groceries.  I saw that she hadn't liked my Lazy Holiday Decorating Outside on the Front Porch at all so had redone it.  *LMAO*  She took away all the faux Pumpkins, and put out a small Christmas Tree instead.  I put Three of the Pumpkins back but let her take the rest away to Storage.  Then, she Tweaked her own Decor and Decorated the little Tree too.  *Smiles*  I THINK she's Done now?  *LOL*

It does look nice and she's happier with it, so I don't care that she changed it up right after I did it.  *Smiles*  She's having Fun being in Charge of Decorating for Holidays now, she's foregone so many Holidays with being Homeless and also being in a whole other Country for most of her Adult Life now.  She said she forgot how much she'd missed and also how much better things are now she's a Recovering Addict and has been Clean for more Years than ever, over 3 now, after having been on Drugs since her Teens, it's a huge shift to be Clean and not Using and in The Life.   Being SMI is Forever, but abusing Prescription Meds or Illegal Street Drugs doesn't have to be.

Anyway, other than Grocery Shopping it was a Day of not having to do much else.  I did take The Man to "Cracker Barrel" for a late Luncheon coz he was reluctant to eat all day and you can't MAKE him eat.  But, he sure does like "Cracker Barrel" and I knew I could get at least half of a Meal from there down him, which, he did eat half of his Beef Pot Roast we both had and it's always very good.

They didn't have the big Fireplace burning, but every Christmas Season we try to stop by a CB at least once coz they always Decorate so nicely for the Holidays.  They have such a great Collection of Antiques Decorating their Restaurants too.  My Friend Brett used to Sell Antiques to Cracker Barrel Restaurants, especially Signage, Yard Long Photos, and Antique Pictures in the Antique Frames.  He once Sold them a Taxidermy Bear.

A Blast from Holidays Past of The Daughter and I when she was a very Young Teenager, probably around Age 14-15.   I'm not trying to look Cool with my Shades, before I had Lasik done on both Eyes I was Legally Blind and had Glasses with Lenses as thick as Mister Magoo or the Bottom of Coke Bottles!!!   So, I'd get the Tinted Lenses so they didn't look so fucking goofy.  *Smiles*   Below is The Daughter and my Mom during the Holidays way back then too.  They were very close, she being my Parents first Biological Grandchild.   My Parents embraced every Grandchild and Great-Grandchild whether Biologically Connected or not tho'.  

Our Family has never used the terms Stepchild, Stepdad, Stepmom, ever.   In fact, we've had Kiddos "Adopt" us and call us Mom, Dad, Grandma, Nanna, or Grandpa and we "Adopted" Aunties and Uncles, or Surrogate Grandparents, Cousins, Nieces & Nephews, while growing up, who were Friends of our Family too.  People never really knew they weren't actually Relatives.  *LOL*  And we'll never tell.  *Winks*  People are on a Need To Know basis about it and they DON'T Need To Know.  Below is a Blast from Holidays Past of me, my Friend whose now Dying of Cancer, and my Welsh Uncle {now Deceased}, when we were in Las Vegas at a Drag Show.  My Uncle isn't fat, he was just that Big a Guy, 6'4" and even in his 70's was stronger than most Stud Muffins in their 20's.  He lived to be 90 and was still Strong as an Ox even then, my Cousin, his Youngest Son, said... and I fully Believe it and don't Doubt it.

I've also sprinkled in Holiday Season Pixs of various Industry Friends of mine that I've known for Years.  I have an Orbit of Fantastic Friends and feel very fortunate to know my Real Life ones, both in my Inner Circle, and what I call Situation Friendships of Common Interests we bonded with and kept us close for Years, along with Friends from the Blogging Community as well.   The book of Faces helped me re-connect with long lost Friends and catch up, so I don't mind the few Social Media sites I use and have helped us stay Connected with people no matter where we are or how scattered now across the Country or the Globe.

 

Below are the Santa Pixs one of the Granddaughters Back East sent of her Kiddos.  She's the Oldest Daughter of our Oldest Daughter and she said her Middle Child HATED Santa until this Year.  So, this is the first time that one cooperated for the Santa Photo Shoot.  Yay and LOL!  She doesn't look Thrilled, but, she is in the Pix and I guess that's all you can Hope for and Ask for, when they don't like ole' Santa Clause, Right?  *Smiles*   The little Brother doesn't mind The Fat Man, but, none of them actually looks like he's their Favorite Holiday Figure either.   We don't Care that he allegedly brings us them Toys we get!!!  *Bwahaha*  And my aren't we RED in that Pix, that's a LOT of Red going on!!!   It almost hurts the Eyes!!!   *LOL*

In fact, there's so much RED going on that I didn't even notice that the Oldest Great-Granddaughter had Bailed for Pix No. Two!   Peace Out!!!  *LMAO*   She is getting to that tipping Age of skepticism that The Fat Guy is Legit and For Real?!  *Shhhhh, she may Believe just a little while longer?  Or not say anything so as not to spoil it for the Younger Siblings?*   I think a Mrs. Santa made it more inviting a Photo Shoot for the Kiddos, otherwise, mebbe they wouldn't have been as cooperative?  Elves generally aren't Helpful if they have Fear of Santa.  *Smiles*  But, this one is a Fine looking Santa, I must say.  I had very skeptical Kiddos and so were the G-Kid Force I Raised, so you had to Scour and Scout out the most Legit looking Santa for them to be Game for a Photo with him.  No fake Beard/Mustache, no Padding.   Kids usually think The Man is Santa out of Uniform at this time of the Year and get excited if they still Believe.

For Years he'd have small Candy Canes in his Pocket to hand out in case they called him Santa and waved like Hell to him or wanted to come up and Hug him or Talk to him during the Season.   Any Old portly Guy with long Whitish Beard and long Hair is potentially Santa to most Kids of a certain Age that Believes.  I checked the FB of all Events and it seems "Highland Yard Vintage" won't be doing any more Events until just before Spring, which is really odd.  I thought they'd do more Weekends before Christmas actually coz they did have a big Event Schedule in November for it, but, none at all in December!   "Sweet Salvage" has one more Event for the Month of December at their usual 3rd Thursday of the Month for 4 Days on Dec. 18th-21st, which is pretty close to Christmas and may still have that Holiday's Theme?

One of my Industry Friends used to be a Hairdresser before she was a Designer, so she's been Dying Deer Mounts Black with Human Hair Dye and I'd Love to own one.  They look so Real that the 1st one she did I thought was some kind of anomalous Rarity of Nature.  It's a real Labor of Love and takes her an incredibly long time and she Sells them for not much more than you'd pay for a regular Deer Mount.   This was the one she had this Month at the Event, it was around $525, so not within my meager Budget of right now... but, someday.   She always Sells them during the one Show they are on Display, and she only does One at a time coz it takes her so long to Dye one of them.

I haven't even downloaded all the Images I took with my Old School Camera yet of our Adventures, so, those Pixs will be in Future Posts.  I don't know that I'll have many more Adventures before Christmas that will be Holiday related or not?   I don't even know how I Closed Out this Pay Period, which ended on Saturday Night, with Sunday still being part of the last Holiday Sale we'll be having before Christmas... and started the New Pay Period.   Friday was not Strong Sales even with the Sale, for me anyway, so I'm Hopeful Saturday was and Closed Out the Pay Period Strong, I Worked a lot of Hours covering for Co-Workers to offset some Rent.  And this 2-Week Pay Period I've also got Days I'm Working that are already Scheduled to cover for People they KNOW won't be covering their Shifts.  Call-Ins during the Holidays or people just not showing up at all, are sadly chronic now tho', so I highly suspect they'll call me and ask if I'll Cover more.

Depends really how I feel and what I'm doing or not doing, whether I'll accept or decline last Minute requests to fill-in for someone who didn't give them any prior notice.   If they did more for those of us Working at the Holidays, like they used to, I'd accept more, but, they don't.  So... I'm not giving up Holiday Days with Family to bail them out of people not showing up.  I like spending time with certain Co-Workers who are fellow Vendors and Paid Staff there, and during Holidays it can be nice, like spending time with anyone you like during Holidays.  But sometimes I confess that don't have it in me to be Working part-time on Call AND Caregiving full-time.  Then ask the Kiddos to Cover for me with Dad/Grandpa so I can pull Shifts at the Antique Mall.  I have to consider them and their Time too.

They've never said they wouldn't watch him for me, but I know sometimes he can be difficult, or even unlovely, and highly uncooperative, for any or all of them when I'm absent.   Usually by Sundown he gets more agitated with me too and snappy with his Tone, but he knows I'll come right back at him, and they won't, out of reverential Respect for their Elders.  So he pushes the boundaries further with the Kids and Grandkids when they're in Charge.  Princess T is the one most likely not to put up with any of his nonsense and come right back at him, she's a chip off the Ole' Block and can be a Nurse Ratchet when Caregiving... often it's said she can be like a Mini Me.  *Winks*  

So he will behave better for her in my absence, but, she Adores her Grandpa and it saddens her too much, to make her assume too much responsibility when he's deteriorated and cannot Mood Regulate.  She doesn't wanna be The Heavy, she wants to be his Little Princess, as it should be.  I'm worried that if he continues going backwards in Time with the Dementia, if he gets to where his Memory can't recall anything prior to 2005, he won't know who she is anymore?   If he goes beyond 2000 he won't remember the Young Prince.  It will take going backwards before 1989 not to remember Our Adult Kiddos and me.   The Young Prince has been tracking his Grandpa's Memory Care and Memories and says he seems to be somewhere around 2016 right now... or thereabouts. 

  I know with my Mom and Dementia, she went back somewhere between 1957 and 1959 coz she forgot who my Brother was and he was Born in 1960... but, she remembered she had me, her Daughter.  She Died before she forgot who I was too.   She did think my Brother was her own Brother tho', so my Brother played along and pretended he was our Welsh Uncle, for her sake.  But, I know it hurt him that she didn't think she even had a Son, he'd been her Baby and her Favorite Child all his Life.  It might have been easier if she'd remembered him and forgot me coz she and I had a long History of sparring and he was The Golden Child.   I'd of liked it to have ended that way for my Younger Brother and could have accepted her forgetting who I was or thinking I was someone else.  

 She remembered our Dad, but didn't remember he'd Died a Decade earlier, so that was a hard one for her to be told again, even tho' they'd Divorced, she didn't recall that either, so we didn't mention it.  And she didn't remember hardly any English in the end, coz it was her 2nd language, and nobody spoke or understood Welsh, so, it was so hard for her, she may as well have been non-verbal coz she couldn't communicate with anyone really anymore.  I knew some Welsh, not enuf tho' and the Staff thought she was speaking gibberish.  I had to tell them it was her Language and that Wales was an actual Country in Great Britain, with their own Language, Ethnicity, Customs and Indigenous Culture, that the English tried in vain to eradicate for Hundreds of Years in North and South Wales, and couldn't.  Mom was from North Wales.  Above is her when she was in her Eighties, her Skin still smooth and flawless.

There is a difference in Language of those from North and South Wales, mostly vocabulary, accents and some pronunciation.  But, it's all the same Language Cymraeg.  Most speakers can understand each other, North Wales being Gog and South Wales being Hwntw.   Northern pronunciation is more complicated, but not necessarily harder to understand.  The South has historically had more funding than the North so geographical beef between the North and South has more to do with Politics and how England's Rule discriminated more against the areas that held strongly to their Language and Culture more.  Both North and South disliked England and the English tho'.  If you wanted to Trigger my Mom, mistake her Ethnicity and ask if she was English!?  She didn't mind you mistaking her for being Australian or from any other Foreign Country, just don't ever say you thought she was English and from England!  *LOL*

I remember my Kids taking my Welsh Uncle for "Show and Tell" to Grade School once {Yes, they did}... and some of the Kids asked him if he was English and he said NO so firmly they asked, "Oh, don't you LIKE the English?"   And he told a bunch of 3rd Graders, in jest, "Yes, we Like to EAT them!"   OMG, I had to tell these Kids, who Believed it and were wide Eyed, that he was just Joking with them, the Welsh don't Eat the English!!!  I thought the Teacher was gonna have the Vapors, even tho', they'd all, Kids and the Teacher, have a lot of trouble understanding his English, so a lot was Thankfully lost in translation.  *Whew*  The Man never could understand hardly anything my Uncle ever said, even Eleven Years worth of Visits.  So, I'd translate and my Uncle got used to it.  *Ha ha ha*  And if my Mom reverted to Welsh, you knew she was MAD and couldn't remember English becoz she was so Mad.  So, we picked up some of the Welsh derogatory and swear words, natch.  *Smiles*

 

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Merry Christmas from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian