Blogging And Why This Community Is Different Than Real Life

Yes, we'll get to talking about Blogging and this Community as the Post unfolds.  It was The Hook after all. *Winks*  I faded so early on Thursday, falling Asleep before Evening even fell, that I messed up my Sleep Pattern and am wide Awake now at Two in the Morning!   And it's even a Sleep-In Day since nobody has to Work now for the 4th of July, with me taking the Day off Work too... so, dammit!   So, here I sit Blogging and hoping the tapping of my Keyboard doesn't wake The Man?   I'd heard The Son and The Daughter arguing again and I'm pretty sure it was due to her Boyfriend being here too late, but, they settled it without it escalating, Thankfully, whew!  The last thing I wanted on the Eve of a Holiday was more Sibling Drama unfolding here.  And especially over the same thing over and over again, after it's been made clear, knock it off, cease and desist, all of you!

She has been spending almost all her time with Mando, but, off the Property mostly, so nobody has any Issues with that.   Princess T's Boyfriend Rusty is just more considerate and only spends time here very seldom and it's never become a problem or a nuisance.   His Dad doesn't mind Princess T spending more time at their Home coz apparently she insists Rusty clean everything before she'll come over, so, it's beneficial to all the Guys living there to have a tidier and cleaner Bachelor Pad.  *LMAO*  Often the Tia comes over and does the Housekeeping for all the Men, who Princess T said are slobs and live nasty.  But I know my Granddaughter isn't taking one for the Team by cleaning for and cleaning up behind a house full of Unmarried Men living dirty and messy!  *Bwahahaha*   BTW: I don't Blame her, I wouldn't either!

She had asked me how come most Men can be okay with living in filth?  I had no Answer. *LOL*  This is Why she said she prefers "The Gays", coz most all her Gay Male Friends are as Clean, particular in their ways and Style, and do Housekeeping like most Women would, and so their Rooms or Homes are immaculate and so are they.  *LMAO*   Then she added, well, except Allen and my Brother, who are the Messiest Gay Men on the Planet, how did we get so Unlucky?   *Bwahahaha*   To be sure, The Young Prince and his Husband Allen were slobs and it was always an Issue when they were living here coz nobody was their Maid Service.   The Son is a Straight Guy but he is immaculate in his Habits and so is The Man, whose Marine Corps. Training was rigid enuf he's very disciplined about everything he does and where he occupies Space.

So, anyway, becoz Rusty has his Sisters Kittens he's having to Care for, Princess T has been spending a lot of time over there with helping him Care for the Kittens.  *Smiles*   The Sisters are still Minors and live with the Mom, so they only come over to the Dad's Home every other Weekend when he has Visitation and Shared Custody apparently.   So, Rusty and Princess T have no idea why the Dad would think it was a great Idea to Gift the Girls with Two Kittens that remain at the Dad's House coz the Mom doesn't want them at her House?  *Eye Roll, Disneyland Dad Syndrome I suspect, and that's the explanation I gave Princess T as to the possible of 'Why'?*   Luckily Rusty is a tender Hearted Soul and likes Cats, even our Eli doesn't mind Rusty and Eli Hates everyone but his Human usually and attacks everyone else but me.  *Smiles*

In fact, The Man was sent in alone to change out Eli's Water Dispenser while she was out with her Boyfriend, and I forgot how risky that was without me being his Bodyguard!   So, next thing I hear The Man cursing up a Storm and yep, Eli had swatted him on the way in and then ambushed him on the way out too!   So, after The Man came in and told me, The Enforcer, to have a Word with that Evil Cat, I hadda go in there and read Eli the riot act about being Nice to the rest of the Family.  He gave me dirty Stink Eye Side Eye during the entire Come To Jesus Speech I was giving him, so I seriously doubt he has any intention of compliance, but, he looked dutifully aware he was being reprimanded for what he just did to Grandpa.  *LOL*  Luckily, tho' shaken, Grandpa wasn't harmed, he wasn't expecting the Ambush going in or coming out, coz he Forgets how Evil that Cat is about unwanted Intruders into his Space.  Even if you're doing something Nice for him, like filling his Water.

 But, I refused to turn the TV on for Eli to "Sponge Bob Square Pants" as Princess T had asked me to.  He likes the Show and actually watches it, but it wasn't turned on, as his punishment.  *LOL*  And I Scolded him and told him Why... I know that Lil Fucker understands what I'm saying, his Expression speaks Volumes without Words.   The Attitude and Shade he was throwing me was almost comical and Laughable, but I have to remain Stern and not Laugh.  Even tho' it's hysterical really when he knows he's in Trouble with The Enforcer and acts like, Oh Shit, here she goes again, I've heard audible Sighs from that Cat, I kid you not!  *LMAO*  Since even Princess T usually wants ME to be The Heavy when Eli has been very Naughty and needs to be disciplined about whatever he's done Wrong. 

  Oh, she Yells at him a lot, since she's often Emotionally Unregulated as Hell, and he Torments her on purpose for his Entertainment, I swear, becoz he is a Rascal and vindictive!   Even tho' he Adores her too and she's clearly his Human and he's very protective of her and misses her when she's at Work or going out.  He Cries the Song of his People wailing pitifully until she returns sometimes.   But she swears he doesn't take her Seriously... and, she could be Right.  He shrugs off her Fits towards him, but if I enter and clearly am going to confront his Behavior and Go Off, he usually rolls over exposing his Belly and trying hard to make me Laugh and diffuse my Reprimand, by his Silly antics he's deliberately doing.   Or looks down and won't make direct Eye Contact... just the occasional Stink Eye Side Eye and throwing of Shade, if I go Long on The Speech.  Oh, and I do!!!   He can Count on it!  *Bwahahahaha* 

He's been a Good Boy since The Speech about attacking Grandpa, but, next time we have The Man help with Eli, I've got to Escort him for Safety's Sake.   Eli won't attack anyone if they're in my Company or the Company of his Human.   But, he's mos' def not gonna comply with tolerating Peopling, he Hates People, 99.9% of our Species and is quite intolerant.   But, so is his Human, so, he's a good Match for his Girl really.   She doesn't Like People either, and Peopling is difficult for her. But she says she's getting better at it, now she's Working with the Public and Co-Workers.  *LOL*  And it's Crazy, coz People genuinely LIKE her and she could be very Popular in fact, she's much Beloved by almost everyone she meets.   She just doesn't wanna be or choose to be Social and she mostly wants to be Reclusive, like Grandpa... they're Two Peas in a Pod that way, it's how they just ARE and want to Be.

We had another Haboob move in Tonight due to Monsoon Season, and the Dust Storm was Epic rolling over the City and was caught on Aerial Cameras before Dusk.  If you've never seen a Haboob sized Dust Storm it is a thing to behold, it rolls like a Dust Tsunami across the Landscape and is Enormous, blotting out everything, and can be quite dangerous due to visibility being so impossible during one.   If you're driving and one hits, you have to pull off the Road as far as possible, turn off your Headlights, and not put your Brake on.  If you kept your Headlights on other Drivers might think you're still Driving and try to follow you and crash into you otherwise.  It's pretty damned scary, since a lot of accidents occur during one anyway, even if you do everything you're supposed to.  So, when I see one coming or hear it's coming, I won't Drive.  And, it can Sandblast your Vehicles Paint and pit it's Windshield if you're driving thru one too.  The Above Pix is Phoenix during a Haboob, so you can see the Scale of Mother Nature's Potential Power during one.

So, Yeah, we've had Two of them Two Afternoons in a row just before Dusk and so I wasn't going out in it or to Work in it, no way.   I told Cameron, our Asst. Manager, Nope, Sorry.  He understands that between no Caregiver Coverage, the inclement severe Weather rolling in, and my lack of being sufficiently Motivated to pull an 11th Hour request to Work and Cover a Shift for another No-Show, it just wasn't happening.  The Young People who are Paid Staff there all like me and I'm like their Surrogate Grandma, so we have a really good rapport.   They don't with most of the other Boomers there of my Generation... and, it's quite understandable, there is these huge Generational Gap and rift between most of them that can't seem to be transcended.   The Kiddos all tell me I'm the Cool Boomer... so I guess that's a Compliment?  *Bwahahaha*

Princess T tells me the Staff at Work all talk about me all the time and it tickles her that I'm often the Topic of Conversation.  She finds it highly Amusing.  *LOL*   I'm Surprised, I know they all Like me and all call out my Name in Welcome when I come in.  Many come give me Hugs {the Girls}, and the Young Guys tell me their personal life quite often too, like a Grandchild would.  So, I'm Touched and I Like them all, good Kids.   And the Older Male Employees who are the Main Bosses there compliment me on how well I Raised Princess T to be such a good Worker.   Tho', she said her Main Boss, who was the Age of my Adult Kids, the one who just got Transferred, was sure I had a Dungeon at Home and Practiced Voodoo and he had this whole Built Up Back Story that was freakin' Hilarious!

  Princess T couldn't resist, she Deadpanned Wednesday Addams Style, "Oh, she does..." and left it at that, so, he never gave her a hard time like he could some of the other Workers.  *Bwahahaha*  Not risking being Hexed or Cursed I guess???  *Winks*  She misses him already, the Female that replaced him isn't as "Rules Oriented" and my Rules Oriented Grandchild doesn't like that the New Boss has a lackadaisical Work Ethic and is rather Lazy and not up to the Job or setting a good example.  Kyle could be a Pain in the Ass sometimes but she Liked him and said he was a good Supervisor and a Good Sport with his Workers to keep Morale High.  He'd do Silly depreciating things, to make them all Laugh, like come in wearing a Silly Costume.  He had a Chicken Costume that was hilarious and he wasn't too Proud to wear it during Spirit Week.   He even kept on a Bunny Costume he wore for Easter, when she told him she wanted to show me, I even Photographed him wearing it with her and a Co-Worker good Friend of hers, and he let me.

We like being Silly ourselves when out and about and have no Shame about having a Big Time doing it, but, without being annoyingly disruptive, some people can take it too far in Public we think.   Where they get out of Control having their Good Time with their Audience of Family and Friends in Public.   Harmless Fun never becomes disruptive or intrusive to other folk's Experience, you have to keep it Toned Down and Dialed Back enuf to be acceptable in the doing of it.   The Girl in the previous Photo has left and Princess T misses her too, she used to call that Friend "Little Miss Sunshine" becoz she was always in a Good Mood and Smiling, all the time.   She wore a lot of Inspirational Happy Message T-Shirts too, like the one she's wearing in that Pix with a Sun Shining and an Inspirational Quote/Message of "Every Little Thing Is Gonna Be Alright".  She worked in Books and was a good Worker, but went on to bigger and better things, so Princess T was Happy for her, but wished she was still there and Misses her terribly now.

I miss a lot of the Vendors and Paid Staff that have left over the Years too at the Antique Mall, some do come in to visit every so often and tell us how they're doing.   Some, we never see or hear from again.   The ones that want to keep in touch with me Privately will Friend me on The Book Of Faces so we keep in touch that way over the Years.   I still have Old Co-Workers Friends connected on FB from my Corporate Lives Careers too, just not a lot, I didn't mix Business and my Personal Life very much when I was a Banker or working at the DA's Office.   Most of the people were just a Professional Relationship that I preferred to keep that status of, since, believe it or not, outside of this Blog, I prefer to be a more Private Person in Real Life situations and relationships.   You probably know more about me than most folks that see me all the time.  *LOL*  I think a lot of Bloggers are that way tho' actually, there is some semblance of Anonymity in this Community that doesn't Exist in Real Life, no matter how much is Shared.

Plus, this Community IS different than Real Life IMO, I think overall it's a far Kinder Community of Souls and Kindred Spirits that you might never meet as many of in Real Life.   By the time someone is Following and Supporting your Blog, and Visiting it often, you develop a rapport that sometimes is a lot more intimate and meaningful than Real Life often offers or affords most folks on a daily basis.   This can be like an Online Diary of sorts and a Platform to Voice anything and everything you choose to Share and have known out here in the vastness of Cyberspace that you don't really mind some people knowing, but, mebbe not everyone.   Everyone or just anyone in Real Life might not Need to Know all about any of us actually.   They wouldn't seek you out like Bloggers and Dear Readers do here in this Community, where we can and do Bond sometimes, by Choice, not necessarily by circumstance or necessity.  Tho' Common Bonds are often a catalyst for a Connection here, they don't have to be.

 If I ranted and vented as much in Real Life about Topics I never really discuss in Real Life hardly ever, if at all, it would likely not be received as well as it does here in this Community.  Here folks can insulate themselves from anything they don't wanna Read, See or Know.   That's the Beauty of a Blog and being a Blogger or even just a Lurker who isn't participatory but enjoys the Community as a Spectator and Audience only.  The level of Anonymity is Chosen here, not Mandatory.   I've met Bloggers here who actually in Real Life have duality to that Life that those around them know nothing about but the Blog Community does.  Things that Socially might cause them some hardships or biases they just can't risk, but here, it's a Safe Space to Be.   And sometimes, we just all need a Break from Real Life, don't we?  Or is that just me?  *Winks*   And here we can be Silly, Serious, Controversial or Weird as we wanna be, without Judgment, and that's very Liberating for anyone.  If someone doesn't Connect with a Blogger or a Blog, it's Okay, there's plenty to choose from.

Today would have been my Mom's Birthday, in Real Time it's July 5th, she would have been about 94.   Which, she wouldn't have wanted to Live that long, she felt the 84 Years she had was more than enough.  My Dad felt the same about the 74 Years he had.  He'd outlived all of his Brothers and Sisters, he certainly didn't wanna outlive any Children, or any more of his Nieces and Nephews that didn't get the Privilege of attaining Old Age or sometimes not even Middle Age.  On his side of the Family Old Age wasn't a Given.  On Mom's side only her Younger Sister and one of that Sister's Sons Died prematurely.   There was controversial speculation that hers and her Youngest Son's Death was not an accidental or a natural Death, it just couldn't be proven and is a long, Sad, tragic Story.   Which I will now Share, coz, it's a Blog, and thus, different than Real Life and what we may, or may not, Share in it. 

My Aunt was significantly Handicapped and yet did Marry, a much Older Man and they had Four Children.  But, he was a violent Man and a raging Alcoholic.  Unfaithful, and a couple people who were Family around him mysteriously Died prematurely and under suspicious circumstances and quite close together on the Timeline, he had new Insurance Policies on them, need I say more?   I've seen many a Homicide True Story where it's not so uncommon for Greed within actual Families and Insurance Policies taken out end up being the reason someone gets Murdered and the Death has to be Investigated as Suspicious.   Sometimes it's proven it was, sometimes it's not.   My entire Family always felt that my Aunt and her Son were not a Natural or Accidental Death at all and highly Suspected her Husband of Murdering them and making it appear Accidental or Natural.  If so, he got away with it.

I'd gotten a Letter from my Welsh Cousin Terry, who was a Teenager at the time of his Death, and he'd just gotten a new Job, a new Girlfriend and a new Motorcycle.   His Death was ruled possibly Accidental from a Health Issue he did indeed have and he didn't have access at the time of Death to his Life Saving Medication he usually kept on him.   Or, possibly a Suicide, which nobody Believed that possibility, given the Letter I provided that was received Days before his Death and clearly showed he had everything to Live for and didn't even hint at being depressed, despondent or even considering self harm of any kind.  It was a shock when I found out of his Death and my Mom flew Home to Wales to attend the Funeral and felt everything about it was highly suspicious.  He needed Glasses to see at all and oddly, his Glasses were not with him at Time of Death and he'd of been Legally Blind without them. 

 They were left at my Aunt's Home, where he didn't live, and where he certainly didn't Die.   My Mom felt that was very Suspicious and asked her Sister why Terry's Glasses were at their House and not his own, my Aunt hadn't realized they were there and said she didn't know, he couldn't see without them so never left them anywhere.  My Aunt had Developmental Disabilities and had Survived an Operable Brain Tumor as a Child, but that made her Mentally Handicapped after it was removed.  Back then the only way they knew to do that was partial Lobotomy.    So really she had the Mental capacity and development of a Young Teenager and was not able to Read, Write, and never went to School.  So in many ways had Childlike Naivette and an Innocence about her, she was a Beautiful Woman in looks tho', and a Kind and Pure Soul.  She had a Beautiful Singing Voice too, both of Mom's Siblings did, it skipped right over Mom tho'. 

 Mom was partially Deaf from a serious Childhood Accident of being hit, run over and dragged a couple Miles by a Car when she was Five, and so her Hearing Loss affected her ability to carry a Tune or a Tone.   Mom's Pedestrian/Car Accident was in the days hardly anyone owned a Car but the very Rich and the Man who ran over her was very Rich, and English, so never got Charged.  Mom's reconstructive Surgery was done on my Nanna's Kitchen Table by the Light of a Lantern by a Country Doctor who was Skilled enuf her Scarring and disfigurement were minimal!   So that is a Story in and of itself!  But, she lost Hearing in One Ear completely due to it and partial Hearing in the other.  And the Severe Head Trauma did cause some Behavioral and Mental Health complications that lasted a Lifetime. 

 The Daughter also had Three Severe Head Traumas before she was Grown, and we often wonder if that onset her Mental Health Issues, Docs cannot say for sure?   I think it could have, Head Trauma can cause a lot of Issues to the Brain Function and not all is known on how Mental Illness manifests anyway.  She fell off Monkey Bars at Day Care as a Pre-Schooler at about age 4.  She fell off a Cheerleading Pyramid when she got accidentally dropped during a High School Game at 14 by the Guys holding up the Girls, and at 15 she was in a near Fatal Car Accident caused by another Driver who was evading Police on a High Speed Chase in Phoenix and T-Boned the Vehicle she was in... her Schizophrenia began soon thereafter and she was Fine until all that, so...

 But, I digress, back to the Family Murder Mystery Story that is True.  Mom took my Letter with her that my Cousin had Written me Days before his Death, to show Police it was no Suicide either.  Weeks later her Sister too was Dead under Suspicious circumstances and the Husband remarried his Mistress only Eleven Days later and collected on both Insurance Policies of deceased Wife and Son!   I don't know Why Police never delved deep enuf to bring Closure to the Family, and erase all suspicious of Foul Play, and for sure Rule it Out, but they didn't.  And it's a small rural part of North Wales, so perhaps the resources for Homicides is scant... I suspect they don't even get many?  Most people living around those parts have lived there all their lives and know each other all their lives.   Insulated Communities like that have a Trust the rest of us don't usually Share about the Residents within their midst.  But Evil can lurk anywhere.   Even Quaint bucolic little Towns.

 Most Cold Cases there are from the 1970's tho', the time frame they both Died mysteriously and quite suddenly.  And Two Dead Family Members, who were Younger Aged and in decent enuf Health, with Policies out on them, Dying closely together, is very Suspicious.  I don't care what anybody says, it's not a good Optic if  you're the Policy Holder and Beneficiary on both and the one who took out the Insurance Policies on them relatively close to the time they just happened to conveniently Die suddenly to Collect a large Sum of Money.   And then go off after Death No. Two with your new Fortune and Marry your Mistress less than a Fortnite later... me thinks he was a Murderer and ineffective Policing just Ruled the Deaths otherwise.   We'll never really know and the speculation is that perhaps they were somehow poisoned by someone they Trusted???   Anyway, the Family never talked of it after no Case was Opened... it was too upsetting for too long even unspoken.  And these can be things you Blog about that you never Talk about in Real Life.

*******

Which is why Blogging is different than Real Life... Dawn... The Bohemian

Corona Couture And Concerts

 

My Earrings arrived that I bought from my Friend Lilia, of CORONA COUTURE, and I already forgot where the Hell I put them!  *Le Sigh and LOL*  Corona, not as in The Virus, that's actually her Surname!  *LOL* It's Thursday in Real Time and I'm being a Sloth, I don't intend to do anything and I slept in after I got the Grandchild to Work and went back to Bed.  The Daughter woke me with a nice Veggie Omelette she made for me.   She's a good Omelette maker and they always look so Editorial and perfect compared to mine when I make one, since it looks like an Egg Massacre took place when I attempt it.  *Smiles and Le Sigh*  We had such a big Storm roll in after we got back from the Movies last Night that it literally blew over my big potted Cactus on the front porch!  Luckily it blew over onto the Lantana Bush so that caught it and I could put it back up with ease and no damage to the large expensive Pot or the Cacti, which are also quite large, about 7 Foot Tall now and heavy.  *Whew!*  The Lantana weren't damaged at all, that's a strong and almost indestructible dense Plant once Mature.  *Whew again*

The Son was regaling me with what happened at the Outdoor Heavy Metal Concert "Summer Of Loud" that he and his Native American Friend Garrett went to the Day it was 119 Degrees.   One of the Bands was from Sydney, Australia and said they weren't used to this Arizona Heat!!!   OMG, that reminded The Son and I of that African Young Man that we recently rescued whose Car broke down and told us the same thing!   Just for reference, if Africans and Australians can't handle Arizona Heat, you KNOW how ridiculously HOT it is here!  *Bwahahaha*   Since the Friend is Indigenous and of an Arizona Tribe, his Family and Ancestors have always lived in Arizona, so he was just Fine out there.   And The Son works in a Non-Climate Controlled Warehouse every Day at his Job, so he was just Fine too.  But, they said people around them were passing out from Heat Exhaustion and needing Medical Attention!   It is not the right time of Year to have any Outside Venue like that, not Safe.

Both The Son and Garrett took great Care to look Fly for the Concert, in case they met any Women while there.  *LOL*  They both looked quite Handsome with Swag, but I'm completely biased of coarse.  Which is Why the Torment of asking them if they wanted to bring my Umbrellas was so hilariously Wickedly hysterical to me, can you only imagine?  *Bwahaha*  The Son and Garrett are like, we're not Passing as a Gay Couple and we'd probably get beat up in that Venue sitting there with  Mom Umbrellas.   And Two Native Guys, Security would definitely think we're not bringing them for Shade, but to use as Weapons like Crazy Indians, and confiscate your Umbrellas!  *LMAOROTF*   Garrett is Single, like The Son, and jokes that he wants to be that Guy that has a Relationship where people look at them as a couple and be like, "How is that Fine Ass Beautiful Woman with that chubby ch'izhii Guy?!"  Navajo for rough, dry, tough, worn and weathered. *LOL*   He trains insaiyan so he's pretty hard on himself, for middle Aged Men he and The Son look pretty good.   They both took the obligatory Selfies beforehand, in the Customary Room of the House *LOL*, as is the Custom of all Young People these days.  *Winks*

And of coarse everyone in my Orbit, has to know they risk becoming the Topic of some Blog Fodder.  But, since hardly anyone of their Generation even reads a Blog, it's a Non-Issue.  *Bwahahahaha*  And what do they Care what us Boomers Write about them anyway that our Blog Friends will Read?  *Winks and LOL*  The Son got good Pixs he wanted.  I see Pyrotechnics in this Pix, Fire AND Arizona Heat, OMG, what Fresh Hell!   As if they needed to Turn Up the Heat!  *LOL*   Heavy Metal Bands and Fans are Insane!   *LMAO*  The Concert was a good one however and the Bands performed well in spite of the Extreme Temperatures, which had to be hard on those Performing on Stage too.  The Son bought one of the T-Shirts, but said the ones with the best Graphics and that had all the Bands on it that he really wanted were only available in Small and Medium.   He usually buys an X-Large becoz he doesn't like tight fitting Clothes, tho' a Large would have fit, but they didn't have that Size either.   He found it Odd they had so many Small and Medium Sizes since the vast majority of Attendees are not slight built Concert Goers.  *LOL*  

So, I have to imagine they've just Sold Out of what they had as they've done their National Tour and by the time they got to Phoenix, that's all they had left?  Anyway, he had a good time and it was a nice Birthday Gift to him from his Friend.  And, when they got there they got Upgraded from a Lawn Area to the Seated Area closer to the front of the Stage, which was a Sweet Spot and unexpected, a lot more comfortable too.  He said with the Concert and me taking him to the Movies, which he hadn't been to a Movie in Years at the Theater, it was a Memorable Birthday Celebration.   I'm glad since it was rather a Midlife Crisis for him with turning 39.  I don't remember ever having a Midlife Crisis at any Age.  But, I strongly recall my Dad had one when he turned 50 and unfortunately we'd made a Big Deal of his 50th, so, Bad Timing.  *LOL*  And Mom said she had one in her 30's.  Our Oldest Daughter had one in her 30's too.

The Daughter, whose the Middle one I often mention in this Post, is like me, she's never had one and says, she's just Surprised she's still Alive!  *LOL*   True that, given her Life and Habits, just still being Alive is a pleasant Surprise, so she's not feeling any Negativity about any Years racked up at this point.  *Bwahahaha*   I actually enjoy the whole Privilege of Growing Old, it's one not afforded to many and I'm appreciative of that Fact.   I remember my Dad just saying 50 hit him hard becoz most of his Family had never attained that Age so he didn't really draw from any Ancestral Point of Reference, most had Died quite Young.  Not uncommon among Indigenous Populations, so, he never expected to Grow Old and when he did, it was New Territory.  Mom's Family are pretty Long Lived so she expected to have good Odds even tho' she'd had many Serious Health Crisis including being a Cancer Survivor.  But her 30's still were a tough Transition from Youth I guess.

Our Oldest Daughter is now in her 50's and thoroughly enjoying being a Gramma, so she's Over the hurdle of Midlife Crisis she had in her mere 30's.  She's got Kids in their 30's now.  *LOL*   She and The SIL are now Celebrating their 29th Wedding Anniversary on the 8th of this Month, Time sure Flies.   I don't mind Aging at all and feel I've done it with a measure of Grace, dignity and total acceptance.  I am still always flattered when many people mistake me for being The G-Kid Forces Mom and not their Grandma, or of being Surprised we have Great-Grandkids, some of which are Grade School Aged.   I mean, Princess T reminds me that Technically and Legally I AM now the Mom of she and her Older Brother, since I Adopted them.   *LOL*   So, sometimes now when asked if I'm Mom, I just say Yes, becoz, for Legal Purposes I now am.  I never intended to replace their Mom tho', they have one and don't need to call me that, it would be Weird to for them and for me, so, I'm still Grandma.

But, we do Joke about it coz now Legally their Mom is their Sister and their Uncle and Aunt are their Brother and Sister... but, Grandpa is still Grandpa coz he wasn't Legally allowed to Adopt them due to his Disabilities.   *Bwahahaha*  Yeah, it's pretty complex, like one of those long Jokes about complicated and Unusual Family Dynamics usually are.  We've been scouring the Interweb for inexpensive Nissan or Toyota Used Trucks or SUV's for The Son.  There's a couple of possibilities we're looking into, I really need to get him into his own Vehicle again soon.  He's off most of the week coz his Plant is Closed around the Holiday plus he took some PTO as well for his Birthday, so, we have some Grace Period to go Car Shopping if we find something doable for him.  There's an Older Canary Yellow Nissan SUV under Five Grand that is looking very doable and is in very good condition and low miles, CarMax says it's a very good Deal too.  It's way over in Mesa tho'.

I steamed some Squash and we gave a bunch of the Butternut Squash to our Neighbor Omar and his Family, who use a lot of it.  TJ & Rob's Family don't eat Butternut Squash, coz they mostly Fry their Squash, it is better Steamed and Seasoned than Fried IMO.   It's not like Frying Zucchini, which is a softer Veggie to Fry and easier to work with.   Butternut does have a tough Skin too and tho' I Steam it with Skin intact, so it doesn't fall apart, we peel the Skin off before eating, coz once Steamed it comes off easily.   Tho' it looks big and is heavy, the centers are hollow and with big Seeds so you're really not getting a lot of edible meat off it like with the softer Squashes too.  It reminds me more of preparing Pumpkin to Cook, and tho' tasty too, it's more work so some people don't eat either.  Everything I Steamed turned out really good, I had Four kinds of Squash, Broccoli and Carrots this time.

 

The Yellow SUV is out of the Question coz the small Dealership only wants Cash Sales and The Son doesn't have that much Saved up, ah well, we got a bit excited for nothing then.  That's the problem with the affordable priced Vehicles, nobody will Tote the Note, they want Cash only.  And those they will Finance are too Expensive and the Payments are too high for most Young People or Seniors on Fixed Incomes.  I don't like having Vehicle Payments and my Nissan was New so the Payments are high even tho' the Terms were great.  But, the Paid Off Vehicles and Homes I've owned are now a thing of the Past due to present Circumstances, and current Prices of Homes and Vehicles, so, it is what it is now, expensive as Hell and unaffordable to most Average Americans.  Which is why so many are Unhoused, can't afford Rents or Mortgages, and can't afford newer reliable Vehicles which now cost as much as a Home used to cost!!!  Plus Interest Rates are Up right now and not likely to come down.

  

Well, the Big Ugly Bill did Pass, they rammed it thru as I knew they just would and the Fallout from it will be felt, for sure, and lamented for probably Decades to come for what it will burden Average Americans with the impact and sufferings of.  Billionaires will rejoice, they'll become even more obscenely Wealthy at the expense of the Poor and most Vulnerable of our Society.  Nothing like throwing the Citizens barely making it already and deemed the "Undesirables" by this Regime, right under the Bus, and it really just loudly and callously says Hurry Up And Die already!   And as that one callous Bitch Politician Senator Joni Ernst said out loud, "Well, we're all going to Die...", in response to her Constituents Iowa Town Hall Complaints.  But, do we really need to hasten it along with premature and needless Deaths in a Decent Society?!   Denial of Care is not a Humane way to have to Die for anyone, not even an Animal, let alone a Human Being.

My Heirloom Pasture Raised Eggs and my Pasture Raised Milk were both on considerable Sale at "Sprouts" this Morning!   I'm so glad they built the new "Sprouts" just a Block from our House and they're finishing up a Hawaiian BBQ Restaurant in the new development there too and some other Health Food Restaurants I want to also try, one just had their Grand Opening called CAVA which is Mediterranean Cuisine, Yay!!!   Below are Pixs of Four of their Bowls that look delicious and I'd like to try that are Falafel, Lamb, Avacado and Greek Bowls.  They have a Steak Bowl too and Wraps of all kinds in Fresh Pita, which I like but the Pita would be a Carb so for now I'm lowering my intake considerably on this Restricted Low Carb Diet.  I'm Jazzed that a Mediterranean Restaurant has Opened so close by, that Fav one of mine is Far East Valley, a long commute to eat there, but, so worth it.

The Falafel Bowl

The Lamb Bowl

The Greek Bowl

The Avocado Bowl

Apparently you can build your own Bowls too, I haven't gone inside yet since they only just Opened very recently and I'd wondered what kind of Restaurant it was?   But I visited their Website to find out more about them.  I was pleased with what I saw and how Editorial it looked, so the only Critique would be how it Tastes?  And, the Price Point of it?  There were already a lot of people there, a good Sign, I think.   There were a lot of people Grocery Shopping too, predictable just before a Holiday and the First of a Month too.   I prefer to Shop when it's not crowded, but, a lot of the Deals and Sales are right around or before a Holiday, and becoz the 4th of July in Real Time is Tomorrow they had Sales that they might not have afterwards, including my Heirloom Eggs and Milk Brands I buy.

I'll be adding some of my Friend Lilia's Creations as wonderful Blog Fodder Imagery and you can go to her Website if you're interested in any.  She had Sold Out of some others I was interested in, I'm glad her Online Sales are going well since she's not going to be doing the Shows and Events anymore or making any more Jewelry.   I'll miss her Creations and seeing her in Person at the Events she was always a part of, but I understand about juggling too much, you have to scale it back so you're not taking on too much.   She's helping her Elderly Parent out a lot now and I've been thru that with both Parents when mine were Living.  It has to be a Priority when you have a vulnerable Adult Loved one or Children you're still Raising, they're dependent upon you.

Princess T is off for the 4th of July, so I'll be able to take The Son to Chandler to look at a Truck he could possibly afford that the Dealership will be Open on the Holiday and already talked to him about it.  Even if I get the Loan and he makes the Payments, we'll do that if my very good Credit gives us the better Terms for an inexpensive good Vehicle that will be reliable for him to get to and from Work and do what he needs to do independently of me providing transportation.    Also, he said it would be better for his Niece to learn to drive in an inexpensive Vehicle than my expensive one, and I'm in complete agreement with that.  I don't want to put a 19 Year Old with Anxiety behind the Wheel of my new Nissan, I paid way too much to assume any unnecessary risks like that and still owe too much on it to lend it to anyone.

I haven't planned anything at all for the 4th of July, I just don't want to. I know so many of you are feeling that way due to all the Fuckery in the White House, which has diminished any reason to feel Celebratory at all.  I'm glad the Kiddos at least have the day off so they can do whatever they might plan, or not, I haven't heard any of them mention anything.  Today Princess T got some of Management saying good things about her becoz they tasked her with Training some of the New Hires and she did a really good Job, I knew she could and would, she's got it all Down now she's been there as long as she has... and she's very Rules Oriented that Kid.  When she was Little she'd even make up Rules for herself!!!  *LOL*   She used to tell me she didn't have ENOUGH Rules, when was the last time you heard a Child tell their Parent/Guardians that?!  *Smiles*

 

I'm tolerating the Ozempic well and it has really curbed Appetite a lot, so, we'll see how effective it is to stabilize the Diabetes, and, as a Bonus, perhaps help with Weight Loss as a secondary benefit?  I know for Years the Trulicity worked well, so I have high expectations this will also work well to stabilize the Diabetes again.   Not sure if it was the Stroke that cocked up the stabilization or if I just was on the Trulicity too long that the efficacy just diminished?   Hard to tell, but the Doc was thinking it was a combination of both, and so did the Specialists I saw due to the Stroke, for my Heart and my Neurological Specialty Care.  Now I don't need to see a Cardiologist or Neurologist anymore, which is good, I feel comfortable with my Primary Care Physician handling everything now, she's very good and has done more to stabilize the Diabetes than any Diabetic Specialist ever did or could.

I found some of the Aerial Listing Pixs of our Home from when we bought it that I'd Saved.   The only real difference is we lost the one Mature Pine Tree beside the House when it got the Bark Beetle Blight that killed off so many Old Trees locally.   We spent a fortune trying to Save that Tree to no avail, then another fortune to have it removed.  You can see our Irrigation Ditch behind the Property that we Share with Laura, who is the Property directly behind us and has her Property up For Sale now.   I'm very nervous about New Owners Buying her Property becoz you never know what Newbies will do or if they'll be Good Neighbors or not?  She's lived there since the 1960's but Inherited her Parents bigger Mini Farm in Glendale.   Out of the Two Properties she opted for her Parent's becoz she and her Boyfriend HATE the Newbies that bought the Property next door to the West of their Property and directly behind our next door Neighbor Omar's Property. 

 They have tragically laid an $800,000 gorgeous Property to Waste & Neglect in less than a Year after Buying it and are the Party House everyone complains about.   They cut most of the Beautiful Trees down and ruined the expensive landscaping that the Sellers had Invested in that gave that once Beautiful Property it's Curb Appeal and Value.   No telling how wrecked the inside now is based on the outside?   It had been Beautifully Remodeled in Urban Farmhouse Style just before being Listed.  I know they have tore up the Graveled Front Yard, cut literally everything down that was Landscaped in it and have Cars parked all over it, looks so Ghetto.  The only Positive thing the Newbies have done is build a Guest House Casita that matches the Pueblo Architecture of the Main House on their back Acreage.  Their Weekend Parties are loud and obnoxious and Neighbors have to call Police to make them be considerate about the fact nobody wants Live Mariachi Karaoke played and sang badly clear thru 'til Four in the fucking Morning every Friday and Saturday, sometimes even Sunday, Afternoon and Nights! 

Anyway, Work called me to ask late and very last Minute if I could Work Tonight, but I declined, I can't get Coverage for The Man on an Hour's Notice.  Plus, that meant a Regular just didn't show up again.  I'm not Covering for irresponsible Workers, especially before a Major Holiday.  The Daughter and Princess T aren't Home, they are both out with their Boyfriends already and won't be Home until quite Late.  And The Son isn't the best backup coz his Dad often doesn't behave for him like he does for the Girls.  Plus, I didn't really wanna Work, I wasn't expected to be called in and I'd asked to take Tomorrow Off too coz the Friday falls on a Holiday and I don't wanna work any Holidays, period.  I'm only filling in for a Co-Worker Friend, so I'm doing him and the Mall a favor by Working/Covering other Fridays for Richard's Shift while he's recovering from his Major Surgeries.   I'm getting burnt out on the Friday Night Shifts anyway, too many regulars don't show up so you never know who you'll be working alongside or if they can even get a replacement for a No-Show?

Since it's not my regular Shift and I don't want regular Shifts anymore, I simply don't want to Work any Evening Shift that becomes problematic for any reasons.   They don't comp us enuf Rent to make it worthwhile to have any problems or knock yourselves out.   I always work with excellence and to the very best of my abilities, but, not everyone does and if you end up having Slackers on the Shift, or someone who is difficult to Work with, it's just not something I wanna Deal with, since, I don't have to.   I'm Retired and so I want to just enjoy Retirement.   I used to like Working my Shifts there but it's not as enjoyable as it used to be and sometimes the Shift seems so damned long and I'm so ready to go Home before it ends.   Part of that is my own Health being more compromised than it used to be.   So, it's physically harder on me now.

via: Magnolia Pearl

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