Looting And Legacy Shopping ~ This Regime's Priorities

I am a ridiculous amount of Unpublished Posts ahead, but, what's One more?  *Winks*  Shortening them some and being more Editorial has been prolific coz I can knock a Shorter One out in short shrift.  *LOL*  Probably makes for easier Reading too, which, I'm sure is Helpful as well?  I Love to Blog, to Write, to take Pixs, so, it's something I Like to do every day and set some Time aside to do, when I can squeeze it in to a hectic Schedule.  And I Need to devote Time to it since it is Therapeutic and Cheaper than Therapy.  Brings me back to Center and restores my Calm.  *Winks*

The Son walked Home from Work early, but, he'd gone in real early, by 5:00 a.m., so he's Home when it's still early and still Morning, he Loves that Work Schedule.  His 40th Birthday is fast approaching on the 29th of June and he admit he's going thru a Midlife Crisis of epic proportions due to it.  It was obvious to the rest of us.  We wanna do something Special for his Birthday for him.  He said he'd like to do a nice Luncheon, so, that's what we'll do as a Family, his choice of Restaurant.  He has to Work that day, but, has a very Early Shift and will be off before Noon.   And he decided just Family is best, coz Invitations can either fall flat if nobody can attend, or get out of hand if too many attend.

I had to tell Gypsy James we can't take on the Bunny, he finally had it ready for us, much delayed, and it gave me ample time to then change my Mind about it.  I don't Need or want yet another Living Thing to be responsible for the Care or Expense of, pretty Tapped Out.  I have Bunny Food now but I think Birds can enjoy it instead.  Species like Grackles, Crow, Ravens and Blackbirds steal Dog Kibbles, so I'm thinking Rabbit Kibbles might just attract their Interest for consumption too?  We don't get Wild Rabbit or Hares this far into the City much, at least I haven't seen them setting up House here at the Mini Farm Community like a lot of the other Wildlife does.  Grassy areas within City Limits do get them, but we have a lot of Predatory Wildlife around here.

And speaking of Predators, this Prez, what people forget about him, is that all Predators Study their Prey in order to make a Kill successful.  All Conmen Study their Marks so they can successfully Play them, Victimize them, and the Con succeeds.  Looting and Legacy Shopping are, and have always been, this Regime's Priorities, enriching themselves, feeding his Ego.  He never really connected with his Base, coz he isn't one of them nor has he ever been, he has zero Point of Reference of the Average Person's experience in America.  He's enjoyed extreme Privilege and obscene Wealth his entire Life, he's never lived as you live, he's not one of you, nor will he ever be, so he's not betraying HIS Class.  

Billionaires never Earn their Money, Millionaires might, but once you get into the Billionaire Class, it's Exploitation Riches and taken from others, to further enrich themselves. And reliance on Elite Welfare to evade and avoid Taxation and be Subsidized.  It's hilarious to me the Elite made Socialism a Bad Word when they have benefitted from it the most.  LATER:  The MRI went well but was definitely the longest one I have ever had, without contrast lasted 45 Minutes, with contrast was shorter, but I was there over an Hour.  They had me holding my Breath a couple times so long I thought they forgot to ask me to Exhale!  *LOL*  The Female Techs were very nice tho', the Location was a new SimonMed I'd never been to but is close to Home, so I could get there in less than 5 Minutes from our House.  I picked up Mongolian Beef, Steamed Rice, Eggroll Luncheon from "Dragon Garden" for afterwards and halved it with The Daughter.

She's been working tirelessly on her Son's Living Space, done Six Loads of his Laundry, it's looking better, you can now see almost all of the Floor in the Art Studio Space he Occupies.  While he's in New Mexico until the 4th of July we wanna get as much done as we can.  We've Moved one of my Antique Mannequin Dress Forms out and into our Bedroom, it's Pictured and wearing my New Purchase I got myself as an early Birthday Pressy.  The Seller gave me a very Deep Discount on it and it's an early "Magnolia Pearl" Bag, LOVE it, looked even better than the Listing, the Dress Form looks lovely Modeling it to Display it and 'her'.  I had to contact the Seller coz a couple more Rhinestones had fallen out during Shipment and weren't in the Packaging, so, I Hope she might find them and send them to me to Restore the Two larger missing Stones to the Vintage Jewelry Clasp.  On the Listing she'd clearly states 3 small Stone Chips missing, but the Two larger missing Stones were there before my Purchase.

This is the only Existing Pix I think we ever had taken together as a Family, by a Neighbor Friend with their Brownie Camera in the 1960's, when we lived at K.I. Sawyer AFB in Upper Michigan.  This was after Dad returned Home from Vietnam and before he got Stationed in Great Britain.  After Vietnam Service you usually got your Base of Choice, even if before you were getting shitty Assignments and Tours of Duty, which, many G.I.'s of Color always seemed to get in those days.   Dad put in for Great Britain so Mom could be closer to her Home in North Wales.  All American Bases there were now in England, the American Bases in North Wales Closed in the early 1950's. 

 But, by the early 1970's we got a Four Year Tour of Duty there, Stationed at Mildenhall AFB, I went to High School at Lakenheath AFB American High School.  And both my Brother and I went to Jr. High School at Feltwell, AFB in England.  You got Bused to School if you lived close enuf.  If not, at other American Bases in England further away, you had to stay in the Dorms at Lakenheath AFB during the Week, go Home only on Weekends and Holidays.   It bothers me a lot that the Voter Suppression of this Regime is now Targeting Mail In Voting.  Not only for Stateside Voters to make Voting Accessible to all, but ALL American Servicemen, Servicewomen, and their Families rely exclusively on Mail In Voting while Serving their Country Abroad!  Trying to deny them their Voice and Right to Vote when they are Actively Serving our Country Overseas and often in Harm's Way, in Theaters of War, is a travesty.  You Invest in a Candidate now and you have Equity, you Own a Piece of them.  You have a tremendous Rate of Return on a Short Term Investment by Buying your Political Candidate.

I think I told you that a few days ago I got 12 Fiesta Ware Coffee Mugs in 12 different Colors at SAVERS and got my Discount.  Well, Today they had 4 Cereal Bowls in 4 Colors.  And 12 Plates in Two Sizes in 8 different Colors of Fiesta Ware.  I'm keeping the Cereal Bowls and Mugs, but Selling all the Plates at our Showroom.   Today was Customer Appreciation Day {every Thursday}, so I got a Discount on the already low Prices on all of it, Booyah!!!  Someone must have gotten rid of their whole Collection of Fiesta Ware to have so much of it there in just the last couple of days hitting the Sales Floor.  Color me Happy, Fiesta Ware remains very Popular, ever since the 1930's, and is an easy Sell, I've Sold a LOT of it over the Years at our Antique Mall.   I also got a Tarot Deck, they often get brand New Old Stock of various Tarot Decks.  I Collect those and if I get duplicates I easily Sell them to my Demographic of Customer.

I also got a Bagged Lot of New Old Stock of Essential Oils really Cheap.  And I got a Vintage Green Uranium Glass Juicer, a bit disappointed that the Store had Taped the Edges so that it disguised the chips on the rim of it.  But, I only paid $8... I just can't resell it in that Condition, I never Sell Merch that has damage to it, so I'll Keep it.  I like Uranium Glass, I've Sold most of what I Collected of it tho', so only have a scant few pieces left.  And that's Okay, I never use it, just Display it with my Jadeite Collection, coz the Green Uranium Glass looks good with it.  I Sold all of my Yellow Uranium Glass, wasn't as keen on it, but it has it's Fans who Collect that Color of it.  Displaying it under Black Light is Fun, Kids Love it, so when mine were Small I Displayed it that way and they'd show their Friends that it Glowed.  It emits negligible Radiation... but you shouldn't eat or drink from it really... coz Acidic Foods can cause it to leach and chipped pieces can cause ingestion hazards.  This Juicer will be merely for Display Purposes.

The Daughter, as Luck would have it, had a Bag of various Vintage Rhinestones and we set about Restoring that Clasp some, with the bigger missing ones, didn't bother with the Chips, happy with our results.  The Seller had good communication and looked, but couldn't find them, I looked everywhere too meticulously thru the packaging materials, she'd really packaged it well and beautifully.  Only found One, not Two... and The Daughter found an exact match and then added Two more on the top one to make it blingier.  Robin's Bags used Vintage and often imperfect Materials so it wasn't a Big Deal really and I knew we could either find some replacement Stones or just leave it "As Is".  

The Antique Dress Form I moved from the Art Studio into our Room I set about making look the way I wanted her to Display.  The Young Prince had put a lot of shit on her and I was worried he'd make her into some Art Project, and she's Valuable and I'd saved up a long time to Buy her.  So... I'm glad we Rescued her.  *Winks*  We have one more to Rescue out of there.  But we're Tired and have a few more Days before he returns.  He should be Happy to have more room for his own stuff.  Plus, my stuff needs to be relocated that I want to enjoy, I can't do that in someone else's Space coz I give them their Privacy when Occupying that Space, even tho' it's our Home.  I want him to be able to Decorate and Style it more to suit his Aesthetic and make him Happy living in there.

 

It's stayed above 110 all Day so I haven't ventured out except to make my Appointment for the Medical Test, it was close by so not a long commute.    I'm low on Gas and low on Funds until I get my Check from the Antique Mall Tomorrow, this close to EOM we're at the Wire Financially anymore.  At least I'm getting a decent Check from the Antique Mall for last Pay Period, that's really Helpful.  *Whew*  It used to be discretionary Income from a Hobby and Downsizing our stuff, but now it literally helps pay for Essentials and Bills.  And I think even for most Working Americans now the Underemployment is more of a problem that Unemployment ever was or is, Chris Cuomo did his Take on it Today, he had my Guy Andrew Yang on, I was part of the Yang Gang during the Election and established the Forward Party, since he's an Anti-Partisan as me and Chris Cuomo are.  I wanted Andrew for President actually, but knew America would never be ready for an Asian Prez any more than they are ready for a Female Prez or another Prez of Color.  That's just how superficial we really are as a Nation in picking and Electing Leaders.

But any Geriatric Old Straight White Man, we seem stuck in that rut Politically.  We shouldn't have Geriatrics in Cognitive Decline making any important decisions, even for themselves, let alone a whole Nation and serious Global matters!!!  When Voters would rather have a Sociopath Dementia addled 80 Year Old Racist and Career Criminal Leading them, while shitting his Diapers and falling Asleep, not always looking or talking like he even knows where he is or why he's there, and is totally out of Touch with Reality... we really need to recalibrate!!!  It's not Normal.  I do, however, get that too many Americans are SO fed up with the Status Quo and System that is Broken for them, that they want it all destroyed, burnt to the grown, rebuilt in some way they HOPE will finally Work for THEM and not just the select few.  They do feel left behind, ignored, not Cared about, becoz, they have been and it ain't gotten any better for them regardless of which Major Party was in Power.  So, they're Angry and Malcontent enuf to go Off Rails and Support whatever Political Theater gives them the Illusion of to get their Votes. 

 

The Rising of the Democratic Socialist Movement and "Party" has me very conflicted, becoz, is it the Far Left's version of MAGA really, being Sold to the Public?   I mean, MAGA was NEVER about being Conservative and corrupted that Party completely.  I just don't know for sure they're not just another version for the other side?  I don't know that using the Word "Socialist" will fly in every part of the Country as a Label embraced in America either.   I mean, if you were to go to a Deep Red State and ask them if they want more affordable Healthcare and Cheaper Prescriptions they will undoubtedly tell you YES we do.  But if you approached them with Socialized Medicine or Medicare for all, they'd shut you down immediately.  

 

Even if for their own Benefit Socializing anything would Work, they've been conditioned and programmed to think it's The Devil.  Even tho' we've Socialized a LOT for the very Wealthy and for a very long time in America, the Wealthy have convinced the Poor and Middle Class that Socialism equally distributed to their Classes would be disastrous.  Why?  Coz the Elite make a LOT of Money and Profits off what you're Paying too much for and they Own all of it, or are big Shareholders and Investors in all of it.  But, anyway, I've got my Eye closely on the Contestants of this New Movement to Observe what they're doing, and in what Spirit they're doing it?  How effective will they be in improving the Problems that exist and offering viable solutions?  And, also, who they are attracting and how that Base will ultimately Behave?   As an Anti-Partisan Moderate Independent I don't get On Board any side's Crazy Trains.  I don't Buy the Ticket to become one who, since I bought that Ticket, now I'm on for the Whole Ride, even if it veers Off Rails.

I've certainly made my fair share of Mistakes in Life and sometimes Trusted or gotten involved with the Wrong People.   We all can be fooled once, just don't get fooled twice by the same Actor.  But, I've belonged to the Streets long enuf not to be an Easy Mark either for the Predators in Life, or not recognize an obvious Devil when I see one.   Eventually, no matter how smooth that Devil may be, and how alluring and Charming, out of the abundance of the Heart the Mouth will always end up Speaking.  And Actions will always follow that reveal the True Nature of said Beast, no matter how carefully they initially cloaked themselves to appear and give the appearance of not being what they are and what they're after really.   I tend to be a Revolutionary, an Activist, and quite Militant in my ways, seems I've always been Fighting The Establishment, coz I don't think The Establishment has ever actually caused much to be improved for the Ordinary Person or for the most Vulnerable of our Society.  

Promises Made are rarely Kept.  It's always The Bait tho' in Politics.  Vote for me and I'll set you Free... {Insert ALL the Lyrics of The Temptations "Ball Of Confusion" 1970 coz it STILL applies in 2026!}   You'd think it had been a Revolutionary Song Written for Today, becoz NOTHING has Changed.  

People movin' out, people movin' in
Why? Because of the color of their skin
Run, run, run, but you sure can't hide
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
Vote for me and I'll set you free
Rap on, brother, rap on
Well, the only person talkin' 'bout "Love thy brother"
Is the preacher
And it seems nobody's interested in learnin'
But the teacher

Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration

Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation

Ball of confusion

Oh, yeah

That's what the world is today

Woo, hey, hey

The sale of pills are at an all-time high
Young folks walkin' 'round with their heads in the sky
Cities aflame in the summertime
And oh, the beat goes on

Evolution, revolution, gun control, the sound of soul

Shooting rockets to the moon, kids growin' up too soon

Politicians say more taxes will solve everything

And the band played on

So 'round and around and around we go

Where the world's headed, said, nobody knows

Oh, Great GoogaMooga

Can't you hear me talking to you?

Just a ball of confusion

Oh yeah, that's what the world is today

Woo, hey, hey

Fear in the air, tension everywhere

Unemployment rising fast

The Beatles' new record's a gas

And the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation

And the band played on

Eve of destruction, tax deduction

City inspectors, bill collectors

Mod clothes in demand, population out of hand

Suicide, too many bills

Hippies moving to the hills

People all over the world are shouting, "End the war"

And the band played on

Okay, so how much of it WASN'T just as relevant and the same coz our Politics on either side have never done a damned thing differently to Change any of it?  Asking for a Friend...    And so I can certainly see why some of the most disenchanted and aggrieved are primed and groomed for the pickin' by Politicians who use Grievance Politics and Culture Wars as their Platform.  The Red Meat.  And see them as being Marks, easily Baited, easily manipulated and weaponized for their unscrupulous Causes.  If they make it look and appear shiny and attractive enuf, folks can and often will fall for it every single time, coz desperate people do desperate things.   And if they feel like nothing has ever gotten better for them, or is working out, or they're losing ground or being "replaced" and offered a Scapegoat "imminent Threat", then they feel they have nothing to lose and may even Believe they're righteous and even being Patriotic.  

Psychology is a fascinating Scientific Study of Human Behaviors and the Mind.  We're actually pretty predictable Creatures as a Collective, which is why all the Old Fascism and Authoritarian Playbooks tend to Work on the Populations who Buy into it... at first... and then...  Buyer's Remorse sets in.   And some will be too Proud, too Radicalized or Brainwashed to admit they were Played and mebbe they even want what Chaos and Hardship ensues.  Its perhaps more important for them to feel like they're Sticking It to those they despise or feel Superior to, even if it's Sticking It to themselves as well in the Process.   Dividing the Citizenry is the easiest way to conquer all of them.  And to keep them so busy fighting amongst themselves that they're not paying attention to the Looting and Legacy Shopping the Regime is doing, rather than Representing any of them or looking out for the best Interests of the Country and it's Citizenry.  Distractions abound to keep your Attention off of what you should be paying Attention to, the sleight of Hand of a Successful Con Artist.

I did hit the Gym this Friday Morning, it was super busy even early, which was odd.  But I didn't have to wait on any equipment I use coz it was mostly Young Members and not Seniors, most of who have their Membership Paid by Medicare Programs and have those Restriction Hours imposed.  There were a lot of Young Moms with small Children, so, assuming they don't Work and keep their Girlish Figures by spending a lot of time at the Gym?   They have a Day Care for Children under 12 and do a lot of Healthy Activities for the Kids.  I know when The G-Kid Force were under 12 and we had a Membership coz we were still Working, they Loved the Day Care and Activities designed for their Age Group to Exercise and Learn to Eat Healthier.  I also stopped by the Antique Mall to put in all that Fiesta Ware, and arrange a large Fiesta Ware Vignette in the Showroom now.   It looks good, I did Photograph it... Pixs to come...

 I visited with my Vendor Friend Deb briefly, she's recovering from Hand and Arm Surgery... but has to help out her 93 Year Old Mother still.   Her Mom is in a very expensive Nursing Home but they hadn't done her Laundry in over a Month!!!  Deb said when they do her Mom's Laundry they charge her $50 a Load, which is Extortion and taking Advantage of the Elderly, so Deb said she just took all Six Loads Home and did them, so her Arm and Hand were killing her, she shouldn't have even been lifting anything as heavy as a load of Laundry, but her Mom had no Clean Clothing to wear and had been washing her Undies out in a Sink!!!   In an expensive Nursing Home Deb said her Mom is paying for better Treatment than she's receiving.  Her Mom is a Retired Executive and chose her own Facility, it is an Upscale one, so you can only imagine the level of Neglect at ones Medicaid or Medicare Recipients are getting!!!

*******

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

Subject To Change Without Notice

 So, to expand my Closet Space and get my Wardrobe out of the Art Studio where some was on a Rack and now The Young Prince needs the Space he's occupying in there, we moved the Rack of T-Shirts to our Room behind me here at the Computer.  It works well coz it's by the Closet side I use AND better yet, obstructs The Man's view of me here when he's sitting in his Media Chair watching TV or just boring into the Back of my Head and incessantly asking me about what he's seeing on my Screen!  *LOL and Winks*  Two problems now Solved, mebbe Three... expanded Closet Space handily accessible now, Space Created for the Grandson, Privacy when I'm Blogging and no interruptions from his Interest, Nosiness or Boredom.  *LOL*   Love me some Problem Solving and Solutions!

I also moved another Rack of T-Shirts of mine, I have more than any Sane Woman should own of Casual Wardrobe, into the RV Garage Mahal from the Art Studio.  We're slowly emptying out my possessions from what is going to clearly be the permanent residence of The Young Prince here.  Forget about Art, or a Studio, or an Office Space, which The Son displaced that Space when he moved back Home.  It was a Guest Bedroom but since we rarely had overnight Guests it was initially to be my Office Space and where my most Cherished Collectibles resided that require Climate Controlled Space to be Displayed.  Well, the Collectibles remain, coz The Son doesn't Care how the Room is Styled/Decorated, but, he's not moving out anytime soon either so I rarely go in there to enjoy my Collections.  But, he never disturbs my stuff, he's Respectful of what's mine and how I like it being in our Home.

Now... the other one... The Young Prince, he gets into your stuff and it might end up in some bizarre Art Project completely altered without your Permission, so I have to keep an Eye on him closely.  He'll make anything and everything into Art... and if it had Value as a Collectible, now it doesn't.  He wanted to Inherit some very expensive Art Pieces from a well known Artist, I thought he appreciated it from that Artist's perspective coz he seemed so infatuated with the Design.  I told him of the considerable Value, it's Metal and like Pottery Pieces, several Urns and Pitchers and such with Aztec Design by a Mid-Century Artist and rather Rare.  Well, I gave it to him, so he didn't have to wait for an Inheritance of it.  He fucking Painted over it!!!  I almost had a Stroke, now it's Rainbow Colors and probably has Zero Value now!  Arghhhh!  But, it's his, I did give it to him, and... whaddya gonna do if someone alters their own stuff you gave to them or destroys it? 

Sharing Space and finding Placement for everyone's stuff when they moved back has been the bane of my existence at the last Three Properties we've owned.  At the Historic Property the converted Carriage House was the Art Studio Cottage, for a Minute, then Housed various Family or Friends displaced or unable to afford Rents elsewhere, thus displacing me from where I Created Art.   That's back when I actually had the Time and inclination to be deeply immersed in my Art, which I miss, but, there's no way in Hell I can find the Time or place to do it now.  I did Dream of getting back to it, but I also Dream of going to Bora-Bora and crossing that off my Bucket List too, just sayin'.  It has remained No. 1 on said List now for Decades after alleged Retirement from One Corporate Life, then Another, then Full Time unpaid Caregiving completely derailed the possibility! *Le Sigh*

I have stayed mostly Retired now tho', can't even accept most Shifts at the Antique Mall anymore, with The Man's declining Health, and now my own Health Issues looming larger than Life.  So, have had to adjust, adapt, improvise, Move On.  Adaptations are something I'm fairly good at on The Fly, Improvisation as well, I can usually do on the turn of a Dime, it's the Adjustment part that takes me Time.   Adjusting is hard, I like things to remain the same if I like how they are, so Change, especially Changes I do not like or didn't want, well, that becomes a Process.  In recent Years it seems it's a perpetual Process so I can't get used to anything, becoz it's subject to Change without Notice.  All of it, all of the time, Change is the only Constant now.  I am not yet very good at getting Used To that either.  It's all like shifting Sand beneath my Feet... so I can't steady myself as it all shifts beneath me constantly and keeps me Off Balance.

I have tried to catch up on Blog Visits, tho' I'm excelling right now in Blog Posts piling up Unpublished, but Blog Reads have fallen way behind.  And I'm trying to engage and Comment more, sometimes I even Succeed at doing that and not just being a Lurker.  I confess to doing a lot of Lurking tho' and not engaging most of the time.  *Winks*  Becoz our Weather has already been screwy we're having an Ant Problem and some of the Winged Mature Breeding ones, Outside, but Princess T said Rusty and his Family ended up with them Inside, so I'm trying to prevent that migration from happening and eradicate them on the Exterior.  We have our Exterminator on a Retainer for Termite Control, but no longer have them on Retainer for Insect Control otherwise coz it was getting too expensive once they merged with a larger company that increased rates.  I prefer to have Pest Control on Retainer and always had in the Past several Properties.

Anyway, with everything increasing in price, with Inflation rampant and an Administration making it way worse due to a Prez saying he Loves the Inflation and thinks Affordability is a Fake Word, I don't have any Solutions and don't see any Solutions being implemented to the Economic disaster we're quickly becoming as a Nation.  He wouldn't even Sign the Bipartisan Bill to reduce Housing Costs!!!  Trying instead to Extort the Signing of it to what he wants to push thru and has Zero Support.  With his Fixation of the "Save America Act" becoz he wants to rig Voting and pretend everyone else did it, while he's the only one doing it.  Which there's no proof or evidence of mass Voter Fraud elsewhere, no matter how often they took it to Court or Hired their Auditors to Find what wasn't there.  The Cyber Ninjas they sent here to Arizona found NOTHING... yet they've Seized our Voter Records anyway in Maricopa County, I don't Trust what they're doing with that Sensitive Information.

These Data Centers I'm sure are for Governmental Spying on the Citizenry, a Big Brother Is Watching... Dystopian 1984 Orwellian Scenario for Reals.  And I mean that, I don't think any of it is for the Good of the American Population at all and the Citizenry is Right to resist it strongly already, for a whole lot of serious Environmental Reasons and the Destruction of a Free and Open Society.  Oppressive Government Control, mass Surveillance, Propaganda, re-writing of Truth and Historical Revisionism, taking away of Freedoms and Rights, Indoctrination and Radicalization, the use of Disinformation and State Controlled Narratives, Suppression of Individual and Critical Thought, Double-Speak and other Authoritarian leanings, it's all in the works openly now, so even the Deniers will have a very difficult time pretending it's not happening.  The Playbook is a very Old one.

And Honest Abe was absolutely Right, we Americans will lose our Freedoms and destroy ourselves becoz of us, not becoz of any External threats or Enemies.   Almost all once great Civilizations fell from Within rather than from External forces.  And generally they never recovered from that either.  Look at and Learn from the Bad History that befell the Roman Empire {due to Political Corruption & Economic Crisis mostly}, Genghis Khan's Mongol Empire {the Greatest ever, fragmented into smaller Warring factions}, Egypt's Empire {Internal Political Strife & Economic Failure, depletion and lack of Natural Resources}, the Ottoman Empire {collapsed after WWI}.  Many other Empires have weakened, like the British Empire ... or disappeared altogether like the Aztec Empire.   America is crumbling and will Fall too if we don't turn things around and quickly, resisting the Internal Forces that would destroy it and will if left unchecked and not fought against to Preserve our Democracy and devolve further into Fascism and Authoritarian Rule by current Leadership.  If we want to be able to Celebrate a 251st Birthday, we Need take Action now.

*******

Activism for a Just Cause is nothing to apologize for... Dawn... The Bohemian

It Looked Like Hoarders... Extreme Edition

 

The Son's Lifelong Friend Bridgette was in Town again, so they went out.  They've known each other since Childhood and we've always liked her, but Bridgette is Bridgette, and a little bit of that can go a long way, especially in Public.  She can be very "Hood", and Looks can be deceiving, she can Fight like a Man and easily gets into confrontations.  It tends to never end well tho' with those Two if they go to a Bar, coz she is feisty and a big flirt, always has been, and then he feels protective of her.  So, that usually ends up with him in a confrontation with someone who got out of line with her, it happens with going out with his Sister too, Bee and The Daughter are Wild, so he gets upset with them, but also Protective of them both.  The Daughter and Bee have gotten them kicked out of more than one Establishment.  *Winks*   Which of coarse is embarrassing to him, he can't Control them.  This time tho' The Daughter was with her Friend Stephen, but she knew her Brother and Bee had gone out and knew it probably would not End Well on account of Bee being Bee.  *Eye Roll*

 And so it was, so he came Home rather Psychotic and enraged, coz Bridgette had clearly done a Bridgette again at some Bar they had gone to... I'm thinking some Guy was involved.  Probably someone neither of them knew...   She's a Beautiful Woman and so she does attract a lot of Attention, she likes the Attention,  seeks the  Attention... most people do.   But sometimes then she dislikes it at some point and that's when shit tends to go Sideways and Left.  Not all flirting is Serious and most of it is harmless and in Fun, but Men often take it as being Serious and Imagine real Interest, that sometimes is not there to pursue, let us just say.  And everyone is having a Good Time, until they're NOT!  And so it always seems to go with Bee and The Son...   And, I don't know if they got kicked out of where ever they were this time if she got out of Control... or some Random did... I don't think he got into any actual Fight there... which is Good News... BUT... she dropped him off... AND... it got very Interesting then and woke me, and everyone else, from a Sound Sleep... coz...

He came Home "Fighting" and arguing loudly and angrily... with himself by then!    Not unusual for someone in a full blown Psychotic Episode, you would have thought several People were in a Room fighting amongst themselves... we all did!!!  I checked to make sure there wasn't anyone he was ACTUALLY fighting with, that I'd have to break up.  But... it was just him tho' in a Room alone, and all the Voices in his Head... ginned up by Bridgette's behavior that had gone sideways and then he wasn't having a Good Time anymore.  And he was really Mad.  It's Predictable, she's always gonna be her, he's always gonna be him.  The Gal knows she has her Problems, I Adore her and we've talked candidly of her consistent troubling Behaviors.  She's got a relatively Young Mom with Brain Damage she's Caregiver of... and she's been a Young Single Parent to her only Son, whose now an Older Teenager and becoming a handful for a Single Mom to manage as he's quickly becoming a Man.  And her Romantic Relationships have always been turbulent... and poor judgment... so, she's stayed Single.  The Girl has a full Dance Card... and not always Playing with a Full Deck either.

Anyway, The Son woke everyone up, his Sister tried to Calm him Down before he woke everyone up fighting with himself, or risked getting Kicked Out if I Snapped... but all of us in his Imagination were in this "Fight" he was having ... we all were in his Head apparently.  *LOL*  So, she recognizes Full On Crazy when confronted with it, anything he was upset about with anyone, was being Played out in a One Man Show.  So, The Daughter Exited Stage Left so as to not be Triggered and Escalate it.  Wise Move.  Princess T just turned "Sponge Bob Square Pants" up louder to drown out the Psychotic Theatrics going on.  She, as well as the rest of us, know when to just leave him alone and let him Work it Out Mentally.  Eventually he gets exhausted.  The next Morning The Daughter and I sat and talked it out with him, he didn't remember having the Psychotic Break, usually they don't, not unusual. 

 I just told him that if something is Triggering, perhaps Opt Out and don't engage in being Invited if you know things might go South.  He Adores his Friend, but he also knows how she is and it frustrates him.  He can't protect her from herself, it might seem Noble to try, but it's futile and causes unnecessary Issues for him.   And she and him, tho' extremely close, have had their Love-Hate Issues with each other, she once broke The Son's Nose!  But then again, when she heard Gypsy James, also a Lifelong Friend of them both, and a Fighter by Nature, had provoked a Fight with The Son, she went over and broke his expensive Sunglasses right on his Face, giving him a Black Eye!   She's not one to trifle with and of coarse the other Friends had video recorded the now infamous Fight between The Son and Gypsy James that lasted so long their Video storage ran out on their Phones!!!  It was a stalemate, The Son has avoided being provoked by his Friend for Decades, coz Gypsy James always wanted a Match, to see who might Win.  The Male Ego and sense of Machisimo knows no bounds, does it?  Couple that with Crazy... and... well... shit happens... *Eye Roll*

He knows The Son has never started a Fight, but has always Ended one with a flourish when provoked enuf to be forced into Fighting.  It was like a Scene in Fight Club from what The Daughter remembers of it, and she was the reason it started actually.  She's gotten Crazy, at Gypsy James House, she wouldn't leave voluntarily once on The Crazy Train, so he tried to Make her leave.  Ruh Roh!  Wrong Move.  She didn't have a chance to start laying Hands on Gypsy James, her Brother came at him like a Rouge Elephant.  James got the Fight he'd always wanted... or thought he did anyway.  He knew The Son was Holding Back and not putting his Heart into the Fight, but it lasted over an Hour and a Half according to bystanders... 'til James just couldn't Fight anymore and gave up and Tapped Out.  Coz The Son will keep going even if he doesn't wanna truly Hurt you, and could, he won't Stop either.  I'm like that, which is why folks will hesitate to provoke me to the point I would Need to React.  The Son is the same way, he's Protective of those he Cares about and Loves, but he'd rather walk away if possible... it's not always possible... especially in some Bar and if Drink has been involved... which, in a Bar... Duh!!! 

But anyway, nobody got Hurt last Night and The Daughter said she was Proud of her Brother for Walking Away and just re-enacting Fights in his Head instead of laying Hands on anyone.   Tho' it made Sleep challenging for everyone coz he was having Loud Fights in his Head.  Finally I did have to tell him to Tone it Down and Calm Down... and he did... he was fairly spent Emotionally, Mentally by then anyway, so... by Morning it was as if nothing had ever happened.    He made everyone Breakfast coz it's his Day Off and all was Right with his World now.  *Whew*  So... I'm glad we just let him Work thru it without running interference.  And so off to Cardiac Rehab Orientation we went, I had to sit thru it with The Man and not just drop him off coz he got really Anxious, Confused, and it was a lot to Process, even for me actually.  He's Scheduled for around 35 Visits Twice Weekly that have been Approved. 

 We had Questionairres for me to fill out for him, he couldn't have waded thru all that paperwork or answered it Truthfully either.  *Winks*  Sometimes he just tells them what he thinks they want to Hear, and that's not Helpful.   Chris, the Female who was Assigned to him has a Wicked Sense of Humor, so that was very Helpful to put him at ease.   The Room on the 5th Floor is set up nice and they only have 7 at a time having Sessions on Rotations pretty much all Day for Four Days a Week and on Fridays only in the Mornings.  We picked Monday and Wednesday 9:30 a.m. Schedule for the most part, with a few adjustments.  It consumes the Calendar which meant I had to cancel my Dental Appointment, it's just a Cleaning but was on one of his Cardiac Rehab Days they could only get him in on this 1st Week, and I didn't wanna try to Re-Schedule it, easier to Cancel my Dental Cleaning.  I can Re-Schedule that when things Calm Down.

I popped in quick to the Antique Mall, or, so I thought, our Showroom was wrecked, we'd clearly had the Ferals in.  Shirts all over the Floor, broken Hangars, even a Screw pulled out of the Wall that a Shirt is Displayed on!!!  WTF?!  But, Sales were off the Chain Strong so I had finished off last Pay Period SUPER STRONG and will get a nice Check.  This Pay Period also began SUPER STRONG with Expensive Merch moving.  Pretty sure it's Soccer Fans and International Pickers, so it could be a Strong Summer in Sales, Hallelujah!!!  So, I was pleased with my Sales, had to do a lot of Work on the Room and had The Man in the Truck with the AC on, he's in no condition to be dragged around anywhere right now and just the Orientation had him pretty spent, me too actually, it was over an Hour long.  I brought in some Fresh Merch and will do more work in the Showroom and Locked Case another day.

Talked briefly with my Co-Worker Friend Deb, who just had Arm Surgery on her Right Hand/Arm, she's Right Handed and had to return to Work before her Doc really wanted her to.   She's a Senior and Divorcee so her Social Security doesn't cover expenses and she's one who will have to continue Working to make the Ends kinda meet.  I enjoy Deb a lot, she's a good Friend, her Hand/Arm is Healing well but she had it all rebuilt and a lot of Hardware put in, she said it was a real mess.  She'd had both Knees done last Year, I told her she's gonna be practically Bionic before she's done!!!  She also has an Adult Daughter living with her coz her Adult Kiddo can't afford Rents around here either and Deb has Owned her Home since before her Divorce many Moons ago.  The Ex let her Buy out his Share and when she still had a good Corporate Job and the Money, she did that.  But, like most Corporations, hers had a lot of incantations and Senior Employees were let go without the Golden Parachute as they "restructured" and Cost Cut by Laying Off long time Workers, Older Workers, and those with higher Salaries.  Capitalism doesn't really trickle down Economically, that's a Myth.

So, The Daughter deep cleaned my whole Kitchen so it looks good and smells nice.  She's now doing all of The Young Prince's Laundry while he's gone.  So, we Hope to see his Floor again soon.  *Le Sigh and Eye Roll*  I don't know that he's done Laundry in Weeks, we didn't even know what was Clean or Dirty so she's just washing it all.  A lot of Hangars were broken coz they were on the Floor and got stepped on in the piles/Hoard of possessions of his on the Floor.  She's trying to Clean and make some Order of his Space, he wants to do it but doesn't seem to have the Capacity to do it on his own.  She can Clean well, it's her Super Power when she's lucid, but, she too can end up with a Living Space similar to his so I do Welfare Checks on the 5th Wheel Interior Condition often.  If it gets bad then I Help her too, coz clearly she's struggling.  Other times it's spotless... so... either looks like a scene from Hoarders or is Immaculate. 

 With him, it always looks like a scene from Hoarders, Extreme Edition.   I did inform the Social Security folks that on the Paperwork I filled out for him.  Keeping his Space Safe and Sanitary is a Full Time Job coz he can't.  And I think they should Assign him someone to Professionally Organize and do some Housekeeping for him, should he Qualify for some Services In-House.   He requires much more Care and Services than I can possibly provide, but, I don't mind giving him a place to Live and looking out for his Well Being, it's the least we can do tho', he Needs much more than that.   And Social Services is gonna hafta step up and meet him at his Point of Need in at least some vital areas that are Essential to be Safe and Sanitary Enough for a Humane Existence.  We Treat Domestic Animals better in America than we Treat the Seriously Mentally Ill Human Beings in our Country, it's disgraceful and Inhumane really.

The Son and I had to tell Gypsy James we can't take the Bunny he'd Promised us.  I just can't take on a precious Animal's Care right now and tho' The Young Prince wanted one, if he's spending most of the Summer out of State, he wouldn't even be here to Care for it anyway.  So, no Bunny.  Princess T had already said it would be a Mistake to get it, she often regrets pushing to have another Cat, I resisted for a whole Year after her Old Cat, Miss Priss, Died... but when Anthony's Aunt was allergic to Eli as a Stray Kitten they Adopted, we were the Suckers who agreed to take him in coz they couldn't find anyone else who would take on a Kitten not considered "Pet Material".  Pretty sure he'd been Born to either a Feral or Stray, coz he wasn't Socialized at all and still isn't what you'd call a Pet Quality Feline.  If he didn't have us he would likely be considered Unadoptable too.  *Winks... just like The G-Kid Force were.*

We've done Four Loads of Laundry already of The Young Prince, The Daughter said you can see some of the Floor now in there.  She's done most of the Work, I've helped her fold once it's out of the Dryer.  We're putting all Clean Laundry in Banana Boxes we're stacking up in my Room for right now, but once his is tidied, we'll just put in there and try to empty any Bureau's in there so he has a way to Organize them to use.  But he has to keep up on his Laundry better and not just put Dirty things on the Floor... or just all things on the Floor, we don't know what's Clean, or Dirty, no way of knowing when it's just down there in a big non ending pile that just gets higher and deeper if we don't address it.  He usually looks well dressed, so you wouldn't necessarily know by looking at him, how he lets his Environment go to Hell and spiral into total Chaos.  I'm prone to Clutter, so I understand to some extent that with limited Space finding Placement is sometimes challenging.  He moved in, we could only prepare a Private Space for him so much on short notice where he'd be displacing a Room occupied by someone else.

Well, even tho' I'd told our Manager earlier in the Week I couldn't Work the Two Shifts for this Week he offered, the Asst. Manager called me Tonight to ask if I'd fill in on a sudden Wednesday Night vacancy?  I had to decline, for all the same reasons, Health related Issues not resolved yet.  I'm just not pushing myself when the Calendar is so full and my own Health right now so Questionable.  Once I know what's Wrong then I can assess better what I should, or should not, be doing, and Why.  For now I know I lack the Energy, Stamina and Bandwidth to do very much of what is required of me just right here at Home.  So anything "Extra" is really just out of the Question even tho' the Comped Space Rent would come in handy and glean some extra Income kept from Sales and less for Overhead taken out of profits.  Whatever... se la vie.

As for Such Is Life, Princess T hit me with some Truth that I kinda knew was coming.   She hadn't wanted to say it and risk upsetting me, but felt she should say it and see how I responded.  She seemed relieved that I already got the Vibe anyway, which is why I had put off even bothering to pursue a Living Trust and put her in Charge.  Turns out, she doesn't wanna be put in Charge of everything, including the Property and Estate, should something happen to me.  She feels that everyone doesn't get along and play well with others now, and I'm still Alive!!!   So, she's certain she won't wanna Deal with it and how much worse would they ALL be once I'm Gone?   I can't take Care of the Property or all of them Gramma, so, I don't know what's gonna happen to any of them?  I will just have to find somewhere else to Live and try to make it on my own I suspect.  She probably always knew that.  I know I did actually.  It's why I've tried to Last as long as possible, but I can't Control that... Fate will.

 She doesn't wanna contemplate my demise, but, it is the Elephant in the Room too, which we tiptoe around coz nobody wants to think about my Mortality at all.  Nobody wants to fill my Shoes or wear all the Hats, I don't blame them.  Four of the Five aren't even Competent to... so, she was the only one the Baton could be passed to.  If there's nobody else in the Race to pass it to, most of what I'm doing is for Naught really... the Plan won't Work.  When you have Loved Ones with Extreme Disability you try to have a Plan for when you're no longer around... for their sakes.  I've adjusted Plans often due to Changes you never can predict or Plan for.   My recent Medical Results have bottomed the Family out completely, it's hard to Feel Positive about any Bad News Medically.  Even before you know everything you might Need to know.  When it doesn't sound good, it's probably not good.   I've had Bad News Healthwise before... so... I chalk it up to Living long enuf, and shit just happens and you roll with whatever comes up as the challenge to stay above dirt.  If you're so inclined.

I think I just must ramp up the Great Edit and Purge to Bank as much Profits from Downsizing as is possible while I'm on this side of Time and Eternity.  Princess T solidly feels like everyone will have to fend for themselves and pretty much will be Screwed when something happens to me anyway.  So, she thinks everything of Value that can be Sold, I should just do it now and go for myself and her Grandpa.  Well, I told her a Couple is too expensive unless you're independently Wealthy, so, only One of us qualifies for any possibility, however remote, of ensured Long Term Care.  I don't think I'd be the One.  The Man would potentially be the more likely candidate thru VA Eligibilities for anything parsed out should he end up with no Caregiver able to fill the Void should something happen to me first.  I never expected any Happy Ending for myself actually, so, my expectations being practical, means, I can't really be disappointed.  It's not Pessimistic, nor entirely Fatalistic, I think it's just Realistic, based on Evidence of what just IS.  When there's no Fairy Tale Ending, you really don't Care how long the Story lasts or Ends.  I should Care, but, I don't.  I'm very Pragmatic like that and Unemotional about what perhaps should evoke Emotion, but just doesn't.

When we were at The Man's Eval and Orientation for his Cardiac Rehab, his Truthful Answers to the Questions were not Positive at all.  So, I've known he's been struggling a lot, how Bad I suspected was worse than he was letting on, and it is.  We just barely avoided him being sent down to Psychiatric by her rather than enrolled in Cardiac Rehab.  Only coz he didn't have a Plan.  Which is rather Ironic to me, coz, you don't have to or Need to have a Plan, that's a fallacy.  He's Tired of being so Sick and slowly losing himself in layers, it is frightening to him and he knows it's stressful for me.   I do try to stay Stoic so he sees zero Emotions, but, it is very difficult to Play Off that it's not at all Stressful and I've Got This.  And can adeptly continue to juggle a Chainsaw, Bowling Ball, Flaming Tiki Torch, and a Rattlesnake at the same time, while riding a Unicycle on a Tightrope without a Safety Net, over a Moat filled with Crocodiles, and not have anything go Wrong with that Act.  *Winks and Laughs*

I found a bunch of Old Photos, just about everyone in them... isn't around anymore.   I've not felt like even Blogging about a lot of Positive stuff coz it's been too difficult to have much of it to convey and I rather keep it 100% on here like I always have.  I don't tell the half of it actually, so, you are getting the more edited and cleaned up version of the Daily Grind involved.  I really just don't wanna Deal with MORE Stuff that isn't Positive... but the Negative is really multiplying.  The Daughter said it's almost like those Cult Classic Dark Comedy fuzzy Gremlins that when they got Wet... or fed after Midnight... and keep them out of bright Light too... or you end up with them multiplying and transforming into little Monsters.  That's how the Negative stuff is transforming and multiplying lately.  Even taking great Care not to attract it and to remain Positive and do the Right thing.  It really complicates an already difficult Situation to navigate Life thru.

I think I told you I Bought myself a way early Birthday Gift coz the Seller gave me a Deal on it... and accepted an Offer that I felt was too low so didn't really expect to have it Accepted, but, what the Hell.  I Hoped it wouldn't Offend the Seller, and it apparently did not.  In fact, she was very Happy to know I Collect the Line and have since it's inception in 2001... and about 3 Years before it expanded to a Clothing Line too.  Back when the Designer Created each piece by Hand herself, and this was an Older Piece from probably around 2001-2002, I can easily tell the difference by her Tags used to Label each piece. This piece has one of the early Original Tags/Labels.  It's shipped already, can't wait to receive it.

*******

Wading thru Life and heading towards what seems like the Deep End... Dawn... The Bohemian