Real Time Crisis... A Homicide I Must Address In Real Time Now

This part Written in Red is about a Fortnite later than I Wrote this Post Originally and Future Unpublished Posts about a Fortnite from Publishing will outline more.  But now, Blog Friends I have more contact with on The Regular, have been asking how they can contribute to the Go Fund Me Memorial, so I will squeeze this in now with this Post to Hit in Real Time, so that perhaps they can find it on FB.  On September 2nd, The Daughter's Boyfriend Mando was killed in a Hit & Run Vehicular Homicide while riding his Bike.  The condensed version is she and he were helping an Elderly Friend that Evening after it Cooled Off and got Dark.  He made a run on his Bicycle to a Convenience Store and got hit by a Young Person in a Sports Car going 60mph in a 25mph Rural Residential Neighborhood with no sidewalks and poor lighting on the Night of the Holiday busy Weekend.  

The Driver left the scene but was later turned in by his own Mother, I think he's a Teenager, no idea whether he was under the influence or just driving recklessly and irresponsibly?  His Family will Forever be ruined now too by that One Bad Decision.  But, Mando didn't have his Wallet on him since he didn't intend to be gone long, so he was a John Doe until The Daughter hopped on her Bike to go looking for him and came upon the active Crime Scene and had to Identify the Body by his Tattoos.  Vehicular Homicides are some of the most Graphic and Traumatizing to Witness the aftermath of, so she's wrecked by all this and Emotionally Raw. 

 She at least could give Police a Positive ID and Contact Information for his Family, many of whom we've known for Years and several Generations of the Family.  More details in Future Posts Pre-Scheduled but won't Post for a couple Weeks.  It made for a Somber Holiday Weekend.  She will always now be Haunted by having to ID a Person she Loved who Died of a Graphic senseless Violent Crime, so she's pretty distraught right now and everyone who knew Mando is in Shock and Grief.  He was Dying of Cancer, but this is also no way to leave this Earthly Coil, tho' not as slow, equally Traumatic and much more unexpected.  He could be a difficult Person, but he did a lot of Good and had a Heart for Helping others, including our Family.  During their lengthy Relationship he spent Holidays with us since his Parents and One Son had preceded him into the Afterlife.  Where now they are reunited for Eternity.  But for the Living, it is tough right now.  Community outpouring of Support has been wonderful.  Thank You to all who have responded so generously for his Family and Friends.

Now back to what the Post originally held when Written a couple Weeks ago: 

 Princess T and Rusty brought the Older Kitten over for me to cuddle and play with.  She's a sweet lil Black and White Tuxedo with Four White Paws, and the sole Survivor of her litter.   Blue-Green Eyes right now, very soft fur and White Whiskers against a Black Face. They said she was feisty and usually bites and scratches, but she was calm and lovable with me, very subdued, they couldn't Believe how different she acted.  Probably the Nag Champa had a Calming Effect over her they figured?  *LOL*  They already found her a really good Home with one of Princess T's Co-Workers who is 24 and has other Cats, a Boyfriend, but no Kids.  And who doesn't like Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens?  *Smiles and Winks*   One Smells great and the other Melts your Heart.  Which is good coz Kitten Breath does not Smell great and has a pong to it.  *Bwahahaha*

  So she's going to a very good Home and they're so Happy about that.  She looks almost exactly like the Cribbed Image of the Above Kitten, only with more Blue in her Greenish Eyes.  I didn't take Pixs while she was here, coz all us Humans looked Busted and didn't wanna be Photographed holding her.  *LOL*  We're speculating she's a Female, general consensus is she probably is.  I gave her a Catnip Toy to go Home with, she REALLY like it.  *Ha ha ha*  She'll be a handful to drive Home with now she's High on Catnip.  *Winks*  They've decided to keep the Calico from the other Litter and find Homes for the Two Grey Siblings when Old enuf, they're only 3 Days Old right now.  Of coarse the Family fell in Love with this Older Kitten, so how can you not when they're Kittens, Right?  *LOL*  But, I like to play, cuddle, spoil, then send 'em Home, just like with Human Kids now.  No more Little Humans or Fur Babies for us.  *Winks*   I had my Dose of Kitten Love.  *Smiles*

I'm supposed to be Pricing Pokemon Cards, see, I'm NOT, I'm Blogging.  Looking them up is labor intensive and I'm just not really in the Mood to go Bug Eyed looking up Pokemon Characters really, but I know I need to and will have to.  While the Craze is Strong I might as well get all the Cards we have in there to Sell 'em.  I also have 3 unopened Pokemon Card Pacs too.  And I have another Pokemon Plush Toy to bring in as well.  Princess T has been Culling her Cache of Plush popular Toys out of her Collection again.  She fell out of Love with the Squishmallow Craze and only kept a few.   You find them in abundance at Chazzas now, the Craze has Cooled, but I can still Sell them coz she had some of the more popular ones Kids still want.  The Labubu Craze Cooled too, they always wanted too much for them, so not everyone could afford them at the inflated prices.  So they were not a good Investment for Resale.  Some things you better just have an abiding Love for coz you Paid too much on the Buy.

I haven't heard from our Roofer so doubt they're coming by Today to do what they didn't do Yesterday?  I do Hope they Tarp it before the next Rainstorm tho' coz I don't want leaking Roof damage inside The RV Garage Mahal on my contents.  The Insurance might balk if it never got Tarped coz they said go ahead and do that to be proactive.  And if it fails to get done then they are sure to use that as an excuse to deny increased Claims for further damage even before they Approve paying for a damned thing.  I'm hoping it's not a hassle to get them to pay what ever is what has to get done, you never know with Insurances what Bullshit they'll come up with not to pay out what they should? 

 Their Deductible alone is so Crazy high it inhibits filing a Claim, you'd have to far exceed $5,500 worth of damages, which is the Deductible PER CLAIM assessed at 1% of total Property Value they assessed!  On the East Coast it would be $11,000 at 2% of Property Value they assessed ours at!   A whole fucking Roof is around $15,000 on the high end, so what would be the point?!  You'd almost have to be filing a Claim for Catastrophic Damage and Total Loss to really ensure you're just not getting Hosed by the Insurance Companies now.  If Catastrophic Weather continues on the trajectory it's currently on, I foresee them not even covering most areas anymore.   And then you end up with Forced Place Coverage by your Mortgage Company, with outrageous Premiums.  It's why where you live matters, a LOT.

I got a whole Box priced to bring in with me Tonight to Work, whoop whoop!  I found a feature on my Phone to just point at a Pokemon Card and it automatically looks it up... it's not even like Google Lens, it's quicker and better.  Saved me an enormous amount of time and labor.  Most were just the cheap Cards but those Sell fast and I made my Money on the Bulk Buy, so my Margins are still great on all the Cards.  Anyway, I feel rather accomplished now that I got some Merch priced to take in with me that is respectable.  *Smiles*  I have more in The She Shed that The Daughter and I recently went thru and Curated, some of it is Halloween so I need to get that all priced and into the Showroom now.  Seasonal Merch has that brief Window of Opportunity to Sell best, and now is the timing for Halloween.

I'm contemplating when I should leave for Work and what I should eat before I go in to sustain me thru 'til 10:00 p.m.?  I just don't feel Hungry when it's so fucking Hot as it is, and only Working a 4 Hour Shift, you don't get a Break, the closest thing is sitting at the Greeter Desk providing Customer Service up Front for about 20-40 Minutes of your Shift, once, mebbe twice, depending on how many Co-Workers are unpaid Key Dealers Working that particular Shift for Comped Space Rent and rotating up at the Greeter Desk?  Paid Staff get Lunches and Breaks of coarse.   Jason is over here, he loaned us his Weed Eater and said he can Repair ours so it works again, that Guy can Fix anything.  He's the Elderly Cousin and Nephew of our Next Door Neighbors that The Daughter helps out a lot.  He's terribly crippled up and Disabled, but is always doing something, not a Lazy Guy at all and doesn't let his Disability stop him from staying busy and productive.  I Wish that The Man had that Outlook too.

The Kids have been working on our Yardwork all Day since Sunup, I don't know what Time the Irrigation is coming Tomorrow, have to ask The Son, he gets the Notifications on his Phone for us now of our Rotation Schedule.  He just informed me it's 8:30 a.m. to around 11:00, so at least it will be Light, but me and the Girls will have to do it coz he'll be at Work again.  Princess T and her Mom have been helping me to do it when he's at Work, Luckily every Rotation has come on a Monday so Princess T has that Day Off to help us. *Whew*  If we have problems, our Neighbor, Rob, is always available to help us Gals too, he's so good about that.  This Community is like that, assisting one another, especially if you're Elderly or Sickly.  They pay attention to Neighbors who require some Help to stay in their Properties, coz they don't wanna lose any of us Old Timers as Neighbors, we aren't problematic, we don't commit Crimes, and we keep our Properties Nice.  Most Retired Folks make for decent Neighbors and are from a more Sociable Era too where Community mattered.

Above are some Denim Hippie Jeans I'm taking in to the Antique Mall to Sell, they are so Fly, if they were my Size, I'd wear 'em.  *LOL*  But, they're about a Size 3... so... *Bwahahahaha*   Princess T is slender enuf but would never wear something like this.  *Smiles*  Fashions like this Sell well in our Showroom, coz it's our Aesthetic to have the Funkier and Vintage Wardrobe.  When I go in Big Box Stores, the Fashion is lame right now, so Pedestrian, so Generic and Uninspiring.  Like Princess T calls it, it's all Copy & Paste, no Originality or Individuality to it, no sense of Style.  You can Buy Fashion, but you have to Possess Style.  We're still Selling a lot of Clothing and Accessories, it's what the Younger Customers come for.  And they're the ones spending the Money and not just walking around wasting and killing Time coz they got nothing else to do.  I've got about an Hour before I gotta leave for my Shift Tonight, I'm looking forward to going in.  We've had some Move Outs that couldn't make it, and I wanna see what's replacing them.  Most Vacancies don't last long, but Turnover is still high.

Very few have been there since the Beginning like us.  I made the First Sale there and have hung in for the Long Haul, seeing many come and go, sometimes coming and going more than once.  The Seasoned Vendors are few now, we used to have more, but a lot of the long time Dealers have moved away or Passed Away now too.  We are getting some Youthful Vendors now, which is Rare, but mebbe a good Sign.  My Granddaughter Sharing Space with me is Rarer still, most her Age don't have a Space and those of her Generation tend to Sell Online if they are into Resale.   No overhead and they know Technology better than my Generation and use it exclusively now. 

 When I go to the Clearance Centers it's now flooded with very Young Adults who do Resale.  They come in large Groups and it's become their Thing, being Young Entrepreneurs, mebbe out of necessity since the Job Market is Weak and landing good paying Jobs with Benefits is so much harder now for the Younger Generation.  So some are Learning to Work their own Hustle early.  I Taught mine to Work their Hustle from the time they could Walk, like my Parents did for me and my Brother.

The Son and The Daughter are impressed with Princess T's discipline at Managing her Money already.  Not that I didn't Teach and Train them all to, but she's the one of the Four that took it to Heart and applied it, so it shows.   She's so much like I was, even since early Childhood, so I kinda knew she'd apply it more than the others.  Not everything Taught is always Applied by everyone, if it is, then it's usually highly effective if done with consistency, especially when it comes to Money.  If you don't have your Mind on your Money, it'll slip thru your Fingers too easily, coz it's never what you Make that is the Problem, it's what you Keep.  

There are Millionaires and Billionaires who have Bankrupted, more than once... in my Corporate Life handling Bankruptcies for Major Financial Institutions, more wealthy folk filed for Bankruptcy than anyone else in fact.  They made a lot of Money and they Lost a lot of Money or didn't pay who they Owed Money to and were financially reckless and irresponsible.  Often living way above their means even if their means were incredibly privileged and they HAD affluence, and squandered it.  

Have you ever noticed on Homicide Shows like "Dateline", how many Wealthy folks going broke then Insure their Loved Ones to recoup their Fortune and then Murder them to Collect on the Insurance Policy?  I do.  Seems it's the Wealthy Mindset that if they go broke, they'll just Kill Off a few Loved Ones they highly Insured, the M.O. is so predictable as to be Mind Blowing actually.  I've known a lot of Poor Folk, who, in spite of being in Poverty or sustained lack, didn't Kill Off their Loved Ones to get at some Money.  Their Loved Ones meant more to them than $$$, but with Rich folk, it seems their Priorities are Money First, then Things, then People... instead of the other way around as it should be, People First, then Money, then Things.  And your Priorities matter, a LOT. 

 When I Debt Counseled Folks in my 1st Corporate Life that were in serious Financial Crisis of being Foreclosed upon, going Bankrupt, or in Collections... what they Said to me that were their Priorities rarely mattered.  I wanted to see their Financials, show me your Checkbooks and Bank Statements and then I'll tell YOU what your Priorities REALLY are and have been.  Coz most folks delude themselves or lie.   The allegedly Devoutly Religious who said God and His Word were their highest Priority, well, only about 20% of them actually Tithed and Give of their Talents, Treasures or Time, the other 80% are Liars and delude themselves.   They let the 20% fund everything for their own Religious Benefits and Take from it, but Give nothing to it.  If folks told me their Family was their Highest Priority, but their Checkbooks and Financials said otherwise, it Called them Out.  

 If their Reputations and Character or sense of Responsibility didn't Line Up with Behavior and Actions, it was all a Ruse.  I follow the Money and see where it leads me, it always tells the True Story of most People and what their Priorities REALLY are and have been.  And their Dirty Secrets.  Including any Corruption and Criminality they're trying to Cover Up.  *Winks*   If your Talk doesn't align with your Actions, it's just Lip Service and some Bullshit, so it means nothing to me.  And that Dog won't Hunt... {ie: an idiom for a Plan, Idea, Excuse or Argument that will not Work, is Useless, or is not Believable.  Winks}   I can't Help anyone who can't even Face themselves with Honesty and some Integrity, so relies on Bullshit to try to be their Weak Excuse for not achieving Success or contributes to their Failures.  If you can't keep it 100%, and be Real, then don't waste my Time, valuable Resources or my Energy asking for my Help.  I'd always know which folk in Crisis could be Helped and which would carry on doing what they do that lead to Crisis for them, usually perpetually.  They want a Bailout and YOU to cover it FOR them when they Fuck Up.

So, Today's Food Porn was some DOMINO's Pizza they had an $11 Two Topping Large Special on if you bought Two.  So, since I'd be Working Tonight and not be here to make Dinner... and didn't feel like making Lunch either... that Worked for me to Feed 7 people who were here Today and needed to be Fed and Watered.  *LOL*   Since Princess T had Rusty over, The Daughter had Jason over fixing our Weed Eater which went on the fritz and was loaning us his for now, so it was a lot of Mouths to feed cheaply.   We still have a half of each Pizza left for them to eat for Dinner.

  It's 116 again, and may get Hotter, so mostly everyone is more Thirsty than Hungry when it's that damned Hot.  So, nobody is ODing on Pizza and going into a Carb Coma.  *LOL*  I've been drinking mostly Iced Coffee since McDonalds gave The Son a bunch of Coffees with the Breakfast he bought for all of us.  And he and I are the only ones who really drink it, so I've been Icing mine, coz The Golden Arches may make shitty excuses that pass for Food, except for their Fries, but they make a decent robust tasting Coffee.

Above was our last Working Cat, Miss Priss, may she RIP.  She was a Masterful Scorpion Huntress, she liked to eat them and would always have Sting marks all over her Nose.  The Son got stung again on his Arm, he's been like a Scorpion Magnet this Year, but becoz he once had so much of the Anti-Venom given him when a Sting almost Killed him, he has developed an Immunity now so that he doesn't almost Die when stung by one.  *Whew*   But, they're Painful and he gets swelling and numbness and doesn't recall where or when he got stung this time.  We checked all around the Home with a Black Light Inside, found nothing, so we think he got stung Outside.   The Daughter went on a Murderous Scorpion Killing Spree, in Revenge Mode for her Brother getting stung yet again, she offed quite a few of them.  It's been a really Bad Year for them and it's even been on the News how much worse they've been this Year.

My Shift went well, they had a lot of us working, most were older Women who are New Vendors and I don't know, but pleasant to work with and kept pace with Customers demands.  We've had such high Turnover of Vendors that a lot of them that used to work the Shifts aren't even at the Mall anymore.   Rochelle, who we call Rocky, was the only long time Vendor working that Evening besides me, and she's so Elderly I don't know how much longer she'll be able to pull her Shifts?   Nice Lady, and Sweet as she can be, but at her Age and the demands of what's necessary, she's really not up to the Job anymore already.  There's been problems in the past when she isn't able to pay Attention and gets easily distracted and Thieves take advantage of that Inattention and her Age limiting her.  They're still giving her Shifts so I can only assume they don't have many Takers of the Regular Shifts now?  I'm constantly turning down offers to Work a Regular Shift again, I just can't commit to it now and don't really want to either.

We had over 800 Customers thru the Doors last Night tho' and a Severe Weather Warning came in on our Phones at 9:00 p.m. just as we were Closing.  I JUST made it Home when it hit, literally, had just pulled in the Driveway when the Zero visibility Dust Storm hit!   And ran to the Door in the nick of time to get Inside with zero Seconds to spare!!!  *Whew*  I took some Pixs while on my Shift and Scored a couple more larger 1970's Thomas Dam Trolls for my Collection, one is an Elvis Troll, which I'd never seen one of those before and she didn't have it priced any higher than the other one from 1977 that I purchased too.  {See Below} Some of the New Vendors who'd moved in had very nice Booths with Merch I liked, so, I do Hope they last?

I liked the facial expression on the other Large Vintage Troll I got, didn't think I had one with that Face... it has long White Hair in a Ponytail and a simple Felt Outfit, Elvis has the White Elvis Outfit and a little Plastic Guitar, Sideburns and really looks like he's supposed to be Elvis. *LOL*  At Online Auctions you can find the Elvis one but they want more than Double what I Paid for mine.   And I got my Vendor Discount on both Trolls, plus I'd built up a Store Credit to use against the purchase price.  So Color me Happy she had them so reasonably priced.  She must have an extensive personal Collection she's ridding herself of, coz I've never seen so many Vintage Trolls, especially those from Denmark that are the Thomas Dam ones, being Sold by a Vendor for a very long time.  Years ago we had a Vendor who was Elderly and Sold Off her huge Collection of them and I bought several from.  Back then other Vendors vied for them, this Vendor is Upstairs in the Loft Booths and it doesn't look like Vendors Cherry Pick her Space.

We broke the 2011 Heat Record for the Official Temp being 115, previous Record was 113, and of coarse Unofficially it was way Hotter, about 117 and the day before it had been Unofficially 119.   It's also the 7th Day this Year it hit 115+ and Hotter which Ties the 4th most on Record.  Climate Change is Real and those damned Data Centers will Heat their areas up by another 15 Degrees, and that Math won't be sustainable for Life unless it's Microbial Life!!!   Stupid greedy Fuckers who Approved Data Centers, and so many of them, in a fucking Desert, were imbeciles and should face Criminal Charges IMO for the damage they've now caused to the Environment and the Citizens who will suffer for what they've done when Water runs out and Electricity demands are exceeding supply and made unaffordable.  It's not like having AC is a Choice when it's that Hot, many would risk Death or Brain Damage without it when they get Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke.

We ought to have an Investigation to see how many City Officials have Offshore Accounts where Bribes were funneled into, to Approve these Data Centers and other inappropriate Developments they allowed without Citizen Support?   Me thinks you'd find they all did and Sold Out their Constituents for Personal Gain.    The Opposition is Strong, especially people living by where they're Approving the Builds, but City Council Members have had few No Votes, and pay no attention to what the Community desires, so I'm paying close attention to whose Voting in favor of this Fuckery.  The large amounts of relatively Cheap Raw Land in the County, Tax Incentives favoring Rich Developers, and close proximity to California is why Arizona is targeted by the Developers of these monstrosities.   Some are being built way too close to Luke AFB too.  When it all goes Sideways there will be Hell to pay tho' and Investigative Journalists are already Naming some Names of whose Responsible, Good!

We had to rake up more of the cut Grass from the Pasture and get it ready for Bulk Garbage Pickup, so Princess T and I were out there since 6:00 a.m. and The Son by 7:00 a.m. before he goes to Work at 8:00 a.m., Irrigation comes at 8:30 a.m..  The Daughter will be back from Jason's by then to help us drop the Gates after Irrigation is over for our Rotation.  I lifted them this time by going down into the dry Irrigation Ditch, which is the easiest way for me to do it and probably the safest too, walking across Gangplanks isn't Wise at my Age in case I lose my balance and fall off.  *LOL*   One of our new Stud Muffin Young Neighbors was out readying his Property for his rotation, nice looking Young Hispanic Man, heavily Tattooed and very Nice.  He commended me on how agile I was getting in and out of that Ditch... loads of Practice I told him, but I am really getting too Old for this.  *Smiles*  We had dense Cloud Cover so it was Humid but not so Hot we couldn't do the physically demanding Work.  I am soaked tho' with Sweat.  More than when I do Workouts at The Gym!!!

The Man has his Cardiologist Appointment Tomorrow Morning and I Work a Shift again Wednesday Night for someone.  Yesterday's Shift was all Fill-In Key Dealers again, nobody that usually works the Shift had shown up apparently!  That's getting to be chronic and us Fill-Ins seem to be working more Shifts now than those that committed to the damned Regular Shifts and don't show up for them!!!  I'm accepting more than I have been, which helps my bottom line coz it Comps Space Rent some.  Since Rent is over $600 now for the Showroom and a Locked Case, that's Helpful if I can lower my Overhead.  Renting Space is expensive, when i first started it was around $375 for what costs over $600 now, and that's only been 15 Years that it's almost doubled.  Meanwhile Sales shrank from the Old Days when I could make more off this Project of Downsizing what I have Collected over a Lifetime and Selling it Off, than I even made at the DA's Office Working Full Time!!!   Those Days are over.   When Folks struggle to afford Essentials, they don't Buy Non-Essentials so much anymore.

 Home prices have gone into the Stratosphere too, which is why folks can't afford to Buy now.  And they resent us Old Folks who won't Sell ours, but, where else would we fucking live on our Fixed Incomes if we did Sell?  And Moving costs around $35,000 over Six Years ago for us if you Hire someone and don't do a Self-Move!  Whose got that much laying around whose Retired or even Working Full Time?   I don't know a whole lot of Young or Middle Aged Working Folks who've got over Thirty Grand in their Savings Accounts.   I used to, when I had Paid Off Properties coz I could Save and Invest a helluva lot more when you don't have a Mortgage Payment and can leverage your Equity.  If you Sell you have to pay Taxes on what profits you made.  Most Affluent folks don't Sell, they Borrow against the Value and live off of that, while their Property Values increase exponentially and their Heirs Inherit the Untaxed Fortune of the Unsold Properties.

*******

That's it for Today's Entry... Dawn... The Bohemian

I Want What's Best... It Can Be A Tough Call

Additional Notation: Tomorrow's Post had an Addition about a recent Homicide Victim we know who was Killed on Sept. 2nd.  Unpublished Posts I Wrote then will give more details a fortnite from now.

 The Roofer didn't show up yet to put Tarps on The RV Garage Mahal damaged sections, it's only Mid-Afternoon, I just thought they'd wanna do it early before it was 119 Degrees!!!  {See Pix further Below of how Hot it got!}  And before Tonight's Thunderclouds coming in from the North dump more Rain that might make the damned Roof leak!?!   The whole Storm Damage Situation has me edgy coz it's already complicated and if there's more damage, or Heaven Forbid, the Roof Leaks before they Tarp it to protect Contents, it would be even more complicated.  I can't handle MORE complicated, it's complex enuf.  And if it gets too late I doubt they'll show up to do it in the Dark.

Anyway, the Kids loaded up all that Aloe Vera and put it in Banana Boxes to put out front of our Wall for anyone to take some if they want some for their Landscaping.  If not, bulk garbage will pick them up the 1st Monday of September.  I'd asked them to help me do that and they set right to doing it so I didn't even have to.  I'm kinda hoping someone wants some so not so much living Aloe will be wasted.  I don't like having to discard Living Plants.  But there's just so much of it, it's an older Plant so it had lots of 'pups', each can be made into a new Plant.  I just don't want or need Four Banana Boxes full of new Aloe Plants.  And apparently one of the Neighbors no longer wants or needs their 1970's Waterbed!  It's curbside for pickup!  Haven't seen one of those for YEARS... The Granddaughter had never seen one!   She wasn't Born yet when we got rid of ours.  *Bwahahahaha*

I ordered a couple of Books off E-Bay that I wanted and could get there for about half the cover cost or less.   They had the bottom Book at the Event but at full Price, and Hard Cover Books now at full Price are Crazy priced and no way I'd pay that much for a Decor Book!   The other Book a fellow Blogger who has an Obsession with Cookbooks that rivals mine, recommended, and I Scored it at a really low price from a Seller.  Both Books had Free Shipping, Bonus!  Any time I see a new Book I want, but don't like the Price of, I always go look it up on E-Bay to see the spread of what they're going for.  So many Book Sellers have a Buy-It-Now Feature to the Auction so you don't have to get Bid Up or miss being the Successful Bidder and have to wait and see, and most also offer Free Shipping.

I have this ALDO Purse and am Selling it in the Showroom, I don't have the Shoes.  If I did have the Set I could get a lot more.  I don't know the Line at all, but knew it wasn't a Cheap one, so when I found it at a Chazza, hadda get it.  Purses do Sell well there and I almost can't keep the ones I decide to Sell in Stock enuf.  For some reason Clothes and Accessories are what the spending Demographic there is demanding, and so... at least I don't mind Selling that coz I like Wardrobe and Accessories too.   And now it seems the Antique Malls are realizing how popular Specialty and Vintage Clothing and Accessories are.   The Demographic Shopping at Antique Malls now is clearly getting much Younger too, most of our Customers now are Teens thru those in their Early 30's.   And lots of Kids Love coming to the Antique Malls too, who knew?   I'm glad Younger Folks are diggin' it tho', I just Wish they'd buy more Antiques at an Antique Mall is all.  *LOL*

In case any Dear Readers are 'New', my Native American Skull Art Collection is by a Talented Yaqui Artist, Ben Molina, who went by The Creative Native.  I think Ben has since Passed Away and I just Wish I'd bought more of his Art, I have a Collection of it, but I would have liked to have gotten more and expanded it.  He was a Vendor at our Downtown Location for a lot of Years, but was an Older Man.  The Yaqui Tribe is from the Sonoran part of Mexico and parts of the Southwestern United States, Ben was an American Yaqui.   My Ex-Husband was very likely Yaqui on his Paternal Side, he was given up for Adoption as a Toddler.  The Yaqui successfully resisted full Spanish subjugation for Centuries, their Tribal Language is Yoem Noki, but many Speak Spanish and English.  They are an Indigenous People recognized as such in both Countries by both Mexico and The United States, so are a Federally Recognized Tribe here and most live in Southern Arizona.

I enjoyed my Tiramisu Cake that The Daughter had gotten me for my Birthday, we polished it off Today, it was one of the best Cakes I'd had in a long time.  I'm just not a Cake Person, but it was very light with a whipped Cream, not an Icing, and tasty Tiramisu flavor.  I didn't know that The Daughter has paid attention enuf to know I LOVE Tiramisu.  My Mom and I used to always get it for Dessert at a Fav Italian Restaurant Downtown, TUCCETTI'S, and sadly Closed down when the Owner Retired in 2006.  They used to have a Baked Spaghetti they were renown for. {See Below}  It was a very kitschy Atmosphere of Stereotypical Old Italian Restaurants, done Hollywood Style exaggerated Kitsch, with Checkered Tablecloths, hanging Plastic Grapes, Faux Brick Walls and the Exterior looking like an Italian Historic Villa in benign neglect covered with Ivy, but it was a Delightful place with good Food and I Loved the Kitsch and the Look inside and out, I still miss it.  Mom would flirt with the Studly Waiters and get Free Dessert... hence, the Shared Tiramisu.  *LOL*

{Food Porn Images Cribbed from Google}

I lament all of the great Restaurants and Shops we've Lost over the Years, too many to Name.   As long as some of us Remember them the Memories are kept Alive, soon, nobody will be left to remember them once they're that long gone and we are too.  There's a Nostalgia Page, well, more than one actually, on various Social Media Platforms that discuss "Remember When" of Old Haunts that are no more Locally.  Every once in a while I stop in to Read what Memories folks are Sharing there of places I always liked and fondly Remember too.  Every once in a while they recall a place even long Forgotten by me.   And many of them took Pixs, which I didn't back then coz I didn't always own a Camera, or even a TV... I do Wish I'd always owned a Camera, but I still don't watch much TV, so never felt deprived not having one.  And my Kids and Grandkids almost never watch TV either, The Man couldn't Live without one tho'.

Okay, speaking of Grandkids, the one in Pittsburgh that is turning 25 at the end of this Month, just buzzed her long Hair off in such a Freaky Style that even I was like... What... just WTF!?!   Now, to be sure, some of my Kids, Grandkids, and Nieces have had some Extreme Hairstyles over the Years... and I'm a Great-Gramma with Dreadlocks down to my Ass... so I don't usually stand in Judgment of anyone else's choice of Hair, it's their Hair.   But what this Granddaughter did to hers, it just looks Crazy to me and I thought, did she Go Off The Rails?  Is she Transitioning to Male?  I wasn't quite sure what to think even tho' she and The Young Prince are very much alike so usually whatever they do never Shocks me.  She's very Bold and Unconventional, never Cares what anyone thinks, and has Beautiful thick Hair that grows fast, she's a Pretty Girl... this is just not a Look I am fond of, let us just say.  *LOL*  I guess she got a LOT of flack from the immediate Family about it, so I said nothing and just held my Peace.  It's just Hair... and it's HER Hair.  If it's not permanent, it's not worth sweating when Kiddos do Odd shit.  *Smiles*

This Granddaughter doesn't do hardly any Selfies, and isn't in front of the Lens very much, but last Selfie I'd gotten from her before she went all Britney Spears, was the Pix directly Above.   So, it was quite an Extreme 'Makeover' to say the least.   And, in response to Family and Friends telling her she looked so Pretty with her Long Hair... she said she doesn't Care to Look Pretty.  And much prefers to look like a Lil Freak than to Look "Pretty".  Well, that Explains it then.  Coz that new Look isn't Flattering at all, even if you got a Nice Face.  And I'm thinking, well, if you DON'T wanna Look Pretty, that'll do it!!!  *LOL*  But, if she's really Happy with the way it Looks then I Support the decision.  Some folks feel some kind of Negative way about Dreadlocks too but I could give a flying fuck, so I do understand that with your Hair, you should wear it as you see fit... or, even go Bald or Shaved if that's what you prefer.  Some Gals do look Cute with Extreme Hairstyle, I think this one just looks Crazy to me, but I have seen some Gals with some really Crazy Cuts that look like someone cut their Hair out of Spite or as Punishment... a real Hack Job, and that's what it resembles to me.  Like someone went Mental while cutting your Hair.  *Ha ha ha*

The G-Kid Forces Younger Three Sisters in Mexico did a Selfie, I just Wish the Middle One had held the Camera lower so I could see her Face too.   They've all Dyed their Naturally Blonde Hair Dark, so they don't look so Weta and so Mixed Race.  Which makes Life harder for them if they do look too American or too European and not as Hispanic.  The one on the Left is the Youngest, the one on the Right is the Oldest... so they are The Daughter's No. 3, 4 and 5 of her Five Children.  The Young Prince is her Oldest and Princess T is Child No. 2.   The Prodigal Child, in the Center behind her Phone, has straightened her Life out now.  The Youngest has a Gorgeously Handsome New Boyfriend.  The Oldest just broke up with her Childhood Sweetheart, lost her Job, and had to drop out of College coz she couldn't afford the part of the Tuition now that she didn't Win a Scholarship covering... so it's been tough for her lately.  So her Younger Sisters have rallied around her to help out more.  She finished Raising them when the Paternal Custodial Gramma Died.

And this Great-Grandson, who is the Youngest Child of Three that our Oldest Granddaughter back East has, wanted a Man Bun and so now he has one.  When you're this little you can look Adorbs with any Style... and he's clearly Feelin' his Man Bun and looks Cute as Hell with it... but, I'm totally Biased of coarse.  *Winks*   It's quite possible one of his Older Sisters did it for him and not their Mama?  Perhaps the one sitting off to his Right?  She's been known to pick out his Outfits and everything. *Smiles*   And Below is the Middle Granddaughter Back East's Youngest Child, who is Sporting a Black Eye like The Son... I didn't even ask.   This Kid is already so rough and tumble and such a little Tomboy, that she could have been in a Cage Match at Daycare for all I know?  *Bwahahahahaha*   She's as Blonde as her Mama was at this Age, our SIL is of German Heritage and is a Platinum Blonde and so the Middle Granddaughter got his Coloring and Green Eyes, the Younger one got her Mom's Dark Coloring of Hair and Eyes. 

She's still Cute with a Shiner.  But, I used to Hate it when any of the Kiddos got Bruises or a Black Eye from just doing Kid stuff, coz folks look at you sideways like you have an abused Kiddo!  And to be sure, if a Child looks like they could be the Victim of abuse we should be on the lookout to protect and report it.   But I remember The Daughter always had Bruises on her Legs coz she lacked coordination as a Child and had long Legs like a Flamingo, so was very awkward... and The Son, well, he was so rough and tumble as a Child that he always looked like he needed an intervention!   The Granddaughter has said this Daughter of hers is full of Piss and Vinegar, and that Granddaughter was too, so the Apple didn't fall far from the Tree.  *Ha ha ha*  The Granddaughter, when she was about in 4th Grade, once covered herself in Silver Glitter Makeup at a Grade School Soccer Match to distract the other Players!  She was very Athletic, and our Daughter told us she was Shining brightly as the Sun hit her Glitter and practically blinding the other kids.  *LOL*

My Brother called me to say his Oldest Son was going to be in Cali on Business Yesterday and they made Plans to meet up at a Local all Night Restaurant for the short time he'd be in the L.A. area.  It's been about 20 Years since they met up last time, he and his 1st Wife Divorced when they were Teens so he hadn't had any Contact since that Son was Two Years Old, so about every 20 Years since, he's only seen him once.  The Younger Son he had similar contact with.  He and his 2nd Wife Divorced when that Son was 2 Years Old, he didn't see him again until his Son was Grown and managed to find him.  We've been unsuccessful at finding that Son again, I managed to find his Oldest Son and make Contact.  Telling him that his Dad may not have long to Live and has a very grim prognosis, so, if he wanted to see him again, might be best to arrange something while he can.

  So, he has, and I'm very happy to hear that, they've been Texting each other and I had a good telephone conversation with the Nephew, out of the Blue, coz he didn't even know he had an Aunt.  He knew nothing of our side of the Family.  He's 40 now and 3 Months Older than The Son.  He's Married with a Son and a Daughter, waited 'til he was 35 to Marry and is out of the Navy now.  He's a Disabled Veteran, so I think he may have sustained injuries in Combat, so I didn't ask.  My Brother said apparently his Son has been thru a lot while in the Military.  His Maternal Grandfather had been an Admiral in the Navy, tough Act to follow as a Grandson, I would imagine.  People probably knew of his Grandfather and if you have a Legendary Family Member, well, it can be a LOT to Live Up to.  He has a Civilian Job now, a Home on the East Coast near a Naval Base, seems to be doing okay for himself.   I told my Brother to take Pixs and I was assured he would.  Last Pix I have of my Nephew he was in his 20's and looked like a Young Jean-Claude Van Damme, no exaggeration or hyperbole! {See Below}  It' only One of Two Pixs I have of him as an Adult and only a scant few of him as a Child. 

My Nephew and my Ex-SIL look like Ghosts compared to our Family.  *LOL*   He and The Son were the same size even tho' 3 Months apart in Age coz The Son was an enormous Newborn, weighing in at just under 11 lbs..  {Yes, Ouch, I had him by Natural Birth and with no Painkillers. It's why I'm sitting at an Angle in the Above Pix, LOL, coz The Son was only 2 Days Old, my Nephew 3 Months Old.}  The Younger Son looks like a Fair Version of our Dad and I've only got Two Pixs of him as an Adult and Two of him as a Child also.  {See Below}   Both of his Son's have the Fairness of their Moms, both of my Brother's Wives were Platinum Blondes with Green Eyes.  His long time Lady he's been with now for over 30 Years is also a Green Eyed Blonde... he had a Type, for sure.  *LOL and Winks*   He and Marcie never had Kids together but he helped her Raise her Children, her Ex had been an Actor but wasn't very close with the Children.  A lot of Celebrities have complex Relationships with their Families, Fame can really do a number on Relationships.  And there can be quite the Back Story, which, my Brother said her Ex had quite the typical Back Story of Old Hollywood.  Back when a Gay Actor or Celebrity had to have the Publicity of a Straight appearing Life, which was usually a sham Cover Relationship.  He and her Ex get along fine, they're glad he's able to live his authentic Life now.  I don't even know his Identity tho', and it's not important who he is.

We'd heard that the Younger Son had been Adopted by a Stepfather so I don't know the Surname he goes by and thus have been unable to locate him.  The only reason I could locate the Older Son is his unusual First Name is Welsh Origin, coz our Dad's Surname, which was an Adopted one, is a very, very common one in America.   My Paternal Grandfather was a Foundling, so we know very little about his Origins, just that the Surname was taken from a Family that took him in and Raised him.  I guess that was a common practice to abandon Mixed Race Babies of unknown Parentage and found and cared for by others back in my Grandfather's Era.  Most Mixed Race Native American Children could have been put to Death otherwise, clear up to my Era actually by some Tribes.  So any that Survived at all, was Luck, even if they had to be abandoned to get a chance of not suffering Infanticide.  One Mixed Race Seminole Woman of my Age told of these things, mostly, it wasn't talked about or even common knowledge as a Practice.  It is some Dark History.  And of coarse Dark History is often Secretive and Hidden or they try to Erase it so nobody knows of it.

  My Dad knew very little about his Dad, he didn't remain with my Grandmother, tho' they had several Children and he took the Older ones and she kept the Younger ones, and he Died relatively Young apparently.  So a lot of our Paternal Family History is Word of Mouth, speculation at best, and perhaps some embellishments in the Generational Storytelling of Family History, I really don't know.  Made for some interesting Stories.  And my Mom's side had equally unusual interesting Stories since my Maternal Grandfather also was Adopted informally by a Chinese Family who took in he and his Four Younger Siblings to Raise, his Mother a Widow, uneducated, Romany Heritage, with 11 Kids, so she kept the Oldest Six and gave the Youngest Five to a Chinese Childless Couple that she knew.   So even on my Mom's side, the Family History was sketchy depending on who you discussed it with, and often not openly talked about, some Relatives wouldn't acknowledge what they didn't want known.  Especially the Roma part, due to persecution and prejudices that still exist Today and aren't a Romanticized version of the plight of those Cultures either.  

Proof of how fucking Hot Yesterday got.  The Roofers never showed up to put the Tarps up, but, I can't blame them, I wouldn't wanna be up on some Roof when it's 119 either, that's Crazy Hot!!!   It Fried most of my Potted Plants now, I don't think they'll make it even under the Shade of the Front Porch now?   Even the Rosemary is becoming brittle, and it's hard to kill Rosemary, but that kind of Heat is like setting the Plants inside an Oven and leaving them there without any Relief.  It's why I'm babying the Wild Birds and putting more Water and Food out for them than usual, they almost can't fly when the Air is that Temperature, no lift.  Planes often have to be Grounded too.   Luke AFB won't fly the Jets at a certain temperature on the Runway.   So, it was very quiet overhead all day too, no Air Traffic in the Skies that I heard or could see and the Temps were likely the reason Why. 

  Officially I don't know what they pretended the Temperature got to, it's always lower Officially than it really is almost anywhere in the Cities Unofficially.   So even the alleged Record Temperatures are inaccurate and misleading.  Officially I just looked, they claim it only got to 111.  *Eye Roll and I Call Out Bullshit*   This is what Google has to say about why that is:

The official temperature feels lower than what you experience because meteorologists measure true air temperature in the shade, floating four feet above grass in a ventilated box. When you stand outside, your body absorbs direct solar radiation and heat bouncing off nearby pavement, making it feel much hotter.

Well, gee, that would be becoz it FUCKING IS MUCH HOTTER!  *Eye Roll and Laughs at the absurdity of that explanation!*   "TRUE" Temperature being in the Shade floating 4 Feet above Grass in a Ventilated Box... give me a break, No, that's FALSE, not TRUE at all!   That's fucking absurd and ridiculous to roll out as the Official Temperature and Recorded in the History Books as remotely accurate and True!!!   *Bwahahahahahaha*

Can you only tell I'm up at a ridiculous Hour and more than a bit Ranty and Cranky?  *Smiles*  I went to Bed again at Toddler Time and so was up by 3:00 a.m., when it wasn't 119 Degrees anymore.  *LOL*  I do have to Work Tonight which means I'll have to stay up later, we'll see how I do with now having to work a 5-9 p.m. Shift at the Antique Mall?  I'm bringing in some Merch with me, knuckled down just a tad before Retiring Mid-Afternoon to go to Bed before it even got Dark, and did Price some Inventory.   So, I have Two 1998 Darth Maul New Old Stock Action Figures from Star Wars, a Red Fiesta Ware Coffee Mug, and that ALDO Purse ready to bring in.  Hey, it's something, can't Sell it sitting around in piles at Home... sometimes we can't even get it Sold sitting in piles at the Antique Mall!  *Bwahahahaha and Le Sigh*  I will look up some Pokemon Cards too and get a few of them ready to go.  I rifle thru them to see which ones I recall are the most Popular Characters and get them in first.  There are so many different Characters... Lord have Mercy!   And the Pokemon People are Bananas about their Favorites too!

The Man and I were beside a Bright Yellow expensive Sports Car that had Pokemon Stickers on the Windows and their Vanity License Plate read PIKACHU.  Now, that's a FAN!!!  *Bwahahahahahahaha*  Pretty sure that Guy spends a Fortune on his Pokemon Collection if he spent that much on an expensive Vehicle to Honor his favorite Pokemon Character, No?  *LMAOROTF*   And it was a Grown Man driving it, not a Teenager, and he had the Money obviously to afford a Car of that Stature... tho' it being bright Banana Yellow with Pokemon Stickers on the Windows did Cheapen the Look of it considerably IMO.  Having Money and having Taste/Class being Two separate things quite often.  *Ha ha ha*  I mean, look at Donnie Two Dolls gilding every damned thing coz he thinks it makes everything look 'Richer', No, Donnie... it makes everything look White Trashier and Gauche as fuck, so clearly all the Money in the World can't Buy you any Class or Taste.   And all the Money your Daddy had couldn't Buy you an Education either when you just have a Stupid Child.

Anyway, you can't Fix Stupid, so... they just remain that way for Life.  But, he is a Successful Consummate Conman and Career Criminal and he has made that Work for him, so, I'll give him that.  He's Learned how to Work The System to his Advantage and exploit a lot of People and Institutions, commit Fraud quite successfully, so it is a Skill he inherently possessed to make up for not being very Intellectual.  And clearly has passed along to his Demon Spawn as well... Chips off the Ole Block they all are.  But it's made them filthy Rich with a lot of Dark Money, and Money Buys Options and Power, which is what they Crave and attained.  And some really Admire that, staunchly Support that, and call it 'Success', and Voted it in, so now here America is.   And how Low can we go?  Not sure, I thought we had hit Rock Bottom, and couldn't go any Lower than we have, but I was Mistaken, the Abyss that is The Bottom of the depravity and overt Corruption seems limitless.  So, I stand Corrected, there is no Bottom they can't and won't sink to, along with their Base of Supporters just going along with it.

And after so many Years in my 2nd Career, I must say, nothing Surprises me anymore as to what some Humans are capable of.  I'm cynical and know they are capable of the most fucking atrocious, evil and depraved things you would have a very hard time Believing anyone could or would do.   And they live among us, you may even know some, we have to find ways to co-exist, and they often Breed and they often Vote, and there's evidence of that everywhere across our Nation.   The Dark Ugly Underbelly of Society that exists as a distinctive Demographic of Human Beings who you really have to watch closely for your own Safety and Well Being.  Coz they're out there and you don't always recognize who they even are or downplay what they may be capable of.  And even if identified and you do have recognition, some will still attempt to soften the impact of exposing themselves to that kind of Person, and let down their Guard around them.  I'd suggest you didn't.  Coz you do so at your own peril.

When I have Identified one of them, I am as Cautious as if I would be around any Apex Predator that only needs the slightest opportunity to make me or anyone else their Prey or just turn on you, coz it's their very Nature to.   I don't expect to be Friends with a Shark, a Snake, or any Devil in Human Form who has chosen to Serve a Dark Agenda or Follow a Dark Leader and do their bidding, no matter how depraved and abhorrent it would be.  If you underestimate what such folks are capable of, you could become their next Mark or Victim.  If you have some in your Circle and Orbit, even if you think you can Trust them, they could be your Judas and put you at Risk.   Once I can't Trust or Respect someone, I don't want them around me and mine.  

The Son and Daughter are doing the Yardwork coz Irrigation comes Tomorrow.  We had to go to the Gas Station at 7-Eleven to get Gas for the John Deere and The Son bought everyone McDonalds for Breakfast since it's right by the Convenience Store, and my Caramel Macchiato... plus he paid for the Mower Gas.  He'd drank too much again last Night and that was his way of apologizing to me, tho' he'd been no trouble, he knows if he's had too much to drink it upsets me.  He's attempting to moderate to keep it to 2-3 only, sometimes he even Succeeds.  I guess it's a Process when you're an Alcoholic, to reach a place where Sobriety will be possible... or at least not be plastered if you do drink?  I wouldn't know coz I don't partake.  If he could and would moderate the amount he drinks it wouldn't even bother me if he had to drink every day to Cope with his Mental Health Demons.  

He's sober when he Works and he's a hard Worker, so his drinking is always later after Work, unless it's a day off.   The Daughter is a functional Alcoholic in that she moderates her intake way better and hardly ever appears drunk even tho' she has more withdrawal of detoxing if she tries not to drink, than he does, which is Weird.  Plus, if she doesn't have a drink at all she is way more Schizophrenic, so, I'd rather she have her Two Drinks daily to keep On the Rails Mentally, rather than Wheels Off the Rails when sober.   Anyway, with everything everyone is up against these days and the Issues of Life being dealt with daily, I guess everyone has their own Coping Mechanisms, and not all are healthy ones.   The Man has been particularly Moody in that Dementia Fog they get in, to where they don't even know why they are hostile for no apparent reason anyone can fathom, not even them.   So he's harder to Manage the Caregiving of coz he gets irritable easily and even before Sundowners sets in now, he can be quite Unlovely and Unpleasant at times.  If Looks could Kill, we'd all be Dead now.

I'll confront him sometimes when he's just giving me that Look, even if the Kiddos won't, and counter it with my own "Crazy Eyes" the Kids speak of... and then he'll settle down.  Coz sometimes he's just Hard Staring at everyone in an Unsettling way that I do not like at all and I'll make him Aware that he's doing it and I don't fucking Like it, so knock it off!!!   My Mom would give folks that Look in the latter stages of her Dementia and becoz she became violent along with it, I'm Mindful that if he should ever turn violent, he has to Go, and I will force some VA Facility to take him to ensure everyone remains Safe.  I've Warned him that if he should ever become Unsafe, around me or the Children, is the only reason we'd consider other Placement, but, we'd prefer him to be at Home where he's Loved and properly Cared for.  So, quit with the Death Stares.   Since we don't know what's going on behind his Eyes and in his Poor damaged Brain, it's difficult to know how best to Deal with the progression of the Illness?  I know that it can get dicey as it progresses... and his particular Set of Skills could make him Deadly and Dangerous.  It keeps you on High Alert as the Caregiver.  I want what's best for him and for us all.  But, that can be a Tough Call.

*******

So, yet another Unpublished Post goes into the Queue... smiles... Dawn... The Bohemian