Haunted Mansion Renovations & Tales Of Discount Dawn

 Well, it looks like the Roof of The RV Garage Mahal has held from leaking but we did get some Water in beneath the Doors.  Some of the Wood does look Stained but no Water came in, so we really need to get that Replacement Roof started and finished ASAP.  Which, the Door Jamb not always preventing Water getting in is usual when too much Rain hits at angles and seeps past the Door Jamb Barriers that try to Seal underneath Doors.  Mando had replaced them so they're new but I did have some leakage that got in thru the Side Door again, which has always been problematic since some of the Roof runoff hits that Door if it Rains hard enuf that the Roof runoff is like a Waterfall. 

 I've now put a Shower Curtain up against the Exterior, which I probably should have and could have done before the Storm hit, Hindsight being 20-20. *Le Sigh*  I just put Towels down to sop up what did get in and have an Outdoor Jute Throw Rug near the Interior of that Door which also soaks up a great deal of Water like a big Sponge, if it Floods into there, which, it did.  I do Hope most of this Storm is done now?  It's too Stressful to have catastrophic Storms all the time now that are capable of so much damage to Property and can be dangerous too as it takes down huge Trees, blocks Roadways stranding Motorists, and has had Hurricane Force Winds along with the Flooding and zero Visibility when Driving.  Emergency Vehicles are all over the place during these Storms, responding to Emergency Calls.

The Son said his Store's Roof Leaks in areas so he'll be responsible Today for insuring they put Buckets down, protect Customers and Merchandise.  The Granddaughter says their Store's Flat Roof leaks too but there's a 2nd Floor where the Offices are so it doesn't get into the Retail Space.  Lots of Flat Roofs have leakage Issues from heavy Storms, our Antique Mall does too but my Showroom is below the Upper 2nd Floor so I don't have to worry about it.  And Locked Cases have protection too.   But many of the Booths do have to Worry about it.  They've had repairs done over the Years but it is an Older Building and a very large Commercial one.   Ours is 55,000 sf of Space and then there's some Smaller Shops in between but connected to us and then a huge LOWE's Home Improvement Store at the other end of the same Commercial Building.

Nurse Remi will be coming soon and after she leaves I can head out to my Dentist Appointment.  He's always happy to have her visits and its good for me to have her Professional Opinion about how she thinks he's doing?  I'm not a Medical Professional so mostly I just go on my Gut Instincts about when I don't think he's doing well and anything that doesn't seem Right to me.  But having him regularly monitored by someone Trained is beneficial since his Health has been particularly Fragile and often turned on a Dime.  He doesn't always present like a Textbook Case Medical Emergency either, so he's had very close calls and my Gut Instincts or Premonitions have Luckily Saved his Life on several occasions already.  But, that's a lot of Stress on me to have his Life constantly in my Hands without the Opinions regularly enuf from the Medical Community.  Now we have that and the VA is covering it, which I appreciate.  They didn't resume his OT and PT tho' at Home, I thought they would after he couldn't do the Cardiac Rehab at the Hospital.

 

But, I know what the Therapists had him doing, he just doesn't do it with the consistency he would if they were coming regularly like his Personal Trainers and he wanted to Show Off for them.  To get the Respect of and Impress the Young Stud Muffins they send he'll try harder to do the Exercises and have them Praise him.  With me he just Complains when I'm making him do it, he's not trying to Show Off or Impress me.  *LOL*  And if he doesn't have an Audience, he just wont' do it at all now, he's already Bored of doing it with any consistency and I don't always have the Time to Watch him and be a Cheerleader for him doing what he knows he should do Daily.  It's like when your Kids wanted you to watch every little thing they did and Praise them for it when they're really Little, which, even then, gets tedious and rather patronizing to pretend you're THAT Interested in every little thing they're doing.  Now, Imagine if you will someone 74 wanting you to watch every little thing they're doing so they have a captive Audience.  Yeah, No, coz it gets Old real fast.  *Le Sigh and Laughs*

As it is I have Two Younger Generations here of Adults that will ask me to Come Look at what they've just done.  *Bwahahahaha*  And, it's obligatory for Mom/Gramma to go Look, just Look at this, will you just Look at that, well, just LOOK at it!  *LMAOROTF*  If you haven't seen that hilarious Satirical Viral You Tube Ed Bassmaster Video of the Guy pretending to Look at a Vintage Vehicle Hooptie and saying that over and over, with the Guy Owning it not seeming to realize he's being taken the Mickey out of, coz he's going on and on like a Proud Vintage Car Guy would... you simply MUST LOOK at it!  {See Below coz they have Memes of it too.}  I never get Tired of seeing it when I want a Laugh and it's an Inside Joke with all the Kiddos now.  Especially when they want me to come Look at something, and I didn't really want to, so... I go right into the Skit with it when I go Look at it... Well, will you Look at that... just Look at it... and then we all start Laughing, it's Silly, but always Funny.

Well, my Tooth Cleaning went well even tho' I was quite late on getting it done, he said they were quite Clean and commended me.  But, we did find out why one of my Molars had been sensitive at times, it has a crack and will need a Crown.  So, October 1st I'll go in and have that done now, my Insurance thru Medicare should pay for it since I haven't had any Dental except preventative Care so haven't use much of what I'm allowed annually by Medicare and HUMANA.  I'll have another Cleaning in February of 2027.  My Teeth always feel a bit on edge after a Cleaning now, but they settle down after a while.  They gave me some complimentary Products that are new and help with sore or Bleeding Gums.  With having Diabetes my Gums sometimes are sensitive when I floss now, they don't often Bleed, but this will also help if they do and is prescription strength Mouthwash.

Tonight is that Renovation Show Contest of the Haunted Mansion, I enjoyed the first Two back to back Episodes and wonder if they'll have Two more Episodes Tonight too?  I really Hope this Show succeeds so that perhaps more Historic Homes get Renovated/Restored by these competing Designers.   A lot of people who own these Homes don't have the means or can't get Contractors to do the Work, and it is a Labor of Love and can be very expensive, but well worth Preservation measures to bring these wonderful Historic Properties back to Life and use.  LATER:  They only did One Episode and repeated Episode Two.  I thought they were harsh on the Designers coz I liked what they did, but, they didn't eliminate anyone either, so perhaps they were just being critical in ways that would be beneficial to paying more attention to Detail and Editing, which, I had to agree with some of what they didn't find acceptable. 

 With having a deadline some things get rushed tho' and aren't as meticulous as they probably would be with no tight deadline.  They do a lot in just Two Days to transform a whole Room per Team.  The bold Creativity is impressive tho', I wouldn't think of some of the higher risk things the Designers come up with that are so ambitious and hard to do in such a tight time frame.  Floor Art, Ceiling Art and Wall Art in just less than 48 Hours of actual Work Time is high risk to do really well, but, they've pulled it off each Episode with few exceptions.  And what didn't work was easily remedied and not permanent, so could be done away with.  Anyway, still thoroughly enjoying this Show.  I like the one Designer's Ideas whose a Bully, but, she's impossible to work with on a Team.  Coz she wants to dictate what the other Designers do and so nobody wants to work with her or have to stroke her Ego so they won't end up just arguing and impede the work.  They're not her Minions, they're in competition with her, and she is Arrogant and thinks she's in charge of everything on the Team. 

And I think the one remaining Male Contestant and the Young Black Female Contestant that are left are a Double Threat to her and she doesn't even see it coming coz she underestimates both of them.  The other Female Designer has some good ideas but she lacks being Editorial in her Styling.  I can relate to that weakness and see it in her outcomes, the Judges have warned her about it but I can see where she's struggling to Dial herself back when it comes to excessively Styling and cluttering up the Rooms with Too Much, especially Furnishings.  In Victorian Era Homes they were built at a time when Furnishings were much smaller than Modern Furnishings so you really can't put a lot of Modern Furniture in a Room of one without it overwhelming the Space.

Before

After

  I lived in a Historic Home of Circa 1920 and Believe me, I Learned the hard way when Buying Modern Furniture to put into it that was too oversized for it and a Mistake.  She's done that too, Twice already, and put too many Tchotkes on Beautiful Built-In Shelving she Designed and built from scratch, risking elimination.  Bihl's Manor Renovation is going well tho'.   They rotate Guest Judges and have had Jack Osbourne on already Judging.  They also have a well known Gay Male Black Designer named Michel who is a Mentor to the other Judges and gives advice along the way, I like him, his suggestions should be heeded and he does help Judge each time too, he's Cute Eye Candy as well. *Winks*   I should have known the one Older Black Female Designer who Quit Day One was gonna coz she wasn't even in the Promo Pix Below that they used on Social Media to Promote the Show.  She seemed terrified of the Home's Haunted Reputation, so got Scared off easily. The Young White Female Blonde in the Front is the Show's Host.

  The Older White Female with long Red Dreadlocks in a Bun and Glasses is the Bully Designer, Great Bold Ideas and lives in a Home like this one, is in Tune with Spirit, but, a little bit of her goes a long fucking way and the other Designers have to stroke her oversized Ego to keep her out of their way.  The Older Black Male Gay Designer beside her was really good and I liked him a lot, but he got eliminated when he bit off more than he could chew on the Challenge of Episode Two, with a Piano he fussed with too much and didn't really get finished.  The Young White Gay Male Designer in the back is very good, I like everything he's done, he's a bit of a Diva, but Funny with it.  The Young Black Female Lesbian Designer with dreadlocks to the far Left is a Wild Card Threat, she fusses with her Challenges but has pulled off some spectacular Ideas, she doubts her abilities too much, she's better than she thinks she is IMO.  The Older White Female Designer beside her in the bright Shirt I think could get eliminated, she's the least Editorial one, good Ideas so far, but has Greatness mixed with lack of Restraint.

 

Okay, so that's my Critique of a New Seasonal Show tied in to Halloween Contest Shows that I really Like a lot and Hope doesn't get Cancelled.  I think America could benefit from a Show like that in Restoring Historic Mansions rather than having them Lost due to Neglect and inability of Owners to Fund or Complete their own Renovations/Restoration of them.  I know, we couldn't finish ours either, even 15 Years of Living in it, the Labor of Love is quite an Investment in all ways, but, well worth it IMO.  I'd Save and Restore them all if I were filthy Rich.  *Smiles*  I actually Weep and it Hurts my Heart every time one gets Razed or left to become so ruined it cannot be Saved.  So few left around Metro Phoenix and we used to have an abundance of them when I moved here in the early 1970's, but, even before then, many were razed in the 1950-1960's Eras.   What was Lost is obscene and tragic!!!  Greedy Developers were responsible for a lot of it.  They're like Locusts when they swoop in destroying everything in their Wake just to make a quick Buck, seeing everything as a Commodity and not as a Community.

 Phoenix had a LOT of Elite move out here at the turn of the Century, so in the 1800's Mansions abounded in and around Phoenix Metro, spectacular ones, that they just kept tearing down rather than be forward Thinking about Heritage Tourism Potential.  And, how many folks would really want to Buy a Home like that and Restore it rather than these poorly built Cookie Cutter Modern ones.   The Cities have done nothing to promote Restoration either, some Cities have, to their Credit, Phoenix and it's surrounding Cities absolutely have NOT, to their detriment and it's maddening.  Every Historic Property usually has a lot of Land and there has been the Issue with it's demise.   Coz a Developer will want it to cram in high density Housing or a Commercial Property where a Grand Historic with lush Landscaping on Acreage once stood, for maximum profits.  It's damned near Criminal, but happens all the time and is still happening to the few Holdouts left.   Three more have succumbed just in the past couple Months, I was Heartsick.

 Cities are too inclined to change Zoning just to give Favor to the Greedy Developers and Billionaire Elite.  I'm sure they Buy the Right People to get that done, even if Communities protest about it and don't want it.  Like the Data Centers Billionaires are funding and they're forcefully putting right by Neighborhoods that definitely NONE of us wants by us.  Nobody ever consulted any of the Community before building them either, which is just Wrong since it will impact us, our Costs, Environmental Hazards they pose to us, the Noise from them, we get no benefit from them directly, so I think those Companies ought to be Taxed heavily and distribute those Funds to those whose Lives and Neighborhoods it's Negatively impacting, at the very least, to compensate us for what it's exacting upon us all. 

 They're not building them in affluent Neighborhoods, or in their own Back Yards where these Tech Giants Live and Raise their Families, I can tell you that much, and there's a reason for that!  They know how harmful they are, so, it's intentional negligence and harm for profits.  They'll likely get Sued for Millions, but if they make Billions or Trillions, they don't Care.   Anyway, this Morning when I went out to do some Yardwork coz it's only 65 Degrees and very Cool Outside, there were about 8 Turkey Vultures circling overhead.  Either something is Dead nearby or it's Mating/Breeding Season?  They will congregate in huge Flocks when it's time to Mate and it looks Scary as Hell when you get that many Vultures, sometimes Hundreds of them, Flocking and covering the Trees, coz they are BIG Birds!  *LOL*  Google says they may be Migrating to Southern Climates in the Fall.  But Turkey Vultures are highly Social too, so they may just be communicating and interacting with each other in Groups of the Size I saw.  Impressive Sight all the same, a little unnerving when they're Circling above you.  *LOL & Winks*

I spent too much at SAVERS Yesterday getting some Inventory of Anime and Pokemon Plush Figures they had.  All were New Old Stock with Tags still attached and the profit Margins will be spectacular, so I had to Invest in Buying all of them they had, foolishness not to, since those Sell easily at our Antique Mall and are in high demand.  I only Paid about $3-$4 each, but they had so many, all different Characters too, various Sizes.  Looking each up I was astounded at what some are fetching and have Sold for Online, Wow!!!  I don't know that much about all of the Popular various Anime to know Value, I'm more familiar with the Pokemon Characters Value.  But, damn, some of these Anime are fetching a Fortune, and I got some of the coveted ones apparently, one Sold Online several times for around $50 and it's some kind of Japanese Chicken or Rooster Character and not that large or particularly impressive looking either!!!  Who knew?  *LOL*  This is why you have to look each one up to determine Selling Cost.  Some are real Cute and it's not just Kids Buying them, Adults do too.

I'm actually now having Fun with Selling such things and Learning more about them from those who Collect and Love it.  As a Collector myself I'm always Interested in someone's Collections and Learning more about them, even if it's not something I'd personally Collect or have an Attraction to.  And, a lot of this stuff is Money!!!   The problem being it all has to go into my Locked Case for the reasons of Loss Prevention being Higher on such Merch unfortunately.  And not just coz Customers might be Tempted to Steal such things, but other Vendors too, I've had problems in the Past with Vendors Stealing, especially Toy Collectibles and Display Pieces they could also use in their Spaces.  I once caught another Vendor who'd Stolen a complete Mannequin Torso from me!  She got Caught and we had a big Public confrontation, in front of Store Manager, coz I'm not Shy about confronting anyone foolish enuf to try to Victimize me. 

 So I did get it back and felt Management should have Banned her for getting caught Red Handed Skimming Merch from other Vendors, she's a Thief and can't be Trusted.  And she was Stealing bigger Money items too. But she Rents a LOT of Space, so they haven't bounced her.  I still keep my Eye on her and tell other Vendors she Steals, she steers clear of me now too.  I told her if she ever Stole from me again, coz that had been the 2nd time, but I couldn't prove the 1st time, I'd Press Charges or... fuck her up!!!  I think the latter Scared her more actually, she's a mousy little Retired Librarian and looks the part.  She's also rabid MAGA, Sells a lot of MAGA Merch too, so, that spoke volumes about her too and her lack of a Moral Compass or Ethics.   And frankly, if Police failed to do anything about her Stealing, I'd risk catching Charges or going back to Psyche Lockdown, just to beat the shit out of that Woman.  *LOL and Winks*   

My Family of coarse would prefer the Police to actually do their Job... but with Theft... often they fail to unfortunately... and so Vigilante Justice meted out to Thieves targeting the Wrong Marks, might happen more often and I'm Okay with that.   We all pay the Cost of Theft when we Buy anything that has to be marked up to offset Loss Prevention, which now is so rampant that Thieves almost can get away with hoists of Thousands or even Millions/Billions of Dollars, including this President and his epic Criminal Activity that is unprecedented, and our Society is doing absolutely nothing about it.  They're having "Hearings" and "Investigations" and yet no consequences even when Evidence, Proof and the Truth comes out, so, why even bother with the pretense or Illusion of Justice and wasting our Time and Taxpayer Dollars even more? 

 I want Indictments, Incarceration, and Huge Restitution or Seizure of their fucking Assets to compensate Victims of their Crimes.  Leave them Penniless and Locked Up, all of them, it's the only real deterrent and makes the Right Statement it won't be Tolerated or Acceptable EVER.  Or mebbe give Donnie Two Dolls a Public Marie Antoinette Moment on Live TV so that no aspiring Criminal Politician or President will ever try to Rape the American Public again like that Predatory Career Criminal Rapist Pedophile Motherfucker has.  I would promote Public Executions of Convicted Pedophiles and their Child Abduction and Trafficking Rings, since Society has no place for those Perverts and it is the only way to keep our Children Safe from them.  Eliminate them, period.   And anyone who would Support them and their Cause, is highly Suspect and probably very Twisted and abhorrent themselves IMO and not a Safe Person for our precious Children to be around either.

I was Sad that the above Button-Up Sweatshirt at Savers was only a Medium, I'd so want to get it and wear it myself on Halloween Night and during the Season when it gets Chilly.  I thought about Buying it anyway and Reselling it, I'm still waffling about it tho' coz it is Halloween Specific and if it doesn't Sell I'd have it for another whole Season.  But, I guess I could put it on a Mannequin, so I may Cave and just get it Today if it's still there?   The Graphics on it are Awesome!!!  They had gotten in so much Good Stuff that a lot of it was Tempting.  I did get myself Two Pair of New Old Stock Capris in nice Cheerful Colors, Tags still attached.  A big wrap around Beach Towel with great Colorful Graphics for only $2.  They were finally putting out their Halloween Merch, later than most places, Staff had been telling them that Corporate was running late to put it out on the Floor coz Customers already wanted to see it out there, and had been asking when they would, but Corporate stubbornly insisted on holding off, who knows Why?  When Staff and Customers are telling you something, mebbe you should Listen.

Lord knows those who did strategically put it out prematurely easily Sold Out quickly and made their Money already.  I made my Wal-Mart Run this Morning for Groceries and to pick up more of those Halloween Air Freshener Night Lights, just in time, coz they were almost Sold Out of them.  *Whew* I got 3 more in different Designs than the Ghost I bought earlier and now have them all over the House so it smells Divine like Maple Spiced Apples and Cinnamon.  I put a Crockpot of Chili on too since I Work Tonight and the Manager just called to ask if I'd work and Fill-In for Susan this Friday Night, so I agreed to.  Means more Money for me during the Holidays to have some discretionary Income, no downside to that.  He Thanked me profusely for last Friday, since it had been a mix-up to even have me there but it became necessary so Rachel didn't really mess up asking me to, even tho' the whole Friday Night Shift of people were there.  I enjoy working with my Friend Yolanda on Friday Nights and she's glad to have me coz the rest can be difficult at times.

Most being very nice enough People overall, just not conducive to always being able to work alongside for a variety of reasons, personality clashes, and habits.  And who needs Drama and a Headache when you're not actually receiving a Salary for the Work, just some comped Space Rent not even at Minimum Wage per Hour, you know.  Seldom does anyone spar with me coz most know how I am.  Even if I Like you, be Mindful to stay in your own Lane and don't step into my Waters to cause me any Drama, friction or disturb my Peace, unless you're a mighty strong Swimmer.  Coz once there's Blood in them Waters, it's gonna be Yours, not Mine.  *Winks*  I have had a few Dust Ups with a scant few over the Years, they only do it Once tho'... Lesson then Learned.  And they know that I won't hold a grudge just coz you fucked up once and challenged me foolishly.  I've become Friends with some who initially brought Dark Dawn out to Play with them.  You'll get Dawn Of The Light if you behave and don't Act the Fool, or Think you're Hard and Scrappy enuf, then find out you're not, that's just how it is.  *Ha ha ha*

I won't ever Start anything with you, ever.  I don't Like confrontation or being unkind to anyone, even if I don't particularly Like you as a Person.  I'll still treat you in a dignified way with mutual Respect for your Humanity and extend Grace for your flaws and weaknesses, whatever they are, coz we're all a Work in Progress.  You don't even have to Like me, I'm not anywhere to Win Friends or Influence Enemies actually and I'm all Friended Up.   I just am my Authentic Self 100% of the time, take it or leave it, I barely Care which your Choice is.  But if I become your Friend then I am Ride or Die with you and Loyal to a fault.  And I know a lot of People and even my Acquaintances, I Value the Friendship of, they may not ever become Close and in my Inner Circle, coz I'm Nice to all, but Close to few, but they're Good People and I Cherish each one of them in their own way.

I got this lovely Industrial Rolling Cart from SAVERS for $14, I'm using it to price Merch on the Front Porch and will use it on Halloween Night to Hand out Candy too.  Since the Weather has turned so nice now I like sitting out Front while Pricing my Inventory.  Got all my Anime Plush and Pokemon Plush priced this Afternoon to take in Tonight and put in our Locked Case.  Every single one was New Old Stock with original Tags attached and most were from Japan and had Japanese Tags.  I was shocked at how much some of them go for, Wow!!!  Several were Sold Out Online and so I know they're Madly Popular if you can't even find any For Sale Online coz everyone is Sold Out of them, both Retail, even Internationally, and Resalers!   So those should Turn fast.  I did go back and get that Medium Halloween Button Up Swearshirt Top... it was now Half Off so it's a good thing I waited a Day!  And I got a Medical Cadaver Training Skull for Five Bucks half off too!!!  Booyah!!!

 We're finding our Niche to stay relevant and be able to be a Vendor the Demographic coming in to our Location wants to Shop with and Buy from as a Favorite Destination.   All the Young People at SAVERS who work there now Shop at our Showroom and Locked Case and some never came to our Antique Mall before that.  They tell us how much they Love our Spaces there.  It's Flattering coz they Like me too and tell Princess T what a Cool Gramma she has, awwwwwww, to get that kind of Sincere Compliment from those in their Teens, Twenties and early Thirties is very unexpected at my Age.  I tend to get along well with Young Generations tho', my Mom and my Maternal Nanna did as well, we may have Aged but we kept a Youthful Spirit we're told and that does make a difference in bridging Generation Gaps that often otherwise would exist and alienate the Generations.

So, these were my Three New Nightlight Air Fresheners, I liked each so much I couldn't choose a single One so just got all Three coz I felt the whole Home smelling like the Aroma would be pleasant for Autumnal Vibes and Ambiance.   The Tombstone is in the Dining Room, The Black Cat is in our Master Bathroom, and The Haunted House is in the Kitchen.  The Ghost one I got originally is in the Guest Bathroom. {See Below for that one in case you missed it in the previous Post I Shared it in}  The Ghost one Sold Out first so I'm glad I got their last one when I initially bought one, the Tombstone was almost Sold out, they still had some of the Haunted House and Black Cat.  They also had a Black and Mercury Glass Skull and a Cauldron, but I wasn't fond of those Two.   Oddly, people had snapped off and Stolen some of the Figure Parts on some, which makes no sense since now they aren't a Night Light or a Room Diffuser without the rest of it, so they just ruined the Product being for Sale and it's now a total Loss to the Seller and more like Vandalism.

The Youngest of the Trio of Granddaughters in Pittsburgh is going to a Ren Faire and sent me some new Images.  {See Below}  Her new Shorter Extreme Hairstyle is growing on Gramma Dawn, coz tho' I Loved her luxurious long Hair and was originally aghast at what she'd done, she's Rockin' this Look, which isn't an easy one to pull off.  So, you Go Girl!!!   When your Gramma has Dreadlocks down to her Ass she really can't be too Critical of her Grandkids Hairstyles, or Sensibilities, now can she?  *LOL and Winks*  And this one has always been a rather Bold Child and very different, she's the Black Sheep of our Oldest Daughter's Family and doesn't quite fit in and knows it... but she does fit in with the rest of us here in Arizona of the Family and knows that too, so we've always Understood each other more than her Parents did/have, or her Siblings.  She's the Lil Weirdo and our Oldest Daughter would often call me to ask what to do with said Child?  *Bwahahaha*  Which is hilarious to me coz The Oldest Daughter... and The Daughter who lives with us... were both Buck Wild, Girls Gone Wild, in their squandered wayward Youth!  *LOL*

This Granddaughter is a Year Younger than The Young Prince but they behaved almost like Twins and Why The Oldest Daughter often called for Parental Advice coz she knew I was Raising the Male Version of this one.  *LO*  Well, sorta The Male Version... since, well, The Young Prince is quite Gender Fluid and not exactly Male or Female, but a blend of both.  *Smiles*  This Granddaughter is Bisexual but presents always as Female and right now has a Male Boyfriend.  The Young Prince totally Gets this Cousin coz they are damned near Identical and of the same Mind, same Sensibilities, even the same Artistic Abilities and Geniuses IQ Wise who did poorly in Conventional Schools so couldn't Graduate from one.  This one had to finish her Schooling Online and then went on to a School for Theatrical Makeup and Special Effects, so that's what she does now for a Living and excelling at it.  She felt her Cousin should have enrolled in saidsame Schools to further an Artistic Career he was Born for... but the Schizophrenia gets in his way of Mainstreaming in any Classroom environment or being around a lot of other Students/People.

The Chili turned out real good and the Aroma of it is wafting thru the whole House now it's been simmering all Morning and part of the Afternoon.  It will feed them all while I'm at Work and can keep Warmed until I get Home from Work to have some then.  I had Kung Pao Beef with a Spring Roll and Steamed Jasmine Rice for Lunch from "Dragon Garden" coz the Chili wasn't ready yet and I was out running errands.  Their prices are so low you can't beat their Lunch Specials and the amount of excellent Food you get for a low price.  It's Family Owned and they're an Elderly Couple who have probably been doing this all their Lives so all their Menu items are Family Recipes and Superb.  Some of their Family of Younger Generations Works there too.  Their one DIL is Hispanic and her Little Girl is precious and speaks Three Languages Fluently even as a Toddler, Chinese, Spanish and English.  She's tiny like a little Doll and so well behaved, her Mom is a Sweetheart and often brings her to Work so she can spend time with Grandma & Grandpa at their Business. 

The Older Grandson, looks Amerasian, so another of their Kiddos must have Married a White Person, coz he's definitely not full Chinese.  He's an extremely Handsome Young Man, even tho' neither of the Grandparents are Lookers, Bless 'em, he's probably in his very early 20's.  I've seen One of their Sons and I don't know if that is his Son or not, or if he's the Father of the Little Girl?  The whole Family are so Nice and I enjoy going there, the Parents don't speak great English and are therefore very hard to understand, but they are a Lovely Older Couple and are there Seven Days a Week with no Days Off.  That is not unusual for Immigrants who own a Business, they will work long Hours every Day of the Week with no Days Off.  Their Kids or Adult Grandkids have to beg them to take Days Off or a Vacation and tell them that in America that's how it should be.  *Smiles*   Their Kiddos lament to me all the time that Mom/Dad or Grandma/Grandpa who Immigrated here, just won't take any Time Off even tho' they have more than Earned it... and made a great Life and the American Dream for their Kids and Grandkids already. 

Well, I went quite Long on this Post so I guess I'll save the rest of Imagery and Stories for the next one... *Winks*   There's been an uptick in things to do and Write about or Photography, so I don't mean to dump the Whole Bale on ya all at once... *Smiles*  But the Editorial Version Posts probably will come much later when there's less to Photograph or Write about I guess... *Ha ha ha*   Princess T was saying she "Needed" the Accessories Below... Nope, I didn't take the Bait and even Ask... but perhaps Rusty has been a very Naughty Boy???  And remember her Sexy Dominatrix Officer ensemble back when she was Dating Isaac?  And he dressed as a Perp who got Excessive Force exacted?  {See further Below the Images I dredged up out of the long ago Archives of that Halloween during the Pandemic Years.}  *Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha*  She's well over Isaac now even tho' he's been a High School Sweetheart and First Love, and she said he got Fat, she likes lean Young Men who are Thin like her.  Rusty better not ever get Fat I guess?  *LOL*

A lot of Young Men like her and are interested, but, she's not been one to have a lot of Boyfriends, there's been Isaac, Jon Carlos and now Rusty, that's it.  She stays in long term Relationships too, but is one to not put up with any nonsense or you'd be kicked to the Curb no matter how long you've Dated her or how Serious you thought it would be to start Acting the Fool, you'd be sorely mistaken.  Both Isaac and Jon Carlos found that out and Rusty has come close a couple times in the 3 Years they've been together.  *Smiles*  In so many ways she's like a little Mini Me and perhaps why we get along so well?  *Ha ha ha*  I never put up with nonsense from any Relationship, be it a Romantic one or a Friendship.  I could be perfectly content on my own so don't Test me.  Princess T is very much like that too, she's quite comfortable with her own company if you're not around, so don't become problematic to her.  *Smiles*

Work went very well, I enjoy working with Michelle and Jackson, we're turning out to be a good Team.  Michelle and I have become pretty good Friends now so we have a good time Socializing when it slows down.  It was busy off and on but Sales have sagged for the past Two Days and weren't all that Strong on Sunday either.   Looks like folks are getting worried again about Economics and Finances, and rightly so.  Gas here for Diesel is barely below Seven Bucks a Gallon now and for the rest of us it's right around Five!!!  I picked up everything marked down at the Grocery Store and stuck it in the Freezer so we'd have some good Proteins at a reasonable price.  Otherwise Meat was really high, but Oddly Eggs and Milk were really low right now, very low in fact!!!  

 I got 18 nice Brown Eggs at Wal-Mart for just barely over $3!  And Milk was barely over $2!   Cheese is real Cheap right now so I picked up Bags of Shredded Cheeses to Freeze for $2 each!   So while Meat is high, Dairy is low, go figure!!!  Becoz Meat is so high they have to mark it down when it's not Selling tho', so in swoops Discount Dawn then!  *LOL*   We're Two Down right now since The Young Prince and The Daughter aren't here.  The Grandson's won't return until October 11th. She's still conspicuous by her absence, staying with Friends, so I think she's not sure she can or wants to cohabitate in the 5th Wheel harmoniously, I dunno?  She has been Emotionally Raw since Mando's Homicide so hasn't been quite herself and that is totally understandable even if she were a Well Person to begin with Mentally, and she's not.  She hasn't even picked up her New Free Phone that arrived over a Week ago now!!!  But, if she's doing Okay where ever she's staying, I support that, it eases my Caregiving by Two less People who are both Schizophrenics.   And I know both are doing Okay where they're at.

*******

Happy halloween from the arizona desert... dawn... the bohemian

The Satanic Panic Of The 1990's & Mod Movie Monday

 

The Niece and The Son had already fixed the Weed Eater, only Seven Bucks worth of Parts, which Saved me Hundreds of Dollars replacing one... done all the Yardwork... Cooked us a Breakfast of Chorizo, Egg, Cheese and Potato Burritos... and Cleaned Up the Kitchen before I even rolled out of Bed this Morning.  They're my Favorites right now.  *Bwahahahaha and Winks*  They make a good Team those Two, coz they have similar Habits which align with our Habits of Housekeeping and Home Maintenance.  Princess T keeps up her own Private Space but doesn't do anything for general Home Maintenance, but, she doesn't mess anything up either, rarely venturing out of her Room, or is at Rusty's, and will Bankroll anything I Need or Want... so she's my Money Gal.  *Winks*

So, I've been fed and watered this Morning and had all the Housekeeping and Yardwork done FOR me, Life is Good.  *LOL*  They even gave The Man his Medication and fed/watered him too.  So, I only had the responsibility of The pampered Cat and The spoiled Wild Birds I Support.  *Ha ha ha*  I lay out a Brush in front of Eli The Cat and he'll groom the front half of himself as I do the back half, he's well Trained at the Ritual now, it's rather hilarious.  I think he's getting arthritic too tho' coz sometimes the back half I'll hit a spot and he reacts angrily, so I have to be gentler, poor Old Guy, I know the Feeling of those tender parts now that cause excruciating Pain sometimes when it flares up or gets touched or bumped Wrong.  My Left Hand Ring Finger is all fucked up.  And sometimes my Hips when Sleeping are problematic now too and I'm tossing and flipping around like a Fish out of Water.

I am contemplating getting Halloween Decor out for the Front Porch now, it's Time and I usually enjoy the Process of Holiday Decorating and have the Inside already Done.  Well, as much Done as it's gonna be.  I seem to have a reduction in what I put up every Year now, or just leave up.  *LOL*    The Son and The Niece just helped me drag out all of the Halloween we're putting on the Porch out Front, it looks good, I let them position everything.  Took about 15 Minutes to Decorate it all.  We pieced together Skeleton Body Parts coz just about all of them are dismembering now.  *LOL*  I only have to buy those faux Tub Bubbles now from a Wal-Mart.  I could Order Online but Delivery is too slow and there wouldn't be any point for them to arrive Mid-October. Must be coming in from a slow Boat from China?  *Eye Roll*  And, I like Shopping for my stuff, I'm not one to Order everything Online.

Now, it was overcast out there but Humid as Hell, so I'm drenched in Sweat from just doing that and being in The RV Garage Mahal for that brief period.  Luckily it was all Stored on the Cot right by the Big Front Door, so, easy access near the Outside.  A lot of Halloween isn't being put out and now I can consider what I'll just Price to Sell Off and put in the Showroom?  I don't Need it all anymore and some of it I'd rather have the Money for.  Once it really Cools Off I plan to go into the bowels of The RV Garage Mahal and do some Editing and Purging, some Decorating and Decluttering of the Space in earnest.  I just want for it to be finally Done and enjoy the Visual and Contents of the Space at last.  And rid myself of the excess that has to Go... and be converted into Cash Money.  *LOL*  I'd rather have a few piles of Money right now than Stuff.  Handier and then we can spend it on Experiences.

I'm glad the Kiddos helped me, The Young Prince and his Mom had said they would do Halloween, but neither of them did it and now neither of them is here.  He won't be back 'til Mid-October and she flits in and out like Crazy, so we never know when she'll be here, for how long, and when she'll just be MIA or for how long?  I don't mind, so long as she's Safe and Happily doing Life however it suits her to do it.  She bores easily here coz we don't do that much and she's used to a lot of stimulation and experiences.  She's one to enjoy being around people all of the time and we're not.  We wouldn't want nonstop Company, it would overwhelm the rest of us.  And she knows this, so her steady stream of Friends dropping in or practically living here can drain the rest of us.  Even tho' they're all nice People, so it's not Personal, we just like our Alone and Private Time at Home.  We Socialize AWAY from Home.  We don't Entertain that much anymore, it's a lot of Work and Expense to.  And I want neither extra Work or extra unnecessary Expense now.

Anyway, so, Halloween is up and completed for the most part and I have Candy Dishes full of Treats and Halloween Pinata Style Toys too, coz I bought that early as well.  The Niece didn't Celebrate Holidays for all the time she was a JW so she really enjoys Celebrating them now she's not one.  Making up for Lost Time, since, she didn't grow up a JW and became one at Age 15 to around Age 30-Something.  When they kicked her to the curb for being a Lesbian.  Apparently you don't even have to be a Practicing Lesbian, coz she doesn't have a Life Partner, go figure... Religion can be just Bad sometimes in how it's Practiced and what they make Good and Decent People feel Shameful or Condemned about.  So, anyway, she's having Fun Practicing all that Halloween Stuff that in the 90's had the Religious being in a Satanic Panic about.  *LMAOROTF*

Anyway, I struck out trying to find those plastic faux Bubble Bath Pit Bubbles, the only ones I could find were colored and I wanted either clear or iridescent ones to make it look like a Bubble Bath.  But, I found Two Garlands of iridescent Black plastic Balls from "Michael's" Craft Store Half Off, all their Halloween was already marked way down and almost Sold Out already.  It'll do and worked fine as you could see in the Images I just took and put in this Post.  I may tweak some of the Decor a bit more, but, I'm satisfied with how it looks and a Young Delivery Guy came up just as I was finishing and said how Awesome it all was.  He was delivering some stuff Princess T ordered Online and one Box weighed 91 Lbs. so Bless him, he carried it inside for us since only The Man and I were Home and it was a Two Box Lift.  But, he was a big Young Stud Muffin and just carried on one Shoulder by himself.  I have no idea what she bought that weighs that much in a 6 ft. long Box?!

  

 

I did trawl Wal-Mart, TARGET and the Craft Store Michael's looking at all their Halloween, nobody had a lot of it left already.  I did Buy the Ghost Air Freshener Plug In pictured further Below, and the Skeletons Dancing Coffee Mug, also pictured further Below, from Wal-Mart since, I was already there and they didn't have what I'd specifically come to buy.  It made me Mad coz my Phone did say they had the Clear Plastic Balls in Stock and even marked down to only $11.45, but they were nowhere to be found at that Super Wal-Mart Online had sent me to.  I Hate when that happens, they said it had perhaps already Sold Out after being Marked Down and they didn't have any more.  As Crazy busy as they were, that could be the case and they just hadn't updated their Online information to reflect availability?  I try not to be a total Karen.  *LOL*  So, I just Thanked the Associate for looking for me at her Inventory Device when I asked.

 

I did go a bit Karen on a Young Karen Mother in TARGET tho'.  She had a slew of out of Control small Children with her, the whole Litter and they were scattering like Cats trying to be herded.  She was definitely a Breeder!  I was trying hard to avoid running over her Kids with my Cart, when she kicked a rather large Box of some kind of Toys that was near her on the Floor and it got kicked directly in front of my Cart!!!  Hitting it, since I hadn't expected her to kick it directly in front of my Cart... so then she kicked it out of my way, so I could pass... which would have been okay and a Non-Issue.  But then... then... as I walked past she gave me a snarky ultra Bitchy "You're Welcome!", and a Stink Eye Death Stare!  OMG and Oh Hell to the No She Didn't!  So, I equally snarked back, "Why Thank You... since you were the one that kicked it in front of me in the first place!"   *Winks* 

 I would have gone Ham on her if she'd escalated the situation... in front of all her Feral Children, coz I was definitely NOT in the Mood for some Fool Young Bitch's attempt at a Public confrontation with an Elder.  It was bad enuf she didn't have her whole Litter of Kids up under her Control and trashing the Store.  Which is a pet peeve of mine when Parents aren't up to the Job and their Spawn become a nuisance in Public.  Those Kids were yanking shit off Shelves and probably how that Box got on the Floor blocking the Aisle?!  *LOL*  She gathered up The Spawn of unruly Offspring, all looking under the Age of 5, and headed in a complete opposite direction, Wise Move.   She should probably look into what's causing Birthing Babies and popping One out every 10 Months or so too!  *Bwahahaha*   Most folks out Shopping were Civil and Decent acting this Day tho', even The People Of Wal-Mart!  *Gasp, Yeah, I KNOW!*

And it was an enjoyable Solo Outing since The Son and The Niece stayed Home to watch The Man for me so I could make the Errand Run to get what I was looking for.   I did Buy a Venus Fly Trap Faux Plant at "Michael's" too, and a Silicon small Skulls Mold coz I saw a You Tube Video of how to press Mozzarella Balls into the Shape of small Skulls to put into Caprese Salad or Skewers, with Balsamic Vinegar and Fresh Basil, Cherry or Grape Tomatoes, and Seasoning.  Very Clever and so Simple, since it's Soft Cheese and Molds right into the Shape of the Skulls.  And the Silicon Skull Molds were on Sale at "Michael's" half off, and so Cheap... why not?  I didn't have a Skull Mold small enuf and now I do, and I know I'll actually do this clever Seasonal Trick and show off.  *Smiles*

 

I was looking at Price increases tho' at all the Stores... and OMG, except for the Mark Downs on Seasonal Decor, which made it more affordable, everything else was inflated in Price from what it was only a Month ago!!!  I'm only assuming they Marked Down Halloween coz perhaps it wasn't Selling at inflated regular pricing and they were fearful of getting stuck with it After Season?   I'm glad all my Skeletons were already Dressed from last Year, I wasn't all that ambitious to change Outfits or Wigs on any of them.  *LOL*  Especially since Arms and Legs are so Fragile now from Age that they easily fall off... and some Limbs have and we just made it look like they're still relatively in one piece and not falling completely apart.  *LOL* 

The Son's Childhood Friend Jeremy came by, he's not Well and looks so Frail.  He's living with his Mom now and The Son is worried he's Dying?  He's only 40 but had a Traumatic Brain Injury some time ago and has really had a lot of Health Issues after the Brain Damage.  He's rail thin and didn't used to be, I know his Mom, Penny, and it's got to scare her that he's not doing well at all.  I don't even know if he can Work anymore?  She works for Minimum Wage at a Fish & Chips Family Owned Biz that Jeremy has worked for before.  We used to know the Owner of the Restaurant but she Passed Away from Cancer last Year and the Daughter Sold the Business this Year.  They had hired Jeremy back but I just don't know he's looking Well enuf to remain Employed or not?  He barely had the strength to Hug me and I could tell his condition had really upset The Son.  They talk on the Phone all the time but we hadn't seen Jeremy in a little while in Person to see the rapid deterioration in his Physical Health.  We knew the Brain Damage Health was precarious, he didn't make a full Recovery from that either.

I'm watching a Halloween Cookie Challenge, several Episodes of it back to back, such Fun.  But, I'm trying to stay Awake since I didn't get my Nap Today, coz, Tonight "Halloween Wars" is on too, which is my favorite Halloween Contest.  But, they have a lot of good ones and some good new ones this Year.  Thursday kicks off the Halloween Cult Classic Movies, including all 5 of the "Halloween" Movies.  I like the Original best and will watch it, it's a Tradition to.  Every Halloween Season I think about my Dearly Departed Friend Sue from Work, she Lived Halloween and had some awesome Halloween Collectibles.  I was also thinking about her Husband, Kevin, and how he might be doing now?  I've only seen him once since she Died and he never comes in to the Antique Mall now they don't have a Space there anymore.  Sue used to work a lot of Shifts there but Kevin is a busy CPA.  Well, lo and behold, Kevin had been on my Mind strongly and in he walks!!!  I told him I'd been thinking about him and how was he doing now?

Not many people there know him anymore coz he left Years ago after Sue Died, she was very popular, but we've had a high turnover of people that used to be there back then.  She Died at the beginning of the Pandemic, probably of COVID I highly Suspect, since it was so sudden, she'd worked that Night Shift and looked Fine when I saw her around 6:00 p.m., she got off Work at 9:00 p.m. and then only a couple Hours later at 10:00 p.m. had strange hemorrhaging and couldn't breathe, she couldn't be Saved.  We were all in shock, she and Kevin had just Remodeled their entire Home in preparation for their Retirement.  He Owned his own successful Accounting Firm, said he Sold it but the Guy who Bought it quit paying him, so he had to come out of Retirement to Work again and is Suing that Guy... very messy.  He looked thin, I imagine Sue was the Culinary Jedi of the Family and mebbe he's not eating well anymore?  The other time I'd run into him had been at a "Cracker Barrel" and he was eating Alone then, but wouldn't join us when offered, I think he didn't want to intrude on our Dinner.  But did stop and talk.

  

We talked extensively this time, he finished all the Remodeling they'd begun, I was telling my New Friend Michelle that Sue & Kevin had made the Black Kitchen to Die For that I've always Dreamed of.  It turned out Spectacularly and was the first of the Remodeling and the only part Dear Sue even Lived to see finished.  She barely got to enjoy it tho' and it doesn't seem that long ago she Passed Away, but, it is.  It was good to see Kevin, Strange that he'd been so Strongly on my Heart and Mind too and then Showed up within a Day after such a long absence of being seen anywhere.  Sometimes that happens with me tho', I'll suddenly be Thinking Strongly about someone out of the Blue, someone I haven't Thought about in perhaps Years... and then they Show Up!!!  It is called Synchronicity, Carl Jung coined the Phrase to explain and describe meaningful coincidences that cannot be explained by cause and effect.

It's a Thought-Contact Coincidence when a random Thought aligns with an immediate real-world encounter or message.  It's a Frequency Illusion {or Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon}  A Cognitive Bias where your Brain notices and remembers the rare times a Thought matches Reality, while completely forgetting the 1000's of times you Thought about Someone and nothing happened.   Telepathy or Simpathy which is the Spiritual or Intuitive Belief that Two closely bonded Minds can exchange Thoughts or Emotional Signals across a distance.   Law of Attraction, which is the Spiritual Concept that suggests your Internal Energy or Focus draws specific People or Things or Events into your Physical Space.  I get Precognition a lot too, which is the Psychic ability to See or Know Events before they happen, without using Normal Senses or Logic or Past Memories.  Mainstream Science considers Precognition a Pseudoscience becoz it violates the Laws of Causality, a Rule that Cause must happen before it's Effect. 

  Well, I violate that Law all the damned time, don't know Why either, coz it's not Intentional, I don't like Premonitions in any form, they're always Warnings when I get them and some you can't change the outcome of.   These types of things happen to me frequently and not just once in a while.   So I have explored both Scientific and Spiritual explanations as to Why that it is so common to my Experience and how my Brain processes them?   When I'm randomly Thinking about someone I haven't seen in literally Years and they suddenly show up the same Day or within a Day or Two, it seems more than Coincidental to me... and happens to me often enuf to Notice.  And my Premonitions are eerily accurate and I'll usually tell a few close People about them, so it can be verified later that it actually will and then has happened.  The Man always takes it Seriously now even tho' he never was a Believer before meeting me and Witnessing the ability firsthand play out time and time again.  He can't explain or understand it, but it knows now it's too accurate to ignore or mock.

  My Maternal Side of the Family, for Generations, has this ability.  My Dad's Side did not and they didn't like it becoz they really Feared it.  All my Native American Cousins were afraid of me and my Mom becoz they thought us to be Sorceresses or Skinwalkers that could do harm if we wanted to, to the Living.  *LOL and Winks*   My Dad just got used to it and cautioned us Kiddos who have it, and we ALL do in Mom's Lineage, it doesn't get diluted much Generation to Generation, to be Mindful of who you reveal it to becoz some would attempt to destroy what and who they Fear.  True that.  The Daughter said Mexican Culture was less Fearful of the abilities, but showed Respect for it, they have some among them who have it too.  It blends with Indigenous Mesoamerican beliefs intertwined with Popular Catholicism.  Syncretism is viewed there, if you have these abilities, not as a Curse or a Psychological Anomaly, but as a Spiritual Gift or a Heavy Destiny.

  El Don {the Gift}, is Believed to be granted by God, Saints, or Ancestral Spirits. Having a Don is seen as a major responsibility.  Those who have it are expected to help their Community with it, in whatever form it was imparted to them.  But it is also often described as a Heavy Burden, which, I Feel it definitely is, since you tend to be more sensitive to Negative Energies, Envy, and Spiritual exhaustion.   Like the Mexican Culture, my Mom's Culture used the various Amulets to Protect Children with the ability from absorbing too much Negative Energy.  Mom always had them around our Home and I always have had them around mine for the same reasons.  I really don't Care who is a Believer or a Skeptic, I know what I know and has been passed down to me from the Elders going as far back as anyone can remember, so we take it Seriously.  Those who don't do so at their own peril, and, frankly, I don't try to persuade anyone... their own outcome in their own Destiny and Choices.  Anyway, you can't Protect someone who refuses Protection.

Anyway, it was good to see Kevin after so long and now I know Why he'd been on my Heart and Mind too, after our discussion.  I think he didn't enjoy being Retired without Sue, they had Plans for a Shared Retirement they'd both worked so hard towards and she never lived long enuf to attain sadly.  I don't think he's handling Widowerhood all that well either, they were such a well matched Couple and Adored one another.  He's still trying to Sell Off her Collections, mostly Online now tho'.   Collecting was Sue's Thing and he wants to find the Right Homes for it all since it all meant so much to her.  I think Sue would just want for him to use it for his own Quality of Life now and I said so.  Sue is one of the few Real Life Friends who read my Blog with devotion, she looked forward to every Post and then when she'd meet up with me at the Antique Mall, we'd talk about the Post of the Day.  I do Miss that exchange coz very few people I know in Real Life are Blog Readers at all.  And Sue would read some of your Blogs too that were suggested on my Sidebar as some of my Favs.  She wasn't a Blogger, just a Dear Reader.

This is my new Mug, not that I Need another Coffee Mug or Tumbler in this Lifetime, but, you know.  *LOL*   At just over Four Bucks I felt it was a good Wal-Mart offering for Halloween, the Dancing Skeletons are all different poses and raised applications giving it a textured feel.  I don't Collect Halloween Mugs per se, just some that I enjoy the Graphics of and use all year round.   I do both Collect and Sell Novelty Mugs and Starbucks Mugs and Tumblers.  I do well with them actually so always have some in Stock and often go thru my Personal Collection to Edit and Purge some, or if I find I have duplicates of really good ones I know I won't want to ruin with use.  Some of the more coveted Starbucks Mugs and Tumblers, or Special Limited Edition, can fetch a handsome profit margin.  I do see I need to have The Son Clean the Coffee Maker he uses daily, lots of splashed Coffee Marks on it that I didn't notice until I took these Pixs.  Looks nasty!  *LOL*  When you have Younger Adults living with you they don't always keep things as you would keep them maintained!  And I don't drink as much Coffee as they do.

I did Buy one of these large Venus Flytrap Plants at "Michael's" half off.  I would never have Paid the full Price they were asking, but half Price was reasonable IMO.   A grouping of them would look better but unless they go 60%-75% Off I won't Buy another.  As it is one of my Leaves came off already, they ask a lot but don't make things that well actually.  And I have to return some Clear Plastic Balls I bought, Two Packages of them, coz as it turns out, they won't work for what I wanted to do and the Black iridescent Ball Garlands worked just fine for the purpose intended.  I Hope they'll either refund the purchase or give me a Store Credit.  Or just exchange those for another of these Black Ball Garlands if they still have one left?  Or, perhaps another Venus Flytrap Plant instead?

LATER:  The Cashier at Michael's was a Middle aged Navajo Woman who insisted on giving me a Cash Refund for what I brought back, rather than Credit it back on my Debit Card, which was Nice.  She and I had started talking about Nature and Society not Respecting it.  She brought it up and sometimes those with Environmental Consciousness seem to just know one another like that instinctively as Kindred Spirits, even before Words are exchanged.  It was Raining hard and tho' others were complaining about it, she and I were Grateful for it.  Rain in a Desert is a huge Blessing and we always Need it.  She was lamenting that the Fish are Dying becoz our Government doesn't Respect Nature and the Natural World enough and is draining our Rivers, Lakes and Ground Water at an alarming rate, I'm in complete Agreement.

  Indigenous Cultures for Centuries have revered all of Nature and been in Tune with the Natural World, having Respect for it and all Sentient Beings of it, Ancestrally for Centuries... even those Living Things that most of the Non-Indigenous don't consider have Spirits, like Plants, Trees and Animals, we however do Believe they do.  The disrespect, abuse, neglect, carelessness, Environmental unconsciousness, lack of reverence, improper Stewardship, Greed based decisions and ignorance about the Natural World bothers us.   We do Believe Mother Earth will exact her own form of correcting us if we seem incapable of correcting ourselves, Nature always finds a way.   She said she Hoped to return to Fishing near her Reservation some day, but right now the Rivers are hurting and so is everything that lives in, or around the Rivers.  I've seen that too and it Grieves me as much as it Grieves her, so we stood in Solidarity about that unfortunate Fact of how the Sacred Earth is in Crisis becoz of Mankind's decisions right now.

 

   I ended up getting a Black Zombie Skeleton 50% Off and a Houdini Cake Pedestal instead, also 50% Off.  I hadn't seen the Pedestal on my original visit there, they had a big Serving Plate with the same Graphics I'd seen, but the Cake Pedestals were tucked into a lower Shelf and they only had 3 of them left.  I liked my Zombie Skeleton, it Lights up with Batteries but people had drained them with the complimentary button to see how it works, they only had Two left, neither of which would light anymore, but that's fine, I can replace the Batteries on Halloween Night if I want his Face to light up.  They had already Sold Out of the Black Ball iridescent Garlands, or I would have picked up one more of those.  I decided to wait on the Venus Fly Trap Plant to get another since they have plenty of them and they're not Selling even at 50% Off, so perhaps they will reduce them further?  If they do I'll pick up one or more of them tho'.

I Love my Metal Enameled Houdini Cake Pedestal tho', it has a plain Black Metal Pedestal but the top has a Laquer Enamel type finish on it and the Graphics are Awesome.  I have a Vintage Gumball Machine that has this same Graphic of Houdini on the Front, probably made during his Era, it's an Iconic Graphic of him actually.  This will be great for Serving Holiday Cookies or Cupcakes and Treats on.   Color me Happy that my Return Paid for my new replacement items that will work for me this Halloween.   I may still use my 20% Off Coupon at "The Spirit Store" to get one more replacement Skeleton since mine are falling apart and may not last too many more Seasons without just being Skeleton Parts.  *LOL*  Princess T Loved how I Decorated the Porch this Year and it's a good thing I got it done the Day before the Storm hit coz it's Raining like Hell Today.  My Roofer said he Tarped the Roof good on the damages so it shouldn't leak, and that gives me more Peace of Mind since the Mortgage Co. is taking their Sweet Time to Endorse the damned Check and send it back, so I can pay him to begin the Work.

I bought "Dragon Garden" Chinese Food for Lunch on my way Home.  Got the Lunch Specials to Share of Mongolia Beef, Kung Pao Chicken, Veggie Spring Rolls, White Rice, Fried Rice, and a new Dish they have called Spicy Bourbon Chicken.   Food Porn of it all will be included in this Post, you're Welcome.  *Winks*   Since the Weather is inclement tho' I'm doing our Laundry, since I won't be going anywhere else in it and Princess T is off on Mondays.  I did pick The Son up from Work tho' so he didn't have to walk Home in the Rain.  The Cashier at "Dollar Tree" there where he Works was saying a lot of Customers now Buy almost all their Groceries there since Grocery costs have soared.  So, it's no longer unusual for a Customer to spend $100-$300 at the Dollar Store for Nutritional items they have there to stretch their Grocery Budget.

I've enjoyed hunkering down and just enjoying the Weather but not being out in it.  We do Need the Rains to replenish what's being irresponsibly used up by Bad Political decisions.  I think Data Centers, Affordability, Food Safety, the War nobody wants us in, are all going to be Political Issues high on the Minds of Voters during the Elections.  Even those who aren't usually very Political or have Party affiliations, or even if they do, they know how these Issues are Negatively impacting them personally, becoz it's Negatively impacting us all directly.  And people are noticing the empty shelving, especially of Holiday Merch that usually makes the most Money for Stores and is conspicuous by either it's absence or low Inventory of what they have managed to stock.  Most places I go to have Sold Out early and never had that much to begin with and it was very obvious there's a Problem.  I doubt they're getting more in either, so most are filling the empty Halloween Aisles with Christmas Merch already and way early for that.

I may get more of the Halloween Night Light Air Fresheners that I got which Wal-Mart had coz it looks really Cute and Smells good.  I'm putting them in the Bathrooms for a Night Light and Air Freshening.  What I didn't know was when plugged in they have a Light Display on the Wall behind them too. {See Pix further Below}  It was only $11 and you can get replacement fragrances for it in various Scents.  I got a cheap Hairy Spider with Red Eyes from The Son's Dollar Store for the Front Porch and put it on the Shoulder of the new Zombie Skeletons.  It's Cute and for $1.25 was an inexpensive Halloween Prop.   I'd Photographed some Halloween Vignettes/Booths at our Antique Mall, there's not many.  Our Mall doesn't really do much in the way of Holiday Decorating or promoting Vendors who do.  The Vendor whose Booth is pictured directly Below had to Downsize to just One Booth, she used to have the one next to this one too and had to give it up for lack of Sales.  It's a shame coz those who do such a good Job of Seasonal Merchandising should be doing well and they're not.  So, it is a risk many won't take.

They don't wanna carry so much Holiday/Seasonal Specific Merch they might get stuck with if it doesn't Sell during the Holidays.  Then you'd have to Store it for another Year and most Vendors do pay for their Offsite Storage, I don't, so that's a Non-Issue for us and not an added expense.  I've never paid for Offsite Storage for Inventory and I won't.  Building that into your Overhead reduces your Margins too much IMO.  Storage Units are pretty expensive, I only ever used them when Moving a whole Household while Selling Real Estate and Buying other Real Estate.  And mostly I'd work out something in Trade with the Manager so that I paid little, to nothing, for my Units and only kept them temporarily until all Sales were finalized and I could move my stuff back into Owned Properties.

The Niece has permission now to begin the cleaning up and tidying of the 5th Wheel, within reason and respecting what belongs to The Daughter.  She hasn't started it yet, but whenever she's ready, she can.  Whenever The Daughter returns and stays a Minute, she's required to get it done, so, it will be Helpful to her if The Niece does some or all of it for her.  Allen did the Art Studio Space that The Young Prince occupies, so I'm satisfied enuf with how it got done.  There's still some to do of coarse, but I know I also need to Purge some of what's still in there of mine that could give him more Space of his own if I remove it.  The Son and I had to go in and refill my Water Softener in there with Two big Bags of Salt and it is still a Gauntlet to navigate an overcrowded Space.  Especially schlepping huge Bags of heavy Salt.  And, there was some messiness that Allen didn't get around to cleaning up.  And the Lighting in there is dim coz I need to replace the Industrial Neon Lighting in the Ceiling to illuminate the Space brightly and properly again.  So I had to carefully avoid a Fall too.

But, we got it done and then I watched "Outrageous Pumpkins", I liked Carver Daniel Miller from Oklahoma's Devil with Hellhounds Float piece, but it didn't Win, Charminda's Pirate Ship Float did, but it was very good too.   I Wish they had Photographed the piece so I could Share it, but they didn't and he didn't on his Social Media sites either, which is a shame, he had a Two-Headed Hellhound pulling a Captured Souls Pumpkin Float with an Obese Devil riding atop it, Loved the Carve.  They've had a lot of Judges and Contestants over the various Seasons, starting with Famous Pumpkin Carver Ray Villafane, who I've met in person several times, and ending with Terri Hardin, a Famous Disney Artist. {Pictured Below}  Both are excellent Judges with good critiques and loads of experience in their Craft.  They did Cancel that Show so they didn't have a Season for 2026, but I don't mind watching some of the previous Seasons of it on repeat, it was a good Show while it lasted.  Tonight will be another "Halloween Baking Championship" Episode.

I've Shared a few Images I could Crib from Online of the Show, I Wish they'd had more they preserved Online of the Carves, especially the Finale' Carves, which were always spectacular, even those that didn't Win.   I Wish they hadn't Cancelled it or if they'll bring it back in the Future or not?  They've kept Shows I like a whole lot less.  But I do Like the Food Network's Shows overall, we watch that Channel a lot.  Bobby Flay has a slew of Shows on there and coming out with new ones all the time.  But the Halloween Themed Shows are my Favorites.  Mostly becoz it's got the Pumpkin Carving Artists on there along with the Baking Artists and Sugar Artists, which, the Christmas Themed Shows lack of coarse.  Pumpkin Carving has reached a new level of Artistry that is truly impressive, as has Cake Artistry and Cookie Artistry and Sugar Artistry.  And what Amazes me even more is that many of the Artists also have other impressive Careers and some just do this on the Side!  They've had Artists who are also Architects, Attorneys, Social Workers, Cosmetologists, Students still in College... the whole gamut and then they're Spectacular Artists as well!!!  Of coarse some Artists own their own Bakeries too.

Above is my new Night Light and Diffuser Air Freshener, with an Autumnal Scent that had has Maple, Apple and Cinnamon Tones.  I have to go back and get another one for our En Suite Master Bathroom now, they had many different Styles of Halloween Characters.  I think I'll get one when I go in to Work on Wednesday Night since there's a close by Wal-Mart practically across the Street from the Back of our Antique Mall.  It wasn't the location I bought this one from but I'm assuming all of the Wal-Marts may have them?  And I can go either before or after Work, depending on how much time I have available to me.  I think this is the last Wednesday of the Month so may be my last Fill-In Shift for my Friend Crazy Ed.  He is recovering nicely from his Neck Surgery coz a Friend of mine helps him a lot and she was saying her only concern is he's already doing things he shouldn't be, which, sounds just like Ed!!!  She lost her Dear Husband some Years ago and worries that since Ed lives Alone, he doesn't have present Help with being Single and Older.

The Toilet Seat in the Guest Bathroom got broken and I think it could be due to The Niece being such a big person?  A delicate thing to address with someone since it wouldn't be intentional, and it may not have even been her, but when someone is very overweight they are harder on things unintentionally due to their weight and size putting a lot of stress on anything they sit, stand or lay on.  It is a concern coz we can't afford to replace a lot of things right now.  I'm reluctant to just buy a cheap plastic one lest we keep having to replace it if it can't hold up.  But OMG the Cost of some better Toilet Seats was Sticker Shock for sure!!!    But, I found a laquered Wood Black one with Zinc Hinges on E-Bay with Free Shipping and Two Day Delivery, so ordered it.  I think it will really match the Bathroom's Color Palette, I may buy one for our Bathroom too later on.

I have a Dental Cleaning Tomorrow and Nurse Remi comes for The Man just before I have to leave for it.  I've put the Cleaning off Twice already due to The Man's Medical Needs that had a priority.  This is just my annual Cleaning I get that Medicare Advantage covers.  HUMANA doesn't give me as much Dental coverage as United Healthcare did annually, but it's better than not having Dental Coverage. The Man got Dental thru the VA but I didn't get any thru TriCare at all so I've paid a lot out of Pocket after I had to take Early Retirement and before I Qualified for Medicare.  I don't have a lot of Dental Issues coz I've always taken very good Care of my Teeth and have Healthy ones, but, I have had some expensive Dental Emergencies that required Crowns and an extraction once when a Molar had serious Issues and I couldn't afford a Root Canal.  Not that I wanted one so I just told them to pull it.  Then, when I finally got Dental thru Medicare, thru United Healthcare, when they still covered Veterans in Maricopa County, I got a Bridge to replace the missing Molar, that didn't cost me anything, which was a relief, totally covered.

TARGET finally got their Dia de los Muertos Decor, a small Cart of it and almost Sold Out immediately.  They had One Wreath left, so I Photographed it, I liked it but wouldn't pay the $20 they were asking, it was Small and I felt should have been around $10 instead.  Usually their $20 Wreaths have been Large size and more elaborate.   This was a Cute Wreath and I liked it's Design with the Monarchs, clearly everything they had on the Cart was popular coz it was just about Sold Out just Days after being on Display.  But, they didn't have a very big Cart full of it, very small offerings for Dia de los Muertos this Year.  Some Years they had wonderful offerings for it, even in unexpected Shops like the Gift Shop at The Desert Botanical Gardens. 

 I got some of my Favorite and Best Dia de los Muertos pieces from The Desert Botanical Gardens Gift Shop a few Years ago.  In subsequent Years they've had less and less too for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos.  They spent a lot of Money Remodeling the Gift Shop and now it doesn't carry as much Merch as the Old Gift Shop did, which is just Odd.  So, I didn't consider it an improvement.  They could have Saved all the expense and just kept it better when it was Older.  *LOL*  They did the same thing to the Restaurants Exterior Courtyard and Seating, Remodeling it and I liked it better before the Remodel.  And now "Gertrude's" Restaurant Closed Down and was replaced by a Restaurant I don't like at all, so that too was NOT an improvement.  "Gertrude's" was one of my fav Restaurants and I knew the Manageress, most of the Staff and Loved everything on their Menu. 

 The new Restaurant is pretentious with Basic Fare they charge too much for becoz they act like the Burgers and Tacos they make are Gourmet and worth paying $30 for.  Yeah, NO!  They call it "Gertrude's By Tarbell's" now, I do not like it.  They aren't getting good Reviews either.  YELP Reviews say things like: "Overpriced, Small Portions, Uncaring Servers."  Sadly, I'm in Agreement with that assessment.   Every great Restaurant or Shop we Lose I Grieve over the Loss of and miss them almost immediately after they're Gone.   We've really Lost so many now, too numerous to Name and not a lot of replacements.  Some once vibrant Districts are no longer a destination anymore like they once were.  There's some parts of the Cities in the Metro Area I used to go all of the time and now I don't go to hardly at all, no reason to.

I just watched most of "Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls" {1970} a Wild Campy Satirical Comedy-Melodrama that is so poorly Acted and corny, so Dated, that I was LMAOROTF thru most of it.  So much gratuitous Sex, Prescription and Pot Drug use/addiction and Nudity, ridiculous plot loosely based on the Reality of Hollywood, the Pretty  People of the time cast in roles but have Over-The-Top Hammish Acting.  It was funny to watch tho', the Fashions, Sets, Hairstyles, exaggerated Counterculture Debauchery and Dialogue.  It wasn't a true sequel to "Valley Of The Dolls" {1967} and had an Opening Disclaimer stating that, which was hilarious too.  I remember both being Popular tho'.   And my Brother worked in Hollywood, as has his long time Partner, both he and she said it's always been Hollyweird.  *LOL*

  It is meant to be a Exploitation Psychedelic Parody and it delivers if you find that Amusing enuf to sit thru, especially as an Old Hippie of the Counter Culture Era.  Which, I did, coz I do like me some Camp and some Kitsch at times and heavy handed uptight Morality always makes me Laugh... coz it was so Bad it was Good, you know?  *LOL*  It was controversial in it's time due to having thinly veiled portrayals of Real Hollywood figures and had a lot of Taboo Themes for it's Time, but was so over-the-top and moralizing in a hilarious way that made it also a Weird Mess of alleged High-Art Movie Making.  I would venture to say, Yeah, they were probably quite High... and Untraditionally Artsy, in the making of it???  *Bwahahahahaha*  So I can see why it had mixed reviews, even to this day.  It was definitely a Mod Movie Monday.  *LOL*  And I'll mix it's Imagery in with the Food Porn of the Night too.  *Smiles*

Most of the Cast of John LaZar, David Gurian, Marcia McBroom, Edy Williams, Erica Gavin and Dolly Read are still Alive and in their 70's and 80's now.  Cynthia Myers and Charles Napier Passed in 2011, Phyllis Davis and Haji in 2013, and Michael Blodgett in 2007.   Dolly Read was actually Married to Comedian Dick Martin, Twice!  *LOL*  John LaZar was actually also a Ballet Dancer, Master Swordsman and Expert Martial Artist and is of Native American and Mediterranean Heritage.   David Gurian was some Eye Candy of his Time too, I'd of had a Crush on him in 1970, tho' LaZar's Character of Z-Man was obviously portrayed as a Gay Pretty Boy of that mostly Closeted Era.  So it would have been quite Bold to be Out.  LaZar had said in Interviews that he was Straight and partly Raised by Gay People, growing up around an Artsy, Unconventional and Gay Community, so quite comfortable in the Role and in the Community.  He was Born and Raised in San Francisco, and a Career in Hollywood, so that Tracks.

I remember the Book of "Valley Of The Dolls" {1966} by Jacqueline Susann.  And of coarse the Movie starred Sharon Tate, Susan Hayward and Jacqueline Susann herself in a Role.   And of coarse a pregnant Tate would later be horribly Murdered by the Charles Manson Cult Devotees.  Toni Scotti is still Alive and 86 now, and was more ruggedly Handsome than being a Hollywood Pretty Boy.   I have never watched that Movie as I've never seen it run, even on the Ted Turner Classics Station, but of coarse I knew about it.   I do confess to liking to watch Old Movies, even if they're Campy or didn't Age well.  *LOL*   One of my favorite of all time Bad Campy Movie Title was "A Nymphoid Barbarian In Dinosaur Hell" {1990}, a Budget Sci-Fi Horror flick we once watched while on Vacation in a Campy Hollywood Themed Motel in Kanab, Utah, of all places!  The Rooms had Names of Actors/Actresses that allegedly stayed there in that Room. *LMAO*

Tonight the Monsoon Storm is so fierce it's loud, woke me up, and probably will cause Flooding and more Wind Damage.  I'm hoping our Tarped unrepaired/unreplaced yet Damaged Roof of The RV Garage Mahal holds up some more coz the Work hasn't even been started coz the Insurance and Mortgage Company have tarried so long on paying out for the Claim.  I'm really disgusted coz the damage was caused in early August and this is just ridiculous to have that much damage and not have them hurry to remedy it and not risk a LOT more damage if the Roof ends up leaking on the Contents due to their delay and neglect!!!  Of coarse we've noticed hardly none of the Storm Damaged Properties locally have had any Repairs yet either, most are Tarped just like ours even if it was their main Residence and regardless of extent of damages.  

Only a scant few seem to be getting the necessary repairs or replacement done yet, and they probably just paid out of Pocket to ensure that happens, I highly Suspect?  I just didn't have Thousands of Dollars laying around to do that and then reimburse myself later and risk an Insurance Fiasco of then finding a reason NOT to approve disbursement.   Since, they will hold out on the majority of the Claim until after the Mortgage Company sends someone out AFTER all Repairs or Replacement are done to Inspect it and Bless the Work!  So, first the Insurance will do that, send a Check to me, that then I will have to send the final Check to Ohio again to get Endorsed so I can Cash it and Pay my Contractor!!!   I still don't have the 1st paltry Check back that they were sent to Endorse so I can get Work even started!!!  Since, your Mortgage gets Sold numerous times during the Life of it and usually is Sold the 1st time before the Ink is even dry on the Closing Paperwork of the Purchase of Real Estate now.  So, you never REALLY get to choose the Lender you must then Work with and ensure they're Local or a good one who does proper Loan Servicing.

I did Loan Servicing for many Years in my 1st Corporate Life and if I have to tell a Mortgage Company Employee how to even do their Job, I really would prefer NOT to be a Customer or them Toting the Note.  Of coarse most Lenders now don't even have their Loan Servicing done in the United States and Outsource it to Countries they can exploit the Labor Force of, so you're talking with John in India reading off a Script, or Matthew in India, if you get an Upgrade to a more Creative fake Identity of who you're talking to.  *Bwahahaha and Eye Roll*  Now a good many Customer Service Employees seem to be from Myanmar or the Philippines and may be Trafficked Individuals who are basically indentured Slaves who no longer have their Freedom.  I've seen Reporting on this and it's tragic, but exploitation and Human Trafficking for Profit is Globally prolific now.

Above is the Houdini Graphics large Plate that I'll get if it gets marked down more than 50% eventully, they had several, so it just might?  I'm up at 4:30 a.m. trying to mitigate Flooding on the back Porch.  Which is Sandbagged to the hilt all the time now, but we have a lot of runoff from the Roof back there.  And Rain Barrels top off from becoming filled in no time and having to be constantly emptied during these Monsoon Storms which dump an enormous amount of Rain in a short period of time.  Sometimes more than we would normally get Annually, but in less than an Hour, which is why Flooding and Flash Floods happen.  And the normally Dry Rivers and Dry Washes fill up and become so dangerous and treacherous to even be around or near, I won't Live near one for that reason.   Seen too many alleged 100 Year Floods happening Annually now.  And if your Mortgage Company requires you to have Flood Insurance in a Desert, you know you should not Build or Buy in that Location, it's a No-Brainer, yet, folks still do all the time!

Since the Thunder and Lightening is so loud, and the Rain so heavy, I'm staying up.  I will just Nap later in the Afternoon if the Storms subside and after my Dental Appointment and The Man's VA Nurse Home Visit in the Morning.   I do have to Work on Wednesday Night, but it should be my last Shift of covering for Ed, I expect he should return coz they haven't extended it to October and I don't know I'd accept it if they asked me to Work it thru October.  There's a lot I want to do in October when it should Cool off finally.  Most Events will have been over by then for Halloween prequel, and only Halloween Night, which, I do Hope the Weather is better by then for the Kiddies going Trick-Or-Treating or that will Suck and ruin that for all of us.  We usually set up out Front, Dress Up in Costumes to hand out Candy, and have a Fire Pit going if it's not inclement Weather with Halloween Classics Music playing on a CD Player.  *Smiles*  I have a lot of Halloween Music CD's with all the Cult Classics on them and Ambiance Halloween Instrumentals and Sound Effects to set the Mood.  After Kids quit coming for Candy, we watch Cult Classic Horror Movie Marathons together.

In a little while I have to take Princess T to Work, she goes in an Hour earlier on Tuesdays.  Which means we have to be there by 6:00 a.m..  I've been up since around 3:30 a.m. coz the Storm was so damned loud it woke me up!  And it takes a lot to Wake me from a sound Sleep, I don't Sleep lightly, but the Thunder and Lightening seemed directly above us and the Rain was loud on the Roof coz it was coming down so hard and fast too.  I got concerned about Flooding and mitigating it, so thought, what the Hell, I'll just stay up and take Care of monitoring that and mitigating it.  I emptied our Rain Barrel, which is about Chest High to me, once already!  Tossed Buckets of Water out of it into the Back Pasture, the runoff is from our Back Porch Roof that runs into it. 

 I really need to get Guttering installed but will have an Ordeal mounting it around present Security Lights on our Roof Edges that I want to keep coz it illuminates the Back Yard and Pool Area well and alerts us to anyone Trespassing coz they're Motion Censored too... so a good Security Feature on the Property.  We don't have much Crime in our area, but, it is Urban and more secluded that Residential high density Properties coz we have Acreage and no Street Lights in most of the Streets of the Mini Farms Community.   The only Street Lights and Sidewalk of the entire Mini Farms Community is on our Street coz it Faces the Main Street and is the only one that does.   Back when they were built this was all Rural and even had Dirt Roads back in the 1960 and 1970 Eras, even the Main Street was still unpaved back then.  So, we all still run on Septic Systems and are rather like a County Island still that the City grew up around as it encroached upon Farmland and Raw Desert over the ensuing Years.   I do like that we have the best of both Worlds now here tho'.

This Community called Glenarm Farms was large enough to withstand being displaced or having Gentrification and Redevelopment ruin it or destroy it's existence with Urban Encroachment and greedy Developing or suspect Zoning Changes.  I am quite sure some City Officials have been Bought and Paid For to make many of the decisions about Zoning Changes that they have made.  Whoever has the most Money to throw at them makes all the Rules and can get anything pushed thru if they Buy all the Right People at the Taxpayer's Expense and to our detriment.  Preservation has never been a top priority in or around Metro Phoenix.  I've now emptied the Rain Barrel Twice and taken The Son and The Granddaughter to Work, it's still pouring and Streets are flooding, so, I'd rather not be out in it but will finally get my Dental Appointment out of the way coz it's been delayed and re-scheduled numerous times for the past Six Months already.  And I want it out of the way before the Holidays are upon us, I'd rather not have the Calendar packed with mandatory shit, so that I can just enjoy the Holidays and Autumn properly.  

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A blustery inclement Weather kinda Climate Change evident Day... Dawn... The Bohemian