Wednesday, November 6, 2024

We Are In A Word... Fucked



To say I feel physically Sick, Angry and despondent by the Election results would be an understatement.  I felt dread long before they announced it, since, it wasn't looking good from about 8:00 P.M. onwards and never looked any better until formally announced.  Well, America Voted and made the Choice, now we all will unfortunately have to Live with the dire consequences.  When everything goes completely sideways I will blame every Voter in his Camp, and those who were so apathetic they failed to Vote at all and handed the Country to him to destroy and put us all at risk.  Clearly too many Americans became comfortable with what we have always enjoyed and they failed to Protect and appreciate fully.  We are in a Word... Fucked.  And we won't really know how truly Fucked we are until he rolls all the Fuckery out in Real Time. I'm not being hyperbolic, this is what I Predict.  This is what the majority of Americans wanted or it never would have happened.  I'll consider this a Day of Mourning for our Nation's Democracy to have Died at the Hands of it's own most foolish Citizens.

*******

Dawn... The Bohemian


Tuesday, November 5, 2024

To Rule Over Ashes



 We had such a hard time finding Princess T's shitty cheap Ornaments that Five Stores later we only found part of what she wanted, the rest she'll have to order Online anyway!  *Le Sigh and LOL*   Yeah, it was a Joy for me forever and ever.  *Bwahahaha*   She intended to pay with her own Account with her Phone, but the Store we found them in finally, Wal-Mart, doesn't take Tap Payment, can you Believe it!?   Wal-Mart, of all places, doesn't take the Method most Young Adults use to pay for everything on their Phones!   So, I had to pay for it all, Old School Style, with my Debit Card and Swiping it, and she'll have to reimburse me!  If she hadn't of had a Dinosaur with her, she couldn't have Bought any of it!   Who knew?  *LOL*




So, she did get more of her Pink Fairie Light Sets and some Icicles, but, she wanted some more Pink Ornaments and they only had Champagne Pink and Bubblegum Pink, not the Pastel Pink she wanted.  In fact, it took all 5 Stores to locate the Right Icicles... all the others were allegedly all 'Wrong'!   *Le Sigh*  Five Stores later I was pretty wiped out, with an increasingly upset Teenager in tow, obsessed and fixated with what we couldn't find anywhere.  I was so relieved when she was even too weary to carry on and try to locate the balance of what she wanted... and relented, saying she'd just have to order them Online instead.  *Hallelujah, Thank You Baby Jesus and all the Saints!  Smiles and Whew!!!*





She did Buy me a Grinch That Stole Christmas oversized Coffee Mug with a Plush Mini Grinch in it, well, when I get reimbursed.  *LOL*    Not that I NEED another Coffee Mug, but, I did WANT it.  *Smiles*   And, when she said she'd get it for me, since I took one for the Team and drove her around endlessly looking for elusive Icicles and the Right Shade of Pink Ornaments and Fairie Lights, it was the least she could do.   She also picked up a rolling Clothing Rack, since, her Closet isn't that large, none of them are in this House actually and we got Spoiled in the previous Home where they were enormous Walk In Closets, hers even had Windows!   Yeah, The Villa McManse was a ridiculous House, but, such opulence you sure can and do get used to and Miss once you've had it.  First World Problems my Friends... no Big Deal.  *Winks*




We also got the best Starbucks Drinks we'd ever had, the Barista at the TARGET location we went to prepared them better than any we'd ever had before, OMG!!!   Usually when I order an extra Espresso Shot in my Iced Coffee, I can't even taste it and wonder if they even gave me what I paid extra for or not?   But I could taste it Strong and it was Wonderful!  Plus you get your TARGET Red Card 5% Discount, so, Yes, we'll go to THAT Starbucks Location from now on.  *Smiles*  Princess T and I are Coffee Snobs, we really are, and we like nothing better than an exceptional tasting Coffee, Hot or Cold.   I've even had Restaurants say they'll contemplate some suggestions I gave them to put on their Menu, when I ask for Lavender Syrup in my Iced Coffee now.  Starbucks did come out with a Seasonal Lavender Coffee for Summer.




And while we were trawling MICHAEL'S Craft Store for Ornaments they didn't have, I did Score this large Audrey II Halloween Decor Piece for 60% Off, so, I didn't come away empty Handed.   And TARGET had my Pumpkin Spiced Covered Pretzel Rods for 70% Off too!   Some places had the remnants of Halloween at 90% Off now, but, I didn't see anything promising we wanted.   We had a good yet frustrating shopping experience.   The HOBBY LOBBY was insanely busy, so I'm rather glad we didn't find anything there she wanted, since the Lines at the Registers were all ridiculously long and slow moving.  *Whew*  They were still putting Christmas Merch out, but people obviously were Holiday Decor Shopping early... and most of it was Sale priced already.  Weird and Suspicious to me when you're JUST Stocking Seasonal Inventory and already marking it 50% Off.




When I got back Home The Son and I watched a Comedian Special on NetFlix by Tom Papa.  We really like him and The Son has met him in Person and had Pixs taken with him, said he's gracious with his Fans.  It was nice to have good hearty Laughs, it was a very good Special he'd done in New York City, he's hilarious and we enjoy his Style of Comedy.    We also watched a couple of Horror Movies, they were Okay.  One was very suspenseful and good... well, until the very End, Crap Ending IMO, which is always needlessly disappointing when the rest was Written so Well.  What, did you suddenly run out of Good Material at THE END?! The other was Mediocre {Eli ~ 2019}, but with a Surprise Ending I didn't see coming.  I probably wouldn't recommend either one tho', but, had the first one had a better Ending, it would have been very good, since, 90% of it was Suspensefully well Written and Acted, great Prop Special Autopsy Effects too, just a poor End IMO.  {The Autopsy Of Jane Doe ~ 2016}




We watched both Movies all the way thru, and, tho' just Okay, I didn't feel we couldn't get thru either one.  I'll probably look up some more Comedy Specials, so far none have been disappointing and I'd never seen them before.   Now of coarse between Tuesday and Friday I will be wanting to find out the Election Results.  I think we probably won't know until closer to the end of the Week if it's really as close as Polls suggested, but, Polls can be Off.   I'd rather we get to know earlier than later, perhaps less controversy then... tho' I do expect controversy from the Alt Right.  They've started controversy way before the Election is even over and already strongly suggested a Steal to promote another Big Lie if they don't get the results they want or expect.  Perhaps, IF they Win, we all should do the same thing, just to give them the High Drama and needless Expense they always make... just to be equally outrageous and ignoring Reality?  *Winks and LOL* 




Well, of coarse WE won't, we didn't in 2016 even tho' Hillary did Win the Popular Vote by Millions, and it was the archaic Electoral College that put him in Power the first time.  Otherwise we could have avoided all of this nonsense and unprecedented Political Corruption and Violent Fascist Rhetoric and Actions for the past Decade, had the Popular Vote prevailed.  Every Vote Counts my Ass!!!  Until we do away with the Electoral College, that's the Lie.  When Millions of Citizen's Votes can be ignored and install who they didn't want via The Electoral College's decision instead... that's a Problem IMO.  The Laundry List of Criminals and Grifters in his Administration is Mind boggling, and I can't Believe everyone still Supporting him regardless, has Amnesia about all of that.  They KNOW and since then damned near all of his Inner Circle and extended Family have come forward with dire Warnings.  So, everyone has been adequately Informed, by those who know him best, worked for him, or are related to him, and were closest to him and chosen by him during his Administration.  There are no dirty little Secrets, it's all been Exposed and out in the Open now.




Anyway, those who still Vote for him have that on their Conscience and the Blood on their Hands, should everything go further Sideways than it already has.  I don't have it on mine... and I will Blame them, every One of them actually, complicit by their Support and KNOWING, yet, backing it all anyway.   Nobody can really claim Innocence or Ignorance at this juncture, they KNOW who and what he is and what his Agenda is, it's all be said Out Loud and out of his own Mouth on numerous occasions.  Most of them have been in attendance, so, they saw and/or Heard it.   And Lord knows we all had to and apparently our disgust wasn't theirs.  So, I don't wanna hear any more excuses for them either, you can't excuse the inexcusable nor justify any of it.  The whole Criminal Enterprise he's got going on has a fairly predictable Play Book and MO, may the consequences of it fall on him too, heavily.




Within Days now we'll know if the American People want and Voted in a Democracy that is functional or an Authoritarian Regime that is not and will fuck America up for ALL of us... and possibly the World too!  It is consequential beyond our Borders and our Allies know this.   I can't say I'm not Anxious about this Election, too much is clearly at stake and the fact it's a close race within the Margins and decided by a few Swing States, is deeply disturbing to me.  I'd like to Imagine America is filled with well Informed Sane Voters who used discernment and intelligence enough to know what is on the Right side of History and Right from Wrong.   I'd like to Trust my fellow Countrymen to do the Right thing and Support what is Good and Just.  But, I just don't know anymore that there are enough of us on that Side of the Vote, I really don't. 




When I woke up this Morning it was 44 Degrees, so Autumn has mos def arrived now!   Princess T and I had a discussion on the way in to her Work that it feels Weird to her that she's the only one Employed in the Household now and she's only making Minimum Wage.   I can tell it troubles her becoz of all the Media focus on what the Alt Right plans to do.   With Social Security, Federal Employees and their Pensions, affordable Healthcare, Women's Reproductive Health, stripping away Voting Rights and decimating the Rule of Law and it's Legal System, the Economy, Tariffs on Imports, Immigration with a focus on deporting anyone not Lily White, locking up anyone who didn't Vote for Hair Furor, the whole Retribution and Revenge Tour.   It's just A LOT to unpack and process and is an Anxiety ridden shitshow!





They were saying on The News that Surveys have revealed that 65% of Americans are equally Anxious about it all.  I'm just Surprised it's ONLY 65% becoz in a Sane Society it should be closer to 100%, Right?!   The Fact that almost 40% have no Anxiety about all that shit, makes me realize Sanity isn't prevailing as much as it Needs to be!!!  That's an unhealthy chunk and disturbingly high percentile of Insanity in any Society to be perfectly clear!!!   Do we really want or find common ground with that high percentile of folks so out of touch and untethered to Reality now, that we could enter into rational dialogue with them at all?  Or to move the Country forward in a Positive or healthy functional manner grounded in Sanity and Truth, respecting the Rule of Law, having a Moral Compass, and how important it is to have those attributes?   I just don't know really, I don't.  Their utter Devotion to a Madman is evident and just hasn't been swayed.





I don't wanna go thru the next Four Years or MORE despondent and Dealing with complete Chaos and the ruination of America.  They had DonOld's Nephew Fred Trump III on an Interview about his Uncle.  What he said was absolutely Chilling and Shocking.  You see, he has a Developmentally Disabled Special Needs Son and his Uncle's response to that Great-Nephew, who he has never Cared to meet or know, was, they should just let him, and all Children/Adults like him, just Die!!!   Yep, very Hitleresque and he meant it, about his own Blood Kin, just think about that for a Minute won't you?   And the potential Fate of all Disabled or Sickly Humans within OUR Society.  If a Sociopath like that, with no regard for Human Life and rigid about who Humanity should even extend to, obtains absolute Power, over Life and Death in America.  





Fucking Sobering.   Can't enuf People closest to him come Forward to give dire Warnings and be taken Seriously and Heard?!  You see, DonOld held the Trust of his Nephew's Inheritance and the Needs of his Disabled Child, his Uncle told him THOSE PEOPLE Cost too much Money, we should let them just all Die!!!   Transactional to an extent, who else is gonna Cost too much Money in his demented Sadistic Mind next?   The Old, those with certain Illnesses, the Poor, Middle Class Lower Income Families, Ethnicities he Hates, your Pets even?   I mean, what segment of Society that he Targets next will finally Move any of them who are currently so fucking Devoted?   To where they Wake the fuck up and pay attention until he's coming for them next and it's too late.   When the Guy's own Family has nothing good to say, it's very Telling.   When even the most Corrupt of his own Inner Circle are deciding to sound the Alarm too and say he should never be President again... well... when it's a Bridge Too Far for even THEM, Think about it!!! 





I know I Preach to the Choir here on my tiny slice of a Platform.   But, if even just One of his Cult Members were to show up and be swayed, it would be Worth it.   To expose them to something different than what they may be being fed to formulate their Beliefs that he would be Good for ANYONE, because he will not be.   He would Sacrifice and throw anyone under the Bus for his own Gains and he has proven that over and over again ad nauseum.  And to be sure he's not the whole Problem with what's gone haywire in our Society, his Base and Sycophants have shown us that, they'd Sell Out America too and seem determined to in fact.   I have to Wonder what's in it for them that they've compromised and degraded themselves so thoroughly?   Definitely they at least Believe there's a Payoff for them Personally to Sell everyone else Out or Burn the whole Place Down to Rule over the Ashes? 





Today, once it Warms up beyond Chilling, The Man and I are gonna drive around the Cemetery across the Street to see the Decorated Graves.  It is Heart Warming to me to see People Honoring their Dead, but Sad when some of Society cannot even Honor the Living, you know?   I do Wonder what makes some folks Behave that way, where Honor means nothing to them and Humanity is absent from their Hearts and Soul?   Basic Human Kindness, Respect and the Fruits of the Spirit are lacking in some folks and I have to Wonder what happened TO them to make them that way, or, were they just Born that way and completely corrupted Bad Seed?  And, more importantly, how best to redeem those that can be?  I really don't wanna vilify or judge another Human Being based on differences of how they are, or what they happen to Believe.  I can Harmoniously Agree to Disagree.  But to live among them in Harmony can be treacherous to navigate, that's for sure, when Harmony is NOT their Goal at all.  We've been "Othered".





I'd rather NOT be "Othered" or considered an Enemy of my fellow Countrymen, since, I'm NOT.   We're fellow Americans and Unity of any Nation is vital for continued Success, Division and Infighting never works out well.   Nothing ever gets Done if you Obstruct every Option that would get things Done... even if it's not 100% your way all the damned time.  Any Mature Adult knows that.   So, if deliberate Obstruction is their Goal, then they don't want anything to actually get Done.  Just have it be a handy thing to continue to Run on and Gripe about incessantly, they were never interested in actual Solutions.  The Problem actually has some Benefit to them Personally, whether they will admit to that Fact or not.  And when someone isn't part of any Solution they ARE part of any Problem, plain and Simple.  They ADD to the Problem actually, regardless of how much they gripe about and dramatically pound their Chests about said Problem.





  Example is 45 Blocked and Shot Down the Bipartisan Support of Policy and Options to Solve a lot of the current Border Issues, he didn't want Solutions.  Why?  Becoz he NEEDED and fully Intended to Run on the Platform of a more Unsecure Border and the Fear it instills in his Base of Supporters.  It's some of his Red Meat Bait in fact.  He knows they LOVE to be thrown that Red Meat Bait and gobble it up hungrily.  He NEEDED the Immigration Issue to Run on, so, it couldn't get better or it defeats and derails his Purpose of having it be worse for his own Agendas, then Blame the Opponents for Why it's still a Problem.  And, to be Fair, it's been a Problem for over Half a Century under all Administrations and if you follow the Money, you'd Understand Why that is.   An exploitable Labor Force is Big Business for those who Profit most from it my Friends... and a handy Scapegoat to Blame when times are tough as well.   Capitalistic Greed can be dirty Business.  If we can now catch a Rocket Ship in a Device done smooth as Silk, don't tell me we can't Solve some Problems.  But, Who most Benefits if we DON'T?





*******

Stay Thirsty for Knowledge my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian




Monday, November 4, 2024

Icicle Hunting In The Desert... And Once Upon A Time

 



Well, I don't know if the final day of Dia de los Muertos Events got Rained Out or not?   I just know I didn't attend anything, coz the Bad Weather came in fast and early near where we live.   And once it goes inclement, I stay Home to be Safe and Sound.  I'd gotten everything in to my Showroom earlier, and all of Halloween out, so had no need to go anywhere else anyway.   I watched Alfred Hitchcock's Classic "The Birds" {1963}, which stands the test of Time as far as Horror Suspense Films go, Brilliant and I never tire of watching it.  There are always Scenes I forget or don't remember at all until I'm watching it again.  Like the Lovebirds swaying to and fro in their Cage, comically, in the Sports Car as she's driving fast around curves.  *LOL*




Everything On Sale for Halloween now is Sold Out completely, it didn't take long in the After Holiday Markdown Sales to dispose of it quickly.  So, it's a good thing I got ours in the Early Morning After Halloween.  Now the Turkeys and Hams are out already, we don't have room in our Freezers to Store any and I doubt I'll Cook a Thanksgiving Meal anyway.  We'll probably just Eat Out since it's just the Four of us right now.  Nobody has been eating much, so I just don't want a lot of Leftovers or wasted Holiday Foods.  Plus, someone else doing the Cooking and Cleanup appeals to me more.  *Winks*  Princess T isn't fond of Thanksgiving Foods anyway, so likely would forego eating any.  There's been times we Ate Out for Thanksgiving and she ordered something like Spaghetti!  *LOL*




She couldn't find some of her Christmas Tree Decorations from last Year in the Christmas Decor Storage Closet and so Tomorrow she wants me to take her to get some.  *Le Sigh*   She asked me if I'd just Donated them after last Year and Truthfully I couldn't say I hadn't.  She tends to want to Decorate a Monochrome Colored Tree with inexpensive Ornaments and tires of it usually after one Year.   So, I don't want to Store a bunch of crappy Cheap One Color Ornaments in Hopes she'd use them again... or never.  *LOL*   One Year she had Blue... one Year Red... another Year Silver... and another Year Black... last Year she had Pink, and I guess she's doing Pink again, so who knew?  And she had shit pulled all out of the Storage Closet strewn from Hell to Breakfast everywhere looking for the Pink Icicle Ornaments.  *Le Sigh*




Then she asked me if I'd Donated them and really I could not say for sure, so, said I might have, I didn't recall, which was the Truth.  *LOL*  I'd rather Buy her some replacement Cheap Ass Plastic Icicles, so I just Hope Hobby Lobby has some she likes?  I don't want to go to every Christmas Aisle in every Store to find some, that's for sure.  And HL has a vast selection of Cheap Ass Ornaments only rivaled by some Dollar Stores, which now, the best Dollar Stores are out of Business, so that Option is long gone now.  Pretty sure we got the last Cheap Ass Ornaments for her from The 99 Cent Only Store... I sure Miss that Store, I ain't gonna Lie.  It was my Favorite Dollar Store... dammit!!!  So, we shall be Icicle Hunting in the Desert Tomorrow, Pray for me!  *Bwahaha*




I did finally download the Images I took on my Old School Camera, only to realize I had taken far more with my Cellphone actually.   Which is Rare, but I think they turned out better anyway, so it's just as well.  So Five more Images of her as Bad Bunny and Slutty Bunny.  She's the only one who wore a Costume this Year so I have no more to Share of anyone else from our Halloween Happenings.  Even Timmy didn't wear a Costume, as it turns out, so I didn't get any Pixs of her Posse this Year, I was at Work before they left for First Fridays anyway.  I had thought she was loaning him her Cow Costume Onesie, why that didn't happen I couldn't say?   Except mebbe he's grown too Tall to wear it, he's gonna be a very Tall Young Man, that's for sure.  

 


Every time I see him he looks Taller than before!!!  Pretty sure he's well over 6 Foot now.  His Mom is only 4 Foot something and Tiny, like a Child, so his Bio Dad must have had Height?  His Uncle that got Murdered was only 4 Foot something as well, and his Two Cousins, who were Orphaned and are now being Raised by his Grandparents, are so small I thought they were a Toddler and a Pre-Schooler and it turns out one was 7 and one was 11!!!   His Grandma isn't real Small, so I wondered if her First Husband hadn't been a Little Person?  *LOL*  The Cousins, Timmy's Mom and Uncle didn't look like Dwarfs, but, they sure were very Small in Stature, so don't look the Ages they were.  So they seemed to have Proportionate Short Stature, not Disproportionate, but I doubt they are over 4'10".  When I met his Mom and Uncle the first time I thought they were Children and not Full Grown Adults!




And when Princess T told me how Old the Uncle's Daughters were, I didn't Believe her at first, coz, they looked way too Small to be the Ages she said they were!!!    I mean, I had treated them like they were 2 and 5, not 7 and 11!!!  *Smiles*  She Laughed becoz she said they both have a BIG Attitude.  I guess they don't Like her and I don't know if it's coz she's close to their Uncle and they're Jealous?  His Grandparents Adore our Granddaughter tho' and she really Adores them as well.  So, they say they miss her when she and Timmy aren't spending a lot of Time together.  I get the sense they'd LIKE for them to be a Couple, but, unless both of them aren't hitched by 40... it's unlikely and he'll likely end up with a Husband and not a Wife.  *Smiles*




One Halloween she loaned Timmy one of her Little Black Dresses, Fishnet Stockings and a Wig to Wear and she said she'd never do that again becoz he looked better in them than she did!  *LMAOROTF*  She'd taken a Pix and even tho' she had looked Fierce and Sexy in them too, I had to admit, he did look better.  He is quite gorgeous in Drag. *Ha ha ha*  Now that he's over 6' tho', and getting Muscular, it's doubtful he could pull off the Androgenous Look as effortlessly now.  So, he hasn't done Drag in a while.   The Young Prince had told me it's very hard not to bulk up as you Mature and start looking more Masculine than Feminine.   He still can if he hides his Biceps, becoz he's stayed very Slender and Facial Wise he's always been Pretty and more Feminine looking, even when he was little.  And he's got enuf Native American Ancestry that he hardly grows Facial Hair or Body Hair either, which is Helpful too.

 



There used to be much conflict in the Household when he'd 'borrow' his Sister's Clothes, so, he started 'borrowing' mine instead!!!  Then asking if he could just have them!   So, a lot of my Wardrobe went to New Mexico with him.  And probably some of his Mom's too?  *LOL*  Every so often she'll ask me if an Outfit she knew she had, have I seen it coz it is missing and she can't find it, and I'll say that very likely, her Son now has it.  *Bwahahaha*   I don't mind giving any of the Kids or Grandkids any of my Clothes they want, coz, it's rather flattering that they appreciate my Aesthetic and Style.  I mean how many Kids or Grandkids will Proudly say they're voluntarily wearing their Mom or Grandma's Clothes and like her Style?  Mine do.  Their Friends will admire an ensemble and ask where they got it, and they say, out of MY Closet!  *LOL*  But No, what she's wearing Above was NOT Mine... Both Ensembles Wrong Size and I don't and can't dress like THAT anymore! *Bwahahaha and Winks... if Only though!  Smiles*




Okay, so a Running Joke is that when we see any Sweet Hawt Young Thing with Swag and Style, especially skimpily clad, I'll say, "I look like that in my ________________", and then we all bust out in raucous Laughter.  *LMAOROTF and Winks*   Now, The Man remembers when I could and did... and the Kids, Grandkids and their Friends, have seen the Evidence in Old Pixs... so... Once Upon A Time... *LOL*   Anyway, Time marches on, doesn't it?   And if I could get back down to a Svelte Weight I'd wear Cuter Wardrobe, that's for damned sure, becoz they'd have it in my Size.  *LOL and Le Sigh*  Right now I'm not Buying a lot of Wardrobe becoz I do fully intend to keep losing Weight and don't wanna have to replace it all at different Weight Losses on the Journey... I'd rather wait 'til I hit Goal as my Reward, THEN replace it.  *Smiles*



Even tho' my Appetite has been crap, I still like looking at Beautiful Foods and Sampling them.  I just can't eat much at all lately, feel hungry but then immediately full, don't know what that's all about?  The Man is having the same problem, The Son too, we think perhaps Nerves might be on Edge and suppressing Appetite, since, we've been Dealing with a lot for a prolonged time now?  Or, mebbe we just don't NEED so much Food and our Bodies have regulated down to eating only what's Needed, I dunno?   It's Okay, so long as I don't Feel Hungry it's not like I look like I'm withering away or starving.  *Winks*  Perhaps it will aide The Man and I to get down to a healthier weight we will maintain more easily?  Both of us used to be very Thin all our lives until after we hit our 50's.  Mine was a weight gain after a Hysterectomy and his was due to a succession of Major Surgeries, prolonged and now permanent Disability.




The Man had always been a lean, mean, fighting Machine, he could wear the same Uniform Size when he Retired 39 Years later, as he'd worn as a Teen Draftee!!!  And, he played lots of competitive Sports as well, and was a Workaholic, so he often pulled down a 2nd Job as well as his Military Career one.   Mostly as a Bouncer and DJ at Clubs, which, is where I met him and became intrigued.  *Winks*  Here was this Thin Quiet Dude as a Bouncer, always a Sharp Dressed Man at the time, and could put Down any size Dude in the Club in Seconds and not even wrinkle his Shirt or break a Sweat!!!  Lots of Women were giving him their Number at the Club, but, he chose to come up and talk to me in between his Sets DJing and the Bouncing of troublesome Clients.  *Smiles and Winks*  Yeah, I never Chased a Man in my Life... even IF I WAS Interested.  And frankly, I wasn't looking for a Boyfriend or Love.  I was a Single Parent of a 3 and 7 Year Old and had a very demanding Corporate Career, my own Home, and a Crazy Ex to Deal with.

  



My own Parents had gotten their Divorce just before I'd gotten mine, after 35 Years Together, so I'd been Helping Mom out a lot in her Transition to being Single for the first time since she was only 21 and in her Country of Origin.  So, I had a Full Dance Card and wasn't looking to Tango with a Love Interest.  *LOL*  I had been there at the Club for Super Bowl Sunday, with my Brother and some Male GI Friends.  They always pestered me to get out and have Fun, and not be all Work and no Play.  Initially The Man wasn't sure if my Brother was a Boyfriend or Husband, we didn't look anything alike in those Days, he's 6'4" and had thick Blue Black Hair... I'm 5'2" and a Light Brunette.   So, he'd talked with my Brother first and established, Nope, it's my Sister I'm here with.   And my Brother is like, "But, Legs just gave you her Number, Dude {Gorgeous Gal who Haunted that Club and Earned that Nickname, LOL}... so Why would you be Interested in my Sister, besides, she could be Real Trouble!?"  *Winks and LMAO, my Little Brother KNOWS me!  Smiles*  




And at first I assumed The Man was Younger than he was, since, he'd Served Tours in Vietnam and I'm thinking, shit, my Dad was in Vietnam!  Turns out when The Man was a Sniper in Vietnam doing his Tours of Duty, he was a Married Man with a Kid, and I was 12-13 Years Old!  *LMAO*  Anyway, we had a whirlwind Romance and a short period of Dating, before Eloping and getting Married in Vegas, and the rest is History.  As different as we are, and WE ARE, turns out we were Yin and Yang, Two Opposing Forces that just complimented each other as Kindred Spirits and made a great Team.   Plus, he was probably the only Man I ever met that wasn't intimidated by a Strong Woman, my Success or the fact I made more Money than he did, even tho' he was Successful too in his chosen Career and an intimidating Presence himself, but in a Quieter way.  He is also a Devoted Family Man and Raised my Bio Kids as his own and a couple of our Grandkids for extra measure.  *Smiles*




And, he likes to still Joke and tell people that he should have heeded the dire Warnings of my Dad and my Younger Brother, that I could be Real Trouble!  *Bwahahahahahaha*   But, don'tcha know, I personally think that, Adrenalin Junkie that he's always been, walking on the Razor's Edge, Trouble and Danger has never frightened nor intimidated him, it draws him.  So, there ya have it... like a Moth to a Flame.  *Winks*  Fate can often connect you with the Right people when you're not even looking for them.  At the Time I met my Beloved I wasn't looking for Mister Right, I wasn't even looking for Mister Right Now!  *Ha ha ha*  Nor was he looking for a Girlfriend actually, he had many Friends and some of them were Women, but, he really felt like he'd stay Single and not complicate his Life.  *Bwahahahahaha*   And this Crew in a Word is COMPLICATED.   Even our Fur Babies are Complicated!  *LOL* 




The Son is making us all Breakfast, one of the Benefits of him being out of Work is he'll find stuff to do around here instead until he gets Hired elsewhere.  Later I gotta take Princess T to the Hobby Lobby since she claims her Tree still needs MORE.   Well, as a self professed Maximalist myself, I can't argue with that assessment... more is more.  *Winks*  And the Hobby Lobby is the closest Store to Home that I know has a massive selection of Christmas Ornaments out already, some of them already on Sale.   I hadn't Donated her Cheap Pink Ornaments from a previous Year so I doubt I got rid of the Icicles, but, she can't locate them and once she's Fixated on something, well... it becomes an Obsession and her current Mission in Life... Wonder where she gets THAT from?  *Bwahahahahaha*

 



*******

Happy Autumn from the Arizona Desert my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Dia de los Muertos And Religious Mysticism

 



We got to the Dia de los Muertos Celebration way early, had Brunch, and managed to actually get into the Mercado and Ofrenda 45 Minutes before it officially Opened, since we knew some Vendors.  That made for unobstructed Photo Ops before crowds descended upon it all.  It also meant I could buy one of my small Ofrenda Home Altars from my Favorite Priest Friend who Creates them, before he Sold any of them.  He always gives me a deep Discount since I've been Collecting his Work for a Decade now.  Last Year I was supposed to take a Class of his on making them, but had to Cancel due to a Family Emergency.

   



If he ever Teaches another one I'll Sign Up tho' and keep all Body Parts Crossed that nothing comes up.   This is Why I do not Sign Up for Classes tho', I never know what Issues of Life will make it so I can't Honor the Commitment to attend?   You can't Plan your Emergencies.  Anyway, I can see why this Year the Public Ofrenda was only for Three Days, it's almost all Perishables this Year.   So will be replaced as they look perished, so it's called a deconstructed Altar, since it will be done over and over again over the Three Day Period.   It was Lovely and I like nothing more than a Beautiful Altar.   Once we get everything around here Done I Plan to set aside an Interior Space where one will be constructed again regularly during the Special Holy Days.

 



The Man did very well, it was a lot of Walking and he kept Pace fairly well, tho' both of us had Aching Joints and figured a Big Storm must be coming.   It was a Gorgeous Day, but, when we feel that stiff and in pain, it's coming.   Sure enuf, by Dusk we had a huge Monsoon Storm that dumped an incredible amount of Rain on us.  By then we were Home and cozy, but it was fierce enuf to wake me out of my Midafternoon Nap I was taking!   To rush out and pull everything on the Front Porch Displays under cover more... too late, but, still.  We had some Flooding but were sufficiently Sandbagged to protect stuff.




The Storm would certainly have put a damper on the huge Dia de los Muertos Celebration going on at the Big Catholic Cemetery across the Street, which was going strong since this Morning.  Most Families will be there all Day decorating the Graves and Honoring their Dearly Departed.  So many make the Pilgrimage that Local Police have to direct Traffic, complicated this Year due to all the Construction on the Main Roads that intersect the Cemetery Location.  We've got so much major Construction going on that it really is ridiculous and impeding Traffic even when it's not an epic amount of it.   There are shortcuts around it that I take to get back to our Community, which is the closest one to the Cemetery.




This Post I'm just using the Images I took with my Cellphone Camera and the next Post will be the ones I took with my Old School Camera, which, I haven't downloaded yet.   I was hasty this Year and didn't linger at the Event becoz frankly, we were so sore and had been there Hours before it even began, walking the Gardens.  The problem this Year was that the Gardens are under major Construction and Improvements too, so a lot of Detours to get to where we needed to be and disorientation in areas they've completely remodeled!  The Improvements are very nice, but altered all the Paths I know by rote in how to get everywhere and they hadn't updated the Maps yet either to navigate it all.   So, we did a lot of unnecessary Walking going where you can now no longer go or get thru, and have to turn back!  *Le Sigh*

 




Even some of the Docents and Workers were confused about where to direct you and clueless.   But, we finally found a Grounds Worker who Radioed in and asked Upper Management how we could get to Ottosen Gallery?  We were getting tired and exhausted Physically, so he was a Sweetheart about accommodating us and just not saying he didn't know.  Turns out if we'd been told in advance we could have gotten there with Thousands less Steps coz the new Detour was just to the Left of the Main Entrance!!!  *Le Sigh and LOL*   Well, it meant we sure got our Cardio in for the day and were so knackered that we both Napped when we got back Home after picking Princess T up from Work!  *LOL*  She got out real early Today thankfully.
   




The Man didn't grow up with Home Altars and Celebrating the Dead like I did, so, until he met me, he never incorporated these Traditions and Rituals.   My Mom's Country has Celebrations very similar and on the same Days as most Hispanic Cultures.  And my Dad's Culture also sets aside Celebrations to Honor the Ancestors, so there were always Altars in our Homes... and in mine.   And I do recall it often Freaking Out some of my American Friends who misinterpreted a lot of what we were doing and thought it to be Pagan Witchcraft or Voodoo.  *LOL*   Well, some of you probably still do think that and it's Okay.  *Winks*  I remember every Pastor of every Church I ever was either a Guest or Member of trying to inhibit my Cultural Traditions, to no avail.  *Bwahahaha*  But the Priests were always Cool with it and I think that's Why a lot of Catholics are from Cultures that converted to Christianity.  Just a hunch. *Smiles*  




My current Church Family I'm a Member of and have been for over Two Decades now is a Street Ministry and a predominantly Black Congregation, that might not understand my ways, but doesn't bash them either, which, I appreciate.   My Mom became a Member for Years before she Died and that shocked me since she didn't like American Churches and Denominations at all, didn't understand them.   Far too different Culturally for her to embrace, but, my Non-Denominational Street Ministry Church she just Loved and started coming with me when we both could attend regularly.  She knew I did Ministry Work on the Streets all the time and had she been Well enuf she would have worked at least the Food Ministry with me, even if not the Street Ministry part in some of the sketchy areas we Served the Communities there.  My Pastor and First Lady just Adored Nanna and she Adored them too.






Sadly Pastor and my Mom have gone to the Great Beyond now, so, he won't be presiding over my own Funeral.  But I keep in touch with our First Lady and I still Tithe to the Ministry to support the important work they do in underserved Communities and with the Street People and in the Prison Systems.   I really miss doing Food Ministry Work, which I did for Decades with All Faith, a conglomeration of many different and diverse Faiths which combined resources to Feed the Hungry, the Homeless and the Housebound.   And direct and connect them with other Resources that would be Helpful to them.   I've been Poor, I've been Homeless, I've been Hungry, and now that I'm a Full Time Caregiver I do understand how you can become stuck Housebound and Isolated more than is convenient and optimally functional and connected to your Community day to day.






I've been Richer, I've been Poorer, Richer is Better.  *Winks*  Anyway, the Community Altar Experience was Special tho' I didn't leave my Offering to my Deceased Family Members and Ancestors, which I usually do and probably should have.  But, I could tell The Man was fading fast and while things were going so well we prematurely called it a Day.  And it had been a very pleasant one and we both enjoyed it tremendously.   I had the Southwestern Eggs Benedict and Gazpacho for Brunch.  He had the Scone with Eggs and Pepper Gravy.   He said it was very good and mine sure was too, it's the only Meal we've thus needed all day!!!  Lately, One Meal has been more than enuf for both of us.   I feel satiated from one and really would have to force myself to eat any others.  I don't even need to take my GOLO anymore actually, tho' I still have some if I need to.




His Scone and Pepper Gravy were under his Eggs... he's a Gravy Snob but said this Gravy was very good.  *LOL*   My Order is pictured further Below in the Post and was a thing of Beauty and exceptional Taste.  It was a nice way to start our Day.   The Son had actually paid for the Ofrenda I Bought from my Priest Friend.   He joked that while he has it he might as well give it to me now becoz until Unemployment starts up or he gets Hired, it's gonna be a lean Holiday Season.   I agree, it could be indeed, so, we enjoy stuff while we presently still can.  Princess T asked me if it would be too Weird to put up her Christmas Tree?  I didn't, so, it's up in her Room now, she wanted to do it and enjoying it for however long she wants to is Okay with me.   She enjoys Holiday Decorating again, now she does her own in her own Room.  She used to as a Small Child and I'm glad she's resumed the Practice.  






The Young Prince contacted me via PM and he'd been on my Heart and Mind, so, I'd almost called him to ask how Halloween went.  Whenever someone is on my Heart and Mind, they inevitably initiate Contact first, it's very Strange how that always happens.   Anyway, they are still financially struggling so he had no Costume, no Candy to hand out, but did Carve his Jack O'Lantern, so, that was all he did and it bothered him.    Allen doesn't really Celebrate things, but, The Young Prince does have his Traditions and Rituals he fondly recalls and holds Dear.   So, I could tell he was quite morose and melancholy about Halloween being a dud for him.   I've included his Two Jack O'Lantern Images he Shared, he did a good job, as always... so it was a Fine Jack O'Lantern.  Allen prefers the new Job and it's easier on him, but pays far less.






Above is my new Ofrenda Altar I bought from my Priest Friend.  Hard to choose a Fav and there were Three different ones I was considering.  So, I let The Man choose the one he felt he liked best and it was a Fine Choice and the one I think I was leaning towards also.  I do Hope my Friend Sells Out of all the Beautiful Art he Created.  He Donates all the Proceeds towards the Ministries of the Church, so, it all goes to a very good Cause.   He's there peeking above the Altar.  *Smiles*   He always remembers me and all the Altars I've previously Collected, he has a phenomenal Memory.  He asked if the Emergency that kept me from the Class in January was resolved and I explained that unfortunately it's still ongoing and we're Dealing with it again now, so The Daughter had to return to Mexico again.  He's a Hispanic Priest and does a lot of his Ministry Work in both Countries, so understands the particular Hardships and Needs South of the Border too.







We had a nice chat again, he's such a great Guy and I've truly enjoyed knowing him all these Years, even tho' we only connect there at the Dia de los Muertos Celebration Mercado every Year.   I always look for him and seek him out, even if some Years I haven't been able to Buy one.   If I could Buy one every Year I would and I'd surely Own the largest Collection of his Work, he knows that.  *LOL*  I know that the large Storm we had last Night would put a damper on the Procession and Outdoor activities, especially at the Cemeteries, it was a huge downpour and caused a lot of accidents on the Roads.  The Son was supposed to meet a Friend to do something and cancelled due to the Road conditions being too hazardous and visibility issues with the heavy Rains.  He stayed Home instead and so did we.  Anything you would have done we decided not to do on account of the severe Weather.






We needed the Rain, but not all at once.  *Smiles*  I had to bring a Vintage Military Footlocker and Vintage Folding Chair inside to dry out.  The Storm hit so suddenly we didn't have sufficient Time to get it out of the Elements before it got soaking wet.  It should dry out okay and the Footlocker is Wood, so just a lot of drying time will be necessary.  If it had been a Metal one it would have fared fine... it still had great Paper Ephemera attached to it and that's especially what I didn't want to get ruined.  It seems to be okay tho'.  *Whew*  The Rain came in heavy and sideways, so even things under cover Outside did get wet on the Porch and Patio.   Not much you can do about that and we're slowly removing things after they dry off and bringing them to Interior locations now.






My Vampire Lips TJ Maxx Mug hasn't arrived yet from my Online Order.  I had Hoped to get it before Halloween since I'd also finally found a reasonably priced Coffee Maker to replace the one that went on the fritz.  Just about every Major Store has them but OMG the vast majority of them now are priced in the Stratosphere.  Companies like Gevalia, Jura, Nespresso, Cuisinart and Keurig, among others I've never heard of, can cost from Hundreds to Thousands!   I wanted to Pay no more than Forty Bucks, so Bella Single Serve was more my speed.  *LOL*  Granted, some of the Grind and Brews intrigued me, but paying a Hundred and Forty did not.  They were Sold Out of all the inexpensive Coffee Makers but I got One of Two Bella they had left at $39.99... plus I get my Red Card 5% Discount.  *Whew*  Mr. Coffee is still around at around Twenty, but, Sold Out everywhere I went... no Wonder.  Not all of us can afford to get Barista Bougee with our Coffee Makers at Home.  *LOL*

 




Above and Below are Two more of my Altar Ofrendas I bought from The Priest many Moons ago.   So, the one I just Bought compliments the one Below very nicely.   He didn't have any with Frida Kahlo this Year and he and I remembered the time I got there early and would have bought one, but didn't wanna carry it around, so came back before I was ready to leave and someone had already Bought all his Frida Kahlo Altars!!!  This time he asked if I wanted him to just Hold the purchase until we were ready to leave and then come back for it, but, we were ready to leave, he was actually our last stop when the Mercado was finally set up at his Table.  Many Vendors were still putting out their Merch, we were that early, but, I wasn't looking to Buy from anyone else, even tho' the Inventory this Year was fabulous.

 




We used to do a lot more of the Activities when The G-Kid Force were little Kids.  Like Face Painting to look like La Calavera Catrina and Sugar Skull Makeup, the elaborate Floral Headbands, to wear for the Procession.   Making Sugar Skulls to take Home for our Home Altar Ofrenda.  We still have all the Sugar Skulls the Kids made, they last indefinitely if you keep them dry and protected, like the Sugar Eggs you can make and decorate for Easter with Dioramas inside of them.  We have a few of those too.  Since my Grandkids and Son are Hispanic, incorporating the Hispanic Culture, Traditions and Rituals was always important to me to Honor their Heritage and Ancestry.  Of coarse I've always had what my Cultural Ancestry Traditions and Rituals are, so, we do a lot that was very different than what The Man was used to.






My Maternal Grandfather was Raised by a Chinese Family when his Didi Kai Bio Mom became Widowed.  She had Eleven Kids, so Five of the Youngest went to live with a Chinese Childless Family who Raised them as if their own.  The Six Oldest stayed with their Mom and helped her, so both Welsh Didi Kai and Chinese Traditions and Rituals were thus melded into the Family Ancestry.  As it turns out The Daughter is part Asian, so, that worked out just Splendid.  And my Mom, who was very connected to practices of Buddhism, since her Dad was Buddhist, Believed in Reincarnation and that The Daughter was Reincarnate of the Spirit of her Dad.   So, she and The Daughter were always extremely close and I have a very interesting Supernatural Story to tell now about something that happened when The Daughter was a Toddler.  That solidified my Mom's Beliefs.

 




My Gran-Gran had Passed when I was a Teenager, so none of my Children was Born yet, and they never got to meet any Great-Great Grandparents, all were gone.   My Gran-Gran spoke several languages fluently even tho' he was illiterate and could not Read nor Write, the Gypsies didn't send their Kids to School in his day.   So, he spoke fluent Chinese, but, my Mom and her Siblings never learned it, they just Spoke Welsh and English growing up.  Since, by their Generation, English was mandatory in the Schools, all taught by the English, and they were punished severely for even speaking Welsh.   Thus, Mom grew up hearing her Father speak Chinese, and Singing in Chinese, but didn't Speak nor Understand it herself.  She just recalled what the Songs sounded like and were.






So, fast forward to the early 1980's and The Daughter is a Toddler, she's playing with her Dolls and my Mom and I hear her Singing an entire Song in fluent Chinese!!!!!!!   There were no Chinese Children in her Day Care or in our Neighborhood, so it gave us Goosebumps!!!   Especially my Mom, becoz it was the Song she remembered her Dad Singing when she was a Child and no way could my Daughter have known it almost Three Generations later!!!   My Mom couldn't even Sing that Song and I'd never heard it before.  Plus, I didn't own a TV at the time, so The Daughter never watched TV anywhere to hear it.  So, we asked a Two Year Old where she'd Heard that Song and how she Knew it?  And she simply said, as Kids just do in a matter-of-fact way, "I used to Sing it when I was here before."   *Gasp and OMG*  Yeah, tho' I personally didn't previously Believe in Reincarnation like my Mom, it did give me considerable Pause and Possibility, lemme tell ya!!!!!






I STILL break out in Goosebumps whenever I tell that Story and just did, becoz it evokes that reaction, as something I can't Explain or fully Understand.   Granted, the Older she got the less she would Sing those Songs in Chinese and eventually she didn't remember them at all, also a Curious thing I cannot explain.  I don't know a whole lot about Reincarnation to offer Explanations of how it would or should Work.  I just know what I Witnessed myself with my own Child and was really jaw dropping, even for my Mom who fully Believed in Reincarnation all her Life.  So, she became fully convinced The Daughter had been here before as her Great-Gran-Gran.    My Gran-Gran's explanation of his Belief System was that you kept coming back until you reached the highest plane of Enlightenment and Nirvana.  And that as one Breath leaves this Realm it awaits the time to when it enters the first Breath of a Newborn.






Several Major Religions Believe the Spirit is Reborn into a New Body after Death, it's a Religious and Philosophical Concept that appears in many Traditions... Hindu, Buddhist, Judaism and Ancient Middle Eastern Religions.   The Concept of Karma is often associated with Reincarnation and that the Acts in this Life have consequences in the next, which, I have always Believed.   Religious Mysticism is fascinating and the Soul of a Human Being is Immortal IMO, I do Believe Energy never Dies, it just Changes Form and goes on Forever.   Anyway, Spirituality aside, I do find Traditions and Rituals to be Comforting to my Soul, so, we've always established some that we keep going.   And I encourage people do develop and incorporate their own, even if it's not Spiritual in Nature per se or has no Religious significance to them at all.  Ritualistic Practices just are very Grounding and Calming, even if it's just something as Simple as a Tea Ceremony.






And you don't have to be Religious to make yourself an Altar of your own Choosing as well if you want to.  You don't have to offer explanations to anyone as to why or how you do it, if it's meaningful to you, go for it.   So, anyway, this Sunday Morning everything is damp and colder, yet Sunny again, so it should be a Crisp and Lovely Day to be out and about.  I'm thinking of trekking over to the East Valley Antique Mall for something to do with The Man, get him out and about moving around again, he is starting to enjoy more Physical activities now.   I missed the Flea Market they Hosted October 26th at "Merchant Square", had I checked their Book Of Faces Page I'd of known about it sooner.  Their Antique Mall has a lot more Trade Stimulator Events than ours does.  If it wasn't so far I'd prefer to be a Vendor there.   Tho', they don't have Showrooms, just Booths, so, Space would also be more limited.






I'm currently contemplating when to haul Halloween Merch out and bring in Christmas Merch?  Princess T already got her Tree up {See Below}... and I know Christmas is out and strong in all the Shops already, so I don't wanna be late to the Party Retail Wise.   Eli the Cat isn't as Freaked Out anymore by her putting the Tree up in their Room, he actually seems to find the Pink Glow Calming.  *LOL*    He sits there gazing at it as if in a Trance and he seems much more Calm than usual.  *LMAO*   She hasn't festooned it yet with Decorations, she just wanted the Vibe for now and completely cleaned her Room, so, it's a Vision right now.  With just one Chaos Corner where she puts on her Makeup and does her Hair in front of her Full Length Mirror.  *Ha haha*





She's also confiscated some of my best fragrances of Gold Canyon Candles and Incense.  *Smiles*  But, it leaks out of her Room into the Hallways and permeates the House, so, I don't Mind.   Sharing is Caring... Right?  *Winks*   We're pretty much Done now with Celebrations until Thanksgiving arrives.  I think we'll probably go to "Cracker Barrel" for Thanksgiving Dinner, we really haven't Cooked a Full Turkey and Ham for most Holidays in a while, depends how many Mouths to Feed and if we can afford to just Eat Out for the Holiday Dinner instead?   It's preferable to me to just Eat Out and forego the Work and the Mess these days.  Plus, then everyone can Order what they prefer, since, we have fussy Eaters and those with Food Allergies, so, it just makes more Sense to.






Above and Below was my Brunch at "Gertrude's" when we were at the Gardens Dia de los Muertos Celebrations.   I could go back again Today for the last Day of the Celebrations and catch more of it, including the Procession at Dusk, but, I am not sure the Weather will Hold or not?   And, my Motivation to is waning by the Minute, so, I'm not even sure by the time I'm done Blogging, I'll even wanna commute all the way to the Far East Valley to go to the Antique Mall or not?   Lately, if I wait a Minute, my Plans Change by a wide range.  *Winks*   I get fleeting Desires that will go away if I just get comfortable and cozy enuf just here at Home now.  I think I'm in my Nesting Phase of being at Home now I've got most of the Main House the way I want it and in Order again.   The Franciscan Ware is in the Livingroom, where it shouldn't be, but, I do need to research and Price it for the Showroom while watching TV.






And I'm keeping all my Halloween Decor up until around Thanksgiving inside the House Common Areas.   The Porch will soon have the Skeletons and Jack O'Lanterns removed and just keep out the Faux and Real Pumpkins and Harvest Themed Decor until Thanksgiving is here now.   The Rain made everything Wet so I will wait until a drier Day to put Halloween Decor back into Storage, with the Help of Princess T climbing The Ladder Of Death to reach the Shelving her Mom put it on and Organized it for me in The RV Garage Mahal.   The Daughter is Hopeful to be able to come Home after November 8th when that last Social Services Appointment she's required to go to for her Kids is a Wrap... we'll see.   So many Unknowns about that whole messed up Situation South of the Border, I hate to speculate.  So much to unpack and process.






I'm dallying at even making Breakfast this Morning and I have plenty of Leftovers from the above Meal to just warm up!   But, Honestly, I can start out so lethargic and unmotivated lately to put much Energy into doing whatever I can delay or avoid altogether.  *LOL*   Sitting here Blogging is what I WANT to do, so I can make a Host of Excuses as to why I am NOT doing what I NEED to do instead and DON'T WANT to do.  *Winks*   I'm rather reverting to that 2nd Childhood of not doing what I'm telling my own Self to be doing!   *Bwahahahaha*  Can any of you relate to that Behavior?  *Winks*  Instead, The Man and I will often say what we Need to be doing and isn't getting Done, then go be Rebellious and not do any of it and just go off and have a pleasurable Day instead.  *Smiles*  No regrets either, having Fun has become a higher priority as we get Older and still can. 

 




The Kiddos Joke all the time that we're like those Older Couples on the TV Commercials that pretend to be Sad that their Kids have gone off to do Life and then can't wait to go do all our Fun Stuff all Day long with Carefree Abandon and Complete Freedom to!  *Winks*   They would be Right, we ARE those People!!!  *Smiles*   When we take off they never even know if we're coming Home at all?  *Bwahahahaha*   So, it's like they reverse roles and blow up our Phones to Check In on us.  *LOL*  I'm Surprised they haven't put a GPS Chip in us to Track us now?  *LMAOROTF*   We'll roll in and they'll mention that we've been Out ALL DAY... and we're like, "So?"  *Snicker*   And then they get all Serious and ask me if I should have Dad/Grandpa being dragged around ALL DAY... and I'm like, "Well, I could leave him Home then for you all to Watch...", and that ends that whole conversation.  *Bwahahaha*  He does not LIKE to stay Home with them, he LIKES being dragged around all Day by me... so... he'd be a Pill if I ditched him.






Yes, sometimes it's a lot for him to keep Pace and Hang, but I will ask at intervals if he's had Enough Fun and I could take him Home if he Needs me to?... and he'll say NO!, so, onwards and upwards.  *Snicker*   Listen, it's gotta be more Mentally and Physically stimulating that sitting in a Media Chair for Hours on End looking at TV Reruns, Right?  Your Mind goes to Mush with an itinerary like that!   It's Why a lot of Old Folk go Around The Bend Mentally, I'm quite sure of it.  Everyone I know of my Peer Group that does Nothing all the Time, is deteriorating at an accelerated rate and decline.   Now, there is no way in Hell I want that happening to him, becoz then I'd have to be stuck too, take Care of him and have my own accelerated decline then.   So, I'm resisting that Outcome for as long as I possibly can.  Better we should Drop like a Pair of fucking Rocks while doing something Fun and Interesting, I could Handle that better.  Go Out in a Blaze of Glory and all.  *Winks*






This is The Young Prince's Jack O'Lantern.  He said New Mexico has become Boring and he Misses all the stuff he used to be able to do in The City.   Allen is from a Small Town Rural Area, so it's Fine for him, plus he Works.  The Young Prince has nothing to do all Day and no Money to do anything even if he wanted to.   And Tyson is now getting too Old to take long Walks... so... it's Endless Days of Nothing and Lonesome, so it's getting to him.   I don't know they've made very many New Friends there either, so it's Isolating.   With The Grandson's other Serious Mental Health Issues, I don't like that he has to spend so much Time Alone either and be in a Bad Head Space without anyone around most of the Day.  From time to time he will contact me by Phone or FB, but it's not the same as In Person Contact and having your Inner Circle close by.






The last major Call we had I talked him down off a Ledge, but, it went Well and he came back to Center, so, I'm glad he reached out and called me, even tho' in hysterics.   He knows he always should and so he does, and that is a huge Relief, to him and to us.  Nobody else wants to take those Calls, becoz they Panic and don't know what to do or say when someone is on a Ledge, and close to the Edge, but he knows I always will and do, so, we take it One Call and Crisis at a time.   I don't know how 911 Operators do it all the time day in and day out, I doubt I'd be up to that, but, I can handle a Call every now and again that is hairy, an Emergency, or just Bad News and stressful.





I went to The Antique Mall to bring in the Vintage Franciscan Ware Apple Design Set, which I'm Selling individually... and a few other higher end Collectibles I had.   The inexpensive Smalls are Selling briskly, but I'm Hopeful that as Christmas nears, Shoppers might start Buying the better Merch too?   I removed all the Halloween Merch, but kept any that is just a Harvest Theme and will leave that in until Thanksgiving.  I have a bit of Vintage Thanksgiving Decor Merch, tho', to be Honest, it's a Tough Sell, even tho' it's Vintage Thanksgiving.   I figure the Apple Design Set is very Autumnal, so, might have the right Buyer for it come in this Month, we'll see...   The Line of Franciscan Ware typically Sells well... I've never Sourced this much of the Apple Design tho'... you usually find the Desert Rose Design... rather than the Apple or the Ivy Design.  The Starburst Design is very Retro Mid Century Mod, so if you find any of that it's a Quick Turn. 






The Mall was very busy, but, Sales were Soft and I hadn't Sold a thing yet for a Sunday, that's abysmal.  They called me at 10 Minutes to Five at Home later on, to ask if I'd come in and cover a Five to Nine for someone who didn't show up at the last Minute!!!  WTF?!   I declined, First of all I couldn't get there by Five, in only Ten Minutes at Rush Hour!!!  Not a realistic expectation!!!   Second of all, and more importantly, I gave up working a regular permanent Shift on Sundays for a reason, so wasn't covering for someone whose commit to Sundays and then is flaking out and expecting to get coverage during the Holiday Season, that's bullshit.   So, whether they got someone else further down the Call List I dunno, don't Care either, not my Problem.  Plus, it's Stormy as Hell again Tonight, so I wasn't driving in bad inclement Weather either.







Why whoever didn't Show Up didn't notify them early enuf to give a Fill-In some appropriate Time to come in and cover their Shift, who the fuck knows?   Or, mebbe they never gave any notice at all and just didn't show up by Ten Minutes til... and the Mall called them and found out they weren't coming in?  There's far too many flaking out all the damned time lately and I get fed up of taking on last Minute Shifts for Assholes who aren't reliable.   You can't plan your Day or your Meals etcetera when you're not given adequate notice to Work a Shift.  And, I'm a Full Time Caregiver, so I have to ensure I have coverage at Home for The Man, before I can accommodate someone with a Special Request to cover for someone else.   Anyway, I didn't feel like going back, I'd only just gotten Home from working my Showroom a couple Hours beforehand.   So, I'd just finished Dinner and settled in to watch Comedians D.L. Hughley and Kevin Hart's new Specials on NetFlix.







The Christmas Events will be this Month at all the Occasional Sale Shows, so, I'm looking forward to that.   Most of them kick off on the Weekend close to the 14th... thru the Weekend close to the 21st... each Event last 4 Days from a Thurs-Sun..   I will be in the Christmas Spirit by Mid-November and will be contemplating my own Interior Decor for Christmas.  I don't Decorate the Exterior for Christmas, never really have very much except a few Vintage Blow-Molds every so often... or plain faux Pine Wreaths and Garlands... sometimes.   At the Villa McManse it had an Upstairs and a Balcony, so I'd hang the Vintage Santa Head Blow Molds off the Upstairs Balcony and Windows of the 2nd Floor.  But, at this Property there is no place to really properly Display the Vintage Santa Head Blow Molds and big Blow Mold Vintage Nativities.  I have Two different Vintage large Blow Mold Nativities.






They would look Cool in the Front Yard but then you'd have to make sure they didn't blow away during Storms and you'd have to move them in order to cut the Grass with the Tractor Mower.  I'm just too Lazy, so, haven't Displayed them.   I could easily Sell them, but haven't wanted to let them go yet either, even tho' Vintage Blow Mold Holiday Decorations now Sell for a lot.   I do have some Dr. Seuss Vintage Blow Mold Characters too, Cindy Lou Who and the Dog Max from the Grinch who Stole Christmas.   They are my Favorites and yet, I haven't Displayed them either.   You do sometimes hear of Porch Pirates Stealing expensive Holiday Decorations from Yard Displays, so, that always is a concern and risk too. 






I have been Downsizing Christmas Decorations and Purging a lot of them in recent Years tho', and may do that again this Season.   Seasonal Vintage Decor does Sell well, especially Christmas.   Many Vendors at our Mall even Specialize in nothing but Seasonal Decor for Christmas.  They have entire Booths filled with it.  I'm just not that Obsessed with Christmas Decorating anymore like I used to be.  Some of my earlier Collections were Hallmark and Anna Lee Christmas Tree Decorations.  For Years I expanded on the Collections, since my early Teens.  But, I Sold Off almost all the Anna Lee Christmas Tree Decorations and Christmas Anna Lee Characters.  I had all sizes, up to and including full sized.   Now I'm contemplating if some of the Vintage Hallmark Christmas Tree Ornaments should be Edited and Purged ... I have so many, more than One Tree's worth and we don't do multiple Trees anymore.   No Space here to in the Main House.  And, often it's all I can do to get One Tree up.  *LOL*






There are even some Years I've gone very Simplistic and Rustic with Christmas Decorating in order to keep it Simple and easy to put up and take back down.   I am not sure this Year how I'll Decorate the Christmas Tree or where I plan to put it up.  We don't have a lot of Placement Options here like we have in previous Homes tho'.   I was Spoiled for Choice at the Historic Home and the Villa McManse, many different Rooms to choose to put up a Tree, or multiple Trees if I felt Ambitious.   I don't mind always having one in the same spot here, and some Years I've chosen a smaller Tree to keep it even more Simplistic.  Princess T always has one in her Room, so we do have Multiple Trees actually, but she puts up and takes her own Tree down.







Right now we've got one larger Boxed Tree laying out on the Back Porch, so I'll probably just use that one to get it out of the way.  *LOL*   Not sure if it's pre-lit or not?   So... if it's not I might just poke around in The RV Garage Mahal to see what other Trees we never got rid of?   I know I used to have a White Tree and if we still have it, I'd like to go with a White Tree this Year actually.   The last time we put up the White Tree was the Year we were Selling the Villa McManse during the Holidays.  It looked Splendid even tho' we kept it Simple due to Showing the House and when we Sold it right away, we barely made it thru the Holiday Season before having to give possession to the New Buyer.  We actually Bought and Moved In to this Property right after the New Year and just before Pandemic hit hard.  That was therefore a Crazy Holiday Season of late 2019 and early 2020.






I think the worst possible Timing to decide or have to Move would be during the Holidays.  I'd never want to Move again in this Lifetime, but especially not during the Holiday Season and have it so disrupted.  Yet, in Arizona, Temperature Wise it's the best Timing to, so you have to decide which is worse, trying to do a big Move when it's high Triple Digits, or wait for the Fall/Winter when it's Cool enuf to do all that Work and Store things temporarily in a Non-Climate controlled Space?   It's easier to Sell a Home being Lived In and not Vacant, during the Holidays, when it looks Inviting, has a Festive Atmosphere, and Smells great with all the Holiday Aromas people fondly remember and Love.  I must saying Showing the Villa McManse during the Holidays Closed the Deal quickly, we didn't even have that many potential Buyers come thru before someone Paid our Ask Price and wanted it right away.  The only thing that potentially might have been better was a Bidding War.  *LOL*






Our Buyer ended up being a Cash Investor who would and could Close right away becoz they were Buying it as an Income Property to make into an Air B&B Party House.   When we Sold the Historic Property, same thing, Mr. Avila was a Preservationist Cash Buyer who Closed in a Day.  And the same with a Property even before that one, a Retired Elderly Couple Bought that one, Paid Cash, and Closed right away... so, we never had to wait to Transfer Title and be Done with it quickly and virtually without any risk of someone backing out or not being able to Perform.   The problem we had, was usually with Sellers not being able to Perform when we were Buying, and could Close quickly becoz we were Pre-Qualified.   I never expected a Seller to be unable to Perform, it was a very Odd problem to experience time and time again, who knew?






I still think Interest Rates are too High and there's a glut in the Housing Market right now, so it's definitely not a Buyer or a Seller's Market.  They keep Building and so many are languishing Vacant and even the more desirable areas have For Sale Signs all over the place now.   Listings are on the Market for a long, long time, not a good Sign either, to see so many Stale Listings.   Tho' Properties like ours are in high Demand, since the City doesn't have any New Mini Farm Communities they're Building or even Zoning for.   So you always get Investors asking to Buy and we have to keep declining, not Interested, this is our Forever Home.  High Density Housing is the trend right now and so they have too much of it and it's all too expensive... and... IMO... poorly built with HOA's, which, are The Devil.






So, how did Halloween go for all of you?   And what are you Planning for Thanksgiving and what are you most Thankful for?   And... at what Timing are you ready to get into the Christmas Vibe?  *Winks*   I really do Love the Holiday Season and everything about all of it, so, from the prelude to Halloween thru the New Year ringing in, is some of my favorite times and Seasons.   So much to do tho' and so little Time to do it...  doesn't it all seem to warp by now?   Seems the Older I get, the Faster Time speeds up and passes by...








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Great Autumnal Vibes to you my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian
A life touched by God always ends in touching others. - Erwin McManus

I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars. - Og Mandino (1923-1996)

For creativity to flourish one should try to look at everything as though it were being seen for the first or the last time. - Quote from "A Thousand Paths To Creativity" by David Baird

Is what I'm about to say an improvement on silence? ~ Galen Pearl