When A Disability Becomes An Ability Of Sorts

 I missed a call from Social Security, likely about The Grandson's Appointment and you can never get thru to return a call... dammit!  The Phone was ringing in another Room and by the time I dug it out of my Purse, JUST hung up!  *Le Sigh*  It may have only been confirmation of our Appointment for Tomorrow, which is a Tuesday?  He's worried that since Allen is dragging at getting the Divorce finalized it might disqualify him for benefits since his Spouse is supposed to be supporting him and providing his Care, but, isn't now. 

 We'll have to see if his extenuating circumstances of escaping Domestic Violence and having Family have to even pay for him to leave the State to come to a Safe Space will give any sway to their decision to give him Benefits in Arizona.  His Benefits in New Mexico have now been terminated.  So, he has no Income, no Healthcare, no Mental Healthcare, no Nutritional Assistance and if we didn't give him a place to Be, he'd be Homeless too.  So, he is destitute and seriously Disabled and he's Grown, so Legally I'm not responsible for him anymore to cover all his expenses and extensive Needs, nor can we on our Fixed Income.

As I knock out all these lingering Appointments with various Agencies, Doctors, Specialists, Labs, etcetera it's easing the strain of a too loaded up Calendar.  The Daughter has another Cleaning Job next Sunday in Chandler so I don't mind that, it give me Four Hours of Me Time while I wait on her to finish up her Work for a Client.  And I must say the Eastside has much better Quality of Shopping Experiences and the type of places I like to actually Shop.  The Outdoor Malls they have there are very nice and replaced the Indoor Malls.  They have them Tree Lined and with loads of Shade and more like an Old Town Main Street Experience within the Cities, I really Like it.  The Outdoor Shopping Concept has made a comeback after Indoor Malls have had a Death Spiral.

The one I attended this Sunday was called San Tan Village Mall in nearby Gilbert, first time there, I was impressed and would return.  Even just walking around it was pleasant and with a nice Weather Day it was exceptionally pleasant.   The Cities of Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa and Tempe all blend together with Metro Phoenix, just on the Eastside of the Valley, we're on the Westside and have as many blended Cities that incorporate into Metro Phoenix.  You often don't know and can't tell when you're leaving one City and entering another coz the Boundaries touch each other with all of them now.  I don't get over to the Far Eastside often, it's a long commute across the Metro area and traffic is heavy usually.  With Gas prices over Five now and Diesel over Six, it's too spendy.

T-Mobile sent me a Survey and I gave them the shittiest Rating... of a Zero Highly Dissatisfied.  After Princess T's Dental Appointment I might see if there is another Store Location that has more than just One Employee trying to do it all with ridiculously long waits???  If there isn't then they won't get Paid until I get the Paper Billing Statement Mailed to me that I've been requesting since fucking January!!!  It's halfway thru April now, and I've called numerous times, tried to go in to their Store In-Person Locations, all futile and haven't Solved the Problem thus far.  I'm assuming they'd like to get Paid, but, we just found out they turned off our Phones coz they've refused to fix the Billing Problem they made!!!  So, they're not being cooperative or trying to retain Customers, clearly.

LATER: After the Grandchild's Dental Appointment, which was just a Fluoride Treatment, we went to a different T-Mobile Store which had more Employees actually working so we got helped right away.  The Young Ladies, both who helped us, were great and sympathetic, showed the Grandson that their APP is already auto loaded to his Phone and we were able to pay that way.  Plus T-Mobile had turned our Phones back on when I left that scathing review.  So, The Grandson said every Month he's willing to pay that way if we can't ever get back on Paper Billing Statements.  The Girls there said it was their understanding that the Company is discontinuing all Paper Billing involuntarily, which is upsetting a lot of Customers who wanted to Opt Out of APPS and involuntary Paperless Billing.

We did some Retail Therapy afterwards as a Threesome and Princess T paid for Lunch for all of us at "Wildflower Bread Company" too.  We had a Fun Family Day out with just me and The G-Kid Force.  The Son babysat his Dad for me since his Sister was working another Side Job all day out at some Ranch.  They pick her up and bring her back Home.  Social Security had called again and talked to us about wanting to do his Appointment/Interview TODAY instead of Tomorrow, but no way we could agree to that on such short notice.  So, they said it was Fine, we're still on for Tomorrow Morning and I got all his Paperwork from early Childhood to current day to substantiate how long he's been SMI... from Age 7 when first Diagnosed.

He just wants to get on with Living his Life without worry that he'll be on the Streets again ever, due to the extent of his Disability that limits him, makes him a Vulnerable Adult for all of his Life, and gives him few Options, that's all, it's not a Big Ask.  I want him to feel some sense of Security and have a little Money of his own to buy absolute necessities and essentials.   It gives him some sense of Independence even if he'll never be fully able to live Independently.  His Sister bought him some things while we were out on our Family Day Out Together, she's good to her Big Brother, she feels very Protective of him.   She's seen, firsthand, all her Life, how Mentally Ill he really is and how hard it's made Life for him... and how hard it's made Relationships and sustaining them, for him too.  I guess while he was at his Dad's Yesterday things went very badly, not on account of him either, but between his Dad and the New Wife, who The Young Prince really, really Adores his Dad's New Wife.

But his Dad is his Dad, and how Bobby Acts has always been very Narcissistic, it's how all his Dad's Relationships have eventually gone South... so he's worried that the New Wife may eventually not be able to Deal with it?   So, The Young Prince's Bestie, Sadie, was there with our Grandson and Witnessed the whole Drama play out too and it was very awkward for her and The Grandson.   Apparently he and Sadie have been like a Couple lately, which, isn't so surprising to me, they are good for each other.   The Grandson is rather Gender Fluid and has had no problems with Female Relationships even tho' he feels mostly attracted to Males and doesn't consider himself to be Bi.  I don't know the difference, but I realize there are some Women he's always been closer to than any Guy ever.  And they Like him coz it's like being with another Woman, he understands Women more than most Guys ever would. 

I found these Memes and liked them so much when they showed up on my Algorithm Feed that I hadda crib 'em and Share.  I completely agree with the above one especially, it's so obvious, but so many people don't understand that's what he's had a pattern of doing with all his Businesses.   And thus he is running the Country like he ran Businesses, Asset Stripping all of them and driving them into Bankruptcy and complete Insolvency while enriching himself in the process, often by illegal and immoral means, and no ethics or conscience.  I don't know how quickly he'll Bankrupt America and make every part of the Government completely dismantled, corrupted and destroyed, rendering it all non-functional for the American People, but it's well along the way now in just the short time 2.0 and his Sycophants have been Elected.   Along with the Unelected ones like Musk and Kushner, who nobody Elected and shouldn't be representing us at all and Negotiating any Deals on our behalf.

 

They are like Locusts upon the Land so this Meme was particularly accurate in a Dark Gallows Humor way.   Since, the Far Right Religious Fanatics and Extremists do fully Believe he's sent by God... so it's layered Humor.  I don't usually like Candy but I've found a new one that I do like a lot called "Nerds Gummy Clusters Candy", it's Sweet, Tangy and Crunchy and comes in Flavors.  So far I've tried the Rainbow Flavor and the Cherry Lemonade Blitz Ltd. Edition Flavor.   They also have Very Berry, Strawberry Punch, Punch Rush, Tropical, Valentine, & Frosty Flavors.

I have the Clusters, and not the Rope, in the 8 oz Bags.   I got a couple at the Discount Grocers for $1.99 for the Rainbow Flavor, which is well below the $5 for the larger size Bags.   I'm not a Fan of Sweets, so I like the Tangy and Sour Crunch NERDS Coating that this Candy has along with a Fruity Gummy Center, which, isn't too Sweet and is pleasant.  We went to "Five Below" and got the Ltd. Edition Flavor Bag of the Clusters, they had a lot of Flavors but only One left of the Cherry Lemonade Blitz that we got, Princess T bought it for me.  I found out I liked these when I found that big Easter Basket full of Candy someone left at the Park, it had Candies in it in Single Serving Easter Size Bags, that I could eat that weren't Chocolate and I'd never tried before, including this Candy.  It also happens to be The Young Prince's Favorite Candy now too, he'd had it before tho'.

Most of the Stores have Sold Out of their Easter Merch marked down.  And there's no more Holidays coming up that will have Seasonal Merch for it really.  I don't Count the 4th of July coz the Merch for that is limited and nothing I'd Buy.  And, with the condition of our Nation, I'm not even Celebrating it this Year, I'm too disgusted with America right now and what we've Become, it's shameful and embarrassing, so I am ashamed and making apologies for it to our Foreign Friends and long time Allies.   And now this Demented Loser has committed more Blasphemy doing an AI Image of himself as Jesus and threatening the Pope!!!!!!!!  Just becoz the Pope, the first American Pope BTW, is standing Christian Values Ground about promoting Peace and Love.  And this Prez, who so desperately wanted the Nobel Peace Prize only wants and promotes Hatred, Violence, Cruelty and War... not Peace or Love towards Fellow Human Beings. 

Anyway, looks like a Storm is moving in from the Southwest so we'll probably get some Rain and extend this nice Cooler Weather we're enjoying now for the past few Days.  It's only 76 Degrees at 6:00 p.m. with a nice Cool Breeze, I'm Loving it.  We don't need the Heat on or the Air Conditioner on when it's temperate like this.  And every bit of Savings is crucial now that the Economy is so jacked up.   The SWEET SALVAGE "Down To Earth" Themed Event is coming up within days now.  I cribbed just a couple Sneak Peek Images I liked from their Social Media preview of it.  I don't have Space for large Furniture now but I sure did Love this Old Vintage Industrial Style Desk {Below}.  If we didn't already have Two Old Vintage Industrial Workbenches on the Back Patio I'd get something like this to use as a Workbench and to Display items too back there.

We've been fortunate to get some Work Benches given to us that are Vintage Industrial from some of the Farms and Ranches that The Daughter has been Working at.   One is Selling his Property so disposing of a lot that isn't conveying with the Sale.  The more Rustic, Old and Functional it is the more I dig it, I have a fondness for Vintage Industrial Style anyway.  Wouldn't mind an entire Loft Style Living Space Decorated with that Genre of possessions and furnishings.  If we ever do get around to taking some Equity out and building a Two Story Bunkhouse out of Old Brick in the Back Pasture, I'd Decorate at least the Lower Unit in Vintage Industrial Style and move in there in my latter Years.  I'd relinquish the Main House to the Kiddos and the Upstairs Unit to whichever one would want to live there separately.   I think once I'm in my late 70's and beyond, I'll want a more simplistic smaller Living Space for myself and let the Kiddos inherit the larger Living Spaces early to live in and Maintain.

My Long-Term Care Plan involves trying to live on my own Property with Adult Kids or Adult Grandkids being my Caregiver and getting Paid to be, since you can get a Caregiver Income for Caring for a Parent or Grandparent.  A Spouse doesn't Qualify for Paid Caregiving by the Government.  But The Son has Friends already Caregiving for an Ailing, Sick or Elderly Parent and they get an Income for doing so.  The Government knows that's still Cheaper than paying for Long Term Care in a Nursing Home and most folks could never afford that.  So, keeping them at Home being Cared for is preferable and more Economic, also better for the Individual if their Caregiver is up to that level of their Care.  The Man's Caregiving, if a Paid Caregiver were to be doing it, would be around Twenty Grand or more per Month.  If they could even find anyone willing to do it coz he's requiring Extreme Caregiving now.  I'm Free so... that Saves the Government a fucking shit ton of Money per Month. 

Anyway, just musing about possibilities for the Future, as Grim as it might end up, we just never quite know, do we?   I ran into my fellow Vendor Friend John from the Antique Mall while we were out and about.  He's been in failing Health with severe Kidney damage caused by taking one of the Medications he knows I also have to take for Diabetes.  He was taking Lisinopril for something else, I think his High Blood Pressure, so had been on it for over 20 Years and it's crapped his Kidneys out coz his Doctor neglected to Monitor his Kidney Function as he should have!!!  He's having the Rarer Side Effects of Kidney Damage and High Potassium Levels from taking it.   So far I've had no adverse Side Effects from taking it, thank goodness.  And my Doc checks my Kidney and Liver Functions regularly due to the Med Regimen I have to be on to Stabilize Type II Diabetes.  I knew I hadn't seen John in a while, or his Wife, now I know Why.  I feel so badly for them, coz he looks frail now and is in constant Pain with his Kidneys.

I've had so many Friends Die recently that I don't wanna add to the List. But, when you get Older it's what ramps up, the Losses of people you know of your peer group and generation.  Even some Younger than you from other generations actually, who didn't get the privilege of growing Old, which is not afforded to many.  I always grieve terribly for anyone taken too soon and prematurely crossing over.  At least us and our peers have had a good long Run and so it's more expected and not unusual at a certain Season of Life that your Lifespan is pretty much complete.  I'm not sure how long a Run I wanna have, depending on the shape I'm in more than any specific Age achieved.  Quality of Life is more important to me than Quantity of it.   And I don't think anyone wants to suffer or see anyone suffering.

I just realized that along with taking The Grandson to Social Security in the Morning, I also have to take The Man to see his Cardiologist, Dr. Pham, who performed his Heart Procedure, by 4:00 p.m..  He will have seen Nurse Remi that day too, so it's a busy day.  Then on Wednesday he has Lab work scheduled and I've got to Work, I'm covering for someone for a few Wednesday Night Shifts this Month and next.  Then on Thursday is the event I mentioned earlier in the Post.  The Calendar has been very full all of April and is filling up for May too.  I still have PT Dates I know they want The Man to have which aren't yet Approved by Insurance so haven't been Scheduled until they are Approved.  They want to pack quite a few of those in every Week so we'll see what happens and how effective they are at monitoring his condition or improving it some?

 

It's Tuesday Morning and I woke at 4:00 a.m. instead of 5:00 a.m., which is when we have to be up to get Princess T to Work by 6:00 a.m..  The Grandson's Social Security Interview is this Morning and Nurse Remi is coming this Morning for The Man.  Then at 4:00 p.m. I have to get him to Dr. Pham's for his Cardiac follow-up with who did his Surgical Procedure.  Dr. Pham has been very worried about the subsequent Hospitalizations and ER visits we've had since the Surgery.  It's been a LOT.  It's No Bueno if the Surgery was a Success but the Patient still Dies.  Or keeps trying NOT to!  *Le Sigh*  His Blood Pressure has been good so I haven't had to administer that Medication out of the 18 he's now taking daily, sometimes several times daily!  Every Sunday when I fill his Medication Organizer I'm almost in Tears so The Son and The Grandson have to help me to do it so I won't be overwhelmed and anxious about it.

 

I don't wanna get confused or mess up, so having a 2nd or 3rd person involved is Helpful.   Nurse Remi said she'd do it for us, but we don't know how long we'll qualify to have her coming, so it's best to get used to doing it yourself if you can manage that.  She assisted The Son on how best to Organize administering so many Medications and he's Autistic, so Order and Organizing shit that has a repetitive Routine is his Super Power.  *LOL and Whew*  Even he said, Mom, this is like being a Pharmacist, it's Crazy and no wonder you got overwhelmed doing it, especially when they keep changing Dad's Medications or dosages all of the time, it's confusing!!!   I'm sure we're not the only Clients who struggle with so much Medication and how demanding and extreme the Caregiving can get.  The Man could never do this if he didn't have us.

I think he'd even refuse to take any of it since remember how much Medication he'd hidden over 12 Years that we didn't know about until quite recently?!!!!!!!   So now he's not allowed to go get the Mail or open Packages delivered, since the VA sends all his Meds by Mail and now I told him me or the Kiddos will manage ALL Mail, since, he can't be Trusted not to hide it... or forget what he did with it or where he put it.  He'd hidden Bills too so now it's one of his numerous Safety Prompts, no more Touching of The Mail!!!  *Le Sigh*  He doesn't even know nor can he explain why he was hiding it all, or putting it in weirdo places and then forgetting about it without any of it even being opened or used by him!?!   He's hidden some of his Underwear before and I have to try to find where he's spirited it away or just go buy new ones!!!  Same with his Socks... so now The Daughter goes thru his Closet on The Regular to find any 'hidden' shit he's squirrelled away like a Packrat!!!

Other than all of that, everything is Swell.  *Bwahahahaha*  I won't go to The Gym this Morning, usually I go on Tuesday Mornings coz I'm up so early and at 6:00 a.m. attendance is real light there.  But, since I have so much on the Calendar Today it would wear me out too much to add that to the itinerary for the Day.  It might rev me up nicely to have a Workout to begin the busy Day, but I might run out of Gas before the Cardiac Appointment this Afternoon?  *LOL*  I did fill up with Gas and spent even more this time since now Gas is up to around $5 for Regular and $6 for Diesel, and the better quality Gas is in between both of those prices.  So those of you still paying around $4 are among the more fortunate in America right now actually.  The News always cites YOUR lower Prices and say how outrageous and unaffordable THAT is, but for States like Arizona, California and Hawaii, you Guys are paying WAY less than us by a Dollar or more a Gallon!!!

When The Son was applying for that part-time Work at the Dollar Store the Manageress was telling him they're having to raise all their Prices again!!!!!  *Le Sigh*   Since Pandemic the Dollar Stores have almost Doubled Prices already, went from 99 Cents to $1.25, to $1.50 currently... and now I'm sure it will go to $1.75 or $2.00 next?  Still cheaper than most other Stores, so, whaddya gonna do?  I Shop the Discount Grocer and the Dollar Stores for a lot of our Essentials now.  And for Clothing we always buy from the Chazzas and get secondhand Wardrobe, have for Years.  It was the only way Custodial Grandparents not being compensated for Raising a 2nd Generation could afford to keep The Grandkids in Clothing and Shoes as they grew so frickin' fast!!!  So they were used to wearing secondhand Clothes and still do to this day.  It gave them their own Fashion Sensibilities since they weren't buying or wearing New Clothes and following Retail Trends like their Friends.

Princess T and The Young Prince are Fearless about Fashion anyway and said Kids and Adult Peers who were Buying Full Retail all looked so "Copy & Paste" anyway, they didn't wanna look so Pedestrian and so Boring and Unoriginal!   *LOL*  We often go Chazza Shopping together and did on our day out Yesterday, doing some Goodwill Hunting.  My Friend John ran into us at a "Goodwill" and let me take a screen shot of the April 20% Off Coupon coz I no longer have an E-Mail to receive it.   John trawls the Chazzas for Inventory for his Spaces at the Antique Mall, unlike me, who is downsizing, he has to Buy what he's reselling.  He and his Dear Wife Downsized Years ago when they moved into a Retirement Community at Pebble Creek near the "Goodwill" I almost always run into them at.  I think they must go there daily?  *LOL*  I've never dropped in at that location and not seen them.  *Smiles* 

John always has his Coupon on his Phone so I take a Screen Shot of it since he knows I no longer have an E-Mail to receive it.  I Wish that the "Goodwill" just had what SAVERS has, various Discount Days where you don't need a Coupon Online.  Yes, they do have Military Day and Senior Day too, but, the 20% Off requires their Coupon on other days.  SAVERS has Coupons but has more Discount Days for Customer Appreciation and Half Off Day.  So, there's very few Days you have to even have the Hard Copy Coupons they give you for Donations and I've not had to get sent one Online to perpetually have to Save.   "Goodwill" did away with their regular 50% Off Days and now makes it a Big Deal if they have One Day a Month half off.  I no longer Donate to them ever... and don't shop there as often either anymore until they treat their Customers and their Donations better than they currently do.

But, Princess T wanted to see what the 'competition' was like, she likes to gloat over how much better Customer Service and better they Showcase and treat their Merch is at SAVERS, and, it's the Truth.  *Smiles*   Her Store is exceptional, all the Employees and how they treat their Donations respectfully and keep their Stores Organized and Clean.  It's a well oiled Machine and I like shopping there and did even before they wanted to hire my Grandchild and urged her to apply after High School was a wrap for her.  She won't always wanna Work there but it was a good First Job to get.  She's been working alongside me in either unpaid Ministry work or the Antique Mall Spaces for Years so she already had an excellent Work Ethic and Experience beyond her Years.  That Kid has liked Working since she could Walk.  I was like that too.  We were those Toddlers Working our Hustle!   Born to do it I suppose?  *LOL* 

I don't remember ever NOT Working actually and was Earning Money from the time I could remember and working my Hustle even when I had no Money to Negotiate with!!!  *LOL*   Princess T was identical, so she's a Chip off the ole Block.  When she had no Money she'd still manage to Negotiate Deals and get Free Stuff!!!  *Smiles*   Handy, since, that was less I hadda come up with the Money to Buy for her.  If she REALLY wanted something and I couldn't afford it, that Kid would find a way to get it with her own Negotiating prowess or Hustle!!!   The Son was always like that too, he was an expert Hustler by Age Two.  He'd Hustle Grown Men at Arcades just to be able to play the Video Games for Free!  *LOL*  And he'd Hustle the Carnies at the State Fairs and Carnivals to be able to play the Midway Games for Free too.  As most Autistics, he could figure out Angles and Trajectories and shit to Ace almost any Game they had, effortlessly.  Basketball was no Challenge for him, or hitting Targets with anything, a Dart, a Gun, a Ball, a Rock.  That's when a Disability becomes an Ability, of sorts... *Winks*

 

*******

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

Mexico Now Has Universal Healthcare And America Still Doesn't!

 Well, by now I'm sure most who keep Informed know that Mexico now has Universal Healthcare, like every other progressive First World Nation does, and of coarse The United States still doesn't!!!   Nope, America claims we CAN'T AFFORD IT, but, can afford Two Billion Dollars Daily to fight unnecessary Wars we start, go figure!  America first my Ass, it's America last again, the American People's Needs not being a Priority at all by our Leadership.  Can't afford to give you Healthcare or Daycare, but can build Ballrooms and outrageous Ego Arches to commemorate himself.  And illegally start unnecessary Wars which he calls Leisurely Excursions and acts like it's his personal Video Game he's watching the carnage of, fantasizing about wiping out entire Civilizations of over Ninety Million Human Beings!!!  Generating blasphemous AI Images of himself as Jesus Christ and picking fights with and threatening the Pope!!!

And don't think footing the Bill will stop there for the American Taxpayer. Coz after we cut and run, like we have in every War since Vietnam, we'll be paying to rebuild what we've destroyed there and the Humanitarian Crisis we've caused!  You'll be Paying For Iran and what we're doing there, for a very long time, Generationally in fact.  And he's already Eyeballing other Countries he wants to attack, becoz he's boring of Iran, it didn't work out like he fantasized it would and he's made things worse, not better, than they were before.  So, he's looking at and talking about Cuba, Greenland AGAIN, and some other South American Countries next to attack!!!  And his Warmonger Bromance with the equally Batshit Crazy Alcoholic White Christian Nationalist Hegseth, well, they're quite the Duo who think they've become War Gods now and are the Anointed Ones reveling in carnage, bloodlust and cruelty!!!

So, no Universal Healthcare for you and I... Mexico is starting to look all the more Appealing to me personally now.  And, we do have Grandchildren who Live there and many Friends there {both Mexican Nationals and American Ex-Pats} who'd like us to relocate there and become Ex-Pats.  Since America ain't getting Great Again, that's quite obvious to the rest of the World!!!  And they really worry about us here in America, my European Relatives and Friends do too, they think America is falling, imploding from within, and no telling what the Bottoming Out will look like?!   Or how successful the Selling Out of America completely will be?!   And we ARE being Sold Out, since the Criminal Element is taking all they can exploit from having been in Power and gaining access to all the Money!  Siphoning off what they can from it for themselves as they Liquidate America like an Asset Stripped Business they Control and will be the ruination of. 

Ain't I a Ray of Fucking Sunshine again?  I know, but this is what is heavily upon my Heart and Mind almost all of the time now, becoz it's getting more dire and not enuf people are paying attention.  I see Americans going about their Daily Lives, for the most part, oblivious and as if nothing is changing or in crisis with our Nation.   Mebbe only noticing the Gas Prices at the Pumps skyrocketing exponentially, so they can't Ignore THAT.  Definitely seeing the Cost of Living increasing for them.  Perhaps some now affected by the soft Labor Market.  Others realizing, if they aren't already locked in to a Low Mortgage Rate and Home Ownership, that they can't afford Rents or to Buy a Home anymore.  Or perhaps some already lost their Healthcare or now find it's barely affordable if they still do have it.  Or mebbe their Cities and Towns have a heavy ICE presence still that can't be ignored.  But, for the most part I see Americans just so Checked Out, that when the Bottom Falls Out, they will act Shocked and completely caught Off Guard!!! 

And when the Midterms come in November, I do Believe most of them think they can still Elect whoever they want to Lead the Nation, or still be able to Vote, without interference and suppression!!!  I think it will be a very rude Awakening by the end of the Year, if not before 2026 is halfway over.   Those in our Military are already realizing that if they are Women or People of Color they are being Purged.   And ALL of them have to now be Wrestling with whether or not they will follow Illegal Orders given to them to commit War Crimes?   And realizing their Top Brass is either being ousted, resigning, or taking early Retirement becoz the Generals and Admirals at the very top of Military Leadership know that defending the Constitution is no longer the Mission, uncontested Loyalty to a Wannabe Despot deranged Authoritarian King is, if you wanna keep your Career.  Our Military should not be facing those kinds of decisions that impair what they chose a Military Career for, to defend our Nation without Partisan interference, not be Pawns and Playthings of a Madman.

The Good News for Today is that the Stomach Bug seems to have eased with the help of over the counter Meds to counteract the trips to the Bathroom.  *Whew*  So, I not only feel quite a bit better and won't be completely sequestered by a Bathroom, but, I can take The Daughter to her Job Today in Chandler and have Four Hours of Me Time while she Cleans her Client's Home.  I got all my Morning Chores out of the way before 8:00 a.m., got to Sleep In a couple Hours since it's a Day Off for Princess T so no Uber Gramma commitments for her at least, just Uber Mom for The Daughter later on around Noon to Four.  *LOL*  I plan to have Lunch at the Mediterranean Restaurant on the Eastside if they're not Closed for Orthodox Easter?  In Real Time it's the 12th and Orthodox Easter for those practicing that Christian Orthodox Faith.  I've only had Greek Orthodox Friends that do.

The Man is doing some Dishes for me, I went to Bed at 5:00 p.m. last Night, worn out from the Stomach Bug hitting me hard.   So, I didn't partake of the Dinner that The Daughter cooked and didn't clean up from, so it was waiting in the Sink this Morning.  Not much, she made a One Skillet Meal, so he agreed to take one for the Team and do them when I asked him if he would.  You have to ask, he won't initiate anything anymore, but, he never was one to initiate things or even finish things he started, it's his way of Being I guess and it hasn't changed all that much with the TBI or the Dementia really.  He was a Workaholic when he had Careers, yes, Plural, coz he always worked side Jobs along with his Military Career.  He was a Bouncer and a DJ at local Bars outside the Base.  He did Custom Cabinetry Work and Remodeling for Friends and Commissioned Clients who knew how good he was at it.

But, after being Mandatorily Medically Retired, he went from doing everything all the time, to doing nothing all the time, stark contrast.  Retirement being forced upon him hit him hard and my Workaholic Dad was like that too once he got too Old to keep Working, he kind of did nothing a lot as well.  I think Men tend to define themselves by what they did or do for a Living more than us Gals do?   I never defined myself by my Careers/Corporate Lives, and once I left them, I wasn't Sad about it.  I only missed the Money, not the Job itself, both were very demanding Careers and took a Toll due to the Negative Nature of both.  When you're doing Collections, Foreclosures and Bankruptcies for Major Financial Institutions and running those Departments, it's the Negative aspect of Banking.  Running damage control behind Bad Loans not performing and protecting your Employer and Investors Assets, being a Fixer, you aren't meeting their Happy Clients having the Best Day Ever.  *Winks*

And at the DA's Office you are working Criminal Files that flowed thru Superior Court on the Prosecuting End, not the Defense End of the Business.   Plus, since I was Closing Out the Files after they were Worked, we also did the Audit to ensure everyone, from the Policing Agencies, Courts, Support Staff and Prosecutors, had done their part correctly?   Before doing all the pertinent Data Entry and Archiving of said Files from every Bureau from Homicide on down to even Misdemeanor Charges of each File.  That didn't always make you Popular, since Auditors are never Popular.  And Criminals don't like Prosecution. *LOL*  I did Audit for the Banks too and if someone screwed up, and you catch it, well, you're not gonna be their favorite person either.  *Winks and Smiles*  

 I was good at what I did, each Career being quite different than the other, Criminal Law was more interesting than Real Estate Law but didn't pay nearly as well, but the County had good Benefits for Healthcare and The Man needed a LOT of that, Millions worth in fact.  So, I factored that in as 'Salary'.  *Winks*  So, No, never miss the Work, didn't define myself by it or my Value by what I did for a Living.  I'd of been just as Content being an Artist, even a Starving Artist living in a Hippie Commune actually, following my Bliss rather than chasing the Benjamins.  I do miss the Money tho', I ain't gonna Lie, the Money was good.  *Winks*  The Jobs itself was not pleasant, interesting and challenging, but, not pleasant work. 

And Banks always loaned the most Money to who didn't even Need it.  Donnie Two Dolls caused more losses to American Banks and was a bigger Risk than probably anyone ever defaulting on Loans, yet it took a long time for them to quit Lending to him.  And I always felt like those working for the Department of Justice on the Right Side of the Law in Prosecution, should be compensated at least as well as those who work for the Defense side of the Law.  But Defense makes WAY more, that's where the Money is, Defending Criminals and particularly those with Money to Buy the Best Justice Money Buys.  And it is a very Tiered System, always has been, it's not 'New' that the Elite can avoid Prosecution if they spend enuf to ensure they get away with whatever Crimes they've done.  You can Buy anything with enuf Money, even People, since, most have their Price to be Bought.  Or, enuf is spent to Intimidate or Threaten them effectively or Silence them so they won't be a Problem.  None of that is 'New', it's just really in our Faces right now so cannot be Denied or a Spin put on it to Cover it Up anymore.  

 They're no longer even trying to... well, mostly... except for Big Cases like the Epstein Pedophile Ring, which could Name BIG High Profile Names, lots of them, Internationally.  Do I think all the Names will be Named eventually?  Not a fucking chance.   Or Justice Served for everyone involved, both the Traffickers and their Clients or Enablers, being successfully Prosecuted and Serve appropriate Time for their horrendous Crimes?  Nope, won't happen to the vast majority of 'em, not a fucking chance either.   Not to mention Justice FINALLY for the Victims who Survived, and those that didn't, who, some may remain Anonymous indefinitely becoz mebbe the Bodies will never be Found and their Identities ever known.  There's loads of Missing Children Nationally and Internationally, that are Cold Cases... and will remain so for a Reason.  But I'm GLAD they can't make this just go away this time.

And it was quite Interesting that Melania brought it to the forefront again, since the Iran War was quite the Distraction and Deflector from it.  But I won't presume to go into all of the Psychology behind THAT and try to unpack it.  We do know she was an Escort, who knows how Young she was when that began?  And I'm not Judging, I don't know her whole Back Story.   She kind of had the whole "Pretty Woman" Movie Role play out in Real Life tho', didn't she, even becoming a First Lady Twice to the Presidency.  Quite a Success Story to be a Billionaire and occupy the White House, after being a Sex Worker. 

 So, when she said she had no "Relationship" with Epstein, it wasn't a total Lie, since, Sex Workers generally don't have a "Relationship" with Clients, or often with who Traffics them, it's all very transactional, and perhaps even coerced and becomes quite co-dependent and dehumanized.  I worked with some Ministries that aided the Sexually exploited and trafficked try to get out of The Life.  Most of Society doesn't Value the Lives of them at all, so they're often Victims of Serious Crimes, rarely Solved, coz most of Society doesn't Care.   I do Care about any Victim of any Crime, I don't place different Values on a Human Life depending upon criteria that a lot of Society just does, mostly due to their personal Biases and Prejudices, or Socioeconomic Standing.  If a Homeless Person or an Escort is Murdered or Victimized, it's no less a Crime than if I am... or you.  Their Life has Value and their Humanity is just as Precious and Sacred, but not all of Society thinks so.

Anyway, I am on a Roll this Morning and I know it, so, if the Read is too heavy a lift for ya, then I totally understand, just enjoy the Pretty Pictures then.  *Winks*  I just am not in the Mood for a frivolous Post this Day, I can't immerse myself in drivel lately when so much is dire and so much is at stake and at grave risk.  And not being addressed appropriately or sufficiently in our Country.  I. just. can't.  Perhaps I can get around to a Fluff Post another day that is lighter and Joyful.  I have guarded my own Joy, since I won't have it Stolen, but, protecting your Joy is Self Work and I can do that part.  I can't always just pop onto the Ole' Blog and not have my Balloon Land tho', and shy away from the heavy Topics and the potentially controversial ones that few are willing to engage in.  

It's probably best I'm Isolated often by my Caregiving and Circumstances, so that I'm not a rabid Social Activist going full on Anti-Establishment like in my Youthful exuberance, and making far more Good Trouble than would be Safe or Healthy to remain Undead and Silenced.  *Bwahahahaha*  Plus, I'm an Old Lady now and Society mostly expects us Old Folk to have Strong Opinions about everything and so they Tune Out, marginalizing the Wisdom and Experiences we've had that have validity and Warnings they should probably heed.  Yes, the Young tend to be the most Militantly HEARD in Society, and good for those of them who are making Good Trouble coz their Future depends on it!  

They can BE The Change needed.  Coz, in 100 Years, all New People.  Which is the only definite Positive about a Century passing IMO.  *LOL*  But the Old Sages can often be the Canary in the Coal Mine for Society if anyone was actually HEARING those of us who have no more Fucks to give, so won't stay Quieted, Timid or Invisible about it.  Shit, we have nothing to Lose than most really... not much Future left.  But, we sho' would Love some Universal Healthcare too in America!!!  Just sayin'... and I BET you would too???  Becoz America CAN fucking Afford it, don't let them Con you into Believing we can't, coz it's a fucking Lie.  And they're getting Rich as fuck, or having more Money to Grift and Fund Wars and such for those that Profit most from such things, for Keeping it that way.

I'm still fighting with T-Mobile about getting a Billing Statement.  I think if they can't get their act together I'll have to change Providers of Cellphone Service.  They're stuck on needing a PIN which I don't have and don't know what it is, I don't use APPS, which they try to push on you as a 'Solution', and I don't want Paperless Billing either, I no longer even have an active E-Mail that they would know how to send Paperless Billing thru.  So, they're not getting Paid 'til they sort this shit out I guess.  Even their Corporate Customer Complaint line is unhelpful, so at every level of Customer Service they suck and can't resolve simple issues like just sending you a Billing Statement.  How hard can that be?  If you had a bigger problem, they'd be absolutely useless to Solve it then.

When The Daughter did her Cleaning Job on Sunday it was a gorgeous Cool Day all day so I got to putz around mostly Window Shopping and getting Blog Fodder Photography taken of stuff.  I had a nice meal at the Mediterranean Restaurant.  I looked around a couple new Shops that some of the Vendors from the now Closed "Ivy & Sage" had moved to nearby.  They don't have as much Space at the new Shop and it's a much smaller Shop, I doubt I'd make regular pilgrimages, but STRICTLY PRIMITIVE does have their Creations there now and that's what I went for to see.  They're now at THE JADED FINCH.  It's a cute Shop but doesn't carry much in the way of what I'd buy except by that one Artisan.  And their prices went way up from when they were at the other Shop that has Closed.  Now they're going more in the way of Teddy Bear type Creations too, which, Cute, but, not for me. 

*******

Okay, so now I'll shut up... for Today... winks... Dawn... The Bohemian Lifetime Good Troublemaker