How Long Will It Take To Go Scorched Earth?

 

It was 118 Today and, well, my mini Icemaker went on the fritz and quit working so it's a good thing we got the New Fridge and it's making Ice, up to 10 lbs. daily.  *Whew*  The mini Machine was only $99 so not worth repairing since I'm sure replacement would be cheaper and we don't need it now anyway.  It served it's purpose and now we know they don't last all that long, but, I felt we did get our Money's worth out of it, so, no regrets either on purchasing it 'til we could replace our Fridge and get one that's Icemaker worked again.  It's invaluable to have an Icemaker in Arizona during the Spring and Summer Months especially.  And the Fridge filters the Water it uses for Ice and the Ice Water functions.  The Ice Water Pitcher auto fills as well and that's been invaluable, saves on buying as much Bottled Water.

I did get more Work done in The RV Garage Mahal this Morning before Heat of the day sets in.  Brought in some Keeper Items that had been in the Main House and had no Placement in here.  So I'm setting up Displays of them in there instead and decluttering more in the Main House.  It's a Work in Progress, but I am making some headway and decided to just pace myself in smaller increments to chip away at all the Projects, that as a Whole, can easily Overwhelm me.  If I do smaller Projects with consistency, then eventually it makes a bigger impact over Time.  So this is the Method I'm switching to now becoz otherwise I become paralyzed with the enormity of it all.  Coz it's still a LOT.  But, I'm now thinking, well, I'm Retired, so, I am on Retirement Time to do it really, no hurries, no worries, what does it matter how long it takes?

Enjoying the Moments of Progress or getting a new Vignette done is encouraging after all.  And I am going to be more Editorial and Curated about what is Kept, I have to be.  So, as I methodically do each thing in smaller increments, I'm assessing each possession more critically as well.  Do I LOVE it?  Do I Need it?  Do I Enjoy it and it brings me Joy?  Have I used it?  Does it have any Purpose now?  Could I use the Money more than retaining it?  Would it be be beneficial to someone else if I just Donate it?   I'm kinda past the Throwing Out stuff, that's easy to rid yourself of what isn't even of Donation Quality and should just be tossed and quickly disposed of.  I have no problems discarding what is no longer functional, broken, worthless, of no use, or just worn out.  The recently caput Icemaker went straight into the Recycle Bin of the Trash.  It freed up Space for some stacking Vintage Tupperware Bowls now.

Yeah, I Sold Off a lot of my Collectible Antique Bowls and went back to finding the Vintage Tupperware at Chazzas to use.  I Loved my Antique Bowls and kept a scant few favs, but they are worth more now and I'm clumsier now in my Old Age.  So, having plastic Vintage Bowls I like made more sense for everyday use.  Plus, this Kitchen has no Display Space for Antique Kitchenware Collectibles like previous Properties had.  So, if I couldn't even enjoy Displaying them, then I might as well just Sell them and Cash Out on their Investment.  Vintage and Antique Kitchenware is still an Easy Sell.  The Young folks actually like the Look of it all when they're Designing a Retro Kitchen Space with their Modern Spin of Yesteryear's Kitchens.  It's Nostalgic in a good and functional way.  And the Thrill of Hunting for Tupperware stacking Nesting Bowls in the Colors I wanted was enjoyable to me.

For some reason I was like a Fiesta Ware and Tupperware Magnet when the Laws of Attraction hit the Universe and I put out the Signals to procure more of it for me.  I seemingly stumbled into finding more of it than I even Needed or Wanted then, so I've Resold quite a bit and Profited off that too, Win-Win.  We use both a lot at Home so it was a practical Solution to a transition I was making for Kitchen Supplies we'd Need and Use a lot.  I also Scored enuf Vintage Silverplate Forks now that there is no longer a shortage.  I don't know what the Family was doing with the Forks, but we never seemed to have enuf.  I was growing weary of going on Fork Hunting Expeditions to find out where they were if not in the Sink to be Washed or in the Cutlery Drawer to be Used?  I knew who the most likely Offenders were and both of them haven't been Home now in Ages, so, no Fork shortages for now.  *Winks*

Princess T deadpanned one day, "Did you look on the Roof Gramma?"  Coz... at the Villa McManse we did discover that her Brother had been tossing some of his dirty dishes onto the Roof!!!  He lived on the 2nd Floor MIL Apartment up there and it had a Galley Kitchen with a Window overlooking part of the lower Roof and Courtyard.   And Crazy Boy had been just tossing them out the fucking Window rather than Washing them!!!   Yes, I made him get out the Window onto the Roof and retrieve them... which was a Death defying feat for a Teenager, but I was just that Mad about it... and it was only humorous in the retelling of that Story.   When you got Crazy Folk at Home, anything and everything is possible and you can't make that shit up!!!  *LOL and Winks*  Tho' she was semi-joking, I did take a glance up on the Roof over the Art Studio portion of the Home he now Occupies, didn't see any Forks... or dirty Dishes.  *Whew*

Today we're gonna get another BOGO Free Butter Honey Chicken Breakfast Biscuit from WHATABURGER coz I have another Coupon and they're really good.  I haven't been to a WHATABURGER in Years but they built a New One about a Block from our House and gave us a shitload of Coupons.  And Honestly that Biscuit was excellent and now I'm making Honey Butter at Home.  Coz The Man and I have Allergies too and Honey helps the Immune System cope with that and mixing it with your Butter is very flavorful as well.   And I have tons of various Honeys and Butter, and even Bee Pollen, so this is my new Favorite thing to blend together at Home to use on Foods.  I got the Bee Pollen, 5 oz. of it, on E-Bay from a Supplier in New Jersey, free Shipping and an excellent price.  Bee Pollen when I could find it from Local Beekeepers had been more expensive, about twice as expensive for a lot less of it.  Now Oddly, tho' I'm allergic to Bee Stings, the Pollen and Honey doesn't cause any Negative Reactions.

I realized I liked Bee Pollen and it was helping with Allergies during Allergy Season when they'd sprinkle some of it on my Acai Fruit Bowls with a drizzle of Honey too over the Fruit on top of the Acai Smoothie Sorbet.   And Hot Honey I like over my Bacon with some Pepper Flakes sprinkled on top too with Maple Syrup Blended as a Bacon drizzle.  You can Thank me later if you've never tried that.  I started liking that when I had my first "Bacon But Different" at SNOOZE and then FIRST WATCH now has a similar version they call their "Million Dollar Bacon".  LOVE it and it's terribly addictive, I must Warn you!!!  If you're already a Bacon Lover this elevates it to a higher level of flavor profile to Die for.  I get my Hot Honey from The Son's DOLLAR TREE Location for $1.25.  A lot of the popular Hot Honey Brands, like MIKE'S HOT HONEY, are expensive {around $7-$19} and this is just as good actually for a whole lot less.

I'm a Honey Snob tho' and I will Stand Tall to buy some Gourmet Honeys from all over the Globe or from Local Beekeepers.   Honey can be as varied as the Flowers and Plants that the Bees Harvest it from and various parts of the World or the different parts of the U.S..   Best for Allergies to get a Local Honey to build up Immunity from whatever is Blooming in your areas tho'.  I have Honey for Days here at Home Hoarded Up coz we use a lot of it.  For some reason it rarely, if ever, elevates my Diabetic Numbers for Blood Sugars, which is good.  Anyway, looking forward to our Honey Butter Chicken Breakfast Biscuit we'll be eating within the Hour after I drop The Son off at Work.  Princess T was dropped off at her Work about an Hour beforehand.  Then The Man and I will be Footloose and Fancy Free coz those are the only Two Kiddos here now until whenever the other Two come back.  The Young Prince claims it will be before August... The Daughter, who knows when?

She's clearly found a place to stay that does allow Mando to hang around or be there and that's her prerogative as a Grown Ass Adult Woman.  She knows how we feel about it and we're not budging on that.  I don't Care how much he Promises he's a Changed Man, those Type of Men never Change who can't control their Temper and inappropriate abusive Behaviors.  If you've Lived that long and not Changed already, you ain't Changing no matter what Bullshit you Promise.   And Word was that is why he went to Prison in the first place... so... whether or not they expunged it after 13 Years I don't Care, I don't Trust him coz he showed his inability to Control his Temper here on our Property when he was just a Guest.   Who does that except someone totally Out of Control?!  Which just isn't a Safe Person to be around IMO.

 And the fact he got Mouthy with Three Family Members on our Property was evidence to me that he has not got Control over himself, his Mouth, or possibly his Actions, that his Mouth began confrontations with other people.  I don't want that around, period.  Even if he was never Foolish enuf to get Mouthy around me or The Man.  And I didn't want my Son or Grandson catching Charges if he started getting Physical and they had to Hand him his Ass, which, each of them could and would.  They never start Fights but they can Fight really well and will end one with a flourish.  And he got Mouthy with our Two Neighbors T.J. and Rob, so they didn't want him around their Property anymore either even tho' he'd endeared himself to their Elderly Parents as well and went to Church with them.  Hey, you can be Churchy and still be a House Devil, I've seen it often enuf in Criminal Case Files to know they can sometimes be some of the worst hypocrites behind closed Doors when they think nobody Sees or Knows how they really are.

We did Environmental Cleanup after Breakfast, well, I did, The Man just sat in the Shade.  Then we turned it in at the Recycle Center coz I had a Truck Bed full of Bagged Aluminum Cans.  Then we went to CRAB 99 for Lunch coz we had that One Pound of Shrimp we'd Won last time spinning the Wheel, we Won another Pound of it Today spinning the Wheel!  This time we tried the Lemon Pepper Shrimp, it was excellent.  We also got the Hot Wing Bucket in the Cajun and the Lemon Pepper flavors, it's 20 Wings and they're so good.  The Man got his Clam Chowder too coz he Loves their Clam Chowder.  We had lots of leftovers to bring Home to Share with The Son and Princess T when they get Home from Work.  I was glad to Win another Pound of their Shrimp Boil, it's so good and comes in a variety of Flavors and you can choose Head Off and Deveined, which is my preference.

I'll claim the other Free Pound of Shrimp at the end of another Month when $$$ is low.  *Winks and Smiles*  Their prices are reasonable too and the Bucket of Wings is a fav with the Family and is good Hot or Cold.  The Staff there are getting to know us even tho' they haven't been Open all that long and are still having their Soft Opening.  The Man enjoyed himself being out and about so was in excellent Spirits and a good cooperative Mood.  He was a little "Lost" Mentally Today, which, I think shows in his Pix I took, and his Hair and Beard was all Crazy, I'm gonna have to try to convince him to let me Braid it {Hair and Beard}, or put at least his Hair in a Ponytail so it's not looking like he just Invented something or just got off a Pirate Ship.  *Smiles*  He likes that new 250th America's Birthday Cap I bought for him at our Antique Mall, he almost won't take it off.  *LOL*

The Niece just told me she'll be here next Week, she's coming from Texas, to spend some time with us here in Arizona and get a break from her Dad, who she's Caregiver of.  It's a Tall Order, I think he has the onset of Dementia and he had a problematic Personality all his Adult Life so he's been often Estranged from his Three Daughters off and on.  Their Dear Mother, who was one of my Best Friends, Died many Years ago, far too Young, sometimes the Good Die Young, it makes no sense, but, that's Life sometimes.  Anyway, she pities her Dad and he did get Sober, he was an Alcoholic and was Abusive when he Drank.  He Served in the Air Force, along with his Wife who was also Active Duty, he did 18 Years and his Wife did 11, and I met them when they lived next to me when all our Children were very Young... in fact, Barb hadn't even had the 3rd Daughter when we 1st met and I hadn't had The Son either yet.  

So, our Families Share so much History that we considered each other True "Adopted" Family and all her Kids call The Man and I their Aunt and Uncle, our Kids their Cousins.  No Biological Connection but that doesn't matter.  They're Closer to us than to Biological Family actually.  The Oldest of their Three Daughters is the One I Call "The Niece" here on the Ole' Blog coz she's Closest to us and always kept in Touch over the Years, even when her Two Younger Sisters didn't.  The Two Younger ones have had ups and downs in Life and it estranged them from a lot of people they'd once been close to.  It happens.  The Niece has been trying to reconcile with what Biological Family she has left, but it's hard, coz you can't Change the Family Dynamic and if it's Dysfunctional, it often stays that way.   So, sometimes it requires moderating how much time is spent around the actual Family when so much Dysfunction of the Family Dynamic exists and it always ends up being Drama and a Headache.  She usually comes here for those Breaks, so that it doesn't BREAK her.

With us she's better understood, it was hard for her Family to even accept that she was a Lesbian, since, she tried to be Straight, she even had Boyfriends in Younger Years.  But, it wasn't who she was, even tho' as a Younger Woman she was Stunningly Beautiful, so was what I affectionately called a Lipstick Lesbian.  *Smiles*  Now she's more Butch and she doesn't Care that she's more Masculine than Feminine.  Coz she's no longer trying to keep up Appearances, remain Closeted or Pass as Straight, due to Societies Biases anymore.  She spent far too many Years of doing that, she is more comfortable in her own Skin now.  I'm really Glad about that and she always knew it was a Non-Issue for our Family.

  

I've been very Open about how many Family Members we've had for Generations, mostly on the Paternal Side, who were Two Spirit Individuals and Tribal People have no Issues with that.  It's only when the White Missionaries came that they tried to make them Believe there was something Wrong with Being Created by the Creator that way.  Far too many Religious Brands think you should "Pray the Gay Away", as if that's the way it works.  *Huge Eye Roll*  Or they Shun or Disown anyone LGBTQ+, as if that's the way it works.  *Huge Eye Roll*  The Niece spent many Years Disowned by her own Family and became so vulnerable that she joined a Cult as a Young Teen and became a JW for many Years.  I think she craved the "Family" she didn't have and they pretended to be that to her.  Cults depend on inclusion and then exclusion to Control their People rigidly.  And the difference between a Cult and a Religion IMO is what happens when you try to Leave.  Leaving a Cult voluntarily is very hard unless THEY kick you out involuntarily.

 It really messed her up coz they preyed on her Vulnerability and didn't Help her Identity Crisis at all... or any reunification with Family or even Friends, it's an Insulated Society... so, they made things much worse in fact.  She finally had the JW's kick her out of the Fold or whatever Cults do when you are deemed no longer worthy to be one of them?  It was a Blessing in disguise IMO.  But deprogramming her is taking Years more.  They really got deep into her Head since she joined when she was only about 15 and she's in her Mid-40's now.  When she began to Question things and see that a lot of it was really fucked up, she wanted to leave anyway, but it had isolated her from everyone else and it took a long, long time for her to reconnect to anyone after so long of the whole Jehovah's Witness Ordeal.  She wasn't Born into the Cult and so at least she had other Points of Reference outside of it tho' for the 1st 15 Years.  She now enjoys Celebrating Holidays and Birthdays again too.  And just living her best Gay Life now... tho' she has no Life Partner yet, and wants no Children.

Anyway, it will be good to see her again, she's been thru a lot over the past 3 Years or so.  Career Losses, long Unemployment, finding Employment that didn't work out, doing Gig Work to make Ends Meet even tho' she's a Brilliant Computer Programmer, she feels AI will be replacing a lot of folks in what she's the most Skilled at so there's not going to be a Future in it.  Plus, she was going to School again to learn more about being part of AI and said it was all so Sinister that she didn't wanna be complicit in any of it, regardless of how much Money they'd throw at her to be.   She even had way more concerns about it than I do, as do some of the folks who Invented it... and I figure the Tech Gurus know how fucked up it will alter Society in the Negative ways, with the Data Centers it requires, and how Criminals and Bad Regimes can utilize it for Evil.  Yes, it will do some Good... but will that Balance out all the Bad?  Too late now, the Genie is out of the Bottle and Pandora is out of the Box... so... we shall see how long it takes to go Scorched Earth?

An Aerial View of The Garage Mahal back when we bought Forever Boheme'.  Now the She Shed, which matches the Colors of it, sits in front of that smaller Door on the Concrete Slab.  Eventually I'll put a cover over the Top of that Door to the She Shed to provide a Shaded Work Space behind the She Shed for doing Projects we have to do Outdoors.  I have a rolling Vintage Industrial Work Station Table on that Slab too and the 5th Wheel sits now where you see that Gravel area.  That Property you see in the Background is where those Pinche Neighbors live who paid almost a Million for that Property and destroyed most of the Landscaping and it's either an Air B&B Party House or likely a Cartel Drop House we thing coz too many folks come and go from there all the time and too many occupy it at any given time too.   I don't think whoever Bought it even lives in Arizona.  You can see how lush our Mini Farms Community is by the dense Mature Tree Cover, very Rare in Arizona.  All those Trees are in our Older Mini Farms Community, not the Residential Subdivision Hells that have built up around us.

 Anyway, the Pinche Neighbors did build a very nice Casita that matches their Main House, behind the Main House, and that's the only Positive Improvement they did, otherwise they've laid the Exterior to Waste and Neglect.   Vehicles parked all over the Front Yard where Beautiful Mature Landscaping once was, mostly 40-60 Year Old Palm Trees, that they cut all of it down.   It had been a gorgeous Property on the Exterior and Interior when the previous Owner had it.  They had Remodeled the Interior in a fabulous Urban Farmhouse Style.  I shudder to think what it might look like Inside now if the Exterior Condition is any indication?!   When Big Deep Pocket Investors buy expensive Homes and large Properties they often turn them into Party House or use them for nefarious purposes in better Neighborhoods that don't draw as much suspicion or attention to whatever Criminal Activities they're engaging in.  So, we've had ATF and SWAT Team Raids recently and I'm glad... I Hope they all get driven out.

So, I had told my Cousin on the Rez that if her Older Sister has TB they should all get Tested and now they all are.  Anyone whose been around Wewokajanna for the Past Three Years is required now to get Tested coz all of her Results came back Positive for advanced TB.  I just Pray nobody else has it for it having been neglected for so long and potentially spreading among the Community?  No telling who she even got it from really or how it got into the Community?  I know they use the Indian Hospitals and Clinics exclusively, so I don't know if she's gone anywhere else or been transferred to anywhere else and I don't wanna upset her Sister by saying much more.  They are very Poor and the Care most Indigenous receive is pretty marginal at best, as worst, it's absent and there have been many cuts in Federal Programs serving those Communities.  

 Both of the Federally Recognized Cherokee Tribes have about 10 Resort Casino Properties that the Cherokee Nation operates in Oklahoma.  I don't know how much of what's made actually Helps all Registered Tribal Members tho', I've never asked since I'm not a Registered Tribal Member and my Dad's side were not of Federal Recognized Tribes, but my Cousins Mom is of the Cherokee Tribe and have lived on the Rez all their lives.  I know my Cousins are impoverished and have had a lot of lack and substandard living conditions.  The per capita income in Tahlequah is only around $28,232.   A Single Adult in that area would have to make $52,000 to live what is considered 'comfortably'.   I don't think my Cousins have ever lived what I'd call 'comfortably'.   And I think if I'd grown up the way they had to, I wouldn't have likely Survived Childhood coz I did almost Die when I was 5 and spent a Year in a Military Hospital having Treatments and managed to Survive.  If Dad had decided to get out of the Military and Live on the Rez, I doubt I'd of Survived frankly.  But I think my Mom would have gone back to Wales first with us, than Live like that.  *LOL*

 I know I would never want to go back there even for visits, once was enuf for me.  My Dad took us to the Rez when I was 16, I've never been back, it was deplorable the conditions, I'd never seen anything like it, total Culture Shock.  My Brother would go with Dad to visit, I refused, I thought the Living Conditions in the early 1970's were appalling!  My Mom said you should have seen it in the early 1950's when she first visited... she got the Vapors and said she even Cried that Human Beings were having to Live like that!  Even the Poorest in Wales didn't live so impoverished.  My Paternal Grandmother's Generation, that was all she knew tho', so she was reluctant to even have Positive Change, very set in her way of Life and in her Cultural way of Being, so she seemed Content and Happy.  But when she got Sick, she Died.  Many of the Relatives there, once they get Sick, they often Die.  Often prematurely.  I do not expect the Cousin with TB to Survive it.  I Pray and Hope she does, but, it seems too far gone before they even got a proper Diagnosis for her or any Treatment and Hospitalization.   It makes me Heartsick and not just becoz she's Family.

 And now I wonder if my other Female Cousins Youngest Daughter, who was only in her 30's, might have Died from it?   And the Female Cousin who has the TB, her Youngest Daughter, whose in her 40's, almost Died last Year, but managed to Survive.  And my Male Cousin, their Oldest Brother, Died last Year too.  I do Wonder if it was this now, left undiagnosed?  We may never know, but there might have been Neglect by the Health Departments around there to catch what could have been an outbreak of Tuberculosis?  I'm always skeptical, especially in Poorer Communities and Communities of Color, that the level of Care isn't up to par and catching these kinds of things early enuf that it doesn't spread among those Communities to Epidemic Proportions?  Indigenous Populations experienced significantly higher COVID-19 Death Rates and Severe Illness compared to Non-Indigenous groups in the U.S..  They were nearly Twice as likely to Die than Non-Hispanic White People.  Disproportionate Mortality Rates are not uncommon and never have been.   So many of my Paternal Relatives have Died in the last couple of Years. 

*******

Processing all the Bad News is always difficult... Dawn... The Bohemian

The Land Of Blog... And More Political Observations

I'm now up to Unpublished Posts ahead to hit Daily until August 8th, Crazy, since in Real Time it's only July 22nd as I'm Writing this Post, which will be Scheduled to Publish on August 9th now!   So, delayed Dailies will just now be my Norm since I'm not Publishing anything I've Written in Real Time, and I'm Fine with that.  I could go Off Grid for a Fortnite and you'd never know here in The Land of Blog that I'd been away at all.  *Winks and Smiles*  It's Raining this Morning so I may adjust my Plans according to the Weather now.  For now it's just sprinkling but it's very Overcast and a big Storm could blow in since it is Monsoon Season now.  And we need the Rain and I like when it Rains here coz it's so infrequent and does Cool things down, tho' it does increase Humidity, and Humidity is The Devil.  *Smiles and Ugh, Shit, Dammit, Pouting!  Dont'cha HATE being Broke?  LOL*

The Son accidentally Walked to Work to be there by 5:00 a.m. and didn't Wake me to take him, which was fortunate, coz he'd forgotten they'd changed his Hours and he didn't Need to be there until 8:00 a.m., Ooops!  So he felt like a Dumb Ass and said he had to Walk his Dumb Ass back Home in the Rain like a Putz.  So now he's Wet and had to change into Dry Work Clothes.  I'll drive him there by 8:00 a.m. this time.  Princess T got dropped off to be at her Work by 7:00 a.m. so at least their Hours do work for me taking them both.  She's hoping the Storm gets big and knocks the Power out at Work so they get to go Home.  I joked with her, why don't you tell me how you REALLY Feel about Working Today?  *LOL & Winks*  I thought I might go to the Discount Grocery Store when it opens at 10:00 a.m., it's in Peoria, which is a drive, but worth it coz of their low Prices and Discounts.  But when I looked at our Checkbook Balance, I reconsidered.  *Le Sigh*

Yeah, this close to EOM and due to increases in the Cost of everything, Utility Bill especially going up by a ridiculously huge amount, I should just wait now until we get Paid in August.  *Huge Sigh*  It's cramping my Style I tell ya!  *Winks and Laughs*  Whaddya gonna do, all Americans are Feelin' it unless they're obscenely Wealthy ones and engaged in rigging The System in their Favor, not ours.   And so it goes.  I'm thinking my Grandsons could have been Right, they wanted Bernie Sanders for President, as did just about every Young Person I spoke to during that Election that Bernie was a contender in.  I didn't initially understand why so many of the Youth were drawn to Bernie since he is further Left than someone Moderate like me prefers, but, hearing Bernie's Solutions to Problems, he makes perfect Sense.  How many Politicians can you say that about?  That have Sensible workable Policy that would actually Solve Problems we Care about?  And his Solutions aren't Radical in the least actually, quite doable if you want a Fixer to implement Common Sense Solutions that would Work.  Oh, but Wait, the Uber Rich and Greedy would have to Sacrifice something for a change!?  *Gasp!*

I'm a Fixer, it was my Super Power in my Corporate Lives and why they Paid me handsomely to Fix their Problems.  So, I can Identify and Respect another Fixer even if they aren't as Moderate leaning as I tend to be.   I like Balance... being Radical has it's drawbacks IMO, tho' sometimes it takes Radicals to Change things and not all Radical Changes are Negative or Crazy and Extreme, I think Bernie is Radical, but not in a way that alarms me like this Regime alarms me, and how Impotent and fractured I see the whole Democratic Party right now.  They got Democratic Socialists and all watered down versions of Democrats so Honestly, the Blue Wave IMO ain't gonna be some big Tsunami and they can be their own worst Enemy.  They've relied way to heavily on Not Being Trump, and that's just not Enough anymore.  Okay, so you're NOT HIM, now what?  Fucking Crickets... except for Bernie, who actually has Sensible Solutions and Good Ideas that aren't fucking Partisan.  Or have Mega Donors controlling them.

Bernie Posted the Above to his Social Media Pages just 15 Hours ago, I think Gavin should withhold Federal Funds in Cali coz that State provides more Money to the Feds than anyone in any State combined.  Use leverage against this Evil Fucker I say, and Cali makes more money than many whole Countries.   California has a higher GDP than 190 Countries Globally, just consider that for a Minute.  With an Economy exceeding FOUR TRILLION, so Donnie Two Dolls Needs Cali more than they Need him... so do many Poor Red States need what Cali Federal Taxes provide. Truth be told here, Red States have a higher percentile of Residents on Social Services Programs and Poor, yet still consistently Vote Republican, who've not done anything for the Poor in as long as I've been Alive... go figure.  I'm Anti-Partisan and not just Non-Partisan, coz I think it's what is Wrong with our Political System.  Most Partisan folks are so defensive of their "Side and Party" and have such a Need to vilify Americans not of their "Party", and Define themselves as one or the other, that its become Cultish and Weirdly Tribalistic to an Extreme, Americans against fellow Americans, Crazy!!!

Nobody has to Agree with me lock step, or what Candidates I happen to think have some decent potential Solutions to America's Problems.  But somebody has to come up with Solutions and Policy, not just fake Promises and performative Political Theater, that is for sure.  This is why Higher Education and Critical Thinking is very important, so Ignorance and Poorly Educated Americans don't get easily taken for Marks, manipulated against their own best interests and fall for the Con and Bullshit.  It's why Donnie openly admitted he Loves The Uneducated, why, of coarse he does, every consummate Conman and Criminal does. Easy pickins to victimize, exploit, grift off of, feed Bullshit and Red Meat Bait to, or weaponize.   The Uneducated and the Poor usually aren't getting much out of Life so Grievance Politics is like Bait for any Politician to use against that Demographic to Win Votes and Gin them up.   Desperate People do Desperate things... and are easily swayed if they think you could or would improve their shitty Hand dealt in Life.  Even if you never had any intentions to and were blowing Sunshine and Smoke up their Asses.  Which he successfully did and it worked.  Now they're in worse shape than before his Administration.

And Creating a Cult, well, that was fucking Brilliant to make his Followers become Mindless, Brainwashed, Radicalized and Indoctrinated Followers and a Staunch Base.  To where they no longer think for themselves, are rigidly Controlled, are no longer tethered to Reality and Believe anything he tells them as the Cult Leader, no matter how absurd or false.  Cults be like that and come to Believe they alone are The Chosen and everyone else is The Enemy out to get them.  And become so Paranoid they Insulate from the Outside World or get shunned or thrown out and Punished by The Cult if they Question any of it or voluntarily leave or have another Point of View or Opinions of their own.  That's why the Red MAGA Hats and other Symbolic Cult Devotion became so important to their Identity.  And they'd Buy into whatever shit he was hawking to get more Money out of his Devoted.   Cult Leaders always enrich themselves out of the Sacrifices they demand their Followers to make, to show their Loyalty and undying Devotion to whatever Cause the Cult makes up and wants to Finance using Members Money of coarse.

Around Pandemic and during 1.0 I had a long time Friend become very MAGA and becoming more and more Cultish, Radical and irrational.  To where it was deeply disturbing and distressing to see how it was changing her in Unlovely ways, and she was Older and Life hadn't played out well for her.  I semi-joked about the Weird Devotion to try to snap her out of it, coz I thought she was better than that and was just getting Conned, which I Hate to see anyone be a Conman's Mark.  I knew she was struggling, floundering Economically and becoming desperate of her personal Situation and unfortunate circumstances, needing to shift Blame somewhere, anywhere.  It's hard to look in the Mirror sometimes and know some Shit is or could be the result of Personal Choices made over a Lifetime.  Or that sometimes Life just ain't Fair... Fair is Rare.  Bad things often happen to Good People and Good things happen to Bad People... that's Life and playing the Blame Game or Scapegoating is never Helpful.

  But Logic and Truth wasn't getting thru at all, hard as I tried to Reason with her.  Or suggest mebbe don't watch so much Faux News Station and Parrot that Bullshit they Spin for Ratings and know is total Bullshit and intentional Misinformation and Lies, it's why they got Sued so Big and Lost in Court.  So, I tried Dark Gallow's Humor tied to Truth and I did say I Hoped she was Writing him BIG Checks that she couldn't afford... coz that's what a Billionaire Conman and Lifetime Grifter wants out of her.  That's all he ever wanted out of any of them in his Base, he doesn't give a Shit about them, never has, never will.  But they'll be Used as handy Instruments to get what he wants, whatever it Costs them matters not to him.   The sad part is, she probably was Funding the Movement out of her Lack.  And would Buy all the MAGA Paraphernalia that our Antique Mall was Selling and probably Write Big Checks to Donnie's Coffers that he did mostly keep for himself.  Like the Fake Charities they Formed too.  And the whole Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Scams he's in Bed Deep with now.  A Criminal's Wet Dreams they are for a Host of Reasons.

 And she went totally Off Grid and Isolated herself from anyone not MAGA.  I've not heard from her since just after Pandemic began, even when I reached out to her. Crickets.  Coz I want her to be Okay, but I don't think she's ever gonna be Okay again, not Mentally anyway.  I even suggested she seek Psychiatric Help coz she was sounding so Crazy and Unhinged that it Worried our whole Family.  Die Hard MAGA are so far Gone, I don't know what kind of Psychiatric Help would bring them Back to Reality and Reason tho'?    So as far as I know, she was just as All In with 2.0 and will likely be to The Grave, Big Banners up at her Home, the whole Nine Yards.  It's tragic and was preventable, but if you go in Eyes Wide Shut and can't be Rescued or Deprogrammed when you Join any Cult, you're fucking Doomed.  And it seems about 30% of our Nation is still Die Hard MAGAts and a total Lost Cause that's becoming increasingly Dangerous to the other 70% they View as their Enemies now and don't want Unity of America anymore.

I do feel very accomplished this Morning coz I Worked for about an Hour in The RV Garage Mahal, moved that new Display Rack in there, found decent placement for it and have now started putting my Fiesta Ware Mug Collection and some of my filled Antique Canning Jars with Zinc and Milk Glass Lids on the Tiered Shelving of it to Organize and Display it all better.  I'm not done yet but well on my way. {See Below}  I had more Mug Colors than I realized, some that looked similar are a different Color Shade and thus a different Fiesta Ware Colored Line put out over the Years.  I'm Color Blind so unless you put Two close Colors together, say Black and Navy Blue, or different Shades of Green or Blues, I can't tell the difference unless they're side by side and then the difference becomes apparent to me that they are different Colors.  And some they put out were very subtle differences in Color Shades, hard for anyone to tell.

The Lighting in there isn't great for Photography unless I Open one of the Big Doors to The RV Garage Mahal and let Natural Sunlight help light it up.  But, you get the gist of how many Colors I've Collected of the Art Deco Handled Fiesta Ware Mugs.  I Sell all my Rounded Handled ones, not interested in Collecting that Style of Mug... and that Style is actually more Popular with Collectors so they Sell really quickly and well.  So do the Teacups, which, I don't Keep any of those either.  I used to, I had complete Sets of Fiesta Ware over the Years and we used it a lot, but, tho' I still Love it, I wanted the Money and we didn't use it as often anymore either.  But then, after I Sold so much of it the Kiddos Freaked Out coz they had wanted to Inherit THAT, who knew?  I should ask and now I do so that I know what they want me to Keep that they are interested in Inheriting and using when I'm Gone.

They told me what they'd use most would be the Cereal/Salad Bowls, Mugs, and a few Specialty Pieces I have like Platters and Bowl or Disc Shaped Pitchers, so that's what's being Collected and Kept now.  Everything else, when I Source some, goes into the Showroom coz it's always Popular and has been since the 1930's.  It's Colorful, Festive, Fun and holds up well to use becoz it is well made.  They come out with New Colors constantly and have Rare Ltd. Edition Colors that were limited Production.  There's more of the Mugs on the Tier below coz I do have a few duplicate Colors, but, not many duplicates... I have amassed many of the Colors of various Eras... both in Mugs and in Cereal/Salad Bowls.  I have a Bowl for every Color of Mug I've Collected.  It looks so pretty to Display it together and have it accessible for use if we have a Party or Gathering and wanna use it.  Everyone gets their own Color... which is what the Kiddos all LOVED about it and had fond Memories of, it turns out.

And Collections like this make me Happy to Own and Enjoy during my Lifetime.   It was Fun Sourcing it and Enjoyable to Own it.  So I don't wanna get rid of them if I don't have to... and mostly, I don't have to.  I can detach from anything at any time I want or need to, so it's all subject to Change or Detachments without Notice.  Some stuff I have isn't For Sale but it can be Bought, is my Mantra.  Not all of it, but, if an Offer is made that would be difficult or impossible to Refuse, then, Bye Bye, the Hunt can be on for another.  And if it was a OOAK then I can probably Live just Fine without it and know I did Own it for a Time and now someone else is Enjoying Owning it, so, it's All Good.  Especially if I really made Bank by Reselling it, coz I like Money too, it's always the Right Size and Right Color... and, it Buys Options... and Options are always Good as well.  *Winks* 

After I was Done I Skinny Dipped in The Pool and feel quite refreshed now and it's only 11:00 a.m., but I got a lot Done.  I want to try to make that habitual, spending at least an Hour doing something that needs to get Done around here.  It's not so overwhelming to only spend an Hour of a Day with the Projects I have to do and want to eventually Imagine will get Done.   And I did bring some Projects Inside to work on in Climate Controlled Space coz you just have to this time of Year.  And there's no getting around that and we still have a Month and a Half at least of brutal Summer Heat.  Last Year it didn't even Cool Off in September, but I'm Hopeful it will get Cool Enough this Year?   Daily Data Centers will Heat the Environment up by a lot and use 5 Million Gallons of Water Daily per Data Center, which is equivalent to what a Small City of 50,000 People would use!!!   Do the Math to see how disastrous that is already.  And Power Plants use massive amounts of Water to produce the Electricity Data Centers require too.

A Tech Company's indirect Water consumption from Power Generation can be over 20 Times Greater than it's direct Water useage for Cooling.  Many are situated in Drought striken areas like Arizona and Nevada.  In the Phoenix area facilities draw heavily from Municipal Systems and stressed local Aquifers, yet they keep building the fuckers at an ever increasing alarming rate.  AI only intensifies the demand for these destructive facilities.  It is already heightening tensions with local Residents facing long-term Water cuts and much higher Utility and Water Costs.    And Rural Communities in States like Georgia have had local Wells and Water Tables drop and surging Municipal Water Prices as a result of hyperscale Data Centers nearby.  It's an Ecological and Humanitarian Disaster and yet Billionaire Companies profiting off of it are getting permission to keep building, coz clearly they're lining the Pockets of whoever they Pay Off to ensure it's pushed thru regardless of consequences to the Communities it Negatively impacts long-term.

 

Anyway, most of them are already built, along with Acres of those massive AMAZON Warehouses that if Bezos ever bails using them, nobody else Needs 800,000 sf of Industrial Space.  Well, mebbe ICE... but that's a whole other Rant for a whole other day about the Concentration Camp proliferation in America and just who all they intend to Round Up Illegally and Kidnap to put in them for Profit.  Coz you do know it's Private Contractors Profiting off the whole thing, Follow The Money.  It's not about Immigration Enforcement at all or rounding up the Worst Criminals here Illegally.  Since, we've already seen whose already been Targeted, mistakenly or otherwise... American Citizens, Legal Immigrants, those on Legit Work VISAS, and even Illegals who've been here Decades but never committed any Criminal Activity during their long tenure here but just put in Hard Work and Pay Taxes. 

 You can't tell or convince me the Grandfather whose a Landscaper, the Caregiver of our Aged in our Nursing Homes, your Meat Processing Plant Worker, Migrant Farm Worker, Restaurant Kitchen Staff, Pool Boy, or your Domestic Maid is the Worst of the Worst out there... Pleeeease... get a grip on Reality already.   And they're not taking YOUR Jobs either or you'd be fucking doing those Jobs, or did those jobs, but, you're not and you probably never have or even would... so shut the fuck up about that fallacy and Red Meat MAGA Base Bait too.  *Eye Roll*   Yes, in a Perfect World I'd like all Immigration to be Legal, but our Immigration System is and has been so broken for so long that it's make very hard if not impossible to do it the right way most of the time.  I can't even get my Mexican Born Grandchildren into the Country Legally or easily and without being Extorted, and their Mother is an American Citizen, it's just Crazy.

The Stuffed Crust 7 Topping $9.99 Pizza Special at DOMINOS is ending this Weekend so we got one for Lunch Today.   Along with the Pepperoni, Italian Sausage & Ham, this time I had some of the Meats doubled and got Mushrooms too.   They put a little Garlic in their Crusts there and I just Love it, and they sprinkle Parmesan on it too.  The Stuffed Crust has Mozzarella String Cheese in it, very hearty, a Medium feeds all of us just fine and cheaply.  The Employees this Afternoon were Older Ladies, very sweet and pleasant.  I've noticed more Seniors working at Fast Food than you do Teenagers anymore.   I doubt it's coz that was their Dream in Retirement Years to be working at Fast Food for probably Minimum Wages and no Benefits.  The fact they're still doing it tho' and with a pleasant Attitude is admirable of them IMO.

I was upset with some Strawberries I recently bought from "Fry's" Food Store.  They looked Fresh and nice but molded before we could eat a single one of them!!!   They had been on Sale, all Berries were tho' and that's no excuse for them to be so near spoiling and being a complete waste of Money, which, nobody can afford right now.  So, that was disappointing coz I was getting ready to use them and was horrified to see they were seriously furry and not a single one was remotely able to be salvaged in a large container of them I'd just bought!  With the tainting right now of some Produce, especially Salad Lettuces, I had heard that probably we should avoid Berries too, and all Soft Fruits right now that could be contaminated, so, mebbe it's just as well.  I'd rather throw it out than risk getting really Sick from eating it.

I was visiting one of the International Blogger's Blog and right now she's on Vacay from Britain to Greece and it's so Scenic and the Real Estate is such a Bargain, OMG!!!   A Historic Mansion right in Town, walking distance to everything is only 50,000 whatever the European Money is... I don't have that Key Symbol on my Keyboard, but I think it's Pounds?  *LOL*  Anyway, I cribbed the Image of the Mansion and could Fantasize about living somewhere like that in a Manse like that... sigh.   And of coarse then I Googled Real Estate in that vicinity coz I wanted to see Interiors too... and of coarse you can buy Real Estate into the Stratosphere of Price Points as well.  Even when we lived in Europe, Real Estate wasn't necessarily a Bargain.  But it seems it is moreso now, perhaps they're having mass exodus or something and are luring Ex-Pats to Countries experiencing Population losses in some Towns and Cities, I dunno?  I do know a Friend who bought an enormous French Chateau with all the Antique Furnishing in it and lives there full time now.  He lets Retired Locals live in part of it Rent Free as Caretakers of it.

  

via: VINTAGE VIXEN Blog

Anyway, Vix and her Boyfriend Jon Travel extensively on Vacations all over the World and I so do Love her coverage of it all on her Blog.  Even their Home in Great Britain is a Lovely Historic Family Home she inherited and her sense of Style and Aesthetic is Boho Chic.  My European Relatives go on "Holiday" a lot too, most Europeans I've ever known Travel extensively on Vacations more than any Americans I've known ever do.  Of coarse in Europe you're so close to so many other Countries and Cultures, so why wouldn't you experience it all?  But many I know Travel far and Wide all over the Globe, and even here to America on their Vacations.  Vix and Jon often go to India too.  America isn't a prime destination for most Europeans that I know tho' and never has been.   Arizona is a Tourist State and we used to receive more Visitors from Canada, Asia and Mexico than any other Countries... until all this Political Fuckery and Administration Xenophobia anyway, now they rarely come anymore on Vacation and I don't Blame them.

I, for one, miss the International Community Visitors, good people, excellent Guests to Host, enjoyable to meet, and they do a lot for the local Economy when they come.   When I used to be a Global Traveler myself I always appreciated Host Countries that were Welcoming to Foreign International Visitors.  America as a Collective I still think is a gracious Host aside from our current Leadership Xenophobes and perhaps their staunchest Base.  So, when the World Cup was Hosted here I do think our International Guests saw some of the best of us and what America still is.  I just Hope we can get back to being Led by some of the best of us as well and restore our Global Reputation too?   Below... I think The Daughter may have been Scrapping at the Recycle Center and Scored a Street Sign for one of her Kiddos... *LOL*

 

*******

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