Difficulties During Holidays

 

So, here we are again, it's a Monday Morning so SAVERS is Half Price Day and tho' The Granddaughter doesn't Work on Mondays, sometimes I go for the Sale.  There's some of those Old Fashioned Christmas Light Bulbs in Bagged Lots that I'm hoping to Score at Half Price to do Art Crafty Projects with now.  Pretty soon all the Christmas Inventory will be taken off the Floor, so I want to get them now.   LATER:  Got 'em and have a Funny True Story now to tell that happened with The Granddaughter's Cat, Eli, now alias: The Rascal Grinch Cat trying to ruin someone's Christmas!  *LOL*

So, Eli doesn't Like anyone in the Family except his Human and only Tolerates me coz I feed him, brush him, and keep his Litterbox Clean, so I'm his Staff.  *Winks*  He particularly does NOT Like The Daughter, we don't know Why, her Voice irritates him and he'll attack her if she goes into her Daughter's Room.  She's an Animal Lover and usually Animals Adore her, but, Eli DOES NOT, which grieves her tremendously, she's tried to make Nice with him, he's NOT having it.  So, Princess T had Bagged everyone's Christmas Gifts and put them under her Christmas Tree in her Room, so nobody would sneak or peek into them and be snooping.  She'd even bought a Special little Hello Kitty Gift Bag for her Mom's Pressy, coz they both Love the Hello Kitty.  She was very Proud of that Bag as the Packaging of her Mom's Gift.

There were even Presents in front of this one that he had to move out of the way to get to it.  Well, when she came Home from Rusty's this Morning, she is wailing, "Look what you've done Eli!!! You're trying to ruin my Mom's Christmas!"   She stomps into our Room to show us how he's moved other Presents out of the way to Royally fuck up ONLY her Mom's Bag and Present!!!  He destroyed it and shredded it like this in a temper tantrum fit of Rage!  {See Above}  The contents scattered all over the Room!!!  OMG, I was Laughing so hard, I said perhaps it was the Hello Kitty on the Bag he disliked?   Mebbe he was just Bored?  Giving him the Benefit of any Doubt, coz he is a Jealous Cat and has destroyed Plushies his Human shows attention to. *Smiles*

But, she's pretty sure he knew that was her Mom's Pressy... and... she could be Right, coz there's Kittens on some of the other Bags, Hello Kitty Ornaments all over her Tree, and he didn't mess with a single one of those!  Never does!  He gazes at the Tree serenely, has never messed with a Christmas Tree ever, and isn't the least bit Curious about the other Pressies or what's under said Tree before.  *LMAOROTF*  So, while I was at SAVERS picking up my Vintage Christmas Light Bulbs, I had to pick up some Christmas Gift Bags so she can re-package her Mom's now mauled Gifts.  *LOL*  She needed me to pick up a plain Christmas Stocking for Rusty too, so I did.

She's now gone out for the Day with half of her remaining Gay Boy Posse, Matthew, plus some other Guy that The Man didn't recognize and could be a Friend or Boyfriend of Matthew, not sure?   She no longer hangs out with Timmy coz she doesn't like his scrub Boyfriend and said since being with that Guy, Timmy has changed in Negative ways now that she doesn't approve of or like.  She went into details, I won't go into full details, but I'd been Surprised when she told me in what ways he's changed.  It seemed so totally out of Character for the Timmy we knew and Loved, that I must say I was in agreement with her, that association has turned toxic.  She said he's become quite Racist, very Weird, coz previously ALL his Friends are People of Color, including The Boyfriend!  And his Family aren't Racist at all, nor had Timmy ever been before. 

Mebbe it's not the Boyfriend entirely tho' responsible for how Timmy is changing, just from what she told me?  I met the Boyfriend, he's a very tall, Dark and Handsome Guy, looks Latino, definitely isn't White.  And he seemed pleasant and it wouldn't Square with the way Timmy has turned biased IMO, why have a Boyfriend of Color if you're now becoming Racist?  *Shrugs???*  Now they've been together a long time, living with The Boyfriend's Mom, but for as far as Princess T knows the Boyfriend has no Job, isn't looking for one, and Timmy Supports them.   Timmy's Grandparents have kept his Room "As Is" and told Princess T he's Welcome to always move back, he left all his Animals with them, the Cat, his Tropical Fish, his Reptiles.  The whole fucking Menagerie.

Which, Princess T couldn't Believe that coz he was so attentive to his Pets, responsible for his Age, overly so in fact, and she didn't think he'd ever leave them behind and dump their Care on his Grandparents?   But, perhaps The Boyfriend's Mom won't have them in her Home, I dunno?   So, that was the newest Spilled Tea on why I hadn't seen Timmy around and she really hasn't had nor wanted much contact with him.  It's a shame, we really Loved Timmy and she was very close to him since they were in Grade School, they were inseparable.  We joked that he was her "Replacement Gay Brother" when The Young Prince moved out, he even resembled her Brother somewhat when they were Younger.  *LOL*   Matthew is still Ride or Die with her and she said he doesn't have much contact with Timmy now either, for the same Reasons, the changes aren't Okay.  Matthew is Native American.  So, since he isn't White and Princess T isn't White, the Racist angle and sentiments being displayed, isn't cutting it with either of them.

I had tried to find out who the New Guy was but didn't get to see him when Matthew came to pick her up for them all to go out.  Matthew is Home from College on Winter Break.   He always indulges Princess T so I highly suspect he'll take her out for Dinner and lavish her with expensive Gifts, he always has.   Timmy used to also... and her Boyfriend, Rusty, knew he could never get between her and The Gay Boy Posse.  Plus, he knew both Guys from High School and they were all Friendly, becoz he knew how close and protective they'd always been with her way before he actually knew her and they became a Couple.   And they Approved of Rusty... they never liked Isaac {which proved to be an accurate assessment that he was a Player-Player}, and they weren't particularly fond of Jon Carlos either {which proved to be an accurate assessment too of the direction he went and the Company he ended up keeping}.

 

She has joked that she ought to let her Gay Boy Posse and her Gay Brother pick out her potential Boyfriends, coz they've been Spot On about Men.  *LOL*   Anyway, she and Rusty have been together now Two Years, we Like him, but, not sure if he's The One she'll end up with?  I don't think she's ready or willing to commit to a Lifetime with anyone yet, which is Okay, she's only 20.   But, she and Rusty are both Introverts and Homebodies, so spend a lot of Quality Time together not really going anywhere or doing anything.  Which is their preference not to Socialize, so that's important that they enjoy each other's Company so much and understand one another.  The Man is an Introvert, but I'm an Extrovert, Princess T said she's not sure about Two Introverts being a long-term Couple coz they are so much alike?

She has trouble having Fun with another Introvert, so Needs an Extrovert to pull her out of her Shell sometimes and go have Fun like a regular Young Person should.  She Likes to go have Fun with me, but, I'm an Old Person and I do think having Fun with her Peers, other Young Adults, is important.  I can't fill that Void.  Of coarse I don't hang out with my Peers either, I prefer doing Fun things with various Generations that are across the spectrum of Interests and Activities.  I don't even Like very many Old People, the ones I have Befriended are Kindred Spirits and don't "Act Old" or "Seem Old", as Princess T would say.  *LOL*   If another Senior Acts like an Old Biddie or an Old Bastard, gets perpetually Negative, Cranky or Embittered, doesn't Like Young People, and just talks incessantly about their Ailments, Aches & Pains... I can't disengage fast enuf!  *Smiles*

I happen to enjoy Young People, I like their Energy and their Zest for Life, their Fresh Ideas, they're Enjoyable to be around and have Fun with.  It is flattering when they tell me they don't think of me as a "Boomer", even tho' I am one and most Boomers they find annoying or can't Connect with.  *Bwahahahaha*   I understand, I find it difficult to Connect with many of them too for the same reasons the Young can't.  I do sometimes Wish some of my Older Blog Friends lived closer coz I know we'd have a lot of Fun together, as much Fun as we could have without getting Arrested... but ya'll are spread out across the Country, dammit.  *Winks*

Above is my partial haul of Old Fashioned Christmas Light Bulbs in about Eight or Nine Colors.  For now I'm just putting most of them in a large Antique Green Uranium Glass Bowl that glows under Black Light.  I used to have a lot of Uranium Glass but have Sold most of it, this Bowl I can't bring myself to part with, it has a raised Fruit Design in the Glass.  These large Uranium Glass Fruit Bowls can now fetch over $100 tho', if I were to wanna part with it.  I doubt I will tho', I detached from just about 95% of what I had of Uranium Glass, I also have a Green Uranium Glass Citrus Juicer I'm very Attached to also and won't Sell either.  I have a large Collection of Vintage Citrus Juicers and am thinking about Selling Off most of the others in the Collection tho'.

I had an overage of the Bagged Lots Scored so I just tucked them in everywhere, only One Broken Orange Bulb out of all of them.  The Vintage Taco Bells Talking Santa Dog was also in a Bagged Lot of them still in Original Packaging.  I had 1-2 of each that Taco Bell used to have as Premiums, still in their Original Bags, some even still Talked after all these Years!   I kept one of the Santa ones and took it out of it's Bag to use to Display, Selling all the rest as New Old Stock of a Beloved Premium that was Iconic until it wasn't PC to use a Chihuahua with a Mexican Accent to Sell Tacos.  *LOL*  "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" was a Classic 1990's Marketing Strategy tho', just like Wendy's "Where's The Beef" Commercial of the 1980's with Senior Clara Peller was.

The Man and I Traded in our Cans at the Recycle Center, but we only had just over $11 worth this time, we just haven't been out doing Environmental Cleanup as much lately, as we usually do.  It was a nice day to do it tho', still over 80 Degrees and the River was running Fast and High at the Nature Preserve, so a lot of Wildlife was there on and around the Water.  Not too many people and thankfully not too much litter either.   I did find a bunch of discarded practically new Fishing Products for The Man tho'.  People spend so much on these things and then only use a little bit and just discard the rest I guess if they don't have much Luck?  *LOL*   The Power Baits in a Jar that are Scented, brightly Colored and Glittered are around $4-$7 each and I found Eight Jars of them, all barely used!  He was Jazzed.  Mostly used for Trout Fishing and the River has Trout, among other Game Fish.

People can be so wasteful of what they've spent a lot of Money on.  We didn't find a lot of Aluminum Cans, but finding all that Fishing Product worth about $50-$80 made up for it.  *Smiles*  He would have liked to have stayed out longer but I didn't wanna push walking too much on my now Healing Knee.  The Son giving me some of the 300 mg MJ Balm for it did the trick with just a single Application, it feels Fine now, no Pain, and it felt like it's Healing quickly.  Online had said it would take Weeks to Months, possibly require Physical Therapy or Surgery and Pain Management Painkillers, which can be Addictive.  The Son uses the Balm for his Back Injury he got Years ago and caused him to become Addicted to Opioids Prescribed, now he's been Clean for Years, he won't relapse by taking Painkillers again ever.

I wasn't having any of that either, so was willing to try a more Holistic Treatment like Medicinal MJ which I've had good results with those Balms in the Past.  He got the Balm from his Girlfriend, who is Navajo, and like me, uses Natural Remedies, Tribal Medicine, and Holistic Treatments first and primarily.  We both think Western Medicine is often a Capitalistic Profit Driven Racket.   Since it's 300 mg I think you have to get a Prescription for that strength of it, so I'm gonna ask her how to go about that since it would be good for The Man, The Son and I to use when we need it.  The Man has chronic Pain but once got addicted to prescribed Opioids too and has been Clean for Years, so won't take any now.  I have Diabetic Neuropathy and Osteo Arthritis, which, is sometimes Painful.  Usually I override Pain with my Mind, but, sometimes if it's excruciating enuf, it's hard to tough it out.

Mobility is important and you don't wanna lose it or have it seriously impaired.  So, I felt relieved I'm feeling better and walking okay now, it had been concerning when the Knee gave out like it did and I wasn't doing anything that should have caused it.  Close Call.  Princess T just came in from Buying her Grandpa's Gift, she always gets him his "Swiss Colony" Food Gift Sets, she got Two for him this Year, he Loves those, and "Swiss Colony" usually sets up at one of the Big Malls for the Christmas Season so you don't have to Order from the Catalog thru the Mail.  I remember my Mom always Buying me the "Swiss Colony" Breakfast Christmas Gift Sets and I Loved receiving those.  They are so expensive now compared to back then tho'.

 

This was the Breakfast Box I remember my Mom usually getting for me back when they were much more affordable.   And my Dad would usually get me the Dried Fruit I Loved since I was a Kid, they'd always come in a little Wicker Basket or Wooden Tray, I liked getting those more than getting Toys.  And in our Stockings we'd get Fresh Fruit and Nuts, not usually Candy... and we enjoyed that too, since, when I was growing up you couldn't always afford Fresh Fruits or Nuts.  We had a Nutcracker Set and enjoyed cracking those Nuts too.  Now I'm surrounded by Mature Nut Trees and get an abundant Harvest of Pecans enuf to give a bunch of them away to Friends.   And surrounded by a variety of Citrus and Fruit Trees here too, so always have more than we can use.  Our Neighbors have so much they give me Boxes of them to take in to the Antique Mall to give away for Free to Customers and Co-Workers.

Anyway, The Man's Gift Boxes contain mostly Meats and Cheeses, which is what he prefers from "Swiss Colony".  And I gave her a Box of a Gourmet Selection of various Crackers to give with it all.  I think there's Six kinds of Gourmet Crackers in a Gift Box.  So, it's gonna be a good Christmas for The Man after all, he's not expecting any Gifts.   And I made sure all the Kids had something too, not much, but something.  We're still getting Christmas Cards, but people really were sending them out late, so I fully expect some to probably arrive after Christmas.  I got a Letter from a Best Friend along with her Card, we used to exchange long Letters to each other for many Years, back when Writing Letters was something you just did.  I still enjoy Letters, but I no longer have a Printer, Arthritis too bad to Write Freehand very much, and nobody Writes Letters anymore anyway.

I used to include a Christmas Letter with my Christmas Cards that I'd go to "Office Max" and even include Xeroxed Copies of it that had Family Pixs on the Letter as well.  And Friends often did the same and I kept all those Letters that had Photos on them.  I kept some of the most Special Christmas Cards over the Years and am glad I did since they're mostly from Family and Friends who have since Passed Away.  My Dad used to make his own Christmas Cards, he was an accomplished Artist and Madly Creative.  So, naturally I kept all of those from him.   I have one of my Sisters-In-Law who used to make her own Christmas Cards every Year, Beautiful and so Creative, this is the very first Year she didn't.  And one of my Friends who Owned her own Paper Arts Stores used to make the most Beautiful Personal Cards, I kept all those too.  Each a Work of Art.

I do like to trawl thru my Photo Holiday Archives for some Blast from the Past in Remembrance.   Look how little Princess T was in these {See Below}.   And the one of me under my magnificent Tamarack Tree at the Historic Property Acreage, before the City illegally exercised Eminent Domain improperly, cut it down without our permission, and didn't give us time to file an injunction in Court to Legally stop them.  I still have Grief over the Loss of that Ancient one, which was probably over 300 Years Old and as big as a Redwood Tree.  Just the Trunk alone weighed over 87 THOUSAND Pounds and almost tipped over their Crane even when cut in 3 Foot Sections when they were taking it down... and that didn't include any of the Branches and Leaves!!!  

 Salt Cedars aren't Native Trees so I may have had trouble protecting it.  But it was ours, on our Private Property, I resented the City violating our Property Rights, claiming it was too Big for a Residential Neighborhood.   I Wish I'd taken more Photos of it.  This one doesn't even show how Tall or Wide it was, it towered about 65 Feet from Ground to the top of it.  The Trunk was so large it would take Three Men standing side by side to wrap their Arms completely around it.   When one of the Ancient Ones like this is Lost due to Man's Environmental Unconsciousness, none of us will ever live long enuf for Three whole Generations to see one get that Old and Large again.  To me it's Sinful to destroy them for petty reasons and for Human ignorance about Nature and what's Important in the Natural World.  I put a Curse on the City Official that Ordered it to be cut down, I was told he shortly thereafter Died of a sudden Heart Attack... Karma and Nature's Wrath being the ultimate Bitch about Payback.

I mostly look forward and not backward tho', and Live in this Moment, being Mindful that the Future is Promised to no-one.  The Niece called, she's seriously depressed and I'm concerned about her, she was very Negative and very Dark, the Holidays being especially hard for her.  I had no Words really, but tried being uplifting and Positive, tried to offer some possible Solutions to the problems she's facing.  But, she wasn't receptive to any, you have to be in the Right Head Space to change things for the better and be receptive to Solutions to Problems you're Challenged with, and she's just not there yet.   

The Son could relate to her better than I could, I'm more a Glass Half Full Person, so it is difficult for me to see things from the Glass Half Empty Perspective some folks just Naturally have.  And if you're too stuck being Negative or Hopeless, I know there's nothing I could say to offer actual Comfort or Solve anything FOR you.  That's Self Work nobody can do FOR you.   I Wish I had the Right Words of Solace, but I didn't.   I Hope she'll be Okay and not bottom out completely.  She doesn't really have Bio Kin who she can rely upon, we're a Surrogate Family who've known her all her Life and Care deeply for her.  But I can't Solve their Family Dynamic or Dysfunction, and that's rough for anyone to work out and work thru when Family isn't close nor Helpful or even Ride Or Die for one another.  Some Families have complex Problems they have to Solve or can't be effectively Solved even with the best of Intentions. 

Listen, I'm no Shrink or Therapist, so, l really am at a loss for Words, when someone is in that kind of Emotionally Deep Crisis.   To get that kind of Call is never easy, when Words won't Help, Listening won't Help much either.  And our Systems are woefully inadequate to aide most people who find themselves unemployed and with no Benefits or Insurance.  I felt some of the Solutions I offered up might at least be explored, but I don't think she will follow thru with any of it, she made excuses not to, and you can't force people to explore Solutions to Problems when they don't seem to be receptive to Solutions and Problem Solving.  So, whaddya gonna do?   I'm always Solutions Oriented, it's just how I'm Hardwired Naturally.   When I got a Problem I'll try any potential Solutions, exhausting every single one, the worst that can happen is it doesn't Solve a Problem, but you won't know if you won't even Try.

I feel sometimes people who find themselves Laid Off or Fired become too stuck in being overly Selective about what Jobs they'll take.  Prolonging their Unemployment far too long.  Listen, it doesn't have to be the perfect Job/Career, or long-term, it could even be Temporary to see you thru for a while until what you need or want develops and gives you some more Options.   I'm never too Proud or too picky to take any kind of Work, no matter what it is, if I'm out of Work and have been too long or need to provide for myself or my Family.  It's just how I am.  I feel if you Work with excellence, someone always notices, Cream always rises to the Top, and you can Cultivate important Contacts even in the most unlikely of places and positions, that will get you where you need or want to be.

I have Cultivated vital and important Contacts doing Volunteer Work you don't even get Paid to do.   But you gotta get out there and put yourself out there and have the Right Attitude to make things happen.  Shit just doesn't happen like Magic and if you have the expectation it will take nothing from you to make things change, you're living in a Fool's Paradise.  If you don't Like how things are, okay, but, what have YOU done to Change it then?  Today, Yesterday, the Day before that?   If your answer is Nothing, well, that's probably why nothing happened and nothing Changed for the better either.   And if you did something that didn't Work, Okay, THAT didn't Work, now you know. That doesn't mean nothing is gonna Work... and you need to strategize, adapt, improvise, and find out something else then.  Don't keep doing the same fucking thing and expecting different results, that's Insanity.  And if you succumb to giving up, giving in, giving out, well, you've surrendered already to whatever your Problem or Barrier is.  I don't know what to then say to you?

And I guess I get frustrated when people tell me, well, I did everything Right and so I'm upset everything went Wrong, and I didn't expect to be in this Situation.  Well, nobody expects that, it happens sometimes, Life happens, shit happens, Life isn't always Fair, Fair is Rare, it's not a Level Playing Field.  Sometimes your Vision has to change coz shit happens, shit you didn't prepare for or expect... so you have to now adjust to what just IS.  I didn't expect to end up how we did either, I'd been quite prepared and figured out Retirement carefully and strategically, before Life handed us several Curve Balls and Life was never the same again.  Vision had to change drastically for our Life and Future.  Had to start over, get over it, Move On and keep it Moving, rather than lamentations endlessly, which isn't Helpful or Healthy.  Sometimes you have to adjust Life and try not to lose your Joy in the Process or let Life and Circumstance Steal that from you too.

Anyway, I know the Holidays is a hard time to move thru when Life is tough and shit has happened, so many folks are barely making it and don't have the Support Network they desperately Need or Want.  Difficulties during Holidays often makes folks even more despondent and depressed, I think perhaps it's when more folks Bottom Out actually.  Depending on what they're facing, and if it seems insurmountable, it can overwhelm them completely.  So, if you know someone struggling right now, just try to be there for them as much as is healthy or possible for you to be.   And have them to seek Professional Help if they are at risk.

*******

Not everyone is having a Merry Christmas and is struggling... Dawn... The Bohemian

Cleanup Behind An Insane Clown Posse

 Since I'm only One Unpublished Post ahead now I'll start another.  My jacked up Knee I somehow hyperextended, is really sore, dammit.  When you get Older it is one thing after another in the way of complications and challenges, but, beats the alternative of pushing up dirt.  *Smiles*  So, I won't complain too much.  *Winks*  Being in some chronic mobility Pain is more inconvenient than anything else, it slows you way down and I don't need to even imagine my Knee will just give out and have a Senior Fall.  So, mebbe it's handy I Scored that Three Dollar all terrain Walker recently?

Okay, so, I'm not really READY to use a Walker full time, but until my Knee feels stronger and less painful, it might benefit me to temporarily.  I'll feel practically feeble and pitiful using it, so I'd rather go do some Physical Therapy at The Gym.  Still not sure after 2025 if my Gym Membership under Humana will replace the one I have under United Healthcare there yet?  It's all the Silver Sneakers Program, but The Gym there at Lifetime claims they have a long Waiting List and may or may not have a smooth transition of your Provider Changing???  We'll see, they already practice Ageism with their Medicare Members and try to Sell you on a Paid Senior Membership, even tho' Medicare offers it to you there for Free.

I suppose if you don't wanna feel like an unwanted Senior Member who they slap Age Attendance Restrictions upon, as to when you can use your Membership, some affluent Seniors might Pay Up to feel more appreciated or like an Elderly VIP.  I do see them Pandering to some Geriatric Members more than others, smells and appears like Money being the catalyst.  Each one I saw could barely shuffle in and were using Medical Equipment to have even the seriously limited Mobility they had.  But they LOOKED affluent.  I can't Imagine what their Workout Regimen looks like coz they certainly aren't capable of being Active Seniors by any stretch of the Imagination, but, Money Talks... even if it can't still Walk.  *LOL and Eye Roll*

I know, I sound like a Mean Girl, but, it Amuses me how Businesses and some People really Suck Up, Prostrate themselves, and are willing to Kiss Ass to the Wealthier Clients.  It goes beyond humility, and sometimes seems quite disingenuous.  Tho', some affluent folks are nice people, and if the individual is a decent person and a very good, long time loyal Client, I can understand showing preferential treatment and rating them as a VIP.  You do show appreciation for those kinds of Customers and it's Good Business to of coarse.   But, when you show pandering to the Wealthy, at the exclusion of your other less affluent long time Paying and Loyal Customers, that's when I do take Issue of a Double Standard.

Also, a lot of well known Rich folk and Celebs do expect everything to be Comped just becoz they are who they are.  Over Years, I've Witnessed many affluent and Celeb Clients not even be Good Customers, they just want everything for Free and feel Entitled to it being Comped them, as a 'Right' of their Social Status.  They can be some of the most miserly and Cheapest of folks to try to do Business with.  But they do have sway and so, it doesn't matter how some of them behave and they know it and count on it, arrogantly and with a Sense of their Privilege. 

 I'm not personally impressed with Wealth if the Person is deficient in Character.  But, I do know some very Nice affluent or Celeb folks and genuinely Like them.  They truly ARE just likeable Good People and not pretentious as fuck like some affluent can be. *Gak*   And I also know some Poor folks, who are the most Generous, Likeable, Decent, Wonderful People I've ever had the Privilege of knowing, Befriending, and being around.  

I actually much prefer living in a Lower Income Community, than one full of arrogant pretentious affluent Fucks, who I can't stand being around and aren't decent Human Beings at all.  Sadly, too many folks Worship at the Altar of the Almighty Dollar and who has it becomes godly to them and treated like gods by them.   And some obscenely Wealthy treat other Humans as just merely Currency.

LATER:  I think a big Lottery Win would be a Solution right now for us regular folks to make it thru this Administration's Fuckery.  *LMAOROTF*  I know I'm juggling finances like a Circus Performer on a Unicycle, riding a Tightrope with no Safety Net below me, and scary Clowns like Pennywise on the Ground beneath me that are running the Three Ring Mad Circus... now there's a Visual.  *Winks* 

 I'm not even usually afraid of Clowns, it's not one of my Phobias, unless they occupy the White House and are the Ringmasters of this shitshow, then it IS Scary shit and not funny or entertaining in the least.  I just moved around more Money to ensure Christmas AND Bills were covered... hopefully.  I can keep a Collector on the Phone for HOURS and use them as Free Therapy if need be tho', so, there's always THAT.  But, I have a great FICO Score to Protect, so there's THAT too to consider.

I'm glad Princess T is giving me Cash for Christmas, and I'll be Depositing that into the Household Account Today, she's being exceedingly generous, Bless her.  She's the only one with Money coz she's squirrelling it away to pay Cash for her first Car.  Which is why, even tho' she's earning Minimum Wage, she won't try to Qualify for any Social Services, coz if you have a Savings it will disqualify you from any Help, no matter what it's earmarked for that is crucial, like Transportation of your own.  I don't think she'd make it thru an Interview anyway with her Social Anxieties.  She Cried at Work the other day becoz things became too intense to handle.  She wasn't the only one Crying, her Supervisor apparently was too, so things must have been very stressful for everyone.

 Everyone felt bad afterwards coz they know she has serious Anxiety Issues and is a very hard and conscientious Worker.  What happened wasn't even her fault, but it wasn't being handled and causing a very stressful Situation.  I'm glad she's Open about talking to her Management about Situations that arise, but sometimes she's too introverted to speak up or speak out until she's so frustrated she's Emotionally Raw.  I'm trying to get her to speak up and speak out before she's Emotional, it comes across from a Position of Strength then.  But, she's not an aggressive person like her Gramma Dawn.  *Winks*  She knows that, but still will solicit my Advice and value it.

 And so I know it's hard for her, coz she never wants any Co-Worker to be in Trouble.  She likes all the people she works with and they all like her too and for a Young Person that is more important sometimes.  See, I don't Care, if you're a Problem, I'm THE Solution to remove the Problem and I make it my Mission Statement to.  I'm Nice to everyone on the way Up, coz you never know when you're gonna meet them on the way Down, but, I don't tolerate problematic Co-Workers well at all.  I'd say in fact I have a Zero Tolerance Policy I've always worked in my Favor.  I'm not there to Win Friends or even to Influence Enemies, I'm all Friended Up, so, any Co-Worker can choose instead to be an Ally, or an Adversary, their Choice, but Play the Game Wisely and Strategically I'd suggest.  Coz when I'm Coming for you, I AM COMING FOR YOU.

I've had folks ask me if I'd come out of Retirement and Work for them coz I'd be an Asset.   And I would, be an Asset, that is... but I told them I'd rather not.   Coz then they surely wouldn't LIKE me as much as they think they do now, as just a Favorite Sweet Old Customer or Situational Friend they met at their place of Employment or their Business. *Smiles*  My Professional Life and my Personal Life are quite Two different Dawns.  As it should be.  *Bwahahaha*  That said, my Employees in my 1st Corporate Life did Like me and after I Retired most kept in Touch with me.  I had Nine of them I was responsible for, while running Collections, Foreclosures, Bankruptcies and Trustee Sales Departments for Financial Institutions and their wholly Owned Subsidiaries. 

 Coz they knew I had their Backs, Shared the Wealth when I got Corporate Executive Bonuses {most don't and won't, even tho' their Employees make them look Good enuf to GET Executive Bonuses}, and made our Departments run well and take no shit or Shinola from Upper Management Types who could be Problematic.  I'd go Toe to Toe with my Superiors if they were unfairly judging my People or had expectations that were ridiculous or absurd.  I refused to kowtow to anyone, I didn't Care if you were the President of my Financial Institution or the Head District Attorney, if you asked my Opinion, you'd surely get it, unvarnished and not at all Sugar coated.  You'd get what you Needed to hear from me, not what you just Wanted to hear.  That can land like a Lead Balloon or make you Valued, depending on your Superiors.

And I was Good at what I did, I Fix Problems, if you want your fucking Problems Fixed by a Good Fixer, you don't get in their way or think you could do it better.  If you could do it better, by all means, fucking DO IT then, I'll step aside and see how that Works out for you.  *Winks*  I did that a couple times and they had to relent and woo me back as just a Consultant on MY Terms and I made it really, really expensive for them to, with Great Terms for myself.  You get what you Pay for or Who you have Handling your Business.  That's why this Administration is FUBAR, all Nepo or Bromance Hires who don't have Qualifications or Experience, don't know what the Fuck they're doing, are out of their League and didn't stay in their own Lanes, but are so arrogant and delusional they are convinced they're Legends in their own Minds.  Recipe for Disaster. *Eye Roll*

   I'm Hopeful that any Replacement Administration gets some excellent Fixers in to run damage control and cleanup effectively behind this Insane Clown Posse?  I wouldn't envy them the Task tho', he's dismantled and compromised so much now.   And daily it's just getting so much worse that I doubt we can remain a sustainable functional Nation for Three more Years of this, I really don't, he's gotta GO.  The sooner the better IMO, not replacing him with those just like him either.

  They ALL gotta go and be Prosecuted for all the Illegal Activities they've been deeply involved with and thinking they've gotten away with impunity.  None of them should be Above the Law, not a Single One all the way to the Top.  Our Corrupted Supreme Court needs to be overhauled as well, with those who were complicit in enabling Criminal Activities and taking their Bribes.   Anyway, Moving On, since, we just HAVE to, for now.

Amber just brought over some Red Beef Tamales, still Hot and Fresh.  So, I had one before leaving for The Daughter's Housecleaning Job.  It also made sure The Man was fed before I left, sometimes he won't eat for anyone else, but he likes Amber's Tamales so eagerly is eating one.  That will now sustain me until The Daughter gets off Working, coz I don't really have the Budget now for eating out while hanging out as she's Working.  I'm putting the Money into the Household Account that Princess T is giving me for my Christmas Pressy to cover Bills.  Some came in lower than last Month, the Eighty Degree Weather has helped lower Heating Costs for Winter so far and being Desert Rats we can take a Hotter House than a Colder one, so I didn't have to turn the Air Conditioner back on either.  That lowered the Utility Bill for December significantly.

Eventually I'd like to install Solar on this Property, the Industry is being regulated better now, but installation is expensive.  If I hadn't of had to replace all our Air Ducts for our HVAC Units since the 1980 Ductwork was like Swiss Cheese, I could have gotten Solar instead.  But, you have to Prioritize what Upgrades you make to a Historic or Vintage Home to Modernize and Replace what isn't optimally functional anymore or worn out from Time.  They still are built better than any Modern Structure by far and will last longer.   The Villa McManse, tho' a Million Plus Dollar Build when they built it, was built like shit IMO and probably why the Luxury Home Builder got Sued and went Chapter 11 and it went into Reorganization Proceedings.  Many of our Neighbors were involved in the Lawsuits against the Builder. Good Luck with that, I didn't bother, I just flipped the Home and Cashed out Quick Equity.

You only get Pennies on the Dollar once they go Bankrupt, not worth the effort and Legal Fees IMO.  For as much as they Charged, it should have been Primo Construction. Trend Homes, Inc. went into Bankruptcy in 2008, not long after they built that Luxury Home Subdivision we lived in, and had many Lawsuits over Construction defect Cases.  We only Paid $370,000 for ours when the Luxury Home Market Crashed, but the Original Buyers paid for more than a Million for those Homes.   And they were not only seriously upside down in Negative Equity, owing way more than they're worth now, but, had shoddy Construction Issues to Deal with and pending Lawsuits to try to get the Builder to make it Right.   I Loved the Style and how Grandiose that Home was, but my Historic Home and this Vintage Home are built so much better and would last many Years longer than that one will. 

LATER:  The Daughter's Housekeeping Job went well and her Client gave her a generous Gift Certificate to "Bath & Body Works" as a Christmas Gift, which was so Sweet of her.  So we stopped at a location on our way Home for her to get something on their Christmas Specials with it.  It was 80 Degrees again all day and magnificent Weather so I enjoyed my time spent hanging out in Downtown Chandler waiting for her to finish her Work.  

I visited Olde Town Chandler and Photographed their Tumbleweed Christmas Tree {See Below}.  Only in Arizona Desert will you find the tumbling Tumbleweeds and not as much as you used to nowadays.  I remember thinking Tumbleweeds were so Romantic in those Old Spaghetti Westerns, tumbling around, 'til you know the Reality of those things being prickly and a nuisance Weed!  *LOL*  And can cause Accidents if they blow across the Road in front of you.

Lots of Tourists were having their Photos taken in front of the Tumbleweed Tree, while basking in Eighty Degree Arizona Winter Weather.  *LOL*   I Love a Desert Winter, I really do.  The Son had given me some CBD Balm to rub into my Knee before we left and it really did help coz I was able to Walk with very little Pain, but with a definite gimp to my gait.  I Hope it doesn't take too long to Heal becoz it is excruciatingly Painful and I have a high threshold for Pain, but, this is Agonizing and makes me feel like that Leg could go out from under me when the Pain is too debilitating and the Knee feels like it's gonna do a Flamingo on me!!!   Your Knee feeling as tho' it might bend Backwards is a very Weird Strange Feeling that isn't pleasant at all and HURTS! 

This is some Old Food Porn I hadn't yet Shared, I've been late in downloading Images from my Old School Camera, so have an Avalanche of them once I do.   The "Merchant Square Antique Mall" was really busy, long lines at Checkout and "The American Way Market Restaurant" was busy too.  I had trouble eating Today for some reason, tho' the previous Stomach Bug is over, my Appetite hasn't really returned yet and I don't feel great after eating just a little.  But, I did have a very good time and their Mall had a Big Sale going on, they allow their Vendors to set their own Individual Discounts from 10%-70%, so it really draws a Crowd and Stimulates Trade better than our Mall's lame Sales attempts.

One of my Favorite Vendor Friends there had an Orphaned Vintage Bling Christmas Tree too on Sale, so I did get that for myself.   Since Princess T did tell me she didn't want me spending all MY Christmas Money she gave me for Bills, she wanted me to Buy at least One thing I wanted from her and now I can show her that I did. {See Below}   Also the Vendor that has the Vintage Fishing Lures that The Man always Buys and Collects from them, they had a Sale too, so I got him Seven of them from the Kids and I for Christmas, he won't be expecting that and they're some really nice ones.

Several people stopped by my Cart and told me how much they liked this Vintage Jewelry Tree, so I'm Surprised someone else hadn't Scored it before I did.   The only other thing I purchased were some tiny Ornament sized Bottlebrush Trees in about 7 different Colors and dipped in a Snow-Like Topper then sprinkled with tiny Cupcake Like Colorful Decoration Balls that are Foam.  {See Below, tho' One Pix of them on Display is Blurry, Sorry, nothing is Wrong with your Eyes.  LOL}  I got One of each Color the Vendor had coz they marked them down 50% Off and they were already Cheap before the Discount.  I Love Bottlebrush Trees to Decorate with and these were so Cute.

The only other little Ornament I got also On Sale was the Vintage Christmas Bulb Light Painted with a Snowman and Snowflake Design. {See Below}  I can get a Bagged Lot of these Bulbs at SAVERS and now will Buy some and do Art on them too to make them into Cute Ornaments with this one as the Inspiration.   I always Liked those Vintage Bulbs, they're so Colorful and I remember when our Christmas Trees growing up had those as the Light Strands on them, they used to get very Hot tho' and not as Safe as Modern Strand Lights.   The One I got has the Gold Top and is on top of the pile, I didn't like the ones she'd Painted the original Metal Top Red too... I liked it left the original Metal Color.   All of hers are Red, but the Bagged Lots at SAVERS are various Color Bulbs I can Paint with different Scenes with the Grandkids as an Art Project we can do Together.  They're both accomplished Artists.

I had a lot of Fun picking out inexpensive things that were all On Sale, it was some nice Pre-Christmas Last Minute Retail Therapy and enjoyable, without spending much at all.   It's crunch time for last Minute Gift Buyers and you could tell coz all the Stores were as busy as Hives of Bees.   I couldn't even get a Call thru to our Antique Mall so avoided going in, don't want them to ask me to Work when it's this busy and so close to Christmas, my Knee Problem would just potentially worsen being on it too long and walking too much.   Plus, I don't wanna Work, it's as uncomplicated as that, I wanna Relax and enjoy the Family and our Holidays uninterrupted now.

  Between "Sweet Salvage", "Ivy & Sage", "Merchant Square" and some other Shops I visited, I got 250 New Images for the Holiday Posts I haven't yet Created.  So, I don't hafta rehash any Images from previous Christmases at all.  *Smiles*  It is the last Outing before Christmas, so, I took full advantage of it with my Pathological Picture Taking for Blog Fodder.   You're Welcome.  *Winks*   I Love Photography and am that Weirdo that Photographs and finds Beauty in damned near everything around me that should be captured and memorialized thru the Eye of the Lens.  I like looking back at Decades worth of Photographs I've taken, of the Simplest of things and Moments, it evokes many great Memories. 

 

Especially of places and people who are no longer around.   If it weren't for the Pixs, most of the great Venues that used to be, wouldn't even be remembered hardly at all.   I still get Inspired from Images from Years and Years ago that were taken of something I really found Inspiring.  Remembering it all otherwise would be impossible.  Once we start Creating more Art again for Pleasure and to Sell, I have a multitude of Imagery to draw Inspiration from, both from the Past and the Present.  Often, something isn't being Created anymore and Customers are hungering for it or are seeing it for the 1st time if it's been absent for a long enuf time that it's New and Fresh to them.

Our Elderly Neighbors Sylvia and Tom, next door, brought over a large Gift for us Tonight.   I know they were thrilled with the Native American Vintage Gift Basket I filled with Gourmet Jams.  At their advanced Age they have everything they'd ever Need, so I find that Gifts of Culinary Treats are the best Received ones as indulgences they might not Buy for themselves.  I know when I'd send over Jars of Locally Sourced Honey from the Farms of Friends who are Beekeepers, Sylvia and Tom acted like I'd brought over Pure Gold!!!  *Smiles*  I know I personally prefer Gifts of Culinary Treats too during the Holidays especially.

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Much more to come... Happy Holidays from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian